Isolation and characterization of a type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus from environmental surveillance in China, 2012.
Environmental surveillance of poliovirus on sewage has been conducted in Shandong Province, China since 2008. A type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) with 7 mutations in VP1 coding region was isolated from the sewage collected in the city of Jinan in December 2012. The complete genome sequencing analysis of this isolate revealed 25 nucleotide substitutions, 7 of which resulted in amino acid alteration. No evidence of recombination with other poliovirus serotypes was observed. The virus did not lose temperature sensitive phenotype at 40°C. An estimation based on the evolution rate of the P1 coding region suggested that evolution time of this strain might be 160-176 days. VP1 sequence analysis revealed that this VDPV strain is of no close relationship with other local type 2 polioviruses (n=66) from sewage collected between May 2012 and June 2013, suggesting the lack of its circulation in the local population. The person who excreted the virus was not known and no closely related virus was isolated in local population via acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. By far this is the first report of VDPV isolated from sewage in China, and these results underscore the value of environmental surveillance in the polio surveillance system even in countries with high rates of OPV coverage.


Spinal Cord Kinking in Thoracic Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum.
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of thoracic myelopathy. This study was to describe a rare clinical entity of spinal cord kinking (SK) in thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF. The data of 95 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence and location of SK were determined using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical presentation and radiological characteristics in patients with SK were analyzed. Posterior en bloc laminectomy with OLF was performed, and the surgical results were evaluated. SK was found in seven patients (7.4%) based on preoperative MRI. The patients included one male and six females with an average age of 55.6 years (range, 48-64 years). Five patients presented with radiculomyelopathy and two presented with typical thoracic myelopathy of spastic paraparesis. In all cases, the kinking was located just above the end of the spinal cord where the conus medullaris (CM) was compressed by the OLF. The degree of SK varied from mild to severe. The tip of the CM was located between the upper third of T11 to the lower third of L1, above the lower edge of L1. With an average follow-up of 30.4 months, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly improved from 5.7 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 1.4 postoperatively (t = 12.05; P < 0.0001) with an improvement rate of 63.1 ± 12.3%. SK is a rare radiological phenomenon. It is typically located at the thoracolumbar junction, where the CM is compressed by the OLF. Our findings indicate that these patients may benefit from a posterior decompressive procedure.


Surgical treatment of giant hemangiomas of the head and neck.
This article is a review of 22 cases of giant hemangiomas of the head and neck treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Center over a 20-year period 1964 to 1984. All these cases were treated by surgical excision. Two maneuvers designed to reduce blood loss during the operation are described: the placement of strangulating silk sutures around the periphery of the hemangioma, and temporary occlusion of the ipsilateral external carotid artery. These cases were studied as to age, sex, site, size of hemangioma, histopathologic characteristics, mode of treatment, and results. A review of the literature and current modes of treatment of hemangiomas of the head and neck is also presented and our results are compared with those in other published reports. The surgical approach as a primary and definitive treatment for these giant hemangiomas is emphasized.


Assessment of the in vitro genotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles in a regulatory context.
A review of in vitro genotoxicity studies on titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) published between 2010 and 2016 was performed by France in the framework of the CLP Regulation 1272/2008/EC. Neither the few in vivo studies of low quality nor the larger number of acceptable in vitro studies available for genotoxicity allowed France to conclude on the genotoxicity of TiO2-NPs. Based on this work, it was decided to compare the acceptable in vitro studies to understand the reasons for the diverging results observed, such as the materials tested or of the protocols used and their inherent interferences. The systematic review performed on in vitro genotoxicity data for TiO2-NPs was then restricted to studies with the highest level of confidence among studies following OECD guidelines and the largely applied comet assay. Indeed, the aim of this article is to understand why, even if judged of good quality, the 36 publications selected and analyzed did not lead to a clear picture. Some recommendations to be taken into account before performing new in vitro genotoxicity assays for insoluble particles such as TiO2-NPs are proposed. Although secondary genotoxic effects consequent to oxidative stress seem to be the major mechanism responsible for the genotoxicity of TiO2-NPs reported in some studies, primary genotoxic effects cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact mode of action of TiO2-NPs and to highlight which physicochemical properties lead to their genotoxicity in vitro to ultimately identify a specific combination of parameters that could represent a risk in vivo.


Vasoactive intestinal peptide, a promising agent for myopia?
To investigate the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in form-deprivation myopia (FDM). FDM was created in three groups of eight chicks by placing a translucent diffuser on their right eyes. Intravitreal injections of saline and VIP were applied once a day into the occluded eyes of groups 2 and 3, respectively. Retinoscopy and axial length (AL) measurements were performed on the first and 8th days of diffuser wear. The retina mRNA levels of the VIP receptors and the ZENK protein in right eyes of the three groups and left eyes of the first group on day 8 were determined using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The median final refraction (D) in right eyes were -13.75 (-16.00, -12.00), -11.50 (-12.50, -7.50), and -1.50 (-4.75, -0.75) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P<0.001). The median AL (mm) in right eyes were 10.65 (10.00, 11.10), 9.90 (9.70, 10.00), and 9.20 (9.15, 9.25) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P<0.001). The median delta-delta cycle threshold (CT) values for the VIP2 receptors were 1.07 (0.82, 1.43), 1.22 (0.98, 1.65), 0.29 (0.22, 0.45) in right eyes of groups 1, 2, and 3, and 1.18 (0.90, 1.37) in left eyes of group 1, respectively (P=0.001). The median delta-delta CT values for the ZENK protein were 1.07 (0.63, 5.03), 3.55 (2.20, 5.55), undetectable in right eyes of groups 1, 2, and 3 and 1.89 (0.21, 4.73) in left eyes of group 1, respectively (P=0.001). VIP has potential inhibitory effects in the development of FDM.


Effect of Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors on Bone Metabolism and Fracture Risk.
The effect of anti-diabetic medications on bone metabolism has received increasing attention, considering that type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder with adverse effects on bone metabolism. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are novel anti-diabetic medications that prevent glucose resorption at the proximal convoluted tubules in the kidney, increasing urinary glucose excretion, and decreasing the blood glucose level. The superiority of SGLT2 inhibitors shows in reducing the glucose level independent of insulin secretion, lowering the risk of hypoglycemia, and improving cardiovascular outcomes. SGLT2 inhibitors have been associated with genital mycotic infections, increased risk of acute kidney injury, dehydration, orthostatic hypotension, and ketoacidosis. Moreover, the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism and fracture risk has been widely taken into consideration. Our review summarizes the results of current studies investigating the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism (possibly including increased bone turnover, disrupted bone microarchitecture, and reduced bone mineral density). Several mechanisms are probably involved, such as bone mineral losses due to the disturbed calcium and phosphate homeostasis, as confirmed by an increase in fibroblast growth factor 23 and parathyroid hormone levels and a decrease in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. SGLT2 inhibitors might indirectly increase bone turnover by weight loss. Lowering the blood glucose level might ameliorate bone metabolism impairment in diabetes. The effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone fractures remains unclear. Evidence indicating the direct effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on fracture risk is lacking and increased falls probably contribute to fractures.


Inflammation in Sjögren's syndrome: Cause or consequence?
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease most commonly characterized by ocular and oral dryness. Despite the high prevalence of SS, generation and perpetuation of this disease is still unclear in many aspects. Inflammation, nonetheless, seems to play a central role in this pathology especially in the form of Th-1, Th-2 and Th-17 cytokines release within different aspects, concentrations and connections involved in the maintenance of the syndrome. Moreover, the chronically created pro-inflammatory environment appears to promote glandular atrophy and irreparable architectural modifications. The establishment of germinal centers (GC) in SS are considered the main reason for the 16-times increased probability of lymphoproliferative disease development in these patients. SS is also interconnected with numerous others auto-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, many of them representing the first clear sign of a dysregulated immune system. Despite the recent advances, treatment options are still insufficient. This overview aims to better elucidate this local and systemic disease, which can be of vital use not only for SS but also to other rheumatic pathological conditions.


Noninflammatory presentation of cutaneous breast cancer: a retrospective case series at a single academic institution with review of the literature.
Breast cancer with skin involvement is an uncommon clinical presentation of this malignancy. Breast cancer overall has a relatively high mortality rate and wide variety of presentations, making skin involvement by breast cancer a necessary consideration in the differential diagnosis for many types of breast lesions. A retrospective review of our own small academic dermatology outpatient clinic, between August 2006 and January 2020, found four cases of noninflammatory breast cancer with skin involvement diagnosed through biopsy by our dermatologists. This review was approved by the local Institutional Review Board. Of the four patients identified, three were female and one was male. One patient had prior history of invasive ductal carcinoma in remission before recurrence was diagnosed. Another patient had a history of melanoma in situ before diagnosis with breast cancer. Patients were treated with various combinations of surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. These four cases are presented here in detail, which emphasize the role of the dermatologist in recognizing various cutaneous manifestations of noninflammatory breast cancer in order to make a timely diagnosis.


Influence of climate change on mosquito development and mosquito-borne diseases in Europe.
Mass occurrence of mosquitoes can have an immense impact on the quality of life in areas such as the Upper Rhine Valley. Therefore, biological and environmental measures are applied to prevent mass development in many regions of Europe. Despite successful prevention measures, the risk of contracting mosquito-borne viral diseases, such as West Nile fever, should be discounted in Central Europe. The transport of mosquitoes (e.g., through tire trade or within containers) into Germany has to be prevented. Individuals (tourists and immigrants) infected with imported vector-borne pathogens and parasites must be diagnosed and treated immediately. Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases know no borders, and their spread is also a consequence of high mobility and globalization. Therefore, mosquito control requires international cooperation. People's increased mobility and international trade play a more important role in the dissemination of the vectors and their pathogens/parasites than increasing temperatures.


