Fasudil attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice through the Rho/Rho kinase pathway.
The transendothelial migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, neutrophils) may be a hallmark of acute lung injury (ALI). The breakdown of the vascular endothelial barrier has likewise been considered to have etiologic linkage in the pathogenesis of ALI. Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK), a downstream target effector of the small GTP-binding protein Rho, plays a key role in cell adhesion, motility, and contraction mediated by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. The aims were to investigate protection by fasudil in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and the role of ROCK2 in neutrophil transendothelial migration in a murine model. Mice were assigned to three groups: sham-treated controls (Sham group), LPS instillation (LPS group), and protective application of fasudil and LPS instillation (Fasudil/LPS group). Indexes tested were breathing frequency, histopathological examination, lung injury score, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, neutrophil percentage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), myeloperoxidase activity, and ROCK2 mRNA expression in lung homogenate. Permeability pulmonary edema (histopathological examination, lung injury score, and lung wet-to-dry weight ratio) was ameliorated and neutrophil infiltration in the lungs (neutrophil percentage in BALF, myeloperoxidase activity) was depressed in response to fasudil administration. Expression of ROCK2 mRNA in the lung homogenates of the LPS-treated mice increased approximately fourfold; however, fasudil did not affect the increase. The Rho/Rho kinase pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced ALI and fasudil, as a ROCK inhibitor, could decrease neutrophil transendothelial migration by attenuating cytoskeletal rearrangement of endothelial cells, leading to the inhibition of ALI development.


Skin of Colour Dermatoses Self-Learning Module: Assessing Student Comprehension.
Dermatology for diverse skin types is a globally growing area of medicine, but the inclusion of skin of color dermatology has not yet been formally included across all Canadian undergraduate medical education curricula. There is also a paucity of representation of diverse skin types in most medical textbooks, research, and clinical trials. The main objective was to develop a concise, Skin of Colour Dermatoses Self-Learning Module (SOCSLM) that could be implemented at an undergraduate medical education level. The secondary objective was to analyze participant responses to improve and add to learning module content. From March to May 2022, second-year medical students at the University of Ottawa completed pre- and post-SOCSLM questionnaires which were available in French and English through their online student learning portals. The pre-test consisted of five multiple choice questions relating to images of dermatoses seen in diverse skin types. The post-test repeated the same five questions, rearranged, with an additional five new ones, and responses were analyzed. Twenty-five participants completed the surveys, and twenty responses were included. Percent correct answers increased between pre- and post-test, 51% vs 87%. In the post-test, questions repeated from the pre-test had a mean score of 95% while the new post-test questions had a mean score of 80%. Interest in dermatology did not have an impact on correct response rates. Skin of color dermatology self-learning modules may be an effective way to integrate skin of color dermatology into undergraduate medical curricula.


Patient-oriented performance measures of diagnostic tests. 2. Assignment potential and assignment strength.
Assignment Potential (AP) is a performance measure of a diagnostic test, characterizing the chance that, as a consequence of performing the test, the probability of disease will exceed a decision threshold, thereby permitting a management action to be taken. Another performance measure, Assignment Strength (AS) characterizes the average extent to which a decision threshold will be exceeded when the post-test probability of disease does exceed the threshold. Both AP and AS are functions of prior probability of disease and decision threshold, and can be represented as two-dimensional contour maps indicating their behavior throughout the entire probability and threshold space. AP and AS can be determined for both discrete-valued tests and tests with continuous spectra of results. The contour map displays facilitate determination of the values of these measures at any prior probability and threshold, as well as visual sensitivity analysis for ranges of prior probability and/or threshold. AP and AS may be useful to the clinician in prospective evaluation of a diagnostic test in situations where formal decision analysis is not feasible.


[Health schools for patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency (innovative technologies)].
Modern programs for the management of patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency (CCI) envisage systemic preventive measures aimed to extend their information support, stimulate compliance, optimize feedback, modify lifestyle, and facilitate social adaptation. Traditional health schools for CCI patients as a form of secondary prophylaxis helps to achieve the above goals even though efficiency of this work needs to be further improved. Results of regular medical examination of 417 patients with CCI (294 women and 123 men) visiting local outpatient facilities in 2008 were analysed. 207 of them attended health schools, where they were educated and treated with the use of innovative technologies. It was shown that frequency of hospitalization for decompensated CCI was not significantly different in these and control patients. However, the educated patients needed less emergency ambulance care, made fewer unplanned visits to their doctors, and had better results of clinical and functional studies. The efficiency of education was gender related. Men showed significantly lower frequency of hospitalization, improved health scores and results of 6-min walking test.


[Development of resistance and antibiotic consumption].
The development of antibiotics resistance is reaching epidemic proportions. Due to increased transportation of persons and goods across continents, some bacterial clones have disseminated over several countries. To increase benefits and reduce risk, and therefore improve quality of prescription, the rational use of antibiotics should be promoted. To do so, patterns of use and prescription rates expressed in DDD per 1,000 hospital beds should be examined. Hospitalised patients received 25-40% of all systemic doses, in many cases inappropriately. In community studies reference estimates are made per 1,000 inhabitants-day (DHD). Over the last years, consumption has levelled-of around 20 DHD in 2000, showing remarkable differences between regions in Spain. Antibiotic consumption is approximately 270 Tons (in 1997), with an increase of only 10% in the last decade. The URANO study estimated that 19% of patients receive chemotherapy, although 42% do not comply with treatment and 29% are self-medicated. Among the chemotherapeutic agents mostly used are penicillins (11.4 DHD), macrolides (3.6 DHD), Quinolones (2.2 DHD) and Cephalosporins (1.9 DHD). We recommend surveillance of antibiotics resistance and improvement in the training of health professionals and in health information for patients about risks of self-medication; we also propose a better control of antibiotics administered to farm animals.


A selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor decreases transforming growth factor-beta1 synthesis and matrix production in human peritoneal mesothelial cells.
High glucose concentration, which provides the chief driving force in peritoneal dialysis, has been considered to be an important initial factor that contributes to peritoneal thickening and fibrosis. Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and the expansion of extracellular matrix (ECM) play important roles in the pathological process of peritoneal fibrosis. Peritoneal matrix accumulation is a characteristic of peritoneal fibrosis (PF). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with upregulation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in their drained effluent show an increased risk of PF. Inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) may provide a potential treatment for PF. sc58236, a highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, reduces proteinuria and mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 and collagen III and IV in the remnant kidney, but their effects on ECM turnover in HPMCs are unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of sc58236 on TGF-beta1 expression and matrix production in HPMCs. HPMCs were cultured from human omentum by an enzyme digestion method. To examine the effect of sc58236 on TGF-beta1 and ECM secretion, HPMC were incubated in medium F12 with high concentration of D-glucose (4.25%) in the presence and absence of 20 microM sc58236. The mRNA expression of COX-2, TGF-beta1 and collagen I (Col I) were determined by semi-quantification reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration in the culture medium was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein of TGF-beta1 was determined by ELISA and the activity of TGF-beta1 present in the conditioned media was measured using the mink lung epithelial cell (MLEC) growth inhibition assay. Proteins of COX-2 and Col were determined by Western blot. The results showed that primary cultures of HPMCs do express the mRNA for COX-2 and stimulation of these cells with 4.25% D-glucose induced a marked increase in COX-2 mRNA expression and protein. PGE2 expression was obviously up-regulated with stimulation by 4.25% D-glucose. Addition of 20 microM sc58236 significantly inhibited PGE2 release into the culture medium. mRNA expression and bioactive and total protein of TGF-beta1 and Col I were significantly increased in HPMCs stimulated with 4.25% D-glucose compared to the control group with F12 media, which was reversed in the presence of sc58236 (20 microM). An obvious decrease in TGF-beta1 mRNA expression and bioactive and total protein were found in sc58236 treated groups compared to the group stimulated with 4.25% D-glucose. Exposure of HPMCs to sc58236 reduced Col I secretion. Sc58236 reduces the expression of TGF-beta1 in HPMCs stimulated by 4.25% D-glucose and reduces ECM production through PGE2 production. These studies suggest that sc58236, a highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, may have a specific role in ameliorating the course of progressive peritoneal fibrosis under long-term peritoneal dialysis states.


Electrochemical oxidation of CoCp(CO)2: radical-substrate reaction of a 17 e-/18 e- pair and production of a unique dimer radical.
Anodic oxidation of the important half-sandwich compound CoCp(CO)2, 1, has been studied under gentle electrolyte conditions, e.g., chlorinated hydrocarbons with weakly coordinating anion (WCA) supporting electrolyte anions. The 17-electron cation 1+ produced at E(1/2)(1) = 0.37 V vs FeCp2(0/+) undergoes a surprising reaction with neutral 1 to form the dimer radical cation [Co2Cp2(CO)4] +, 2+, which has a metal-metal bond unsupported by bridging ligands. The dimer radical is oxidized at a slightly more positive potential (E(1/2) = 0.47 V) to the corresponding dication 2(2+). Observation of the oxidation of 2+ is without precedent in confirming a radical-substrate (R-S) dimerization process by direct voltammetric detection of the R-S intermediate, K(eq) = 3 x 10(4) M(-1) for [2+]/[1][1+]. The R-S mechanism and the reaction products have been characterized by voltammetry, electrolysis, fiber-optic IR spectroscopy, and ESR measurements. DFT calculations indicate that removal of an electron from 1 results in rehybridization in 1+, thereby opening the metal center for interaction with the neutral compound 1, which has a relatively basic metal center. The LUMO of the dimer dication 2(2+) is metal-metal antibonding, and its half-occupancy in 2+ results in lengthening of the Co-Co bond from 2.64 A to 3.14 A. Inclusion of solvent in the (COSMO) calculations shows that solvation effects are necessary to account for the fact that E(1/2)(2) > E(1/2)(1). These results show the importance of medium effects in probing the fundamental redox chemistry of half-sandwich metal complexes.


