Effects of genotype, wilting, and additives on the nutritive value and fermentation of bermudagrass silage.
Bermudagrass is the main warm-season grass species used for livestock production in the southeastern United States; however, when it is ensiled, the silage fermentation parameters are often less than desirable. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of management practices on the nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of bermudagrass silage. In Exp. 1, treatments were the factorial combinations of 2 bermudagrass genotypes, 'Jiggs' () and 'Tifton 85' ( sp.), 4 additives, and 2 DM concentrations at ensiling. The additives were 1) untreated control (deionized water), 2) Ecosyl, 3) B500, or 4) sugarcane molasses. The 2 DM concentrations at ensiling were low DM (22% DM) or high DM (53% DM). Treatments were replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design. Silage treated with molasses had a lesser ( < 0.05) pH and greater ( < 0.01) lactate concentrations than the control, Ecosyl, and B500 in silage with low DM concentrations and greater ( < 0.01) in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and lesser ( < 0.01) ADF concentrations than the other treatments at either DM concentration. Silage treated with B500 had the greatest ( < 0.01) aerobic stability, whereas that treated with molasses had the least aerobic stability. However, all treatments presented long aerobic stability (≥150 h). Jiggs had lesser ( < 0.01) ADF and NDF and NDF digestibility (NDFD) concentrations than Tifton 85 and Tifton 85 had greater ( < 0.01) IVTD than Jiggs in the silage with a high DM concentration. In Exp. 2, Jiggs silage treated with either molasses (20 g molasses [DM]/kg forage [as-fed basis]) or nothing (control, untreated silage) was fed to 16 beef heifers ( sp.) in individual drylot pens in a completely randomized design with 8 replicates for voluntary DMI, in vivo apparent DM digestibility, and NDFD evaluations. There were no differences ( = 0.36) among treatments in NDFD; however, there was a trend ( < 0.08) for greater in vivo apparent DM digestibility and DMI in heifers fed the molasses-treated silage. Microbial inoculants had decreased effects on Jiggs and Tifton 85 bermudagrass silage ensiled at a low DM concentration; however, adding molasses was an effective management practice to improve its nutritive value and fermentation characteristics.


Intestinal bacteria and colorectal cancer: etiology and treatment.
The etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) is influenced by bacterial communities that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. These microorganisms derive essential nutrients from indigestible dietary or host-derived compounds and activate molecular signaling pathways necessary for normal tissue and immune function. Associative and mechanistic studies have identified bacterial species whose presence may increase CRC risk, including notable examples such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, and pks+ E. coli. In recent years this work has expanded in scope to include aspects of host mutational status, intra-tumoral microbial heterogeneity, transient infection, and the cumulative influence of multiple carcinogenic bacteria after sequential or co-colonization. In this review, we will provide an updated overview of how host-bacteria interactions influence CRC development, how this knowledge may be utilized to diagnose or prevent CRC, and how the gut microbiome influences CRC treatment efficacy.


Different Combinations of Mobility Metrics Derived From a Wearable Sensor Are Associated With Distinct Health Outcomes in Older Adults.
Gait speed is a robust nonspecific predictor of health outcomes. We examined if combinations of gait speed and other mobility metrics are associated with specific health outcomes. A sensor (triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope) placed on the lower back, measured mobility in the homes of 1,249 older adults (77% female; 80.0, SD = 7.72 years). Twelve gait scores were extracted from five performances, including (a) walking, (b) transition from sit to stand, (c) transition from stand to sit, (d) turning, and (e) standing posture. Using separate Cox proportional hazards models, we examined which metrics were associated with time to mortality, incident activities of daily living disability, mobility disability, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease dementia. We used a single integrated analytic framework to determine which gait scores survived to predict each outcome. During 3.6 years of follow-up, 10 of the 12 gait scores predicted one or more of the five health outcomes. In further analyses, different combinations of 2-3 gait scores survived backward elimination and were associated with the five outcomes. Sway was one of the three scores that predicted activities of daily living disability but was not included in the final models for other outcomes. Gait speed was included along with other metrics in the final models predicting mortality and activities of daily living disability but not for other outcomes. When analyzing multiple mobility metrics together, different combinations of mobility metrics are related to specific adverse health outcomes. Digital technology enhances our understanding of impaired mobility and may provide mobility biomarkers that predict distinct health outcomes.


Coupling of Carboxylic Acids with Ynamides and Subsequent Rearrangement for the Synthesis of Imides/Amides.
A coupling of carboxylic acids with ynamides and subsequent rearrangement for the synthesis of imides and amides is reported. The carboxylic acids could couple with ynamides to form α-acyloxyenamide followed by sulfonyl group migration and Mumm rearrangement to furnish the amides. Additionally, the products could be subjected to further rearrangement to deliver β-keto amides. This metal-free process represents an interesting method for chemical bonds cleavage and regeneration. Furthermore, divergent transformation of products were conducted to deliver an array of compounds.


Fatigue properties of carbon- and porous-coated Ti-6Al-4V alloy.
A porous metal coating applied to a solid substrate implant has been shown, in vivo, to offer advantages over current polymethylmethacrylate cement fixation in orthopedic devices. These advantages may be lost, however, in devices requiring a sintering heat treatment to apply the coating since these treatments may have a detrimental effect on the substrate material mechanical properties. In addition, more biocompatible interface coating materials have come of interest with recent literature reports of metal ion release. These coatings may be of particular use in porous-coated systems since the surface area of implant in contact with the surrounding tissues is greatly increased. This study investigated the effects that both a porous Ti- 6Al -4V alloy coating and a ULTI carbon coating have on the fatigue properties of a Ti- 6Al -4V alloy substrate system. The fatigue properties of uncoated as-received, uncoated sinter heat treated and notched Ti- 6Al -4V material were also investigated. The results of this study revealed endurance limits for Ti- 6Al -4V alloy tested with a rotating beam system of 617 MN/m2 (uncoated as-received), 624 MN/m2 ( ULTI carbon-coated), 377 MN/m2 ( sinter heat treated), 220 MN/m2 (notched) and 138 MN/m2 (porous-coated). No effects on fatigue properties were observed when testing the material in saline compared with air. The slight increase in fatigue strength for the carbon-coated material is thought to be due to the increase in surface hardness resulting from the formation of titanium carbides on the surface. The low-endurance limit of the porous-coated material is due to both the transition from the as-received equiaxed microstructure to a lamellar microstructure upon sintering and to the notch effect created by the porous coating.


Effects of Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba Leaves on cyclooxygenases and in vivo skin inflammation.
Ginkgetin, a biflavone from Ginkgo biloba leaves, was previously reported to be a phospholipase A2 inhibitor and this compound showed the potent antiarthritic activity in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis as well as analgesic activity. This investigation was carried out to find effects on cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 including an in vivo effect. Ginkgetin (1 - 10 microM) and the biflavonoid mixture (10 - 50 microg/ml), mainly a 1 : 1 mixture of ginkgetin and isoginkgetin, from G. biloba leaves, inhibited production of prostaglandin E2 from lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. This inhibition was mediated, at least in part, by down-regulation of COX-2 expression, but not by direct inhibition of COX-1 or COX-2 activity. Down-regulation of COX-2 by ginkgetin was also proved in the dorsal skin of ICR mouse treated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). At total doses of 1,000 microg/site on the dorsal skin (15 mm x 15 mm), ginkgetin inhibited prostaglandin E2 production by 65.6 % along with a marked suppression of COX-2 induction. In addition, ginkgetin and the biflavonoid mixture (100 - 1,000 microg/ear) dose-dependently inhibited skin inflammation of croton oil induced ear edema in mice by topical application. The present study suggests that ginkgetin from G. biloba leaves down-regulates COX-2 induction in vivo and this down-regulating potential is associated with an anti-inflammatory activity against skin inflammatory responses.


Artificial Evolution Network: A Computational Perspective on the Expansibility of the Nervous System.
Neurobiologists recently found the brain can use sudden emerged channels to process information. Based on this finding, we put forward a question whether we can build a computation model that is able to integrate a sudden emerged new type of perceptual channel into itself in an online way. If such a computation model can be established, it will introduce a channel-free property to the computation model and meanwhile deepen our understanding about the extendibility of the brain. In this article, a biologically inspired neural network named artificial evolution (AE) network is proposed to handle the problem. When a new perceptual channel emerges, the neurons in the network can grow new connections to connect the emerged channel according to the Hebb rule. In this article, we design a sensory channel expansion experiment to test the AE network. The experimental results demonstrate that the AE network can handle the sudden emerged perceptual channels effectively.


Application experience and research progress of different emerging technologies in plastic surgery.
In the diagnosis and treatment of plastic surgery, there are structural processing problems, such as positioning, moving, and reconstructing complex three-dimensional structures. Doctors operate according to their own experience, and the inability to accurately locate these structures is an important problem in plastic surgery. Emerging digital technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and three-dimensional printing are widely used in the medical field, particularly in plastic surgery. This article reviews the development of these three technical concepts, introduces the technical elements and specific applications required in plastic surgery, summarizes the application status of the three technologies in plastic surgery, and summarizes prospects for future development.


The role of inhibition by phosphocitrate and its analogue in chondrocyte differentiation and subchondral bone advance in Hartley guinea pigs.
Phosphocitrate (PC) and its analogue, PC-β ethyl ester, inhibit articular cartilage degeneration in Hartley guinea pigs. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that PC exerted its disease-modifying effect on osteoarthritis (OA), in part, by inhibiting a molecular program similar to that in the endochondral pathway of ossification. The results demonstrated that severe proteoglycan loss occurred in the superficial and middle zones, as well as in the calcified zone of articular cartilage in the Hartley guinea pigs. Subchondral bone advance was greater in the control Hartley guinea pigs compared with PC- or PC analogue-treated guinea pigs. Resorption of cartilage bars or islands and vascular invasion in the growth plate were also greater in the control guinea pigs compared with the PC- or PC analogue-treated guinea pigs. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase-13 and type X collagen within the articular cartilage and growth plate were significantly increased in the control guinea pigs compared with PC-treated guinea pigs (P<0.05). These results indicated that articular chondrocytes in Hartley guinea pigs exhibited a hypertrophic phenotype and recapitulated a developmental molecular program similar to the endochondral pathway of ossification. Activation of this molecular program resulted in resorption of calcified articular cartilage and subchondral bone advance. This suggests that PC and PC analogues exerted their OA disease-modifying activity, in part, by inhibiting this molecular program.


