Partial differential equation transform - Variational formulation and Fourier analysis.
Nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) models are established approaches for image/signal processing, data analysis and surface construction. Most previous geometric PDEs are utilized as low-pass filters which give rise to image trend information. In an earlier work, we introduced mode decomposition evolution equations (MoDEEs), which behave like high-pass filters and are able to systematically provide intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of signals and images. Due to their tunable time-frequency localization and perfect reconstruction, the operation of MoDEEs is called a PDE transform. By appropriate selection of PDE transform parameters, we can tune IMFs into trends, edges, textures, noise etc., which can be further utilized in the secondary processing for various purposes. This work introduces the variational formulation, performs the Fourier analysis, and conducts biomedical and biological applications of the proposed PDE transform. The variational formulation offers an algorithm to incorporate two image functions and two sets of low-pass PDE operators in the total energy functional. Two low-pass PDE operators have different signs, leading to energy disparity, while a coupling term, acting as a relative fidelity of two image functions, is introduced to reduce the disparity of two energy components. We construct variational PDE transforms by using Euler-Lagrange equation and artificial time propagation. Fourier analysis of a simplified PDE transform is presented to shed light on the filter properties of high order PDE transforms. Such an analysis also offers insight on the parameter selection of the PDE transform. The proposed PDE transform algorithm is validated by numerous benchmark tests. In one selected challenging example, we illustrate the ability of PDE transform to separate two adjacent frequencies of sin(x) and sin(1.1x). Such an ability is due to PDE transform's controllable frequency localization obtained by adjusting the order of PDEs. The frequency selection is achieved either by diffusion coefficients or by propagation time. Finally, we explore a large number of practical applications to further demonstrate the utility of proposed PDE transform.


Want to fight chronic disease? Stop subsidizing drug companies.
Healthcare systems have made great strides in recent years in learning how to use their medical records and claims data to identify patients at high risk of contracting chronic diseases such as diabetes. Unfortunately, under fee-for-service medicine, doing something with that information is rarely a smart move financially.


Ticlopidine-associated pancytopenia: implications of an acetylsalicylic acid alternative.
Ticlopidine is an antiplatelet agent that has been proven efficacious in preventing vascular events in patients with a history of vasculopathy. Neutropenia is a significant adverse effect and pancytopenia is rarely reported. A fatal case of pancytopenia associated with unmonitored use of ticlopidine is presented. A 59-year-old woman presented with severe pneumonia and profound neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count 0%). She deteriorated with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and a marked reduction in trilineage hematopoiesis. Despite prompt marrow response to granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and cessation of ticlopidine, appropriate antibiotics and other supportive therapy, she died 17 days after admission. Hematological monitoring is imperative to identify potential complications: if discovered late, there may be a role for GM-CSF for marrow support. Ticlopidine is indicated for patients intolerant of or nonresponsive to acetylsalicylic acid therapy. As the use of ticlopidine increases, clinicians must be aware of potential life-threatening complications associated with its use and monitor appropriately.


Opioids prescription for symptoms relief and the impact on respiratory function: updated evidence.
Opioids are used for treating dyspnea and other symptoms in oncological and nononcological patients. The relief of respiratory fatigue and anxiety that these opioids offer is well known. One of the scarcely frequent, but very much feared, side-effects is respiratory depression. The purpose of this review is to determine whether or not the situation of an advanced-stage patient under palliative care and the use of opioids are risk factors for respiratory depression. Studies conducted on respiratory function and opioids have proliferated in the past 10 years, but there is no recent review that groups the results together and evaluates their safe use in end-stage patients. A bibliographic review found three randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled studies and five prospective studies, six of which showed that opioids significantly relieve dyspnea (P<0.001). The use of morphine for symptomatic relief does not significantly change the level of saturation of oxygen in the blood. In addition, the functional studies do not indicate that the use of opioids for dyspnea relief causes high CO2 levels in blood (P=0.05). The opioids used for treating dyspnea do not significantly compromise respiratory function; they are safe and effective.


Apolipoprotein A-V is a potent modulator of HDL and VLDL components in preadolescent children.
Mice lacking apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) displayed an increase in serum triglyceride (TG) levels; however, the correlation of apoA-V levels with TG levels in humans is controversial, and the exact mechanism by which apoA-V affects TG levels is unclear. The aim of the present study was to clarify the impact of apoA-V on the lipoprotein subclass profile in preadolescent children, which has not been studied. The study subjects were 178 (89 male, 89 female) 4th grade elementary school children (mean+/-SD: 9.5+/-0.5 years old). ApoA-V levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the lipid component of each lipoprotein fraction and their particle sizes were measured by HPLC. Levels of apoA-V showed no gender difference in preadolescent children, and were not affected by anthropometric variables. ApoA-V had a negative association with serum TG levels and TG levels in each lipoprotein fraction, and a positive association with HDL-C. In particular, apoA-V appears to contribute to the increase in cholesterol levels in the larger HDL fraction. It was suggested that apoA-V is a potent modulator of HDL and VLDL components in preadolescent children.


Preventive effect of onion juice on selenite-induced experimental cataract.
To evaluate the effects of onion juice on sodium-selenite induced cataract formation. Thirty-two 10-day-old Wistar-albino rat pups were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 received only subcutaneous saline injection. In Group 2, sodium-selenite (30 nmol / g body weight) was injected subcutaneously. In Group 3, subcutaneous sodium-selenite was injected and one drop 50% diluted fresh juice of crude onion was instilled every 8 h into the right eye for 14 days; the left eye received no treatment. Group 4 rats were similar to those of Group 3, the only difference being that of undiluted fresh juice of crude onion. The development of cataract was assessed. Rat lenses were analyzed for total antioxidant (TA) level, and for activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Both eyes of all rats in Group 1 did not exhibit cataract formation . In Group 2, all rats developed Grade 3 cataract in the lenses of both eyes. The difference in exhibited cataract in the lens of the right eyes in all rats between Group 2 and any eyes of groups 3 or 4 were significant ( P = 0.001). The mean TA level and mean activities of SOD and GPX in Group 2 rat lenses were significantly lower than the values in lenses of all rats in Group 1 ( P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.001), and in the lenses of the right eyes of rats in Groups 3 and 4 ( P = 0.001, 0.020, 0.001). Instillation of onion juice into the rat eyes can effectively prevent selenite-induced cataract formation. This effect was associated with increased TA level, SOD and GPX activities in the lens.


An Intervention to Promote Sleep and Reduce ADHD Symptoms.
To determine the effect of a sleep hygiene education module and prescriptive sleep routine for children ages 5 through 11 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The 20-week pilot project used a pre-/posttest design to assess sleep and ADHD symptoms. The Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CHSQ) and Vanderbilt Assessment Scale-Parent Form survey were provided to assess sleep and ADHD behaviors of participants at baseline and 6 weeks after implementation of the sleep hygiene routine. Fifty-three children participated in the project. Of these, 23 scored 42 or greater on the CHSQ, indicating a sleep disorder, and received the intervention. The CHSQ and Vanderbilt scores indicated a significant improvement in sleep quality and reduction in ADHD symptoms after implementation of the sleep hygiene routine (CHSQ: p < .001, d = .928; Vanderbilt Questions 1-9: p < .001, d = .473; Vanderbilt Questions 10-18: p = .004; d = .329). A provider-instructed sleep hygiene routine in children with ADHD improves sleep quality and reduces ADHD symptoms.


[Evaluation of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from gastric cancer FEM--combination therapy of 5 FU, Epirubicin and MMC].
We evaluated the effectiveness of FEM (5-FU, Epirubicin, MMC) therapy. One hundred ten cases of liver metastasis from gastric cancer were collected from January, 1977 until June, 2001 (synchronous: 74 cases, asynchronous: 36 cases). Twenty-nine cases were H1, 20 cases were H2 and 61 cases were H3. The patients were divided into the following groups: Group A: Resection of the primary lesion and hepatic resection (n = 9); Group A1: Hepatic resection only (5 cases), Group A2: Hepatic resection and intra-arterial infusion (4 cases). Group B: Resection of the primary lesion (n = 67); Group B1: Resection of the primary lesion only (46 cases), Group B2: Intra-arterial infusion (21 cases). In Groups A2 and B2, FEM therapy was applied to A2a (3 cases) and B2a (8 cases). Non-FEM therapy was applied to A2b (1 case) and B2b (13 cases). Group C consisted of 34 cases in which resection of the primary lesion was not undertaken. Survival rates were then compared. One-year survival rates and 50% survival period for each group were as follows: Group A: 33%, 5.9 months; Group B: 22%, 4.8 months; and Group C: 6%, 3.9 months, respectively. Five patients from Groups A2a and B2a survived for one year or longer. 1. The prognosis with liver metastasis from gastric cancer, even with a number of therapies, is not promising. 2. Resection of the primary lesion along with hepatic intra-arterial infusion therapy (in addition to hepatic resection), especially in combination with FEM therapy, provided an extended survival.


Note: real time three-dimensional topography measurement of microfluidic devices with pillar structures using confocal microscope.
Miniature pillars are three-dimensional (3D) features commonly found in microfluidic device. These features are usually employed as filters. Non-confocal profilometers have difficulties in measuring 3D topography of pillar structures in transparent microfluidic devices. Confocal sensors can be used to measure the 3D topography of pillar structures but they are usually time consuming due to the scanning process. We have developed a technique to measure 3D topography using a modified confocal microscope with a spinning Nipkow disk and chromatic confocal technique. Experimental results on a microfluidic device with pillar structures demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique. Our technique is suitable for in situ, real time measurement of microfluidic device at production speed since it requires only one confocal image to complete a measurement.


