Modified cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for the use of the AngioVac® system in a case with high paradoxical embolization risk.
The AngioVac® is a vacuum-assisted percutaneous thrombectomy suction system. In critically ill patients, the sudden volume shift can result in abrupt hemodynamic changes thus leading to a cardiac right-left shunt with a high risk of paradoxical embolization. We describe a modified cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for the use of the AngioVac® system that enables full cardiopulmonary support and reduces paradoxical thromboembolic risk.


Study of the Macro and Micro Characteristics of and Their Relationships in Cemented Backfill Based on SEM.
Nuclear magnetic resonance can only quantitatively obtain porosity and pore size distribution, but as a conventional microstructure observation technology, scanning electron microscope (SEM) can select different magnifications to observe the microstructure of backfill materials. However, the processing of SEM images is not deep enough. In this paper, Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software was used to extract the data from SEM images, and the parameters of the area, and the perimeter, aspect ratio and roundness of the pores in the SEM images were obtained. The fractal characteristics of the pores in the SEM image were obtained by using the slit island method fractal theory. The concretization and quantification analysis of the pores' complexity were achieved. A functional relationship model for the strength and pore parameters was constructed; thus, the influence law of pore characteristics on strength was quantitatively analyzed. The conclusions included: (1) Pore parameters indicate that most pores in backfill are irregular, and only a few pores are regular-however, the whole structure has good fractal characteristics (R2 > 0.96). (2) The fractal dimension of pores is directly proportional to the roundness, the aspect ratio, and the pore content of pores-which indicates that the complexity of pores is related to both pore shape and pore content. (3) The strength had a linear inverse relationship with the roundness, aspect ratio, pore content, and fractal dimension-which indicates that all characteristics of pores have a certain influence on the strength.


High-yield synthesis of monodisperse dumbbell-shaped polymer nanoparticles.
We describe a method for producing highly monodisperse dumbbell-shaped polymer nanoparticles with dimensions on the order of a few hundred nanometers in extremely high yields. Our technique is based on seeded polymerization, where suspended core-shell particles (linear polystyrene core with polystyrene-co-trimethoxysilylpropylacrylate shell) are used as seeds. When an aqueous suspension of seed particles is mixed with monomer solution, the core-shell particles display dramatic changes in their morphology. Subsequent heating drives the polymerization of monomer, resulting in the formation of dumbbell-shaped particles. The relative sizes of the two lobes can be controlled by varying the relative volume of the monomer with respect to the seed particle. These particles are well-suited for future studies of the assembly of photonic crystals of anisotropic particles.


Reconstruction of calcaneal fracture malunion with osteotomy and subtalar joint salvage: technique and outcomes.
The goal of this study was to discuss the outcomes of treating calcaneal fracture malunion by restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy. From May 2005 to November 2008, 24 patients (26 feet) with calcaneal malunions after a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture were treated by osteotomy and autogenous bone graft. The subtalar joint was preserved. The mean time from initial injury to reconstructive operation was 5.7 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5-8.8 months). The displaced posterior facet was restored through a reconstructive osteotomy, whereas the bone defect in the calcaneus after reduction was filled with the exostosis that had been removed; iliac bone graft was used if necessary. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a minimum of 24 months. Twenty patients (21 feet) were followed for a mean of 34.2 months (29.0-39.4 months). According to American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, the average score was 85.9 points (95% confidence interval, 81.5-90.4 points), which was significantly higher than the preoperative assessment. Radiographs showed that Böhler's angle, Gissane's angle, talus declination angle, and width and height of calcaneus were improved to a great extent. Six patients had wound edge necrosis, and 2 had superficial infection. One patient required a subtalar fusion for subtalar arthritis at 2 years after surgery. Restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy and autogenous bone graft was an effective treatment method for selected calcaneal fracture malunions. It reconstructed calcaneal morphology and preserved the subtalar joint. Level IV, retrospective case series.


Identification of the N-linked oligosaccharide sites in chick corneal lumican and keratocan that receive keratan sulfate.
Corneal proteoglycans have chondroitin/dermatan and keratan sulfate (KS) chains and belong to the leucine-rich proteoglycan gene family. Corneal KS is N-linked to Asn of an NX(S/T) site through a complex oligosaccharide linkage region. Only some sites receive KS, whereas others remain in a high mannose form. To determine whether the attachment of KS was biased toward specific sites, we isolated trypsin-digested KS-containing fragments of chick corneal proteoglycans and sequenced the peptides. Results showed that all of the peptides sequenced aligned to the deduced amino acid sequence of either chick lumican or chick keratocan at the first, third, and fourth potential N-linked sites. Sites 1 and 4 in lumican and keratocan are in a homologous location. By analogy with the structure of ribonuclease inhibitor (a Leu-rich repeat containing protein), the KS chains would extend outward on the outer face of a horseshoe-like structure. The amino acid sequences surrounding the potential N-linked sites were also compared. Sites receiving KS tend to have a higher occurrence of aromatic residues, in particular Phe, located within 3 amino acids of NX(S/T). These conserved Phe residues may have a role in the conversion of high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides to polylactosamine and/or keratan sulfate.


The importance of vital signs in the triage of injured patients.
Vital signs are indicators of a patient presenting to an emergency department (ED). Abnormal vital signs have been associated with an increased likelihood of admission to the hospital. Physicians have long recognized the importance of vital sign observations, and vital sign measurement has proven to be useful for detecting serious diseases during triage in EDs. The study included all patients with injuries presented to the ED of a general hospital in Greece. For these patients, sex, age, cause of injury, vital signs at the time of admission to ED (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation), and the course of the patient (admission to hospital, discharge from ED) were recorded. The statistical analysis of data was done by the statistical package SPSS 15. It was performed using univariate regression and Spearman correlation coefficient. A total of 2703 patients were registered, of which 71% were men aged 31.9 ± 0.38 years and 29% were women aged 45.7 ± 0.79 years. The main causes of injury were car accident, motor accident, pedestrian accident, fall from a height, and assault. By logistic regression, the correlation was found between mean blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and hospitalization or discharge of the patients. The measurement of mean blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation of the injured patients during the admission to the ED can predict the disease course of patients.


Update: influenza activity--United States, October 1-December 9, 2006.
During October 1-December 9, 2006, influenza activity remained low in the United States overall but increased in southeastern states. This report summarizes U.S. influenza activity since October 1, the beginning of the 2006-07 influenza season, and updates the previous summary.


Circulation and migration in third world settings: a comparison in Ecuador.
This study is concerned with circulation, defined as temporary and repetitive migration that lacks any declared intention of a permanent or long-lasting change in residence. "The first section of the paper reviews pertinent circulation literature. Attention then turns to describing circulation and migration patterns in Ecuador, and identifying relationships between these patterns and regional differentials in economic development, both through cartographic and statistical analyses. A summary and conclusions comprise the last section."


Protocol for the recovery of in vivo matured canine oocytes based on once daily measurement of serum progesterone.
The collection of in vivo matured canine oocytes relies on the accurate prediction of ovulation. The present study was designed to develop a protocol for the recovery of in vivo matured canine oocytes based on once daily measurements of serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations. Blood samples (2 mL) were collected every day at 0900 h, and P(4) concentrations were analyzed using a DSL-3900 ACTIVE Progesterone Coated-Tube Radioimmunoassay Kit. The average number of oocytes at the metaphase II (M II) stage was significantly higher at or after 72 h (6.7 to 7.5) compared to 56 h (1.7) following ovulation. The highest numbers of corpora lutea, and therefore the highest numbers of oocytes, were recovered from bitches with initial ovulatory P(4) concentrations ranging from 6.0 to 8.0 ng/ mL (12.2 and 11.4, respectively) compared to from 4.0 to 4.9 ng/ mL (9.6 and 8.8, respectively; p < 0.05). The average number of M II oocytes recovered at 84 h from bitches with initial ovulatory P(4) levels of 5.0 to 5.9 ng/mL (7.7) was higher compared to bitches with P(4) levels of 4.0 to 4.9 ng/ mL (3.5) and 6.0 to 8.0 ng/ mL (4.8; p < 0.05). When oocyte recovery time was adjusted for initial ovulatory P(4) concentration, no significant difference in recovery rates or oocyte quality were observed. In conclusion, once daily measurements of P(4) can be used to predict ovulation in bitches, and oocyte recovery time should be adjusted for initial ovulatory serum P(4) concentrations.


Natural antioxidants that act against Alzheimer's disease through modulation of the NRF2 pathway: a focus on their molecular mechanisms of action.
Characterized by a complex pathophysiology that includes the intraneuronal formation of neurofibrillary tangles and the extracellular deposition of β-amyloid plaques, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a terminal neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia in older adults. Oxidative stress in the brain is considered as one of the contributing factors to the pathogenesis of AD, and thus, antioxidants have attracted much interest as potential therapeutic agents against the disorder. Natural antioxidants are typically characterized by low acute and chronic toxicity, which facilitates their potential therapeutic application. One important molecular target for the beneficial effects of natural antioxidants is the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2/NRF2). NRF2 is a key transcription factor that orchestrates the cellular antioxidant response through regulating the expression of oxidative stress-related genes harboring the antioxidant response element (ARE) in their promoters. Indeed, in the case of excessive oxidative damage, NRF2 migrates to the nucleus and binds to ARE, activating the transcription of antioxidant protector genes. There is increasing evidence that NRF2 is implicated in AD pathology through dysfunction and altered localization, which renders it as a potential therapeutic target for AD. Thus, this review summarizes the most recent (2018-2023) advances on the NRF2-modulating activity of natural antioxidants observed in vitro and in AD animal models. This information will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing the antioxidant activity of such phytochemicals to highlight their therapeutic potential against common neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD.


