Disturbing the activity of the primary motor cortex by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation affects long term memory of sentences referred to manipulable objects.
Previous studies on embodied meaning suggest that simulations in the motor cortex play a crucial role in the processing of action sentences. However, there is little evidence that embodied meaning have functional impact beyond working memory. This study examines how the neuromodulation of the motor cortex (M1) could affect the processing of action-related language, measuring participants' performance in a long-term memory task. Participants were submitted to two sessions in separate days, one with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and the other with sham rTMS. The pulses were delivered for 15 minutes over M1 or over V1, used as a control area. After each stimulation or sham period, the participants were asked to memorize a list of simple sentences, with a manual action verb or an attentional verb, followed in both cases by a noun referred to a manipulable object (e.g., to hang a cane vs. to observe a cane). Finally, they received the verbs as cues with instructions to recall the nouns. The results showed that low frequency rTMS on M1, compared to sham stimulation, significantly improved the performance in the memory task, for both types of sentences. No change in performance was found after the rTMS stimulation of V1. These results confirm that the perturbation on the motor system, affect the memory of manipulable object names in the context of sentences, providing further evidence of the role played by the sensorimotor system in the encoding and recall of concrete sentences of action.


An HA/PEEK scaffold with modified crystallinity via 3D-bioprinting for multiple applications in hard tissue engineering.
Hard tissues, especially teeth and bones, are highly mineralized and the large-scale defect or total loss of them is irreversible. There is still no ideal strategy for the reconstruction of various hard tissue defects that can achieve the balance between biological and mechanical properties. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has the potential to substitute for natural hard tissue in defect areas but is limited by its biological inertness. The addition of hydroxyapatite (HA) can significantly improve the osteogenic properties and osteointegration of PEEK materials. But the mechanical properties of HA/PEEK scaffolds are far from satisfaction making scaffolds easy to fracture. We put forward a strategy to balance the mechanical and biological properties of HA/PEEK scaffolds via the regulation of the inner crystallinity and HA mixing ratio and we systematically evaluated the modified HA/PEEK scaffolds through material characterization,in vitroandin vivoexperiments. And we found that the 20%HA/PEEK scaffolds with low crystallinity achieved the required strength and elasticity, and exhibited the characteristics of promoting the proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The results of the implantation of beagles' teeth, mandible and rib showed that the 20%HA/PEEK scaffold with low crystallinity could well withstand the local complex force in the defect area and combine well with natural bone tissue, which made it a candidate for a practical versatile hard tissue engineering scaffold.


Conventional intensive logging promotes loss of organic carbon from the mineral soil.
There are few data, but diametrically opposed opinions, about the impacts of forest logging on soil organic carbon (SOC). Reviews and research articles conclude either that there is no effect, or show contradictory effects. Given that SOC is a substantial store of potential greenhouse gasses and forest logging and harvesting is routine, resolution is important. We review forest logging SOC studies and provide an overarching conceptual explanation for their findings. The literature can be separated into short-term empirical studies, longer-term empirical studies and long-term modelling. All modelling that includes major aboveground and belowground biomass pools shows a long-term (i.e. ≥300 years) decrease in SOC when a primary forest is logged and then subjected to harvesting cycles. The empirical longer-term studies indicate likewise. With successive harvests the net emission accumulates but is only statistically perceptible after centuries. Short-term SOC flux varies around zero. The long-term drop in SOC in the mineral soil is driven by the biomass drop from the primary forest level but takes time to adjust to the new temporal average biomass. We show agreement between secondary forest SOC stocks derived purely from biomass information and stocks derived from complex forest harvest modelling. Thus, conclusions that conventional harvests do not deplete SOC in the mineral soil have been a function of their short time frames. Forest managers, climate change modellers and environmental policymakers need to assume a long-term net transfer of SOC from the mineral soil to the atmosphere when primary forests are logged and then undergo harvest cycles. However, from a greenhouse accounting perspective, forest SOC is not the entire story. Forest wood products that ultimately reach landfill, and some portion of which produces some soil-like material there rather than in the forest, could possibly help attenuate the forest SOC emission by adding to a carbon pool in landfill.


Global Stability Analysis and Parameter Estimation for a Diphtheria Model: A Case Study of an Epidemic in Rohingya Refugee Camp in Bangladesh.
In this article, we have developed a deterministic Susceptible-Latent-Infectious-Recovered (SLIR) model for diphtheria outbreaks. Here, we have studied a case of the diphtheria outbreak in the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh to trace the disease dynamics and find out the peak value of the infection. Both analytical and numerical investigations have been performed on the model to find several remarkable behaviors like the positive and bounded solution, basic reproductive ratio, and equilibria such as disease extinction equilibrium and disease persistence equilibrium which are characterized depending on the basic reproductive ratio and global stability of the model using Lyapunov function for both equilibria. Parameter estimation has been performed to determine the values of the parameter from the daily case data using numerical technique and determined the value of the basic reproductive number for the outbreak as ℛ 0 = 5.86.


Comparison of Inhibin Alpha Subunit and Antimüllerian Hormone Immunoreactivity in Granulosa Cell and Mucinous Ovarian Tumors.
The inhibin alpha subunit protein is used in the histopathologic diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs), and as a serum marker for disease progression. Yet, the availability of antibodies for inhibin has been limited. Serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels have also been described as a GCT marker. The goal of this study was to compare inhibin and AMH immunoreactivity in tissues and serum from GCT (n=6) using existing and new antibodies. Expression was also explored in cases of mucinous tumors (n=15), where inhibin is also a serum marker in some cases. Immunocytochemistry was performed using a commercial and newly developed inhibin alpha subunit and AMH antibodies. Serum levels were examined with total inhibin and AMH immunoassays. Inhibin alpha subunit and AMH were equivalent markers of GCT in both tissue and serum. In mucinous samples, inhibin alpha subunit was detected in tumor and stromal cells, and levels in serum were also frequently elevated. In contrast, AMH protein was detected in mucinous tissues, but there was no evidence of secretion in serum. The new inhibin alpha subunit and AMH antibodies provide needed resources for examination of granulosa cell and mucinous tumors.


The neural control of single degree-of-freedom elbow movements. Effect of starting joint position.
It is known that muscle activation patterns are changed when the force requirements of a task are increased (e.g., moving a heavier inertial load) or when the available muscle force is reduced (e.g., by inducing muscle fatigue). It is not known whether this is true when the torque-producing capability of a muscle is altered. Eight neurologically healthy subjects performed flexion and extension maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) at five different joint positions (10 degrees, 40 degrees, 70 degrees, 100 degrees, and 130 degrees, where 0 degrees is full elbow extension). Flexion MVC increased by 138% and extension MVC increased by 74% as the elbow joint position changed from the most extended to the most flexed position tested. The same subjects then made rapid, 30 degrees elbow flexion movements from each of four starting elbow positions (10 degrees, 40 degrees, 70 degrees, and 100 degrees). Muscle activation patterns for movements made from the more extended positions showed an increased first agonist burst duration and increased latency of the antagonist burst. There was no change in the initial rate of rise of the agonist burst across starting joint positions. Movements made from the most extended starting position were significantly slower and had longer acceleration and deceleration times than did movements made from the more flexed starting positions. The changes in muscle activation patterns were consistent with those seen when the force requirements of a task are increased or the available muscle force is reduced. We hypothesize that a fall in the ratio of available to required muscle forces causes the nervous system to change muscle activation patterns, to increase the ratio. Our results are consistent with this hypothesis.


Differences in cancer incidence among predominantly Muslim and Buddhist subpopulations in Songkhla.
The population of Songkhla, a province in Southern Thailand, can be divided into a predominantly Muslim subpopulation (PMSP, approximately 70% Muslim) and a predominantly Buddhist subpopulation (PBSP, around 14% Muslim). This study was conducted to 1) describe the incidence of various cancers in both PMSP and PBSP, and 2) compare the incidence of various cancers between the two subpopulations. Cancer cases diagnosed between 1990 and 2010 were drawn from the database of Songkhla Cancer Registry. Population denominators were estimated from the 3 population censuses surveyed by the National Statistical Office of Thailand in 1990, 2000, and 2010. The age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of the 5 commonest male cancers among both subpopulations were calculated. In females, a lower incidence of cancers of the cervix and breast in PMSP compared to PBSP, with odds ratios of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.45-0.64) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.43-0.60) respectively, was observed. In males, the incidence of cancers of the lung, liver, colon-rectum, and some other cancers were significantly different between the two populations in the past, but only prostate cancer showed a lower incidence among males in PMSP in recent years. Independent of sex and year of diagnosis, the incidence of lung, liver, NHL, and colorectal cancers was lower in MPSP compared to BPSP, with odds ratios of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.85), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.62-0.88), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.60-0.91), and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.56-0.78) respectively. The differences in incidence of some cancers and religion- related culture between the two subpopulations need 2 sets of cancer-control plans and goals to fit the unique population context in deep Southern Thailand. This plan can be used in the 3 southernmost provinces of Thailand where the percentage of Muslims is over 85%.


