Involvement of endogenous prostaglandin I2 in the vascular action of histamine in dogs.
In helical strips of dog mesenteric and gastroepiploic arteries contracted with prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, the addition of histamine (10(-6) M) caused a relaxation, which was markedly attenuated by treatment with aspirin, indomethacin or tranylcypromine. Treatment with chlorpheniramine prevented the inhibitory effect of aspirin or tranylcypromine. Combined treatment with chlorpheniramine plus aspirin or tranylcypromine slowed the development of histamine-induced relaxations as did the treatment with chlorpheniramine alone. Relaxations of mesenteric and gastroepiploic arteries induced by histamine were markedly attenuated or abolished by combined treatment with chlorpheniramine and cimetidine. Histamine-induced relaxations of coronary and renal arterial strips were suppressed by cimetidine alone but were unaffected by aspirin. Contractile responses of cerebral arterial strips to histamine were attenuated by chlorpheniramine and potentiated by aspirin. The collagen-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by treatment with bathing media in which mesenteric arteries were stimulated by histamine; the inhibition was prevented by treatment of the arteries with aspirin. It may be concluded that relaxation of mesenteric and gastroepiploic arteries induced by histamine is mainly associated with the release of prostaglandin I2 from the arterial wall, which results from an activation of histaminergic H1 receptors. Histamine-induced cerebroarterial contractions mediated via H1 receptors appear to be partly counteracted by prostaglandin I2 released.


A Unified Framework for Compositional Fitting of Active Appearance Models.
Active appearance models (AAMs) are one of the most popular and well-established techniques for modeling deformable objects in computer vision. In this paper, we study the problem of fitting AAMs using compositional gradient descent (CGD) algorithms. We present a unified and complete view of these algorithms and classify them with respect to three main characteristics: (i) cost function; (ii) type of composition; and (iii) optimization method. Furthermore, we extend the previous view by: (a) proposing a novel Bayesian cost function that can be interpreted as a general probabilistic formulation of the well-known project-out loss; (b) introducing two new types of composition, asymmetric and bidirectional, that combine the gradients of both image and appearance model to derive better convergent and more robust CGD algorithms; and (c) providing new valuable insights into existent CGD algorithms by reinterpreting them as direct applications of the Schur complement and the Wiberg method. Finally, in order to encourage open research and facilitate future comparisons with our work, we make the implementation of the algorithms studied in this paper publicly available as part of the Menpo Project (http://www.menpo.org).


Photoirradiation products of cyproheptadine and carbamazepine.
Cyclobutyl dimer and 10,11-epoxide photoirradiation products of cyproheptadine and carbamazepine have been isolated by preparative tlc and identified by tlc, uv, pmr and mass spectroscopy.


Histopathological findings in colorectal liver metastases after electrochemotherapy.
Electrochemotherapy of colorectal liver metastases has been proven to be feasible, safe and effective in a phase I/II study. In that study, a specific group of patients underwent two-stage operation, and the detailed histopathological evaluation of the resected tumors is presented here. Regressive changes in electrochemotherapy-treated liver metastases were evaluated after the second operation (in 8-10 weeks) in 7 patients and 13 metastases when the treated metastases were resected. Macroscopic and microscopic changes were analyzed. Electrochemotherapy induced coagulation necrosis in the treated area encompassing both tumor and a narrow band of normal tissue. The area became necrotic, encapsulated in a fibrous envelope while preserving the functionality of most of the vessels larger than 5 mm in diameter and a large proportion of biliary structures, but the smaller blood vessels displayed various levels of damage. At the time of observation, 8-10 weeks after electrochemotherapy, regenerative changes were already seen in the peripheral parts of the treated area. This study demonstrates regressive changes in the whole electrochemotherapy-treated area of the liver. Further evidence of disruption of vessels less than 5 mm in diameter and preservation of the larger vessels by electrochemotherapy is provided. These findings are important because electrochemotherapy has been indicated for the therapy of metastases near major blood vessels in the liver to provide a safe approach with good antitumor efficacy.


Parallel-Distinct Structures of Internal World and External Reality: Disavowing and Re-Claiming the Self-Identity in the Aftermath of Trauma-Generated Dissociation.
The nature of consciousness and the autonomy of the individual's mind have been a focus of interest throughout the past century and inspired many theories and models. Revival of studies on psychological trauma and dissociation, which remained outside mainstream psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis for the most part of the past century, has provided a new opportunity to revisit this intellectual and scientific endeavor. This paper attempts to integrate a series of empirical and theoretical studies on psychological consequences of developmental traumatization, which may yield further insight into factors which threaten the integrity of human consciousness. The paper proposes that an individual's experience of distorted reality and betrayal precipitates a cyclical dynamic between the individual and the external world by disrupting the developmental function of mutuality which is essential for maintenance of the integrity of the internal world while this inner world is in turn regulated vis-à-vis external reality. Dissociation -the common factor in all types of post-traumatic syndromes- is facilitated by violation of boundaries by relational omission and intrusion as represented by distinct effects and consequences of childhood neglect and abuse. Recent research conducted on clinical and non-clinical populations shows both bimodal (undermodulation and overmodulation) and bipolar (intrusion and avoidance) neurobiological and phenomenological characteristics of post-traumatic response. These seem to reflect "parallel-distinct structures" that control separate networks covering sensori-motor and cognitive-emotional systems. This understanding provides a conceptual framework to assist explanation of diverse post-traumatic mental trajectories which culminate in a common final pathway comprised of partly overlapping clinical syndromes such as complex PTSD, dissociative depression, dissociative identity disorder (DID), or "borderline" phenomena. Of crucial theoretical and clinical importance is that these maladaptive post-traumatic psychological formations are regarded as processes in their own right rather than as a personality disorder innate to the individual. Such mental division may perform in that internal detachment can serve to preserve the genuine aspects of the subject until such time as they can be reclaimed via psychotherapy. The paper attempts to integrate these ideas with reference to the previously proposed theory of the "Functional Dissociation of Self" (Şar and Öztürk, 2007).


Genome-wide linkage analysis to identify chromosomal regions affecting phenotypic traits in the chicken. I. Growth and average daily gain.
A genome scan was used to detect chromosomal regions and QTL that control quantitative traits of economic importance in chickens. Two unique F(2) crosses generated from a commercial broiler male line and 2 genetically distinct inbred lines (Leghorn and Fayoumi) were used to identify QTL affecting BW and daily average gain traits in chickens. Body weight at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk was measured in the 2 F(2) crosses. Birds were genotyped for 269 microsatellite markers across the entire genome. Linkage distance among microsatellite markers was estimated by the CRIMAP program. The program QTL Express was used for QTL detection. Significance levels were obtained using the permutation test. For the 8 traits, a total of 18 and 13 significant QTL were detected at a 1% chromosome-wise significance level, of which 17 and 10 were significant at the 5% genome-wise level for the broiler-Leghorn cross and broiler-Fayoumi cross, respectively. Highly correlated growth traits showed similar QTL profiles within each cross but different QTL profiles between the 2 crosses. Most QTL for growth traits in the current study were detected in Gga 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 for the broiler-Leghorn cross and Gga 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 13 for the broiler-Fayoumi cross. Potential candidate genes within the QTL region for growth traits at 1% chromosome-wise significance level were discussed. The results in the current study lay the foundations for fine mapping these traits in the advanced intercross lines and provide a start point for identification causative genes responsible for growth traits in chickens.


AcuTrials®: an online database of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews of acupuncture.
The growing quantity of Complementary and Alternative Medicine literature requires databases enabled with increasingly powerful search capabilities. To address this need in the area of acupuncture research, a bibliographic database of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews called AcuTrials® has been developed by the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. AcuTrials® introduces a comprehensive keyword thesaurus that categorizes details of treatment protocols and research design to an extent not currently available in MEDLINE or other databases. AcuTrials®, which went live in January of 2010 and is updated monthly, currently contains over 1250 articles from more than 300 journals. Articles included are English language RCTs and systematic reviews that report on medical conditions in human subjects treated by needle acupuncture. Study details are indexed by 14 key domains, such as acupuncture style and needling protocol, to create an acupuncture-relevant, searchable keyword catalogue. Keywords follow the National Library of Medicine (NLM) MeSH terminology when possible, and new keywords were created in cases where no appropriate MeSH terms were available. The resulting keyword catalogue enables users to perform sensitive, targeted searches for particular aspects of acupuncture treatment and research design. AcuTrials® provides an extensive and innovative keyword catalogue of acupuncture research, allowing users to efficiently navigate, locate and assess the evidence base in ways not currently possible with other databases. By providing a more powerful suite of search options, the AcuTrials® database has the potential to enhance the accessibility and quality of acupuncture research.