Reliable Hydrogel with Mechanical "Fuse Link" in an Aqueous Environment.
A robust hydrogel with a reliable deformation region in an aqueous environment is proposed. The gel has a homogeneous network where hydrophilic/hydrophobic components are uniformly distributed. In an aqueous environment, aggregated hydrophobic segments serve as "mechanical fuse links," inhibiting sudden macroscopic fracture. The gel endures threefold stretching for more than 100 cycles in water without mechanical hysteresis.


Drug Reaction, Eosinophilia, and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome As a Mimicker of Spinal Infection: Awareness for Spinal Surgeons.
Drug reaction, eosinophilia, and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a delayed severe drug hypersensitivity (type IVb) syndrome with cutaneous eruption, hematological abnormalities, and multi-organ involvement. The wide spectrum of the disease manifestations, long-term sequelae, and high mortality rates are a clinical concern. Though not commonly reported in spinal surgery patients, the use of long-term antibiotics is a potential causative agent in spinal infections. DRESS syndrome can mimic systemic spinal infections, and clinical diagnosis requires high awareness and extreme vigilance. Prompt recognition and appropriate action can mitigate the potential poor outcomes and improve patient prognosis.


Genetic variations in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 in a Korean population.
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 (UGT2B15) is involved in the glucoronidation of steroid hormones as well as many drugs. Genetic variations in UGT2B15 have been shown to affect enzyme function and suggested to have a role in human diseases, such as breast and prostate cancers. In the present study, we sequenced genomic DNA from 50 normal Korean subjects to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in UGT2B15. A total of thirteen genetic variations were found: two in exons, two in introns, seven in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR), and two in the 3'-UTR. The order and frequency distribution of UGT2B15 variations was: -1139T>C (rs9994887), -508G>A (rs1120265), -506T>A (rs1580083), 253T>G (rs1902023) (42%), 23687A>T (rs4148271) (31%), 2635A>T (rs2045100) (28%), -497C>T (14%), -378C>T (14%), 23669C>T (12%), and 23476A>C (rs4148269) (11%), with other minor alleles with a frequency of <10%. Thirteen variations were used to characterize linkage disequilibrium structures at the UGT2B15 locus. Five tag SNPs were identified, and the observed allelic frequencies were compared to those of other ethnic populations. This information describing genetic polymorphisms in UGT2B15 could serve as an important resource for studying individual variations in drug and hormone metabolism in Korean as well as other ethnic populations.


Endowing iPSC-Derived MSCs with Angiogenic and Keratinogenic Differentiation Potential: A Promising Cell Source for Skin Tissue Engineering.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) hold tremendous potential for personalized cell-based therapy for skin regeneration. Aiming to establish human iPSCs as a potential cell source for skin tissue engineering, we expect to obtain an epidermal-like cell line with angiogenic and keratinogenic differentiation potential via inducing iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC-MSCs) with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and/or keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). The results show that iPSC-MSCs were successfully induced with a positive FGFR/KGFR expression on the cell surface. BFGF/KGF induction could significantly increase the expression of vascularization marker CD31 and keratinization marker CK10, respectively, while when combined together, although CD31 and CK10 were still positively expressed, their expressions were lower than that of the single induction group, suggesting that the effects of the two growth factors interfered with each other. This cell line with angiogenic and keratinogenic differentiation potential provides a promising new source of cells for the construction of well vascularized and keratinized tissue engineered skin, furthermore establishing an effective strategy for iPSC-based therapy in skin tissue engineering.


[Name-day parties--social factor shaping patterns of ethanol poisonings].
Name-day party is a feature of the Polish culture. During these parties alcoholic drinks are served very often. In this paper it is shown that there is a positive correlation between the popularity of a name-day and the number of ethanol poisonings. Another finding of this paper is that the popularity of a name-day is also associated with the average age of ethanol-poisoned patients. This association is mediated by gender and a day of the week. On days of popular names the average age of poisoned woman is lower comparing to days of unpopular names. In case of males the pattern is more complicated. If a name-day of common names occurs on a week day then the male patients tend to be older, but if such a day occurs at the weekend then average age of male patients is higher.


Microarray analysis of laser capture microdissected substantia nigra pars compacta after a single administration of MPTP in common marmosets.
Gene expression profiling was performed in the laser capture microdissected substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) after a single administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in common marmosets. RNA from substantia nigra pars compacta tissue underwent a double linear amplification and was then applied to a whole human genome oligo microarray. Since the number of TH-immunoreactive cells in the SNc decreased to 50% of that in the control after 14 days and since our previous study showed that down-regulation of mRNA levels precedes cell death, genes for which mRNA levels were below 50% of levels in the vehicle-treated control throughout the experimental period were defined as being vulnerable to MPTP in the present study. There were 48 genes that satisfied this condition. In order to elucidate mechanisms of dopaminergic cell death in Parkinson's disease, extensive gene expression studies at various time points after MPTP and with various MPTP doses are required.


Intrinsically stretchable electronics with ultrahigh deformability to monitor dynamically moving organs.
Intrinsically stretchable electronics represent an attractive platform for next-generation implantable devices by reducing the mechanical mismatch and the immune responses with biological tissues. Despite extensive efforts, soft implantable electronic devices often exhibit an obvious trade-off between electronic performances and mechanical deformability because of limitations of commonly used compliant electronic materials. Here, we introduce a scalable approach to create intrinsically stretchable and implantable electronic devices featuring the deployment of liquid metal components for ultrahigh stretchability up to 400% tensile strain and excellent durability against repetitive deformations. The device architecture further shows long-term stability under physiological conditions, conformal attachments to internal organs, and low interfacial impedance. Successful electrophysiological mapping on rapidly beating hearts demonstrates the potential of intrinsically stretchable electronics for widespread applications in health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and medical therapies.


Haemodynamics and electrolyte balance: a comparison between on-line pre-dilution haemofiltration and haemodialysis.
An important advantage of convective therapies is improved vascular reactivity. However, it is not well known whether the vascular response during convective therapies remains superior when compared to haemodialysis (HD) with an adjusted temperature of the dialysate. It has also been suggested that convective therapies may impair small electrolyte removal through an effect on the Donnan equilibrium. In the present study, we compared the haemodynamic response and small electrolyte removal between pre-dilution on-line haemofiltration (HF) and HD procedures. Cardiac output (CO), central blood volume (CBV) and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) were assessed, using the saline dilution technique, in 12 stable patients during HF and HD with two different temperatures of the dialysate [36.5 and 35.5 degrees C (HD(36.5) and HD(35.5))]. Balances for sodium, potassium, calcium and conductivity were assessed using total dialysate/filtrate collections. Target filtration volume for HF was 1.2 times body weight. The temperature of the infusate was 36.5 degrees C. The change (Delta) in CBV was less during HD with a dialysate temperature of 35.5 degrees C (-0.03+/-0.14 l; P<0.05) compared to HF (-0.16+/-0.05 l) and HD(36.5) (-0.11+/-0.14 l), but the other haemodynamic parameters did not differ between the studied techniques. DeltaPVR was significantly related to DeltaCBV (r = -0.46; P<0.01), whereas DeltaCBV was related to ultrafiltration rate (r = -0.34; P = 0.05). DeltaCO was related to DeltaCBV (r = 0.62; P<0.001). Solute balances did not differ between HF and HD. Using the saline dilution method, no difference in the change in CO and PVR was observed between on-line HF vs HD(36.5) and HD(35.5). Only CBV declined to a significantly lesser degree during HD(35.5), although absolute differences were small. Changes in the other haemodynamic variables appeared more dependent upon the degree and rapidity of fluid removal than upon the treatment modality. No difference in small electrolyte balance was observed between HF and HD, suggesting that ionic removal is not impaired during on-line HF.


Effect of Danhong injection on heart failure in rats evaluated by metabolomics.
Heart failure (HF) is characterized by reduced ventricular filling or ejection function due to organic or non-organic cardiovascular diseases. Danhong injection (DHI) is a medicinal material used clinically to treat HF for many years in China. Although prior research has shown that Danhong injection can improve cardiac function and structure, the biological mechanism has yet to be determined. Serum metabolic analysis was conducted via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE/MS) to explore underlying protective mechanisms of DHI in the transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced heart failure. Multivariate statistical techniques were used in the research, such as unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). MetaboAnalyst and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were employed to pinpoint pertinent metabolic pathways. After DHI treatment, cardiac morphology and function as well as the metabolism in model rats were improved. We identified 17 differential metabolites and six metabolic pathways. Two biomarkers, PC(18:3(6Z,9Z,12Z)/24:0) and L-Phenylalanine, were identified for the first time as strong indicators for the significant effect of DHI. This study revealed that DHI could regulate potential biomarkers and correlated metabolic pathway, which highlighted therapeutic potential of DHI in managing HF.


Precursor Quantitation Methods for Next Generation Food Production.
Food is essential for human survival. Nowadays, traditional agriculture faces challenges in balancing the need of sustainable environmental development and the rising food demand caused by an increasing population. In addition, in the emerging of consumers' awareness of health related issues bring a growing trend towards novel nature-based food additives. Synthetic biology, using engineered microbial cell factories for production of various molecules, shows great advantages for generating food alternatives and additives, which not only relieve the pressure laid on tradition agriculture, but also create a new stage in healthy and sustainable food supplement. The biosynthesis of food components (protein, fats, carbohydrates or vitamins) in engineered microbial cells often involves cellular central metabolic pathways, where common precursors are processed into different proteins and products. Quantitation of the precursors provides information of the metabolic flux and intracellular metabolic state, giving guidance for precise pathway engineering. In this review, we summarized the quantitation methods for most cellular biosynthetic precursors, including energy molecules and co-factors involved in redox-reactions. It will also be useful for studies worked on pathway engineering of other microbial-derived metabolites. Finally, advantages and limitations of each method are discussed.