A theoretical study of the insertion barrier of MAO methylaluminoxane)-activated, Cp2ZrMe2-catalyzed ethylene polymerization: further evidence for the structural assignment of active and dormant species.
Density functional theory has been used to calculate the ethylene insertion barrier into the Zr-C bonds of the [Cp2ZrMe](+)[AlMe3Me(A-MAO)]- and [Cp2ZrMe](+)[Me(A-MAO)]- ion pairs where (AlOMe)6 was used to model the active forms of MAO (A-MAO). The results support the proposal that the former is the active and the latter the dormant species in MAO-activated olefin polymerization. For the first insertion, with the active species the trans approach has a lower barrier to insertion than the cis approach in solution, due to the larger ion pair separation. It is likely that the separated ion pairs recombine between subsequent insertions. For the second insertion, we have considered frontside, backside and combined insertion mechanisms showing that the total barrier to insertion is approximately the same in all cases ranging from 13.8 kcal mol(-1)-14.8 kcal mol(-1). For the frontside and combined insertion this barrier is a result of the rotation of the propyl chain: for the backside mechanism it is stems from the ethylene insertion barrier. Comparison of the results for the ion pair and for the naked cation show that in the former case olefin complexation is an endothermic process whereas for the latter it is exothermic. In general, the large ion pair separation prevents the orientation of the anion from exerting much influence on the geometry or energy of the cation. However, when structures with alpha-agostic interactions are considered the ion pair separation is small enough so that the orientation has some influence on the reaction mechanism. For the second insertion, dissociated transition states were found to have lower barriers than associated ones.


Cueing confidence in eyewitness identifications: influence of biased lineup instructions and pre-identification memory feedback under varying lineup conditions.
Students watched a theft video, attempted an identification from a thief-present or thief-absent lineup under unbiased or biased instructions, and rated identification confidence. In Experiment 1, the participants received (bogus) positive, negative, or no pre-identification feedback about a recall test. Biased instructions and positive feedback increased confidence and ratings of eyewitnessing conditions. In Experiment 2, biased instructions increased confidence unless the thief was absent and lineup members were similar, where they decreased confidence. According to the cue-belief model, biased instructions send a positive accuracy cue regarding the most familiar-looking lineup member. If none stands out, instructions conflict with an inclination to reject the lineup. Feedback may create a belief about memory quality that is a cue regarding likely recognition accuracy.


Isolation of canine prolactin by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
The electrophoretic mobility of prolactin obtained from canine pituitary extract was studied with the aid of polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. Using a preparative gel electrophoretic system the immunoreactive material was purified on a quantitative scale which was then used to develop a homologous radioimmunoassay for canine prolactin. The radioimmunoassay system was able to detect prolactin in the plasma of dogs after the administration of agents which would be expected to affect prolactin secretion.


The effect of maze complexity on maze-solving time in a desert ant.
One neglected aspect of research on foraging behavior is that of the effect of obstacles that increase habitat complexity on foraging efficiency. Here, we explored how long it takes individually foraging desert ant workers (Cataglyphis niger) to reach a food reward in a maze, and examined whether maze complexity affects maze-solving time (the time elapsed till the first worker reached the food reward). The test mazes differed in their complexity level, or the relative number of correct paths leading to the food reward, vs. wrong paths leading to dead-ends. Maze-solving time steeply increased with maze complexity, but was unaffected by colony size, despite the positive correlation between colony size and the number of workers that searched for food. The number of workers observed feeding on the food reward 10 min after its discovery decreased with complexity level but not colony size. We compared our experimental results to three simulation models, applying different search methods, ranked them according to their fit to the data and found the self-avoiding random search to fit the best. We suggest possible reasons for the model deviations from the observational findings. Our data emphasize the necessity to refer to habitat complexity when studying foraging behavior.


Observation assistants: sitter effectiveness and industry measures.
Patient safety remains a strategic goal and of societal importance for better health care. Direct observation remains an ineffective and expensive means of providing for patient safety. The nursing quality team found that using assessment tools helped to objectively categorize which patients are at risk. Defining patient volume, actual productive sitter usage, and assessing demand for patients in psychiatric crisis and patients at high risk to fall in the form of average daily census provided an easy-to-translate, familiar unit of measure to compare patient volume to demand and utilization. The sitter utilization case was unable to provide correlation of sitter use to decreased fall rates, elopement, or assault behaviors. Currently, there is no research to suggest the use of constant observation reduces the risk of patient harm related to their risk for falling or harming themselves.


Culture care of Euro-American women during childbirth: using Leininger's theory.
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was discovery of the meanings of care/non-care as experienced by ten European-American women during childbirth. This research was conceptualized within Leininger's (1991) Theory of Culture Care. The research areas included: generic and professional nurse care/non-care, the phenomena of generic care by nurses; and the congruence of these constructs with Leininger's theory. The informant's descriptions of their lived experiences were analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenologic method. Ten childbirthing women and nine nurses were interviewed to discover the generic, professional and integrated patterns of care. Findings included: 1) care universalities and diversities; 2) care preferences of European-American childbirthing women, and 3) professional nurse care as an integration of generic patterns into professional nurse care. These findings confirmed Leininger's theoretical position. The results of this study can guide transcultural nurses to know the differences and similarities between generic and professional care and integrate these two types of care into culturally appropriate care.


Experiencing Functional Electrical Stimulation Roots on Education, and Clinical Developments in Paraplegia and Tetraplegia With Technological Innovation.
Cybernetics-based concepts can allow for complete independence for paralyzed individuals, including sensory motor recovery. Spinal cord injuries are responsible for a huge stress on health and a financial burden to society. This article focuses on novel procedures such as functional diagnosis for paraplegics and tetraplegics, cybertherapies toward lessening comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, etc., and the production of new technology for upper and lower limb control. Functional electrical stimulation reflects a unique opportunity for bipedal gait to be achieved by paraplegics and tetraplegics. Education and training of undergraduates and postgraduates in engineering and life sciences have also been a major aim of this work.


The Activation of the Sox2 RR2 Pluripotency Transcriptional Reporter in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines is Dynamic and Labels Cells with Higher Tumorigenic Potential.
The striking similarity displayed at the mechanistic level between tumorigenesis and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells and the fact that genes and pathways relevant for embryonic development are reactivated during tumor progression highlights the link between pluripotency and cancer. Based on these observations, we tested whether it is possible to use a pluripotency-associated transcriptional reporter, whose activation is driven by the SRR2 enhancer from the Sox2 gene promoter (named S4+ reporter), to isolate cancer stem cells (CSCs) from breast cancer cell lines. The S4+ pluripotency transcriptional reporter allows the isolation of cells with enhanced tumorigenic potential and its activation was switched on and off in the cell lines studied, reflecting a plastic cellular process. Microarray analysis comparing the populations in which the reporter construct is active versus inactive showed that positive cells expressed higher mRNA levels of cytokines (IL-8, IL-6, TNF) and genes (such as ATF3, SNAI2, and KLF6) previously related with the CSC phenotype in breast cancer.


Growth and cathodoluminescence of Eu doped ZnO nanoneedles and branched nanoneedle structures.
Rare-earth (RE) ions are widely investigated luminescent centers because their intraionic-4f transitions generate narrow and intense emission lines. In this work Eu doped ZnO nanoneedles have been grown, by a thermal evaporation-deposition method, and structural and luminescence characterization has been carried out. Mixtures of ZnO and Eu2O3 or of ZnS and Eu2O3 powders were used as precursors. Annealing of the compacted powder mixtures leads to the growth of nanoneedles and nanoneedle networks, as well as rods. EDS and CL measurements enable to detect the incorporation of Eu in these structures. The choice of precursor, ZnO-Eu2O3 or ZnS-Eu2O3 influences the morphology as well as the luminescence properties of the obtained nanostructures. In particular, while in the samples obtained from ZnO, the defect green luminescence band is practically absent, the band is present in the ZnO nanoneedles obtained from ZnS. Besides the broad deep level band, a series of well-separated narrow-peaks characteristic of the intrinsic red luminescence of Eu+3 ions are observed in all cases, whose relative intensities vary from one set of samples to the other. The results suggest that the Eu3+ ions have at least, two possible configurations in the ZnO lattice with different symmetry in the nanoneedles.


Safety and effect of metoclopramide to prevent pneumonia in patients with stroke fed via nasogastric tubes trial.
Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with stroke fed via nasogastric tubes and may be because of vomiting and gastro-oesophageal regurgitation. The aim of the study was to assess whether regular treatment with metoclopramide, a D2-receptor antagonist with antiemetic and gastric prokinetic actions, could reduce the rate of aspiration and pneumonia. Patients with no signs of pneumonia within 7 days of stroke onset and 48 hours of insertion of a nasogastric tube were recruited into a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Participants received metoclopramide 10 mg or placebo 3× daily via the nasogastric tube for 21 days or until nasogastric feeds were discontinued. Clinical signs of pneumonia were recorded daily. Pneumonia was diagnosed if the patient had relevant clinical signs, high inflammatory markers, and new infiltrates on the chest radiograph. Sixty patients (mean age, 78 years; 38 women; mean National Institutes for Health Stroke Scale score, 19.25) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. There were significantly more episodes of pneumonia in the placebo group than in the metoclopramide group (rate ratio, 5.24; P<0.001). There were also significant differences in favor of metoclopramide in the rate of aspiration, oxygen saturation, highest inflammatory markers, and National Institutes for Health Stroke Scale. There was no significant difference in mortality between the groups. This study suggests that metoclopramide may reduce the rate of pneumonia and may improve other clinical outcomes in patients with subacute stroke fed via nasogastric tube. These findings need to be confirmed in larger randomized and blinded trials. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu. EudraCT no: 2006-002570-22, URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN18034911/18034911.


Visual and Narrative Comprehension of Trauma.
How should we illuminate psychological sequelae of trauma? This article argues that though art is assumed to be useful as an intuitive means of representation, its usefulness in offering insight into trauma depends on accompanying narratives. Four artists' works considered herein illuminate how the synergistic interplay between art and expository input from personal narratives can augment comprehension of trauma.


