Disrupting effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on gonadal development and reproductive functions in chickens.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are worldwide persistent pollutants that have produced detrimental effects on endocrine function and reproduction in a variety of species. The present study revealed effects of PCBs on gonadal development and functions in chickens of different ages. Aroclor 1254 (0-100 microg/egg) was injected into Hyline chicken eggs before incubation. The adult chickens received Aroclor 1254 by gavage (50 mg/kg BW). It was observed that in day 5 embryos, PCBs resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of primordial germ cell (PGC) numbers, and caused PGCs pyknosis and vacuolation. Clomiphen failed to block the effects of PCBs. In the newly hatched chicken, PCBs induced a marked decrease in area of the transverse sections, diameter and relative area of the testicular tubules. The differentiation of germ cells was retarded after PCB treatment. In contrast, the area of the left ovarian transverse sections, the thickness of ovarian cortex and the number of oocytes increased dramatically in the female chickens after PCB exposure. In the adult chickens, PCBs caused no significant changes in body weight, respiration, heart rate, body temperature, red and white blood cell number, but induced a marked decrease in the testicular weight, and severe damage of the seminiferous tubules. The number of the spermatogenic cells and serum testosterone level were decreased significantly by PCBs. On the contrary, in the laying hens there was no significant effect of PCB on egg quality except a slight decrease in egg weight. These results indicated that PCBs exerted its disrupting effects on chicken reproduction with a sex and stage-related pattern, and in vivo disruption of gonadal development represents a possible model for risk assessment of environmental endocrine disrupters by in ovo treatment.


[Study on risk factors for central visual field loss in advanced open angle glaucoma].
53 eyes of 53 advanced open angle glaucoma (stage 5 of Aulhorn-Greve's classification) were studied regarding the risk factors for central visual field loss by the Cox proportional hazards model. The cases of foveal threshold under 20 dB were defined as central visual field loss group (9 eyes), and the cases over 20 dB were defined as no visual field loss group (44 eyes). The following clinical factors were statistically analyzed between the two groups: gender, age, family history of glaucoma, refraction, intraocular pressure, blood pressure, visual field measured by static perimetry, optic disc, retinal nerve fiber layer, treatment, and systemic disease. Foveal threshold, mean deviation, pattern standard deviation, corrected pattern standard deviation, and retinal nerve fiber layer defect showed significant difference between the two groups, and diastolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure minus intraocular pressure showed a tendency to be related. From the results obtained, intraocular pressure and these other clinical factors should be considered for the management of advanced open angle glaucoma patients.


Instigating the In Vitro Anticancer Activity of New Pyridine-Thiazole-Based Co(III), Mn(II), and Ni(II) Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, DFT, Docking, and MD Simulation Studies.
The perchlorate salt of (4-(4-methoxy phenyl)-2-(2-(1-pyridine-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)thiazole (PytH·ClO4) and its metal perchlorate derivatives, namely, [Co(Pyt)2]ClO4 (1), [Mn(PytH)2](ClO4)2 (2), and [Ni(PytH)2](ClO4)2 (3), have been synthesized and characterized through single X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods. The ligand crystallizes in a space group P21/n in a nearly planar structure. The overall geometry of the complex salts is described as a distorted octahedron with a MN6 chromophore. The ligand (PytH·ClO4) behaves as a neutral N,N,N-tridentate donor toward the "soft" Mn(II) and Ni(II) centers, whereas the deprotonated ligand stabilizes the "hard" Co(III) center. The DNA binding constant (Kb) values of PytH·ClO4, 1, 2, and 3 are determined using the UV-vis spectroscopic method, and the Kb values are 9.29 × 105, 7.11 × 105, 8.71 × 105, and 7.82 × 105 mol-1, respectively, indicating the intercalative mode of interactions with CT-DNA. All the derivatives show effective antiproliferative activity against U-937 human monocytic tumor cells with IC50 values 4.374 ± 0.02, 5.583 ± 0.12, 0.3976 ± 0.05, and 11.63 ± 0.01 μM for PytH·ClO4, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The best apoptosis mode of cell death is shown by 2 followed by PytH·ClO4 and 1 at an equivalent concentration of IC50 values. The combined molecular docking and dynamics simulation study evaluates the binding energies of anticancer agents, providing groove binding property with DNA. The 20 ns molecular dynamics simulation study reveals the maximum DNA binding stability of 2 corroborating the experimental results. The new class of metal derivatives of pyridine-thiazole can be used for advanced cancer therapeutics.


Opioid-resistant respiratory pathway from the preinspiratory neurones to abdominal muscles: in vivo and in vitro study in the newborn rat.
We report that after spontaneous breathing movements are stopped by administration of opioids (opioid-induced apnoea) in neonatal rats, abdominal muscles continue to contract at a rate similar to that observed during periods of ventilation. Correspondingly, in vitro bath application of a mu opioid receptor agonist suppresses the activity of the fourth cervical root (C4) supplying the diaphragm, but not the rhythmic activity of the first lumbar root (L1) innervating the abdominal muscles. This indicates the existence of opioid-resistant rhythmogenic neurones and a neuronal pathway transmitting their activity to the abdominal motoneurones. We have investigated this pathway by using a brainstem-spinal cord preparation of the neonatal rat. We identified bulbospinal neurones with a firing pattern identical to that of the L1 root. These neurones were located caudal to the obex in the vicinity of the nucleus retroambiguus. Resting potentials ranged from -49 to -40 mV (mean +/- S.D. -44.0 +/- 4.3 mV). The mean input resistance was 315.5 +/- 54.8 MOmega. The mean antidromic latency from the L1 level was 42.8 +/- 4.4 ms. Axons crossed the midline at the level of the cell body. The activity pattern of the bulbospinal neurones and the L1 root consisted of two bursts per respiratory cycle with a silent period during inspiration. This pattern is characteristic of preinspiratory neurones. We found that 11 % of the preinspiratory neurones projected to the area where the bulbospinal neurones were located. These preinspiratory neurones were found in the rostral ventrolateral medulla close (200-350 microm) to the ventral surface at the level of the rostral half of the nucleus retrofacialis. Our data suggest the operation of a disynaptic pathway from the preinspiratory neurones to the L1 motoneurones in the in vitro preparation. We propose that the same pathway is responsible for rhythmic activation of the abdominal muscles during opioid-induced apnoea in the newborn rat.


Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease in children.
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare disease of children characterized by aseptic inflammation of the long bones and clavicles. No infectious etiology has been identified, and CRMO has been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases (including Wegener's granulomatosis and psoriasis). The relationship between CRMO and inflammatory bowel disease is poorly described. Through an internet bulletin board subscribed to by 500 pediatric gastroenterologists, we identified six inflammatory bowel disease patients (two with ulcerative colitis, four with Crohn's colitis) with confirmed CRMO. In all cases, onset of the bony lesions preceded the onset of bowel symptoms by as much as five years. Immunosuppressive therapy for the bowel disease generally resulted in improvement of the bone inflammation. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis should be considered in any inflammatory bowel disease patient with unexplained bone pain or areas of uptake on bone scan. CRMO may be a rare extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease; alternatively, certain individuals may be genetically predisposed to the development of both diseases.


[Comparative study on dissolution of Xianlinggubao capsules prepared by different processes].
To study the dissolution characteristics of seven active components of Xianlinggubao capsules in vitro, and compare the dissolution of Xianlinggubao capsules prepared by different processes. The dissolution of Xianlinggubao capsules was determined by small cup method with the rotating speed of 100 r x min(-1) and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) as dissolution medium. The different dissolution rates in vitro of seven kinds of active components (icariin, epimedin C, asperosaponin VI, psoralen, isopsoralen, salvianolic acid B and tanshinone IIA) of Xianlinggubao capsules were investigated. The contents of active components were determined by HPLC. The accumulative dissolution percentages were calculated, and the resemblance of release curves were compared by similarity factors (f2). The results of determination showed that the similarity factor values (f2) of the dissolution curves of seven active components after different preparation processes were all less than 50. There is significant difference in dissolution of active components between Xianlinggubao capsules of different preparation processes. The accumulative dissolution percentages of the active components in new Xianlinggubao capsules are higher than that of Xianlinggubao capsules.


Intercellular adhesion molecule 3, a third adhesion counter-receptor for lymphocyte function-associated molecule 1 on resting lymphocytes.
Recent studies suggest that some T and B lymphocyte cell lines bind to the integrin lymphocyte function-associated molecule 1 (LFA-1) chiefly through a pathway independent of its two known counter-receptors, intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs)-1 and -2. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was raised that, in combination with blocking mAb to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, can completely inhibit binding of these cell lines to purified LFA-1. This third ligand, designated ICAM-3 based on its functional relatedness to ICAM-1 and -2, is a highly glycosylated protein of 124,000 Mr. It is well expressed on all leukocytes and absent from endothelial cells. In assays of adhesion of resting lymphocytes to purified LFA-1, ICAM-3 is by far the most functionally important ICAM, implying an important role for ICAM-3 in the generation of immune responses.


Cell and platelet composition assays by flow cytometry: basis for new platelet-rich fibrin methodologies.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are selective blood fractions obtained by cen¬trifugation. They act locally on inflammation and immunity as adjuvant homeostatic modulators during tissue regeneration. In recent years, many methods for achieving these blood concentrates have emerged, whose parameters of time and force of centrifugation presented themselves as critical, conflicting, and poorly understood points. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different centrifugal experimental parameters on the concentration of cells and platelets in samples of anticoagulated blood. Blood samples were centrifuged by forces of 200, 400 and 800 x g for 5, 10 and 15 minutes of centrifugation times to obtain three fractions: a) platelet-poor plasma (PPP), b) leukocyte-rich plasma (L- PRP) and c) red blood cell sed¬iment (RBC). The leukocyte and platelet content of each centrifuged fraction was measured by automated flow cytometry associated with the peroxidase reaction for differential leukocyte count. The application of 200 x g generated a more significant dispersive content of leukocytes and platelets in the supernatant fraction of PPP when compared to the other two strength ranges. However, it presented the highest concentration of platelets in the sediment (P <0.05 ANOVA), representing a loss of total mass during processing. The 400 and 800 x g forces showed leukocytes and platelets condensed in the L-PRP fraction and lower levels in the sedi¬ment, demonstrating the greater effectiveness of buoyancy in the resuspension of these sedimented elements. Our experimental data showed that the concentration and organization of leukocytes and platelets in the centrifuged blood matrices are very sensitive to variations in g force and centrifugation time, thus generating products with different biological composition and characteristics, and with specific potential therapeutic effects. The present study did not focus on comparing authoring methods, but on presenting the impact of methodological variations on the biological nature of centrifuged blood matrices. Further in vivo studies are needed to assess the specific clinical effect of each methodological change.


