Comment on "Multicomponent nucleation: Thermodynamically consistent description of the nucleation work" [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 3749 (2004)].
In the above cited paper, Kashchiev extends the "thermodynamically consistent" description of nucleation work to phase formation processes in multicomponent systems. It is claimed that this approach is generally applicable widely independent on the kind of phase transformation considered. In contrast to this statement, it is shown in our Comment that Kashchiev's approach is theoretically not well founded. It contains, in addition, a number of assumptions, which are not generally fulfilled. Because of this his method cannot give, in general, a satisfactory determination of the work of critical cluster formation in nucleation theory. An experimental example is given verifying our conclusions.


The primary effects of clinorotation on cultured human mesenchymal stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are specific cells capable of long-term proliferation and differentiation into various stromal tissue cell types. The state of MSCs depends on the cellular microenvironment and several soluble factors. We proposed that gravity could, in addition, influence MSCs features. To prove this hypothesis, we studied the effects of prolonged clinorotation on cultured human MSC morphology, proliferation rate and expression of specific cellular markers. Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated by Histopaque-1.077 density centrifugation and cultured in DMEM-LG with 10% FBS. MSC cultures were composed of fibroblastoid cells negative for hemopoietic cell markers and positive for ASMA, collagen-1, fibronectin, CD54, CD105 and CD106. Cells were exposed to clinorotation from 1 hour to 10 days. It was shown that the proliferative rate was decreased in experimental cultures as compared to cells growing in normal conditions. Clinorotated MSCs appeared more flattened and reached confluence at a lower cell density. The obtained results suggest that cultured human mesenchymal stem cells sense the changes in gravity vector and may respond to microgravity by altered functional activity.


Controlled delivery of tauroursodeoxycholic acid from biodegradable microspheres slows retinal degeneration and vision loss in P23H rats.
Successful drug therapies for treating ocular diseases require effective concentrations of neuroprotective compounds maintained over time at the site of action. The purpose of this work was to assess the efficacy of intravitreal controlled delivery of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres for the treatment of the retina in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. PLGA microspheres (MSs) containing TUDCA were produced by the O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. Particle size and morphology were assessed by light scattering and scanning electronic microscopy, respectively. Homozygous P23H line 3 rats received a treatment of intravitreal injections of TUDCA-PLGA MSs. Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography at P30, P60, P90 and P120. The density, structure and synaptic contacts of retinal neurons were analyzed using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy at P90 and P120. TUDCA-loaded PLGA MSs were spherical, with a smooth surface. The production yield was 78%, the MSs mean particle size was 23 μm and the drug loading resulted 12.5 ± 0.8 μg TUDCA/mg MSs. MSs were able to deliver the loaded active compound in a gradual and progressive manner over the 28-day in vitro release study. Scotopic electroretinografic responses showed increased ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes in TUDCA-PLGA-MSs-treated eyes as compared to those injected with unloaded PLGA particles. TUDCA-PLGA-MSs-treated eyes showed more photoreceptor rows than controls. The synaptic contacts of photoreceptors with bipolar and horizontal cells were also preserved in P23H rats treated with TUDCA-PLGA MSs. This work indicates that the slow and continuous delivery of TUDCA from PLGA-MSs has potential neuroprotective effects that could constitute a suitable therapy to prevent neurodegeneration and visual loss in retinitis pigmentosa.


Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants: a mini review.
Mangrove plants are specialised plants that grow in the tidal coasts of tropic and subtropic regions of the world. Their unique ecology and traditional medicinal uses of mangrove plants have attracted the attention of researchers over the years, and as a result, reports on biological activity of mangrove plants have increased significantly in recent years. This review has been set out to compile and appraise the results on antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants. While the Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and PubMed were the starting points to gather information, other pieces of relevant published literature were also adequately explored for this purpose. A total of 29 reports on 17 plant species have been found to report such activities. While 19 reports were on the biological activity of the crude extracts, 10 reports identified the active compound(s) of various chemical classes of natural products including terpenes, steroids, and flavonoids. This review finds that antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity appears to be widespread in mangrove plants.


PpRT1: the first complete gypsy-like retrotransposon isolated in Pinus pinaster.
We have isolated and characterized a complete retrotransposon sequence, named PpRT1, from the genome of Pinus pinaster. PpRT1 is 5,966 bp long and is closely related to IFG7 gypsy retrotransposon from Pinus radiata. The long terminal repeats (LTRs) have 333 bp each and show a 5.4% sequence divergence between them. In addition to the characteristic polypurine tract (PPT) and the primer binding site (PBS), PpRT1 carries internal regions with homology to retroviral genes gag and pol. The pol region contains sequence motifs related to the enzymes protease, reverse transcriptase, RNAseH and integrase in the same typical order known for Ty3/gypsy-like retrotransposons. PpRT1 was extended from an EST database sequence indicating that its transcription is occurring in pine tissues. Southern blot analyses indicate however, that PpRT1 is present in a unique or a low number of copies in the P. pinaster genome. The differences in nucleotide sequence found between PpRT1 and IFG7 may explain the strikingly different copy number in the two pine species genome. Based on the homologies observed when comparing LTR region among different gypsy elements we propose that the highly conserved LTR regions may be useful to amplify other retrotransposon sequences of the same or close retrotransposon family.


ELF-MF exposure affects the robustness of epigenetic programming during granulopoiesis.
Extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) have been classified as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans on the grounds of an epidemiological association of ELF-MF exposure with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia. Yet, underlying mechanisms have remained obscure. Genome instability seems an unlikely reason as the energy transmitted by ELF-MF is too low to damage DNA and induce cancer-promoting mutations. ELF-MF, however, may perturb the epigenetic code of genomes, which is well-known to be sensitive to environmental conditions and generally deranged in cancers, including leukaemia. We examined the potential of ELF-MF to influence key epigenetic modifications in leukaemic Jurkat cells and in human CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells undergoing in vitro differentiation into the neutrophilic lineage. During granulopoiesis, sensitive genome-wide profiling of multiple replicate experiments did not reveal any statistically significant, ELF-MF-dependent alterations in the patterns of active (H3K4me2) and repressive (H3K27me3) histone marks nor in DNA methylation. However, ELF-MF exposure showed consistent effects on the reproducibility of these histone and DNA modification profiles (replicate variability), which appear to be of a stochastic nature but show preferences for the genomic context. The data indicate that ELF-MF exposure stabilizes active chromatin, particularly during the transition from a repressive to an active state during cell differentiation.


Co-infections, genetic, and antigenic relatedness of avian influenza H5N8 and H5N1 viruses in domestic and wild birds in Egypt.
A total of 50 poultry farms of commercial broilers (N = 39) and commercial layers (N = 11) suffered from respiratory problems and mortality during the period from January 2016 to December 2017 were investigated. Also, samples were collected from quail (N = 4), Bluebird (Sialis, N = 1), and Greenfinch (Chloris chloris, N = 1) for analysis. Respiratory viral pathogens were screened by PCR and positive samples were subjected to virus isolation and genetic identification. Antigenic relatedness of isolated avian influenza (AI) H5 subtype was evaluated using cross-hemagglutination inhibition. Results revealed that the incidence of single virus infections in commercial broilers was 64.1% (25/39), with the highest incidence for ND (33.3%) and H9N2 (20.5%), followed by H5N1 (7.7%) and H5N8 (2.7). Meanwhile, H9N2/ND mixed infection was the most observed case (7.7%). Other mixed infections H5N1/ND, H5N1/H9N2/ND, H5N1/H9N2/ND/IB, H9N2/IB, and H9N2/ILT were also observed (2.6% each). In commercial layers, H5N1 and ILT were the only detected single infections (18.1% each). Mixed H9N2/ND was the most predominant infection in layers (27.3%). Other mixed infections of H9N2/IB, H5N1/H5N8/H9N2, and H9N2/ND/IB were observed in 3 separate farms (9.1% each). The H5N8 virus was detected in one quail farm and 2 out of 3 wild bird's samples. Partial HA gene sequence analysis showed the clustering of the selected AI H5N8 within the 18.104.22.168 clade, while H5N1 clustered with the clade 126.96.36.199. Interestingly, the H5N8 isolated from chickens possessed 6 amino acids substitutions at HA1 compared to those isolated from wild birds with low antigenic relatedness to AI H5N1 clades 2.2.1 or 184.108.40.206. In conclusion, mixed viral infections were observed in both broiler and layer chickens in Egypt. The detected triple H5N1, H9N2, and H5N8 influenza co-infection raises the concern of potential AI epidemic strain emergence. The low genetic and antigenic relatedness between AI H5N1 and H5N8 viruses suggest the need for modification of vaccination strategies of avian influenza in Egypt along with strict biosecurity measures.


Prevalence study of substance abuse in a midwestern city.
Illicit substance abuse among pregnant women has been documented in many large metropolitan areas. However, there has been limited documentation in smaller, more traditional cities of America. The urine of 105 viable newborns delivered within a 30-day period was tested for illicit drugs in a blind study. Positive results were obtained in 9.5% of the subjects. The following demographic data were compiled about the subjects: (a) type of identified substance; (b) age of mother; (c) timing of mother's entry into prenatal care; (d) maternal complications; (e) newborn complications; (f) newborn gestational age; and (g) mother's economic status.