Chinese Herbal Bath Therapy for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Objective. Chinese herbal bath therapy (CHBT) has traditionally been considered to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. We conducted the first meta-analysis evaluating its benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. We searched three English and four Chinese databases through October, 2014. Randomized trials evaluating at least 2 weeks of CHBT for knee OA were selected. The effects of CHBT on clinical symptoms included both pain level (via the visual analog scale) and total effectiveness rate, which assessed pain, physical performance, and wellness. We performed random-effects meta-analyses using mean difference. Results. Fifteen studies totaling 1618 subjects met eligibility criteria. Bath prescription included, on average, 13 Chinese herbs with directions to steam and wash around the knee for 20-40 minutes once or twice daily. Mean treatment duration was 3 weeks. Results from meta-analysis showed superior pain improvement (mean difference = -0.59 points; 95% confidence intervals [CI], -0.83 to -0.36; p < 0.00001) and higher total effectiveness rate (risk ratio = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.28; p < 0.00001) when compared with standard western treatment. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion. Chinese herbal bath therapy may be a safe, effective, and simple alternative treatment modality for knee OA. Further rigorously designed, randomized trials are warranted.


Neural response correlates of detection of monaurally and binaurally created pitches in humans.
Recent magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of human auditory cortex are pointing to brain areas on lateral Heschl's gyrus as the 'pitch-processing center'. Here we describe results of a combined MEG-psychophysical study designed to investigate the timing of the formation of the percept of pitch and the generality of the hypothesized 'pitch-center'. We compared the cortical and behavioral responses to Huggins pitch (HP), a stimulus requiring binaural processing to elicit a pitch percept, with responses to tones embedded in noise (TN)-perceptually similar but physically very different signals. The stimuli were crafted to separate the electrophysiological responses to onset of the pitch percept from the onset of the initial stimulus. Our results demonstrate that responses to monaural pitch stimuli are affected by cross-correlational processes in the binaural pathway. Additionally, we show that MEG illuminates processes not simply observable in behavior. Crucially, the MEG data show that, although physically disparate, both HP and TN are mapped onto similar representations by 150 ms post-onset, and provide critical new evidence that the 'pitch onset response' reflects central pitch mechanisms, in agreement with models postulating a single, central pitch extractor.


Anesthesia for lung transplantation.
Lung transplantation is the only therapeutic option for more than 3,000 individuals in the United States with end-stage lung disease. Innovations in anesthetic and surgical techniques have expanded the indications for lung transplantation. Presently, the major limiting factor in the number of lung transplantations that are performed is the availability of suitable donor organs. Lung transplantation includes a number of surgical procedures, including single-lung, double-lung, bilateral-sequential-single-lung, heart-lung, and lobar transplantation. Patients undergoing lung transplantation present a variety of challenges to the anesthesia team. Critical periods include induction of anesthesia, initiation of positive pressure ventilation, establishment and maintenance of one-lung ventilation, pulmonary artery clamping, pulmonary artery unclamping, and reperfusion of the transplanted lung. Pharmacologic advances have been an important factor in the continued development and success of lung transplantation. Newer immunosuppressive agents have improved the prevention and management of post-transplant rejection. Selective pulmonary vasodilators that are administered via inhalation affect the anesthetic management during the surgical procedure. Technologic advances in monitoring have also been valuable in lung transplantation. Transesophageal echocardiography is commonly used to evaluate intraoperative ventricular function. Continuous cardiac output, mixed venous oxygen saturation, continuous arterial blood gas monitoring, and the bispectral index have also been used to monitor the patient during lung transplantation. Anesthetic management of lung transplantation requires a thorough understanding of end-stage lung disease and pharmacologic and technical considerations that may not be applicable in any other part of anesthetic practice.


Effects of lindane, paraquat, toxaphene, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid on mallard embryo development.
The effects were determined of externally treating mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs with two insecticides (lindane and toxaphene) and two herbicides (paraquat and 2,4,5-T) with formulations and concentrations similar to field applications. Paraquat was the most embryotoxic of the four compounds regardless of the type of vehicle. The LC50 for paraquat was 1.5 lb of active ingredient/acre in aqueous emulsion and 0.1 lb/acre in the oil vehicle. The other compounds had LC50's that were several orders of magnitude higher. Both paraquat and toxaphene caused some mortality at 1/2 of the field level of application. Paraquat impaired growth and was slightly teratogenic at 1/2 of the field level of application, but required higher concentrations (1.5 to 3 times the field level) to produce brain and visceral defects. Lindane was teratogenic, resulting in multiple defects but only at doses that were greater than five times the field level of application. Toxaphene resulted in defects of the joints at doses close to or exceeding the LC50. The herbicide 2,4,5-T resulted in few toxic effects and relatively few abnormal survivors with gross defects. The overall embryotoxicity with either vehicle was paraquat greater than lindane greater than toxaphene greater than 2,4,5-T on a lb per acre basis. However the potential hazard at exposures of up to five times the field level of application was paraquat greater than toxaphene; neither lindane nor 2,4,5-T constituted much of a hazard. Both paraquat and lindane were more toxic on lb-per-acre basis when administered in oil vehicle but only paraquat represented a potential hazard at five times the field level of application.


Fully Integrated Passive UHF RFID Tag for Hash-Based Mutual Authentication Protocol.
Passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag has been used in many applications. While the RFID market is expected to grow, concerns about security and privacy of the RFID tag should be overcome for the future use. To overcome these issues, privacy-preserving authentication protocols based on cryptographic algorithms have been designed. However, to the best of our knowledge, evaluation of the whole tag, which includes an antenna, an analog front end, and a digital processing block, that runs authentication protocols has not been studied. In this paper, we present an implementation and evaluation of a fully integrated passive UHF RFID tag that runs a privacy-preserving mutual authentication protocol based on a hash function. We design a single chip including the analog front end and the digital processing block. We select a lightweight hash function supporting 80-bit security strength and a standard hash function supporting 128-bit security strength. We show that when the lightweight hash function is used, the tag completes the protocol with a reader-tag distance of 10 cm. Similarly, when the standard hash function is used, the tag completes the protocol with the distance of 8.5 cm. We discuss the impact of the peak power consumption of the tag on the distance of the tag due to the hash function.


Vitamin D Receptor-Dependent Signaling Protects Mice From Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.
Low vitamin D status potentiates experimental colitis, but the vitamin D-responsive cell in colitis has not been defined. We hypothesized that vitamin D has distinct roles in colonic epithelial cells and in nonepithelial cells during colitis. We tested this hypothesis by using mice with vitamin D receptor (VDR) deletion from colon epithelial cells (CEC-VDRKO) or nonintestinal epithelial cells (NEC-VDRKO). Eight-week-old mice were treated with 1.35% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days and then euthanized 2 or 10 days after removal of DSS. DSS induced body weight loss and increased disease activity index and spleen size. This response was increased in NEC-VDRKO mice but not CEC-VDRKO mice. DSS-induced colon epithelial damage and immune cell infiltration scores were increased in both mouse models. Although the epithelium healed between 2 and 10 days after DSS administration in control and CEC-VDRKO mice, epithelial damage remained high in NEC-VDRKO mice 10 days after removal of DSS, indicating delayed epithelial healing. Gene expression levels for the proinflammatory, M1 macrophage (Mɸ) cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide synthase 2, and interleukin-1β were significantly elevated in the colon of NEC-VDRKO mice at day 10. In vitro experiments in murine peritoneal Mɸs demonstrated that 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D directly inhibited M1 polarization, facilitated M2 polarization, and regulated Mɸ phenotype switching toward the M2 and away from the M1 phenotype. Our data revealed unique protective roles for vitamin D signaling during colitis in the colon epithelium as well as nonepithelial cells in the colon microenvironment (i.e., modulation of Mɸ biology).


The Study of Intraoperative Consciousness after Tracheal Intubation.
Awareness following noxious stimuli like intubation could be as high as 25% compared to postoperative recall. The isolated forearm technique (IFT) allows us to assess consciousness by verbal command to move isolated hand. Hence we conducted study to establish IFT responses following intubation under standard general anaesthesia. We enrolled 132 adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia. A tourniquet was applied on other arm. Following intravenous induction of anaesthesia, torniquet was inflated 100mmhg above systolic BP. After giving muscle relaxant, three minutes patients were ventilated with oxygen and inhalational agent. Before laryngoscopy first verbal command (Squeeze my hand) was given to the patient. Once intubation and tube confirmation done, second verbal command was given. Lack of paralysis in isolated hand was confirmed with TOF stimuli and tourniquet was deflated. Surgery was carried in routine manner. Postoperatively all patients were evaluated for any explicit recall using Modified Brice questionnaire. The primary outcome is number of patients who responded to verbal command postintubation. Secondary outcome is number of patients responded prelaryngoscopy and number of patients reporting explicit recall in the Modified Brice interview. None of the patients had positive IFT response. On postoperative interview none reported awareness. 10.7% of patients had dreams which were pleasant. Worst thing about surgery was pain.(43%). Our study suggests that intraoperative consciousness after intubation and postoperative recall is an uncommon occurrence.


