Checkerboard corner detection method based on neighborhood linear fitting.
To improve the calibration accuracy of a vision measurement system, a checkerboard corner detection method based on linear fitting of the checkerboard local contour is proposed. First, by binarization and morphological dilation of the checkerboard image, the coordinates of two adjacent vertices of adjacent dark squares are obtained; the midpoint of the two vertices is taken as the reference point; the reference dotted array is obtained; and the Zernike moment subpixel method is used to obtain the checkerboard contour data points in the neighborhood of each reference point. Finally, the contour points are classified according to the orientation based on the reference points; two intersecting lines are fitted; and the intersection of the two lines is exactly the corner point that we want to find. A camera calibration experiment was conducted on the same group of checkerboard images. The results show that the calibration results of the corner points obtained based on this method are highly consistent with the OpenCV library function method and the MATLAB Toolbox calibration method, and the reprojection error is smaller. At the same time, it is robust to changes in the light source brightness.


Factors Associated with Achievement of Clinically Significant Weight Loss by Women in a National Nonprofit Weight Loss Program.
Clinically significant weight loss (CSWL) is ≥5% of initial weight. The purpose of the study is to determine factors associated with women achieving CSWL in Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a national, nonprofit weight loss program. This is a retrospective analysis of 48,674 females who joined TOPS from 2005 to 2011 and had a birth date in the database. Predictors of CSWL were evaluated using log-binomial regression and adjusted relative risks [99% CI] for participant age, initial weight, number of members per chapter, and chapter age. Older women were more likely to achieve CSWL, with women ≥70 years 1.23 (1.18, 1.28) times more likely to achieve CSWL compared to women 18 to <45 years. Women who weighed 113 to <136 kg and ≥136 kg were 1.06 (1.02, 1.10) and 1.07 (1.02, 1.14) times more likely to achieve CSWL compared to women <80 kg, respectively. Women in chapters with 25 to <35 members and ≥35 members more were 1.09 (1.05, 1.13) and 1.14 (1.10, 1.18) times more likely to achieve CSWL than those in chapters with less than 15 members. Women in older chapters were less likely to achieve CSWL, with women in chapters 10 to 20 years old 0.95 (0.92, 0.99) times as likely to lose weight as those in chapters less than 10 years old. Women in TOPS were more likely to achieve CSWL if older, ≥113 kg, and in larger, newer chapters. Future studies should address ways to modify the program to improve achievement of CSWL.


HIV Task Sharing Between Nurses and Physicians in Nigeria: Examining the Correlates of Nurse Self-Efficacy and Job Satisfaction.
A global shortfall of 12.9 million health care workers has been predicted to occur in the next two decades. Task sharing between physicians and nurses, a method used to help compensate for provider shortages, was shown to improve access to antiretroviral therapy in Africa, but led to nurses performing beyond their scopes of practice. We surveyed 508 nurses in task-shifted roles in Nigeria. Respondents (n = 399) provided information on age, years in practice, gender, registration status, employment site, and access to task-sharing training and mentoring. Years in practice negatively influenced task-sharing self-efficacy. Positive correlates of job satisfaction were years in practice, older age, male gender, single licensure, employment at a tertiary hospital, mentoring, and duration of training. System challenges and employment in faith-based and nontertiary hospitals increased likelihood of job dissatisfaction. Supportive practice and policy interventions are needed to minimize negative effects of disparities in job satisfaction across facilities.


Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Attenuates Learning Memory Impairment Induced by Repeated Propofol Exposure and Modulates Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in Rats.
Recurrent propofol anesthesia in the peak of neurodevelopment may lead to learning-memory decline. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of electroacupuncture pretreatment in ameliorating the aforementioned learning memory deficits and to explore its underlying mechanisms in a rat model of repeated propofol exposure. 10-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups: the control, fat emulsion, propofol, electroacupuncture pretreatment and electroacupuncture pretreatment combined with propofol groups. The electroacupuncture pretreatment involved three consecutive daily sessions, while propofol was received intraperitoneally once daily for five days. Following the modeling period, the rats' learning-memory performance was assessed using the New Novel Arm Y-maze, New Object Recognition, and Morris Water Maze. The Nissl staining method was used to observe the development of hippocampal neurons, while Golgi staining was employed to observe hippocampal synaptic development. The electroacupuncture pretreatment significantly attenuated the learning and memory impairment induced by recurring propofol exposure in rats. Additionally, it facilitated the development of hippocampal neurons and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence and Western Blot analyses were conducted to detect the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, learning memory, and synaptic plasticity. In the propofol group, the pro-apoptotic factors Caspase-3 and Bax was up-regulated, while the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 was down-regulated, as compared to the blank group. Additionally, the phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptophysin, and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) was significantly decreased. In contrast, the electroacupuncture pretreatment combined with propofol group exhibited decreased the Caspase-3 and Bax and increased the Bcl-2, as compared to the propofol group, meanwhile, the pCREB, BDNF, Synaptophysin and GAP-43 was increased. Our findings indicate that electroacupuncture pretreatment can alleviate the learning and memory impairment induced by recurring propofol exposure in rats. This is achieved by enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity, activating the pCREB/BDNF pathway and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis.


[Xeroradiography and digital luminescence radiography in the study of the technics of manufacturing ancient ceramics. The advantages and limits].
This paper reports on the cooperative work of the Department of Radiology of the Catholic University, Rome, and of the Italian Institute for Middle and Far East. The study was aimed at using xeroradiography and digital luminescence radiography for the archeometric evaluation of ancient ceramics and at assessing the imaging potentials of the two techniques. Some manufacturing techniques are reported which were used in the ancient world and societies for pottery making--i.e., coil building (the superimposition of clay rings), paddle and anvil beating and throwing of the wheel. Such techniques leave, on the vessel's wall, clear traces which can be detected by X-ray imaging. After discussing the main semiologic features, we present 4 case studies from the project archive. Each vase underwent xeroradiography and digital luminescence radiography. The former technique was useful in detailing minor phase transitions--e.g., pores and inclusions--while the latter, thanks to both its wide dynamic range and its image processing potentials, was optimal in defining very gradual thickness transitions due to the different techniques used to join the clay parts. By combining the two techniques, the manufacturing technology of the artifacts could be defined. The interactive processing of radiographic images at the system console was seen to be of major importance: it allowed the best results to be obtained thanks to the integration of the radiologists' and archeologists' know-how during the actual analytical stages.


Chronic levodopa impairs the recovery of dopamine agonist-induced rotational behavior following neural grafting.
The effect of chronic levodopa treatment on the function of embryonic mesencephalic tissue grafts was assessed in rats by monitoring rotational behavior elicited by dopamine (DA) agonists before and after neural grafting. Rats were given unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway and baseline measures of rotational behavior induced by D1 receptor stimulation, D2 receptor stimulation, or amphetamine were determined. Subsequently, DA grafts were implanted into the lesioned striatum and chronic regimens of either saline or levodopa began one day after neural grafting and were continued for 7 weeks. Rotational behavior elicited by the D1 agonist, SKF 38393, was completely attenuated throughout the six-week-period following the commencement of levodopa treatment, regardless of the absence or presence of a DA graft. Conversely, rotational behavior elicited by the D2 agonist, quinpirole, was significantly elevated in ungrafted animals receiving chronic levodopa. Grafted animals receiving chronic levodopa did not show a significant reduction in rotational behavior, whereas grafted animals receiving chronic saline showed a significant 67% reduction in quinpirole-induced rotational behavior. Amphetamine-induced rotational behavior was reduced in both levodopa and saline treated grafted animals, however grafted animals receiving chronic levodopa treatment showed a reduction of rotational behavior that was uncharacteristic and less compensatory than that observed in grafted animals receiving chronic saline treatment. Morphology of grafts indicate that there were areas of impaired neurite outgrowth of TH-positive fibers in animals treated with levodopa. The results of the present study suggest that the impaired recovery in quinpirole- and amphetamine-induced rotational behavior in grafted animals receiving chronic levodopa treatment may be related to (1) impaired graft function, (2) an alteration in pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms in the host DAergic system, or (3) a combined effect of (1) and (2).


Cell-mediated immune-pancytopenia complicating primary Sjögren's syndrome.
A 64-year-old woman with mild bilateral parotid gland swelling and bilateral lower extremity purpura was admitted for evaluation of xerostomia and pancytopenia. The patient had an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, pancytopenia, and positive tests for antibodies to nuclear antigen, SS-A, and SS-B. Impaired cell-mediated immunity was also present. Bone marrow aspiration showed a hypoplastic marrow with an increased percentage of lymphocytes. A positive Schirmer's test and keratoconjunctivitis were also noted. A diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome was made by sialography and histological salivary gland findings. Therapy with prednisolone improved the pancytopenia. Addition of the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells to cultures of bone marrow mononuclear cells derived from a healthy volunteer dose dependently inhibited colony formation, including mixed hemopoietic colonies. On the other hand, addition of the patient's serum failed to inhibit colony formation by normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. These results suggested that one of the causes of pancytopenia in primary Sjögren's syndrome might be mediated by the inhibition of mononuclear cells to the hemopoietic progenitors.