Human papillomavirus vaccine for children and adolescents.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause genital warts, cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. In North America, the lifetime cumulative incidence of HPV infection is estimated at more than 70% for all HPV types combined. A safe and effective vaccine against nine HPV types is available. HPV vaccine should be administered routinely to all girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 13 years of age. All youth who have not received the vaccine in a routine program should receive the vaccine in a 'catch-up' program. Physicians caring for children and youth should advocate for funding and implementation of universal HPV vaccine programs.


Computational and experimental approaches to chart the Escherichia coli cell-envelope-associated proteome and interactome.
The bacterial cell-envelope consists of a complex arrangement of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates that serves as the interface between a microorganism and its environment or, with pathogens, a human host. Escherichia coli has long been investigated as a leading model system to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms underlying microbial cell-envelope biology. This includes extensive descriptions of the molecular identities, biochemical activities and evolutionary trajectories of integral transmembrane proteins, many of which play critical roles in infectious disease and antibiotic resistance. Strikingly, however, only half of the c. 1200 putative cell-envelope-related proteins of E. coli currently have experimentally attributed functions, indicating an opportunity for discovery. In this review, we summarize the state of the art of computational and proteomic approaches for determining the components of the E. coli cell-envelope proteome, as well as exploring the physical and functional interactions that underlie its biogenesis and functionality. We also provide a comprehensive comparative benchmarking analysis on the performance of different bioinformatic and proteomic methods commonly used to determine the subcellular localization of bacterial proteins.


Post-COVID-19 Arterial Thrombotic Events among Three Major Permutations of COVID-19.
Post-COVID-19 thrombotic events are a crucial trouble of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, affecting hundreds of thousands of people internationally. Further proof is needed at the chance of putting up COVID-19 thrombotic activities after infection with specific editions of COVID-19. In the gift state of affairs, when the maximum of human beings gets vaccinated, COVID-19 sickness is less likely. However, the remnants of preceding COVID-19 infections are nonetheless a sizeable fitness burden. This prospective, observational, comparative, and analytical look at a total of 3,220 COVID-19 sufferers who visited the medical institution. We covered 1,050 sufferers of α-variants; 1,275 sufferers of δ-variants; 895 sufferers of Omicron variations; from June to November 2020, March to July 2021, and January to April 2022, respectively. The affected person's records concerning demography, clinical profile, comorbidities, the severity of the disorder, clinic stay, and vaccination repute were accrued and all sufferers have been accompanied up for 6 months of duration. The sufferers who evolved post-COVID-19 thrombotic events have been approached to gather records regarding demography, comorbidities, the severity of the disease, and vaccination assay. All accumulated information has been tabulated, compiled, and analyzed to examine the post-COVID-19 thrombotic occasions among exceptional variants of COVID-19. A complete of 246 (7.48%) patients [190 (14.90%) of the δ-variant, 41 (3.90%) of the α-variant, and 15 (1.68%) of Omicron version] evolved post-COVID-19 thrombotic occasions at some stage in their comply with-up period. In this observation, distinctly popular post-COVID-19 thrombotic occasions changed into coronary artery ailment (50.00%) which turned followed via cerebral vascular sickness (38.61%), abdominal vessels disease (5.69%), and peripheral artery disease (5.69%). These thrombotic occasions were not unique to any variations of SARS-CoV-2. The distinction of implying the age of patients suffering from post-COVID-19 thrombotic activities became statistically giant (p < 0.05) in comparison amongst all versions. At the time of analysis of COVID-19, 86.17% of sufferers with put-up COVID-19 thrombotic occasions had slight to excessive sickness whilst 13.82% had slight to asymptomatic disorder. The common time length to develop and publish COVID-19 thrombotic events for δ 137.18, Omicron 145.18, and α-version turned 149.85 days. Sufferers inflamed with the δ-variant of COVID-19 are greater vulnerable to developing submit COVID-19 thrombotic events with minimum hazard within the Omicron version and intermediate risk within the α-version. The hazard of submitting COVID-19 thrombotic activities is directly proportional to the severity of the sickness.


A Readily Achieved Potentiostatic Method in Density Functional Theory Calculation for Improved Prediction of the Performance for Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Reaction.
Accurate prediction of the catalytic performance of nitrogen reduction reaction catalysts based on density functional theory (DFT) calculation is of great significance for developing catalytic materials for nitrogen fixation. However, the applied electrode potential induced the fixation of Fermi level and solvation effect are commonly ignored in the current computational hydrogen electrode method, which leads to the large deviation between the calculation predicted limit potential and the experimentally measured limit potential. In this work, the simple external iteration method is proposed to simulate the Fermi level of the catalysts that are fixed by the applied electrode potential, along with the hybrid solvent model to describe the strong interaction, such as hydrogen bond, between the solvent molecules and the intermediates. This method allowed the theoretical and experimental limit potentials to be in good agreement, indicating the significant effect of the electrode potential and solvation in the DFT calculation. These results will guide the calculation-based prediction of other reaction systems in the field of electrocatalysis.


Gradient Legal Personhood for AI Systems-Painting Continental Legal Shapes Made to Fit Analytical Molds.
What I propose in the present article are some theoretical adjustments for a more coherent answer to the legal "status question" of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. I arrive at those by using the new "bundle theory" of legal personhood, together with its accompanying conceptual and methodological apparatus as a lens through which to look at a recent such answer inspired from German civil law and named Teilrechtsfähigkeit or partial legal capacity. I argue that partial legal capacity is a possible solution to the status question only if we understand legal personhood according to this new theory. Conversely, I argue that if indeed Teilrechtsfähigkeit lends itself to being applied to AI systems, then such flexibility further confirms the bundle theory paradigm shift. I then go on to further analyze and exploit the particularities of Teilrechtsfähigkeit to inform a reflection on the appropriate conceptual shape of legal personhood and suggest a slightly different answer from the bundle theory framework in what I term a "gradient theory" of legal personhood.


Stimulant use in medical students and residents requires more careful attention.
Stimulant pharmaceuticals are abused among academic students to elevate mood, improve studying, intellectual capacity, memory and concentration, and increase wakefulness. This study was designed to evaluate the current situation of stimulant use among medical students and residents of Babol University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 560 medical students and clinical residents of Babol University of Medical Sciences during the academic year 2014-2015. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Four hundred and forty-four (79.3%) students filled out the questionnaires. 49 (11%) individuals reported amphetamine and methylphenidate (ritalin) use. The mean age of the stimulant drug users was 24.6±4.8 years. The main initiator factor was to improve concentration (29 persons; 59.2%). There were significant statistical correlations between stimulant drugs abuse and male gender, living in dormitor in residence and internship and past medical history of psychiatric disorders (depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance abuse) (p<0.05).16 (32%) students started the drug use on their friends' advice; 15 (30%) due to self-medication and 12 (24%) persons with physician´s prescription. Because of significant prevalence of stimulant use, regulatory governmental policies and also planning to improve essential life skills, awareness about the side effects and complications of these drugs, screening of at-risk college students and early identification of the abusers are suggested.


Genetically predicted tea intake increases the risk of osteoarthritis: A Mendelian randomization study.
Background: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between tea consumption and osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the Open Genome-wide Association Studies database were obtained. Summary statistics on OA were retrieved from the second dataset that enrolled 50,508 participants (10,083 OA cases) of European ancestry. The causal association between tea intake and OA was tested using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Results: Tea consumption has adverse effects on OA. (inverse-variance weighted method: OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.30; weighted median method: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.07-1.40). The MR-Egger regression intercept (MR intercept = -0.002; p = 0.73) showed no evidence of directional pleiotropy. Moreover, no evidence of underlying heterogeneity in MR analysis was found according to Cochran's Q test and funnel and forest analyses. Conclusion: A genetically predicted high daily tea intake can increase the risk of OA.


[Definitions of pulse sequences and parameter weightings in the NMR tomogram].
Due to the different possibilities of image creation in MR tomography there is no clear terminology of pulse sequences and MR images. This paper tries to define the designation of pulse sequence parameters in a practical way and to specify the term "parameter weighting of MR images". Starting with general definitions, special definitions for CNS and liver are elaborated.


C-Cl activation of the weakly coordinating anion [B(3,5-Cl2C6H3)4]- at a Rh(I) centre in solution and the solid-state.
Addition of H2 to [Rh((i)Bu2PCH2CH2P(i)Bu2)(NBD)][BAr(Cl)4] (NBD = norbornadiene, Ar(Cl) = 3,5-Cl2C6H3) in the solid-state results in the rapid formation of zwitterionic [Rh((i)Bu2PCH2CH2P(i)Bu2){(η(6)-C6H3Cl2)BAr(Cl)3}] by a gas/solid reaction. This undergoes slow C-Cl bond cleavage in the solid-state to ultimately afford the dimeric Rh(III) complex [RhCl((i)Bu2PCH2CH2P(i)Bu2){C6H3Cl(BAr(Cl)3)}]2. This reactivity is mirrored in solution (CH2Cl2). Kinetic data for the C-Cl activation in both the solid-state and solution are reported.


Osmoregulation of atrial myocytic ANP release: osmotransduction via cross-talk between L-type Ca2+ channel and SR Ca2+ release.
Hyperosmolality has been known to increase ANP release. However, its physiological role in the regulation of atrial myocytic ANP release and the mechanism by which hyperosmolality increases ANP release are to be defined. The purpose of the present study was to define these questions. Experiments were performed in perfused beating rabbit atria. Hyperosmolality increased atrial ANP release, cAMP efflux, and atrial dynamics in a concentration-dependent manner. The osmolality threshold for the increase in ANP release was as low as 10 mosmol/kgH2O (approximately 3%) above the basal levels (1.55 +/- 1.71, 17.19 +/- 3.11, 23.15 +/- 5.49, 54.04 +/- 11.98, and 62.00 +/- 13.48% for 10, 20, 30, 60, and 100 mM mannitol, respectively; all P < 0.01). Blockade of sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channel activity, which increased ANP release, attenuated hyperosmolality-induced increases in ANP release (-13.58 +/- 4.68% vs. 62.00 +/- 13.48%, P < 0.001) and cAMP efflux but not atrial dynamics. Blockade of the Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which increased ANP release, attenuated hyperosmolality-induced increases in ANP release (13.44 +/- 7.47% vs. 62.00 +/- 13.48%, P < 0.01) and dynamics but not cAMP efflux. Blockades of Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter, Na+/H+ exchanger, and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger had no effect on hyperosmolality-induced increase in ANP release. The present study suggests that hyperosmolality regulates atrial myocytic ANP release and that the mechanism by which hyperosmolality activates ANP release is closely related to the cross-talk between the sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channel activity and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release, possibly inactivation of the L-type Ca2+ channels.