Esophageal Foreign Body Missed Diagnosis; an Analysis of 12 Cases.
Missed diagnosis of foreign bodies in esophagus occasionally results in adverse consequences for patients. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of esophageal foreign body missed diagnosis in 12 cases. Among the 12 patients, 7 didn't undergo esophagus-related examination due to mild pain; One case didn't report a clear history of swallowing foreign bodies. For one case, computed tomography (CT) examination had not reached the esophageal foreign body level. Two cases were missed diagnosis because the foreign bodies were too tiny to develop clearly on CT. One case showed foreign body in esophagus during initial CT examination, but after subsequent gastroscopy, no foreign body was found. Among the 12 patients, 7 had esophageal perforation, 1 of which developed a neck abscess, and 1 had peri-esophageal abscess. It seems that, if foreign bodies in the pharynx or esophagus are suspected and no foreign bodies are found in the laryngoscope, chest CT scan is necessary. It is best to perform examination of full-length esophagus and pharynx, because foreign bodies may exist in the post-cricoid region or the deep part of the pyriform sinus, especially in older cases with longer retention times.


Rapid determination of 9 aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke by modified dispersive liquid liquid microextraction and ultraperformance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke have long been monitored due to their carcinogenic toxicity. In this work, a reliable and rapid method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 9 aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke by modified dispersive liquid liquid microextraction (DLLME) and ultraperformance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPC2-MS/MS). Briefly, the particulate phase of the cigarette smoke was captured by a Cambridge filter pad, and diluted hydrogen chloride aqueous solution is employed to extract the aromatic amines under mechanical shaking. After alkalization with sodium hydroxide solution, small amount of toluene was introduced to further extract and enrich aromatic amines by modified DLLME under vortexing. After centrifugation, toluene phase was purified by a universal QuEChERS cleanup kit and was finally analyzed by UPC2-MS/MS. Attributing to the superior performance of UPC2-MS/MS, this novel approach allowed the separation and determination of 9 aromatic amines within 5.0min with satisfactory resolution and sensitivity. The proposed method was finally validated using Kentucky reference cigarette 3R4F, and emission levels of targeted aromatic amines determined were comparable to previously reported methods At three different spiked levels, the recoveries of most analytes were ranged from 74.01% to 120.50% with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 12%, except that the recovery of p-toluidine at low spiked level and 3-aminobiphenyl at medium spiked level was 62.77% and 69.37% respectively. Thus, this work provides a novel alternative method for the simultaneous analysis of 9 aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke.


Exploring the Multidimensional Links Between Trait Mindfulness and Trait Empathy.
Empathy and mindfulness are currently major topics of scientific interest. Although it is well-known that mindfulness-typically as an outcome related to meditation-generates empathy at the state level, only a small number of studies have documented the trait (i.e., personality) level association between mindfulness and empathy. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms (subcomponents and mediator variables) that support this association remain unclear. Thus, here, with a focus on the trait level, we investigated relationships among multiple subcomponents of trait mindfulness and trait empathy (Study 1). Next, we reexamined the aforementioned relationships in an independent sample, with the further aim of investigating relevant mediation factors (Study 2). We found that two attention-related components of trait mindfulness-observing and acting with awareness-reliably and positively related to both affective and cognitive dimensions of trait empathy (i.e., empathic concern and perspective taking). Furthermore, we found that effortful control, reappraisal, and trait alexithymia mediated relationships between the aforementioned attention-related components of trait mindfulness and empathic concern. Taken together, our results suggest that the links between mindfulness and empathy are multidimensional and complex. These findings may ultimately contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of meditation on empathy.


Quantification of energy expenditure of military loaded runs: what is the performance of laboratory-based equations when applied to the field environment?
Performance during army loaded runs provides a synthetic indicator of a soldier's capacity to move while carrying loads and thereby remain able to execute a mission. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the energy expenditure (EE) of army loaded runs, conducted in a field environment using laboratory-based equations and HR index (HRindex). 45 Ranger recruits had HR monitored during three loaded runs (10, 15 and 20 km) in full military equipment in the field environment. EE was calculated using reference equations (EE-Eq) and estimates of oxygen consumption based on HRindex (EE-HRindex). Correspondence between EE-Eq and EE-HRindex estimates was evaluated using a two-way analysis of variance, correlation test and Bland-Altman analysis. EE-Eq relative to time and weight was significantly higher for the 10 km (0.175±0.016) compared with 15 and 20 km (0.163±0.016 and 0.160±0.013 kcal/kg/min, not different). The overall EE-Eq increased significantly with distance (1129±59, 1703±80 and 2250±115 kcal for 10, 15 and 20 km). EE-Eq was not different from and highly correlated with EE-HRindex, with a small and non-significant bias and good precision between methods. Our study provides the first comprehensive data on HR and EE during long-distance loaded army runs, in full combat equipment, in actual field conditions. Equation-based estimates of EE during these heavy-intensity activities were not significantly different from and highly correlated with HR-based estimates. This corroborates the general applicability of the predictive equations in the field environment. Furthermore, our study suggests that time-resolved HR-based estimates of EE during army runs can be used to evaluate for the effects of context specificity, individual variability and fatigue in movement economy.


Xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue pieces in gonadotropin-stimulated SCID mice: the effect of ovariectomy.
The number of follicles were compared in different developmental stages after the cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue by open freezing system followed by xenotransplantation into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)-mice under stimulation, with and without ovariectomy. Ovarian tissue, cryopreserved for fertility preservation was partly examined by LIVE/DEAD viability staining or was transplanted in the neck muscle of 32 SCID-mice. The development of follicles, estradiol production, vaginal cytology and uterus weight was assessed after 15 weeks under gonadotropin stimulation, with or without ovariectomy. Viable follicles were detected in all frozen/thawed specimens using the LIVE/DEAD assay. Ovariectomy caused a significant improvement of survival of follicles in the preantral and antral stages in the gonadotropin-stimulated animals (p < 0.001), whereas there was no significant effect on the primordial and primary follicle counts. In the non-ovariectomised group, only isolated primordial and primary follicles could be detected. The total follicle amount was significantly higher in the ovariectomised group (n=17, 9.2 +/- 7.8, mean +/-SD) than in the non-ovariectomized group (n=15, 0.3 +/- 1.0). This study demonstrates that ovariectomy of stimulated recipient SCID-mice is essential for the development of follicles after xenotransplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian grafts.


Suspended Membrane Evaporators Integrating Environmental and Solar Evaporation for Oily Wastewater Purification.
Solar-driven evaporation is promising in oily wastewater treatment, in particular for emulsions, but conventional evaporators suffer from pore blocking by residual oil or contamination by volatile oil compounds in the condensed water. In the current research, we develop a suspended membrane evaporator integrating solar evaporation with oil-in-water emulsion separation. The heating and evaporating interface is separated from the rejecting interface to avoid oil escape and improve heat management. A temperature gradient forms on the membrane surface that can promote evaporation performance by combining both solar and environmental evaporation. Such an evaporator achieves a maximum evaporation rate of 1.645 kg/(m2·h) as well as an apparent evaporation efficiency of 111.9%. Moreover, the superhydrophilic and superoleophobic membrane shows excellent oil repellence and emulsion rejection, which can achieve an oil removal efficiency above 98.8% in oil-in-water emulsion separation, and high evaporation rate recovery in cycling tests. A scaled-up membrane evaporator array produces ∼8 kg/(m2·d) of clean water from oily wastewater in outdoor experiments, further demonstrating the strong purification performance of this evaporator in oily wastewater treatment.


[Characterization of the neurons of the basal forebrain complex in the rat: A Nissl- and Golgi impregnation study].
Nissl stained neurons were classified in some nuclei of the basal forebrain complex of the rat (Nc. septi medialis, MS; vertical limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band, vDB; horizontal limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band, hDB; Nc. preopticus magnocellularis, NPM; Substantia innominata, SI; Nc. basalis Meynert, NB). Several types of neurons are coexistent in each of these nuclei. They differ in soma size and shape, but also in their cytoplasmic and nuclear texture. We found three classes of neurons as well in the MS-vDB, as in the hDB and NPM, but five classes in the SI-NB complex. On the basis of these findings some conclusions were drawn regarding the cytoarchitecture of this region, as the demarcation of vDB and hDB and of hDB and NPM. The borderline between vDB and hDB was found to be undefinable in Nissl stained preparations, whereas the NPM is characterized by its high content of giant neurons in cotontrast the adjacent hDB. Additionally, we tried to identify the Nissl stained neurons on the basis of soma features with Golgi impregnated neurons. The daimpregnations of Golgi impregnated neurons enabled us to compare the width of the cytoplasm and the nuclear position of neurons stained after these methods. From the thirteen classes of neurons described in Golgi investigations, 8 were identified in Nissl stained sections through this region of the rat's forebrain.


Multifidus muscle cross-sectional area adaptations over two volleyball seasons and one off-season in athletes with and without low back pain.
The multifidus muscle is important in spine stabilization. Atrophy of the multifidus muscle has been associated with low back pain. To examine multifidus muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) adaptations over two volleyball seasons and one off-season in volleyball athletes experiencing low back pain or no low back pain. Twelve female NCAA division 1 volleyball athletes participated. Athletes were placed into a low back pain or no low back pain group. Athlete's multifidus was imaged and measured using ultrasound at four time points across seasons. Imaging time points were before season one, following season one, following off-season, and following season two. A single level mixed-model analysis of variance was used for all analyses. A Tukey HSD post hoc test was used to determine differences between and within the low back pain and the no low back pain groups. Following off-season training the pain group had clinically significant smaller multifidus CSA at the L4 (-2.36 cm2 difference or 17.5%) and L5 (-2.40 cm2 or 12.5%) levels. Non-significant (p> 0.05) decreases in multifidus CSA were seen in both groups following season one and two. Athletes with pain had decreased multifidus CSA at the L4 and L5 vertebral levels at all time points which was non-significant (p> 0.05). Clinically significant decreases in multifidus CSA occurred in female volleyball athletes with low back pain at the L4 and L5 level following off-season training. Volleyball athletes with pain had smaller multifidus CSA averages at all time points measured of the two year period.


