Noise Estimation for Image Sensor Based on Local Entropy and Median Absolute Deviation.
Noise estimation for image sensor is a key technique in many image pre-processing applications such as blind de-noising. The existing noise estimation methods for additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Poisson-Gaussian noise (PGN) may underestimate or overestimate the noise level in the situation of a heavy textured scene image. To cope with this problem, a novel homogenous block-based noise estimation method is proposed to calculate these noises in this paper. Initially, the noisy image is transformed into the map of local gray statistic entropy (LGSE), and the weakly textured image blocks can be selected with several biggest LGSE values in a descending order. Then, the Haar wavelet-based local median absolute deviation (HLMAD) is presented to compute the local variance of these selected homogenous blocks. After that, the noise parameters can be estimated accurately by applying the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to analyze the local mean and variance of selected blocks. Extensive experiments on synthesized noised images are induced and the experimental results show that the proposed method could not only more accurately estimate the noise of various scene images with different noise levels than the compared state-of-the-art methods, but also promote the performance of the blind de-noising algorithm.


Regulation, cell differentiation and protein-based inheritance.
Recent research using fungi as models provide new insight into the ability of regulatory networks to generate cellular states that are sufficiently stable to be faithfully transmitted to daughter cells, thereby generating epigenetic inheritance. Such protein-based inheritance is driven by infectious factors endowed with properties usually displayed by prions. We emphasize the contribution of regulatory networks to the emerging properties displayed by cells.


Experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection in vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in Kenya: I. Susceptibility to a primary infection.
Groups of five 3-kg Kenyan monkeys, Cercopithecus aethiops, were exposed individually to 150,600 or 1500 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae per monkey. Three monkeys died soon after the infections became patent and the survivors were autopsied 4 months after exposure. Mortality and most haematological, parasitological and pathological sequelae of infection were dose-related, but not the white cell response or changes in the levels of serum proteins or fibrinogen. No gross liver fibrosis was seen. Comparison of this study with earlier ones on related cercopithecine monkeys suggests that the vervet closely resembles the baboon in its response to S. mansoni infections. Difficulties in managing and maintaining vervets can be overcome by using colony-bred or properly adapted feral animals. Thus, the vervet provides a cheaper, more readily available primate model for experimental S. mansoni studies. A prolonged infection, sufficiently heavy to permit reliable parasitological monitoring without undue mortality, should be provided by 150 S. mansoni cercariae per kg body-weight, using the Kenyan strains of vervet and parasite.


[Use of erythropoietin in the treatment of patients with oncohematological diseases].
The role of erythropoietin in the development of anemia in patients with oncohematological diseases has been discussed. Efficacy of use of erythropoietin in patients with oncohematological diseases was analyzed. Features of use, contraindication and adverse reactions have been discussed. Erythropoietins-beta have proved to be more effective than erythropoietins-alpha.


Sequence-specific resonance assignments in the 1H nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectrum of the lac repressor DNA-binding domain 1-51 from Escherichia coli by two-dimensional spectroscopy.
The assignment of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of the DNA-binding domain 1-51 of lac repressor from Escherichia coli is described and documented. The assignments are based entirely on the amino acid sequence and on two-dimensional NMR experiments at 360 MHz and 500 MHz. Individual assignments were obtained at 18 degrees C for the backbone protons of 44 out of the total of 51 amino acids residues, the exceptions being Met-1, Lys-2, Tyr-7, Arg-35, Glu-36, Lys-37 and Ile-48. Complete assignments of the non-labile hydrogen atoms of the side chain were obtained for 33 residues, and for Asn-46 and Asn-50 the delta amide protons were also identified. The chemical shifts for the assigned resonances at 18 degrees C are listed for an aqueous solution at pH 4.9 and at pH 6.8.


SCING-Spinal Cord Injury Neuroprotection with Glyburide: a pilot, open-label, multicentre, prospective evaluation of oral glyburide in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury in the USA.
Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) is a devastating neurological disorder with no pharmacological neuroprotective strategy proven effective to date. Progressive haemorrhagic necrosis (PHN) represents an increasingly well-characterised mechanism of secondary injury after tSCI that negatively impacts neurological outcomes following acute tSCI. Preclinical studies evaluating the use of the Food and Drug Administration-approved sulfonylurea receptor 1-transient receptor potential melastatin 4 channel blocker glyburide in rodent models have shown reduced secondary microhaemorrhage formation and the absence of capillary fragmentation, the pathological hallmark of PHN. In this initial phase multicentre open-label pilot study, we propose to enrol 10 patients with acute cervical tSCI to primarily assess the feasibility, and safety of receiving oral glyburide within 8 hours of injury. Secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics and preliminary evaluations on neurological recovery as well as blood and MRI-based injury biomarkers. Analysis will be performed using the descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Glyburide has been shown as an effective neuroprotective agent in preclinical tSCI models and in the treatment of ischaemic stroke with the additional risk of a hypoglycaemic response. Given the ongoing secondary injury and the traumatic hyperglycaemic stress response seen in patients with tSCI, glyburide; thus, offers an appealing neuroprotective strategy to supplement standard of care treatment. The study protocol was approved by the Ohio State University Biomedical Institutional Review Board. The protocol was amended in February 2017 with changes related to study feasibility and patient recruitment. Specifically, the route of administration was changed to the oral form to allow for streamlined and rapid drug administration, and the injury-to-drug time window was extended to 8 hours in an effort to further enhance enrolment. Participants or legally authorised representatives are informed about the trial and its anticipated risks orally and in written form using an approved informed consent form prior to inclusion. The findings of this study will be disseminated to the participants and to academic peers through scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journal publications. NCT02524379 and 2014H0335.


Vascular responses in the equine digit.
The digital circulation was isolated in 12 ponies under pentobarbital anesthesia. Blood flow was either controlled by a pump or measured under natural perfusion. The responses to rapid changes and stoppages of blood flow indicated no evidence of autoregulation or reactive hyperemia. Local administration of acetylcholine, histamine, and prostaglandins E1 and E2 decreased prevenous resistance, whereas epinephrine and serotonin caused prevenous constriction. Large doses of epinephrine and serotonin decreased venous caliber. The effects of prostaglandins A1 and F2alpha were variable. The equine digital vasculature responds to changes in flow and to vasoactive agents like the canine forelimb skin vasculature.


Enhancing Value-Based Care With a Walk-in Clinic: A Primary Care Provider Intervention to Decrease Low Acuity Emergency Department Overutilization.
Background Emergency department overutilization is a known contributor to the high per-capita healthcare cost in the United States. There is a knowledge gap regarding the substitution effect of walk-in clinic availability in primary care provider (PCP) offices and emergency department utilization (EDU). This study evaluates associations between PCP availability and EDU and analyzes the potential cost savings for health systems. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis compared low acuity EDU rates in established patients at a family medicine residency's PCP office before and after walk-in clinic implementation. The practice had 12 providers, 12 residents, and a patient panel of approximately 7,000-8,000. Inclusion criteria were met if patients were: (1) established with the PCP office, (2) had a low acuity emergency department (ED) visit (emergency index score level 4 or 5) OR had a walk-in clinic visit at the family practice. ED visits were tracked from January 2018 to January 2020 and encounters were compared numbers to pre and post-implementation of a walk-in clinic. Cost savings for comparable management was estimated with average price differences for low acuity encounters in the ED versus clinic. Results Over the two-year timeframe, there were 10,962 total visits to the ED by family practice patients, 4,250 of these visits were low acuity. Despite gross monthly increases of EDU from 2018-2020, after implementation of a walk-in clinic in 2019, rates of total EDU decreased by 1.5% and low acuity utilization rates also decreased. The average annual patient census nearly doubled from 5,763 to 8,042. T-tests confirmed statistical significance with p-values <0.05. Average low acuity ED visits ($437) cost 4.9 times more than comparable PCP office visits ($91). Managing 2,387 patients in the walk-in clinic resulted in an estimated annual cost savings of $825,902. Conclusion Extended walk-in availability in primary care offices provides non-ED capacity for low acuity management and might mitigate low acuity ED utilization while providing more cost-effective care. This study supports similarly described pre-hospital diversions in reducing ED over-utilization by increasing access to care. Higher levels of evidence are needed to establish causality.


CLCA2 overexpression suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cervical cancer cells through inactivation of ERK/JNK/p38-MAPK signaling pathways.
Cervical cancer is an important malignant tumor threatening the physical and mental health of women in the world. As a new calcium activated chloride channel protein, calcium activated chloride channel (CLCA2) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development. But its role and exact regulatory mechanism in cervical cancer are still unclear. In our study, we found CLCA2 was significantly decreased in cervical cancer cells, and overexpression of CLCA2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promotes apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, and CLCA2 inhibited EMT (Epithelial-mesenchymal transition) through an p38 / JNK / ERK pathway. The results in vivo were consistent with those in vitro. In conclusion, overexpression of CLCA2 inhibited the progression of cervical cancer in vivo and in vitro. This may provide a theoretical basis for CLCA2 as a new indicator of clinical diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer or as a potential target of drug therapy.