Endoscopic closure of a frontocutaneous fistula.
A frontocutaneous fistula is a rare sequela of frontal sinus pathology. Management via an endoscopic approach is not frequently reported in the literature. We describe such an approach with the aid of still photography and imaging plus videoendoscopy, and we discuss the current literature.


Nonpapillary and papillary renal cell carcinoma: a cytogenetic and phenotypic study.
Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies allow the common renal cell neoplasms to be separated into two main types: (1) Nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas (RCC) which have a loss of 3p13-pter sequences and (2) Papillary renal cell tumors having tri- or tetrasomies of chromosome 7 and trisomy 17. To investigate renal proximal (PT) and distal (DT) tubular epithelial phenotype expression in these genetically distinct neoplasms, a panel of antibodies and lectins selectively reactive with normal adult PT and DT was applied to 10 nonpapillary and seven papillary RCC. All tumors except one papillary RCC demonstrated characteristic karyotypes. Phenotype expression varied depending upon changes in the histopathologic patterns within a tumor. Among tumors composed of only one cell type, columnar, eosinophilic cells showed only PT staining and small, basophilic cells showed only DT staining. One tumor revealed a transition from small, basophilic cells to columnar, eosinophilic cells. The basophilic cells stained for DT markers and the eosinophilic cells for PT markers. One tumor consisted of nests of clear cells between indistinct papillary structures. The clear cells stained for both PT and DT markers. All 10 nonpapillary RCC demonstrated PT staining; nine exhibited DT markers. Staining was most intense in areas of tumor showing higher nuclear grades, tubuloglandular differentiation or in granular, eosinophilic cells and was absent or weak in solid groups of low nuclear grade clear cells. Papillary and nonpapillary RCC demonstrated lectin-binding or antigens associated with both PT and DT indicating a capacity for multipotential metanephric differentiation in each type of neoplasm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Education as a key piece in the prevention and good course of pressure ulcers].
To evaluate if an education program for the nursing staff helps to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers and prevent their poor evolution. A prospective and observational study where the prevention and educational methods have been used to prevent and treat pressure ulcers. All patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit during one year were included (six months of basal period and six months of post-training period). The following variables were analyzed: incidence of Pressure Ulcers, risk score according to EMINA, ulcer grade and location. A total of 134 ulcers were identified in the 69 patients (14.37%) with pressure ulcers included in the basal period. Forty-four patients (7.88%) of the patients in the post-training period developed 77 pressure ulcers. The significance level was p < 0.01, OR: 0.40 (95% CI: 0.26-0.62). Fifteen of the 211 pressure ulcers evolved to grade III-IV p > 0.20. Conducting a training program in the application of standardized prevention methods for the nursing staff reduces the incidence of pressure ulcers.


[Menopause and quality of life].
Menopause represents a relatively long period in a women's life going along with alterations derived from ovarial decline and with corresponding changes of psychosomatic, psychic and behavioural pattern. Like pregnancy it should not be considered as a disease but as an evolutive phase in a woman's life in biological as well as in psychologic respect. Hundred years ago European women entered menopause at an age of about 40 years and their life expectancy was about 6 years and after menopause. Today, onset of menopause reaches 55 years, life expectancy, however, has expanded to the 80s, even 83 in Switzerland. It is therefore important and justified to provide all medical and psychological measures that may ameliorate quality of life for all women expecting a prolonged life.


Cerebral oedema in episodic ataxia.
We report a patient with episodic ataxia (presumably of type 2) who developed cerebral oedema secondary to a common infection (presumably viral). Cerebral oedema may be a part of the clinical spectrum of familial episodic ataxia and argues for an overlap with hemiplegic migraine. It is suggested to consider a diagnosis of episodic ataxia or familial hemiplegic migraine in catastrophic reactions to apparent trivial trauma or infection.


[Exercise increases muscle strength and probably prevents hip fractures].
No hypothesis-testing studies (blinded, randomized, controlled, prospective) with fracture as endpoint have been published so far. Instead we have to rely on observational cohort and case-control studies, from which available data imply that physical activity reduces the risk of hip fracture in women and perhaps also in men. This could be the case, but repeated sampling bias could present the same outcome. Whether or not exercise reduces the number of vertebral fractures and other fragility fractures is less often evaluated. Fracture rate seems not to be reduced with cessation of exercise. The evidence that exercise modifies the risk of falling is compelling. Exercise is associated with improved muscle strength, coordination and balance. Exercise increases muscle strength even in octogenarians by 20-200 per cent, but these benefits are lost if activity is reduced. Exercise reduces the risk of falling and perhaps also the number of falls. Whether or not the number of injurious falls is reduced by exercise is even more hotly debated.


[Resolution of a neck chylous fistula with oral diet treatment].
Chylous fistula after neck dissection is a well-described complication. This pHatology can lead to serious respiratory and nutritional complications. Therapeutical options for chylous fistula remains controversial. On last reviews, there are an agreement on the conservative management. Within of this management, low long-chain triglycerides fat diet is an essential part.


[Effects of several microsatellite DNA loci on milk production in dairy cattle].
The amplified fragment length polymorphisms of 7 microsatellite DNA loci linked with weaver gene according to the comparative map of mouse and cattle were detected in 178 Holstein cattle. Results showed that there were 4 and 6 alleles at BM6438 and BMS2321 loci respectively. Two alleles at BMS4020 locus and 5 alleles at BMS711 locus were detected. Two alleles at INRA117, 3 alleles at CA095 and 3 alleles at TGLA116 locus were found. Among these 7 microsatellite loci, BM6438, BMS711 and BMS2321 were high polymorphic loci, and PIC(polymorphism information content) was 0.58, 0.67 and 0.67 respectively. PIC of the moderate polymorphic locus TGLA116 was 0.45. BMS4020, INRA117 and CA095 were low polymorphic loci with PIC of 0.06, 0.05 and 0.05 respectively. Effects of BM6438, BMS2321, BMS711 and TGLA116 on milk production traits were analyzed with PROC GLM of SAS. Results showed that the four loci had no significant effect on milk yield of Holstein cattle, effect of BM6438 and BMS711 on milk composition was not significant either(P > 0.05). BMS2321 had a significant effect on protein yield and protein percentage(P < 0.01). The effect of TGLA116 on protein yield and protein percentage reached a significant level at P < 0.05.


Insertion of Metal-Substituted Silylene into Naphthalene's Aromatic Ring and Subsequent Rearrangement for Silaspiro-Benzocycloheptenyl and Cyclobutenosilaindan Derivatives.
Synthesis of silacycle compounds are of fundamental and application importance. Herein we report the first example of insertion of metal-substituted silylene fragment into naphthalene's aromatic ring. More significantly, this insertion is followed by interesting rearrangements to yield silaspiro-benzocycloheptenyl and cyclobutenosilaindan derivatives. The formation of cyclobutenosilaindan derivative includes the C-C bond cleavage and 4π electrocyclization steps; the formation of silaspiro-benzocycloheptenyl derivative is more complicated, including the C-C bond cleavage, reversible 4π electrocyclization, C-H bond activation and C-Si bond cleavage. DFT investigations were carried out to shed light on the mechanistic aspects of these two rearrangements. The formed cyclobutenosilaindan potassium can readily react with PhOH, MeOTf, EtOTf, PhCH2 Cl or PhCOCl at room temperature to afford the hydrogen, alkyl, benzyl or benzoyl substituted cyclobutenosilaindans in high yields.


Milia en Plaque of the Earlobe.
Introduction: Milia en plaque is an uncommon benign dermatosis. Case presentation:We present a case of a 43-year-old Caucasian man with a five-month history of asymptomatic symmetric lesions on the earlobes that has been previously treated by self-medication with potent topical steroids, emollients, cosmetic procedures, herbal medication and punch-procedure. Based on clinical examination, a diagnosis of milia on earlobes was established and treated with topical steroids. Discussion and conclusion:Milia en plaque of the earlobes has yet not been reported. Treatment is not different from other localizations.


Comparative sequence analysis of the sorghum Rph region and the maize Rp1 resistance gene complex.
A 268-kb chromosomal segment containing sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genes that are orthologous to the maize (Zea mays) Rp1 disease resistance (R) gene complex was sequenced. A region of approximately 27 kb in sorghum was found to contain five Rp1 homologs, but most have structures indicating that they are not functional. In contrast, maize inbred B73 has 15 Rp1 homologs in two nearby clusters of 250 and 300 kb. As at maize Rp1, the cluster of R gene homologs is interrupted by the presence of several genes that appear to have no resistance role, but these genes were different from the ones found within the maize Rp1 complex. More than 200 kb of DNA downstream from the sorghum Rp1-orthologous R gene cluster was sequenced and found to contain many duplicated and/or truncated genes. None of the duplications currently exist as simple tandem events, suggesting that numerous rearrangements were required to generate the current genomic structure. Four truncated genes were observed, including one gene that appears to have both 5' and 3' deletions. The maize Rp1 region is also unusually enriched in truncated genes. Hence, the orthologous maize and sorghum regions share numerous structural features, but all involve events that occurred independently in each species. The data suggest that complex R gene clusters are unusually prone to frequent internal and adjacent chromosomal rearrangements of several types.