Inhibitory Effect of Dried Pomegranate Concentration Powder on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells; Involvement of p38 and PKA Signaling Pathways.
Plants rich in antioxidant substances may be useful for preventing skin aging. Pomegranates, containing flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds, are widely consumed due to their beneficial properties. We examined the underlying mechanisms of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. The antioxidant effects of PCP were determined by measuring free radical scavenging capacity and transcript levels of antioxidant enzymes. To explore the inhibitory effects of PCP on melanin synthesis, we measured tyrosinase activity and melanin content in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells. In addition, the levels of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, tyrosinase, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression were determined by Western blotting. Changes in the phosphorylation status of protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine kinase Akt, and glycogen kinase 3β (GSK3β) were also examined. The free radical scavenging activity of PCP increased in a dose-dependent manner. In PCP-treated B16F10 cells, transcript levels of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) were increased compared with α-MSH-stimulated cells. In addition, PCP led to the down-regulation of phospho-p38, phospho-PKA, phospho-CREB, phospho-GSK3β, MITF, and TRP-1 compared with α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. We believe this effect may be associated with PCP activity, which leads to the inhibition of melanin production and tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that PCP decreases tyrosinase activity and melanin production via inactivation of the p38 and PKA signaling pathways, and subsequently decreases phosphorylation of CREB, MITF, and melanogenic enzymes. These observations provided new insights on the molecular mechanisms of the skin-whitening property of PCP.


Progestin treatment in the dog. II. Effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.
The effects of two synthetic progestins, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and proligestone (PROL), on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis were studied in two groups of eight ovariohysterectomized dogs each. Eight injections of long-acting progestins were administered at 3-week intervals. Recovery of the HPA axis was studied in four dogs of each group in the following 6 months. Basal levels of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol in plasma and the urinary corticoid/creatinine ratio were measured. The responsiveness of the HPA axis was investigated by stimulation with ovine corticotrophin-releasing hormone. Both MPA and PROL caused sawtooth patterns of suppression of basal ACTH and cortisol levels in plasma, synchronous with the time of administration. The suppression of the adrenocortical component of the HPA axis was most pronounced. Adrenocorticotrophin production also was affected but to a lesser extent and occurred especially in PROL-treated dogs. Soon after the cessation of progestin administration ACTH levels increased, sometimes with a rebound. In both groups basal cortisol levels and urinary corticoid/creatinine ratios did not return to pretreatment levels until 6 months after the last progestin injection. It is concluded that MPA and PROL act as glucocorticoid agonists and suppress the HPA axis. The suppression at the adrenocortical level may last for 6 months.


A test of a path model of biocultural transmission of fertility.
A model adapted to a general linear model of phenotypic transmission (two components: (1) genetic additive, (2) cultural [age at marriage]) has been used to analyse the familial correlations of fertility (number of children) born before the demographic transition at Arthez d'Asson (Béarn, 1744-1889). The model is rejected: chi 2 = 55.7 with 6d.f. In the ancient demographical regime, reproduction and nuptiality of a couple were not influenced by their parents but by their generation.


Brain imaging in alcoholic patients.
Imaging in vivo aspects of brain structure and function hold great promise for the study of alcoholism. Computerized axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been used successfully to demonstrate structural abnormalities in alcoholic patients. Positron emission tomography and topographic images of electrical and magnetic activity are useful measures of brain function that could be applied more rigorously to the study of alcoholism. Interrelating various types of imaging data is an important area that is still in the developmental stage.


General and efficient copper-catalyzed amidation of saturated C-H bonds using N-halosuccinimides as the oxidants.
We have developed a general and efficient method for copper-catalyzed amidation of saturated C-H bonds under mild conditions, and the used substrates include benzylic reagents, the N, N-dimethylaniline derivatives, the free carboxamides, and sulfonamides. The protocol uses inexpensive and readily available CuBr/ N-halosuccinimide (NBS or NCS) as the catalyst/oxidant, so it provides practical applications for synthesis of various amides via C-H activation.


Acquisition, retention, and recall of memory after injection of RS67333, a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist, into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of the rat.
The serotonin 5-HT4 subtype receptor is predominantly localized into anatomical structures linked to memory and cognition. A few experimental studies report that the acute systemic administration of selective 5-HT4 agonists has ameliorative effects on memory performance, and that these effects are reversed by contemporary administration of 5-HT4 receptor antagonists. To verify whether this procognitive action occurs via the activation of the cholinergic nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM)-cortical pathways, we examined the effects of RS67333, a selective partial agonist of the 5-HT4 receptor, on rat performance in a place recognition task upon local administration of the drug into the NBM area. The intra-NBM administration of RS67333 enhances the acquisition (200-500 ng/0.5 microL) and the consolidation (40-200 ng/0.5 microL) of the place recognition memory. These effects are reversed by pretreatment with the selective 5-HT4 receptor antagonist RS39604 (300 ng/0.5 microL). Conversely, the recall of memory is not affected by the 5-HT4 agonist. Our results indicate that 5-HT4 receptors located within the NBM may play a role in spatial memory and that the procognitive effect of RS67333 is due, at least in part, to the potentiation of the activity of cholinergic NBM-cortical pathways.


Molecular characterization of a novel BR-2 gene that is down-regulated in human low grade glioma tumors.
Using the technique of differential hybridization of a human fetal brain library, we have identified a novel gene, brain 2 (BR-2). This gene is expressed in normal brain but has low or no expression in human oligodendrogliomas and other brain tumor samples. We have cloned and sequenced the full-length cDNA corresponding to this gene. A data base search for the nucleotide sequence homology was performed for BR-2. BR-2 sequence showed strong homolog to a human genomic clone from chromosome 2. Moderate sequence homology was observed between BR-2 and an EST from a human placenta library. Multiple tissue dot blot analysis indicated that the BR-2 gene is expressed in a number of tissues including brain, heart, lung, placenta, lymph node, trachea and kidney. The BR-2 gene is also expressed in fetal heart, spleen and lung tissue. An extremely high level of BR-2 expression is observed in the left atrium of the heart. Low or no expression of BR-2 expression is observed in sixteen human cancer cell lines. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the BR-2 gene is expressed at high levels in two of the five normal brain tissue samples analyzed. Except for low expression in one oligodendroglioma, no expression of BR-1 gene was observed in eight anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme tissue samples. Four of nine glioblastoma tumor cell lines did show a low level of BR-2 expression. On the basis of its expression and sequence, we conclude that BR-2 is a novel gene with unique expression properties in human brain tumors.


[A prospective cohort study on the comparison of risk of occupational dust exposure and smoking to death].
To compare the effects of dust exposure and smoking on mortality. Based on the Guangzhou Occupational Health Surveillance Record System established in 1989-1992, 80 987 factory workers, aged > or = 30, occupationally exposed to dust and non-exposure to dust, were included in a prospective cohort study. (1) The mean age of the cohort was 43.5. Most subjects were workers, with secondary education, and married. Out of them 16.3% having ever exposed to dust, 43.7% ever smoked and 33.5% drank alcohol. (2) The cohort were traced for 8 years on average, but 35 were lost for follow-up. Malignant neoplasm was most commonly seen among 1539 deaths. (3) The adjusted relative risk (RRs) of death of all causes, malignant neoplasm and cerebro-cardiovascular diseases for dust exposed workers were close to those for smokers. However, the adjusted RRs of death of nasopharynx cancer and respiratory system diseases for dust exposed workers were higher than those for smokers. The adjusted RRs of death of lung cancer and stomach cancer for smokers were 2.2 times and 1.5 times of that for dust exposed workers respectively. Dust exposure combined with smoking caused significantly higher death RR. (4) In males, the adjusted RRs of death of all causes, malignant neoplasm and respiratory system diseases for silica dust exposed workers and the adjusted RR of death of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases for wood dust exposed workers were higher those in smokers. (5) The population attributable risk percentage (PARP) of all causes of death for smokers was 2.5 times of that for dust exposed workers. (6) In males, the risks of death for all causes, malignant neoplasm, lung cancer and stomach cancer increased with the amount of smoking per day and the duration of smoking. The risks of death caused by coronary heart disease and respiratory system diseases were increasing with the amount of smoking per day and the duration of smoking respectively. The adjusted RRs for dust exposed workers were close to those for smokers with dust exposure and smoking having synergistic effects. Some of the adjusted RRs for smokers were higher than those for dust exposed workers PARP for smokers was higher than that for dust exposed workers. Our findings suggested that there was a significant dose-effect between smoking and risk of deaths.


[Neurological podcasting : A project by students for students].
Podcasts are a very popular learning material among medical students. Currently only a few neurological podcasts exist, which do not include relevant neurological diseases or neuroanatomical contents. The primary objective of this project was to help medical students understand neurological topics and to integrate them into the educational program. The project started in 2014. The podcasts were written and produced by medical students. So far ten podcasts about neuroanatomy and clinical neurology have been created. The podcasts were published in summer 2015 at the University of Witten-Herdecke followed by an internal evaluation. In addition to questions about the listening experience and intelligibility, the students were asked to give an individual evaluation of the different topics and to express their opinion in a free text field. A total of 100 medical students participated. They listened to the podcasts in particular to prepare themselves for medical examinations (47.4 %) and because of a special interest in neurology (26.3 %). The different podcasts were mainly evaluated as "good" or "very good". Of the students 76.8 % wanted to listen to the podcasts again and 93 % planned to recommend the podcasts to friends. Only the length of some of the podcasts as well as technical faults were criticized and should be improved. The neurological podcasts of the University of Witten-Herdecke are a very successful and well-received project. The results of the survey will help to improve the next podcasts and integrate new topics. More than 15 new podcasts are being edited at the moment. The release date for the new podcasts will be in spring 2016.