Model for capping derived from inhibition of surface receptor capping by free fatty acids.
When low concentrations (2-5 mole %) of cis unsaturated free fatty acids (group A) are intercalated into lymphocyte plasma membrane, capping is inhibited. No effect is seen with trans unsaturated or saturated fatty acids (group B). The capping inhibition is reversible with increasing doses of extracellular calcium. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery has shown that the group A free fatty acids do not inhibit the receptor immobilization associated with patch formation, but inhibit the final energy-dependent movement of the patched receptors into a cap. We have also shown that the group A free fatty acids cause a shift in membrane-bound calcium to the lipid phase from probable protein-associated sites. We have incorporated these findings into a model for capping and membrane-cytoskeletal interactions.


Synthesis of flower-like CuS nanostructured microspheres using poly(ethylene glycol) 200 as solvent.
CuS flower-like microspheres with the diameter of about 3-4 microm constructed by nanoflakes with thickness of about 30-40 nm have been successfully synthesized by a simple wet chemical method. In this reaction system, Poly(ethylene glycol) 200 (PEG 200) was used as solvent, CuCl2 2H2O as cuprum source, and thioacetamide (TAA) as sulfur source. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in detail. The XRD patterns revealed that the products were pure hexagonal phase of CuS. Experiments with various parameters indicated that the reaction temperature and molar ratio of CuCl2 2H2O to thioacetamide had strong effects on the sizes and morphologies of CuS crystals. A possible growth mechanism on the formation of CuS microspheres was proposed. The PEG 200 acted as solvent, complexing agent, and soft template in this synthesis. Furthermore, optical studies of the products including UV-Vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum have also been carried out.


In vivo decomplementation of guinea pigs with cobra venom factor and anti-C3 serum: analysis of the requirement of C3 and C5 for the mediation of endotoxin-induced death.
Guinea pigs were decomplemented by administration of cobra venom factor and goat anti-C3 serum in order to determine whether endotoxin-induced death could be prevented. The combined use of both reagents resulted in the complete elimination of all serum C3 and C5 hemolytic activity. This yielded, however, a shortened rather than extended longevity following endotoxin challenge. The mixing of endotoxin in vitro or in vivo with serum of animals already partially depleted of C3 resulted in no further activation of this component, further suggesting that the interaction of complement with endotoxins does not relate to mortality in animals following endotoxin challenge. Thus, although it has been demonstrated that complement components aid in the detoxification of endotoxin, the present data show that the C3 and C5 components are not mediators of endotoxin-induced death.


[Neurosurgical wounds in the defensive war].
In Yugoslavia there is a defence war act by which every hospital has to have prospect about defence of whole population in case of attack from abroad. First step of every prospect is the evaluation of casualties. Evaluation of casualties in possible war and neurosurgical discipline should be made from following aspects: estimation of amount of neurosurgical injuries, number of neurosurgical patients before the war, disposal of hospitals and beds for neurosurgery, equipment, and number of neurosurgeons. Management of neurosurgical injuries in the war begins with the first aid. After that casualties should be divided into several groups. Certain amount of patients with minor injuries of the head could be managed by general practitioner or general surgeon. The first group of really neurosurgical cases is consisted of injuries which must be operated upon by neurosurgeon immediately, without any delay. The second group are made of patients who need neurosurgical help, but it can be delayed several hours or so. The third group is consisted from injuries which should not be treated operatively. And the last one is a group of cases who will die with or without neurosurgical help. The treatment in these cases should be paliative without neurosurgical staff and equipment involved.


High extracellular Ca2+ hyperpolarizes human parathyroid cells via Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels.
Membrane potential has a major influence on stimulus-secretion coupling in various excitable cells. The role of membrane potential in the regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion is not known. High K+-induced depolarization increases secretion from parathyroid cells. The paradox is that increased extracellular Ca2+, which inhibits secretion, has also been postulated to have a depolarizing effect. In this study, human parathyroid cells from parathyroid adenomas were used in patch clamp studies of K+ channels and membrane potential. Detailed characterization revealed two K+ channels that were strictly dependent of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. At high extracellular Ca2+, a large K+ current was seen, and the cells were hyperpolarized (-50.4 +/- 13.4 mV), whereas lowering of extracellular Ca2+ resulted in a dramatic decrease in K+ current and depolarization of the cells (-0.1 +/- 8.8 mV, p < 0.001). Changes in extracellular Ca2+ did not alter K+ currents when intracellular Ca2+ was clamped, indicating that K+ channels are activated by intracellular Ca2+. The results were concordant in cell-attached, perforated patch, whole-cell and excised membrane patch configurations. These results suggest that [Ca2+]o regulates membrane potential of human parathyroid cells via Ca2+-activated K+ channels and that the membrane potential may be of greater importance for the stimulus-secretion coupling than recognized previously.


Internal eradicability for an epidemiological model with diffusion.
This work is concerned with the analysis of the possibility for eradicating a disease in an infected population. The epidemiological model under study is of SI type with diffusion. We assume the policy strategy acting on the infected individuals over a subset of the whole spatial territory. Using the framework of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations, and spectral theory of linear differential operators, we give necessary conditions and sufficient conditions of eradicability.


Development and evaluation of an Influenza virus subtype H7N2 vaccine candidate for pandemic preparedness.
Influenza virus of the H7N2 subtype has been introduced into noncommercial poultry in the United States, and this probably resulted in incidents of transmission of H7N2 virus to humans, documented in 2002 and 2003. This virus could be considered a potential threat to public health if it acquired person-to-person transmissibility. A favored approach for global pandemic preparedness includes development of prepandemic vaccines for any potential pandemic virus. To this end, we created a high-growth reassortant virus (H7N2-PR8) containing the genes for the hemagglutinin and the neuraminidase from a low-pathogenicity (H7N2) virus strain and the remaining six genes from a human vaccine strain (H1N1). The reassortant strain was evaluated to assess its antigenicity, safety, and protective efficacy using a mouse model. Antigenicity studies using ferret antibodies raised against H7N2-PR8 indicated that this virus confers broad cross-reactivity with divergent H7 viruses of different years and lineages. Mice and chickens inoculated with high doses of H7N2-PR8 supported virus replication but survived, indicating that this virus is comparable to other avian viruses of low pathogenicity. To assess the protective efficacy of H7N2-PR8, mice were immunized with two doses of formalin-inactivated H7N2-PR8, alone or with alum. Vaccinated mice subsequently challenged with highly pathogenic viruses from homologous and heterologous lineages A/Canada/444/04 (H7N3) and A/Netherlands/219/03 (H7N7) showed pronounced reduction of wild-type virus replication. These studies indicate that H7N2-PR8 is immunogenic, safe, and protective in animal models; these are the essential attributes to qualify for phase I human clinical trials as a prepandemic vaccine.


Serological tests in leprosy. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of ELISA tests based on phenolic glycolipid antigens, and the implications for their use in epidemiological studies.
This paper examines the sensitivity and specificity of two ELISA assays for IgM antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae, one employing natural phenolic glycolipid and the other employing a synthetic disaccharide glycoconjugate as antigen. Estimates of sensitivity and specificity are derived, based on a panel of sera from leprosy cases in Malawi and various non-leprosy controls from the UK. Though both assays were able to identify a high proportion of multibacillary patients, neither was able to detect a high proportion of paucibacillary patients without considerable loss of specificity. The implications of the inverse relationship between sensitivity and specificity are discussed with reference to the predictive value of such tests in such areas as Malawi, where the large majority of cases are paucibacillary.


FedScore: A privacy-preserving framework for federated scoring system development.
We propose FedScore, a privacy-preserving federated learning framework for scoring system generation across multiple sites to facilitate cross-institutional collaborations. The FedScore framework includes five modules: federated variable ranking, federated variable transformation, federated score derivation, federated model selection and federated model evaluation. To illustrate usage and assess FedScore's performance, we built a hypothetical global scoring system for mortality prediction within 30 days after a visit to an emergency department using 10 simulated sites divided from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. We employed a pre-existing score generator to construct 10 local scoring systems independently at each site and we also developed a scoring system using centralized data for comparison. We compared the acquired FedScore model's performance with that of other scoring models using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The FedScore model achieved an average area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.763 across all sites, with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.020. We also calculated the average AUC values and SDs for each local model, and the FedScore model showed promising accuracy and stability with a high average AUC value which was closest to the one of the pooled model and SD which was lower than that of most local models. This study demonstrates that FedScore is a privacy-preserving scoring system generator with potentially good generalizability.


