Effect of Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) on Sleep Quality of Menopausal Women: A Double-blinded, Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.
Aim of present study was designed to investigate the soporific effect of fennel among menopausal women. The present double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial examined the fennel effect on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Total score and relevant 7 components, including sleep duration, sleep latency, use of sleeping medication, subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction and habitual sleep efficiency among 50 menopausal women compared to control group within a 12-week follow-up. The patients in both groups reported no certain side effects and all subjects completed the study. The mean actual sleep duration was 5 hours and 66 minutes. Intergroup comparison revealed no statistically significant differences in the mean total PSQI score (P = 0.439), subjective sleep quality (P = 0.826), habitual sleep efficiency (P = 0.127), sleep disturbances (P = 0.130), use of sleeping medication (P = 0.52) and daytime dysfunction (P = 0.439). A tendency toward significant between 2 groups was seen concerning the sleep duration (P = 0.059). Intergroup comparison showed significantly borderline levels (P = 0.059). The treatment of 12 weeks with fennel caused a slight effect that did not reach to significant. These findings should be considered cautiously because of small sample size, short-term follow-up and subjective measure of sleep quality.


Regulatory roles of the P domain of the subtilisin-like prohormone convertases.
A unique feature of the eukaryotic subtilisin-like proprotein convertases (SPCs) is the presence of an additional highly conserved sequence of approximately 150 residues (P domain) located immediately downstream of the catalytic domain. To study the function of this region, which is required for the production of enzymatically active convertases, we have expressed and characterized various P domain-related mutants and chimeras in HEK293 cells and alpha-TC1-6 cells. In a series of C-terminal truncations of PC3 (also known as PC1 or SPC3), PC3-Thr594 was identified as the shortest active form, thereby defining the functional C-terminal boundary of the P domain. Substitutions at Thr594 and nearby sites indicated that residues 592-594 are crucial for activity. Chimeric SPC proteins with interchanged P domains demonstrated dramatic changes in several properties. Compared with truncated wild-type PC3 (PC3-Asp616), both PC3/PC2Pd and PC3/FurPd had elevated activity on several synthetic substrates as well as reduced calcium ion dependence, whereas Fur/PC2Pd was only slightly decreased in activity as compared with truncated furin (Fur-Glu583). Of the three active SPC chimeras tested, all had more alkaline pH optima. When PC3/PC2Pd was expressed in alpha-TC1-6 cells, it accelerated the processing of proglucagon into glicentin and major proglucagon fragment and cleaved major proglucagon fragment to release GLP-1 and tGLP-1, similar to wild-type PC3. Thus, P domain exchanges generated fully active chimeric proteases in several instances but not in all (e.g. PC2/PC3Pd was inactive). The observed property changes indicate a role for the P domain in regulating the stability, calcium dependence, and pH dependence of the convertases.


Symptomatic efficacy of buckwheat products in Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS).
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a gluten-free grain with acclaimed benefi-cial effects on human health. Our aim was to assess the effect of buckwheat products on intestinal/extra-intestinal symptoms and biochemical parameters in patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). A randomized, crossover trial with two intervention phases was conducted on 19 NCGS patients over a 12 week-period. The participants were assigned to consume products made from buckwheat or to maintain their normal gluten-free diet for 6 weeks in a random order. Symptoms due to NCGS were evaluated using two questionnaires. During the intervention period with buckwheat products, patients experienced a signifi-cant decrease in the severity of abdominal pain and bloating (p=0.03). In contrast, the control group showed a significant worsening trend for the majority of NCGS symptoms such as nausea, headache, joint/muscle pain, and attention disorders. The replacement diet with buckwheat products also resulted in a significant increase of serum magnesium (+4.7%) and a significant reduction in the circulating levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma (-33.3%) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (-46.5%). The study supports the positive effects of buckwheat for NCGS patients, showing that this alternative cereal can contribute to the re-duction of both negative gastro-intestinal and related symptoms, and nutritional deficiencies, and lead to an im-provement in inflammatory profile.


Regeneration of infarcted mouse hearts by cardiovascular tissue formed via the direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts.
Fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells. Here we report the reprogramming of mouse tail-tip fibroblasts simultaneously into cells resembling these three cell types using the microRNA mimic miR-208b-3p, ascorbic acid and bone morphogenetic protein 4, as well as the formation of tissue-like structures formed by the directly reprogrammed cells. Implantation of the formed cardiovascular tissue into the infarcted hearts of mice led to the migration of reprogrammed cells to the injured tissue, reducing regional cardiac strain and improving cardiac function. The migrated endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells contributed to vessel formation, and the migrated cardiomyocytes, which initially displayed immature characteristics, became mature over time and formed gap junctions with host cardiomyocytes. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells to make cardiac tissue may aid the development of applications in cell therapy, disease modelling and drug discovery for cardiovascular diseases.


A 15-year review of pediatric toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Owing to the rare, yet serious nature of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), the authors would like to describe our experience with 41 pediatric patients to contribute to the current clinical understanding of the disease. From records at a single institution, 41 patients ≤18 years of age with a diagnosis of SJS or TEN were retrospectively identified. Data were obtained from the hospital's medical record, and a variety of variables were collected, including causative agent, percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) slough, ocular involvement, medical treatment, operative procedures, time to wound closure, ventilator days, intensive care unit length of stay, and associated hospital mortality. Of the pediatric TEN patients included, the mean epidermal sloughing was 39.7 ± 26% TBSA. The presumptive inciting agent was a medication in 90% of cases. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was implicated in two cases (5%). The average time between onset of symptoms and burn intensive care unit admission was 3.6 ± 2.0 days. Acutely, 73% of patients exhibited ocular involvement, 90% needed supplemental enteral nutritional support, and 51% required mechanical ventilation. On average, subjects spent 19.9 ± 13.9 days in the intensive care unit. While acute mortality was 0%, 100% of patients still experienced long-term complications and 30% required follow-up procedures. When compared to current literature, the outcomes of our patients were similar to that of pediatric TEN at other institutions. While acute mortality is typically better within the pediatric population, patients still experience a significant level of morbidity and have serious long-term sequelae.


Rectal ulcer with massive haemorrhage due to activated charcoal treatment in oral organophosphate poisoning.
A 42-year-old woman who had ingested a large amount of fenitrothion emulsion was admitted and treated. Treatments consisted of mechanical ventilation, intravenous administration of atropine and pralidoxime and repeated injection of activated charcoal with magnesium sulphate via a nasogastric tube. The patient developed massive rectal bleeding just after she had passed several hard masses of charcoal on the 10th day. Surgical haemostasis of the rectal ulcer was needed to control the haemorrhage.


Siblings, shopping, and sustainability: Birth-order differences in green consumption.
Several studies have examined the role of birth order in shaping human personality, but fewer have tested this variable in relation to other pressing issues. We conducted a birth-order study on green consumption, which enabled us to detect a small-to-moderate effect size equivalent to r = 0.15 or d = 0.30 with sufficient statistical power (N = 335). To capture green consumption, participants indicated their tendency to express the value of environmental protection through purchases and consumption behaviors. Firstborns (vs. laterborns) consistently expressed lower concerns linked to environmental protection in their purchase patterns. While the effect size of this finding was small-to-moderate by conventional standards and in direct contrast to the findings from a recent article on the same topic, these results could still be informative to address challenges associated with climate change considering the number of individuals with siblings in the world and the ease with which birth-order data can be collected.


Regulation of Mel-CAM/MUC18 expression on melanocytes of different stages of tumor progression by normal keratinocytes.
The cell-cell adhesion receptor, Mel-CAM/MUC18, is highly expressed on metastatic melanoma cells and is also detectable on primary melanomas but not on normal melanocytes. Previous studies have shown that increased Mel-CAM/MUC18 expression correlates with tumor thickness and metastatic potential. We show here that normal melanocytes and nevus cells in culture express Mel-CAM/MUC18, but expression is down-regulated when cells are co-cultured with keratinocytes. Such keratinocyte-mediated regulation of Mel-CAM/MUC18 expression on melanocytes, nevus cells, and early melanomas can also be demonstrated in situ in patients' specimens. On the other hand, melanoma cells from primary and metastatic lesions constitutively express Mel-CAM/MUC18, and keratinocytes have no modulatory effect. These results suggest that contact between keratinocytes and human melanocytic cells modulates Mel-CAM/MUC18 expression, raising the possibility that escape from keratinocyte control during melanoma development leads to expression of antigens that contribute to the malignant phenotype.


Oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid detected by PhastSystem isoelectric focusing.
Pharmacia's "PhastSystem" for semi-automated isoelectric focusing (IEF) in thin precast polyacrylamide gels (PAGE) was found to be as sensitive as high-resolution protein electrophoresis (HRPE) in agarose gels and conventional PAGE-IEF for detection of oligoclonal banding (OB) in concentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. Both PhastSystem IEF and HRPE revealed OB in CSF from eight of nine multiple sclerosis patients and four of 10 patients with various types of infection of the central nervous system as opposed to only two of 70 patients with miscellaneous neuropsychiatric disorders. The PhastSystem also frequently detected OB in silver-stained, unconcentrated CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis.