Is slow nail growth a risk factor for onychomycosis?
This study was carried out to determine whether slow nail growth is a predisposing factor for onychomycosis or if onychomycosis results in slow nail growth. Forty-nine patients with unilateral onychomycosis of the great toenail were enrolled and classified in two groups according to the size of affected area, i.e. more than half or less than half of the toenail. The growth rates of affected and unaffected great toenails of all patients were measured. Before a normal appearance was reached, the growth rates of affected great toenails, when the affected area occupied more than half of total nail plate, was slower than that of the unaffected great toenails. After a normal appearance was achieved, there were no differences in growth rates between affected and unaffected great toenails. Therefore, this study of patients with unilateral toenail onychomycosis did not support the hypothesis that slow nail growth rate is a predisposing factor for onychomycosis.


Methods: pain.
Pain is one of the most common reasons for patient attendance at A&E departments ( 1 ), and its management should be a high priority in patient care. In order to do this, an assessment of pain is vital in determining the patient's progress, the impact and efficacy of treatment, and in some cases, as a diagnostic tool ( 2 ).


The tumor microenvironment as a metabolic barrier to effector T cells and immunotherapy.
Breakthroughs in anti-tumor immunity have led to unprecedented advances in immunotherapy, yet it is now clear that the tumor microenvironment (TME) restrains immunity. T cells must substantially increase nutrient uptake to mount a proper immune response and failure to obtain sufficient nutrients or engage the appropriate metabolic pathways can alter or prevent effector T cell differentiation and function. The TME, however, can be metabolically hostile due to insufficient vascular exchange and cancer cell metabolism that leads to hypoxia, depletion of nutrients, and accumulation of waste products. Further, inhibitory receptors present in the TME can inhibit T cell metabolism and alter T cell signaling both directly and through release of extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. This review will discuss the metabolic changes that drive T cells into different stages of their development and how the TME imposes barriers to the metabolism and activity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.


Glutamine: an obligatory parenteral nutrition substrate in critical care therapy.
Critical illness is characterized by glutamine depletion owing to increased metabolic demand. Glutamine is essential to maintain intestinal integrity and function, sustain immunologic response, and maintain antioxidative balance. Insufficient endogenous availability of glutamine may impair outcome in critically ill patients. Consequently, glutamine has been considered to be a conditionally essential amino acid and a necessary component to complete any parenteral nutrition regimen. Recently, this scientifically sound recommendation has been questioned, primarily based on controversial findings from a large multicentre study published in 2013 that evoked considerable uncertainty among clinicians. The present review was conceived to clarify the most important questions surrounding glutamine supplementation in critical care. This was achieved by addressing the role of glutamine in the pathophysiology of critical illness, summarizing recent clinical studies in patients receiving parenteral nutrition with intravenous glutamine, and describing practical concepts for providing parenteral glutamine in critical care.


Mycobacterium malmoense lymphadenitis in Spain: first two cases in immunocompetent patients.
Reported here are two cases of Mycobacterium malmoense lymphadenitis that occurred in two immunocompetent children in Spain. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first documented cases of extrapulmonary infection by M. malmoense in Spain. This report serves to draw attention to this emerging nontuberculous mycobacterium that is gaining increasing recognition as a pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathogen in different countries.


Aeroallergens of the southeast Missouri area: a report of skin test frequencies and air sampling data.
Aeroallergens in the Southeast Missouri area were identified by analyzing the positive skin tests of eight hundred seventeen patients and five years of air sampling. The important trees, grasses and weeds are enumerated. Reactivity levels of house dust, feathers and Dermatophagoides farinae exceeded all others. First among the fungi was Epicoccum purpurascens .


Characterization of the interaction of indiplon, a novel pyrazolopyrimidine sedative-hypnotic, with the GABAA receptor.
Clinically used benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic agents for the treatment of insomnia produce their therapeutic effects through allosteric enhancement of the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA at the GABA(A) receptor. Indiplon is a novel pyrazolopyrimidine sedative-hypnotic agent, currently in development for insomnia. Using radioligand binding studies, indiplon inhibited the binding of [(3)H]Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil) to rat cerebellar and cerebral cortex membranes with high affinity (K(i) values of 0.55 and 0.45 nM, respectively). [(3)H]Indiplon binding to rat cerebellar and cerebral cortex membranes was reversible and of high affinity, with K(D) values of 1.01 and 0.45 nM, respectively, with a pharmacological specificity consistent with preferential labeling of GABA(A) receptors containing alpha1 subunits. In "GABA shift" experiments and in measurements of GABA-induced chloride conductance in rat cortical neurons in culture, indiplon behaved as an efficacious potentiator of GABA(A) receptor function. In both the radioligand binding and electrophysiological experiments, indiplon had a higher affinity than zolpidem or zaleplon. These in vitro properties are consistent with the in vivo properties of indiplon as an effective sedative-hypnotic acting through allosteric potentiation of the GABA(A) receptor.


Host and Surgical Factors Affecting the Frequency and Duration of Revision Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.
Background Endoscopic sinus surgery is accepted as an effective surgical approach in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Different clinical pictures can be observed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Unfortunately, the eradication of the disease is impossible in all cases even if it is performed by experienced surgeons. In a significant number of patients, the polyps may regenerate and symptoms may reappear more or less in different durations. Due to the complex pathophysiology of the disease, revision sinus surgery is accepted as a multifactorial problem. We investigated the possible host and surgical factors which are related to increased frequency and earlier revision surgeries in CRSwNP. Methodology Patients operated on two or more times between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. A total of 49 patients with CRSwNP (38 male, 11 female) were statistically analyzed. The effects of host and surgical factors on the frequency and duration of revision surgery in CRSwNP were assessed. Results Samter's syndrome was noted to be a significant host factor affecting recurrence and revision surgeries. In addition, we observed significantly more frequent scarring and adhesions in patients with a higher number of operations. Conclusions Patients with Samter's syndrome should be informed of possible revision surgeries. The soft and mucosa-preserving technique is important for less scarring and good postoperative results.


The adaptive brain: aging and neurocognitive scaffolding.
There are declines with age in speed of processing, working memory, inhibitory function, and long-term memory, as well as decreases in brain structure size and white matter integrity. In the face of these decreases, functional imaging studies have demonstrated, somewhat surprisingly, reliable increases in prefrontal activation. To account for these joint phenomena, we propose the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition (STAC). STAC provides an integrative view of the aging mind, suggesting that pervasive increased frontal activation with age is a marker of an adaptive brain that engages in compensatory scaffolding in response to the challenges posed by declining neural structures and function. Scaffolding is a normal process present across the lifespan that involves use and development of complementary, alternative neural circuits to achieve a particular cognitive goal. Scaffolding is protective of cognitive function in the aging brain, and available evidence suggests that the ability to use this mechanism is strengthened by cognitive engagement, exercise, and low levels of default network engagement.


Structure of 3-methyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-1,6-methano-3-benzazocinium hydrogen oxalate.
C13H18N+.C2HO4-, Mr = 277.3, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 5.752 (1), b = 15.502 (2), c = 15.910 (2) A, V = 1418.6 (6) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.298 g cm-3, Mo K alpha (lambda = 0.71069 A), mu = 1.01 cm-1, F(000) = 592, T = 295 K. Final R = 0.035, wR = 0.042 for 1003 reflections with I greater than 3 sigma(I). The compound is an ammonium hydrogen oxalate. Both O atoms of the ionized carboxyl group act as acceptors in the formation of two hydrogen bonds: (a) an N--H...O bond linking the cation and anion with N...O and H...O distances of 2.722 (4) and 1.78 (5) A and (b) a strong O--H...O bond linking a chain of oxalate ions along a with O...O and H...O distances of 2.578 (4) and 1.59 (6) A. The relative stereochemistry of the heterocyclic and aromatic rings in the cation is similar to that in morphine.


Xenopus heat shock factor 1 is a nuclear protein before heat stress.
Stress-induced expression of the heat shock (hs) genes in eukaryotes is mediated by a transcription factor known as heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). HSF1 is present in a latent, monomeric form in unstressed metazoan cells and upon exposure to heat or other forms of stress is converted to an "active" trimeric form, which binds the promoters of hs genes and induces their transcription. The conversion of HSF1 to its active form is hypothesized to be a multistep process involving (i) oligomerization of HSF1, plus (ii) additional changes in its physical conformation, (iii) changes in its phosphorylation state, and for some species (iv) translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Oligomerization of HSF appears to be essential for high affinity DNA binding, but it remains unclear whether the other steps occur in all organisms or what their mechanistic roles are. In this study we have examined if heat-induced cytoplasmic-nuclear translocation of HSF1 occurs in Xenopus oocytes. We observed that germinal vesicles (nuclei) that were physically dissected from unshocked Xenopus laevis oocytes contain no HSF1 binding activity. Interestingly, in vitro heat shock treatments of isolated nuclei from unshocked oocytes activated HSF1 binding, indicating that HSF1 must have been present in the unshocked nuclei prior to isolation. Induction of HSF1 binding was not observed in enucleated oocytes. Western blot analysis using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody made against X. laevis HSF1 showed that HSF1 is present in equal amounts in unshocked and shocked oocytes and isolated nuclei. HSF1 was not detected in enucleated oocytes. These results clearly demonstrate that HSF1 is a nuclear protein in oocytes prior to exposure to stress. In Xenopus oocytes, therefore, HSF1 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus is not part of the multistep process of HSF1 activation. These results also imply that the signals and/or factors involved in HSF1 activation must have their effect in the nuclear compartment.