A comparison of the chronic effects of oral xamoterol and enalapril on blood pressure and renal function in mild to moderate heart failure.
1. We compared the effects, after 3 weeks oral therapy, of xamoterol 200 mg twice daily and enalapril 2.5, 5 or 10 mg twice daily on home and clinic blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow, stroke and minute distances, linear resistance and on plasma renin activity in 19 patients with mild to moderate heart failure in a single-blind randomised crossover study. 2. Enalapril reduced mean home blood pressure by 17/7 mm Hg compared with xamoterol (P less than 0.0001) and by 19/7 mm Hg compared with placebo. Compared with placebo xamoterol had no effect. Enalapril reduced predose blood pressure, compared with xamoterol, on average by 15/5 mm Hg (P = 0.02 systolic, 0.09 diastolic) and by 20/7 mm Hg compared with placebo. At 4 h post-dose the mean differences were: xamoterol-enalapril 13/10 mm Hg (P = 0.01 systolic, 0.0007 diastolic) and placebo-enalapril 23/9 mm Hg. 3. Stroke and minute distances were marginally less 4 h following xamoterol than following enalapril: mean (s.e. mean) values were 9.4 (0.7) vs 10.4 (0.8) cm (P = 0.23) and 699 (51.7) vs 767 (62.1) cm (P = 0.04) respectively. Linear resistance was reduced by enalapril, from the placebo value of 13.2 (1.2) to 11.0 (0.9) mm Hg m-1 and marginally increased by xamoterol, to 14.2 (1.2) mm Hg m-1, the difference between active treatments being statistically significant (P = 0.03). 4. Renal plasma flow, GFR and filtration fraction were not influenced by enalapril or xamoterol therapy. There were no significant correlations between glomerular filtration rate and either blood pressure or stroke distance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Photogating-controlled ZnO photodetector response for visible to near-infrared light.
In recent years, as a direct wide band gap semiconductor, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterial has attracted a lot of attention. However, the widely investigated ZnO materials are strongly limited in fast-response and broadband photodetectors due to their inherent weaknesses, so an effective structure or mechanism of ZnO nanostructure photodetector is greatly needed. In this work, a photogating-controlled photodetector based on a ZnO nanosheet-HfO2-lightly doped Si architecture is demonstrated. Its performance was significantly improved by the photogating-controlled local field at the Si and HfO2 interfaces compared to the findings in other published works on ZnO. Consequently, the photodetector not only effectively balances the responsivity (as high as 5.6 A W-1) and response time (400 µs), but also broadens the wavelength response of the ZnO-based photodetectors from visible to near-infrared light range (~1200 nm). Additionally, the photogating-controlled ZnO photodetector enables high-resolution imaging both in the visible and near-infrared bands. Our photogating-controlled ZnO photodetectors not only exemplify the controllability of the gate electrode in high mobility materials but also provide a basis for the development of fast speed and high responsivity detection of high mobility materials.


First Description of a Palatal Organ in Chimaera monstrosa (Chondrichthyes, Holocephali).
Chimaeroid fishes are the only extant Holocephali, a subclass of Chondrichthyes. We describe for the first time a well evidenced structure localized in the palate of the chimaeroid Chimaera monstrosa, here named a palatal organ (PO). Attention has been paid to the holocephalan head morphology, but there has been no mention of this particular organ in the literature. The PO is a soft-tissue mass located within a slight hollow in between the two vomerine toothplates, and it protrudes into the oral cavity, resembling the mammalian incisive papilla. It is characterized by dense connective tissue with abundant collagen and elastic fibers and no muscular tissue. The robust innervation but low density of taste buds suggest a role in gustation for the PO, but primary utility in general mechanical sensitivity likely implicated in food sorting. The presence of numerous multicellular serous glands in the anterior/dorsal part of the PO is quite surprising because, in gnathostome fish, the presence of multicellular glands within the mouth has been reported in only the rare case of teeth-associated venom glands. Hypothesized roles for these glands could include food lubrication, digestion and defense against pathogens. In the literature, the presence of a PO has been demonstrated in many published images of chimaeroid fishes, but has gone unnoticed. This trait could represent a peculiar characteristic of all or a subset of holocephalans.


Evaluation of healing by Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) using Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) + β -Tricalcium Phosphate (β -TCP) and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) + β -Tricalcium Phosphate (β - TCP) in periapical lesions: Case report.
When teeth have responded poorly to conventional endodontic treatment or when they cannot be treated adequately by nonsurgical means, surgical endodontics remains the treatment of choice. Healing of apical lesions occurs by repair, most of the time. "Repair is the healing of a wound by tissue that does not fully restore the architecture or function of the affected unit". Since this is not ideal, newer regenerative procedures that aim to restore lost tissue have been introduced. β -Tricalcium phosphate is an alloplastic bone graft material that forms a scaffold for closing the bony defect. It is osteoconductive. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are platelet concentrates, rich in growth factors and they promote regeneration by osteoinduction. This article describes cases of bone augmentation with a combination of PRP + β -TCP and PRF + β -TCP for treatment of the chronic periapical lesion. The cases were followed for six months and one year and healing was evaluated quantitatively using cone beam computed tomography.


Hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil and extrabeam radiotherapy for liver metastases from pancreatic carcinoma.
To examine the efficacy and safety of a combined modality therapy consisting of hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil and external-beam radiotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy consisted of 5-FU 1000mg/m2 administrated as a 5-hr continuous infusion once weekly. External-beam radiotherapy (total dose, 50Gy; 2Gy/day) was delivered to the pancreas tumor concurrently for 5-6 weeks. Seventeen patients with no distant metastases except to the liver were enrolled in this study. Patients received a median of 13 cycles of chemotherapy. Sixteen of 17 patients received a total radiotherapy dose of 50Gy. In one patient, treatment was discontinued after 24Gy of radiotherapy and 2 cycles of chemotherapy because of progressive disease. Nausea and vomiting were the most common types of toxicity. Grade 3 or worse toxicity was observed in 2 patients. Four patients developed gastroduodenal ulcers. Of the 16 patients, 7 (41%) showed a partial response, and 9 (53%) showed no change. The median overall survival was 4.5 months and 1-yr overall survival of 11.8% was observed. The combined therapy is active and well tolerated, but results in a poorer prognosis, in spite of its high initial response rate.


Direct uptake of canopy rainwater causes turgor-driven growth spurts in the mangrove Avicennia marina.
Mangrove forests depend on a dense structure of sufficiently large trees to fulfil their essential functions as providers of food and wood for animals and people, CO2 sinks and protection from storms. Growth of these forests is known to be dependent on the salinity of soil water, but the influence of foliar uptake of rainwater as a freshwater source, additional to soil water, has hardly been investigated. Under field conditions in Australia, stem diameter variation, sap flow and stem water potential of the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh.) were simultaneously measured during alternating dry and rainy periods. We found that sap flow in A. marina was reversed, from canopy to roots, during and shortly after rainfall events. Simultaneously, stem diameters rapidly increased with growth rates up to 70 μm h-1, which is about 25-75 times the normal growth rate reported in temperate trees. A mechanistic tree model was applied to provide evidence that A. marina trees take up water through their leaves, and that this water contributes to turgor-driven stem growth. Our results indicate that direct uptake of freshwater by the canopy during rainfall supports mangrove tree growth and serve as a call to consider this water uptake pathway if we aspire to correctly assess influences of changing rainfall patterns on mangrove tree growth.


[A method of pancreatojejunostomy in pancreatoduodenal resection].
The article deals with 6 pancreatoduodenal resections with establishment of pancreatojejuno-anastomosis, invagination of the pancreatic stump, and formation of an antireflux apparatus in the intestinal lumen. In none of the cases, pancreonecrosis of the stump and incompetence of the pancreatojejunoanastomosis were encountered after formation of the anastomosis by this method. The late-term results were studied in 4 patients. Complications linked with pancreatitis of the stump were not recorded during a follow-up period of 4-6 months.


Chemical standards in ion mobility spectrometry.
In ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), reduced mobility values (K(0)) are used as a qualitative measure of gas phase ions, and are reported in the literature as absolute values. Unfortunately, these values do not always match with those collected in the field. One reason for this discrepancy is that the buffer gas may be contaminated with moisture or other volatile compounds. In this study, the effect of moisture and organic contaminants in the buffer gas on the mobility of IMS standards and analytes was investigated for the first time using IMS directly coupled to mass spectrometry. 2,4-Dimethylpyridine, 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (DTBP), and tetrabutylammonium, tetrapropylammonium, tetraethylammonium, and tetramethylammonium chlorides were used as chemical standards. In general, the mobility of IMS standard product ions was not affected by small amounts of contamination while the mobilities of many analytes were affected. In the presence of contaminants in the buffer gas, the mobility of analyte ions is often decreased by forming ion-molecule clusters with the contaminant. To ensure the measurement of accurate reduced mobility values, two IMS standards are required: an instrument and a mobility standard. An instrument standard is not affected by contaminants in the buffer gas, and provides an accurate measurement of the instrumental parameters, such as voltage, drift length, pressure, and temperature. The mobility standard behaves like an analyte ion in that the compound's mobility is affected by low levels of contamination in the buffer gas. Prudent use of both of these standards can lead to improved measurement of accurate reduced mobility values.


Unexpected adverse effects of Freon 11 and Freon 12 as medication propellants.
Metered-dose inhalers are frequently used in treating pulmonary diseases associated with bronchoconstriction, chiefly asthma and chronic bronchitis. These aerosolized medications are not without the potential for adverse effects. The author describes two patients who likely had adverse reactions to the Freon propellants used in the inhalers. These reactions are reported in order to alert physicians to their possible occurrence and to suggest a rational treatment approach.