Improving stable transfection efficiency: antioxidants dramatically improve the outgrowth of clones under dominant marker selection.
Many cell lines are sensitive to growth at low cell density and undergo apoptosis induced by oxidative stress if the cell density is decreased below a critical threshold. In stable transfection experiments this cell density-dependent growth may be the limiting factor, since during drug selection the cell density falls below the critical threshold, precluding outgrowth of transfected clones. We describe here a simple protocol for the establishment of stably transfected human B cell lines making use of the protective action of antioxidants. The protocol includes: (i) seeding the cells in medium supplemented with sodium pyruvate, alpha-thioglycerol and bathocuproine disulfonate; (ii) delaying the onset of dominant marker selection to improve recovery of the cells after electroporation. Stably transfected clones have thus been obtained from Burkitt's lymphoma lines, which have been regarded as untransfectable. Using this protocol the stable transfection efficiency with episomal plasmids approaches the transient transfection efficiency, indicating that virtually every transfected cell can be established as a stably transfected clone. This protocol should also prove useful for other cell lines, e.g. neuronal cells, having similar sensitivities to oxidative stress.


Definitions, variants, and causes of nonadherence with medication: a challenge for tailored interventions.
Nonadherence with medication is a complex and multidimensional health care problem. The causes may be related to the patient, treatment, and/or health care provider. As a consequence, substantial numbers of patients do not benefit optimally from pharmacotherapy, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality as well as increased societal costs. Several interventions may contribute to improved adherence. However, most interventions have only a modest effect. Thus, despite the many efforts made, there has been little progress made as yet in tackling the problem of nonadherence. This paper summarizes the definitions and taxonomy of adherence with medication, as well as types and causes of nonadherence. In addition, interventions aimed at improvement of adherence are discussed. There is not just one solution for the nonadherence problem that fits all patients. Most interventions to improve adherence are aimed at all patients regardless of whether they are adherent or not. Recently, a number of tailored interventions have been described in the literature. Modern techniques are useful. Electronic pill boxes combined with Short Message Service reminders are specifically designed to improve unintentional adherence and have resulted in an increase in refill adherence in diabetic patients with suboptimal adherence. Tailored Internet interventions are a possibility for influencing patient drug-taking behavior and show promising results. Tailored counseling interventions targeted at the underlying causes of nonadherence seem an attractive method for supporting patients with their use of drugs. However, despite the plausible theoretical framework, data on long-term health effects of the various interventions are not available. To improve adherence effectively, there is a need for a tailored approach based on the type and cause of nonadherence and the specific needs of the patient.


cAMP levels from endogenous and exogenous arachidonic acid in isolated dog lung.
We infused exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) into salt-perfused isolated dog lungs. This led to elevations in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) which were from conversion of the AA to cyclooxygenase products. The maximal levels of cAMP occurred at far less than maximal levels of cyclooxygenase products. Next, we infused A 23187 to release endogenous pulmonary AA. This led to elevations in cAMP that were from conversion of this endogenous AA to cyclooxygenase products. The level of these products was far less than maximal levels from exogenous AA. However, maximal levels of cAMP from conversion of endogenous AA were similar to maximal levels of cAMP from conversion of exogenous AA. We conclude that maximal levels of pulmonary cAMP from endogenous or exogenous AA are from conversion of the AA to far less than maximal levels of pulmonary cyclooxygenase products. This indicates that levels of cAMP rather than levels of cyclooxygenase products are a potential rate-limiting step in cAMP-linked pulmonary actions of such products from pulmonary conversion of endogenous or exogenous AA.


Requirement of the Escherichia coli dnaA gene function for ori-2-dependent mini-F plasmid replication.
The mini-F plasmids pSC138, pKP1013, and pKV513 were unable to transform Escherichia coli cells with a dnaA-defective mutation under nonpermissive conditions. The dnaA defect was suppressed for host chromosome replication either by the simultaneous presence of the rnh-199 (amber) mutation or by prophage P2 sig5 integrated at the attP2II locus on the chromosome, both providing new origins for replication independent of dnaA function. The dnaA mutations tested were dnaA17, dnaA5, and dnaA46. dnaA5 and dnaA46 are missense mutations. dnaA17 is an amber mutation whose activity is controlled by the temperature-sensitive amber suppressor supF6. Under permissive conditions in which active DnaA protein was available, the mini-F plasmids efficiently transformed the cells. However, the transformants lost the plasmid as the cells multiplied under conditions in which DnaA protein was inactivated or its synthesis was arrested. As controls, plasmids pSC101 and pBR322 were examined along with mini-F; pSC101 behaved in the same manner as mini-F, showing complete dependence on dnaA for stable maintenance, whereas pBR322 was indifferent to the dnaA defect. Thus, ori-2-dependent mini-F plasmid replication seems to require active dnaA gene function. This notion was strengthened by the results of deletion analysis which revealed that integrity of at least one of the two DnaA boxes present as a tandem repeat in ori-2 was required for the origin activity of mini-F replication.


The translation regulator Zar1l controls timing of meiosis in Xenopus oocytes.
Oocyte maturation and early embryo development occur in vertebrates in the near absence of transcription. Thus, sexual reproduction of vertebrates critically depends on the timely translation of mRNAs already stockpiled in the oocyte. Yet how translational activation of specific mRNAs is temporally coordinated is still incompletely understood. Here, we elucidate the function of Zar1l, a yet uncharacterized member of the Zar RNA-binding protein family, in Xenopus oocytes. Employing TRIM-Away, we demonstrate that loss of Zar1l accelerates hormone-induced meiotic resumption of Xenopus oocytes due to premature accumulation of the M-phase-promoting kinase cMos. We show that Zar1l is a constituent of a large ribonucleoparticle containing the translation repressor 4E-T and the central polyadenylation regulator CPEB1, and that it binds directly to the cMos mRNA. Partial, hormone-induced degradation of Zar1l liberates 4E-T from CPEB1, which weakens translational repression of mRNAs encoding cMos and likely additional M-phase-promoting factors. Thus, our study provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms that ensure temporally regulated translation of key cell cycle regulators during oocyte maturation, which is essential for sexual reproductivity.


Do we consent to rules of consent and confidentiality?
Confidentiality and informed consent are important concepts enabling the sharing of sensitive data. In a paper on this topic of this issue, Williams and Pigeot () discuss that these have to be balanced with openness to ensure research standards. In this opinion paper, we give some background on how the paper by Williams and Pigeot evolved, reflect on their concepts, and provide some examples of the application of these concepts in various settings relevant to biostatisticians working in health research.


Electron spin resonance spectra of free radicals formed in the reaction of metmyoglobins with ethylhydroperoxide.
Free radicals of myoglobins were measured at room temperature with an ESR spectrometer equipped with a flow apparatus. When horse heart MetMb was mixed with an equimolar amount of ethyl hydroperoxide (EtOOH), a well resolved ESR spectrum with 6 lines and a shoulder was observed. It reached a maximum in a few seconds and decayed with a half-life of about 10 s when the final concentrations of MetMb and EtOOH were 200 microM. This decay rate was the same at a MetMb concentration of 50 microM. The maximum molar radical concentration amounted to about half of the total myoglobin. In the case of sperm whale myoglobin, a similar 6-line spectrum reached a maximum in 1 s and decayed with a half-life of a few seconds. In this case, however, a small and poorly resolved doublet spectrum remained, the half-life of which was about 8 min. An effect of O2 on the signal decay was evident for horse heart myoglobin, but not for sperm whale myoglobin.


[Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with desloratadine in treatment of chronic urticarial].
To analyze the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with desloratadine as well as desloratadine alone in the treatment of chronic urticaria by Meta-analysis,in order to provide evidence-based reference for clinical treatment.PubMed,CBM,Wan Fang,VIP database and CNKI database were retrieved to collect randomized controlled trials( RCT) about Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with desloratadine( test group) as well as desloratadine alone( control group) in the treatment of chronic urticaria. Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5. 3 software after data extraction and quality evaluation( a total of 15 RCTs were included,involving 1 411 patients). Meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate( RR = 1. 28,95%CI[1. 22,1. 35],P<0. 000 01) and the quality of life improvement rate( RR = 1. 49,95% CI[1. 33,1. 66],P< 0. 000 01) of the test group were better than those of the control group,and the recurrence rate( RR = 0. 29,95%CI[0. 21,0. 40],P<0. 000 01) was significantly lower than that of the control group,with statistically significant differences; there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions( RR = 1. 02,95%CI[0. 68,1. 53],P = 0. 92) compared with the control group. Based on the included RCTs,the efficacy of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with desloratadine in the treatment of chronic urticaria were superior to those of desloratadine alone,with similarity in safety. However,due to the low quality of RCTs and the lack of large-scale multi-center studies,the results shall not be further verified by clinical trials.


Swimming-induced pulmonary edema: current perspectives.
With the growing popularity of water-based sports, cases of swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE) are becoming increasingly recognized. SIPE, a potentially life-threatening condition, is an acute cause of breathlessness in athletes. It has been described frequently in scuba divers, swimmers, and triathletes and is characterized by symptoms and signs of pulmonary edema following water immersion. It is important to recognize that athletes' symptoms can present with a spectrum of severity from mild breathlessness to severe dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hypoxia. In most cases, there is rapid resolution of symptoms within 48 hours of exiting the water. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of SIPE, particularly regarding exaggerated pulmonary vascular pressures, have begun to explain this elusive condition more clearly and to distinguish its predisposing factors. It is essential that event organizers and athletes are aware of SIPE. Prompt recognition is required not only to prevent drowning, but also to implement appropriate medical management and subsequent advice regarding return to swimming and the risk of recurrence. This manuscript provides a current perspective on SIPE regarding the incidence rate, the current understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, medical management, recurrence rates, and advice on return to sport.