The testing and modification of a commercially available transport medium for the transportation of pure cultures of Haemophilus paragallinarum for serotyping.
Haemophilus paragallinarum, the causative agent of infectious coryza in poultry, is an extremely fastidious organism requiring specific growth conditions for isolation. For complete control of the disease in regions where more that one of the serovars of the different serogroups occurs, it is essential that the bacterium causing the problem be isolated and serotyped. This work describes the modification and testing of transport media, which will ensure the survival of the causative agents in suspected infectious coryza cases for transport to a laboratory where the bacterium can be isolated and serotyped. The various transport media used are based on commercially available Amies Transport Medium supplemented with the different supplements used for the growth of H. paragallinarum. It was established that the bacterium remains viable for up to 18 days in Amies Transport Medium containing all the supplements when stored at 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C. At room temperature or 25 degrees C, there was no difference in the survival of H. paragallinarum in commercial Amies Transport Medium (without charcoal) and Amies Transport Medium with supplements.


Differential inhibition by alpha- and beta-tocopherol of human erythroleukemia cell adhesion: role of integrins.
The effect of alpha- and beta-tocopherol on human erythroleukemia cell (HEL) adhesion induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) has been studied. Adhesion induced by PMA stimulation was prevented by 44.5% by physiological concentrations of alpha-tocopherol. Under the same experimental conditions, beta-tocopherol, an analogue of alpha-tocopherol, produced 11% inhibition of adhesion. Cell response gradually increased from 0 to 24 h of alpha-tocopherol treatment. Only a slight time dependency of beta-tocopherol inhibition was observed. Another human erythroleukemia cell line (K562) and the human monocyte tumor cell line U937 showed 5.0 and 11.2% inhibition, respectively. Similar to alpha-tocopherol, the protein kinase C inhibitor, Calphostin C, and the MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, prevented PMA-induced cell adhesion. An inhibition of ERK-1 phosphorylation was observed for alpha-tocopherol only in HEL, implying that MAP kinase pathway is involved in this cell line. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), by using various integrin-specific monoclonal antibodies, has shown that alpha (1-6), beta1, and alphav integrins are less expressed at the cell surface after alpha-tocopherol treatment. Beta-tocopherol treatment was less effective.


The effect of music therapy on the cardiac activity parameters of a fetus in a cardiotocographic examination.
The assessment of cardiac parameters of the fetus in cardiotocographic record of pregnant women listening to classical music. Sixty NST records with no musical stimulation and 30 NST records during a 15-min auditive stimulation with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Turkish March" as well as 30 NST records during Johann Strauss's "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka" were performed for the study. The average stage of the responders' pregnancy was the 36rd week, the lowest - the 27th week, the highest - 41st. Following the listening to W.A. Mozart's composition, a significant increase was observed in values concerning: the number of fetal movements (p < 0.0001), accelerations >10 (p = 0.0063), accelerations >15 (p = 0.0011), high variability (p = 0.0019) and short-term variability (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, parameters concerning baseline cardiac activity (p = 0.0003) and low variability (p = 0.0021) significantly decreased. The number of uterine contractions decreased insignificantly (p = 0.3718). Following listening to J. Strauss's composition, the following parameters underwent increase: fetal movements (p = 0.0021) and short-term variability (p = 0.0025). The remaining parameters of the cardiotocographic record: accelerations, uterine contractions - underwent an improvement, but the changes were not significant. Music therapy is a noninvasive and uncostly method, significantly improving wellbeing-indicative fetal parameters.


Impact of fluctuating developmental temperatures on phenotypic traits in reptiles: a meta-analysis.
During the vulnerable stages of early life, most ectothermic animals experience hourly and diel fluctuations in temperature as air temperatures change. While we know a great deal about how different constant temperatures impact the phenotypes of developing ectotherms, we know remarkably little about the impacts of temperature fluctuations on the development of ectotherms. In this study, we used a meta-analytic approach to compare the mean and variance of phenotypic outcomes from constant and fluctuating incubation temperatures across reptile species. We found that fluctuating temperatures provided a small benefit (higher hatching success and shorter incubation durations) at cool mean temperatures compared with constant temperatures, but had a negative effect at warm mean temperatures. In addition, more extreme temperature fluctuations led to greater reductions in embryonic survival compared with moderate temperature fluctuations. Within the limited data available from species with temperature-dependent sex determination, embryos had a higher chance of developing as female when developing in fluctuating temperatures compared with those developing in constant temperatures. With our meta-analytic approach, we identified average mean nest temperatures across all taxa where reptiles switch from receiving benefits to incurring costs when incubation temperatures fluctuate. More broadly, our study indicates that the impact of fluctuating developmental temperature on some phenotypes in ectothermic taxa are likely to be predictable via integration of developmental temperature profiles with thermal performance curves.


Electrochemical Technologies to Decrease the Chemical Risk of Hospital Wastewater and Urine.
The inefficiency of conventional biological processes to remove pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) in wastewater is leading to their accumulation in aquatic environments. These compounds are characterized by high toxicity, high antibiotic activity and low biodegradability, and their presence is causing serious environmental risks. Because much of the PhCs consumed by humans are excreted in the urine, hospital effluents have been considered one of the main routes of entry of PhCs into the environment. In this work, a critical review of the technologies employed for the removal of PhCs in hospital wastewater was carried out. This review provides an overview of the current state of the developed technologies for decreasing the chemical risks associated with the presence of PhCs in hospital wastewater or urine in the last years, including conventional treatments (filtration, adsorption, or biological processes), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs).


Splicing predictions, minigene analyses, and ACMG-AMP clinical classification of 42 germline PALB2 splice-site variants.
PALB2 loss-of-function variants confer high risk of developing breast cancer. Here we present a systematic functional analysis of PALB2 splice-site variants detected in approximately 113,000 women in the large-scale sequencing project Breast Cancer After Diagnostic Gene Sequencing (BRIDGES; https://bridges-research.eu/). Eighty-two PALB2 variants at the intron-exon boundaries were analyzed with MaxEntScan. Forty-two variants were selected for the subsequent splicing functional assays. For this purpose, three splicing reporter minigenes comprising exons 1-12 were constructed. The 42 potential spliceogenic variants were introduced into the minigenes by site-directed mutagenesis and assayed in MCF-7/MDA-MB-231 cells. Splicing anomalies were observed in 35 variants, 23 of which showed no traces or minimal amounts of the expected full-length transcripts of each minigene. More than 30 different variant-induced transcripts were characterized, 23 of which were predicted to truncate the PALB2 protein. The pathogenicity of all variants was interpreted according to an in-house adaptation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP) variant classification scheme. Up to 23 variants were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic. Remarkably, three ±1,2 variants (c.49-2A>T, c.108+2T>C, and c.211+1G>A) were classified as variants of unknown significance, as they produced significant amounts of either in-frame transcripts of unknown impact on the PALB2 protein function or the minigene full-length transcripts. In conclusion, we have significantly contributed to the ongoing effort of identifying spliceogenic variants in the clinically relevant PALB2 cancer susceptibility gene. Moreover, we suggest some approaches to classify the findings in accordance with the ACMG-AMP rationale. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.


Primary malignant rhabdoid tumours of brain, clinicoradiological findings of two cases.
Malignant rhabdoid tumours (MRT) are extremely malignant, highly aggressive and uncommon renal neoplasms of childhood with very poor prognosis. About fifteen cases of primary intracranial MRT (with their clinical details) are reported in English literature, following the recognition of this entity in 1978. Two cases of MRT are reported here. The first case, one year male baby was admitted with a very large, infiltrative, posterior fossa mass. He required elective ventilation, following the tumour decompression but ultimately died of respiratory failure during the process of weaning from the ventilator. The second child was operated for an extremely vascular, very friable, solid and lobulated tumour of temporal lobe. Radical microsurgical decompression of mass was achieved, however the child developed massive recurrence, documented five weeks after the surgery while on radiotherapy. His recurrence showed partial response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The child is alive at 8 month's follow up, but probably passing the terminal days of his life. Hence the recognition of this entity is very essential for the aggressive management and prognostication of the patient, which obviously seems to be different from primitive neuroectodermal tumour.


One size doesn't fit all: ethics of international nurse recruitment from the conceptual framework of stakeholder interests.
This theoretical study examines the ethics of international nurse recruitment from the conceptual framework of stakeholder interests. It argues that there are stakeholders at individual, institutional, national and international levels, with overlapping but, more often, different or even conflicting interests. Depending on the interests of given stakeholders, different conclusions regarding the ethics of international nurse recruitment may be reached. There is no right or wrong with these varying ethical positions because they reflect different beliefs and philosophies that are not amenable to value judgment. To illustrate and support this line of argument, this article analyzes the underpinnings of two ethical standards published by the International Council of Nurses and the UK Department of Health. In addition, a case study on China augments the argument by demonstrating limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach to the issue. The most important question in understanding and evaluating the ethical standards of international nurse recruitment is to know whose interests they are designed to represent and protect.


Combined systolic time intervals and M-mode echocardiography in the evaluation of central hemodynamics in primary pulmonary hypertension.
8 patients with moderate to severe primary pulmonary hypertension underwent systolic time intervals, M-mode echocardiography, and direct hemodynamic studies in order to determine the correlation between noninvasive parameters and hemodynamic variables and to evaluate the utility of these noninvasive studies in primary pulmonary hypertension. The ratio of the pre-ejection period to left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) of the systolic time intervals was abnormally increased (greater than 0.42) for each subject; the increase in the PEP/LVET was secondary to a shortening of the left ventricular ejection time in 4 patients, prolongation of the pre-ejection period in 1, or a combination of such, noted in 3. In contrast, echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function, specifically, percent change in the minor axis of the left ventricle with systole, velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, and ejection fraction, were normal. In addition, a very good correlation was noted between PEP/LVET and total pulmonary resistance (r value = -0.89), while the echocardiographic parameters correlated well with stroke volume and cardiac indices (r values ranged from 0.68 to 0.72). These results indicate that in primary pulmonary hypertension, systolic time intervals provide an estimation of overall cardiac-cardiovascular performance, rather than left ventricular function alone, which in turn, is validly examined by M-mode echocardiography.