Molecular cloning of a gene encoding an ARS binding factor from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
We report the isolation of the gene for origin binding factor 1 (OBF1) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by screening a yeast genomic DNA library in lambda gt11 with an ARS-specific oligonucleotide probe. One recombinant encoded a fusion protein of approximately 180 kDa that bound ARS-specific oligonucleotide probes in vitro. The restriction map of this gene was determined after isolation of the complete gene by screening a yeast genomic DNA library in YEp24. Characterization of the gene for OBF1 by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Northern and Southern blot analyses demonstrated that (i) the gene is located in chromosome IV, (ii) the gene is a single-copy gene, (iii) the mRNA is approximately 3.8 kilobases, which could code for an approximately 130-kDa polypeptide, consistent with the reported size of OBF1. An antibody, affinity-purified using the lysogen-encoded fusion protein, specifically detected an approximately 130-kDa polypeptide in yeast extract. The isolation of the gene for OBF1 should allow further analysis of the mechanism of action of this protein in vitro and in vivo.


[Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in central pontine myelinolysis].
Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a neurological condition with unknown pathogenesis. It is most often observed in patients suffering hydroelectrolyte disturbances. There is no specific treatment and it can have an unfortunate outcome. We present a case of CPM that responded well to immunoglobulins. The case of a 31 year old female patient with bulimia, impulsive type personality, potomania and chronic alcoholism is presented. After admission to the intensive care unit due to severe hyponatremia (104 mEq/l) with correction in 7 days, she had a rapidly progressive picture of dysarthria and gait instability, tetraparesis and pyramidalism. Due to suspected CPM, emergency magnetic resonance imaging was requested, observing a hypertense lesion in central, bilateral and symmetric T2 of the pons. Treatment was initiated with dexamethasone with clinical progression so that i.v. immunoglobulin treatment was prescribed, with a spectacular improvement after the third day. Treatment with immunoglobulins may be a therapeutic option to consider in patients with CPM and clinical progression after the usual treatment. Furthermore, this response opens questions on a possible dysimmune mechanism in this disease.


A simple patchy colloid model for the phase behavior of lysozyme dispersions.
We propose a minimal model for spherical proteins with aeolotopic pair interactions to describe the equilibrium phase behavior of lysozyme. The repulsive screened Coulomb interactions between the particles are taken into account assuming that the net charges are smeared out homogeneously over the spherical protein surfaces. We incorporate attractive surface patches, with the interactions between patches on different spheres modeled by an attractive Yukawa potential. The parameters entering the attractive Yukawa potential part are determined using information on the experimentally accessed gas-liquid-like critical point. The Helmholtz free energy of the fluid and solid phases is calculated using second-order thermodynamic perturbation theory. Our predictions for the solubility curve are in fair agreement with experimental data. In addition, we present new experimental data for the gas-liquid coexistence curves at various salt concentrations and compare these with our model calculations. In agreement with earlier findings, we observe that the strength and the range of the attractive potential part only weakly depend on the salt content.


[Phylogenetic relationships of mastomys to mouse and rat deduced from satellite DNA sequences].
Mastomys is a rodent with a intermediate size between mouse and rat, and classify as a subgenus of Praomys coucha. Our study determined the phylogenetic evolutional relationships of mastomys to mouse and rat deduced from satellite DNA sequences. Genomic DNA was extracted from each liver and digested by restriction enzymes (EcoRI and BglII). After separation and purification, we obtained these EcoRI/BglII-0.5 Kbp repeated elements and determined the nucleotide sequences. The similarities and speed of evolution were 86.06% and 0.1578 between mastomys and mouse, 85.56% and 0.1671 between mastomys and rat, and 83.91% and 0.1863 between rat and mouse, indicating that mastomys was evolutionary classified between mouse and rat, and closely related with mouse.


Electrochemically Induced Structural and Morphological Evolutions in Nickel Vanadium Oxide Hydrate Nanobelts Enabling Fast Transport Kinetics for High-Performance Zinc Storage.
Suitable intercalation cathodes and fundamental insights into the Zn-ion storage mechanism are the crucial factors for the booming development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Herein, a novel nickel vanadium oxide hydrate (Ni0.25V2O5·0.88H2O) is synthesized and investigated as a high-performance electrode material, which delivers a reversible capacity of 418 mA h g-1 with 155 mA h g-1 retained at 20 A g-1 and a high capacity of 293 mA h g-1 in long-term cycling at 10 A g-1 with 77% retention after 10,000 cycles. More importantly, multistep phase transition and chemical-state change during intercalation/deintercalation of hydrated Zn2+ are illustrated in detail via in situ/ex situ analytical techniques to unveil the Zn2+ storage mechanism of the hydrated and layered vanadium oxide bronze. Furthermore, morphological development from nanobelts to hierarchical structures during rapid ion insertion and extraction is demonstrated and a self-hierarchical process is correspondingly proposed. The unique evolutions of structure and morphology, together with consequent fast Zn2+ transport kinetics, are of significance to the outstanding zinc storage capacity, which would enlighten the mechanism exploration of the aqueous rechargeable batteries and push development of vanadium-based cathode materials.


Spermatozoa DNA and plasma membrane integrity after pellet optimized processing for cryopreservation in meat type chicken breeders.
1. Aim of this study was the development of an optimised cryopreservation pellet procedure for chicken semen and the assessment of DNA and membrane integrity in frozen/thawed spermatozoa in a Hubbard F15 meat type selected strain. 2. The following semen processing conditions were studied: spermatozoa working concentration (SWC), 1.5 vs 2 × 109 cells/ml in pre-freezing extender; equilibration of diluted semen at 5°C, 20 vs 40 min; dimethylacetamide concentration, 6% vs 9%; dimethylacetamide equilibration time at 5°C, 1 vs 30 min; thawing at 60°C for 10 vs 50°C for 30 sec. Spermatozoa viability (EtBr exclusion procedure - stress test), mobility (Accudenz® swim-down test) and subjective motility were assessed in fresh and frozen-thawed semen. 3. The lower SWC (1.5 × 109 cells/ml) and the higher dimethylacetamide concentration (9%) had positive significant effects on the recovery rate of motile (22% vs 16%) and viable spermatozoa (39 vs 34%), respectively. 4.Membrane (SYBR14-PI staining) and DNA integrity (comet assay) were assessed before and after freezing/thawing according to the optimised protocol. 5. Recovery rates of spermatozoa with undamaged plasma membrane and DNA were 41% and 76%, respectively. The distribution of spermatozoa in classes of DNA damage was also analysed and discussed. 6. It was concluded that pellet cryopreservation was a damaging process mainly for plasma membrane rather than nuclear DNA in chicken spermatozoa.


Fungus ball and emphysematous cystitis secondary to Candida tropicalis: A case report.
Fungus ball and fungal emphysematous cystitis are two rare complications of fungal urinary tract infection. A 53-year-old male patient presented with these complications caused by Candida tropicalis simultaneously. The predisposing factors were diabetes mellitus and usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The fungus ball, measuring 3.5 × 2.0 cm on the left wall of the urinary bladder, shrank significantly to 1.6 × 0.8 cm after 5 days of intermittent irrigation with saline before surgery. With transurethral removal of the fungus ball and antifungal treatment with fluconazole, the patient fully recovered. We conclude that a bladder fungus ball and fungal emphysematous cystitis should always be suspected in patients with diabetes mellitus with uncontrolled funguria and abnormal imaging. Treatment should include a systemic antifungal therapy and thorough surgical removal of the fungus ball. A systemic antifungal therapy combined with a local irrigation with saline or antifungal drugs might help decrease the dissemination of fungemia during an invasive manipulation.


How long shall we record electroencephalography?
The duration of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings varies widely among laboratories. Although several recommendations had been published, there are no previous studies directly addressing this. To assess the effect of the recording duration on detection of EEG abnormalities in a tertiary referral centre for epilepsy. We have reviewed 1005 EEG recordings and determined the shortest recording duration necessary to identify interictal EEG abnormalities. Standard, awake recordings shorter than 20 min yielded a significantly lower incidence of abnormal findings as compared to longer recordings. Although there was an increase in the diagnostic yield from 30 to 180 min recording duration, this failed to reach the level of significance. For sleep recordings, there was no significant increase in the diagnostic yield beyond 30 min. Our results provide evidence for recommending at least 20 min recording duration for standard awake EEGs and 30 min for sleep EEG recordings. As data were derived from patients referred to our epilepsy centre, the results are only valid for epilepsy-related indications.


Inducing Safer Electrosurgical Handpiece Storage.
Background Improper storage of the electrosurgical handpiece has been identified as an operating room hazard. To test among representative surgical personnel two different methods of improving safety performance: a demonstration/lecture session, and improved equipment arrangement on the operating field. A field experiment occurred in the classroom and in the operating room. Subjects were recruited from a surgical department in a single institution. After videotaping baseline behavior, interventions were made in education and subsequently in apparatus layout. Videotaping and behavioral coding were repeated after each intervention. Written tests preceded and followed the training lecture. Results varied among team members and different aspects of the equipment. The surgeons knew the manufacturers' designated safe practice, but they did not routinely follow it, even after additional instructions and redesign of the equipment setup. Other team members responded to the interventions and changed their storage-related behavior. This study demonstrates a need for effective means to help surgical teams maintain a safe environment while using hazardous technologies.


Transabdominal versus transcervical chorionic villus sampling: a randomized trial.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is still considered to be an applied research method and its safety is under evaluation in randomized trials. Moreover, no knowledge is available about the comparative efficiency and risks of transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling. A preliminary analysis of the first 639 consecutive cases of an ongoing trial in which cases are randomized between transcervical and transabdominal aspiration techniques shows: (a) an overall sampling success rate of greater than 99% obtained by both techniques; however, the number of repeat insertions of the sampling device was higher for the transcervical route; (b) a significant shift towards lighter tissue samples for the transabdominal route; however, very light specimens, less than 10 mg, were equally distributed in both groups; and (c) approximately 10% of cases underwent a different procedure from the allocated one because of an anatomical or clinical contraindication, with a higher rate of deviation for the transcervical technique.


