Utilization of extruded linseed to modify fatty composition of intensively-reared lamb meat: effect of associated cereals (wheat vs. corn) and linoleic acid content of the diet.
Sixty male lambs were used in two trials to study the efficiency of transfer and elongation of linolenic acid (ALA) in muscle and caudal adipose tissue and to assess factors affecting this process and related changes in fatty acid (FA) profile. In experiment 1, lambs were fed a control diet or extruded linseed (L) diet either with wheat (W, rapid starch) or corn (C, slow starch). In experiment 2, lambs were fed L with "normal" rapeseed, or high-oleic rapeseed, or soybean. In experiment 1, L increased ALA proportion and total n-3 PUFA in muscle and adipose tissue. In adipose tissue but not in muscle, LC lambs had higher proportion of ALA than LW lambs. In experiment 2, increasing linoleic acid (LA) intake increased LA proportion in muscle and adipose tissue but did not modify ALA proportion. Moreover, in muscle, it did not change the desaturation and elongation processes of ALA to long-chain n-3 PUFA.


PERSISTENT PATH LAPLACIAN.
Path homology proposed by S.-T.Yau and his co-workers provides a new mathematical model for directed graphs and networks. Persistent path homology (PPH) extends the path homology with filtration to deal with asymmetry structures. However, PPH is constrained to purely topological persistence and cannot track the homotopic shape evolution of data during filtration. To overcome the limitation of PPH, persistent path Laplacian (PPL) is introduced to capture the shape evolution of data. PPL's harmonic spectra fully recover PPH's topological persistence and its non-harmonic spectra reveal the homotopic shape evolution of data during filtration.


X-ray transmission movies of spontaneous dynamic events.
We describe a new x-ray radiographic imaging system which allows for continuous x-ray transmission imaging of spontaneous dynamic events. We demonstrate this method on thermal explosions in three plastic bonded formulations of the energetic material octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine. We describe the x-ray imaging system and triggering developed to enable the continuous imaging of a thermal explosion.


Peripheral distribution of virus in dogs inoculated with two strains of rabies virus.
Forty-seven Beagles were inoculated IM with an Ethiopian strain or a Mexican strain of rabies virus to study the pathogenesis of street rabies virus in dogs. Thirty-nine dogs died of rabies, with incubation periods lasting 9 to 69 days. Of the dogs that died, 82% had shown typical signs of rabies, but 18% died without any noticeable signs of illness. Eight dogs that remained healthy during an observation period lasting more than 2 years did not produce detectable amounts of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies; however, when challenge exposed with a large dose of the homologous rabies virus inoculum, these 8 dogs responded with high antibody titers, but challenge-exposed control dogs died of rabies. Infective virus was isolated from the saliva and cerebrospinal fluid of dogs before any signs of rabies were noticed; rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies were not detected in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid before illness. In this study, viral antigen was not detected in the skin biopsy specimens taken before signs of rabies were noticed. At necropsy of the 39 dogs, rabies virus was detected in most tissues examined. Viral antigen was detected in the skin tissues of 14 (36.8%) of the 38 dogs examined. The presence of viral antigen in the skin seemed to correlate with the presence of virus in the salivary glands, but virus in the salivary glands did not indicate the presence of virus in the skin. Eleven (44%) of the 25 dogs which had virus in the salivary glands did not have any detectable amount of viral antigen in the skin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Assessment of fetal biparietal diameter during normal pregnancy by ultrasound in Nigerian women.
The fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) was measured on 1104 occasions in 552 Nigerian women during normal pregnancy, and the range of BPD values for each week of pregnancy between 12 and 40 weeks was determined. Growth of the BPD in our population showed an asymptotic curve like that of Europeans but our values were slightly higher. The mean weekly increase in the BPD between 13 and 30 weeks gestation was 4.9 mm/week, between 30 and 36 weeks, 3.3 mm/week and between 37 and 40 weeks, 1.7 mm/week. But there was no significant difference between the BPD measurements of Europeans and Nigerian fetuses except towards term.


Validation of the short Arabic UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.
Impulsivity is involved in numerous psychiatric and addictive disorders, as well as in risky behaviors. The UPPS-P scale highlights five complementary impulsivity constructs (i.e., positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking) that possibly work as different pathways linking impulsivity to other disorders. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arab language short 20-item UPPS-P scale and to eventually validate it. Participants were recruited online through e-mail invitations. After online informed consent was obtained, the questionnaires (the UPPS-P and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS]) were completed anonymously. The five dimensions of the Arab UPPS-P model were assessed in a sample of 743 participants. As in other linguistic assessments of the UPPS-P, confirmatory factor analysis showed the validity of a model with five different, but nonetheless interrelated, facets of impulsivity. A three-factor model with two higher order factors-urgency (negative and positive) and lack of conscientiousness (lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance)-and a third sensation seeking factor fit the data well, but to a lesser extent. The results suggested good internal consistency, with external validity shown from correlations between some of the UPPS-P components and a measure of addictive Internet use (the CIUS). The Arab short UPPS-P is a valid assessment tool with good psychometric properties and is suitable for online use.


Phenotypic plasticity in adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda:Schistosomatidae) evidenced by brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopies.
A comparative morphometric study was performed to identify host-induced morphological alterations in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. A wild parasite population was obtained from a naturally infected rodent (Nectomys squamipes) and then recovered from laboratory infected C3H/He mice. Furthermore, allopatric worm populations maintained for long-term under laboratory conditions in Swiss Webster mice were passed on to N. squamipes. Suckers and genital system (testicular lobes, uterine egg, and egg spine) were analyzed by a digital system for image analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed details of the genital system (testicular lobes, vitelline glands, and ovary) and the tegument just below the ventral sucker. Significant morphological changes (p < 0.05) were detected in male worms in all experimental conditions, with no significant variability as assessed by CLSM. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were evident in females from the wild population related to their ovaries and vitelline glands, whereas allopatric females presented differences only in this last character. We conclude that S. mansoni worms present the phenotypic plasticity induced by modifications in the parasite's microenvironment, mainly during the first passage under laboratory conditions.


Physicochemical Properties of 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds.
The reconstruction or regeneration of damaged bone tissue is one of the challenges of orthopedic surgery and tissue engineering. Among all strategies investigated, additive manufacturing by fused deposition modeling (3D-FDM printing) opens the possibility to obtain patient-specific scaffolds with controlled architectures. The present work evaluates in depth 3D direct printing, avoiding the need for a pre-fabricated filament, to obtain bone-related scaffolds from direct mixtures of polylactic acid (PLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA). For it, a systematic physicochemical characterization (SEM-EDS, FT-Raman, XRD, micro-CT and nanoindentation) was performed, using different PLA/HA ratios and percentages of infill. Results prove the versatility of this methodology with an efficient HA incorporation in the 3D-printed scaffolds up to 13 wt.% of the total mass and a uniform distribution of the HA particles in the scaffold at the macro level, both longitudinal and cross sections. Moreover, an exponential distribution of the HA particles from the surface toward the interior of the biocomposite cord (micro level), within the first 80 µm (10% of the entire cord diameter), is also confirmed, providing the scaffold with surface roughness and higher bioavailability. In relation to the pores, they can range in size from 250 to 850 µm and can represent a percentage, in relation to the total volume of the scaffold, from 24% up to 76%. The mechanical properties indicate an increase in Young's modulus with the HA content of up to ~50%, compared to the scaffolds without HA. Finally, the in vitro evaluation confirms MG63 cell proliferation on the 3D-printed PLA/HA scaffolds after up to 21 days of incubation.


An Evaluation of Voluntary Varicella Vaccination Coverage in Zhejiang Province, East China.
In 2014 a 2-doses varicella vaccine (VarV) schedule was recommended by the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We aimed to assess the coverage of the 1st dose of VarV (VarV₁) and the 2nd dose of VarV (VarV₂) among children aged 2-6 years through the Zhejiang Provincial Immunization Information System (ZJIIS) and to explore the determinants associated with the VarV coverage. Children aged 2-6 years (born from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013) registered in ZJIIS were enrolled. Anonymized individual records of target children were extracted from the ZJIIS database on 1 January 2016, including their VarV and (measles-containing vaccine) MCV vaccination information. The VarV₁ and VarV₂ coverage rates were evaluated for each birth cohorts. The coverage of VarV also was estimated among strata defined by cities, gender and immigration status. We also evaluated the difference in coverage between VarV and MCV. A total of 3,028,222 children aged 2-6 years were enrolled. The coverage of VarV₁ ranged from 84.8% to 87.9% in the 2009-2013 birth cohorts, while the coverage of VarV₂ increased from 31.8% for the 2009 birth cohort to 48.7% for the 2011 birth cohort. Higher coverage rates for both VarV₁ and VarV₂ were observed among resident children in relevant birth cohorts. The coverage rates of VarV₁ and VarV₂ were lower than those for the 1st and 2nd dose of MCV, which were above 95%. The proportion of children who were vaccinated with VarV₁ at the recommended age increased from 34.6% for the 2009 birth cohort to 75.2% for the 2013 birth cohort, while the proportion of children who were vaccinated with VarV₂ at the recommended age increased from 19.7% for the 2009 birth cohort to 48.7% for the 2011 birth cohort. Our study showed a rapid increasing VarV₂ coverage of children, indicating a growing acceptance of the 2-doses VarV schedule among children's caregivers and physicians after the new recommendation released. We highlighted the necessity for a 2-doses VarV vaccination school-entry requirement to achieve the high coverage of >90% and to eliminate disparities in coverage among sub-populations. We also recommended continuous monitoring of the VarV coverage via ZJIIS over time.