Fear of AIDS among intravenous drug users in London and New York.
Intravenous drug users in drug treatment centers in London (N = 89) and New York City (N = 100) were given a 31-item, closed-ended questionnaire which asked them to rate levels of fear they experienced and to note fear-related behavior during the previous 8 weeks. Users reported an awareness of AIDS and had changed their behavior to reduce their risk of contracting the disease. The higher rates of AIDS within the study population in New York were associated with (1) higher levels of fear of AIDS on the part of the subjects interviewed and (2) higher rates of behavior change to limit the risk of contracting AIDS.


Lymphoadenopathy in IL-2-deficient mice: further characterization and overexpression of the antiapoptotic molecule cellular FLIP.
IL-2 was originally identified as a potent T cell growth factor. It was subsequently demonstrated that IL-2 also exerts proapoptotic effects under certain conditions. Inactivation of IL-2 by gene targeting in mice showed that whereas IL-2 is not essential for the generation, clonal expansion, or differentiation of lymphocytes to effector cells, it has a unique role in preventing the accumulation of activated lymphocytes. IL-2(-/-) mice show lymphoadenopathy and autoimmune reactions, suggesting that the proapoptotic effects of IL-2 may predominate in vivo. In this study, we confirm that lymph nodes (LNs) are enlarged in IL-2(-/-) animals, but surprisingly, we found that their spleens are almost normal in size. Subsequent to this observation, we compare lymphocytes from LNs and spleens of IL-2(-/-) and IL-2(+/-) animals to analyze molecular and cellular correlates of the immunopathological disorders found in IL-2-deficient mice. LN lymphocytes from IL-2(-/-) are selectively activated and show an enhanced survival capacity and an increased ability to proliferate in vitro when compared with LN cells from IL-2(+/-) mice and splenocytes from IL-2(-/-) and IL-2(+/-) mice. Because the apoptosis inhibitor FLIP has been shown in vitro to participate in the IL-2 control of activation-induced cell death, we analyze its expression in IL-2(-/-) mice. FLIP was found to be selectively overexpressed in the LNs of IL-2(-/-) mice, but no overexpression was found in spleen cells or thymocytes. These results suggest that FLIP, in conjunction with other IL-2-regulated genes previously characterized in our laboratory, is involved in controlling lymphoadenopathy in IL-2(-/-) mice.


Low-dose growth hormone supplementation increases clinical pregnancy rate in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilisation.
Poor ovarian response (POR) often means low success rates after in vitro fertilisation (IVF). We aim to study the impact of a low-dose growth hormone (GH) supplementation in pregnancy rates in poor responders in a prospective, self-controlled study of 64 poor responders to previous IVF cycles, who failed to achieve pregnancy and were supplemented with low-doses of GH in a subsequent cycle using the same gonadotropin dose and protocol. Our primary endpoint was the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), considering secondary endpoints, the number of retrieved oocytes, embryos, embryo quality and the proportion of cycles with embryo transfer. CPR in the GH group was 34.4%. Significant differences were observed for the GH group both in the number of top quality embryos (0.64 ± 0.88 versus 1.03 ± 1.17, p < 0.05) and cryopreserved embryos (0.3 ± 0.81 versus 0.85 ± 1.49, p < 0.05). This is, to our knowledge, the first clinical trial to use a low dose of GH as a supplement for IVF in POR patients. Despite this low dose, we achieved excellent success rates in patients with a very poor prognosis, at a reasonable cost and without side effects, which makes this a safe and cost-effective alternative.


Conjunctival transdifferentiation is due to the incomplete removal of limbal basal epithelium.
Previous studies have shown that using n-heptanol to create a total corneal epithelial defect beyond the limbus results in two different healing patterns with an unpredictable incidence. Between 14-68% of these wounded rabbit corneas (n = 287, combining various reports) showed extensive vascularization and conjunctivalization, whereas the remaining were not vascularized and had conjunctival transdifferentiation with a cornea-like epithelium. To investigate the role of the limbal epithelium in these two healing patterns, the authors treated rabbit eyes for various durations with n-heptanol and additional scraping. Histology showed that treatment for up to 120 seconds removed both the corneal and conjunctival epithelia but left the limbal basal cells intact. To prove viability, they cultured the treated limbal explants on collagen gel. After 14 days of culture, increased stratification of the limbal epithelium and an epithelial outgrowth onto the corneal stroma was observed. The latter was proven to be of corneal origin (positive to AE-5 but negative to AM-3 monoclonal antibody staining). The authors then surgically removed the entire limbal zone including 2 mm of peripheral cornea and 3 mm of adjacent conjunctiva in addition to n-heptanol debridement of the entire corneal epithelium in 54 rabbit eyes and observed a high incidence (96%) of corneal vascularization and conjunctivalization of the resultant epithelial phenotype (positive to AM-3, but negative to AE-5 monoclonal antibody staining). These results support the hypothesis that corneal epithelial stem cells are located in the limbus and indicate that an incomplete removal of the basal limbal epithelium by n-heptanol leads to unvascularized corneas with conjunctival transdifferentiation. Conversely, complete removal of such cells results in corneal vascularization and conjunctivalization.


Resurrecting the buried self: fairy tales and the analytic encounter.
The author uses the lens of myth and fairy tales to examine the narratives generated by the analytic experience. Fairy tales are understood as representing fundamental developmental conflicts, accounting for their enduring power over time. The analytic encounter is seen as an analogue of the fairy tale in which the hidden self, damaged by loss and abandonment, reemerges only through the redemptive power of [an] other's love. Clinical material is presented in which hidden parts of the patient's self are projected into the analyst for safekeeping; these hidden parts resonate with the analyst's own lost, unrealized potential and form an intersubjective experience which the author believes is transformative. The patient's dormant powers emerge in a newly experienced atmosphere of recognition, and in this way, the analytic encounter resembles the fairy tale in providing an identificatory bond and a protective space for the patient's hidden vitality.


TaqMan low-density arrays and analysis by artificial neuronal networks predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in esophageal cancer.
Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy of locally advanced esophageal cancer is only effective for patients with major histopathological response. A total of 17 genes were selected to predict histopathologic tumor response to chemoradiation (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, 36 Gy). For gene-expression analysis quantitative TaqMan low-density arrays were applied. Expression levels in pretreatment biopsies of 41 patients (cT2-4, Nx, M0) were compared with the degree of histopathologic regression in resected specimens applying univariate, multivariate and artificial neuronal network analyses. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase was identified as an independent predictor associated with major response (p < 0.002). Multivariate analysis of the marker combination provided response prediction with 75.0% sensitivity, 81.0% specificity and 78.1% accuracy. Artificial neuronal network analysis was the best predictive model for major histopathologic response (80% sensitivity, 90.5% specificity and 85.4% accuracy), representing a clinically practical system. Low-density-array RT-PCR analyzed by artificial neuronal network predicts histopathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in our patient collective, and could be used to further individualize treatment strategies in esophageal cancer.


Efficacy and learning curve of a hand-held echocardiography device in an oncology outpatient clinic: Expanding the use of echoscopic heart examination beyond cardiology.
Certain chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer may induce cardiotoxicity and these patients should be echocardiographically monitored. The performance of a focused echocardiographic evaluation (echoscopy) at the patient's location by a non-cardiologist appears to be feasible. The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of echoscopy performed by medical oncologists in an outpatient clinic using hand-held echocardiography devices. The study cohort comprised consecutive unselected patients who attended an oncology outpatient clinic. Two medical oncologists attended a one-week training period, which included theoretical and practical teaching by an expert cardiologist. Every subject underwent two echo examinations. The first examination was performed by an oncologist using a hand-held echo device and the second was performed by a cardiologist using a 'premium' device. Out of the 101 enrolled patients, 32 were men (31.7%) and the mean age was 56.03±16.88 years. There was a good global agreement [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.65 for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)]. When the results were analyzed depending on the period of time when the echo studies were performed, a clear and short learning curve was observed: LVEF started at ICC=0.58 and increased to 0.66 and 0.77 in the second and third period, respectively. There were extremely few clinically significant differences and a learning curve was also evident. In conclusion, cardiac echoscopy performed by an oncologist with a hand-held device may lead to a similar clinical management as a study performed by an expert cardiologist with a 'premium' system in patients under chemotherapy following a short training period.


[Filtering bleb failure of open angle glaucoma].
To analyze the frequency and the causes of trabeculectomy failure in primary and secondary open angle glaucoma and the results of the individual treatment in these cases. Retrospective study that includes 69 trabeculectomy failures. Filtering bleb failure was recorded in 49 cases of primary open glaucoma and 21 cases of secondary open angle glaucoma. The slit lamp examination and the gonioscopy clarify the causing mechanism of the failure. The treatment has been established in an individual manner in order to achieve stable control of intraocular pressure (under 21 mmHg) The cause of the early failure (15 cases) was the obstruction of the internal ostium of the trabeculectomy in 10 cases, episcleral and conjunctival fibrosis in 4 cases and encapsulated bleb in 1 case. Episcleral and conjunctival fibrosis in 46 cases and encapsulated bleb in 6 cases have caused the late failure. The most effective option in early failure of trabeculectomy was internal de-sobstruction. In late failures, additional medical therapy and a second filtering surgery combined with antifibrotic agents were the most effective and commonly techniques. Immediate recognition of the failure, the ascertaining of the etiology and of the appropriate treatment allows a high rate therapeutic success achievement.