Antibacterial activity of polysaccharide gel extract from fruit rinds of Durio zibethinus Murr. against oral pathogenic bacteria.
The polysaccharide gel (PG) extract from durian fruit rinds (Durio zibethinus Murr. "Monthong") is a pectic polysaccharide with antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of PG against oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.actinomycetemcomitans). The inhibitory activity of PG at 50, 100, and 150 mg/mL against S.mutans (American Tissue Culture Collection 25175) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (American Tissue Culture Collection 43718) was determined after 1- and 5-min exposure by broth macrodilution susceptibility test and scanning electron microscopy. Normal saline or culture broth medium and 0.1% chlorhexidine were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. For 1-min exposure, 150 mg/mL PG or 0.1% chlorhexidine significantly possessed bactericidal activity against both tested bacteria (P=0.037), while PG at 100 mg/mL possessed significant bactericidal activity against S.mutans (P=0.037) and inhibitory activity against A.actinomycetemcomitans (P=0.05). Blebs, irregular-shaped cells, and disrupted cells were found in bacteria treated with either 0.1% chlorhexidine or 50-150mg/mL PG under scanning electron microscopy. The bactericidal activity of PG at 150 mg/mL against oral bacteria at 1-min exposure suggests its possibility to be used as a natural antibacterial ingredient in oral hygiene products.


Validity of the diagnosis of appendicitis in the Danish National Patient Register.
Aims: Appendicitis is a common disease. The nationwide Danish National Patient Register provides an important data source for epidemiological research. Data used in register-based epidemiological research needs to be validated. We aimed to validate the diagnosis of appendicitis in the Danish National Patient Register. Methods: From 1997 to 2015 nationwide data from the Danish National Patient Register, the Danish Pathology Register, and the Danish Civil Registration System were used to validate the diagnosis of appendicitis or the combination of the diagnosis for appendicitis and surgical removal of the appendix in the Danish National Patient Register. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using pathology reports as golden standard. Results: Diagnosis of appendicitis in the Danish National Patient Register had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 0.928 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.927; 0.930), 0.995 (95% CI: 0.995; 0.995), 0.769 (95% CI: 0.767; 0.771), and 0.999 (95% CI: 0.999; 0.999). A diagnosis of appendicitis and a procedure code for surgical removal of the appendix had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 0.886 (95% CI: 0.885; 0.888), 0.998 (95% CI: 0.998; 0.998), 0.895 (95% CI: 0.894; 0.897), and 0.998 (95% CI: 0.998; 0.998). Conclusions: The diagnosis of appendicitis alone or in combination with the registered surgical removal of the appendix in the Danish National Patient Register showed acceptable validity. Whether to use the diagnosis for appendicitis only or in combination with procedure codes for the removal of the appendix depends on whether high sensitivity or high positive predictive values are warranted.


Skin Penetration of Hazardous Air Pollutants in Presence of Antipollution Cosmetics.
Different a n tipollution products have recently irrupted the market to answer current health concerns related to air contamination. Thus, the development of methodologies for the appropriate evaluation of the efficacy of these products is needed. In this study, an appropriate analytical methodology has been developed and validated for the evaluation of the effectiveness of antipollution cosmetic products against the dermal absorption of different hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). In vitro vertical Franz diffusion cells and Strat-M® as human skin simulants have been used to assess the effectivity of antipollution cosmetic products. An exposition chamber, with a fixed and constant concentration of HAPs, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, haloalkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, has been designed and made to simulate contaminated atmospheres. The efficacy of antipollution cosmetic products has been evaluated using a multi-pollutant approach, representing a more stringent situation. Diffusion parameters, including flux and lag time, have been calculated for HAPs in the presence of cosmetic samples, using 2 mg product per cm2, and in control tests. The behavior of HAPs followed Fick's first law, allowing the calculation of diffusion parameters. Antipollution effectiveness is demonstrated by statistical evaluation of the diffusion parameters obtained for controls and cosmetics samples. So, a reduction in flux values and an increase in lag times imply an appropriate antipollution effectiveness.


Improved tribological properties, electrochemical resistance and biocompatibility of AISI 316L stainless steel through duplex plasma nitriding and TiN coating treatment.
AISI 316L specimens were nitrided using a low temperature (390℃) plasma nitriding process and then coated with a thin layer of titanium nitride by closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The microstructure, adhesion properties and hardness of the duplex-treated samples were examined using X-ray diffraction, scratch testing and nanoindentation, respectively. In addition, the tribological properties were investigated by means of reciprocating wear tests performed against 316L, Si3N4 and Ti6Al4V balls under a load of 10 N for 24 min in 0.9% NaCl solution. The electrochemical resistance of the samples was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarisation tests. Finally, the biocompatibility of the samples was investigated by seeding purified mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage cells (Raw 264.7) on the sample surface for one, three and five days, respectively. In general, the results showed that the duplex nitriding and titanium nitride coating process significantly improved the tribological properties, electrochemical resistance and biocompatibility of the AISI 316L samples.


The rise of divorce and separation in the United States, 1880-1990.
I use the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series to assess the potential effects of local labor-market conditions on long-term trends and race differences in marital instability. The rise of female labor-force participation and the increase in nonfarm employment are closely associated with the growth of divorce and separation. Moreover, higher female labor-force participation among black women and lower economic opportunities for black men may account for race differences in marital instability before 1940, and for most of such differences in subsequent years. However, unmeasured intervening cultural factors are probably responsible for at least part of these effects.


Diet and social status on Taumako, a Polynesian outlier in the Southeastern Solomon Islands.
Stable isotopes (δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and δ(34)S) are used to characterize the diet of the adult individuals (n = 99) interred in the Namu burial ground located on the Polynesian outlier of Taumako (∼300-750 BP). Polynesian outliers are islands on the fringe of Remote Oceania that were inhabited by a back migration of populations from Polynesia during prehistory. As a result of admixture with nearby island communities, little is known about the social structure and social diversity of the prehistoric inhabitants of Taumako. The distribution of prestige grave goods within the Namu cemetery has been used as evidence to support the premise that Taumakoan social structure was stratified like Polynesian societies. Here we test the hypothesis that "wealthy" individuals and males will display isotopic ratios indicative of the consumption of "high status" foods in the Pacific islands such as pork, chicken, sea turtle, and pelagic fish. The isotope results suggest the δ(34) S values were diagenetically altered, possibly an effect of volcanism. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios indicate that the diet of all the individuals included a mixture of C3 terrestrial plant foods (likely starchy staples such as yam, taro, and breadfruit, in addition to nuts) and a variety of marine resources, including reef and pelagic fish. The stable isotope results indicate that wealthy individuals and males were eating more foods from higher trophic levels, interpreted as being high status animal foods. The socially differentiated food consumption patterns are discussed within a Pacific island context.


δ Subunit-containing GABAA receptor prevents overgeneralization of fear in adult mice.
The role of δ subunit-containing GABAA receptor (GABAA(δ)R) in fear generalization is uncertain. Here, by using mice with or without genetic deletion of GABAA(δ)R and using protocols in which the conditioned tone stimuli were cross presented with different nonconditioned stimuli, we observed that when the two tone stimuli were largely similar, both genotypes froze similarly to either of them. However, when they differed markedly, the knockout mice froze much more than their wild-type littermates to the nonconditioned but not conditioned stimuli. Thus, GABAA(δ)R may prevent inappropriate fear generalization when the incoming stimuli differ clearly from the learned threat.


Biological activity of aqueous extracts of Southern Brazilian mushrooms.
This study aims to perform a bioactive analysis of five mushrooms collected in south of Brazil. The total phenol content of the extracts was equivalent to the antioxidant activity by ACAP assay. All extracts were able to inhibit the growth of Acinetobacter baumanni, and Auricularia auricula and Lactarius deliciosus extract showed the best antibacterial activity. In addition, no extract showed cytotoxic activity against VERO cells at the highest concentration evaluated (2500 µg/mL). Our results showed better antioxidant activity through the inhibition of the oxidation via peroxyl radical. It can be observed that all extracts were active against A. baumanni, and even moderately, all extracts could be inhibited of at least one of the bacteria used in the study. Added for these, the aqueous extracts showed no toxicity in VERO cells, highlighting the importance of research about the active compounds of mushrooms of the region.


Pulmonary involvement in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis: A single centre case series.
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody associated Vasculitides (AAV) comprise a rare group of disorders in which respiratory tract involvement is variable and often severe. The rarity and heterogeneity of AAV makes this a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. In this single-centre case series of 44 patients with AAV-associated respiratory disease, we provide an overview of disease manifestations, management aspects and treatment outcomes. Data from this case series highlight the real-world diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of the AAV respiratory disease spectrum; including uncertainties in the management of fibrosing interstitial lung disease, tracheobronchial stenosis and diffuse alveolar haemorrhage.


Multiple-return single-photon counting of light in flight and sensing of non-line-of-sight objects at shortwave infrared wavelengths.
Time-of-flight sensing with single-photon sensitivity enables new approaches for the localization of objects outside a sensor's field of view by analyzing backscattered photons. In this Letter, the authors have studied the application of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays and eye-safe infrared lasers, and provide experimental data of the direct visualization of backscattering light in flight, and direct vision and indirect vision of targets in line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight configurations at shortwave infrared wavelengths.


Ultrasonic renal lithotripsy. Single-stage percutaneous technique and adjuvant radiological procedures.
Single-stage percutaneous ultrasonic disintegration and removal of renal calculi was attempted in 67 patients (80 calculi) and proved successful in 65 (97%). Extraction was achieved during the initial session in 52 patients (78%) and required either an adjuvant radiological procedure or repeat nephroscopy in 13. Single-stage removal combines the skills of the radiologist and urologist and is successful in the majority of cases.