Delaying pigs from the normal production flow is associated with health problems and poorer performance.
Delaying pigs from advancing through the production stages could have a negative impact on their health and performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible implications of delaying pigs from the normal production flow on pig health and performance in a farrow-to-finish commercial farm with a self-declared All-In/All-Out (AIAO) management. Three flows of pigs were defined, flow 1 (i.e. pigs that followed the normal production flow; 8 weeks in the nursery stage, 4 weeks in the growing stage and 8 weeks in the finisher stage), flow 2 (i.e. pigs delayed 1 week from advancing to the next production stage) and flow 3 (i.e. pigs delayed >1 week from advancing to the next production stage). Flow 3 included higher proportions of pigs from first parity sows and of lighter birth weights. When the 3 flows were matched by parity and birth weight, pigs in flow 2 were 3.8 times more likely to be lame prior to slaughter compared with pigs in flow 1. Similarly, pigs in flow 3 were more likely to be lame prior to slaughter, 4.5 times more likely to present pleurisy, 3.3 times more like to present pericarditis and 4.3 times more likely to have their heart condemned at slaughter compared with pigs in flow 1. Additionally, carcasses from pigs in flow 3 were 10 kg lighter compared with carcasses from pigs in flow 1. Delayed pigs were more affected by disease and were lighter at slaughter. Besides animal welfare issues, these findings could represent considerable economic loses for pig producers. In practice, delaying pigs from the normal production flow translates into higher feeding costs, increase number of days to slaughter and increased labour requirements reducing production efficiency for the pig operation. In farrow-to-finish farms an 'all-forward' policy (i.e. no pig is left behind from stage to stage and a split marketing approach is applied when sending pigs to slaughter) might be more easily adhered to.


Roles of endothelial oxidases in endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor responses in mice.
The endothelium synthesizes and releases several vasodilator substances, including prostacyclin, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). We have demonstrated that endothelium-derived hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an EDHF in animals and humans and that superoxide anions derived from endothelial nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) system are an important precursor for EDHF/H2O2 in mice. There are several intracellular sources of superoxide anions other than NOSs, including NAD(P)H oxidase, xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenase, and mitochondrial electron transport chain. In this study, we examined the possible role of endothelial oxidases other than NOSs in the EDHF-mediated responses. In angiotensin II-infused mice, both EDHF-mediated relaxations and hyperpolarizations to acetylcholine were significantly reduced, nitric oxide-mediated relaxations were rather enhanced, and vascular smooth muscle responses were preserved. Antihypertensive treatment normalized blood pressure but failed to improve EDHF-mediated responses in those mice. Acute inhibition of endothelial oxidases other than NOSs, including NAD(P)H oxidase, xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenase, or mitochondrial electron transport chain, had no inhibitory effects on EDHF-mediated responses. Furthermore, in p47phox-knockout mice, EDHF-mediated responses were unaltered. These results suggest that endothelial oxidases other than NOSs are not involved in EDHF/H2O2 responses in mice, suggesting a specific link between endothelial NOSs system and EDHF responses under physiological conditions.


Transition from endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis to membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a patient with a prolonged human parvovirus B19 infection.
We report a case in which renal biopsies were performed 4 years apart in a woman with a prolonged human parvovirus B19 (HPB19) infection. When she was 29 years old the first biopsy, performed because of microscopic hematuria and mild proteinuria, showed endocapillary and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in light microscopy as well as deposits of immunoglobulins (Igs) and complement C3 on capillary walls. Mesangial, intramembranous, and subepithelial hump-like electron dense deposits were seen in electron microscopy. The principal differential diagnoses, acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and lupus nephritis, were unlikely, and her serological positivity for IgM antibody for HPB19 made us diagnose acute glomerulonephritis associated with HPB19 infection. The second biopsy, performed 4 years later because of persistent proteinuria and prolonged positivity for IgM antibody for HPB19, showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with mesangial interposition and with thickening and double contours of glomerular basement membrane. In tissues obtained in both biopsies, HPB19 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. HPB19 infection has been widely known to cause various glomerular diseases. This case reveals that acute endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis can change into MPGN during prolonged HPB19 infection.


Analytics for Metabolic Engineering.
Realizing the promise of metabolic engineering has been slowed by challenges related to moving beyond proof-of-concept examples to robust and economically viable systems. Key to advancing metabolic engineering beyond trial-and-error research is access to parts with well-defined performance metrics that can be readily applied in vastly different contexts with predictable effects. As the field now stands, research depends greatly on analytical tools that assay target molecules, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites across different hosts and pathways. Screening technologies yield specific information for many thousands of strain variants, while deep omics analysis provides a systems-level view of the cell factory. Efforts focused on a combination of these analyses yield quantitative information of dynamic processes between parts and the host chassis that drive the next engineering steps. Overall, the data generated from these types of assays aid better decision-making at the design and strain construction stages to speed progress in metabolic engineering research.


Association of HbA1c with functional outcome by ischemic stroke subtypes and age.
To determine whether high HbA1c levels are related to short-and long-term functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and whether this association differs according to the IS subtype and the patient's age. The data of 7,380 IS patients admitted to 16 hospitals or regional stroke centers in South-Korea, between May 2017 and December 2019, were obtained from the Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke-Korea-National Institute of Health database and retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 4,598 were followed-up for one-year. The HbA1c levels were classified into three groups (<5.7, 5.7 to <6.5%, ≥6.5%). Short-and long-term poor functional outcomes were defined using the modified Rankin Scale score of 2 to 6 at three-months and one-year, respectively. IS subtypes were categorized according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. There was an association between higher HbA1c (≥6.5%) and poor functional outcomes at three-months in all patients (three-months; OR, 1.299, 95% CI 1.098, 1.535, one-year; OR, 1.181, 95% CI 0.952, 1.465). When grouped by age, the associations after both 3 months and 1 year observed in younger adult group (<65 years), but not in group aged 65 years and older (three-months; <65 years OR, 1.467, 95% CI 1.112, 1.936, ≥65 years OR, 1.220, 95% CI 0.987, 1.507, p for interaction = 0.038, one-year; <65 years OR, 1.622, 95% CI 1.101, 2.388, ≥65 years OR, 1.010, 95% CI 0.778, 1.312, p for interaction = 0.018). Among younger adult group, the higher HbA1c level was related to short-and long-term functional loss in patients with the small vessel occlusion subtype (three-months; OR, 2.337, 95%CI 1.334, 4.095, one-year; OR, 3.004, 95% CI 1.301, 6.938). However, in patients with other TOAST subtypes, a high HbA1c level did not increase the risk of poor outcomes, regardless of the age of onset. High HbA1c levels increase the risk of short-and long-term poor functional outcomes after IS onset. However, this association differs according to stroke subtype and age. Thus, pre-stroke hyperglycemia, reflected by HbA1c, may be a significant predictor for a poor prognosis after ischemic stroke, particular in young- and middle-aged adults.


Genetic susceptibility of childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus in Japan.
Most cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are caused by an autoimmune reaction, involving genetic and environmental factors, which ultimately disrupt insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Several genes, including those encoding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II (IDDM1 locus), insulin (IDDM2 locus), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA) 4 (IDDM12 locus), are involved in this process. In this paper, I review the studies of Japanese patients with childhood type 1A diabetes mellitus (T1ADM), including the results of the multicenter study conducted by The Japanese Study Group of Insulin Therapy for Childhood and Adolescent Diabetes (JSGIT). The JSGIT study analyzed the HLA-DRB1, DQB1, DPB1, A, C, and B genes in Japanese patients with childhood T1ADM to identify candidate genes specific for Japanese individuals. Some of the genes were also involved in diabetes in Caucasian. A comparison of parents and siblings showed that several susceptible DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes and resistant alleles were involved in the development of T1ADM. However, results of transmission disequilibrium tests demonstrated no genomic imprinting of HLA Class I or II genes in Japanese patients. The frequency of the DRB1*09:01 allele was significantly higher in patients who developed the disease at 2-5 years old than in other patients. Identifying HLA gene polymorphisms may help to examine the relationship between antigen-presenting molecule structures and autoantigenic peptides. The JSGIT study also identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes other than HLA. Understanding the genetic factors associated with T1ADM that help explain the lower incidence of this disease in Japanese than in Caucasian individuals, will help us to elucidate its pathogenesis.


Monitoring and Analysis of the Collapse Process in Blasting Demolition of Tall Reinforced Concrete Chimneys.
Aiming at the problem of displacement of collapse direction caused by the impact of the high-rise reinforced concrete chimney in the process of blasting demolition, combined with the monitoring methods such as high-speed photography observation, piezoelectric ceramic sensor, and blasting vibration monitor, the impact process of the 180 m high chimney was comprehensively analyzed. The results show that the chimney will experience multiple 'weight loss' and 'overweight' effects during the sit-down process, inducing compressive stress waves in the chimney. When the sit-down displacement is large, the broken reinforced concrete at the bottom can play a significant buffering effect, and the 'overweight' effect gradually weakens until the sit-down stops. The stress of the inner and outer sides of the chimney wall is obviously different in the process of collapsing and touching the ground. The waveform of the monitoring point of the piezoelectric ceramic sensor is divided into three stages, which specifically characterizes the evolution process of the explosion load and the impact of the chimney. The vibration induced by explosive explosion is mainly high-frequency vibration above 50 Hz, the vibration induced by chimney collapse is mainly low-frequency vibration below 10 Hz, and the vibration characteristics are obviously different. In the process of blasting demolition and collapse of high-rise reinforced concrete chimney, due to the impact of sitting down, the wall of the support tube is subjected to uneven force, resulting in the deviation of the collapse direction. In practical engineering, the control measures of chimney impact, blasting vibration, and collapse touchdown vibration should be fully strengthened to ensure the safety of the protection target around the blasting demolition object.


Platelet-inspired medicine for tumor therapy.
As the number of patients with tumor increases dramatically recent years, traditional therapies expose more and more problems which can even lead to death. Many researchers and clinicians quest for an efficient drug delivery system to deal with tumor as a result. With the researches further develop, we find that platelet can interact with tumor cells through a variety of ways. So it can be used as a carrier broadly to deliver different anti-tumor drugs for tumor treatment. In the present review, we summarize the interaction of tumor cells and platelet. At the same time, we focus on recent progress on the application of platelet drug-loaded system in the anti-tumor prospects.