Carpal tunnel release: Safe and simple identification of the flexor retinaculum based on superficial anatomical landmarks.
The aim of our study was to project the borders of the flexor retinaculum (FR) onto superficial landmarks since its insufficient splitting is the most common reason for persistence of symptoms after carpal tunnel release. In 60 hands the radial and ulnar styloid processes were linked by a horizontal line and a longitudinal line was laid through the ring finger's radial side. These were intersected resulting in the reference point "A" on the forearm. As the second basing point "B", the radial margin of the ring finger at the palmar digital crease was chosen. Measurement of the FR was carried out with regard to the reference points. The proximal margin of the FR was located at 4% of the reference line A-B starting from point A and extended up to 52% of this total length. Results indicate that splitting alongside the proximal half of line A-B divides the FR completely. Clin. Anat. 30:512-516, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Rituximab in lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease: a case series.
Rituximab in combination with chlorambucil or radiation therapy may be an effective and less-toxic therapeutic alternative for patients with lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (LPHD). We treated 6 patients with LPHD with weekly rituximab at 375 mg/m2 for 4 weeks, followed by either radiation therapy or chlorambucil. Four patients had previously untreated disease and 2 had relapsed LPHD. All patients had no evidence of disease progression at a median follow-up time of 12.5 months after receiving rituximab therapy (range, 6-39 months) and a median follow-up time of 6.5 months after completion of chlorambucil or radiation therapy (range, 3-25 months). Further follow-up is warranted to evaluate response duration and late toxicity of this novel treatment strategy


Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Nursing/Physiotherapy Program in Chronic Patients.
This study aimed to evaluate the functional impact of a shared intervention model by the mobile physiotherapy and rehabilitation team (MPRT) and primary care case management nurses (PCCMNs) on chronic patients. This was a prospective, observational study involving 1086 patients (mean age, 80 years; 63.7% females) in the province of Almeria, which was conducted between 2004 and 2018. Most of the registered diseases included cerebrovascular and neurological diseases (56.7%), osteoarticular diseases (45.3%), diabetes mellitus (25.7%), cardiovascular diseases (25.5%), and chronic respiratory diseases. The study included a home care intervention by the MPRT and PCCMNs and included the following main outcome measures: age, sex, main caregiver, disabling process (ICD-9), type and number of inclusion categories for chronic disease, initial and final Barthel index (BI), treatment or intervention on the patient (techniques), objectives, and number of sessions. The main techniques used were kinesiotherapy (44.6%) and caregiver training (23%), along with technical aid. An equation predicting the patients' final BI, according to the initial BI, was constructed using multiple linear regression modelling. A marked improvement in functional capacity was found after an average of 10 physiotherapy sessions. A lower patient age was correlated with a higher functional capacity, both initial and final BI, as well as a greater number of sessions.


Effect of Soil and Root Extracts on the Innate Immune Response of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to Root Rot Caused by Ilyonectria mors-panacis.
Panax quinquefolius shows much higher mortality to Ilyonectria mors-panacis root rot when grown in soil previously planted with ginseng than in soil not previously planted with ginseng, which is known as ginseng replant disease. Treatment of ginseng roots with methanol extracts of previous ginseng soils significantly increased root lesion sizes due to I. mors-panacis compared to roots treated with water or methanol extracts of ginseng roots or non-ginseng soils. Inoculation of water-treated roots with I. mors-panacis increased expression of a basic chitinase 1 gene (PqChi-1), neutral pathogenesis-related protein 5 gene (PqPR5) and pathogenesis-related protein 10-2 gene (PqPR10-2), which are related to jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET) or necrotrophic infection, and also increased expression of an acidic β-1-3-glucanase gene (PqGlu), which is related to salicylic acid (SA). Infection did not affect expression of a cysteine protease inhibitor gene (PqCPI). Following infection, roots treated with ginseng root extract mostly showed similar expression patterns as roots treated with water, but roots treated with previous ginseng soil extract showed reduced expression of PqChi-1, PqPR5, PqPR10-2 and PqCPI, but increased expression of PqGlu. Methanol-soluble compound(s) in soil previously planted with ginseng are able to increase root lesion size, suppress JA/ET-related gene expression and trigger SA-related gene expression in ginseng roots during I. mors-panacis infection, and may be a factor contributing to ginseng replant disease.


Snail1-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts induce lung cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition through miR-33b.
Lung cancer has a high propensity for metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main type of stromal cells in cancer tissue, are activated by tumor cells, and play a significant role in tumor development. However, whether CAFs induce lung cancer cell metastasis, as well as pathway involved in CAF-induced lung cancer cell metastasis, is uncertain. Snail1 is a transcriptional factor whose expression in the stroma is associated with lower survival rates in patients with cancer. However, how Snail1 regulates the crosstalk between stromal cells and tumor cells when it is expressed in the stroma has not been determined. Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression is correlated with lung cancer metastasis. Our previous study of microRNAs showed that miR-33b levels were clearly reduced in lung cancer cell lines and lung cancer tissues, and miR-33b suppressed tumor cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) when its expression was elevated. In this study, we found that co-culturing CAFs with lung cancer cells induced miR-33b downregulation and promoted epithelial cells EMT. Moreover, we found that miR-33b overexpression in lung cancer cells counteracted CAF-induced EMT. Interestingly, Snail1 expression in fibroblasts activate the inductive effects of CAFs on lung cancer cell EMT. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the communication between stromal cells and tumor cells mediated by miR-33b may lead to the identification of novel targets for the treatment of lung cancer. Additionally, understanding the role of Snail1 driving CAFs to induce lung cancer cell EMT may provide with a new perspective on the treatment of lung cancer.


Promoting understanding of medical decision-making coding for nurse practitioner students.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are often responsible for coding patient encounters for reimbursement. Students should learn the basics of this skill during their educational preparation. On January 1, 2021, the American Medical Association and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented new guidelines to the evaluation and management office appointment documentation and coding. The new medical decision-making (MDM) guidelines created a learning curve for NP students, faculty, and preceptors. An additional obstacle was encountered when on-campus preclinical intensives, which included a coding practice session, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The faculty of an NP program identified MDM coding as a difficult concept to teach in an asynchronous learning environment. In response, the faculty developed and implemented synchronous online case study sessions that incorporated active student participation and real-time feedback, thus increasing engagement with peers, faculty, and the MDM concepts. The purpose of this article was to present a synchronous method for teaching MDM coding to NP students, and the outcomes, lessons learned, and implications for nursing education and practice.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis in prematurity: report of two cases.
Invasive bacterial eye infections in the neonate range from perforating keratitis to endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis secondary to Pseudomonas aeruginosa has gained clinical and therapeutic importance since mortality rates are high and prognosis concerning preservation of vision is poor, especially in premature infants. We presented two cases with meningitis, septicemia and P. aeruginosa endophthalmitis. If premature infants develop a sepsis-like picture with cloudy cornea and purulent conjunctivitis, we have to consider the possibility of endophthalmitis and do a full ophthalmologic evaluation. Treatment should be started early and consists of systemic antibiotic therapy, as in septicemia. As P. aeruginosa spreads easily, prompt isolation and strict handwashing are indicated.


Metal binding by heterogeneous ligands: kinetic master curves from SSCP waves.
Stripping chronopotentiometry at scanned deposition potential, SSCP, is shown to be a powerful tool for determination of the distribution of metal dissociation rate constants, kd, for heterogeneous ligands. SSCP effectively scans a range of metal-to-ligand ratios from the foot to the plateau of the wave, thus allowing a portion of the distribution of k(d) values to be determined for a given bulk solution composition. In particular, the nature of the measurement renders accessible very low metal-to-ligand ratios which are otherwise difficult to attain by a bulk solution methodology, such as a potentiometric titration. In the presence of kinetic currents, the shape of the SSCP wave is modified as compared to the labile case. A data interpretation framework is developed which well-describes the SSCP wave for heterogeneous complexes in the kinetic current regime. The analysis utilizes the Freundlich binding isotherm together with the Koutecký-Koryta approximation, i.e., assuming a spatially discontinuous transition from labile to nonlabile behavior. For the case of Pb(II) and Cu(II) complexation by a peat fulvic acid, the existing body of data is drastically expanded to the low to very low metal-to-ligand ratio domain, thereby greatly improving the quality of the derived distribution parameters.


c-Phycocyanin primed silver nano conjugates: Studies on red blood cell stress resilience mechanism.
Green synthesis of metal-encased nutraceutical nano-hybrids has been a target for research over the last few years. In the present investigation, we have reported temperature dependent facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles using FDA approved c phycocyanin (cPC). The cPC conjugated silver nanoparticles (AgcPCNPs) were characterized by TEM, Zeta Potential, UV-vis, XPS, FTIR, and CD Spectroscopy. The temperature optimization studies suggested the synthesis of stable AgcPCNPs at 40 °C while at higher temperature system shows aggregated appearance. Molecular docking studies predicted the exclusive interaction of C, D, I, and J chains of cPC with the surface of AgNPs. Moreover, AgcPCNPs significantly (p < 0.1 %) counteract the toxic nature of AgNPs on red blood cell by measuring parameters like total RBC count, % hemolysis, % hematocrit, coagulation time, pH, electrolyte concentrations and degree of blood cell lipid peroxidation by the anti-oxidation mechanism. Skin fibroblast in vitro cell migration result suggeststhat AgcPCNPs enhanced the degree of cell movement towards the wound area. Data obtained collectively demonstrate that AgcPCNPs can be a better agent in the dermal wound healing with reduced toxicity with the bi-phasic advantage of cPC as a wound healer and Ag nano-metal as an anti-bacterial agent.


Application of a monoclonal antibody for the detection of Trichosporon beigelii in paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
Trichosporon beigelii is a normal inhabitant of soil and is occasionally found as normal flora of the skin and mouth. Opportunistic infection by this fungus has been increasingly reported in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of this infection depends on positive cultures or histological evidence. However, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish this fungus from Candida species in tissue section. We have generated two monoclonal antibodies that can distinguish T. beigelii from other fungi including several species of Candida. One of these antibodies (K-16) reacts with T. beigelii in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and will be useful as an aid to the accurate diagnosis of trichosporonosis.


Coordination compounds of bis(5-tetrazolyl)amine with manganese(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II): synthesis, structure and magnetic properties.
Six coordination compounds of bis(5-tetrazolyl)amine (H2bta) with different metal ions, M{M3(mu3-X)(bta)3(H2O)6}2] (X = OH for M = Mn(II) 1, and Cd(II) 2; X = F for M = Mn(II) 3), [Mn(bta)(H2O)3].0.5H2O (4), [Zn(bta)(NH3)2]0.5H2O (5) and [Zn(Hbta)2(H2O)2]H2O (6) have been described. The compounds were synthesized using one-pot hydrothermal methods involving the in situ generation of the ligand from dicyanamide and azide (1-4, 6), or by the methods using the pre-synthesized H2bta ligand (4, 5). The bta ligand in 1-3 assumes the mu3 tetradentate mode with both 1,2- and 1,4-tetrazole bridges, generating an unusual 2D layer, in which [M3(mu3-X)] triangular motifs act as three-connecting nodes and the mononuclear motifs acting as six-connecting nodes that are inter-linked by the ligands. The 2D layer in 1 and 3 represents a novel type of a geometrically spin-frustrated lattice. Both 4 and 5 consist of co-crystallized binuclear motifs and 1D polymeric chain motifs, which arise from two different mu2 tridentate bridging modes of bta with 1,2- and 1,4-tetrazole bridges, respectively. In 6, the mono-anionic Hbta ligands chelate Zn in the non-bridging bidentate mode to generate mononuclear molecules, which are assembled through extended hydrogen bonds to generate a 3D architecture with a ten-connected net topology. Magnetic investigations revealed that interactions through the different bridges in 3 and 4 are all antiferromagnetic, and also confirmed that 3 is a geometrically-frustrated antiferromagnet (T(N) = 2.5 K).