Decreased insulin secretion and incretin concentrations and increased glucagon concentrations after a high-fat meal when compared with a high-fruit and -fiber meal.
This study was conducted to investigate whether a high-fat/high-carbohydrate (HFHC) meal induces an increase in plasma concentrations of glucagon, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), and CD26 expression in mononuclear cells (MNC) while reducing insulin, C-peptide, proinsulin, GIP, and GLP-1 concentrations. Ten healthy normal subjects were given either a 910-calorie HFHC meal or an American Heart Association (AHA) meal rich in fruit and fiber during the first visit and the other meal during the second visit in crossover design. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 180, and 300 min following the meal. There was a significantly greater increase in glucose concentrations and lower increase in postprandial insulin, C-peptide, and proinsulin concentrations and lower insulin/glucose ratios following the HFHC meal. HFHC meal intake induced marked increases in plasma glucagon and DPP-IV concentrations and an increase in CD26 mRNA expression in MNC compared with the AHA meal. In addition, the HFHC meal induced a reduction in GIP and peak GLP-1 secretion compared with the AHA meal. This was associated with a significantly greater increase in oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediators including, ROS generation, TNFα, and IL-1β mRNA expression and plasma concentrations of TBARS, FFA, and LPS. We conclude that the proinflammatory HFHC meals result in lower insulin, C-peptide, proinsulin, and GIP secretion in association with higher plasma glucagon and DPP-IV concentrations and CD26 expression in MNC compared with the AHA meal.


Extracellular vesicles from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhance the recovery of acute kidney injury.
To investigate whether the extracellular vesicles (EVs) from mesenchymal stem cell-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iMSC-EVs) can inhibit the progression of acute kidney injury (AKI). The characteristics of iMSC-EVs were confirmed by immunoblotting, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and their localization in kidneys. Using human renal epithelial cells, the potential of iMSC-EVs to stimulate the growth and survival of HK-2 cells undergoing cisplatin-induced cell death was investigated. The anti-inflammatory effects of iMSC-EVs was examined in M1-polarized THP-1 macrophages. Subsequently, the therapeutic potential of iMSC-EVs was assessed in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in BALB/c mice. The anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effect of iMSC-EVs was evaluated using serum biochemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis. iMSC-EVs promoted the growth of renal epithelial cell (HK-2) and enhanced the survival of HK-2 undergoing cisplatin-induced cell death. In cisplatin-induced mice with AKI, iMSC-EVs alleviated AKI, as shown by reduced blood nitrogen urea/creatinine and increased body weight. Also, iMSC-EVs enhanced renal tissue integrity and the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive tubules. iMSC-EVs decreased the infiltration of immune cells, reduced the expression of inflammatory genes in M1-induced THP-1 cells and enhanced capillary density in the kidney of AKI mice. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the expression of inflammatory genes in the kidney of AKI mice was reduced compared with that received vehicle. Immunoblotting revealed that iMSC-EVs led to a decreased protein expression of key inflammatory genes. Also, iMSC-EVs reversed the activation of ERK1/2 signaling induced by AKI. Finally, iMSC-EVs inhibited the apoptosis of HK-2 cells induced by cisplatin as well as that of renal tissue of AKI mice. Our data suggest that iMSC-EVs have potential to become a novel, cell-free therapeutic for cisplatin-induced AKI.


Culinary spices and herbs in managing early and long-COVID-19 complications: A comprehensive review.
Human race is preparing for the upsurge and aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic complicated by novel variants, new waves, variable mortality rate, and post-COVID complications. Despite use of repurposed drugs, symptomatic treatments and licensing of multiple vaccines, the daily number of cases and rate of transmission are significant. Culinary spices and herbs have been historically used in pandemic and non-pandemic times to reduce respiratory viral burden. Specific food items and culinary spices can boost the levels of protective immunity and also offer therapeutic benefits against impervious bugs via well-known as well as less-known but scientifically testable mechanisms. Here, we analyzed the phytochemicals profile of Ayurvedic herbs and inferred from the clinical trials/observational studies to provide a focused and succinct perspective on the relevance of "food-based" traditional decoction to moderate COVID-19 disease and long-COVID via modulation of immunity and reinstatement of homeostasis. We also underscore the druggable targets in pathogenesis of COVID-19 which are relevant to the ongoing clinical trials using spices and herbs. This information will provide a strong scientific rationale for standardization of the traditional herbs-based therapies and adopting the use of herbs, spices, and their formulations for reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, long-COVID symptoms, and COVID-19 disease progression.


Model Studies on the Effect of Aldehyde Structure on Their Selective Trapping by Phenolic Compounds.
The reaction among flavor-relevant saturated aldehydes (propanal, 2-methylpropanal, butanal, 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, pentanal, hexanal, and glyoxal) and phenolic compounds (resorcinol, 2-methylresorcinol, 2,5-dimethylresorcinol, and orcinol) was studied both to identify and to characterize the formed carbonyl-phenol adducts and to understand the differences in the carbonyl-trapping abilities of phenolic compounds. The obtained results showed that carbonyl-trapping by phenolics is selective and that the formation of carbonyl-phenol adducts depends on the structures of both the phenol and aldehyde involved. In relation to the phenolic derivative, the presence of groups that increase the nucleophilicity of phenolic carbons will increase the carbonyl-trapping ability of these compounds. On the other hand, the presence of groups that increase the steric hindrance of these positions without affecting nucleophilicity will inhibit the reaction. Analogously, the presence of branching at position 2 of the aldehyde will also inhibit the reaction by steric hindrance. All of these results suggest that the addition of phenolics to foods may change food flavor not only because of their sensory properties but also because they can modify the ratio among food odorants by selective reaction of phenolics with determined carbonyl compounds.


Conventional and two-dimensional real-time echocardiographic diagnosis of osteosarcoma. A case report.
A case of metastatic left ventricular osteosarcoma detected during life by conventional echocardiography was reported, and by 2-dimensional real-time echocardiography the spread and localization of osteosarcoma in the left ventricle were visualized directly. Our report is the first description of echocardiographic detection of osteosarcoma of the heart.


[Functional disturbances of the lower urinary tract following radical surgery for cervical cancer (author's transl)].
1972 to 1977 141 patients at the university department of gynecology and obstetrics in Innsbruck had radical abdominal hysterectomies according to Latzko because of carcinoma of the cervix uteri state I-IIa. 111 (78.8%) patients without recurrence of carcinoma were investigated without recurrence of carcinoma were investigated in the period of 2 to 36 months after operation in a modern urodynamic testing unit to state functional troubles of the lower urinary tract. We judged the sensibility of the bladder, the incidence of urinary incontinence, residual urine determinations and the frequency of infections of the lower urinary tract after radical hysterectomies. In particular we were interested in the urodynamic investigation (spontaneous flow rate and uroflow-metrie after bladder filling, liquid cystometry and simultaneous measurement of the pressure in the rectum for a faithful expression of the detrusor pressure). Based on these investigations we could indicate a typical type of troubles after radical abdominal hysterectomies, which partly depends on lesions of the autonomous nerval system of the lower urinary tract. 89.5% of all these patients within the first year after operation could not feel any desire to void although the bladder was full. Longer than one year after operation we could find the same symptom in 45.5%--recovery in part seems to be possible. Moreover we could find unnoticed urinary loss, residual urine and infections of the lower urinary tract (24.7%) in higher incidence compared with a control group. Because of our investigation we could work out advice for prevention and therapy of functional troubles of the lower urinary tract after radical abdominal hysterectomy.


The BAFF / APRIL axis plays an important role in virus-induced peritoneal responses in rainbow trout.
IgM+ B cells have been recently demonstrated to be key regulators of peritoneal inflammation in teleost, as a large number of them occupy the peritoneal cavity after 48 h of antigenic stimulation. Despite this, the number of studies addressing the mechanism through which this cell population expands and differentiates in response to stimuli has been scarcely addressed. Because the BAFF/APRIL axis is known to play a major role in B cell survival and differentiation in mammals, we hypothesized that it could be affected in the peritoneal cavity in response to an inflammatory stimulus. To verify this hypothesis, we studied how BAFF, APRIL and the fish-specific related cytokine BALM as well as their putative receptors are regulated in rainbow trout after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). When the transcriptional analysis was performed in total cells from the peritoneum, we observed that VHSV provoked an up-regulation of both BAFF and BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) mRNA levels. However, when we examined how isolated peritoneal IgM+ B cells were transcriptionally affected by VHSV i.p. injection, we found that APRIL, BALM and the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) were also up-regulated in response to the virus. IgM- cells, on the other hand, only up-regulated BALM transcription in response to VHSV. Finally, to gain further insight on the role that these cytokines play in the peritoneum, we have studied their effect on the survival of peritoneal IgM+ B cells. This work demonstrates a key role for the BAFF/APRIL axis in the peritoneal inflammatory response and contributes to further understanding how IgM+ B cells are regulated at this specific peripheral site.


The Effect of Fiducial Marker Number and Configuration on Registration Error in Dynamic Implant Surgery.
Objective: To verify the effect of fiducial marker number and configuration on target registration error (TRE) for dynamic computer-aided zygomatic implant surgery. Material and Methods: All patients who underwent zygomatic implant surgery with navigation from January 2018 to December 2021 were enrolled. For each patient, 6 to 8 miniscrews were placed intraorally as fiducial markers before the surgery. After the registration procedure, the TRE, which represents the distance between the target of the image space and the real position of the fiducial markers, was calculated. SPSS (22.0) was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 325 titanium miniscrews were placed in 47 patients who underwent zygomatic implant placement by navigation. The lowest TRE was 0.2 mm, compared to the highest TRE of 1.9 mm. There was no significant difference in the mean TRE value among the different titanium miniscrew groups (P = .07). A total of 8 miniscrews in 7 patients were lost in the maxillary tuberosity area prior to and during navigation surgery, which resulted in an irregular polygonal distribution of fiducial markers. However, there was no statistically significant difference in TRE between a polygonal distribution (0.62 ± 0.35 mm) and an irregular polygonal distribution (0.68 ± 0.33 mm) (P = .35). Conclusion: A scattered, polygonal distribution with of a minimum of five fiducial markers in an edentulous maxilla could achieve acceptable TRE values in registration. It seems that the registration error was not influenced by the absence of one corner in a polygon distribution.


