Temporal trends in prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome complicated by ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
To evaluate clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that developed ventricular tachyarrhythmia VTA and to analyse it according to the period of presentation. VTA is an infrequent yet serious complication of ACS. There is limited data regarding the incidence and prognostic implications of VTA in the last decade as compared with the previous decade. We evaluated clinical characteristics, major adverse cardiovascular events, short and long- term mortality of patients hospitalised with ACS who were enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey (ACSIS) during the years 2000-2016. Patients were classified into three groups: no VTA, early VTA (≤48 hours of onset) and late VTA (>48 hours of onset). Data were analysed according to the period of presentation: early vs late period (years 2000-2006 and 2008-2016 accordingly). The study population comprised 15,200 patients. VTA occurred in 487 (3.2%) patients. Early VTA presented in 373/487 (77%) patients and late VTA in 114/487 (23%) patients. VTA's, occurring in ACS patients were associated with increased risk of in-hospital, 30-days, 1-year and 5-year mortality rates during both early and late periods compared with no VTA. Moreover, late VTA was associated with the highest mortality rate with up to 65% in 5-year follow up (P < .001). Nevertheless, late VTA was associated with a lower mortality rate in the late period compared with the early period. Any VTA following ACS was associated with high short- and long-term mortality rate. However, over the late period, there has been a significant improvement in survival rates, especially in patients with late VTA. This may be attributed to early and invasive reperfusion therapy, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation and better medical treatment.


Integrated nanoreactor systems: triggering the release and mixing of compounds inside single vesicles.
We present a method that allows the on-demand release and mixing of zepto- to femtoliter volumes of solutions in the interior of vesicular nanoreactors. The reactors comprise a nested system of lipid vesicles, part of which release their cargo in the interior of the others during a thermotropic phase transition. The performance of individual reactors immobilized on glass is characterized using confocal microscopy and a fluorescent dye that reports dilution during the release. The results confirm the predicted temperature-induced response and reveal a release transition width of 3 degrees C with a half time of approximately 1 min.


Clinical impact of breakpoint position within M-bcr in chronic myeloid leukemia.
We have analyzed the M-bcr breakpoint position in 133 Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia patients and correlated the findings with clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic data. We also investigated the splicing pattern of the BCR-ABL mRNA in 30 patients, using reverse transcriptase PCR. No statistically significant differences were found between breakpoint position within M-bcr and clinical parameters at diagnosis, the karyotypic evolution pattern, or the leukemic phenotype during blast crisis. Furthermore, the breakpoint position within M-bcr did not correlate with the duration of chronic phase or survival time. When the splicing pattern of the BCR-ABL mRNA was compared with the results of the genomic breakpoint mapping, it was found that approximately 60% (8/14) of the patients with a 5' break expressed b2a2 fusion mRNA, whereas all patients (10/10) with a 3' break expressed b3a2 BCR-ABL mRNA.


Family contextual influences on bicultural competence development among U.S. Mexican-origin youths.
This study investigated how parents' value-based enculturation and acculturation processes (i.e., Mexican American and mainstream American values trajectories across their youths' development from late childhood to middle adolescence) related to their youths' behavioral, affective, and cognitive components of bicultural competence in late adolescence. Our sample included 749 U.S. Mexican-origin youths (30% Mexico-born; 49% female), and their parents, followed for 7 years (Mage = 10.44 to 17.38 years). Linear latent growth analyses revealed that both parental enculturation and acculturation processes have important implications for U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents' bicultural competence. This work highlights parental promoting and inhibiting influences on the development of bicultural competence, a normative developmental competency among ethnic-racial minority and immigrant adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Identification of histamine receptor subtypes in skeletal myogenesis.
To date, conventional and/or novel histamine receptors (HRs) have not been investigated in mouse skeletal myogenesis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the HR‑subtypes in skeletal myogenesis. The myogenesis of C2C12 skeletal myoblasts was evaluated using desmin, myogenin and myosin heavy chain (Myh) as early, intermediate and late differentiation markers, respectively. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining were performed and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of the HR‑subtypes and markers were determined. H1R mRNA was found to be highly expressed in myoblasts at day 0; however, the expression levels were reduced as differentiation progressed. By contrast, H2R mRNA expression remained constant, while H3R mRNA expression increased by 28‑, 103‑ and 198‑fold at days 2, 4 and 6 compared with the baseline level (day 0), respectively. In addition, Myh expression increased by 7,718‑, 94,487‑ and 286,288‑fold on days 2, 4 and 6 compared with the baseline expression level (day 0). Weak positive staining of the cells for H3R protein was observed on day 2, whereas highly positive staining was observed on days 4 and 6. HR expression during myogenesis was, in part, regulated by the stage of differentiation. These results along with previous findings indicated possible involvement of H1R in the regulation of progenitor cell mitogenesis and of H2R in the relaxation of acetylcholine‑stimulated contraction of muscle cells, following the activation of professional histamine‑producing cells, including mast cells. By contrast, H3R may participate in the regulation of specialized myocyte functions, potentially by maintaining the relaxed state under the influence of constitutive H3R activity and low histamine concentrations, locally produced/released by non‑professional histamine‑producing cells.


BRL 37344 inhibited adrenergic transmission in the rat portal vein via atypical beta-adrenoceptors.
The effect of BRL 37344, a beta(3)-adrenergic agonist on adrenergic transmission in isolated segments of the rat portal vein was examined in this study. BRL 37344 (10(-9) - 10(-5)M) produced concentration-dependent inhibition of electrically induced contractions. This inhibitory effect of BRL 37344 was not antagonized by propranolol ( 10(-6)M). Isoprenaline ( 10(-9) - 10(-4)M) also produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of electrically induced contractions in the portal vein. Propranolol (10(-6)M) antagonized isoprenaline responses with a -logK(B) value of 8.14 +/- 0.32. BRL 37344-induced inhibition of electrically induced contractions was also unaffected by cyanopindolol (10(-6)M). Isoprenaline but not BRL 37344 significantly reduced noradrenaline-induced contractions of the rat portal vein. CGP12177A produced propranolol-resistant inhibition of electrically induced contractions of the rat portal vein. It was therefore concluded that BRL 37344 inhibited adrenergic transmission in the rat portal vein via atypical beta -adrenoceptors located prejunctionally.


Low levels of serum soluble c-kit relates to delayed engraftment after bone marrow transplantation.
Serum soluble c-kit concentrations were measured in 28 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The c-kit levels in patients with delayed engraftment (time to leukocyte recovery > 1.0 x 10(9)/L being more than 20 days after BMT) were significantly lower than those in patients with early engraftment (time to leukocyte recovery being less than 19 days after BMT) from the start of conditioning until day 100 after BMT. The data from this study indicates that the measurement of serum soluble c-kit concentrations may be a useful indicator of engraftment.


[A case of metastatic lung cancer responding well from tongue carcinoma using a combination of stereotactic radiation therapy and docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU chemotherapy].
A 53-year-old man underwent partial glossectomy for tongue cancer on the right side (well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma T 1 N 0 M 0). One and 9 months later, cervical lymph node metastasis was observed bilaterally. After bilateral radical neck dissection, 2 courses of NDP/5-FU combined chemotherapy were administered. However, 2 metastatic lung cancers were observed 14 months after initial treatment. Stereotactic radiation therapy of 50 Gy in 5 fractions and 6 courses of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU chemotherapy were administered. As a result, no recurrence was observed, and a complete response was obtained for 41 months after lung metastasis.


Dual-component system dimethyl sulfoxide/LiCl as a solvent and catalyst for homogeneous ring-opening grafted polymerization of ε-caprolactone onto xylan.
The preparation of xylan-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone) (xylan-g-PCL) copolymers was investigated by homogeneous ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in a dual-component system containing Lewis base LiCl and strong polar aprotic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). DMSO/LiCl acted as solvent, base, and catalyst for the ROP reaction. The effects of the parameters, including the reaction temperature, molar ratio of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) to anhydroxylose units (AXU) in xylan, and reaction time, on the degree of substitution (DS) and weight percent of PCL side chain (WPCL) were investigated. The results showed that xylan-g-PCL copolymers with low DS in the range of 0.03-0.39 were obtained under the given conditions. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), and (1)H-(13)C correlation two-dimensional (2D) NMR [heteronuclear single-quantum coherence (HSQC)] characterization provided more evidence of the attachment of side chains onto xylan. Only one ε-CL was confirmed to be attached onto xylan with each side chain. Integration of resonances assigned to the substituted C2 and C3 in the HSQC spectrum also indicated 69.23 and 30.77% of PCL side chains attached to AXU at C3 and C2 positions, respectively. Although the attachment of PCL onto xylan led to the decreased thermal stability of xylan, the loss of unrecovered xylan fractions with low molecular weight because of the high solubility of xylan in DMSO/LiCl resulted in the increased thermal stability of the samples. This kind of xylan derivative has potential application in environmentally friendly and biodegradable materials considering the good biodegradability of xylan and PCL.