Spectroscopic and Computational Study of Acetic Acid and Its Cyclic Dimer in the Near-Infrared Region.
Anharmonic vibrational analysis of near-infrared (NIR) spectra of acetic acid was carried out by anharmonic quantum chemical calculation in a wide concentration range of its CCl4 solution. By predicting vibrational spectra of acetic acid for the first time over a wide NIR region, it was possible to elucidate the influence of the formation of acetic acid cyclic dimer on its NIR spectrum. Quantum chemical simulations were based on coupled cluster and density functional theory quantum methods. Additionally, Møller-Plesset perturbation theory was employed for the additional calculation of hydrogen bonding stabilization energies. An anharmonic vibrational analysis was performed with the use of generalized second-order vibrational perturbation theory (GVPT2). A hybrid approach was assumed, in which monomeric species was treated by CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ (harmonic approximation) and B3LYP/SNSD (anharmonic approximation) methods. For the cyclic dimer, B3LYP and B2PLYP single and double hybrid functionals, paired with an SNSD basis set, were employed. DFT calculations were augmented with additional empirical dispersion correction. It was found that quantum chemically calculated vibrational modes in the NIR region are in a good agreement with experimental data. The results of anharmonic vibrational analysis were supported by a harmonic shift analysis, for elucidating the very strong anharmonic coupling observed between stretching modes of hydrogen bonded bridge in the cyclic dimer. However, the calculated wavenumbers for combination modes of double hydrogen bonded bridge in the cyclic dimer, which are very sensitive to the formation of hydrogen bonding, were found to be underestimated by quantum chemical methods. Therefore, by band fitting, the wavenumbers and shape parameters for these bands were found, and the modeled spectra were adjusted accordingly. A high accuracy of simulated spectra was achieved, and a detailed analysis of the experimental NIR spectra of acetic acid was possible, with successful identification of numerous experimental bands, including those which originate from concentration effects. It was also found that the main spectral features observed in the NIR spectra of carboxylic acid upon the formation of hydrogen bond should be accounted for combination modes of the stretching and bending vibrations of double hydrogen-bonded bridge in the cyclic dimers of acetic acid.


A look at an interactive classroom-based drug abuse prevention program: interactive contents and suggestions for research.
Interactivity has been shown to be a critical element of effective drug abuse prevention programs. This study examined the contents of Project Towards No Drug Abuse, a program that has revealed strong effects only when delivered in a highly interactive version. Types of teacher and student interactive messages were identified. It is speculated that explicit action on the part of the teacher to have students make statements and ask questions of one another may be the essence of effective drug education program delivery. Suggestions for future research on interactivity were made.


An investigation into the effects of aminoguanidine treatment on the plasma and blood of free-fed and dietary-restricted rats.
An investigation has been made into the effect of oral aminoguanidine (50-60 mg kg-1 day-1) on the blood biochemistry of male Wistar rats which either had free access to food or were dietary-restricted (50% of the food consumed by the free access group). In control rats (i.e. without aminoguanidine treatment) three weeks of food restriction caused significant increases in plasma sodium and albumin and the erythrocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin. There were reductions in plasma calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase activity, urea, triglycerides, creatinine, glucose and the red cell volume. Similar effects of food restriction were observed in aminoguanidine-treated rats. Aminoguanidine ingestion in free-fed animals caused a reduction in plasma creatinine concentration. In dietary-restricted rats, aminoguanidine ingestion reduced plasma sodium and total plasma proteins (largely as a result of a decline in albumin), and increased plasma urea concentrations. Aminoguanidine was added to plasma of control rats in-vitro to determine whether it interfered with the assay of urea and creatinine. At concentrations of 0.1 to 10 mg mL-1, aminoguanidine had no effect on urea determinations. However, aminoguanidine significantly reduced the apparent concentration of plasma creatinine by between 7 to 81%. The changes in plasma analytes in aminoguanidine-treated rats may be indicative of minor hepatic perturbations or kidney function, but the data also imply that prior nutritional state is a determinant of aminoguanidine effects.


[Clinical study of 83 cases with spinal muscular atrophy in children].
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common autosomal recessive disorder and represents one of the most common genetic causes of death in childhood. The last 10 years have seen major advances in the field of SMA, but no curative treatment is available so far. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of SMA, improve the clinical diagnosis of SMA, and explore the importance of gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of SMA by gene deletion analysis. Totally 83 cases with SMA including 55 males and 28 females were enrolled in this study. The age was between 1 day and 14 years (average 23.7 months). The clinical characteristics and changes of electromyography were assessed in all cases. The muscular biopsy was performed in 2 of 83 cases. The deletion of survival of motor neuron gene (SMN) was detected by PCR and restriction endonuclease spectrum analysis in 13 of 83 cases. The 83 cases were subdivided into three clinical groups based on age of onset of symptom, age at death and achievement of certain motor milestone, 60 cases with type I, 19 cases with type II and 4 cases with type III. They were all characterized by symmetric muscle weakness (more proximal than distal) associated with atrophy, absence or marked decrease of deep tendon reflexes. Electromyographic studies showed a pattern of denervation with neither sensory involvement nor marked decrease of motor nerve conduction velocities in all cases. Muscle biopsy provided evidence of skeletal muscle denervation with groups of atrophy in 2 cases. The SMN detection revealed deletion of exon 7 and exon 8 in 11 of 13 cases, only lacking exon 7 in 1 of 13 cases and lacking exon 8 in 1 of 13 cases. SMA is characterized by degeneration of lower motor neuron associated with muscle paralysis and atrophy. The definite diagnosis of SMA will rely on the typical clinical characteristics, changes of electromyogram and muscle biopsy and gene deletion analysis. Gene diagnosis of SMA can provide a basis for prenatal diagnosis which is of great importance in preventing SMA.


[Electrophysiological study of the choice motivation in man].
In 70 Ss EEG coherence, amplitude and frequency characteristics as well as formal-dynamic (temperamental) properties were compared with the two dimensions of motivation involved in the choice of profession--its subjective "value" and the probability of its achievement ("accessability"). It was shown that the persons orienting themselves to the subjective value of the future profession tend to possess those features of temperament that testify to the stronger, more mobile and more labile nervous system as distinct from the subjects orienting themselves to the higher level of accessability. It was also shown that the persons with a higher level of the subjective value had a much higher level of EEG cortical activation in both hemispheres of the brain. The subjects with higher magnitudes of "accessability" were characterized by a lower level of brain activation.


Upper and lower gastrointestinal causes of iron deficiency anemia in elderly compared with adult outpatients.
In the elderly, prevalence of bleeding- and/or iron malabsorption-related gastrointestinal (GI) causes of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has not been addressed yet. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of malabsorptive diseases and bleeding lesions of the upper and lower GI tract in early (65-74 year-old) and late (over 75 year-old) elderly group compared with adult (50-64 year-old) outpatients. The study enrolled 136 consecutive adult (N.=31), early (N.=48) and late elderly (N.=57) IDA outpatients who were referred to the Gastroenterology Department for IDA evaluation and underwent gastroscopy/histology and colonoscopy. Bleeding lesions were significantly less frequent in adult patients than in elderly patients (29% vs. 49.5%, P=0.0252). The most common bleeding lesions were large hiatal hernia (14.7%) and colon cancer (12.5%). Iron malabsorption diseases (Hp-related pangastritis, atrophic body gastritis and celiac disease) were more frequent in the adult group than in the early elderly group (80.6% vs. 56.2%, P=0.0367). In elderly patients, the observed prevalence of bleeding and iron malabsorption IDA causes was similar, whereas in adult patients iron malabsoptive diseases were more frequently detected (P<0.0001). The occurrence of concomitant IDA causes was not different among the three age-groups. In the early and late elderly, almost half of GI IDA causes are related to bleeding lesions which are more frequently observed respect to the adult patients. Iron malabsorption diseases affect almost 60% of early and late elderly groups. As for adult patients, an accurate upper and lower endoscopical/histological evaluation diagnoses IDA causes in the vast majority of the elderly outpatients.


Evaluation of Midkine Expression in Dentigerous Cysts, Odontogenic Keratocysts and Different Types of Ameloblastoma.
Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor whose expression is increased in most tumors, namely ameloblastomas. This study aimed to compare Midkine expression in different odontogenic lesions. This analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 52 definitely diagnosed odontogenic lesions including 15 dentigerous cysts, 13 odontogenic keratocysts, and 17 unicystic and 5 multicystic ameloblastomas archived from 1997 to 2015. Midkine expression was examined in tissue samples through immunohistochemistry. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were run as appropriate (P < 0.05). The frequency of Midkine expression was < 20% in 7.7%, 20-50% in 25%, and > 50 % in 67.3% of the samples, indicating significant differences among the groups (P = 0.002). Moreover, the expression intensity was strong in 63.5%, moderate in 23.1%, and weak in 13.5% of odontogenic lesion samples (P = 0.071). The total staining score was weak in 3.8%, moderate in 48.1%, and strong in 48.1% of the cells, displaying significant differences between the study groups in this regard (P = 0.043). Midkine can be considered as both a differentiating factor and a molecular-targeted therapy in odontogenic lesions. Yet, further studies are required to approve the role of this cytokine in different biological and pathological stages of the tumors.


Results with navigated bicontact total hip arthroplasty.
The position of the cup is crucial for the overall quality of a total hip arthroplasty. A malpositioning of the cup leads to increased risk of dislocation, wear, and revision. The position of the stem influences leg length and may cause impingement and dislocation. These faults may increase with minimally invasive procedures. From November 2001 to June 2005, 1081 consecutive THA patients were evaluated. Cup navigation resulted in a better alignment and additional improvement when the cup and stem were navigated. In stem navigation, a good control of the leg lengthening and a reliable prediction of the safe range of motion could be seen.