[Psychogenic erection and ejaculation disorders in a couple wanting children].
A man aged 40 and his wife aged 29, involuntarily childless due to a psychogenic disturbance of erection and ejaculation, asked for donor insemination. The man had been given psychosexual treatment without success during the preceding 4 years. Before starting donor insemination an ultimate effort to obtain an ejaculate by means of electrovibrator treatment was made, the physician handling the instrument. Two pregnancies were achieved by insemination with semen of the husband. The question is raised whether in a couple with a psychogenic coital disorder who only wish to achieve pregnancy, psychosexual therapy is indicated.


Reconstruction of the breast by tissue expansion.
The use of tissue expanders has considerable merit and wide applicability in breast reconstruction. The majority of patients who have undergone conservative modified radical mastectomies in the past fifteen years can be reconstructed without extensive flap procedures. The expansion prosthesis greatly increases the number of patients who can be reconstructed simply with a submuscular prosthesis.


Functional Anterior Knee Pain and Return to Sport Following Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
Background: Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a frequently used technique but has been associated with a high incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain. However, previous studies have not evaluated if this anterior knee pain is functionally limiting for patients. This study introduces the concept of functional anterior knee pain, or kneecap pain that limits patients' ability to return to their prior level of activity or sport. Methods: We reviewed BPTB ACL reconstructions from April 2013 to May 2017. Patients included in the analysis had a minimum of 1 year of clinical follow-up and 3 years of survey follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t tests and binomial test. Results: Sixty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared to the mean preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain score of 6.1, patients reported statistically significant reductions in VAS scores at 1 year and 3 years postoperatively to 0.9 and 1.8, respectively (P<0.01). The incidence (28.4%) of anterior knee pain was highest at the 3-month time point. This incidence decreased to 6.0% at 1 year and 7.5% at 3 years postoperatively. At 3 years postoperatively, 94% (63/67) of the patients in this study were not limited by functional anterior knee pain and returned to preoperative levels of activity and sport. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this investigation is the first to define and quantify the relationship between postoperative anterior knee pain and resultant functional limitations. This study shows that ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft was not significantly associated with functional anterior knee pain in our population and that the incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain following BPTB ACL reconstruction may be less than previously reported.


Fracture callus engulfing a peripheral nerve does not affect its function: an experimental study in rabbits.
The fate of a peripheral nerve engulfed in fracture callus is not known. We investigated the impact of envelopment of the sciatic nerve by fracture callus using a New Zealand rabbit femoral fracture model. The sciatic nerve was mobilized and coiled around the ipsilateral femur, which was surgically fractured, shortened, and osteosynthesized. Bony union was achieved, and callus engulfed the sciatic nerve in all animals. Nerve function was evaluated clinically and by conduction studies preoperatively and postoperatively. Although the nerve function in terms of clinical evaluation, amplitude, motor latency, and spontaneous activity deteriorated immediately postoperatively, recovery was evident in the following weeks indicating that the detected nerve dysfunction was attributable to the surgical mobilization. In addition, histologic and quantitative histomorphometric analyses proved that in none of the animals did the callus compress the sciatic nerve whereas an impressive process of axonal regeneration took place despite callus maturation. Results of our study suggest that callus, engulfing a peripheral nerve, does not compress it and the nerve appears to be intact in an osseous canal. This results in preservation of the integrity and function of the nerve, which may have significant clinical applications.


Minimum acceleration with constraints of center of mass: a unified model for arm movements and object manipulation.
Daily interaction with the environment consists of moving with or without objects. Increasing interest in both types of movements drove the creation of computational models to describe reaching movements and, later, to describe a simplified version of object manipulation. The previously suggested models for object manipulation rely on the same optimization criteria as models for reaching movements, yet there is no single model accounting for both tasks that does not require reminimization of the criterion for each environment. We suggest a unified model for both cases: minimum acceleration with constraints for the center of mass (MACM). For point-to-point reaching movement, the model predicts the typical rectilinear path and bell-shaped speed profile as previous criteria. We have derived the predicted trajectories for the case of manipulating a mass-on-spring and show that the predicted trajectories match the observations of a few independent previous experimental studies of human arm movement during a mass-on-spring manipulation. Moreover, the previously reported "unusual" trajectories are also well accounted for by the proposed MACM. We have tested the predictions of the MACM model in 3 experiments with 12 subjects, where we demonstrated that the MACM model is equal or better (Wilcoxon sign-rank test, P < 0.001) in accounting for the data than three other previously proposed models in the conditions tested. Altogether, the MACM model is currently the only model accounting for reaching movements with or without external degrees of freedom. Moreover, it provides predictions about the intermittent nature of the neural control of movements and about the dominant control variable.


Inhibition by methylprednisolone of zymosan-induced leukotriene synthesis in alveolar macrophages.
Alveolar-macrophage-derived 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) are thought to be important mediators of lung inflammation and injury. Inhibition of AA metabolism may be an important anti-inflammatory mechanism of glucocorticoid (GC) action. In the present study, we have examined the effect of methylprednisolone (MP) on leukotriene (LT) B4 and LTC4 synthesis by cultured rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) stimulated with the proinflammatory particle zymosan. Zymosan stimulation resulted in the formation of LTB4 greater than thromboxane B2 (TxB2) greater than LTC4 as assessed by both high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Sixteen hours of pretreatment with 1 microM MP maximally inhibited synthesis of TxB2 by 76 +/- 4%, LTB4 by 83 +/- 3%, and LTC4 by 91 +/- 3%. The inhibition of eicosanoids was specific, as the sex hormones progesterone, testosterone, and beta-estradiol had no consistent effect. Inhibition was dose-dependent, with 50% inhibition of synthesis occurring at 10(-7) M for TxB2, but at 10(-8) M for both LTB4 and LTC4. Pretreatment with MP for only 1 h inhibited LTC4 production (42 +/- 3%) to a greater extent than either TxB2 (25 +/- 1%) or LTB4 (14 +/- 7%). These data indicate that MP significantly and substantially inhibits zymosan-induced LTB4 and LTC4 synthesis. Furthermore, the greater degree, greater potency, and faster onset of action for MP inhibition of LT synthesis than of TxB2 synthesis suggest the possibility that MP may exert postphospholipase effect(s) on LT synthesis. These results support the possibility that modulation of AM arachidonate metabolism may represent an important anti-inflammatory mechanism of GC action in the lung.


Seroprevalence of Yellow fever, Chikungunya, and Zika virus at a community level in the Gambella Region, South West Ethiopia.
Yellow fever (YF), Chikungunya (CHIK), and Zika(ZIK) are among re-emerging arboviral diseases of major public health concern. Despite the proximity of the Gambella Region to South Sudan where arboviral cases have been recorded repeatedly the current epidemiological situation is unclear in this part of southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, we conducted a community-based seroprevalence survey of YF virus (YFV), CHIK virus (CHIKV), and ZIK virus (ZIKV) infections in two selected districts. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two locations of the Gambella region (Lare and Itang) to investigate the seroprevalence of these viruses' infections. Blood samples were collected from the study participants and screened for IgG antibodies specific to YFV and CHIKV infections using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). For the detection of ZIKV specific IgG antibodies, Blockade-of-binding ELISA was used. Data were analyzed using the STATA version 13.1 Softwares. A total of 150 individuals (96 males and 54 females, age ranging from 18 to 65 years, mean age ± SD = 35.92 ± 10.99) participated and provided blood samples. Among the 150 samples 135, 90, and 150 were screened for YFV, CHIKV, and ZIKV, respectively. Hence, 2.9% (95% CI: 1.1-7.7%), 15.6% (95% CI: 9.3-24.8%), and 27.3% (95% CI: 20.7-35.3%) of samples tested positive for IgG antibodies to YFV, CHIKV, and ZIKV infections, respectively. Among the individual seropositive for ZIKV, YFV and CHIKV, only six, one and three had a history of residence outside the Gambella region respectively. Agro-pastoral occupation was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IgG against CHIKV (AOR = 14.17; 95%CI: 2.30, 87.30) and residency in the Lare district (AOR = 11; 95%CI: 3.31, 39.81) was found to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IgG against ZIKV. Our findings revealed the occurrence of YFV, CHIKV and ZIKV infections in the study locations.


Toward Rapid Detection of Viable Bacteria in Whole Blood for Early Sepsis Diagnostics and Susceptibility Testing.
Sepsis is a serious bloodstream infection where the immunity of the host body is compromised, leading to organ failure and death of the patient. In early sepsis, the concentration of bacteria is very low and the time of diagnosis is very critical since mortality increases exponentially with every hour after infection. Common culture-based methods fail in fast bacteria determination, while recent rapid diagnostic methods are expensive and prone to false positives. In this work, we present a sepsis kit for fast detection of bacteria in whole blood, here achieved by combining selective cell lysis and a sensitive colorimetric approach detecting as low as 103 CFU/mL bacteria in less than 5 h. Homemade selective cell lysis buffer (combination of saponin and sodium cholate) allows fast processing of whole blood in 5 min while maintaining bacteria alive (100% viability). After filtration, retained bacteria on filter paper are incubated under constant illumination with the electrochromic precursors, i.e., ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. Viable bacteria metabolically reduce iron(III) complexes, initiating a photocatalytic cascade toward Prussian blue formation. As a proof of concept, we combine this method with antibiotic susceptibility testing to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using two antibiotics (ampicillin and gentamicin). Although this kit is used to demonstrate its applicability to sepsis, this approach is expected to impact other key sectors such as hygiene evaluation, microbial contaminated food/beverage, or UTI, among others.