Wear resistance and abrasiveness of CAD-CAM monolithic materials.
Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) restorations are in contact with the antagonist tooth, either a natural tooth or a restoration. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the wear resistance of CAD-CAM materials and the wear behavior of the antagonist. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the wear resistance and abrasiveness of CAD-CAM materials. In a 2-body wear test, the materials IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent AG), Vita Suprinity (Vita Zahnfabrik), Lava Ultimate (3M ESPE), Vita Enamic (Vita Zahnfabrik), and Lava Plus (3M ESPE) acted as abraders and, together with bovine enamel, also as antagonists. Each antagonist wheel ran against each abrader wheel for 200000 cycles, with a spring force of 15 N, and at a rotational speed of 1 Hz in distilled water. The wear rate was determined with a surface profilometer. The surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscopy, and their hardness, coefficient of friction, and roughness were evaluated. Lava Plus and IPS e.max CAD exhibited the highest potential for wear of Lava Ultimate. These 2 materials, together with Vita Suprinity, provided the highest wear of enamel and Vita Enamic. Vita Suprinity and IPS e.max CAD had higher wear than Lava Plus, and the inverse was also true. Vita Enamic and Lava Ultimate were among the materials that caused the lowest wear of enamel and all other evaluated materials. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that except for Lava Ultimate, all other materials damaged enamel, in which Vita Suprinity and IPS e.max CAD were more aggressive when sliding against the materials. Lava Plus had the greatest hardness, followed by Vita Suprinity and IPS e.max CAD, Vita Enamic, and then Lava Ultimate. The coefficient of friction varied from 0.42 to 0.53. The Vita Enamic and Lava Ultimate showed the highest surface roughness. The nanofilled composite resin and polymer-infiltrated ceramic were more antagonist-friendly (whether enamel or CAD-CAM material) than glass-ceramics and zirconia. Care should be taken when selecting the material that will contact mainly with glass-ceramics. Hardness should also be considered when selecting a material.


Crystallization and X-ray analysis of the extracellular adhesion domain of Helicobacter pylori adhesin A: the significance of the cation composition in the crystallization precipitant.
Adherence to host cells is a crucial step in the process of bacterial infection, which is usually mediated by a number of outer membrane proteins identified as adhesins. Helicobacter pylori adhesin A (HpaA) is a member of the adhesin family that mediates the adherence of Helicobacter pylori to gastric epithelial cells, and consequently assists the bacteria in becoming a life-long colonizer of the human stomach. In this study, two constructs were made for the production of truncated HpaA proteins comprising residues 31-260 and 53-260, respectively. The products of both constructs were crystallized, but only the protein from the shorter construct (residues 53-260) formed crystals that were capable of diffraction. In the subsequent optimization trials, crystals in different forms were unexpectedly obtained by using lithium sulfate and ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. An X-ray data set was collected to 1.95 Å resolution on beamline BL18U1 at SSRF using a crystal grown with 1.92 M lithium sulfate, which belonged to space group P65 with unit-cell parameters a = b = 95.42, c = 54.72 Å, γ = 120°, while another crystal grown with 1.9 M ammonium sulfate diffracted to 2.60 Å resolution and the collected data set was indexed in space group P21212, with unit-cell parameters a = 121.01, b = 190.56, c = 106.31 Å. The collection of diffraction data has established a solid basis for structure determination.


New techniques for producing aesthetic, direct full-crown composite resin restorations for primary molars: a 24-month follow-up study of eight cases.
Although the demand for aesthetic restoration of primary molars has increased, techniques for producing aesthetic, direct full-crown restorations using light-cured composite resin for primary molars and the associated clinical outcome are not well established. The aim of this study was to describe the use of new techniques to produce aesthetic, direct full-crown restorations using light-cured composite resin for primary molars. The authors evaluate the clinical outcomes of the restoration method and investigate whether this technique could be used as an alternative to conventional methods. Two new techniques, the resin block and the clear matrix, were studied by treating 8 teeth. The occlusal surface of stainless steel crowns was used for impression-taking to facilitate accurate reproduction of the anatomic structure, and the aesthetic restoration was obtained simply and consistently. At the 24-month follow-up evaluation, these new direct techniques were completely satisfactory. Marginal discoloration was observed in one tooth treated with the clear matrix technique, and a small partial wear was observed in another tooth treated with the resin block. The new techniques for restoration resulted in functional and aesthetic reproduction of occlusal morphology. Therefore, these techniques could be considered a practical alternative to conventional methods.


Terminal complement complexes in childhood type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
The role of terminal complement complexes (TCCs), which are the final products of complement activation, in the pathogenesis of human glomerulonephritis has not been completely elucidated. To clarify the clinical significance of TCCs in type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), we studied TCCs in plasma, renal tissue and urine in pediatric patients with this disease. We measured the concentrations of TCC in plasma (n=25) and urine (n=13) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Frozen tissue from 18 renal biopsies were evaluated for the presence of TCC by direct immu-noperoxidase staining. At the early stage of the disease, TCC concentrations in plasma were elevated to above 0.5 arbitrary units (AU)/mL in 14 of 25 patients (high-TCC group), while the remaining 11 patients showed less than 0.5 AU/mL (low-TCC group). In the high-TCC group, TCCs were deposited more diffusely and intensely in the glomerulus, compared with those in the low-TCC group (p=0.034). Furthermore, urinary TCC concentrations in the high-TCC group were higher than those in the low-TCC group (p=0.0001). The high-TCC group showed not only a poorer response to steroid treatment, but also poorer prognosis than the low-TCC group. These results suggest that, in pediatric patients with type I MPGN, TCCs in circulation may play a particular role in TCC formation in the glomerulus and in urine. The TCC concentration in plasma could be used as a marker of responsiveness to steroid treatment and long-term prognosis.


Identifying influential individuals on intensive care units: using cluster analysis to explore culture.
The objective of this paper is to identify attribute patterns of influential individuals in intensive care units using unsupervised cluster analysis. Despite the acknowledgement that culture of an organisation is critical to improving patient safety, specific methods to shift culture have not been explicitly identified. A social network analysis survey was conducted and an unsupervised cluster analysis was used. A total of 100 surveys were gathered. Unsupervised cluster analysis was used to group individuals with similar dimensions highlighting three general genres of influencers: well-rounded, knowledge and relational. Culture is created locally by individual influencers. Cluster analysis is an effective way to identify common characteristics among members of an intensive care unit team that are noted as highly influential by their peers. To change culture, identifying and then integrating the influencers in intervention development and dissemination may create more sustainable and effective culture change. Additional studies are ongoing to test the effectiveness of utilising these influencers to disseminate patient safety interventions. This study offers an approach that can be helpful in both identifying and understanding influential team members and may be an important aspect of developing methods to change organisational culture.


Impact of smoking habit on surgical outcomes in non-B non-C patients with curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
To analyzed the correlation between smoking status and surgical outcomes in patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC), and we investigated the patients' clinicopathological characteristics according to smoking status. We retrospectively analyzed the consecutive cases of 83 NBNC-HCC patients who underwent curative surgical treatment for the primary lesion at Saga University Hospital between 1984 and December 2012. We collected information about possibly carcinogenic factors such as alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, obesity and smoking habit from medical records. Smoking habits were subcategorized as never, ex- and current smoker at the time of surgery. The diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was based on both clinical information and pathological confirmation. Alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, obesity and NASH had no significant effect on the surgical outcomes. Current smoking status was strongly correlated with both overall survival (P = 0.0058) and disease-specific survival (P = 0.0105) by multivariate analyses. Subset analyses revealed that the current smokers were significantly younger at the time of surgery (P = 0.0002) and more likely to abuse alcohol (P = 0.0188) and to have multiple tumors (P = 0.023). Current smoking habit at the time of surgical treatment is a risk factor for poor long-term survival in NBNC-HCC patients. Current smokers tend to have multiple HCCs at a younger age than other patients.


Functional Optical Imaging of Primary Human Tumor Organoids: Development of a Personalized Drug Screen.
Primary tumor organoids are a robust model of individual human cancers and present a unique platform for patient-specific drug testing. Optical imaging is uniquely suited to assess organoid function and behavior because of its subcellular resolution, penetration depth through the entire organoid, and functional endpoints. Specifically, optical metabolic imaging (OMI) is highly sensitive to drug response in organoids, and OMI in tumor organoids correlates with primary tumor drug response. Therefore, an OMI organoid drug screen could enable accurate testing of drug response for individualized cancer treatment. The objective of this perspective is to introduce OMI and tumor organoids to a general audience in order to foster the adoption of these techniques in diverse clinical and laboratory settings.


Psychosocial, Spiritual, and Biomedical Predictors of Hope in Hemodialysis Patients.
Hemodialysis patients deal with some psychological and social problems. These problems may be the predictors of hope. This study aimed to determine the psychosocial, spiritual, and biomedical predictors of hope in hemodialysis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 hemodialysis patients in hemodialysis centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Adult Hope Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Personal Resources Questionnaire-85, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and biomedical markers were used for data collection. The data were entered into the SPSS 22 software and were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. The mean score of hope was 28.54 (SD=5.27). The mean scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were 17.87 (SD=7.62), 13.12 (SD=3.47), and 12.99 (SD=3.88), respectively. The mean scores of social support and spiritual well-being were 126.35 (SD=17.53) and 74.02 (SD=5.84), respectively. The means of biomedical markers including interdialytic weight gain, urea nitrogen, creatinine, phosphate, sodium, and potassium were 2.10 (SD=1.04), 51.55 (SD=13.10), 6.98 (SD=2.48), 4.71 (SD=1.08), 139.32 (SD=4.91), and 4.87 (SD=0.93), respectively. The results revealed a significant association between hope and depression, anxiety, stress, social support, and spiritual well-being (p<0.05). In addition, stress (β=-0.14, p=0.01), anxiety (β=-0.20, p=0.002), and social support (β=0.49, p<0.001) were the predictors of hope. The hemodialysis patients reported moderate levels of hope, social support, anxiety, and depression. In addition, most of them adhered to dietary and fluid restrictions. Considering the association between hope and social support, spiritual well-being, anxiety, depression, and stress, using some interventions regarding the mentioned variables might increase hope among hemodialysis patients.