Using Facebook data to predict the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
We use 19 billion likes on the posts of top 2000 U.S. fan pages on Facebook from 2015 to 2016 to measure the dynamic ideological positions for politicians, news outlets, and users at the national and state levels. We then use these measures to derive support rates for 2016 presidential candidates in all 50 states, to predict the election, and to compare them with state-level polls and actual vote shares. We find that: (1) Assuming that users vote for candidates closer to their own ideological positions, support rates calculated using Facebook predict that Trump will win the electoral college vote while Clinton will win the popular vote. (2) State-level Facebook support rates track state-level polling averages and pass the cointegration test, showing two time series share similar trends. (3) Compared with actual vote shares, polls generally have smaller margin of errors, but polls also often overestimate Clinton's support in right-leaning states. Overall, we provide a method to forecast elections at low cost, in real time, and based on passively revealed preference and little researcher discretion.


Operative delivery during labour: trends and predictive factors.
Monitoring operative delivery trends provides the opportunity to consider whether changes are in a direction that will achieve the best outcomes for mothers and their infants. The aims of this study were to identify trends in and predictors of operative delivery (forceps, vacuum or caesarean) among women who have labour; and to determine trends in the operative methods used. The study was based on 616 303 live, singleton, term births delivered between 1990 and 1997 in New South Wales, Australia. There was no change in the annual percentage of women who experienced labour and 20% had an operative birth during labour. The vacuum to forceps ratio declined from 1 : 6 in 1990 to 1 : 1 in 1997. Among women with labour, caesareans increased from 6.4% to 7.8%. For primiparae, the factors predictive of operative delivery (epidural analgesia, age > 34 years, induced or augmented labour and private care) did not change over time. A predictive model for multiparae did not have adequate fit, indicating the importance of data on prior birth history. Studies of trends in operative deliveries are most useful and consistent with decision making when interventions before the onset of labour and during labour are analysed separately. Furthermore, the vacuum:forceps ratio provides a useful tool for comparative analyses.


Liposuction abdominoplasty: an advanced body contouring technique.
Liposuction abdominoplasty was first performed by the author in 1997. In 2002, the procedure was presented as an "evolving concept" at the 71st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Over the next 6 years, an additional 294 procedures were added to the initial 43 (n = 337 patients), culminating in an advanced body contouring technique. The advanced technique is characterized by a hydro-lipo-dissection technique that is selectively performed on the deep abdominal fascia and the Scarpa fascia and along the excision lines. Selective release of the skin-retaining ligaments preserves perforators and elevates a large island flap, extending from the pubis to the inframammary fold and from one flank to the other. Perforating neurovascular bundles tether the flap, minimizing dead space and providing improved flap sensibility. Diastasis recti repair is performed using newly devised segmental techniques. The flap possesses a robust circulation that enables upright patient ambulation and concomitant liposuction of circumferential torso and additional areas (322 patients). Surgery is ambulatory and performed under local anesthesia with monitored intravenous sedation, drains are not used, and patients are discharged 2 to 3 hours after surgery. There were no major complications, deaths, or deep vein thrombosis. Five late infections of seromas (1.4 percent) responded to local drainage, and six marginal necroses (1.7 percent) healed without ill effect. Over the past 11 years, liposuction abdominoplasty has established new concepts and evolved into an advanced body contouring technique.


High order discretization techniques for real-space ab initio simulations.
In this paper, we present discretization techniques to address numerical problems that arise when constructing ab initio approximations that use real-space computational grids. We present techniques to accommodate the singular nature of idealized nuclear and idealized electronic potentials, and we demonstrate the utility of using high order accurate grid based approximations to Poisson's equation in unbounded domains. To demonstrate the accuracy of these techniques, we present results for a Full Configuration Interaction computation of the dissociation of H2 using a computed, configuration dependent, orbital basis set.


Novel COVID-19 Pneumonia: CT Manifestations and Pattern of Evolution.
Background This study aims to provide a better knowledge of COVID-19 that will aid in the formulation of future health policy by detailing the pathophysiology, case detection, and treatment, as well as management and prevention activities. Methodology A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at the Department of Radio-Diagnosis and Imaging, Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Vijayapura. A total of 90 patients who presented with clinical features of COVID-19 and patients above the age of 18 years suspected of COVID-19 who were referred to the Department of Radio-Diagnosis and Imaging were included in the study. Results The classical findings which are observed on CT imaging in patients with COVID-19 include the presence of ground-glass opacities which are bilateral in distribution predominantly affecting the lower lobes with a posterior predilection. Overall, more than 33% of the patients who recovered from severe COVID-19 had lung abnormalities resembling fibrosis on follow-up imaging performed within two weeks of the commencement of the disease. These individuals were older and had more severe sicknesses during the acute period. Conclusions Chest CT can detect COVID-19 progression or secondary cardiopulmonary problems such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, superimposed pneumonia, or heart failure. Future research into the prognostic value of chest CT in COVID-19 is required.


One-pot synthesis of high-quality zinc-blende CdS nanocrystals.
This paper reports a one-pot synthetic method for producing CdS nanocrystals. We have demonstrated that the nanocrystal nucleation and growth stages can be automatically separated in a homogeneous system with the presence of nucleation initiators. Accelerators used for more than 70 years in rubber vulcanization (i.e., tetraethylthiuram disulfides, and 2,2'-dithiobisbenzothiazole) were found to be effective nucleation initiators for CdS nanocrystal synthesis. The as-prepared CdS nanocrystals are highly monodisperse and possess a zinc blende crystal structure. The quantum yield of the band-gap photoluminescence is up to 12% when the surface-trap emission was totally eliminated after a gentle oxidation under laboratory fluorescent light.


Increased severity of glomerulonephritis in C-C chemokine receptor 2 knockout mice.
Increased severity of glomerulonephritis in C-C chemokine receptor 2 knockout mice. The C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is expressed on monocytes and facilitates monocyte migration. CCR2 is a prominent receptor for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). This chemokine recruits monocytes to sites of inflammation. It has been suggested that CCR2 and its ligand, MCP-1, play a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis. The goal of this study was to determine the contribution of CCR2 in a murine model of accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis. We measured the extent of development of renal disease in CCR2 wild-type and knockout mice after the administration of antiglomerular basement membrane antibody. Eight groups of animals were treated (N = 10 per group). Four days after IgG immunization, CCR2 wild-type and knockout mice received control serum or nephrotoxic serum. The urinary protein/creatinine ratio was measured on days 1 and 3; plasma and kidneys were collected on days 4 and 7. Kidneys were evaluated by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The genotype of mice was confirmed by tissue analysis. Protective effects of CCR2 knockout on the urinary protein/creatinine ratio were observed on day 1, as values for this parameter were significantly lower (35 +/- 3.6) than in nephritic wild-type mice (50 +/- 6.8). There was a marked increase in proteinuria in nephritic wild-type mice on day 1 compared with vehicle-treated, wild-type animals (5 +/- 1.0). On day 3, the ameliorative effects of CCR2 knockout were not observed; the increase in the urinary protein/creatinine ratio was similar in nephritic CCR2 wild-type (92 +/- 11.2) and knockout mice (102 +/- 9. 2). Plasma markers of disease were evaluated on days 4 and 7. At these time points, there were no beneficial effects of CCR2 receptor knockout on plasma levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin, or cholesterol. On day 7, blood urea nitrogen (248 +/- 19.9 mg/dL) and plasma cholesterol were higher in nephritic CCR2 knockout mice than in wild-type mice (142 +/- 41.7 mg/dL) that received nephrotoxic serum. Histopathologic injury was more severe in nephritic CCR2 knockout mice than nephritic wild-type mice on day 4 (3.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.3) and day 7 (3.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.3). By immunohistochemical analysis at day 4, there were significantly fewer mac-2-positive cells, representative of macrophages in the glomeruli of nephritic CCR2 knockout (2.1 +/- 0.6) mice than nephritic wild-type (3.9 +/- 0.5) animals. By indirect immunofluorescence, there was a moderate, diffuse linear IgG deposition of equivalent severity present in glomeruli of both wild-type and CCR2 knockout nephritic mice. These results suggest that our strategy was successful in reducing macrophage infiltration, but this model of glomerulonephritis is not solely dependent on the presence of CCR2 for progression of disease. After a transient ameliorative effect on proteinuria, CCR2 knockout led to more severe injury in nephritic mice. This raises the intriguing possibility that a CCR2 gene product ameliorates glomerulonephritis in this murine model. Although effects that occur in chemokine knockout mice are not equivalent to those expected with prolonged use of a chemokine antagonist, this study may nevertheless have implications for consideration of long-term use of chemokine antagonists in renal disease.


Strong Purifying Selection Is Associated with Genome Streamlining in Epipelagic Marinimicrobia.
Marine microorganisms inhabiting nutrient-depleted waters play critical roles in global biogeochemical cycles due to their abundance and broad distribution. Many of these microbes share similar genomic features including small genome size, low % G + C content, short intergenic regions, and low nitrogen content in encoded amino acid residue side chains (N-ARSC), but the evolutionary drivers of these characteristics are unclear. Here, we compared the strength of purifying selection across the Marinimicrobia, a candidate phylum which encompasses a broad range of phylogenetic groups with disparate genomic features, by estimating the ratio of nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) in conserved marker genes. Our analysis reveals that epipelagic Marinimicrobia that exhibit features consistent with genome streamlining have significantly lower dN/dS values when compared with their mesopelagic counterparts. We also found a significant positive correlation between median dN/dS values and % G + C content, N-ARSC, and intergenic region length. We did not identify a significant correlation between dN/dS ratios and estimated genome size, suggesting the strength of selection is not a primary factor shaping genome size in this group. Our findings are generally consistent with genome streamlining theory, which postulates that many genomic features of abundant epipelagic bacteria are the result of adaptation to oligotrophic nutrient conditions. Our results are also in agreement with previous findings that genome streamlining is common in epipelagic waters, suggesting that microbes inhabiting this region of the ocean have been shaped by strong selection together with prevalent nutritional constraints characteristic of this environment.