Geologic Map of Aphrodite Map Area (AMA; I-2476), Venus.
We present a 1:10-M-scale geologic map of the Aphrodite Map Area (AMA) of Venus (0°N-57°S/60-80°E). Geologic mapping employed NASA Magellan synthetic aperture radar and altimetry data. The AMA geologic map, with detailed structural elements and geologic units covering over one eighth of Venus' surface, affords an important and unique perspective to test models of global-scale geologic processes through time. Geologic relations record a history inconsistent with global catastrophic resurfacing. The AMA displays a regional coherence of preserved geologic patterns that record three sequential geologic eras: the ancient era, the Artemis superstructure era, and the youngest fracture zone era. The ancient era and Artemis superstructure, with a footprint covering more than 25% of the surface, are recorded in the Niobe Map Area to the north. The latter two eras likely overlap in time. The fracture zone domain, part of a globally extensive province, marks the most spatially focused tectonomagmatic domain within the AMA. Impact craters are both cut by and overprint fracture zone structures. Twelve percent of AMA impact craters that occur within the fracture zone domain predate or formed during fracture zone development. This observation indicates the relative youth of the fracture zone era and is consistent with the possibility that this domain remains geologically active. The AMA records a rich geologic history of large tract of the surface of Venus and provides an important framework to formulate new working hypotheses of Venus evolution and contribute to planning future studies of the surface of planets.


Carcinoma of cervix, the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center experience--the need for screening for cervical cancer in developing countries.
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center opened in 1975 to provide specialized medical treatment to the citizens of Saudi Arabia and to promote prevention of disease through research and education. It is a national and middle eastern tertiary care hospital for oncology and a principle center for radiation therapy in Saudi Arabia. In this retrospective study, 504 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were analysed. Of the 504 patients, 410 received treatment with curative intent, which comprised radical surgery alone, radical radiation alone or combination surgery and radiation. The overall 3, 5 and 10 years survival of all 504 patients was 64%, 55% and 40%, respectively and for 410 patients treated with curative intent it was 74%, 61% and 51%, respectively. Multivariate analysis, using the Cox regression method, showed that the stage of the disease is the only significant prognostic factor influencing relapse-free survival. Stage for stage, treatment outcomes at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center match those achieved in the First world, but two-thirds of patients (rather than one-third) present with advanced disease at diagnosis. Therefore, any improvement in overall outcomes will require earlier diagnosis, achievable only through an effective screening program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and similarly in the other Third world countries where patients present with advanced stage disease.


[Insulin and weight gain: myth or reality?].
Most patients with type 2 diabetes gain weight when treated with insulin. Weight gain is observed when insulin is introduced after oral agents have failed, but also when insulin is introduced shortly after the diagnosis of diabetes. The mechanisms of this weight gain are incompletely understood, but reduction of energy lost by glucosuria and reduction of energy needed for glucose production are main determinants. The same reasons apply to the weight gain observed at the beginning of treatment with sulfonylureas, even though patients usually gain less weight with sulfonyulreas than with insulin. In the UKPDS, at 10 years of the study, patients treated with insulin gained 2 kg more, i.e. 2.5% of the average weight of patients included in the trial, than patients treated with sulfonylureas. The reasons of the excess of weight gain with insulin as compared with sulfonylureas remain unclear. Patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin gain weight only during the first 2-3 years after insulin introduction. The weight stabilizes thereafter. Type 2 diabetes usually remains unknown for years before diagnosis and patients may lose weight during this long period of time preceding diagnosis. It is hypothesized that the weight gain observed after the introduction of insulin may simply correspond to the reexpression of the physiologically controlled body weight.


Diel activity patterns of the fish community in a temperate stream.
The diel activity patterns of fishes in a temperate New Brunswick stream were studied during the summer over 5 years. Young-of-the year Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus were more active during the day than at night, whereas lake chub Couesius plumbeus, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and adult white suckers Catostomus commersonii were more active at night than during the day. Because fishes were as likely to be nocturnal as diurnal, the data suggest that more night-time sampling is needed to provide an unbiased view of fish community structure in temperate streams.


Saliva of Lygus lineolaris digests double stranded ribonucleic acids.
The prospects for development of highly specific pesticides based on double stranded ribonucleic acid have been a recent focus of scientific research. Creative applications have been proposed and demonstrated. However, not all insects are sensitive to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) gene knockdown effects; applications in the order Lepidoptera, for example, have met with varied success. Gene knockdown has been demonstrated in several species in the order Hemiptera. In our laboratory, knockdown experiments relied on microinjection of dsRNA into the hemocoel of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris. Subsequent experiments delivering dsRNA to insects by feeding were repeatedly unsuccessful in demonstrating knockdown, and a hypothesis was formulated that the dsRNA was digested and degraded by the insect prior to contact with the insect cells. Exposure of dsRNA to insect saliva, insect salivary glands, and insect hemolymph was compared with commercial RNAase III. The saliva of L. lineolaris was found to rapidly digest double stranded RNA. RNAase inhibitor did not affect the activity but heat treatment slowed enzymatic activity.


Extending the Reach of Antimicrobial Stewardship to Pediatric Patients.
Guidance for developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs for children is lacking. This review article describes unique considerations for planning antimicrobial management of children that may impact stewardship strategies. A variety of methods and training tools are described along with metrics specific to measuring antibiotic use and outcomes in children. Handshake stewardship is specifically explained and is considered a best practice. Information on stewardship in unique settings, including the neonatal intensive care unit and outpatient settings, are included.


[Ciprofloxacin concentration in human prostatic tissue following 3 days' administration].
The penetration of Ciprofloxacin (CPFX) into the prostatic tissue and the serum was examined. Forty-four patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy treated with transurethral resection of the prostate were entered in this study. CPFX was administered orally in a dose of 200 mg three times daily for three days preoperatively. The blood samples were taken simultaneously at the time of the tissue sampling. The patients were divided into groups 1 and 2. In group 1 (16 patients), the tissue sampling was done about 17 hours after the final drug administration. The mean concentration of CPFX was 0.61 +/- 0.40 microgram/g in the prostatic tissue and 0.27 +/- 0.19 micrograms/ml in the serum. In group 2 (28 patients), tissue sampling was done 5.5 hours after the final drug administration. The mean concentration of CPFX was 1.32 +/- 0.64 micrograms g in the prostatic tissue and 0.65 +/- 0.31 microgram/ml in the serum.


Comparative evaluation of diode laser, stannous fluoride gel, and potassium nitrate gel in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.
The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of diode laser (DL) with stannous fluoride and potassium nitrate gels in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH). Fifty-four subjects, ages 25-45, having 2 adjacent teeth sensitive to air blast stimulation were included. The subjects were divided randomly into 3 groups (n= 18): Group A, subjects treated with DL; Group B, subjects treated with 0.4% stannous fluoride gel; and Group C, subjects treated with 5% potassium nitrate gel. Each group was evaluated at baseline; at weekly intervals for 2 consecutive weeks; and at 1, 3, and 6 months. All 3 groups showed decreases in the DH scores between baseline and 6 months This was more pronounced in Group A at all time intervals. When the 3 groups were compared between baseline and Week 1, there was a statistically significant decrease across all 3 groups between (P = 0.0020). The greatest difference in the DH scores between baseline and Week 1 was in Group A, compared to Groups B and C. The 940 nm DL was not only efficacious, but also brought about improved immediate relief as compared to stannous fluoride and potassium nitrate gels in the reduction of DH.


Assignment of coherence features in NMR q-space plots to particular diffusion modes in erythrocyte suspensions.
NMR q-space plots derived from water diffusing inside and around erythrocytes in a suspension display reproducible and characteristic coherence features. The aim of the present work was to determine which water population gives rise to the respective features. The central experimental strategy was to use choline and choline phosphate which are virtually membrane impermeant on the time scale of the experiment; the former was incorporated into erythrocytes by a lysis-resealing method and the latter was simply added to the suspensions. Dimethyl sulfoxide, which readily but more slowly exchanges across the cell membranes than water, also yielded q-space plots which were similar to those of water, but the differences were able to be accounted for on the basis of its slower transmembrane exchange rate. Random walk simulations using a Monte Carlo procedure, together with a model of an array of biconcave discocytes, helped verify the interpretations of the assignment of the features of the plots to molecules diffusing in the two regions. In addition, the simulations revealed how the presence or absence of transmembrane exchange affects the form of q-space plots.


Fluctuating fine-scale spatial genetic structure in the common shrews (Eulipotyphla, Mammalia).
The spatial genetic structure is a topical issue in the studies of various aspects of ecology and evolution. Using the multilocus autocorrelation method with hypervariable microsatellite genetic markers, we investigated a fine-scale pattern of genetic structure in 5 local populations of the common shrew Sorex araneus separated by distances of 300-1000 m (the Moscow chromosomal race). Spatial genetic autocorrelation analysis based on 5 microsatellite loci (expected heterozygosity >0.79) with 90 alleles revealed a consistent pattern of significant positive genetic structure. By testing the autocorrelation at multiple scales from 25 to 500 m, we found that positive spatial genetic structure is detectable in distance classes of <500 m. The weaker spatial genetic structure positively correlated with a higher ratio of nonresident individuals to residents' activity (number of captures). In contrast to nonresident animals, the residents demonstrated prominent genetic structure. Genetic difference (FST ) between the populations was significant (0.016-0.051) and comparable with that between populations of different races analyzed previously (0.016-0.038). FST was not associated with geographic distance. These demographic patterns allowed us to propose a scheme of genetic-structure dynamics involving periodic appearance of more related local groups and renewal of allelic profiles from а common pool where the alleles are mixed. The scheme predicts fluctuating genetic structure and random similar differences among local populations.