Impact of ambulatory SBP and overweight on executive function performance in children and adolescents.
Neurocognitive impairment has recently emerged as a hypertensive target organ damage in children and adolescents. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of hypertension and overweight on executive function performance in youth. The study population included 116 consecutive children and adolescents referred to our outpatient hypertension clinic who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and assessment of executive function by Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Children and adolescents with hypertension presented higher T scores in shift sub-scale of Behavior Regulation Index (BRI) compared with normotensives. Participants with hypertension in the ABPM also presented higher T scores in subscales of metacognition (metacognition index). Night-time SBP correlated with BRI (r = 0.21, P < 0.05) and metacognition index (r = 0.19, P < 0.05) composite scales. BMI z score also correlated with BRI (r = 0.28, P < 0.005) and metacognition index (r = 0.22, P < 0.05) scales. The associations of night-time SBP with monitor and plan/organize subscales of metacognition index remained significant after adjustment for BMI z score and socioeconomical status. However, the associations of BMI z score with monitor scale was found to be mediated by night-time SBP. In ROC curve analysis, only night-time SBP could predict impaired performance in monitor and plan/organize scales (AUC 0.68 and 0.70, respectively). Night-time SBP may predict a poor performance in domains of executive function in youth. Although overweight/obese status was negatively associated with executive performance, mediation analysis showed that not obesity per se, but BP exerted negative impact on executive performance.


Evaluation of subjective oral health status indicators.
This paper reports the results of a study to evaluate the performance of a battery of subjective oral health status indicators originally developed for use in large scale surveys of older adults. The aim was to assess their generalizability, efficiency, reliability, and validity when used in a study of adults aged 18 years and over and to compare their performance with respect to younger and older adults. Data were collected by means of a mail survey and self-complete questionnaire of a random sample of the population aged 18 years and older. The results suggested that the measures were sensitive to the oral health concerns of adults of all ages and that item nonresponse was within acceptable limits. Test-retest and internal consistency reliability statistics were good and all hypotheses designed to assess concurrent and construct validity were confirmed. The results confirm an earlier, but more limited, evaluation and suggest that these indicators are useful for descriptive oral health surveys of general populations.


Effects of Low Temperature Anneal on the Interface Properties of Thermal Silicon Oxide for Silicon Surface Passivation.
High quality surface passivation has gained a significant importance in photovoltaic industry for reducing the surface recombination and hence fabricating low cost and high efficiency solar cells using thinner wafers. The formation of good-quality SiO2 films and SiO2/Si interfaces at low processing temperatures is a prerequisite for improving the conversion efficiency of industrial solar cells with better passivation. High-temperature annealing in inert ambient is promising to improve the SiO2/Si interface. However, annealing treatments could cause negative effects on SiO2/Si interfaces due to its chemical at high temperatures. Low temperature post oxidation annealing has been carried out to investigate the structural and interface properties of Si-SiO2 system. Quasi Steady State Photo Conductance measurements shows a promising effective carrier lifetime of 420 μs, surface recombination velocity of 22 cm/s and a low interface trap density (D(it)) of 4 x 10(11) states/cm2/eV after annealing. The fixed oxide charge density was reduced to 1 x 10(11)/cm2 due to the annealing at 500 degrees C. The FWHM and the Si-O peak wavenumber corresponding to the samples annealed at 500 degrees C reveals that the Si dangling bonds in the SiO2 films due to the oxygen defects was reduced by the low temperature post oxidation annealing.


Risk factors for postoperative cervical haematoma in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a retrospective, multicenter, international analysis (REDHOT study).
Postoperative cervical haematoma represents an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication of thyroidectomy. Since this complication is uncommon, the assessment of risk factors associated with its development is challenging. The main aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for its occurrence. Patients undergoing thyroidectomy in seven high-volume thyroid surgery centers in Europe, between January 2020 and December 2022, were retrospectively analysed. Based on the onset of cervical haematoma, two groups were identified: Cervical Haematoma (CH) Group and No Cervical Haematoma (NoCH) Group. Univariate analysis was performed to compare these two groups. Moreover, employing multivariate analysis, all potential independent risk factors for the development of this complication were assessed. Eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine patients were enrolled: 8,561 were included in NoCH Group and 278 in CH Group. Surgical revision of haemostasis was performed in 70 (25.18%) patients. The overall incidence of postoperative cervical haematoma was 3.15% (0.79% for cervical haematomas requiring surgical revision of haemostasis, and 2.35% for those managed conservatively). The timing of onset of cervical haematomas requiring surgical revision of haemostasis was within six hours after the end of the operation in 52 (74.28%) patients. Readmission was necessary in 3 (1.08%) cases. At multivariate analysis, male sex (P < 0.001), older age (P < 0.001), higher BMI (P = 0.021), unilateral lateral neck dissection (P < 0.001), drain placement (P = 0.007), and shorter operative times (P < 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors for cervical haematoma. Based on our findings, we believe that patients with the identified risk factors should be closely monitored in the postoperative period, particularly during the first six hours after the operation, and excluded from outpatient surgery.


Human Oral Epithelial Cells Suppress T Cell Function via Prostaglandin E2 Secretion.
The oral mucosa is constantly exposed to a plethora of stimuli including food antigens, commensal microbiota and pathogens, requiring distinct immune responses. We previously reported that human oral epithelial cells (OECs) suppress immune responses to bacteria, using H413 and TR146 OEC lines and primary OECs in co-culture with dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells (OEC-conditioned cells). OECs reduced DCs expression of CD80/CD86 and IL-12/TNFα release and impaired T cell activation. Here, we further evaluated the immunosuppression by these OECs and investigated the underlying mechanisms. OEC-conditioned DCs did not induce CD4 T cell polarization towards Treg, judging by the absence of FoxP3 expression. OECs also repressed T-bet/IFNγ expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells activated by DCs or anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. This inhibition depended on OEC:T cell ratio and IFNγ repression occurred at the transcriptional level. Time-lapse experiments showed that OECs inhibited early steps of T cell activation, consistent with OECs inability to suppress T cells stimulated with PMA/ionomycin. Blocking CD40/CD40L, CD58/CD2 and PD-L1/PD-1 interactions with specific antibodies did not disrupt T cell suppression by OECs. However, preventing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis or blocking PGE2 binding to the cognate EP2/EP4 receptors, restored IFNγ and TNFα production in OEC-conditioned T cells. Finally, treating OECs with poly(I:C), which simulates viral infections, limited T cell suppression. Overall, these results point to an inherent ability of OECs to suppress immune responses, which can nonetheless be eluded when OECs are under direct assault.


Synthesis and characterization of PEG-functionalized graphene oxide as an effective pH-sensitive drug carrier.
In the present work, PEG4000 as a hydrophilic polymer was conjugated to the surface of graphene oxide (GO) for effective drug loading and targeting release of doxorubicin. The synthesized nanohybrid was characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Doxorubicin as an anticancer drug was immobilized on the nanohybrid surface, and the release profile at two diverse pH besides the MTT assay was investigated. The IC50 value for the nanohybrid obtained was 0.31 μg/mL. In this work, PEG4000 as a biocompatible polymer grafted on the GO surface to increase the biodispersibility of the drug carrier in a biological environment, but it is the first report of PEG 4000-GO nanohybrid-based drug carrier.


Catch per unit effort and some water quality parameters of Lake Kalgwai Jigawa state, Nigeria.
This study investigated the catch per unit effort and water quality of Lake Kalgwai Jigawa state, Nigeria for the period of 10 month (July 2012-June 2013). The man hours, gears used, and fish catches of the Lake was determined by assessing the fishermen operating on three major landing sites of the Lake, namely Marke (Site I), Dingare (Site II), and Kalgwai (Site III). Water samples from the landing sites were collected and analyzed. Concentration of fishers ranged from 41 (April) to 51 (September). The highest number of fishing hour was observed in August (64 hr), whereas the lowest was in March (49 hr). The average catch per fisher per day ranged from 107 kg/day (December) to 144 kg/day (August) during the study period. An average of 25 days was spent fishing in each month. The result also indicated similarities in the water qualities of all the three sampling sites per months. Based on the result gotten it was concluded that lake Kalgwa is not over fished and water quality are within recommended ranges for fish production.


Position change during colonoscopy improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection in patients with suboptimal caecal preparation.
Most colonoscopies are completed in the left lateral (LL) position but in cases of suboptimal caecal preparation, changing the patient's position to supine (S) and, if needed, to right lateral (RL) improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection. To determine if position change during colonoscopy facilitates optimal visualisation of the caecum. A total of 359 patients were grouped into three categories based on the initial caecal intubation position. After caecal intubation, caecal visibility was scored on a four-point scale depending on the number of imaginary quadrants of the caecum completely visualized - Arya Caecal Prep Score. A score of 1 or 2 was unsatisfactory, while 3 or 4 was considered satisfactory. In patients with unsatisfactory score, position was changed from LL to S and then RL and visibility was scored again. The initial caecal intubation in the LL position was achieved in 66.8% of patients, S in 28.5%, and RL in 4.8% of patients. 84.5% (300/355) of patients had an acceptable visualisation score at the initial caecal intubation position. Of the 55 patients with unsatisfactory caecum visualisation scores in the initial intubation position, 30 (8.5%) had satisfactory scores after the first position change (95% CI: 5.77-11.84). Twenty-five (7.04%) subjects required two position changes (95% CI: 4.61-10.22%). An additional 9.3% (11/118) of adenomas were detected in caecum and ascending colon following position change. Changing patient position improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection.