A proteomic analysis identifies candidate early biomarkers to predict ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a potentially life‑threatening, iatrogenic complication that occurs during assisted reproduction. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) significantly increases the risk of OHSS during controlled ovarian stimulation. Therefore, a more effective early prediction technique is required in PCOS patients. Quantitative proteomic analysis of serum proteins indicates the potential diagnostic value for disease. In the present study, the authors revealed the differentially expressed proteins in OHSS patients with PCOS as new diagnostic biomarkers. The promising proteins obtained from liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry were subjected to ELISA and western blotting assay for further confirmation. A total of 57 proteins were identified with significant difference, of which 29 proteins were upregulated and 28 proteins were downregulated in OHSS patients. Haptoglobin, fibrinogen and lipoprotein lipase were selected as candidate biomarkers. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated all three proteins may have potential as biomarkers to discriminate OHSS in PCOS patients. Haptoglobin, fibrinogen and lipoprotein lipase have never been reported as a predictive marker of OHSS in PCOS patients, and their potential roles in OHSS occurrence deserve further studies. The proteomic results reported in the present study may gain deeper insights into the pathophysiology of OHSS.


Comparison of acridine orange and Gram stains for detection of microorganisms in cerebrospinal fluid and other clinical specimens.
Acridine orange, a fluorochrome strain, is potentially superior to the Gram stain in the direct microscopic examination of clinical specimens because it gives striking differential staining between bacteria and background cells and debris. Its value in clinical laboratories was evaluated by testing 209 cerebrospinal fluids and 288 other body fluids, tissues, and exudates by both techniques. Smears were made in duplicate, fixed with methanol, stained, and examined without knowledge of the result of the companion smear or culture. Overall, acridine orange was slightly more sensitive than the Gram stain (acridine orange, 59.9%; Gram stain, 55.8%) and equally specific in detecting microorganisms. One smear was falsely positive by the Gram stain; none was falsely positive by the acridine orange stain. We conclude that acridine orange staining is a sensitive method for screening clinical specimens and reviewing selected specimens that are purulent, but negative by the Gram stain. Bloody fluids, thick exudates, and other normally difficult-to-read specimens were easily and quickly examined. We recommend, however, that positive smears be reexamined with the Gram stain to confirm the result and determine the Gram reaction of the microorganisms.


[The problems of pharmaceutical support of patients with diabetes mellitus type II].
The diabetes mellitus acquires a character of sheer spreading global epidemic. Nowadays, in the Russian Federation number of patients with diabetes mellitus reaches 10 million. The accessibility of pharmaceuticals is one of main elements of support of effective treatment of disease. The analysis of federal and regional normative legal acts, territorial programs of state guarantees and data of portal of state purchases demonstrated inefficiency of actual regional system of medicinal support especially in modern economic situation. The necessity of optimization of state costs and also broadening of medicinal coverage of population, including pharmaceuticals for treatment of diabetes mellitus type II, requires development and implementation of step-by-step plan of reforming of regional system of preferential medicinal support.


[Advance in study on zearalenone's toxicity and determination].
The article is intended to introduce the zearalenone's toxicity, determination methods and prevention. Zearalenone is one of the most widely distributed mycotoxins produces by Fusarium Species, it is harm to animals and human. And it can induce human liver cancer,carcinoma of tesis esophagus cancer. Now we use high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography, non-toxicity determinations to detect it.


[Non-restorative cavity treatment: from guidelines to the practice].
The new KIMO guidelines 'Oral Health Care for Children' approach caries as a behavioural related disease and unequivocally assign priority to causal caries treatment, emphasising lifestyle and behavioural changes. The 5-step concept of non-restorative caries treatment (NRCT) is recommended as treatment of choice for cavitated dentine lesions in primary dentition. Communicative aspects of NRCT are supported by limited technical interventions, for the purpose of effective oral care. A balance between aetiological and symptomatic treatment is sought for each child individually, in close cooperation with the parents. Technical aspects per tooth range from limited interventions like making cavities accessible for brushing, applying fluoride varnish or SDF, covering the cavity with a layer of glass ionomer cement to treatment like ART restoration or the Hall technique, in cases of necessity. Lifestyle changes lead to sustainable treatment results and enhance the quality of life of the child or young person.


POSTAR3: an updated platform for exploring post-transcriptional regulation coordinated by RNA-binding proteins.
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Accurate identification of RBP binding sites in multiple cell lines and tissue types from diverse species is a fundamental endeavor towards understanding the regulatory mechanisms of RBPs under both physiological and pathological conditions. Our POSTAR annotation processes make use of publicly available large-scale CLIP-seq datasets and external functional genomic annotations to generate a comprehensive map of RBP binding sites and their association with other regulatory events as well as functional variants. Here, we present POSTAR3, an updated database with improvements in data collection, annotation infrastructure, and analysis that support the annotation of post-transcriptional regulation in multiple species including: we made a comprehensive update on the CLIP-seq and Ribo-seq datasets which cover more biological conditions, technologies, and species; we added RNA secondary structure profiling for RBP binding sites; we provided miRNA-mediated degradation events validated by degradome-seq; we included RBP binding sites at circRNA junction regions; we expanded the annotation of RBP binding sites, particularly using updated genomic variants and mutations associated with diseases. POSTAR3 is freely available at http://postar.ncrnalab.org.


Effect of formate and oxalate on fluid reabsorption from the proximal convoluted tubule of the anaesthetized rat.
1. It has recently been suggested that both formate and oxalate may be involved in the reabsorption of chloride from the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). Reabsorption is achieved via a mechanism coupling Na(+)-H+ exchange to Cl(-)-anion exchange thus facilitating net NaCl transport. This possible mechanism was investigated further by observing the effect of luminal addition of formate and oxalate on proximal tubule transport in anaesthetized rats, previously prepared for in vivo microperfusion. 2. Addition of formate (0.25 mmol l-1) to the luminal perfusate resulted in a significant stimulation of fluid reabsorptive rate. 3. Oxalate was found to have a concentration-dependent effect on fluid reabsorption. Luminal oxalate concentrations below 0.05 mmol l-1 stimulated fluid reabsorption, while an oxalate concentration of 0.5 mmol l-1 inhibited fluid reabsorption. 4. The presence of formate (0.25 mmol l-1) and oxalate (0.001 mmol l-1) in the same luminal perfusate stimulated fluid reabsorption from the proximal tubule lumen, but the effects of formate and oxalate were not additive. 5. The removal of bicarbonate from the luminal perfusate and its replacement with phosphate had no significant effect on fluid reabsorptive rate. An alteration in perfusate pH was also ineffective. Addition of oxalate at high and low pH failed to stimulate fluid reabsorption compared with pH-matched control perfusions. 6. The experimental data suggest the involvement of both formate and oxalate in the reabsorption of NaCl from the proximal tubule lumen, though their influence may not be exerted through the same mechanisms.


Time to First Cigarette and Hypertension in Korean Male Smokers.
Morning blood pressure surge affects to cardiovascular disease risk. Short time to first cigarette (TTFC) after waking can enhance morning blood pressure surge, and accelerate atherosclerosis. We investigated that the relationship between TTFC and blood pressure. The study subjects included male current smokers (n=211) who had health check-up in Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital from July to September, 2014. We categorized the subjects into 2 groups according to TTFC; early TTFC (TTFC <30 minutes) and late TTFC (TTFC ≥30 minutes), and the subjects who were taking antihypertensive medications or had a high blood pressure (>140 mm Hg or 90 mm Hg) were defined as hypertensive group. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval to investigate the association between TTFC and hypertensive group. Compared with late TTFC, early TTFC had higher odds (odds ratio [OR], 3.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89-7.94) for hypertensive group. After adjusting confounding factors, early TTFC was significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension (OR, 4.43; 95% CI, 1.84-10.70). early TTFC after waking is associated with hypertension. It suggests delaying TTFC might help to control of blood pressure among the current smokers who are not ready to immediately quit smoking.


Dental health attitudes and behaviour among dental students in Jordan.
Examine and compare differences in oral health attitudes and behaviour among Jordanian dental students. Cross-sectional study of 314 dental students was conducted to compare differences in oral health behaviour and attitudes among these students in different levels of academic education. Jordan University of Science and Technology. Subjects were surveyed using a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire (20 Items). Multivariate binary and polytomous logistic regression analyses were performed in order to study change of patterns of statements during preclinical and clinical, and year of study, respectively. The percentage of students claiming to brush their teeth twice daily or more often was four times higher amongst clinical students than amongst pre-clinical students.. The odds of visiting a dentist only in case of toothache was reduced by a factor of more than three among clinical year students (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15-0.61). Clinical year students rarely complained of bleeding gums after toothbrushing (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03-0.27). On the other hand, a number of items regarding use of dental floss and tooth paste, bad breath, colour and appearance of teeth, and cigarette smoking was similar between preclinical and clinical students. Evaluation of trends during dental studies employing polytomous multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed an abrupt change at the end of preclinical studies for items characterizing professional attitude. With advancement in dental school, dental student's oral health awareness and attitudes improved in some aspects. Preventive dentistry courses should be taught early in the dental curriculum of the pre-clinical years.


Robust regression on noisy data for fusion scaling laws.
We introduce the method of geodesic least squares (GLS) regression for estimating fusion scaling laws. Based on straightforward principles, the method is easily implemented, yet it clearly outperforms established regression techniques, particularly in cases of significant uncertainty on both the response and predictor variables. We apply GLS for estimating the scaling of the L-H power threshold, resulting in estimates for ITER that are somewhat higher than predicted earlier.