Getting to the root of the problem: the causes of relapse in multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable, and ultimately, patients exhibit disease progression under current treatment regimens. Proteasome inhibitors have emerged as frontline treatment of relapsed and refractory MM however, resistance to these drugs occur through poorly defined mechanisms. Numerous studies have identified different acquired resistance models such as β5 proteasome subunit mutations and stabilization of tumor suppressors and apoptotic proteins. In addition, recent findings have identified a progenitor organization in MM whereby early progenitor tumor cells show resistance to proteasome inhibitor therapy and cause progressive disease with maturation arrest. This editorial highlights the potential causes of MM relapse in the context of these tumor progenitor cells and the role these cells play in treatment failure.


Antitrypanosomal cycloartane glycosides from Astragalus baibutensis.
Baibutoside (5), a new cycloartane-type triterpene glycoside, has been isolated from the roots of Astragalus baibutensis along with four known glycosides, acetylastragaloside I (1), and astragalosides I, II, and IV (2-4, resp.). The structure elucidation of the compounds were achieved by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques (DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY), and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), where all the compounds were shown to have cycloastragenol (=(20R,24S)-3beta,6alpha,16beta,25-tetrahydroxy-20,24-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane) as aglycone. All compounds were tested for in vitro antiprotozoal activity. Compounds 1-4 displayed notable activity vs. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with acetylastragaloside I (1) being the most potent (IC50 9.5 microg/ml). Acetylastragaloside I (1) was also lethal to T. cruzi (IC50 5.0 microg/ml), and it is the first cycloartane-type triterpene with remarkable trypanocidal activity against both T. brucei rhodesiense and T. cruzi. However, it exhibits some cytotoxicity on mammalian cells.


Identifying targets for interventions to support public adherence to government instructions to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
SARS-CoV-2 lacks sentience and can only be spread through human behaviour. Government instructions to the general public include: (a) limiting time spent outside the home, (b) staying more than 1 m away from people outside the household at all times, and (c) maintaining hand hygiene. Current evidence suggests high rates of adherence to such instructions, but interventions to sustain adherence to government instructions in the long term can only be developed if we know why people do or do not adhere to them. The aims were to assess levels of public adherence to government instructions to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but more importantly to gauge why people were or were not adhering to instructions. Cross-sectional survey of 2252 adults who were representative of the UK population. Data were analysed descriptively, and using one-sample t-tests, within-participants ANOVA and multiple linear regression. The sample reported mostly adhering to UK government instructions to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with 5% or fewer people reporting active resistance to instructions. People generally reported high levels of capability, opportunity and motivation to follow the instructions, but perceived relatively few physical and social opportunities. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that better adherence was associated with older age, being a woman, having a white ethnic background, and with perceiving greater levels of capabilities, opportunities and motivations. Interventions targeted at people with black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, men and younger people that focus on increasing capabilities, providing greater opportunities and boosting motivations are needed to support continued adherence to government instructions to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further research is required to track changes in people's capabilities, opportunities, motivations and behaviours in response to the ongoing emergency, any changes in government instructions, and to adapt the present procedures to other emergency situations.


Two cases of cutaneous gnathostomiasis after eating raw Salangichthys microdon (icefish, shirauo).
Cutaneous gnathostomiasis (CG) is a disease caused by ingestion of third-stage Gnathostoma larva in raw snakes, freshwater fish or frogs. The common causative organisms of CG in Japan include G. nipponicum, G. spinigerum, G. doloresi, G. binucleatum and G. hispidum. We report two cases of CG after eating many raw Japanese icefishes (Salangichthys microdon). In both cases, linear itchy eruptions on the trunk developed after eating many S. microdon. We performed genetic analysis in the first case, which revealed G. nipponicum. Of note, this is the first case of CG diagnosed based on genetic analysis in Japan. In Japan, eating whole small raw freshwater fish is common. The most popular types of raw small freshwater fish consumed in Japan are S. microdon (shirauo in Japanese) and Leucopsarion petersii (shirouo in Japanese). Usually, S. microdon are born in rivers, but live in both the sea and rivers. They feed on small fish and freshwater water fleas and spawn in rivers in the spring. On the other hand, L. petersii are born in rivers, but move to the sea soon after hatching. They feed on plankton such as copepod in the sea. They do not feed on anything when they return to rivers to spawn in the spring. Therefore, we hypothesize that S. microdon are more easily parasitized by G. nipponicum.


Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the uterus: a case report and review of literature.
A case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising in the uterine corpus of a 43-year-old woman is presented. The tumor mass was 13.3 cm and extended to the uterine serosa, endocervical stroma, and left adnexa. Histologically, the tumor was composed of small blue cells with scant cytoplasm, indistinct cell borders, hyperchromatic round nuclei, and inconspicuous nucleoli focally forming pseudorosettes, suggestive of neuroectodermal origin. The tumor cells displayed strong immunoreactivity for CD99 and FLI1. Cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization study revealed presence of an EWS-FLI1 fusion gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the uterus with diagnosis confirmed by FLI1 immunohistochemical labeling and demonstration of t (11; 22) by fluorescence in situ hybridization.


129I in the Baltic Proper and Bothnian Sea: application for estimation of water exchange and environmental impact.
We report here new data and a mass balance model for (129)I in the Baltic Proper and the Bothnian Sea covering the period from November-December 2009. The results showed that the general (129)I concentrations in the Bothnian Sea were two-four folds lower than in the Baltic Proper for both surface and deep water. Water exchange between the two basins based on the (129)I mass balance model suggests fluxes from the Baltic Proper to the Bothnian Sea and vice versa at 980 km(3)/y (600-1400 km(3)/y) and 1180 km(3)/y (780-1600 km(3)/y) respectively. Water retention time (residence time) in the Bothnian Sea was estimated at up to 4 years. Applying the (129)I exchange model, an estimate of total phosphorus and nitrogen inflow from the Baltic Proper to the Bothnian Sea indicates values of 20 ± 7 × 10(3) tons/y and 300 ± 50 × 10(3) tons/y respectively. The values for the outflow from the Bothnian Sea to the Baltic Proper hold 12 ± 3 × 10(3) tons/y for total phosphorus and 283 ± 55 × 10(3) tons/y for total nitrogen. These data and application of (129)I as a tracer of water masses provide information on small scale salinity changes which are vital for accurate understanding of the Baltic Sea ecosystems evolution through time.


[Biological cost associated with fosfomycin resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections].
Resistance to fosfomycin develops rapidly in experimental conditions, although despite its frequent use in UTI, resistance in E. coli, the main uropathogen, is very low (1-3%), and has remained so for many years. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether E. coli fosfomycin-resistant strains have less fitness than those that are fosfomycin-sensitive in competing, and would therefore tend to disappear in their competition with fosfomycin-sensitive strains in the absence of antibiotics. Fosfomycin-resistant strains (n=11) with different phenotypes of resistance to other antibiotics were used. All but one were lactose (+). Fosfomycin-susceptible strains (n=15) that had the same phenotypes of resistance to other antibiotics as the resistant strains and which had the opposite pattern of lactose fermentation were also used. Thirty-three (33) competition experiments by pairs of strains were conducted in nutrient broth. Equal amounts of the strains were challenged (approx. 50% and approx. 50%) for 4 days, with a daily change to a new medium. Five differential counts were performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. In 20 experiments (60.6%) there was a relative increase in the fosfomycin-sensitive strain. In 6 experiments (18.2%) there was a relative increase in the fosfomycin-resistant strain. In 7 experiments (21.2%), on the fourth day none of the strains reached 60%. When the data of the 26 (20+6) experiments in which there were changes were analyzed by the chi2 test there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.044). Resistance to fosfomycin could entail a biological cost (less fitness) for the majority of the E. coli strains assayed.


Reliability and validity of self-report measures of HIV-related sexual behavior: progress since 1990 and recommendations for research and practice.
The trustworthiness of self-reported sexual behavior data has been questioned since Kinsey's pioneering surveys of sexuality in the United States (Kinsey et al., 1948, 1953). In the era of HIV and AIDS, researchers and practitioners have employed a diversity of assessment techniques but they have not escaped the fundamental problem of measurement error. We review the empirical literature produced since Catania et al.'s (1990) review regarding reliability and validity of self-administered and automated questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and self-monitoring approaches. We also provide specific recommendations for improving sexual behavior assessment. It is imperative that standardized self-report instruments be developed and used for sexual risk-behavior assessment.


JAK-STAT Activity in Peripheral Blood Cells and Kidney Tissue in IgA Nephropathy.
IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerular disease in the world. Marked by mesangial inflammation and proliferation, it generally leads to progressive kidney fibrosis. As the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway has been implicated as an important mediator of diabetic kidney disease and FSGS, detailed investigation of this pathway in IgA nephropathy was undertaken to establish the basis for targeting this pathway across glomerular diseases. Well characterized patients with IgA nephropathy and controls were studied, allowing us to compare 77 patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy with 45 healthy subjects. STAT phosphorylation was assessed in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) by phosphoflow before and after cytokine stimulation. Kidney Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription activity was studied by immunofluorescence and by transcriptomic studies. An STAT1 activity score was established using downstream transcriptional targets of pSTAT1 and associated with disease and clinical outcomes. We found PBMCs to have upregulated pSTAT production at baseline in patients with IgA nephropathy with a limited reserve to respond to cytokine stimulation compared with controls. Increased staining in glomerular mesangium and endothelium was seen for Jak-2 and pSTAT1 and in the tubulointerstitial for JAK2, pSTAT1, and pSTAT3. Activation of the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway was further supported by increased pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 scores in glomerular and tubulointerstitial sections of the kidney (glomerular activation Z scores: 7.1 and 4.5, respectively; P values: <0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Clinically, phosphoflow results associated with proteinuria and kidney function, and STAT1 activation associated with proteinuria but was not associated with progression. Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling was activated in patients with IgA nephropathy compared with controls. There were altered responses in peripheral immune cells and increased message and activated proteins in the kidney. These changes variably related to proteinuria and kidney function.