Dormancy as exaptation to protect mimetic seeds against deterioration before dispersal.
Mimetic seeds simulate the appearance of fleshy fruits and arilled seeds without producing nutritive tissues as a reward for seed dispersers. In this strategy of seed dispersal, seeds may remain attached to the mother plant for long periods after maturity, increasing their availability to naïve seed dispersers. The hypothesis that seed coat impermeability in many tropical Fabaceae with mimetic seeds serves as an exaptation to protect the seeds from deterioration and rotting while awaiting dispersal was investigated. Seed coat impermeability was evaluated in five mimetic-seeded species of tropical Fabaceae in south-eastern Brazil (Abarema langsdorffii, Abrus precatorius, Adenanthera pavonina, Erythrina velutina and Ormosia arborea) and in Erythrina speciosa, a 'basal' species in its genus, which has monochromatic brown seeds and no mimetic displays. Seed hardness was evaluated as a defence against accelerated ageing (humid chamber at 41 degrees C for 144 h). Seed development and physiological potential of O. arborea was evaluated and the effect of holding mature seeds in pods on the mother plant in the field for a period of 1 year under humid tropical conditions was compared with seeds stored under controlled conditions (15 degrees C and 40 % relative air humidity). All five mimetic-seeded species, and E. speciosa, showed strong coat impermeability, which protected the seeds against deterioration in accelerated ageing. Most O. arborea seeds only became dormant 2 months after pod dehiscence. Germination of seeds after 1 year on the plant in a humid tropical climate was 56 %, compared with 80 % for seeds stored in controlled conditions (15 degrees C, 45 % relative humidity). Seedling shoot length after 1 year did not differ between seed sources. Dormancy acts in mimetic-seeded species as an exaptation to reduce seed deterioration, allowing an increase in their effective dispersal period and mitigating the losses incurred by low removal rates by naïve avian frugivores.


The nitriding effect on the stability and mechanical properties of the iron titan phase: first-principles investigation.
To control the nitriding effect, which is used to enhance the mechanical properties of surfaces, a fundamental understanding of this effect is required. Modern quantum-mechanical simulation methods make it almost impossible to perform cost effective and reliable studies on the mechanisms of the influence of nitrogen on surfaces. In this work, based on density functional theory calculations, the nitriding effect on the structure and mechanical properties of titanized steel was studied using a FeTi model. Two cases of the nitrogen presence in the Fe-Ti crystal are considered: uniform distribution and nitrogen clustering. Based on the formation energy calculations and the crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis, it is found that higher stability of FeTi is achieved at low concentrations of nitrogen up to 5.4% when nitrogen atoms are uniformly distributed, while upon clustering of nitrogen, FeTi becomes more stable at higher concentrations of nitrogen from 3.7% to 7.4%. The mechanical properties of nitrogen-containing FeTi suggest that Young's modulus and shear modulus increase with an increase of the concentration of nitrogen up to 5.4%. These findings not only deepen our fundamental understanding of the nitriding effect in titanized Fe-based steels but also offer valuable insights essential for carrying out an experimental study of various end products such as technical machine parts or medical implants, endowed with improved surface properties.


Methodological considerations for linked blood donor-component-recipient analyses in transfusion medicine research.
In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to improve our understanding of the quality and effectiveness of transfused blood components. The expanding use of large datasets built from electronic health records allows the investigation of potential benefits or adverse outcomes associated with transfusion therapy. Together with data collected on blood donors and components, these datasets permit an evaluation of associations between donor or blood component factors and transfusion recipient outcomes. Large linked donor-component recipient datasets provide the power to study exposures relevant to transfusion efficacy and safety, many of which would not otherwise be amenable to study for practical or sample size reasons. Analyses of these large blood banking-transfusion medicine datasets allow for characterization of the populations under study and provide an evidence base for future clinical studies. Knowledge generated from linked analyses have the potential to change the way donors are selected and how components are processed, stored and allocated. However, unrecognized confounding and biased statistical methods continue to be limitations in the study of transfusion exposures and patient outcomes. Results of observational studies of blood donor demographics, storage age, and transfusion practice have been conflicting. This review will summarize statistical and methodological challenges in the analysis of linked blood donor, component, and transfusion recipient outcomes.


Surgical treatment for congenital absence of the vagina using tissue expansion.
A modification of the Abbe-McIndoe technique for the treatment of congenital absence of the vagina, using a cylindrical tissue expander wrapped in a mesh split-thickness skin graft, instead of a rigid silicone mold, is presented. The expander was kept in place for a period of two to six months and the functional result was 100 percent in all the six patients treated. Our experience led us to change the design of the expander (cylindrical, without ring, 10X4 centimeters) and to place the valve in the inner thigh as the best site for the valve. The age range of the patients was 18 to 27 years, and the final result was good or very good in five of the six women. Only one patient has occasional dyspareunia, which does not prevent sexual intercourse.


A proteoliposome formulation derived from Bordetella pertussis induces protection in two murine challenge models.
Whooping cough remains a health problem despite high vaccination coverage. It has been recommended that development of new strategies provide long-lasting immunity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of proteoliposomes (PL) extracted from Bordetella pertussis as a vaccine candidate against whooping cough. The size of the B. pertussis PL was estimated to be 96.7 ± 50.9 nm by Scanning Correlation Spectroscopy and the polydispersity index was 0.268. Western blots using monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of pertussis toxin, pertactin, and fimbriae 3. The Limulus Amebocyte Lisate (LAL) assay showed endotoxin levels lower than those reported for whole cell pertussis licensed vaccines, while the Pyrogen Test indicated 75 ng/mL/Kg. The PL showed high protection capacity in mouse challenge models. There was 89.7% survival in the intracerebral challenge and total reduction of the number of CFU in the intranasal challenge. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between mice immunized with B. pertussis PL and the Cuban DTwP vaccine, whichever challenge model used. These results encouraged us to continue the development of the B. pertussis PL as a component of a new combined vaccine formulated with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids or as a booster dose for adolescents and adults.


Neopterin derivatives together with cyclic guanosine monophosphate induce c-fos gene expression.
We have previously shown that neopterin enhances hydrogen peroxide and chloramine T activity in a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay and strengthens toxicity of these agents against bacteria at slightly alkaline pH (pH 7.5), while 7,8-dihydroneopterin was shown to be a scavenger independent of the pH value. Besides various oxidants, phenolic antioxidants were shown to specifically induce expression of the c-fos and c-jun mRNAs. Using an inducible cfosCAT reporter transactivation system we studied the function of the pteridine derivatives on c-fos transactivation. For the first time, we demonstrate that neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin, particularly together with cyclic guanosine monophosphate, induce c-fos gene expression. In humans, interferon-gamma induces the release of neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin and also the synthesis of nitric oxide radical which in turn stimulate the formation of cGMP. Thus, in certain situations all three substances, namely neopterin, 7,8-dihydroneopterin and cGMP, may be present locally and even in the circulation at the same time. Based on our findings this constellation would significantly enhance the risk of c-fos gene expression and therefore promote tumour growth and development.


[Home training as a treatment of faecal incontinence and sphincter dyssynergia].
The defecation disorders represents the 3% of consultations in pediatrics patients. Our goal was to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the reeducation of the defecation maneuver through home training in patients with encopresis and sphincter dyssynergia. Study of patients with fecal incontinence treated with home training at our center between 2014-2015. Anorectal manometry was performed and was valued defecation maneuver by expulsion of rectal probe with or without the ball. Daily sessions were performed using a Foley catheter (18-20Fr.) with progressive filling of the balloon, maximum 20cc. The response to the treatment was assessed in terms of episodes of soiling. Seven patients (6 males and 1 female) with a mean age of 9.7 years (range, 5-15) were included; two patients with anorectal malformation history, 1 Hirschsprung disease, 1 sacrococcygeal teratoma and 3 functional encopresis. Three patients had soiling episodes daily and 4 patients frequently. The mean basal pressure of anal channel was 32.34mmHg (range, 11.74-50.75) with negative defecation maneuver in 2 cases, deficient in 3 and dyssynergic in 2 patients. The mean time of biofeedback therapy to be asymptomatic was 5.14 months (range, 2-11), with a mean of 16.14 months (range, 3-24), with the 7 patients currently maintained clean. The present study suggests that re-education of defecation maneuver through home training, seems to be an effective and efficient therapy, achieving excellent results in medium term.


Effect of aging on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in septic rats.
Aged individuals have diminished resistance to severe sepsis and septic shock. Past work with animals suggested that an important determinant of survival was the ability of the liver to supply glucose. In this study, young adult (3 to 4 months) and old (24 months) Fischer 344 rats were fasted and subjected to cecal incisions producing a rapidly lethal peritonitis. We then determined gluconeogenic intermediates in the liver. In the old rats with peritonitis, hexosemonophosphates (HMP) increased 50% relative to control liver, whereas in the young animals with peritonitis, the substrate decreased 50%. The accumulation of HMP in the old rat liver cells indicates a failure to dephosphorylate glucose-6-phosphate (G6P). This increase in HMP is associated with a decline in hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), the final enzyme in the gluconeogenic pathway, and is reflected in a significant reduction in serum glucose in old Fischer 344 rats when compared to young Fischer rats.