Sclerostin and TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis: can they be important in the patients with glomerulonephritis?
Sclerostin is a protein produced by osteocytes, kidneys, and vascular cells and has many effects on kidney and vascular structures. Soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis is a proinflammatory cytokine that may cause glomerular and tubular injury and increase sclerostin expression. This study aimed to investigate serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels in patients with glomerulonephritis and the effects they may be associated with. This cross-sectional study included 93 patients, 63 of whom were glomerulonephritis and 30 were healthy controls. Serum sclerostin, soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis, and 24-h urinary protein excretion were measured, and pulse wave velocity was calculated for arterial stiffness. Serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis were higher in glomerulonephritis patients than in the control group, and serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were correlated with both proteinuria and pulse wave velocity. In addition, in the regression analysis, serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were found to be independent predictors of proteinuria in patients with glomerulonephritis. This is the first study to show that serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis are elevated in glomerulonephritis patients, and these two markers correlate with arterial stiffness and proteinuria in these patients. Considering the effects of sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with glomerulonephritis, we think these mechanisms will be the target of both diagnosis and new therapies.


Cholera toxin induces sustained hyperexcitability in submucosal secretomotor neurons in guinea pig jejunum.
Neural mechanisms underlying cholera toxin (CT)-induced intestinal hypersecretion remain unclear. We investigated long-term excitability changes in vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) secretomotor neurons after prolonged luminal exposure to CT. Isolated segments of guinea pig jejunum were incubated with saline or CT +/- neurotransmitter antagonist in the lumen; the submucosal plexus was then dissected clear, circumferentially adjacent to intact mucosa. Synaptic inputs and firing properties of S neurons in ganglia next to the mucosa in control saline were studied using intracellular recording. Neurons were processed for VIP and NPY immunoreactivity. Thirty S neurons (20 VIP(+), 7 NPY(+), 3 VIP(-)/NPY(-)) from CT-treated preparations and 27 control S neurons (19 VIP(+), 4 NPY(+), 4 VIP(-)/NPY(-)) in ganglia adjacent to intact mucosa were analyzed. VIP(+) and NPY(+) neurons in CT-treated preparations fired significantly more action potentials and for longer periods during injected depolarizing current pulses (50-350 pA) than control neurons. Addition of tetrodotoxin, hexamethonium, granisetron, or the neurokinin-1 (NK1) antagonist SR140333 during the CT incubation blocked CT-induced effects in both neuron types. The NK3 antagonist SR142801 blocked CT-induced effects in NPY(+) neurons and reduced the number of action potentials in VIP(+) neurons. Synaptic activity was unaffected by CT. CT induces specific and sustained hyperexcitability of secretomotor neurons in enteric pathways. CT acts in the mucosa. Its effect is neurally mediated and depends on 5-hydroxytryptamine-3, nicotinic, and NK1 receptors. This system represents a unique model to understand the neural mechanisms of action of CT and to identify therapeutic targets.


How differences matter: tracing diversity practices in obesity treatment and health promotion.
Diversity has become a buzzword in medical care, denoting a re-evaluation of what it means to attend to differences among human bodies and lives. Questions about what types of differences matter and how they should be defined have become important normative and analytical challenges. Drawing on two case studies, we show how differences between patients and patient-collectives are not simply waiting to be recognised and addressed but also enacted within situated healthcare practices. Although concerns with diversity are present in both cases, they take different forms. In a Viennese health-promotion project for obese clients, care practices are both based on and reproduce large-scale categories that divide the population into distinct subgroups with specific needs. Conversely, in an outpatient clinic for bariatric surgery patients, a technical fix-oriented procedure leads to concerns over diversity becoming an add-on realised by tending to each patient's idiosyncrasies and personal stories. By tracing the practices of diversity and the tensions they produce, we show how classifications and understandings of human difference are based on infrastructures that enable and constrain them. Furthermore, we discuss how they become consequential in healthcare, thereby indicating the importance of remaining reflexive about the political implications of diversity discourse and practice.


Rapid Wafer-Scale Growth of Polycrystalline 2H-MoS2 by Pulsed Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition.
High volume manufacturing of devices based on transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) ultra-thin films will require deposition techniques that are capable of reproducible wafer-scale growth with monolayer control. To date, TMD growth efforts have largely relied upon sublimation and transport of solid precursors with minimal control over vapor phase flux and gas-phase chemistry, which are critical for scaling up laboratory processes to manufacturing settings. To address these issues, we report a new pulsed metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) route for MoS2 film growth in a research-grade single-wafer reactor. Using bis(tert-butylimido)-bis(dimethylamido)molybdenum and diethyl disulfide we deposit MoS2 films from ≈ 1 nm to ≈ 25 nm in thickness on SiO2/Si substrates. We show that layered 2H-MoS2 can be produced at comparatively low reaction temperatures of 591 °C at short deposition times, approximately 90 s for few-layer films. In addition to the growth studies performed on SiO2/Si, films with wafer-level uniformity are demonstrated on 50 mm quartz wafers. Process chemistry and impurity incorporation from precursors are also discussed. This low-temperature and fast process highlights the opportunities presented by metalorganic reagents in the controlled synthesis of TMDs.


The retina-attached SCN slice preparation: an in vitro mammalian circadian visual system.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the mammalian circadian pacemaker, receives information about ambient light levels through the retinohypothalamic tract. This information resets the molecular clock of SCN neurons, thereby entraining overt animal behavior and physiology to the solar cycle. Progress toward functional characterization of retinal influences on the SCN has been hampered by limitations of established experimental paradigms. To overcome this hurdle, the authors have developed a novel in vitro preparation of the rat retinohypothalamic circuit that maintains functional connectivity between the retinas and the SCN. This method permits whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from visually identified, light-responsive SCN neurons. Using this preparation, the authors have found that in the SCN, light-evoked responses are partly driven by the melanopsin photosensory system of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and that SCN neurons exhibit light adaptation. The authors have also been able to generate this preparation from mice, demonstrating the feasibility of applying this method to transgenic mice.


Effect of Anisotropic Electrical Conductivity Induced by Fiber Orientation on Ablation Characteristics of Pulsed Field Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation Treatment: A Computational Study.
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a promising new ablation modality for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the effect of fiber orientation on the ablation characteristics of PFA in AF treatment is still unclear, which is likely an essential factor in influencing the ablation characteristics. This study constructed an anatomy-based left atrium (LA) model incorporating fiber orientation and selected various electrical conductivity and ablation targets to investigate the effect of anisotropic electrical conductivity (AC), compared with isotropic electrical conductivity (IC), on the ablation characteristics of PFA in AF treatment. The results show that the percentage differences in the size of the surface ablation area between AC and IC are greater than 73.71%; the maximum difference in the size of the ablation isosurface between AC and IC at different locations in the atrial wall is 3.65 mm (X-axis), 3.65 mm (Z-axis), and 4.03 mm (X-axis), respectively; and the percentage differences in the size of the ablation volume are greater than 6.9%. Under the condition of the pulse, the amplitude is 1000 V, the total PFA duration is 1 s, and the pulse train interval is 198.4 ms; the differences in the temperature increase between AC and IC in LA are less than 2.46 °C. Hence, this study suggests that in further exploration of the computational study of PFA in AF treatment using the same or similar conditions as those used here (myocardial electrical conductivity, pulse parameters, and electric field intensity damage threshold), to obtain more accurate computational results, it is necessary to adopt AC rather than IC to investigate the size of the surface ablation area, the size of the ablation isosurface, or the size of the ablation volume generated by PFA in LA. Moreover, if only investigating the temperature increase generated by PFA in LA, adopting IC instead of AC for simplifying the model construction process is reasonable.


Theranostic Trigger-Responsive Carbon Monoxide-Generating Microbubbles.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that modulates inflammation, cell survival, and recovery after myocardial infarction. However, handling and dosing of CO as a compressed gas are difficult. Here, light-triggerable and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detectable CO release from dimanganese decacarbonyl (CORM-1) are demonstrated, and the development of CORM-1-loaded polymeric microbubbles (COMB) is described as an ultrasound (US)- and MRI-imageable drug delivery platform for triggerable and targeted CO therapy. COMB are synthesized via a straightforward one-step loading protocol, present a narrow size distribution peaking at 2 µm, and show excellent performance as a CORM-1 carrier and US contrast agent. Light irradiation of COMB induces local production and release of CO, as well as enhanced longitudinal and transversal relaxation rates, enabling MRI monitoring of CO delivery. Proof-of-concept studies for COMB-enabled light-triggered CO release show saturation of hemoglobin with CO in human blood, anti-inflammatory differentiation of macrophages, reduction of hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and inhibition of ischemia-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. These findings indicate that CO-generating MB are interesting theranostic tools for attenuating hypoxia-associated and ROS-mediated cell and tissue damage in cardiovascular disease.


Comparison of Quality of Life in Patients with β-Thalassemia Intermedia and β-Thalassemia Major in Southern Iran.
Increased life expectancy in patients with β-thalassemia (β-thal) requires healthcare professionals to give greater attention to improving their quality of life (QoL). We aimed to evaluate health-related QoL (HRQoL) and its determinants in patients with β-thal intermedia (β-TI) compared with β-thal major (β-TM). In this cross sectional study, 118 patients with β-TI, referred to the Thalassemia Clinic of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, were investigated by convenience sampling from January to June 2014 in southern Iran. A Short Form-36 (SF36) questionnaire was used. We had previously conducted a similar study in 101 patients with β-TM (12 to 38 years). Compared data of the two studies were analyzed. Mean age was 26.5 ± 6.5 (12 to 48) years in β-TI and 19.5 ± 4.4 (12-38) years in the β-TM group. The best scales of HRQoL were physical functionin (PF) (76.8 ± 26.6) and bodily pain (BP) (70.1 ± 24.8) in the β-TI group. Males had significantly better score only in vitality dimension compared to females (p = 0.020). Higher education (p = 0.023) in univariate analysis and age ≤20 years (B coefficient = 13, p = 0.008) in multivariate analysis showed significant relationships with higher total HRQoL score in β-TI. Comparison of β-TI and β-TM, after adjusting for covariates, total HRQoL was similar between the two groups. In evaluating the subscales, only PF showed a better condition in patients with β-TM [adjusted mean difference = 12.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 5.6-19.3, p < 0.0001]. Contrary to our expectations, QoL in patients with β-TI were not better than β-TM. Training programs and psychosocial support of all patients with β-TI and β-TM as well as their care providers with more focus on older patients, females and the patients with lower educational degree should be taken into account.