Lipocalin 2 enhances mesenchymal stem cell-based cell therapy in acute kidney injury rat model.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common health-threatening diseases in the world. There is still no effective medical treatment for AKI. Recently, Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy has been proposed for treatment of AKI. However, the microenvironment of damaged kidney tissue is not favorable for survival of MSCs which would be used for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we genetically manipulated MSCs to up-regulate lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) and investigated whether the engineered MSCs (MSC-Lcn2) could improve cisplatin-induced AKI in a rat model. Our results revealed that up-regulation of Lcn2 in MSCs efficiently enhanced renal function. MSC Lcn2 up-regulates expression of HGF, IGF, FGF and VEGF growth factors. In addition, they reduced molecular biomarkers of kidney injury such as KIM-1 and Cystatin C, while increased the markers of proximal tubular epithelium such as AQP-1 and CK18 following cisplatin-induced AKI. Overall, here we over-expressed Lcn2, a well-known cytoprotective factor against acute ischemic renal injury, in MSCs. This not only potentiated beneficial roles of MSCs for cell therapy purposes but also suggested a new modality for treatment of AKI.


Response time and reliability of three neonatal patient-triggered ventilators.
We studied the response time (RT) and reliability of three neonatal patient-triggered ventilator (PTV) systems: the Draeger Babylog 8000, the Bear Cub enhancement module (CEM), and the Infrasonics Star Sync. In 10 adult rabbits, airway flow and pressure recordings showed the RT of the Star Sync to be shorter than that of the Bear CEM (53 +/- 13 versus 65 +/- 15 ms, p < 0.05), and both were shorter than that of the Babylog (95 +/- 24 ms, p < 0.01) by ANOVA. The RT of the Bear CEM and the Babylog increased significantly at decreased trigger sensitivity settings. All ventilators triggered successfully on assist-control (A/C). However, the Babylog had a higher rate of asynchrony on SIMV (30 +/- 25%) than the Bear CEM (1.1 +/- 0.3%) and the Star Sync (1.2 +/- 0.4%), p < 0.01. In 10 infants with respiratory failure, recordings of airway flow and pressure were made at ventilator inspiratory time (Ti) settings of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 s on assist-control and on SIMV at rates of 15, 30, 45, and 60 breaths/min. The Star Sync and Bear CEM triggered successfully on A/C (100%) and had low rates of asynchrony on SIMV (1 to 3%). The Babylog had a lower success rate on A/C (70 +/- 12%) and a higher rate of asynchrony on SIMV (29 +/- 30%) than the other two ventilators; p < 0.01. The lower reliability of the Babylog was due to its variable refractory period (0.2 to 0.5 s, to equal the set Ti).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Tailored mesoporous γ-WO3 nanoplates: unraveling their potential for highly sensitive NH3 detection and efficient photocatalysis.
Herein, the monoclinic phase of tungsten oxide (γ-WO3) was successfully obtained after annealing hydrothermally synthesised WO3 powder at 500 °C. As per the result obtained from the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, the material has been identified as mesoporous with a specific surface area of 3.71 m2 g-1 from BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis. Moreover, the average pore size (49.52 nm) and volume (0.050 cm3 g-1) were also determined by the BJH (Barrett-Joyner-Halenda) method. FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) and HR-TEM (high resolution transmission electron microscopy) have confirmed the formation of nanoplates with an average diameter of approximately 274 nm. Raman spectroscopy has shown peaks at the lower wavenumber region (270 cm-1 and 326 cm-1) and the higher wavenumber region (713 cm-1 and 806 cm-1) for O-W-O bending modes and stretching modes, respectively. The combined effect of relative humidity (RH-11%-RH-95%-RH-11%) and NH3 (150 ppm, 300 ppm, 450 ppm, 600 ppm, 700 ppm, and 800 ppm) was investigated in this reported work. The synthesised γ-WO3 has shown highly responsive behaviour for humidity of 96.5% (RH-11%-95%) and NH3 sensing (under humidity) of 97.4% (RH-11%-95% with 800 ppm NH3). The response and recovery time were calculated as 15 s and 52 s, and 16 s and 54 s for humidity, and NH3 under humidity, respectively. The experimental findings demonstrated that the resistance of the sensor depends on the concentration of NH3 and humidity. Moreover, γ-WO3 has been investigated as a promising catalyst for the dye degradation of methylene blue (MB) with a degradation efficiency of 72.82% and methyl orange (MO) with a degradation efficiency of 53.84% under visible light exposure. This dye degradation occurred within 160 min in the presence of a catalyst under visible light irradiation.


Ovarian response to 150 µg corifollitropin alfa in a GnRH-antagonist multiple-dose protocol: a prospective cohort study.
The incidence of low (<6 oocytes) and high (>18 oocytes) ovarian response to 150 µg corifollitropin alfa in relation to anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and other biomarkers was studied in a multi-centre (n = 5), multi-national, prospective, investigator-initiated, observational cohort study. Infertile women (n = 212), body weight >60 kg, underwent controlled ovarian stimulation in a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-antagonist multiple-dose protocol. Demographic, sonographic and endocrine parameters were prospectively assessed on cycle day 2 or 3 of a spontaneous menstruation before the administration of 150 µg corifollitropin alfa. Serum AMH showed the best correlation with the number of oocytes obtained among all predictor variables. In receiver-operating characteristic analysis, AMH at a threshold of 0.91 ng/ml showed a sensitivity of 82.4%, specificity of 82.4%, positive predictive value 52.9%and negative predictive value 95.1% for predicting low response (area under the curve [AUC], 95% CI; P-value: 0.853, 0.769-0.936; <0.0001). For predicting high response, the optimal threshold for AMH was 2.58 ng/ml, relating to a sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity 82.1%, positive predictive value 42.5% and negative predictive value 96.1% (AUC, 95% CI; P-value: 0.871, 0.787-0.955; <0.0001). In conclusion, patients with serum AMH concentrations between approximately 0.9 and 2.6 ng/ml were unlikely to show extremes of response.


Distinguishing appropriate from inappropriate conditions on research participation.
Individuals do not have a right to participate in clinical trials. But, they do have a right against being denied participation for inappropriate reasons. Despite the widespread endorsement of these two claims, there has been little discussion regarding which conditions for participation in clinical trials are appropriate and which are inappropriate. The present manuscript attempts to address this gap in the literature. We first describe and then argue against the claim that conditions on enrollment or continued participation are appropriate only when they are needed to answer the scientific question(s) posed by the trial. We then offer an alternative view according to which the appropriateness of conditions depends on whether they help to satisfy the ethical requirements of clinical research. Because these requirements include social value, the present view implies that promoting social value is an acceptable reason to impose conditions on research participation. With this in mind, we explain why it is not coercive to require potential participants to accept conditions on enrollment that promote a trial's social value, even when the participants find those conditions unwelcome. We conclude by evaluating the present proposal's implications for the common practice of requiring participants to agree to the possible use of their leftover biospecimens in a broad range of future research. We argue, contra current regulatory policy, that this practice can be acceptable even when the present trial offers participants the prospect of clinical benefit and the samples are being reserved for future research that is unrelated to the present trial.


A liquid biopsy-based method for the detection and quantification of circulating tumor cells in surgical osteosarcoma patients.
A method for the enumeration and quantification of osteosarcoma (OS) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is currently not available. A correlation between the number of CTCs and progression-free survival (PFS) has been established for other cancers, but not for OS CTCs. A method was therefore developed for CTC quantification in OS and validated in a prospective cohort of surgical patients with primary and recurrent/metastatic OS (N=23). Human OS cells, acting as CTCs, were enumerated from spiked human peripheral blood (PB) following erythrocyte and leukocyte depletion. The OS cells were quantified microscopically based on aneuploidy and a CK18-/CD45- phenotype. Aneuploidy was assayed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using fluorescence-labeled alpha-satellite probes for the centromeres of chromosome (CEP 8). CK18 and CD45 phenotyping was performed with immunocytochemistry. HOS cells in spiked PB could be effectively retrieved with the FISH-based enumeration method, which was subsequently employed in an OS patient cohort. PB of recurrent/metastatic OS patients contained more CTCs than the PB of primary OS patients. OS patients with ≥2 CTCs per 7.5 ml of PB had worse PFS than patients whose PB contained <2 CTCs. In 2 cases, CTCs were present in PB of OS patients with negative X-ray and chest CT scans. In conclusion, our method was able to quantitate CTCs in liquid biopsies of OS patients. The number of CTCs has diagnostic and prognostic value.


Strategies for Improving Text Reading Ability Based on Human-Computer Interaction in Artificial Intelligence.
In order to improve text reading ability, a human-computer interaction method based on artificial intelligence (AI) human-computer interaction is proposed. Firstly, the design of the AI human-computer interaction model is constructed, which includes the Stanford Question Answering Dataset (SQuAD) and the designed baseline model. There are three components: the coding layer is based on a cyclic neural network (recurrent neural network [RNN] encoder layer), which aims to encode the problem and text into a hidden state; the interaction layer is used to integrate problems and text representation; the output layer connects two independent soft Max layers after a fully connected layer, one is used to obtain the starting position of the answer in the text and the other is used to obtain the ending position. In the interaction layer of the model, this manuscript uses hierarchical attention and aggregation mechanism to improve text coding. The traditional model interaction layer has a simple structure, which leads to weak relevance between text and problems, and poor understanding ability of the model. Finally, the self-attention model is used to further enhance the feature representation of text. The experimental results show that the improved model in this manuscript is compared with the public AI human-computer interaction reading comprehension model. According to the data in the table, the accuracy of the model in this manuscript is better than that of the baseline model, in which the exact match (EM) value is increased by 1.4% and the F1 value is increased by 2.7%. However, compared with improvement point 2, the EM and F1 values of the model have decreased by 0.7%. It shows that the output layer has a certain impact on the effect of the model, and the improvement and optimization of the output layer can also improve the performance of the model. It is proved that AI human-computer interaction can effectively improve text reading ability.