Noninvasive assessment of collagen gel microstructure and mechanics using multiphoton microscopy.
Multiphoton microscopy of collagen hydrogels produces second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon fluorescence (TPF) images, which can be used to noninvasively study gel microstructure at depth ( approximately 1 mm). The microstructure is also a primary determinate of the mechanical properties of the gel; thus, we hypothesized that bulk optical properties (i.e., SHG and TPF) could be used to predict bulk mechanical properties of collagen hydrogels. We utilized polymerization temperature (4-37 degrees C) and glutaraldehyde to manipulate collagen hydrogel fiber diameter, space-filling properties, and cross-link density. Multiphoton microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveal that as polymerization temperature decreases (37-4 degrees C) fiber diameter and pore size increase, whereas hydrogel storage modulus (G', from 23 +/- 3 Pa to 0.28 +/- 0.16 Pa, respectively, mean +/- SE) and mean SHG decrease (minimal change in TPF). In contrast, glutaraldehyde significantly increases the mean TPF signal (without impacting the SHG signal) and the storage modulus (16 +/- 3.5 Pa before to 138 +/- 40 Pa after cross-linking, mean +/- SD). We conclude that SHG and TPF can characterize differential microscopic features of the collagen hydrogel that are strongly correlated with bulk mechanical properties. Thus, optical imaging may be a useful noninvasive tool to assess tissue mechanics.


The nutcracker syndrome: new methods of diagnosis and treatment.
To study the pathophysiology of the nutcracker syndrome and to describe a new method of treatment. Computerized tomography (CT) was used to compare the anatomical relations of the left renal vein with the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery in three patients with the nutcracker syndrome and in a control group of 12 healthy kidney donors. Abnormal branching of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta was identified as the cause of the nutcracker syndrome. Two patients were treated by autotransplantation of the left kidney, while the third refused surgery. In the treated patients haematuria ceased 4 and 6 weeks after surgery. Postoperative excretory urography and repeated isotopic studies revealed perfect configuration and function of the autotransplanted kidneys. The patients remain asymptomatic 6 and 12 months after surgery. In patients with haematuria from the left kidney, angiographic CT must be considered before phlebography and pressure measurement of the left renal vein. If the diagnosis of the nutcracker syndrome is established, autotransplantation of the left kidney is a treatment alternative.


The role of length of nerve exposed to local anesthetics in impulse blocking action.
The quantitative relation between the concentration of local anesthetic (LA), the length of nerve exposed, and severity of conduction blockade was studied with use of a chamber where exposure length was varied as the concentration of lidocaine was held constant. Recordings of the compound action potential and of single axons established that small variations in the length of nerve exposed to LA strongly modulate conduction block even at exposure lengths in excess of 2 cm. Therefore, exposure length is a significant factor in determining blocking potency, and only at very high concentrations of LA, where voltage-dependent Na conductance is almost completely blocked, is the critical exposure length less than three nodes of Ranvier. The concentration required for 50% block of impulses in single fibers (that is, where 50% of the impulses would fail to propagate through the exposed region of the nerve) diminished as the exposed length of nerve increased, approximately halving as exposure length was changed from 6 mm to 15-25 mm. Conduction latency increased with the exposure length becoming sharply more variable as the critical exposure length for conduction block was approached. The results are consistent with the hypothesis of decremental conduction, where a partial active response in nodes exposed to marginal blocking concentrations extends the decay of the action potential along the axon, and do not support the interpretation that lengths of several centimeters affect blocking concentration because such distances increase the probability that three nodes will be blocked in succession. This study contradicts the broader common assumption that beyond three nodes, the length of nerve exposed is not a factor in nerve block with local anesthetics.


Prevalence of Protective Shielding Utilization for Radiation Dose Reduction in Adult Patients Undergoing Body Scanning Using Computed Tomography.
Ionizing radiation is implicated in nearly 2% of malignancies in the United States; radiation shields prevent unnecessary radiation exposure during medical imaging. Contemporary radiation shield utilization for adult patients in the United States is poorly defined. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of protective shielding utilization in adult patients undergoing CT scans in United States' hospitals. An online survey was sent to established radiology departments randomly selected from the 2015 American Hospital Association Guide. Radiology departments conducting adult CT imaging were eligible; among 370 eligible departments, 215 departments accepted the study participation request. Questions focused on shielding practices during CT imaging of the eyes, thyroid, breasts, and gonads. Prevalence data were stratified per hospital location, size, and type. Main outcomes included overall protective shielding utilization, respondents' belief and knowledge regarding radiation safety, and organ-specific shielding prevalence. Sixty-seven of 215 (31%) hospitals completed the survey; 66 (99%) reported familiarity with the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle and 56 (84%) affirmed their belief that shielding is beneficial. Only 60% of hospitals employed shielding during CT imaging; among these institutions, shielding varied based on CT study: abdominopelvic CT (13, 33%), head CT (33, 83%), or chest CT (30, 75%). Among surveyed hospitals, 40% do not utilize CT shielding despite the majority acknowledging the ALARA principle and agreeing that shielding is a beneficial practice. Failure to address the low prevalence of protective shielding may lead to poor community health due to increased risk of radiation-related cancers.


Characterization of Juvenile Hormone Related Genes Regulating Cantharidin Biosynthesis in Epicauta chinensis.
Cantharidin is a defensive toxin biosynthesized by blister beetles. It is well known for medical applications and toxicity. However, the biosynthesis process of cantharidin is still not well understood. In the present study, three genes (methyl farnesoate epoxidase (EcMFE), juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (EcJHAMT) and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (EcJHEH)) were identified from Epicauta chinensis. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of these three genes revealed that the expression levels of EcMFE and EcJHEH were high in the first instar larval stage of E. chinensis with EcJHEH transcripts highest in the fifth larval instar. The expression level of EcJHAMT was significantly higher in the 2nd and 3rd larval instars. The transcripts of EcMFE, EcJHEH and EcJHAMT showed a similar tendency with the cantharidin production in male blister beetles after mating. We verified the functions of these three genes in cantharidin biosynthesis using the RNA interference method. Interference of EcMFE and EcJHEH significantly inhibited the biosynthesis of cantharidin in male E. chinensis after mating, but interference of EcJHAMT has no apparent influence on cantharidin biosynthesis. We propose that EcMFE and EcJHEH may be involved in the biosynthesis of cantharidin, but JH III might not be the direct precursor of cantharidin.


Study of nonsteady diffusional growth of a droplet in a supersaturated vapor: treatment of the moving boundary and material balance.
A new mathematical treatment of the problem of droplet growth via diffusion of molecules from a supersaturated vapor is presented. The theory is based on a semiquantitative analysis with good physical arguments and is justified by its reasonable predictions. For example it recovers the time honored growth law in which, to a high degree of approximation, the droplet radius increases with the square root of time. Also, to a high degree of approximation, it preserves material balance such that, at any time, the number of molecules lost from the vapor equals the number in the droplet. Estimates of the remaining approximational error are provided. On another issue, we show that, in contrast, the conventional treatment of droplet growth does not maintain material balance. This issue could be especially important for the nucleation of another droplet in the vicinity of the growing droplet where the rate of nucleation depends exponentially on supersaturation. Suggestions for further improvement of rigor are discussed.


[Study on the effect of NaFeEDTA on preventing lead poisoning in rats and its impact on zinc, copper].
In order to explore the effect of sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) on preventing rats from lead poisoning and reducing the lead toxicity, and at the same time to explore its impact on zinc and copper, sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups including blank control group, model control group, positive control group and three different level NaFeEDTA (high, middle and low) groups. With the exception of the blank control group, which only received double distilled water treatment throughout the experiment, all the other rats were continuously treated with lead solution. At the same time, with the exception of the blank and model control groups, the other four groups were treated with acidi dimercaptosuccinici (DMSA), high, middle and low level NaFeEDTA solutions respectively. At the end of the study, several indicators were determined. The results showed that the hemoglobin levels in the three different level NaFeEDTA groups were significantly higher than those of the other four groups and at the same time the lead levels in blood and organs were lower than those of model group significantly. There were significant reverse correlations between iron supplement and the lead levels in liver, kidney and tibia among the three different level NaFeEDTA groups, and the correlation coefficients were -0.4432, -0.6134 and -0.3878 respectively. There were no significant differences in zinc levels and copper levels between the three level NaFeEDTA groups and the negative control group except the brain zinc levels in the middle and high level NaFeEDTA groups were lower and the kidney copper level in the low level NaFeEDTA group was higher than those of the model control group. It is concluded that the NaFeEDTA can effectively improve hemoglobin level, prevent rats from lead poisoning and reduce the lead toxicity. At the same time, NaFeEDTA does not have significant influence on zinc and copper levels in rats.


