In-situ and airborne hyperspectral data for detecting agricultural activities in a dense forest landscape.
Maintaining rich biodiversity and being a habitat and resource for humans, tropical forests are one of the most important global biomes. These forest ecosystems have been experiencing a host of unregulated anthropogenic activities including illegal tourism, and shifting cultivation. The presence of human-habitats in the restricted zones of forest ecosystems is a direct indicator of the human activities that may accelerate deterioration of forest quality by area and tree species composition. Remote sensing data have been extensively used for mapping forest types, and biophysical characterization at various spatial scales. Several remote sensing datasets from multispectral, hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors are available for developing and validating a host of methodologies for remote sensing application in forestry. However, quantifying the quality of forest stands and detecting potential threats from the sporadic and small-scale human activities requires sub-pixel level remote sensing data analysis methods such as, spectral mixture modelling. Generally, most of the studies employ pixel-level supervised learning-based analysis techniques to detect infrastructure and settlements. However, if the settlements are smaller than the ground sampling distance and are under the canopy, pixel-based techniques are not suitable. Reinvigorated with progressive availability of hyperspectral imagery, spectral mixture modelling based sub-pixel image analysis is gaining prominence in the contemporary remote sensing application development. However, there is a paucity of high-resolution hyperspectral imagery and associated ground truth spectral measurements for assessing various methodological approaches on studies related to anthropogenic activities and forest disturbance. Most of the studies have relied upon simulating and synthesising the hyperspectral imagery and its associated ground truth spectra for implementation of methods and algorithms. This article presents a distinct dataset of high-resolution hyperspectral imagery and associated ground truth spectra of various vegetable crops acquired over a tropical forest ecosystem. The dataset is valuable for research on developing new discrimination models of forest and cultivated vegetation, classification methods, spectral matching analysis techniques, and sub-pixel target detection methods.


A telemedicine program for diabetic retinopathy in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center--the Joslin Vision Network Eye Health Care Model.
To extend access to diabetic eye care and characterize the extent of diabetic retinopathy {DR) and other ocular findings using the Joslin Vision Network (JVN). Retrospective observational cohort study. Outpatients at the Togus VA Medical Center with diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, or impaired glucose tolerance underwent JVN protocol imaging. Images were transmitted to the Joslin Diabetes Center for grading and recommended treatment plan. The study included 1,219 patients (2,437 eyes); 1,536 eyes (63.0%) had no (DR), 389 (16.0%) had mild nonproliferative DR (NPDR), 105 (4.3%) moderate NPDR, 35 (1.4%) severe NPDR, 20 (0.8%) very severe NPDR, and 21 (0.9%) had proliferative DR (PDR). Regarding diabetic macular edema (DME), 1,907 eyes (78.3%) had no DME, 34 (1.4%) had early DME, and 16 (0.7%) had clinically significant macular edema (CSME). Of all patients, 354 (29.0%) had either no DR or mild NPDR in both eyes, no evidence of DME, and no significant nondiabetic findings; 679 (55.7%) had no DR in either eye, and 229 (18.8%) had mild NPDR in the more severe eye. Of the 908 patients (74.5%) with either no DR or mild NPDR in the more severe eye, 533 (58.7%) had at least one nondiabetic ocular finding necessitating referral. Finally, 320 eyes (13.1%) were ungradable for both DR and DME and 160 (6.6%) were ungradable for DME alone. In a non-ophthalmic setting, JVN identifies the severity of DR and nondiabetic ocular conditions, permitting appropriate triage for eye care.


Toward Optimizing cVEMP: 2,000-Hz Tone Bursts Improve the Detection of Superior Canal Dehiscence.
The cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test measures saccular and inferior vestibular nerve function. The cVEMP can be elicited with different frequency stimuli and interpreted using a variety of metrics. Patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SCD) syndrome generally have lower cVEMP thresholds and larger amplitudes, although there is overlap with healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate which metric and frequency best differentiate healthy ears from SCD ears using cVEMP. Twenty-one patients with SCD and 23 age-matched controls were prospectively included and underwent cVEMP testing at 500, 750, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz. Sound level functions were obtained at all frequencies to acquire threshold and to calculate normalized peak-to-peak amplitude (VEMPn) and VEMP inhibition depth (VEMPid). Third window indicator (TWI) metrics were calculated by subtracting the 250-Hz air-bone gap from the ipsilateral cVEMP threshold at each frequency. Ears of SCD patients were divided into three groups based on CT imaging: dehiscent, thin or unaffected. The ears of healthy age-matched control subjects constituted a fourth group. Comparing metrics at all frequencies revealed that 2,000-Hz stimuli were most effective in differentiating SCD from normal ears. ROC analysis indicated that for both 2,000-Hz cVEMP threshold and for 2,000-Hz TWI, 100% specificity could be achieved with a sensitivity of 92.0%. With 2,000-Hz VEMPn and VEMPid at the highest sound level, 100% specificity could be achieved with a sensitivity of 96.0%. The best diagnostic accuracy of cVEMP in SCD patients can be achieved with 2,000-Hz tone burst stimuli, regardless of which metric is used.


Changes in paediatric Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in Victoria, 2018-20: the COVID-19 effect?
Objectives This study sought to describe the patterns in emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions in children with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions in Victoria, Australia, to assess if changes in out-of-hospital care resulted in an increase in delayed/severe presentations. Methods This study involved secondary analysis of Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset and Victorian Admitted Episode Dataset data. Patients (<18 years) attending EDs with a diagnosis of an ACSC were included. We compared the number and severity of ASCS presentations pre-COVID-19 (1January 2018-27 March 2020) and during COVID-19 (28 March-31 October 2020). A linear regression prediction model was built to compare the observed versus predicted presentation number in the 2020 period. Results In total, there were 108 104 paediatric ACSC ED presentations in Victoria during the study period. Females accounted for 51 462/108 104 (47.6%) of all presentations, with a median age of 3 years. A significant decrease in ED presentations was seen in 2020 (41 319 in 2018; 44 978 in 2019; and 21 807 until October 2020), predominantly due to reductions in conditions that are typically mediated by viruses in childhood (i.e. asthma, convulsions/epilepsy and ear, nose and throat conditions). The proportion of high-urgency presentations and those requiring admission was stable in 2020. Conclusions An overall reduction in the number of ED presentations and admissions with paediatric ACSCs was seen in Victoria in 2020, indicating that rates of delayed or more severe presentations did not occur as a result of changes in out-of-hospital care.


The cost-effectiveness of outreach respiratory care for COPD patients.
An acute respiratory assessment service was established in a hospital that serves an area with a large number of COPD patients. The service aims to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and provides a detailed patient assessment, treatment at home where appropriate and support. An economic evaluation demonstrated that the service was also cost effective.


[DNA and RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei of rat skeletal muscle fibers following hypokinesia].
Incorporation of labelled nucleotides [3H] UTP and [3] TTP revealed the intensity of DNA and RNA synthesis in the skeletal muscle nuclei in vitro in the male rats of Wistar line after 22-day immobilization. The RNA biosynthesis (the intensity of transcription) considerably diminished in the skeletal muscle nuclei of hypokinetic rats (by 1.8 times). No differences developed in the actinomycin D depression of r-RNA and s-RNA synthesis. The DNA biosynthesis (the intensity of replication) also decreased. The depression of DNA and RNA biosynthesis seems to be the main reason of the decreased intensity of protein synthesis in the rat skeletal muscle during hypodynamia.


Cohort profile: InfCareHIV, a prospective registry-based cohort study of people with diagnosed HIV in Sweden.
The Swedish InfCareHIV cohort was established in 2003 to ensure equal and effective care of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and enable long-term follow-up. InfCareHIV functions equally as a decision support system as a quality registry, ensuring up-to-date data reported in real time. InfCareHIV includes data on >99% of all people with diagnosed HIV in Sweden and up to now 13 029 have been included in the cohort. InfCareHIV includes data on HIV-related biomarkers and antiretroviral therapies (ART) and also on demographics, patient-reported outcome measures and patient-reported experience measures. Sweden was in 2015 the first country to reach the UNAIDS (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS)/WHO's 90-90-90 goals. Late diagnosis of HIV infection was identified as a key problem in the Swedish HIV-epidemic, and low-level HIV viraemia while on ART associated with all-cause mortality. Increased HIV RNA load in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) despite suppression of the plasma viral load was found in 5% of PLHIV, a phenomenon referred to as 'CSF viral escape'. Dolutegravir-based treatment in PLHIV with pre-existing nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-mutations was non-inferior to protease inhibitor-based regimens. An increase of transmitted drug resistance was observed in the InfCareHIV cohort. Lower efficacy for protease inhibitors was not due to lower adherence to treatment. Incidence of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance was high in the ageing HIV population. Despite ART, the risk of infection-related cancer as well as lung cancer was increased in PLHIV compared with HIV-negative. PLHIV were less likely successfully treated for cervical precancer and more likely to have human papillomavirus types not included in current HPV vaccines. Self-reported sexual satisfaction in PLHIV is improving and is higher in women than men. InfCareHIV provides a unique base to study and further improve long-term treatment outcomes, comorbidity management and health-related quality of life in people with HIV in Sweden.


Ganglion cell changes in experimental stenosis of the gut.
Teflon mesh was wrapped around the terminal ileum of dogs to cause a partial obstruction. Both smooth muscle layers became thickened in the gut proximal to the constriction, but the circular muscle was more hypertrophied than the longitudinal. The cells in Auerbach's plexus were stained by an indoxyl esterate technique in 100mu sections and counted. The number of ganglion cells related to muscle mass was decreased above the constriction. Although some ganglion cells increased in size there was no evidence of any increase in number.