Metallothionein 2A inhibits NF-κB pathway activation and predicts clinical outcome segregated with TNM stage in gastric cancer patients following radical resection.
Metallothionein 2A (MT2A) as a stress protein, plays a protective role in gastric mucosal barrier. Its role in the development of gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. The mechanism of MT2A will be investigated in gastric tumorigenesis. MT2A expression was detected in 973 gastric specimens. The biological function was determined through ectopic expressing MT2A in vitro and in vivo. The possible downstream effectors of MT2A were investigated in NF-κB signaling. The protein levels of MT2A, IκB-α and p-IκB-α (ser32/36) expression were analyzed in a subset of 258 patients by IHC staining. The prognostic effects of MT2A, status of IκB-α and TNM stage were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Decreased MT2A expression was detected in cell lines and primary tumors of GC. In clinical data, loss of MT2A (MT2A + in Normal (n =171, 76.0%); Intestinal metaplasia (n = 118, 50.8%); GC (n = 684. 22.4%, P < 0.001)) was associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (P = 0.05), and down-regulation of IκB-α expression (P < 0.001). Furthermore, MT2A was the independent prognostic signature segregated from the status of IκB-α and pathological features. In addition, MT2A inhibited cell growth through apoptosis and G2/M arrest, which negatively regulated NF-κB pathway through up-regulation of IκB-α and down-regulation of p-IκB-α and cyclin D1 expression. MT2A might play a tumor suppressive activity through inhibiting NF-κB signaling and may be a prognostic biomarker and potential target for individual therapy of GC patients.


Termination of a visual search with large display size effects.
The ability to locate an object in the visual field is a collaboration of at least three intermingled processes: scanning multiple locations, recognizing the object sought (the target), and ending the search in cases when the target is not found. In this paper, we focus on the termination rule. Using distribution analyses, it is possible to assess the probability of termination conditional on the number of locations examined. The results show that on some trials without target, the participants carried out more comparisons than there are objects in the display; in other conditions, they carried out fewer comparisons than objects. Because there were very few errors, the premature stops were not pure guesses. We present models to account for these findings. The distributions of terminations help determine the slopes of the functions relating response time to set size.


Variation of soil physicochemical properties of different vegetation restoration types on subtropical karst area in southern China.
To carry out differentiated ecological restoration activities and formulate appropriate environmental conservation strategies for karst regions, it is essential to investigate the impact of ecological restoration and forest management strategy differences on soil properties. The karst region in Xiangxi, Hunan province, China was selected as the study site. Here, we determined soil physical and chemical differences in soil profiles of karst areas with ecological restoration activities. The results showed that (1) the soil properties showed a significant difference between the restoration vegetation and uncultivated land, especially in soil physical properties. The soil moisture conversion coefficient (83.0%) and soil bulk density (1.37g/cm3) of Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl.) Sarg reached the highest value among 12 vegetations. 2) The topsoil was more sensitive to ecological restoration. Soil physical properties in the topsoil samples from the forest management areas were significantly higher than uncultivated lands (P < 0.05). (3) Redundancy analysis showed that the soil chemical content differed significantly among the types of forest vegetation restoration and different soil layers. Among the nutrients analysis, Mg, Zn and K were the main factors affecting soil properties in the rocky desertification areas. Therefore, our results recommend planting the broadleaved deciduous forest as the preferred forest among three different forest types to enhance soil fertility and water conservation functions, especially in subtropical karst areas ecosystems, which provided for making scientific forest restoration management in the karst region.


The diameters of common carotid artery and its branches in newborns.
The common carotid artery (CCA) bifurcation is of clinical importance due to its vascular access site for intravascular intervention. Additionally, it is also one of the most common sites of atherosclerotic plaque formation. There are numerous studies on the diameters of CCA, internal carotid artery (ICA), and external carotid artery (ECA) in adults, but few studies on newborns. Cadaver and angiographic studies have shown dimensional variations in the carotid arteries within/between individuals and also between different sexes. It is well known that the initial lesions of atherosclerosis begin very early in fetal life. Therefore, it is important to know the anatomical details of the CCA and its branches. In the present study, the neck regions of 20 (11 males and 9 females) fixed newborn cadavers were dissected. The CCAs were cut below the bulb of the carotid bifurcation further; ICA and ECA were cut above the bulb of the carotid bifurcation. The internal diameters of the CCA, ICA, and ECA were measured using a light microscopy. ECA/CCA, ICA/CCA, ICA/ECA ratios, and outflow to inflow area ratio were calculated. The mean outflow to inflow area ratio was 1.14+/-0.28. Our results highly correlated with the defined optimal ratio (1.15). The ECA/CCA, ICA/CCA, and ICA/ECA ratios were 0.78+/-0.12, 0.71+/-0.13, and 0.93+/-0.16, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female and also between right and left sides. These findings are of importance in understanding the anatomy of carotid artery during newborn period.


Exploiting the Marangoni Effect To Initiate Instabilities and Direct the Assembly of Liquid Metal Filaments.
Utilization of the Marangoni effect in a liquid metal is investigated, focusing on initiating instabilities to direct material assembly via the Rayleigh-Plateau instability. Thin (2 nm) copper (Cu) films are lithographically patterned onto thick (12 nm) nickel (Ni) strips to induce a surface energy gradient at the maximum wavelength of the filament instability predicted by Rayleigh-Plateau instability analysis. The pattern is irradiated with an 18 ns pulsed laser such that the pattern melts and the resultant Ni-Cu surface tension gradient induces Marangoni flows due to the difference in surface energies. The experimental results, supported by extensive direct numerical simulations, demonstrate that the Marangoni flow exceeds the capillary flow induced by the initial geometry, guiding instabilities such that final nanoparticle location is directed toward the regions of higher surface energy (Ni regions). Our work shows a route for manipulation, by means of the Marangoni effect, to direct the evolution of the surface instabilities and the resulting pattern formation.


High levels of bcl-2 protein in circulating T lymphocytes, but not B lymphocytes, of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Defective regulation of programmed cell death (apoptosis) may play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases, and the proto-oncogene bcl-2 is involved in the control of apoptosis in immunocompetent cells. We therefore wished to investigate the expression of bcl-2 in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a prototypical autoimmune disease. Levels of bcl-2 expression in the lymphocytes of patients with SLE and, for comparison, in the lymphocytes of healthy controls and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic bacterial infections, and chronic B cell lymphocytic leukemia were studied by 2-color cytofluorography and RNA analysis. In SLE patients, a significant proportion of T cells expressed increased amounts of bcl-2 protein. By fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, bcl-2--enriched lymphocytes were found in the CD45RO+ as well as in the CD45RO-, and also in the CD4+ and CD8+, lymphocyte subpopulations. Mononuclear cells of patients with SLE showed increased amounts of bcl-2 messenger RNA. An increased percentage of strongly bcl-2 positive peripheral T lymphocytes was found in patients with bacterial infections, but not in those with RA. Although the occurrence of circulating T lymphocytes with abnormally high bcl-2 expression is not specific for SLE, it is evidence for a dysregulation of lymphocytic programmed cell death in this autoimmune disease.


Gastric granular cell tumor in a youth excised by endoscopic submucosal dissection : A case report and literature review.
Granular cell tumors (GCTs) usually develop in patients aged 30-50 years in the skin, tongue, and mammary gland, with 5-9% of GCTs occurring on the esophagus, ascending colon, and cecum. We report a case of gastric GCT in a 16-year-old male who presented with nausea and abdominal discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed an elastic hard and yellowish submucosal tumor of the gastric cardia anterior wall. GCT was suspected upon biopsy ; after total endoscopic submucosal dissection, histology of the resected tumor confirmed the diagnosis. Endoscopic treatment should be considered in youths with GCT.


Behind closed gates - chaperones and charged residues determine protein fate.
Charged residues flanking aggregation-prone regions play a role in protein folding and prevention of aggregation. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Houben et al exploit the role of such charged gatekeepers in aggregation suppression and find that negative charges are more effective than positive ones. Strikingly, the prominent Hsp70 chaperone has a strong preference for the less effective, basic gate keepers. This implies co-adaptation of chaperone specificity and composition of protein sequences in evolution.


Blood pressure percentiles by age and body mass index for adults.
Since no comprehensive study has been conducted on blood pressure (BP) percentiles established upon nationally representative sample population of adults, the present study aimed to construct the blood pressure percentiles by age, sex and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. Analyses were based on data collected in 2011 from 8,425 adults aged 25 to 69 years old. Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure was recorded for each subject. Linear Regression analysis was used to assess the adjusted relationship of age-sex-specific standard deviation scores of BMI, height, and weight with blood pressure. Four separate models for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of men and women were constructed for BP percentiles according to age and BMI. Blood pressure increased with the rise in BMI and weight, but showed a negative correlation with height. SBP and DBP rose steadily with increasing age, but the rise in SBP was greater than DBP. Overweight and obese population, seem to fall into the category of hypertensive. The findings of present study show that BP percentiles are steadily increased by age and BMI. In addition, most obese or overweight adults are hypertensive.


Anticoagulant therapies against sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a frequent but lethal complication in sepsis. Anticoagulant therapies, such as heparin, antithrombin, activated protein C, and recombinant human-soluble thrombomodulin, were expected to regulate the progression of coagulopathy in sepsis. Although a number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the survival effects of these therapies over the past few decades, there remains no consistent evidence showing a significant survival benefit of anticoagulant therapies. Currently, anticoagulant therapies are not conducted as a standard treatment against sepsis in many countries and regions. However, most of these RCTs were performed overall in patients with sepsis but not in those with sepsis-induced DIC, who were theoretically the optimal target population of anticoagulants. Actually, multiple lines of evidence from observational studies and meta-analyses of the RCTs have suggested that anticoagulant therapies might reduce mortality only when used in septic DIC. In addition, the severity of illness is another essential factor that maximally affects the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore, to provide evidence on the true effect of anticoagulant therapies, the next RCTs must be designed to enroll only patients with sepsis-induced overt DIC and a high severity of illness. To prepare these future RCTs, a novel scientific infrastructure for accurate detection of patients who can receive maximal benefit from anticoagulant therapies also needs to be established.