Expression of a Phanerochaete chrysosporium manganese peroxidase gene in the yeast Pichia pastoris.
A gene encoding manganese peroxidase (mnp1) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium was cloned downstream of a constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Three different expression vectors were constructed: pZBMNP contains the native P. chrysosporium fungal secretion signal, palphaAMNP contains an alpha-factor secretion signal derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and pZBIMNP has no secretion signal and was used for intracellular expression. Both the native fungal secretion signal sequence and alpha-factor secretion signal sequence directed the secretion of active recombinant manganese peroxidase (rMnP) from P. pastoris transformants. The majority of the rMnP produced by P. pastoris exhibited a molecular mass (55-100 kDa) considerably larger than that of the wild-type manganese peroxidase (wtMnP, 46 kDa). Deletion of the native fungal secretion signal yielded a molecular mass of 39 kDa for intracellular rMnP in P. pastoris. Treatment of the secreted rMnP with endoglycosidase H (Endo H) resulted in a considerable decrease in the mass of rMnP, indicating N-linked hyperglycosylation. Partially purified rMnP showed kinetic characteristics similar to those of wtMnP. Both enzymes also had similar pH stability profiles. Addition of exogenous Mn(II), Ca(II), and Fe(III) conferred additional thermal stability to both enzymes. However, rMnP was slightly less thermostable than wtMnP, which demonstrated an extended half-life at 55 degrees C.


Development and validation of a sepsis diagnostic scoring model for neonates with suspected sepsis.
We aimed to develop and validate a diagnostic model for sepsis among neonates evaluated for suspected sepsis, by incorporating thromboelastometry parameters, maternal/neonatal risk factors, clinical signs/symptoms and laboratory results. This retrospective cohort study included 291 neonates with presumed sepsis, hospitalized in a NICU, from 07/2014 to 07/2021. Laboratory tests were obtained on disease onset and prior to initiating antibiotic therapy. Τhromboelastometry extrinsically activated (EXTEM) assay was performed simultaneously and Tοllner and nSOFA scores were calculated. Sepsis diagnosis was the outcome variable. A 10-fold cross-validation least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logit regression procedure was applied to derive the final multivariable score. Clinical utility was evaluated by decision curve analysis. Gestational age, CRP, considerable skin discoloration, liver enlargement, neutrophil left shift, and EXTEM A10, were identified as the strongest predictors and included in the Neonatal Sepsis Diagnostic (NeoSeD) model. NeoSeD score demonstrated excellent discrimination capacity for sepsis and septic shock with an AUC: 0.918 (95% CI, 0.884-0.952) and 0.974 (95% CI, 0.958-0.989) respectively, which was significantly higher compared to Töllner and nSOFA scores. The NeoSeD score is simple, accurate, practical, and may contribute to a timely diagnosis of sepsis in neonates with suspected sepsis. External validation in multinational cohorts is necessary before clinical application.


Synergistic Promotion of Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange by Fluorine- and Silicon-Doped TiO2/AC Composite Material.
The direct or indirect discharge of organic pollutants causes serious environmental problems and endangers human health. The high electron-hole recombination rate greatly limits the catalytic efficiency of traditional TiO2-based catalysts. Therefore, starting from low-cost activated carbon (AC), a photocatalyst (F-Si-TiO2/AC) comprising fluorine (F)- and silicon (Si)-doped TiO2 loaded on AC has been developed. F-Si-TiO2/AC has a porous structure. TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly fixed on the surface or pores of AC, producing many catalytic sites. The band gap of F-Si-TiO2/AC is only 2.7 eV. In addition, F-Si-TiO2/AC exhibits an excellent adsorption capacity toward methyl orange (MO) (57%) in the dark after 60 min. Under the optimal preparation conditions, F-Si-TiO2/AC showed a significant photodegradation performance toward MO, reaching 97.7% after irradiation with visible light for 70 min. Even under the action of different anions and cations, its degradation efficiency is the lowest, at 64.0%, which has good prospects for practical application. At the same time, F-Si-TiO2/AC has long-term, stable, practical application potential and can be easily recovered from the solution. Therefore, this work provides new insights for the fabrication of low-cost, porous, activated, carbon-based photocatalysts, which can be used as high-performance photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants.


Hyaluronan in the human trabecular meshwork.
Hyaluronan (HA) is a high-molecular weight glycosaminoglycan that can affect water and solute fluxes in the extracellular matrix. The distribution of HA in the human trabecular meshwork of nonglaucomatous eyes was examined to help understand the potential role of HA in the regulation of aqueous outflow resistance. Histolocalization of HA was established in situ in the trabecular meshwork of human eyes with no known diseases of the anterior segment. A specific biotinylated HA-binding peptide was used as a probe for this study, with enhanced sensitivity of HA detection achieved by modifications of the fixation and staining procedures. Evaluation of HA staining in the aqueous outflow pathway in comparison to that in other ocular structures (e.g., the vitreous) showed pronounced staining in the trabecular meshwork. The staining intensity was similar between various layers of the meshwork. Both the filtering and the anterior nonfiltering portions of the trabecular meshwork showed pronounced HA staining. The staining was localized primarily to the trabecular meshwork endothelial cells. Pronounced HA staining observed in the various layers of the trabecular meshwork suggests that substantial amount of HA is present in the nonglaucomatous outflow pathway. The staining pattern suggests that HA is associated with the endothelial cells lining the trabecular beams. This finding supports potential roles for this glycosaminoglycan in the regulation of the physiological aqueous outflow resistance or in the maintenance of the outflow channels or both. Histochemical localization of HA in the various layers of the non-glaucomatous meshwork provides a useful basis for future comparative studies of HA distribution and relative amounts in the trabecular meshworks of eyes affected by various types of glaucoma.


The role of socioeconomic status in longitudinal trends of cholera in Matlab, Bangladesh, 1993-2007.
There has been little evidence of a decline in the global burden of cholera in recent years as the number of cholera cases reported to WHO continues to rise. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and a key indicator of lack of socioeconomic development. Overall socioeconomic development is the ultimate solution for control of cholera as evidenced in developed countries. However, most research has focused on cross-county comparisons so that the role of individual- or small area-level socioeconomic status (SES) in cholera dynamics has not been carefully studied. Reported cases of cholera in Matlab, Bangladesh have fluctuated greatly over time and epidemic outbreaks of cholera continue, most recently with the introduction of a new serotype into the region. The wealth of longitudinal data on the population of Matlab provides a unique opportunity to explore the impact of socioeconomic status and other demographic characteristics on the long-term temporal dynamics of cholera in the region. In this population-based study we examine which factors impact the initial number of cholera cases in a bari at the beginning of the 0139 epidemic and the factors impacting the number of cases over time. Cholera data were derived from the ICDDR,B health records and linked to socioeconomic and geographic data collected as part of the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Longitudinal zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) multilevel regression models are used to examine the impact of environmental and socio-demographic factors on cholera counts across baris. Results indicate that baris with a high socioeconomic status had lower initial rates of cholera at the beginning of the 0139 epidemic (γ(01) = -0.147, p = 0.041) and a higher probability of reporting no cholera cases (α(01) = 0.156, p = 0.061). Populations in baris characterized by low SES are more likely to experience higher cholera morbidity at the beginning of an epidemic than populations in high SES baris.


Association between the -77T>C polymorphism in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 and lung cancer risk.
Numerous studies have evaluated the association between the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) DNA repair gene polymorphism -77T>C and lung cancer risk. However, this association is controversial. We used PubMed and Embase to identify 5 case-control studies, which included 2488 lung cancer cases and 2576 controls, for inclusion in a comprehensive meta-analysis in order to assess this association. Two independent reviewers extracted data from the studies, and ORs with 95%CIs were calculated. When all studies were pooled, we found a significant association between the -77T>C polymorphism and lung cancer risk (TT vs CC: OR = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.34-0.80, P = 0.49; TT vs CT: OR = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.62-0.81, P = 0.69; dominant model: OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.27-1.66, P = 0.64; recessive model: OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.36-0.82, P = 0.24). In a subgroup analysis of nationalities, the -77T>C polymorphism was significantly associated with lung cancer risk in Asian patients. In conclusion, the XRCC1 -77T>C polymorphism might be related to increased risk of lung cancer in Asians. Future studies are needed for conclusive evidence about this association.


Effects of short photoperiod on codling moth diapause and survival.
The potential presence of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., in apples shipped to countries within the 30th latitudes has raised concerns that this pest could establish and spread in these countries. Previous research demonstrated that codling moth in apples handled under simulated commercial cold storage conditions and held under short day lengths could not break diapause and emerge in sufficient numbers to establish a minimum viable population. This study expands the in-fruit work by examining the ability of codling moth to establish a laboratory population under a short photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h, as compared with a long photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Codling moth larvae were collected from field infested fruits in 2010 and 2011. Moths were collected from the infested fruits and separated into two groups representing the two daylength conditions. In total, 1,004 larvae were monitored for adult emergence and ability to generate a subsequent population. Larvae held under the photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h generated only one moth in the 2 yr period, whereas larvae held under the photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h generated 186 females and 179 males, that sustained subsequent generations on artificial diet under laboratory conditions. These results indicate that under controlled environmental conditions, codling moth cannot complete diapause and emerge in sufficient numbers to sustain a viable population when held under a short photoperiod.