Infliximab Exposure Associates With Radiologic Evidence of Healing in Patients With Crohn's Disease.
Higher infliximab trough levels are associated with clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated pharmacodynamic features of infliximab and radiological healing. We performed a substudy of the TAILORIX trial (patients with active luminal CD in Europe, treated with infliximab), analyzing baseline and week 54 magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) data. MREs were scored using the MaRIA score by blinded central readers. Radiologic response and remission were defined, based on MaRIA criteria in all segments, as scores below 11 and 7, respectively. We collected data on infliximab trough levels, biomarkers, and endoscopic findings. Our primary aim was to evaluate pharmacodynamic features associated with radiologic response and remission, based on MRE assessments at baseline and at 54 weeks after initiation of infliximab therapy. We analyzed data from 36 patients (50% female; median age 35.7 years; interquartile age range, 25.6-48.6 years; median disease duration, 1.5 months; interquartile duration range, 0.6-22.4 months). At week 54 of treatment, 36.4% of patients had a radiologic response, 30.3% of patients were in remission, and 71% had endoscopic features of remission. At baseline, there was a correlation between the CD endoscopic index of severity and MaRIA scores (κ = 0.46; P = .008), but we found no correlation at week 54 (κ = 0.06; P = .75). Radiologic remission correlated with infliximab trough level at week 14 (P = .049) when the infliximab trough level cut-off value was set at 7.8 μg/mL (area under the curve, 0.74; 75% sensitivity; 86% specificity; 90% negative predictive value; 57% positive predictive value). Radiologic response correlated with infliximab trough levels at week 14 (P = .048) when the infliximab trough level cut-off value was set at 7.8 μg/mL (area under the curve, 0.73; 70% sensitivity; 90% specificity; 86% negative predictive value; 78% positive predictive value) and with continuous pharmacologic evidence of response (infliximab trough levels above 5.0 μg/mL at all time points) (P = .034). In a substudy of data from the TAILORIX trial of patients with active luminal CD, we identified a relationship between exposure to infliximab and radiologic evidence of outcomes.


Overexpressed microRNA-182 promotes proliferation and invasion in prostate cancer PC-3 cells by down-regulating N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1).
MicroRNAs, non-coding 20-22 nucleotide single-stranded RNAs, result in translational repression or degradation and gene silencing of their target genes, and significantly contribute to the regulation of gene expression. In the current study, we report that miR-182 expression was significantly upregulated in prostate cancer tissues and four cell lines, compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues and normal prostatic epithelial (RWPE-1) cells. Ectopic overexpression of miR-182 significantly promotes the proliferation, increases the invasion, promotes the G1/S cell cycle transition and reduces early apotosis of PC-3 cells, while suppression of miR-182 decreased the proliferation and invasion, inhibits the G1/S cell cycle transition and increase early apotosis of PC-3 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that miR-182 could downregulate expression of NDRG1 by directly targeting the NDRG1 3'-untranslated region. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-182 plays an important role in the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells by directly suppressing the tumor supressor gene NDRG1. We uncovered a new epigenetic regulation of NDRG1.


[Port metastases: fact or fiction?].
In the early 1990s, the first reports appeared indicating a disturbingly high incidence (20%) of port site metastases following laparoscopic procedures for visceral and gynecological malignancies. At the same time, animal experiments were performed to investigate the phenomenon of port site metastases. The results were independently and repeatedly verified by different groups. In view of these distressing facts, a controversial, at times emotional discussion arose that evolved at least in part without strict regard to the available data. In the recent past, reports on increased incidence of port site metastases after laparoscopic interventions have completely vanished from the literature. Figures on incidence reported by various authors range between 0.5% and 1.3% and thus are comparable to the rate for surgical wound metastases (0.8-1.6%) as known from open conventional methods. Prospective studies have even shown that the survival rate in comparison to conventional techniques is 20% better, at least for laparoscopically treated stage I-III colorectal carcinomas. At present the discussion on the phenomenon of port site metastases can be considered closed. Port site metastases are thus no longer a fact, but also not fiction, since this phenomenon does occur in a small percentage of patients after laparoscopy just as after open surgery.


Diagnostic Tools for Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: GNRB, Lachman Test, and Telos.
The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of the GNRB arthrometer (Genourob), Lachman test, and Telos device (GmbH) in acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to evaluate the accuracy of each diagnostic tool according to the length of time from injury to examination. From September 2015 to September 2016, 40 cases of complete ACL rupture were reviewed. We divided the time from injury to examination into three periods of 10 days each and analyzed the diagnostic tools according to the time frame. An analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic curve showed that all diagnostic tools were fairly informative. The GNRB showed a higher AUC than other diagnostic tools. In 10 cases assessed within 10 days after injury, the GNRB showed statistically significant side-to-side difference in laxity (p<0.001), whereas the Telos test and Lachman test did not show significantly different laxity (p=0.541 and p=0.413, respectively). All diagnostic values of the GNRB were better than other diagnostic tools in acute ACL injuries. The GNRB was more effective in acute ACL injuries examined within 10 days of injury. The GNRB arthrometer can be a useful diagnostic tool for acute ACL injuries.


Clinical outcome scores for arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty in femoroacetabular impingement: a quantitative systematic review.
Femoroacetabular impingement is the abnormal contact of the proximal femur and acetabulum during motion. It causes hip pain and joint degeneration in young patients. This systematic review aims to clarify the clinical effect of arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty for cam lesions and to review the available literature for the general medical readership, including providers of primary and secondary care. Electronic databases were searched for studies of arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty in primary femoroacetabular impingement. A total of 2618 article titles, 242 abstracts and 33 full text articles were considered. Ultimately nine studies with clinical outcome scores met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative systematic review. Six studies were suitable for meta-analysis using an inverse variance, random effects model (RevMan software). In the nine studies, improvements were seen in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index, Non-arthritic Hip Score and Modified Harris Hip Scores. Across the six studies suitable for meta-analysis (537 patients), a 24-point weighted mean improvement in Non-arthritic hip score was seen. This yielded a large overall effect size of 1.6. Arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty appears to be a beneficial treatment for primary femoroacetabular impingement, with a large effect size seen across six eligible studies.


Report on de-novo mutation in the MSH2 gene as a rare event in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant predisposition for early-onset colorectal cancer and associated tumour types caused by mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, mainly MLH1 and MSH2. The Amsterdam criteria, stressing familial tumour events, as well as the less stringent Bethesda criteria, help to raise suspicion of HNPCC. Mutation screening in a colon cancer patient of young age but negative family history revealed the MSH2 splice site mutation c.2006-2A>G. This mutation was present in all three germ cell layers in the patient, but absent in her biological parents, reporting the second case of de-novo germline mutation in MSH2. Our findings suggest that at least in approximately 1% of mutation-positive cases, a de-novo event might be involved. The identification of a newly evolved rare mutation calls for alertness and encourages the application of the Bethesda guidelines and certain clinical and histopathological features to define candidates for HNPCC gene mutation screening despite a negative family history.


High frequency axillary bud multiplication and ex vitro rooting of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.--a medicinal plant.
An efficient protocol was achieved for rapid propagation of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. through axillary bud proliferation and ex vitro rooting. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA; 8.87 microM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 2.46 microM) was optimal for axillary bud proliferation, which developed a mean of 8.3 shoots/node. Excision and culture of node segments from in vitro shoots on medium supplemented with the same concentration of growth regulators developed more than 30 shoots within 40 days. Excision and culture of nodes in succession enhanced the number of shoots. Shoot multiplication did not exhibit decrease in the number of shoots even at 10th subculture. Nevertheless, the shoots exhibited a tendency towards stunted nature. But reduction of BA to 4.44 or 2.22 microM resumed normal growth of shoots. Half strength MS medium fortified with IBA (2.46 microM) induced the highest number of roots. All in vitro rooted shoots survived in field. Dipping of the basal end of shoots collected from multiplication medium in IBA (2.46 microM) solution for 7 days induced roots and its transfer to small pots facilitated the survival of all rooted shoots (100%). Rooting ex vitro by direct transfer of shoots from multiplication medium exhibited 89.2 per cent survival. Use of commercial sugar and tap water and also the omission of in vitro rooting reduce the propagation cost 50-70 per cent. The protocol enables to harvest more than 50,000 plantlets within 150 days starting from a single node explant.


Characterization of plasma hormone levels and lipogenic enzyme activity in chickens divergently selected for oxygen consumption.
The bases for differences in growth and metabolism of lines previously selected for divergence in O2 consumption in comparison to a randombred control population were studied. Body weights, carcass fat, plasma growth hormone (GH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), malic enzyme, and citrate cleavage enzyme activities were determined. The early growth of the low O2 birds was greater than the high O2 birds, whereas the growth rate of the control population was intermediate to, but not statistically different from, the two O2 lines. Six-week body weights did not differ between the lines. Percent fat of the high O2 birds was less than the other two lines at 1 and 2 weeks of age but greater than the low O2 birds at 3 weeks of age. Percent fat did not differ between the lines at 6 weeks. Plasma T4 levels differed between the lines only at Day 1, when the control population exhibited greater T4 levels than the O2 lines. Plasma T3 levels were lower in the high O2 chicks in comparison to only the control chicks at 0, 1, and 2 weeks of age. No line differences in T3 levels were detected at 3 or 6 weeks. From 1 to 3 weeks, GH levels were greater in the low O2 birds than the high O2, while the control birds had GH levels intermediate to the O2 lines. By 6 weeks, the O2 lines had similar GH levels, but these levels were lower than those of the controls. No consistent line differences in malic enzyme or citrate cleavage enzyme activities were observed.


Examining the relationship between patient orientation and job satisfaction in health care: evidence from the nursing profession.
It is well-known that the United States faces a serious nursing shortage. A number of factors have contributed to the problem including an aging nursing workforce, fewer nursing job candidates, the aging of the baby boom population, and increased nurse dissatisfaction. The current work addresses one issue that is central to the problem: nursing satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Drawing from previous research in the services marketing literature, the work introduces the "patient orientation" construct and suggests that it is a critical motivational factor that is related to nursing satisfaction. Results from an empirical study reveal that the construct is positively related to overall nursing satisfaction while controlling for external factors including pay, benefits, supervisor, and reward satisfaction. Implications for healthcare managers and suggestions for future research are discussed.