Neonatal Palliative Care as an Integral Component of the Greek National Healthcare System: Time to Act.
Neonatal palliative care aims to provide multidisciplinary support to families and neonates suffering from life-threatening or life-limiting diseases. Many countries worldwide have recognized the importance of enhancing the quality of life in critically ill neonates and thus have created and systematically implemented palliative care protocols in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Europe has a very low neonatal mortality rate, which has been steadily decreasing over the last 30 years. Greece in particular, a country located in Southeast Europe, reported a neonatal mortality rate of 2.29/1,000 live births in 2020. Nevertheless, neonatal palliative care facilities are scarce on a national level. In this paper, several reasons are presented to support the integration of neonatal palliative care in the Greek national healthcare system with the vision to ensure that all neonates and their families will receive in the near future the care, support, and dignity they deserve when facing life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.


Vascular endothelial cells and hematopoietic regulation.
Vascular endothelial cells elaborate growth factors which support the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Both the regulation and potential biological significance of growth factor production by endothelial cells are reviewed.


Glycolate and glyoxylate metabolism in HepG2 cells.
Oxalate synthesis in human hepatocytes is not well defined despite the clinical significance of its overproduction in diseases such as the primary hyperoxalurias. To further define these steps, the metabolism to oxalate of the oxalate precursors glycolate and glyoxylate and the possible pathways involved were examined in HepG2 cells. These cells were found to contain oxalate, glyoxylate, and glycolate as intracellular metabolites and to excrete oxalate and glycolate into the medium. Glycolate was taken up more effectively by cells than glyoxylate, but glyoxylate was more efficiently converted to oxalate. Oxalate was formed from exogenous glycolate only when cells were exposed to high concentrations. Peroxisomes in HepG2 cells, in contrast to those in human hepatocytes, were not involved in glycolate metabolism. Incubations with purified lactate dehydrogenase suggested that this enzyme was responsible for the metabolism of glycolate to oxalate in HepG2 cells. The formation of 14C-labeled glycine from 14C-labeled glycolate was observed only when cell membranes were permeabilized with Triton X-100. These results imply that peroxisome permeability to glycolate is restricted in these cells. Mitochondria, which produce glyoxylate from hydroxyproline metabolism, contained both alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT)2 and glyoxylate reductase activities, which can convert glyoxylate to glycine and glycolate, respectively. Expression of AGT2 mRNA in HepG2 cells was confirmed by RT-PCR. These results indicate that HepG2 cells will be useful in clarifying the nonperoxisomal metabolism associated with oxalate synthesis in human hepatocytes.


Mathematical Analysis of Glioma Growth in a Murine Model.
Five immunocompetent C57BL/6-cBrd/cBrd/Cr (albino C57BL/6) mice were injected with GL261-luc2 cells, a cell line sharing characteristics of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The mice were imaged using magnetic resonance (MR) at five separate time points to characterize growth and development of the tumor. After 25 days, the final tumor volumes of the mice varied from 12 mm3 to 62 mm3, even though mice were inoculated from the same tumor cell line under carefully controlled conditions. We generated hypotheses to explore large variances in final tumor size and tested them with our simple reaction-diffusion model in both a 3-dimensional (3D) finite difference method and a 2-dimensional (2D) level set method. The parameters obtained from a best-fit procedure, designed to yield simulated tumors as close as possible to the observed ones, vary by an order of magnitude between the three mice analyzed in detail. These differences may reflect morphological and biological variability in tumor growth, as well as errors in the mathematical model, perhaps from an oversimplification of the tumor dynamics or nonidentifiability of parameters. Our results generate parameters that match other experimental in vitro and in vivo measurements. Additionally, we calculate wave speed, which matches with other rat and human measurements.


Clinical diagnostic practice reviewed. A comparison of clinical and RDC diagnoses.
A total of 368 clinical diagnoses were given to 298 patients hospitalized in two Swiss psychiatric institutions during the years 1960-1981. Clinical charts of these patients were scrutinized and all patients were diagnosed anew using the Research Diagnostic Criteria. The clinical diagnoses, strongly influenced by Bleuler and expressed in ICD-9 nomenclature, as well as the diagnoses obtained with the help of RDC, were compared with each other. Considerable differences were found regarding the diagnostic agreement in different diagnostic categories investigated. The most important finding of the study is a tendency to overdiagnose schizophrenic disorders clinically to the disadvantage of affective - mainly depressive - disorders and to overvalue the schizophrenic as compared with the affective - first of all depressive - symptomatology, respectively. This finding may have practical therapeutic consequences.


Membrane Trafficking Protein CDP138 Regulates Fat Browning and Insulin Sensitivity through Controlling Catecholamine Release.
CDP138 is a calcium- and lipid-binding protein that is involved in membrane trafficking. Here, we report that mice without CDP138 develop obesity under normal chow diet (NCD) or high-fat diet (HFD) conditions. CDP138-/- mice have lower energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, and body temperature than wild-type (WT) mice. CDP138 is exclusively expressed in adrenal medulla and is colocalized with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a marker of sympathetic nervous terminals, in the inguinal fat. Compared with WT controls, CDP138-/- mice had altered catecholamine levels in circulation, adrenal gland, and inguinal fat. Adrenergic signaling on cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) phosphorylation induced by cold challenge but not by an exogenous β3 adrenoceptor against CL316243 were decreased in adipose tissues of CDP138-/- mice. Cold-induced beige fat browning, fatty acid oxidation, thermogenesis, and related gene expression were reduced in CDP138-/- mice. CDP138-/- mice are also prone to HFD-induced insulin resistance, as assessed by Akt phosphorylation and glucose transport in skeletal muscles. Our data indicate that CDP138 is a regulator of stress response and plays a significant role in adipose tissue browning, energy balance, and insulin sensitivity through regulating catecholamine secretion from the sympathetic nervous terminals and adrenal gland.


Indolizine-Squaraines: NIR Fluorescent Materials with Molecularly Engineered Stokes Shifts.
The development of deep red and near infrared emissive materials with high quantum yields is an important challenge. Several classes of squaraine dyes have demonstrated high quantum yields, but require significantly red-shifted absorptions to access the NIR window. Additionally, squaraine dyes have typically shown narrow Stokes shifts, which limits their use in living biological imaging applications due to dye emission interference with the light source. Through the incorporation of indolizine heterocycles we have synthesized novel indolizine squaraine dyes with increased Stokes shifts (up to >0.119 eV, >50 nm increase) and absorptions substantially further into the NIR region than an indoline squaraine benchmark (726 nm versus 659 nm absorption maxima). These materials have shown significantly enhanced water solubility, which is unique for squaraine dyes without water-solubilizing substituents. Absorption, electrochemical, computational, and fluorescence studies were undertaken and exceptional fluorescence quantum yields of up 12 % were observed with emission curves extending beyond 850 nm.


Potentially useful criteria for judging nutritional adequacy.
Four different diets designed to be of differing quality were fed to large groups of male weanling rats. These diets were: diet C consisting of commercial Rat Chow: diet CG, the same diet diluted with 70% glucose calories, diet A, a simulated "American" diet made up of 25 widely used foods, diet AS, the same diet supplemented with small amounts of 25 vitamins and minerals. The rats on these four diets were observed for 69 days under different circumstances and treatments to ascertain the existence of hitherto unused criteria which might advantageously be applied in nutritional studies. Among the less traditional criteria found to be significantly affected by the diet were: 1) voluntary consumption of food, 2) sleeping time after anesthesia, 3) weight gains after surgery, 4) healing time after surgery, 5) hair growth after clipping, 6) voluntary sugar consumption, and 7) recovery time after cyanide poisoning. These findings suggest that there are probably many other unexplored criteria which could be used advantageously in nutritional experimentation.


Genome Editing of Expanded CTG Repeats within the Human DMPK Gene Reduces Nuclear RNA Foci in the Muscle of DM1 Mice.
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by a CTG repeat expansion located in the 3' UTR of the DMPK gene. Expanded DMPK transcripts aggregate into nuclear foci and alter the function of RNA-binding proteins, leading to defects in the alternative splicing of numerous pre-mRNAs. To date, there is no curative treatment for DM1. Here we investigated a gene-editing strategy using the CRISPR-Cas9 system from Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) to delete the CTG repeats in the human DMPK locus. Co-expression of SaCas9 and selected pairs of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) in cultured DM1 patient-derived muscle line cells carrying 2,600 CTG repeats resulted in targeted DNA deletion, ribonucleoprotein foci disappearance, and correction of splicing abnormalities in various transcripts. Furthermore, a single intramuscular injection of recombinant AAV vectors expressing CRISPR-SaCas9 components in the tibialis anterior muscle of DMSXL (myotonic dystrophy mouse line carrying the human DMPK gene with >1,000 CTG repeats) mice decreased the number of pathological RNA foci in myonuclei. These results establish the proof of concept that genome editing of a large trinucleotide expansion is feasible in muscle and may represent a useful strategy to be further developed for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy.


miR-434 and miR-242 have a potential role in heat stress response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are being extensively studied as they function as key metabolic regulators which play a role in the heat stress response. However, the role of miRNAs in heat stress remains uncertain and many new miRNAs have not yet been discovered. In a previous study, we performed high-throughput sequencing of differentially expressed miRNAs identified on exposing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to heat stress (18 vs. 24°C), which led to the identification of two novel miRNAs, temporarily named novel miR-434 and -242. The differential expression level of these miRNAs was extremely significant (P < 0.01); we analysed target gene mRNA transcripts by bioinformatics software (miRanda). We found novel miR-434 and -242 were predicted to regulate the transcripts of heat shock 70-kDa protein 4-like (HSPA4L) and calreticulin (CRT), respectively, by bioinformatics software. Here our core objective was to validate if HSPA4L and CRT are indeed the target genes of novel miR-434 and -242, respectively, and for this purpose we used the dual-luciferase reporter assay system. Target gene sequences were synthesized and cloned into a dual-luciferase vector. To better understand the function of the target genes, we combined the previous sequencing results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. We found that novel miR-434 regulated HSPA4L expression by binding to a putative binding site in the 3'-UTR of HSPA4L, and luciferase activity inhibition was observed. In contrast, novel miR-242 was not involved in regulating CRT expression. To conclude, we believe our results should serve as a foundation for future studies aiming to comprehensively understand the mechanisms used by rainbow trout to cope with heat stress.