[Repeated thyroid surgery. Indications and results].
To analyze the histology results and to assess operative risk of iterative operations for thyroid surgery. A total of 249 re-operations were performed in 248 patients over a 6.5 year period. Two groups of patients were defined according to the indications for re-operation. Group 1: 80 patients; pathology examination of the surgical specimen discovered thyroid cancer. Group 2: 169 patients; recurrent nodular goitre after an initially benign disease. In group 1, 14 cancers were bilateral (17.5%) and 7 patients had cervical node metastases (8.8%). In group 2, 19 cancers were discovered (11.1%), including 5 cases with cervical node invasion (26.3%) and 4 with visceral metastases (21.1%). Twenty complications occurred in 20 patients (8%): compressive cervical hematomas (n = 3, 1.2%), recurrent nerve palsy (n = 7, 2.8%), hypoparathyroidism (n = 9, 3.6%; including 3 definitive cases, 1.2%) and mediastinitis (n = 1). These complications were significantly more frequent in patients re-operated for hyperthyroidism or those who had a past history of more than one cervicotomy. The frequency of bilateral cancer justifies completing thyroidectomy after partial thyroidectomy. The rate of definitive complications after re-operations is greater than first line cervicotomy but is low enough to allow iterative surgery using rigorous procedure in selected patients.


Corrigendum.
Imai H, Furukawa TA, Hayashi SU, et al. (2017) Risk perception, self-efficacy, trust for physician, depression, and behavior modification in diabetic patients. Journal of Health Psychology. E pub ahead of print 7 July 2017. DOI: 10.1177/1359105317718057 The author omitted to include one of the funders in the Funding statement. The online version of this article has been corrected. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by grants from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (Practical Research Project for Life-Style related Diseases including CVD and Diabetes), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (Strategic Outcomes Research Program for Research on Diabetes; Comprehensive Research on Life-Style Related Diseases including CVD and Diabetes H25-016), JSPS KAKENHI under Grant No. JP15H04779 and the Japan Diabetes Foundation.


Successful removal and prevention of resynthesis of anti-HLA antibody.
The successful removal and prevention of the resynthesis of an anti-HLA antibody by plasma exchange and immunosuppression in a patient awaiting renal transplantation is described. Before treatment, the patient's serum contained a high titer (greater than 1/50) anti-HLA antibody that reacted with 94% of our lymphocyte donor panel and produced positive cross matches with the lymphocytes from 40 cadaver kidneys. Following treatment, her anti-HLA titers fell to less than 1/10 and her sera reacted with 43% of our lymphocyte donor panel and produced negative crossmatches with lymphocytes from the first two cadaver kidney donors she was tested against. She was successfully transplanted with the second of these kidneys and is now well eight months later, with good graft function.


Identification of mutations in p53 that affect its binding to SV40 large T antigen by using the yeast two-hybrid system.
The tumor suppressor p53 protein binds to the products of several viral oncogenes, including SV40 large T antigen. We reconstructed the p53-T antigen interaction in the yeast two-hybrid system, a genetic assay that uses the reconstitution of the activity of a transcriptional activator to detect protein-protein interactions. Using mutants of T antigen known to be defective in binding to p53, we demonstrate that the two-hybrid system is more sensitive than immunoprecipitation in the detection of weak interactions. We mutagenized the murine p53 gene and screened in the yeast assay for decreased reporter gene expression indicative of the failure of p53 to bind T antigen. This screen identified 34 p53 mutants, almost all of which contain at least one mutation in the conserved domains frequently found mutated in human cancers. These results support the idea that the function of the wild-type p53 protein requires residues involved in binding to T antigen, and indicate that this approach may be generally applicable in the analysis of protein-protein interactions.


Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility testing with Abbott MS-2 system.
The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 100 methicillin=resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were concurrently determined by the Abbott MS-2 System and by the standard disk diffusion method. Agreement between the two methods was 94% or greater for all of the antibiotics tested except for methicillin and gentamicin. This study indicates that the Abbott MS-2 cannot be relied upon for detection of methicillin resistance in clinical S. aureus isolates.


Targeted sequencing of chromosome 15q25 identified novel variants associated with risk of lung cancer and smoking behavior in Chinese.
Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in populations of European descent identified a lung cancer susceptibility locus at 15q25 that was biologically associated with nicotine addiction. However, the allele frequency of susceptibility variants identified in this region varied dramatically across European and Asian populations, suggesting that additional risk single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in Asians need to be identified. Thus, we conducted a fine-mapping study of chromosome 15q25 using targeted resequencing of 200 lung cancer cases and 300 controls of Chinese descent. An approximate conditional and joint analysis of the discovery data revealed two novel SNPs with independent effects (rs6495304: OR = 1.79, P = 9.37 × 10-4; and rs74733525: OR = 1.68, P = 8.05 × 10-3). Both variants were common in Asians but rare or monomorphic in Whites. These results were further supported by in silico validation including 8047 cases and 8898 controls from multiethnic lung cancer genome-wide association studies (GWASs) (rs6495304: OR = 1.32, P = 1.21 × 10-11; and rs74733525: OR = 1.29, P = 4.29 × 10-4); however, rs6495304 demonstrated significant effects only in ever-smokers (P = 0.004 for heterogeneity test of smoking). Mediation analysis indicated that smoking behavior may mediate the effect of rs6495304 on lung cancer risk. Furthermore, expression quantitative trait loci analysis showed the risk allele (A) of rs6495304 was significantly associated with lower mRNA expression of CHRNA3 (P = 0.029) in 81 hypothalamic tissue samples. This finding provides new insights into the association between lung cancer susceptibility and the 15q25 locus.


[The genetic differentiation of sheep with different types of wool].
The comparative analysis of the genetic structure of fine-wool, semi-fine-wool, and semi-rough-wool sheep breeds for 8 polymorphous genetic-biochemical systems (Hb, LDR, PN, ME, EST, Dp, Tf, LAP) was carried out. The interbreed, breed and intrabreed differentiations by the polymorphism for genetic-biochemical systems were described. The interrelations between the variability of wool characteristics and the genetic structure of ME and Tf loci, repeated in different sheep groups, were revealed. The "linkage disequilibrium" between ME and Tf loci was detected. The possible mechanisms of the involvement of polymorphous genetic-biochemical systems into selection processes based on the complex of important economical traits were discussed.


Long-term effects of pelvic floor muscle training with vaginal cone in post-menopausal women with urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial.
The findings are limited about the long-term effects of treatment with vaginal cones in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of vaginal cones and pelvic floor muscle training in post-menopausal women with SUI. This randomized controlled trial included 45 post-menopausal women with SUI. They were randomly allocated in three groups: vaginal cones (VC, n = 15), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT, n = 15), and control group (CG, n = 15). Women in VC and PFMT groups were treated for 6 weeks with twice weekly sessions. Women in VC group carried out the pelvic floor muscle strengthening with vaginal cones. The CG did not receive any treatment during the corresponding time. Women were evaluated before treatment, at the end, 3 and 12 months after treatment completion for primary outcome (urinary leakage) and secondary outcomes (pelvic floor muscle strength, quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, and continuity of training). There was a significant decrease of urinary leakage in the VC and PFMT group comparing values at the end of treatment, 3 and 12 months to baseline values. There were no differences between VC and PFMT group in primary outcome in any evaluations. Treatments with and without vaginal cones can promote positive long-term effects on urinary leakage, pelvic floor muscle strength and quality of life in post-menopausal women with SUI in 6 weeks.


Transsexualism - attitudes in general practice.
Transsexualism was long regarded by the medical profession as a mental disorder. Historically, denial, aversion therapies, hormone 'reinforcement' and even electroconvulsive shock treatments were the lot of those compelled to articulate their overwhelming need to identify as members of the gender opposite that assigned to them at birth. We now know and understand that, just as the gonads, genitals and chromosomes are differentiated as to gender, so too is the brain. While the relationship between brain morphology and 'gender identity' is yet to be finally proven beyond scientific doubt, the extent of empirical and anecdotal evidence supporting it continues to grow such that the factors to be considered when determining the legal gender of a person now include the person's self perception and any biological features of the person's brain that are associated with a particular gender.


Prioritizing the marginalized in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
A recent correspondence pointed out that indigenous people and other ethnic communities should be included in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Indigenous communities carry a unique set of cultural beliefs and traditions that need to be preserved. This paper suggests that, aside from indigenous people, other marginalized sectors should also be included in the vaccine rollout by the government.


Cephalometric standards for Slovenians in the mixed dentition period.
The aim of this study was to develop standard cephalometric values for Slovenians in the period of the mixed dentition. Eighty-eight children were included in the study (46 girls and 42 boys, mean age 9.31 +/- 1.52 years). The selection criteria were: in the mixed dentition, a score of the modified Eismann method for an objective assessment of malocclusion of less than 15 points, the absence of aplasia and supernumerary teeth, no congential anomalies and no previous orthodontic treatment. Twenty-five cephalometric measurements were performed twice to analyse the size and shape of the craniofacial complex. The reliability of the measurements was assessed by correlation coefficients, regression, and analysis of inter-subject differences; satisfactory results were obtained. The differences between boys and girls and between those in the early and late mixed dentition period were tested with a two-way analysis of variance. The most pronounced changes between the early and late mixed dentition were observed in the vertical skeletal relationships: a decrease in mandibular inclination, interbasal angle and gonial angle, and an increase in anterior and posterior face height. Sagittal skeletal relationships remained constant from the early to the late mixed dentition. No significant differences were found between the observed developmental stages. Significant differences between genders were found only for anterior and posterior face height, with boys showing larger values (P </= 0.001). As there were no significant differences between the early and late mixed dentition, the mean measurement values of the total sample can be used as cephalometric standards for Slovenians in the mixed dentition period.


[Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica].
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be multifactorial diseases caused some environmental factor acts on the genetic background. The number of patients with MS has been increasing in the world, especially in young female. The prevalence of MS is more about high latitudes, and there is the same tendency in Japan. On the other hand, there is no difference in the prevalence of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) by race and latitude. The national epidemiological survey in 2012 showed that the patient number of NMO/NMO spectrum disorder is estimated to be about 4,400 people in Japan. There was no obvious regional difference in prevalence of patients.