Natural radioactivity intake into wheat grown on fertilized farms in two districts of Pakistan.
The use of phosphate fertilizers on agricultural farms enhances gamma-ray activity concentration in the farms and therefore absorbed dose rates to the public. The most common natural radionuclides in fertilizer and soil are (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th. Agricultural farms at four locations in two districts in Pakistan consisting of saline and normal soils had been under fertilizer treatment for the past 30, 20, 10 and 0 y, therefore, natural radioactivity has been measured in soil samples from these sites to investigate the effect of fertilizers in soil and wheat grown in these sites. Radioactivity measured in soil of the sites under investigation was 550-644, 20-35 and 42-58 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th, respectively. Wheat was grown in the farms and radioactivity transferred from soil to roots, shoots and grains was also measured. Relatively high natural radioactivity has been observed in the fertilized agricultural farms and in the wheat plants grown in these farms. From the total amount of an element uptaken in a plant, distribution of the element in different parts of the plant has been studied. The distribution of potassium was almost uniform in roots, shoots and grains of wheat; that of radium was different in the three parts of wheat; and that of thorium was almost equal in shoots and grains but quite large in the roots. Soils to grain transfer factors of the natural radionuclides have been determined as 3-4 x 10(-2) for (226)Ra, 2-3 x 10(-2) for (232)Th and 17-20 x 10(-2) for (40)K. Annual doses of (40)K and (226)Ra received by intake of grain products have been estimated to lie within range while the dose received from intake of (232)Th is larger than the range specified in UNSCEAR report 2000.


Release properties of atelocollagen-gelatin complexes as carriers for local administration of fluvastatin.
The aim of this study was to investigate properties of atelocollagen/gelatin complexes (AC/Gel) and their characteristics of sustained statin release, to assess the utility of AC/Gel. AC/Gel were prepared by changing the mixing ratio of AC (0 to 40% of AC). Analysis of spectra of fluvastatin (Flu), gelatin (Gel), and Flu with Gel complex using a Fourier transform-infrared spectrometer indicates that Flu was bound to Gel through a bond involving the carboxyl and amino groups. Evaluation of characteristics of sustained release of Flu from the AC/Gel using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer showed that the release rate of Flu decreased with increasing the AC content. The histological evaluation using of Sprague-Dawley rats suggest that, unlike the pure Gel sponge, the AC/Gel was not absorbed in an early stage. Therefore, the present study showed that sustained Flu release can be controlled by using an AC/Gel, suggesting the utility of this composite material.


[OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER DIGESTIVE TRACT SURGERY].
Pain is a sensation associated with subjective factors, making it difficult to measure and assess. Currently, there is no widely accepted method of objectively assessing pain, and therefore subjective assessments such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) are generally used. The PainVision system has been developed for the quantitative analysis of pain and comparison of postoperative pain intensity. In this study, we investigated whether postoperative pain could be objectively assessed using this system in digestive tract surgery patients. Pain scores were measured with the VAS, the PainVision system, and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic hepatectomy, open or laparoscopic gastrectomy, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. As measured using the PainVision system, postoperative pain intensity was lower in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery compared with open hepatectomy. In open hepatectomy patients, pain intensity measured by the PainVision system was significantly lower on postoperative days (POD) 7 and 10 than on POD 1. Preemptive use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs significantly reduced postoperative pain in open hepatectomy patients. The results showed that PainVision effectively quantifies pain intensity after digestive tract surgery. Objective assessment of postoperative pain may lead to earlier mobility and improved quality of life.


Vibrational spectra of germanium-carbon clusters. II. GeC(7) and GeC(9).
Experimental and theoretical studies of a novel family of germanium-carbon clusters (Ge(n)C(m)) that were initiated with our earlier identification of the GeC(3)Ge cluster have now been extended to the GeC(7) and GeC(9) chains. The new clusters, which were formed by laser ablation and trapped in solid Ar at approximately 10 K, have been identified using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) measurements coupled with density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The nu(1)(sigma) vibrational fundamental of linear GeC(7) has been identified at 2063.6 cm(-1), and an absorption at 1928.3 cm(-1) has been assigned to the nu(4)(sigma) fundamental of linear GeC(9). FTIR measurements of the isotopic shifts for the assignments are in good agreement with the DFT predictions.


Providing dental care for patients with Huntington's disease.
This paper describes the genetic condition Huntington's disease and its clinical relevance to dentists. The treatment of two patients with the condition is described: one under general anaesthesia, the other with intravenous sedation. Dentists may have patients who develop Huntington's disease in later life, so this paper will help them consider the longer term effects of this disease and help in planning dental care.


Brugada Pattern Type 2 Diagnosis Unmasked by Aspiration Pneumonia.
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare autosomal dominant mutation affecting sodium channels. Electrocardiography can show two Brugada patterns (BrP). Type 1 BrP usually causes sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Type 2 BrP can appear during circumstances that result in delayed sodium channel opening, such as fever, pneumonia, or use of sodium channel blockers. Patients with type 2 BrP often have underlying type 1 BrP; this can be confirmed by an ajmaline challenge test. We describe the case of a patient who presented with SCA. He later had an interval type 2 BrP secondary to aspiration pneumonia, followed by type 1 BrP pattern confirmed by an ajmaline challenge test. The patient ultimately underwent implantable cardiac defibrillator placement to prevent future SCA.


Electrophysical Properties of PMN-PT-Ferrite Ceramic Composites.
Ferroelectromagnetic composites based on (1-x)PMN-(x)PT (PMN-PT) powder and Ni-Zn ferrite powder were obtained and are described in this work. As a ferroelectric component, we used (1-x)PMN-(x)PT solid solution (with x = 0.25, 0.28, 0.31, 0.34, 0.37, 0.40), synthesized using the sol-gel method. As a magnetic component, we used nickel-zinc ferrite, obtained using classic ceramic technology. The six compositions of PMN-PT used have rhombohedral symmetry, tetragonal one and mixture of these phases (morphotropic phase area), depending on x. The final ceramic composite samples were obtained using the classic methods involving the calcination route and pressureless final sintering (densification). The properties of the obtained ceramic composite samples were investigated, including microstructure SEM (scanning electron microscope), dielectric properties, electromechanical properties, and DC (Direct Current) electrical conductivity. Results showed that the microstructures of the PP-F composite samples characterized by larger grains were better crystallized, compared with the microstructures of the PMN-PT ceramic samples. The magnetic properties do not depend on the ferroelectric component of the composite samples, while the insertion of ferrite into the PMN-PT compound reduces the values of remnant and spontaneous polarization, as well as the coercive field. The dielectric measurements also indicated that the magnetic subsystem influences the dielectric properties. The present results show that the PP-F ceramic composite has good dielectric, magnetic, and piezoelectric properties, which predisposes this type of material to specific applications in microelectronics and micromechatronics.


A longitudinal investigation of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.
The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on various dimensions of wellbeing among 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness over a 12-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2SLGBTQ+ youth (recruited using a convenience sampling method) participated in three online surveys to assess mental health (depression, anxiety, suicidality), substance and alcohol use, health care access, and violence for 12-months between 2021-2022. Quantitative data analysis included non-parametric one-sample proportion tests, paired t-test and McNemar's test. Longitudinal data collected across all three timepoints were treated as paired data and compared to baseline data using non-parametric exact multinomial tests, and if significant, followed by pairwise post-hoc exact binomial tests. For the purposes of analysis, participants were grouped according to their baseline survey based on pandemic waves and public health restrictions. 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness (n = 87) reported high rates of mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, over 12-months during the pandemic. Youth participants reported experiencing poor mental health during the early waves of the pandemic, with improvements to their mental health throughout the pandemic; however, results were not statistically significant. Likewise, participants experienced reduced access to mental health care during the early waves of the pandemic but mental health care access increased for youth throughout the pandemic. Study results showed high rates of mental health issues among 2SLGBTQ+ youth, but reduced access to mental health care, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings highlight the need for 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming mental health care and services to address social and mental health issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.


In vitro evaluation of efficacy of nonstarch polysaccharides enzymes on wheat by simulating the avian digestive tract.
In this study, the efficacy of different nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme sources on wheat ingredients and wheat basal diets in vitro were evaluated by simulating the avian digestive tract. In Exp. 1, pH level was increased from 2.0 to 8.0 by simulating the avian digestive tract. The relative enzyme activities of xylanase A, B, and C and β-glucanase X at pH 3.0-3.5 were higher (P < 0.05) than those at pH 2.0 or 7.0-8.0. The optimal pH levels of 3.5 and 7.0 were screened by simulating the proventriculus and small intestine, respectively to evaluate the efficacy of NSP enzyme on wheat sources. In Exp. 2, wheat 1 contained the highest content of NSP fractions and the lowest digestibility in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and energy (IVED) in wheat samples. Therefore, wheat 1 was selected for hydrolysis research under different NSP enzyme sources and levels (1,500, 4,500, 13,500, 40,500, 121,500 U xylanase/kg and 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 U β-glucanase/kg) in vitro. The hydrolysis of wheat on the basis of the released reducing sugar content was determined by xylanase sources A > B > C (P < 0.05) and β-glucanase sources of X > Y (P < 0.05). On the basis of the hydrolysis, the optimum dose of xylanase A and β-glucanase X were 40,500 U/kg and 2,000 U/kg, respectively. Subsequently, the completely randomized designs involving 2 NSP enzymes treatments × 2 endogenous digestive enzymes treatments (Exp. 3), as well as 2 wheat basal diets × 2 NSP enzymes treatments (Exp. 4) were used to evaluate the efficacy of NSP enzymes on dietary nutrient digestibility. The addition of NSP enzymes (40,500 U xylanase A/kg and 2,000 U β-glucanase X/kg) increased the IVDMD and IVED of wheat 1 without endogenous enzymes (P < 0.05), while the IVDMD and IVED of wheat 1 with endogenous enzyme were only slightly increased (P > 0.05). The addition of NSP enzymes could increase the IVDMD and IVED of corn-wheat-soybean meal diet (P < 0.05), but had no effect on those of wheat-cottonseed meal rapeseed meal diet (P > 0.05). In conclusion, xylanase and β-glucanase additions could effectively eliminate the adverse effects on wheat and wheat basal diets at the optimal pH levels of 3.5 and 7.0 by simulating the proventriculus and small intestine parts, respectively. The efficacy of NSP enzymes was influenced by the enzyme sources, dietary type, and the interaction of endogenous enzymes.