Endovascular management of pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysms: A review of techniques.
To present the various techniques used in the management of pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysms of visceral vessels. The retrospective clinical study was carried out at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Poznan University of Medical Sciences from 2011 to 2016. The fifteen patients included in the study were diagnosed with pseudoaneurysms of visceral arteries, as a complication of chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis was made using contrast-enhanced computed tomography, followed by angiography. On admission, all patients were symptomatic, with varying degrees of abdominal pain. One patient was haemodynamically unstable. Treatments with endovascular techniques were analysed, along with their efficacy and outcomes. Coil embolisation was performed in 5 patients. Stent graft was used in 1 patient. Liquid embolic agents were used in 7 cases, of which 5 patients were treated with thrombin injection and 2 with Squid. A combination of techniques was used in 2 patients. The most common artery affected by pseudoaneurysm formation was the splenic artery (7/15; 46.7%), and the size of the pseudoaneurysms ranged from 27 mm to 85 mm. Primary technical success was achieved in 14 out of 15 patients (93.3%). One patient required reintervention. Two patients required splenectomy after embolisation due to splenic ischemia. No recanalisation was present at the follow-up computed tomography performed after 1 to 3 weeks, and no mortality was observed within 30 days. Vascular complications of pancreatitis require accurate diagnosis and immediate treatment. Endovascular intervention is highly effective and is the preferred treatment option. The technique used is determined based on vascular anatomy and the patient's haemodynamic status.


Enhancing pregnant, donor oocyte recipient women's health in the infertility clinic and beyond: a phenomenological investigation of caring behaviour.
To describe pregnant, donor oocyte recipient women's perceptions of the essence of caring behaviour among nurses and other healthcare providers who they encountered in the clinic environment. Despite the ever increasing use of donor oocytes to treat infertility worldwide, little is known about the caring behaviour of nurses and other healthcare providers that support and enhance the health of pregnant, donor oocyte recipient women. Qualitative, descriptive interviews. A Husserlian phenomenological approach. Eight women participated in a larger phenomenological study that examined the lived experience of pregnant, donor oocyte recipient women. Five components of caring behaviour among nurses and other healthcare providers emerged from the in-depth interviews with the women and were: being available, providing communication, exhibiting compassion, demonstrating competency and promoting empowerment. Being available was described when the participants had ongoing access to or were humanly present with nurses. The ability of nurses to provide communication and education about complex information was perceived as supportive. Nurses exhibited compassion through words and behaviours that expressed empathy and a deep understanding of the women's experience. Competency was demonstrated when a healthy pregnancy was achieved and maintained and through behaviours where a high level of technical and ethical knowledge and skill was observed. Empowerment occurred when nurses encouraged the women to engage in aspects of decision making and when a sense of control over infertility treatment and obstetrical care was promoted. For donor oocyte recipient women, caring behaviour in the clinic environment consists of five essential components. The findings support a link between empowerment and the concept of caring. Relevance to clinical practice. The dense empirical description of the women's perceptions of caring behaviour are directly applicable to clinical practice, delineating areas for improvement and providing specific data driven interventions including the development of a 'hope box'.


The effect of apple pomace powder and calcium ions on selected physicochemical properties of freeze-dried carrot-orange-ginger snacks.
This study aimed to determine the effect of various amounts of dried apple pomace (AP) powder and calcium ions on selected physicochemical properties of restructured freeze-dried snacks in comparison with products obtained with low-methoxyl pectin (LMP). The material was prepared using frozen carrot, orange concentrate, ginger, water, and various concentrations of AP (1, 3, 5%) and calcium lactate (0, 0.01, 0.05%). The reference samples were without additives, and with 0.5 or 1.5% of LMP combined with 0.01% of calcium lactate. The material was studied in terms of water content and activity, hygroscopic properties, structure, texture, color, and polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. The addition of AP resulted in reducing water activity and porosity. As a consequence of the increasing density of the structure, the reduction of hygroscopic properties by up to 16% followed the increasing amount of AP. Apple pomace and calcium ions strengthened the structure. The addition of 3% and 5% of AP gave a hardening effect close to or better than 0.5% LMP. Because of the pigment dilution, LMP caused significantly greater total color change than AP. The incorporation of AP also increased TPC and enhanced antioxidant activity in comparison with the reference materials by up to 18%. The results showed that dried AP powder can be applied successfully as an additive enhancing stability, texture and bioactive compound content, thus fortifying the physicochemical properties of restructured freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.


Sample preparations are important for fluorescence in situ hybridization of cells biopsied from preimplantation embryos.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a cytogenetic technology used to detect chromosomal abnormalities in preimplantation human embryos. However, its efficiency is not stable due to improper sample preparation. The present study was designed to modify the current sample preparation technique and then to evaluate its efficiency in human preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Day 3 cleavage embryos as well as day 5 and 6 blastocysts were biopsied by mechanical aspiration method. In the present study, two methods were used for sample preparation of the biopsied cells. Method I was the traditional method, in which each blastomere was placed in a hypotonic solution for 5 min and then fixed on glass slides. The slides were kept at room temperature before the FISH procedures. Method II was a modified method, in which all blastomeres were placed individually in hypotonic solution drops covered by oil for at least 5 min and then fixed on slides with 0.1% Tween/HCl. After fixation, the slides were kept at -20°C for at least 30 min before the FISH procedures. The two methods were compared in terms of time consumption and proportions of blastomeres with FISH signals. In total, 329 blastomeres from day 3 embryos were fixed by Method I with an average fixation time of 8-10 min for each blastomere. By contrast, with Method II, 362 blastomeres were fixed and the average time was 3-4 min for each blastomere. After FISH, more nuclei had signals with Method II (97.2%) than with Method I (86.9%). All cells that were biopsied from blastocysts and prepared with Method II had FISH signals. However, Method I was not suitable for the fixation of multiple cells biopsied from blastocysts as cells were not traceable during the fixation. The present study indicates that proper sample preparation is critical for obtaining FISH signals in cells biopsied from preimplantation human embryos; hence these modifications can increase the efficiency of human PGD.


Expression of the murine fibroblast growth factor 5 gene in the adult central nervous system.
The murine homolog of the fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) gene has been cloned, and the sequence of the gene's three exons has been determined. The murine gene and the previously isolated human FGF-5 gene are substantially homologous within the coding sequences and in upstream sequences, which contain an additional open reading frame. We have used a portion of the murine gene as probe to detect FGF-5 RNA in adult mouse tissues by both Northern blot and in situ hybridization methods. FGF-5 RNA is present at low levels in widely distributed areas of the central nervous system. Several loci of FGF-5 expression could be localized by in situ hybridization and include portions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. Neuronal expression accounts for at least some of the FGF-5 RNA synthesized in the central nervous system.


Anterior Cruciate Ligament Arthroscopic Ligamentoplasty Using the Four-Strand Hamstring Technique.
In this study, we looked at the clinical outcomes of individuals who had a symptomatic torn anterior cruciate ligament and had their anterior cruciate ligament repaired using a four-strand hamstring (4SHS) tendon autograft at least two years later. This is a retrospective study of 34 cases of anterior cruciate ligament arthroscopic reconstruction using the four-strand hamstring graft, collected from Traumatology and Orthopedics at Cheikh Khalifa Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco between January 2017 and January 2021. Different surgeons performed the operations. Physical findings and functional scores were recorded before the follow-up physical examination and surgery; thus, knee radiographs have been evaluated. A six-month rehabilitation program was devised following surgery. The average age of the patients was 30 years, with a male predominance of 94%. Thirty patients (88%) reported negative pivot shift tests and the Lachman test. The average Lysholm score enhanced from 59.3 before surgery to 85.29 at the time of the assessment. Three patients (8.82%) with a positive pivot shift test had no background of extra knee damage. In comparison to the appearance on the preoperative radiographs, no proof of progressive degenerative deterioration was found on the follow-up radiographs. All of the patients, however, had tunnel extension. The tibial tunnel grew on average by 18%, while the femoral tunnel grew on average by 30%. In 88% of patients assessed at least two years after surgery, ligamentoplasty of the anterior cruciate ligament using the four-strand hamstring graft eradicated anterior tibial subluxation. The failure rate was overall 10%. The functional knee scores had greatly improved at the time of the follow-up.


Perforating and ophthalmic artery variants from the anterior cerebral artery: Two case reports.
The diagnosis and therapy during surgery depend largely on a full account of anatomic characteristics. Apart from regular structures, the common, less common or even uncommon anatomic variations are critical for procedural planning. This is especially true during craniocerebral microsurgery, where small vascular variations can affect the final surgical results and patient prognosis. Herein, two rare variations concerning the A1 (horizontal) segment of anterior cerebral artery (ACA1) were introduced. One enabled the communication between perforating branch of ACA1 and dural artery of anterior skull base, which was discovered during autopsy. The other was ophthalmic artery (OA) originating from ACA1, shown on digital angiography. In this study, we found two rare anatomical variations. One was an abnormal OA originated from the anterior communicating artery. The other was a perforating branch of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery, which communicated with meningeal vessels in the anterior skull base. This finding is of great significance for the treatment of anterior communicating artery aneurysm or in other anterior skull base surgery.


Defective synthesis of apolipoprotein A-I in jejunal mucosa in coeliac disease.
Apolipoprotein A-I was studied in biopsy specimens from the duodenojejunal junction by means of an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In normal control subjects apolipoprotein A-I was immunohistochemically detected only in the absorptive cells at the tips of villi and was mainly localized supranuclearly. In 14 patients with coeliac disease apolipoprotein A-I was virtually undetectable. This implies that the inflammatory lesion in coeliac disease decreases the intestinal mass of apolipoprotein A-I, because it destroys the villous absorptive cells. Apolipoprotein A-I concentrations in plasma were also decreased (by 40%) in patients with coeliac disease, suggesting that the intestine has a role in maintaining plasma apolipoprotein A-I levels.