The relationship between education levels, lifestyle, and religion regarding the prevalence of myopia in Israel.
The ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has a unique lifestyle including minimal outdoor activity and intense, prolonged nearby work, beginning at a very young age. Their prevalence of myopia is extremely high. This paper provides a unique insight into the attitudes of this community towards myopia. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish parents of children who came to the pediatric ophthalmology clinic in one tertiary care and two community centers in ultra-Orthodox-oriented cities were given a questionnaire. Demographic information, along with myopia prevalence in the family, was gathered. In addition, their attitudes and common knowledge regarding myopia were investigated. 161 questioners were collected, mostly completed by mothers (n = 110, 68%). The average number of children per family was 6 (range 1-16). In 148 families (92%) at least one of the parents has myopia. The average parent refraction was - 4.5 diopters (range - 0.5 to 15 diopters). Out of 935 children, 410 (44%) wore glasses. Twelve parents (7%) believe that myopia is a disease and 94 (58%) reported that they are concerned because their child wears glasses. Twenty-four (15%) believe that glasses are a sign of a high education level. Regarding treating myopia progression, 144 (89%) think that myopia progression should be treated, but only 36 (22%) are aware of the available treatments for it. This study examines an insular community with a very high incidence of myopia. In this community most parents think that myopia progression should be treated but most of them are unaware of the currently available treatments.


Infection and Colonization of Nicotiana benthamiana by Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Grapevine leafroll disease is an increasing problem in all grape-growing regions of the world. The most widespread agent of the disease, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), has never been shown to infect species outside of the genus Vitis. Virus transmission to several plant species used as model systems was tested using the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus. We show that GLRaV-3 is able to infect Nicotiana benthamiana. Working with GLRaV-3 infected N. benthamiana revealed distinct advantages in comparison with its natural host Vitis vinifera, yielding both higher viral protein and virion concentrations in western blot and transmission electron microscopy observations, respectively. Immunogold labelling of thin sections through N. benthamiana petioles revealed filamentous particles in the phloem cells of GLRaV-3 positive plants. Comparison of assembled whole genomes from GLRaV-3 infected V. vinifera vs. N. benthamiana revealed substitutions in the 5' UTR. These results open new avenues and opportunities for GLRaV-3 research.


Physical activity of first graders in Norwegian after-school programs: A relevant contribution to the development of motor competencies and learning of movements? Investigated utilizing a mixed methods approach.
Development of motor competencies and learning of movements in children is dependent on varied physical activity (PA). After-school programs (ASP) might provide opportunities for young schoolchildren to participate in PA. The aim of the current study was to investigate the PA of first graders in ASP and to consider its contribution to the development of motor competencies and the learning of movements. The study was performed utilizing a mixed methods design. A total of 42 first graders were sampled from 14 ASPs in Norway. Direct observations of the children's activities were conducted for the duration of one entire ASP day. PA intensity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, while the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the quantitative data. The median PA time among the observed children was 61.5 minutes. The median stationary time was 75.9 minutes. There was considerable variation within the sample. Girls were significantly more engaged in stationary behavior than boys. Frequent changes in activity type and intensity were typical features of the children's ASP day. PA duration and intensity were significantly higher outdoors than indoors. Adult-managed time had longer periods of stationary behavior than child-managed time. The PA at all intensity levels contained barrier-breaking movements-especially at light intensity levels. Most of the first graders studied were engaged in a variety of activity types of different duration and intensity levels, favorable for the development of motor competencies and for the learning of movements. Hence, it is reasonable to highlight that light PA, in combination with moderate and vigorous PA, is also of great importance for children during the time they spend in ASP. Ultimately, there is a need for staff members who can also stimulate varied PA among the most stationary children.


Detectability of hepatic tumors during 3D post-processed ultrafast cone-beam computed tomography.
To evaluate hepatic tumor detection using ultrafast cone-beam computed tomography (UCBCT) cross-sectional and 3D post-processed image datasets. 657 patients were examined using UCBCT during hepatic transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and data were collected retrospectively from January 2012 to September 2014. Tumor detectability, diagnostic ability, detection accuracy and sensitivity were examined for different hepatic tumors using UCBCT cross-sectional, perfusion blood volume (PBV) and UCBCT-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) fused image datasets. Appropriate statistical tests were used to compare collected sample data. Fused image data showed the significantly higher (all P < 0.05) diagnostic ability for hepatic tumors compared to UCBCT or PBV image data. The detectability of small hepatic tumors (<5 mm) was significantly reduced (all P < 0.05) using UCBCT cross-sectional images compared to MRI or fused image data; however, PBV improved tumor detectability using a color display. Fused image data produced 100% tumor sensitivity due to the simultaneous availability of MRI and UCBCT information during tumor diagnosis. Fused image data produced excellent hepatic tumor sensitivity, detectability and diagnostic ability compared to other datasets assessed. Fused image data is extremely reliable and useful compared to UCBCT cross-sectional or PBV image datasets to depict hepatic tumors during TACE. Partial anatomical visualization on cross-sectional images was compensated by fused image data during tumor diagnosis.


cis-1-Benzyl-pyrrolidine-2,5-dicarbonitrile.
In the title compound, C(13)H(13)N(3), the cyano groups at the 2- and 5-positions are eclipsed with each other. The phenyl ring is disordered over two sets of sites, with refined occupancies of 0.520 (5) and 0.480 (5). The angles between the mean plane of the pyrrolidine ring and the two cyano groups are 71.7 (9) and 75.0 (12)°.


An investigation into the adsorption mechanism of n-butanol by ZIF-8: a combined experimental and ab initio molecular dynamics approach.
The zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-8, has been shown by experimental methods to have a maximum saturation adsorption capacity of 0.36 g g-1 for n-butanol from aqueous solution, equivalent to a loading of 14 butanol molecules per unit cell or 7 molecules per sodalite β-cage. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) shows the presence of hydrogen bonding between adsorbed butanol molecules within the cage; the presence of three different O-H stretching modes indicates the formation of butanol clusters of varying size. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the butanol molecules, with an average hydrogen-bond coordination number of 0.9 after 15 ps simulation time. The simulations also uniquely demonstrate the presence of weaker interactions between the alcohol O-H group and the π-orbital of the imidazole ring on the internal surface of the cage during early stages of adsorption. The calculated adsorption energy per butanol molecule is -33.7 kJ mol-1, confirming that the butanol is only weakly bound, driven primarily by the hydrogen bonding. Solid-state MAS NMR spectra suggest that the adsorbed butanol molecules possess a reasonable degree of mobility in their adsorbed state, rather than being rigidly held in specific sites. 2D 13C-1H heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) experiments show interactions between the butanol aliphatic chain and the ZIF-8 framework experimentally, suggesting that O-H interactions with the π-orbital are only short lived. The insight gained from these results will allow the design of more efficient ways of recovering and isolating n-butanol, an important biofuel, from low-concentration solutions.


A systematic review on the role of MSC-derived exosomal miRNAs in the treatment of heart failure.
Heart failure (HF) is a deeply serious clinical problem that remains unsolved. Many reports highlight the cardioprotective properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the factors contained in their secretome being particularly important for this function; these include the exosomal miRNAs (exo-miRNAs) secreted with or without stimulus which can modulate various biological processes. In search of new paradigms in heart failure, we wondered whether MSC-derived exosomal microRNAs could play a role in the management of clinical patients. To analyze whether there is sufficient evidence to support this hypothesis we designed a systematic review of studies on exo-miRNAs in heart diseases causing HF during the last decade. The cardioprotective functions of twenty-four exo-miRNAs derived from bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) are known and the functions of exo-miRNAs from other MSC sources such as adipose tissue, trophoblasts, amniotic fluid, and endometrium were also determined. Inhibition of apoptosis is the most reported biological function and the targets for thirty exo-miRNAs are known. The results from this systematic review support the initial hypothesis and encourage us to test it in future experimental research works but more importantly, we seek to encourage other researchers in the field to propose other hypotheses aimed at the possible use of exo-miRNAs in HF secondary to cardiac disease.


[Interferon production by various means of administering modified poly I-C].
Modified poly(I) . poly(C) induces appreciable amounts of interferon in Macaca rhesus monkeys not only after intravenous but also after intramuscular, endolumbar, and subconjunctival inoculations. The time course and intensity of interferon production after various routes of the induced inoculation were similar. Maximum interferon production was found at the inoculation site, upon topical application the resistance to reinoculation developed after primary inoculation and persisted for 72 hours, After intravenous inoculation of the doses of the inducer tested the resistance to reinoculation of the modified polyribonucleotide developed after two inoculations made at an interval of 24 hours. A minimal interferon-inducing dose of the modified polyribonucleotide was 10 micrograms/kg for mice and 100 micrograms/kg for Macaca rhesus monkeys.


CRISPR Comparison Toolkit: Rapid Identification, Visualization, and Analysis of CRISPR Array Diversity.
CRISPR-Cas systems provide immunity against mobile genetic elements (MGEs) through sequence-specific targeting by spacer sequences encoded in CRISPR arrays. Spacers are highly variable between microbial strains and can be acquired rapidly, making them well suited for use in strain typing of closely related organisms. However, no tools are currently available to automate the process of reconstructing strain histories using CRISPR spacers. We therefore developed the CRISPR Comparison Toolkit (CCTK) to enable analyses of array relationships. The CCTK includes tools to identify arrays, analyze relationships between arrays using CRISPRdiff and CRISPRtree, and predict targets of spacers. CRISPRdiff visualizes arrays and highlights the similarities between them. CRISPRtree infers a phylogenetic tree from array relationships and presents a hypothesis of the evolutionary history of the arrays. The CCTK unifies several CRISPR analysis tools into a single command line application, including the first tool to infer phylogenies from array relationships.