Gaps between calcium recommendations to prevent pre-eclampsia and current intakes in one hospital in Argentina.
Hypertensive disorders are a major cause of maternal mortality. In Latin America and the Caribbean, pre-eclampsia accounts for approximately one in every four maternal deaths. The World Health Organization recommends calcium supplementation during pregnancy for the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in locations where dietary calcium intake is low. Calcium intake in Argentina is reported to be below WHO recommended levels; however, calcium intake from supplements and water has not been fully evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate calcium intake from supplements and water in a group of pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a maternity hospital in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Questionnaires were verbally administered to women attending a routine antenatal care visit. Participants were 18 years of age or older and in their third trimester of pregnancy. Participants were first interviewed to evaluate nutritional supplement consumption and a subgroup was invited to undergo a 24-hour dietary recall. 137 women meeting inclusion criteria consented to participate. The average participant age was 27 years (SD±5.9), and all resided in an urban setting. None of the subjects took calcium supplements specifically, although 24 (17%) recalled taking supplements or antacids which contributed to their calcium intake. Mean calcium intake was 663 mg SD±389 for those women completing the 24-hour dietary recall,. This value increased to 706 mg SD±387 upon considering water intake and measuring chemical composition of water from the areas where women lived at the time of the interview and was further increased to 719 mg (SD±392) when calcium from supplements was taken into consideration. None of the subjects were consuming calcium supplements. Taking into account the low calcium intake in this population, diverse strategies would be required to comply with recommendations.


[Microecologic characteristic of intestine microbiocenosis of frequently ill children].
Study microecologic features of intestine microbiocenosis of frequently ill children. Composition of intestine microbiocenosis of 86 children aged 3 - 7 years living in the city of Karaganda (Kazakhstan) by bacteriological method. A number of microecologic coefficients was calculated: species saturation index, consistency index, relative occurrence coefficient, modified Sanders dominance index, chi2 criteria, Jaccard similarity coefficient. The constants members of the biocenosis were Escherichia coli with high enzymatic activity, enterococci, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Additional species were opportunistic bacteria and fungi of the Candida genus. A tendency to collective existence between members of the normal microflora (E. coli, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) and opportunistic bacteria and Candida genus fungi was detected. A change of characteristics of intermicrobial interactions in intestine microbiocenosis with a formation of pathologic connections between members of normal and opportunistic microflora and Candida genus fungi was noted.


Baseline training sequence affects speed of emergent conditional discriminations.
We examined the effects of baseline training sequence on the emergence of conditional discriminations in an intraverbal naming task. Thirty-two college students were randomly assigned to two groups. The tact-intraverbal (TI) group first learned to vocally tact eight visual stimuli using a unique verbal label for each stimulus, and then to intraverbally relate four pairs of verbal labels. The intraverbal-tact (IT) group received the same training but in the opposite sequence. Both groups then received a match-to-sample test involving the visual stimuli alone. On average, the TI group had significantly shorter reaction times than the IT group throughout all four test blocks, even when controlling for intraverbal retention, which was lower in the IT group. Accuracy on the MTS test did not differ significantly between groups when controlling for intraverbal retention. However, MTS accuracy and intraverbal retention were strongly correlated in the IT group but uncorrelated in the TI group. We suggest the effect of training sequence reflects different sources of stimulus control available to subjects in different groups when confronted with the novel MTS trials.


Clustering of pseudouridine residues around the peptidyltransferase center of yeast cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomes.
Analysis of the high molecular weight RNAs of the larger ribosomal subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytoplasm and mitochondria by a new method [Bakin, A., & Ofengand, J. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 9754-9762] has for the first time located all of the pseudouridine residues present in these two RNAs. Thirty pseudouridines were found in the cytoplasmic RNA, and one was found in the mitochondrial RNA. The 30 cytoplasmic RNA pseudouridines were clustered in three regions of the RNA known to be at or near the peptidyltransferase center. The single pseudouridine in yeast mitochondrial rRNA at position 2819 was also located at the peptidyltransferase center. The localization of pseudouridines at or near the peptidyltransferase center in both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomes implies a functional role for pseudouridine in peptide bond formation. A correlation was shown to exist between the locations of the pseudouridines determined in this work and the positions of the methylated nucleotides (both 2'-OCH3 and base-methylated) determined previously by others. In addition, this work has tentatively identified the locations of two previously unknown ribothymidine residues, at positions 955 and 2920 in the cytoplasmic rRNA.


Transplantation of the reversed dermis from skin leading to repair of the buccal mucosal epithelium.
Skin grafting or mucosal grafting has been widely applied as the established method to compensate mucosal defects. However, in the grafted skin the epidermis never transformed into the mucosal epithelium; the original nature of the transplant was maintained as skin. The available donor of mucosa is also strictly limited. Therefore, an improvement in method has been much needed in the field of oral surgery. We tried to transplant the dermis freed completely from the epidermis instead of the full-thickness skin, and succeeded in compensation of the mucosal defect. The defects of the buccal mucosa in 30 dogs were repaired, one side with reversed dermis graft (RDG) in which the dermis was turned inside out and sutured onto the bed. On the other side, the ordinary free full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) was carried out as a control. Comparative clinical and histological observations were conducted to analyze the healing processes. In RDG the graft was covered by the surrounding mucosal epithelium to form the mucosal tissue, while the implanted tissue inhibited the wound constricture. Histological examination revealed that the epithelial elements underwent degeneration, presumably through being embedded by the grafting of the dermis inside out. The epithelium covering the dermis graft seems to be nothing but normal oral mucosal epithelium.


[Cerebrovascular diseases in Uzbekistan during the critical meteorological days of the "Afghan storm"].
The factors of a specific natural phenomenon of arid Uzbekistan, the "Afghan" wind, were studied against associated meteorological factors and incidence of cerebrovascular accidents. The findings show critical periods in which cerebral accidents and their lethal outcomes become most frequent: winter, spring (January, February and March, in particular). A close relationship exists between the invasion of the "Afghan" wind and cerebrovascular accidents. The day before the wind coming and during the first day of its blowing the occurrence of apoplexies and lethal outcomes thereof sharply grow. Meteorologically, this in explained by multifactorial meteorological changes before and during the wind passage. Prior to it, the atmospheric conditions create a hypotensive-hypoxic effect which later on is quickly replaced by spastic-tonic atmospheric effects. These sharp changes may be responsible for high incidence of cerebrovascular failures.


Pyramidal and extrapyramidal involvement in experimental infection of cynomolgus monkeys with enterovirus 71.
Among the enteroviruses, polioviruses and enterovirus 71 (EV71) are two major neurotropic viruses causing serious neurological manifestations. While polioviruses are being eradicated globally by vaccination, EV71 still has the potential to cause a large outbreak such as that in Taiwan in 1998, in which there were many fatalities. In this study, we determined the neurovirulence of EV71 by neuropathological analysis of cynomolgus monkeys after experimental infection with five EV71 strains, which were isolated from individual patients with fatal encephalitis; meningitis; and hand, foot, and mouth disease. After intraspinal inoculation, the monkeys developed neurological manifestations within 1-6 days post-inoculation, irrespective of the inoculated strains. These manifestations included not only pyramidal tract signs such as flaccid paralysis, but also extrapyramidal tract signs such as tremor and ataxia. Histological and viral examinations confirmed virus replication in the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellar cortex, and dentate nuclei, and cerebrum. The strains isolated during the 1970s and 1990s showed no particular differences with respect to neurotropism. Thus, it is clear that EV71 has a wider neurotropism than that of polioviruses.


Sleepless: The developmental significance of sleep quality and quantity among adolescents.
The current study tested the developmental significance of both early adolescent sleep quantity and quality for academic competence and internalizing and externalizing problems over the course of 2 years. As part of an accelerated longitudinal study, data were collected from N = 586 Czech adolescents (Mage = 12.34 years, SD = .89, 58.4% female). Data analyses included a series of logistic regressions that controlled for adolescent sex, age, family structure, and socioeconomic status. Findings showed that sleep quality at Wave 1 predicted developmental changes 1 year later (Wave 3) in depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (ORrange = 1.7-1.8) and 2 years later (Wave 5) in externalizing behaviors (OR = 2.6). Importantly, despite the associations observed with Wave 3 anxiety and deviance, Wave 1 sleep quantity was unrelated to subsequent developmental changes in adjustment measures, both 1 and 2 years later. No sleep effects at all were observed on a variety of measures of academic competence. Study findings underscore the developmental significance of sleep and indicate greater salience of sleep quality vis-à-vis sleep quantity. They also replicate some of the observed relationships found in previous longitudinal work on the sleep-mood link but extend the sleep-adolescent adjustment literature in a number of important ways. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).


Safety and immunogenicity of Biken acellular pertussis vaccine in combination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoid as a fifth dose at four to six years of age. Munich Vaccine Study Group.
To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of Biken acellular pertussis vaccine in combination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoid (Biken DTaP) vaccine administered to children 4 to 6 years of age who had previously received four doses of Biken DTaP. 580 children were enrolled to receive one dose of Biken DTaP. Local and systemic reactions were collected by parent diary for all subjects within 3 days after vaccination and in a subset for 14 days. All adverse events occurring within 30 days after vaccination were recorded. Any redness and swelling occurred in 59.8 and 61.4%, respectively. Redness or swelling larger than 5 cm/10 cm occurred in 31%/6.1% and 25%/6.5% of the children, respectively. Any pain was reported in 58.8%, but clinically significant pain occurred in 2.1% of the children. Fever >38.0 degrees C occurred in 3.8% of the children. Fussiness, drowsiness, anorexia and vomiting were experienced by 19.7, 15.5, 7.3 and 2.2%, respectively. Sixty-three of 247 adverse events (25%) occurring within 30 days after vaccination were assessed to possibly be vaccine-related. Fifty-eight of the 63 possibly related events (92%) were caused by local reactions as redness, swelling or itchiness. The remaining 5 events included hematoma, headache, stomachache and sleep disturbance. All local and systemic reactions and adverse events resolved without sequelae. Immunogenicity analysis showed a 4-fold antibody increase to pertussis toxin in 97% of subjects and to filamentous hemagglutinin in 82%. All subjects had postvaccination antibody titers of 0.1 IU/ml or greater against diphtheria and tetanus. Higher prevaccination antibody titers against diphtheria toxoid, pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin were associated with a higher frequency of large local reactions. In comparison with a fourth dose of Biken DTaP administered at 18 to 24 months of age in the same population, the rate of local reactions increased after the fifth dose, whereas systemic reactions remained similarly low or decreased.