HIV/AIDS Stigmatization, the Reason for Poor Access to HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) Among the Youths in Gulu (Uganda).
HIV/AIDS-related stigma still exists in many communities in Uganda. Stigma perpetuates discrimination and this may be a key contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS in this country. Right from the beginning, HIV/AIDS epidemic has been accompanied with fear, ignorance and denial, leading to stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. A study conducted by Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) in Uganda indicated that 64% of the people who tested for HIV/AIDS did not disclose status to their partners due to fear of stigmatization. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulu District, Pece sub County among the youths 15 to 35 years old. A structured questionnaire was administered to 86 consented youths who were consecutively selected. Ethical approval was obtained from Gulu Hospital. Most youths (90%) practiced stigmatization, (93.1%) respondents had adequate knowledge on HIV counseling and testing (HCT). However, only (36.1%) had undertaken HCT and the majority did not do because of fear of stigmatization. There is sufficient knowledge, a positive attitude but a poor practice to HCT. There is high level of HIV/AIDS stigmatization among the youths.


[Romberg's syndrome. Progressive facial hemiatrophy].
Romberg's syndrome or progressive facial hemiatrophy is a rare affection that may nevertheless be encountered by stomatologists during the course of their professional life. Diagnosis is simple if clinical and radiographic signs are recognized, an effective iconography being of particular value. This report is concerned mainly with the latter feature, and also includes a description of the principal characteristics of the affection and an extensive bibliography.


Evidence for roles of kappa-opioid and NMDA receptors in the mechanism of action of ibogaine.
Ibogaine, a putatively anti-addictive alkaloid, binds to kappa-opioid and NMDA receptors. In the present study we investigated the roles of kappa-opioid and NMDA actions in mediating ibogaine's (40 mg/kg, i.p.) behavioral and neurochemical effects in rats. A combination of a kappa-opioid antagonist (norbinaltorphimine, 10 mg/kg, s.c.) and a NMDA agonist (NMDA, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) partially prevented ibogaine-induced inhibition of intravenous morphine self-administration and ibogaine-induced antagonism of morphine-induced locomotor stimulation. The combination, as well as norbinaltorphimine and NMDA alone, blocked the acute effects of ibogaine on dopamine release and metabolism in the striatum. The data suggest that both kappa-opioid agonist and NMDA antagonist actions of ibogaine contribute to its putative anti-addictive effects.


[Late follow-up results of treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus who refused timely surgery].
There was done comparative analysis of results of treatment of 62 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), who rejected the proposed timely operation performance and of those to whom resection was performed in optimal terms after complex therapy conduction. The PT progress was noted, in majority of observations--malignant course of the disease, influencing negatively indexes of homeostasis. In majority of patients in 1-10 years the extent destructive changes in lungs were revealed while performing examination, in 50% of them--two-sided. In 35 patients extent operation was performed, in 7--palliative one, in 27 patients it was not possible to perform the operation because of decompensated DM and presence of severe complications.


Cavity optomechanics with stoichiometric SiN films.
We study high-stress SiN films for reaching the quantum regime with mesoscopic oscillators connected to a room-temperature thermal bath, for which there are stringent requirements on the oscillators' quality factors and frequencies. Our SiN films support mechanical modes with unprecedented products of mechanical quality factor Q(m) and frequency nu(m) reaching Q(m)nu(m) approximately or = 2 x 10(13) Hz. The SiN membranes exhibit a low optical absorption characterized by Im(n) < or approximately equal to 10(-5) at 935 nm, representing a 15 times reduction for SiN membranes. We have developed an apparatus to simultaneously cool the motion of multiple mechanical modes based on a short, high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavity and present initial cooling results along with future possibilities.


Impact of substrate protonation and tautomerization states on interactions with the active site of arginase I.
Human arginase is a binuclear manganese metalloenzyme that participates in the urea cycle. Arginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine into L-ornithine and urea and is linked to several disorders such as asthma and cancer. Currently, the protonation and tautomerization state of the substrate when bound to the active site, which contains two manganese ions, is not known. Knowledge of the charge-dependent behavior of arginine in the arginase I environment would be of utility toward understanding the catalytic mechanism and designing inhibitors of this enzyme. The arginine(+/0) species, including all possible neutral tautomers, were modeled using an aminoimidazole analog as template. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were then performed on each of the charged and neutral species. In addition, a hydroxide ion was included in selected simulations to test its importance. Results show that the positively charged state of arginine is stable in the active site of arginase I, with that stabilization facilitated by the presence of hydroxide. Glu277 is indicated to play a role in stabilizing arginine in the active site and facilitating its ability to assume a catalytically competent conformation in the presence of hydroxide. The reported interactions and modeled arginine-bound arginase I structures can be used as a tool for structure-based inhibitor design, as experimental data on the structure of the substrate-enzyme complex is lacking.


Minimizing Fertility-sparing Treatment for Low Volume Early Stage Cervical Cancer; Is Less the (R)Evolution?
The aim of this study was to conduct a review on less radical fertility-sparing surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. We conducted a Medline search from 2014 to 2018 regarding less radical fertility-sparing techniques, such as simple trachelectomy or cervical conization, with pelvic lymphadenectomy. We also assessed the impact of the removal of the parametrium on the obstetric and oncologic outcome, in women who desire to preserve their fertility. We analyzed studies about cervical conization and simple trachelectomy, together with pelvic lymphadenectomy in early-stage cervical cancer. We also assessed the importance of parametrial involvement in reducing morbidity, without jeopardizing the oncologic outcome of these patients. Studies demonstrate that in tumors ≤2 cm, without lymphovascular Space Invasion and without evidence of parametrial involvement, a less radical fertility-sparing surgical approach could increase pregnancy rates and have a positive effect on the quality of life of these patients. Standard fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage cervical cancer is still radical trachelectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. However, studies suggest that the omission of parametrectomy is a feasible and safe option. Simple trachelectomy or cervical conization, both combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy are acceptable approaches in a selected group of patients with early-stage cervical cancer.


Cadmium Disrupts the Balance between Hydrogen Peroxide and Superoxide Radical by Regulating Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide in the Root Tip of Brassica rapa.
Cd (cadmium) stress always alters the homeostasis of ROS (reactive oxygen species) including H2O2 (hydrogen sulfide) and [Formula: see text] (superoxide radical), leading to the oxidative injury and growth inhibition in plants. In addition to triggering oxidative injury, ROS has been suggested as important regulators modulating root elongation. However, whether and how Cd stress induces the inhibition of root elongation by differentially regulating endogenous H2O2 and [Formula: see text], rather than by inducing oxidative injury, remains elusive. To address these gaps, histochemical, physiological, and biochemical approaches were applied to investigate the mechanism for Cd to fine-tune the balance between H2O2 and [Formula: see text] in the root tip of Brassica rapa. Treatment with Cd at 4 and 16 μM significantly inhibited root elongation, while only 16 μM but not 4 μM of Cd induced oxidative injury and cell death in root tip. Fluorescent and pharmaceutical tests suggested that H2O2 and [Formula: see text] played negative and positive roles, respectively, in the regulation of root elongation in the presence of Cd (4 μM) or not. Treatment with Cd at 4 μM led to the increase in H2O2 and the decrease in [Formula: see text] in root tip, which may be attributed to the up-regulation of Br_UPB1s and the down-regulation of their predicted targets (four peroxidase genes). Cd at 4 μM resulted in the increase in endogenous H2S in root tip by inducing the up-regulation of LCDs and DCDs. Treatment with H2S biosynthesis inhibitor or H2S scavenger significantly blocked Cd (4 μM)-induced increase in endogenous H2S level, coinciding with the recovery of root elongation, the altered balance between H2O2 and [Formula: see text], and the expression of Br_UPB1s and two peroxidase genes. Taken together, it can be proposed that endogenous H2S mediated the phytotoxicity of Cd at low concentration by regulating Br_UPB1s-modulated balance between H2O2 and [Formula: see text] in root tip. Such findings shed new light on the regulatory role of endogenous H2S in plant adaptions to Cd stress.


H2O2 increases production of constrictor prostaglandins in smooth muscle leading to enhanced arteriolar tone in Type 2 diabetic mice.
Our previous study showed that arteriolar tone is enhanced in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2-DM) due to an increased level of constrictor prostaglandins. We hypothesized that, in mice with T2-DM, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is involved in the increased synthesis of constrictor prostaglandins, hence enhanced basal tone in skeletal muscle arterioles. Isolated, pressurized gracilis muscle arterioles ( approximately 100 microm in diameter) of mice with T2-DM (C57BL/KsJ-db(-)/db(-)) exhibited greater basal tone to increases in intraluminal pressure (20-120 mmHg) than that of control vessels (at 80 mmHg, control: 25 +/- 5%; db/db: 34 +/- 4%, P < 0.05), which was reduced back to control level by catalase (db/db: 24 +/- 4%). Correspondingly, in carotid arteries of db/db mice, the level of dichlorofluorescein-detectable and catalase-sensitive H(2)O(2) was significantly greater. In control arterioles, exogenous H(2)O(2) (0.1-100 micromol/l) elicited dilations (maximum, 58 +/- 10%), whereas in arterioles of db/db mice H(2)O(2) caused constrictions (-28 +/- 8%), which were converted to dilations (maximum, 16 +/- 5%) by the thromboxane A(2)/prostaglandin H(2) (TP) receptor antagonist SQ-29548. In addition, arteriolar constrictions in response to the TP receptor agonist U-46619 were not different between the two groups of vessels. Endothelium denudation did not significantly affect basal tone and H(2)O(2)-induced arteriolar responses in either control or db/db mice. Also, in arterioles of db/db mice, but not in controls, 3-nitrotyrosine staining was detected in the endothelial layer of vessels. Thus we propose that, in mice with T2-DM, arteriolar production of H(2)O(2) is enhanced, which leads to increased synthesis of the constrictor prostaglandins thromboxane A(2)/prostaglandin H(2) in the smooth muscle cells, which enhance basal arteriolar tone. These alterations may contribute to disturbed regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.