Screening of genomic imbalances in glioblastoma multiforme using high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization.
Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a molecular cytogenetic technique that allows the genome-wide analysis of DNA sequence copy number differences. We applied conventional CGH and the recently developed high-resolution CGH (HR-CGH) to tumour samples from 18 patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in order to compare the sensitivity of CGH and HR-CGH in the screening of chromosomal abnormalities. The abnormalities were studied in topologically different central and peripheral tumour parts. A total of 78 different changes were observed using CGH (0-16 per tumour, median 3.5) and 154 using HR-CGH (0-21 per tumour, median 6). Using HR-CGH, losses were more frequent than gains. The representation of the most prominent changes revealed by both methods was similar and was comprised of the amplification of 7q12 and 12q13-q15, the gain of 7, 3q and 19, and the loss of 10, 9p, and 13q. However, HR-CGH detected certain other abnormalities (the loss of 6, 14q, 15q and 18q, and the gain of 19), which were rarely revealed by CGH. Using HR-CGH, the numbers and types of chromosomal changes detected in the central and peripheral parts of GBM were almost the same. The loss of chromosomes 10 and 9p and the gain of chromosomes 7 and 19 were the most frequent chromosomal alterations in both tumour parts. Our results from the GBM analysis show that HR-CGH technology can reveal new, recurrent genetic alterations involving the genes known to participate in tumorigenesis and in the progression of several human malignancies, thus allowing for a more accurate genetic characterization of these tumours.


A mesh microelectrode array for non-invasive electrophysiology within neural organoids.
Organoids are emerging in vitro models of human physiology. Neural models require the evaluation of functional activity of single cells and networks, which is commonly measured by microelectrode arrays. The characteristics of organoids clash with existing in vitro or in vivo microelectrode arrays. With inspiration from implantable mesh electronics and growth of organoids on polymer scaffolds, we fabricated suspended hammock-like mesh microelectrode arrays for neural organoids. We have demonstrated the growth of organoids enveloping these meshes and the culture of organoids on meshes for up to one year. Furthermore, we present proof-of-principle recordings of spontaneous electrical activity across the volume of an organoid. Our concept enables a new class of microelectrode arrays for in vitro models of three-dimensional electrically active tissue.


Analysis of the HLA-linked SB gene system with cloned and uncloned alloreactive T-cell lines.
Further enhancement of cellular typing for antigens of the new HLA-linked "SB" gene was undertaken by T-cell expansion and cloning. The PLT reagents which define these antigens could be expanded over 100-fold with interleukin 2 (IL-2), without loss of specificity. Cloning efficiencies in limiting dilution of over 50 percent could be achieved, although only 5 percent of these could be expanded extensively. Detailed analysis was performed with clones from a highly restricted PLT reagent raised between an HLA recombinant donor and his sibling whose only known HLA difference was SB4. The antigens recognized by the 11 independent clones analyzed appeared to segregate in this family with HLA. Although the two SB4-positive haplotypes in the family were essentially indistinguishable by the clones, they detected heterogeneity among unrelated donors matched for SB4 (as defined by bulk PLT reagents). Such heterogeneity did not appear to be due to differences between clones in the kinetics of their responses, but could be explainable by complexity of the SB molecule or by new HLA antigens.


On the Angular Control of Rotating Lasers by Means of Line Calculus on Hyperboloids.
We propose a new paradigm for modelling and calibrating laser scanners with rotation symmetry, as is the case for lidars or for galvanometric laser systems with one or two rotating mirrors. Instead of bothering about the intrinsic parameters of a physical model, we use the geometric properties of the device to model it as a specific configuration of lines, which can be recovered by a line-data-driven procedure. Compared to universal data-driven methods that train general line models, our algebraic-geometric approach only requires a few measurements. We elaborate the case of a galvanometric laser scanner with two mirrors, that we model as a grid of hyperboloids represented by a grid of 3×3 lines. This provides a new type of look-up table, containing not more than nine elements, lines rather than points, where we replace the approximating interpolation with exact affine combinations of lines. The proposed method is validated in a realistic virtual setting. As a collateral contribution, we present a robust algorithm for fitting ruled surfaces of revolution on noisy line measurements.


Comparison of inpatient psychiatric medication management in gender diverse youth with cisgender peers.
The primary objective was to determine if gender diverse (GD) youth receive different psychotropic prescribing compared with cisgender (CG) peers with the same diagnosis. Secondary objectives include evaluation of readmission rates and the effect of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on psychiatric outcomes in transgender (TG) patients. A total of 255 GD youth patients were retrospectively matched to CG controls based on age, primary discharge diagnosis, and year of admission. Data collection included psychotropic medications at admission and discharge, baseline demographics, time to readmission, and total number of readmissions within 6 months. Use of GAHT was also documented. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for continuous and χ2 for nominal data with an a priori α of 0.05. MDD was the primary discharge diagnosis in 74% of patients. GD youth were more likely to present on antidepressants (P = .031) and antipsychotics (P = .007), and to be discharged with antipsychotics (P = .003). They were additionally more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge (P = .032). TG youth on GAHT (13%) had fewer readmissions (P = .046) than those not on GAHT, but there were no differences in psychotropic prescribing. Higher antipsychotic and antidepressant prescribing were seen in the GD population despite the same mental health diagnosis. Despite higher prescribing in the GD population, patients presented for readmission within 30 days more frequently, which may represent a need for more rigorous transitions-of-care practices in this population.


Locomotion by Abdopus aculeatus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): walking the line between primary and secondary defenses.
Speeds and variation in body form during crawling, bipedal walking, swimming and jetting by the shallow-water octopus Abdopus aculeatus were compared to explore possible interactions between defense behaviors and biomechanics of these multi-limbed organisms. General body postures and patterns were more complex and varied during the slow mode of crawling than during fast escape maneuvers such as swimming and jetting. These results may reflect a trade-off between predator deception and speed, or simply a need to reduce drag during jet-propelled locomotion. Octopuses swam faster when dorsoventrally compressed, a form that may generate lift, than when swimming in the head-raised posture. Bipedal locomotion proceeded as fast as swimming and can be considered a form of fast escape (secondary defense) that also incorporates elements of crypsis and polyphenism (primary defenses). Body postures during walking suggested the use of both static and dynamic stability. Absolute speed was not correlated with body mass in any mode. Based on these findings the implications for defense behaviors such as escape from predation, aggression, and 'flatfish mimicry' performed by A. aculeatus and other octopuses are discussed.


Unable to Speak: Selective Mutism in Youth.
It is important for psychiatric nurses to be familiar with the clinical presentation and recommended treatment for selective mutism (SM), as it is a childhood anxiety disorder that is not commonly studied. This article provides a brief overview of its diagnostic criteria, prevalence, assessment, and history. Special attention is given to misconceptions regarding the disorder and differentiation of trauma and oppositional disorders. Two vignettes illustrate varied presentations of SM, with and without comorbid social phobia. Empirically supported behavioral and psychopharmacological treatment is outlined, and considerations for nursing are provided. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(2), 14-18.].


Density functional theory investigation of benzenethiol adsorption on Au(111).
We have studied the adsorption of benzenethiol molecules on the Au(111) surface by using first principles total energy calculations. A single thiolate molecule is adsorbed at the bridge site slightly shifted toward the fcc-hollow site, and is tilted by 61 degrees from the surface normal. As for the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) structures, the (2 square root of 3 x square root of 3)R30 degrees herringbone structure is stabilized against the (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees structure by large steric relaxation. In the most stable (2 square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees SAM structure, the molecule is adsorbed at the bridge site with the tilting angle of 21 degrees, which is much smaller compared with the single molecule adsorption. The van der Waals interaction plays an important role in forming the SAM structure. The adsorption of benzenethiolates induces the repulsive interaction between surface Au atoms, which facilitates the formation of surface Au vacancy.


Photoreactivity of a quantum dot-ruthenium nitrosyl conjugate.
We describe the use of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) as antennas for the photosensitization of nitric oxide release from a ruthenium nitrosyl complex with visible light excitation. The CdTe QDs were capped with mercaptopropionic acid to make them water-soluble, and the ruthenium nitrosyl complex was cis-[Ru(NO)(4-ampy)(bpy)2](3+) (Ru-NO; bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, and 4-ampy is 4-aminopyridine). Solutions of these two components demonstrated concentration-dependent quenching of the QD photoluminescence (PL) as well as photoinduced release of NO from Ru-NO when irradiated by 530 nm light. A NO release enhancement of ∼8 times resulting from this association was observed under longer wavelength excitation in visible light range. The dynamics of the quenching determined by both PL and transient absorption measurements were probed by ultrafast flash photolysis. A charge transfer mechanism is proposed to explain the quenching of the QD excited states as well as the photosensitized release of NO from Ru-NO.


Awaiting a cure for COVID-19: therapeutic approach in patients with different severity levels of COVID-19.
COVID-19 is an unpredictable infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The development of effective anti-COVID-19 vaccines has enormously minimized the risk of severe illness in most immunocompetent patients. However, unvaccinated patients and non-responders to the COVID-19 vaccine are at risk of shortand long-term consequences. In these patients, the outcome of COVID-19 relies on an interplay of multiple factors including age, immunocompetence, comorbidities, inflammatory response triggered by the virus as well as the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Generally, COVID-19 is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic in young people, but it may manifest with respiratory insufficiency requiring mechanical ventilation in certain susceptible groups of patients. Furthermore, severe SARS-CoV-2 infection induces multiorgan failure syndrome by affecting liver, kidney heart and nervous system. Since December 2019, multiple drugs have been tested to treat COVID-19, but only a few have been proven effective to mitigate the course of the disease that continues to cause death and comorbidity worldwide. Current treatment of COVID-19 patients is essentially based on the administration of supportive oxygen therapy and the use of specific drugs such as steroids, anticoagulants, antivirals, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and immunomodulators. However, the rapid spread of new variants and the release of new data coming from the numerous ongoing clinical trials have created the conditions for maintaining a continuous updating of the therapeutic management of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we believe that a well-established therapeutic strategy along with the continuum of medical care for all patients with COVID-19 is pivotal to improving disease outcomes and restoring healthcare care fragmentation caused by the pandemic. This narrative review, focusing on the therapeutic management of COVID-19 patients, aimed to provide an overview of current therapies for (i) asymptomatic or mildly/moderate symptomatic patients, (ii) hospitalized patients requiring low-flow oxygen, (iii) high-flow oxygen and (iv) mechanical ventilation.