Mechanism of a flow-gated angiogenesis switch: early signaling events at cell-matrix and cell-cell junctions.
A bias towards angiogenesis from the venous circulation has long been known, but its cause remains unclear. Here we explore the possibility that high interstitial pressure in tumors and the resultant net filtration pressure gradient that would induce flow from the interstitium into the venous circulation or lymphatics could also be an important mechanical regulator of angiogenesis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that basal-to-apical (B-A) transendothelial flow promotes angiogenesis and to investigate potential mechanisms. Macro- and microvascular endothelial monolayers were cultured on type I collagen gels in a microfluidic cell culture device and subjected to apical-to-basal (A-B) and B-A transendothelial flows. Samples were perfusion fixed and analyzed for morphological responses, localization and degree of phosphorylation of certain signaling proteins. Application of B-A, but not A-B flow, to cultured endothelial monolayers was found to promote capillary morphogenesis and resulted in distinct localization patterns of VE-cadherin and increased FAK phosphorylation. These results suggest that B-A flow triggers the transition of vascular endothelial cells from a quiescent to invasive phenotype and that the flow-mediated response involves signaling at cell-cell and cell-matrix interfaces. These results support the hypothesis that transendothelial pressure gradients resulting in B-A flow promotes sprouting angiogenesis and are consistent with early observations that tumor angiogenesis occurs from the venous side of the circulation.


Assessing effect of climate on the incidence of dengue in Tamil Nadu.
Incidence of dengue is reported to be influenced by climatic factors. The objective of this study is to assess the association of local climate with dengue incidence, in two geographically distinct districts in Tamil Nadu. The study uses climate data, rainfall and mean maximum and minimum temperature to assess its association if any, with dengue incidence in two districts of Tamil Nadu, South India. According to this study while precipitation levels have an effect on dengue incidence in Tamil Nadu, non-climatic factors such as presence of breeding sites, vector control and surveillance are important issues that need to be addressed.


A CRISPR design for next-generation antimicrobials.
Two recent publications have demonstrated how delivering CRISPR nucleases provides a promising solution to the growing problem of bacterial antibiotic resistance.


MS Drugs: Expensive, Often Lifelong, and Not Cost Effective.
Multiple sclerosis is an on-again, off-again condition that vexes patients and their loved ones. The unpredictability makes is difficult to manage in all respects, especially with escalating prices wreaking havoc with the cost effectiveness of the medications used to contain the disease.


Antibuoyancy and Unidirectional Gas Evolution by Janus Electrodes with Asymmetric Wettability.
The bubbles electrochemically generated by gas evolution reactions are commonly driven off the electrode by buoyancy, a weak force used to overcome bubble adhesion barriers, leading to low gas-transporting efficiency. Herein, a Janus electrode with asymmetric wettability has been prepared by modifying two sides of a porous stainless-steel mesh electrode, with superhydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Pt/C (or Ir/C) catalyst with well-balanced hydrophobicity, respectively, affording unidirectional transportation of as-formed gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from the catalyst side to the gas-collecting side during water splitting. "Bubble-free" electrolysis was realized while "floating" the Janus electrode on the electrolyte. Antibuoyancy through-mesh bubble transportation was observed while immersing the electrode with the PTFE side downward. The wettability gradient within the electrode endowed sticky states of bubbles on the catalyst side, resulting in efficient bubble-free gas transportation with 15-fold higher current density than submerged states.


Succenturiate placenta diagnosed by ultrasound.
The succenturiate placenta is a morphological abnormality, the antenatal recognition of which is important as vessels connecting the main placenta with the succenturiate placenta may rupture during labor and fetal death may ensue. In addition, retention of the placental material may lead to postpartum hemorrhage. We treated 5 patients with a succenturiate placenta and the antenatal ultrasonograms and related discussions are presented herein.


THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL EVENTS AND GENE FLOW ON THE POPULATION STRUCTURE OF A MEDITERRANEAN RAGWORT, SENECIO GALLICUS (ASTERACEAE).
Comparisons of cytoplasmic and nuclear diversity within and among natural plant populations have the potential to distinguish the relative influences of seed and pollen dispersal on contemporary gene flow, or alternatively, may permit inferences of the colonization history of a species via seed. We examined patterns of cpDNA and allozyme variation in Senecio gallicus, a diploid, annual plant that occurs in both coastal and ruderal inland areas of the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. The species appears to have a strong propensity for long-distance seed dispersal. Five cpDNA haplotypes were found by RFLP analysis among a sample of 111 individuals derived from 11 populations. Differences in haplotype frequencies across populations were most evident with respect to a dramatic increase in the frequency of a derived haplotype from coastal to inland localities. The level of cpDNA differentiation among populations within the inland group (θ0 = 0.07) was significantly less than that seen within the coastal group (θ0 = 0.41). In contrast, for allozymes, no significant difference in population structure was evident between collections from coastal and inland habitats. At the rangewide geographic scale, there was only a very weak association between inferred levels of gene flow and geographic distance for cpDNA, and no such association was found for allozymes. It appears that while seed movement in the species might be sufficiently great to disturb the pattern of isolation by distance for cpDNA, it cannot fully account for the nearly randomized spatial structure at polymorphic allozyme loci. It is suggested that isolation of populations in Atlantic-Mediterranean coastal refugia during previous glacial maxima, and the effects of subsequent colonization events in inland areas, have had an important effect on molding the present genetic structure of the species.


Automatic training and reliability estimation for 3D ASM applied to cardiac MRI segmentation.
Training active shape models requires collecting manual ground-truth meshes in a large image database. While shape information can be reused across multiple imaging modalities, intensity information needs to be imaging modality and protocol specific. In this context, this study has two main purposes: (1) to test the potential of using intensity models learned from MRI simulated datasets and (2) to test the potential of including a measure of reliability during the matching process to increase robustness. We used a population of 400 virtual subjects (XCAT phantom), and two clinical populations of 40 and 45 subjects. Virtual subjects were used to generate simulated datasets (MRISIM simulator). Intensity models were trained both on simulated and real datasets. The trained models were used to segment the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) from real datasets. Segmentations were also obtained with and without reliability information. Performance was evaluated with point-to-surface and volume errors. Simulated intensity models obtained average accuracy comparable to inter-observer variability for LV segmentation. The inclusion of reliability information reduced volume errors in hypertrophic patients (EF errors from 17 ± 57% to 10 ± 18%; LV MASS errors from -27 ± 22 g to -14 ± 25 g), and in heart failure patients (EF errors from -8 ± 42% to -5 ± 14%). The RV model of the simulated images needs further improvement to better resemble image intensities around the myocardial edges. Both for real and simulated models, reliability information increased segmentation robustness without penalizing accuracy.


The effect of sivelestat sodium on post-cardiopulmonary bypass acute lung injury in a neonatal piglet model.
Cardiopulmonary bypass may cause acute lung injury and can seriously affect postoperative outcome, especially in younger patients. A synthesized neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat sodium, may be most effective when used during cardiopulmonary bypass. After anesthesia induction, sivelestat (2 mg/kg/h) was given to the SS group (n=7), and 0.9% saline solution to the placebo group (n=7). Piglets were placed on hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and subjected to myocardial ischemia (2 h) induced by cold crystalloid cardioplegia. At 24 h after surgery, PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference were significantly better in the SS group (379.1+/-93.9 mmHg and 250.5+/-89.3 mmHg) than the placebo group (232.4+/-105.3 mmHg, and 378.3+/-90.8 mmHg, P<0.05). Interleukin-8 level in the epithelial lining fluid was above the lowest standard in 6 out of 7 (4.5, 12.9, 24.6, 27.7, 37.7, and 159.8; mean=44.5+/-57.6 g/l) in the placebo group, and in 2 out of 7 (36.1 and 67.8 g/l) in the SS group (P<0.05). The median histological score of acute lung injury in the harvested lung was 3 (2-5) in the placebo group and 1 (1-5) in the SS group (P<0.05). Intraoperative administration of sivelestat effectively reduced neutrophil induction and activation in the lung and improved oxygenation after cardiopulmonary bypass in a piglet model.