[Parasites in the Etiology of Pediatric Appendicitis].
Appendicitis is the most common cause of operation in the children. Fekalit, lymphoid hyperplasia, parasites and foreign bodies are accused as the causes of appendicitis. In this study, we wanted to evaluate that the role of parasitic infections in pediatric appendicitis. Histopathological results of the patients who underwent operations for acute appendicitis between January 2008 and 2014 were evaluated. The patients who have parasite in appendiceal specimens were detected and parasites were recorded. Fourteen of 846 patients underwent appendectomy, were classified as parasitic appendicitis. Enterobius vermicularis was observed in 12 and Taenia spp. was observed in 2 patients, Three children with appendicitis had parasitic infection in pathological examination. Two of them were Enterobius vermicularis, and one was Taenia spp. Enterobius vermicularis is the most common parasites in appendiks. Parasites often cause abdominal pain at right lower quadrant without any inflammation in the appendiks. However, parasites are responsible for some appendicitis as an etiologic factor. In our study, 0.39% of patients with appendicitis, parasites were also detected. As a result, we think that right lower quadrant pain and the incidence of appendicitis will reduce by time with the diagnosis and treatment of parasites.


Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections for treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: greater trochanter bursa versus subgluteus medius bursa.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections into the greater trochanteric bursa as opposed to the subgluteus medius bursa in patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome. We retrospectively reviewed 183 injections (149 performed in women, 34 performed in men; age range 23-90 years; median, 53 years) performed for treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome. A 10-cm visual analog scale survey was used to assess pain level before the procedure and 14 days after the procedure. A 3-mL corticosteroid solution was injected into either the greater trochanteric bursa or the subgluteus medius bursa under direct ultrasound guidance. Procedure images were retrospectively reviewed to determine the site of injection. Diagnostic images obtained at the time of the procedure were also reviewed for findings of tendinopathy, bursitis, and enthesopathy. Statistical analysis of differences in pain reduction was performed, as was analysis for association between pain relief and demographic variables of age, sex, previous injections, and ultrasound findings. Sixty-five injections met the inclusion criteria; 56 performed in women and nine performed in men (age range, 30-82 years; median, 53 years). Forty-one injections were into the greater trochanteric bursa and 24 into the subgluteus medius bursa. There was a statistically significant difference in pain reduction between greater trochanteric bursa and subgluteus medius bursa injections with a median pain reduction of 3 as opposed to 0 (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant association between pain relief and demographic variables or ultrasound findings. Corticosteroid injections into the greater trochanteric bursa may be more effective than injections into the subgluteus medius bursa for treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome.


Identify driving forces of MBR applications in China.
During the last two decades, MBR applications in China grow exponentially with the first pilot test of 10 m3/d in 1999 and the first application with capacity of 110,000 m3/d commissioned in 2009. It is critical to examine the drivers of MBR applications in China, which can provide sound scientific basis for future development of MBR applications. This study summarized the historical development of MBR applications and analyzed the driving forces by survey, literature review and interviews with MBR suppliers. The results showed that: (1) technical advantages of MBR and public policy related to water resources and environment promoted MBR beyond lab and pilot test into wide commercial applications in China; (2) petrochemical industry needs for wastewater treatment and reuse promoted medium-scale MBRs as public policy and regulation on water resources and environment tightens; (3) when the breakthrough of capacity of a single project above 10 thousand m3/d, the Green Olympic Games and Asian Games and tightening effluent regulations in environmentally sensitive areas incentivized MBR applications; and (4) the emergence of 100,000 m3/d MBR was mainly stimulated by water resources stress. Water resources stress and public policy related on resources and the environment are the primary driving forces in the last several decades. The future drivers of MBR applications in China appear to be decreasing operation cost.


Three new Canuellidae (Copepoda: Canuelloida) from Iran.
A survey of copepods from intertidal zone of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman resulted in discovery of three new species belonging to the family Canuellidae Lang, 1944. This work contributes to the final aim to describe meiobenthic copepods from this region and is the first description of meiobenthic copepods from Iranian coastline. The new species belong to the genera Brianola Monard, 1926, Canuella, T. A. Scott, 1893, and Scottolana Huys, 2009. Compared to other congeners, Brianola haliensis sp. nov. is unique in the armature of the first leg, number of segments and setation of the antennary endopod and exopod. Canuella persica sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from its congeners by the shape of furcal rami and male genitalia. Scottolana gomezi sp. nov. is assigned to the longipes-group by the presence of two and three post-genital somites in the female and male, respectively. It is closely related to S. geei (Mu Huys, 2004) recorded from the Bohai Sea, China, but can be distinguished by its eight-segmented antennary exopod, mouthparts setation, and shape of the furcal rami.


Results of the national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacteriaceae and Gram negative bacilli in health care-associated infections in Colombia, 2012-2014.
The Colombian National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for the surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was set up to meet this problem in the third quarter of 2012. To describe resistance profiles and laboratory-based surveillance based on the information collected by the System. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of the information notified to the Colombian Public Health Surveillance System (Sivigila), and in the Whonet databases covering the period from July 2012 to December 2014 provided by the primary data-generating units in the country, as well as laboratory surveillance results from 1,642 phenotypic and genotypic tests on carbapenemase isolates (927 from Enterobacteriaceae, 614 from Pseudomonas spp. and 101 from Acinetobacter spp.). There was a significant increase in Escherichia coli resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (reaching 26.3% in ICUs and 22.5% in other hospital wards), and Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to ertapenem also increased (reaching 14.6% in ICUs). Acinetobacter baumannii carbapenem resistance exceeded 50% in ICUs whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa had lower carbapenem resistance (38.8%). KPC (n = 574) and NDM (n=57) were the most frequently occurring carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae, VIM (n=229) and KPC (n=114) in P. aeruginosa, and OXA-23 in A. baumannii (n=87); several carbapenemase combinations were identified, KPC + VIM being the most common in Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae. The data from the surveillance of healthcare-associated infections revealed significant carbapenem resistance profiles and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms circulating in Colombian healthcare institutions.


Accuracy of Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler Assessment between 34 and 37 Weeks in Fetuses with Red Cell Alloimmunization.
The Doppler measurement of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) is considered the gold standard for the noninvasive detection of moderate to severe anemia. However, the accuracy of this test has not been evaluated so far, specifically beyond 34 weeks. To assess the accuracy of MCA-PSV to detect moderate to severe fetal anemia and to identify risk factors associated with false-positive and false-negative MCA-PSV values after 34 weeks. We studied a retrospective cohort of 150 pregnant women with severe alloimmunization who delivered between 2010 and 2014 and correlated MCA-PSV and fetal or neonatal hemoglobin levels. Sensitivity to predict severe anemia was 69%, with a false-negative rate of 3.6%. When MCA Doppler assessment was normal, the identification of serosal effusions increased the detection rate of severe fetal anemia to 94%, with a false-negative rate of 0.8%. False-positive MCA-PSV measurements were more frequent in fetuses with 1 previous intrauterine transfusion (p = 0.0002), but were not associated with MCA resistance index, intrauterine growth restriction and fetal heart rate. Between 34 and 37 weeks, sensitivity of MCA-PSV Doppler assessment alone is 69% and increases to 94% when also considering signs of hydrops. False-positive MCA-PSV measurements are more frequent in case of former fetal transfusion.


Risk Factors for Sedation-related Events During Acute Agitation Management in the Emergency Department.
The objective was to describe the incidence, nature, and risk factors for adverse events (AEs) among patients who received parenteral sedation for acute agitation in an emergency department (ED) setting. We undertook a prospective observational study and a clinical trial of parenteral sedation for the management of acute agitation. We included agitated adult patients who required parenteral sedation from 2014 to 2017 in 12 Australian EDs, excluding those with incomplete information or aged under 18 years. The primary outcome was the number of patients who experienced at least one AE. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with AEs. A total of 904 patients were included in the analyses (62.3% male; median age = 34 years, range = 18 to 95 years). Of these, 144 (15.9%) patients experienced at least one AE. The most common AEs were oxygen desaturation (7.4%), airway obstruction (3.6%), bradycardia (1.9%), hypotension (1.7%), and prolonged QTc interval (1.3%). No deaths or serious AEs were reported. The following factors had an increased adjusted odds ratio (OR) for experiencing an AE: age 65 years and older (OR = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2 to 7.2), more than one type of parenteral sedation administered within 60 minutes (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4 to 3.1), and alcohol intoxication (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2 to 2.6). Sedation-related AEs are common, especially respiratory events. Elderly patients, sedation with multiple sedatives within 60 minutes, and alcohol intoxication increased the risk.


Single transconjunctival incision and two-point fixation for the treatment of noncomminuted zygomatic complex fracture.
The ultimate goal in treating zygomatic complex fracture is to obtain an accurate, stable reduction while minimizing external scars and functional deformity. The present authors present our experiences with a single transconjunctival incision and two-point (inferior orbital rim and frontozygomatic suture) fixation in 53 patients with zygomatic complex fracture which were not comminuted. All patients had transconjunctival approaches with lateral canthal extensions, and six out of 53 patients also had an additional small (about less than 2 cm) gingivobuccal incision to achieve an accurate reduction. There were 3 minor complications, and the overall esthetics and functional results were satisfactory with a long term follow-up. Our method has the following advantages in the reduction of zygomatic complex fracture; It leaves only an inconspicuous lateral canthal scar. In addition, it provides excellent simultaneous visualization of the inferior orbital rim and frontozygomatic suture area. Hence, two point fixation through a single incision can be performed with a satisfactory stability.