Radicular dens invaginatus--a case report.
Case report showing classical Radicular dens invaginatus; along with in vitro illustrations of the extracted tooth and RVG (Radiovisiography) after radiopaque dye injection.


Population-based cohort studies on premorbid cognitive function in schizophrenia.
Many previous studies have found associations between poor cognitive function and schizophrenia. However, the majority of these studies used retrospective data, leading to the possibility of selection and recall biases. Retrospective studies are also unable to distinguish whether cognitive deficits exist prior to the onset of schizophrenia, suggesting that they are important in etiology, or following onset, suggesting that they are secondary to the disorder or its treatment. The current review used a systematic search strategy to identify and summarize the results of all studies that have used population-based cohorts to examine associations between prospectively collected data on premorbid cognitive functioning in childhood or adolescence and subsequent risk for schizophrenia. Three broad categories of study have addressed these questions: birth cohort designs with cognitive testing during childhood, army conscript designs with cognitive performance measured at conscription, and studies using school grades. Birth cohort and conscript studies are consistent in reporting strong associations between poor performance on cognitive batteries and increased risk of schizophrenia. Studies on school performance have been less consistent, although the largest such study showed strong associations across all school subjects. In conclusion, children and adolescents with poor cognitive abilities in childhood are at increased risk of schizophrenia. This suggests that poor cognitive function is either directly causal or associated with causal factors that are involved in etiology.


Extended investigation of the substrate specificity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV from pig kidney.
The substrate specificity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (dipeptidyl peptide hydrolase, EC 220.127.116.11) from pig kidney was investigated, using a series of substrates, in which the amino-acid residue in position P1, a structural derivative of proline, was altered with respect to ring size and substituents. It was demonstrated that dipeptidyl peptidase IV hydrolyses substrates of the type Ala-X-pNA, where X is proline (Pro), (R)-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Thz), (S)-pipecolic acid (Pip), (S)-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Oxa), or (S)-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze). The ring size and ring structure of the residue in the P1 position influence the rate of enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of the substrate. The highest kcat value (814 s-1) was found for Ala-Aze-pNA. In contrast, the kcat value for Ala-Pro-pNA is nearly 55 s-1. With all substrates of this series, the rate-limiting step of the hydrolysis by dipeptidyl peptidase IV is the deacylation reaction. Compounds of substrate-like structure, in which the P2 residue has an R-configuration, are not hydrolysed by dipeptidyl peptidase IV.


Effects of neopterin on ischemic neuronal damage in gerbils.
The effects of neopterin on ischemic neuronal damage were examined. Cerebral ischemia was produced in the gerbil by bilateral common carotid occlusion for 8 min or unilateral occlusion for 30 min, which resulted in delayed neuronal death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. However, preischemic treatment with neopterin (3 mg/kg i.p.) markedly reduced hippocampal neuronal damages in both cases. Since neopterin serves both as an antioxidant and as an oxidant depending on its redox state, these findings indicate that neopterin attenuates the ischemic neuronal injury by scavenging oxygen free radicals and/or by inhibiting their generation.


The hepatic lipidome: From basic science to clinical translation.
The liver is the key organ involved in lipid metabolism and transport. Excessive lipid accumulation due to dysregulated lipid metabolism predisposes the liver to steatosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipids are generally compartmentalized in specialized organelles called lipid droplets that enable cells to store and release lipids in a regulated manner. However, during flux-in and flux-out of droplets, lipids are converted into toxic species leading to lipid-mediated liver damage. Lipids are categorized into 'toxic' or 'healthy' lipids that are involved in liver disease pathogenesis or resolution, respectively. Lipidomic analysis have revealed unique lipid signature that correlates with the disease progression therefore being used for disease diagnosis. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview on hepatic lipid homeostasis, lipid compartmentalization mechanisms and lipidomic profiles in different liver diseases. We further discuss promising therapeutics targeting the hepatic lipidome including pro-resolving lipids, liposomes, and small-molecule inhibitors for the treatment of liver diseases.


Simultaneous epicardial-endocardial mapping of the sinus node in humans with structural heart disease: Impact of overdrive suppression on sinoatrial exits.
The 3-dimensional (3D) nature of sinoatrial node (SAN) function has not been characterized in the intact human heart. The purpose of this study was to characterize the 3D nature of SAN function in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) using simultaneous endocardial-epicardial (endo-epi) phase mapping. Simultaneous intraoperative endo-epi SAN mapping was performed during sinus rhythm at baseline (SRbaseline) and postoverdrive suppression at 600 ms (SRpost-pace600) and 400 ms (SRpost-pace400) using 2 Abbott Advisor HD Grid Mapping Catheters. Unipolar and bipolar electrograms (EGMs) were exported for phase analysis to determine (1) activation exits; (2) wavefront propagation sequence; (3) endo-epi dissociation; and (4) fractionation. Comparison of these variables was made among the 3 rhythms from an endo-epi perspective. Sixteen patients with SHD were included. SRbaseline activations were unicentric and predominantly exited cranially (87.5%) with endo-epi synchrony. However, with overdrive suppression, a tendency for caudal exit shift and endo-epi asynchrony was observed: SRpost-pace600 vs SRbaseline: cranial endo 75% vs 87.5% (P = .046); cranial epi 68.8% vs 87.5% (P = 0.002); caudal endo 12.5% vs 6.2% (P = 0.215); caudal epi 25% vs 6.2% (P = .0003); and SRpost-pace400 vs SRbaseline: cranial endo 81.3% vs 87.5% (P = 0.335); cranial epi 68.7% vs 87.5% (P = 0.0034; caudal endo 12.5% vs 6.2% (P = .148); caudal epi 31.2% vs 6.2% (P = 0.0017), consistent with multicentricity. EGM fractionation was more prevalent with overdrive suppression. During mapping of the intact human heart, SAN demonstrated redundancy of sinoatrial exits with postoverdrive shift in sites of earliest activation and epi-endo dissociation of sinoatrial exits.


Eigen and Zundel forms of small protonated water clusters: structures and infrared spectra.
The spectral properties of protonated water clusters, especially the difference between Eigen (H3O+) and Zundel (H5O2+) conformers and the difference between their unhydrated and dominant hydrated forms are investigated with the first principles molecular dynamics simulations as well as with the high level ab initio calculations. The vibrational modes of the excess proton in H3O+ are sensitive to the hydration, while those in H5O2+ are sensitive to the messenger atom such as Ar (which was assumed to be weakly bound to the water cluster during acquisitions of experimental spectra). The spectral feature around approximately 2700 cm-1 (experimental value: 2665 cm-1) for the Eigen moiety appears when H3O+ is hydrated. This feature corresponds to the hydrating water interacting with H3O+, so it cannot appear in the Eigen core. Thus, H3O+ alone would be somewhat different from the Eigen forms in water. For the Zundel form (in particular, H5O2+), there have been some differences in spectral features among different experiments as well as between experiments and theory. When an Ar messenger atom is introduced at a specific temperature corresponding to the experimental condition, the calculated vibrational spectra for H5O2+.Ar are in good agreement with the experimental infrared spectra showing the characteristic Zundel frequency at approximately 1770 cm-1. Thus, the effect of hydration, messenger atom Ar, and temperature are crucial to elucidating the nature of vibrational spectra of Eigen and Zundel forms and to assigning the vibrational modes of small protonated water clusters.


Changes in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained women: 7-yr follow-up.
On the basis of cross-sectional data, we previously reported that the absolute, but not the relative (%), rate of decline in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2 max)) with age is greater in endurance-trained compared with healthy sedentary women. We tested this hypothesis by using a longitudinal approach. Eight sedentary (63 +/- 2 yr at follow-up) and 16 endurance-trained (57 +/- 2) women were reevaluated after a mean follow-up period of 7 yr. At baseline, VO(2 max) was ~70% higher in endurance-trained women (48.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 28.1 +/- 0.8 ml. kg(-1). min(-1). yr(-1)). At follow-up, body mass, fat-free mass, maximal respiratory exchange ratio, and maximal rating of perceived exertion were not different from baseline in either group. The absolute rate of decline in VO(2 max) was twice as great (P < 0.01) in the endurance-trained (-0.84 +/- 0.15 ml. kg(-1). min(-1). yr(-1)) vs. sedentary (-0.40 +/- 0.12 ml. kg(-1). min(-1). yr(-1)) group, but the relative rates of decline were not different (-1.8 +/- 0.3 vs. -1.5 +/- 0.4% per year). Differences in rates of decline in VO(2 max) were not related to changes in body mass or maximal heart rate. However, among endurance-trained women, the relative rate of decline in VO(2 max) was positively related to reductions in training volume (r = 0.63). Consistent with this, the age-related reduction in VO(2 max) in a subgroup of endurance-trained women who maintained or increased training volume was not different from that of sedentary women. These longitudinal data indicate that the greater decrease in maximal aerobic capacity with advancing age observed in middle-aged and older endurance-trained women in general compared with their sedentary peers is due to declines in habitual exercise in some endurance-trained women. Endurance-trained women who maintain or increase training volume demonstrated age-associated declines in maximal aerobic capacity not different from healthy sedentary women.