[Bispectral index monitoring is useful to reduce total amount of propofol and to obtain immediate recovery after propofol anesthesia].
Bispectral index (BIS) is a processed EEG parameter for assessment of hypnotic effects of anesthetics. We studied whether BIS monitoring can improve recovery from propofol anesthesia and decrease the total amount of propofol needed. Forty-six patients without hypertension and obesity were studied. In the BIS group (n = 20), propofol infusion rate was adjusted to achieve a target BIS value between 40-60, increasing to 65 during the final 10 min of the surgical procedure. In the control group (n = 19), propofol infusion rate was adjusted based only on standard clinical signs. Compared with the control group, patients in the BIS group required lower propofol infusion rates(4.3 +/- 1.1 vs 4.9 +/- 0.8 mg.kg-1.h-1; P < 0.05), and the total amount of propofol decreased significantly (709 +/- 210 vs 914 +/- 326 mg; P < 0.05). BIS monitoring led to immediate recovery after propofol anesthesia. There were no significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative responses between the two groups. BIS monitoring decreased the total amount of propofol and led to immediate recovery after propofol anesthesia. These findings indicate that the use of BIS monitoring may be useful in controlling the infusion rate of propofol during surgery.


Synthesis of 5-epi-trehazolin (trehalostatin).
Synthesis of 5-epi-trehazolin (trehalostatin) (2) was accomplished via the crucial intermediate, epoxide (6 alpha), from D-glucose. The stereochemistry of epoxide (6 alpha) and its isomer (6 beta) which were obtained from Sharpless epoxidation, was determined by comparison between the NMR relaxation times of relevant protons.


Food control and a citizen science approach for improving teaching of Genetics in universities.
A Citizen Science approach was implemented in the laboratory practices of Genetics at the University of Oviedo, related with the engaging topic of Food Control. Real samples of food products consumed by students at home (students as samplers) were employed as teaching material in three different courses of Genetics during the academic year 2014-2015: Experimental Methods in Food Production (MBTA) (Master level), and Applied Molecular Biology (BMA) and Conservation Genetics and Breeding (COMGE) (Bachelor/Degree level). Molecular genetics based on PCR amplification of DNA markers was employed for species identification of 22 seafood products in COMGE and MBTA, and for detection of genetically modified (GM) maize from nine products in BMA. In total six seafood products incorrectly labeled (27%), and two undeclared GM maize (22%) were found. A post-Laboratory survey was applied for assessing the efficacy of the approach for improving motivation in the Laboratory Practices of Genetics. Results confirmed that students that worked on their own samples from local markets were significantly more motivated and better evaluated their Genetic laboratory practices than control students (χ(2) = 12.11 p = 0.033). Our results suggest that citizen science approaches could not be only useful for improving teaching of Genetics in universities but also to incorporate students and citizens as active agents in food control. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(5):450-462, 2016.


Summary of Practice Considerations for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Left Main Bifurcation Disease.
Left main bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention is a challenging subset that requires expertise in techniques that are in constant modification. Imaging is important in lesion preparation and optimising outcomes. The interventionalist needs to be highly skilled in the different techniques, as missteps may lead to stent thrombosis and critical in-stent restenosis. Lesion classification between simple and complex identifies those who would best benefit from a two-stent technique. Current technical approaches and practice considerations are summarised in this manuscript.


Transcription profile in mouse four-cell, morula, and blastocyst: Genes implicated in compaction and blastocoel formation.
To gain insight into early embryo development, we utilized microarray technology to compare gene expression profiles in four-cell (4C), morula (MO), and blastocyst (BL) stage embryos. Differences in spot intensities were normalized, and grouped by using Avadis Prophetic software platform (version 3.3, Strand Genomics Ltd.) and categories were based on the PANTHER and gene ontology (GO) classification system. This technique identified 622 of 7,927 genes as being more highly expressed in MO when compared to 4C (P < 0.05); similarly, we identified 654 of 9,299 genes as being more highly expressed in BL than in MO (P < 0.05). Upregulation of genes for cytoskeletal, cell adhesion, and cell junction proteins were identified in the MO as compared to the 4C stage embryos, this means they could be involved in the cell compaction necessary for the development to the MO. Genes thought to be involved in ion channels, membrane traffic, transfer/carrier proteins, and lipid metabolism were also identified as being expressed at a higher level in the BL stage embryos than in the MO. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to confirm differential expression of selected genes. The identification of the genes being expressed in here will provide insight into the complex gene regulatory networks effecting compaction and blastocoel formation.


An international multicenter study of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 15 hospitals in 14 countries.
Antibiotic consumption during 1996 was measured in 15 large hospitals from 14 countries and 3000 consecutive Staphylococcus aureus samples were collected, allowing calculation of local resistance rates and typing of isolates. Antibiotic consumption data were converted to defined daily doses (DDD), and similar antibiotics were grouped if they belonged to the same therapeutic subgroup. Variations in hospital size were corrected by using DDD per 1000 bed-days. The total antibiotic consumption in the 15 hospitals varied between 296 DDD/1000 bed-days and 1108 DDD/1000 bed-days. Differences in the usage of therapeutical subgroups of antimicrobials varied significantly between hospitals. A positive correlation was found between S. aureus resistance to methicillin (MRSA) and consumption of beta-lactam combinations, between resistance to quinolones and consumption of beta-lactam combinations and carbapenems and resistance to aminoglycosides and consumption of beta-lactam combinations. The consumption of beta-lactamase-sensitive antibiotics was negatively correlated to resistance to methicillin, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. Usage of the different antimicrobial therapeutical subgroups was also correlated. Consumption of beta-lactamase-sensitive antibiotics (penicillin) was positively correlated to consumption of beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins and negatively correlated to consumption of carbapenems, quinolones, and glycopeptides, whereas consumption of cephalosporins was positively correlated to consumption of aminoglycosides, quinolones, and glycopeptides. In this study of hospitals with MRSA prevalence of between 0% and 63%, significant correlations were found between resistance and consumption of antimicrobials. These findings support the importance of antimicrobial consumption on resistance. An accompanying paper addresses the issue of antibiotic resistance and clonality of isolates.


[Auditory training in workshops: group therapy option].
auditory training in groups. to verify in a group of individuals with mental retardation the efficacy of auditory training in a workshop environment. METHOD a longitudinal prospective study with 13 mentally retarded individuals from the Associação de Pais e Amigos do Excepcional (APAE) of Congonhas divided in two groups: case (n=5) and control (n=8) and who were submitted to ten auditory training sessions after verifying the integrity of the peripheral auditory system through evoked otoacoustic emissions. Participants were evaluated using a specific protocol concerning the auditory abilities (sound localization, auditory identification, memory, sequencing, auditory discrimination and auditory comprehension) at the beginning and at the end of the project. Data (entering, processing and analyses) were analyzed by the Epi Info 6.04 software. the groups did not differ regarding aspects of age (mean = 23.6 years) and gender (40% male). In the first evaluation both groups presented similar performances. In the final evaluation an improvement in the auditory abilities was observed for the individuals in the case group. When comparing the mean number of correct answers obtained by both groups in the first and final evaluations, a statistically significant result was obtained for sound localization (p=0.02), auditory sequencing (p=0.006) and auditory discrimination (p=0.03). group auditory training demonstrated to be effective in individuals with mental retardation, observing an improvement in the auditory abilities. More studies, with a larger number of participants, are necessary in order to confirm the findings of the present research. These results will help public health professionals to reanalyze the theory models used for therapy, so that they can use specific methods according to individual needs, such as auditory training workshops.


Caspase-2: an orphan enzyme out of the shadows.
Caspase-2 has been embodied as an initiator or executioner protease in diverse apoptotic scenarios. However, accumulating evidence is challenging this view, pertaining to its true role. The enzyme's catalytic activity is currently implicated in various functions required for correct cell proliferation, such as counteracting genomic instability, as well as suppressing tumorigenesis. Here, apart from summarizing the latest observations in caspase-2-related research, we make an attempt to reconcile these findings and discuss their implications for future directions.


Stemucronatoside K, a novel C(21) steroidal glycoside from Stephanotis mucronata, inhibited the cellular and humoral immune response in mice.
Stephanotis mucronata (Blanco) Merr. has been used for rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese folk herb medicine. Guided by bioactive test, a novel potent immunosuppressive C(21) steroidal glycoside stemucronatoside K (SMK) was isolated from this plant. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of the chemical evidence and extensive spectroscopic methods. We investigated the immunosuppressive effects of SMK in vitro and in vivo. SMK significantly suppressed concanavalin A (Con A)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. ICR mice were immunized subcutaneously with OVA on the first day and administered intraperitoneally with SMK at the doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg once daily for 10 days. At 24 h after the last administration, mitogen- and OVA-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, the levels of cytokines from splenocytes, and specific antibody titers in serum were measured. SMK significantly inhibited Con A-, LPS- and OVA-induced splenocyte proliferation in the immunized mice in a dose-dependent manner. OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b antibody titers were significantly reduced by SMK compared with the control group. SMK also significantly decreased OVA-induced interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and IL-4 production from splenocytes in the OVA-immunized mice. These results demonstrated that SMK could suppress the cellular and humoral immune response in mice. This study provided evidence to understand the therapeutic effects of S. mucronata and an immunosuppressive natural product compound to further researches to be developed as immunosuppressant.


Multixenobiotic resistance, acetyl-choline esterase activity and total oxyradical scavenging capacity of the Arctic spider crab, Hyasaraneus, following exposure to bisphenol A, tetra bromo diphenyl ether and diallyl phthalate.
The Arctic has become a sink for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) originating from lower latitudes, and relatively high levels have been found in different biota. Recent studies have identified detrimental effects on wildlife including endocrine disruption, impairment of enzyme activity, and reduced immune function. The Arctic spider crab, Hyas araneus, shown interesting potential for its use as sentinel organism in polar ecosystems. This study investigated the effect of 2,2',4,4'-tetra bromo diphenyl ether (BPDE), bisphenol A (BPA), and diallyl phthalte (DPA) on H. araneus in a three weeks exposure study. Expression of multixenibiotic resistance (MXR) proteins has been studied using the C219 monoclonal antibody which allows identifying an immunoreactive protein of 40 kDa in the digestive gland while no such protein could be observed in the gills. Expression of this protein was increased by exposure to DPA (+75%; p<0.05, n=10). All compounds significantly affected muscle acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity (p<0.05, n=10) with 50 microg/L DPA having the strongest effect by lowering the value to 37% of control. The total oxyradical scavenging capacity measured in the digestive gland toward peroxyl, hydroxyl and peroxynitrite was also significantly reduced indicating a decreased resistance to oxidative stress generated by DPA (p<0.05, n=5). These results thus suggest the potential detrimental effects of DPA even at concentration as low as 50 microg/L on H. araneus.