Description of a new species of Alburnus Rafinesque, 1820 (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae, Leuciscinae) from the Kolpa River in the Sava River system (upper Danube drainage), with remarks on the geographical distribution of shemayas in the Danube.
Alburnus sava, new species, is described from the Kolpa River. The Kolpa is a tributary of the Sava, a major tributary of the Danube River, in the Black Sea basin. Alburnus sava is distinguished from its congeners in the Danube drainage, A. mento and A. sarmaticus, by having 23-27, usually 24-26, gill rakers; the ventral keel usually completely covered by scales (scaleless part maximum 15% of the keel length); 15-16, mode 15, branched pectoral-fin rays; the length of the gill raker at the junction of the arch limbs 65-70% of the length of the opposite outer gill filament; and a relatively long lower jaw (37-40% HL or 112-130% interorbital width). Alburnus sava is a large-sized potamadromous shemaya known to occur in the entire Sava drainage. The taxonomic status of A. mento and A. sarmaticus is confirmed. Alburnus danubicus is discussed and as there are no new arguments, it is kept as a valid species. New details on the distribution of shemayas in the Danube drainage are presented.


Equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration investigations of perchlorate removal from aqueous solution using poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride.
Use of perchlorate salts in military activities and the aerospace industry is widespread. These salts are highly water-soluble and are, to a large extent, kinetically inert as aqueous species. As a groundwater contaminant, perchlorate is now being detected in an increasing number of locations and is believed to interfere with the uptake of iodide by the thyroid, which can result in decreased hormone production. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has established a reference dose for perchlorate of 0.0007 mg/kg/day, which translates to a drinking water equivalent level of 24.5 ppb. This study investigated the application of polyelectrolyte-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) for the selective removal of perchlorate from aqueous solution through equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration experiments. Using poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride, the effectiveness and efficiency of PEUF in the removal of perchlorate from other aqueous solution components was investigated by testing parameters such as polyelectrolyte concentration, pH, and ionic strength. Removal of perchlorate from synthetic groundwater initially containing 10.3 ppm perchlorate and also containing chloride, sulfate, and carbonate was also examined. Perchlorate separations of greater than 95% were achieved, even in the presence of 10-fold excesses of competing ions.


High-precision neural stimulation through optoacoustic emitters.
Neuromodulation poses an invaluable role in deciphering neural circuits and exploring clinical treatment of neurological diseases. Optoacoustic neuromodulation is an emerging modality benefiting from the merits of ultrasound with high penetration depth as well as the merits of photons with high spatial precision. We summarize recent development in a variety of optoacoustic platforms for neural modulation, including fiber, film, and nanotransducer-based devices, highlighting the key advantages of each platform. The possible mechanisms and main barriers for optoacoustics as a viable neuromodulation tool are discussed. Future directions in fundamental and translational research are proposed.


Effect of bath temperature on the properties of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films.
The nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) method from aqueous zinc nitrate solution at room temperature (25 degrees C) and at higher temperature (75 degrees C). The changes in structural, morphological and optical properties were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical absorption. The structural studies revealed that the film deposited at room temperature showed mixed phases of ZnO and Zn(OH)2 with wurtzite and orthorhombic crystal structure whereas at higher temperature, the deposited film is ZnO with wurtzite crystal structure. After air annealing at 400 degrees C, all the films converted into pure ZnO with wurtzite crystal structure. The films deposited at room temperature showed fibrous surface morphology with interconnected flakes while films deposited at higher temperature shows well-developed nano-rod morphology. Optical study shows that band gap energy (E(g)) of as-deposited thin films deposited at room temperature and at higher temperature are 3.81 and 3.4 eV, decreases up to 3.20 eV, after annealing treatment.


MicroRNAs as Biomarkers for the Diagnostics of Bladder Cancer: a Meta-Analysis.
Bladder cancer (BCa) is the fifth most common cancer with significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, numerous studies demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as diagnostic biomarkers for BCa. However, the findings in these studies are inconsistent. To systematically assess the potential diagnostic value of miRNAs for BCa, a meta-analysis was performed in this study. Relevant literature was researched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases up to September 1, 2014. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative LR (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the SROC curve (AUC) value were analyzed by the random-effects model, whose parameters reflected the overall diagnostic performance of miRNAs. Thirty studies from 10 individual publications, including 1019 BCa patients and 690 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.78 - 0.81), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.72 - 0.76), 3.22 (95% CI: 2.68 - 3.87), 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21 - 0.32), 15.20 (95% CI: 10.25 - 22.53) and 0.85, respectively, indicating a moderate diagnostic accuracy for BCa. Moreover, our subgroup analyses showed that analysis of multiple miRNAs (AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.913, 0.86, and 0.80, respectively) yielded a higher diagnostic accuracy than of single miRNAs (AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.84, 0.78, and 0.73, respectively) in BCa diagnosis. In addition, as biomarkers, miRNAs are more suitable for the diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive BCa (NMIBCa) with AUC of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.74, and specificity of 0.77 than muscle-invasive BCa (MIBCa) with AUC of 0.79, sensitivity of 0.73, and specificity of 0.73. The present meta-analysis suggests that miRNAs are potential novel biomarkers for detection of BCa. However, further validation studies are still needed to confirm our findings.


Persistence of psychological problems in adolescence: a one year follow-up study.
To examine the prevalence and persistence of psychological problems in older adolescents. This study is a one year follow-up of 110 adolescents, 64 girls and 46 boys attending three secondary schools in Ireland. All were 16 at initial testing. The Youth Self Report (YSR) was the measure used. Over a fifth of adolescents have problems in the clinical range. These problems persisted from 16 to 17. Females reported more problems than males at both ages. Some females showed a slight reduction in internalising problems at 17. Both males and females showed an increase in externalising problems at 17. Odds ratios indicate that those in the clinical ranges of the YSR at 16, had increased risk of being in the clinical range at 17 compared to those in the no problem range at 16. In comparison to those with no suicidal feeling, those with suicidal feelings at 16 were at an increased risk of still feeling suicidal at 17. More males remained psychologically healthy than girls. A large proportion of adolescents in this sample have psychological problems and these appear to persist over a one year period. These problems impact substantially on the adolescents themselves, their families and society. Given the increasing suicide rate in young people and the persistence of suicidal feelings in this cohort, the inadequacy of mental health services in Ireland for adolescents, particularly those ages 16-18 is highlighted. The challenge of developing and providing adolescent friendly services is addressed.


Smoke alarm tests may not adequately indicate smoke alarm function.
Smoke alarms are one of the most promoted prevention strategies to reduce residential fire deaths, and they can reduce residential fire deaths by half. Smoke alarm function can be measured by two tests: the smoke alarm button test and the chemical smoke test. Using results from a randomized trial of smoke alarms, we compared smoke alarm response to the button test and the smoke test. The smoke alarms found in the study homes at baseline were tested, as well as study alarms placed into homes as part of the randomized trial. Study alarms were tested at 12 and 42 months postinstallation. The proportion of alarms that passed the button test but not the smoke test ranged from 0.5 to 5.8% of alarms; this result was found most frequently among ionization alarms with zinc or alkaline batteries. These alarms would indicate to the owner (through the button test) that the smoke alarm was working, but the alarm would not actually respond in the case of a fire (as demonstrated by failing the smoke test). The proportion of alarms that passed the smoke test but not the button test ranged from 1.0 to 3.0%. These alarms would appear nonfunctional to the owner (because the button test failed), even though the alarm would operate in response to a fire (as demonstrated by passing the smoke test). The general public is not aware of the potential for inaccuracy in smoke alarm tests, and burn professionals can advocate for enhanced testing methods. The optimal test to determine smoke alarm function is the chemical smoke test.


Principals' opinions on the role of speech-language pathologists serving students with communication disorders involved in violence.
The purpose of this study was to survey the opinions of principals concerning the role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serving students with communication disorders who have been involved in violence. A mixed methods design involving 678 questionnaires was mailed to elementary, middle, and high school principals in a Midwestern state. Descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses identifying themes from 1 open-ended question were conducted. A total of 423 (62.1%) questionnaires were received. Findings indicated that principals were aware of the important role of SLPs on multidisciplinary teams and in planning prevention programs. They agreed that SLP services positively impact students' social adjustment, academic performance, and behavior. Mean responses indicated uncertainty on 12 Likert-type items pertaining to SLPs' training in serving students who have been involved in violence. From 84 participants, 164 ideas emerged in seven themes: (a) intervention/service delivery, (b) definition of violence/relationship of violence to speech and language services, (c) role of SLP, (d) training/education, (e) frequency of violence/safety, and (g) impact of home environment. Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to sample restrictions. Nevertheless, findings support that principals value SLPs' services. They also provide evidence for SLPs to continue to advocate for the services they perform, collaboration, and a range of service delivery models during intervention.


The estrogen component of OCs: cardiovascular benefits and risks.
The relationship of oral contraceptive (OC) use to risk of venous thrombolism, stroke, and myocardial infarction continues to be evaluated. The estrogen component of combination OCs, which is primarily responsible for maintaining the endometrium and minimizing breakthrough bleeding (BTB) and spotting, was the initial focus of clinical and epidemiologic interest following early reports of an increased risk of vascular events with high-estrogen-dose formulations. OC estrogen continues to hold attention; current areas or interest include the relationship of estrogen to laboratory changes in hemostatic, lipid/lipoprotein, and carbohydrate variables, and, more important, to their possible clinical consequences. The historical view that OC-induced lipoprotein changes are responsible for observed increases in vascular risk in OC users is being debated, but the preponderance of evidence suggests that CO-related vascular disease is most likely due to thrombosis rather than atherosclerosis. This issue is made somewhat moot, however, by cumulative epidemiologic data indicating that although some combination OCs containing < or = 35 micrograms estrogen appear to produce a slight increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism, they have no adverse effect on the risk of myocardial infarction and minimal, if any, effect on the risk of stroke. The risks that may be associated with cigarette smoking and concomitant OC use have recently emerged as a somewhat contested issue relative to estrogen dose. Critical examination of the available information suggests that women over 35 years of age who smoke should be advised to use non-estrogen contraceptive methods and that smokers under age 35 may use any OC containing < 50 micrograms estrogen.