Modal analysis of the electromechanical conversion in piezoelectric ceramic spherical shells.
The current study considers piezoelectric ceramic electromechanical transducers utilizing axisymmetric vibrations of complete and incomplete spherical shells. Analysis is focused on generating the modes of vibration that can be employed in the design of multimode unidirectional electroacoustic transducers for underwater applications and on determining the electrode configurations that achieve optimal electromechanical coupling for the different modes of vibration considered. Analytical expressions are presented for the modal and intermodal equivalent parameters characterizing the energy state of the shell vibration. Results of calculation and experimental verification of the resonance frequencies and effective coupling coefficients for different modes of vibration of the complete and incomplete spherical shells are in good agreement.


Mefodiy Romanowski. Biological and medical researcher 1868-1911. An episode in the fight against tuberculosis.
Mefodiy Romanowski, a country doctor in tsarist Ukraine, developed a perspicacious interest in cell biology as a basic requirement for the study of physiology and pathology. He went on to characterize tuberculosis as a disease whose pathogens disrupted the phospho-proteins of the cell nucleus. This led to his concocting a melange of acidic phosphorus compounds, under the trade name Phosphacid, as a remedy (to be injected subcutaneously). He and others claimed a measure of success for the treatment; it was approved by the Russian Council of Physicians; and despite revolution and war it enjoyed esteem in Eastern Europe for over three decades after Romanowski's early death in 1911. Its last known manufactory, in Warsaw, was destroyed during the 1944 Uprising.


[Hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid].
Hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is characterized by the co-occurrence of symptoms so-called aspirin triad, which include bronchial asthma, chronic rhinitis and sinusitis and the nasal mucosa polyps. The disease affects about 1% of the general population and in patients with bronchial asthma incidence may be as high as 10%. Hypersensitivity to aspirin is a difficult diagnostic problem, so the increased knowledge on this subject is a very important for the physicians of many specialties.


Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health.
Few studies have investigated the role of disenfranchisement and denial of agency in women's sexual health. To address this, a cross-sectional study of disenfranchisement, control (general and reproductive control) and health was conducted in Ireland, where abortion is severely restricted. Multiple mediation models ( N = 513 women) indicated that general but not reproductive control mediates the association between disenfranchisement and psychological well-being. Additionally, serial mediation shows disenfranchisement is associated with lower sense of control, which is linked to poorer well-being and risky sexual behaviour. Disenfranchisement arising from socio-political contexts may have important implications for women's sexual health.


Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for delayed radiation injuries in gynecological cancers.
Delayed radiation-induced injuries are difficult to treat. The treatment of delayed radiation injuries with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is reported in small case series and case reports. This study reports the experience of a single institution with HBOT in delayed radiation injuries in patients with gynecological cancers. At least 20 sessions of 100% oxygen inhalation at 2.4 Atmospheric Absolutes (ATA) for 90 min in a hyperbaric chamber were carried out. Of the 14 patients included in the study, 10 patients have healed or showed improvement of more than 50%, resulting in a success rate of 71%. Mean follow-up was 31.6 months (range 6-70 months). The adverse events were acceptable. HBOT should be considered for patients with delayed radiation injuries, not responding to other treatments.


In-Operando Mapping of pH Distribution in Electrochemical Processes.
In aqueous electrochemical processes, the pH evolves spatially and temporally, and often dictates the process performance. Herein, a new method for the in-operando monitoring of pH distribution in an electrochemical cell is demonstrated. A combination of pH-sensitive fluorescent dyes, encompassing a wide pH range from ≈1.5 to 8.5, and rapid electrochemically coupled laser scanning confocal microscopy is used to observe pH changes in the cell. Using electrocoagulation as an example process, we show that the method provides new insights into the reaction mechanisms. The pH close to the aluminium electrode surface is influenced by the applied current density, hydrolysis of aluminium cations, and gas evolution. Through quantification of the pH at the anode, along with gas analysis, we find that hydrogen is evolved at the anode due to a non-Faradaic chemical reaction. This leads to increased production of coagulant, which may open new routes to enhance the process performance. This method for in-operando dynamic visualization of pH paves the way for studies of electrochemical processes, including other water treatment, electrosynthesis, and batteries.


Characterization and identification of cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid released by human peritoneal macrophages obtained from the pouch of Douglas.
Cytochrome P450 metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) was investigated in human peritoneal macrophages which play a central role in chronic pelvic diseases in women (for example in endometriosis). The formation of eicosanoids other than prostaglandins (PGs) by these cells is still unknown. In non-activated macrophages obtained from women in the reproductive age, the main [(3)H]-AA metabolites coeluted with epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) in reverse-phase HPLC. After zymosan activation a shift to PGs pathway was observed. Treatment with low doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin increased the formation of a metabolite coeluting with 5,6-DHET. By gas chromatography/mass spectrometry 5,6-DHET (after beta-naphthoflavone induction), and 14,15-DHET as well as 11,12-DHET (after AA stimulation) were identified as major epoxygenase metabolites, respectively. The enantioselective formation of 12(S)-HETE was demonstrated by chiral-phase HPLC. Our findings demonstrate that non-activated peritoneal macrophages produce substantial amounts of bioactive cytochrome P450 metabolites of AA.


Persistence of host and parasite populations subject to experimental size-selective removal.
Predators have the potential to limit the spread of pathogens not only by selecting infected prey but also by shaping prey demographics. We tested this idea with an epidemiological experiment in which we simulated variable levels of size-selective predation on zooplankton hosts and monitored the persistence of host and parasite populations. In the absence of simulated predation, the virulent protozoan Caullerya mesnili frequently drove its host Daphnia galeata to extinction. Uninfected control populations showed lower extinction rates and higher average densities than infected populations in the absence of simulated predation (all of the latter went extinct or remained infected). With a weak removal rate of the largest hosts, the proportion of populations in which the parasite drove the host to extinction decreased, while the number of populations in which the host persisted and the parasite went extinct increased. Host-parasite coexistence was also observed in some cases. With intermediate levels of removal, most of the parasite populations went extinct, while the host populations persisted. With an even higher removal rate, Daphnia were driven to extinction as well. Thus, variation in one factor, size-selective mortality, resulted in four different patterns of population dynamics. Our results highlight the potential role of predation in shaping the epidemiology and community structure of host-parasite systems.


Dietary calcium intake in postmenopausal Malaysian women: comparison between the food frequency questionnaire and three-day food records.
The objective of this study was to compare the dietary calcium intakes assessed by a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the three-day food record method in 230 Chinese postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years in Kuala Lumpur. The results showed that the mean calcium intake from the dietary records was 447+/-168 mg/day and 499+/-211 mg/day from the FFQ. The mean difference in intake by the two methods was 51.3 mg (95% CI = -30.8-77.9; SD = 181.2, P>0.05), which did not differ significantly from zero. Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.56 was obtained between the two methods. Ninety-five percent of the individuals classified by food records fell into the same or within-one-quartile category when classified by FFQ. Forty-eight percent were classified into the same quartile by both methods. No subjects were grossly misclassified by the FFQ. The FFQ correctly identified subjects with calcium intakes below the Malaysian recommended daily allowance (450 mg/day) with 60% specificity and with 92% specificity for women consuming less than 800 mg calcium/day. In conclusion, the FFQ developed was a useful, rapid clinical tool for assessing calcium intake and identifying postmenopausal Chinese women with low calcium intakes in Malaysia.


Robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: assistant's seniority has no influence on perioperative course.
An experienced surgical team, in general, and the surgeon assistant in particular are believed to play a critical role in the operation's safety and success. We sought to explore whether the assistant's seniority influences perioperative course following robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). We reviewed our prospective registry database of RALP cases performed by a single surgeon who during the study period was beyond his learning curve. The following parameters were documented and analyzed: patient's age, body mass index (BMI), associated comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, assistant's identity, total and skin-to-skin operative time (tOT, ssOT, respectively), estimated blood loss (EBL), immediate post-operative complications, length of stay (LOS), and prostate weight per final pathology report. Univariate analysis and Spearman's correlation test were used to evaluate whether the assistant's seniority influenced perioperative course. Between the years 2011-2015, 106 consecutive cases were retrieved and analyzed. Prostate weight was found to be associated with longer tOT (Spearman's ρ = 0.34, p < 0.001), ssOT (0.3, p < 0.01) and increased EBL (0.28, p < 0.01). Patient's age, BMI, associated comorbidities, and previous abdominal surgeries were found to have no influence on neither tOT, ssOT nor EBL. Three assistants' subgroups were identified (seniors, PGY 1-3, PGY 4-6). The assistant's seniority was found to have no influence on tOT, ssOT, EBL, immediate post-operative complications and LOS. Same results were obtained following prostate size adjustments. The assistant's seniority has no influence on perioperative course following RALP. Consequently, given a highly experienced primary surgeon, a less experienced assistant can be safely incorporated into this procedure.


The contact angle of nanofluids as thermophysical property.
Droplet volume and temperature affect contact angle significantly. Phase change heat transfer processes of nanofluids - suspensions containing nanometre-sized particles - can only be modelled properly by understanding these effects. The approach proposed here considers the limiting contact angle of a droplet asymptotically approaching zero-volume as a thermophysical property to characterise nanofluids positioned on a certain substrate under a certain atmosphere. Graphene oxide, alumina, and gold nanoparticles are suspended in deionised water. Within the framework of a round robin test carried out by nine independent European institutes the contact angle of these suspensions on a stainless steel solid substrate is measured with high accuracy. No dependence of nanofluids contact angle of sessile droplets on the measurement device is found. However, the measurements reveal clear differences of the contact angle of nanofluids compared to the pure base fluid. Physically founded correlations of the contact angle in dependency of droplet temperature and volume are obtained from the data. Extrapolating these functions to zero droplet volume delivers the searched limiting contact angle depending only on the temperature. It is for the first time, that this specific parameter, is understood as a characteristic material property of nanofluid droplets placed on a certain substrate under a certain atmosphere. Together with the surface tension it provides the foundation of proper modelling phase change heat transfer processes of nanofluids.