Generalized Fisher information matrix in nonextensive systems with spatial correlation.
By using the q -Gaussian distribution derived by the maximum entropy method for spatially correlated N -unit nonextensive systems, we have calculated the generalized Fisher information matrix of gthetanthetam for (theta1,theta2,theta3)=(muq,sigmaq2,s) , where muq, sigmaq2, and s denote the mean, variance, and degree of spatial correlation, respectively, for a given entropic index q . It has been shown from the Cramér-Rao theorem that (1) an accuracy of an unbiased estimate of muq is improved (degraded) by a negative (positive) correlation s, (2) that of sigmaq2 is worsen with increasing s, and (3) that of s is much improved for s approximately= -1/(N-1) or s approximately 1.0 though it is worst at s=(N-2)/2(N-1). Our calculation provides a clear insight to the long-standing controversy whether the spatial correlation is beneficial or detrimental to decoding in neuronal ensembles. We discuss also a calculation of the q-Gaussian distribution applying the superstatistics to the Langevin model subjected to spatially correlated inputs.


Introduction of quantitative and qualitative cornea optical coherence tomography findings induced by collagen cross-linking for keratoconus: a novel effect measurement benchmark.
To introduce a novel, noninvasive technique to determine the depth and extent of anterior corneal stroma changes induced by collagen cross-linking (CXL) using quantitative analysis of high-resolution anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) post-operative images. Private clinical ophthalmology practice. Two groups of corneal cross-sectional images obtained with the OptoVue RTVue anterior-segment OCT system were studied: group A (control) consisted of unoperated, healthy corneas, with the exception of possible refractive errors. The second group consisted of keratoconic corneas with CXL that were previously operated on. The two groups were investigated for possible quantitative evidence of changes induced by the CXL, and specifically, the depth, horizontal extent, as well as the cross-sectional area of intrastromal hyper-reflective areas (defined in our study as the area consisting of pixels with luminosity greater than the mean +2 × standard deviation of the entire stromal cross section) within the corneal stroma. In all images of the second group (keratoconus patients treated with CXL) there was evidence of intrastromal hyper-reflective areas. The hyper-reflective areas ranged from 0.2% to 8.8% of the cross-sectional area (mean ± standard deviation; 3.46% ± 1.92%). The extent of the horizontal hyper-reflective area ranged from 4.42% to 99.2% (56.2% ± 23.35%) of the cornea image, while the axial extent (the vertical extent in the image) ranged from 40.00% to 86.67% (70.98% ± 7.85%). There was significant statistical difference (P < 0.02) in these values compared to the control group, in which, by application of the same criteria, the same hyper-reflective area (owing to signal noise) ranged from 0.00% to 2.51% (0.74% ± 0.63%). Herein, we introduce a novel, noninvasive, quantitative technique utilizing anterior segment OCT images to quantitatively assess the depth and cross-sectional area of CXL in the corneal stroma based on digital image analysis. Mean cross-sectional area showing evidence of CXL was 3.46% ± 1.92% of a 6 mm long segment.


Kinetics of Ion-Capturing/Ion-Releasing Processes in Liquid Crystal Devices Utilizing Contaminated Nanoparticles and Alignment Films.
Various types of nanomaterials and alignment layers are considered major components of the next generation of advanced liquid crystal devices. While the steady-state properties of ion-capturing/ion-releasing processes in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles and sandwiched between alignment films are relatively well understood, the kinetics of these phenomena remains practically unexplored. In this paper, the time dependence of ion-capturing/ion-releasing processes in liquid crystal cells utilizing contaminated nanoparticles and alignment layers is analyzed. The ionic contamination of both nanodopants and alignment films governs the switching between ion-capturing and ion-releasing regimes. The time dependence (both monotonous and non-monotonous) of these processes is characterized by time constants originated from the presence of nanoparticles and films, respectively. These time constants depend on the ion adsorption/ion desorption parameters and can be tuned by changing the concentration of nanoparticles, their size, and the cell thickness.


The skin injury induced by high energy dose of ultraviolet in hairless descendants of Mexican hairless dogs.
Histopathological changes in the dorsal skin of hairless descendants of Mexican hairless dogs (MHDs) exposed to artificial irradiation with high energy dose (180 kJ/m2) of ultraviolet (UV) rays (UVA + B) were investigated. Macroscopically, erythema and edema were observed in the irradiated skin at 1 day after irradiation (DAI), and blister formation occurred except one dog at 2 DAI. Erythema almost disappeared at 5 DAI, and at 6 DAI, the skin recovered to almost normal state. Light microscopically, sunburn cells were observed at 1 DAI. Then intercellular edema and blister formation in the epidermis and dermal edema were evident at 2 and 3 DAI. At 6 DAI, the skin showed almost normal features except for slight epidermal thickening, but melanin granules, which were distributed in almost the whole length of the epidermis before UV irradiation, were detected only in cells which seemed to be melanocytes except one dog. Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)-positive melanocytes almost disappeared at 1 and 2 DAI, and at 6 DAI, the number of DOPA-positive melanocytes increased over the level before UV irradiation. The ultrastructural features of melanocytes were characterized by vacuolated cytoplasm, decreased melanosomes, irregular-shaped nuclei and shortened dendrites at 1 DAI, and returned to normal at 6 DAI. These findings of melanocytes reflect the severity of the skin injury and support weak suntan reaction in this case. In conclusion, severe form of UV-induced skin injury seen in humans could be reproduced in hairless descendants of MHDs exposed to high energy dose of artificial UVA + B.


Can a Time Fractional-Derivative Model Capture Scale-Dependent Dispersion in Saturated Soils?
Time nonlocal transport models such as the time fractional advection-dispersion equation (t-fADE) were proposed to capture well-documented non-Fickian dynamics for conservative solutes transport in heterogeneous media, with the underlying assumption that the time nonlocality (which means that the current concentration change is affected by previous concentration load) embedded in the physical models can release the effective dispersion coefficient from scale dependency. This assumption, however, has never been systematically examined using real data. This study fills this historical knowledge gap by capturing non-Fickian transport (likely due to solute retention) documented in the literature (Huang et al. 1995) and observed in our laboratory from small to intermediate spatial scale using the promising, tempered t-fADE model. Fitting exercises show that the effective dispersion coefficient in the t-fADE, although differing subtly from the dispersion coefficient in the standard advection-dispersion equation, increases nonlinearly with the travel distance (varying from 0.5 to 12 m) for both heterogeneous and macroscopically homogeneous sand columns. Further analysis reveals that, while solute retention in relatively immobile zones can be efficiently captured by the time nonlocal parameters in the t-fADE, the motion-independent solute movement in the mobile zone is affected by the spatial evolution of local velocities in the host medium, resulting in a scale-dependent dispersion coefficient. The same result may be found for the other standard time nonlocal transport models that separate solute retention and jumps (i.e., displacement). Therefore, the t-fADE with a constant dispersion coefficient cannot capture scale-dependent dispersion in saturated porous media, challenging the application for stochastic hydrogeology methods in quantifying real-world, preasymptotic transport. Hence improvements on time nonlocal models using, for example, the novel subordination approach are necessary to incorporate the spatial evolution of local velocities without adding cumbersome parameters.


Perception of Preparedness for Clinical Work Among New Residents: A Cross-sectional Study from Oman.
To evaluate new residents' perceptions of their own preparedness for clinical practice and examine the associated factors. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on August 20-23, 2016. New residents accepted for postgraduate training by Oman Medical Specialty Board were asked to complete the Preparation for Hospital Practice Questionnaire (PHPQ). Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. A total of 160 residents were invited to participate in this study. Out of 160, 140 residents participated (87.5%), 70.7% were female and 59.3% were graduates from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Ninety-nine percent of the graduates were either 'well prepared' or 'fairly well prepared' for hospital practice. Male residents scored higher in the confidence scale, while residents who did a post-internship general practice placement scored higher in understanding science. Graduates from Oman Medical College felt more prepared compared to graduates from SQU. Most of the new residents were well prepared to clinical work. Factors such as place of undergraduate study, training, and duration of internship significantly influenced the residents' perception of preparedness. Addressing these factors will enhance residents' preparedness for clinical work.


The Role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Relationship between Food Insecurity and Probability of Maternal Depression.
Food insecurity is a substantial stressor for many households. Though an association between food insecurity and depression has been well established, most studies have been cross-sectional. Although many receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), its role in reducing distress associated with food insecurity is unclear. Using data from 1,225 women who participated in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigated 1) whether change in food security status predicts change in depression severity over a two-year period, 2) whether participating in SNAP predicts depression, and 3) whether the relationship between food insecurity and depression varies based on receipt of SNAP. Food insecurity was linked to probability of depression over time. Additionally, for those who became food insecure over the two-year period, losing SNAP benefits was associated with increased probability of depression, while gaining benefits was associated with reduced probability of depression. This suggests that the SNAP program offsets emotional hardship for those who have recently become food insecure. Further research is needed to evaluate the most efficient and efficacious means to reduce food insecurity and improve emotional wellbeing among vulnerable families.


Focusing National Institutes of Health HIV/AIDS research for maximum population impact.
Progress in advancing research on the pathophysiology, prevention, treatment, and impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is threatened by the decaying purchasing power of National Institutes of Health (NIH) dollars. A working group of the NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council was charged by the NIH Director with developing a focused and concise blueprint to guide the use of limited funding over the next few years. Science priorities outlined by the working group and reported here are intended to maximally address individuals, groups, and settings most affected by the epidemic, and to redress shortcomings in realizing population-level HIV prevention, treatment, and eradication goals. Optimizing these priorities requires that traditional silos--defined by topic focus and by scientific discipline--be dissolved and that structural issues affecting the pipeline of new investigators and the ability of the Office of AIDS Research to fulfill its role of steward of the NIH HIV/AIDS research program be directly addressed.