Adapting the vertical position of implants with a conical connection in relation to soft tissue thickness prevents early implant surface exposure: A 2-year prospective intra-subject comparison.
To evaluate the effect of soft tissue thickness on bone remodelling and to investigate whether implant surface exposure can be avoided by adapting the vertical implant position in relation to the soft tissue thickness. Twenty-five patients received two non-splinted implants supporting an overdenture in the mandible. Soft tissue thickness was measured using bone sounding and ultrasonically. One implant was installed equicrestally (control), and the vertical position of the second implant was adapted to the site-specific soft tissue thickness (test). Crestal bone levels were determined on digital peri-apical radiographs and compared with baseline (implant placement). Twenty-five patients were consecutively treated. No implants failed during the follow-up. A significant correlation was observed between soft tissue thickness and bone level alterations after 6 months (ultrasound ICC = 0.610; bone sounding ICC = 0.641) with inferior bone levels for equicrestal implants when thin tissues are present. Subcrestal implants showed significantly better bone levels after 6-month (n = 24, 0.04 mm versus 0.72 mm; p < .001), 1-year (n = 24, 0.03 mm versus 0.77 mm; p < .001) and 2-year follow-up (n = 24, 0.04 mm versus 0.73 mm; p < .001). Initial bone remodelling was affected by soft tissue thickness. Anticipating biologic width re-establishment by adapting the vertical position of the implant seemed highly successful to avoid implant surface exposure.


Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of the Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator.
Neonatal early-onset sepsis is a serious health concern for term and late preterm infants. Screening for early-onset sepsis is often challenging due to variation in practice, nonspecific laboratory markers, and clinical findings that mimic immaturity. This systematic review evaluates the evidence for the effectiveness of the Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator (EOScalc) as a screening tool to appropriately identify neonatal early-onset sepsis and the ability to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use in late preterm and term infants. A comprehensive search of retrospective cohort and retrospective case-control studies was conducted using 5 databases. Studies were included if they evaluated the EOScalc within the defined parameters of use and excluded if they were not published. Six studies were identified and included from 2014 to 2017. Study comparisons varied on the basis of differing clinical practice and use of the EOScalc. Findings included in this review suggest that utilization of the EOScalc can reduce empiric antibiotic therapy, unnecessary laboratory testing, and separation of infants and mothers without increasing infant mortality.


The Process of Becoming an Embedded Curriculum Librarian in Multiple Health Sciences Programs.
Higher education is moving to offer more fully online programs, and the health science fields are no different. These programs are either hybrid or completely online. It is up to the health sciences librarian to adapt services offered by the academic library to these types of courses. This column discusses the multiple ways a librarian can be an embedded librarian in a course using a learning management system (LMS). The process of creating a customized embedded librarian program, results, and lessons learned from the different embedded librarian roles are also discussed.


Effect of Short-Term Oral Administration of Phikud Navakot in Rats.
Phikud Navakot (PN), composed of nine herbs and used as a main component of Yahom Navakot, is used in traditional Thai medicine against dizziness and fainting. To investigate the effects of PN on blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and antioxidant properties on male Sprague Dawley rats. All rats were weighted everyday in the morning, after that, PN (10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) were given oroesophageal feeding for seven days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and HR were measured once per two days. At the end of the experiment, the blood was taken for determination of biochemical and hematological parameters, and lipid peroxidation in serum. The heart was immediately removed for Western blot analysis. SBP DBP and MAP of rats were transiently increased after 1 day of PN (100 mg/kg BW) treatment. Meanwhile, HR did not change throughout the experiment. PN (400 mg/kg BW) significantly increased (p< 0.05) the percentage of neutrophils in blood after 7 days of administration. PN treatment has no effect on biochemical parameters and peroxidation of lipid. In addition, ingestion of PN (100 mg/kg BW) significant increased (p < 0.05) HO-1 expression, but did not change ERK1/2 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio when compared with the control group. The results may possibly support the use of PN for prevention and/or alleviation of cardiovascular disorders, caused by reactive oxygen species. However, long-term treatment of PN has to be further studies.


Class-switching from mu to gamma 3 or gamma 2b production at pre-B cell stage.
An Abelson virus-transformed murine pre-B cell line class-switched from mu to gamma 3 or gamma 2b at the pre-B stage during culture. A class-switch was mediated by the deletion mechanism of the intervening CH genes on the active chromosome. This study showed for the first time that class-switching at the pre-B cell stage was not always confined to gamma 2b production.


Identification of a pKa-regulating motif stabilizing imidazole-modified double-stranded DNA.
The predictable 3D structure of double-stranded DNA renders it ideally suited as a template for the bottom-up design of functionalized nucleic acid-based active sites. We here explore the use of a 14mer DNA duplex as a scaffold for the precise and predictable positioning of catalytic functionalities. Given the ubiquitous participation of the histidine-based imidazole group in protein recognition and catalysis events, single histidine-like modified duplexes were investigated. Tethering histamine to the C5 of the thymine base via an amide bond, allows the flexible positioning of the imidazole function in the major groove. The mutual interactions between the imidazole and the duplex and its influence on the imidazolium pKaH are investigated by placing a single modified thymine at four different positions in the center of the 14mer double helix. Using NMR and unrestrained molecular dynamics, a structural motif involving the formation of a hydrogen bond between the imidazole and the Hoogsteen side of the guanine bases of two neighboring GC base pairs is established. The motif contributes to a stabilization against thermal melting of 6°C and is key in modulating the pKaH of the imidazolium group. The general features, prerequisites and generic character of the new pKaH-regulating motif are described.


Taxonomic scheme of the order Chaetophorales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) based on chloroplast genomes.
Order Chaetophorales currently includes six families, namely Schizomeridaceae, Aphanochaetaceae, Barrancaceae, Uronemataceae, Fritschiellaceae, and Chaetophoraceae. The phylogenetic relationships of Chaetophorales have been inferred primarily based on short and less informative rDNA sequences. This study aimed to phylogenetically reconstruct order Chaetophorales and determine the taxonomic scheme, and to further understand the evolution of order Chaetophorales. In the present study, seven complete and five fragmentary chloroplast genomes were harvested. Phylogenomic and comparative genomic analysis were performed to determine the taxonomic scheme within Chaetophorales. Consequently, Oedogoniales was found to be a sister to a clade linking Chaetophorales and Chaetopeltidales. Schizomeriaceae, and Aphanochaetaceae clustered into a well-resolved basal clade in Chaetophorales, inconsistent with the results of phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA sequences. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that the chloroplast genomes of Schizomeriaceae and Aphanochaetaceae were highly conserved and homologous, highlighting the closest relationship in this order. Germination types of zoospores precisely correlated with the phylogenetic relationships. chloroplast genome structure analyses, synteny analyses, and zoospore germination analyses were concurrent with phylogenetic analyses based on the chloroplast genome, and all of them robustly determined the unique taxonomic scheme of Chaetophorales and the relationships of Oedogoniales, Chaetophorales, and Chaetopeltidales.


Handling missing data in randomized experiments with noncompliance.
Treatment noncompliance and missing outcomes at posttreatment assessments are common problems in field experiments in naturalistic settings. Although the two complications often occur simultaneously, statistical methods that address both complications have not been routinely considered in data analysis practice in the prevention research field. This paper shows that identification and estimation of causal treatment effects considering both noncompliance and missing outcomes can be relatively easily conducted under various missing data assumptions. We review a few assumptions on missing data in the presence of noncompliance, including the latent ignorability proposed by Frangakis and Rubin (Biometrika 86:365-379, 1999), and show how these assumptions can be used in the parametric complier average causal effect (CACE) estimation framework. As an easy way of sensitivity analysis, we propose the use of alternative missing data assumptions, which will provide a range of causal effect estimates. In this way, we are less likely to settle with a possibly biased causal effect estimate based on a single assumption. We demonstrate how alternative missing data assumptions affect identification of causal effects, focusing on the CACE. The data from the Johns Hopkins School Intervention Study (Ialongo et al., Am J Community Psychol 27:599-642, 1999) will be used as an example.


Biosynthesis and Pharmacological Activities of Flavonoids, Triterpene Saponins and Polysaccharides Derived from Astragalus membranaceus.
Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus), a well-known traditional herbal medicine, has been widely used in ailments for more than 2000 years. The main bioactive compounds including flavonoids, triterpene saponins and polysaccharides obtained from A. membranaceus have shown a wide range of biological activities and pharmacological effects. These bioactive compounds have a significant role in protecting the liver, immunomodulation, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cardiovascular activities. The flavonoids are initially synthesized through the phenylpropanoid pathway, followed by catalysis with corresponding enzymes, while the triterpenoid saponins, especially astragalosides, are synthesized through the universal upstream pathways of mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP), and the downstream pathway of triterpenoid skeleton formation and modification. Moreover, the Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) possesses multiple pharmacological activities. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins, and the structural features of polysaccharides in A. membranaceus. We further systematically summarized the pharmacological effects of bioactive ingredients in A. membranaceus, which laid the foundation for the development of clinical candidate agents. Finally, we proposed potential strategies of heterologous biosynthesis to improve the industrialized production and sustainable supply of natural products with pharmacological activities from A. membranaceus, thereby providing an important guide for their future development trend.


Revealing an unusual transparent phase of superhard iron tetraboride under high pressure.
First principles-based electronic structure calculations of superhard iron tetraboride (FeB4) under high pressure have been undertaken in this study. Starting with a "conventional" superconducting phase of this material under high pressure leads to an unexpected phase transition toward a semiconducting one. This transition occurred at 53.7 GPa, and this pressure acts as a demarcation between two distinct crystal symmetries, metallic orthorhombic and semiconducting tetragonal phases, with Pnnm and I4₁/acd space groups, respectively. In this work, the electron-phonon coupling-derived superconducting T(c) has been determined up to 60 GPa and along with optical band gap variation with increasing pressure up to 300 GPa. The dynamic stability has been confirmed by phonon dispersion calculations throughout this study.