Somatostatin receptor expression in lymphomas: a source of false diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor at 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT imaging.
68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT is routinely used to image neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). A case of lymphoma initially thought to be NET based on a positive 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was recently seen at our institution. This prompted us to determine prospectively somatostatin receptor (SSTR) status in patients with lymphoma by immunohistochemical analysis of SSTR subtypes 2, 3 and 5 (SSTR2,3,5) and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT imaging. Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma were referred to 68Ga-DOTANOC and FDG PET/CT prior to any treatment. Tracer uptake was evaluated visually by two nuclear medicine specialists. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were determined from 14 nodal and two extranodal regions with highest uptake in each patient. Lesions were then graded with Deauville score (1-5) on FDG PET/CT and modified Krenning score (0-4) on 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT, respectively. SSTR2,3,5 status was analyzed from routine biopsies of lymphomatous tissue and matched to corresponding PET/CT findings. About 20/21 patients had FDG-positive lymphoma (Deauville score ≥3). Uptake of 68Ga-DOTANOC was regarded as positive if Krenning score was ≥2 and resulted in 13/21 (62%) patients having 68Ga-DOTANOC-positive lymphomas. The highest uptake of 68Ga-DOTANOC was seen in Hodgkin's lymphoma of nodular sclerosis subtype and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (SUVmax median 9.8 and 9.7, respectively). Both cases showed strong SSTR2 immunopositivity in tumor cells. Some patients had SSTR2 immunopositivity predominantly in endothelial and dendritic cells and follicular centers of lymph nodes contributing to a positive PET/CT with probably low tumor-specific uptake. SSTR3 and SSTR5 were negative in most lymphoma subtypes. According to this pilot study, 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT is positive in some lymphoma subtypes which express SSTRs. These tumors present a potential risk of being misinterpreted as NETs if a representative tumor sample is not available. Lymphomas with high expression of SSTRs may be amenable to treatments targeting these receptors.


Profile of Bioactive Components of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) By-Products from Ecuador and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity.
The aim of the study was to determine the profile of bioactive compounds in cocoa residues (mucilage and bean shells), and to evaluate their antioxidant activity in two cocoa varieties, Nacional X Trinitario type (Fine Aroma) and the variety CCN-51. The extraction of phytonutrients from the residues was carried out selectively. The characterization and quantification of the total polyphenol content (TPC), and the total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the phenolic profile and methylxanthines. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the methods of 2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation bleaching (ABTS), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The exudate mucilage samples from Nacional X Trinitario-type cocoa presented the highest content of TPC 105.08 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 mL, TFC 36.80 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/100 mL, catechin (CAT) 35.44 mg/g, procyanidins (PCB2: 35.10; PCB1: 25.68; PCC1: 16.83 mg/L), epicatechin (EPI) 13.71 mg/L, caffeine (CAF) 0.90% and theobromine (TBR) 2.65%. In the cocoa bean shell, the variety CCN-51 presented a higher content of TPC (42.17 mg GAE/100 g) and TFC (20.57 mg CE/100 g). However, CAT (16.16 mg/g), CAF (0.35%) and TBR (1.28%) were higher in the Nacional X Trinitario cocoa type. The EPI presented no significant differences between the two samples studied (0.83 and 0.84 mg/g). The antioxidant activity values (ABTS, FRAP and ORAC methods) were higher in the samples of CCN-51 than in the Nacional X Trinitario type. The bean shell samples presented antioxidant values of 171.32, 192.22 and 56.87 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/g, respectively, and the bean shell samples presented antioxidant values of 167.06, 160.06 and 52.53 mg TE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP and ORAC) of the residues was correlated with the bioactive compounds of the mucilage and bean shells, showing a strong positive correlation (<0.99) with the procyanidins (B1, B2 and C1), EPI and CAT and a positive/moderate correlation (0.94) with methylxanthines.


Predicting longitudinal changes in caregiver physical and mental health: a stress process model.
Alzheimer's family caregivers (N = 122) reported on physical and mental health, as well as stress process variables, at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up. Hierarchical regression analyses of stress process models revealed that increases in primary stressors (e.g., patient self-care and behavioral problems) did not directly affect changes in the mental and physical health outcome variables. However, analyses of models of direct, mediated, and moderated effects revealed that psychosocial resource variables (appraisals, coping responses, and social support) were related to caregiver outcomes over time through several mechanisms. In particular, benign appraisals of stressors, the use of approach coping, and greater levels of social support were associated with more positive caregiver health outcomes over time.


Theoretical prediction of the Abraham hydrogen bond acidity and basicity factors from a reaction field method.
A new methodology for the theoretical evaluation of the hydrogen bond acidity SigmaalphaH2 and basicity SigmabetaH2 Abraham descriptors is presented. The first step is a quantum mechanical calculation at the Hartree-Fock level using a moderate basis set, including the solute-solvent interaction through a Reaction Field method, namely the Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM). The density charge on the surface of the cavity surrounding the solute, which contains the signature of the specificity of the molecule, is then translated into effective atomic charges through a suitable algorithm. These atomic charges can be related to the acidity and basicity properties of the molecule by a proper parametrization of empirical atomic factors, which account for the specific H-bonding capabilities of the individual atoms and group of atoms. The Abraham descriptors can be then evaluated with a high degree of accuracy for a large number of classes of molecules. Calculations performed for a set of 55 compounds give a standard deviation of 0.029 and 0.044 for SigmaalphaH2 and SigmabetaH2, respectively. The correlation coefficients are 0.994 and 0.974.


Association Between Hearing Loss and Multiple Negative Emotional States in the US Hispanic Population.
Hearing loss (HL) has been linked to commonly studied detrimental mood states, such as loneliness and depression. However, its relationship with other negative emotions remained largely unstudied. We explore the association between HL and anxiety, anger, hostility, poor self-esteem, and pessimism in a national cohort of US Hispanic adults. Cross-sectional study. Multicentered US national epidemiologic study (Hispanic Community Health Study). Subjects were ages 18 to 75 with completed audiometric and emotional survey data. Multivariable regressions controlling for age, gender, and education were conducted to analyze the association between HL, measured by 4-frequency pure-tone average (PTA), and emotional states. States included anxiety (Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale-10), anger (Spielberger Trait Anger Scale), hostility (Cook Medley Cynicism Scale-13), poor self-esteem (Self-Esteem Scale-10), and pessimism (Revised Life Orientation Test). A total of 4120 to 4341 participants met inclusion criteria, depending on the specific survey; the average age was 46.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 13.7), and the average PTA was 13.8 dB (SD = 10.1). Controlling for age, gender, and education, HL was associated with all outcomes. Specifically, for every 10 dB worsening in HL, the anxiety score worsened by 0.41 (0.23-0.60), the anger score worsened by 0.40 (0.22-0.58), the hostility score worsened by 0.16 (0.04-0.27), the self-esteem score worsened by 0.25 (0.12-0.38), and the pessimism score worsened by 0.17 (0.04-0.30) (all p < .01). HL is related to numerous negative mood states beyond loneliness and depression. This includes worse anxiety, anger, hostility, self-esteem, and pessimism. Future studies should investigate whether treating HL improves negative emotional states.


Palladium-catalyzed amination of meso-(bromophenyl)porphyrins with diamines and azamacrocycles.
Novel diamino and azamacrocycle functionalized porphyrins were efficiently synthesized by palladium-catalyzed amination of mono- and bis(meso-(bromophenyl))porphyrins. The optimization of reaction conditions allowed us to achieve high yields of products with substrates of different types. Supramolecular utility of the thus obtained aminoporphyrins was shown by investigations of processes of coordination self-assembly in solution by NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The crystalline 1D-coordination polymer formed via self-assembly of N,N-dimethylethylenediamine substituted zinc porphyrin was characterized by X-ray diffraction.


An Aggressive Plasmablastic Lymphoma of the Oral Cavity as Primary Manifestation of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Case Report and Literature Review.
Introduction Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare entity that was first described in the jaws and the oral cavity of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Plasmablastic lymphoma is considered as a diffuse, large, B-cell lymphoma with a unique phenotype and a predilection for the oral cavity. Objective The authors describe a case of an aggressive plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral cavity as the primary manifestation of AIDS. Resumed Report We report a case of plasmablastic lymphoma involving only the oral cavity as the first manifestation of AIDS. Diagnosis was confirmed by the oral lesion biopsy and the histopathologic examination that showed a dense infiltrate composed of atypical lymphocytes with numerous plasmocytes that expressed the plasma cell markers MUM-1 and CD138 and that were negative for the B-cell markers CD3, CD20, and CD45. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization revealed the Epstein-Barr virus genome in the atypical cells. Polymerase chain reaction was also positive for human herpesvirus-8 RNA. Conclusion The HIV serologic status should be evaluated in all patients with plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral cavity or extraoral sites.


Chronic overexpression of angiotensin-(1-7) in rats reduces cardiac reactivity to acute stress and dampens anxious behavior.
Angiotensin II (Ang II) acts as a pro-stress hormone, while other evidence indicates that angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] attenuates physiological responses to emotional stress. To further test this hypothesis, in groups of 5-6 rats we evaluated autonomic, cardiovascular and behavioral parameters in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) and transgenic TGR(A1-7)3292 (TG) rats chronically overexpressing Ang-(1-7). Compared to SD rats, TG rats showed reduced baseline heart rate (HR; SD 380 ± 16 versus TG 329 ± 9 beats per minute (bpm), mean ± standard error of mean, p < .05) and renal sympathetic discharge (SD 138 ± 4 versus TG 117 ± 5 spikes/second, p < .05). TG rats had an attenuated tachycardic response to acute air-puff stress (ΔHR: SD 51 ± 20 versus TG 1 ± 3 bpm; p < .05), which was reversed by intracerebroventricular injection of the Mas receptor antagonist, A-779 (ΔHR: SD 51 ± 20 versus TG 63 ± 15 bpm). TG rats showed less anxious behavior on the elevated plus maze, as revealed by more entries into open arms (SD 2 ± 2 versus TG 47 ± 5% relative to total entries; p < .05), and more time spent in the open arms (SD 5 ± 4 versus TG 53 ± 9% relative to total time, p < .05). By contrast with SD rats, diazepam (1.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) did not further reduce anxious behavior in TG rats, indicating a ceiling anxiolytic effect of Ang-(1-7) overexpression. Ang-(1-7) concentrations in hypothalamus and plasma, measured by mass spectrometry were two- and three-fold greater, respectively, in TG rats than in SD rats. Hence, increased endogenous Ang-(1-7) levels in TG rats diminishes renal sympathetic outflow and attenuates cardiac reactivity to emotional stress, which may be via central Mas receptors, and reduces anxious behavior. Lay summaryWe used a genetically modified rat model that produces above normal amounts of a peptide hormone called angiotensin-(1-7) to test whether this peptide can reduce some of the effects of stress. We found that angiotensin-(1-7), acting in the brain, can reduce anxiety and reduce the increase in heart rate associated with emotional stress. These findings may provide a lead for design of new drugs to reduce stress.