Phosphorylation of Drosophila CENP-A on serine 20 regulates protein turn-over and centromere-specific loading.
Centromeres are specialized chromosomal regions epigenetically defined by the presence of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. CENP-A is required for kinetochore formation which is essential for chromosome segregation during mitosis. Spatial restriction of CENP-A to the centromere is tightly controlled. Its overexpression results in ectopic incorporation and the formation of potentially deleterious neocentromeres in yeast, flies and in various human cancers. While the contribution of posttranslational modifications of CENP-A to these processes has been studied in yeast and mammals to some extent, very little is known about Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we show that CENP-A is phosphorylated at serine 20 (S20) by casein kinase II and that in mitotic cells, the phosphorylated form is enriched on chromatin. Importantly, our results reveal that S20 phosphorylation regulates the turn-over of prenucleosomal CENP-A by the SCFPpa-proteasome pathway and that phosphorylation promotes removal of CENP-A from ectopic but not from centromeric sites in chromatin. We provide multiple lines of evidence for a crucial role of S20 phosphorylation in controlling restricted incorporation of CENP-A into centromeric chromatin in flies. Modulation of the phosphorylation state of S20 may provide the cells with a means to fine-tune CENP-A levels in order to prevent deleterious loading to extra-centromeric sites.


Electromyographic changes of motor unit activity in horses with induced hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia.
To determine whether electromyographic abnormalities are evident in skeletal muscles in horses with induced hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. 7 healthy adult Dutch Warmblood horses. Electromyographic examination was performed in the lateral vastus, triceps, and subclavian muscles before and after IV infusion of EDTA. An initial dose (mean +/- SD, 564+/-48 ml) of a 10% solution of sodium EDTA was administered IV during a period of 21+/-73 minutes to establish a blood concentration of ionized calcium of approximately 0.5 mmol/L. Average rate of EDTA infusion to maintain ionized calcium at this concentration was 6.6 ml/min. Mean blood concentrations of ionized calcium and magnesium were 1.39+/-0.06 and 0.84+/-0.09 mM, respectively before EDTA infusion; after EDTA infusion, concentrations were 0.48+/-0.05 and 0.44+/-0.20 mM, respectively. This state induced positive waves; fibrillation potentials; doublets, triplets, and multiplets; complex repetitive discharges; and neuromyotonia. Analysis of motor unit action potentials (MUAP) after EDTA infusion revealed an increase in prevalence of polyphasic and complex MUAP in all muscles. None of the horses had classical signs of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. In contrast, all horses had spontaneous activity in the measured muscles indicative of nerve hyperirritability. Calcium and magnesium deficits appear to have consequences, which may be subclinical, affecting functions of the neuromuscular system. This is of interest for equestrian sports in which hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia are expected, such as during endurance rides.


Art of preserving health: studies on the medical supervision of physical exercise.
To the ancient Greeks, physical exercise was an essential part of life, especially during adolescence and young adulthood. Long after the end of the Classical Greek era, Roman conquest brought a shift towards martial training, increased professionalism in athletic competition and a weak strand of restorative gymnastics kept barely intact by the likes of Galen. While the crux of these teachings was the use of exercise, among other things, to promote and maintain health, the emphasis began to shift to concerns about the health of athletes and the medical problems brought about by exercise. Fashions in athletic training began to change in the mid-nineteenth century, but the mystique associated with athletic training pervaded much of the thinking and still persists today where, in this modern scientific period of exercise and health, physiologists, physical educators and physicians have become involved in seeking to apply the scientific method to what has become known as exercise science. The modern concept of sports medicine tends to emphasize the training and welfare of the elite athlete.


Efficacy of Agomelatine 25-50 mg for the Treatment of Anxious Symptoms and Functional Impairment in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Three Placebo-Controlled Studies.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of agomelatine on anxious symptoms and functional impairment in a pooled dataset from randomized placebo-controlled trials for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Data from three randomized, placebo-controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of agomelatine 25-50 mg were pooled. The short-term (12 weeks) efficacy of agomelatine was assessed in regards to (1) anxious symptoms using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and (2) functional impairment using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Meta-analysis using a random effect model was used to assess differences between groups. Remission and response rates for the HAM-A and SDS were calculated, and analyses were repeated in participants with more severe anxiety symptoms. In total, 669 patients (340 on agomelatine; 329 on placebo) were included in the analyses. Compared to placebo, the agomelatine group had a significant reduction in HAM-A total score at week 12 (between group difference: 6.30 ± 2.51, p = 0.012). Significant effects were also found for symptom response on the HAM-A (67.1% of patients on agomelatine vs. 32.5% on placebo) and symptom remission (38.8% of patients on agomelatine vs. 17.3% on placebo). Compared to placebo, there was a significant difference in favour of the agomelatine group at week 12 on the SDS total score (5.11 ± 1.81, p = 0.005). Significant effects were also found for functional response on the SDS (79.1% of patients on agomelatine vs. 43.2% of placebo) and functional remission (55.2% of patients on agomelatine vs. 25.4% on placebo). All findings for anxious symptoms and functional impairment were confirmed in the subset of more severely anxious patients. Agomelatine was well tolerated by patients. This meta-analysis confirms that agomelatine reduces anxiety symptoms and improves the global functioning of GAD patients.


Assessment of neutrophil and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in coronary collateral developed patients with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE Inflammation-related markers provide diagnostic and prognostic information for coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to compare neutrophil count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in acute coronary syndrome patients with coronary collateral development in our study. METHODS A total of 426 patients (102 unstable angina pectoris (USAP), 223 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI), 103 ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were compared regarding hemoglobin, platelet, lymphocyte, neutrophil count, and NLR. RESULTS Neutrophil count and NLR were significantly lower in USAP patients and higher in STEMI patients; 5.14± 1.79 vs. 7.21± 3.05 vs. 9.93±4.67 and 2.92±2.39 vs. 5.19±4.80 vs. 7.93±6.38, p <0.001. Other parameters, i.e., hemoglobin, platelet, and lymphocyte count, were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS In our study, it was concluded that there may be a statistically significant difference in the number of neutrophil counts and NLR among the types of acute coronary syndromes with coronary collateral development.


A Multinational Pilot Study on Patients' Perceptions of Advanced Neuroendocrine Neoplasms on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-GINET21 Questionnaires.
Among the available neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN)-specific HR-QoL scales, only the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-G.I.NET21 questionnaires have been validated in several languages. We aim to assess patients' perceptions of these questionnaires. A cross-sectional qualitative pilot study was conducted among 65 adults from four countries with well-differentiated advanced gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) or unknown primary NENs. Patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-G.I.NET21 questionnaires and then a survey containing statements concerning the questionnaires. The majority of patients had a small intestine NET (52%). Most tumors were functioning (55%) and grade 2 NET (52%). Almost half of the patients identified limitations in the questionnaires, with nine (14%) patients scoring the questionnaires as poor and 16 (25%) patients as moderate. Overall, 37 (57%) patients were positive towards the questionnaires. Approximately a quarter of patients considered the questionnaires not suitable for all ages, missing some of their complaints, not representative of their overall HR-QoL regarding the treatment of their NET and too superficial. The current validated EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-G.I.NET21 questionnaires may show some limitations in the design of questions and the patients' final satisfaction reporting of the questionnaire. Large-scale, high-quality prospective studies are required in HR-QoL assessment regarding NETs.


Oral microflora of the ferret at the gingival sulcus and mucosa membrane in relation to ligature-induced periodontitis.
The aim of this study was to describe, in the domestic ferret, the composition of the normal gingival sulcus and the near related mucosa microflora and the shift in the composition during an acute periodontal breakdown induced by the placement of ligatures. Five animals were used. At the start of the experiment (day 0) and before the placement of the ligatures, 2 microbiological samples were obtained from the gingival sulcus and the related mucosa at the mid-buccal surface of the right upper P4. The same sites were sampled on the left side, serving as control sites. On day 28, new microbiological samples were taken from the same 4 sites. The samples were analyzed with darkfield microscopy and with viable counts. In the darkfield analysis, on day 0, the predominant bacterial morphotype was cocci, ranging from 88-92%. The viable counts showed that nearly 100% of the total cultivable flora was composed of facultative anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive rods. Pasteurella spp., Corynebacterium spp. and Rothia spp. were the major components of these bacterial groups. No anaerobic bacteria were detected. On day 28, cocci decreased to approximately 75% in the experimental gingival sulcus sample, and filaments and rods increased significantly. Spirochetes remained largely unchanged during the experiment. The composition of the experimental site samples changed. There was a decrease in the mean numbers of facultative anaerobic gram-positive rods, and approximately one third of the microflora comprised anaerobic gram-negative rods, mainly Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium spp. Although the composition of the microflora of the ferret presented few similarities to that described in dogs and monkeys, the anaerobic portion of the gingival sulcus and oral mucosa microflora related to ligature-induced periodontitis presented microorganisms observed in experimental periodontitis both in dogs and monkeys as well as in human periodontal diseases.