Enhancing reproductive performance in domestic dairy water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
The purpose of the review is to describe the factors that affect fertility in domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the techniques that enable an improvement in reproductive performance. On Italian and Latin American farms where natural mating is practiced and bulls are always present in the herd, the inter-calving interval is approximately 400 days and the culling rate is lower than 15%. The buffalo has a tendency for seasonal reproductive activity. Reproduction is favoured when there is a decrease in day length. Ovarian activity stops if conception does not occur within 3 to 5 ovarian cycles. It is important, therefore, that appropriate management of the transition period is practiced, particularly with respect to the hygienic conditions of the uterus. In tropical countries located north of the equator, feed deficiencies and heat stress are considered the main factors that lead to poor fertility in the summer. In Pakistan, for example, the increase in body condition score during the autumn was associated with the commencement of the breeding season in buffaloes. Anoestrus is observed also in Italy, however, where the average daily temperature during the same period is 13.5 to 23.5 degrees C and feeding is constant throughout the year. The only common element between the two areas is the progressive increase in daylight hours between April and June and the day length greater than 12 hours up to September. In Italian herds that apply an out-of-season breeding strategy, an improvement in fertility (measured as the percentage of corpora lutea corresponding to subsequent pregnancy) is observed when water pools are present on the farm. This demonstrates that an improvement in environmental conditions reduces the incidence of embryonic mortality and/or abnormal cycles. To summarize, in the absence of serious nutritional problems, an improvement in environmental conditions increases fertility in buffalo.


Assessing the effectiveness of synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in psoriatic arthritis - a systematic review.
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis the primary manifestations of which are locomotor and skin disease. Although a number of guidelines have been published citing strategies for reducing disease progression, the evidence base for disease-modifying agents is unclear. This forms the focus of this systematic review. The systematic review was undertaken according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2009 checklist. We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that looked at the impact of interventions with disease-modifying agents, either synthetic drugs or biologics on musculoskeletal outcomes, notably American College of Rheumatology 20 percent responders. Results were analyzed using Review Manager 5.1.6 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Whilst our primary focus was on published trials, we also looked at new trials presented in abstract form in 2013-2014 that were not yet published to avoid omitting important and up-to-date information on developing treatments. Our in-depth analysis included 28 trials overall enrolling 5,177 patients published between the 1980s and now as well as limited analysis of some studies in abstract form as described earlier. The most frequently available locomotor outcome measure was the American College of Rheumatology 20 percent responders. The risk ratio for achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 percent responders response was positive in favor of treatment (risk ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval 1.78-2.96); however, there was evidence of considerable heterogeneity between trials. Overall randomized controlled trials of established synthetic disease-modifying agents were largely negative (methotrexate, ciclosporin and sulfasalazine) though leflunomide showed a small positive effect. A new synthetic agent, apremilast, did show a positive benefit. For biologics, TNF inhibitors already licensed for use were effective and similar benefits were seen with newer agents including ustekinumab, secukinumab, brodalumab, and abatacept, although the latter did not impact on skin problems. Important limitations of the systematic review included, first, the fact that for many agents there were little data and, second, much of the recent data for newer biologics were only available in abstract form. Conventional disease-modifying agents, with the possible exception of leflunomide, do not show clear evidence of disease-modifying effects in psoriatic arthritis, though a newer synthetic disease-modifying agents, apremilast, appears more effective. Biologic agents appear more beneficial, although more evidence is required for newer agents. This review suggests that it may be necessary to review existing national and international management guidelines for psoriatic arthritis.


Cyclin-dependent kinase 5/p35 contributes synergistically with Reelin/Dab1 to the positioning of facial branchiomotor and inferior olive neurons in the developing mouse hindbrain.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5)/p35 is a serine/threonine kinase, and its activity is detected primarily in postmitotic neurons. Mice lacking Cdk5/p35 display migration defects of the cortical neurons in the cerebrum and cerebellum. In this study, we demonstrate that although most brainstem nuclei are found in their proper positions, the motor nucleus of the facial nerve is ectopically located and neurons of the inferior olive fail to position correctly, resulting in the lack of their characteristic structures in the hindbrain of Cdk5-/- mice. Despite the defective migration of these neurons, axonal exits of the facial nerve from brainstem and projections of the inferior cerebellar axons appear unchanged in Cdk5-/- mice. Defective neuronal migration in Cdk5-/- hindbrain was rescued by the neuron-specific expression of Cdk5 transgene. Because developmental defects of these structures have been reported in reeler and Dab1 mutant mice, we analyzed the double-null mutants of p35 and Dab1 and found more extensive ectopia of VII motor nuclei in these mice. These results indicate that Cdk5/p35 and Reelin signaling regulates the selective mode of neuronal migration in the developing mouse hindbrain.


Hypothyroidism in First-Degree Relatives of Neonates with Congenital Hypothyroidism: Is there an Association?
Recent studies have shown an increased incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), especially in the middle-east region. The exact etiology is unknown; however, it has been related to several factors, the most noticeable being the high prevalence of transient CH (TCH), parental consanguinity, and the history of hypothyroidism in relatives. We sought to determine the impact of hypothyroidism in the relatives of patients with the observed trend. We included all patients with primary CH detected through the Newborn Screening (NBS) Program from 2007 to 2016. We analyzed the impact of consanguinity relationship, parental and siblings' thyroid function, second-degree relatives' thyroid function, parental educational level, age, and maternal gestational diabetes on the development of permanent CH (PCH) and TCH. A total of 1447 consecutive eligible patients were recruited during the study period. Of this number, 1171 (81%) were diagnosed with CH: 623 (53.2%) had PCH and 548 (46.8%) had TCH. Six hundred thirty-three (54.1%) participants were men, and 814 (69.5%) had a history of relatives' hypothyroidism. Our data analysis revealed a significant difference regarding the male gender, having a history of relatives' hypothyroidism, and parental hypothyroidism compared to TCH ones (P < 0.05). Patients with a history of relatives' hypothyroidism had significantly higher PCH than TCH (P < 0.0001). However, consanguineous marriage was not comparable in patients regardless of their history of relatives' hypothyroidism (P-value >0.884). Our findings indicated the role of the history of hypothyroidism in neonates' relatives in the evolution of the PCH. Meanwhile, consanguineous marriage did not impress the development of PCH and TCH.


Morphological and Molecular Characterisation of a New Species of Parastrongyloides (Rhabditida: Strongyloididae) from the Short-Beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus from Western Australia.
A new species of the nematode genus Parastrongyloides Morgan, 1928 was found in the caecum of six short-beaked echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) collected from southwestern Australia between August 1964 and March 2020. Specimens were prepared for microscopic examination as temporary wet mounts, measurements were made using an Olympus DP71 camera with cellSens standard software, figures were drawn using a drawing tube and light micrographs taken. DNA was extracted using a Qiagen blood and tissue kit, amplified targeting the COX1 gene region. Sequences obtained were analysed and edited using Geneious v.8.1 and aligned to existing sequences published in Genbank using MUSCLE. Parastrongyloides spratti n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species of Parastrongyloides in having the male caudal papillae arranged as a single median dome-shaped pre-cloacal papilla, three tiny pairs of ventral papillae immediately pre-cloacal, a tiny ventral pair of papillae post-cloacal and the female with four to five pairs of dorsoventral papillae immediately anterior to the vulva. A revised key to the species of Parastrongyloides found in Australia is given. Sequence analysis of the COX1 gene corroborated the species status of P. spratti. Morphological and molecular analyses support the status of P. spratti as a new species. Parastrongyloides may have an ancient origin in the Australian portion of Gondwanaland.


Oral ethanol self-administration in free-feeding rhesus monkeys.
The ability of a conditioning procedure to establish oral ethanol self-administration in free-feeding rhesus monkeys was assessed. The conditioning procedure required the monkey to drink an ethanol solution in order to have access to a sweet orange-flavored solution. Following an average of 14 sessions under these conditions, the orange solution was no longer delivered and ethanol solution alone was made available in the sessions. During both the conditioning and the ethanol self-administration portions of the experiment each monkey was required to drink an average of 0.5 g/kg ethanol per session in order to continue in the experiment. Of the nine monkeys exposed to these contingencies, five monkeys continued to self-administer ethanol after the presentation of the orange drink was discontinued. However, two of these five monkeys decreased their ethanol solution intake below 0.5 g/kg within 3 weeks after the conditioning sessions had terminated. The three monkeys that sustained high ethanol intake were male and had histories of drug self-administration, suggesting that gender and drug history may influence the initiation of ethanol self-administration. Once ethanol self-administration was established, concentrations of ethanol from 4 to 15% (v/v) were made available. The monkeys consumed intoxicating amounts of ethanol, as indicated by average intakes ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 g/kg and blood ethanol levels over 100 mg/dl. These results demonstrate that ethanol self-administration can be established and maintained through the initial reinforcement of ethanol consumption by the contingent presentation of another reinforcing stimulus. However, the results of this study also indicate that individual differences may be an important determinant of animals initiating ethanol self-administration.


Associative and familiarity-based effects of environmental context on memory.
Previous research has shown that hit and false alarm rates and claims of remembering are greater when test items are shown in the same context that was present at study. In the present article, the effects of environmental context (photographs of scenes shown in the background) were evaluated in a yes-no recognition task when context was manipulated on the computer screen compared with when subjects were wearing virtual reality glasses (Experiment 1), in a forced-choice recognition task to address the question of criterion changes (Experiment 2), and in a free-recall task (Experiment 3) to address the issue of generality. The results show that both specific item-context associations and the familiarity of an old context influence memory performance. We suggest that the effects of environmental context are like other instances of reconstructive memory and can both support and distort recognition memory.


Essential dynamics from NMR clusters: dynamic properties of the Myb DNA-binding domain and a hinge-bending enhancing variant.
Application of the "essential dynamics" method to the NMR cluster of structures for the R2R3 DNA-binding domain of the mouse c-Myb transcriptional activator is described. Using this method, large concerted fluctuations of atoms are extracted showing a hinge-bending motion between the two (R2 and R3) Myb repeats on the basis of NMR data alone. Molecular dynamics simulation of the same protein allowed quantitative comparison of the large concerted motions calculated from experimental and theoretical data, showing a significant degree of similarity. Detailed inspection of the motions reveals a conserved proline that plays a key role in determining hinge flexibility. The proline-to-alanine mutation at this position, which has previously been characterized biochemically, was subjected to molecular dynamics and subsequent essential dynamics analysis. The hinge-bending motion between the two repeats was found to be enhanced for the mutant. The approach described should have general applications, predicting the effect of mutations on protein dynamic properties of other proteins.