Reduction of left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast in cardiomyopathy by acute inotropic intervention or aggressive therapy.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether improvement of left ventricular (LV) systolic function could reduce the severity or eliminate LV spontaneous echo contrast found with transthoracic echocardiography in a group of patients with advanced cardiomyopathy. A successful reduction of this by hemodynamic means might indicate an additional beneficial method of helping prevent thromboembolism in advanced cardiomyopathy. Six patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and demonstrating spontaneous echo contrast on transthoracic echocardiography were treated with acute inotropic drug infusions or aggressive medical therapy to improve LV systolic function to determine whether reduction in spontaneous contrast could be achieved by such means. A spontaneous echo contrast scoring system was devised: 0 to 4, indicating absent to severe. Six observers, unacquainted with the study plan, were blinded as to the source of the 12 pre- and post-therapy two-dimensional echocardiograms obtained and re-recorded in a random sequence, and were asked to grade the degree of spontaneous echo contrast. In all six patients, LV spontaneous echo contrast was reduced by improvement in LV systolic function (average score lowered from 2.94 to 1.25, p < 0.005). Among patients with cardiomyopathy at high risk for LV thromboembolism, as indicated by the presence of LV spontaneous echo contrast, improvement in LV systolic function may serve as an adjunct to anticoagulation or, in some cases, as a substitute when the latter is contraindicated in the prevention of thromboembolism. The results obtained suggest merit in prospective, long-term studies of a larger group of such patients.


Graphane Nanostripes.
Graphane, the hydrogenated counterpart of graphene, was shown to exhibit properties such as tunable band gaps through varied degrees of hydrogenation, fluorescence, or ferromagnetism. Graphane nanostripe properties have also been theoretically predicted. Herein, we show that graphane nanostripes can be prepared by opening carbon nanotubes using Birch reduction in liquid ammonia utilizing potassium as a reducing agent and water as a proton donor. The prepared graphane nanostripes exhibit several exceptional properties when coupled with trace metal dopants. The interplay of metallic nanoparticles and defects lead to a spin polarization and induction of ferromagnetic moment, as well as to enhanced electrocatalytic properties in the hydrogen evolution reaction when compared to non-hydrogenated carbon nanotubes.


Some pitfalls in selecting descriptive pharmacokinetic models.
Some pitfalls in selecting pharmacokinetic models are enumerated. To calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters of a drug that exhibits a biphasic convex plasma concentration-time curve, a two-compartment model does not automatically have to be applied. When only the parent drug in plasma is considered, a two-compartment model seems to be most appropriate. However, when the kinetic behavior of the metabolite has to be taken into account, and when a metabolic equilibrium underlies the metabolic elimination, the two-compartment model may not be appropriate. Also, when calculating the kinetic parameters of a drug with a concave biphasic plasma concentration-time curve, a capacity-limited metabolic conversion is not the automatic explanation for this observation. Limitations in renal excretion and bioavailability may be the reasons for this behavior. Convex and concave biphasic plasma concentration-time curves are illustrated, using sulfonamides as test compounds.


Biological Roles and Delivery Strategies for Ions to Promote Osteogenic Induction.
Bone is the most studied tissue in the field of tissue regeneration. Even though it has intrinsic capability to regenerate upon injury, several pathologies and injuries could hamper the highly orchestrated bone formation and resorption process. Bone tissue engineering seeks to mimic the extracellular matrix of the tissue and the different biochemical pathways that lead to successful regeneration. For many years, the use of extrinsic factors (i.e., growth factors and drugs) to modulate these biological processes have been the preferred choice in the field. Even though it has been successful in some instances, this approach presents several drawbacks, such as safety-concerns, short release profile and half-time life of the compounds. On the other hand, the use of inorganic ions has attracted significant attention due to their therapeutic effects, stability and lower biological risks. Biomaterials play a key role in such strategies where they serve as a substrate for the incorporation and release of the ions. In this review, the methodologies used to incorporate ions in biomaterials is presented, highlighting the osteogenic properties of such ions and the roles of biomaterials in controlling their release.


Futile attempts to differentiate provide molecular evidence for individual differences within a population of cells during cellular reprogramming.
The heterogeneity of cell populations and the influence of stochastic noise might be important issues for the molecular analysis of cellular reprogramming at the system level. Here, we show that in Physarum polycephalum, the expression patterns of marker genes correlate with the fate decision of individual multinucleate plasmodial cells that had been exposed to a differentiation-inducing photostimulus. For several hours after stimulation, the expression kinetics of PI-3-kinase, piwi, and pumilio orthologs and other marker genes were qualitatively similar in all stimulated cells but quantitatively different in those cells that subsequently maintained their proliferative potential and failed to differentiate accordingly. The results suggest that the population of nuclei in an individual plasmodium behaves synchronously in terms of gene regulation to an extent that the plasmodium provides a source for macroscopic amounts of homogeneous single-cell material for analysing the dynamic processes of cellular reprogramming. Based on the experimental findings, we predict that circuits with switch-like behaviour that control the cell fate decision of a multinucleate plasmodium operate through continuous changes in the concentration of cellular regulators because the nuclear population suspended in a large cytoplasmic volume damps stochastic noise.


The role of filtration in drug delivery systems.
In the race to provide the patient population with effective treatment systems, filtration technologies are playing a greater role in meeting the challenges. Good filter design is reviewed here.


Recommendations for Management of Noncytotoxic Vesicant Extravasations.
To prepare clinicians to treat extravasation of noncytotoxic vesicants with antidotes and thermal compresses, a literature review was performed to identify noncytotoxic vesicants and to create evidence and consensus-based recommendations. The stage of injury and vesicant's mechanism of tissue injury dictate treatment. For a vasopressor extravasation, warm compresses and administration of a vasodilator are recommended. For osmolarity, pH, absorption refractory, and cytotoxic concentration-dependent vesicants, warm compresses and administration of hyaluronidase are recommended. Compared with potentially catastrophic costs of undertreatment, the cost of overtreatment is minimal.


Pressure injury prevalence in Australian intensive care units: A secondary analysis.
Pressure injuries (PIs) are an enduring problem for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) because of their vulnerability and numerous risk factors. This study reports Australian data as a subset of data from an international 1-day point prevalence study of ICU-acquired PI in adult patients. Patients aged 18 years or older and admitted to the ICU on the study day were included. The outcome measure was the identification of a PI by direct visual skin assessment on the study day. Data collected included demographic data and clinical risk factors, PI location and stage, and PI prevention strategies used. Descriptive statistics were used to describe PI characteristics, and odds ratios (ORs) were used to identify factors associated with the development of a PI. Data were collected from 288 patients from 16 Australian ICUs. ICU-acquired PI prevalence was 9.7%, with 40 PIs identified on 28 patients. Most PIs were of stage 1 and stage 2 (26/40, 65.0%). Half of the ICU-acquired PIs were found on the head and face. The odds of developing an ICU-acquired PI increased significantly with renal replacement therapy (OR: 4.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-12.11), impaired mobility (OR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.08-9.12), fastest respiratory rate (OR: 1.05 [per breath per minute], 95% CI: 1.00-1.10), longer stay in the ICU (OR: 1.04 [per day], 95% CI: 1.01-1.06), and mechanical ventilation on admission (OR: 0.36, CI: 0.14-0.91). This study found that Australian ICU-acquired PI prevalence was 9.7% and these PIs were associated with many risk factors. Targeted PI prevention strategies should be incorporated into routine prevention approaches to reduce the burden of PIs in the Australian adult ICU patient population.


Visual homing in analog hardware.
Insects of several species rely on visual landmarks for returning to important locations in their environment. The "average landmark vector model" is a parsimonious model which reproduces some aspects of the visual homing behavior of bees and ants. To gain insights in the structure and complexity of the neural apparatus that might underly the navigational capabilities of these animals, the average landmark vector model was implemented in analog hardware and used to control a mobile robot. The experiments demonstrate that the apparently complex task of visual homing might be realized by simple and mostly peripheral neural circuits in insect brains.


[A strategy for reduction of blood loss in total hip joint endoprosthesis].
The aim of the work is to evaluate 42 patients with THA with the use of alternative approaches to blood transfusion. In the period between 1 October 1998 and 1 October 2001, 42 primary total hip arthroplasties were performed, of which 16 were cemented and 26 cementless, in patients who refused blood transfusion due to religious or other reasons. The operated on group comprised 28 women and 14 men at average age of 57 (range, 38-76 years) with the indication of primary osteoarthritis in 24 patients and secondary osteoarthritis in 18 of them. Preoperative and postoperative blood loss was carefully observed in all patients. In cooperation with an internist and hematologist we used preoperatively recombinant human erythropoietin, iron and other agents stimulating erythropoiesis in order to increase the preoperative hematocrit to 45-50%. Preoperative planning is based on a careful examination of radiographs mainly from the viewpoint of the size of components of the total hip replacement. The surgery is performed in a semilateral position of the patient in a slight Trendelenburg position from the anterolateral, strictly atraumatic approach with a consistent hemostasis, maintenance of normothermia intraoperatively, efficient reduction of the surgery duration and application of substitute solutions. Average blood loss in cemented THA was 980 ml, of which 940 ml in men and 1000 ml in women. In the cementless THA it was 1180 ml, of this 1165 ml in men and 1205 ml in women. In case of the indication of primary osteoarthritis the average blood loss amounted to 1140 ml, of this 1125 ml in men and 1140 in women. In the secondary osteoarthritis the average value was 1215 ml, of which 1125 ml in men and 1180 ml in women. No statistically significant difference in the amount of the blood loss in relation to age was found. Preoperative hemoglobin ranged between 122-172 g/l, the postoperative range was 73-157 g/l. The average loss of hemoglobin in the cemented THA was 28.25 g/l and in the cementless THA 35 g/l. Preoperative average hematocrit was 43,375%, postoperative average was 31.3%. We used only some alternatives of the blood loss reduction. There occurred no case requiring termination of the surgery due to extreme blood loss. The article analyses opinions and outcomes of different authors as concerns the use of alternatives in the blood loss reduction in extensive orthopaedic operations. Transfusion trigger is described as the threshold for blood transfusion in linkage to the concentration of hemoglobin in blood and level of hematocrit. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives of blood loss reduction are evaluated including both their benefits and disadvantages. Emphasis is put on the preoperative treatment by human recombinant erythropoietin and hematopoietics, a careful approach during THA with the reduction of the surgery duration and maintenance of normothermia intraoperatively. The use of alternative procedures of blood loss reduction may be divided into three principles: 1. acceptable extent of anemia, 2. preoperative optimisation of the number of erythrocytes and the level of hemoglobin, 3. minimisation of bleeding during the surgery. By observation of these principles it is possible to reduce the use of blood transfusions in extensive orthopaedic operations.