Prophylactic antibiotics to reduce morbidity and mortality in neonates with umbilical artery catheters.
Umbilical artery catheters are often used in unwell neonates. Infection related to the use of these catheters may cause significant morbidity and mortality. The use of prophylactic antibiotics has been advocated for all newborns with umbilical artery catheters in order to reduce the risk of colonisation and acquired infection. Countering this is the possibility that harm may outweigh benefit. The primary objective was to assess whether prophylactic antibiotics, in neonates with umbilical artery catheters, reduce mortality and morbidity. In separate comparisons, we planned to review two different policies regarding the prophylactic use of antibiotics in neonates with umbilical artery catheters: 1) among neonates with umbilical artery catheters, a policy of prophylactic antibiotics for the duration of catheterisation (or other fixed duration of antibiotic treatment) versus placebo or no treatment; 2) among neonates with umbilical artery catheters who had been started on antibiotics at the time of catheterisation but whose initial cultures to rule out sepsis are negative, a policy of continuing versus discontinuing prophylactic antibiotics. We searched MEDLINE (January 1966 to February 2004), CINAHL (1982 to February 2004), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2004), the Cochrane Neonatal Group Specialised Register and reference lists of articles. Randomised controlled trials of adequate quality in which newborn infants with umbilical artery catheters are randomised to receive prophylactic antibiotics versus placebo or no treatment. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality. No study met the criteria for inclusion in this review. There is no evidence from randomised trials to support or refute the use of prophylactic antibiotics when umbilical artery catheters are inserted in newborn infants, or to support or refute continuing antibiotics once initial cultures rule out infection in newborn infants with umbilical artery catheters.


Clinical Impact of Antecedent Bariatric Surgery on Liver Transplant Outcomes: A Retrospective Matched Case-control Study.
Bariatric surgery (BS) may be associated with significant malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies. Between March 1987 and January 2017, we performed 922 liver transplants (LT) at our institution; 33 had antecedent BS. We matched the BS cohort to LT recipients without BS (1:3 matching) based on exact matching for gender and cancer and inverse variance matching for age, LT body mass index, MELD score, and transplant date. We analyzed outcomes in 132 LT recipients (33 BS; 99 non-BS). The BS cohort comprised 26 (79%) women with a mean age of 52.4 years. The BS procedures included 20 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (61%), 6 jejunoileal bypass (18%), 3 gastric band (9%), 2 sleeve gastrectomy (6%), and 1 duodenal switch (3%). The primary indications for LT listing were alcoholic cirrhosis (9; 27%), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (7; 21%), hepatitis C (8; 24%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (3; 9%). At LT, body mass index for the BS cohort was 29.6, and MELD was 24. Compared with matched controls, BS recipients did not have longer LT length of hospital stay (17.8 versus 15.7 d, P = 0.71), longer intensive care unit length of stay (5.3 versus 4.1 d, P = 0.16), or higher 30-day complication rate (76% versus 85%, P = 0.43). Overall patient survival was similar (1- and 3-y survival was 90.1% and 75.9% for BS; 90.9% and 76.4% for non-BS, P = 0.34). A history of BS does not portend a deleterious effect on LT outcomes.


Preserving Source Location Privacy for Energy Harvesting WSNs.
Fog (From cOre to edGe) computing employs a huge number of wireless embedded devices to enable end users with anywhere-anytime-to-anything connectivity. Due to their operating nature, wireless sensor nodes often work unattended, and hence are exposed to a variety of attacks. Preserving source-location privacy plays a key role in some wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. In this paper, a redundancy branch convergence-based preserved source location privacy scheme (RBCPSLP) is proposed for energy harvesting sensor networks, with the following advantages: numerous routing branches are created in non-hotspot areas with abundant energy, and those routing branches can merge into a few routing paths before they reach the hotspot areas. The generation time, the duration of routing, and the number of routing branches are then decided independently based on the amount of energy obtained, so as to maximize network energy utilization, greatly enhance privacy protection, and provide long network lifetimes. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the RBCPSLP scheme allows a several-fold improvement of the network energy utilization as well as the source location privacy preservation, while maximizing network lifetimes.


Changes in the Strength and Leaching Characteristics of Steel Slag-Oil Shale Residue-Based Filling Paste in a Complex Erosive Environment.
Our research group prepared a new filling paste consisting of steel slag-oil shale residue and no admixtures. It was used as the research object to explore the combined effect of chloride and dry-wet cycling-driven erosion on the long-term stability of a cemented filling paste made of total solid wastes. Macroscopic experiments and microscopic analyses methods were employed. The influence of solutions with different mass fractions of chloride salts and different cycling periods on the uniaxial compressive strength and toxicity of the steel slag-oil shale residue-based filling paste was studied, and the deterioration mechanisms of the steel slag-oil shale residue-based filling paste under combined erosion from chloride and dry-wet cycling were investigated. The test results showed that in the same cycling conditions, the strength of the steel slag-oil shale residue-based filling paste increased first with the increase in the mass fraction of the chloride solution and then decreased with the increase in the mass fraction of the chloride solution after reaching the peak value; the leached concentrations of heavy metal ions decreased with increasing chloride salt mass fraction. With an increase in the number of dry-wet cycles, the compressive strength of the specimens in the chloride salt solution with a mass fraction of 0 (pure water) first increases and then tends to be stable. The strength of samples in 5% and 10% chloride salt solutions increased first and then decreased with an increase in the number of dry-wet cycles. The leached concentrations of heavy metal ions from the samples in all three solutions first decreased and then stabilized. The prehydration products of the steel slag-oil shale residue-based filling paste were C-S-H gels, AFt and Friedel's salt, and these increased with increasing chloride salt mass fraction and the number of dry-wet cycles. However, the hydration reactions of the samples in the 0% chloride solution nearly stopped in the later stages of cycling, and the samples in 5% and 10% chloride salt solutions developed local cracks due to the accumulation of hydration products. The results showed that the number of dry-wet cycles and the chloride salt mass fraction affected the strength and leaching characteristics of the steel slag-oil shale residue-based filling paste by changing the type and amount of erosion products. The test results provide a scientific basis for the promotion and application of backfilling pastes made from total solid wastes.


Rat models of skin wound healing: a review.
Rats have been widely used in the study of skin wound healing and the efficacy of different treatment modalities. This particular animal species is often selected for its availability, low cost, and small size. To define the current use of rat skin wound healing models, this manuscript provides a review of articles published between 2000 and 2003 that chose rats as their research animals. Of the 55 articles reviewed, it was found that 38.2% of the studies used incisional models and 38.2% used excisional models, with some studies using combinations. The majority of the studies (78.2%) used the rat's dorsum as the wound location. Male Sprague Dawley in the 250-300 gram weight range were the most preferred rats. Sodium pentobarbital/pentobarbitone was the most commonly used anesthetic choice. Similarities and differences in the selected experimental conditions are noted and questions are raised with regard to comparability between studies and the ability to transfer the data from the animal model to the human clinical situation. Attempts to compare studies for the advancement of wound healing knowledge are being hampered by the differences found between the studies. Standardization in reporting could facilitate comparisons and may instigate additional research that favors the inevitable comparisons between the studies. Thus, universal reporting requirements need to be developed for animal wound healing studies.


Molecular Cloning, Characterization, and Temporal Expression Profile of Troponin I Type 1 (TNNI1) Gene in Skeletal Muscle During Early Development of Gaoyou Duck (Anas Platyrhynchos Domestica).
TNNI1 encodes the slow skeletal muscle isoform of troponin I. In the present study, the basic characteristic and expressing profile of the TNNI1 gene was first explored in Gaoyou ducks. Full-length TNNI1 cDNA of Gaoyou duck was obtained using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA consisted of a 57-base pair (bp) 5'UTR, a 345-bp 3'UTR, and a 564-bp open reading frame. The predicted protein was predicted to be hydrophilic, nonsecretory protein and contained 17 phosphorylation sites. Multiple alignments and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that the predicted protein was relatively conserved in avian. TNNI1 mRNA could be detected in every tissue analyzed at 70 days of age, and the muscle tissues had relatively high expression level, with the highest level seen in leg muscle. The TNNI1 gene was differentially expressed in the breast muscle and leg muscle during embryonic and posthatching development. Our findings reveal the sequence characterization and expression patterns of the TNNI1 gene, which may provide correlative evidence that TNNI1 gene plays an important role in duck muscle fiber development and meat quality.


A model study of time- and voltage-dependent effects of class I antiarrhythmic drugs in guinea-pig papillary muscles as related to external potassium concentration.
1. A piecewise exponential three-state model previously introduced by the authors in 5.4 mmol/l was intended to apply to states with different [K+]o and with a different drug. Using the conventional microelectrode technique the effects of 20 mumol/l mexiletine (MEX), 5 mumol/l aprindine (APR), 20 mumol/l quinidine (QUI), 5 mumol/l flecainide (FLE), 5 mumol/l E-0747 (dl-6-chloro-2,2'-dimethyl-1'-[3-(4-hydroxypiperizino)propyl]spiro [chroman-4,4'-imidazolidine]-2',5'-dione hydrochloride and 100 mumol/l QX-222, a quaternary derivative of lidocaine, on action potentials (APs) in guinea-pig papillary muscles were studied. Specific objects of the study were (1) steady state Vmax values at various frequencies (all drugs), (2) the recovery process of Vmax in premature responses (MEX) and (3) Vmax changes during a train of stimulation at 1 Hz after a rest period (all other drugs) in 2.7 and 10 mmol/l [K+]o. Further, those of APR alone and APR plus 1 mmol/l nicorandil (NIC), which shortened action potential durations (APDs) specifically, were investigated on the above items (1) and (3) in 5.4 mmol/l [K+]o. 2. All the drugs reduced the Vmax of APs frequency-dependently and, except QX-222, more markedly in 10 mmol/l [K+]o than in 2.7 mmol/l [K+]o at 1 Hz. 3. The rate constants estimated from the model fitting characterized MEX and APR and the other drugs as predominantly inactivated and activated channel blockers, respectively. The calculated rate of onset of block, lambda T, does not differ much between the three [K+]o levels. lambda T shows that APR belongs to class Ia rather than class Ib.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Molecular and Serological Study of Neospora caninum Infection among Dogs and Foxes in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran.
Neospora caninum, a protozoan parasite, causes abortions in cattle, as well as neurological disorders and reproductive problems in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the serological and the molecular prevalence of N.caninum among foxes and dogs using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For this purpose, 288 and 95 both fecal and serum samples of dogs and foxes were collected, respectively, from around industrial and traditional dairy flocks in different parts of Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran, from 2013 to 2015. The sera were examined using IFAT, and fecal samples were microscopically assessed for detecting Neospora oocyst and by nested-PCR. The findings revealed that N.caninum seroprevalence were 4.86% and 4.21% in dogs and foxes, respectively. In addition, no Neospora oocysts were found microscopically and by PCR. Since this study is the first serological and molecular investigation of N.caninum among both dogs and foxes in Sanandaj, the findings of indicated that stray dogs is a main source of N.caninum infection in dairy farms in Sanandaj, Iran.