[Repair of soft tissue defects of hand with pudendo-femoral skin flaps].
Soft tissue defects of the hand have been repaired with free pudendo-femoral skin flaps in 13 patients. The results are quite satisfactory in all cases. The flaps are thin with little fat to interfere with post-operative appearance. The donor sites are well-hidden and can be primarily closed with no functional disturbances. Hence the ideal donor site for soft tissue defects of the hand.


The effect of chronic estrogen application on bile and gallstone composition in women with cholelithiasis.
Chronic application of third generation progestagens as contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could influence the serum lipid profile, and consequently the bile and gallstone composition. The aim of this study was to determine components of serum, bile and gallstones in women of reproductive age or postmenopausal women using hormonal third generation for at least two years. We enrolled 101 Caucasian women with cholelithiasis. The study included 45 women of reproductive age and 56 postmenopausal women who were divided into subgroups receiving or not exogenous female hormones. In patients we determined serum levels of 17β-estradiol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol as well as composition of gallstones and bile. The postmenopausal women showed a significant reduction in the concentration of bile acids in serum while the application of HRT caused an increase in their contents. Serum total and LDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women was higher than in women without hormonal contraception and postmenopausal patients with HRT. Moreover, women taking the exogenous hormones showed a reduced content of calcium ions in both serum, bile and gallstones. Our observations confirm that the chronic use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy cause an increase in bile lithogenity.


Role of vagal C-fiber afferents in respiratory response to hypercapnia.
The respiratory response to hypercapnia has been investigated in 10 anesthetized rabbits by use of a rebreathing technique. The responses were obtained in three situations: with one intact vagus nerve (control), during differential block of conduction, and after vagotomy. Differential block was achieved using anodal hyperpolarization by application of a direct current to the cervical vagus nerve. Great care was taken during the differential block to establish that all impulse conduction in myelinated fibers of the cervical vagus nerve was abolished but that the nonmyelinated fibers conducted normally. Additionally, in five more rabbits the nature of the differential block was confirmed from single-fiber recordings of activity in both myelinated and nonmyelinated fibers. The same increase in tidal volume in response to hypercapnia was present in all three experimental situations, indicating that it was not vagally mediated. The increase in frequency in response to hypercapnia in the control state was abolished by vagotomy but preserved when only the nonmyelinated fibers were functioning during the differential block. This increased frequency response, attributable to decreases in both inspiratory and expiratory durations, was usually enhanced during the differential block, despite the slower deeper pattern of breathing attributed to loss of activity in myelinated fibers. The implications of this reflex increase in frequency in response to hypercapnia, mediated by nonmyelinated vagal endings in the lung, are discussed.


[Functional restructuring of the bush-like receptor during the suppression of anaerobic glycolysis].
The bush-like receptors of frog's bladder have been investigated simultaneously by vital microscopic, and spectrophotometric studies and registration of biopotentials. It is demonstrated that electrogenic function of receptors is suppressed by monoiodacetate and anoxia more rapidly than without monoiodacetate. At the same time reducing of methylene blue into receptors is accelerated. This demonstrates a damage of power metabolism of sensory terminals. It is suggested that the changes result from blockade of anaerobic glycolysis being an alternative way for power maintenance of receptor function under anoxia.


The history of risk: a review.
In the USA alone, around 22 million patients annually discuss the need for surgical procedure with their surgeon. On a global scale, more than 200 million patients are exposed to the risk of undergoing a surgical procedure every year. A crucial part of the informed consent process for surgery is the understanding of risk, the probability of complications, and the predicted occurrence of adverse events. Ironically, risk quantification, risk stratification, and risk management are not necessarily part of a surgeon's core skillset, considering the lengthy surgical training curriculum towards technical excellence. The present review was designed to provide a concise historic perspective on the evolution of our current understanding of risk and probability, which represent the key underlying pillars of the shared decision-making process between surgeons and patients when discussing surgical treatment options.


Children's Early Decontextualized Talk Predicts Academic Language Proficiency in Midadolescence.
This study examines whether children's decontextualized talk-talk about nonpresent events, explanations, or pretend-at 30 months predicts seventh-grade academic language proficiency (age 12). Academic language (AL) refers to the language of school texts. AL proficiency has been identified as an important predictor of adolescent text comprehension. Yet research on precursors to AL proficiency is scarce. Child decontextualized talk is known to be a predictor of early discourse development, but its relation to later language outcomes remains unclear. Forty-two children and their caregivers participated in this study. The proportion of child talk that was decontextualized emerged as a significant predictor of seventh-grade AL proficiency, even after controlling for socioeconomic status, parent decontextualized talk, child total words, child vocabulary, and child syntactic comprehension.


The importance of the conserved Arg191-Asp227 salt bridge of triosephosphate isomerase for folding, stability, and catalysis.
Triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) has a conserved salt bridge 20 A away from both the active site and the dimer interface. In this study, four salt bridge mutants of Trypanosoma brucei brucei TIM were characterized. The folding and stability of the mutants are impaired compared to the wild-type enzyme. This salt bridge is part of a hydrogen bonding network which tethers the C-terminal beta7alpha7beta8alpha8 unit to the bulk of the protein. In the variants D227N, D227A, and R191S, this network is preserved, as can be deduced from the structure of the R191S variant. In the R191A variant, the side chain at position 191 cannot contribute to this network. Also the catalytic power of this variant is most affected.


Effect of blending calcium compounds on hydrolytic degradation of poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid).
To clarify the effect of blending calcium compounds with different acidity or basicity on the degradation of poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). composite materials composed of PLGA incorporated with 30 mass% of calcium dihydrogenphosphate (CDHP), calcium hydrogenphosphate, calcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate (CC) were prepared by mixing in dioxane followed by freeze-drying. The porous composite materials were then compressed to yield nonporous films with 0.5 mm thickness. The blend films and the unfilled films as a control were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C. Specimens were removed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and subjected to measuring of water absorption, mass loss, thickness change, and molecular weight. The temporal changes in appearance and measurements for the five materials differed from each other; especially, the CC blend differed from the other four materials. The degradation of PLGA decreased with increasing basicity of the calcium compounds blended. The most basic CC was most effective to delay the degradation, while the most acidic CDHP was least effective. However, even CDHP had appreciable degradation-delaying effects compared with unfilled PLGA. Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that degradation of PLGA can be varied by blending inorganic compounds with different basicity.


[Investigation of the Renal Function Evaluation in the Living Donor Renal Transplantation Candidate at Our Center].
In Japan, the number of living renal transplant donors with medical complications has been increasing in recent years due to the.aging of donors. It is important to assess donor renal function properly before donation to ensure donor safety. This study aimed to assess different renal function measures of donors, includ- ing serum creatinine (Cr), creatinine clearance (Ccr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and inulin clearance (Cin). The mean Cr and eGFR values of 64 donors before surgery and at 1 month, 1 year, and 3 years after surgery were 0.74, 1.15, 1.13, and 1.05 mg/dL, respectively, and 71.7, 42.4, 44.9, and 49.5 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. Values of eGFR 3 years after surgery in 20 out of 36 donors (55.6%) were less than 50 mL/min/1.73m2, showing that moderately decreased levels of GFR persist for a long time after donation. The preoperative renal function of 20 candidate donors was evaluated based on Cr, Ccr, eGFR, and Cin. The mean preoperative values were Cr 0.74 mg/dL, eGFR 71.9 mL/min/1.73m2, Ccr 137.3 mL/min, and Cin 92.9 mL/min. Ccr overestimated Cin in 18 out of 20 donors (90%) and eGFR underestimated Cin in 16 donors (80%). Cin measurements are complicated, which can lead to human errors in measurement. Conversely, eGFR measurements are simple but are inferior to Cin in terms of accuracy; therefore, the pre- operative renal function of donors should be evaluated by Cin, combined with other tests as much as possible to ensure a safe living renal transplant. [Original].


Visualization by an atomic force microscope of the surface of ultra-thin sections of rat kidney and liver cells embedded in LR white.
We visualized the surface of ultra-thin sections of rat liver and kidney embedded in LR White resin using an atomic force microscope. The section surface always showed depressions corresponding to the embedded cells at the plasma membrane, at the basal lamina, at mitochondria, and chromatin blocks in the nucleus. The depth of the depression corresponding to the plasma membrane was about 6 nm in both hepatocytes and several types of kidney cells. At the basal lamina, mitochondria, and the chromatin blocks, sections showed deeper depressions of about 10-30 nm. In addition, cytoplasmic surfaces showed strong relief, 3-4 nm on average. The surfaces of the resin block left after ultrathin sectioning showed protrusions corresponding to cells, mitochondria, and the chromatin blocks. In marked contrast, the surface of epon sections was much smoother than that of LR White sections, without showing any marked depressions and relief except for the chromatin blocks of the nucleus. The relation of the surface morphology of the ultrathin sections to the efficiency of immunolabeling is discussed.


Influence of polymerization conditions on monomer elution and microhardness of autopolymerized polymethyl methacrylate resin.
Residual monomer contents and surface hardness are important factors in determining the serviceability of provisional restorations. The intent of this study was to systemically evaluate the effects of curing conditions on provisional polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resins which utilize a free-radical polymerization reaction. Combinations of the three curing factors of temperature, pressure, curing environment (water/air) were adjusted during the fabrication of autopolymerized specimen disks. The initial hardness of tested materials was measured with a microhardness tester 1 h after disc fabrication, and the amounts of residual methyl methacrylate (MMA) released into water were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC after 7 d of water immersion. Results from multiple regressions showed that curing temperature was the dominant factor in improving resin surface hardness, whereas curing in water was the key factor for reducing the quantity of residual monomer. The pressure factor, which was thought to be critical for managing autopolymerized resins, showed no significant influences on the properties tested. ANOVA results showed that provisional PMMA resins cured in hot water, with or without pressure, significantly reduced the amount of residual MMA elution (up to 80%) and increased the microhardness values (up to 50%).