African American and Caucasian preschoolers' use of decontextualized language: literate language features in oral narratives.
Low-income preschoolers' use of literate language features in oral narratives across three age groups (3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds) and two ethnic groups (Caucasian and African American) was examined. Sixty-seven preschoolers generated a story using a wordless picture book. The literate language features examined were simple and complex elaborated noun phrases, adverbs, conjunctions, and mental/linguistic verbs. Literate language features occurred at measurable rates for 3- to 5-year-old children. Conjunction use was positively associated with the use of complex elaborated noun phrases and adverbs, and the use of complex and simple elaborated noun phrases was inversely related. There were no differences between African American and Caucasian children's usage rates. Age-related differences were observed in the use of mental/linguistic verbs and conjunctions. The importance of supporting decontextualized language skills during the preschool period is discussed.


Enhanced malignant progression of mouse skin tumors by the free-radical generator benzoyl peroxide.
Chemical carcinogenesis in mouse skin can be divided into the processes of initiation, promotion, and progression. The free-radical generator benzoyl peroxide is moderately active during the promotion stage. Repetitive treatment of mouse benign skin tumors (papillomas) with benzoyl peroxide (20 mg, twice weekly) increased the number of cumulative carcinomas per group by 325% and the number of keratoacanthomas by 44% compared to tumor-bearing Sencar mice treated with the promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The lack of increase in the number of cumulative papillomas per group due to benzoyl peroxide treatment suggests that benzoyl peroxide enhanced the progression of preexisting papillomas. The ability of benzoyl peroxide to enhance the progression of benign tumors to cancer should be considered when determining the human risk from exposure to this widely used chemical agent; in addition, biological assays specifically testing malignant progression may be essential and beneficial for determining an agent's carcinogenic risk.


Concepts, Utility and Limitations of Cord Blood Banking: What Clinicians Need to Know.
Stem cell transplantation and cord blood banking have received much popularity among general public and medical professionals in the recent past. But information about the scientific aspects, its utility and limitations is incomplete amongst laypersons as well as many medical practitioners. Stem cells differ from all other types of cells in the human body because of their ability to multiply in order to self perpetuate and differentiate into specialized cells. Stems cells could be totipotent, multipotent, pluripotent, oligopotent or unipotent depending on the type of cells that can arise or differentiate from them. Umbilical cord blood serves as a potent source of hematopoeitic stem cells and is being used to treat various disorders like blood cancers, hemoglobinopathies and immunodeficiency disorders for which hematological stem cell transplantation is the standard of care. Cord blood can be collected at ease, without any major complications and has a lower incidence of graft vs. host reaction compared to bone marrow cells or peripheral blood cells. Both public and private banks have been established for collection and storage of umbilical cord blood. However, false claims and misleading commercial advertisements about the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of a variety of conditions ranging from neuromuscular disorders to cosmetic benefits are widespread and create unrealistic expectations in laypersons and clinicians. Many clinicians and laypersons are unaware of the limitations of cord blood banking, as in treating a genetic disorder by autologous cord blood transplant. Knowledge and awareness about the scientific indications of cord blood stem cell transplantation and realistic expectations about the utility of cord blood among medical practitioners are essential for providing accurate information to laypersons before they decide to preserve umbilical cord blood in private banks and thus prevent malpractice.


An Examination of Parental Weight Stigma and Weight Talk Among Socioeconomically and Racially/Ethnically Diverse Parents.
Parental communication about body weight can influence children's emotional well-being and eating behaviors. However, little is known about the role of parental self-stigma concerning weight and social position variables (ie, race/ethnicity, income, and gender) in weight communication. This study examined how parents' self-stigmatization for their own weight (ie, weight bias internalization) and self-stigmatization for their child's weight (ie, affiliate stigma) relates to weight talk frequency with their children, and whether these associations vary across parental race/ethnicity, income, and gender. Parents (n = 408) completed a cross-sectional, online survey about their weight communication and self-stigmatization. Linear regression was used to examine the relationships among these variables, including interactions between the stigma variables and social position variables in predicting weight talk. Higher levels of weight bias internalization and affiliate stigma were strongly associated with increased parental weight talk frequency; parents who endorsed higher levels of internalized bias about their own weight expressed greater affiliate stigma for their child's weight, regardless of demographic characteristics or weight status. Associations between the stigma variables and weight talk outcomes were stronger among fathers and parents of higher income. Findings highlight the importance of considering weight stigma variables in parental weight communication research.


Visual and refractive outcomes of LASIK with the SCHWIND ESIRIS and WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Eye-q excimer lasers: a prospective, contralateral study.
To compare the safety, efficacy, and predictability of LASIK with the SCHWIND ESIRIS and WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Eye-Q excimer laser platforms. This prospective study comprised 44 eyes of 22 consecutive patients who were treated with LASIK using the Moria M2 microkeratome. One eye was treated with the SCHWIND ESIRIS laser and the fellow eye treated with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Eye-Q laser. All eyes operated with the SCHWIND ESIRIS were treated with standard aspheric ablation, whereas the eyes operated with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Eye-Q received treatment with three different ablation types according to the common practice at our clinic. Outcome measures were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and proximity to target refraction at 6-month follow-up. At 6 months postoperative, mean decimal UCVA was 0.96+/-0.22 (range: 0.3 to 1.2) for ESIRIS eyes and 0.98+/-0.17 (range: 0.6 to 1.2) for ALLEGRETTO eyes (P=.57). Mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -0.02+/-0.28 diopters (D) (range: -0.75 to +0.75 D) for ESIRIS eyes and 0.11+/-0.91 D (range: -1.00 to +3.88 D) for ALLEGRETTO eyes (P=.49). Of the ESIRIS eyes, 20/22 (91%) were within +/-1.00 D of target refraction and 20/22 (91%) were within +/-0.50 D of target refraction. Of the ALLEGRETTO eyes, 20/22 (91%) and 19/22 (86%) were within +/-1.00 D and +/-0.50 D, respectively, of target refraction. No patient lost > or =2 lines of BSCVA in either group. No differences were seen in safety and efficacy outcome parameters between the SCHWIND ESIRIS and WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Eye-Q excimer lasers when used according to a previously established treatment algorithm at our clinic in the treatment of refractive error.


Building an electronic health record integrated quality of life outcomes registry for spine surgery.
Demonstrating the value of spine care requires adequate outcomes assessment. Long-term outcomes are best measured as overall improvement in quality of life (QOL) after surgical intervention. Present registries often require parallel data entry, introducing inefficiencies and limiting compliance. The authors detail the methodology of constructing an integrated electronic health record (EHR) system to collect QOL metrics and demonstrate the effect of data collection on routine clinical workflow. A streamlined approach to collecting QOL data can capture patient data without requiring dual data entry and without increasing clinic visit times. Through extensive literature review, a combination of QOL assessments was selected, consisting of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and -9, Oswestry Disability Index, Neck Disability Index, and visual analog scale for pain. These metrics were used to provide assessment of QOL following spine surgery and were incorporated into standard clinic workflow by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, advanced practice providers, and health care information technology specialists. A clinical dashboard tracking more than 25 patient variables was developed. Clinic flow was assessed and opportunities for improvement reviewed. Duration of clinic visits before and after initiation of QOL measure capture was recorded, with assessment of mean clinic visit times for the 12 months before and the 12 months after implementation. The integrated QOL capture was instituted for 3 spine surgeons in a tertiary care academic center. In the 12-month period prior to initiating collection of QOL data, 806 new patient visits were completed with an average visit time of 127.9 ± 51.5 minutes. In the 12 months after implementation, 1013 new patient visits were recorded, with 791 providing QOL measures with an average visit time of 117.0 ± 45.7 minutes. Initially the primary means of collecting patient outcome data was via paper form, with gradual transition to collection via entry into the electronic medical records system. To improve electronic data capture, paper forms were eliminated and an online portal used as part of the patient rooming process. This improved electronic capture to nearly 98% without decreasing the number of patients enrolled in the process. A systematic approach to collecting spine-related QOL data within an EHR system is feasible and offers distinct advantages over registries that require dual data entry. The process of data collection does not impact patients' clinical visit or providers' clinical workflow. This approach is scalable, and may form the foundation for a decentralized outcomes registry network.


Modulatory effect of insulin on rat small intestinal motility and peptide release in vitro.
Intact segments of rat ileum were stimulated in vitro by either electrical field stimulation (EFS) or cholinergic stimulation with carbachol, in the presence of absence of varying insulin concentrations (50, 100 and 200 microU/ml), and the contraction in the longitudinal axis was recorded. Insulin had no significant influence on the carbachol contractile dose-response curve nor did it affect the cholinergically mediated 'on-contraction' at onset of the electrical stimulus. The 'off-contraction' occurring at cessation of the electrical stimulus was partly mediated by a cholinergic and partly by a noncholinergic and nonadrenergic mechanism, and decreased over time with repeated stimulation. This decay with time was significantly attenuated by insulin. In the presence of insulin, release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity induced by carbachol or EFS significantly increased. On the other hand, the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was suppressed by 50-70% in the presence of insulin. These results demonstrate that in vitro insulin can modify both the motility responses of isolated segments of rat ileum and the neuropeptide release from such segments.