Impact of weight loss achieved through a multidisciplinary intervention on appetite in patients with severe obesity.
The impact of lifestyle-induced weight loss (WL) on appetite in patients with obesity remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the short- and long-term impact of WL achieved by diet and exercise on appetite in patients with obesity. Thirty-five (22 females) adults with severe obesity (body mass index: 42.5 ± 5.0 kg/m2) underwent a 2-yr WL program focusing on diet and exercise. Body weight (BW), cardiovascular fitness (V̇o2max), appetite feelings, and plasma concentrations of insulin, active ghrelin (AG), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and cholecystokinin (CCK), in the fasting and postprandial states, were measured at baseline (B), week 4 (W4), and 1 and 2 yr (and average values for all fasting and postprandial time points computed). BW was significantly reduced and V̇o2max (ml·kg-1·min-1) increased at all time points compared with B (3.5, 8.1, and 8.4% WL and 7, 11, and 8% increase at W4 and 1 and 2 yr, respectively). Basal hunger and average hunger and desire to eat were significantly increased at 1 and 2 yr. Basal fullness was significantly increased at W4, and average ratings were reduced at 1 yr. Average AG and PYY were significantly increased, and insulin was reduced, at all time points compared with B. Average GLP-1 was reduced at W4, and CCK was increased at 2 yr. After lifestyle-induced WL, patients with severe obesity will, therefore, have to deal with increased hunger in the long term. In conclusion, sustained WL at 2 yr achieved with diet and exercise is associated with increased hunger feelings and ghrelin concentration but also increased postprandial concentrations of satiety hormones.


DNN-MVL: DNN-Multi-View-Learning-Based Recover Block Missing Data in a Dam Safety Monitoring System.
Many sensor nodes have been widely deployed in the physical world to gather various environmental information, such as water quality, earthquake, and huge dam safety. Due to the limitation in the batter power, memory, and computational capacity, missing data can occur at arbitrary sensor nodes and time slots. In extreme situations, some sensors may lose readings at consecutive time slots. The successive missing data takes the side effects on the accuracy of real-time monitoring as well as the performance on the data analysis in the wireless sensor networks. Unfortunately, existing solutions to the missing data filling cannot well uncover the complex non-linear spatial and temporal relations. To address these problems, a DNN (Deep Neural Network) multi-view learning method (DNN-MVL) is proposed to fill the successive missing readings. DNN-MVL mainly considers five views: global spatial view, global temporal view, local spatial view, local temporal view, and semantic view. These five views are modeled with inverse distance of weight interpolation, bidirectional simple exponential smoothing, user-based collaborative filtering, mass diffusion-based collaborative filtering with the bipartite graph, and structural embedding, respectively. The results of the five views are aggregated to a final value in a multi-view learning algorithm with DNN model to obtain the final filling readings. Experiments on large-scale real dam deformation data demonstrate that DNN-MVL has a mean absolute error about 6.5%, and mean relative error 21.4%, and mean square error 8.17% for dam deformation data, outperforming all of the baseline methods.


Effects of sleep deprivation on different phases of memory in the rat: dissociation between contextual and tone fear conditioning tasks.
Numerous studies show that sleep deprivation (SD) impacts negatively on cognitive processes, including learning and memory. Memory formation encompasses distinct phases of which acquisition, consolidation and retrieval are better known. Previous studies with pre-training SD induced by the platform method have shown impairment in fear conditioning tasks. Nonetheless, pre-training manipulations do not allow the distinction between effects on acquisition and/or consolidation, interfering, ultimately, on recall of/performance in the task. In the present study, animals were first trained in contextual and tone fear conditioning (TFC) tasks and then submitted to SD with the purpose to evaluate the effect of this manipulation on different stages of the learning process, e.g., in the uptake of (new) information during learning, its encoding and stabilization, and the recall of stored memories. Besides, we also investigated the effect of SD in the extinction of fear memory and a possible state-dependent learning induced by this manipulation. For each task (contextual or TFC), animals were trained and then distributed into control, not sleep-deprived (CTL) and SD groups, the latter being submitted to the modified multiple platform paradigm for 96 h. Subsets of eight rats in each group/experiment were submitted to the test of the tasks, either immediately or at different time intervals after SD. The results indicated that (a) pre- but not post-training SD impaired recall in the contextual and TFC; (b) this impairment was not state-dependent; and (c) in the contextual fear conditioning (CFC), pre-test SD prevented extinction of the learned task. Overall, these results suggest that SD interferes with acquisition, recall and extinction, but not necessarily with consolidation of emotional memory.


Epidemiological analysis of tuberculosis in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia during 1901-1910.
To analyze data on epidemiology and treatment of tuberculosis from the sources related to the history and epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia in the 1900-1910 period. Epidemiological data were obtained from the statistical yearbooks of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia for years 1905 and 1910. A number of sources and publications on the history of medicine, especially on the history of tuberculosis in the studied period were analyzed. Mortality ratio, birth rate ratio, and population growth were calculated. Tuberculosis mortality per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated for four major cities and eight counties of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia. The difference in tuberculosis mortality rates between urban and rural areas and socio-economic situation and organization of the health service were analyzed. The incidence, prevalence, and morbidity from tuberculosis were not analyzed because of the lack of data. The tuberculosis mortality ratio per 100,000 inhabitants in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia were constantly high (above 400 on average), with higher mortality ratio in urban than in rural areas. According to the opinion of the Croatian physicians and statistical data of the period, this was due to the constant growth of population, insufficient health care system, and bad living conditions. The highest tuberculosis mortality rates were in the cities of Zemun (600-800) and Zagreb (500-700), and in the counties of Srijem (600-400), Virovitica (600-400), and Lika- Krbava (500-400). There was a concordance between the statistical data and the publications, reports, and articles written in the 19th and 20th century on tuberculosis situation in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia. The analysis showed that tuberculosis was one of the major causes of death in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia from 1901 to 1910. This fact had a significant influence on tuberculosis prevention and eradication efforts in the first half of the 20th century in Croatia and laid basis for further and more elaborate measures against tuberculosis epidemics.


Coptidis Rhizoma induces intrinsic apoptosis through BAX and BAK activation in human melanoma.
Malignant melanoma has exhibited a rising incidence in recent years worldwide. Although various molecular targeted drugs are being researched and developed for melanoma patients, their efficacy appears to be unsatisfactory. Over the past few years, several reports have demonstrated that Coptidis Rhizoma water extracts (CR) or its major active chemical component, berberine, has anticancer activities in various types of cancer, including melanoma. However, their underlying mechanisms have not been well understood. In the present study, we determined that CR suppressed melanoma cell viability, which was mainly mediated through apoptosis. In addition, the expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins, BCL2A1, MCL1 and BCL-w, were strongly suppressed by CR treatment. Furthermore, multi-domain pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and BAK were activated by CR treatment and were also required for the CR-induced apoptosis. Collectively, CR or some formulations containing CR, may be effective safe treatment strategies for human melanoma.


The strange history of atmospheric oxygen.
Many of us think a lot about oxygen. This includes how the normal body handles oxygen in health, but particularly how this is complicated by lung disease. Few of us are aware that as human inhabitants of the earth, we have a unique privilege. This is that as air breathers, we and most other animals on Earth, are the only living creatures in the known universe that have unlimited supply of oxygen. This situation came about through one of the greatest miracles of nature, that is photosynthesis, the ability to release oxygen from water using the energy of sunlight. One consequence of this was that the first atmospheric oxygen came from the metabolism of microorganisms, the cyanobacteria, that used photosynthesis, but for which oxygen was an unwanted by-product. In fact, the oxygen had to be discarded for the organisms to thrive. When a major increase of oxygen concentration in the atmosphere occurred some 2 billion years ago, and the partial pressure of oxygen in the air rose to perhaps 200 mmHg, this Great Oxidation Event as it was called, was a death sentence for the large population of anaerobic animals for whom oxygen was toxic. Today much of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from photosynthesis in microorganisms, including the cyanobacteria, and the recently discovered Prochlorococcus, that discard this unwanted by-product. The result is that the PO2 in our atmosphere at sea level remains nearly constant at about 150 mm Hg, although the factors responsible for this are not understood.


Microneedle patch delivery of influenza vaccine during pregnancy enhances maternal immune responses promoting survival and long-lasting passive immunity to offspring.
Influenza virus causes life-threatening infections in pregnant women and their newborns. Immunization during pregnancy is the most effective means of preventing maternal and infant mortality/morbidity; however, influenza vaccination rates of pregnant women remain under 50%. Furthermore, the availability of vaccines in low-resource populations is limited. Skin immunization with microneedle patches (MN) is a novel and safe vaccination platform featuring thermostable vaccine formulations. Cold-chain independence and the potential for self-administration can expand influenza vaccination coverage in developing countries. In this study of pregnant BALB/c mice immunized with subunit H1N1 influenza vaccine, we demonstrate the advantage of skin vaccination over intramuscular delivery of a two-fold higher vaccine dose. MN vaccine induced superior humoral immune responses and conferred protective immunity against a lethal challenge dose of homologous influenza virus. Importantly, MN vaccination of mice at mid-gestation resulted in enhanced and long-lasting passive immunity of the offspring, measured by neutralizing antibody titers and survival rates after virus challenge. We conclude that skin vaccination using MN is a superior immunization approach with the potential to overcome immune tolerance observed in pregnancy, and lower vaccination costs through antigen dose-sparing, which is especially relevant in underserved countries.