Complete Genome Sequence of Enterobacter sp. Strain ODB01, a Bacterium That Degrades Crude Oil.
Enterobacter sp. strain ODB01, which was isolated from the Changqing oil field, can degrade crude oil efficiently and use crude oil as its sole source of carbon and energy. We report the complete genome sequence of ODB01. The results promote its application in the remediation of petroleum contaminants.


New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus After Heart Transplantation - Incidence, Risk Factors and Impact on Clinical Outcome.
New-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) can occur as a serious complication after heart transplantation, but the comparative data on its clinical impact on survival and on transplant-related adverse events are limited.Methods and Results:We reviewed a total of consecutive 391 patients aged ≥17 years undergoing isolated orthotopic heart transplantation at the present institution from 1992 to 2013. The entire cohort was divided into 3 groups: (1) no diabetes (n=257); (2) pre-existing DM (n=46); and (3) new-onset DM (n=88). Early and long-term clinical outcomes were compared across the 3 groups. Early death occurred in 8 patients (2.0%). Of the 345 non-diabetic patients before transplantation, 88 (25.5%) developed new-onset DM postoperatively. During follow-up, 83 (21.2%) died. On time-varying Cox analysis, new-onset DM was associated with increased risk for overall death (HR, 2.11; 95% CI: 1.26-3.55) and tended to have a greater risk for severe chronic kidney disease (HR, 1.77; 95% CI: 0.94-3.44). Compared with the no-diabetes group, the new-onset DM group had a worse survival rate (P=0.035), but a similar survival rate to that of the pre-existing DM group (P=0.364). New-onset DM has a negative effect on long-term survival and kidney function after heart transplantation. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the relevance of early diagnosis and timely control of new-onset DM to improve long-term survival.


Flèche versus Lunge as the Optimal Footwork Technique in Fencing.
The objective of the study reported in this paper involved identifying the fencing attack (flèche versus lunge) that provides greater effectiveness in a real competition. Two hypotheses are presented in the study. The first hypothesis involves the greater effectiveness of the flèche with regard to bioelectric muscular tension, and the second hypothesis involves the reduction of movement time of the flèche. Therefore, analyses were conducted by the application of EMG (electromyography) signal, ground reaction forces, and parameters representing sensorimotor responses (RT-reaction time and MT-movement time). This study included six world-leading female épée fencers (mean age: 24.6 ± 6.2 years). Throughout the procedure, the subjects performed flèche and lunge touches at the command of the coach based on visual stimuli. The experimental results indicated the greater effectiveness of the flèche compared with the lunge with regard to increases in EMG values (p = 0.027) in the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles and decreases in the duration of the movement phase (p = 0.049) and vertical force of the rear leg (p = 0.028). In conclusion, higher levels of EMG and ground reaction forces were generated during the flèche compared with the lunge, which promotes an improvement in the explosive force and contributes to a reduction in the movement phase of the entire offensive action.


Causal Inference for fMRI Time Series Data with Systematic Errors of Measurement in a Balanced On/Off Study of Social Evaluative Threat.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has facilitated major advances in understanding human brain function. Neuroscientists are interested in using fMRI to study the effects of external stimuli on brain activity and causal relationships among brain regions, but have not stated what is meant by causation or defined the effects they purport to estimate. Building on Rubin's causal model, we construct a framework for causal inference using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI time series data. In the usual statistical literature on causal inference, potential outcomes, assumed to be measured without systematic error, are used to define unit and average causal effects. However, in general the potential BOLD responses are measured with stimulus dependent systematic error. Thus we define unit and average causal effects that are free of systematic error. In contrast to the usual case of a randomized experiment where adjustment for intermediate outcomes leads to biased estimates of treatment effects (Rosenbaum, 1984), here the failure to adjust for task dependent systematic error leads to biased estimates. We therefore adjust for systematic error using measured "noise covariates" , using a linear mixed model to estimate the effects and the systematic error. Our results are important for neuroscientists, who typically do not adjust for systematic error. They should also prove useful to researchers in other areas where responses are measured with error and in fields where large amounts of data are collected on relatively few subjects. To illustrate our approach, we re-analyze data from a social evaluative threat task, comparing the findings with results that ignore systematic error.


Standardisation of moxibustion: challenges and future development.
International organisations such as WHO and the International Organization for Standardization are increasingly committed to the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Moxibustion is an integral modality of acupuncture that has been in use for thousands of years. It stands out as a health choice due to its potential effects in disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance, as well as affordability and accessibility. As the use of moxibustion increases, concerns are being raised regarding its safety and quality. The need to establish standards to protect patient safety is paramount in all medical fields. As a form of medical practice, it is essential to develop moxibustion standards in the areas of terminology, moxibustion products, treatment rooms and practice to ensure its harmonisation and safe usage. The evidence base guiding policy and decision making has to be based on evidence from basic and clinical research. Promoting strategic basic and clinical research on the safety and effectiveness of moxibustion will answer some of the fundamental questions surrounding moxibustion, create a climate of awareness and acceptance and, in turn, drive its standardisation.


Estimating glomerular filtration rate by serum creatinine or/and cystatin C equations: An analysis of multi-centre Chinese subjects.
Various equations based on serum creatinine or/and cystatin C, required further validation in a Chinese population. We compared the performance of six Chinese equations (Mascr, Peiscr, Macys, Fengcys, Mascr-cys and Fengscr-cys) with the CKD-EPI equations in multi-centre Chinese subjects and evaluated their applicability in clinical practice. A total of 1522 adult patients from four different hospitals of China were enrolled in the study. (99m) Tc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging was used as the reference GFR (rGFR), and serum creatinine and cystatin C were measured by standardized assays. An optimal score system was implemented in the study. The average rGFR of recruited subjects was 67.30±28.89 mL/min per 1.73m(2) . All estimated GFR (eGFR) correlated well with rGFR. In accordance with Bland-Altman analysis, the Fengscr-cys equations achieved optimal overall performance (score 14 vs 0-6), with least bias (median difference, -0.57 mL/min per 1.73m(2) ; median absolute difference, 8.83 mL/min per 1.73m(2) ), best precision (17.99 mL/min per 1.73m(2) ), highest accuracy (percentage of eGFR within 15%, 30% and 50% of the rGFR (P15 , P30 and P50 ; 49.7%, 78.7% and 91.8%, respectively); root-mean-square-error (RMSE, 16.28)). The Fengcys equation, a typical cystatin C based equation, was another well-behaved formula with an impressive performance. The Ma equations performed much poorer than the CKD-EPI equations. Consistent results can be observed in the GFR- /age- and sex-specific subgroups, while none equation yielded ideal accuracy in GFR<60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) subgroup. The Fengscr-cys equation appeared to achieve the best performance for GFR estimation in overall Chinese adult patients. However, further research is warranted to improve the accuracy of available equations in GFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) individuals.


Combination of direct boiling and glass beads increases the purity and accuracy of bacterial DNA extraction.
Extraction of DNA is a key step in molecular biology experiments and important for counting tiny microbial individuals. Direct boiling and mechanical cell lysis like glass beads are two independent physical extraction methods, thus crossing the barriers of thresholds of magnitude in popular reagent kits or traditional spread plate method when non-equilibrium phenomenon is ongoing. The two approaches above were combined to generate a new one. In three typical microbial species, direct boiling with glass beads significantly increased the purity of DNA solution compared with some other methods (p < 0.05). The qPCR results of them were closer to direct microscopy counting than some other methods. Therefore, it provides a new choice in extracting bacterial DNA for specific circumstances.


From developmental metaphor to developmental model: the shrinking role of language in the talking cure.
Psychoanalysts have invoked infant development diversely to understand nonverbal and unspoken aspects of lived experience. Two uses of developmental notions and their implications for understanding language and the therapeutic action of psychoanalysis are juxtaposed here: Hans Loewald's conception of developmental metaphors to illuminate ineffable aspects of the clinical situation and Daniel Stern's currently popular developmental model, which draws on findings from quantitative research to explain therapeutic action in the nonverbal realm. Loewald's metaphorical use of early development identifies and thus potentiates a central role for language in psychoanalytic treatment. By contrast, Stern and his colleagues exaggerate the abstract, orderly, and disembodied qualities of language, and consequently underestimate the degree to which lived interpersonal experience can be meaningfully verbalized, as demonstrated here with illustrations from published clinical material. As contemporary psychoanalysis moves toward embracing developmental models such as Stern's, it is concluded, psychoanalysts accept a shrinking role for language in the talking cure.