Pulmonary artery remodeling in transposition of the great arteries: relevance for neoaortic root dilatation.
Transposition of the great arteries is currently treated by performing the arterial switch operation. Dilatation of the neoaortic root is a late complication with unknown cause. Samples of patients with untreated transposition of the great arteries and patients with normally related great arteries were compared to investigate a possible role for vascular remodeling in the dilatation process. Aortic and pulmonary artery vessel wall and sinus samples were taken from 20 untreated human heart specimens with transposition of the great arteries and 9 age-matched, normal, postmortem human heart specimens, divided into 2 groups according to age. Routine histology and immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle cell differentiation markers alpha-smooth muscle actin, SM22, and calponin were performed. This study revealed structural differences between the normal aorta and pulmonary artery in the early group, which became more pronounced in the late group. In the early stage in transposition of the great arteries, no marked differences were seen between the aorta and pulmonary artery. With increasing age, however, there was a pronounced down-regulation of all smooth muscle cell markers in the pulmonary artery. There is a structural difference between the normal neonatal aorta and pulmonary artery. The great arteries in transposition of the great arteries differ from each other and from normal vessels, indicating a structural vascular difference in transposition of the great arteries. In the pulmonary artery and sinus of untreated transposition of the great arteries, there is a dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells with increasing age that we could not correlate to altered flow. This structural abnormality might provide an explanation for the neoaortic root dilatation that has been reported as a late complication of the arterial switch operation.


Internalizing and externalizing symptoms and aggression and violence in men and women.
Literature linking aggressive behavior across internalizing and externalizing disorders support the co-occurrence of aggression and various mental health diagnoses. However, research has yet to examine relationships between aggression and dimensional psychopathology models that cut across diagnostic boundaries (e.g., internalizing, externalizing composites) and capture shared liability across common disorders. The role of gender has also been largely ignored in prior work, despite evidence that men and women manifest psychopathology differently. The present study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between psychopathology composites (i.e., Internalizing, Externalizing) and different manifestations of physical aggression (i.e., aggressive traits, general violence, physical intimate partner violence, and self-directed aggression), as well as moderation by gender. Internalizing (INT) and Externalizing (EXT) lifetime symptoms and various physically aggressive behaviors were assessed at baseline and at 6 months and 1 year follow up in a sample of 319 adults with violence and/or substance use histories. Cross-sectional results showed that INT was associated with all forms of aggression, and women showed stronger relationships between INT and both physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and self-directed aggression. EXT was specifically linked to general violence, and a stronger relationship between EXT and self-directed aggression emerged in men compared to women. Longitudinal relationships were mostly small and nonsignificant. Results support the co-occurrence of aggression with distinct forms of psychopathology, as well as gender-dependent relationships, but do not support the predictive validity of symptom composites in aggression risk. Findings implicate the need for aggression interventions tailored within gender.


Fixing Hands, Breaking Backs: The Ergonomics and Physical Detriment of the Hand Surgeon.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons have been well documented. Hand surgeons, however, represent a unique population of surgical subspecialists due to frequent use of operative magnification. Thus, we aim to examine the contributing factors, types, and frequencies of work-related musculoskeletal injuries experienced by hand surgeons. A Research Electronic Data Capture survey including 12 demographic and 13 Nordic Musculoskeletal Injury Questionnaire questions was emailed twice to all active members of the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). Data collection remained open for 30 days. Ninety-six of 1228 AAHS members (8%) responded. Respondents were predominantly attendings (88, 91.7%), male (67, 69.8%), in academic practice (48, 50%), and in the age range of 35 to 44 years (34, 35.4%). Sixty-nine respondents (71.9%) attribute discomfort to their profession. Pain (56, 82.4%) and stiffness (46, 67.6%) were the most frequent symptoms, most common in the neck and wrist/hand regions. Fifty-nine (61.5%) respondents had acute (<1 week) discomfort, with onset most frequently reported after surgery (45, 48.9%). Thirty-two (34.8%) of the respondents state they worry these symptoms will hinder their ability to perform surgery in future. Sixteen (16.7%) respondents sustained a musculoskeletal injury directly related to work. Exercise was the most popular nonmedical therapy, while over-the-counter medications were the most popular medical therapy. The unique ergonomics of hand surgery, including frequent use of loupes and microscopes, appear detrimental to the surgeons' health and career longevity. Further research will allow for the development of preventative measures, with the goal of facilitating longer, more productive careers for hand surgeons.


Treatment issues for personality disorders in epilepsy.
This article supports a view that certain personality disturbances in epilepsy should be viewed as associated with the cerebral abnormalities that also lead to seizures. Herein I discuss two main variants: that related to temporal lobe epilepsy and that associated with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. In view of its controversial nature, I also comment on the link between aggression and epilepsy. Recommendations for treatment include psychological and social therapies with further advice about the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and psychotropic medications in these conditions.


An unusual rectosigmoid mass: endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising in colonic endometriosis: case report and literature review.
Malignant transformation is an infrequent complication of endometriosis. The ovary is the primary site in 79 per cent of cases, and extragonadal sites are identified in 21 per cent. Primary involvement of these types of tumors with the colon and/or rectum is a rare clinical entity. Endometrioid carcinoma is a common histologic type that remains a diagnostic challenge-the main differential diagnosis includes colorectal carcinomas. We report a case of malignant transformation arising in colonic endometriosis. The patient had a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 10 years before she presented with hematochezia. The patient was ultimately treated by surgical resection. Immunohistochemical staining in addition to the usual histopathology was critical for accurate diagnosis of this endometriosis-associated intestinal tumor.


Investigations of ultrastructure of damaged and regenerated skeletal muscle fibers.
Our investigations concerned the head of the parietal part of quadriceps femoris, and we based our investigation on observations of the ultrastructure of muscle fibers using an electron microscope. We observed tissue samples taken from patients (10 men) 25-35 years old, who had old damage of knee joint ligament (after about 6 week's immobilization). In the first group, segments of tissue of parietal head of quadriceps femoris were taken inter-operationally from patients in whom there was found old damage of knee joint ligament. The second group was of tissue segments of this muscle after surgical repair of knee and rehabilitation, which consisted in power training using resistance machines. The muscle fiber samples of quadriceps femoris which were taken from patients during the first operation, showed big changes in their ultrastructure. These changes included: myofibrils disintegration; disturbance of regularly arranged striation in sarcomers; dissappearance of Z line. In the sarcoplasm, we observed large vacuolisation, and in the interfibrillar spaces--an accumulation of exudate and morphotic elements of blood outside the capillary vessels. Observations of muscle tissue after regeneration, showed a big improvement in the muscle cell's ultrastructure--the myofibrils were regularly arranged, and the sarcomers striations showed no deviations from normal structure. We also observed a considerable increase in the number of properly formed ultrastructure mitochondria when compared with the first group.


Prevalence of necrotizing fasciitis during Ramadan and Hajj 1427-H.
Necrotizing Fasciitis is a rare progressive disease which results in significant rate of mortality and morbidity if there is any delay in diagnosis and treatment. Objectives of this Prospective observational study were to share our experience of dealing necrotizing fasciitis in terms of different presentations, diagnosis, treatment and outcome during Ramadan and Hajj. It was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Holly Makkah, KSA during Ramadan and Hajj period from 1-8-1427 to 30-1-1428. Total 35 patients > 12 years of age, irrespective of the gender belonging to different nationalities admitted to Al-Noor specialist hospital, Makkah, KSA were included in this study to evaluate the different causative factors, presentations, response to medical/surgical treatment and outcome. Total 35 patients with male to female ratio of 6:1 were admitted during Ramadan and Hajj period from 1-8-1427 to 30-1-1428 (six months) with the features of necrotizing Fasciitis. Out of these 35 patients, 23 (65.7%) were Hajji and 12 (34.28%) were residents (Both Saudi and non Saudi) with a ratio of 2:1. Major co-morbid factors were old age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and renal failure. Among systemic manifestations, 4 (11.42%) developed septic shock and admitted to ICU, 4 (11.42%) needed ventilator support for respiratory failure, and 5 (14.28%) patients developed Myocardial infarction. After resuscitation, 33 patients under went aggressive surgical debridement and two patients died before surgery. Microbiology revealed, 15 (42.85%) Streptococcus Group-A infection, 13 (8.51%) Polymicrobial and 4 (11.42%) MRSA. Diagnosis was conformed by histopathology. Mortality rate was 11.5%. Better outcome in necrotizing fasciitis depends upon early presentation, prompt diagnosis and aggressive surgical debridement. There was strong correlation between severity of necrotizing fasciitis and co morbid factors, general condition at presentation, systemic toxicity and raised WBC count.


Sex differences in childhood lupus nephritis.
The renal status of 60 children (15 male and 45 female) with systemic lupus erythematosus seen over a 21-year period was evaluated clinically and by renal biopsy. The occurrence of serious clinical renal disease at initial observation, more severe renal impairment at outcome, and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis were more common in male than in female patients. Although lupus is relatively uncommon in male subjects, our epidemiologic study shows that there is a sex difference in the severity of lupus nephritis, with male subjects being more severely affected than female subjects.


Viewpoint: Stroke Prevention in Recent Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: An Appraisal.
Formal guidelines play an important role in disseminating the best available evidence knowledge and are expected to provide simple and practical recommendations for the most optimal management of patients with various conditions. Such guidelines have important implications for many disease states, which thereby could be more professionally managed in everyday clinical practice by clinicians with divergent educational backgrounds, and also more easily implemented in wards or outpatient clinics, eliminating inequalities in health care management. In this brief Viewpoint we provide an appraisal on the recommendations pertinent to the prevention of atrial fibrillation-related stroke or systemic thromboembolism, as provided in recently published guidelines for the management of this arrhythmia.