Ligand-Mediated Receptor Assembly as an End Point for High-Throughput Chemical Toxicity Screening.
The high throughput screening of chemicals for interaction with intracellular targets is gaining prominence in the toxicity evaluation of environmental chemicals. We describe ligand-mediated receptor assembly as an early event in receptor signaling and its application to the screening of chemicals for interaction with targeted receptors. We utilized bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to detect and quantify assembly of the methyl farnesoate receptor (MfR) in response to various high-production volume and other chemicals. The hormone methyl farnesoate binds to the MfR to regulate various aspects of reproduction and development in crustaceans. The MfR protein subunits Met and SRC, cloned from Daphnia pulex, were fused to the fluorophore, mAmetrine and the photon generator, Rluc2, respectively. Ligand-mediated receptor assembly was measured by photon transfer from the photon donor to the fluorophore resulting in fluorescence emission. Overall, the BRET assay had comparable or greater sensitivity as compared to a traditional reporter gene assay. Further, chemicals that screened positive in the BRET assay also stimulated phenotypic outcomes in daphnids that result from MfR signaling. We concluded the BRET assay is an accurate, sensitive, and cost/time efficient alternative to traditional screening assays.


Coupling of breathing and movement during manual wheelchair propulsion.
The hypothesis of this study was that stable coordination patterns may be found both within and between physiological subsystems. Many studies have been conducted on both monofrequency and multifrequency coordination, with a focus on both the frequency and phase relations among the limbs. In the present study, locomotor-respiratory coupling was observed in the maintenance of small-integer frequency ratios (2:1, 3:1, and 4:1) and in the consistent placement of the inspiratory phase just after the onset of the movement cycle during wheelchair propulsion. Level of experience and various motor and respiratory parameters were manipulated. Coupling was observed across levels of experience. Increases in movement frequency were accompanied by a shift to larger-integer ratios, suggesting that a single modeling strategy (e.g., the Farey tree; D. L. González & O. Piro, 1985) may be used for coordination both within the motor subsystem and between it and other physiological subsystems.


Mechanisms of cholecystokinin-induced calcium mobilization in gastric antral interstitial cells of Cajal.
To investigate the effect of sulfated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8S) on calcium mobilization in cultured murine gastric antral interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and its possible mechanisms. ICC were isolated from the gastric antrum of mice and cultured. Immunofluorescence staining with a monoclonal antibody for c-Kit was used to identify ICC. The responsiveness of ICC to CCK-8S was measured using Fluo-3/AM based digital microfluorimetric measurement of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i). A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to monitor [Ca(2+)]i changes. The selective CCK(1) receptor antagonist lorglumide, the intracellular Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, the type III inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP(3)) receptor blocker xestospongin C and the L-type voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel inhibitor nifedipine were used to examine the mechanisms of [Ca(2+)]i elevation caused by CCK-8S. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were used to determine the regulatory effect of PKC on phosphorylation of type III InsP(3) receptor (InsP(3)R3) in ICC. Protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine were used to assess the role of PKC in the CCK-8S-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increment of ICC. ICC were successfully isolated from the gastric antrum of mice and cultured. Cultured ICC were identified by immunofluorescence staining. When given 80 nmol/L or more than 80 nmol/L CCK-8S, the [Ca(2+)]i in ICC increased and 100 nmol/L CCK-8S significantly increased the mean [Ca(2+)]i by 59.30% ± 4.85% (P < 0.01). Pretreatment of ICC with 5 μmol/L lorglumide inhibited 100 nmol/L CCK-8S-induced [Ca(2+)]i increment from 59.30% ± 4.85% to 14.97% ± 9.05% (P < 0.01), suggesting a CCK(1)R-mediated event. Emptying of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin (5 μmol/L) prevented CCK-8S (100 nmol/L) from inducing a [Ca(2+)]i increase. Moreover, pretreatment with xestospongin C (1 μmol/L) could also abolish the CCK-8S-induced effect, indicating that Ca(2+) release from InsP(3)R-operated stores appeared to be a major mechanism responsible for CCK-8S-induced calcium mobilization in ICC. On the other hand, by removing extracellular calcium or blocking the L-type voltage-operated calcium channel with nifedipine, a smaller but significant rise in the [Ca(2+)]i could be still elicited by CCK-8S. These data suggest that the [Ca(2+)]i release is not stimulated or activated by the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) in ICC, but the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) can facilitate the [Ca(2+)]i increase evoked by CCK-8S. CCK-8S increased the phosphorylation of InsP(3)R3, which could be prevented by chelerythrine. Pretreatment with lorglumide (5 μmol/L) could significantly reduce the CCK-8S intensified phosphorylation of InsP(3)R3. In the positive control group, treatment of cells with PMA also resulted in an enhanced phosphorylation of InsP(3)R3. Pretreatment with various concentrations of PMA (10 nmol/L-10 μmol/L) apparently inhibited the effect of CCK-8S and the effect of 100 nmol/L PMA was most obvious. Likewise, the effect of CCK-8S was augmented by the pretreatment with chelerythrine (10 nmol/L-10 μmol/L) and 100 nmol/L chelerythrine exhibited the maximum effect. CCK-8S increases [Ca(2+)]i in ICC via the CCK(1) receptor. This effect depends on the release of InsP(3)R-operated Ca(2+) stores, which is negatively regulated by PKC-mediated phosphorylation of InsP(3)R3.


Interleukin 4-producing CD4+ T cells in the skin of cats with allergic dermatitis.
Lesional skin of cats with allergic dermatitis has a cellular infiltrate and a CD4/CD8 ratio comparable to that in humans with atopic dermatitis. CD4+ helper T cells and in particular cells belonging to the Th2 subset play an important role in disease pathogenesis in humans. We investigated the cytokine pattern of CD4+ T cells in situ, with special emphasis on the putative presence of cells producing interleukin 4 (IL4), in cats with allergic dermatitis. Immunohistochemical procedures were used to determine that CD4+ T cells in lesional and nonlesional skin of cats with allergic dermatitis can produce IL4, as occurs in humans. Lesional and nonlesional skin of cats with allergic dermatitis had significantly more IL4+ T cells (P = 0.001) than did skin of healthy control cats. Double staining indicated that all IL4+ cells were positive for pan-T or CD4 markers. Double labeling for mast cell chymase and IL4 stained primarily different cells. Western blotting demonstrated cross-reactivity between the antibody against human IL4 and a feline recombinant IL4. These results indicate that IL4 is primarily produced by CD4+ T cells and is also present in clinically uninvolved skin, indicating a role in the pathogenesis of allergic dermatitis in cats.


Detection of enzyme polymorphism by using monoclonal antibodies.
Six monoclonal antibodies against human placental alkaline phosphate [orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 18.104.22.168], a highly polymorphic enzyme, were tested for reactivity against a panel of 295 placental extracts that had been typed electrophoretically. The products of the three common alleles as well as several rare alleles could be discriminated by the various antibodies. In some cases differences between allelic products were reflected by essentially "all-or-none" reactions, but in other cases the differences were smaller and demonstrable only by quantitative analysis of the binding. Evidence for allelic differences not detectable electrophoretically was also obtained.


Bruise detection in Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) by visible and short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR) spectroscopy (600-1100 nm).
Visible and short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR) spectroscopy (600-1100 nm) was used to detect bruises in intact, whole Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). The measurements were performed noninvasively through the skin and scales in the diffuse reflectance mode. Digital images of bruised and nonbruised regions of fish were captured after the fish samples were filleted. Image analysis was conducted using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 with relative gray values used as reference values in a partial least-squares (PLS) model. A PLS cross-validation model using six latent variables yielded a standard error of prediction (SEP = 0.05%, R = 0.83). Approximately 84% of all nonbruised spectra were correctly classified, whereas approximately 81% of all bruised spectra were correctly classified. These results suggest that visible and SW-NIR could be used to control the bruise defect of fish products during processing, thereby improving product consistency and quality.


Microwave Effects on Co-Pi Cocatalysts Deposited on α-Fe2O3 for Application to Photocatalytic Oxygen Evolution.
We analyze the effects of microwave applied in the process of photoelectrochemical deposition of cobalt-based cocatalysts, Co-Pi, onto well-orientated flat α-Fe2O3 thin films, which were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. As compared with conventional heating, microwave significantly affects the morphology, chemical composition, and photocatalytic activity of Co-Pi/α-Fe2O3 composite. A significant enhancement in photocurrent related to photocatalytic water oxidation is achieved by the Co-Pi catalyst prepared under microwave irradiation. This, along with its interfacial electron-transfer properties, is studied by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.


MicroRNA 302/367 Cluster Effectively Facilitates Direct Reprogramming from Human Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons.
Recent studies suggest that mature somatic cells can be reprogrammed to become induced pluripotent stem cells by overexpressing specific transcription factors or microRNAs (miRNAs). Theoretically, this technique could provide a wide array of cells for therapeutics. However, the process of redifferentiation after cell reprogramming to pluripotency is inefficient and time restricted. We proposed that the differentiation of somatic cells into specific cells of another germ layer can be induced and accelerated with appropriate miRNAs and culture conditions. In human fibroblasts, we found that overexpression of pluripotency stem cell-specific miRNA-302/367 cluster, together with two other neuron-specific miRNAs (miRNA-9/9* and miRNA-124) induced fibroblasts conversion into neurons. The cells assumed neuron morphology, were positive for several neuron markers, and exhibited neuronal membrane potential feature. Moreover, concentrated expression of synaptic markers were observed in these cells in vitro and in vivo in nude mice brain, suggesting possible connectivity. To achieve efficient reprogramming, miRNA-302/367 cluster, miRNA-9/9*, and miRNA-124 were all required. The combination of the proved pluripotency-inducing miRNA-302/367 cluster and cell-specific miRNAs provides a unique strategy for one-step cellular conversion that could have important implications for studies of neuron development and neurological disease therapy.