Properties of an intense 40-kV neutral beam injector.
The properties of an intense neutral beam injector, the modified duoPIGatron ion source, are discussed and compared with other injectors. For this source (a) beam composition for hydrogen is approximately (85+/-5) % monatomic, (b) nucleon gas efficiency is 50%, (c) the electrical efficiency of ion generation is 1.1 A/kW, and (d) up to 52% of the input power is delivered in the ion and neutral beam to a target subtending a half angle of 1.8 degrees x1.4 degrees .


[Effect of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor and prostacyclin analogue on arterial blood pressure, fibrinolysis and platelet function in patients with hypertension].
An effect of the specific thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor and stable prostacyclin analogue on arterial blood hypertension was investigated in 12 patients with spontaneous hypertension of II degree and in 12 healthy subjects. The patients were given a 3-hour intravenous infusion of Iloprost (Schering) in the dose of 2 ng/kg b.w. per minute and OKY-046 (ONO, Japan) in a single oral dose of 400 mg. Iloprost shortened euglobin fibrinolysis time without an effect on tissue plasminogen activator levels or blood pressure. OKY-046 decreased TBX2 to undetectable values, increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha by 8-fold, and significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in hypertensive patients. Such effects may dependent upon an increase in the endogenous prostacyclin or an inhibition in thromboxane production in the affected arterial walls. If the present observations would be confirmed by double blind trial, they would constitute the base for new pharmacotherapy of hypertension.


ABCA12 mutations and autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis: a review of genotype/phenotype correlations and of pathogenetic concepts.
Mutations in ABCA12 have been described in autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI) including harlequin ichthyosis (HI), congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE), and lamellar ichthyosis (LI). HI shows the most severe phenotype. CIE and LI are clinically characterized by fine, whitish scales on a background of erythematous skin, and large, thick, dark scales over the entire body without serious background erythroderma, respectively. To date, a total of 56 ABCA12 mutations have been reported in 66 ARCI families including 48 HI, 10 LI, and 8 CIE families of African, European, Pakistani/Indian, and Japanese origin (online database: http://www.derm-hokudai.jp/ABCA12/). A total of 62.5% of reported ABCA12 mutations are expected to lead to truncated proteins. Most mutations in HI are truncation mutations and homozygous or compound heterozygous truncation mutations always results in HI phenotype. In CIE families, at least one mutation on each allele is typically a missense mutation. Combinations of missense mutations in the first ATP-binding cassette of ABCA12 underlie the LI phenotype. ABCA12 is a keratinocyte lipid transporter associated with lipid transport in lamellar granules, and loss of ABCA12 function leads to a defective lipid barrier in the stratum corneum, resulting in an ichthyotic phenotype. Recent work using mouse models confirmed ABCA12 roles in skin barrier formation.


Effects of disopyramide on detrusor muscle contraction: in vitro experiment and report of 3 cases with disopyramide-induced urinary retention.
Three cases of disopyramide-induced urinary retention were reported and effects of disopyramide on agonist-induced contraction of detrusor muscle were studied in vitro. Muscle strips were obtained from rabbit bladder body and changes in isometric contraction of the strips were monitored. Acetylcholine, prostaglandin F2-alpha, potassium chloride, barium chloride, adenosine triphosphate and Ca2+ were used as agonists for detrusor muscle contraction. Disopyramide relaxed the contraction elicited by acetylcholine in normal Krebs solution, but exhibited no relaxing effect on contractions induced by prostaglandin F2-alpha, potassium chloride, barium chloride and adenosine triphosphate. In Ca2+-free Krebs solution, basal tension of the strips declined and spontaneous contractile activity was eliminated. Replenishment of 3 mM Ca2+ induced a slow contraction and redevelopment of spontaneous contraction of the strips. Pretreatment of the strips with disopyramide had no inhibitory effect on the Ca2+-induced contraction or on the spontaneous contractile activity in Ca2+-free solution. In normal Krebs solution, acetylcholine (10(-9)-10(-2)M) caused dose-dependent contractions of the detrusor muscle strips. Pretreatment of the strips with disopyramide (10(-5)-10(-3)M) dose-dependently inhibited the acetylcholine-induced contraction in a competitive way. The inhibitory effect of disopyramide on acetylcholine-induced contraction was less potent than that of atropine. We conclude that disopyramide may inhibit detrusor contractile activity mostly by its anticholinergic effect, resulting clinically in micturition disturbance.


Surface-adsorbed reverse micelle-loaded solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of talinolol.
The aim of present investigation was to develop surface-adsorbed reverse-micelle-loaded solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) of talinolol in order to enhance its in vitro dissolution rate, which in turn enhance the bioavailability. SNEDDS were prepared using aqueous phase titration method. Thermodynamically stable formulations were characterized in terms of droplet size, viscosity, % transmittance, drug content and surface morphology. Low cost acid-treated coffee husk was used as an effective biosorbent for preparation of solid SNEDDS. Developed SNEDDS were subjected to in vitro drug release/dissolution studies. In vitro drug release studies showed 99.6% release of talinolol from optimized solid SNEDDS TS3 after 120 min of study. The results of solubility studies showed 4849.5-folds enhancement in solubility of talinolol from optimized SNEDDS as compared to its aqueous solubility.


A point mutation in ε-sarcoglycan induces inherited myoclonus dystonia syndrome in a Chinese family.
Myoclonus dystonia syndrome is a rare movement disorder featured by myoclonic jerks and dystonia. We identified here a point mutation in ε-sarcoglycan gene exon 6 associating with inherited myoclonus dystonia syndrome in a Chinese Han family. The mutation identified induces a stop codon and terminates the transcription of ε-sarcoglycan mRNA. This in turn results in a large truncation of ε-sarcoglycan protein. The further investigation is required to understand physiological and pathological functions of ε-sarcoglycan.


Ty1 /copia- and Ty3 /gypsy-like DNA sequences in Helianthus species.
Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.


The AH receptor and a novel gene determine acute toxic responses to TCDD: segregation of the resistant alleles to different rat lines.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD),12 the most toxic congener of dioxins, exhibits wide sensitivity differences between a sensitive Long-Evans (L-E) rat and a resistant Han/Wistar (H/W) rat. The sensitivity is determined probably by two autosomal genes and it is highly end point dependent. The difference is more than 1000-fold for acute toxicity and negligible for CYP1A1 induction. The rat strains were recently shown to have differences in the size of AH receptor (AHR), which mediates most effects of TCDD. In the present study, the rat strains were crossed and the resistant alleles of genes determining TCDD sensitivity were segregated to new rat lines. Selection was based on AHR phenotype determined by Western blot and resistance to TCDD lethality. Two genes determining resistance were found: the Ahr and a novel gene designated "B." In homozygous rats, the H/W type Ahrhw allele prevented TCDD lethality up to 2000 microg/kg or more, and the H/W type "Bhw" allele also increased resistance to TCDD lethality but to a lesser extent. Heterozygous rats were only slightly more resistant to acute lethality than the respective sensitive homozygous rats. CYP1A1 induction was similar irrespective of the Ahr and "B" genotypes, but a substantial increase in serum bilirubin seen after low doses in sensitive rats occurred only after large doses in "Bhw/hw" and not at all in Ahrhw/hw rats. In conclusion, the Ahrhw allele is a major determinant of the exceptional resistance of H/W rats to TCDD lethality. There is also an additional gene, whose function remains to be characterized, conferring limited resistance to TCDD toxicity. These two H/W rat-derived alleles are separately expressed in the new rat lines created.


Improving the monitoring of nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit with real-time medical informatics.
Nosocomial infections in the surgical and trauma intensive care unit (STICU) are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. We developed the Surgical Intensive Care Infection Registry (SIC-IR), to monitor all infections and record mandatory Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) core measures in an easy to use application; which will enable us to easily undertake STICU quality of care improvement initiatives to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of these important infections.


One-Pot Synthesis of Thermoresponsive Amyloidogenic Peptide-Polymer Conjugates via Thio-Bromo "Click" Reaction of RAFT Polymers.
A synthetic strategy to efficiently prepare main-chain peptide-polymer conjugates probing their aggregation in solution is described. An in situ tandem reaction based on aminolysis/thio-bromo "click" reaction is performed to tether an amyloidogenic peptide fragment amyloid-β17-20 (Leu-Val-Phe-Phe (LVFF)) to the ω-chain end of poly(diethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) (PDEGA), prepared via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Structural confirmation of the constructed conjugates PDEGA-LVFF (Mn,SEC = 5600, Ð = 1.21), (Mn,SEC = 7600, Ð = 1.16), and (Mn,SEC = 8900, Ð = 1.15) is successfully made by combined studies of 1 H NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The effect of the peptidic constituent on the thermoresponsive behavior of the polymer is examined by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the self-assembly behavior of the amphiphilic conjugate is further exploited, exhibiting micellar morphology in aqueous solution.


The association between controlled interpersonal affect regulation and resource depletion.
This investigation focuses on what occurs to individuals' self-regulatory resource during controlled Interpersonal Affect Regulation (IAR) which is the process of deliberately influencing the internal feeling states of others. Combining the strength model of self-regulation and the resources conservation model, the investigation tested whether: (1) IAR behaviors are positively related to ego-depletion because goal-directed behaviors demand self-regulatory processes, and (2) the use of affect-improving strategies benefits from a source of resource-recovery because it initiates positive feedback from targets, as proposed from a resource-conservation perspective. To test this, a lab study based on an experimental dual-task paradigm using a sample of pairs of friends in the UK and a longitudinal field study of a sample of healthcare workers in Spain were conducted. The experimental study showed a depleting effect of interpersonal affect-improving IAR on a subsequent self-regulation task. The field study showed that while interpersonal affect-worsening was positively associated with depletion, as indicated by the level of emotional exhaustion, interpersonal affect-improving was only associated with depletion after controlling for the effect of positive feedback from clients. The findings indicate that IAR does have implications for resource depletion, but that social reactions play a role in the outcome.