Cross-reactivity of adrenal steroids with aldosterone may prevent the accurate diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
During the first weeks of life, salt-wasting crisis, hyperkalemia, acidosis, hypoglycemia, and shock are the main findings of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare disease of mineralocorticoid resistance, which is characterized with high aldosterone levels, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia without clinical findings of glucocorticoid deficiency. Patients with PHA1 are often initially diagnosed with CAH; however, it is unusual that a CAH patient is misdiagnosed as PHA1. In this report, we describe two cases with severe salt-losing crisis, hyperkalemia, and mild acidosis, which were initially diagnosed with PHA1, due to the high aldosterone levels along with normal adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels. However, subsequent investigation and genetic analysis led to the diagnosis of CAH with a homozygous I2 splice mutation in both alleles of the CYP21 gene. With this report, we emphasize that high blood levels of adrenal steroid precursors may cross-react with aldosterone and lead to confusing laboratory results that prevent making the accurate differential diagnosis between CAH and PHA1.


Particle-Mediated Histotripsy for the Targeted Treatment of Intraluminal Biofilms in Catheter-Based Medical Devices.
Objective. This paper is an initial work towards developing particle-mediated histotripsy (PMH) as a novel method of treating catheter-based medical device (CBMD) intraluminal biofilms. Impact Statement. CBMDs commonly become infected with bacterial biofilms leading to medical device failure, infection, and adverse patient outcomes. Introduction. Histotripsy is a noninvasive focused ultrasound ablation method that was recently proposed as a novel method to remove intraluminal biofilms. Here, we explore the potential of combining histotripsy with acoustically active particles to develop a PMH approach that can noninvasively remove biofilms without the need for high acoustic pressures or real-time image guidance for targeting. Methods. Histotripsy cavitation thresholds in catheters containing either gas-filled microbubbles (MBs) or fluid-filled nanocones (NCs) were determined. The ability of these particles to sustain cavitation over multiple ultrasound pulses was tested after a series of histotripsy exposures. Next, the ability of PMH to generate selective intraluminal cavitation without generating extraluminal cavitation was tested. Finally, the biofilm ablation and bactericidal capabilities of PMH were tested using both MBs and NCs. Results. PMH significantly reduced the histotripsy cavitation threshold, allowing for selective luminal cavitation for both MBs and NCs. Results further showed PMH successfully removed intraluminal biofilms in Tygon catheters. Finally, results from bactericidal experiments showed minimal reduction in bacteria viability. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for PMH to provide a new modality for removing bacterial biofilms from CBMDs and suggest that additional work is warranted to develop histotripsy and PMH for treatment of CBMD intraluminal biofilms.


Calcium binding and thermostability of carbohydrate binding module CBM4-2 of Xyn10A from Rhodothermus marinus.
Calcium binding to carbohydrate binding module CBM4-2 of xylanase 10A (Xyn10A) from Rhodothermus marinus was explored using calorimetry, NMR, fluorescence, and absorbance spectroscopy. CBM4-2 binds two calcium ions, one with moderate affinity and one with extremely high affinity. The moderate-affinity site has an association constant of (1.3 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) and a binding enthalpy DeltaH(a) of -9.3 +/- 0.4 kJ x mol(-1), while the high-affinity site has an association constant of approximately 10(10) M(-1) and a binding enthalpy DeltaH(a) of -40.5 +/- 0.5 kJ x mol(-1). The locations of the binding sites have been identified by NMR and structural homology, and were verified by site-directed mutagenesis. The high-affinity site consists of the side chains of E11 and D160 and backbone carbonyls of E52 and K55, while the moderate-affinity site comprises the side chain of D29 and backbone carbonyls of L21, A22, V25, and W28. The high-affinity site is in a position analogous to the calcium site in CBM4 structures and in a recent CBM22 structure. Binding of calcium increases the unfolding temperature of the protein (T(m)) by approximately 23 degrees C at pH 7.5. No correlation between binding affinity and T(m) change was noted, as each of the two calcium ions contributes almost equally to the increase in unfolding temperature.


Joint replacement in the lower extremities of the elderly.
Total hip or knee replacement in elderly patients may be advisable to relieve pain, improve joint motion, and increase the overall function. Indications for hip and knee arthroplasty are outlined and possible complications are addressed. Excellent results using both techniques have been reported in the elderly.


Non-Targeted Metabolomics Reveals Sorghum Rhizosphere-Associated Exudates are Influenced by the Belowground Interaction of Substrate and Sorghum Genotype.
Root exudation is an important plant process by which roots release small molecules into the rhizosphere that serve in overall plant functioning. Yet, there is a major gap in our knowledge in translating plant root exudation in artificial systems (i.e., hydroponics, sterile media) to crops, specifically for soils expected in field conditions. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) root exudation was determined using both ultra-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry-based non-targeted metabolomics to evaluate variation in exudate composition of two sorghum genotypes among three substrates (sand, clay, and soil). Above and belowground plant traits were measured to determine the interaction between sorghum genotype and belowground substrate. Plant growth and quantitative exudate composition were found to vary largely by substrate. Two types of changes to rhizosphere metabolites were observed: rhizosphere-enhanced metabolites (REMs) and rhizosphere-abated metabolites (RAMs). More REMs and RAMs were detected in sand and clay substrates compared to the soil substrate. This study demonstrates that belowground substrate influences the root exudate profile in sorghum, and that two sorghum genotypes exuded metabolites at different magnitudes. However, metabolite identification remains a major bottleneck in non-targeted metabolite profiling of the rhizosphere.


IgA endomysium antibodies on human umbilical cord: an excellent diagnostic tool for celiac disease in childhood.
An improvement in screening for celiac disease has recently been described that uses human umbilical cord as a substitute for monkey esophagus to determine IgA endomysium antibodies in adults. As using monkey esophagus is ethically questionable for large-scale screening, we studied whether substitution of umbilical cord would be suitable for pediatric patients as well. Serum from 53 children with untreated celiac disease, 22 in remission and 13 on challenge, were screened for antigliadin IgA, antigliadin IgG, and IgA reticulin antibodies, in addition to IgA endomysium antibodies tested both on monkey esophagus and on human umbilical cord. Controls included 20 patients with cow-milk-sensitive enteropathy, 23 with inflammatory bowel disease, and 23 with diabetes mellitus, and 48 patients who were biopsied to exclude celiac disease either because of positive gliadin antibody test or disturbed growth. Sensitivity (0.94) and specificity (1.0) were similar for umbilical cord and esophageal determinations in active celiac disease. Both substrates detected identical positive cases and neither gave false-positive results. In celiac patients on a gluten-free diet, endomysium antibodies with either substrate were positive in seven identical cases and negative in 15 of 22 cases. Correlations with reticulin antibodies were comparable with human umbilical cord and monkey esophagus (0.83 and 0.85, respectively; Spearman Correlation Section Pair-Wise deletion). Human umbilical cord is an excellent substitute for monkey esophagus to determine endomysium antibodies in celiac diagnosis in children and adolescents.


Effects of spectral modulation filtering on vowel identification.
The goal of this study was to measure the effects of global spectral manipulations on vowel identification by progressively high-pass filtering vowel stimuli in the spectral modulation domain. Twelve American-English vowels, naturally spoken by a female talker, were subjected to varied degrees of high-pass filtering in the spectral modulation domain, with cutoff frequencies of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 cycles/octave. Identification performance for vowels presented at 70 dB sound pressure level with and without spectral modulation filtering was measured for five normal-hearing listeners. Results indicated that vowel identification performance was progressively degraded as the spectral modulation cutoff frequency increased. Degradation of vowel identification was greater for back vowels than for front or central vowels. Detailed acoustic analyses indicated that spectral modulation filtering resulted in a more crowded vowel space (F1xF2), reduced spectral contrast, and reduced spectral tilt relative to the original unfiltered vowels. Changes in the global spectral features produced by spectral modulation filtering were associated with substantial reduction in vowel identification. The results indicated that the spectral cues critical for vowel identification were represented by spectral modulation frequencies below 2 cycles/octave. These results are considered in terms of the interactions among spectral shape perception, spectral smearing, and speech perception.


Intrafollicular pressure of colloid thyroid gland determinate the type of folliculogenesis.
The problem of colloid pressure of influence on the thyroid gland folliculogenesis is not clear enough in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of folliculogenesis in the thyroid gland under the influence of salts of heavy metals combinations on the organism. The research was conducted on 24 white adult rats. To study the dynamics of morphological changes animals were removed from experiments on 30 and 60 days. Based on the theory of thin shells and the results of morphometric study of both groups of adult rats, which were influenced by a combination of heavy metal salts, the mathematical model to determine the level of tension in the wall of follicles was deduced. As a result of the influence of combinations of heavy metal salts on the follicular apparatus thyroid hypoactivity developed, which manifested in accumulating colloid and changing its tinctorial, physical and chemical properties, reducing the height of follicular epithelium, follicles increase in diameter, which also reflected the increasing tension in the wall of the follicle. Thus, the results allow to conclude that there is a significant role of intrafollicular colloidal pressure on the process of folliculogenesis. It is determined that in the wall of the elliptic form follicle higher tension arises in longitudinal section of the ellipse, and in cross-section the tension decreases. Analyzing the research results, we can assume that the difference between peripheral and central folliculogenesis occurs because of different amounts of intrafollicular pressure, which again are derived from different functional activity of the follicular epithelium.


Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease in HLA-identical non-twin siblings.
Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (AGBM) is an autoinmune disorder characterized by the presence of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies, alveolar hemorrhage, necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and linear deposition of immunoglobulins through direct inmunofluorescence. Genetic predisposition, among other factors, plays an important role in the development of the disease. Previous studies have shown that HLA-DR15 and HLA-DR4 increase the risk of presenting it, while HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR7 protect against its development. We describe the first case of two non-twin siblings with AGBM and identical HLA, with HLA-DR4 as risk factor and HLA-DR7 as protection factor. We propose the importance of analyzing HLA in siblings of patients with AGBM, to determine the degree of genetic susceptibility and to carry out a close follow-up on them, with the aim of achieving an early diagnosis and treatment in case of presenting the disease.


[E2F1 upregulates endogenous XRCC1 expression].
To investigate the regulatory effect and significance of transcription factor E2F1 on X-ray repair cross2 complementing 1 (XRCC1). Saos2 cells were transfected with the E2F1 expression vectors (tet-E2F1) and mutated E2F1 expression vectors (tet-132E). XRCC1 promotor luciferase reporter vector was constructed and transfected into Saos2 cells together with E2F1, E2F2, E2F3 and E2F4 expression vectors at different amount. The cells were collected 36 hours post-transfection for luciferase assays and absorbance was read at 570 nm. Cotransfection of increasing amounts of E2F1 expression vector with the XRCC1 promoter-luciferase reporter caused a dose-dependent increase in luciferase activation. In contrast, DNA binding incompetent E2F1 (132E) could not activate the XRCC1 promoter-luciferase reporter. E2F1 could upregulate endogenous XRCC1 expression and stimulate the XRCC1 promoter.


[Comparative analysis methods of haze distinction over Yangtze River Delta Region ].
It is crucial to compare the difference and applicability of different haze discrimination methods and its criteria in haze study. Due to the requirement of methods and limitation of data, 4 common methods in two views of regional and temporal in one site are analyzed and studied. Based on the meteorological data from 38 observatories from 1980-2009, haze-day and haze-hour number are both counted for each station, employing Method 1 and 2 (with daily mean observation) and Method 3 (with 14:00 observation). The characteristics and applicability of these three methods are also compared and summarized. Statistical results via these methods are all capable to represent the long-term trend of haze, but haze-day numbers counted via these methods show differences, which become less remarkable with decadal changes. Haze days are the most by using Method 1. Method 3 considering the weather phenomenon is more reasonable than Method 1 and 2. According to the data of visibility, relative humidity and PM2.5 concentration in northern Nanjing from May, 2012 to April, 2013, employing 4 haze discrimination methods including the additional one (QX/T 113-2010, i. e. Method 4) , haze-day and haze-hour numbers are counted and compared. The result shows that: the haze-day number obtained employing Method 3 is less than others, while the haze-day number obtained employing Method 4 is between those with Method 1 and 3; using all Methods but Method 3 can distinguish the severity of haze significantly.


USP22 Induces Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma by Regulating γH2AX-Mediated DNA Damage Repair and Ku70/Bax-Mediated Apoptosis.
Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy is one of the most important reasons for treatment failure in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but the underlying mechanism is extremely complex and unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) with acquired resistance to cisplatin in lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, we found that overexpression of USP22 could lead to cisplatin resistance in A549 cells. USP22 and its downstream proteins γH2AX and Sirt1 levels are upregulated in the cisplatin- resistant A549/CDDP cell line. USP22 enhances DNA damage repair and induce cisplatin resistance by promoting the phosphorylation of histone H2AX via deubiquitinating histone H2A. In addition, USP22 decreases the acetylation of Ku70 by stabilizing Sirt1, thus inhibiting Bax-mediated apoptosis and inducing cisplatin resistance. The cisplatin sensitivity in cisplatin-resistant A549/CDDP cells was restored by USP22 inhibition in vivo and vitro. In summary, our findings reveal the dual mechanism of USP22 involvement in cisplatin resistance that USP22 can regulate γH2AX-mediated DNA damage repair and Ku70/Bax-mediated apoptosis. USP22 is a potential target in cisplatin-resistant lung adenocarcinoma and should be considered in future therapeutic practice.


Comparative ab initio studies on the molecular structure and spectroscopic properties of FeF2: Single reference versus multireference methods.
The electronic excitation energies, molecular geometry, quadratic force fields, and vibrational frequencies in the ground (5)Delta(g) and low-lying excited (5)Sigma(g) (+) and (5)Pi(g) electronic states of iron difluoride are studied at sophisticated levels of theory. Two families of basis sets, nonrelativistic and Douglas-Kroll-Hess relativistic, are used that range in quality from triple-zeta to quintuple-zeta. These are augmented by additional diffuse functions (on fluorine atoms) and tight functions (on all atoms) for the description of core-valence correlation and utilized to determine complete basis set molecular properties. The quality of electron correlation treatment using conventional single reference coupled cluster methods CCSD and CCSD(T) is compared to that attained at the multiconfigurational quasidegenerate second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF+MCQDPT2) and the electron attachment equation-of-motion coupled cluster (EOMEA-CCSD) levels. Spin-orbit coupling effects are studied by the SO-MCQDPT2 method using the full Breit-Pauli spin-orbit operator. Effects of spin contamination in the coupled cluster molecular calculations are carefully analyzed. Results of the single reference CCSD(T) and multireference calculations are found to be in a remarkable agreement. The calculations indicate that the EOMEA-CC approach provides a suitable tool for an accurate treatment of FeF(2) and other systems where delicate electron correlation effects have to be carefully dealt with. The inclusion of relativistic effects is shown to be necessary for an accurate description of the molecular geometry and excitation energies of FeF(2). The results of calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data available. The predicted FeF(2) molecular properties are compared to those of the related FeF(3).


Reduction in World Health Organization Risk Drinking Levels and Cardiovascular Disease.
Reductions in World Health Organization (WHO) risk drinking levels have recently been shown to lower the risk of multiple adverse health outcomes, but prior work has not examined reductions in WHO risk drinking levels in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and of global mortality. This study examined associations between reductions in WHO risk drinking levels and subsequent risk for CVD. In a US national survey, 1,058 very-high-risk and high-risk drinkers participated in Wave 1 interviews (2001 to 2002) and Wave 2 follow-ups (2004 to 2005). Self-reported CVD history that was communicated to the participant by a doctor or other healthcare professionals included arteriosclerosis, hypertension, angina, tachycardia, or myocardial infarction. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) evaluating relationships between ≥2-level reductions in WHO risk drinking levels from Wave 1 to Wave 2 and the risk of Wave 2 CVD, controlling for baseline characteristics. Reductions of ≥2 WHO risk drinking levels were associated with significantly lower odds of CVD in individuals who at Wave 1 were very-high-risk (aOR = 0.58 [0.41 to 0.80]) or high-risk drinkers (aOR = 0.81 [0.70 to 0.94]). Interaction terms showed that this relationship varied by age. Among individuals >40 years old at Wave 1, reductions of ≥2 WHO risk drinking levels were associated with significantly lower odds of CVD among very-high-risk drinkers (aOR = 0.42 [0.28 to 0.63]) but not high-risk drinkers (p = 0.50). Among individuals ≤40 years old at Wave 1, reductions of ≥2 WHO risk drinking levels were associated with significantly lower odds of CVD among high-risk drinkers (aOR = 0.50 [0.37 to 0.69]) but not very-high-risk drinkers (p = 0.27). These results show that reductions in WHO risk drinking levels are associated with reduced CVD risk among very-high-risk and high-risk drinkers in the US general population, and provide further evidence that reducing high levels of drinking provides important benefit across multiple clinical domains.


Studies on the time-dependent activation of microsomal semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase.
The semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) from bovine lung microsomes was activated in a temperature- and time-dependent process. This behaviour was observed when the enzyme was preincubated at 25 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 50 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. This activation was only observed when benzylamine was used as substrate but not when methylamine, histamine or 2-phenylethylamine were used. The activation was independent of pH, ionic strength and the nature of the buffer used. At 37 degrees C the specific activity had risen to a value that was about 7 times higher than that of the starting material after 120 min. This process affected only the maximum velocity of the reaction with the Km value remaining essentially unchanged. Treatment of SSAO with phospholipases and detergents did not affect this behaviour. Incubation of the enzyme with serine proteases, metal chelating agents, reducing agents or protease inhibitors, had no effect on the activation. The fact that both forms of the enzyme (activated and non-activated), showed the same Mr values on gel filtration chromatography excluded the possibility of an enzyme aggregation and/or degradation being involved in this process.


Adoption of Secure Messaging in a Patient Portal across Pediatric Specialties.
Few studies have explored adoption of patient portals for pediatric patients outside primary care or disease-specific applications. We examined use of patient-provider messaging in a patient portal across pediatric specialties during the three years after implementation of pediatric portal accounts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We determined the number of patient-initiated message threads and clinic visits for pediatric specialties and percentage of these outpatient interactions (i.e., message threads + clinic visits) done through messaging. Generalized estimating equations measured the likelihood of message-based interaction. During the study period, pediatric families initiated 33,503 messages and participated in 318,386 clinic visits. The number of messages sent (and messaging percentage of outpatient interaction) increased each year from 2,860 (2.7%) to 18,772 (17%). Primary care received 4,368 messages (3.4% of outpatient interactions); pediatric subspecialties, 29,135 (13.0%). Rapid growth in messaging volume over time was seen in primary care and most pediatric specialties (OR>1.0; p<0.05).