Immortalized Human hTert/KER-CT Keratinocytes a Model System for Research on Desmosomal Adhesion and Pathogenesis of Pemphigus Vulgaris.
Pemphigus Vulgaris is an autoimmune disease that results in blister formation in the epidermis and in mucosal tissues due to antibodies recognizing desmosomal cadherins, mainly desmoglein-3 and -1. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of Pemphigus have mainly been carried out using the spontaneously immortalized human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT or in primary keratinocytes. However, both cell systems have suboptimal features, with HaCaT cells exhibiting a large number of chromosomal aberrations and mutated p53 tumor suppressor, whereas primary keratinocytes are short-lived, heterogeneous and not susceptible to genetic modifications due to their restricted life-span. We have here tested the suitability of the commercially available human keratinocyte cell line hTert/KER-CT as a model system for research on epidermal cell adhesion and Pemphigus pathomechanisms. We here show that hTert cells exhibit a calcium dependent expression of desmosomal cadherins and are well suitable for typical assays used for studies on Pemphigus, such as sequential detergent extraction and Dispase-based dissociation assay. Treatment with Pemphigus auto-antibodies results in loss of monolayer integrity and altered localization of desmoglein-3, as well as loss of colocalization with flotillin-2. Our findings demonstrate that hTert cells are well suitable for studies on epidermal cell adhesion and Pemphigus pathomechanisms.


Plasma prevalence of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor IgG antibodies in early stages of psychosis.
We investigated the feasibility of including plasma anti-NMDAR antibody screening in the assessment of first-episode psychosis patients in an early intervention programme in the Southern hemisphere. Anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies were assessed by ELISA in 166 patients (64.0% men), 166 matched population-based controls and 76 patients' siblings (30.3% men). Fisher's exact test and ANOVA were performed. Positive anti-NMDAR antibody patients were more often observed in bipolar disorder (10.0%) than schizophrenia (2.4%) or psychotic depression (3.1%), although no significant differences were observed. Our results are not conclusive regarding the inclusion of plasma anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies in differential diagnostic protocols for psychosis.


Molecular evolution of peste des petits ruminants virus.
Despite safe and efficacious vaccines against peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), this virus has emerged as the cause of a highly contagious disease with serious economic consequences for small ruminant agriculture across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. We used complete and partial genome sequences of all 4 lineages of the virus to investigate evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics of PPRV. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of all PPRV lineages mapped the time to most recent common ancestor and initial divergence of PPRV to a lineage III isolate at the beginning of 20th century. A phylogeographic approach estimated the probability for root location of an ancestral PPRV and individual lineages as being Nigeria for PPRV, Senegal for lineage I, Nigeria/Ghana for lineage II, Sudan for lineage III, and India for lineage IV. Substitution rates are critical parameters for understanding virus evolution because restrictions in genetic variation can lead to lower adaptability and pathogenicity.


[Accomplishments of tumor surgery in bone sarcoma in childhood].
Neither chemotherapy nor surgery alone provided satisfactory treatment of bone sarcomas in children. However, their combination improved the 3-year-survival rate by up to 80% in the last decade. For better life quality, limb-sparing techniques like en-bloc-resection, rotation plasty or endoprosthesis should be preferred instead of amputation, if they are possible within the demands of radical oncological surgery. The significantly higher incidence of pulmonary metastasis of en-bloc-resection compared to that of ablative surgery as shown in the COSS-80-study points out that limb-sparing surgery is still problematic and needs further technical improvement in the future.


Non-albicans Candida Infection: An Emerging Threat.
The very nature of infectious diseases has undergone profound changes in the past few decades. Fungi once considered as nonpathogenic or less virulent are now recognized as a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised and severely ill patients. Candida spp. are among the most common fungal pathogens. Candida albicans was the predominant cause of candidiasis. However, a shift toward non-albicans Candida species has been recently observed. These non-albicans Candida species demonstrate reduced susceptibility to commonly used antifungal drugs. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of non-albicans Candida spp. among Candida isolates from various clinical specimens and analysed their virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profile. A total of 523 Candida spp. were isolated from various clinical specimens. Non-albicans Candida species were the predominant pathogens isolated. Non-albicans Candida species also demonstrated the production of virulence factors once attributed to Candida albicans. Non-albicans Candida demonstrated high resistance to azole group of antifungal agents. Therefore, it can be concluded that non-albicans Candida species have emerged as an important cause of infections. Their isolation from clinical specimen can no longer be ignored as a nonpathogenic isolate nor can it be dismissed as a contaminant.


[Pharmacology of an omega receptor agonist].
It has been suggested that different BZP (omega) receptor subtypes may mediate distinct behavioral effects of BZP receptor ligands. Several studies demonstrated that omega1 selective compounds are characterized by an increase in slow wave deep sleep with rapid onset of hypnotic action, and by reduced muscle relaxation, amnesic liability or tolerance. On the other hand, it is known that many different subtypes of GABAA receptors exist, based on the fact that many different subtypes can go into assembling GABAA receptors. GABAA receptors with alpha1 subunits may mediate sedative action and perhaps amnesia. Those with alpha2 subunits probably mediate anxiolytic actions. GABAA receptors with alpha3 subunits may regulate various neurotransmitters, and those with alpha5 subunits may also contribute to amnesia. Such discoveries could open up new avenues for drug development.


Markers of tolerance development to food allergens.
IgE-mediated reactions to food allergens are the most common cause of anaphylaxis in childhood. Although allergies to cow's milk, egg, or soy proteins, in contrast to peanut and tree nut allergens, resolve within the first 6 years of life in up to 60% due to natural tolerance development, this process is not well understood. At present, there is no cure or treatment for food allergy that would result in an induction of tolerance to the symptom-eliciting food. Avoidance, providing an emergency plan and education, is the standard of treatment. Oral immunotherapeutic approaches have been proven reasonable efficacy; however, they are associated with high rates of side-effects and low numbers of patients achieving tolerance. Nevertheless, mechanisms that take place during oral immunotherapy may help to understand tolerance development. On the basis of these therapeutic interventions, events like loss of basophil activation and induction of regulatory lymphocyte subsets and of blocking antibodies have been described. Their functional importance at a clinical level, however, remains to be investigated in detail. Consequently, there is eminent need to understand the process of tolerance development to food allergens and define biomarkers to develop and monitor new treatment strategies for food allergy.


Unveiling the photonic spin Hall effect of freely propagating fan-shaped cylindrical vector vortex beams.
An intriguing photonic spin Hall effect (SHE) for a freely propagating fan-shaped cylindrical vector (CV) vortex beam in a paraxial situation is theoretically and experimentally studied. A developed model to describe this kind of photonic SHE is proposed based on angular spectrum diffraction theory. With this model, the close dependences of spin-dependent splitting on the azimuthal order of polarization, the topological charge of the spiral phase, and the propagation distance are accurately revealed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the asymmetric spin-dependent splitting of a fan-shaped CV beam can be consciously managed, even with a constant azimuthal order of polarization. Such a controllable photonic SHE is experimentally verified by measuring the Stokes parameters.


The transient appearance of degenerate antibody early in the course of the immune response.
The appearance of degenerate antibody-secreting cells early in the course of the immune response was demonstrated. Mice immunized with SRBC had anti-SRBC plaques that were as much as 95% inhibitable by DNP-Ova or DNP-KLH, and mice immunized with DNP-KLH had anti-DNP plaques that were as much as 90% inhibitable by Fl-BGG. In addition, mice immunized with BRBC produced plaques detectable on TNP-SRBC. The data suggest that, early after antigen injection, antibody is produced that can react with both the immunizing antigen and with structurally unrelated antigenic determinants. The incidence of such degenerate antibody-secreting cells is maximal at 3 days after antigen injection and decreases thereafter. It is probable that the degenerate antibody is of very low affinity for the immunizing antigen.


Influence of Algal Photosynthesis on Biofilm Bacterial Production and Associated Glucosidase and Xylosidase Activities.
Natural photosynthetic biofilms were incubated under light (100 mmol m-2 s-1) and dark conditions to elucidate the impact of photosynthesis on bacterial production, abundance, biovolume, biomass, and enzyme activities over 24 h. Use of organic carbon-free media limited carbon sources to algal photosynthesis and possibly the polysaccharides of the biofilm matrix. Bacterial production of biofilm communities was significantly higher in light incubations (p <0.001). The greatest differences in production rates between light and dark incubations occurred between 8 and 24 h. Biomass-specific a- and b-glucosidase and b-xylosidase activities were stimulated by photosynthesis, with significantly greater activities occurring at hours 16 and 24 in the light treatment (p <0.01). The results indicate that algal photosynthesis can have a significant impact on bacterial productivity, biomass, biovolume, and enzyme production over longer time periods at low photon flux densities (?100 mmol m-2 s-1).


Stroke Related to Transcatheter Heart Valve Thrombosis.
Non-obstructive transcatheter heart valve (THV) thrombosis as a potential mechanism after stroke after transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is demonstrated by the present case report. By performing cardiac computed tomography (CT) in addition to standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) follow up after TAVR, it has been shown recently that non-obstructive THV thrombosis may be more common than previously anticipated. However, the clinical implications of non-obstructive THV thrombosis remain unclear. In the present patient, post-TAVR TTE and transeophageal echocardiography demonstrated normal THV function, and showed no evidence of THV thrombosis. In contrast, cardiac CT revealed findings consistent with THV thrombosis. The patient subsequently developed acute ischemic stroke that was treated with thrombolysis. Follow up cardiac CT and echocardiography demonstrated complete THV thrombus resolution.


The location of asparagine-linked glycans on West Nile virions controls their interactions with CD209 (dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin).
Mammalian cell-derived West Nile virus preferentially infects cells expressing the C-type lectin CD209L (dendritic cellspecific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin-related protein; liver- and lymph node-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin) but not cells expressing CD209 (dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin). In contrast, Dengue virus infection is enhanced in cells expressing either attachment factor. The West Nile virus envelope (E) protein contains a single N-linked glycosylation site at residue 154, whereas Dengue virus E contains sites at residues 153 and 67. We introduced a glycosylation site at position 67 into West Nile virus E. Reporter virus particles pseudotyped with this E protein infected cells using either CD209 or CD209L. We also introduced glycosylation sites at several novel positions. All sites allowed CD209L-mediated infection, but only a subset promoted CD209 use. As seen for other viruses, mannose-rich glycans on West Nile virus were required for its interactions with CD209. Surprisingly, however, mannose-rich glycans were not required for CD209L-mediated infection. Complex glycans, particularly N-acetylglucosamine-terminated structures, were able to mediate reporter virus particle interactions with CD209L. We propose that CD209L recognizes glycosylated flaviviruses with broad specificity, whereas CD209 is selective for flaviviruses bearing mannose-rich glycans. The location of the N-linked glycosylation sites on a virion determines the types of glycans incorporated, thus controlling viral tropism for CD209-expressing cells.


[Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the lung].
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the lung is rare. We present a case of MALT lymphoma of the lung. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. He was performed transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) in our hospital, but the results was not diagnostic. We performed surgical biopsy using thoracoscopy due to the possibility of malignancy. The pathological diagnosis was MALT lymphoma. He underwent an chemotherapy after the operation and has been followed up at an outpatient for 8 years.


Plunging Into a Dark Sea of Emotions: Professionals' Emotional Experiences Addressing Child Abuse in Interviews With Children.
Comprehending professionals' emotional challenges when addressing child abuse can help to improve identification, protection, and care for exposed children. This study presents an interpretive description analysis of qualitative interviews with ten child protective services workers and nine child mental health services psychologists in Norway. The participants described intense negative reactions due to addressing child abuse during assessments and investigations. We identified five main themes: (a) facing children's suffering caused by adults, (b) feeling mean, (c) doubting one's ability and skills, (d) feeling that one is betraying children, and (e) being obstructed by heavy workload and dysfunctional structure. To improve professionals' capacity to help exposed children, it is necessary to change the organizational structure and culture. In addition, professionals would benefit from systematic training in handling complexity and in efficient emotion regulation. Finally, we strongly suggest that institutions responsible for investigating child abuse facilitate and prioritize deliberate practice for their staff.


Developmental regulation of mechanosensitive calcium channels in skeletal muscle from normal and mdx mice.
Single-channel activity was recorded from cell-attached membrane patches on flexor digitorum brevis fibres acutely isolated from normal and mdx mice at different stages of postnatal development. Recordings from cell-attached patches on both normal and mdx fibres were dominated by the activity of mechanosensitive ion channels with a conductance of approximately 17 pS with 110 mM Ba2+ in the patch electrode. In a small fraction of the patches on mdx fibres from young mice, channels showed very high levels of activity. Channel activity recorded from mdx fibres from older mice was higher than in age-matched normal fibres and the level of activity decreased during development. Channel density decreased in normal fibres, whereas it remained relatively constant in mdx fibres, as if channels are down-regulated in normal, but not mdx, fibres during postnatal development. An early step in the dystrophic process may be an alteration of the mechanisms that regulate the expression of functional channels.


Identification of Key Genes and Pathways in Female Lung Cancer Patients Who Never Smoked by a Bioinformatics Analysis.
Smoking is considered the major risk factor for lung cancer, but only a small portion of female lung adenocarcinoma patients are associated with smoking. Thus, identifying crucial genes and pathways related to nonsmoking female lung cancer patients is of great importance. Gene expression profiles were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. The R software packages were applied to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO term enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses were carried out using DAVID tools. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape software. In total, 487 downregulated and 199 upregulated DEGs were identified. The down-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched for behavior and response to wounding, and the upregulated DEGs were significantly enriched for multicellular organismal metabolic process and cell division. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the downregulated DEGs were significantly enriched for cell adhesion molecules and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, while the upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched for cell cycle and the p53 signaling pathway. The top 10 hub genes and top 3 gene interaction modules were selected from the PPI network. Of the ten hub genes, a high expression of five genes was related to a poor OS in female lung cancer patients who never smoked, including IL6, CXCR2, FPR2, PPBP and HBA1. However, a low expression of GNG11, LRRK2, CDH5, CAV1 and SELE was associated with a worse OS for the female lung cancer patients who never smoked. In conclusion, our study provides novel insight for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of nonsmoking female lung cancer, and these identified DEGs may serve as biomarkers for diagnostics and treatment.


Pharmacological breast cancer therapy (review).
Breast cancer ranks as the second most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Anticancer agents are an important component of breast cancer therapy. Drugs frequently used to treat breast cancer include methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cyclophosphamide, anthracyclines, taxanes, trastuzumab, tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors. These agents inhibit breast cancer progression by a variety of different mechanisms. This review describes each of these drugs and the varying effects each of them have upon breast cancer cells.


Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and the role of adenosine pharmacologic stress.
As an advanced imaging modality, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) offers high spatial resolution and produces unsurpassed images of the heart and its function. Clinically, CMR is well established in the assessment of congenital heart disease, the aorta, tumors, the pericardium, cardiac mass and function, flow measurement, and the structure and function of the right ventricle. CMR has demonstrated a high interstudy reproducibility of left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and mass, making it the ideal noninvasive technique for serial measurements. CMR growth areas that are nearing routine clinical application are the evaluation of myocardial perfusion, infarction, and viability. In perfusion CMR studies, pharmacologic stress is used to increase differences in the first-pass delivery of the contrast agent between myocardial regions perfused by normal and diseased arteries. The most widely used stress modality for CMR perfusion studies is adenosine.


Best evidence topic reports. BET 1: is long-term Rivaroxaban superior to Warfarin in pulmonary embolism?
A short cut review was carried out to establish whether Rivaroxaban is superior to warfarin in the management of pulmonary embolism. Three studies were directly relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that Rivaroxaban is a promising alternative to warfarin in the management of pulmonary embolism.


Heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Kentucky: Epidemiology and surveillance.
The study aims to describe recent changes in Kentucky's drug overdose trends related to increased heroin and fentanyl involvement, and to discuss future directions for improved drug overdose surveillance. The study used multiple data sources (death certificates, postmortem toxicology results, emergency department [ED] records, law enforcement drug submissions, and prescription drug monitoring records) to describe temporal, geographic, and demographic changes in drug overdoses in Kentucky. Fentanyl- and heroin-related overdose death rates increased across all age groups from years 2011 to 2015 with the highest rates consistently among 25-34-year-olds. The majority of the heroin and fentanyl overdose decedents had histories of substantial exposures to legally acquired prescription opioids. Law enforcement drug submission data were strongly correlated with drug overdose ED and mortality data. The 2016 crude rate of heroin-related overdose ED visits was 104/100,000, a 68% increase from 2015 (62/100,000). More fentanyl-related overdose deaths were reported between October, 2015, and September, 2016, than ED visits, in striking contrast with the observed ratio of >10 to 1 heroin-related overdose ED visits to deaths. Many fatal fentanyl overdoses were associated with heroin adulterated with fentanyl; <40% of the heroin overdose ED discharge records listed procedure codes for drug screening. The lack of routine ED drug testing likely resulted in underreporting of non-fatal overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. In order to inform coordinated public health and safety responses, drug overdose surveillance must move from a reactive to a proactive mode, utilizing the infrastructure for electronic health records.


[Characteristics of the protease activity of Vibrio cholerae strains and mutants with various biological properties].
The study of 65 V. cholerae strains and mutants revealed that protease activity was high in choleragenic strains and mostly low, sometimes even not manifested, in noncholeragenic strains. The use of inhibitors made it possible to determine three types of protease. Choleragenic strains were found to possess all three types of protease, while in noncholeragenic strains only protease of type 1 was detected in very rare cases. In noncholeragenic hemolytic strains and mutants protease of type 3 and in nonhemolytic strains protease of type 2 were mainly detected. Proteases of types 1 and 3 were thermolabile, and protease of type 2 was thermostable. Proteases of types 1 and 2 were found to be correlatively linked with the choleragenicity of V. cholerae and with a number of its properties which determine the pathogenicity of this infective agent.


Ni/Ni oxides nanoparticles with potential biomedical applications obtained by displacement of a nickel-organometallic complex.
A new synthesis and stabilization method was developed for paramagnetic nanoparticles composed of nickel and nickel oxides. Nickel/nickel oxides nanoparticles were synthesized by a method based on ligand displacement of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)-nickel(0), zerovalent organometallic precursor and simultaneous formation of a thiourea inclusion compound. Nickel/nickel oxides nanoparticles were stabilized with the amphipathic peptide H2N-Cys-Leu-Pro-Phe-Phe-Asp-NH2 having H2N-Leu-Pro-Phe-Phe-Asp-NH2 a peptide with potential properties for Alzheimer's disease therapy. The inclusion compound formed after displacement was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, and nickel/nickel oxides nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. In addition, a cell viability assay in primary rat hippocampal neurons was carried out.


The spinal cord connections of the myofascial trigger spots.
Recent electrophysiological studies revealed that endplate noise (EPN) could be specifically recorded from a myofascial trigger point (MTrP) region. EPN has been considered as the focal graded potentials due to excessive acetylcholine release in neuromuscular junction. A recent histological study has demonstrated a free nerve ending at the vicinity of the site, from where EPN could be recorded in an MTrP region. However, the sensory (afferent) and the motor (efferent) connections between an MTrP and the spinal cord still has never been fully studied. The aim of this study was to delineate both motor and sensory connections between an MTrP and the spinal cord by applying the stain with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Nine Wistar rats were studied. When the rat was anesthetized, its biceps femoris muscles were exposed for localizing the myofascial trigger spot (MTrS, equivalent to MTrP in human). In one side, a monopolar Teflon-coated, hollow-needle electrode was used for searching EPN in an MTrS region, and then HRP was injected via this hollow-needle electrode into the site where EPN was recorded. HRP was also injected into a normal (non-taut band, non-MTrS) site in the contralateral side to obtain the control data. Two days after HRP injection, the rats were sacrificed and their spinal cords and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were sectioned for the identification of the sites where neurons were labeled with HRP. The HRP-labeled neurons were found in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and in the DRG over L3, L4, and L5, while most were found in the L5 level. The mean numbers of HRP-labeled neurons in the EPN side looked smaller than that in the control side, but the difference did not reach statistically significant level (P>0.05). The mean values of the diameters of the HRP-labeled neurons in the DRG were not significantly different between the EPN side and the control side (P>0.05). However, HRP-neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord in the EPN side showed mild tendency to be smaller than that in the control side. The spinal cord connections of an MTrS are basically similar to that for a normal tissue region. The motor neurons related to MTrS tended to be smaller in their diameters. The findings in this study further supported the previously proposed hypotheses for the pathogenesis of an MTrP.