The proliferation of spermatogonia in normal and pathological human seminiferous epithelium: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies against Ki-67 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen.
The quantitative distribution pattern of Ki-67 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity was studied in human testis biopsies. In normal seminiferous epithelium Ki-67 is expressed in nuclei of spermatogonia, while PCNA additionally occurs in nuclei of primary spermatocytes. The staining pattern of spermatogonia is as follows (Ki-67-positive/PCNA-positive): 26.6 +/- 12.4%/46.3 +/- 9.5%. No stage-dependent differences were found. Biopsies with mixed atrophy (score < or =7) showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of immunopositive spermatogonia to 19.9 +/- 3.0%/31.4 +/- 5.7% (score 1) with minimal variation between different samples (score 7 to 1). Associated with defined histological defects such as hypospermatogenesis (hyp), spermatogenic arrest at the level of spermatids (sda), spermatocytes (sca) or spermatogonia (sga), however, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of Ki-67 staining in tubules showing hyp (28.6 +/- 8.8%), sda (25.6 +/- 9.3%), sca (23.7 +/- 9.3%) and sga (16.2 +/- 6.0%) and of PCNA staining in sca (32.2 +/- 11.8%) and sga (20.0 +/- 9.5%), respectively. The decrease of immunoreactive spermatogonia did not correspond to elevation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). These data demonstrate that the low spermatogenic efficiency in infertile men is not only due to postmeiotic events, but also to a decrease in the meiotic activity of spermatogonia, and is not related to serum FSH.


Facilitators and barriers of participation in a longitudinal research on migrant families in Badalona (Spain): A qualitative approach.
Migrant populations are under-represented in health research. We conducted a community-based qualitative study with the aim to examine the willingness, barriers, facilitators and reasons for participating in longitudinal health research among migrants. In Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramanet (Barcelona) from May to November 2014, 26 individual interviews and 8 discussion groups were conducted with a convenience sample of 76 migrants born in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Morocco, Pakistan and China; and 9 key informants. Grounded Theory methods and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Atlas-ti(R) software was used. Participants were willing to participate in health surveys and biological samples testing, and agreed to be re-contacted after 12 months. Participants agreed to the same participation for their children. Participants reported that undertaking biological samples and knowledge of the health status of their children were the greatest benefits of participation in health research. Barriers to participation reported by participants were language difficulties, time constraints and mobility issues. Facilitators of participation included offering complete and understandable information about the study objectives and procedures; offering interviewers with the same migrant background, gender, country of origin and socioeconomic status as participants; building trust through ensuring proximity, privacy and confidentiality; respecting cultural relationships; and receiving monetary compensation and test results. Focusing on migrant families instead of individuals may facilitate participation in the study. Despite being beneficial in general, receipt of monetary compensation, inclusion of questions related to sexual and reproductive health, and blood sample testing resulted in distrust for a small number of participants. The simultaneous use of several Internet tools was the most recommended tool for re-contact. Those with higher risk of mobility, greater language barriers and less Internet use were more difficult to re-contact. Study findings will help to improve participation and retention of migrants in longitudinal research.


Aqueous Chemical Solution Deposition of Novel, Thick and Dense Lattice-Matched Single Buffer Layers Suitable for YBCO Coated Conductors: Preparation and Characterization.
In this work we present the preparation and characterization of cerium doped lanthanum zirconate (LCZO) films and non-stoichiometric lanthanum zirconate (LZO) buffer layers on metallic Ni-5% W substrates using chemical solution deposition (CSD), starting from aqueous precursor solutions. La₂Zr₂O₇ films doped with varying percentages of Ce at constant La concentration (La0.5CexZr1-xOy) were prepared as well as non-stoichiometric La0.5+xZr0.5-xOy buffer layers with different percentages of La and Zr ratios. The variation in the composition of these thin films enables the creation of novel buffer layers with tailored lattice parameters. This leads to different lattice mismatches with the YBa₂Cu₃O7-x (YBCO) superconducting layer on top and with the buffer layers or substrate underneath. This possibility of minimized lattice mismatch should allow the use of one single buffer layer instead of the current complicated buffer architectures such as Ni-(5% W)/LZO/LZO/CeO₂. Here, single, crack-free LCZO and non-stoichiometric LZO layers with thicknesses of up to 140 nm could be obtained in one single CSD step. The crystallinity and microstructure of these layers were studied by XRD, and SEM and the effective buffer layer action was studied using XPS depth profiling.


Dilute Element Compounds: A Route to Enriching Inorganic Functional Materials.
The development of functional materials calls for ever-enriching the inorganic material database. Doping is an effective way of achieving this purpose. Herein, we propose the concept of dilute element compounds (DECs), which contain a small amount of a dopant element distributed in a host crystal structure in an ordered manner. Different from dilute alloys or solid solutions, the DECs could be more resistant to segregation and are ideal for dispersing functional elements for applications such as single-atom catalysts. It is also expected that the DECs will serve as a route to discovering new inorganic functional materials by controlling phase transitions and tuning intrinsic properties of the host materials with applications including, but not limited to, thermoelectrics and solid-state electrolytes for secondary batteries. As an initial work, we quantify the diluteness of DECs and find the limits of diluteness in existing DECs. We further provide a classification scheme for the DECs to guide future discoveries.


Effects of the L isomer (+)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazine-1-yl)propane on cell survival and cell cycle progression of cultured mammalian cells.
The effects of the L isomer (+)-1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazine-1-yl)propane (ICRF 159; NSC 169780) on cell viability, growth, and progression through the cell cycle were investigated in suspension cultures of murine leukemia (Friend leukemia and L1210) cells and normal human lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and in adherent cultures derived from human neuroblastoma and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CHO cell colony formation was inhibited by 50% following either an 8.5-hr exposure of exponentially growing cells to 10 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml or a 24-hr exposure to 3 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml. This effect was cell cycle phase specific; early G1- and G2-phase cells were more sensitive than were late-G1- or early and mid-S-phase CHO cells. Stationary-phase CHO cells were unaffected by the drug at concentrations up to 500 micrograms/ml. Incubation of L1210 cells with 3 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml for 24 hr or with 10 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml for 6 hr inhibited cell growth by 50%. In contrast, 24-hr incubation of human lymphocytes with up to 50 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml had no effect on their viability or on their ability to be stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. Constant exposure of Friend leukemia, L1210, human neuroblastoma, and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes to 10.0 to 50 micrograms ICRF 159 per ml resulted in inhibition of cell division which led to cell growth at higher ploidy levels. Thus, proliferating human cells of normal or tumor origin and murine leukemic cell lines all had a similar sensitivity to the drug. Detailed analysis of cell cycle progression in L1210 cells in the presence of the drug determined that cell progression through G1 phase (G1A to G1B transition) was slowed by approximately 50%. The rate of traverse of cells through S phase was also slowed. However, the most pronounced effect was the accumulation of cells in G2 phase occurring almost immediately after addition of the drug. The data suggest that the L isomer has a range of cytotoxicity and identical cytokinetic effects similar to that of the clinically tested racemate (+/-)-ICRF 159 (NSC 129943) and, therefore, that the more soluble L isomer may have increased clinical applicability.


Transcriptional Elongation Control of Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Transcription by Super Elongation Complex and BRD4.
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV reactivation during or after chemotherapy is a potentially fatal complication for cancer patients with chronic HBV infection. Transcription of HBV is a critical intermediate step of the HBV life cycle. However, factors controlling HBV transcription remain largely unknown. Here, we found that different P-TEFb complexes are involved in the transcription of the HBV viral genome. Both BRD4 and the super elongation complex (SEC) bind to the HBV genome. The treatment of bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 stimulates HBV transcription and increases the occupancy of BRD4 on the HBV genome, suggesting the bromodomain-independent recruitment of BRD4 to the HBV genome. JQ1 also leads to the increased binding of SEC to the HBV genome, and SEC is required for JQ1-induced HBV transcription. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which the HBV genome hijacks the host P-TEFb-containing complexes to promote its own transcription. Our findings also point out an important clinical implication, that is, the potential risk of HBV reactivation during therapy with a BRD4 inhibitor, such as JQ1 or its analogues, which are a potential treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.


Rabies vaccine prepared in human cell cultures: progress and perspectives.
Rabies vaccine prepared in human diploid cell strains is a replacement for the previously available vaccines that are prepared in animal tissues and are less immunogenic and more reactogenic. The human cel-grown vaccine made in the United States is a split-product vaccine, whereas the vaccines made in Europe are whole-virion vaccines. Both types of vaccine contain concentrated and inactivated "fixed" rabies virus. When used before exposure to rabies virus, the vaccine should be given intramuscularly in three 1-ml doses on days 0, 7, and 21. Immediately after exposure to rabies virus, a person should be given human rabies immune globulin (20 international units/kg). This treatment should be followed by five intramuscular doses of vaccine given on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. For maintenance of long-term immunity in persons continously exposed to the risk of rabies, booster doses of the vaccine should be given at two-year intervals.