Inhibition effect of phytoestrogen calycosin on TGF-β1-induced hepatic stellate cell activation, proliferation, and migration via estrogen receptor β.
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of calycosin on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) function and to explore whether the drug exerts its effect through the estrogen receptor. HSC proliferation and migration were measured by MTT assay and transwell chamber assay, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA, COL-I, and ERβ were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The co-localization and expression of α-SMA and ERβ protein were detected by immunofluorescence. All the studies were investigated in the absence or presence of ICI 182,780. The results showed that calycosin inhibited the proliferation of activated HSCs and remarkably inhibited HSC migration. Calycosin significantly reduced the expression of α-SMA and COL-I in activated HSCs. However, with co-treatment with ICI 182,780, the inhibitory effect of calycosin against the above effects was strongly negated. Importantly, calycosin significantly downregulated the expression of ERβ protein, while co-treatment with ICI 182,780 partially reversed the ERβ downregulation. In addition, α-SMA decreased with the decrease of ERβ expression and the subtype of ERβ on HSC is ERβ5. In conclusion, calycosin inhibits proliferation, activation, and migration of TGF-β1-induced HSCs. The effect may be related to binding and downregulation of ERβ5.


[The psychoanalytic movement during the years of the war (1939-1941) according to the archives of the I.P.A].
This is an overview of the activities and developments within the twelve component Societies of the International Psychoanalytic Association from the outbreak of the Second World War to its end in 1945. The author describes how the war had deeply affected the activities of the societies within Europe, as compared with other parts of the world. He notes how in the United States of America psychoanalysis was in a comparatively bouyant state, to some extent owing to migration of psychoanalysts from Europe, whilst in South America and Australia new societies were formed. In view of the scarcity of material to be found in the Archives of the I.P.A., the author has made full use of relevant literature whenever it was concerned with contemporary world affairs, and the manner in which the war situation affected individuals and groups in various countries.


Physiological effects of exercise in the diabetic.
Physical therapists frequently assess and treat patients with diabetes mellitus. Because exercise is often a component of the prescribed program, the physical therapist should have some understanding of the possible responses a diabetic may have to exercise. Diabetics can benefit from exercise and training, but exercise can have deleterious effects in some instances. This paper provides a review of the literature on the physiological effects of exercise and training in the diabetic. Effects of exercise and training on the cardiovascular and muscular systems are reviewed, and the role of insulin in regulating the production, mobilization, and utilization of energy substrates during exercise is examined. Additionally, this paper provides suggestions on the clinical relevance of the physiological findings in planning exercise programs and education for the diabetic patient.


Formation of nanocrystalline barium titanate in benzyl alcohol at room temperature.
Nanocrystalline barium titanate (8-10 nm crystallite size) was prepared at temperatures of 23-78 °C through reaction of a modified titanium alkoxide precursor in benzyl alcohol with barium hydroxide octahydrate. The room temperature formation of a perovskite phase from solution is associated with the use of benzyl alcohol as solvent medium. The formation mechanism was elucidated by studying the stability and interaction of each precursor with the solvent and with each other using various experimental characterization techniques. Density functional theory (DFT) computational models which agreed well with our experimental data could explain the formation of the solid phase. The stability of the Ti precursor was enhanced by steric hindrance exerted by phenylmethoxy ligands that originated from the benzyl alcohol solvent. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that the crystallite sizes were independent of the reaction temperature. Crystal growth was inhibited by the stabilizing phenylmethoxy groups present on the surface of the crystallites.


Comprehensive Review of the Elbow Physical Examination.
Physical examination of the elbow is a critical component in formulating an accurate diagnosis. Various special physical examinations have been described to improve the clinician's ability to establish an accurate diagnosis. A comprehensive approach to the physical examination of the elbow, including special tests, may facilitate improved diagnosis of elbow pathology.


TKA after clamshell osteotomy for femoral diaphyseal malunion.
Proper component positioning is essential for successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Femoral component positioning presents a technical challenge when significant femoral deformity is present. Most commonly, an intramedullary guide is used to make an accurate distal femoral cut. However, in the presence of a significant femoral deformity, this is not a viable option.The use of clamshell osteotomy to restore anatomic alignment in patients with complex femoral diaphyseal deformity is described in the literature. This article describes a case of a patient who underwent staged TKA after clamshell osteotomy and retrograde femoral nailing to correct femoral diaphyseal malunion. The retrograde intramedullary nail was retained and used as an intramedullary guide, allowing for TKA in a routine manner. Using an intramedullary nail as an alignment guide may be more accurate than using extramedullary alignment and may avoid the increased surgical time and potential pin-site stress risers of navigation. It is a simple, effective way to treat complicated diaphyseal femoral deformities in the face of posttraumatic knee arthritis. Further study of this technique with longer follow-up and multiple surgeons is necessary to validate this treatment algorithm.


The bacterial causation of postoperative osteitis pubis.
Five patients with a bacterial causation of postoperative osteitis pubis were treated during a three year period. In each patient, the bacterial cause was suggested by a known infectious process adjacent of the symphysis pubis. It is suggested that a bacterial causation be considered for the clinical and roentgenographic syndrome of osteitis pubis if a contigous infectious process is present.


Dietary intake of rapeseed oil as the sole fat nutrient in Wistar rats--lack of increase in plasma lipids and renal lesions.
Dietary rapeseed (canola) oil (CO) given as the only fat nutrient shortens life in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), compared with SHRSP given soybean oil (SO) instead of CO. CO ingestion increases plasma lipids and causes renal lesions in SHRSP and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and increases plasma lipids also in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, a normotensive counterpart of SHR. This study examined whether or not such unfavorable effects of CO are restricted to these closely related strains. For this purpose Wistar rats, the strain from which these strains were derived, were fed a diet containing 10% CO or SO as the sole fat nutrient for 10 weeks, and changes in clinical signs, urinalysis, blood biochemistry and pathology were compared. CO ingestion did not induce any abnormalities in Wistar rats, except significant increases in plasma concentrations of aldosterone and Na(+), compared with the SO group. Thus, the unfavorable effects of CO ingestion appear to be restricted to SHRSP and its closely related strains. The role of increased aldosterone and Na(+ )in the unfavorable events caused by CO in SHRSP, SHR and WKY rats, and any factors which could induce such increases in aldosterone and Na(+), remain to be elucidated.


The abstraction of numerical relations: a role for the right hemisphere in arithmetic?
Arithmetical reasoning ability has been investigated in a group study of patients with unilateral cerebral lesions. Two series of 38 and 39 patients, who had suffered unilateral cerebral lesions of the right and left cerebral hemisphere, respectively, were investigated. They completed a neuropsychological battery that included a test of computation (Graded Difficulty Arithmetic, GDA; Jackson & Warrington, 1986), and a new test of numerical series completion (Arithmetical Reasoning Test, ART). Whereas the left-hemisphere lesion group were markedly more impaired on the GDA compared to both the right-hemisphere lesion group and a standardization sample, both lesion groups were equally severely impaired on the ART. It is suggested that the abstraction of numerical relations, which is essential to numerical series completion, relies on the integrity of the right hemisphere. A global model of arithmetic processing that incorporates these findings is proposed.


High-efficiency InGaN-based LEDs grown on patterned sapphire substrates.
GaN films grown on PSS are investigated by XRD, CL, SEM and TEM. There are low threading dislocations (TDs) with larger fill factor, which results in better electrostatic discharge (ESD) yield of LEDs. The effect of growth rate on dislocations in GaN films grown on PSS is investigated by TEM. It is found that dislocations density decreases as the growth rates decrease. And the performance of InGaN-based LEDs on different PSS is analyzed. The performance of LEDs grown on different PSS is determined by slanted angle and fill factor simultaneously.


SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MEDICINE.
This report calls attention to several recent articles and publications which deal with the financing and organization of medical care in the United States. They contain discussions of issues and problems with which all physicians should be aware. The California Medical Association, through its committees and commissions, has been actively engaged for some time in studying many of the problems to which the authors of the various articles refer. Among these committees are the Bureau of Research and Planning which has conducted several studies for use by the Association and its members. Another is the newly created Committee to Study the Role of Medicine in Society of the California Medical Education and Research Foundation.


Nanoporous Polymer Films with a High Cation Transference Number Stabilize Lithium Metal Anodes in Light-Weight Batteries for Electrified Transportation.
To suppress dendrite formation in lithium metal batteries, high cation transference number electrolytes that reduce electrode polarization are highly desirable, but rarely available using conventional liquid electrolytes. Here, we show that liquid electrolytes increase their cation transference numbers (e.g., ∼0.2 to >0.70) when confined to a structurally rigid polymer host whose pores are on a similar length scale (0.5-2 nm) as the Debye screening length in the electrolyte, which results in a diffuse electrolyte double layer at the polymer-electrolyte interface that retains counterions and reject co-ions from the electrolyte due to their larger size. Lithium anodes coated with ∼1 μm thick overlayers of the polymer host exhibit both a low area-specific resistance and clear dendrite-suppressing character, as evident from their performance in Li-Li and Li-Cu cells as well as in post-mortem analysis of the anode's morphology after cycling. High areal capacity Li-S cells (4.9 mg cm-2; 8.2 mAh cm-2) implementing these high transference number polymer-hosted liquid electrolytes were remarkably stable, considering ∼24 μm of lithium was electroreversibly deposited in each cycle at a C-rate of 0.2. We further identified a scalable manufacturing path for these polymer-coated lithium electrodes, which are drop-in components for lithium metal battery manufacturing.


Haematological complications in polycythaemia vera and thrombocythaemia patients treated with radiophosphorus (32P).
We have evaluated 230 patients with myeloproliferative disorders treated in the last 15 years with 32P. None of the patients affected by essential thrombocythaemia developed haematological complications. In the larger group of polycythaemia patients (214 subjects) only 38 patients (17 males and 21 females) developed complications. 60.5% of these subjects had a minor complications: 1.8% showed a thrombocytopenia lower than 100.10e9/lt, 2.3% anaemia with Hb lower than 10 g%, 2.6% leukopenia lower than 40.10e9/lt and 2.3% a pancytopenia. All these complications were transient and eventually treated with limited blood transfusions. We could not identify a correlation between the dose used and the development of such complications. We noted only that the occurrence of anaemia, given a similar dose, was more frequent in females. Only 7% of all patients presented a major complication after 32P administration. In this case too, there was no correlation with the dose administered. Myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukaemia resulted to be the more frequent complication (9 out of 15) but we could not clarify if they represented a natural evolution of polycythaemia vera or were due to the treatment with 32P. Acute leukaemia developed only in 5 patients and again we could not recognized a correlation with the dose administered. Moreover, the time from the diagnosis of polycythaemia vera the onset of acute leukaemia ranged widely. 32P has a definite effect on the prevention of thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications in polycythaemia patients since it prolongs their life but it also increases the incidence of acute leukaemia.