[Effects of group psychotherapy].
Using questionnaires SCL 90 and PFI, the author investigated in 1989-1990 the effect of group psychotherapy provided at the psychotherapeutic department of the psychiatric sanatorium in Kromĕríz. The group comprised 40 men and 60 women with neurotic complaints. The control group was formed by 45 men and 193 women without neurotic complaints. The questionnaire SCL90 recorded positive changes after group psychotherapy in the therapeutic community, in particular in female patients. A catamnestic examination made after one year, using the same questionnaire, suggests that the therapeutic results have a permanent character. Conversely the PFI questionnaire recorded few significant changes. The problem of assessment of the effect of psychotherapy is discussed also on a more general level.


Sexual abuse of children in Leeds.
Temporal trends in physical and sexual abuse of children within a geographically defined area were examined, and cases of suspected sexual abuse referred to paediatricians during 1984 were studied in detail. After remaining static for four years referrals due to all types of abuse trebled between 1979 and 1984, and referrals due to sexual abuse increased from none to 50 a year. In 1984, 50 children (39 girls) aged 1-16 were referred because of possible sexual abuse. Abuse was confirmed or considered to be likely in 30 (28 girls). The perpetrator was a male relative or family friend in 17 cases and a man participating in a child sex ring in seven cases. Physical examination often did not show anything remarkable, but three girls had venereal infections. These figures suggest that paediatricians and child psychiatrists will increasingly be presented with cases of sexual abuse in children.


Psychodynamic Therapy: An Overview for Trainees and Their Teachers: Part 2-The Therapeutic Stance.
This second column in a series on psychodynamic therapy (PDT) offers an overview of concepts related to the therapeutic stance of PDT. It reviews resistance, components of the therapeutic relationship, and elements that constitute the therapeutic stance of PDT.


Semantic classification of pictures and words.
We provide new behavioural norms for semantic classification of pictures and words. The picture stimuli are 288 black and white line drawings from the International Picture Naming Project ([Székely, A., Jacobsen, T., D'Amico, S., Devescovi, A., Andonova, E., Herron, D., et al. (2004). A new on-line resource for psycholinguistic studies. Journal of Memory & Language, 51, 247-250]). We presented these pictures for classification in a living/nonliving decision, and in a separate version of the task presented the corresponding word labels for classification. We analyzed behavioural responses to a subset of the stimuli in order to explore questions about semantic processing. We found multiple semantic richness effects for both picture and word classification. Further, while lexical-level factors were related to semantic classification of words, they were not related to semantic classification of pictures. We argue that these results are consistent with privileged semantic access for pictures, and point to ways in which these data could be used to address other questions about picture processing and semantic memory.


A Clinical Comparative Study of Rectus Sheath Closure Techniques in Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy: Evaluating "Far-Near-Near-Far" vs. Conventional Closure Approach.
Midline exploratory laparotomy is essential in emergency surgery, and effective closure of the abdominal wall is crucial for optimal healing and reduced complications. The far-near-near-far technique for rectus sheath closure has gained attention due to potential advantages over conventional closure due to the fact that even if one suture gives way it does not affect the nearby suture and the rectus sheath is still held in place. This study aims to compare these techniques in emergency exploratory laparotomy. This single-center prospective observational study included all patients undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy at a tertiary care hospital. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the closure technique used: conventional closure or far-near-near-far technique. Sociodemographic data and comorbidities were collected. Operative time, closure time, and postoperative complications were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The study included patients with a mean age of 42.14 years. Operative and closure times did not significantly differ between the groups. There was no significant difference in comorbidities between the two techniques. The incidence of wound infection, dehiscence, burst abdomen, incisional hernia, and sinus formation did not significantly differ between the groups. Late complications were also similar. The far-near-near-far technique for rectus sheath closure in emergency exploratory laparotomy showed comparable outcomes to conventional closure methods. No significant differences were found in operative time, closure time, or postoperative complications. This study contributes to the understanding of different closure techniques, allowing surgeons to make informed decisions.


Computational Modeling of 2D Materials under High Pressure and Their Chemical Bonding: Silicene as Possible Field-Effect Transistor.
To study the possibility for silicene to be employed as a field-effect transistor (FET) pressure sensor, we explore the chemistry of monolayer and multilayered silicene focusing on the change in hybridization under pressure. Ab initio computations show that the effect of pressure depends greatly on the thickness of the silicene film, but also reveals the influence of real experimental conditions, where the pressure is not hydrostatic. For this purpose, we introduce anisotropic strain states. With pure uniaxial stress applied to silicene layers, a path for sp3 silicon to sp3d silicon is found, unlike with pure hydrostatic pressure. Even with mixed-mode stress (in-plane pressure half of the out-of-plane one), we find no such path. In addition to introducing our theoretical approach to study 2D materials, we show how the hybridization change of silicene under pressure makes it a good FET pressure sensor.


Efficacy of Corticosteroid Injection for Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injection for trigger finger by performing a meta-analysis of all relevant studies. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing corticosteroid injection with other treatments for trigger finger. Pooled summary estimates for outcomes, including success rate, relapse rate, visual analogue score (VAS) and complications, were calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) or relative risk (RR) either on a fixed- or random-effect model via Stata 12.0 software. Results: Ten literatures involving 806 patients (387 in corticosteroid injection group and 419 in control group) were included. Pooled analysis showed there were no differences in the success rate, VAS and complications between patients undergoing corticosteroid injection and others. However, the relapse rate was significantly higher in patients treated with corticosteroid injection than that of other treatments (RR = 19.53, 95% CI = 6.23-61.19). Subgroup analysis indicated the efficacy of corticosteroid injection was superior to other non-surgical treatments (success rate: RR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.01-2.35), but inferior to surgery (success rate: RR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.48-0.63; relapse rate: RR = 21.15, 95% CI = 6.06-73.85; VAS: SMD = 3.49, 95% CI = 2.84-4.14). Conclusions: Corticosteroid injection may be an effective strategy for management of trigger finger, although surgery may be needed for some patients due to recurrence.


CTX-M expression and selection of ertapenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
In vitro selection of mutants with decreased susceptibility to ertapenem was performed using Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains producing either the bla(CTX-M-2), bla(CTX-M-3), bla(CTX-M-9), or bla(CTX-M-15) gene. Frequencies of mutants with decreased susceptibilities to ertapenem were similar for all beta-lactamases expressed.


Particular Surgical Technique for Transorbital-Penetrating Craniocerebral Injury Inflicted by a Screwdriver: Technical Case Report.
Surgical techniques for non-missile penetrating brain injuries (PBI) are challenging because they require good preoperative planning. Generally, extraction is performed ipsilaterally at the entry site. In certain cases, the extraction can be performed contralaterally through the inner end of the foreign body; however, this requires special consideration. We present a case report of a patient who had a stab wound on the head via a screwdriver and underwent surgery, during which extraction was performed contralaterally through the inner end of the screwdriver without inducing any neurological deficit. Careful preoperative planning and surgical technique modification are required to minimize morbidity and mortality in patients with PBIs.


Missed cervical spine fracture-dislocations: the importance of clinical and radiographic assessment.
To review the case of a patient who suffered a cervical spine fracture-dislocation missed at a hospital emergency department. A 77-year-old man involved in a motor vehicle accident was transported to a local emergency hospital where cervical spine x-ray films taken were reported as demonstrating no evidence of acute injury. The patient visited a chiropractic clinic 6 days later, where x-ray films were again obtained, finding that the patient sustained fractures of C5 and C6, as well as a bilateral facet dislocation at C5/C6. Computed tomography confirmed the fractures, and magnetic resonance imaging findings demonstrated cervical spinal cord compression and posterior spinal cord displacement. The patient was referred for preoperative medical evaluation. He underwent C5-6 closed reduction and anterior/posterior fusion surgery and was released without complication. Patient follow-up indicated full recovery with minimal neurologic symptoms. Cervical spine fracture-dislocations are often missed during standard radiographic examinations in emergency department settings. Chiropractors are encouraged to perform a comprehensive evaluation of patients presenting with cervical trauma even if they have had prior x-ray films reported as normal. Standard x-ray films taken at emergency department facilities are not entirely reliable for detecting or revealing cervical spine fracture-dislocations. This case stresses the importance of careful clinical assessment and imaging procedures on patients who have encountered cervical spine trauma.


2',7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein as a fluorescent probe for reactive oxygen species measurement: Forty years of application and controversy.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critically important chemical intermediates in biological studies, due to their multiple physiologically essential functions and their often pathologically deleterious effects. Consequently, it is vital that their presence in biological samples has to be quantifiable. However, their high activity, very short life span and extremely low concentrations make ROS measurement a scientifically challenging subject for researchers. One of the widespread methods for ROS detection, based on the oxidation of the non-fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH(2)) to yield the highly fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF), was developed more than 40 years ago. However, from its initial application, argumentative questions have arisen regarding its action mechanisms, reaction principles and especially its specificity. Herein, the authors attempt to undertake a comprehensive review: to describe the basic characteristics of DCFH(2); to discuss the present views of the mechanisms of its fluorescence formation; to summarize the fluorescence formation interferents; to outline its application in biological research; and to underline its advantages and disadvantages in ROS detection as well as for the methodological considerations that arise during analysis.