Enamelin gene expression during fetal and neonatal rabbit tooth organogenesis.
Epithelial differentiation is a complex process which requires an integrated synthesis of DNA along with synthesis of a full complement of unique mRNAs and their respective proteins characteristic for each cell type. The time of initial transcription of enamel protein mRNAs and subsequent translation of proteins characteristic for secretory ameloblasts is not known. In order to determine when enamel protein mRNAs appear during New Zealand White rabbit molar tooth organogenesis, and when nascent enamel proteins are first translated, we analyzed early cap stages through late crown stages of molar tooth formation (i.e., 21-days gestation through 2-days postnatal). The biochemical phenotype which characterized rabbit ameloblasts were the acidic glycoproteins termed enamelins. Polyclonal antibodies were produced against the major fetal rabbit enamelin of approximately 70,000 daltons. Immunoprecipitation of enamelins from mRNA-directed translation products in a reticulocyte cell-free system, was used to characterize enamelin mRNAs. Enamelin mRNAs were first detected during bell stages (circa 23-days gestation), and persisted till crown stage (circa 28-days gestation). Indirect immunofluorescent localization of enamelin antigen showed staining over the extracellular enamel organ matrix by 23-days gestation. Neither enamelin mRNAs or polypeptides were detected during early or late cap stages of odontogenesis. Transcription of enamelin mRNAs coding for two enamelins of 65 an 58 kd (kilodaltons) appeared to be closely coupled with the translation of these enamel proteins. We assume that close-range ectomesenchyme- derived instructions mediate the biochemical differentiation of ameloblasts between 21-days and 23-days gestation during fetal rabbit development.


MAGED2: a novel p53-dissociator.
The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a transcription factor that is frequently mutated in human cancers. In response to DNA damage, unmutated or wild-type (wt) p53 protein is stabilized and activated by post-transcriptional modifications that enable it to induce either apoptosis or cell cycle arrest. Using a yeast p53-dissociator assay, we identified MAGED2 as a potential negative regulator of wt p53 activity. Subsequently, using co-immunoprecipitation and reporter gene assays in human cultured cells that are often adopted for functional analysis of p53 we demonstrated that MAGED2 interacted physically with p53 and modified its activity. Finally, we were able to illustrate expression of both p53 and MAGED2 within the same subcellular compartment, i.e. either nucleus or cytoplasm, in 2,682 human cancer tissue specimens using a common cancer tissue microarray and antibodies against MAGED2 and p53. The present results implicate MAGED2, a novel protein, as a p53-dissociator.


[Ascitic pH and infection in alcoholic cirrhosis].
The pH values of 108 samples of ascitic fluid in 94 alcoholic cirrhotic patients were analyzed in order to assess their diagnostic and prognostic value. The mean pH value of ascitic fluid was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (7.23 +/- 0.22) or with suspected diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (7.29 +/- 0.15) than in patients with sterile ascites (7.45 +/- 0.06). However, there was an important overlap between these groups. In patients with and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, measurement of the difference between blood and ascitic pH was more discriminative than the ascitic pH alone: a difference of 0.10 or more was detected in all patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, in 2 of 5 patients with suspected diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and in 3 of 97 patients with sterile ascites. When the ascitic pH value was lower than 7.15, death occurred rapidly. Ascitic pH rapidly increased when treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was clinically effective. These results suggest that measurement of pH in ascitic fluid is contributive to the diagnosis and prognosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in alcoholic cirrhosis.


[Identification and analysis of the proteins interacted with Prestin in cochlear outer hair cells of guinea pig].
Objective: To explore the regulation and mechanism of Prestin protein by identifying the proteins interacted with Prestin in cochlear outer hair cell(OHC) and analyzing their biological function. Methods: Co-immunoprecipitation combined mass spectrometry technology was used to isolate and identify the proteins interacted with Prestin protein of OHC, bioinformatics was used to construct Prestin protein interaction network. The proteins interacted with Prestin in OHC of guinea pig were determined by matching primary interaction mass spectrometry with protein interaction network, and annotated their functions. Results: The results of co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry showed that 116 kinds of credible proteins could interact with Prestin. By constructing Prestin protein interaction network, matching the results of mass spectrometry and analyzing of sub-cellular localization, eight kinds of proteins were confirmed that they interacted with Prestin directly, namely EEF2, HSP90AB1, FN1, FLNA, EEF1A1, HSP90B1, ATP5A1, and ERH, respectively, which were mainly involved in the synthesis and transportation, transmembrane folding and localization, structural stability and signal transduction of Prestin protein. Conclusion: EEF2, HSP90AB1, FN1, FLNA, EEF1A1, HSP90B1, ATP5A1 and ERH provide molecular basis for sensory amplification function of OHCs by participating in biotransformation, transmembrane folding and localization, signal transduction and other biological processes of Prestin protein.


Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor-mediated cell survival in hypoxia depends on the promotion of autophagy via suppression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Hypoxia is widely accepted as a fundamental biological phenomenon, which is strongly associated with tissue damage and cell viability under stress conditions. Insulin-like growth factor‑1 (IGF‑1) is known to protect tissues from multiple types of damage, and protect cells from apoptosis. Hypoxia is a regulatory factor of the IGF system, however the role of the IGF-1 receptor (IGF‑1R) in hypoxia‑induced apoptosis remains unclear. The present study investigated the potential mechanisms associated with IGF‑1R‑associated apoptosis under hypoxic conditions. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibiting disruption or overexpression of IGF‑1R (R‑ cells and R+ cells) were used to examine the level of apoptosis, autophagy, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The autophagy inhibitor 3‑methyladenine was used to assess the effect of autophagy on ROS production and apoptosis under hypoxic conditions. A potential downstream signaling pathway involving phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/threonine protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was identifiedby western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that hypoxia induced apoptosis, increased ROS production, and promoted autophagy in a time‑dependent manner relative to that observed under normoxia. R+ cells exhibited a lower percentage of apoptotic cells, lower ROS production, and higher levels of autophagy when compared to that of R- cells. In addition, inhibition of autophagy led to increased ROS production and a higher percentage of apoptotic cells in the two cell types. Furthermore, IGF‑1R is related with PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and enhanced autophagy-associated protein expression, which was verified following treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. These results indicated that IGF‑1R may increase cell viability under hypoxic conditions by promoting autophagy and scavenging ROS production, which is closed with PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.


Temporal relationship of asthma to acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease.
Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). An association between asthma and ACS has been reported. Our aims were to determine whether asthma was more common in SCD children than controls and the relationship of the timing of the SCD children's first ACS episode to a diagnosis of asthma. One hundred and sixty-five SCD children median age 8.2 (range 0.3-17.3) years and 151 similar ethnic origin and aged controls were prospectively recruited into the study and a detailed history was taken from all of the children to determine if they were taking anti-asthma medication. The medical records of the SCD children were examined to assess whether they had an ACS episode, the age this episode occurred and when any diagnosis of asthma had been made. A similar proportion of the SCD children and controls were taking anti-asthma medication (7% and 9%). Thirty-three SCD children had at least one ACS episode. More of the children who had an ACS compared to those who had not were taking anti-asthma medication (P = 0.02). The ACS children had been diagnosed as asthmatic at a median of 3.5 (range 0.5-7) years prior to their first ACS episode. In conclusion, these results suggest asthma exacerbations may predispose to ACS episodes.


Bis phenylene flattened 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) for square planar cobalt(III).
The preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a cobalt(III) complex with 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) is described. This is a square-planar (X-ray) S = 1 paramagnetic (1H NMR) compound, which becomes an S = 0 diamagnetic octahedral species in excess d5-pyridine. Its one-electron oxidation at an electrode is fully reversible with the lowest E 1/2 value (0.66 V vs SCE) among all investigated CoIII TAML complexes. The oxidation results in a neutral blue species which is consistent with a CoIII/radical-cation ligand. The ease of oxidation is likely due to the two benzene rings incorporated in the ligand structure (whereas there is just one in many other CoIII TAMLs). The oxidized neutral species are unexpectedly EPR silent, presumably due to the π-stacking aggregation. However, they display eight-line hyperfine patterns in the presence of excess of 4-tert-butylpyridine or 4-tert-butyl isonitrile. The EPR spectra are more consistent with the CoIII/radical-cation ligand formulation rather than with a CoIV complex. Attempts to synthesize a similar vanadium complex under the same conditions as for cobalt using [VVO(OCHMe2)3] were not successful. TAML-free decavanadate was isolated instead.


Bivalirudin as an anticoagulation agent: safety and efficacy in peripheral interventions.
Traditionally, unfractionated heparin is used to prevent thrombotic complications in peripheral interventions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of bivalirudin as the anticoagulant agent for peripheral interventions. A retrospective analysis of 108 patients who underwent 110 peripheral interventions between January 2002 and January 2004 and received bivalirudin as the sole anticoagulation agent was conducted at Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute. Interventions were performed in the following areas: iliac, femoropopliteal, and distal (n = 55), carotid (n = 31), vertebral (n = 1), renal (n = 14), aorta (n = 7), and subclavian (n = 2). The following procedural and clinical endpoints were examined: death, requirement of urgent surgery or surgery during the same admission, urgent percutaneous revascularization in the same treated vessel, thrombotic or embolic events, bleeding events, and groin complications. A total of 266 lesions were dilated in 185 arteries. There were no procedural mortalities, procedural success was 99.1%, and the complication rate was 3.6%. There was one embolic stroke (0.9%), one thrombosis (0.9%), and two groin hematomas (1.8%). No patient required urgent surgery or reintervention in the same treated vessel. No complications were noted at 7 days after the procedure. There were two interventions by postprocedure day 30: toe amputation and groin debridement. Bivalirudin is a safe alternative to unfractionated heparin as the anticoagulation agent in peripheral interventions. This study shows that the complication profile is comparable to other bivalirudin studies. Bivalirudin is effective, easy to use, and is associated with few bleeding complications.