Diffusion tensor imaging of hemispheric asymmetries in the developing brain.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in 39 right-handed children to examine structural hemispheric differences and the impact of age, socioeconomic status, and sex on these differences. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were smaller in the left than in the right temporal, prefrontal, anterior internal capsular and the thalamic regions, and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were larger in the left than in the right internal capsule, thalamus, and cingulate. Significant region-by-sex interactions disclosed that the relation of DTI asymmetries to performance depended on sex including the relation of temporal lobes to reading comprehension and the relation of frontal lobes to solving applied mathematical problems.


Bullying perpetration and social status in the peer group: A meta-analysis.
Associations between bullying perpetration and social status vary, not only between different facets of social status but also between bullying in primary versus secondary school. The main aim of the present study was to meta-analyse existing evidence regarding the prospective associations between bullying perpetration and various facets of social status, that is, popularity, peer acceptance, peer rejection, and social preference. Electronic databases were searched to identify studies on bullying perpetration and later social status published up to January 17, 2022. Multilevel random effects models were performed using Metafor and differences in effect sizes as a function of substantive and methodological moderators were tested. In total, 116 effects were included from 18 publications, reporting on 17 different samples and more than 15,000 participants (mean age bullying assessment = 11.57 years, on average 51% female participants). Most samples were from the United States (7) or Europe (7). Overall, bullies were more popular, but also more rejected and scored lower on social preference compared with non-bullies. These associations remained when effects were adjusted for previous social status and other confounders. No link between bullying perpetration and acceptance was found. There was little evidence that effect sizes differed as a function of moderators. Bullies become more popular over time, but also have a higher risk of being rejected and being less socially preferred. Bullying perpetrators are more popular but also more rejected by their peers. There is no evidence that these links differ depending on sex or age at which perpetrators bully, reporter or type of bullying.


Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Prenatal Mental Health and Substance Use.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common and increase the risk of poor health outcomes. Resilience may offer protection against the impacts of ACEs. This study examined the association between maternal ACEs and mental/behavioral health outcomes during pregnancy overall and by resilience. The sample comprised pregnant patients in two pilot studies screened for eight ACEs and resilience during standard prenatal care in Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1 March 2016 to 30 July 2016 (Study 1, medical centers A, B) and from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 (Study 2, medical centers A, C). Early pregnancy outcomes included anxiety and depressive disorders, depression symptoms, intimate partner violence (IPV), and substance use. Multivariable logistic regression was used in this cross-sectional study to examine associations between maternal ACEs (0, 1-2, ≥3) and mental/behavioral health outcomes overall and among those with low and high resilience. Patients (n = 1084) averaged 30.8 years (SD 5.1); 41.7% were non-Hispanic White; 41.7% experienced ≥1 ACE, and 40.3% had low resilience. Patients with 1-2 ACEs or ≥3 ACEs (versus 0 ACEs) had higher odds of anxiety and depressive disorders, depressive symptoms, IPV, and any prenatal substance use (OR 1.44-4.40, p < 0.05). Each individual ACE was associated with ≥2 mental/behavioral health outcomes. In stratified analyses, having ≥1 ACE (vs. 0) was associated with a greater number of mental/behavioral health outcomes among patients with low versus high resilience. ACEs were associated with prenatal mental/behavioral health conditions, particularly in the context of low resilience, highlighting the importance of trauma-informed prenatal care and the need to study resilience-building interventions during pregnancy.


Murine cells transfected with human Hsp27 cDNA resist TNF-induced cytotoxicity.
Hyperthermia sensitizes tumor cells to killing by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). Sensitization is greater in cells exposed to TNF before heating begins than with the reverse sequence, and heat-shock proteins (hsp) have been suggested to protect cells from TNF cytotoxicity. Here we examined the role of Hsp27 in TNF resistance. Murine L929 cells were stably transfected with the vector pRc/CMV constitutively to express an inserted human hsp27 complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence. Parental cells produced no detectable murine homolog to human hsp27. Hsp27-sense clones expressed hsp27 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein at 37 degrees C. Cells transfected with the cDNA in the anti-sense orientation produced anti-sense mRNA but no protein, and cells transfected with the vector alone produced neither product. Expression of hsp27 conferred significant resistance to TNF cytotoxicity in both neutral red cytotoxicity and clonogenic survival assays. Vector along and hsp27 anti-sense transfectants had a TNF response similar to that of parental L929 cells. Kinetic studies in L929 cells showed that hsp27-expressing clones exhibited resistance relative to parental cells beginning 6 h after TNF exposure, and this differential response increased by 12 and 24 h. Addition of actinomycin D to the TNF cytotoxicity assays accelerated the cytotoxicity development in parental and transfected cells, but the hsp27-sense clones were still more resistant. Hsp27-sense clones of L929 cells were also resistant to oxidative stress induced by menadione and released less arachidonic acid in response to TNF induction. These results show that hsp27 can negatively regulate the TNF cytotoxic mechanism.


Recent Progress of Cu-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions (CuAAC) in Sustainable Solvents: Glycerol, Deep Eutectic Solvents, and Aqueous Media.
This mini-review presents a general overview of the progress achieved during the last decade on the amalgamation of CuAAC processes (copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition) with the employment of sustainable solvents as reaction media. In most of the presented examples, the use of water, glycerol (Gly), or deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as non-conventional reaction media allowed not only to recycle the catalytic system (thus reducing the amount of the copper catalyst needed per mole of substrate), but also to achieve higher conversions and selectivities when compared with the reaction promoted in hazardous and volatile organic solvents (VOCs). Moreover, the use of the aforementioned green solvents also permits the improvement of the overall sustainability of the Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process, thus fulfilling several important principles of green chemistry.


Origin of the Anomalous Temperature Dependence of the Photochromic Reaction of Cu-Doped ZnS Nanocrystals.
The temperature dependence of the color fading process of thermally reversible photochromic reactions is one of the most important challenges for their industrial applications. Generally, photochromic reactions of organic molecules have a strong temperature dependence due to the occurrence of large conformational changes during the reactions. In contrast, we recently reported that the photochromic reaction of Cu-doped ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) exhibits a very small temperature dependence around room temperature. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been clarified yet. Here, we reveal that the anomalous temperature dependence of Cu-doped ZnS NCs originates from the balance between the temperature dependence of the charge recombination and that of the adsorption/desorption of water molecules on the surface of the NCs, which act as hole acceptors. Exploring temperature-insensitive photochromic reactions is important not only for gaining fundamental insight into nanomaterials but also for developing novel photochromic materials for outdoor applications.


Applying the theoretical domains framework and behavior change wheel to inform interventions for food and food-related waste audits in hospital foodservices.
Completing aggregate food and food-related waste audits in hospital foodservices is an intense practice, however they can demonstrate problem areas that require attention to reduce waste. Identifying interventions to facilitate and improve the implementation of these audits can be guided by behavior change science. The aims of this study were to use behavior change theories and frameworks to (1) describe the drivers of behavior to complete food and food-related waste audits and (2) identify possible interventions that support the implementation and uptake of these audits. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from hospitals in Victoria, Australia who worked in their foodservice system. Semi-structured interviews sought knowledge of participant's perceived barriers and enablers to completing food and food-related waste audits. Deductive analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Capability Opportunity Motivation Behavior theory (COM-B) identified dominant drivers of behavior. TDF domains were then matched to their corresponding intervention functions according to the Behavior Change Wheel framework (BCW) to identify relevant strategies that may support audit implementation. Data from 20 interviews found the dominant COM-B constructs (TDF domains) were psychological capability (knowledge, skills), physical opportunity (environmental context and resources), and reflective motivation (social/professional role and identity, beliefs about capabilities). These dominant domains come from narratives that participants shared about foodservice staffs' lack of knowledge, labor, time, and the hospital avoiding responsibility for audit completion. Corresponding intervention functions that could have the most potential for implementing waste audits were education, training, environmental restructuring, modeling, and enablement. Participants' shared perspectives of audit enablers resembled these: for example, obtaining staff buy-in, reinforcing behavior through incentives and installing an audit champion. To transition toward regular food and food-related waste auditing practices in hospital foodservices these findings may help identify practice and policy change that delivers standardized auditing activities to encourage long term behavior change. Interventions to support audit completion should address each behavioral construct and relevant domain, as individual hospital sites will experience unique contextual factors and expectations influencing audit outcomes. A co-design process that includes staff and stakeholders of hospital foodservices is recommended to enable engagement and practical solutions to audit implementation.


Effect of Trypanosoma vivax infection on body temperature, feed intake, and metabolic rate of West African dwarf goats.
Thirty-two mature dwarf goats weighing between 16 and 30 kg (22.7 +/- 3.7, SD) were used to study the effect of Trypanosoma vivax infection on rectal temperature (RT), feed intake (DMI), and metabolic rate. Sixteen of the goats were infected intravenously with 14 X 10(6) T. vivax each; the 16 others served as controls. Animals were fed at about 1.1 times maintenance. Heat production was measured from 1 wk preinfection to 6 wk postinfection. From data on successive 9-min periods, heat production was calculated per 24-h period and separately for 0700 to 2000 (day period) and for 2000 to 0700 (night period). Rectal temperature was measured twice weekly. Compared with controls, animals infected with T. vivax developed and maintained a 1 degree C higher RT and a higher metabolic rate. After the prepatent period of 5 to 7 d, during which RT remained normal, all infected goats had a period of about 7 d with constant high temperatures. After that initial episode, RT fluctuated. Heat production of infected animals was increased by 15.6 kcal.d-1.kg-.75, or about 16%. This increase in heat production was greater during the night (22 kcal.d-1.kg-.75) than during the day (14 kcal.d-1.kg-.75). After T. vivax infection, large differences in DMI among animals were apparent. In four animals, a clear relation between DMI and RT was noted, but in 12 animals no such relationship was apparent.