Exploring histopathological and serum biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma: Clinical applications and translational opportunities (Review).
Lung cancer represents one of the most common neoplasms and the main cause of cancer‑associated death worldwide. Its relationship with different risk factors such as tobacco, which is its main etiological factor, has been clearly established and despite the numerous advances achieved in the diagnosis, treatment and follow‑up of these patients, the life expectancy of these patients is notably limited. Furthermore, its treatment is not exempt from comorbidities and frequently it neither provides optimal control of the disease nor improve the quality of life of these patients. Despite the possibility of performing screening tests in patients at risk, their implementation in daily clinical practice is complex and most of them are diagnosed at an advanced stage of their disease where systemic radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments slightly improve their prognosis. Lung adenocarcinoma is the most representative type of lung cancer, with specific epidemiological, molecular and clinical features. Thus, a growing number of studies are being conducted to find potential therapeutic targets based on the study of different molecular pathways, improving the outcome for these patients. In addition, a broad spectrum of serological, immunohistochemical and genetic markers are being evaluated for use in the screening and follow‑up of these patients in daily clinical practice, but unlike for other tumors, they are currently not implemented in the early diagnosis of the disease. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to summarize the main advances that have occurred in the development of serological and histological markers and their therapeutic implications in patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, explaining the limitations that have been observed and analyzing the future perspectives in the clinical management of this disease.


[Decomposition of cholesterol by Achromobacter candicans].
The decomposition of cholesterol by the cell suspensions of Achromobacter candicans 42 and by the cell-free extracts of this bacterium was studied. The decomposition of cholesterol in the presence of the wet biomass during four hours of the incubation was 72.5 percent, and with the cells that were preliminarily lyophilized or treated by acetone 49.8 and 23.0 percent, respectively. The activity decreased from 70.0 to 50.0 percent if the biomass was kept at minus 3 degrees C during 70 days. The decomposition of cholesterol by the cell-free preparations (supernatant and protein after precipitation with ammonium sulphate to 0.7 saturation) constituted 40.0 percent of the cholesterol contained in a sample. One of the intermediate products of cholesterol decomposition was delta4-cholesten-3-one.


A case of breathlessness, confusion and diarrhoea.
A 61-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with acute-onset breathlessness, fever, sore throat and confusion. Her initial investigations revealed hyponatremia and middle lobe consolidation. In view of the atypical symptoms and signs, erythromycin was commenced. Urinary legionella antigen was requested and that tested positive. She was one of the first few patients whose findings alerted us to a possible outbreak of legionnaire' disease. We drew the following conclusions from our experience with this and other cases that we saw during the legionnaires' outbreak: an atypical presentation is common, as seen in this lady with confusion. If two cases of atypical pneumonias test positive for legionella within a period of a week, we suggest that public health authorities should be notified to identify the source and contain it. There is a need for continuous and high vigilance for legionnaires' disease.


Changes in glucose metabolism based on 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests before and after surgery for adrenal Cushing's syndrome.
Adrenal Cushing's syndrome (CS) is caused by cortisol-producing adrenal adenoma and is frequently accompanied by glucose metabolism disorders, which are characterized by increased insulin resistance and insufficient β-cell compensation. However, considering the rarity of CS, few studies have assessed whether the glucose metabolism disorders could be ameliorated by surgical treatment. In this case series, we evaluated glucose metabolism before and after surgery in 11 patients (10 women and 1 man) who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for overt adrenal CS between 2005 and 2016. Patients with pre-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) were excluded. Pre- and post-operative 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Cortisol secretion decreased significantly after surgery (median 24-h urinary free cortisol: 582.0 μg/day [interquartile range: 321.0-743.0 μg/day] to 31.3 μg/day [23.6-40.6 μg/day], p = 0.001). The results of the OGTT generally improved after surgery (normal glucose tolerance/impaired glucose tolerance/DM: 2/8/1 to 8/3/0), with significant decreases in the immunoreactive insulin and glucose levels. We also found a decrease in the median homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (2.4 [1.4-2.8] to 1.0 [0.6-1.1], p = 0.002), and increases in the median Matsuda index (3.0 [2.3-4.5] to 8.2 [6.3-11.4], p < 0.001), median insulinogenic index (0.70 [0.22-1.51] to 1.22 [0.78-1.64], p = 0.08), and median disposition index (609.1 [237.8-1,095.2] to 1,286.0 [1,034.6-1,857.6], p = 0.002). These findings indicate that adrenalectomy for adrenal CS without overt DM may help ameliorate glucose metabolism disorders, and improve both insulin resistance and insulin secretion.


Community-acquired pneumonia and do not resuscitate orders.
From a cohort of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who required admission to hospital, to describe the subset of patients having a do not resuscitate (DNR) order and to compare them with those who did not have such an order. Retrospective subset analysis of data from the pneumonia patient outcomes research team study. Three hospitals in the United States and one in Canada. Hospitalized patients aged 18 and older with CAP. Sociodemographic features, severity of illness, antibiotic therapy, length of stay, mortality, admission to special care units, and mortality attributable to pneumonia. The 199 (14.9) of 1,339 inpatients with CAP who had a DNR order written within 24 hours of admission and an additional 96 (7.2) patients who had such an order written later were compared with the 1,044 who never had a DNR order. The 199 patients with an initial DNR and 96 later DNR were older (median age 81 and 78 vs 65 years, respectively; P< .001), more likely to be white (92.5 and 90.6 vs 84.8; P = .007), and more likely to have come from a nursing home or chronic care facility (53.8 and 31.3 vs 4.5; P< .001). The two DNR groups received more antibiotics for a longer time than the never DNR patients. The DNR patients had longer lengths of stay than the never DNR patients (medians 9 and 12 vs 7 days). There were 89 in-hospital deaths among the 1,339 patients, but only 11 of these were among patients who did not have a DNR order during the first 30 days (sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a DNR order for in-hospital mortality were 87.6, 82.6, 26.4, and 98.9, respectively). The 90-day mortality rates were 43.2 for the initial DNR group, 61.5 in the later DNR group, and 4.7 for the never DNR group (P< .001). Pneumonia-attributable mortality accounted for most of the in-hospital deaths but did not differ by DNR status. Only 31.7 of the initial DNR patients and 24.0 of the later DNR patients were discharged home, versus 82.6 of the other patients (P< .001). In a multivariate analysis, the following were predictive of initial DNR: age, nursing home care, active cancer, dementia, neuromuscular disorders, altered mental status, low systolic blood pressure, tachypnea, abnormal hematocrit, abnormal blood urea nitrogen, and absence of alcohol or intravenous drug abuse. In similar analyses of DNR at any time, additional predictors included aspiration, low white blood count, chronic pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, and congestive heart failure. Most in-hospital pneumonia deaths occur in patients who have a DNR order. DNR orders written within 24 hours of admission primarily reflect comorbid status, whereas DNR orders written later during hospitalization reflect the futility of care plus comorbidity.


Visual function and execution of microsaccades related to reading skills, in cerebral palsied children.
This article investigates the ability of cerebral palsied (CP) children to execute microsaccades. One-hundred and five congenitally CP school aged children (6 to 15 years old), without severe mental retardation, were classified into three groups: those with spastic quadriplegi, spastic diplegics, and spastic hemiplegics on the basis of: (1) patient anamnesis, (2) IQ estimation, (3) evaluation of the microsaccadic skills with the Developmental Eye Movement test (DEM). Their performance in these tests was compared with a control group from the general pediatric population. IQ of the CP children ranged between 70 and 100; the microsaccadic skills were severely affected: only 19% of the CP children had normal function, 20.9% of the CP children appeared with a pure oculomotor problem, 32.4% of the CP children had a visual-perceptual problem, and 27.7% of the CP children had a combined oculomotor and visual perceptual problem. CP children, in the absence of severe mental retardation, have disturbed visual skills and visual perception that usually leads to reading difficulties. It is also suggested that microsaccadic skills of CP children is an identifiable factor compounding the adverse effects of mental retardation on reading skills.


Occupational therapy and child abuse.
This report describes the part occupational therapy played in a community-based research and demonstration project instituted to treat abusive parents and their children. The development of the project, designed to define characteristics of abusive parents and their children and to experiment with various forms of treatment, is discussed first. The psychosocial and psychological dynamics of abusive parents are reviewed next. Through an occupational therapy evaluation process, these dynamics were found to be isolation, poor group and socialization skills, inability to set priorities or to develop order in most situations, a weak internalized ego structure as a basis for determining their needs and identity, the inability to perceive one's abilities and limitations accurately, and a great need for clear external structure. Finally, occupational therapy as a viable, evaluative tool and treatment mode in child abuse is discussed wherein the parents learned and understood cause and effect and developed some measure of control of a situation.


Use of electroconvulsive therapy in adolescents.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used in adolescent psychiatric practice, yet few studies have been conducted to assess its use for 13-19-year-olds. Efficacy, indications, side effects, technical characteristics, and outcome are uncertain. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 21 adolescents treated with bilateral ECT in our department from 1984 through 1995. In our series, ECT was effective in treating both maniac and depressive episodes, with a high rate of relapse at 1 year follow-up (approximately 40%). Clinical improvement was only partial and in schizophrenia and schizoaffective episodes. Seizure threshold was associated with gender, but not with the cumulative number of treatments. Adverse effects were frequent, but were usually transient with only moderate discomfort, even in patients with concomitant medical problems. We conclude that ECT is a safe and effective treatment for adolescents with severe and intractable mental illness, and it has the same indications and effects as in adults.