Canonical analysis of correlated atomic motions in DNA from molecular dynamics simulation.
We report a method for analyzing atomic correlated motions in biopolymers from trajectories obtained by molecular dynamics simulation. A correlation coefficient based on the canonical analysis of data is defined which is independent on the relative orientation of atomic displacement. To illustrate the method we studied correlation between positional fluctuations of protons in the double-stranded self complementary oligonucleotide d(CTGAT-CAG), deduced from a 200 ps molecular dynamics simulation in the presence of explicit water molecules and counterions. It is found that on this time scale the motions of protons belonging to different residues are poorly coupled while the motion of a base proton is correlated to the motion of the sugar ring protons of the same nucleotide. Such a method may be generalized to study correlated motions of two distinct domains of a macro-molecule.


Population size and relatedness affect fitness of a self-incompatible invasive plant.
One of the lingering paradoxes in invasion biology is how founder populations of an introduced species are able to overcome the limitations of small size and, in a "reversal of fortune," proliferate in a new habitat. The transition from colonist to invader is especially enigmatic for self-incompatible species, which must find a mate to reproduce. In small populations, the inability to find a mate can result in the Allee effect, a positive relationship between individual fitness and population size or density. Theoretically, the Allee effect should be common in founder populations of self-incompatible colonizing species and may account for the high rate of failed introductions, but little supporting evidence exists. We created a field experiment to test whether the Allee effect affects the maternal fitness of a self-incompatible invasive species, wild radish (Raphanus sativus). We created populations of varying size and relatedness. We measured maternal fitness in terms of both fruit set per flower and seed number per fruit. We found that both population size and the level of genetic relatedness among individuals influence maternal reproductive success. Our results explicitly define an ecological genetic obstacle faced by populations of an exotic species on its way to becoming invasive. Such a mechanistic understanding of the invasions of species that require a mate can and should be exploited for both controlling current outbreaks and reducing their frequency in the future.


Seasonal variation of population and individual dietary niche in the avivorous bat, Ia io.
The variation in niche breadth can affect how species respond to environmental and resource changes. However, there is still no clear understanding of how seasonal variability in food resources impacts the variation of individual dietary diversity, thereby affecting the dynamics of a population's dietary niche breadth. Optimal foraging theory (OFT) and the niche variation hypothesis (NVH) predict that when food resources are limited, the population niche breadth will widen or narrow due to increased within-individual dietary diversity and individual specialization or reduced within-individual dietary diversity, respectively. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding to examine the composition and seasonality of diets of the avivorous bat Ia io. Furthermore, we investigated how the dietary niches changed among seasons and how the population niche breadth changed when the availability of insect resources was reduced in autumn. We found that there was differentiation in dietary niches among seasons and a low degree of overlap, and the decrease of insect resource availability and the emergence of ecological opportunities of nocturnal migratory birds might drive dietary niche shifts toward birds in I. io. However, the population's dietary niche breadth did not broaden by increasing the within-individual dietary diversity or individual specialization, but rather became narrower by reducing dietary diversity via predation on bird resources that served as an ecological opportunity when insect resources were scarce in autumn. Our findings were consistent with the predictions of OFT, because birds as prey for bats provided extremely different resources from those of insects in size and nutritional value. Our work highlights the importance of size and quality of prey resources along with other factors (i.e., physiological, behavioral, and life-history traits) in dietary niche variation.


Serum γ-glutamyltransferase level and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is positively related to cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MetS), in adult populations. Our aim was to investigate whether serum GGT is independently associated with MetS and its components in a nationally representative sample of Korean children and adolescents. The study included data from 1,618 participants (867 boys, 751 girls) aged 10-18 years from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. MetS was diagnosed by the 2007 International Diabetes Federation criteria for children and adolescents. Participants were stratified using a cut-off value of the 75th percentile of serum GGT levels (19 IU/L for boys, 15 IU/L for girls). The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for MetS and its components were determined with multiple logistic regression analyses. The mean values of most cardiometabolic variables were significantly higher in the upper stratum. Except for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in boys and elevated blood pressure in girls, participants in the upper GGT stratum had significantly higher odds of MetS and its components than those in the lower stratum. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for MetS for the upper stratum were 5.79 (95% confidence interval 1.21-27.02) in boys and 6.20 (95% confidence interval 1.71-22.47) in girls, after adjusting for age, household income and residential area. Serum GGT was positively associated with MetS and its components in Korean children and adolescents. Serum GGT could be a useful measure for identifying children and adolescents with MetS.


The expression of DNA methyltransferases3A is specifically downregulated in chorionic villi of early embryo growth arrest cases.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression pattern of four DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B and DNMT3L) in placenta chorionic villi of early embryo growth arrest patients. Chorionic villous specimens were obtained from 40 pregnant patients diagnosed with early embryo growth arrest and 40 healthy women who underwent selective pregnancy termination. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were performed to characterize the mRNA and protein expression of DNMTs in chorionic villous cells. It was identified, among the four DNMTs, DNMT3B presented the highest level of protein expression in both patient groups. Although the mRNA expressions of the four DNMTs were comparable, the DNMT3A protein was specifically downregulated in patients with early embryo growth arrest. Therefore, the current study suggests that an abnormal decrease in DNMT3A protein levels may be involved in the pathogenesis of early embryo growth arrest.


Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its biological activity.
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic glycoprotein belonging to the IL-6 family of cytokines. It shows a wide range of biologic activities that include the growth promotion and cell differentiation of different types of target cells, influence on bone metabolism, cachexia, neural development, embryogenesis and inflammation. LIF has potent proinflammatory property, being the inducer of the acute phase protein synthesis and affecting the cell recruitment into the area of damage or inflammation. LIF is also one of the cytokines that are capable to regulate the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, hematopoietic and neuronal cells. Due to its polyfunctional activities, LIF is involved in the pathogenic events and development of many diseases of various origin.


The camptodactyly-arthropathy-coxa vara-pericarditis syndrome: clinical features and genetic mapping to human chromosome 1.
To delineate the clinical features in patients with the autosomal recessive camptodactyly-arthropathy-coxa vara-pericarditis syndrome (CACP) and to determine the location of the involved gene. Eight affected individuals (ages 2-15 years) with CACP from 4 consanguineous kindreds were clinically evaluated. Four patients are newly described and 4 have been reported previously. Findings were compared with those in 21 other previously reported cases. DNA obtained from the 8 affected patients and their available siblings and parents was used in a genome-wide search for linkage. Congenital camptodactyly and childhood-onset noninflammatory arthropathy were present in all affected patients. Seven patients developed bilateral coxa vara deformity, and 1 developed coxa magna with cystic erosions. Two of the patients also had symptoms or signs of pericarditis. A genome-wide search for linkage identified homozygosity for a series of genetic markers on human chromosome 1q in all affected patients. The marker D1S191 yielded a maximum logarithm of the odds ratio (LOD score) of 3.3 at theta = 0. The CACP gene lies within a 1.9-cM candidate interval defined by the markers D1S2107 and D1S222. The principal features of the CACP syndrome are congenital or early-onset camptodactyly and childhood-onset noninflammatory arthropathy. Coxa vara deformity or other dysplasia associated with progressive hip disease may develop over time. Clinical pericarditis may also occur. A locus responsible for causing CACP syndrome is assigned to a 1.9-cM interval on human chromosome 1q25-31 by homozygosity mapping. This now facilitates the identification of the responsible gene and permits testing for locus homogeneity in other CACP kindreds.


A specific role for the human amygdala in olfactory memory.
The medial temporal lobe is known to play a role in the processing of olfaction and memory. The specific contribution of the human amygdala to memory for odors has not been addressed, however. The role of this region in memory for odors was assessed in patients with unilateral amygdala damage due to temporal lobectomy (n = 20; 11 left, 9 right), one patient with selective bilateral amygdala damage, and in 20 age-matched normal controls. Fifteen odors were presented, followed 1 h later by an odor-name matching test and an odor-odor recognition test. Signal detection analyses showed that both unilateral groups were impaired in their memory for matching odors with names, these patients were not significantly impaired on odor-odor recognition. Bilateral amygdala damage resulted in severe impairment in both odor-name matching as well as in odor-odor recognition memory. Importantly, none of the patients were impaired on an auditory verbal learning task, suggesting that these findings reflect a specific impairment in olfactory memory, and not merely a more general memory deficit. Taken together, the data provide neuropsychological evidence that the human amygdala is essential for olfactory memory.


Temple and Postauricular Dissection in Face and Neck Lift Surgery.
Periauricular paresthesia may afflict patients for a significant amount of time after facelift surgery. When performing face and neck lift surgery, temple and posterior auricular flap dissection is undertaken directly over the auriculotemporal, great auricular, and lesser occipital nerve territory, leading to potential damage to the nerve. The auriculotemporal nerve remains under the thin outer superficial fascia just below the subfollicular level in the prehelical area. To prevent damage to the auriculotemporal nerve and to protect the temporal hair follicle, the dissection plane should be kept just above the thin fascia covering the auriculotemporal nerve. Around the McKinney point, the adipose tissue covering the deep fascia is apt to be elevated from the deep fascia due to its denser fascial relationship with the skin, which leaves the great auricular nerve open to exposure. In order to prevent damage to the posterior branches of the great auricular nerve, the skin flap at the posterior auricular sulcus should be elevated above the auricularis posterior muscle. Fixating the superficial muscular aponeurotic system flap deeper and higher to the tympano-parotid fascia is recommended in order to avoid compromising the lobular branch of the great auricular nerve. The lesser occipital nerve (C2, C3) travels superficially at a proximal and variable level that makes it vulnerable to compromise in the mastoid dissection. Leaving the adipose tissue at the level of the deep fascia puts the branches of the great auricular nerve and lesser occipital nerve at less risk, and has been confirmed not to compromise either tissue perfusion or hair follicles.