Validity, reliability, and interpretability of the Brazilian urticaria control test.
Background: The urticaria control test (UCT) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to determine the current level of disease control in patients with chronic urticaria (CU). Recently, a Brazilian UCT was developed, but its validity and reliability are unknown. Method: The clinimetric properties of the Brazilian UCT short form (UCTsh) and its long form (UCTlg) were determined in 130 patients with CU. In parallel, the urticaria activity scores (UAS) that covers 7 days (UAS7) and 28 days (UAS28) were used to assess disease activity. Subsequently, the results were analyzed statistically to determine the validity, reliability, and interpretability of the Brazilian UCT versions. Results: A total of 107 female (82%) and 23 male patients with CU completed both versions of the Brazilian UCT. Both of the Brazilian UCT versions showed excellent internal consistency reliability. In addition, the Brazilian UCT results showed strong correlations with UAS7 and UAS28 results, which indicated high levels of convergent validity. The test-retest reliability was examined in a subsample of 27 patients with CU and was found to be excellent. Notably, the results of both Brazilian UCT versions correlated extensively, which suggested that the UCTsh can replace the UCTlg without changing the UCT results. Conclusion: The Brazilian UCT is a valid and reliable tool for assessing disease control. To facilitate the use of the Brazilian UCT in global studies and to put a stronger focus on the specificity, we propose that the same cutoff values for well-controlled disease should be used as identified in the original publication of the UCT, i.e., ≥12 points for the UCTsh.


The treatment of chromium containing wastewater using electrocoagulation and the production of ceramic pigments from the resulting sludge.
This research experimentally investigates the treatment of authentic electroplating wastewater with high Cr(VI) content by electrocoagulation with the obtained sludge being reused as a raw material to produce inorganic pigments. A zero waste process is introduced to help conserve resources and to minimize environmental effects. The effects of operational parameters on electrocoagulation are determined in a batch stirred reactor using an iron electrode. The best performance was observed when a current density 20 mA/cm2, pH 2.4 and 0.05 M NaCl electrolyte were maintained. The initial Cr(VI) concentration of 1000 mg/L was almost completely abated (∼100%) at an energy cost of 2.68 kWh/m3, fulfilling the EPA guideline of 2.77 mg/L within a single step process. The sludge was characterized using XRD and XRF showing that the sludge is a rich source of iron and chromium and can be reused to produce value added ceramic pigments. Pigments prepared in this way appeared to be reddish brown and black color in transparent glaze and were also characterized using XRD and XRF. In this study, a zero waste process is successfully introduced with ∼100% Cr(VI) removal, with subsequent reuse of the resulting sludge.


The influence of perinatal maternal exposure to dibutyl phthalate on glucolipid metabolism in adult female offspring.
Maternal exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) may result in obesity in female offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with different doses of DBP and corn oil from gestational day 7 until the end of lactation. The weights, visceral fat percentage, serum lipid, insulin and glucose, protein levels of PI3K signal pathway in muscle were detected in F1 female offspring. Although the birth weight of F1 female offspring was not different among groups, the weights were heavier in DBP groups from postnatal day 7 to adult (P < 0.001). The visceral adipose percentage in adult female offspring was increased by perinatal exposure to DBP (P < 0.001). Decreased serum level of triglyceride (P = 0.001) in F1 female offspring was found in DBP group as compared to control, especially in medium and high DBP. However, none difference was found for fasting glucose, prolactin, HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, adiponectin. Different protein levels of GPR30 were observed in muscle of female offspring among four groups (P = 0.016). The protein level of AKT seemed higher in DBP group but without statistical significance (P = 0.05). None difference was observed for the protein levels of PI3K, p-AKT, pAKT/AKT, PTEN, GLUT4, InsR, IRS. Maternal perinatal exposure to DBP might induce obesity and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue for the adult female offspring. Serum glucolipid and local signal transduction of PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in muscle were not adversely affected by perinatal exposure to DBP for adult female offspring.


Warning: bisphosphonates and osteochemonecrosis of the jaws.
The aim of this article is to highlight the link between bisphosphonates and osteonecrotic lesions of the jaws ("osteochemonecrosis") and to alert general practitioners to the implications these drugs may have on their day-to-day practice. We review the use of this class of drug, the indications for which have widened recently, describe their effect on bone metabolism and outline the proposed mechanism for bisphosphonate-induced osteochemonecrosis. Predisposing and initiating factors and management are outlined, and suggestions made as to how the dental profession can help with this increasingly prevalent problem.


The role of bariatric surgery in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects between 25% and 33% of the population, is more common in obese individuals, and is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States. However, despite rising prevalence, effective treatments remain limited. Areas covered: We performed a literature search across multiple databases (Pubmed, Medline, etc.) to identify significant original research and review articles to provide an up-to-date and concise overview of disease pathogenesis and diagnostic evaluation and to expand on available treatment options with a specific focus on the potential role of bariatric surgery. Here we provide the most comprehensive review of bariatric surgery for the management of NAFLD, noting benefits from different procedures and multiple reports showing improvements in steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis over the duration of follow-up. Expert commentary: The morbidity of NAFLD is significant as it may become the most common indication for liver transplantation within the next 5 years. In addition to known benefits of weight loss and diabetes resolution, bariatric surgery has the potential to halt and reverse disease progression and future controlled trials should be performed to further define its benefit in the treatment of NAFLD in morbidly obese patients.


Immunosuppressive Effect of Exosomes from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Defined Medium on Experimental Colitis.
The exosomes released by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in classical FBS-containing media have been demonstrated as an alternative, cell-free therapy in various diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been found that the function of exosomes is affected by culture condition. We previously developed a serum-free, xeno-free and chemically defined medium, and umbilical cord-derived MSCs in this medium retained the immunosuppressive capability. In this study, we evaluated the immunosuppressive function of exosomes from MSCs (MSC-Exo) in defined medium and their therapeutic effect on treating colitis. In vitro studies indicated that MSC-Exo reduced the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β, and increased the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-10, but no significant change of inhibitory effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferation was shown. In vivo experimental colitis showed that administration of MSC-Exo was able to significantly ameliorate the disease activity index score, weight loss, colon shortening, and the histological colitis score through up-regulation anti-inflammatory responses and down-regulation of inflammatory responses. Moreover, the use of MSC-Exo (200 µg) led to an improved therapeutic efficacy when compared with MSCs at a dose of 1×106 cells. Our findings indicate that the exosomes from MSCs in defined medium possess a certain degree of immunosuppressive effect in vitro and exhibit a therapeutic capability in a mouse model of DSS-induced colitis through suppressing inflammation mechanism.


A genetic perspective of male germ cell tumors.
Adult human male germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise by transformation of germ cells (GCs). The transformed GCs exhibit pluripotentiality to differentiate into embryonic, extra-embryonic, and somatic tissue types, and are highly sensitive to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Recent investigations into the genetics of GCTs have advanced methods of diagnosis and provided leads to the understanding of molecular basis of transformation, differentiation, and sensitivity/resistance. Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic studies have identified multiplication of 12p, manifested in i(12p) or tandem duplication of 12p, as a unique change in GCTs which serves as a diagnostic marker. Ectopic over-expression of cyclin D2, a gene mapped to 12p, as early as in carcinoma in situ identifies a candidate gene in GC transformation. Genetic alterations identified in the tumor suppressor genes deleted in colorectal cancer, retinoblastoma 1 and non-metastatic protein 23 (NME) in GCT suggest that their inactivation play a key role in transformation or differentiation. A number of regions of chromosomal deletion have been identified including those previously known to be deleted in various tumor types and novel candidate tumor suppressor gene sites such as 12q13, 12q22, and 5p15.1-15.2. Identification and characterization of the genes in these sites will provide important clues in understanding the biology of GCT. The molecular studies have also enumerated several possible differentiation controls such as switching of KIT and mast cell growth factor gene expression in a lineage-associated manner, and loss of certain types of genes such as NME in teratomas that may act in a dominant negative fashion in differentiation. The exquisite sensitivity of these tumors to chemotherapy is reflected in their over-expression of wild-type p53 protein and lack of TP53 mutations. These data indicate that multiple genetic events play a role in distinct pathways in the development of GCT, and further elucidation of the underlying genetic and biochemical mechanisms is central to unraveling biology and improving treatment of GCT.


[French surgery in the eighteenth century].
The history of surgery in France begins practically during the 18th century which has been with the 20th century the period which has the more contributed to its progress. The 18th century during which have been practiced the first surgical operations has been inceasingly characterized by the dissensions between physicians and surgeons till the creation under the reign of Louis XV of a Royal Academy of Surgery of which the realizations have joined together all the surgical acquisitions of the century.


Subcellular localization of frizzled receptors, mediated by their cytoplasmic tails, regulates signaling pathway specificity.
The Frizzled (Fz; called here Fz1) and Fz2 receptors have distinct signaling specificities activating either the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway or Fz/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling in Drosophila. The regulation of signaling specificity remains largely obscure. We show that Fz1 and Fz2 have different subcellular localizations in imaginal disc epithelia, with Fz1 localizing preferentially to apical junctional complexes, and Fz2 being evenly distributed basolaterally. The subcellular localization difference directly contributes to the signaling specificity outcome. Whereas apical localization favors Fz/PCP signaling, it interferes with canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Receptor localization is mediated by sequences in the cytoplasmic tail of Fz2 that appear to block apical accumulation. Based on these data, we propose that subcellular Fz localization, through the association with other membrane proteins, is a critical aspect in regulating the signaling specificity within the Wnt/Fz signaling pathways.