Graphene/polyaniline/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) hybrid film with uniform surface resistance and its flexible dipole tag antenna application.
A graphene/polyaniline/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (G/PANI/PSS)-based conducting paste is successfully fabricated by introducing a PANI/PSS nanofiller into a multilayer graphene matrix by mechanical blending. As a compatibilizer, the PSS binder increases the dispersibility, interfacial interactions, and mechanical interlocking between the multilayer graphene matrix and PANI, thereby allowing surface resistance with narrow distribution. High concentrations of this PSS binder, obtained using ex situ polymerization, further improve the adhesion of the hybrid film to a flexible substrate. The minimum surface resistance of the screen-printed G/PANI/PSS hybrid film is approximately 10 Ω sq(-1) for a 70 μm uniform thickness. When bent to angles of -30°, the flexible hybrid film exhibits an approximately 6% decrease in surface resistance. The surface resistance after 500 bending cycles increases by only 10 Ω sq(-1) , which is 14 times that of smaller, graphene-based thin films. The micropatterned, screen-printed G/PANI/PSS hybrid film is evaluated as a practical dipole tag antenna. High-resolution patterns are formed in the hybrid film by the inherently high surface tension and the properties of grains within the domain-based structure. The G/PANI/PSS-based dipole tag antenna has a bandwidth of 28.7 MHz, a high transmitted power efficiency of 98.5%, and a recognition distance of 0.42 m at a mean frequency of 910 MHz. These characteristics indicate that the G/PANI/PSS-based dipole tag antenna could be used as a signal-receiving apparatus, much like a radio-frequency identification tag, for detecting nearby objects.


Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Apolipoprotein CIII to Evaluate O-glycan Site Occupancy and Sialylation in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation.
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are inherited metabolic diseases that affect the synthesis of glycoconjugates. Defects in mucin-type O-glycosylation occur independently or in combination with N-glycosylation disorders, and the profiling of the O-glycans of apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) by mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to support a diagnosis. The biomarkers are site occupancy and sialylation levels, which are indicated by the content of non-glycosylated apoCIII0a isoform and by the ratio of monosialylated apoCIII1 to disialylated apoCIII2 isoforms, respectively. In this report, electrospray ionization (ESI) quadrupole MS of apoCIII was used to identify these biomarkers. Among the instrumental parameters, the declustering potential (DP) induced the fragmentation of the O-glycan moiety including the Thr-GalNAc linkage, resulting in an increase in apoCIII0a ions. This incurs the risk of creating a false positive for reduced site occupancy. The apoCIII1/apoCIII2 ratio was substantially unchanged despite some dissociation of sialic acids. Therefore, appropriate DP settings are especially important when transferrin, which requires a higher DP, for N-glycosylation disorders is analyzed simultaneously with apoCIII in a single ESI MS measurement. Finally, a reference range of diagnostic biomarkers and mass spectra of apoCIII obtained from patients with SLC35A1-, TRAPPC11-, and ATP6V0A2-CDG are presented.


Gas Exchange Analysis of the Relative Importance of Stomatal and Biochemical Factors in Photosynthetic Induction in Alocasia macrorrhiza.
When leaves of Alocasia macrorrhiza adapted to 10 micromole quanta per square meter per second were transferred to 500 micromole quanta per square meter per second, the rate of photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation increased for over 45 minutes. For the first 10 to 15 minutes, increases in both stomatal conductance and the leaf's photosynthetic capacity were responsible for the increase in assimilation rate. Thereafter, continuing increases in stomatal conductance were almost entirely responsible for further increases in assimilation rate. When conductances were initially high, assimilation rates 1 minute after the increase in photon flux density could be more than six times as high as for similar leaves with initially low conductance. Further increases in assimilation rate in these leaves with high conductance were predominantly due to increases in the induction state at the biochemical level and followed an exponential time course. When stomatal conductances were initially low, then increases in conductance were predominantly responsible for the increases in assimilation rate, with both following a sigmoidal time course. In these leaves, it was important to also consider the effect of cuticular water loss on the calculation of the intracellular partial pressure of CO(2), and an assessment of the relative importance of stomatal conductance differed considerably from one that did not include cuticular water loss.


The importance of CT scan in the clinical-morphological and anatomical assessment of mediastinal lymphomas.
The study points out the value of CT scan in the investigative algorithm of mediastinal lymphomas. Thirty-eight cases of mediastinal malignant lymphoma were evaluated in a statistical retrospective study. CT scan was used for staging the disease in 25 cases and for post-therapeutic evaluation in the other 13 cases. The CT scan for staging purpose has shown the presence of significant isolated and confluent enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum in all 25 cases. Post-therapeutic evaluation of the 13 cases examined by CT showed six remissions, five reductions of lymph node masses and two extra nodal extensions. CT scan is the imaging method of choice in the clinico-morphological and anatomical assessment of mediastinal lymphomas.


A two-sample test with interval censored data via multiple imputation.
Interval censored data arise naturally in large scale panel studies where subjects can only be followed periodically and the event of interest can only be recorded as having occurred between two examination times. In this paper we consider the problem of comparing two interval-censored samples. We propose to impute exact failure times from interval-censored observations to obtain right censored data, then apply existing techniques, such as Harrington and Fleming's G(rho) tests to imputed right censored data. To appropriately account for variability, a multiple imputation algorithm based on the approximate Bayesian bootstrap (ABB) is discussed. Through simulation studies we find that it performs well. The advantage of our proposal is its simplicity to implement and adaptability to incorporate many existing two-sample comparison techniques for right censored data. The method is illustrated by reanalysing the Breast Cosmesis Study data set.


Childhood trauma, suicide risk and inflammatory phenotypes of depression: insights from monocyte gene expression.
Circulating monocytes contribute to inflammatory processes. We here validate abnormal expression of inflammation-related genes in monocytes of a large and well-characterised group of MDD patients, and relate the outcomes to pertinent clinical characteristics. Thirty-two genes of a previously established inflammation-related gene signature were assessed in 197 patients with MDD, and 151 controls collected during the EU-MOODINFLAME project. Monocyte gene- expression data were related to age, sex, BMI, depression severity, childhood adversity (CA) and suicide risk (SR). Three distinct gene profiles were identified within the MDD group (downregulated, mixed upregulated and strongly upregulated genes). Patients in the merged upregulated groups had a significantly higher prevalence of CA and high SR. Using hierarchical clustering of the genes, we found a cluster of mainly cytokine (production)-related genes; patients with SR had a significantly higher expression of this cluster than patients without SR (particularly for IL-6, IL1A and IL1B). Such difference did not emerge for patients with and without CA. A downregulated gene profile was found for patients not exposed to CA and without SR (particularly for glucocorticoid-signalling genes NR3C1a and HSPA1/B). No inflammatory changes were observed for healthy controls exposed to CA. Our data show that inflammatory activation in MDD is not uniform, and that immunologically discernible phenotypes of depression can be linked to CA and high SR. The absence of monocyte inflammatory activation in healthy controls exposed to CA suggests an inflammatory involvement in MDD-prone individuals exposed to early stressors, but not healthy controls.


A concept for planning and management of on-site and centralised municipal wastewater treatment systems, a case study in Bangkok, Thailand. II: scenario-based pollutant load analysis.
Scenario-based pollutant load analysis was conducted to develop a part of a concept for planning and management of wastewater treatment systems (WWTSs) under the mixture conditions of centralised and on-site WWTSs. Pollutant discharge indicators and pollutant removal efficiency functions were applied from another paper in the series, which were developed based on the existing conditions in urban and peri-urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand. Two scenarios were developed to describe development directions of the mixture conditions. Scenario 1 involves keeping the on-site wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) within the areas of centralised WWTSs. Scenario 2 is dividing the centralised and on-site WWTS areas. Comparison of the smallest values of total pollutant discharge per capita (PDCtotal) between Scenarios 1 and 2 showed that the smallest PDCtotal in Scenario 1 was smaller than that in Scenario 2 for biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus whereas the smallest PDCtotal in Scenario 2 was smaller than that in Scenario 1 for total nitrogen, total coliforms and faecal coliforms. The results suggest that the mixture conditions could be a possible reason for smaller pollutant concentrations at centralised WWTPs. Quantitative scenario-based estimation of PDCtotal is useful and a prerequisite in planning and management of WWTSs.


A patient with an aberrant pulmonary blood supply and recurrent infection.
A case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration presenting with recurrent episodes of infection is reported. Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation characterized by accessory lung tissue with no direct connection to the tracheobronchial tree and is supplied by an aberrant systemic artery. The aberrant artery is key to both diagnosis and treatment. The correct diagnosis may be suspected on clinical grounds and should be confirmed by identifying the lesion and aberrant artery on imaging studies. Surgical resection is curative, taking particular care not to injure the aberrant artery, which may result in devastating intraoperative hemorrhage.