The Demand for Disaster Microinsurance for Small Businesses in Urban Slums: The Results of Surveys in Three Indian Cities.
Small informal businesses make up the core markets for many poor urban communities, providing essential goods, services, and livelihoods. Many of these communities and businesses exist in hazardous locations. In most cases, these business owners do not have access to proper coping mechanisms including risk transfer and lack resilience to shocks. Access to risk-transfer in the form of insurance for these small businesses is extremely limited. This demand survey is the first phase of an intervention to test disaster microinsurance for these businesses. Previous research has examined the demand for and value of microinsurance to protect poor households but not micro- and medium-sized informal urban businesses. This study investigates knowledge about and demand for microinsurance among small informal business owners in three different cities of India. Survey of all informal business owners (n=4919) identified through purposive sampling of the most vulnerable in three proposed study sites: Guwahati in Assam (n=1622), Puri in Odisha (n=1551) and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu (n=1746). Our findings reflect that while small business owners largely did not know about disaster microinsurance, after describing it, a vast majority wanted to subscribe to such a program. Without it, they often rely on personal savings, forgo basic necessities, or take out costly loans that trap them in debt to cope with disasters. This research supports the need for more experiments on actual adoption patterns, feasibility studies, and innovative trial programs by governments, non-governmental organizations, and insurance providers.


Early peripheral blood blast clearance during induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia predicts superior relapse-free survival.
In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a rapid decline of circulating leukemic blasts in response to induction chemotherapy or prednisone is one of the most important prognostic factors, not only for achieving remission but also for relapse-free survival (RFS). However, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) parameters of chemosensitivity have been restricted mainly to the rapidity of achievement of complete remission (CR) or the assessment of residual leukemic bone marrow blasts during aplasia. We hypothesized that the time to circulating peripheral blood blast clearance, as a potential surrogate for in vivo chemosensitivity, would have prognostic relevance in AML also. In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 86 adult patients with AML receiving uniform induction and consolidation chemotherapy, we demonstrate that the time to clearance of circulating blasts during induction chemotherapy is an independent prognostic marker of RFS, superseding other known or established risk factors, including karyotype and number of inductions to achieve CR.


CD34-positive cell yield in peripheral blood of cancer patients during radiation therapy.
For the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of inducing CD34-positive cells in peripheral blood by radiation therapy, we examined the changes in CD34-positive cells in 21 cancer patients (16 with lung cancer and five with esophageal cancer) during thoracic radiotherapy using flow cytometry and CD34 monoclonal antibody. Although assays of granulocyte-colony-forming units (G-CFU) and granulocyte-monocyte-colony-forming units (GM-CFU) were also performed for 16 of the patients during radiation therapy, in most of these cases there was approximately one G-CFU or GM-CFU for every 100 CD34-positive cells. Seven of the 21 cancer patients showed percentages of CD34-positive cells of more than 3% (more than mean + 2 S.D.; standard deviation) of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood in at least one of the examinations. However, six of these seven patients were in stage IV with distant metastases (four with lung cancer and two with esophageal cancer), and another lung cancer patient was in stage III. Therefore, CD-34 positive cells were shown to appear in peripheral blood especially in the patients with advanced stages of malignancy, and further examinations are needed to induce CD34-positive cells by radiation therapy for possible application of ultra-high dose chemotherapy supported by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.


[Activation of macrophages by lymphocyte mediators (author's transl)].
Recent publications dealing with the activation of macrophage by lymphocyte mediators have been reviewed. Essential data refer to the characterisation of two MIFs, the identity of MIF and MAF, the fucogangliosidic nature of the MIF receptors on macrophage, the biochemical changes and the functional alterations of the activated macrophage and the appearance of new antigen determinants on activated macrophage.


Dietary iron restriction improves aminotransferase levels in chronic hepatitis C patients.
It is generally accepted that iron overload plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver cell injury in chronic hepatitis C. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether low-iron diet improves liver function tests in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Seventeen patients with chronic hepatitis C (13 men and 4 women, 54 +/- 14 years old) that did not respond to, or were unsuitable for interferon therapy, were enrolled in this study. All patients had been pretreated with ursodeoxycholic acid for more than 12 months before the beginning of the study. Dietary iron intake was restricted to less than 7 mg/day, and the patients were followed up for 18 months. Mean daily iron intakes, calculated from food records, were 5.9 and 6.4 mg after 6 and 12 months, respectively. The mean serum ferritin decreased significantly from 362 ng/mL at entry to 179 ng/mL after 18 months. The serum unsaturated iron binding capacity level increased significantly from 163 micrograms/dL at entry to 203 micrograms/dL after 18 months. The serum aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly from 62 IU/L at entry to 47 IU/L after 18 months, and serum alanine aminotransferase from 68 IU/L at entry to 53 IU/L after 18 months. Serum iron, hepatitis C virus-RNA titer and platelet count remained unchanged throughout the study. These results suggest that iron-restricted diet may be an important therapeutic modality for improving liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C.


Resting Is Rusting: A Critical View on Rodent Wheel-Running Behavior.
Physical exercise is known to exert various beneficial effects on brain function and bodily health throughout life. In biomedical research, these effects are widely studied by introducing running wheels into the cages of laboratory rodents. Yet, although rodents start to run in the wheels immediately, and perform wheel-running excessively on a voluntary basis, the biological significance of wheel-running is still not clear. Here, we review the current literature on wheel-running and discuss potentially negative side-effects that may give cause for concern. We particularly emphasize on analogies of wheel-running with stereotypic and addictive behavior to stimulate further research on this topic.


Attitudes and opinions regarding confirmatory adaptive clinical trials: a mixed methods analysis from the Adaptive Designs Accelerating Promising Trials into Treatments (ADAPT-IT) project.
Adaptive designs have been increasingly used in the pharmaceutical and device industries, but adoption within the academic setting has been less widespread - particularly for confirmatory phase trials. We sought to understand perceptions about understanding, acceptability, and scientific validity of adaptive clinical trials (ACTs). We used a convergent mixed methods design using survey and mini-focus group data collection procedures to elucidate attitudes and opinions among "trial community" stakeholders regarding understanding, acceptability, efficiency, scientific validity, and speed of discovery with adaptive designs. Data were collected about various aspects of ACTs using self-administered surveys (paper or Web-based) with visual analog scales (VASs) with free text responses and with mini-focus groups of key stakeholders. Participants were recruited as part of an ongoing NIH/FDA-funded research project exploring the incorporation of ACTs into an existing NIH network that focuses on confirmatory phase clinical trials in neurological emergencies. "Trial community" representatives, namely, clinical investigators, biostatisticians, NIH officials, and FDA scientists involved in the planning of four clinical trials, were eligible to participate. In addition, recent and current members of a clinical trial-oriented NIH study section were also eligible. A total of 76 stakeholders completed the survey (out of 91 who were offered it, response rate 84 %). While the VAS attitudinal data showed substantial variability across respondents about acceptability and understanding of ACTs by various constituencies, respondents perceived clinicians to be less likely to understand ACTs and that ACTs probably would increase the efficiency of discovery. Textual and focus group responses emerged into several themes that enhanced understanding of VAS attitudinal data including the following: acceptability of adaptive designs depends on constituency and situation; there is variable understanding of ACTs (limited among clinicians, perceived to be higher at FDA); views about the potential for efficiency depend on the situation and implementation. Participants also frequently mentioned a need for greater education within the academic community. Finally, the empiric, non-quantitative selection of treatments for phase III trials based on limited phase II trials was highlighted as an opportunity for improvement and a potential explanation for the high number of neutral confirmatory trials. These data show considerable variations in attitudes and beliefs about ACTs among trial community representatives. For adaptive trials to be fully considered when appropriate and for the research enterprise to realize the full potential of adaptive designs will likely require extensive experience and trust building within the trial community.


Micropatterning of Multiple Photonic Colloidal Crystal Gels for Flexible Structural Color Films.
We herein report the micropatterning of flexible multiple photonic colloidal crystal gels (PCCGs) using single-layered microchannels. These patterned PCCGs exhibit structural colors that can be tuned by adjustment of the diameter and concentration of the colloidal particles in precursor solutions of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) or polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). The precursor solutions containing dispersed colloidal particles were selectively injected into single-layered microchannels where they polymerized rapidly. The shape, density, and height of the patterned PCCG pixels were determined by the microchannels, which in turn determined the optical properties of the PCCG arrays. Furthermore, the preparation of three different types of PCCGs exhibiting three different structural colors at a high pixel density was demonstrated successfully using the single-layered polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels. Finally, the optical reflective properties and the mechanical flexibility of the patterned multiple PCCG arrays were evaluated. We expect that our method for the preparation of such patterned PCCG arrays will contribute to the development of flexible optical devices.


Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promotes atherosclerosis in high-fat diet rabbits.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to improve the function of infarcted heart, but its effects on atherosclerosis are unclear. Here we examined the effects and the potential mechanisms in the high-fat diet rabbit model. Six-month-old male New Zealand white rabbits, fed a high-cholesterol diet or a normal diet for 10 weeks, were treated with vehicle or G-CSF. G-CSF increased lesion area in the thoracic aorta and the plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) at the early phase in the high-fat diet group. High-fat diet-induced arterial endothelium damage and apoptosis were greatly aggravated by G-CSF treatment. In vivo, G-CSF impaired apoptosis induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) but it had little effect on cultured endothelial cells (ECs) with vehicle treatment. Further research revealed that G-CSF promoted the upregulation of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) of thoracic aortae induced by a high-fat diet. In vitro, the effects of G-CSF on expression of ET-1 and eNOS in cultured ECs were consistent with those in vivo. Our results suggested that G-CSF exacerbates lipid abnormity and endothelium damage in hyperlipidemia rabbits, thereby resulting in the deterioration of atherosclerosis and that the ET-1/eNOS system may regulate the progression.