Type 2 diabetics with higher plasma viscosity exhibit a higher blood pressure.
Among hemorheologic parameters, plasma viscosity is one of the most studied in epidemiology, so that it has emerged as an independent risk factor. In diabetes, plasma viscosity is frequently elevated. For this reason we tried to define characteristics of non-insulin dependent diabetics with high plasma viscosity (>1.45 mPa.s) and whether they were more insulin resistant and/or exhibited other hemorheologic disturbances. 12 subjects (age 56.1+/-11.7; BMI 28.6+/-4.8) were thus found to have a value of plasma viscosity >1.45 mPa.s. They were compared to 20 age and BMI-matched NIDDMs. Patients have similar insulin sensitivity, HbA1c, and fibrinogen. RBC aggregation, rigidity and hematocrit were not significantly different. Whole blood viscosity at high shear rate was slightly higher (p=0.05). When corrected for hematocrit whole blood viscosity is no longer different. However, hematocrit was not lower in subjects with hpl >1.45. By contrast blood pressure was markedly higher (systolic: 177.5+/-2.5 mmHg vs 140+/-8 mmHg, p<10(-8); diastolic 110+/-14 vs 83+/-9 mmHg, p<10(-9); mean 132+/-18 mmHg vs 102+/-7 mmHg p<10(-9)). Therefore, in NIDDM, higher plasma viscosity, regardless insulin resistance and adiposity, is strongly related to blood pressure.


Decreased expression of fecal miR-4478 and miR-1295b-3p in early-stage colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths world-wide. Detection of molecular markers in stool samples is a promising strategy for CRC screening. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA molecules that are commonly dysregulated in neoplasia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fecal miRNAs differentiation between early-stage CRC patients and healthy subjects. Stool samples were collected from 40 patients with early stage (I, II) CRC and 16 healthy controls. RNA was extracted from all samples using miRNAeasy Mini Kits. MiRNA microarray expression profiling was performed with Agilent's miRNA Microarray system on 12 CRC and 8 normal stool samples. The expression levels of miR-4478 and miR-1295b-3p were determined by the SYBR Green miScript PCR system. In profiling study, we found 215 down-regulated miRNAs in CRC group. Furthermore, in validation study we found that the expression levels of fecal miR-4487 and miR-1295b-3p were significantly decreased in CRC patients compared to healthy controls. The expression of miR-4478 and miR-1295b-3p were significantly diminished in stool samples of CRC patients with early stage (I, II) in comparison with normal group. These miRNAs maybe use as potential non-invasive molecular markers for CRC diagnosis, but further studies are needed.


PATIENTS' SATISFACTION WITH HEALTH SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH OF KOSOVA.
Purpose of the research is to assess patient satisfaction with the quality of health services provided in National Institute of Public Health of Kosova. Study was observational and cross-sectional. Interviews were conducted with 625 clients of IPH. Inclusion criteria for enrollment in the study were patients above 18 years old, with verbally informed consent. In our study, access to IPH, efficacy, patient-provider interpersonal communication, and explanations regarding procedures, readiness to answer to patients need and physical settings and appearance are valued satisfactorily whereas cleanliness was rated with minimal grades. Evaluated 12 quality components, were scored with average mark 3.6. SWOT analysis, and fishbone diagram should be used on regular bases and a new position for a manager for administrative issues, is opened, complaints box and list of rights and responsibilities of patients were dislocated in a more visible place, and internal staff turnover, is introduced.


Automatic Irrigation Scheduling on a Hedgerow Olive Orchard Using an Algorithm of Water Balance Readjusted with Soil Moisture Sensors.
Recent technological advances have made possible automated irrigation scheduling using decision-support tools. These tools help farmers to make better decisions in the management of their irrigation system, thus increasing yields while preserving water resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate in a commercial plot an automated irrigation system combined with remote-sensing techniques and soil mapping that allows the establishment of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies. The study was carried out over 3 years (2015-2017) in a commercial hedgerow olive orchard of the variety 'Arbequina' located in Alvarado (Extremadura, Spain). An apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) map and a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) map were generated to characterize the spatial variability of the plot and classify the zones in homogeneous areas. Then, reference points were selected to monitor the different irrigation sectors. In 2015, the plot was irrigated according to the farmer's technical criteria throughout the plot. In 2016 and 2017, two different areas of the plot were irrigated applying an RDI strategy, one under expert supervision and the other automatically. The results show that in a heterogeneous plot the use of new technologies can be useful to establish the ideal location for an automatic irrigation system. Furthermore, automatic irrigation scheduling made it possible to establish an RDI strategy recommended by an expert, resulting in the homogenization of production throughout the plot without the need for human intervention.


In vitro and in vivo studies on protective and inhibitory antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum in the Saimiri monkey.
Immunoglobulins (Ig) were purified from serum or ascitic fluids of Saimiri monkeys infected with Plasmodium falciparum and with differing levels of functional immunity. Their protective activity was assessed in studies of passive transfer of immunity in vivo, and their neutralizing activity was measured in studies of parasite inhibition in vitro in cultures of human or Saimiri RBC. Although protective and inhibitory antibodies were detected in different Ig preparations, the levels of these activities were not directly correlated. Some Ig preparations, showing high protective activity, provide little or no inhibition of the parasite in vitro. Conversely, inhibitory activity was present in Ig preparations unable to confer protection in vivo. These results indicate that protective antibodies are active through a more complex immune mechanism than simple neutralization probably involving cellular immunity.


1-Octen-3-ol, a self-stimulating oxylipin messenger, can prime and induce defense of marine alga.
Short chain oxylipins in plants as the main volatile organic carbon have been speculated to playing an important role for plant innate immunity, however, not yet intensively studied and far away established as the fully recognized algae defense signals. The production of 1-octen-3-ol is self-amplified via the fatty acid-oxylipin metabolic cycle through positive feedback loop. Production of 1-octen-3-ol may act as a messenger that induces P. haitanensis to be in a "primed" state and ready for defense by upregulating the synthesis of methyl jasmonic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and gibberellin A3. Production of these oxylipins also adjust the redox state in cells, resulting in host defense activation. We provide the first demonstration that 1-octen-3-ol from P. haitanensis, can act as a self-stimulating community messenger. The multiple effects of 1-octen-3-ol may explain why P. haitanensis, a very ancient lineage within plant kingdom, thrives in the niche of intertidal zones.


High altitude illness in pilgrims after rapid ascent to 4380 M.
The goal of the study was to characterize high altitude illness in Nepali pilgrims. We kept standardized records at the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) Temporary Health Camp at Gosainkund Lake (4380 m) in the Nepal Himalaya during the annual Janai Purnima Festival in 2014. Records included rate of ascent and Lake Louise Score (LLS). We defined High Altitude Headache (HAH) as headache alone or LLS = 2. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) was LLS≥3. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) was AMS with ataxia or altered mental status. An estimated 10,000 pilgrims ascended rapidly, most in 1-2 days, from Dhunche (1960 m) to Gosainkund Lake (4380 m). We saw 769 patients, of whom 86 had HAH. There were 226 patients with AMS, including 11 patients with HACE. We treated patients with HACE using dexamethasone and supplemental oxygen prior to rapid descent. Each patient with HACE descended carried by a porter. There were no fatalities due to HACE. There were no cases of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). HAH and AMS were common in pilgrims ascending rapidly to 4380 m. There were 11 cases of HACE, treated with dexamethasone, supplemental oxygen and descent. There were no fatalities.


Intracellular Hepatitis C Virus Modeling Predicts Infection Dynamics and Viral Protein Mechanisms.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem, with nearly 2 million new infections occurring every year and up to 85% of these infections becoming chronic infections that pose serious long-term health risks. To effectively reduce the prevalence of HCV infection and associated diseases, it is important to understand the intracellular dynamics of the viral life cycle. Here, we present a detailed mathematical model that represents the full hepatitis C virus life cycle. It is the first full HCV model to be fit to acute intracellular infection data and the first to explore the functions of distinct viral proteins, probing multiple hypotheses of cis- and trans-acting mechanisms to provide insights for drug targeting. Model parameters were derived from the literature, experiments, and fitting to experimental intracellular viral RNA, extracellular viral titer, and HCV core and NS3 protein kinetic data from viral inoculation to steady state. Our model predicts higher rates for protein translation and polyprotein cleavage than previous replicon models and demonstrates that the processes of translation and synthesis of viral RNA have the most influence on the levels of the species we tracked in experiments. Overall, our experimental data and the resulting mathematical infection model reveal information about the regulation of core protein during infection, produce specific insights into the roles of the viral core, NS5A, and NS5B proteins, and demonstrate the sensitivities of viral proteins and RNA to distinct reactions within the life cycle.IMPORTANCE We have designed a model for the full life cycle of hepatitis C virus. Past efforts have largely focused on modeling hepatitis C virus replicon systems, in which transfected subgenomic HCV RNA maintains autonomous replication in the absence of virion production or spread. We started with the general structure of these previous replicon models and expanded it to create a model that incorporates the full virus life cycle as well as additional intracellular mechanistic detail. We compared several different hypotheses that have been proposed for different parts of the life cycle and applied the corresponding model variations to infection data to determine which hypotheses are most consistent with the empirical kinetic data. Because the infection data we have collected for this study are a more physiologically relevant representation of a viral life cycle than data obtained from a replicon system, our model can make more accurate predictions about clinical hepatitis C virus infections.