[Efficacy of erythromycin inhalation in chronic respiratory infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa].
The prognosis of chronic respiratory tract infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosad considered to be poor. However, low-dose and long-term 14 membered macrolide, such as erythromycin or clarithromycin, treatment has been reported as effective clinically in chronic lower respiratory tract disease. There was no report to investigate the effect of macrolide on chronic biofilm related Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory tract infection in vivo. In a newly established murine model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection mimicking diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), we investigated the effect of erythromcin inhalation on viable bacteria in the lungs. Infection was produced by placement of a plastic tube in the bronchus with inoculating. Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspended in saline was also inoculated in bronchus after intubation of the tube. Viable bacteria were constantly isolated at 10(4) 10(6) cfu-specimen from the lungs for more than 30 days. Treatment with erythromycin inhalation for four days reduced the number of viable bacteria in the lungs with statistically significant. Our result indicated that our new model of chronic respiratory tract infection is simple and provides a useful tool to study the pathogenic process and treatment of such infection. Our results also suggest that the erythromycin inhalation is effective on chronic Pseudomons aeruginosa respiratory infection.


Directed biosynthesis of novel derivatives of echinomycin by Streptomyces echinatus. I. Effect of exogenous analogues of quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid on the fermentation.
Streptomyces echinatus A8331 cultured on a maltose minimal salts medium normally produces a single antibiotic, echinomycin (quinomycin A), containing two quinoxaline-2-carbonyl chromophores. Echinomycin is powerfully active against experimental tumours and can be assayed by its activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Grown in the presence of aromatic carboxylic acids related to quinoxaline, S. echinatus responds in favourable circumstances by incorporating the added material into analogues of the natural antibiotic having replacement chromophores. Both mono- and bis-substituted derivatives are formed. With quinoline-2-carboxylic acid as precursor, large quantities of analogues are produced, and the time course of synthesis, extraction, purification, assay, and characterization of the derivatives are described. Twenty-two other aromatic acids have been tested as potential substrates for antibiotic analogue biosynthesis. Half of them did not significantly affect growth and echinomycin production. Five appeared to stimulate antibiotic synthesis, while the remainder proved inhibitory. New biologically active antibiotics were detected in cultures supplemented with 7-chloroquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid; 1,2,4-benzo-as-triazine-3-carboxylic acid; thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid; and 6-methylquinoline-2-carboxylic acid.


The drawing effect: Evidence for reliable and robust memory benefits in free recall.
In 7 free-recall experiments, the benefit of creating drawings of to-be-remembered information relative to writing was examined as a mnemonic strategy. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants were presented with a list of words and were asked to either draw or write out each. Drawn words were better recalled than written. Experiments 3-5 showed that the memory boost provided by drawing could not be explained by elaborative encoding (deep level of processing, LoP), visual imagery, or picture superiority, respectively. In Experiment 6, we explored potential limitations of the drawing effect, by reducing encoding time and increasing list length. Drawing, relative to writing, still benefited memory despite these constraints. In Experiment 7, the drawing effect was significant even when encoding trial types were compared in pure lists between participants, inconsistent with a distinctiveness account. Together these experiments indicate that drawing enhances memory relative to writing, across settings, instructions, and alternate encoding strategies, both within- and between-participants, and that a deep LoP, visual imagery, or picture superiority, alone or collectively, are not sufficient to explain the observed effect. We propose that drawing improves memory by encouraging a seamless integration of semantic, visual, and motor aspects of a memory trace.


Central anticholinergic syndrome vs. idiosyncratic reaction triggered by a small IV dose of atropine.
A 58-year-old male was scheduled to undergo radical gastrectomy for cancer under general anesthesia. The patient developed agitation and irregular breathing after receiving a single dose of atropine (0.5 mg) to treat bradycardia immediately prior to induction of anesthesia. Within 5 min after the atropine injection, the patient became unresponsive with facial flushing and diaphoresis. When a drop in oxygen saturation was observed, a laryngeal mask airway was inserted after administering a small bolus dose of propofol (80 mg) and the patient was ventilated with 100% oxygen. Physostigmine was not administered because of the relatively low dose of atropine and the fact that his symptoms were not totally consistent with central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS). The differential diagnosis at the time also included an acute cardiovascular event and an idiosyncratic reaction to atropine. The patient fully recovered within 80 min from this highly unusual reaction to a single 0.5 mg IV dose of atropine.


Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase inhibits the proliferation of human endothelial cells.
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an evolutionary conserved energy-sensing enzyme that regulates cell metabolism. Emerging evidence indicates that AMPK also plays an important role in modulating endothelial cell function. In the present study, we investigated whether AMPK modulates endothelial cell growth. Treatment of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells with the AMPK activators 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), 6,7-dihydro-4-hydroxy-3-(2'-hydroxy[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-6-oxo-thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carbonitrile (A-769662), or metformin inhibited cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. The antiproliferative action of AICAR was largely prevented by the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5'-iodotubercidin and mimicked by infecting endothelial cells with an adenovirus expressing constitutively active AMPK. In contrast, pharmacological blockade of endothelial nitric oxide synthase or heme oxygenase-1 activity failed to reverse the inhibition of endothelial cell growth by AICAR. Flow cytometry experiments revealed that pharmacological activation of AMPK arrested endothelial cells in the G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle, and this was associated with increases in p53 phosphorylation and p53, p21, and p27 protein expression and decreases in cyclin A protein expression and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation. In addition, silencing p21 and p27 expression partially restored the mitogenic response of AMPK-activated cells. Finally, activation of AMPK by AICAR blocked the migration of endothelial cells after scrape injury and stimulated tube formation by endothelial cells plated onto Matrigel-coated plates. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that AMPK activation inhibits endothelial cell proliferation by elevating p21 and p27 expression. In addition, they show that AMPK regulates endothelial cell migration and differentiation and identify AMPK as an attractive therapeutic target in treating diseases associated with aberrant endothelial cell growth.


Mechanism by which exosites promote the inhibition of blood coagulation proteases by heparin-activated antithrombin.
Heparin activates the serpin, antithrombin, to inhibit its target blood-clotting proteases by generating new protease interaction exosites. To resolve the effects of these exosites on the initial Michaelis docking step and the subsequent acylation and conformational change steps of antithrombin-protease reactions, we compared the reactions of catalytically inactive S195A and active proteases with site-specific fluorophore-labeled antithrombins that allow monitoring of these reaction steps. Heparin bound to N,N'-dimethyl-N-(acetyl)-N'-(7-nitrobenz-3-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)ethylenediamine (NBD)-fluorophore-labeled antithrombins and accelerated the reactions of the labeled inhibitor with thrombin and factor Xa similar to wild type. Equilibrium binding of NBD-labeled antithrombins to S195A proteases showed that exosites generated by conformationally activating antithrombin with a heparin pentasaccharide enhanced the affinity of the serpin for S195A factor Xa minimally 100-fold. Moreover, additional bridging exosites provided by a hexadecasaccharide heparin activator enhanced antithrombin affinity for both S195A factor Xa and thrombin at least 1000-fold. Rapid kinetic studies showed that these exosite-mediated enhancements in Michaelis complex affinity resulted from increases in k(on) and decreases in k(off) and caused antithrombin-protease reactions to become diffusion-controlled. Competitive binding and kinetic studies with exosite mutant antithrombins showed that Tyr-253 was a critical mediator of exosite interactions with S195A factor Xa; that Glu-255, Glu-237, and Arg-399 made more modest contributions to these interactions; and that exosite interactions reduced k(off) for the Michaelis complex interaction. Together these results show that exosites generated by heparin activation of antithrombin function both to promote the formation of an initial antithrombin-protease Michaelis complex and to favor the subsequent acylation of this complex.


Prevalence of iron overload complications among patients with b-thalassemia major treated at Dubai Thalassemia Centre.
Authors and team members of the Dubai Thalassemia Centre obtained data on the prevalence of iron overload complications among patients with b-thalassemia major (b-TM) and compared it to international data to improve patient care and evaluate the effectiveness of earlier used treatment modalities. The information obtained is also expected to be useful in genetic counseling. Cross-sectional study of all living transfusion-dependent b-TM patients registered at the Thalassemia Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, until the end of 2007 (n=382). Diagnosis of TM was based on clinical history and laboratory confirmation by hemoglobin electrophoresis and DNA testing. All were uniformly treated with desferrioxamine and monitored by serial serum ferritin. results: The mean (SD) age of patients was 15.4 (7.6) years, with 50.5% males. Mean (SD) serum ferritin was 2597.2 (1976.8) micro g/L. The frequency of iron overload complications were as follows: hypogonadism (n=99, 52.7%), hypoparathyroidism (n=40, 10.5%), diabetes mellitus (n=40, 10.5%), hypothyroidism (n=24, 6.5%) and cardiomyopathies (n=7, 1.8%). Hypogonadism was the most common endocrine abnormality in our study and other reported series. However, cardiomyopathies were less prevalent among our patients with higher rates of diabetes and hypoparathyroidism compared to rates reported internationally. Females had statistically significant lower serum ferritin (2530.8 (1931.2), P < .05) with a lower cardiomyopathies rate. Iron overload related complications among our patients with thalassemia major were different from those reported internationally. Studying the genetic status of patients from our area may uncover the underlying genetic modifiers of iron overload mediated organs injury.