Polymers as advanced antibacterial and antibiofilm agents for direct and combination therapies.
The growing prevalence of antimicrobial drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a critical threat to global health. Conventional antibiotics still play a crucial role in treating bacterial infections, but the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms are rapidly eroding their usefulness. Cationic polymers, which target bacterial membranes, are thought to be the last frontier in antibacterial development. This class of molecules possesses several advantages including a low propensity for emergence of resistance and rapid bactericidal effect. This review surveys the structure-activity of advanced antimicrobial cationic polymers, including poly(α-amino acids), β-peptides, polycarbonates, star polymers and main-chain cationic polymers, with low toxicity and high selectivity to potentially become useful for real applications. Their uses as potentiating adjuvants to overcome bacterial membrane-related resistance mechanisms and as antibiofilm agents are also covered. The review is intended to provide valuable information for design and development of cationic polymers as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents for translational applications.


The platelet Fc receptor, FcγRIIa.
Human platelets express FcγRIIa, the low-affinity receptor for the constant fragment (Fc) of immunoglobulin (Ig) G that is also found on neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. Engagement of this receptor on platelets by immune complexes triggers intracellular signaling events that lead to platelet activation and aggregation. Importantly these events occur in vivo, particularly in response to pathological immune complexes, and engagement of this receptor on platelets has been causally linked to disease pathology. In this review, we will highlight some of the key features of this receptor in the context of the platelet surface, and examine the functions of platelet FcγRIIa in normal hemostasis and in response to injury and infection. This review will also highlight pathological consequences of engagement of this receptor in platelet-based autoimmune disorders. Finally, we present some new data investigating whether levels of the extracellular ligand-binding region of platelet glycoprotein VI which is rapidly shed upon engagement of platelet FcγRIIa by autoantibodies, can report on the presence of pathological anti-heparin/platelet factor 4 immune complexes and thus identify patients with pathological autoantibodies who are at the greatest risk of developing life-threatening thrombosis in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.


Role of gregarine parasite Ascogregarina culicis (Apicomplexa: Lecudinidae) in the maintenance of Chikungunya virus in vector mosquito.
Ascogregarina culicis and Ascogregarina taiwanensis are common gregarine parasites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, respectively. These mosquito species are also known to transmit dengue and Chikungunya viruses. The sporozoites of these parasites invade the midgut epithelial cells and develop intracellularly and extracellularly in the gut to complete their life cycles. The midgut is also the primary site for virus replication in the vector mosquitoes. Therefore, studies were carried out with a view to determine the possible role of these gregarines in the vertical transmission of dengue and Chikungunya viruses from larval to adult stage. Experiments were performed by exposing first instar mosquito larvae to suspensions containing parasite oocysts and viruses. Since Ascogregarina sporozoites invade the midgut of first instar larvae, the vertical transmission was determined by feeding the uninfected first instar larvae on the freshly prepared homogenates from mosquitoes, which were dually infected with viruses and the parasite oocysts. Similarly, the role of protozoan parasites in the vertical transmission of viruses was determined by exposing fresh first instar larvae to the dried pellets of homogenates prepared from the mosquitoes dually infected with viruses and the parasite oocysts. Direct vertical transmission and the vertical transmission of CHIK virus through the oocyst of the parasites were observed in the case of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. It is suggested that As. culicis may have an important role in the maintenance of CHIK virus during the inter-epidemic period.


Two-criteria optimisation problem for ventral hernia repair.
Two-criteria optimisation problem related to laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is formulated in this paper. An optimal implant from a given set and its orientation is sought. The implant is subjected to kinematic extortions due to a patient's body movement and intra-abdominal pressure. The first criterion of the optimisation problem deals with the reaction force in the implant fastener, while the deflection of the implant constitutes the second criterion. A two-stage optimization procedure is proposed and the optimal solution is determined with the aid of minimization of an additional objective function. Numerical examples for typical locations of hernia are provided.


The role of chalcones: helichrysetin, xanthohumol, and flavokawin-C in promoting neurite outgrowth in PC12 Adh cells.
Chalcones are a group of compounds widely distributed in plant kingdom. The aim of this study was to assess the neurite outgrowth stimulatory activity of selected chalcones, namely helichrysetin, xanthohumol and flavokawin-C. Using adherent rat pheochromocytoma (PC12 Adh) cells, the chalcones were subjected to neurite outgrowth assay and the extracellular nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were determined. Xanthohumol (10 μg/mL) displayed the highest (p < 0.05) percentage of neurite-bearing PC12 Adh cells and the highest (p < 0.05) NGF level in the culture medium of xanthohumol-treated cells. While, helichrysetin induced a moderately high numbers of neurite-bearing cells, flavokawin-C did not stimulate neurite outgrowth. This work supports the potential use of xanthohumol as a potential neuroactive compound to stimulate neurite outgrowth.


Generative adversarial network based regularized image reconstruction for PET.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is an ill-posed inverse problem and suffers high noise due to limited number of detected events. Prior information can be used to improve the quality of reconstructed PET images. Deep neural networks have also been applied to regularized image reconstruction. One method is to use a pretrained denoising neural network to represent the PET image and to perform a constrained maximum likelihood estimation. In this work, we propose to use a generative adversarial network (GAN) to further improve the network performance. We also modify the objective function to include a data-matching term on the network input. Experimental studies using computer-based Monte Carlo simulations and real patient datasets demonstrate that the proposed method leads to noticeable improvements over the kernel-based and U-net-based regularization methods in terms of lesion contrast recovery versus background noise trade-offs.


A vector-based system for the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells toward germ-line cells.
To culture the in vitro mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and to direct their differentiation to germ-line cells; in present study we used a vector backbone containing the fusion construct Stra8-EGFP to select differentiated ES cells that entered meiosis. Retinoic acid was used to differentiate embryonic stem cells to germ cells. A fragment of Stra8 gene promoter (-1400 to +7) was inserted in ScaI/HindIII multiple cloning site of pEGFP-1 vector. The electroporation was done on embryonic stem cells and positive colonies were selected as puromycin-resistant after three weeks of treatment with puromycin. All-trans retinoic acid (RA) was used for differentiation of mESCs at final concentration of 10(-)5M. The expression of protamine 1 (Prm1) gene was checked as post meiotic marker in differentiated mESCs after 5, 10, 15, 21 and 30 days after RA induction. The PCR amplification by specific primers for Stra8-EGFP fusion gene was detected in DNA sample from mESCs after electroporation and puromycin treatment. GFP-positive mESC colonies were observed after 72 hr RA induction. The protamine 1 gene was expressed after 21 days of RA induction. In this study, we demonstrated the in vitro generation of mouse embryonic stem cells to germ cells by using a backbone vector containing the fusion gene Stra8-EGFP. The Stra8 gene is a retinoic acid-responsive protein and is able to regulate meiotic initiation.


Distribution for the number of coauthors.
We study the coauthorship distribution by analyzing the number of coauthors on each paper published in Physical Review Letters and Physical Review for the last decade. We propose that the structure of the distribution can be understood as the result of a two-parameter Poisson process. We develop a dynamic model of dual mechanisms to simulate the personal and group collaborations. In this model, the single-author papers are portrayed as a leftover from the collaboration process. We also comment on the huge collaborations involving hundreds of coauthors.


A randomized, controlled trial of linopirdine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
We tested the efficacy and safety of linopirdine, a novel phenylindolinone, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial of linopirdine (30 mg three times per day or placebo). Patients (n = 382, 55% male, 98% Caucasian, age range 51-95 years) with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease, of whom 375 received at least one treatment dose were analysed. There were no important differences between the groups at baseline. No difference was seen in Clinical Global Impression scores between patients receiving placebo and those receiving linopirdine (n = 189). Small differences in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) scores were seen throughout the study favouring linopirdine; at 6 months the ADAS-Cog scores were 20.2 (linopirdine) and 22.1 (placebo) p = 0.01. This trial did not detect clinically meaningful differences in patients receiving linopirdine for 6 months, despite evidence of a small degree of improved cognitive function. Further studies may benefit from more sensitive tests of treatment effects in Alzheimer's disease.


Treatment of enophthalmos using corrective osteotomy with concomitant cartilage-graft implantation.
Post-traumatic enophthalmos is a relatively common problem following orbitozygomatic fractures. Bony-volume expansion and soft-tissue atrophication are considered the main aetiological causes of this condition. Although most surgeons are familiar with the treatment principles in this field, inadequate long-term results are frequently observed. The cardinal reason is due to overt volume deficits, owing to suboptimal reduction and the ever-existing problem of soft-tissue atrophy. As such, it seemed logical that some treatment steps should be incorporated to increase the volume of orbital tissue. However, making fine adjustments to soft-tissue volume and orbital size during the same actual surgery is extremely difficult, if not impossible, which constitutes the biggest challenge in the treatment of enophthalmos. Based on the experiences from the management of seven patients with chronic enophthalmos (Group II), we could ascertain the average amount of the volume supplement required and were motivated to exploit a novel protocol of one-stage treatment for correction of disfiguring enophthalmos. In addition to the standard fracture-reduction methods, we use autologous, diced-cartilage graft to augment the orbital-tissue volume concomitantly for six consecutive patients (Group I) from 2004 to 2008. The actual quantities of inserted cartilage measured from 3.0 to 5.5ml in total. An aesthetically and functionally satisfactory result is attained in every case thus treated, with only one patient exhibiting a minor degree of overcorrection (1mm exorbitism). We thus advocate that this strategy is a viable option for preventing or rectifying late enophthalmos following severe orbitozygomatic fractures.