Genetic background of the rare Yus and Gerbich blood group phenotypes: homologous regions of the GYPC gene contribute to deletion alleles.
The GYPC gene encodes the glycophorins C and D. The two moieties express 12 known antigens of the Gerbich blood group system and functionally stabilize red blood cell membranes through their intracellular interaction with protein 4.1 and p55. Three GYPC exon deletions are responsible for the lack of the high-frequency antigens Ge2 (Yus type, exon 2 deletion), Ge2 and Ge3 (Gerbich type, exon 3 deletion), and Ge2 to 4 (Leach type, exons 3 and 4 deletion), but lack exact molecular description. A total of 29 rare blood samples with Yus (GE:-2,3,4) and Gerbich (GE:-2,-3,4) phenotypes, including individuals of Middle-Eastern, North-African or Balkan ancestry were examined genetically. All phenotypes could be explained by 4 different Yus alleles, characterized by deletions of exon 2 and adjacent introns, and 3 different Gerbich alleles, with deletions of exon 3 and adjacent introns. A 3600 base pair GYPC region, encompassing exon 2 and flanking region, shares a high degree of sequence homology with a region flanking exon 3, probably representing an evolutionary duplication event. Defining the expression of Gerbich variants presently relies on rare serological reagents. Our approach substitutes the serological characterization with a precise genotype approach to identify the rare Yus and Gerbich alleles.


Cluster roots of Leucadendron laureolum (Proteaceae) and Lupinus albus (Fabaceae) take up glycine intact: an adaptive strategy to low mineral nitrogen in soils?
South African soils are not only low in phosphorus (P) but most nitrogen (N) is in organic form, and soil amino acid concentrations can reach 2.6 g kg(-1) soil. The Proteaceae (a main component of the South African Fynbos vegetation) and some Fabaceae produce cluster roots in response to low soil phosphorus. The ability of these roots to acquire the amino acid glycine (Gly) was assessed. Uptake of organic N as 13C-15N-Gly was determined in cluster roots and non-cluster roots of Leucadendron laureolum (Proteaceae) and Lupinus albus (Fabaceae) in hydroponic culture, taking account of respiratory loss of 13CO2. Both plant species acquired doubly labelled (intact) Gly, and respiratory losses of 13CO2 were small. Lupin (but not leucadendron) acquired more intact Gly when cluster roots were supplied with 13C-15N-Gly than when non-cluster roots were supplied. After treatment with labelled Gly (13C : 15N ratio = 1), lupin cluster roots had a 13C : 15N ratio of about 0.85 compared with 0.59 in labelled non-cluster roots. Rates of uptake of label from Gly did not differ between cluster and non-cluster roots of either species. The ratio of C : N and 13C : 15N in the plant increased in the order: labelled roots < rest of the root < shoot in both species, owing to an increasing proportion of 13C translocation. Cluster roots of lupin specifically acquired more intact Gly than non-cluster roots, whereas Gly uptake by the cluster and non-cluster roots of leucadendron was comparable. The uptake capacities of cluster roots are discussed in relation to spatial and morphological characteristics in the natural environment.


Plasmonic nanorods provide reversible control over nanostructure of self-assembled drug delivery materials.
The nanostructure of mesophase liquid crystals prepared from amphiphilic lipids controls the rate of release of incorporated agents from the material, such as drug molecules, and reversible transition between different nanostructures essentially provides an "on-off" switch for release (Fong, W.-K.; Hanley, T.; Boyd, B. J. J. Controlled Release 2009, 135, 218-226). In this study, the incorporation of plasmonic hydrophobized gold nanorods (GNRs) permits reversible manipulation of nanostructure on-demand, by irradiation of the matrix using a near-infrared laser. Synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering was used to probe the kinetics of the response of nanostructure to laser irradiation, and the specificity of the approach is shown by the lack of response in the absence of nanorods, or for GNR whose dimensions are not matched to the specific wavelength of the incident light.


Seasonal variation in chaetognath and parasite species assemblages along the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Chaetognaths are abundant carnivores with broad distributions that are intermediate hosts of trophically transmitted parasites. Monthly variations in chaetognath and parasite species distributions, abundance, prevalence, and intensity related to seasonal environmental changes were recorded in 2004 and 2005 in Laguna Nichupté, a coral reef, and the adjoining continental shelf of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Of 12 chaetognath species plus Sagitta spp., only 5 (Ferosagitta hispida, Flaccisagitta enflata, Sagitta spp., Serratosagitta serratodentata, and Pterosagitta draco) were parasitized. These species were parasitized with 33 types of flatworms and unidentified cysts (likely protozoan ciliates), having an overall mean prevalence of 6%. Digenean metacercaria larvae numerically dominated the parasite assemblages. Cluster analysis defined 2 chaetognath species assemblages. One included 7 species inside Laguna Nichupté, where F. hispida was numerically dominant (98.9%); the other contained 13 chaetognath species in the continental shelf-coral reef region, where F. enflata was abundant (53%). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that Laguna Nichupté had highly variable and hostile conditions (relatively low salinity and high temperature) for chaetognath species except for F. hispida. The higher density of F. hispida promoted greater parasite diversity (23 types), dominated by Brachyphallus sp. metacercariae. F. enflata prevailed in the continental shelf-coral reef area, which had stable high salinity and relatively low temperature. Monilicaecum and unidentified digenean 'type g' infected 5 chaetognath species on the continental shelf. Distinct primary hosts (mollusks and copepods) and contrasting environmental conditions (salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration, and temperature) between Laguna Nichupté and the continental shelf promoted distinct chaetognath species assemblages, resulting in distinct parasite diversity and prevalence patterns.


Red blood cell lingering modulates hematocrit distribution in the microcirculation.
The distribution of red blood cells (RBCs) in the microcirculation determines the oxygen delivery and solute transport to tissues. This process relies on the partitioning of RBCs at successive bifurcations throughout the microvascular network, and it has been known since the last century that RBCs partition disproportionately to the fractional blood flow rate, therefore leading to heterogeneity of the hematocrit (i.e., volume fraction of RBCs in blood) in microvessels. Usually, downstream of a microvascular bifurcation, the vessel branch with a higher fraction of blood flow receives an even higher fraction of RBC flux. However, both temporal and time-average deviations from this phase-separation law have been observed in recent studies. Here, we quantify how the microscopic behavior of RBC lingering (i.e., RBCs temporarily residing near the bifurcation apex with diminished velocity) influences their partitioning, through combined in vivo experiments and in silico simulations. We developed an approach to quantify the cell lingering at highly confined capillary-level bifurcations and demonstrate that it correlates with deviations of the phase-separation process from established empirical predictions by Pries et al. Furthermore, we shed light on how the bifurcation geometry and cell membrane rigidity can affect the lingering behavior of RBCs; e.g., rigid cells tend to linger less than softer ones. Taken together, RBC lingering is an important mechanism that should be considered when studying how abnormal RBC rigidity in diseases such as malaria and sickle-cell disease could hinder the microcirculatory blood flow or how the vascular networks are altered under pathological conditions (e.g., thrombosis, tumors, aneurysm).


Diatrypasimilis australiensis, a novel xylarialean fungus from mangrove.
A marine xylarialean fungus, isolated from roots of Rhizophora (mangrove) in Australia, displays morphology of eight ellipsoidal dark brown ascospores in a cylindrical ascus having a refractive apical apparatus. Each ascospore has a longitudinal germ slit. The fungus grew very slowly and produced dark brown water-soluble pigment(s) on various media. It developed unique, column-shaped, indeterminate synnemata on which needle-shaped conidia were produced. The sexual stage of this fungus was not observed under the laboratory conditions tested. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the combined sequences of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes and their internal transcribed spacers placed it at a basal position in the clade of Diatrypaceae of the Xylariales with comparatively high statistical support. However the morphological features and phylogenetic position of this organism do not closely resemble any known fungal taxa. Therefore this fungus is proposed to be a representative of a novel taxon and described as Diatrypasimilis australiensis gen. et sp. nov.


Feature-rich magnetic quantization in sliding bilayer graphenes.
The generalized tight-binding model, based on the subenvelope functions of distinct sublattices, is developed to investigate the magnetic quantization in sliding bilayer graphenes. The relative shift of two graphene layers induces a dramatic transformation between the Dirac-cone structure and the parabolic band structure, and thus leads to drastic changes of Landau levels (LLs) in the spatial symmetry, initial formation energy, intergroup anti-crossing, state degeneracy and semiconductor-metal transition. There exist three kinds of LLs, i.e., well-behaved, perturbed and undefined LLs, which are characterized by a specific mode, a main mode plus side modes, and a disordered mode, respectively. Such LLs are clearly revealed in diverse magneto-optical selection rules. Specially, the undefined LLs frequently exhibit intergroup anti-crossings in the field-dependent energy spectra, and show a large number of absorption peaks without optical selection rules.


Use of a novel immediate access dialysis graft designed to prevent needle-related complications: A first-in-man case report.
Currently, there is no vascular access that possesses all ideal qualities for hemodialysis access, but attributes particularly lacking include: ease of identification (cannulation zone), ease of access, resistance to stenosis, durable to repetitive cannulation, resistance to infection, resistance to acute needle-related injuries, and instant hemostasis. The overall value of these attributes could be appreciated in the reduction of complications (patient burden and suffering, which can also result in increased healthcare costs), and improved safety and durability. In this case report, we present a novel hemodialysis access graft that has the potential to provide the following benefits: it is designed to be self-sealing and immediately usable post implant, easy to identify, easy to access, has more durable cannulation zones, and protects from needle-related injuries. This case report describes the first-in-man use of this novel graft technology to replace a giant, thrombotic, and difficult-to-access arteriovenous fistula to provide the patient with a potentially safer and more durable access that does not require placement of a bridging dialysis catheter. This single-patient experience suggests that implantation and function of this novel graft as a hemodialysis access is feasible in a human subject with end-stage renal disease, and it suggests that the novel properties (i.e. immediate use, easy identification, easy use, cannulation zone durability, and protection from needle-related injuries) of this graft seem to function as intended.