Surgery in children with Crohn disease refractory to medical therapy.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgery in children with Crohn disease (CD) not responding to medical therapy and establish whether surgery improves growth and nutrition. Children with CD diagnosed between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. Relapse was defined by Harvey-Bradshaw index >5. Data, reported as median (range), were compared by Fisher exact test and repeated-measures ANOVA. One hundred forty-one children, ages 12.7 years (3.5-16.8), were identified; 27 (19%) required surgery 14.5 months (1.1-61.8) after diagnosis. Twenty-one had elective surgery (19 isolated ileocaecal disease and stricture, 2 diffuse disease of ileum); 6 had emergency surgery (3 peritonitis, 2 haemorrhage, 1 perforation). Surgery included 18 ileocaecal resection and end-to-end anastomosis, 5 stoma formation, 2 left hemicolectomy and end-to-end anastomosis, and 2 stricturoplasty. Follow-up was 2.5 years (1-9.4). Growth and nutrition improved by 6 and 12 months after surgery, with a significant increase in weight z score (P < 0.0001), height z score (P < 0.0001), albumin (30 [13-36] vs 39 [30-46] vs 40 [33-45], P < 0.0001), and haemoglobin [10 (6.8-13.2) vs 11.7 (8.2-13.7) vs 12.0 (9.3-14.7), P < 0.0001]. All patients of the received azathioprine (2-2.5 mg · kg⁻¹ · day⁻¹) after surgery. Fifteen patients (55%) relapsed with a modified Harvey-Bradshaw index of 8 (6-11) within 11.5 months (4.2-33.4). Of these, 5 patients (18%) relapsed within 1 year. Five patients (18%) had further surgery (2 anastomotic strictures, 2 diseased stoma, and 1 enterocutaneous fistula). Growth and nutrition following surgery for CD improve, but there is a high relapse rate. Despite this, the improved growth and nutrition before relapse may be beneficial during puberty and justify surgery in children not responding to medications.


Spermidine Enhances Heat Tolerance of Rice Seeds by Modulating Endogenous Starch and Polyamine Metabolism.
Polyamines have been reported to be involved in grain filling and they might contribute to the construction of heat resistance of some cereals. In this study, the hybrid rice 'YLY 689' was used to explore the possible effects of exogenous spermidine (Spd) on seed quality under high temperature during the filling stage. Rice spikes were treated with Spd or its synthesis inhibitor cyclohexylamine (CHA) after pollination, and then the rice plants were transferred to 40 °C for 5-day heat treatment. The results showed that, compared with the control under high temperature, Spd pretreatment significantly improved the germination percentage, germination index, vigor index, seedling shoot height, and dry weight of seeds harvested at 35 days after pollination, while the CHA significantly decreased the seed germination and seedling growth. Meanwhile, Spd significantly increased the peroxidase (POD) activity and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in seeds. In addition, after spraying with Spd, the endogenous content of spermidine and spermine and the expression of their synthetic genes, spermidine synthase (SPDSYN) and spermine synthase (SPMS1 and SPMS2), significantly increased, whereas the accumulation of amylose and total starch and the expression of their related synthase genes, soluble starch synthase II-3 (SS II-3) and granules bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), also increased to some extent. The data suggests that exogenous Spd pretreatment could alleviate the negative impacts of high temperature stress on rice seed grain filling and improve the rice seed quality to some extent, which might be partly caused by up-regulating endogenous polyamines and starch metabolism.


[QOL after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer].
We assessed the Quality of Life (QOL) of 116 patients with inoperable esophageal cancer who were mainly treated with radiotherapy between 1978 and 1993. Factors including dysphagia, weight loss, side effects of radiotherapy,P.S. and psychological status were assessed retrospectively. Dysphagia was assessed using a swallowing-function scoring system. Initial improvement in dysphagia occurred in 68% of the 71 assessable patients. Radiotherapy was also effective for the other symptoms, including swallowing pain, anterior chest pain and vomiting. Improvement rates were 73%, 60% and 82%, respectively. The major side effects were pain of the pharynx, general fatigue, epigastralgia and appetite loss. But most side effects resolved within 10 days after the end of radiotherapy. Improvement of dysphagia resulted in reduced weight loss of the patients. Average weight loss was about 3 kg/month before radiotherapy. This was reduced after radiotherapy to 0.78 kg/month in patients who had improvement of dysphagia and 1.69 kg/month for those without improvement. Improvement of dysphagia also affected favorably the psychological state of the patients. There were fewer cases of patient distrust of staff and less despair in those patients with improved dysphagia. Radiotherapy appears to contribute to better QOL in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.


From a neutrophilic synovial tissue infiltrate to a challenging case of rheumatoid arthritis.
The herein report illustrates how a synovial tissue heavily infiltrated by neutrophils in the first weeks of arthritis, can evolve in few months to a synovial infiltration by lymphocytes with a characteristic pattern of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This observation suggests a critical initial role of neutrophils in RA onset, which is eventually surpassed by the activation of the adaptive immune system. In addition, this patient, despite the absence of rheumatoid factors and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, progressed to a highly destructive and disabling disease, that was only controlled adequately with rituximab, due to the lack of response to methotrexate and serious adverse effects with TNF blockers therapy.


Spike-Stalk Injection Method Causes Extensive Phenotypic and Genotypic Variations for Rice Germplasm.
Genetic diversities or favorable genes within distantly related species are the important resources for crop genetic improvement and germplasm innovation. Spike-Stalk injection method (SSI) has long been applied in rice genetic improvement by directly introducing genetic materials from non-mating donor species, while its inheritance patterns and the underlying mechanisms are poorly elucidated. In this study, a rice variant ERV1 with improved yield-related traits was screened out in the way of introducing genomic DNA of Oryza eichingeri (2n=24, CC genome) into RH78 (Oryza sativa L. 2n=24, AA genome) using SSI method. Genome-wide comparison revealed that the genomic heterozygosity of ERV1 was approximately 8-fold higher than RH78. Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing technology (RAD-seq) and association analysis of the ERV1 inbred F2 population identified 5 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) regions responsible for these yield-related traits, and found that genomic heterozygosity of ERV1 inbred lines was significantly lower than ERV1, while spontaneous mutation rate of the ERV1 inbred lines was significantly higher than ERV1. Our results preliminarily uncovered the inheritance patterns of SSI variant rice, and the potential genomic regions for traits changes, which yielded novel insights into the mechanisms of SSI method, and may accelerate our understanding of plant genome evolution, domestication, and speciation in nature.


Women and HIV/AIDS.
Out of 39 million people in the world, currently living with HIV or AIDS, half are women. Of the 45 million new cases expected between 2002 and 2010, 70% likely to be women. Therefore women empowerment and awareness about the HIV/AIDS are mandatory and need of the day for control of AIDS. Women must take control of HIV prevention to curb spread of infection.


Specificity of a placental factor inhibiting breathing in fetal sheep.
We have found previously that the infusion of a placental extract inhibits breathing induced by 100% O2 plus umbilical cord occlusion in the fetal sheep, suggesting that a placental factor is responsible for the inhibition of fetal breathing. To test whether this factor is specific to the placenta and whether it also inhibits spontaneous fetal breathing (occurring in the absence of cord occlusion), we administered extracts from the placenta, muscle and liver of the pregnant ewe, extracts of fetal liver, and Krebs solution to 16 chronically instrumented fetal sheep at 135 +/- 5 days of gestation. Infusions were made during low-voltage electrocortical activity, 5 to 15 min after a switch from high voltage, when breathing was well established. Within 90 s of the infusion of the placental extract in the carotid artery of the fetus, breathing decreased in 79% (33/42) of the experiments and was completely abolished in 71% (30/42) of them (P < 0.0001 compared with the other infusates). No apnoeas were observed with the Krebs solution (0/19) and the maternal muscle (0/20). Extracts of maternal and fetal liver abolished breathing in only 17% (4/23) and 21% (6/29) of the experiments respectively (NS compared with Krebs solution). There were no significant changes in blood gas tensions, pH, blood pressure and heart rate associated with the infusion of the extracts. The electrocortical activity (ECoG) switched from low to high voltage in 50% of the experiments using placental extract compared with 0% with Krebs solution and maternal muscle, and with 9% and 17% with maternal and fetal liver respectively (P < 0.005). Breathing output (integral of EMGdi x f) during and after the infusions significantly decreased only with the placental extract. These findings indicate the presence of a factor produced by the placenta which inhibits fetal breathing and may be responsible for the normal inhibition of breathing observed in fetal life.


Prospective neuropathological validation of Hachinski's Ischaemic Score in dementias.
The sensitivity and specificity of Hachinski's Ischaemic Score (IS) in the diagnosis of the vascular aetiology of dementia was studied in a series of 32 demented patients, dementia of the Alzheimer type (16), multi-infarct dementia (7), mixed dementia (6), Pick's disease (3), with neuropathological diagnosis as the point of reference. The IS distinguished between primary degenerative dementia and multi-infarct or mixed dementia. As single features of the IS "a positive history of stroke" and "a fluctuating course" showed differing prevalences in the latter two diagnostic categories. The IS labelled 21% of patients with primary degenerative dementia as having a vascular aetiology. The uncritical application of the IS to large samples in epidemiological studies may cause incorrect labelling of a significant proportion of patients with primary degenerative dementia as vascular dementia. These results are based on observations of long-term inpatients and depend on neuropathological criteria. While the definite diagnosis of DAT by threshold criteria concerning plaque and tangle counts is well established, neither clinical nor pathological evidence of stroke necessarily means that cerebrovascular disease has anything to do with a patient's dementia.


[The efficacy of the magnesium sulfate aerosol treatment of bronchial asthma patients].
Action of magnesium sulphate (MS) aerosol (solution osmolality 260 mmol/l, pH 6.6) on bronchial sensitivity and reactivity to acetylcholine(AC) and graded exercise as well as bronchial permeability assessed by general plethysmography and pneumotaxography were studied in 49 patients with mild and moderate bronchial asthma. It is shown that when compared to placebo, MS inhalations conducted in the time of attenuating asthma exacerbation improved immediate and long-term responses in atopic and effort asthma. Both in single doses and course administration MS reduced non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity and secretory activity of mast cells. Positive dynamics of bronchoprovocative AC test suggested response to treatment in most BA patients.