The application of early goal directed therapy in patients during burn shock stage.
Early goal directed therapy (EGDT) provided at the earliest stages of burn shock, has significant benefits for ordinary burn patients, however, its effect on patients with more than 80% of total surface area burned (TBSA) still remains unclear. In this study, 34 extensively burned patients with (87.3±5.6)% of total surface area burned were collected from January 2008 to January 2014. All burn patients here had similar monitoring or treatment modalities. Of these 34 burn patients, 13 patients were treated with EGDT under pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PICCO) monitoring, and 21 patients were treated with conventional fluid management. Information obtained in the course of treatment included mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), blood lactic acid and urine volume, infusion volume (mL·1% TBSA-1·Kg-1), complications of over-resuscitation (hydrothorax or pulmonary edema), case rate of burn sepsis and fatality. Our results demonstrated that there existed significant difference between the two groups in parameters below: 1. Higher ScvO2 (%) after EGDT (EGDT: 78.1±8.6, CG: 65.5±11.2; t=-3.446, P<0.05), 2. Higher PaO2/FiO2 after EGDT (EGDT: 381.4±56.6, CG: 328.9±48.6; t=2-875, P<0.05), 3. Lower mean infusion volume after EGDT (mL·1% TBSA-1·Kg-1) (EGDT: 3.29±0.26, CG: 3.71±0.31; t=5.292, P<0.05), 4. Lower complications of over-resuscitation after EGDT (EGDT: 2/13, CG: 15/21; P<0.05); However, no statistical significance existed in parameters below: 1. MAP (EGDT: 76.2±13.1, CG: 74.3±15.6; t=-0.36, P>0.05), 2. Urine volume (EGDT: 0.83±0.12, CG: 0.85±0.17; t=0.370, P>0.05), 3. Case of burn sepsis (EGDT: 13/13, CG: 20/21; P=1), 4. Case fatality (EGDT: 1/13, CG: 3/21; P=1). The finding results showed that patients with more than 80% of total surface area burned during burn shock phase could get better outcome from EGDT.


Clinical Relevance of Mallampati Grading in Predicting Difficult Intubation in the Era of Various New Clinical Predictors.
Background and aims Management of difficult airway can be associated with serious morbidity and mortality and it is a basic and serious concern for anesthesiologists. The preoperative airway assessment is done by using conventional clinical predictors. The present study was conducted to find the correlation of various new clinical predictors with the Cormack-Lehane (CL) grade at the laryngoscopic view in patients undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Settings and design The prospective, comparative, observational, double-blind study was carried at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. Materials and methods The study was conducted in 150 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. The primary outcome was the measurement of clinical airway assessment preoperatively based on certain parameters (inter incisor gap (IIG), modified Mallampati grading (MPG), neck circumference/thyromental distance (NC/TMD), ratio of height to thyromental distance (RHTMD)). The secondary outcome was the correlation of clinical airway assessment with CL grading to predict difficult intubation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of the parameters were assessed. Statistical analysis The association between different predictors and difficult laryngoscopy was evaluated using binary univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression and the significant clinical predictors were assessed by using Pearson's correlation. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results The incidence of difficult intubation in this study was 13.3%. Among the clinical predictors, the Mallampati grading has the maximum receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) with 86.7 % sensitivity to predict difficult laryngoscopy followed by NC/TMD and body mass index. Conclusion Modified Mallampati grading still holds its significant value among new predictors in the assessment of difficult laryngoscopy.


Efficacy and Safety of the Triple Therapy Containing Ilaprazole, Levofloxacin, and Amoxicillin as First-Line Treatment in Helicobacter pylori Infections.
Background and Aims. To establish the efficacy and safety of ilaprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin as a first-line eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori. Methods. Patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, or gastritis, as detected by esophagogastroduodenoscopy with confirmed H. pylori infection between September 2014 and November 2015, were enrolled in the study. All participants received ilaprazole (10 mg bid), levofloxacin (500 mg bid), and amoxicillin (1000 mg bid) for 10 days. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a 13C-urea breath test at 6-8 weeks after the end of treatment. Results. Of 84 patients included in the analysis, the eradication rate was 88.8% in the per protocol group (n = 80). Demographic factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), alcohol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peptic ulcer did not affect the eradication rate. However, multivariate analysis showed that overweight patients and patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) had a significantly lower eradication rate than patients with normal BMI and without CVA. Laboratory test results did not change significantly after treatment. A total of six (7.5%) patients developed eight adverse reactions. Conclusions. A 10-day triple therapy containing ilaprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin is a safe alternative first-line eradication treatment for H. pylori.


Transcriptome Analysis of Canine Cutaneous Melanoma and Melanocytoma Reveals a Modulation of Genes Regulating Extracellular Matrix Metabolism and Cell Cycle.
Interactions between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment are considered critical in carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. To examine transcriptome changes and to explore the relationship with tumor microenvironment in canine cutaneous melanocytoma and melanoma, we extracted RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens and analyzed them by means of RNA-seq for transcriptional analysis. Melanocytoma and melanoma samples were compared to detect differential gene expressions and significant enriched pathways were explored to reveal functional relations between differentially expressed genes. The study demonstrated a differential expression of 60 genes in melanomas compared to melanocytomas. The differentially expressed genes cluster in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B) signaling pathways. Genes encoding for several collagen proteins were more commonly differentially expressed. Results of the RNA-seq were validated by qRT-PCR and protein expression of some target molecules was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. We hypothesize that the developing melanoma actively promotes collagen metabolism and extracellular matrix remodeling as well as enhancing cell proliferation and survival contributing to disease progression and metastasis. In this study, we also detected unidentified genes in human melanoma expression studies and uncover new candidate drug targets for further testing in canine melanoma.


[The heart in hypertension. Cardiac protection and cardiac repair].
Studies performed in the last five years have led to the knowledge of new mechanisms by which the hypertensive process produces hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis, at the same time, favoring development of the atheroesclerotic plaque. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone axis is relevant by involved in the physiopathology of these alterations, not only by producing hyperplasia and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells or by increasing protein and DNA syntheses, mediated by Angiotensin II (by itself a potent Growth factor) but also through inflammatory processes exerted upon the vascular smooth muscle cells. These alterations (hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque) can now be counteracted by blocking the Angiotensin-Converting enzyme or its AT1 receptors with the consequent improvement in ventricular diastolic functions.


Pharmacodynamics of controlled release verapamil in patients with hypertension: an analysis using spline functions.
To use a nonparametric approach involving longitudinal splines to model the baseline blood pressure profile and investigate the impact of this modelling on the pharmacodynamic analysis for verapamil in patients with angina or hypertension. Dose ranging studies were conducted in patients with hypertension and with angina. Subjects received doses of 120, 180, 360 or 540 mg racemic verapamil. Pharmacodynamic data were created by subtracting the (systolic) blood pressure following active drug from the placebo response, either by direct subtraction or after modelling the baseline with a longitudinal spline model fitted to the placebo data by nonlinear mixed effects modelling. An Emax model was then used to describe the relationship between change in blood pressure and (R-)verapamil plasma concentration. The maximum decrease in systolic blood pressure was found to be 57.6 (+/- 26.1) mm and the C50 was 420 (+/- 349) microg/l for the data obtained by direct subtraction of the placebo data. Similar results were obtained when a cubic spline model was used to describe each individual's placebo response. However, the use of a population spline model only allowed a linear pharmacodynamic model to be fitted to the resulting data. Sparse data were created by randomly removing 66% of the data from the placebo and active phases. The population spline model gave very similar parameter estimates for the linear model applied to the sparse data to those obtained from the complete data set. The use of a longitudinal spline model together with nonlinear mixed effects modelling to account for baseline blood pressure response can be very powerful in a sparse data environment.


The application of the hemoglobin saturation sensor and indocyanine green (ICG) for blood flow measurement.
The aim in this study is to evaluate a new blood flow measurement applying a hemoglobin saturation sensor and indocyanine green (ICG) in circuit and animal models. 1) In the basic study, the blood was mixed in a tube with ICG, and a near-infrared sensor was placed in this tube. The standard curve of the relationship between ICG concentration and optical density was obtained. 2) In the circuit model, the blood was circulated by the roller pump. ICG was injected in this circuit and its concentration was calculated from the change in optical density at 810 nm. Rate of flow was calculated based on the Fick's principle. The validity of this method was evaluated by Bland and Altman analysis. 3) In the animal model, a hemoglobin saturation sensor was inserted into three anesthetized dogs via the jugular vein, and iced ICG was injected for calculating cardiac output. Cardiac output was calculated by the same theory of the circuit model. The validity of this method was also evaluated by Bland and Altman analysis. 1) A standard curve was drawn from 11 different points (r2=0.99). 2) The calculated flow rate correlated well with the actual flow rate (r2=0.97). 3) The calculated cardiac output correlated well with results obtained with the thermodilution method. Application of a hemoglobin saturation sensor and ICG to blood flow measurement was reliable and useful in both circuit and animal models. This method may be clinically useful for measurement of blood flow.


Enhanced cavitation by using two consecutive ultrasound waves at different frequencies.
Efficient and noninvasive generation of cavitation bubbles in soft tissue is a challenging task due to the lack of cavitation nuclei (i.e., pre-existing gas bubbles). In this study, we present a method to generate and enhance cavitation activity based on the utilization of two consecutive ultrasound waves at different frequencies. First, a high frequency (5 MHz) high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) wave was applied to a tissue-mimicking phantom to induce a rapid temperature rise in the ultrasound focal region. Immediately following the high frequency HIFU wave, a low frequency (1 MHz) HIFU wave was applied to the same focal region to induce acoustic cavitation. We found that cavitation activity was enhanced when the temperature in the tissue-mimicking phantom was first elevated by the high frequency HIFU wave. The enhancement was greater when a higher intensity of high frequency HIFU wave was applied. This result may be due to the temporary super-saturation of air in the initially air-saturated test samples and the reduction of surface tension at an elevated temperature.


Midfoot arthritis.
Foot and ankle complaints are commonly encountered in orthopedic practice. Midfoot arthritis has the potential to cause a significant amount of pain and disability. A variety of conditions can cause or lead to midfoot arthritis. Treatment consists of either conservative management or surgical arthrodesis of the painful joints. In this article, we review the midfoot (its basic anatomy and biomechanics) and midfoot arthritis (its clinical presentation and etiology, radiographic evaluation, and treatment options).