Symptom-triggered vs fixed-schedule doses of benzodiazepine for alcohol withdrawal: a randomized treatment trial.
In alcohol withdrawal, fixed doses of benzodiazepine are generally recommended as a first-line pharmacologic approach. This study determines the benefits of an individualized treatment regimen on the quantity of benzodiazepine administered and the duration of its use during alcohol withdrawal treatment. We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial including 117 consecutive patients with alcohol dependence, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, entering an alcohol treatment program at both the Lausanne and Geneva university hospitals, Switzerland. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: (1) 56 were treated with oxazepam in response to the development of signs of alcohol withdrawal (symptom-triggered); and (2) 61 were treated with oxazepam every 6 hours with additional doses as needed (fixed-schedule). The administration of oxazepam in group 1 and additional oxazepam in group 2 was determined using a standardized measure of alcohol withdrawal. The main outcome measures were the total amount and duration of treatment with oxazepam, the incidence of complications, and the comfort level. A total of 22 patients (39%) in the symptom-triggered group were treated with oxazepam vs 100% in the fixed-schedule group (P<.001). The mean oxazepam dose administered in the symptom-triggered group was 37.5 mg compared with 231.4 mg in the fixed-schedule group (P<.001). The mean duration of oxazepam treatment was 20.0 hours in the symptom-triggered group vs 62.7 hours in the fixed-schedule group (P<.001). Withdrawal complications were limited to a single episode of seizures in the symptom-triggered group. There were no differences in the measures of comfort between the 2 groups. Symptom-triggered benzodiazepine treatment for alcohol withdrawal is safe, comfortable, and associated with a decrease in the quantity of medication and duration of treatment.


Ultrasound targeted CNS gene delivery for Parkinson's disease treatment.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a potent neurodegenerative disease in which a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons eventually produces a loss of movement control and other symptoms. To date, in addition to pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and neurosurgical therapies, gene delivery has emerged as a potential therapeutic modality for PD. Effective targeted gene delivery is complicated in that gene vectors cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thus clinical tests must rely on invasive intracerebral gene vector injection. Burst low-pressure focused ultrasound exposure with microbubbles has been demonstrated to noninvasively target and temporally open the BBB, opening new opportunities to transport large molecule substances into the brain for central nervous system (CNS) disease treatment, and raising the potential for noninvasive gene delivery for PD treatment. This paper reviews the underlying mechanism and current progress for focused ultrasound induced CNS gene delivery, and summarizes potential directions for further ultrasound-medicated PD gene therapy.


Conceptual framework for research and clinical practice concerning cardiovascular health-related behaviors.
To present a conceptual framework based on the PRECEDE model conceived to guide research and the clinical practice of nurses in the clinical follow-up of patients with cardiovascular diseases. The conceptual bases as well as the study designs used in the framework are discussed. The contextualization of the proposed structure is presented in the clinical follow-up of hypertensive patients. Examples of the intervention planning steps according to the intervention mapping protocol are provided. This conceptual framework coherently and rationally guided the diagnostic steps related to excessive salt intake among hypertensive individuals, as well as the development and assessment of specific interventions designed to change this eating behavior. The use of this conceptual framework enables a greater understanding of health-related behaviors implied in the development and progression of cardiovascular risk factors and is useful in proposing nursing interventions with a greater chance of success. This model is a feasible strategy to improve the cardiovascular health of patients cared for by the Brazilian Unified Health System.


Young children's ability to understand a model as a spatial representation.
Children's ability to understand that a real environment can be represented in a symbolic form (i.e., by a model) is an important developmental achievement. Researchers have claimed that children who are just 3 years of age appreciate models as representations. This research was based on tasks that involved having young children use a model to locate a hiding place in an actual room. In this article, however, we point out the difficulties in interpreting previous model tasks, and we describe two studies that showed that young 3-year-olds could perform model tasks successfully when the hiding place they were looking for was a unique place in the model (and room). When the hiding place was unique, the children had to note only that place and they needed no further knowledge about the relationship between the model and the room. When the hiding place was one of two identical places, however, the children needed to take spatial relationships into account to distinguish the correct place, and young 3-year-olds were unable to do this. Four-year-olds were able to use spatial relationships to distinguish identical places when the model was aligned with the space it represented, but they had difficulty when the model was not aligned. Five-year-olds could use spatial relationships effectively between one model space and another whether or not the model was aligned.


Management of common minor ailments in Qatar: Community pharmacists' self-perceived competency and its predictors.
Studies focused on comprehensive assessment of self-perceived competency of community pharmacists to manage minor ailments are scanty despite that self-perceived competency is a valid determinant of task performance. The objectives of the study were to assess community pharmacists' self-perceived competency to manage fourteen common minor ailments in Qatar, and identify its significant predictors. A cross-sectional assessment of 307 community pharmacists was conducted with a pre-tested 20-item questionnaire. Self-perceived competency was assessed with nine elements on a scale of 1-10 (Maximum obtainable score: Each minor ailment = 90; each element = 140). Mann-Whitney U and bivariate logistic regression were used for data analyses. The response rate was 91.9% (282/307). The majority of the respondents were males (68.1%; 192/282), within the age range of 31-40 years (55.3%; 156/282). The minor ailments with the highest median competency score were constipation (76), and cold/catarrh (75) while travel sickness (69), and ringworm (69) had the lowest. The two condition-specific competency elements with the highest median score were recommendation of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (115), and provision of instructions to guide its use (115). Ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions had the lowest median competency score (109). The significant predictors self-perceived competency were female gender (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.34-4.25, p = 0.003), and working for chain pharmacies (OR = 2.54, 95%CI: 1.30-4.96, p = 0.006). Overall, Community pharmacists' self-perceived competency was adequate for majority of the common minor ailments, and it was highest for constipation and cold/catarrh, and specifically for the recommendation of OTC medicines and provision of instructions to guide its use. However, diagnostic ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions with similar features had the lowest median competency score. Female gender and working in chain pharmacies were the significant predictors of self-perceived competency to manage minor ailments.


Attitudes towards alcohol use among Bulgarians-Christians and Turks-Muslims.
The attitude towards drinking in a given culture plays a very important role in the use and abuse of alcoholic beverages. The purpose of our study was to examine and compare this attitude among the Bulgarians-Christians and Turks-Muslims in Bulgaria. The sample comprised 618 subjects--316 Bulgarians-Christians and 302 Turks-Muslims, selected by means of a randomized cluster design. The sample was stratified by ethnic identity, gender, age and place of residence (town vs. village). This methodology provided us with a way of controlling these confounding variables. The survey was conducted with a standardized questionnaire designed specifically for the study. The findings show that a greater percentage of Turks-Muslim than of Bulgarians-Christians (including those respondents who regularly use alcohol) are in favour of an official prohibition of alcohol in society and even moderate use on special occasions is inadmissible to them. Women, rural residents, people with lower educational status, senior citizens and those to whom religion plays an important part in their lives predominate in the social structure of the Turkish sub-sample favouring official prohibition. Their cultural readiness to say "No" to alcohol is viewed in the context of the abstinent Islamic culture.


Custom-Made Ethyl Vinyl Acetate Insoles with Arch Support Could Improve Static Balance in Diabetic Women with Neuropathic Foot.
Individuals with diabetic neuropathy may experience plantar ulcers and postural instability. Although use of an insole with arch support has the potential to decrease the incidence of plantar ulcers, the choice of proper design and material density concerning postural stability is challenging. The objective of this pilot study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the immediate effects of custom-made ethyl vinyl acetate insoles with arch support and Shore A values of 30 or 50 on static balance in patients with diabetes and neuropathic foot/feet. Ten women with diabetes participated in this study. Static balance was analyzed while in double-limb standing with eyes closed and eyes open and while standing on a dominant limb with eyes open wearing shoes only and wearing shoes and insoles with Shore A values of 30 and 50. With insole, the mean values of center of pressure excursions decreased significantly while standing on double limbs with eyes closed. The improvement in static balance was greater while using the insole with greater density; however, the difference was not statistically significant. An insole with arch support made of ethyl vinyl acetate Shore A of 30 and 50, which could decrease plantar pressure concentration, had no negative effect on the static balance of diabetes. Therefore, further research on the long-term effects of such insoles on the static balance of diabetes is suggested.


FFAs and QT intervals in obese women with visceral adiposity: effects of sustained weight loss over 1 year.
We evaluated 66 obese patients grouped by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) into group A (WHR > 0.85, n = 30) and group B (WHR < or = 0.85, n = 36), before and after 1 yr of diet-induced weight loss compared with 25 nonobese women. Before diet, the longest values of QT intervals and the highest levels of FFA and catecholamines were in group A (P < 0.01). In obese women (both groups), the corrected QT (QTc); interval correlated with plasma FFA (P < 0.01) and catecholamine (P < 0.02) concentrations. After 1 yr of diet, at the same levels of body weight reduction, the decrement of the QTc interval (P < 0.02), FFA (P < 0.01) and catecholamine (P < 0.02) levels were significantly greater in-group A than group B. In multivariate analysis, the decline of the QTc interval after weight loss was associated with changes in plasma FFA independently of changes in WHR and plasma catecholamines. Our data suggest that the QTc interval is tightly correlated with plasma FFA levels; shortening of cardiac repolarization times in the course of long-lasting weight reduction may reduce the risk of ventricular electrical instability, especially in women with abdominal adiposity.