European Nursing Council Code for European nursing and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
A code of ethics for the practice of nursing seeks to capture, in a written document, the normative values, ethical principles and standards of good care to guide nurses - qua moral agents. A codification of the accepted collective values of nursing can play a constitutional and directional role for the profession. It can further stimulate discussions about nursing that reflect the dynamic essence of the profession. Consequently, there is merit to continually reflecting on a code's function and role especially when a new or revised code is introduced to the nursing profession and the wider public such as the European Nursing Council's Code of Ethics and Conduct for European Nursing. This paper examines codes of ethics in general and the European Nursing Council Code in particular using the framework of Gaumnitz and Lere. Although the European Nursing Council Code has all the ingredients of a contemporary professional ethics code, our position is that future iterations or addenda to this Code should be aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and take a more radical step in becoming an exemplar of a nursing code that can be a catalyst for the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.


Slit proteins regulate distinct aspects of retinal ganglion cell axon guidance within dorsal and ventral retina.
An early step in the formation of the optic pathway is the directed extension of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons into the optic fiber layer (OFL) of the retina in which they project toward the optic disc. Using analysis of knock-out mice and in vitro assays, we found that, in the mammalian retina, Slit1 and Slit2, known chemorepellents for RGC axons, regulate distinct aspects of intraretinal pathfinding in different regions of the retina. In ventral and, to a much lesser extent, dorsal retina, Slits help restrict RGC axons to the OFL. Additionally, within dorsal retina exclusively, Slit2 also regulates the initial polarity of outgrowth from recently differentiated RGCs located in the retinal periphery. This regional specificity occurs despite the fact that Slits are expressed throughout the retina, and both dorsal and ventral RGCs are responsive to Slits. The gross morphology and layering of the retina of the slit-deficient retinas is normal, demonstrating that these distinct guidance defects are not the result of changes in the organization of the tissue. Although displaced or disorganized, the aberrant axons within both dorsal and ventral retina exit the eye. We also have found that the lens, which because of its peripheral location within the developing eye is ideally located to influence the initial direction of RGC axon outgrowth, secretes Slit2, suggesting this is the source of Slit regulating OFL development. These data demonstrate clearly that multiple mechanisms exist in the retina for axon guidance of which Slits are an important component.


Regulatory T lymphocytes and selected cytokines in horses with mild to severe equine asthma and different inflammatory cytology profiles.
This study determined Tregs and inflammatory cytokines in BALF and peripheral blood (PB) of adult horses with mild and severe asthma and different BALF cytological inflammation profiles. Horses of diverse breeds with asthma (age range: 2-20 years, n = 24) were divided into groups according to the number of points obtained in a standardized clinical scoring system (mild-moderate equine asthma - MEA, severe equine asthma - SEA) and according to the inflammation type based on cytological finding. Plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17 and MMP-9 in the BALF were determined by ELISA. Tregs in the BALF and PB were detected by flow cytometry. Horses with SEA were older than horses with MEA and had higher concentrations of MMP-9 in the BALF (P < 0.05). The neutrophilic inflammation group was characterised by higher age, grade of clinical score, percentage of Tregs and MMP-9 concentration in the BALF compared to the mastocytic inflammation group (P < 0.05). Age positively correlated with neutrophils, grade of score, Tregs in the BALF and in the PB. The grade of score positively correlated with MMP-9. The percentage of Tregs in the BALF positively correlated with Tregs in the PB. Tregs in the BALF and PB positively correlated with neutrophils and MMP-9 in the BALF and with IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in the plasma. IFN-γ and IL-10 in the plasma positively correlated with the age. The results indicate that the evaluation of selected parameters in PB, the collection of which is less invasive than the collection of BALF, is of potential importance.


Microbicides 2008 conference: from discovery to advocacy.
Recently revised statistics show the number of individuals living with HIV at over 33 million worldwide, with 68% being in sub-Saharan Africa. Current HIV prevention methods, such as condom use, monogamy and abstinence, are not always feasible. The need for improved HIV preventative technologies remains urgent. Of these, microbicides represent a promising female-initiated preventative method. Microbicides are designed to be applied vaginally to prevent HIV and STI acquisition. Research is also being undertaken to assess the safety of the product during rectal application.The biannual Microbicides conference took place in New Delhi, India from 24-27 February 2008. The conference was open to delegates from the scientific and medical fields, as well as communities and advocates. In addition to microbicide research and development, the conference afforded the opportunity for the discussion of key issues such as ethics, acceptability, access, and community involvement.In this conference report we provide brief summaries of recent advancements made and challenges experienced in microbicide research and development, including updates on basic and clinical science, social and behavioural science, and community mobilisation and advocacy activities pertaining to clinical trials.


Colonic Volvulus: An Experience at Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal.
Colonic volvulus is not an uncommon cause of large bowel obstruction. Limited research has been done about colonic volvulus in our part of the world which has been regarded as "volvulus belt." The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features, management, and factors affecting perioperative outcomes in patients with colonic volvulus. A retrospective review of medical records of all patients managed for colonic volvulus in Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa from January 2012 to December 2016 was done. Data on patient demographics, clinical course, methods of treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. A total of 62 patients (46 males) were studied. Mean age was 57.9 ± 10.4 years. The most common site involved was sigmoid (85.5%). The diagnosis was made by abdominal x-rays in 39 patients (62.2%), CT scan in 13 patients (21%), and laparotomy in 10 patients (16.1%). Fifty-eight patients (93.5%) were treated surgically. Resection and ostomy was the commonest operation performed in 30 patients (48.7%) followed by resection with anastomosis in 24 patients (38.7%). The overall complication was 38.7%. There were 9.7% of deaths. In multivariate analysis, age ( ≥ 60 years) (odds ratio (OR); 27.0, confidence interval (CI); (1.92-403), P; 0.01), preoperative hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg) (OR; 7.82, CI; (1.19-51.2), P; 0.03), and gangrenous bowel (OR; 76.7, CI (3.60-1632), P; 0.005) were significant predictors of postoperative complications . Volvulus of the colon is common in males and constipation is being commonest risk factors for volvulus. Surgeons should have a high index of suspicion and should be aware of these problems to make the early diagnosis with prompt treatment and to ensure better patient outcomes in volvulus endemic areas like ours.


Metabolism of Indole-3-Acetic Acid: III. Identification of Metabolites Isolated from Crown Gall Callus Tissue.
The metabolism of labeled indole-3-acetic acid (IAA-2-(14)C) was investigated in Parthenocissus tricuspidata crown gall callus tissue. After 48 hours incubation, 85 to 90% of the supplied IAA was taken up by the tissue, and of that taken up, about 45% was conjugated with five amino acids. The conjugates found were aspartic and glutamic acid (minor ones) as well as glycine, alanine, and valine (major ones). The last four are being reported for the first time as metabolites of IAA. These conjugates were identified through their chromatographic properties, hydrolysis products, and their mass spectra. The possible significance of these amino acid conjugates is discussed.


Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling on Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis Who Are Nonambulatory.
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling provides an exercise opportunity for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are nonambulatory. This study evaluated the efficacy of FES cycling for reducing fatigue and improving quality of life in people with MS who are nonambulatory and compared outcomes with those in a control group that did not take part in FES cycling. Adults with MS with self-reported Expanded Disability Status Scale scores of 7.0 to 8.5 were randomized into a training group (n = 12) or a control group (n = 9). The training group performed FES cycling for 30 minutes, two to three times a week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was safety, measured as the number and type of adverse events and any increase in symptoms. Other outcomes collected before and after the intervention were scores on the modified Ashworth Scale, manual muscle test, 5-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5), Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC), Medical Outcomes Study Pain Effects Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. Twelve participants completed the study and were analyzed. Six participants completed training with no adverse events. The MFIS-5 (Cohen's d = 0.60), FSMC (Cohen's d = 0.37), and PHQ-9 (Cohen's d = 0.67) scores and the physical health composite of the MSQOL-54 (Cohen's d = 1.48) improved for the training group compared with the control group (n = 6). Functional electrical stimulation cycling is safe for people with MS who are nonambulatory and may reduce fatigue and improve measurements of quality of life.


Copper-Catalyzed Direct Allenylation of Inactive Cyclic Ethers.
We report here a direct allenylation reaction of inactive cyclic ethers. The reaction proceeds through a copper-catalyzed 1,4-difunctionalization of 1,3-enynes, with cyano group installed at the allenes simultaneously. This methodology shows a broad functional group compatibility to 1,3-enynes. Diversified allene-modified cyclic ether derivatives were synthesized with high regioselectivity under mild conditions.


Bioengineering, augmented reality, and robotic surgery in vascular surgery: A literature review.
Biomedical engineering integrates a variety of applied sciences with life sciences to improve human health and reduce the invasiveness of surgical procedures. Technological advances, achieved through biomedical engineering, have contributed to significant improvements in the field of vascular and endovascular surgery. This paper aims to review the most cutting-edge technologies of the last decade involving the use of augmented reality devices and robotic systems in vascular surgery, highlighting benefits and limitations. Accordingly, two distinct literature surveys were conducted through the PubMed database: the first review provides a comprehensive assessment of augmented reality technologies, including the different techniques available for the visualization of virtual content (11 papers revised); the second review collects studies with bioengineering content that highlight the research trend in robotic vascular surgery, excluding works focused only on the clinical use of commercially available robotic systems (15 papers revised). Technological flow is constant and further advances in imaging techniques and hardware components will inevitably bring new tools for a clinical translation of innovative therapeutic strategies in vascular surgery.


[Prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck and risk factors for lung metastasis].
Objective: To analyze the prognosis and risk factors of lung metastasis of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC) of head and neck. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. The data of 157 patients with ACC of head and neck treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to October 2020 were collected, including 72 males and 85 females, with onset age between 14 and 72 years old. According to whether lung metastasis occurred, the patients were divided into lung metastasis group (88 cases) and non-pulmonary metastasis group (69 cases). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate using SPSS 26.0 software. Log-rank test was used to evaluate statistically relevant clinicopathological factors. Cox proportional risk model was used in multivariate analysis for the factors affecting the lung metastasis-free survival using R Studio 1.2.5042. Results: The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.5% and 85.2%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 57.7% and 34.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that primary site, histological grade, high-grade transformation, Ki-67, T stage, and lymph node status were the risk factors for lung metastasis (χ2=11.78, 10.41, 4.06, 4.71, 5.37, 16.20, respectively, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed independent risk factors for lung metastasis, including submandibular gland and sublingual gland (HR=3.53, 95%CI: 1.19-10.46, P<0.05), T3-4 stage (HR=3.09, 95%CI: 1.54-6.23, P<0.05), and Grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ grade (HR=2.47, 95%CI: 1.26-4.86,P<0.05). Conclusion: Distant metastasis, mainly pulmonary metastasis, affects the long-term prognosis of patients with ACC significantly. Primary site, T stage and histopathological grade can be used as the predictors for the risk of lung metastasis.


Retrospective comparison of photorefractive keratectomy and radial keratotomy.
The efficacy and predictability of photorefractive keratectomy and radial keratotomy become increasingly relevant. This retrospective study compares one surgeon's experience with photorefractive keratectomy and radial keratotomy over a 3-year period from 1990 to 1993. Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 103 eyes of 76 patients that met the inclusion criteria for the phase IIb, phase III, and phototherapeutic keratectomy studies as delineated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Radial keratotomy was performed on 117 eyes of 81 patients with up to 9.00 diopters (D) of myopia. In the photorefractive keratectomy group, 83% of the eyes achieved uncorrected visual acuity of at least 20/40; 37% saw 20/20; 88% had a refraction within 1.00 D of emmetropia, and 63% within 0.50 D of emmetropia. For the radial keratotomy group, 85% of the eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better; 27% saw 20/20; 88% had a refraction within 1.00 D of emmetropia; and 55% within 0.50 D of emmetropia. There were no serious complications, and only one single eye in each of the photorefractive keratectomy and radial keratotomy groups lost two lines or more of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Photorefractive keratectomy and radial keratotomy are both effective procedures, and result in similar refractive outcomes for myopia of -1.00 to -9.00 D.


Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia in the antiphospholipid syndrome.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystem disease with recurrent thrombosis in the presence of antiphosphlipid antibodies, which may include cardiac, neurological, gastrointestinal, hematologic or cutaneous manifestations. The occurrence of autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AIHA) in APS has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to review the occurrence of AIHA in patients with APS and its relation to other disease manifestations. Three-hundred and eight patients with APS from seven medical centers in Israel, Serbia and the Slovac Republic were included and evaluated for associations between AIHA and various manifestations of APS. AIHA was documented in 32 patients (10.4%). The odds ration for AIHA was increased in the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and livedo reticularis (5.4 and 7.8, respectively). There was a highly significant association between AIHA and cardiac valvular vegetations and thickening (P < 0.0001), arterial thrombosis (P < 0.02), livedo reticularis (P < 0.0001) and CNS signs of epilepsy or chorea (P < 0.02 and P < 0.03, respectively). Thus, APS patients with AIHA are at risk of developing these manifestations, and should therefore be investigated for them. In addition, the occurrence of AIHA may define a subgroup of patients with a significant risk for subsequent development of SLE.


Speed and knowledge as determinants of adult age differences in verbal tasks.
Two studies were conducted to determine the relative importance of processing speed and knowledge as predictors of performance in simple verbal tasks within samples of young and old adults. Eight different criterion tasks were investigated, and performance on each was found to be significantly related both to speed of processing and to quantity of word knowledge. It was also discovered that although young adults were faster than old adults and that old adults were equal or superior to young adults in relevant knowledge, the same regression equations could be used to predict criterion performance in both groups. These results therefore suggest that any age-related compensation that exists in these tasks is rather weak, in the sense that speed and knowledge appear to have the same importance in young and old adults, and only the average levels of the predictors differ as a function of age.


[Acute pancreatitis caused by atrial fibrillation?].
We report three male patients who had atrial fibrillation with a rapid and irregular ventricular rate, aged 60, 69 and 70 years, respectively, in whom development of acute pancreatitis occurred simultaneously with other ischaemic events. One of these patients simultaneously suffered from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), another developed a stroke and an infarction of the spleen, while the third one had a splenic infarction and an embolism in the region of the mesenteric arteries. Two patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, while the third suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy with chronic atrial fibrillation. Oedematous pancreatitis occurred in one patient while, in the two others, the diagnosis of severe necrotizing pancreatitis was made. Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and a recognized risk factor for the development of peripheral embolism, which often takes the form of an ischaemic stroke. It is a major cause of stroke, especially in the elderly. Because of the simultaneous occurrence of thromboembolic events in all three patients, an ischaemic cause for the acute pancreatitis can be assumed with a high degree of probability. This is one of the first reports of acute ischaemic pancreatitis probably caused by microembolization secondary to atrial fibrillation. Because of the relatively frequent occurrence of atrial fibrillation, this factor deserves increased attention in the differential diagnosis of supposedly idiopathic pancreatitis.


Cytogenetic Evaluation of the Physiological Saline Extract of a Newly Developed Dental Material "ORMO-48".
The ORMO-48 is a new indigenous material for dental applications, developed by the Dental Products Laboratory of our Institute. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxic effect of an indigenously developed dental material in Swiss albino mice. The genotoxic effect was evaluated by micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests. Two grams of dental material was extracted in 10.0 ml of physiological saline at 70°C for 24 h. The extract was cooled to room temperature and was used for the experiment. The experimental designed had three groups each (six mice in each group) for micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests. The first, second, and third groups were given a single exposure of physiological saline alone (control), dental material's extract (test), and cyclophosphamide (positive control) respectively for micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests. The result of the study indicated that, the percentage of micronucleated PCE (polychromatic erythrocytes) and NCE (normochromatic erythrocytes) induced by the dental material (extract) treated group was well comparable with control group, whereas the positive control induced significantly high (P < 0.001) micronucleated PCE when compared to control. The PCE and NCE ratio of the dental material extract treated group was similar to that of control group. The chromosomal anomalies such as chromatid/chromosomal breaks, centric rings, exchanges, dicentric, and acentric fragments were evaluated. The result showed that the anomalies of the dental material extract treated group were similar to control group, however, significant anomalies were observed in the cyclophosphamide treated group. Hence, the present study concluded that the indigenously developed biocompatible dental material, ORMO-48 is non genotoxic at our laboratory conditions.


[Comparative study of eukaryotic cell expression of wild-type and Pro370Leu mutation type myocilin gene].
To compare the eukaryotic cell expression of wild-type myocilin (MYOC) (wMYOC) gene and Pro370Leu mutation type MYOC (mMYOC) gene so as to understand the mechanism of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). HeLa cells were cultured and then transfected with the vector pEGFP-N3-wMYOC, recombinant plasmid with wild type MYOC gene and enhanced green fluorescein gene, or the vector pDsRed2-N1-mMYOC, recombinant plasmid with mutation MYOC gene and red fluorescein gene, respectively, or co-transfected with these 2 plasmids. Corresponding blank vectors pEGFP-N3 and pDsRed2-N1 were used as markers. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the localization of red fluorescence and green fluorescence. Laser co-focusing microscopy was used to observe the effect of co-transfection. The green and red fluorescein antibodies were examined by Western blotting. Green fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of the HeLa cells transfected with the blank vector pEGFP-N3, in an even distribution; and red fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of the HeLa cells transfected with the blank vector pDsRed2-N1, in an even distribution too. The cells transfected with pEGFP-N3-wMYOC showed evenly-distributed green fluorescence in the cytoplasm, and the cells transfected with pDsRed2-N1-mMYOC showed red fluorescence in the cytoplasm in a state of aggregation. Both red and green fluorescence could be seen in the cells co-transfected with pEGFP-N3-wMYOC and pDsRed2-N1-mMYOC, both in a state of aggregation and co-localization. Laser co-focusing microscopy showed the same results. Protein with the relative molecular weight of 83,000, identical to that of the recombinant protein of wMYOC protein and green fluorescein, could be found in the culture fluid and cell lysate of the pEGFP-N3-wMYOC-transfected cells; however, could be found in the lysate only but not in the culture fluid of the co-transfected cells. Protein with the relative molecular weight of 81,000, identical to that of the recombinant protein of mMYOC protein and red fluorescein, could be found in the cell lysates of the pDsRed2-N1-mMYOC-transfected cells and the pEGFP-N3-wMYOC and pDsRed2-N1-mMYOC co-transfected cells, but not in the culture fluid of both cells. Both the WMYOC and mMYOC genes can be expressed and localized in the cytoplasm. mMYOC protein shoes a tendency of aggregation and disorder in secretion, and affects the expression and secretion of wMYOC, thus influencing the factions of the trabecular meshwork and causing POAG.