Anti-clockwise rotating shift work and health: would you prefer 3-shift or 4-shift operation?
We explored the association between work schedules involving nightshifts and selected measures of health and whether these associations differed among those working in either 3- or 4-shift cycles. Employees at a German industrial company who worked on a fixed daytime schedule or on one involving nightshifts were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Work schedules involving a nightshift were organized into either 3 or 4 shifts rotated anti-clockwise on a weekly basis. Health characteristics included a range of clinical and physiological measures and self-reported data on stress and sleep quality. We assessed the independent association of work schedules involving any nightshift and these health characteristics in separate regression analyses, adjusting for age, gender, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Nightshift work (N = 133) in general and 3-shift-work (N = 53) in particular was associated with decreased sleep quality (P < 0.001). Compared to those working daytime (N = 632), employees working on a 3-shift cycle had higher adjusted odds of meeting the definition of metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.56 [1.38, 4.75]). Employees working 4-shift cycles were somewhat less likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.22 [0.73, 2.05]) and had higher parasympathetic activity measured by heart rate variability (OR = 2.20 [1.04, 4.63]). Our data suggest important relationships between shift schedule and a selected group of objective and subjective health measures. Additional research that further clarifies potential mechanisms underlying these relationships is needed.


[Matrix-bound phosphine (PH3) distribution characteristics in the sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, China].
The distribution of matrix-bound phosphine in sediments was investigated in some selective sea areas of Jiaozhou Bay on Sep.6, 2003. Results show that the peak concentration of phosphine reachs to 143.75 ng/kg (dry weight). Moreover, an obvious regularity of distribution is observed that phosphine concentration in coastal sediments is higher than that in offshore's, and concentration within the Bay is higher than that of outside Bay. Results also reveal that phosphine concentration in such seriously polluted areas as culture farm and estuary is significantly higher than that in other investigated places. On the other hand, the relationship between phosphine and its sedimentary environment suggest that the phosphine concentration and distribution are mainly affected by the organic phosphorous, the redox potential and the sediment composition.


Heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus genotype D in Japan.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B and C are predominant in Japan. Previously, we reported that approximately 9% of HBV carriers in the Ehime area of western Japan were infected with genotype D (HBV/D) and their sequences closely related. Recently, serum samples from 3 patients with chronic HBV/D infections living in Tokyo and the surrounding area became available for testing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the HBV/D isolates from these different areas of Japan are closely related. Of the 3 Tokyo area patients infected with HBV/D, 2 had chronic hepatitis, and 1 had hemophilia with a history of frequent coagulation factor injections. The complete HBV/D genome sequences of each were determined, and compared with those of subjects from the Ehime area. All 3 HBV/D sequences had a genomic length of 3,182 bases, and the hepatitis B surface antigen subtype was ayw3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 1 of the HBV/D isolates was closely related to the isolates from Ehime Prefecture, while 1 was similar and 1 was clearly distinct. Our results indicate that HBV/D infections in Japan are heterogeneous.


MediaChrom: Discovering a Class of Pyrimidoindolone-Based Polarity-Sensitive Dyes.
A small library of six polarity-sensitive fluorescent dyes, nicknamed MediaChrom, was prepared. This class of dyes is characterized by a pyrimidoindolone core fitted out with a conjugated push-pull system and a carboxy linker for a conceivable coupling with biomolecules. The optimized eight-step synthetic strategy involves a highly chemo- and regioselective gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction. The photophysical properties of MediaChrom dyes have been evaluated in-depth. In particular, the MediaChrom bearing a diethylamino as an electron-donating group and a trifluoromethyl as an electron-withdrawing group displays the most interesting and advantageous spectroscopic features (e.g., absorption and emission in the visible range and a good quantum yield). Promising results in terms of sensitivity have been obtained in vitro on this dye as a membrane/lipophilic probe and as a peptide fluorescent label.


Large scale preparation of silicon-functionalized SynPhase Polystyrene lanterns for solid-phase synthesis.
The two-step functionalization of 30,000 SynPhase Polystyrene (PS) Lanterns in a 30-L glass process reactor is described. The first step involves bromination of the polystyrene backbone to afford an aryl bromide handle. Subsequent Suzuki cross coupling with the trialkylborane generated in situ from the reaction of allyldiisopropyl(4-methoxyphenyl)silane and 9-BBN provided an alkylsilyl linker ready for loading of various alcohols for solid-phase synthesis applications.


Immunophotometric quantification of extravascular immunoglobulin deposits in the synovial membrane of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The amount of extravascular immunoglobulin deposits in the synovial membrane of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was studied in comparison with that of patients suffering from non-joint diseases. Immunoglobulin deposits were immunostained using the three-layer immunoperoxidase method. The staining results were quantified with the help of a microscope photometer connected with a scanning stage. Several experiments involving artificial test substrates, diseases with allegedly increased extravascular deposits or diseases not exhibiting extravascular deposits of immunoglobulins are used to validate the described microspectrophotometrical approach for measuring extravascular immunoglobulin deposits. The scanning photometry demonstrates significantly higher amount of extravascular immunoglobulin deposits in rheumatoid arthritis as compared with osteoarthritis and non-joint diseases.


Sorption and mineral-promoted transformation of synthetic hormone growth promoters in soil systems.
This work examines the fate of synthetic growth promoters (trenbolone acetate, melengestrol acetate, and zeranol) in sterilized soil systems, focusing on their sorption to organic matter and propensity for mineral-promoted reactions. In organic-rich soil matrices (e.g., Pahokee Peat), the extent and reversibility of sorption did not generally correlate with compound hydrophobicity (e.g., K(ow) values), suggesting that specific binding interactions (e.g., potentially hydrogen bonding through C17 hydroxyl groups for the trenbolone and melengestrol families) can also contribute to uptake. In soils with lower organic carbon contents (1-5.9% OC), evidence supports sorption occurring in parallel with surface reaction on inorganic mineral phases. Subsequent experiments with pure mineral phases representative of those naturally abundant in soil (e.g., iron, silica, and manganese oxides) suggest that growth promoters are prone to mineral-promoted oxidation, hydrolysis, and/or nucleophilic (e.g., H2O or OH(-)) addition reactions. Although reaction products remain unidentified, this study shows that synthetic growth promoters can undergo abiotic transformation in soil systems, a previously unidentified fate pathway with implications for their persistence and ecosystem effects in the subsurface.


Transcription of the Rickettsia felis ompA gene in naturally infected fleas.
Rickettsia felis is maintained transovarially in Ctenocephalides felis fleas in a widespread geographic distribution and is transmitted to humans and animals, including opossums. This rickettsia is phylogenetically a member of the spotted fever group, most closely related to Rickettsia akari and R. australis. An unusual feature of this rickettsia is that the gene for the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) is interrupted by stop codons. To determine if this putatively dying gene is expressed, mRNA was extracted from laboratory-maintained, R. felis-infected cat fleas. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification of three segments of the ompA gene indicated that mRNA of ompA is actively transcribed in fleas. The cDNA sequences expressed represented mRNA of the first 1860-basepair segment of ompA, which includes domains I and II, part of domain III, the region from site 1836 to site 2180, despite the presence of several stop codons, and the open reading frame from site 2788 to site 3837. The detected sequences showed several differences in the amino acid composition when compared with the previously reported sequence.


Pilot Test of an Integrated Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention for Women with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse.
HIV and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are intersecting public health problems for women. We pilot tested an integrated sexual risk reduction intervention for women with a history of CSA that addressed both the consequences of CSA [based on the Traumagenic Dynamics (TD) framework] and the antecedents of sexual risk behavior (based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills [IMB] model). Women with a history of CSA who were attending a public STI clinic (n = 84) were randomly assigned to a five-session integrated TD/IMB (experimental) group intervention or to a time-matched IMB-guided sexual risk reduction (control) group intervention. Preliminary findings indicated that women in the integrated TD/IMB intervention reduced their average number of episodes of unprotected sex with a primary partner, their alcohol use, and their likelihood of being in a violent relationship, relative to women in the IMB-only group. Our findings suggest that sexual risk reduction interventions that address both the consequences of CSA and the antecedents of sexual risk behavior may be efficacious in reducing sexual risk behavior among women who were sexually abused.


UV-induced inactivation rates for airborne Mycobacterium bovis BCG.
Engineering ultraviolet irradiation systems as a control against infectious airborne diseases requires a knowledge of intrinsic ultraviolet (UV) inactivation rates of airborne bacteria. Ultraviolet inactivation rates for airborne Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) were determined at 50% and 95% relative humidity (RH) in a 0.8 m3 bioaerosol reactor. Ultraviolet inactivation response of waterborne M. bovis BCG pure cultures was also determined. At 50% RH the airborne UV inactivation rates observed were two times greater than those observed in saturated air (RH = 95%), and rates at 95% RH were similar to those observed in otherwise identical cultures suspended in water. Intrinsic UV inactivation rates for M. bovis BCG were statistically similar to rates observed for Mycobacterium parafortuitum at 50% and 95% RH, indicating that M. parafortuitum is a valid surrogate for studying airborne UV responses of M. bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results also confirm that UV inactivation responses for bacteria suspended in water cannot be used to estimate UV dose response in unsaturated air.


Emerging Role of Proteases in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a heterogeneous upper airway disease with multiple etiologies. Clinically, CRSwNP can be classified into either eosinophilic or non-eosinophilic subtypes. The eosinophilic phenotype of CRSwNP is widely thought to be highly associated with recurrence of nasal polyps or surgical failure. Epithelial cells have a crucial role in the development of Th2-biased airway diseases. Recent studies have shown that a wide range of external stimuli such as allergens and microorganisms can elicit the release of epithelial-derived Th2-driving cytokines and chemokines. Protease activity is a feature common to these multiple environmental insults and there is growing evidence for the concept that an imbalance of proteases and protease inhibitors in the epithelial barrier leads to both the initiation and maintenance of chronic eosinophilic airway inflammation. In this review, we analyze recent work on the role of proteases in the development of the sinonasal mucosal type 2 immune response with an emphasis on the molecular pathways promoting adaptive Th2 cell immunity.