NF-κB Signaling Dynamics Play a Key Role in Infection Control in Tuberculosis.
The NF-κB signaling pathway is central to the body's response to many pathogens. Mathematical models based on cell culture experiments have identified important molecular mechanisms controlling the dynamics of NF-κB signaling, but the dynamics of this pathway have never been studied in the context of an infection in a host. Here, we incorporate these dynamics into a virtual infection setting. We build a multi-scale model of the immune response to the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to explore the impact of NF-κB dynamics occurring across molecular, cellular, and tissue scales in the lung. NF-κB signaling is triggered via tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) binding to receptors on macrophages; TNF has been shown to play a key role in infection dynamics in humans and multiple animal systems. Using our multi-scale model, we predict the impact of TNF-induced NF-κB-mediated responses on the outcome of infection at the level of a granuloma, an aggregate of immune cells and bacteria that forms in response to infection and is key to containment of infection and clinical latency. We show how the stability of mRNA transcripts corresponding to NF-κB-mediated responses significantly controls bacterial load in a granuloma, inflammation level in tissue, and granuloma size. Because we incorporate intracellular signaling pathways explicitly, our analysis also elucidates NF-κB-associated signaling molecules and processes that may be new targets for infection control.


Observation of Λ_{c}^{+}→nK_{S}^{0}π^{+}.
We report the first direct measurement of decays of the Λ_{c}^{+} baryon involving the neutron. The analysis is performed using 567 pb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data collected at sqrt[s]=4.599 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We observe the decay Λ_{c}^{+}→nK_{S}^{0}π^{+} and measure the absolute branching fraction to be B(Λ_{c}^{+}→nK_{S}^{0}π^{+})=[1.82±0.23(stat)±0.11(syst)]%. A comparison to B[Λ_{c}^{+}→p(K[over ¯]π)^{0}] provides an important test of isospin symmetry and final state interactions.


Soft-x-ray-induced spin-state switching of an adsorbed Fe(II) spin-crossover complex.
For probing the nature of spin-state switching in spin-crossover molecules adsorbed on surfaces, x-ray absorption spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool due to its high sensitivity and element selectivity in tracing even subtle electronic, magnetic, or chemical changes. However, the x-rays itself can induce a spin transition and might have unwanted influence while investigating the effect of other stimuli such as temperature or light, or of the surface, on the spin switching behaviour. Herein, we present the spin switching of an Fe(II) complex adsorbed on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface with particular emphasis on the x-ray-induced switching. For a submonolayer coverage, the complex undergoes a complete and reversible temperature- and light-induced spin transition. The spin states are switched both ways by x-rays at 5 K, i.e. from the high-spin state to the low-spin state or vice versa, depending on the relative amount of each species. Furthermore, we quantify the fraction of molecules undergoing soft x-ray-induced photochemistry, a process which results in an irreversible low-spin state component, for a particular exposure time. This can be greatly suppressed by reducing the beam intensity.


Long-term functional outcome of kidneys in children with urolithiasis after ESWL treatment.
The aim of this study was to determine the long-term functional outcome of kidneys in children with urolithiasis treated by means of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The effectiveness and safety of this method in the management of pediatric urinary stone disease was also studied. This prospective study enrolled 84 children, 33 boys (age: 9.1 +/- 3.8 yrs) and 51 girls (age: 9.6 +/- 3.9 yrs), with urolithiasis who were treated using a second-generation "Siemens" Lithostar lithotriptor, in the period between 1988 and 1998. Dynamic kidney scintigraphy using (99 m)Tc-DTPA was done prior to, immediately following ESWL treatment, three months later, and again after an observation period of 12 - 67 months (38 +/- 13 months). Immediate fragmentation rate was 90 %, while the calculus clearance rate was 61 %. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measured by clearance of (99 m)Tc-DTPA, immediately after an ESWL treatment of 107 +/- 6 ml/min was significantly lower compared to the pretreatment value of 118 +/- 7 ml/min, but returned three months later to 121 +/- 6 ml/min, and to 131 +/- 10 ml/min at the end of the observation period. A separate analysis was performed on three groups of patients treated by ESWL: with acute calculous disease, chronic calculous disease, and chronic calculous with partial stasis. ESWL treatment in children with acute obstruction was associated with an immediate increase in GFR; however, in chronic calculous disease a decrease in GFR was found. A return of GFR to the pretreatment level was observed at the three-month control in these patients. In patients with acute stone obstruction, at 3 and 12 - 67 months after ESWL treatment, GFR of the treated kidney was found to be significantly increased compared to the pretreatment level. In contrast, in children with chronic calculous disease this increase was modest. This study has demonstrated ESWL to be an effective treatment option for urinary calculi management, which can be safely performed in a pediatric population without long-term effects on the growing kidneys.


Potential Use of Polyvinyl Acetate-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Mixture for the Development of Atenolol Sustained Release Matrix Tablets: Optimization of Formulation through in Vitro-in Vivo Assessment Study.
The objective of this study was to develop sustained release matrix tablets of atenolol (AT) using different concentrations of polyvinyl acetate-polyvinylpyrrolidone mixture (KSR) (20, 30, or 40%) with various types of fillers such as spray dried lactose (SP.D.L), avicel pH 101 (AV), and emcompress (EMS). The physical characteristics of the prepared tablets were evaluated. Characterization of the optimized formulation was performed using Fourier transform (FT)-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the in vitro release profiles of AT formulations were investigated in different pH dissolution media. Drug release kinetics and mechanisms were also determined. The results revealed that there was no potential incompatibility of the drug with the polymer. The release profiles of AT were affected by the concentration of KSR, fillers used, and pH of the dissolution media. The drug release kinetic from most of the formulations obeyed Higuchi diffusion model. The selected formulae were investigated for their stability by storage at 30 and 40°C with atmospheric humidity and 75% relative humidity (RH), respectively. The results demonstrated that no change in the physicochemical properties of the tablets stored at 30°C/atmospheric RH in comparison with some changes at 40°C/75% RH. Finally, the in vivo study provided an evidence that the optimized AT tablet containing 40% KSR and SP.D.L exhibited prominent higher oral bioavailability and more efficient sustained-release effect than the drug alone or the commercial tablet product. It is noteworthy that KSR could be considered as a promising useful release retardant for the production of AT sustained release matrix tablets.


Chemotherapy for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common, often fatal malignancy, and is most frequently diagnosed in the advanced stage. Systemic chemotherapy for advanced (Stage IIIB and IV), inoperable NSCLC has evolved over the course of the last few decades. Survival advantage was first noted with platinum chemotherapy, with ultimate development of platinum-containing doublet combinations, which have now become standard of care in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Over the course of the last few years, multiple nonplatinum combinations have also been demonstrated to be efficacious, and the addition of bevacizumab to existing doublet regimens has improved outcomes in this population of patients. Maintenance regimens for advanced stage NSCLC are currently under extensive investigation. Clinical trials have also recently demonstrated increased efficacy for agents such as docetaxel and pemetrexed in the second line setting for refractory disease.


Late S phase cells (Chinese hamster ovary) induce early S phase DNA labeling patterns in G1 phase nuclei.
Cells (Chinese hamster ovary) in G1 phase were fused with cells in late S phase to determine if a cell in late S phase can induce DNA synthesis in the nucleus of a G1 cell and, if so, to determine if the DNA synthesis so induced in a G1 phase nucleus has an autoradiographic pattern characteristic of early or of late S phase synthesis. The results indicate (i) that 89% of the G1 nuclei in late-S/G1 binucleates synthesized DNA, while only 2% of the control unfused G1 cells synthesized DNA, and (ii) that in all late-S/G1 binucleates the G1 nucleus was induced to synthesize early S phase DNA. These results are compatible with the idea that a cytoplasmically transmissible factor initiates DNA synthesis but that an intranuclear mechanism defines the temporal order of replication.


Multi-analysis strategy for metabolism of Andrographis paniculata in rat using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Compared with chemical drugs, it is a huge challenge to identify active ingredients of multicomponent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For most TCMs, metabolism investigation of absorbed constituents is a feasible way to clarify the active material basis. Although Andrographis paniculata (AP) has been extensively researched by domestic and foreign scholars, its metabolism has seldom been fully addressed to date. In this paper, high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to analysis and characterization of AP metabolism in rat urine and feces samples after oral administration of ethanol extract. The differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways between the two biological samples were further compared. The chemical structures of 20 components were tentatively identified from drug-treated biological samples, including six prototype components and 14 metabolites, which underwent such main metabolic pathways as hydrolyzation, hydrogenation, dehydroxylation, deoxygenation, methylation, glucuronidation, sulfonation and sulfation. Two co-existing components were found in urine and feces samples, suggesting that some ingredients' metabolic processes were not unique. This study provides a comprehensive report on the metabolism of AP in rats, which will be helpful for understanding its mechanism.


[Avoid purine-rich foods, drink a lot, reduce weight. The most important recipes against hyperuricemia].
In 99% of the cases, the underlying cause of gout is an inborn disorder of uric acid excretion. In addition to acute arthritis, clinical consequences include tophi, chronic destruction of joints, and ulcers. The patient is endangered by the frequent renal involvement, with hypertension and renal insufficiency. Furthered by such exogenous factors as overweight, high-calorie, purine-rich foods and immoderate consumption of alcohol, hyperuricemia may develop. Basic treatment comprises dietary measures and, up to a serum uric acid concentration of 8.5 mg/dl, should be the sole measure required. The aim is to achieve a permanent lowering of uric acid concentrations in the blood to < 6.5 mg/dl. This may be achieved by reduction of overweight (including regular exercise), an energy-adapted diet with only moderate amounts of fat, restriction--or, better, banishment--of alcohol, an ovolactovegetarian diet low in purine (care must be taken with high-purine vegetablesl), moderate intake of readily assimilated carbohydrates, and adequate amounts of calorie-free liquids.


Prayer: folk home remedy vs. spiritual practice.
A multidisciplinary review of the literature reveals that prayer, in a multicultural context, may be viewed as both a folk home remedy and a practice of spirituality. Understanding cultural differences and similarities of the use of prayer as a variable for health promotion may have implications for tailoring treatment approaches to eliminate disparities in providing care to clients of diverse cultural backgrounds. This paper presents these similarities and differences within the cultural beliefs of the White, African-American, and Hispanic populations.