Analysis of the Bacterial Flora of Substrates Used for the Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus: Relationship between Clostridia and Yield.
Agaricus bisporus has a high nutritional value and health benefits and its popularity is increasing among vegans and health-conscious consumers, indicating the need for its stable production. Therefore, we examined the bacterial flora of the substrates used to produce A. bisporus using a 16S rRNA gene ana-lysis and discussed the relationship between the bacterial flora and yield. The results obtained showed that A. bisporus yield slightly decreased with an increase in the abundance of Clostridia in substrates after primary fermentation. Lactobacillus showed little or no relationship with A. bisporus yield. Clostridia was identified as an indicator of A. bisporus yield.


Grandparents' wealth and the body mass index trajectories of grandchildren.
The aims of this study are to (i) examine associations between grandparents' wealth and grandchild's initial body mass index (BMI) in early childhood and its subsequent growth patterns, and to (ii) assess whether the associations are similar for white and black children. Data are from the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and its supplemental studies of Child Development Supplement (CDS) and Transition to Adulthood (TA) (N = 2,128). Three-level growth curve models are used to analyze the association between exposure to grandparental wealth in early childhood and grandchildren's BMI growth trajectories, accounting for parental sociodemographic characteristics and maternal BMI levels. Children with less grandparental wealth in early childhood have higher initial BMI than children with more grandparental wealth. Further, increases in grandparental wealth in childhood are associated with a slower BMI growth rate. The wealth-body mass index associations are more evident among white children than black children. The study reveals a multigenerational social gradient to body mass index. Elevating the wealth levels of the grandparent generation could potentially reduce their grandchildren's obesity risk. The protective role of grandparental wealth seems to be more evident among white families than black families.


Disciplining bioethics: towards a standard of methodological rigor in bioethics research.
Contemporary bioethics research is often described as multi- or interdisciplinary. Disciplines are characterized, in part, by their methods. Thus, when bioethics research draws on a variety of methods, it crosses disciplinary boundaries. Yet each discipline has its own standard of rigor--so when multiple disciplinary perspectives are considered, what constitutes rigor? This question has received inadequate attention, as there is considerable disagreement regarding the disciplinary status of bioethics. This disagreement has presented five challenges to bioethics research. Addressing them requires consideration of the main types of cross-disciplinary research, and consideration of proposals aiming to ensure rigor in bioethics research.


Rosacea subtype-directed therapy.
Dialogues in Dermatology, a monthly audio program from the American Academy of Dermatology, contains discussions between dermatologists on timely dermatologic topics. Commentaries from the Dialogues Editor-in-Chief, Warren R. Heymann, MD, are provided after each discussion as a topic summary. These highlights are provided as a special service to JAAD readers.


Use of confocal laser as light source reveals stomata-autonomous function.
In most terrestrial plants, stomata open during the day to maximize the update of CO(2) for photosynthesis, but they close at night to minimize water loss. Blue light, among several environmental factors, controls this process. Stomata response to diverse stimuli seems to be dictated by the behaviour of neighbour stomata creating leaf areas of coordinated response. Here individual stomata of Arabidopsis leaves were illuminated with a short blue-light pulse by focusing a confocal argon laser. Beautifully, the illuminated stomata open their pores, whereas their dark-adapted neighbours unexpectedly experience no change. This induction of individual stomata opening by low fluence rates of blue light was disrupted in the phototropin1 phototropin2 (phot1 phot2) double mutant, which exhibits insensitivity of stomatal movements in blue-illuminated epidermal strips. The irradiation of all epidermal cells making direct contact with a given stoma in both wild type and phot1 phot2 plants does not trigger its movement. These results unravel the stoma autonomous function in the blue light response and illuminate the implication of PHOT1 and/or PHOT2 in such response. The micro spatial heterogeneity that solar blue light suffers in partially shaded leaves under natural conditions highlights the physiological significance of the autonomous stomatal behaviour.


The antihelminthic moxidectin enhances tonic GABA currents in rodent hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
Macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are commonly used treatments for parasitic worm and insect infections in humans, livestock, and companion animals. MLs target the invertebrate glutamate-activated chloride channel that is not present in vertebrates. MLs are not entirely inert in vertebrates, though; they have been reported to have activity in heterologous expression systems consisting of ligand-gated ion channels that are present in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). However, these compounds are typically not able to reach significant concentrations in the CNS because of the activity of the blood-brain barrier P-glycoprotein extrusion system. Despite this, these compounds are able to reach low levels in the CNS that may be useful in the design of novel "designer" ligand-receptor systems that can be used to directly investigate neuronal control of behavior in mammals and have potential for use in treating human neurological diseases. To determine whether MLs might affect neurons in intact brains, we investigated the activity of the ML moxidectin (MOX) at native GABA receptors. Specifically, we recorded tonic and phasic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in ex vivo brain slices. Our data show that MOX potentiated tonic GABA currents in a dose-dependent manner but had no concomitant effects on phasic GABA currents (i.e., MOX had no effect on the amplitude, frequency, or decay kinetics of mIPSCs). These studies indicate that behavioral experiments that implement a ML-based novel ligand-receptor system should take care to control for potential effects of the ML on native tonic GABA receptors. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have identified a novel mechanism of action in the mammalian central nervous system for the antihelminthic moxidectin, commonly prescribed to animals worldwide and currently being evaluated for use in humans. Specifically, moxidectin applied to rodent brain slices selectively enhanced the tonic GABA conductance of hippocampal pyramidal neurons.


Subdural Thoracolumbar Spine Hematoma after Spinal Anesthesia: A Rare Occurrence and Literature Review of Spinal Hematomas after Spinal Anesthesia.
Spinal hematomas are a rare but serious complication of spinal epidural anesthesia and are typically seen in the epidural space; however, they have been documented in the subdural space. Spinal subdural hematomas likely exist within a traumatically induced space within the dural border cell layer, rather than an anatomical subdural space. Spinal subdural hematomas present a dangerous clinical situation as they have the potential to cause significant compression of neural elements and can be easily mistaken for spinal epidural hematomas. Ultrasound can be an effective modality to diagnose subdural hematoma when no epidural blood is visualized. We have reviewed the literature and present a full literature review and a case presentation of an 82-year-old male who developed a thoracolumbar spinal subdural hematoma after spinal epidural anesthesia. Anticoagulant therapy is an important predisposing risk factor for spinal epidural hematomas and likely also predispose to spinal subdural hematomas. It is important to consider spinal subdural hematomas in addition to spinal epidural hematomas in patients who develop weakness after spinal epidural anesthesia, especially in patients who have received anticoagulation.


Flexible Free-Standing III-Nitride Thin Films for Emitters and Displays.
The majority of a GaN light-emitting diode (LED) is released from its sapphire substrate through selective-area laser lift-off to form a freely suspended light emitter. By virtue of being suspended in air without supporting substrates, the ultrathin crystalline and crack-free film possesses flexibility and bendability. The free-standing LEDs benefit from significant relaxation of strain, evident from red-shifting of the E2(high) phonon frequencies as measured by Raman spectroscopy toward those of strain-free free-standing GaN substrates. The phonon frequencies remain invariant upon bending of the film; this indicates that the properties of the flexible device will not be dependent on the bending curvatures. The observation of pronounced spectral blue-shifts from the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum from the flexible regions further confirms the occurrence of strain relaxation in the quantum wells. Being free-standing and thus lacking a direct heat-sinking pathway, emissions from the different regions of the suspended film can be affected by thermal effects to different extents, which are investigated by long-wave infrared thermometry. Heat accumulation is determined to be most severe at the far end of the flexible stripe at higher currents, leading to reduced efficiencies and electroluminescence (EL) spectral red-shifts. Based on this architecture, a monolithic 3 × 4 dot-matrix microdisplay prototype is demonstrated, comprising three adjacent flexible stripe emitters with four individually addressable pixels on each stripe. This proof-of-concept demonstration opens up new opportunities for GaN optoelectronics for a wide range of flexible display and visual applications.


Gains of chromosomes 7, 17, 12, 16, and 20 and loss of Y occur early in the evolution of papillary renal cell neoplasia: a fluorescent in situ hybridization study.
It has been suggested that gains of chromosomes 7 and 17 and loss of Y occur in renal papillary adenoma and that progression to papillary renal cell carcinoma is marked by gains of additional chromosomes, most frequently 12, 16, and 20. Previous studies have included very few lesions of <5 mm in diameter, a requirement of the present definition of papillary adenoma. Ten papillary adenomas (ranging from 1 to 5 mm in diameter) from autopsy material and 10 surgically resected papillary renal cell carcinomas were studied with fluorescence in situ hybridization in paraffin sections using centromeric probes for chromosomes 7, 12, 16, 17, 20, and Y diluted 1:100 with tDenHyb1 buffer. The signals in 50 to 150 nuclei were counted in each tumor. Controls for all the probes were normal renal tissues from the same patients. Three or more signals per nucleus were frequently observed in papillary adenomas: chromosome 7 (range, 10 to 50%; > or = 30% in 9 of 10), 17 (range, 10 to 47%; > or = 30% in 7), 16 (range, 1 to 63%; > or = 10% in 5), 12 (range, 0 to 32%; > or =10% in 4), and 20 (range, 5 to 49%; > or = 10% in 5). Loss of the Y chromosome was observed in 80 to 90% of nuclei in 9 adenomas from males. Three or more signals were frequent in papillary renal cell carcinomas: chromosome 7 (range, 32 to 63%; > or =30% in 10 of 10), 17 (range, 28 to 61%; > or = 30% in 7), 16 (range, 0 to 45%; > or = 10% in 6), 12 (range, 1 to 37, > or = 10% in 5), 20 (range, 2 to 44%; > or = 10% in 4). No signal for Y was observed in 12 to 88% (> or = 81% in 6) of nuclei in 7 carcinomas from males. Statistical analysis showed no difference between adenomas and carcinomas. Gains of chromosomes 7, 17, 16, 12, and 20 and loss of the Y chromosome occur early in the evolution of papillary renal cell neoplasia in tumors that are only a few millimeters in diameter. Progressive gains of these chromosomes do not appear to correlate with the transition from adenoma to carcinoma.