DNA damage and repair: fruit and vegetable effects in a feeding trial.
Epidemiologic studies have examined the association between fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and the risk of cancer. Several cancer-preventive mechanisms have been proposed, such as antioxidant properties and modulation of biotransformation enzyme activities; both may be associated with reducing DNA damage and hence the mutation rate. We investigated, in a randomized, controlled, crossover feeding trial, the effect of 10 servings/day of botanically defined F&V for 2 wk on endogenous DNA damage; resistance to gamma -irradiation damage; and DNA repair capacity in lymphocytes, measured by the Comet assay. We also explored the association between the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism and serum bilirubin concentrations and DNA damage and repair measures. Healthy men (n = 11) and women (n = 17), age 20 to 40 yr, provided blood samples at the end of each feeding period. Overall, F&V did not affect DNA damage and repair measures in lymphocytes. The number of UGT1A1*28 alleles was inversely associated with sensitivity to gamma -irradiation exposure and DNA repair capacity, but a biological mechanism to explain this association is unclear. A larger sample size is needed to investigate the association between bilirubin concentrations and endogenous DNA damage. With inconsistent findings in the literature, additional dietary intervention studies on the effect of F&V on DNA damage and repair are needed.


Acute appendicitis in pregnancy - do we treat correctly, or do we delay unnecessarily?
Acute appendicitis is the most common non-gynaecological indication for surgical intervention during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to compare perioperative and postoperative results of surgical treatment of acute appendicitis in the early and late stage of pregnancy. This is a retrospective study focused on the evaluation of perioperative and postoperative results of appendectomy in pregnancy. The study included all pregnant patients who underwent laparoscopic or open appendectomy at the University Hospital Ostrava during the observed 10-year period (January 2012-December 2021). The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the stage of pregnancy in relation to the expected viability of the foetus (the viability limit was defined as the 23rd week of pregnancy). In the monitored 10-year period, a total of 25 pregnant patients underwent appendectomy. Comparing the two subgroups of patients, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the admission parameters. Laparoscopy was performed in 100% of the patients in the lower stage of pregnancy (< 23 g.w.) and in 61% of the subgroup of patients with more advanced pregnancy (> 23 g.w.); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.039). Differences in subgroups regarding duration of surgery, risk of revision and 30-day postoperative morbidity were not statistically significant. In the subgroup of patients < 23 g.w., uncomplicated forms of appendicitis predominated (66%), whereas in the subgroup > 23 g.w., complicated forms predominated (69%); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.026). When comparing the two subgroups of patients, there was a statistically significant difference in the length of hospitalization (p = 0.006). The mortality rate of the group was zero. The results of the study confirm the fact that advanced pregnancy may be related to complicated forms of appendicitis. Therefore, early appendectomy is still the method of choice. In accordance with the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) recommendations, laparoscopic approach is preferred in pregnant patients, even in advanced pregnancy.


Hyalinization and root resorption during early orthodontic tooth movement in adolescents.
The aim of this investigation was to study the hyalinization of the periodontal ligament with time and its relationship to root surface resorption after the application of an orthodontic force, reactivated weekly, of 50 cN (approximately 50 g). Fifty-six patients (18 boys and 38 girls, mean age 13.8 years) were divided into 7 groups of 8. In each patient, one premolar was moved buccally 161 with a fixed orthodontic appliance. The contralateral premolar served as a control. The experimental periods ranged from 1 to 7 weeks. Local areas of overcompression in the periodontal ligament were recorded in 33 test teeth (59%) and 2 controls (4%). Hyalinization was seen in all experimental groups, more often after the first 4 weeks of force application. Hyalinized areas were recorded opposite an intact root surface (54%) or close to and just apical or coronal to an area of root resorption (45%), and were usually located buccocervically and linguoapically, corresponding to expected pressure zones of the periodonal ligament.


The Million Women Study: potential biases do not allow uncritical acceptance of the data.
The findings in the Million Women Study (MWS) have been interpreted by some as providing final and definitive evidence that hormone therapy (HT) (estrogen alone or estrogen plus a progestin) increases the risk of breast cancer. A critical review of the MWS evidence. It is established that women who attend for routine mammography are not representative of the population at large: HT is more common among attenders, as is the occurrence of breast cancer. The MWS cohort comprised women who were invited to enroll when they were scheduled for mammography. Especially in that setting, HT users could more commonly have enrolled because of enhanced anxiety about breast cancer risk, women already aware of breast lumps could also selectively have enrolled--and women who both used HT, and who were aware of breast lumps, could have been the most motivated to participate. Thus, it was possible that the selective detection of as yet undiagnosed breast cancer among HT users could have accounted for the small associations between HT and breast cancer observed. The data supported that possibility. The incidence of breast cancer at or soon after recruitment was higher than in the population at large; HT was more common than in the population at large; the time intervals from recruitment to the diagnosis of breast cancer, or death, were implausibly short; and, in clinical and pathological terms, discordance in the risk of breast cancer among current users of HT, and among those who had recently stopped could most plausibly be explained by detection bias. Additional defects in the MWS, pointed in correspondence, included failure to properly specify zero time; and failure to record discontinued HT use or cross-overs, with resultant misclassification of the time, type, and duration of HT. The MWS report also contained multiple errors--sufficient to raise doubts about the care with which the study was carried out, and reviewed. Finally, findings in the MWS were discordant with those reported in other studies. Based on the MWS findings, it is not possible to distinguish between bias and causation as alternative explanations for the observed associations, and the conclusion that it has been established that HT increases the risk of breast cancer is not justified.


Nanoaramid Dressed Latex Particles: The Direct Synthesis via Pickering Emulsion Polymerization.
The direct synthesis of polymer microspheres modified by aramid nanofibers (ANFs) is an interesting challenge. This work describes a simple aqueous process to prepare polystyrene (PS)/ANF composite microspheres, where the specific ANF network was "dressed" on PS. ANF was derived from the copolymerization of terephthaloyl chloride, p-phenylene diamine, and methoxypolyethylene glycol and could be dispersed in water stably. We applied the as-synthesized ANF as a Pickering emulsifier in the o/w emulsion of styrene monomer. Radical polymerization was subsequently initiated in the Pickering emulsion system. The combination of ANF with polymer spheres was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravity analysis. The role of ANF in the monomer emulsion as well as in the polymerization was studied through SEM, optical microscopy, optical stability analyzer, and pulse nuclear magnetic resonance combined with the polymerization kinetic analysis. Moreover, we investigated the effects of other synthesis parameters, such as monomer type, monomer content, pH value, and salt concentration.


Suppression of STAT3 Signaling by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Induces Trophoblast Dysfunction.
Marijuana is a widely used illicit drug and its consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic intake of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major component of marijuana, on trophoblast function, placental development, and birth outcomes. The pathological characteristics and distribution of cannabinoid receptors in placenta were observed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Cell migration in response to THC was measured by transwell assays. The levels of cannabinoid receptors and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) were detected by western blot. We found the placenta expressed two main cannabinoid receptors, suggesting that THC induced biological responses in placental cells. Supporting this hypothesis, we observed dramatic alterations of placental morphology in marijuana users. Using THC and inhibitors of cannabinoid receptors, we demonstrated that THC impaired trophoblast cell migration and invasion partly via cannabinoid receptors. Additionally, pregnant mice injected with THC showed adverse reproductive events including reduced number of fetuses, lower maternal and placental weights. Mechanistically, STAT3 signaling pathway was involved in the THC-induced suppression of trophoblast cell motility and pregnancy outcomes. Our study indicates that the STAT3 signaling pathway plays a critical role in THC-induced trophoblast dysfunction.


Additional payment despite free health care in Burkina Faso
Free health care for children under five years of age in Burkina Faso was introduced in 2016 in order to remove the financial barrier to accessing care. Additional health expenses remain despite this free health care, which may compromise access to health services for the poorest patients. This partial medico-economic evaluation included a descriptive study of additional health expenses paid by parents. Payment receipts and parents' declarations were consulted. The average monthly income of the parents was 73,026.79 FCFA ($132) with 5.08% of the parents having no income. The total direct cost was 6,043,785 FCFA ($10939). The total additional direct cost was 2,181,150 FCFA ($3,950) or 36.09% of the total direct cost. The average percentage of free care was 65.50%. 7.7% of parents were dissatisfied with the free schooling. 34.48% were unprepared for additional expenses, 43.97% of parents had difficulty paying the additional costs and of these 80% reported that they had exhausted their savings to meet the prescriptions. Additional health expenses remain high despite free care. This can compromise the care of the poorest patients. A reorganization of free health care is necessary.


Importance of wine-treated Angelica Sinensis Radix in Si Wu Tang, a traditional herbal formula for treating women's ailments.
Si Wu Tang (Four Agents Decoction), a traditional Chinese decoction composed of Angelica Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Alba, and Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 : 1, has been used to treat women's diseases for more than a thousand years. According to the original description of Si Wu Tang, Angelica Sinensis Radix should be treated with wine. However, the importance of this wine-treated Angelica Sinensis Radix in Si Wu Tang's function has not been identified. In this article, the chemical and biological properties of two decoctions processed in different ways (Si Wu Tang with crude Angelica Sinensis Radix and Si Wu Tang with wine-treated Angelica Sinensis Radix) were compared for examination. The herbal decoction Si Wu Tang prepared from wine-treated Angelica Sinensis Radix contained much different amounts of its active compounds. Compared with Si Wu Tang using crude Angelica Sinensis Radix, Si Wu Tang prepared from wine-treated Angelica Sinensis Radix had better biological responses. Therefore, these findings accentuate the functional importance of herbs treated with wine in the Chinese decoction.


Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Study Group on peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening condition typically presenting as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the last month of pregnancy or in the months following delivery in women without another known cause of heart failure. This updated position statement summarizes the knowledge about pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of PPCM. As shortness of breath, fatigue and leg oedema are common in the peripartum period, a high index of suspicion is required to not miss the diagnosis. Measurement of natriuretic peptides, electrocardiography and echocardiography are recommended to promptly diagnose or exclude heart failure/PPCM. Important differential diagnoses include pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease during pregnancy, and pre-existing heart disease. A genetic contribution is present in up to 20% of PPCM, in particular titin truncating variant. PPCM is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but also with a high probability of partial and often full recovery. Use of guideline-directed pharmacological therapy for HFrEF is recommended in all patients respecting contraindications during pregnancy/lactation. The oxidative stress-mediated cleavage of the hormone prolactin into a cardiotoxic fragment has been identified as a driver of PPCM pathophysiology. Pharmacological blockade of prolactin release using bromocriptine as a disease-specific therapy in addition to standard therapy for heart failure treatment has shown promising results in two clinical trials. Thresholds for devices (implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy and implanted long-term ventricular assist devices) are higher in PPCM than in other conditions because of the high rate of recovery. The important role of education and counselling around contraception and future pregnancies is emphasised.


Isolated myeloid sarcoma with pericardial and pleural effusions as first manifestation: A case report.
Myeloid sarcoma (MS) involves the proliferation of extramedullary blasts from 1 or more myeloid lineages, replacing the original tissue structures, and these neoplasias are called granulocytic sarcoma, chloroma, or extramedullary myeloid neoplasms. These tumors develop in lymphoid organs, bones, skin, soft tissues, various mucous membranes, organs, and the central nervous system. MS is rare in non-leukemic patients, while MS patient with effusion as the first manifestation is even rare. We report the case of 44-year-old woman with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography of the chest revealed large pericardial effusions and bilateral pleural effusions. Cytomorphological examination of the pericardial and pleural effusion, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical markers suggested myeloid tumor cells. However, concurrent peripheral blood and bone marrow examinations showed no evidence of acute myeloid leukemia. The patient was eventually diagnosed with isolated MS. After chemotherapy with pirarubicin + cytarabine and high-dose cytarabine + etoposide, the pericardial effusion and pleural effusion were absorbed, and the mediastinal mass significantly shrunk. One year after patient gave up treatment, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was confirmed by bone marrow examinations. The early manifestations of the patient lacked specificity and were highly susceptible to misdiagnosis. Cytomorphology and flow cytology indicated important directions for the diagnosis of the disease in the early stage. Administration of chemotherapy regimen containing cytarabine could prolong disease-free survival and time before progress to AML.


A surprising dipolar cycloaddition provides ready access to aminoglycosides.
This contribution describes the results of a new research effort in our laboratory aimed at the synthesis of novel aminoglycosides and amino-C-glycosides. Despite the importance of such compounds, and the previous development of some methodological solutions, this remains an important area of research. Notable features of our approach, which is distinct from and complementary to previous efforts, are the following: (1) Reliance on a surprising and unprecedented formation of glycal triazolines via an inverse electron demand dipolar cycloaddition of glucal. We believe this desirable transformation has not previously been discovered because of the unusual selection of substrates and solvent required. (2) Very mild reaction conditions. An initial thermal cycloaddition is carried out in an inert solvent, the triazoline generated is photochemically converted to a reactive aziridine, and the crude aziridine undergoes ring opening at room temperature in the presence of a nucleophile and a mild Lewis acid catalyst. (3) Formation of products lacking an N-acyl group, allowing ready synthesis of novel glucosamine derivatives.


Correlative capacity of composite quantum states.
We characterize the optimal correlative capacity of entangled, separable, and classically correlated states. Introducing the notions of the infimum and supremum within majorization theory, we construct the least disordered separable state compatible with a set of marginals. The maximum separable correlation information supportable by the marginals of a multiqubit pure state is shown to be a local operations and classical communication monotone. The least disordered composite of a pair of qubits is found for the above classes, with classically correlated states defined as diagonal in the product of marginal bases.


Recovery of carbon from spent carbon cathode by alkaline and acid leaching and thermal treatment and exploration of its application in lithium-ion batteries.
The spent carbon cathode (SCC) is a hazardous solid waste from aluminum production. It has an abundant carbon source and a unique graphitic carbon layer structure, making it a valuable waste for recycling. This paper uses alkaline and acid leaching methods to report a straightforward way of extracting recovered carbon (RC) from SCC as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The results show that alkaline and acid leaching conditions at 70 °C with 1 M NaOH and HCl solution individually in 6 h and a liquid-solid ratio of 20:1 can result in RC with up to 94.63% carbon content than 49.38% in SCC, exhibiting a typical graphite structure. SCC and RC materials are obtained after calcination at 400 °C in an inert atmosphere and used as anode materials (SCC-400 and RC-400). In this paper, The initial charging specific capacities are 490.0 mA h g-1, 195.4 mA h g-1, and 423.2 mA h g-1and initial coulombic efficiencies (ICE) are 67.8%, 78.9%, and 72.0% of RC-400, SCC, and SCC-400. RC-400 also shows excellent capacity retention and impedance values. This exciting finding provides a viable, non-hazardous, and resourceful method for treating and disposing of SCC from aluminum electrolysis.


Distribution of verapamil and norverapamil in the eye and systemic circulation after topical administration of verapamil in rabbits.
Our purpose was to determine the pharmacokinetics of verapamil and its active metabolite norverapamil after topical administration of verapamil in rabbits. New Zealand white albino rabbits were given 50 microl of verapamil ophthalmic formulation topically in each eye. Samples obtained at various time points were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The elimination half-life of verapamil after treatment with 0.5% verapamil was 0.76 hour for aqueous, 4.34 hours for vitreous, and 1.82 hours for serum. The peak concentrations for aqueous, vitreous, and serum were 2.34 x 10(-6) M by 0.5 hour, 1.57 x 10(-7) M at 2 hours, and 3.39 x 10(-8) M by 0.5 hour following instillation of one drop of 0.5% verapamil; and 1.41 x 10(-6) M by 0.5 hour, 5.48 x 10(-8) M at 4 hours, and 1.20 x 10(-8) M by 0.5 hour following 0.25% verapamil, respectively. The metabolite norverapamil was found at peak concentrations of 8.65 x 10-(8) M by 0.5 hour in aqueous, 1.65 x 10(-8) M at 2 hours in vitreous, and 1.30 x 10(-9) M by 0.5 hr in serum following administration of 0.5% verapamil. The elimination half-life of norverapamil for aqueous, vitreous, and serum following treatment with 0.5% verapamil was 0.91 hour, 1.43 hours, and 3.60 hours, respectively. We conclude that topical verapamil, administered to the rabbit eye, is rapidly absorbed in the aqueous, vitreous, and blood. Norverapamil, which is an active metabolite of verapamil, can be detected in the aqueous and vitreous of the rabbit eye after topical administration, suggesting enzymatic degradation of verapamil within the eye.


Trapped in time.
Analysis of specimens preserved in amber from the Cretaceous period suggests that nematodes changed their host preference towards insects with a complete metamorphosis more recently.


Demonstration of two molecular forms of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in normal human serum.
The heterogeneity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 18.104.22.168) was investigated in normal human serum. Thin-layer analytical isoelectric focusing revealed the presence of multiple molecular forms of the enzyme, their isoelectric points being in the pH range of 3.30-4.25. The maximum of enzyme activity appeared around pH 3.50. After treatment with neuraminidase the pI shifted to 4.70-5.40 with two maxima at pH 5.00 and 5.15. The Triton X-100 solubilized as well as the papain-treated-Triton X-100 solubilized enzyme from the whole human adult jejunal biopsy were also found to be heterogeneous. They focused--both before and after neuraminidase treatment--at pH values different from those of the enzyme of normal human serum. There was almost no pI shift after neuraminidase treatment of the intestinal enzyme from adult enterobiopsy. Electrophoresis in continuous polyacrylamide gradient gels as well as gel chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5m revealed two molecular forms of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in normal human serum. The estimated relative molecular mass of the major enzyme form was 250 000 in both the separation techniques used. On the other hand, the apparent relative molecular mass of the minor enzyme form was 450 000 as assessed by gradient gel electrophoresis, and 550 000, when estimated by gel chromatography. The Km values for glycyl-L-proline-4-nitroanilide as substrate with the major and minor forms of the serum enzyme were 1.60 +/- 0.39 X 10(-4) mol/l and 1.60 +/- 0.13 X 10(-4) mol/l, respectively. Our results indicate that the dipeptidyl peptidase IV in normal human serum is a heterogeneous enzyme as far as its charge and molecular size are concerned.


Raynaud's disease: reduced hand blood flows with normal blood viscosity.
Hand blood flows and the blood and plasma viscosities were measured in patients with Raynaud's disease in an attempt to identify the mechanism of the episodic vascular insufficiency. Using venous occlusion plethysmography the following observations were made: (1) the hand blood flows were significantly less than in normals at 32 degrees, 27 degrees and 20 degrees C; (2) the percentage decrease in flow with cooling was greater in normals and (3) cooling of one hand from 32 degrees to 27 degrees C caused an abnormal decrease in flow through the contralateral hand. Using a rotational viscometer the blood and plasma viscosities were found to be normal at both high and low shear rates. The percentage increase in the blood viscosity with cooling from 35 degrees to 25 degrees was also normal. These studies demonstrate an increased constrictive response of the cutaneous vasculature of the hand to both local and reflex stimulation, and exclude a rheological abnormality, under conditions similar to those of the present study.