"Prozac Baby" - 25 years of motherisk research into SSRIs and alcohol in pregnancy.
A summary of the debate regarding the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy is presented through the story of Prozac Baby. This is a diary of a fetus who finds out (to his horror) that his mother intends to abort him due to misinformation she has received. The novel, Prozac Baby, was written by Dr. Gideon Koren, based on his experience at Motherisk. An update on the risks of alcohol in pregnancy is also provided.


Amplitude modulation coding in awake mice and squirrel monkeys.
Both mice and primates are used to model the human auditory system. The primate order possesses unique cortical specializations that govern auditory processing. Given the power of molecular and genetic tools available in the mouse model, it is essential to understand the similarities and differences in auditory cortical processing between mice and primates. To address this issue, we directly compared temporal encoding properties of neurons in the auditory cortex of awake mice and awake squirrel monkeys (SQMs). Stimuli were drawn from a sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM) paradigm, which has been used previously both to characterize temporal precision and to model the envelopes of natural sounds. Neural responses were analyzed with linear template-based decoders. In both species, spike timing information supported better modulation frequency discrimination than rate information, and multiunit responses generally supported more accurate discrimination than single-unit responses from the same site. However, cortical responses in SQMs supported better discrimination overall, reflecting superior temporal precision and greater rate modulation relative to the spontaneous baseline and suggesting that spiking activity in mouse cortex was less strictly regimented by incoming acoustic information. The quantitative differences we observed between SQM and mouse cortex support the idea that SQMs offer advantages for modeling precise responses to fast envelope dynamics relevant to human auditory processing. Nevertheless, our results indicate that cortical temporal processing is qualitatively similar in mice and SQMs and thus recommend the mouse model for mechanistic questions, such as development and circuit function, where its substantial methodological advantages can be exploited. NEW & NOTEWORTHY To understand the advantages of different model organisms, it is necessary to directly compare sensory responses across species. Contrasting temporal processing in auditory cortex of awake squirrel monkeys and mice, with parametrically matched amplitude-modulated tone stimuli, reveals a similar role of timing information in stimulus encoding. However, disparities in response precision and strength suggest that anatomical and biophysical differences between squirrel monkeys and mice produce quantitative but not qualitative differences in processing strategy.


Clinical and serologic evaluations of induced Borrelia burgdorferi infection in dogs.
Adult Beagles were used to evaluate clinical signs and serologic response after inoculation with, or exposure to, Borrelia burgdorferi. An indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and 2 ELISA were used to monitor the serologic response to B burgdorferi. Feeding infected ticks on 4 dogs (group 1) failed to cause seroconversion, and SC inoculation with 500 organisms caused minimal seroconversion in 2 of 4 dogs (group 2). At 56 days, approximately 3.01 X 10(8) B burgdorferi organisms were injected IV into group-1 dogs, and intraperitoneally into group-2 dogs. A control group of 4 dogs (group 3) had noninfected ticks feed on them, and then were given IV injection of physiologic saline solution. Increases in immunoglobulin M (IgM) titers were detected in 2 of 4 group-2 dogs approximately 7 days after the initial exposure. These titers returned to negligible values 20 days later. Immunoglobulin G titers increased approximately 10 days after the initial exposure and were mildly increased 56 days later, when dogs were exposed a second time. Both the IV and intraperitoneal injections (second exposures) resulted in increased IgM titers, which in both groups eventually returned to preexposure values after approximately 2 months. Immunoglobulin G titers increased within a week after the second exposure, and in 3 dogs monitored for 8 months, returned to negligible values after the 8-month period. One control dog had a slightly increased IgG titer 24 days after the second inoculation. The possibility of urine transmission is suggested. Clinical status, hemograms, serum biochemical profiles, ECG and results of urinalyses remained normal throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Doing good medical ethics: a Christian perspective.
Despite the rise of the secular state, religion remains a significant force in society. Within Christianity this encompasses a wide variety of beliefs. These range from simple assertions of theism in a cultural context to complex theologies; from liberal emphases on uncertainty and exploration to dogmatic views of divine revelation. How one 'does' good medical ethics depends on these perspectives. Contingently, the Christian contribution to medical ethics has been huge and constructive. Central to that contribution is a core belief in the intrinsic value of human life, respect for which we are accountable to God. Christianity continues to deserve its place 'in the public square' and, specifically, in medical ethical discourse.


Patient-provider relationship predicts mental and physical health indicators for HIV-positive men who have sex with men.
We used secondary data analysis to examine associations among aspects of patient-provider relationships and mental and physical health indicators. Positive patient perceptions of patient-provider relationships were associated with fewer mental health symptoms in this outpatient sample of HIV-positive men who have sex with men (N = 171). Regression analyses revealed the role of anxiety and depression in explaining associations between two aspects of patient-provider relationships (i.e. quality of information offered and provider interactional style) and health-related quality of life. The findings demonstrated the importance of patient-provider relationships to improving physical health and functioning and maintaining engagement in care, among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.


Effects of severe dietary restriction on male reproductive hormones.
The reproductive hormone response to severe caloric restriction (600 Cal day-1) was studied in six men 33-67% over ideal body weight who completed a 32-day protocol consisting of three periods in the following order: control (4 days), maintenance protein and energy; diet A (14 days), 50 g lean beef protein plus 50 g casein; and diet B (14 days), 50 g lean beef protein plus 50 g carbohydrate. Weight loss (8.7-12.5 kg) was associated with a decrease in mean blood glucose [4.52 +/- 0.60 (+/- SEM), 3.49 +/- 0.29, and 3.80 +/- 0.30 mM] and an increase in beta-hydroxybutyrate (less than 0.10, 2.09 +/- 0.44, and 1.06 +/- 0.34 mM), as determined on the final morning of each period. On the same days, mean serum FSH and LH responses to LHRH infusion of 0.2 micrograms min-1 for 4 h (expressed as milliinternational units per ml area under the concentration-time curve) were: FSH, 1558 +/- 359, 1336 +/- 545, and 1337 +/- 321 (P = NS); and LH, 1730 +/- 545, 1612 +/- 481, and 1782 +/- 556 (P = NS), respectively. Basal serum FSH, LH, free testosterone (T), and total T changed, while 24-h urinary LH and FSH excretion increased on diet A only. Unlike 10 days of total fasting, during which the same amount of weight was lost, basal serum FSH and LHRH-stimulated serum FSH responses were both significantly diminished by 25%, and serum T was diminished by 19% (1), these same parameters were little changed by either low energy diet. The increased urinary excretion of FSH and LH during diet A suggests that greater ketosis increases renal gonadotropin clearance.


Eastern equine encephalitis in Tennessee: 2002-2008.
Human and equine outbreaks caused by eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) typically occur in North America adjacent to coastal wetlands associated with the presence of Culiseta melanura (Coquillet) mosquitoes. Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is an emerging disease in Tennessee, as the first records of equine disease began in 2002. In 2006 we trapped and tested mosquitoes for EEEV at hardwood swamps in western Tennessee that were at the epicenter of a multi-equine outbreak in fall of 2005. Additionally, the Tennessee Valley Authority tested mosquito pools collected in Tennessee swamps from 2000 to 2007 for the presence of arboviruses. Two pools of EEEV positive Culex erraticus (Dyer and Knab) mosquitoes were found (one each in 2003 and 2004) in a county adjacent to where the 2005 outbreak occurred. In 2008, another EEE outbreak involving multiple horses occurred in West Tennessee. A brain specimen was collected from a horse during this outbreak and the first isolate of EEEV from Tennessee was obtained. In total, 74,531 mosquitoes collected from 2000 to 2008 were tested via polymerase chain reaction and VecTest for EEEV. The traditional enzootic vector, Cs. melanura, was found in low numbers at all collection sites. Cx. erraticus, however, was consistently found in high numbers and was the only mosquito species in which EEEV was detected. We suggest that EEE transmission may be maintained by Cx. erraticus in a nontraditional cycle. We discuss the importance of a nontraditional cycle from the perspective of EEEV adaptation and emergence.


A novel lung radiomics feature for characterizing resting heart rate and COPD stage evolution based on radiomics feature combination strategy.
The resting HR is an upward trend with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity. Chest computed tomography (CT) has been regarded as the most effective modality for characterizing and quantifying COPD. Therefore, CT images should provide more information to analyze the lung and heart relationship. The relationship between HR variability and PFT or/and COPD has been fully revealed, but the relationship between resting HR variability and COPD radiomics features remains unclear. 231 sets of chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) images from "COPD patients" (at risk of COPD and stage I to IV) are segmented by the trained lung region segmentation model (ResU-Net). Based on the chest HRCT images and lung segmentation images, 231 sets of the original lung parenchyma images are obtained. 1316 COPD radiomics features of each subject are calculated by the original lung parenchyma images and its derived lung parenchyma images. The 13 selected COPD radiomics features related to the resting HR are generated from the Lasso model. A COPD radiomics features combination strategy is proposed to satisfy the significant change of the lung radiomics feature among the different COPD stages. Results show no significance between COPD stage Ⅰ and COPD stage Ⅱ of the 13 selected COPD radiomics features, and the lung radiomics feature Y1-Y4 (P > 0.05). The lung radiomics feature F2 with the dominant selected COPD radiomics features based on the proposed COPD radiomics features combination significantly increases with the development of COPD stages (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the lung radiomics feature F2 with the dominant selected COPD radiomics features not only can characterize the resting HR but also can characterize the COPD stage evolution.