Mechanism of translation of the hepadnaviral polymerase (P) gene.
Unlike many other reverse transcriptase genes, the polymerase (P) gene of the hepatitis B viruses is expressed by translational initiation from its own AUG codon rather than by ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the overlapping core gene (C). To explore the mechanism of its translation, we have fused the P gene of duck hepatitis B virus to the bacterial lacZ gene at a point 3' to the C-P overlap; this allows detection of the products of P translation with antisera to the lacZ-encoded protein. The C and P/Z coding regions were cloned downstream of a heterologous promoter and expressed in COS-7 cells. A single, bicistronic mRNA containing both C and P sequences is detected in these cells, and translational initiation occurs efficiently at the internally situated P AUG. Mutations affecting C translation have only minimal effects on P expression, in contrast to what would be expected from a modified scanning model for translation. We conclude that P translation depends on a mechanism other than scanning to allow internal entry of ribosomes to the region of the P initiator.


Cold-Hardiness and Supercooling Capacity in Diapausing and Nondiapausing Stages of the Cabbage Root Fly Delia radicum.
Supercooling point (SCP) values and cold-hardiness were measured in individual ontogenetic stages of Delia radicum (Diptera:Anthomyiidae) in various physiological states (winter diapause, summer quiescence, and normal development). Winter diapause-destined mature third-instar larvae had a lower SCP (-9.9 degrees C) than their nondiapause counterparts (-5.2 degrees C), and more of them survived exposure to -10 degrees C for 5 h to pupariation and adult emergence. Values of SCPs were equal in both diapause and nondiapause states of prepupal and pupal stages. The lowest SCP (ca. -20 degrees C) was found in the stage of phanerocephalic pupa (PCP) regardless of the physiological state. The cold-hardiness of PCP corresponded with a low SCP value only in diapausing pupae stored for 80 days at 3 degrees C and in pupae which had terminated their diapause and whose further development was inhibited by storage at low temperatures (3 degrees C). Such pupae survived exposure to temperatures close to their SCP (14 days at -17 degrees C). However, this high cold-hardiness was only acquired after some time and/or exposure to 3 degrees C, as the PCP at the beginning of diapause showed significantly impaired cold-hardiness despite the fact that their SCP was low. The cold-hardiness of nondiapausing PCP did not correspond at all to that of low SCP, as no pupa survived the exposure to -17 degrees C for 1 day; survival rates at temperatures of -13.5 and -10 degrees C were also remarkably lower than those in diapausing pupae. Cold-hardiness in D. radicum was closely connected with the diapause syndrome but the changes in SCP value corresponded rather with the ontogeny of this insect. Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press.


The Vat locus encodes for a CC-NBS-LRR protein that confers resistance to Aphis gossypii infestation and A. gossypii-mediated virus resistance.
Aphis gossypii is a polyphagous sucking aphid and a vector for many viruses. In Cucumis melo, a dominant locus, Vat, confers a high level of resistance to Aphis gossypii infestation and to viruses transmitted by this vector. To investigate the mechanism underlying this double resistance, we first genetically dissected the Vat locus. We delimited the double resistance to a single gene that encodes for a coiled-coil-nucleotide-binding-site-leucine-rich repeat (CC-NBS-LRR) protein type. To validate the genetic data, transgenic lines expressing the Vat gene were generated and assessed for the double resistance. In this analysis, Vat-transgenic plants were resistant to A. gossypii infestation as well as A. gossypii-mediated virus transmission. When the plants were infected mechanically, virus infection occurred on both transgenic and non-transgenic control plants. These results confirmed that the cloned CC-NBS-LRR gene mediates both resistance to aphid infestation and virus infection using A. gossypii as a vector. This resistance also invokes a separate recognition and response phases in which the recognition phase involves the interaction of an elicitor molecule from the aphid and Vat from the plant. The response phase is not specific and blocks both aphid infestation and virus infection. Sequence analysis of Vat alleles suggests a major role of an unusual conserved LRR repeat in the recognition of A. gossypii.


Ultrastructural detection of fucosyl residues at the surface of axenically grown maize roots/sequential use of UeA lectin and fucosyl ferritin as the specific glycosylated marker.
This study reports the ultrastructural detection of fucosyl residues at the surface of axenically grown roots of Zea mays. The method used involved sequential binding of UeA lectin to the root and coupling of the bound UeA with fucosyl ferritin. Superficial dense ferritin labelling was found in the slime droplet ensheathing the root cap and in the external layer of the three-layered epidermal root surface. This pattern of binding of the fucose-specific lectin UeA suggests an overall distribution of the fucosyl residues on the root surface. Their localization within slime components of the root cap and the root epidermis is also assessed by the use of PATAg controls. Treatment of whole roots with alpha-L-fucosidase was ineffective in removing the fucosyl residues present at the root surface. The biological role of the fucosyl residues at the root-soil interface is discussed.


Gene therapy in retinal diseases: A review.
Over 2 million people worldwide are suffering from gene-related retinal diseases, inherited or acquired, and over 270 genes have been identified which are found to be responsible for these conditions. This review article touches upon the mechanisms of gene therapy, various enzymes of the visual cycle responsible for different genetic diseases, Luxturna-the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutic gene product, and several ongoing trials of gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Gene therapy has tremendous potential for retinal conditions due to its ease of accessibility, immune-privileged status, and tight blood-retinal barriers, limiting systemic side effects of the drug. In recent years, advances in gene therapy in retinal conditions have increasing significantly, with progress in cell-specific targeting and transduction efficiency of gene products through the use of adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs), suggesting that even greater success in future clinical trials is possible.


Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics Simulations of a Bromate Ion in Water Reveal Its Dual Kosmotropic and Chaotropic Behavior.
The solvation structure and dynamics of a bromate (BrO3-) ion in water are studied by means of Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations at two different temperatures using the Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr functional with Grimme D3 dispersion corrections. The bromate ion possesses a pyramidal structure, and it has two types of solvation sites, namely, the bromine and oxygen atoms. We have looked at different radial and orientational distributions of water molecules around the bromate ion and also investigated their hydrogen bonding properties. The solvation structure of the bromate ion is also compared with that of the iodate (IO3-) ion, which is structurally rather similar to the bromate ion and was found to have some unusual solvation properties in water. It is found that the bromate ion follows a similar trend as that followed by the iodate ion as far as the solvation structure is concerned. However, the effect of the former on surrounding water is found to be much weaker than that of the latter. On the dynamical side, we have looked at diffusion, residence dynamics, and also the orientational and hydrogen bond relaxation of water molecules around the BrO3- ion and compared them with those of the bulk. Dynamical results are presented for both H2O and D2O around the BrO3- ion. Interpretation of the dynamical results in terms of structure-making (kosmotropic)/-breaking (chaotropic) properties of the BrO3- ion reveals that the bromine atom of this ion acts as a water structure breaker, whereas the three oxygens act as water structure makers. Thus, in spite of being a single ion, the bromate ion has dual characteristics and the experimentally observed kosmotropic ability of this ion is actually a trade-off between a chaotropic site (the bromine atom) and three kosmotropic sites (three oxygen atoms) that are present in the ion.


Pseudomyxoma peritonei: natural history and treatment.
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is an uncommon disease characterised by mucinous ascites, classically originating from a ruptured low grade mucinous neoplasm of the appendix. The natural history of PMP revolves around the "redistribution phenomenon", whereby mucinous tumour cells accumulate at specific sites with relative sparing of the motile small bowel and to a lesser extent other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Peritoneal tumour accumulates due to gravity and at the sites of peritoneal fluid absorption, namely, the greater and lesser omentum and the under-surface of the diaphragm, particularly on the right. The optimal treatment is complete macroscopic tumour excision termed cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). Total operating time for complete CRS and HIPEC for extensive PMP is around 10 h and generally involves bilateral parietal and diaphragmatic peritonectomies, right hemicolectomy, radical greater omentectomy with splenectomy, cholecystectomy and liver capsulectomy, a pelvic peritonectomy with, or without, rectosigmoid resection and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with hysterectomy in females. A unique feature of low grade PMP, which differs from other peritoneal malignancies, includes slow disease progression, which may be asymptomatic until advanced stages. Additionally, very extensive disease with a high "PCI" (Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index) may still be amenable to complete excision and cure. In cases where complete tumour removal is not feasible, maximum tumour debulking can still result in long-term survival in PMP. PMP is challenging, complex but nevertheless the most rewarding peritoneal malignancy amenable to cure by CRS and HIPEC.


Dietary supplement use among infants, children, and adolescents in the United States, 1999-2002.
To describe dietary supplement use among US children. Analysis of nationally representative data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Home interviews and a mobile examination center. Children from birth through 18 years who participated in NHANES (N=10,136). Frequency of use of any dietary supplement product. Prevalence of use and intake of key nutrients from supplements among children. In 1999-2002, 31.8% of children used dietary supplements, with the lowest use reported among infants younger than 1 year (11.9%) and teenagers 14 to 18 years old (25.7%) and highest use among 4- to 8-year-old children (48.5%). Use was highest among non-Hispanic white (38.1%) and Mexican American (22.4%) participants, lowest among non-Hispanic black participants (18.8%), and was not found to differ by sex. The type of supplement most commonly used was multivitamins and multiminerals (18.3%). Ascorbic acid (28.6%), retinol (25.8%), vitamin D (25.6%), calcium (21.1%), and iron (19.3%) were the primary supplemental nutrients consumed. Supplement use was associated with families with higher incomes; a smoke-free environment; not being certified by the US Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in the last 12 months; lower child body mass index; and less daily recreational screen time (television, video games, computers, etc) (P<.005). The highest prevalence of supplement use (P<.005) was in children who were underweight or at risk for underweight (P<.005). More than 30% of children in the United States take dietary supplements regularly, most often multivitamins and multiminerals. Given such extensive use, nutrient intakes from dietary supplements must be included to obtain accurate estimates of overall nutrient intake in children.