Prevalence of depression and anxiety and associated factors among geriatric orthopedic trauma inpatients: A cross-sectional study.
Common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in geriatric orthopedic trauma patients have received little attention in research. To investigate the prevalence of emotional disorders among geriatric orthopedic trauma patients and identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors. This cross-sectional study was performed in geriatric patients (aged ≥ 60 years, both sexes) with orthopedic trauma admitted to a level I trauma center between May 2015 and December 2017. Demographic, social, and clinical characteristics were described. Huaxi Emotional-Distress Index (HEI) was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety and depression status. Differences in continuous variables were tested using the t-test, and differences in categorical variables were assessed using the Pearson χ 2 test. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with a HEI score > 8. Among the 966 patients, 487 were male and 479 were female, with a mean age of 70.2 ± 7.1 years. The age ranged from 60 to 90 years. Seventy-five patients had an HEI score > 8, accounting for about 7.8% of all patients. A higher Injury Severity Score (4.17 ± 3.10 vs 7.96 ± 6.68, P < 0.001), higher Visual Analog Score (5.05 ± 1.09 vs 6.89 ±1.23, P < 0.001), number of chronic diseases (P < 0.001), injury type (P = 0.038), and education level (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with HEI score > 8. On logistic regression, a higher education level was a protective factor for emotional disorders (P = 0.047), whereas Injury Severity Score (P = 0.024), Visual Analog Score (P < 0.001), two or more chronic diseases (P < 0.001) were the related independent risk factors. Emotional disorders are common in geriatric patients with orthopedic trauma. Clinicians should remain vigilant of emotional disorders in geriatric patients and screen for anxiety and depression in higher risk groups.


Perspectives on the practice of vaginal birth after caesarean section in East Africa.
The increasing Caesarean section rates being observed in most facilities will ultimately result in a larger proportion of women with previous scar. Choices need to be made by both the patient and the health worker between attempted Vaginal Birth after Caesarean section (VBAC) and Elective Repeat Caesarean section (ERCS). Both practices are associated with perinatal risks and benefits that call for certain objectivity and prudence in decision making especially where resources are scarce. To determine perceptions on the practice of vaginal birth after Caesarean section among maternity service providers in East Africa. A semi-qualitative cross sectional survey using self administered questionnaires. The study was undertaken among delegates attending a regional Obstetrics and Gynaecology conference in Mombasa, Kenya. Sixty three consenting delegates were interviewed A majority (69.8%) of the respondents were consultants and midwives working in government facilities. Fifty eight out of the 63 respondents offered VBAC in their institutions despite acknowledging sub-optimal antenatal preparation. The main concerns identified were; deficiencies in healthcare delivery systems, inadequate human resources, lack of unit guidelines, inappropriate maternal education and inappropriate foetal monitoring tools. The practice of vaginal birth after Caesarean section was perceived to be sub-optimal with many existing deficiencies that need urgent action to ensure the safety of mothers and newborns. We therefore recommend that unless these concerns raised by maternity providers are addressed then the practice of VBAC in the region should not be encouraged.


Primary testicular lesions are associated with testicular germ cell tumors of adult men.
The present study aims to establish the nature and frequency of testicular lesions in the parenchyma adjacent to testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) to improve understanding of the factors involved in the development of testicular cancer. Fifty-three cases of TGCT that were fixed in both neutral-buffered formalin and Bouin solution, allowing for the nuclear characterization of Sertoli cells (SCs), were included in this study. In each case, at least 3 sections of different areas of preserved parenchyma surrounding the TGCT were studied. We found Leydig cell hyperplasia, microlithiasis, angiopathy, adenomatous hyperplasia of the rete testis, SC nodules, SC dysgenesis and involution, SC-only tubules, tubular atrophy, adluminal compartment lesions, hypospermatogenesis associated with spermatocyte sloughing, spermatogonial maturation arrest, and hypertrophic and multinucleated spermatogonia. These lesions were found in regions both adjacent and far away from the tumoral mass, and abnormal seminiferous tubules were found intermingled with those showing complete spermatogenesis, suggesting that these lesions are primary and existed before the development of the tumor. Our study suggests that SCs might play a more important role in the development of testicular tumors than previously thought. Our data supports the hypothesis that there is an abnormal differentiation of SCs, caused either by genetic anomalies or by environmental agents during fetal life. This abnormal SC differentiation may cause not only primary spermatogenesis failure and spermatogenesis arrest at different levels, but may also contribute to the poor differentiation of gonocytes into spermatogonia. The abnormal gonocyte differentiation might favor the development of dysplastic germ cells that may later transform into intratubular germ cell neoplasia, unclassified type.


Comparison of ammonia emission rates from three types of broiler litters.
The objective of this study was to compare the emission of NH(3) from 3 types of broiler litters. Three litter materials (refused tea, RT; sawdust, SDT; and paddy husk, PH) were randomly assigned into 18 cages. Twenty-day-old broiler chicks (n = 216) were randomly allocated into cages and were fed a commercial broiler finisher diet from 21 to 42 d. Three litter samples were taken from each cage on 36 and 42 d. Three subsamples taken from each cage were pooled and analyzed for moisture, pH, and N. Litter samples were incubated for 5 h, and the emitted NH(3) was trapped with boric acid and then titrated with HCl to determine the NH(3) emissions. The emission of NH(3) from RT litter (13.2 mg/kg of litter per h) on d 36 was 61% less than that from SDT and PH. The NH(3) emission rate of RT litter on d 42 (13.0 mg/kg per h) was very similar to that on d 36 (13.2 mg/kg per h). However, emission rates of SDT and PH on d 36 increased by 57.8 and 33%, respectively, when determined on d 42. Emission of NH(3) from RT litter on d 42 (13.0 mg/kg per h) was significantly (P < 0.05) less than that from SDT (54 mg/kg per h) and PH (44 mg/kg per h) litters. When the emission rate was computed as grams of NH(3)/hour/animal unit (AU), the emission rates of RT litter on d 36 (3.4 g/h per AU) and 42 (5.1 g/h per AU) were significantly (P < 0.05) less than that of SDT and PH. The N contents of the RT litter on 36 and 42 d were 6.6 and 6.7%, respectively, and were significantly (P < 0.001) greater than the respective values of SDT and PH. It was concluded that emission of NH(3) from poultry houses could be reduced substantially by using RT as a litter material.


Alemtuzumab for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Alemtuzumab (Campath, MabCampath) is a humanized therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes the CD52 antigen expressed on normal and neoplastic lymphoid cells. This mAb is active in previously treated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) refractory to alkylating agents and purine nucleoside analogs. Alemtuzumab is also investigated in previously untreated patients with this leukemia. The results of a prospective randomized Phase III study (CAM307 trial) comparing chlorambucil with alemtuzumab in the first-line treatment of progressive B-CLL were recently published. The overall response rate, complete remission rate, and progression-free survival were all superior for alemtuzumab. Moreover, elimination of minimal residual disease occurred in one third of complete responders to alemtuzumab and none to chlorambucil. Adverse events were similar in both arms with the exception of infusion-related reactions and cytomegalovirus infections. In 2001, alemtuzumab was approved in the USA and Europe as a third-line therapy for patients with B-CLL who had been treated with alkylating agents and failed fludarabine therapy. In September 2007, the US FDA, on the basis of CAM307 results, approved alemtuzumab for the treatment of previously untreated patients with B-CLL. Moreover, the European Commission recently granted marketing authorization to alemtuzumab for the treatment of patients with B-CLL for whom fludarabine combination monotherapy is not appropriate.


Pharmacotherapy for obesity in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for T2DM and its management requires a multidisciplinary approach, which may include pharmacotherapy. In this paper, data on efficacy, tolerability and safety of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for obesity (orlistat, phentermine/topiramate extended-release, lorcaserin, bupropion sustained release/naltrexone sustained release and liraglutide) are reviewed, focusing on individuals with type 2 diabetes. Obesity is the major pathophysiologic driver of T2DM; conversely 5-10% weight loss leads to significant improvement in glycemic control, lipids and blood pressure. Weight loss maintenance is difficult with lifestyle interventions alone and may require adjunctive therapies. There is good evidence for the efficacy and tolerability of approved anti-obesity pharmacotherapies in individuals with T2DM, with current cardiovascular safety data being most favorable for liraglutide, orlistat and lorcaserin. Given the link between obesity and T2DM, a weight-centric therapeutic approach including use of weight reducing anti-diabetic therapies, and anti-obesity pharmacotherapies is both intuitive and rational to improve glycemic and other metabolic outcomes in patients with T2DM.


Rapid climate change did not cause population collapse at the end of the European Bronze Age.
The impact of rapid climate change on contemporary human populations is of global concern. To contextualize our understanding of human responses to rapid climate change it is necessary to examine the archeological record during past climate transitions. One episode of abrupt climate change has been correlated with societal collapse at the end of the northwestern European Bronze Age. We apply new methods to interrogate archeological and paleoclimate data for this transition in Ireland at a higher level of precision than has previously been possible. We analyze archeological (14)C dates to demonstrate dramatic population collapse and present high-precision proxy climate data, analyzed through Bayesian methods, to provide evidence for a rapid climatic transition at ca. 750 calibrated years B.C. Our results demonstrate that this climatic downturn did not initiate population collapse and highlight the nondeterministic nature of human responses to past climate change.


Actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 on KATP channel-dependent and -independent effects of glucose, sulphonylureas and nateglinide.
This study examined the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on insulin secretion alone and in combination with sulphonylureas or nateglinide, with particular attention to K(ATP) channel-independent insulin secretion. In depolarised cells, GLP-1 significantly augmented glucose-induced K(ATP) channel-independent insulin secretion in a glucose concentration-dependent manner. GLP-1 similarly augmented the K(ATP) channel-independent insulin-releasing effects of tolbutamide, glibenclamide or nateglinide. Downregulation of protein kinase A (PKA)- or protein kinase C (PKC)-signalling pathways in culture revealed that the K(ATP) channel-independent effects of sulphonylureas or nateglinide were critically dependent upon intact PKA and PKC signalling. In contrast, GLP-1 exhibited a reduced but still significant insulin-releasing effect following PKA and PKC downregulation, indicating that GLP-1 can modulate K(ATP) channel-independent insulin secretion by protein kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The synergistic insulin-releasing effects of combinatorial GLP-1 and sulphonylurea/nateglinide were lost following PKA- or PKC-desensitisation, despite GLP-1 retaining an insulin-releasing effect, demonstrating that GLP-1 can induce insulin release under conditions where sulphonylureas and nateglinide are no longer effective. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of GLP-1, and further highlight the promise of GLP-1 or similarly acting analogues alone or in combination with sulphonylureas or meglitinide drugs in type 2 diabetes therapy.


Differential effects of morphinan drugs on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats: a comparative study with an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist.
The effects of the morphinan drugs dextrorphan, dextromethorphan and levorphanol were tested towards the cataleptic activity induced by 1 mg/kg of haloperidol i.p. in rats. The influence of the morphinans was compared to that of the N-methyl-D-aspartate competitive antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. 2-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (0.5 mumoles, i.c.v.), dextrorphan (7.5-15 mg/kg, i.p.) and dextromethorphan (15-30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the degree of catalepsy in the haloperidol-treated rats within 15 min. Conversely, levorphanol (15-30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the degree of catalepsy in the haloperidol-treated rats within 15 min. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) counteracted the potentiating effects of levorphanol. These findings demonstrate a differential influence of the morphinan stereoisomers dextrorphan and levorphanol on experimental catalepsy, and suggest a potential use of dextromethorphan in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.


LPS induces cardiomyocyte necroptosis through the Ripk3/Pgam5 signaling pathway.
Necroptosis is a new type of cell death. However, the role of necroptosis in LPS-related cardiomyocyte damage has not been fully understood. The aim of our study is to explore the molecular mechanism underlying inflammation-mediated cardiomyocyte necroptosis. H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell line was treated with LPS. Then, cell viability and necroptosis were measured through qPCR and ELISA. Pathway analysis was performed to verify whether Ripk3/Pgam5 signaling pathway is implicated into the regulation of cardiomyocyte necroptosis. The results demonstrated that LPS reduced cardiomyocyte viability and activated necroptosis. At the molecular levels, oxidative stress and inflammation were triggered by LPS and these alterations may contribute to the activation of necroptosis. Finally, we found that Ripk3/Pgam5 signaling pathway was activated by LPS in cardiomyocyte and this signaling pathway may explain the regulatory mechanism underlying LPS-mediated necroptosis. Altogether, our results demonstrated that septic cardiomyopathy is associated with an activation of necroptosis through the Ripk3/Pgam5 signaling pathway.


Virtual electrowetting channels: electronic liquid transport with continuous channel functionality.
Reported is a new mechanism for electronic transport of liquid in virtual channels. These virtual channels are formed by application of voltage to an array of polymer posts. The posts are coated with a conducting electrode and hydrophobic dielectric, and thereby capable of electrowetting. Directional channel formation, as well as splitting and merging, is also demonstrated using specific arrangements of posts. The channel dimensions are approximately 20 microm in cross-section, are scalable, and at the threshold for channel formation the minimum transport speed is approximately 1 mm s(-1). The virtual electrowetting channels are further unique as they can retain any channel geometry even in the absence of voltage. With the addition of arrayed voltage controls, the virtual electrowetting channels have the potential to combine the advantages of programmable electrowetting and continuous channel functionality into a single lab-on-chip platform.


Description of the mitochondrial genome of yellowtail scad Atule mate (Perciformes: Carangidae).
The yellowtail scad Atule mate is an economic fish species distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical oceans of the Indo-Pacific region. In the present study, we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of A. mate from contiguous, overlapping segments amplified by PCR. The mitogenome sequence was 16,565 bp in length, consisting of 37 typical animal mitochondrial genes and 1 control region, same with the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement. The overall base composition of the heavy strand was 28.4% for A, 27.6% for T, 16.3% for G, and 27.7% for C. Phylogenetic analyses using the protein-coding gene sequences reveal that genus Atule was most closely related to Alepes.


In Vitro Mimicking of Obesity-Induced Biochemical Environment to Study Obesity Impacts on Cells and Tissues.
Obesity represents a heavy burden for modern healthcare. The main challenge facing obesity research progress is the unknown underlying pathways, which limits our understanding of the pathogenesis and developing therapies. Obesity induces specific biochemical environments that impact the different cells and tissues. In this piece of writing, we suggest mimicking obesity-induced in vivo biochemical environments including pH, lipids, hormones, cytokines, and glucose within an in vitro environment. The concept is to reproduce such biochemical environments and use them to treat the tissue cultures, explant cultures, and cell cultures of different biological organs. This will allow us to clarify how the obesity-induced biochemistry impacts such biological entities. It would also be important to try different environments, in terms of the compositions and concentrations of the constitutive elements, in order to establish links between the effects (impaired regeneration, cellular inflammation, etc.) and the factors constituting the environment (hormones, cytokines, etc.) as well as to reveal dose-dependent effects. We believe that such approaches will allow us to elucidate obesity mechanisms, optimize animal models, and develop therapies as well as novel tissue engineering applications.


The combination of blueberry juice and probiotics reduces apoptosis of alcoholic fatty liver of mice by affecting SIRT1 pathway.
To explore the effects of the combination of blueberry juice and probiotics on the apoptosis of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Healthy C57BL/6J mice were used in the control group (CG). AFLD mice models were established with Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet and evenly assigned to six groups with different treatments: MG (model), SI (SIRT1 [sirtuin type 1] small interfering RNA [siRNA]), BJ (blueberry juice), BJSI (blueberry juice and SIRT1 siRNA), BJP (blueberry juice and probiotics), and BJPSI (blueberry juice, probiotics, and SIRT1 siRNA). Hepatic tissue was observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Oil Red O (ORO) staining. Biochemical indexes of the blood serum were analyzed. The levels of SIRT1, caspase-3, forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), FasL (tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 6), BAX, and Bcl-2 were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. HE and ORO staining showed that the hepatocytes were heavily destroyed with large lipid droplets in MG and SI groups, while the severity was reduced in the CG, BJ, and BJP groups (P<0.05). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were increased in BJ and BJP groups when compared with the model group (P<0.05). In contrast, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were lower in BJ and BJP groups than in the model group (P<0.05). The level of SIRT1 was increased, while the levels of FOXO1, phosphorylated FOXO1, acetylated FOXO1, FasL, caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl-2 were decreased in CG, BJ, and BJP groups (P<0.05). Meanwhile, SIRT1 silence resulted in increase of the levels of FOXO1, phosphorylated FOXO1, acetylated FOXO1, FasL, caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl-2. The combination of blueberry juice and probiotics reduces apoptosis in AFLD by suppressing FOXO1, phosphorylated FOXO1, acetylated FOXO1, FasL, caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl-2 via the upregulation of SIRT1.


Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease homozygous to the E200K mutation: clinical characteristics and disease course.
To characterize the demographic, clinical features and disease course of familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (fCJD) patients homozygous to the E200K mutation. The Israeli National CJD Database was screened for patients homozygous to the E200K mutation. Patients' demographic data, clinical presentation and neurological findings, tau protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and EEG, were assessed. Ten homozygous E200K patients were identified (80% males). Average age of onset was 47.5 ± 6.1 years (range 40-56) and the average age of death was 49.3 ± 7. 7 years (range 42-63) with average disease duration of 27.7 ± 9.7 months (range 2-97). Initial clinical presentation included behavioral change in 4/10 patients, cognitive decline in 3/10 patients and focal neurological deficits in 2/10 patients. Throughout the disease course, the clinical signs in descending order of prevalence included cerebellar (70%), brainstem (60%), extrapyramidal (50%), pyramidal (50%), frontal lobe signs (30%), and disturbances of ocular motility (30%) Compared to the 228 heterozygous E200K fCJD patients, the 10 homozygous patients were significantly younger at disease onset (47.5 vs 59.7 years, p < 0.001), had a longer disease duration (27.7 vs 8.5 months, p < 0.001) and presented more frequently with behavioral changes as initial manifestation (4/10 vs. 34/228, p = 0.05). Homozygous E200K fCJD patients are characterized by a relatively younger age of onset and longer disease duration. Behavioral changes as a presenting symptom were more common in homozygous patients and cerebellar dysfunction was the most common neurological manifestation throughout the disease course.


Does the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor differ according to the type of EGFR mutation in non-small cell lung cancer?
An exon 19 deletion and a L858R mutation in exon 21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are the two most common mutations that predict favorable efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Many retrospective and prospective studies, as well as meta-analyses including patients with NSCLC with various lines of EGFR TKI treatment, have demonstrated longer progression-free survival and sometimes more favorable overall survival in patients with an exon 19 deletion than those with the L858R or other mutations. In contrast, some clinical studies, including phase III trials, have demonstrated no difference in the efficacy of EGFR TKIs according to the EGFR mutation type. Therefore, the existence of clinically significant differences in sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs among different EGFR mutation subtypes remains controversial. In this review, we summarize the evidence suggesting different outcomes according to the type of EGFR mutation in patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with EGFR-TKIs, along with their clinical significance. We also discuss possible mechanisms that can explain the different sensitivities to EGFR TKIs between cases with an exon 19 deletion and those with the L858R mutation.