Quenching of photoluminescence in conjugates of quantum dots and single-walled carbon nanotube.
Development of quantum dot (QD) based device components requires controlled integration of QDs into different photonic and electronic materials. In this regard, introduction of methods for regular arrangement of QDs and investigation of properties of QD-based assemblies are important. In the current work we report (1) controlled conjugation of CdSe-ZnS QDs to sidewall-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) templates (2) and the effect of conjugation of QDs to SWCNT on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of QDs. We identified that PL intensity and lifetime of QDs are considerably reduced after conjugation to SWCNT. The origin of the quenching of the PL intensity and lifetime was discussed in terms of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET involves nonradiative transfer of energy from a photoexcited QD (energy donor) to a nearby SWCNT (energy acceptor) in the ground state. This was examined by varying the density of QDs on SWCNT and conjugating smaller and bigger QDs to the same SWCNT. We estimated the FRET efficiency in QD-SWCNT conjugates from the quenching of the PL intensity and lifetime and identified that FRET is independent of the density and type of QDs on SWCNT but inherent to QD-SWCNT conjugates.


Who's in charge here? The General Hospital School of Nursing, St. John's, Newfoundland, 1903-30.
This essay examines the effect of the political economy of the General Hospital, St. John's, Newfoundland, on the development of the General Hospital School of Nursing from 1903 to 1930. The General Hospital was the only government-funded hospital in Newfoundland providing health care for the entire colony of 124,000 people. The School of Nursing was the only nurses' training program in Newfoundland until 1929 when a second school opened. Two conflicting personalities who played an important role in the development of nursing at these institutions were Mary Southcott, Superintendent of Nurses from 1903 to 1916, and Lawrence Keegan, Medical Superintendent of the hospital. The resulting tension between these two people led to a major crisis at the hospital in 1914 with the government instigating a Royal Commission to examine the struggle between the nurses and the administration (doctors and government officials) over who had the power and authority to determine the nurses' role and status within the hospital. After a year of investigation, the Royal Commission agreed with Keegan's view and subsequently organized the hospital along new lines. Southcott was fired and a new, more compliant nurse put in her place. The second period, 1916 to 1930, saw the recommendations of the Royal Commission implemented, including establishment of a Board of Governors to run the hospital on a more businesslike footing.


Combined modality treatment with selective bladder conservation for invasive bladder cancer: long-term tolerance in the female patient.
To assess the physical, psychological, social, and organ-specific long-term treatment sequelae occurring in women with muscle-invading bladder carcinoma treated with combined modality therapy that allowed for bladder conservation in 67% of patients. Patients with muscle-invading (T2-4a,Nx,M0) bladder cancer were treated with maximal transurethral resection followed by induction chemoradiotherapy (cisplatin x 2 plus 40 Gy pelvic irradiation or the same preceded by 2 cycles of methotrexate, cisplatin, and vinblastine) between the years 1986 and 1994. Women who had a complete response and all those who were not candidates for cystectomy received consolidation therapy of additional cisplatin and tumor boost to 64.8 Gy. Women who were incomplete responders and those who developed recurrent invasive tumor underwent immediate radical cystectomy. Forty-two women were treated with this approach, 21 of whom (median age, 69 years; median follow-up time, 56 months) were available for and underwent a structured interview of treatment and health-related issues using a quantitative symptom score. All 21 patients have full urinary continence and no dysuria. Nineteen report unchanged or improved bladder capacity and function. No patient reported loss of bowel continence. Of the five women who were sexually active, two report an increase in intercourse frequency and one noted a decrease. There is no decrease in intercourse satisfaction or orgasm, and no dyspareunia or vaginal bleeding was noted. Eleven patients reported high levels of anxiety related to their bladder cancer before treatment. This was significantly reduced or absent in 9 of 11 after treatment. Actuarial overall survival for all 42 women was 58% at 5 years. Actuarial overall survival with an intact bladder was 47% at 5 years. This study shows that overall survival is high when chemoradiation and transurethral resection are used in potential bladder-sparing protocols for muscle-invading transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in women. Furthermore, 67% of the women, including most long-term survivors, retain their bladders. The functional quality of the conserved organ, the rectum, and the vagina, as reported by the patients, was excellent.


Aromatic Polyimide/Graphene Composite Organic Cathodes for Fast and Sustainable Lithium-Ion Batteries.
A composite organic cathode material based on aromatic polyimide (PI) and highly conductive graphene was prepared through a facile in situ polymerization method for application in lithium-ion batteries. The in situ polymerization generated intimate contact between PI and electronically conductive graphene, resulting in conductive composites with highly reversible redox reactions and good structure stability. The synergistic effect between PI and graphene enabled not only a high reversible capacity of 232.6 mAh g-1 at a charge-discharge rate of C/10 but also exceptionally high-rate cycling stability, that is, a high capacity of 108.9 mAh g-1 at a very high charge-discharge rate of 50C with a capacity retention of 80 % after 1000 cycles. This improved electrochemical performance resulted from the combination of stable redox reversibility of PI and high electronic conductivity of the graphene additive. The graphene-based composite also exhibited much better performance than composites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the conductive carbon black C45 in terms of specific capacity and long-term cycling stability under the same charge-discharge rates.


Immunohistopathologic spectrum of the glial fibrillary acidic protein in neurooncology.
To conventional histologic and special staining techniques as well as electron microscopy, immunohistological methods have recently been added to characterize neuroectodermal and non-neuroectodermal tumors of both the central and the peripheral nervous system. An ever increasing panel of these morphologic techniques enables us today, to characterize precisely such tumors in or around the central and peripheral nervous system, sometimes only hampered by preservation of tissue inadequate for the respective methods.


[Fluorogram using digital X-ray cineradiography].
We discussed the usefulness of fluorogram obtained using digital X-ray cineradiography (digital-cine-fluorograpy) in the diagnosis of dysphagia, comparied with that of video-fluorograpy. Digital-cine-fluorograpy produces five frames per second. A qualitative evaluation comfirmed that five frames per second was sufficient to grasp movement during swallowing in clinical setting. Digital-cine-fluorograpy imaging was also convenient for clinical practice in that the medical records can be accessed from any workstation. Although the maximum photography time (around 10 seconds) is limited and a higher exposure dose is required, we concluded that digital-cine-fluorograpy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of dysphagia.


The effect of prehospital telecardiology on the mortality and morbidity of ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: A cross-sectional study.
The sooner the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is performed, the better prognosis is expected in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The objective is to evaluate the effect of prehospital triage based on electrocardiogram (ECG) and telecardiology on the mortality and morbidity of ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing PPCI. This cross-sectional study was conducted based on the data extracted from the hospital information system (HIS) of one general hospital, which had the capability of performing PPCI 24 h a day, 7 days a week. All patients with STEMI who undergone PPCI during 1 year, transferred by emergency medical service (EMS) and their data were registered in the HIS were eligible. Besides the baseline characteristics, first medical contact (FMC)-to-balloon time was recorded. Morbidity based on predischarge left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mortality based on Global Registry of Acute Cardiac Events (GRACE) score were also recorded. Patients who were referred to the hospital by EMS with prehospital ECG and telecardiology were compared with those without prehospital ECG. Totally, 298 patients with STEMI were enrolled, of whom 183 patients (61.4%) had prehospital ECG (telecardiology), and 115 patients (38.6%) had not. The means of predischarge LVEF of the patients in the first and the second groups were 40.7 ± 10.4 and 40.6 ± 11.2, respectively (P = 0.946). The mean of the probability of 6-month mortality based on GRACE score in the first group was significantly less than that of the second group (P = 0.004). Analyses of multivariable ordinal logistic regression showed that 6-month mortality severity risk in the second group was 1.5 times more than the first group (95% confidence interval 0.8-2.6), although this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.199). It is likely that prehospital telecardiology, with shortening FMC to balloon time result in reducing probability 6-month mortality in STEMI patients who undergone PPCI. However, the process of telecardiology had no effect on predischarge LVEF in the current study.


Primary Cribriform Carcinoma of the Eyelid With Neuroendocrine Features: A Case Report.
A variety of tumors may involve the eyelid, most of which are primary, but rarely can be metastatic. Previously reported eyelid primary carcinomas with neuroendocrine features include Merkel cell carcinoma, apocrine and eccrine gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, and one report of primary "well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor." Herein we report the first case of primary cribriform carcinoma of the eyelid with neuroendocrine features. The patient is a 75-year-old black man who presented to the clinic with a 5-year history of a slowly growing, non-painful, non-exudative lesion of his left lower eyelid. Examination disclosed a non-tender 8 mm by 9 mm ovoid, firm, euchromic subdermal non-adherent nodule involving the left lower eyelid with no madarosis or loss of lid margin architecture, but with overlying induration. An incisional biopsy demonstrated nodules and aggregates of tumor composed of cuboidal hyperchromatic basoloid cells with occasional mitotic figures within sheets in a mostly cribriform and occasionally papillary pattern. The tumor was diffusely positive for cytokeratin, Epithelial Membrane Antigen, and p40 and focally positive for synaptophysin. The tumor was negative with antibodies for Cytokeratin 20 (CK20), p63, CD10, Thyroid Transcription Factor-1, Cytokeratin 7, Prostate Specific Antigen, and Epithelial Specific Antigen. Oncologic evaluation was negative for metastases. The patient underwent a complete excision of his eyelid tumor with 5 mm margins using Mohs surgery, with subsequent reconstruction using a Hughes tarsoconjunctival flap, myocutaneous advancement flap, and lateral canthal tendon plication.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(2):173-174.
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Inflammatory cytokines as a third signal for T cell activation.
CD8 T cells require a third signal, along with Ag and costimulation, to make a productive response and avoid death and/or tolerance induction. Recent studies indicate that IL-12 and Type I IFN (IFNalpha/beta) are the major sources of signal 3 in a variety of responses, and that the two cytokines stimulate a common regulatory program involving altered expression of about 350 genes. Signal 3-driven chromatin remodeling is likely to play a major role in this regulation. Although less well studied, there is emerging evidence that CD4 T cells may also require a 'third signal' for a productive response and that IL-1 can provide this signal. Signal 3 cytokines can replace adjuvants in supporting in vivo T cell responses to peptide and protein antigens, and a better understanding of their activities and mechanisms should contribute to more rational design of vaccines.