Synthesis of Long-Chain Acyl-CoA in Chloroplast Envelope Membranes.
The chloroplast envelope is the site of a very active long-chain acylcoenzyme A (CoA) synthetase. Furthermore, we have recently shown that an acyl CoA thioesterase is also associated with envelope membrane (Joyard J, PK Stumpf 1980 Plant Physiol 65: 1039-1043). To clarify the interacting roles of both the acyl-CoA thioesterase and the acyl-CoA synthetase, the formation of acyl-CoA in envelope membranes was examined with different techniques which permitted the measurement of the actual rates of acyl-CoA formation. Using [(14)C]ATP or [(14)C]oleic acid as labeled substrates, it can be shown that the envelope acyl-CoA synthetase required both Mg(2+) and dithiothreitol. Triton X-100 slightly stimulated the activity. The specificity of the acyl-CoA synthetase was determined either with [(14)C]ATP or with [(3)H]CoA as substrates. The results obtained in both cases were similar, that is, as substrates, the unsaturated fatty acids were more effective than saturated fatty acids, the velocity of the reaction increased from lauric acid to palmitic acid, and the maximum velocity was obtained with unsaturated C(18) fatty acids.The results obtained suggest that the acyl-CoA thioesterase associated with envelope membranes could be an ultimate control to prevent the transport (outside of the chloroplast) or the insertion (into chloroplast lipids) of fatty acids with chains shorter than C(16).


Scavenging nitric oxide reduces hepatocellular injury after endotoxin challenge.
Sustained upregulation of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in the liver after endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] challenge may result in hepatocellular injury. We hypothesized that administration of a NO scavenger, NOX, may attenuate LPS-induced hepatocellular injury. Sprague-Dawley rats received NOX or saline via subcutaneous osmotic pumps, followed 18 h later by LPS challenge. Hepatocellular injury was assessed using biochemical assays, light, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. NOX significantly reduced serum levels of ornithine carbamoyltransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. TNF-alpha and IL-6 expression were increased in the livers of saline-treated but not NOX-treated rats. Although there was no difference between groups by light microscopy, TEM revealed obliteration of the space of Disse in saline-treated but not in NOX-treated animals. Electron paramagnetic resonance showed the characteristic mononitrosyl complex in NOX-treated rats. We conclude that NOX reduces hepatocellular injury after endotoxemia. NOX may be useful in the management of hepatic dysfunction secondary to sepsis or other diseases associated with excessive NO production.


Levels of immunoglobulin A1 and messenger RNA for interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha in total saliva from patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 with chronic periodontal disease.
Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease have high incidence in the general population and are associated with various degrees of dysfunction in the immune system. It has been shown that diabetic patients with severe periodontal disease have more complications of diabetes and less effective metabolic control compared with diabetic patients with healthy gingiva. Patients with diabetes and severe periodontal disease present higher levels of serous immunoglobulin A (IgA). Elevation of the IgA1 isotype is thought to contribute to this phenomenon. Another important event in the diabetes-periodontitis association is the disturbance in local and systemic production of inflammatory cytokines. In this study we tested the hypothesis that type 2 diabetic patients with chronic moderate periodontal disease have differences in salivary IgA1 titers and cytokine expression when compared with the chronic severe periodontal disease cases. We utilized a jacalin-IgA capture assay to determine the IgA1 titers in total saliva and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to detect mRNA for interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in total saliva samples of 13 patients with chronic moderate periodontal disease and 10 with chronic severe periodontal disease. We observed a predominance of IgA1 titers of 64 (45.5%) in saliva samples from chronic severe periodontal disease patients and titers averaging 512 (30.8%) in chronic moderate periodontal disease patients. We detected mRNA for IFN-gamma in six out of 10 chronic severe periodontal disease subjects and in two out of 13 chronic moderate periodontal disease patients. TNF-alpha expression was similar in both groups. Our data suggest that higher levels of IgA1 may exert partial protection of the periodontal tissue in chronic moderate periodontal disease diabetic patients when compared to severe periodontal disease. Despite the small number of patients, IFN-gamma expression had a trend association with severity of periodontitis and TNF-alpha gene expression did not correlate with severity of periodontal disease.


Droplet interface bilayers.
Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) provide a superior platform for the biophysical analysis of membrane proteins. The versatile DIBs can also form networks, with features that include built-in batteries and sensors.


Compromised Integrity, Burnout, and Intent to Leave the Job in Critical Care Nurses and Physicians.
To describe relationships between compromised integrity (CI), burnout, and intent-to-leave (ITL) practice in critical care (CC) and noncritical care (non-CC) nurses and physicians. CC nurses (RNs) and physicians (MDs) from the American Medical Association Coping with COVID survey were matched by gender, race, years in practice, and role with non-CC clinicians to determine likelihood of ITL in relation to burnout and CI. U.S. Healthcare organizations; July-December 2020. One hundred sixty-five CC RNs and 148 CC MDs (n = 313) matched with 165 non-CC RNs and 148 non-CC MDs from 83 healthcare organizations. Burnout was measured with a single, validated question that mainly reflects emotional exhaustion (EE), and CI was determined by asking if respondents worried about doing things that compromised their integrity moderately or to a great extent. ITL included those moderately, likely, or definitely, intending to leave. Burnout correlated strongly with CI (tetrachoric r = 0.704 [0.606-0.803]; P < 0.001). Of 626 subjects, 59% experienced burnout, 24% CI, and 33% ITL. CC RNs experienced burnout more often (76%) than non-CC RNs (62%; P < 0.01) and CC MDs (51%; P < 0.001). CI was more frequent in CC RNs (44%) than non-CC RNs (23%) and CC MDs (16%; P < 0.001). In multivariate regressions, CC clinicians experiencing burnout had 50% greater odds of ITL than non-CC clinicians experiencing burnout; odds of ITL were substantially higher (odds ratio, 2.8-3.2) in those with CI regardless of location or burnout. In the ICU, those feeling valued by their organization had one-third the odds of ITL. Burnout (EE) is high (>50%) among CC RNs and MDs, which may result in losses of CC clinicians while demand rises. Preventing CI independent of burnout may reduce turnover in all settings and especially in ICUs. Feeling valued may promote staff retention.


Shifting Target Reaction from Oxygen Reduction to Superoxide Disproportionation by Tuning Isomeric Configuration of Quinone Derivative as Redox Mediator for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.
Quinones having a fully conjugated cyclic dione structure have been used as redox mediators in electrochemistry. 2,5-Ditert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DBBQ or DB-p-BQ) as a para-quinone derivative is one of the representative discharge redox mediators for facilitating the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics in lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs). Herein, we presented that the redox activity of DB-p-BQ for electron mediation was possibly used for facilitating superoxide disproportionation reaction (SODR) by tuning the isomeric configuration of the carbonyl groups of the substituted quinone to change its reduction potentials. First, we expected a molecule having its reduction potential between oxygen/superoxide at 2.75 V versus Li/Li+ and superoxide/peroxide at 3.17 V to play a role of the SODR catalyst by transferring an electron from one superoxide (O2-) to another superoxide to generate dioxygen (O2) and peroxide (O22-). By changing the isomeric configuration from para (DB-p-BQ) to ortho (DB-o-BQ), the reduction potential of the first electron transfer (Q/Q-) of the ditert-butyl benzoquinone shifted positively to the potential range of the SODR catalyst. The electrocatalytic SODR-promoting functionality of DB-o-BQ kept the reactive superoxide concentration below a harmful level to suppress superoxide-triggered side reaction, improving the cycling durability of LOBs, which was not achieved by the para form. The second electron transfer process (Q-/ Q2-) of the DB-o-BQ, even if the same process of the para form was not used for facilitating ORR, played a role of mediating electrons between electrode and oxygen like the Q/Q- process of the para form. The ORR-promoting functionality of the ortho form increased the LOB discharge capacity and reduced the ORR overpotential.


The daily force pattern of spinal orthoses in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
The efficacy of orthotic treatment for children with abnormal spinal curvature has been hampered by the lack of comprehensive information about wear characteristics. A battery-powered microcomputer system was developed to monitor loads exerted by orthoses used to treat children with spinal deformities during daily living. The system not only records how well the orthosis has been used, but also helps to ensure that the orthosis is being worn as prescribed. Data acquisition is controlled by a microcontroller and can be programmed to have sample intervals ranging from 1 second to 1 hour. Low power control circuitry is designed so that the system can be operated by a battery. In a preliminary study, 16 subjects (3M, 13F) used this system from 1 to 16 days (9.3 +/- 5.0) with the prescribed hours between 16 to 23 hours (22.3 +/- 1.3). This study demonstrated the feasibility of the approach, and that this device may increase the understanding of orthotic mechanics, and may help patients to wear their orthoses in a better way.


Determination of the structure of an endoglucanase from Aspergillus niger and its mode of inhibition by palladium chloride.
The fungus Aspergillus niger is a main source of industrial cellulase. beta-1,4-Endoglucanase is the major component of cellulase from A. niger. In spite of widespread applications, little is known about the structure of this enzyme. Here, the structure of beta-1,4-endoglucanase from A. niger (EglA) was determined at 2.1 A resolution. Although there is a low sequence identity between EglA and CelB2, another member of family 12, the three-dimensional structures of their core regions are quite similar. The structural differences are mostly found in the loop regions, where CelB2 has an extra beta-sheet (beta-sheet C) at the non-reducing end of the binding cleft of the native enzyme. Incubation of EglA with PdCl(2) irreversibly inhibits the EglA activity. Structural studies of the enzyme-palladium complex show that three Pd(2+) ions bind to each EglA molecule. One of the Pd(2+) ions forms a coordinate covalent bond with Met118 S(delta) and the nucleophilic Glu116 O(epsilon1) at the active site of the enzyme. The other two Pd(2+) ions bind on the surface of the protein. Binding of Pd(2+) ions to EglA does not change the general conformation of the backbone of the protein significantly. Based on this structural study, one can conclude that the palladium ion directly binds to and blocks the active site of EglA and thus inactivates the enzyme.


Normal fetal outcome in a pregnancy with central nervous system toxoplasmosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection. A case report.
A pregnant woman was diagnosed with central nervous system toxoplasmosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Diagnosis was made by evaluating computed tomography scan results and toxoplasma antibody titers. The patient was treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, with an excellent fetal outcome. She responded well to this regimen but developed a delayed exanthematous hypersensitivity reaction. Treatment with a substitute regimen resulted in a recurrence of symptoms, leaving undesirable neurologic deficits.