Mechanism of inactivation of pyridoxal phosphate-linked aspartate transaminase by gostatin.
The inactivation mechanism of pyridoxal phosphate-linked mitochondrial aspartate transaminase (pig heart) by gostatin (5-amino-2-carboxy-4-oxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-acetic acid), a novel amino acid produced by Streptomyces sumanensis, was investigated. Gostatin is a time-dependent inhibitor of the enzyme giving an enzyme half-life of 1.8 min at 3.1 microM (25 degrees C). The kinetic properties of the inhibitor suggest that it is a suicide substrate (mechanism-based inhibitor) of the enzyme, and the observed Ki is 59 microM and Kcat is 0.11S-1 at 25 degrees C. Incubation of the enzyme with a stoichiometric amount of the inhibitor (1 mol of inhibitor/1 mol of enzyme monomer) results in complete inactivation. Spectrophotometric titration and gel filtration experiments indicate the binding of 1 mol of gostatin with 1 mol of enzyme monomer. Gostatin serves as an efficient titrant for the enzyme. Liberation of a compound having inhibitory activity against the apo-form enzyme from the enzyme-inhibitor complex under denaturing conditions suggests irreversible modification of the cofactor.


Classifying outcomes of care for injured patients.
Many trauma survivors face challenges of impaired functioning, limited activities and reduced participation. Recovery from injury after acute care, therefore, becomes an important public health issue. This commentary discusses a framework for evaluating outcomes of acute care.


Electron Transfer Coupled to Conformational Dynamics in Cell Respiration.
Cellular respiration is a fundamental process required for energy production in many organisms. The terminal electron transfer complex in mitochondrial and many bacterial respiratory chains is cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). This converts the energy released in the cytochrome c/oxygen redox reaction into a transmembrane proton electrochemical gradient that is used subsequently to power ATP synthesis. Despite detailed knowledge of electron and proton transfer paths, a central question remains as to whether the coupling between electron and proton transfer in mammalian mitochondrial forms of CcO is mechanistically equivalent to its bacterial counterparts. Here, we focus on the conserved span between H376 and G384 of transmembrane helix (TMH) X of subunit I. This conformationally-dynamic section has been suggested to link the redox activity with the putative H pathway of proton transfer in mammalian CcO. The two helix X mutants, Val380Met (V380M) and Gly384Asp (G384D), generated in the genetically-tractable yeast CcO, resulted in a respiratory-deficient phenotype caused by the inhibition of intra-protein electron transfer and CcO turnover. Molecular aspects of these variants were studied by long timescale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations performed on wild-type and mutant bovine and yeast CcOs. We identified redox- and mutation-state dependent conformational changes in this span of TMH X of bovine and yeast CcOs which strongly suggests that this dynamic module plays a key role in optimizing intra-protein electron transfers.


Tunnel Josephson Junction with Spin-Orbit/Ferromagnetic Valve.
We have theoretically studied the transport properties of the SIsNSOF structure consisting of thick (S) and thin (s) films of superconductor, an insulator layer (I), a thin film of normal metal with spin-orbit interaction (SOI) (NSO), and a monodomain ferromagnetic layer (F). The interplay between superconductivity, ferromagnetism, and spin-orbit interaction allows the critical current of this Josephson junction to be smoothly varied over a wide range by rotating the magnetization direction in the single F-layer. We have studied the amplitude of the spin valve effect and found the optimal ranges of parameters.


Cellular and subcellular compartmentalization of steroid metabolism in the rat testis.
The following aspects are discussed in relation to the cellular and subcellular localization of steroid metabolism in the rat testis: (1) the localization of enzyme activities for steroid production in interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules in intact cells and in isolated mitochondrial fractions: (2) steroid production by isolated cellular and subcellular fractions and by the intact testis in vivo; and (3) the effect of cofactors on steroid production by rat testis preparations in vitro. It is concluded that it is difficult to decide whether steroid production and the enzymes involved in steroid metabolism are restricted to specific compartments. Steroid production by the testis can, however, be quantitatively explained by that occurring in the isolated mitochondria of the interstitial tissue.


Percutaneous abscess drainage in the management of sepsis.
Image-guided percutaneous drainage has become the procedure of choice for a wide variety of abscesses and other fluid collections, and is an invaluable therapeutic alternative for the management of septic patients. Growing experience, along with technical advances, has significantly broadened the potential applications of percutaneous abscess drainage. Important considerations include the use of modern imaging techniques to identify and characterize sources of sepsis, appropriate patient selection and definition of therapeutic goals, and dedicated involvement by the interventional radiology team. The current methods and applications of percutaneous abscess drainage are reviewed, both in general, and in terms of specific anatomic locations and disease processes.


Replication of bacteriophage M13 IX. Requirement of the Escherichia coli dnaG function for M13 duplex DNA replication.
Temperature-shift experiments with an Escherichia coli dnaG strain indicate a requirement for the dnaG function for M13 phage production only at an early stage of infection. Mutant cells infected at nonpermissive temperature form the parental RF (SS leads to RF) but do not replicate further. A shift to nonpermissive temperature after infection inhibits RF leads to RF replication but not RF leads to SS synthesis. The synthesis of both strands of the duplex RF was inhibited equally after a temperature shift during RF leads to RF replication. We infer that the dnaG protein is required for M13 production only during RF replication and that it is required for the synthesis of both strands of the RF.


Not born equal: increased rate asymmetry in relocated and retrotransposed rodent gene duplicates.
Duplicated genes frequently evolve at different rates. This asymmetry is evidence of natural selection's ability to discriminate between the 2 copies, subjecting them to different levels of purifying selection or even permitting adaptive evolution of one or both copies. However, if gene duplication creates pairs of protein-coding sequences that are initially identical, this raises the question of how selection tells the 2 copies apart. Here, we investigated asymmetric sequence divergence of recently duplicated genes in rodents and related this to 2 possible sources of such asymmetry: gene relocation as a consequence of duplication and retrotransposition as a mechanism of gene duplication. We found that most young rodent duplicates that have been relocated were created by retrotransposition. The degree of rate asymmetry in gene pairs where one copy has been relocated (either by retrotransposition or DNA-based duplication) is greater than in pairs formed by local DNA-based duplication events. Furthermore, by considering the direction of transposition for distant duplicates, we found a consistent tendency for retrogenes to undergo accelerated protein evolution relative to their static paralogs, whereas DNA-based transpositions showed no such tendency. Finally, we demonstrate that the faster sequence evolution of retrogenes correlates with the profound alteration of their expression pattern that is precipitated by retrotransposition.


Phosphorylation of Bem2p and Bem3p may contribute to local activation of Cdc42p at bud emergence.
Site-specific activation of the Rho-type GTPase Cdc42p is critical for the establishment of cell polarity. Here we investigated the role and regulation of the GTPase-activating enzymes (GAPs) Bem2p and Bem3p for Cdc42p activation and actin polarization at bud emergence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Bem2p and Bem3p are localized throughout the cytoplasm and the cell cortex in unbudded G1 cells, but accumulate at sites of polarization after bud emergence. Inactivation of Bem2p results in hyperactivation of Cdc42p and polarization toward multiple sites. Bem2p and Bem3p are hyperphosphorylated at bud emergence most likely by the Cdc28p-Cln2p kinase. This phosphorylation appears to inhibit their GAP activity in vivo, as non-phosphorylatable Bem3p mutants are hyperactive and interfere with Cdc42p activation. Taken together, our results indicate that Bem2p and Bem3p may function as global inhibitors of Cdc42p activation during G1, and their inactivation by the Cdc28p/Cln kinase contributes to site-specific activation of Cdc42p at bud emergence.


[Effect of two-step sintering method on properties of zirconia ceramic].
To study the influence of two-step sintering method on the sintering property, mechanical properties and microstructure of zirconia ceramic. The nano-size zirconia powder were compacted and divided into two groups, one group for one-step sintering method, another group for two-step sintering method. All samples sintered at different temperature. The relative density, three-bend strength, HV hardness, fracture toughness and microstructure of sintered block were investigated. Two-step sintering method influenced the sintering property and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramic. The maximal relative density was 98.49% at 900 degrees C/1,450 degrees C sintering temperature. There were significant difference of mechanical properties between one-step sintering and two-step sintering, the three-bend strength and fracture toughness declined, hardness increased at two-step sintering. The three-bend strength, HV hardness and fracture toughness reached to maximum value as 1,059.08 MPa +/- 75.24 MPa, 1,377.00 MPa +/- 16.37 MPa and 5.92 MPa x m1/2 +/- 0.37 MPa x m1/2 at 900 degrees C/1,450 degrees C sintering temperature respectively. Microscopy revealed the relationship between the porosity and shapes of grains was correlated to strength of the zirconia ceramics. Despite of the two-step sintering method influences the properties of zirconia, it also is a promising esthetic all-ceramic dental material.


Evaluation of agronomic properties of digestate from macroalgal residues anaerobic digestion: Impact of pretreatment and co-digestion with waste activated sludge.
The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of pretreating macroalgal residue (MAR) from agar-agar extraction and its co-digestion with sewage sludge on methane production and the agronomic quality of the digestates produced. First, different pretreatments were assessed on BMP tests. Among milling technologies used, knife milling with a 4 mm-screen improved methane production by 25%. The MAR was then knife milled before alkaline, acid and thermal pretreatment. KOH pretreatment (5% TS basis, 25 °C for 2 days) led to the highest methane improvement. It was applied to semi-continuous anaerobic digestion and methane production achieved 237 Nml/gVS which was 20% higher than the control (198 Nml/gVS). In comparison to MAR mono-digestion, co-digestion with thickened activated sludge produced less methane (184 Nml/gVS) but reduced H2S emission by 91%. None of the digestates was toxic for the germination or growth of wheat and tomato plants. Particularly, co-digestion had the highest impact on tomato plant dry weight (+94% compared to soil alone) mainly due to the phosphorous brought by sludge. However, the impact of alkaline pretreatment on plant growth was not significant.