Commercial motor vehicle driving performance: An examination of attentional resources and control using a driving simulator.
Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers often multitask when driving to increase travel efficiency and to increase alertness. Secondary tasks have been shown to impact CMV driving differentially, and attentional resources have been posited as a key factor. However, underlying mechanisms of secondary task engagement on attention and task performance have not been fully examined. Additionally, it is unknown if attentional control moderates these differential effects of secondary tasks and task performance. The current study aimed to examine decrements in driving performance from a resource-control theory by determining the specific relation between attentional resources and attentional control. To achieve this goal, 2 objectives were determined. Objective 1 considered the differential impact of secondary tasks on attentional resources in CMV driving performance. Objective 2 investigated individual differences in attentional control in the sample of CMV drivers. Fifty CMV drivers (Mage = 39.8 years, SD = 8.36) completed the 10-min psychomotor vigilance task providing measures of attentional control and also drove in a CMV driving simulator 4 times while presented with 1 of 4 secondary tasks. Findings linked secondary tasks to attentional resources, which, consequently affected CMV driving performance. The mediating effect of attentional resources significantly differed among varying levels of attentional control. (PsycINFO Database Record


Relationship between the ability to stand and physical function in stroke survivors with hemiplegia: a pilot study.
Takahashi J. Relationship between the ability to stand and physical function in stroke survivors with hemiplegia: a pilot study. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2021; 12: 4-8. This study aimed to identify the physical functions necessary to enable stroke survivors with hemiplegia to stand from a chair. Fifteen patients who had suffered a hemiplegic stroke were divided into two groups, the pull and unable groups, based on their ability to stand by pulling a handrail. Their motor palsy, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, and unaffected muscle strength were assessed. Patients in the pull group had less motor palsy, higher muscle strength of the upper extremity on the unaffected side, and greater angle of ankle dorsiflexion on the affected side, compared to the patients in the unable group. The function of the affected lower limb and the unaffected upper limb's muscle strength determines the ability of patients who have suffered a hemiplegic stroke to lift their body upwards while standing from a chair.


Prolonged and post-term pregnancies: guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).
The duration of pregnancy varies between 40(+0) and 41(+3) weeks. Conventionally, and essentially arbitrarily, a pregnancy is considered to be "prolonged" after 41(+0) weeks, but the infant is not considered "post-term" until 42(+0) weeks (Professional consensus). A term birth thus occurs during the period from 37(+0) to 41(+6) weeks. In France, prolonged pregnancies (≥41(+0)weeks) involve 15-20% of pregnant women, and post-term pregnancies (≥42(+0) weeks) approximately 1%. The frequency of post-term pregnancies is very heterogeneous: in Europe and the United States, it ranges from 0.5% to 10% according to country. In prolonged pregnancies, the cesarean section rate-especially the emergency cesarean rate-is multiplied by approximately 1.5 (grade B). From 37(0-6) to 43(0-6) weeks, the risk of perinatal mortality increases regularly, from 0.7‰ to 5.8‰. Meconium aspiration syndrome is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality, and its incidence increases regularly between 38(+0) and 42(+6) weeks, from 0.24‰ to 1.42‰ (grade B). Similarly, the risks of neonatal acidosis (grade B), 5-min Apgar scores less than 7 (grade B) and admissions to neonatal intensive care (grade B) increase progressively between 38(+0) and 42(+6) weeks. These risks appear to double for post-term growth-restricted newborns (grade C). Ultrasound dating of the pregnancy makes it possible to reduce the risk that it will be incorrectly considered prolonged and that labor will therefore be induced unnecessarily. To harmonize practices, if the crown-rump length (CRL) is correctly measured (this measurement should be taken between 11(+0) and 13(+6) weeks, when CRL should measure from 45 to 84mm), ultrasound dating based on it should be used to determine the official date pregnancy began, regardless of its difference from the date assumed by the patient or estimated based on the date of the last menstrual period. This rule does not apply to pregnancies by IVF, for which the date pregnancy began is defined by the date of oocyte retrieval (Professional consensus). From 37(0-6) to 43(0-6) weeks, the risk of perinatal mortality increases regularly and there is no threshold at which a clear increase in perinatal mortality becomes visible. Fetal monitoring by cardiotocography (CTG) that begins at 41(+0) weeks would cover approximately 20% of women and reduce perinatal morbidity compared with monitoring that begins at 42(+0) weeks (grade C). The frequency recommended for this monitoring ranges between two and three times a week (Professional consensus). For ultrasonography assessment, measurement of the largest fluid pocket is recommended, because measurement of the amniotic fluid index (that is, the sum of the four quadrants) is accompanied by more diagnoses of oligohydramnios, inductions of labor, and cesareans for fetal distress without any improvement in neonatal prognosis (grade A). The practice of assessing the Manning biophysical score increases the number of diagnoses of oligohydramnios and fetal heart rage (FHR) abnormalities and generates an increase in the rates of inductions and cesareans without improving neonatal prognosis. The use of this biophysical score in monitoring prolonged pregnancies is therefore not recommended (grade B). In the absence of a specific disorder, induction of labor can be proposed in patients between 41(+0) and 42(+6) weeks (grade B). Nonetheless, the choice of prolongation beyond above 42(+0) weeks appears to involve an increase in fetal risk, which must be explained to the patient and balanced against the potential disadvantages of induction (Professional consensus). Stripping the membranes can reduce the duration of pregnancy by increasing the number of patients going into labor spontaneously during the week afterward (grade B). Compared to an expectant approach, it does not increase the cesarean section rate (grade A). It reduces recourse to induction by 41% at 41(+0) weeks and by 72% at 42(+0) weeks (grade B), without increasing the risk of either membrane rupture or maternal or neonatal infection (grade B). Used as a tampon or vaginal gel, prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) are an effective method of inducing labor (grade A). They can be used to induce labor successfully, regardless of cervical ripeness (grade A). If misoprostol is chosen, the lowest dose is to be preferred, starting with a vaginal dose of 25μg every 3-6h (grade A). For misoprostol, more powerful studies remain necessary for better defining the doses, routes of administration, tolerance and indications. Misoprostol at any dose is contraindicated in women with uterine scars (grade B). Placement of an intracervical Foley catheter is an effective mechanical means of inducing labor, with less uterine hyperstimulation than prostaglandins and no increase in the cesarean section rate (grade A). Nonetheless, as the risk of infection might be increased, this technique requires more robust evaluation before entering general practice (grade B). In cases of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, pharyngeal aspiration before delivery of the shoulders is not recommended (grade A). The team managing a post-term newborn with meconium-stained amniotic fluid at birth must know how to perform intubation and, if the intubation is not helpful, endotracheal aspiration (grade C) and ventilation with a mask. Routine endotracheal intubation of a vigorous newborn is not recommended (grade A).


In vivo platelet release reaction in patients with heart valve prosthesis.
Platelets play an important role in the genesis of thromboembolic episodes frequently observed in patients following cardiac valve replacement. No simple and reliable method as yet exists for quantitating platelet function in vivo. Platelet-specific proteins, serum beta-thromboglobulin related antigen and platelet factor 4 as well as thromboxane B2 were measured in 50 healthy subjects and in 100 patients who had cardiac valve replacement at least 6 months previously; these were related to the type, site and number of valves replaced. Highly significant differences were observed in the mean plasma beta-thromboglobulin related antigen, platelet factor 4 and thromboxane B2 levels in patients compared with healthy controls. The elevated levels of platelet release products observed 6 months after cardiac valve replacement suggest a continuous activation by the prosthesis. No significant differences were observed in patients with different types and site of valve prosthesis.


Characterization of superparamagnetic "core-shell" nanoparticles and monitoring their anisotropic phase transition to ferromagnetic "solid solution" nanoalloys.
The structure, magnetism, and phase transition of core-shell type CoPt nanoparticles en route to solid solution alloy nanostructures are systematically investigated. The characterization of Co(core)Pt(shell) nanoparticles obtained by a "redox transmetalation" process by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and, in particular, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides clear evidence for the existence of a core-shell type bimetallic interfacial structure. Nanoscale phase transitions of the Co(core)Pt(shell) structures toward c-axis compressed face-centered tetragonal (fct) solid solution alloy CoPt nanoparticles are monitored at various stages of a thermally induced annealing process and the obtained fct nanoalloys show a large enhancement of their magnetic properties with ferromagnetism. The relationship between the nanostructures and their magnetic properties is in part elucidated through the use of XAS as a critical analytical tool.


Early Experience with Stapled Gastrointestinal Anastomoses in a Nigerian Hospital.
Hand-sewn gastrointestinal anastomoses has been the traditional approach to gastrointestinal anastomosis in Nigeria while stapled anastomoses are infrequently performed in few centers. To describe the outcome of our initial experience with stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses in a semi-urban patient population. Consecutive patients who had stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses between January 2011 and June 2014 in a Nigerian tertiary hospital were prospectively evaluated. Indications for operation, procedures performed and anastomoses constructed and postoperative outcome of each patient were documented. Nineteen patients including seven males and 12 females had stapled anastomoses within the period. Their ages ranged between 41 and 68 (mean 52.5) years. Six (31.6%) Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomies, 6 (31.6%) ileo-colic, 3 (15.8%) ileo-ileal, 2 (10.5%) colo-colic, and 2 (10.5%) colo-anal anastomoses were performed. Indications include antral gastric cancer in 4 (21.1%), right colon cancer 4 (21.1%), ileal perforations in 3 (15.8%) while 2 (10.5%) each had left colon cancer, common bile duct obstruction, rectal cancer and ruptured appendix. Mean duration of operation was 108 ± 46 min and mean duration of postoperative stay was 5 ± 2.6 days. No intraoperative complications were recorded and no anastomotic leakage occurred. At a median follow-up of 5 months no staple related stricture had occurred. Stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses are associated with a good outcome in our center. We propose a prospective, large-population randomized comparison of the technique with hand-sewn anastomoses.