Role of oxygen radicals in the phototoxicity of tetracyclines toward Escherichia coli B.
Photoillumination of tetracycline derivatives with low-intensity (320- to 400-nm) light and visible light generated superoxide, observed as the reduction of ferricytochrome c. The rate of reduction was dependent on the tetracycline concentration and on the derivative being examined, with doxycycline greater than or equal to demeclocycline greater than tetracycline greater than oxytetracycline. Tetracycline-mediated cytochrome c reduction was oxygen dependent and inhibited up to 70% by superoxide dismutase. Illuminated tetracyclines were lethal to Escherichia coli B incubated in a glucose minimal medium containing chloramphenicol. This lethality was light dependent, oxygen dependent, and dependent on the concentration of tetracycline. Kill rates also varied according to the derivative under study, with doxycycline greater than or equal to demeclocycline greater than tetracycline greater than oxytetracycline. The addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase to the incubation medium partially protected E. coli B against the light-dependent lethality. Preinduction of intracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase substantially protected E. coli B against the phototoxicity of tetracyclines. Iron EDTA augmented the phototoxicity of tetracyclines, while diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid protected against their lethality. Hydroxyl radical scavengers also conferred protection against tetracycline phototoxicity. The extent of protection was in order of the in vitro reactivity of the scavengers with the hydroxyl radical. These results indicate that superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the hydroxyl radical are generated by illuminated tetracyclines and are molecular agents of tetracycline phototoxicity in E. coli B.


Gender differences in the outcome of noninvasive cardiovascular treatment.
Cardiovascular diseases are equally common in both sexes with differences in pathogenesis, clinical presentation and outcome. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases progressively increases in women after the menopause and their development is related to risk factors and their interaction with the female hormones. The prognosis after myocardial infarction is worse in women because of a more difficult diagnosis (atypical symptoms, unclear ECG abnormalities) and because of social and economic factors. The role of hormone replacement therapy in atherosclerosis prevention is not yet clear, and there are many doubts about its administration because of the increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular events. Our best weapons against cardiovascular diseases are primary prevention and pharmacological therapy. The biological and pathophysiological mechanisms related to estrogen deficiency that may lead to the development of atherosclerosis are still unknown. Therefore, it would be useful to investigate the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis in women in order to improve primary prevention and the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.


Light-responsive hydrophobic association of azobenzene-modified poly(acrylic acid) with neutral surfactants.
Photoresponsive association between azobenzene-modified poly(acrylic acid)s (AMPs) and the nonionic surfactants tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether and octadecyl ether (C12E4 and C18E4) has been achieved in dilute aqueous solution. The binding was investigated by (i) spectrophotometry that probes the polarity close to the azobenzene chromophore, (ii) capillary electrophoresis to obtain the amount of C12E4 bound per polymer chain, and (iii) pressure-area curves of Langmuir films to obtain information on the adsorption of AMP at the water-C18E4 interface. Increasing hydrophobicity of AMP (with increasing degree of modification with azobenzene side-groups) tightened the association with C12E4 in the dark. Exposure to UV light rapidly converted the azobenzene to their more polar cis isomer, which in turn weakened the association with surfactant. Almost complete photorelease of bound C12E4 was obtained with the optimal structure of AMP. Adsorption on large interfaces is much less sensitive to light. The possible origin of the photoresponse is analyzed in terms of AMP affinity for surfactant assemblies and azobenzene penetration in the hydrophobic core of micelles. We propose that the photoswing of polarity is amplified by the binding to small micelles because of the small number of anchors involved. A few azobenzene anchors afford tight binding in the dark, but also detach more easily than the whole AMP chain upon photoisomerization.


Association of the C-Reactive Protein Gene (CRP) rs1205 C>T Polymorphism with Aortic Valve Calcification in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.
Elevation in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been shown in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS). Minor allele of the CRP gene (CRP) rs1205 C>T polymorphism has been associated with lower plasma CRP concentrations in cohorts of healthy and atherosclerotic patients. Considering the existing similarities between atherosclerosis and AS, we examined the effect of CRP rs1205 C>T polymorphism on the AS severity. Three hundred consecutive Caucasian patients diagnosed with AS were genotyped for the rs1205 C>T polymorphism using the TaqMan assay. Severity of the AS was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography. The degree of calcification was analyzed semi-quantitatively. Carriers of the rs1205 T allele were characterized by elevated serum CRP levels (2.53 (1.51-3.96) vs. 1.68 (0.98-2.90) mg/L, p<0.001) and a higher proportion of the severe aortic valve calcification (70.4% vs. 55.1%, p=0.01) compared with major homozygotes. The effect of CRP rs1205 polymorphism on CRP levels is opposite in AS-affected than in unaffected subjects, suggesting existence of a disease-specific molecular regulatory mechanism. Furthermore, rs1205 variant allele predisposes to larger aortic valve calcification, potentially being a novel genetic risk marker of disease progression.


[Possibilities for the evaluation of receptor sites in benign prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate (author's transl)].
Cytoplasmic and nuclear receptor sites of the prostate will be determined for a qualitative information about the pattern of specific bindings. Their qualitative evaluation and their selective suppression will give an idea about the hormonal influence and regulation in prostatic tissue. These investigations are performed in some cases of prostatic cancer. The difficulty of tissue preparation is caused by the individual distribution of collagen tissue in prostatic cancer which will decide the yield of purified receptor sites. Besides the elemination of unspecific binding sites like SHBG and albumin is an evidence for the value of a method. According to high amount of binding sites the most effective preparation of patients before a tissue biopsy is discussed. For the clinical application the DCC test in case of cytoplasmic sites and the exchange test for nuclear sites seem to provide a suitable method. Performing gelfiltration and additional test with denatured material is necessary because of the similar size of SHBG and receptor complexes interfering the results.


The use of in situ and stream microcosm experiments to assess population- and community-level responses to metals.
We conducted field and stream microcosm experiments to assess population-level (density, size distribution) and community-level (species richness metrics, multivariate analysis of community composition) responses of macroinvertebrates to heavy metals in the Arkansas River, a mining-polluted stream in Colorado, USA. Experiments were conducted in spring and summer to coincide with early and late developmental stages (i.e., instars) of the mayfly Rhithrogena hageni. Results of field experiments showed significant mortality at metal-contaminated sites during summer when mayfly populations were dominated by small, early instars (mean dry wt = 0.13 mg). In contrast, no significant mortality was observed in spring when organisms were larger (mean dry wt = 1.78 mg). Multivariate analyses based on abundance of dominant taxa clearly separated reference and metal-impacted stations in summer experiments but showed little separation in spring. We observed no significant effects of metals on species richness, number of mayfly species, or EPT (species richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) in.either field experiment. Using stream microcosms, we established concentration-response relationships between heavy metals and R. hageni density, species richness, mayfly richness, and EPT. Density of R. hageni was generally more sensitive to metals than measures of species richness, and summer populations of R. hageni were more sensitive to metals than spring populations. Because the presence of large, relatively tolerant individuals in spring coincided with periods of higher metal concentrations, R. hageni was protected from toxic effects in this system. We conclude that phenology and developmental stage are important factors influencing responses of some aquatic macroinvertebrates to metals. Thus, timing bioassessments to coincide with the presence of these sensitive life stages can improve our ability to detect subtle contaminant effects.


Effects of dissolved organic matter and nitrification on biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in aerobic enrichment cultures.
Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nitrification can play an important role in biodegradation of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aerobic zones of constructed wetlands (CWs). This study used an enrichment culture originating from CW sediment to study the effect of DOM and nitrification on aerobic biodegradation of seven PhACs. The enriched culture degraded caffeine (CAF), metoprolol (MET), naproxen (NAP), and ibuprofen (IBP) with a consistent biodegradability order of CAF>MET>NAP>IBP. Biodegradation of propranolol, carbamazepine, and diclofenac was insignificant (<15%). CAF biodegradation was inhibited by the easily biodegradable DOM. Conversely, DOM enhanced biodegradation of MET, NAP, and IBP, potentially by contributing more biomass capable of degrading PhACs. Nitrification enhanced biodegradation of NAP and IBP and mineralization of the PhAC mixture as well as less biodegradable DOM, which may result from co-metabolism of ammonia oxidizing bacteria or enhanced heterotrophic microbial activity under nitrification. MET biodegradation was inhibited in the presence of nitrification. DOM and nitrification effects on PhAC biodegradation in CWs gained from this study can be used in strategies to improve CW operation, namely: designing hydraulic retention times based on the biodegradability order of specific PhACs; applying DOM amendment; and introducing consistent ammonium streams to increase removal of PhACs of interest.


Thermodynamics of the hydrolysis reactions of 1-naphthyl acetate, 4-nitrophenyl acetate, and 4-nitrophenyl α-L-arabinofuranoside.
Microcalorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have been used to conduct a thermodynamic investigation of the hydrolysis reactions {1-naphthyl acetate(aq) + H(2)O(l) = 1-naphthol(aq) + acetate(aq)}, {4-nitrophenyl acetate(aq) + H(2)O(l) = 4-nitrophenol(aq) + acetate(aq)}, and {4-nitrophenyl α-L-arabinofuranoside(aq) + H(2)O(l) = L-arabinose(aq) + 4-nitrophenol(aq)}. Calorimetrically determined enthalpies of reaction Δ(r)H(cal) were measured for all three reactions. However, since the positions of equilibrium for all of these reactions were found to lie very far to the right, it was only possible to set lower limits for the values of the apparent equilibrium constants K'. A chemical equilibrium model, together with pKs and standard enthalpies of reaction Δ(r)H° for the H(+) binding reactions of the reactants and products, was then used to calculate the values of Δ(r)H° for chemical reference reactions that correspond to the overall biochemical reactions that were studied experimentally. The values of Benson estimates of Δ(r)H° for the chemical reference reactions that correspond to the first of the above two reactions were, in all cases, within 16 kJ·mol(-1) of the results obtained in this study. Thermochemical network calculations led to Δ(f)H° = -286.4 kJ·mol(-1) for 1-naphthyl acetate(aq) and Δ(f)H° = -364.9 kJ·mol(-1) for 4-nitrophenyl acetate(aq).