Development of gadolinium based nanoparticles having an affinity towards melanin.
Small Rigid Platforms (SRPs) are sub-5 nanometre gadolinium based nanoparticles that have been developed for multimodal imaging and theranostic applications. They are composed of a polysiloxane network surrounded by gadolinium chelates. A covalent coupling with quinoxaline derivatives has been performed. Such derivatives have proven their affinity for melanin frequently expressed in primary melanoma cases. Three different quinoxaline derivatives have been synthesised and coupled to the nanoparticles. The affinity of the grafted nanoparticles for melanin has then been shown in vitro by surface plasmon resonance on a homemade melanin grafted gold chip.


Protein solutions: concentration by a rapid method.
Protein solutions were concentrated, with no evidence of denaturation, by means of membranes formed from the complex interaction product of polyanions and polycations (Diaplex). The technique is considerably more rapid than conventional ultrafiltration with Visking tubing.


Project planning for health care software implementations.
It is estimated that 78% of projects fail to meet their original objectives. The time spent on project planning will help to improve on this statistic and directly yield a more successful project outcome. Based on the experiences of a panel of experts and the authors' experiences, this article presents a detailed planning guide to increase the chances of success on health care software implementations.


[INFLAMMATION AND HEMOCOAGULATION].
Problems of inflammation are extensively studied all over the world. Its mechanisms are known to involve hundreds of factors. The blood coagulation system is a major component of each living organism. This article was designed to analyze the relationship between inflammation and hemocoagulation and discuss definition of the term "low-grade inflammation" with reference to the blood coagulation system.


Two new koumine-type indole alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth.
Two new indole alkaloids, 21-oxokoumine (1) and furanokoumine (2), were isolated from the roots of Gelsemium elegans Benth together with three known compounds. The structures of the two novel compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, CD and molecular modeling. Compound 1 is the first instance of a koumine-type alkaloid with a carbonyl at the C-21 position, while compound 2 possesses a tetrahydrofuran ring located on C-20 and C-21.


Normal pulmonary gas exchange efficiency and absence of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia in adults with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Cardiopulmonary function is reduced in adults born very preterm, but it is unknown if this results in reduced pulmonary gas exchange efficiency during exercise and, consequently, leads to reduced aerobic capacity in subjects with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We hypothesized that an excessively large alveolar to arterial oxygen difference (AaDO2) and resulting exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) would contribute to reduced aerobic fitness in adults born very preterm with and without BPD. Measurements of pulmonary function, lung volumes and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) were made at rest. Measurements of maximal oxygen consumption, peak workload, temperature- and tonometry-corrected arterial blood gases, and direct measure of hemoglobin saturation with oxygen (SaO2) were made preexercise and during cycle ergometer exercise in ex-preterm subjects ≤32-wk gestational age, with BPD (n = 12), without BPD (PRE; n = 12), and full term controls (CONT; n = 12) breathing room air. Both BPD and PRE had reduced pulmonary function and reduced DLco compared with CONT. The AaDO2 was not significantly different between groups, and there was no evidence of EIAH (SaO2 < 95% and/or AaDO2 ≥ 40 Torr) in any subject group preexercise or at any workload. Arterial O2 content was not significantly different between the groups preexercise or during exercise. However, peak power output was decreased in BPD and PRE subjects compared with CONT. We conclude that EIAH in adult subjects born very preterm with and without BPD does not likely contribute to the reduction in aerobic exercise capacity observed in these subjects.


Different methods of dentin processing for application in bone tissue engineering: A systematic review.
Dentin has become an interesting potential biomaterial for tissue engineering of oral hard tissues. It can be used as a scaffold or as a source of growth factors in bone tissue engineering. Different forms of dentin have been studied for their potential use as bone substitutes. Here, we systematically review different methods of dentin preparation and the efficacy of processed dentin in bone tissue engineering. An electronic search was carried out in PubMed and Scopus databases for articles published from 2000 to 2016. Studies on dentin preparation for application in bone tissue engineering were selected. The initial search yielded a total of 1045 articles, of which 37 were finally selected. Review of studies showed that demineralization was the most commonly used dentin preparation process for use in tissue engineering. Dentin extract, dentin particles (tooth ash), freeze-dried dentin, and denatured dentin are others method of dentin preparation. Based on our literature review, we can conclude that preparation procedure and the size and shape of dentin particles play an important role in its osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties. Standardization of these methods is important to draw a conclusion in this regard. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2616-2627, 2016.


Role of leucocytes in damage to the vascular endothelium during ischaemia-reperfusion injury.
During this investigation, a model of tourniquet-induced forearm ischaemia-reperfusion injury is employed to investigate the role of leucocytes in damage to the vascular endothelium during ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Leucocyte entrapment is investigated by measuring the concentration of leucocytes in venous blood leaving the arm. Neutrophil and monocyte leucocyte subpopulations are isolated by density gradient centrifugation techniques. Cell surface expression of CD11b and the intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide are measured via flow cytometry. Plasma concentrations of elastase and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbemt assay (ELISA) techniques. During ischaemia-reperfusion, there was an increase in CD11b cell surface expression on neutrophils (P=0.040) and monocytes (P=0.049), and a decrease in peripheral blood leucocytes (P=0.019). There was an increase in the intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide by leucocyte subpopulations (P=0.027 [neutrophils], P=0.091 [monocytes]) and in the plasma elastase concentration (P=0.05). There was also a trend to increasing plasma concentration of vWF (P=0.0562), which was measured as a marker of endothelial damage. Ischaemia-reperfusion results in increased adhesiveness, entrapment and activation of leucocytes. Even following a mild ischaemic insult, this leucocyte response was followed immediately by evidence of endothelial damage. These results may have important implications for understanding the development of chronic diseases that involve mild ischaemic episodes.


Analysis of long term CD4+CD25highCD127- T-reg cells kinetics in peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients.
The role of CD4+CD25highCD127- T-reg cells in solid-organ Transplant (Tx) acceptance has been extensively studied. In previous studies on kidney and liver recipients, peripheral T-reg cell counts were associated to graft survival, while in lung Tx, there is limited evidence for similar findings. This study aims to analyze long term peripheral kinetics of T-reg-cells in a cohort of lung recipients and tests its association to several clinical variables. From jan 2009 to dec 2014, 137 lung Tx recipients were submitted to an immunological follow up (median: 105.9 months (6.7-310.5)). Immunological follow up consisted of a complete blood peripheral immuno-phenotype, inclusive of CD4+CD25highCD127- T and FOXP3+ cells. We tested the association between T-reg and relevant variables by linear OR regression models for repeated measures, adjusting for time from Tx. Also, by ordered logistic models for panel data, the association between Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfuncton (CLAD) onset/progression and T-reg counts in the previous 3 months was tested. Among all variables analyzed at multivariate analysis: Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (OR -6.51, p < 0.001), Restrictive Allograft Syndrome (OR -5.19, p = 0.04) and Extracorporeal photopheresis (OR -5.65, p < 0.001) were significantly associated to T-reg cell. T-reg cell counts progressively decreased according to the severity of CLAD. Furthermore, patients with higher mean T-reg counts in a trimester had a significantly lower risk (OR 0.97, p = 0.012) of presenting CLAD or progressing in the graft dysfunction in the following trimester. Our present data confirm animal observations on the possible role of T-reg in the evolution of CLAD.


Erosion patterns in a sediment layer.
We report here on a laboratory-scale experiment which reproduces a rich variety of natural patterns with few control parameters. In particular, we focus on intriguing rhomboid structures often found on sandy shores and flats. We show that the standard views based on water surface waves do not explain the phenomenon, and we evidence a different mechanism based on mud avalanche instability.


Application of the h-Index in Academic Plastic Surgery.
The h-index is a measure designed to assess the quantity and significance of an individual's academic contributions. The objective of this study was to determine whether the h-index of plastic surgeons correlates with academic rank and whether there is a difference based on academic rank, residency training model, sex, geographic region, faculty size, and departmental status. A database of all US academic plastic surgeons was created. The rank and sex of each surgeon were obtained, as were characteristics of their plastic surgery program. The Scopus database was queried to determine each surgeon's h-index. The 592 plastic surgeons in our database had a mean h-index of 8.97. The h-index increased with academic rank: 4.59 for assistant professors, 9.10 for associate professors, and 15.30 for professors. There was no significant difference in the h-index between chairpersons and chiefs. Plastic surgeons on faculty in integrated plastic surgery programs had significantly higher h-indices (9.64) than those at traditional programs (6.28). Those who were on faculty at larger programs also had higher h-indices. Male plastic surgeons had higher h-indices (9.57) than did female plastic surgeons (6.07), although this was insignificant when taking other variables into account. There was no correlation between the h-index and location or departmental status. The h-index of plastic surgeons seems to correlate with academic rank and has potential as a tool to measure academic productivity within plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons on faculty in integrated plastic surgery programs, those at larger programs, and male plastic surgeons tend to have higher h-indices. The difference between sexes seems to be, at least in part, due to the higher number of men in high academic positions. There does not seem to be a regional difference with regard to h-indices or a difference with regard to departmental status.