2(S)-Amino-3-[1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl]propyl cyclohexylmethyl ether dihydrochloride and 2(S)-amino-3-[1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl]propyl 4-bromobenzyl ether dihydrochloride.
(Cyclohexylmethyloxymethyl)(1H-imidazol-4-iomethyl)-(S)-ammonium dichloride, C(13)H(25)N(3)O(+).2Cl(-), and (4-bromobenzyl)(1H-imidazol-4-iomethyl)-(S)-ammonium dichloride, C(13)H(18)BrN(3)O(+).2Cl(-), are model compounds with different biological activities for evaluation of the histamine H3-receptor activation mechanism. Both title compounds occur in almost similar extended conformations.


Colorectal cancer screening: Understanding the health literacy needs of hispanic rural residents.
Hispanics residing in rural areas are among those who are least likely to be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC) and more likely to present with late stage CRC than other racial or ethnic groups. We conducted a pilot study utilizing a mixed-method approach to explore perceptions of CRC and CRC screening among Hispanic adults residing in South Texas rural communities and to identify health literacy needs associated with CRC screening uptake. A convenience sample of 58 participants, aged 35-65, were recruited to complete questionnaires and participate in focus groups, ranging in size from 4 to 13 participants. Six focus groups were conducted across 3 adjacent rural counties. A semi-structured moderator's guide was designed to elicit discussion about participants' experiences, knowledge, and perceptions of CRC and CRC screening. Lack of knowledge of CRC and CRC screening as cancer prevention was a common theme across focus groups. A majority, 59%, reported never been screened. Thirty-nine percent reported they had been screened for colon cancer and 5% reported they did not know if they had been screened. Participants with lower educational levels perceived themselves at high risk for developing CRC polyps, would not want to know if they had CRC, and if they did have CRC, would not want to know until the very end. Limited information about CRC and CRC screening, a lack of specialized providers, limited transportation assistance, and compromised personal privacy in small-town medical facilities were perceived to be barriers to CRC screening. Low screening rates persist among rural Hispanics. Improving CRC screening literacy and addressing factors unique to rural Hispanics may be a beneficial strategy for reducing screening disparities in this at-risk population.


Oral administration of a tri-therapy for central pattern generator activation in paraplegic mice: proof-of-concept of efficacy.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological condition, for which no cure exists, typically leading to an immediate and irreversible loss of sensory and voluntary motor functions accompanied by significant health problems. We conducted proof-of-concept experiments aimed at assessing efficacy upon oral administration of a novel combination therapy for central pattern generator (CPG) activation and corresponding locomotor movement generation in completely paraplegic animals. Co-administration orally (by gavage) of buspirone, levodopa and carbidopa was found to dose-dependently induce episodes of steady weight-bearing stepping in low-thoracic (Th9/10) spinal cord-transected (Tx) mice (with no other form of assistance or training). Robust hindlimb stepping with weight-bearing capabilities was induced with the tri-therapy but not with clinically relevant doses of these compounds administered separately. These results provide evidence suggesting that this drug combination may be ideally suited to constitute a first-in-class therapy (CPG activator) for locomotor activity induction in chronic SCI individuals, given that efficacy was shown using commercially available brain-permeable small molecules, already known as safe for the treatment of various neurological indications.


Optimizing hill seeding density for high-yielding hybrid rice in a single rice cropping system in South China.
Mechanical hill direct seeding of hybrid rice could be the way to solve the problems of high seeding rates and uneven plant establishment now faced in direct seeded rice; however, it is not clear what the optimum hill seeding density should be for high-yielding hybrid rice in the single-season rice production system. Experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 to determine the effects of hill seeding density (25 cm×15 cm, 25 cm×17 cm, 25 cm×19 cm, 25 cm×21 cm, and 25 cm×23 cm; three to five seeds per hill) on plant growth and grain yield of a hybrid variety, Nei2you6, in two fields with different fertility (soil fertility 1 and 2). In addition, in 2012 and 2013, comparisons among mechanical hill seeding, broadcasting, and transplanting were conducted with three hybrid varieties to evaluate the optimum seeding density. With increases in seeding spacing from 25 cm×15 cm to 25 cm×23 cm, productive tillers per hill increased by 34.2% and 50.0% in soil fertility 1 and 2. Panicles per m2 declined with increases in seeding spacing in soil fertility 1. In soil fertility 2, no difference in panicles per m2 was found at spacing ranging from 25 cm×17 cm to 25 cm×23 cm, while decreases in the area of the top three leaves and aboveground dry weight per shoot at flowering were observed. Grain yield was the maximum at 25 cm×17 cm spacing in both soil fertility fields. Our results suggest that a seeding density of 25 cm×17 cm was suitable for high-yielding hybrid rice. These results were verified through on-farm demonstration experiments, in which mechanical hill-seeded rice at this density had equal or higher grain yield than transplanted rice.


Treatment of ethanol-induced acute pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction in pigs, by sildenafil analogue (UK343-664) or nitroglycerin.
In patients at risk for sudden ethanol (ETOH) intravascular absorption, prompt treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) will minimise the risk of cardiovascular decompensation. We investigated the haemodynamic effects of intravenous ETOH and the pulmonary vasodilatory effects of a sildenafil analogue (UK343-664) and nitroglycerin (NTG) during ETOH-induced PHTN in pigs. We studied pulmonary and systemic haemodynamics, and right ventricular rate or time derivate of pressure rise during ventricular contraction ( =dP/dT), as an index of contractility, in 23 pigs. ETOH was infused at a rate of 50 mg/kg/min, titrated to achieve a twofold increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), and then discontinued. The animals were randomised to receive an infusion of 2 ml/kg ( n = 7) normal saline, a 500-microg/kg bolus of UK343-664 ( n = 8), or NTG 1 microg/kg ( n = 8); each was given over 60 seconds. Following ETOH infusion, dP/dT decreased central venous pressure (CVP), and MPAP increased significantly, resulting in significantly increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Within 2 minutes after treatment with either drug, CVP, heart rate (HR), and the systemic vascular resistance-to-pulmonary vascular resistance (SVR/PVR) ratio returned to baseline. However, at that time, only in the UK343-664 group, MPAP and dP/dT partially recovered and were different from the respective values at PHTN stage. NTG and UK343-664 decreased PVR within 2 minutes, from 1241+/-579 and 1224+/-494 dyne . cm/sec 5 , which were threefold-to-fourfold increased baseline values, to 672+/-308 and 538+/-203 dyne . cm/sec 5 respectively. However, only in the UK343-664 group, changes from baseline PVR values after treatment were significant compared to the maximal change during target PHTN. Neither drug caused a significant change in SVR. In this model of ETOH-induced PHTN, both UK343-664 and NTG were effective pulmonary vasodilators with a high degree of selectivity. However, the changes from baseline values of PVR, and the partial recovery of systemic pressure and RV contractility compared to the maximal change during target PHTN, were significant only in the sildenafil analogue group.


Epothilone B loaded in acellular nerve allograft enhanced sciatic nerve regeneration in rats.
Epothilone B (EpoB) is a microtubule-stabilizing agent with neuroprotective properties. This study examines the regenerative properties of ANA supplemented with EpoB on a sciatic nerve deficit in male Wistar rats. For this purpose, the 10 mm nerve gap was filled with acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) containing EpoB at 0.1, 1, and 10 nM concentrations. The sensorimotor recovery was evaluated up to 16 weeks after the operation. Real-time PCR, histomorphometry analysis, and electrophysiological evaluation were also used to evaluate the process of nerve regeneration. ANA/EpoB (0.1 nM) significantly improved sensorimotor recovery in rats compared to ANA, ANA/EpoB (1 nM), and ANA/EpoB (10 nM) groups. This led to reduced muscle atrophy, improved sciatic functional index, and thermal paw withdrawal reflex latency, indicating nerve regeneration and target organ reinnervation. The electrophysiological and histomorphometry findings also confirmed the ANA/EpoB regenerative properties (0.1 nM). EpoB only enhanced ANA regenerative properties at 0.1 nM, with no therapeutic effects at higher concentrations. Totally, we concluded that ANA loaded with 0.1 nM EpoB can effectively reconstruct the transected sciatic nerve in rats, likely by enhancing axonal sprouting and extension.


Effect of the combined action of Faradaic currents and mobility differences in ac electro-osmosis.
In this work, we extend previous analyses of ac electro-osmosis to account for the combined action of two experimentally relevant effects: (i) Faradaic currents from electrochemical reactions at the electrodes and (ii) differences in ion mobilities of the electrolyte. In previous works, the ac electro-osmotic motion has been analyzed theoretically under the assumption that only forces in the diffuse (Debye) layer are relevant. Here, we first show that if the ion mobilities of a 1-1 aqueous solution are different, the charged zone expands from the Debye layer to include the diffusion layer. We later include the Faradaic currents and, as an attempt to explore both factors simultaneously, we perform a thin-layer, low-frequency, linear analysis of the system. Finally, the model is applied to the case of an electrolyte actuated by a traveling-wave signal. A steady liquid motion in opposite direction to the applied signal is predicted for some ranges of the parameters. This could serve as a partial explanation for the observed flow reversal in some experiments.


[Quantitative changes in the principal cell constituents of Entomophthora virulenta during sporogenesis].
Changes in the relative abundance of cell constituents of Entomophthora virulenta Hall & Dunn were studied during the various differentiation phases leading to the formation of zygospores. The highest total protein (43%) and nucleic acid (5.2% RNA and 0.2% DNA) concentrations were found in the exponential growth phase; these concentrations decreased regularly as the mycelium aged. The amount of lipids was four times larger at the prespore and spore stage (about 25%) than at the exponential mycelial stage. The zygospore contained a very high concentration of chitin (about 17%), three times more than the mycelial concentrations. However, the percentage of polysaccharides without chitin, but including glycogen, was higher in the deceleration phase mycelium (34%) than in the spore (25%). A physiological model of the sexual sporulation of E. virulenta based on these data has been presented.