Heavy metal contamination in street dusts of Istanbul (Pendik to Levent) E-5 highway.
Street dust composition is an important environmental parameter that should be considered in investigations of environmental pollution originating from traffic. In this study, fifty-six samples of street dusts were collected during the period December 2003-April 2004 from Pendik to Levent on E-5 highway in Istanbul, Turkey. Analyses were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after digestion using USEPA, 1996 (Method 3050B). The mean concentration levels of Pb, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Cu were found to be 368.3, 747.8, 431.2, 27.1, 0.3 and 191.1 microg/g respectively. Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn mean concentrations in studied areas were higher than levels of these heavy metals according to USEPA (1992) and Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Foresty (2003). Highly significant correlations except for Mn were found between the number of vehicles and heavy metal concentrations.


Genomic regions determining resistance to leaf stripe (Pyrenophora graminea) in barley.
Leaf stripe is a seed-borne disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare) caused by Pyrenophora graminea. Little is known about the genetics of resistance to this pathogen. In the present work, QTL analysis was applied on two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from two- and six-rowed barley genotypes with different levels of partial resistance to barley leaf stripe. Quantitative trait loci for partial resistance were identified using the composite interval mapping (CIM) method of PLABQTL software, using the putative QTL markers as cofactors. In the L94 x 'Vada' mapping population, one QTL for resistance was detected on chromosome 2H; the same location as the leaf-stripe resistance gene Rdg1 mapped earlier in 'Alf', where it confers complete resistance to the pathogen. An additional minor-effect QTL was identified by further analyses in this segregating population on chromosome 7H. In L94 x C123, two QTLs for resistance were mapped, one each on chromosomes 7H and 2H.


Adaptation and validation of the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke (LUNS) monitoring tool in Sri Lanka.
Globally, stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Unmet needs are defined as expressed needs that are not fulfilled by services provided and are considered an important indicator of the adequacy and quality of stroke follow-up care. This study aimed to culturally adapt, modify, translate and validate, the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke (LUNS) monitoring tool, to Sri Lanka. Currently, there is no validated tool in Sri Lanka to assess unmet needs among stroke survivors and unmet needs are not systematically assessed. A phased approach followed to culturally adapt, translate, establish its factorial validity and evaluate the convergent and divergent validity, reliability, and overall acceptability. The process of culturally adapting the tool was carried out using two rounds of the modified Delphi technique. The modified tool was translated to Sinhala and pretested among 10 stroke survivors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 stroke survivors to establish the factorial validity and convergent and discriminant validity using the GHQ-12 and Barthel Index. The Socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants are presented. Communalities were assessed for 21 items and 2 items were dropped. Factor structure was confirmed with varimax and oblique rotations. The correlation coefficient was calculated to assess convergent and divergent validity. Cronbach's alpha value was calculated to assess internal reliability. Following the modified Delphi technique, 5 items of LUNS tool were removed, and 5 items were modified. Three new items were added based on expert recommendation. One item related to driving also removed as it does not fit with the factor structure emerged. In establishing factorial validity 5 factors emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. In assessing the convergent and discriminant validity, test results revealed that both General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Barthel Index significantly correlated as expected with unmet needs. The results of Cronbach's alpha showed that all the factors were moderately high confirming the reliability of the tool. The Sinhala version of the LUNS monitoring tool is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the unmet needs of stroke survivors. Assessment of unmet needs will add new insight into evaluation of the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare interventions received by stroke survivors in Sri Lanka.


Surfactant for Respiratory Distress Syndrome: New Ideas on a Familiar Drug with Innovative Applications.
In the last 4 decades, advances in neonatology have led to a significant increase in the survival of preterm infants. One of the biggest advances was the introduction of surfactant replacement therapy for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. This is the main cause of respiratory insufficiency in preterm infants and is one of the major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Surfactant replacement therapy is already a well-investigated and established therapy in neonatology. However, surfactant replacement therapy has progressed and been refined over recent decades, especially with the increasing care for preterm infants born before 26 weeks' gestational age and the recent clinical focus on avoiding mechanical ventilation. Clinical evidence is evolving on new types of surfactant, surfactant dosages, co-medication given before, with, or after surfactant replacement, and new technical advances regarding the mode of administration.


Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against glucosyltransferase synthesizing water-insoluble glucan from Streptococcus sobrinus B13.
Four hybrid cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against glucosyltransferase synthesizing water-insoluble glucan (GTase-I) were generated by fusion of myeloma cells (P3U1) with splenocytes from mice immunized with GTase-I from Streptococcus sobrinus B13-N. Cell lines 29E7, 21GC7, and 42HB8 were found to secrete an IgG2a-type immunoglobulin, and 29EG, an IgM-type immunoglobulin. These two isotypes of McAbs were used for the determination of the binding sites on the GTase molecule, with use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding site for McAb 29EG was different from the site that bound other McAbs. McAb 29EG was found to inhibit water-insoluble glucan synthesis by GTase-I by 50%, and 29E7 was found to inhibit it weakly. However, other McAbs did not show any inhibitory effect in spite of binding to GTase-I. McAb 42HB8 strongly inhibited GTase-I-mediated adherence of heat-killed cells of S. sobrinus B-13N to glass surfaces. When the McAbs were tested for their cross-reactivity among GTase preparations from different mutans streptococci, McAb 29EG reacted with S. cricetus and S. sobrinus, but not with other mutans streptococci. Three other McAbs, 21GC7, 29E7, and 42HB8, were found to react only with the enzyme from S. sobrinus. These findings indicated that the specificity of the McAbs studied varied with respect to the antigenic sites on the GTase-I molecule, and that some of the sites differed in their functions.


Configurationally Nonselective Aquation of a Mononuclear Ru(II) Chloro Complex to Aquo Complex Isomers with Distinctive Aspects in Photoisomerization, Redox, and Catalytic Water Oxidation.
distal-[Ru(EtOtpy)(pynp)Cl]+ (d-EtO1Cl) (EtOtpy = 4'-ethoxy-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, pynp = 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,8-naphthyridine), and distal/proximal-[Ru(EtOtpy)(pynp)OH2]2+ (d/p-EtO1H2O) complexes were newly synthesized to investigate the synergistic influence of the geometric configuration coupled with substituent introduction of an ethoxy (EtO) group on the physicochemical properties and reactions of the Ru(II) complexes. Configurationally nonselective aquation of d-EtO1Cl was uniquely observed to form d/p-EtO1H2O isomers in water, in contrast to configurationally selective aquation of distal-[Ru(tpy)(pynp)Cl]+ (d-1Cl, tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) without the EtO group [Yamazaki, H. . J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 8846-8849].The kinetic profiles of the aquation reactions of d-EtO1Cl were well analyzed using a sequential reversible reaction model assuming the reversible interconversion between d/p-EtO1H2O isomers via d-EtO1Cl. The observed equilibrium constant (Kiso) of isomerization between p/d-EtO1H2O was calculated from the kinetic analysis as Kiso = 0.45, which is consistent with the final concentration ratio (1:0.43) of p/d-EtO1H2O generated in the aquation reaction of d-EtO1Cl. The irreversible photoisomerization from d-EtO1H2O to p-EtO1H2O was observed in water with an internal quantum yield (Φ) of 0.44% at 520 nm. Electrochemical measurements showed that d-EtO1H2O undergoes a 2-step oxidation reaction of 1H+-coupled 1e- processes of RuII-OH2/RuIII-OH and RuIII-OH/RuIV═O at pH 1.3-9.7, whereas p-EtO1H2O undergoes a 1-step oxidation reaction of a 2H+-coupled 2e- process of RuII-OH2/RuIV═O in the pH range of 1.8-11.5. Any redox potential of d/p-EtO1H2O isomers was decreased by the electro-donating EtO substitution, compared with distal/proximal-[Ru(tpy)(pynp)OH2]2+ (d/p-1H2O). The turnover frequency (kO2 = 1.7 × 10-2 s-1) of d-EtO1H2O for water oxidation catalysis is higher than that (3.5 × 10-4 s-1) of p-EtO1H2O by a factor of 48.6. The kO2 value (1.7 × 10-2 s-1) for d-EtO1H2O is 4.5-fold higher than those of d-1H2O (3.8 × 10-3 s-1). The higher kO2 value of d-EtO1H2O compared with d-1H2O could be explained by the fast oxidation rate from RuIV═O to RuV═O involved in the rate-determining step due to the electron-donating EtO group.


Spectroscopic and theoretical investigations on effective and selective interaction of fullerenes C60 and C70 with a derivatized Zn-phthalocyanine: stabilization of charge-recombined state by side-on approach of C70.
The photophysical aspects of noncovalently linked fullerenes C(60) and C(70) with a designed metallophthalocyanine, namely, zinc-2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis-(octyloxy)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (1) have been investigated employing various spectroscopic tools such as UV-vis absorption spectrophotometry, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence, along with solution state IR measurements in toluene medium. The ground state interaction between fullerenes and 1 is first evidenced from UV-vis measurements. Binding constants (K) for the complexes of C(60) and C(70) with 1 are determined to be 13,235 and 27,670 dm(3) x mol(-1), respectively. Steady state fluorescence experiment reveals efficient quenching of the excited singlet state of 1 in presence of both C(60) and C(70). Emission studies reveal K values of 8945 and 19,175 dm(3) x mol(-1) for C(60)/1 and C(70)/1 complexes, respectively. The magnitude of K suggests that 1 preferentially binds C(70) in comparison to C(60) as average selectivity in K of C(70) over C(60) is enumerated to be 2.0. Time resolved emission measurements establish that C(70)/1 complex is stabilized much more in comparison to C(60)/1 complex in terms of charge recombination. Liquid IR studies provide very good support in favor of ground state complexation between fullerenes and 1. Molecular mechanics calculations at force field model and semiempirical calculations employing third parametric method substantiate the strong binding between C(70) and 1, and at the same time, determine the orientation of bound guest (here C(70)) within the cavity of 1.