Arthroscopic management of pyarthrosis. An overview.
The author evaluates the place of arthroscopic techniques in the treatment of bacterial infection of joints. Based on a review of the pertinent literature and an analysis of clinical material consisting of 11 cases, he concludes that pyarthrosis can be managed successfully by arthroscopic debridement combined with appropriate antibiotics and early institution of a program of range-of-motion exercises.


The rs10229583 polymorphism near paired box gene 4 is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women.
Objective The rs10229583 polymorphism near paired box gene 4 ( PAX4) is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Mutations in the PAX4 gene may be associated with impaired differentiation/development of pancreatic islet beta cells during fetal development and, consequently, a compromised insulin response to high blood glucose. To ascertain whether this polymorphism plays a role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), we investigated the genotypic and allele frequency differences between GDM and normal pregnancies. Methods A total of 310 GDM and 440 normal pregnancies were evaluated. Allele and genotype frequencies of rs10229583 were determined for all participants with Sanger sequencing and SNaPshot. Association of the allele and genotypes of the single nucleotide polymorphism with the disease was analyzed using Pearson's χ2 test and OR (odds ratio). Results The G allele was more frequent in patients with GDM compared with controls (OR = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.939). The GG genotype frequency of rs10229583 was significantly different between subjects with GDM and normal controls (OR = 1.411, 95% CI: 1.032-1.928). The OR of the GA + GG genotype was 3.182 (95% CI: 1.294-7.826) for patients with GDM compared with controls. Conclusion The present study suggests that rs10229583 is associated with GDM.


Calcified vestibular schwannoma with unusual histological characteristics - positive immunoreactivity for CD-34 antigen.
Calcification in vestibular schwannoma is extremely rare. A 36-year-old man presented with a history of decreased hearing on the left since childhood. Computed tomography showed a left cerebellopontine angle lesion protruding into the porus acousticus and enlarging the internal auditory meatus, with significant deposits of calcification. Histological and immunohistochemical examination, including staining for CD-34, a myeloid progenitor cell antigen, found highly degenerated schwannoma with collagen-rich tissue, calcification, formation of bone, abnormal vessels of various sizes, and old haemorrhage with marked haemosiderin-laden macrophages. Most of the surgical specimen was sclerotic collagenous tissue containing sparse spindle-shaped cells which formed approximately 90% of the total specimen. However, the spindle-shaped cells were partly concentrated into islands forming the cellular part (approximately 10% of the total). The spindle-shaped cells in both parts showed almost typical immunohistochemical characteristics of schwannoma. However, many spindle-shaped cells in only the sclerotic part were positive for CD-34, which is widely used for the diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumours. Cerebellopontine angle tumour showing fibromatous tissue, including calcification, may contain foci of typical schwannoma. Careful histological examination with detailed immunohistochemical staining is required for the correct diagnosis. In particular, spindle-shaped cells occasionally show positive immunoreactivity for CD-34 antigen in the areas of degenerated and calcified schwannoma characteristic of our case.


Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and its receptor CCR-2 in piglet lungs exposed to inhaled nitric oxide and hyperoxia.
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), acting through its C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR-2), has important roles in inflammation, angiogenesis, and wound repair. The individual and combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and hyperoxia on lung MCP-1 and CCR-2 in relation to lung leukocyte dynamics are unknown. Because MCP-1 gene is up-regulated by oxidants, we hypothesized that inhaled NO with hyperoxia will increase MCP-1 production and CCR-2 expression more than either gas alone. We randomly assigned young piglets to breathe room air (RA), RA+50 ppm NO (RA+NO), O(2), or O(2)+NO for 1 or 5 d before sacrifice. Lungs were lavaged and tissues preserved for hybridization studies, Western blotting, histology, and immunohistochemistry. The results show that lung MCP-1 production and alveolar macrophage count were significantly elevated in the 5-d O(2) and O(2)+NO groups relative to the RA group (p < or = 0.05). In contrast, lung CCR-2 abundance was diminished in the O(2) group (p </= 0.05), but not in the O(2)+NO group, compared with the RA group. No difference was detected in any variable studied at 24 h. CCR-2 distribution was similar in all groups with staining of alveolar septa, macrophages, vascular endothelium, and the luminal epithelial surface of airways. We conclude that although hyperoxia increases MCP-1 in young piglet lungs, it also decreases CCR-2 abundance, which may limit participation of MCP-1 in alveolar macrophage recruitment. Inhaled NO, unlike hyperoxia, has no significant independent effect, but its concurrent administration during hyperoxia attenuates the decremental effect of hyperoxia on CCR-2 abundance.


Dysfunctional voiding and urodynamic disorders in children with recurrent urinary tract infection.
The purpose of the study was to determine: a) the incidence of particular symptoms of dysfunctional voiding, b) the incidence of particular urodynamic disorders, and c) urodynamic patterns typical of particular symptoms of dysfunctional voiding in children with recurrent urinary tract infection. The study comprised 282 children with recurrent urinary tract infection. In order to diagnose functional disturbances of the lower urinary tract, such as detrusor instability, detrusor-sphincter dyscoordination, detrusor instability associated with detrusor-sphincter dyscoordination, and functional subvesical obstruction, in all children, urodynamic examination was performed. For each symptom of dysfunctional voiding (nocturnal enuresis, diurnal urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, and voiding postponement syndrome) urodynamic pattern was determined. The study revealed that functional disturbances of the lower urinary tract coexist with positive histories of micturition disturbances. In the studied children, detrusor instability was the most common urodynamic disorder. Nocturnal enuresis, diurnal urinary incontinence and urinary urgency were symptoms of dysfunctional voiding typical of detrusor stability. In children with and without vesico-ureteral reflux, the incidences of particular urodynamic disorders were similar. This seems to suggest that disturbances of the lower urinary tract may be secondary to infection.


Parallel genetic adaptation of Bacillus subtilis to different plant species.
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria benefit plants by stimulating their growth or protecting them against phytopathogens. Rhizobacteria must colonize and persist on plant roots to exert their benefits. However, little is known regarding the processes by which rhizobacteria adapt to different plant species, or behave under alternating host plant regimes. Here, we used experimental evolution and whole-population whole-genome sequencing to analyse how Bacillus subtilis evolves on Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato seedlings, and under an alternating host plant regime, in a static hydroponic setup. We observed parallel evolution across multiple levels of biological organization in all conditions, which was greatest for the two heterogeneous, multi-resource, spatially structured environments at the genetic level. Species-specific adaptation at the genetic level was also observed, possibly caused by the selection stress imposed by different host plants. Furthermore, a trade-off between motility and biofilm development was supported by mutational changes in motility- and biofilm-related genes. Finally, we identified several condition-specific and common targeted genes in different environments by comparing three different B. subtilis biofilm adaptation settings. The results demonstrate a common evolutionary pattern when B. subtilis is adapting to the plant rhizosphere in similar conditions, and reveal differences in genetic mechanisms between different host plants. These findings will likely support strain improvements for sustainable agriculture.


Newly identified U4/U6 snRNP-binding proteins by serum autoantibodies from a patient with systemic sclerosis.
We found serum autoantibodies directed against the proteins binding exclusively to U4/U6 of Sm small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) in serum from a patient (MaS) with systemic sclerosis. Their specificity, called anti-MaS, is distinct from that of known antibodies against U snRNP. The U4 and U6 small nuclear RNA from a 32P-labeled HeLa cell extract and five proteins with Mr 150,000, 120,000, 80,000, 36,000, and 34,000, in addition to Sm core proteins (B, B', D, E, F, and G) from an [35S] methionine-labeled extract, were immunoprecipitated by anti-MaS in isotonic solution. However, the Sm core proteins and U4 and U6 small nuclear RNA were separated from the protein-A-Sepharose facilitated MaS immunoprecipitate by incubation in a solution containing 500 mM NaCl. In immunoblots, anti-MaS antibodies reacted with one protein of Mr 150,000 from a HeLa cell nuclear extract that was fractionated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to a nitrocellulose sheet. The monospecific immunoaffinity purified antibody eluted from the immunoblot band immunoprecipitated U4 and U6 small nuclear RNA and reblotted the protein with Mr 150,000. These data indicate that anti-MaS antibodies recognize at least one antigenic protein that binds exclusively to the U4/U6 snRNP.


A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III in an Elderly Norwegian Sample.
This study compared the factor structure of the translated Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III), which is the latest available version in Norway, with the original U.S. version. A sample of 122 healthy, elderly Norwegians (mean age: 74; standard deviation = 8.8) completed the WMS-III. The factor structure of the translated WMS-III was tested, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, with comparison of model fit based on five a priori hypothesized models. Several model fit indices pointed to a three-factor model (working memory, visual memory, and auditory memory) providing the best fit to the data. Our study supports updated findings of the original WMS-III in nonclinical samples and suggests that the translated version is structurally equal to the original. The study supports the cross-cultural validity of the WMS-III. However, based on the present data, one might expect scores on the Family Pictures subtest to fall below scores on other WMS-III subtests in elderly Norwegians.