The discovery of transcriptional modules by a two-stage matrix decomposition approach.
We address the problem of identifying gene transcriptional modules from gene expression data by proposing a new approach. Genes mostly interact with each other to form transcriptional modules for context-specific cellular activities or functions. Unraveling such transcriptional modules is important for understanding biological network, deciphering regulatory mechanisms and identifying biomarkers. The proposed algorithm is based on two-stage matrix decomposition. We first model microarray data as non-linear mixtures and adopt the non-linear independent component analysis to reduce the non-linear distortion and separate the data into independent latent components. We then apply the probabilistic sparse matrix decomposition approach to model the 'hidden' expression profiles of genes across the independent latent components as linear weighted combinations of a small number of transcriptional regulator profiles. Finally, we propose a general scheme for identifying gene modules from the outcomes of the matrix decomposition. The proposed algorithm partitions genes into non-mutually exclusive transcriptional modules, independent from expression profile similarity measurement. The modules contain genes with not only similar but different expression patterns, and show the highest enrichment of biological functions in comparison with those by other methods. The usefulness of the algorithm was validated by a yeast microarray data analysis. The software is available upon request to the authors.


Type-specific persistence and clearance rates of HPV genotypes in the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa in an HIV/AIDS cohort.
Oral high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections are frequent and persistent among the HIV-positive population and are associated with an increased risk for head and neck cancer (HNC). In this study, we sought to determine the incidence, persistence and clearance of HPV infections in oral and oropharyngeal samples from HIV/AIDS subjects. A longitudinal, observational and analytical study was performed with an ongoing cohort of HIV/AIDS subjects in Mexico City (September 2013-February 2015). The study was approved by institutional committees, and demographic and clinical data were registered. At the baseline and three-month visits, oral examinations and cytobrush samples were obtained. DNA was purified, quantified and used to detect an HPV-L1 gene fragment by nested PCR, using MY09/MY11 and GP5 + /GP6 + primers. HPV DNA products were purified, sequenced and typed according to HPV databases. Risk factors were assessed, and a multivariate modelling approach was used to determine independent effects. This study included 97 HIV/AIDS individuals (91% men [86.4% of which are men who have sex with men], median age: 36 years, 72.2% under HAART). From the baseline visit, HPV was observed in 55.7% (HR-HPV: 26.8%; HPV-18: 24.1%), with a higher HPV-positive samples for smokers (61.1 vs 32.6%, P = .005). The three-month overall HPV incidence was 33.9%; type-specific HPV persistence was 33.3% (HR-HPV: 13.3%); and 13 of the 33 (39.4%) baseline HPV-positive individuals cleared the infection (HR-HPV: 53.8%). Although HR-HPV persistence was low, and clearance of the infection was observed in most cases, a close follow-up is necessary, given the increase in HNC among HIV-subjects, particularly HPV-related cancer.


Evolution of the Canterbury Dedicated Education Unit model.
The Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model of clinical teaching and learning represents a substantial shift in philosophy from the previous preceptorship model in undergraduate nursing education in Canterbury, New Zealand. This research aims to identify the factors underpinning the evolution of the Canterbury DEU model. It utilised a qualitative case study design with inductive and deductive thematic analysis of archival documents and three key informant interviews. Analysis identified centrality of relationships and a progressive culture shift as integral to the development of the Canterbury DEU. The relationships vital to the success of the DEU model are evidenced at varying organisational levels between the health care and education provider and have been essential to the substantive growth of the DEU model in Canterbury, from an initial five pilot sites in 2007 to 47 DEUs in 2017.


Analysis of hydrodilatation as part of a combined service for stiff shoulder.
Adhesive capsulitis is a common cause of stiff shoulder and may result in pain and restriction of movement. The study aimed to investigate the role of hydrodilatation of the glenohumeral joint in the management of adhesive capsulitis. Patients referred from the shoulder clinic underwent hydrodilatation under ultrasound guidance. Of 209 referred for hydrodilatation, 163 underwent the procedure and attended follow-up physiotherapy. Outcome measures were available for 118 patients (58 men and 60 women). Mean age of the study group was 52.6 years. There was a statistically significant improvement in both Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and Disability Arm Shoulder Hand Scores (Quick DASH) in the first 4 weeks after the procedure, which was maintained but not improved to the end of the study period. Patients presenting with pain, those who had a history of steroid injections and older patients all had worse functional scores at presentation. Diabetes (both Type I and II), previous physiotherapy, length of history and whether pain or stiffness, or both, were the predominant symptom did not have any statistical significance at presentation. These factors were not predictors of any statistically significant improvement in functional scores. Hydrodilatation results in a significant improvement of symptoms in patients with adhesive capsulitis.


Mumps: current outbreaks and vaccination recommendations.
Mumps is a moderately infectious disease caused by a virus of the paramyxovirus group. The infection is spread by airborne droplets and possibly also by urine. The first symptoms occur after an incubation period of 15-24 days (median 19 days) (Richardson et al, 2001). After a prodromal (warning signs) period of several days with non-specific flu-like symptoms of headache and fever, the classic swelling of the parotid glands (salivary glands) develops. The swelling may be unilateral or, in 90 per cent of cases, bilateral. It is accompanied by abdominal pain and headache and usually resolves in 7-10 days. However, there may be other symptoms of mumps without parotid swelling. Almost one-third of mumps infections are subclinical or mild, with non-specific symptoms, and are never diagnosed as mumps (Gupta et al, 2005).


Arginine transport is impaired in C57Bl/6 mouse macrophages as a result of a deletion in the promoter of Slc7a2 (CAT2), and susceptibility to Leishmania infection is reduced.
Host genetic factors play a crucial role in immune response. To determine whether the differences between C57Bl/6 and BALB-C mice are due only to the production of cytokines by T-helper 1 cells or T-helper 2 cells, we obtained bone marrow-derived macrophages from both strains and incubated them with these cytokines. Although the induction of Nos2 and Arg1 was similar in the 2 strains, infectivity to Leishmania major differed, as did macrophage uptake of arginine, which was higher in BALB-C macrophages. The levels of interferon γ- and interleukin 4-dependent induction of the cationic amino acid transporter SLC7A2 (also known as "cationic amino acid transporter 2," or "CAT2") were decreased in macrophages from C57Bl/6 mice. This reduction was a result of a deletion in the promoter of one of the 4 AGGG repeats. These results demonstrate that the availability of arginine controls critical aspects of macrophage activation and reveal a factor for susceptibility to Leishmania infection.


Machine-Learning Prediction of Drug-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia: Analysis of Gene Expression and Clustering.
A marked delay in the electrical repolarization of heart ventricles is characterized by prolongation of the Q-T wave (QT) interval on a surface electrocardiogram. Such a delay can lead to potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia (torsades de pointes). Such prolongation is also a widely accepted cardiac safety biomarker in drug development. Current preclinical drug-safety assays include patch clamp analysis to evaluate drug-related blockade of cardiac repolarizing ion currents. Recently reported patch clamp assay results have shown predictive sensitivities and specificities in the ranges of 64%-82% and 75%-88%, respectively. In this project, we use a support vector machine classifier to find mean sensitivities and specificities of 85% and 90%, respectively, across 77 drug subclassifications. Clustering by gene expression profile similarities shows that drugs known to prolong the QT interval do not always form distinct groups, but the number of groups is limited. The most common biological network links associated with these groups involve genes linked with fatty acid metabolism, G proteins, intracellular glutathione, immune responses, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, electron transport, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. These results suggest that machine-learning analysis of gene expression and clustering may augment cardiac safety predictions for improving drug-safety assessments.


Can nurses help improve self-care of patients living with atrial fibrillation? A focus group study exploring patients' disease knowledge gaps.
To identify knowledge gaps and preferences for educational material to improve nurse-patient communication and self-care. Using a mixed-methods design, we conducted focus groups and quantitative surveys. We conducted three focus groups with atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and support persons (N = 17 participants; 66 ± 16 years) at critical treatment junctures (recent diagnosis or medication switch). Patients and support persons were also surveyed on patient activation (self-management skills and knowledge), medication adherence, AF knowledge and health literacy. Iterative thematic analysis was performed using focus group transcripts. Although most participants had adequate health literacy, most reported gaps in AF knowledge. Participants lacked disease-related knowledge and were unsure how to manage health behaviours (e.g. diet and exercise). Few felt they received adequate education from their healthcare provider. Results emphasize the need for consistent information from nursing staff, in lay language, via both electronic and printed means.


Marked Thrombocytosis in Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Analysis of Cytokine Mechanism.
A 47-year-old woman with marked thrombocytosis of 1,650 × 10(9)/L was diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) based on imaging of the lung and abundant eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Known gene abnormalities that cause eosinophilia were not detected in bone marrow cells. Treatment with oral prednisolone at 20 mg/day relieved the CEP and resolved the laboratory abnormalities, including eosinophilia and thrombocytosis. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-6 were elevated to 9.6 and 14.0 pg/mL, respectively. The megakaryocyte-potentiating activity of IL-6 and possibly, that of IL-1β, which is known to be secreted by activated eosinophils, may have caused the marked thrombocytosis in this patient.