Objective Ventricle Segmentation in Brain CT with Ischemic Stroke Based on Anatomical Knowledge.
Ventricle segmentation is a challenging technique for the development of detection system of ischemic stroke in computed tomography (CT), as ischemic stroke regions are adjacent to the brain ventricle with similar intensity. To address this problem, we developed an objective segmentation system of brain ventricle in CT. The intensity distribution of the ventricle was estimated based on clustering technique, connectivity, and domain knowledge, and the initial ventricle segmentation results were then obtained. To exclude the stroke regions from initial segmentation, a combined segmentation strategy was proposed, which is composed of three different schemes: (1) the largest three-dimensional (3D) connected component was considered as the ventricular region; (2) the big stroke areas were removed by the image difference methods based on searching optimal threshold values; (3) the small stroke regions were excluded by the adaptive template algorithm. The proposed method was evaluated on 50 cases of patients with ischemic stroke. The mean Dice, sensitivity, specificity, and root mean squared error were 0.9447, 0.969, 0.998, and 0.219 mm, respectively. This system can offer a desirable performance. Therefore, the proposed system is expected to bring insights into clinic research and the development of detection system of ischemic stroke in CT.


Magnitude and influencing factors of work-related low back pain among high school teachers in West Arsi zone, Southwest Ethiopia: evidenced from multicentred cross-sectional study.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and its associated factors among high school teachers in the West Arsi zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2020. A self-administered structured Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to assess low back pain during the past 12 months. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was carried out using Stata V.14. The degree of significance was obtained at a 95% CI and p<0.05. The study was conducted in the West Arsi zone, Ethiopia. A total of 602 teachers participated in this study. The primary outcome is the prevalence of low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain during the last 12 months was found to be 63.73% (95% CI 59.77% to 67.70%). About 225 (39.61%) teachers experienced moderate pain, and (89.79%) of them had a minimal disability. Being unmarried (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.47, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.79), prolonged standing (AOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.60), sleeping disturbance (AOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.41 to 7.36), regular physical activity (AOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.84), current smoker (AOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.04 to 7.67), lifting heavy load (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.28), psychological job demand (AOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.69 to 4.84) and job satisfaction (AOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.79) were associated with low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain was high in this study. Prolonged standing, sleep disruption, heavy load lifting, cigarette smoking and psychological job demand were risk factors for low back pain. Physical exercise and workplace satisfaction were effective interventions. Emphasis should now be put on ergonomics, regular physical activity and psychosocial factors to lessen the problem.


Characterization of antibody responses against a neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein E2 of classical swine fever virus.
The sequence TAVSPTTLR is a conserved and linear neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein E2 of classical swine fever virus. In this study, TAVSPTTLR-directed antibodies, induced either by virions or by an epitope-focused immunogen, were characterized. The results revealed that despite the same epitope specificity, the antibodies induced by different immunogens varied significantly both in the neutralizing test and in binding inhibition assays. This suggests that the protective immunity induced by this epitope is due to more than simply the epitope specificity and that this epitope might need essential contributions from its flanking context to induce functional epitope-specific antibodies.


The 3A non-structural-protein coding region of the southern African SAT type isolates differs from that of other foot-and-mouth disease viruses.
The 3A non-structural protein of foot-and-mouth disease viruses is a relatively conserved protein comprising 153 amino acids. Recent studies have demonstrated correlation between mutations in the 3A non-structural-protein-coding region, including a 10-amino acid deletion, and attenuation of the viruses in cattle. Although the 3A coding region of several type A, O and C isolates has previously been described, nucleotide sequence data of the 3A coding region of the South African Types (SAT) 1, 2 and 3 viruses are limited. Therefore, the 3A non-structural-coding region of different SAT serotypes was determined, analysed and compared to that of European, South American and Asian isolates. The 3A regions of the SAT isolates investigated differed markedly from that of types A, O, C and Asia-1, but were similar within the group.


Transfer Student Experiences and Identity Navigation in STEM: Overlapping Figured Worlds of Success.
Community colleges are a pathway in higher education for many students, including students who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Because of the increased demand for professionals in the STEM workforce, a successful transition from community colleges to the university setting is essential for increasing the number of transfer students who complete STEM degree programs. Fostering a stabilized academic transition for transfer students requires an understanding of how different academic and sociocultural backgrounds can influence students' identity trajectories during their undergraduate education. In this study, Holland et al.'s framework of figured worlds was used to examine how transfer students pursuing STEM degrees negotiated their identities in their transition to the university. Because identity is a complex construct that can influence student experiences in STEM, this study examined areas of compatible and incompatible expectations of what constitutes success across the university, community college, and high school learning environments, and among students, families, and faculty. Inconsistent expectations across these figured worlds provide insight into the challenges associated with the community college to university transition that can affect transfer students' experiences and identity production at the university.


Regression modeling of allele frequencies and testing Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium.
Tests for whether observed genotype proportions fit Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) are widely used in population genetics analyses, as well as to evaluate quality of genotype data. To date, all methods testing for HWE require subjects to be classified into discrete categories, yet it is becoming clear that the distribution of allele frequencies tends to be smooth over geographic regions. To evaluate the HWE assumption, we develop new approaches to model allele frequencies as functions of covariates, and use these models to test whether there is residual correlation between the two alleles of subjects; lack of residual correlation supports the null hypothesis of HWE, but conditional on how the covariates influence the allele frequencies. By simulations, we illustrate that a simple statistical test of residual correlation of alleles adequately controls the type I error rate, while maintaining power that is comparable to standard tests for HWE. Our approach can be implemented in standard software, enabling more flexible and powerful ways to evaluate the association of covariates with allele frequencies and whether these associations 'explain' departures from HWE when the covariates are ignored, opening new strategies to evaluate the quality of genotype data generated by next-generation sequencing assays.


Isobias and alloiobias functions in animal psycophysics.
An analogue of the human yes-no detection task was used to train six pigeons to discriminate luminance differences under two different reinforcer-scheduling procedures. When a controlled reinforce-ratio procedure was used, relative stimulus frequency was constant at .5, and relative reinforcer frequency for correct detections was held constant at three different values for each of five luminance differences. When an uncontrolled reinforcer-ratio procedure (the typical detection paradigm) was used, relative reinforcer frequency for correct detections was allowed to covary with changes in relative stimulus frequency for each of five luminance differences. Two measures of bias, response bias (Davison & Tustin, 1978) and the detection-theory likelihood-ratio measure (beta obt), were compared. The controlled reinforcer-ratio procedure generated equal- or iso-response-bias functions, and the uncontrolled reinforcer-ratio procedure gave changing or alloio-response-bias functions. The Davison-Tustin model accounted for 88% and 93% of the data variance in the controlled and uncontrolled reinforcer-ratio procedures, respectively. The best-fitting equal-beta functions accounted for an average of 53% and 69%, respectively, in the two procedures. In addition, neither procedure gave constant measures of beta obt for constant bias manipulations across different discriminability measures.


Nuclear localization signal-targeted poly(ethylene glycol) conjugates as potential carriers and nuclear localizing agents for carboplatin analogues.
Carboplatin is a low-molecular-weight anticancer drug that acts by binding to the nuclear DNA of cells. Thus, efficient delivery of the platinum drugs to the nucleus of the cancer cells may enhance the cytotoxicity of the drug. Efficient drug delivery to the nucleus of cancer cells requires three levels of localization: targeting to the cancerous tissue, accumulation in the cancer cells, and intracellular localization in the nucleus. Nuclear localization signals (NLS) are short positively charged basic peptides that actively transport large proteins across the nuclear membrane. We have prepared conjugates in which the NLS is tethered to poly(ethyleneglycol)carboplatin conjugate (NLS-PEG-Pt) and compared their pharmacological properties to those of their untargeted analogues that do not possess the NLS (PEG-Pt). NLS-PEG-Pt conjugates are rapidly internalized into cancer cells and accumulate in the nucleus. Despite their rapid nuclear localization, they form less Pt-DNA adducts than the untargeted analogues, PEG-Pt, and are also less cytotoxic. These results support the hypothesis that carboplatin (unlike cisplatin) may require cytosolic activation prior to its binding to nuclear DNA.


Olfactory functions are not associated with autism severity in autism spectrum disorders.
Changes in olfactory functions have been found in many neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between olfactory functions (odor-detection thresholds, odor identification, and odor preference) and autism severity and sensory-related behavior in children and adolescents with ASD. Our sample consisted of 35 high-functioning patients with ASD (mean age 10.8±3.6 years, 31 boys). Olfactory testing (threshold and identification) used the Sniffin' Sticks test. Odor pleasantness was assessed on a 5-point scale using the Identification part of the Sniffin' Sticks test. The severity of autistic psychopathology was measured using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Using Spearman's correlation, we found no significant correlations between autism severity (as expressed by total CARS score) and odor-detection thresholds (R=0.144, P=0.409), odor identification (R=0.07, P=0.966), or odor pleasantness (R=-0.046, P=0.794). There was also no significant relationship between CARS item 9 ("Taste, smell, and touch response and use") and odor-detection thresholds (R=0.170, P=0.330), odor identification (R=0.282, P=0.100), or odor pleasantness (R=0.017, P=0.923). We did not find any significant relationship between the severity of autistic psychopathology and olfactory functions.


Loss of Vav2 proto-oncogene causes tachycardia and cardiovascular disease in mice.
The Vav family is a group of signal transduction molecules that activate Rho/Rac GTPases during cell signaling. Experiments using knockout mice have indicated that the three Vav proteins present in mammals (Vav1, Vav2, and Vav3) are essential for proper signaling responses in hematopoietic cells. However, Vav2 and Vav3 are also highly expressed in nonhematopoietic tissues, suggesting that they may have additional functions outside blood cells. Here, we report that this is the case for Vav2, because the disruption of its locus in mice causes tachycardia, hypertension, and defects in the heart, arterial walls, and kidneys. We also provide physiological and pharmacological evidence demonstrating that the hypertensive condition of Vav2-deficient mice is due to a chronic stimulation of the renin/angiotensin II and sympathetic nervous systems. Together, these results indicate that Vav2 plays crucial roles in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis in mice.