Meta-analysis of function after secondary shoulder surgery in neonatal brachial plexus palsy.
Shoulder internal rotation contracture, active abduction, and external rotation deficits are common secondary problems in neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). Soft tissue shoulder operations are often utilized for treatment. The objective was to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review analyzing the clinical outcomes of NBPP treated with a secondary soft-tissue shoulder operation. A literature search identified studies of NBPP treated with a soft-tissue shoulder operation. A meta-analysis evaluated success rates for the aggregate Mallet score (≥ 4 point increase), global abduction score (≥ 1 point increase), and external rotation score (≥ 1 point increase) using the Mallet scale. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess these success rates when the author chose arthroscopic release technique versus open release technique with or without tendon transfer. Data from 17 studies and 405 patients were pooled for meta-analysis. The success rate for the global abduction score was significantly higher for the open technique (67.4%) relative to the arthroscopic technique (27.7%, P<0.0001). The success rates for the global abduction score were significantly different among sexes (P=0.01). The success rate for external rotation was not significantly different between the open (71.4%) and arthroscopic techniques (74.1%, P=0.86). No other variable was found to have significant impact on the external rotation outcomes. The success rate for the aggregate Mallet score was 57.9% for the open technique, a nonsignificant increase relative to the arthroscopic technique (53.5%, P=0.63). Data suggest a correlation between increasing age at the time of surgery and a decreasing likelihood of success with regards to aggregate Mallet with an odds ratio of 0.98 (P=0.04). Overall, the secondary soft-tissue shoulder operation is an effective treatment for improving shoulder function in NBPP in appropriately selected patients. The open technique had significantly higher success rates in improving global abduction. There were no significant differences in the success rates for improvement in the external rotation or aggregate Mallet score among these surgical techniques.


Recycling Alone or Protesting Together? Values as a Basis for Pro-environmental Social Change Actions.
Social change can be pursued by participating in a public protest, joining a community gardening initiative, or recycling at home. However, little research has investigated how individual differences in values relate to people's engagement in different types of social change actions in the context of pro-environmental behavior. We hypothesized that values would be differentially related to different types of social change actions, based on different goals that each of these actions may have (e.g., changing one's own behavior or influencing others). A survey among people engaged in pro-environmental activism during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference supported our predictions. Specifically, we found that individual behavior and community-based actions were uniquely related to biospheric values (i.e., a key concern for nature and the environment). However, other social change actions (e.g., public protest) were uniquely related to altruistic values (i.e., a key concern for the welfare of all people), and pro-environmental lobbying was positively related to egoistic values (i.e., a key concern for power and achievement). Our findings suggest that different behaviors directed at pro-environmental social change may be based on different values. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.


Differentiation of Haemonchus placei from Haemonchus contortus by PCR and by morphometrics of adult parasites and third stage larvae.
Molecular and morphological methods were evaluated to distinguish between Haemonchus contortus and Haemonchus placei species. A total of 141 H. contortus and 89 H. placei male adult specimens collected from artificially infected lambs were identified individually by PCR analysis, using a species-specific primer pair. These PCR results were used as gold standard for Haemonchus spp. identification. Haemonchus placei presented higher mean spicule and barb lengths than H. contortus (P<0.05). However, some measurements overlapped. For this reason, a discriminate function did not allow the correct identification of 13 H. contortus and one H. placei specimen. The sheath tail length of the third stage larvae (L3), which comprises the distance between the tip of the larval tail and the end of the sheath tail, were measured. Only three of the 485 H. placei larvae (0.619%) had a sheath tail shorter than 85 µm, while only four of the 500 H. contortus larvae (0.8%) presented a sheath tail longer than 85 µm. The results indicated that 6.09% of the male adult specimens would be misclassified based on the discriminate function, while only 0.71% of infective larvae would be misclassified. Therefore, identification of L3 can be used as the first method to indicate the presence of H. placei and/or H. contortus in a population of domestic ruminants.


MicroRNA-342-3p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting LIM and SH3 protein 1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Although microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p) deregulation has been implicated in the development of a variety of cancer types, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression remains unclear. Overexpression of LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) in OSCC tissues, and its promotion of OSCC cell proliferation were recently reported. However, the regulatory mechanism underlining LASP1 expression remains unknown. In the present study, the notable downregulation of miR-342-3p in OSCC cell lines and clinical specimens was revealed. The Cell Counting kit-8 and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-incorporation assays demonstrated that miR-342-3p suppressed OSCC cell proliferation. Additionally, LASP1 was identified as a target gene of miR-342-3p through bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Further experiments suggested that overexpression of LASP1 attenuated the suppressive effect of miR-342-3p on the proliferation of OSCC cells. In conclusion, the present data suggest that miR-342-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in OSCC via targeting of LASP1 and may be a promising therapeutic target for OSCC.


Reflex responses of single renal sympathetic fibres to stimulation of atrial receptors and carotid baro- and chemoreceptors.
Recordings were made of the discharge of single fibres from renal sympathetic efferent nerves in the anaesthetized dog. Stimulation of left atrial receptors by distension of small balloons at the junctions of the pulmonary veins and the left atrium resulted in a reduction in the discharge of one group of these single fibres and no change in the discharge of a second group of fibres. Bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries resulted in an increase in the discharge of all single fibres tested. All fibres tested which responded to stimulation of atrial receptors also responded to carotid occlusion. These results provide evidence for convergence of the central pathways from atrial receptors and baroreceptors on individual sympathetic efferent neurones.


Can the Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure be Used Reliably as a Surrogate for the Left Atrial Mean Pressure in Pre-Fontan Evaluation?
The correlation between mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) and left atrial mean pressure (LAMP) has been poorly studied in patients with single ventricle (SV) physiology (Bernstein et al. in Pediatr Cardiol 33: 15-20 2012). The aim of this study is to determine if the PAWP can be used safely as a surrogate to the LAMP to calculate the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during the pre-Fontan evaluation. Also, we aimed to understand if the presence of significant systemic-to-pulmonary collaterals (SPCs) is a confounding factor for accurate estimation of the LAMP. From February 2007 to February 2017, forty-one patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. These patients were varied in terms of underlying cardiac malformation. Sex distribution was equal with 20 males and 21 females. Median weight was 11.8 kg, median body surface area was 0.51 m2, median age at catheterization was 2 years, and the median age at Glenn surgery was 5 months. We found the left and right PAWP and LAMP correlated strongly and the differences in the measurements were negligible. Similar findings were observed when calculating PVRs using PAWP and LAMP. These findings were more pronounced in the absence of significant SPCs. PAWP and LAMP correlation was still valid in the presence of significant SPCs; however, the correlation among the calculated PVRs was more attenuated.


Iatrogenic gastrointestinal injuries during obstetrical and gynecological operation.
Gastrointestinal Injuries (GI) during gynecological operation are uncommon but proper management of these injuries is very important. The aim of this study was to review the causes and management of gastrointestinal injuries during gynecological and obstetrical operations. In this descriptive retrospective study, 25 patients with gastrointestinal injuries during gynecological and obstetrical operation at Shabihkhani Maternity Hospital in Kashan city were reviewed. Demographic data such as age, gravid, parity, type of surgery or procedure, history of laparotomy, the surgical operation, injury site, time of diagnosis and method of treatment were extracted from medical records. The mean age of women was 33.2 ± 7.57 years. Fourty-four percent of the patients had a history of abdominal scar. Thirty-two percent of all GI injuries occurred during total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). The small bowel was injured in 36% of cases. Fifty-two percent of injuries were diagnosed during the operation and the mean time of injury diagnosis was 2.8 ± 0.9 days. All of the gynecologic surgeons must be aware of gastrointestinal injuries and should anticipate injury to these organs especially in high-risk patients for decreasing patient morbidity.


Co-culture of synovial fibroblasts and differentiated U937 cells is sufficient for high interleukin-6 but not interleukin-1beta or tumour necrosis factor-alpha release.
Inflamed synovium is characterized by high concentrations of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] and the abundant presence of infiltrated monocytes, many of which are found adjacent to the resident fibroblast-like synoviocytes. We have used a co-culture of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and differentiated U937 cells to study IL-6, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha release. After a 3 day co-culture, 35% of the U937 cells had adhered and were fully differentiated towards monocytes, as determined by expression of p47phox, CD14, MSE-1, Mac-1, collagenase and NADPH oxidase activity. IL-6 release from fibroblast-like synoviocytes was induced 4-fold by co-culture with differentiated U937 cells. However, co-culture of differentiated U937 cells with fibroblast-like synoviocytes failed to release detectable levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha from the U937 cells. Addition of synovial fluid further increased IL-6 release, but again had no effect on IL-1beta or TNF-alpha, although U937 cells differentiated by phorbol ester were able to release these two cytokines and, in the case of the co-culture, mRNAs for both cytokines were highly expressed in the U937 cells. We postulate that the influx of monocytes into the synovium is instrumental in the elevation of IL-6 levels, but this is not sufficient to explain high levels of IL-1beta or TNF-alpha.


[Problems of heparin dosage].
Administration of heparin by continuous intravenous infusion is, so far as bleeding complications are concerned, safer than intermittent injection. Recurrence of venous thromboembolism during infusion is rare if the APTT is prolonged to 1 1/2-2 1/2 times the control value. The efficacy of low-dose heparin in the primary prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical patients remains unproven. On the other hand, adjusted-dose subcutaneous heparin treatment provides an effective alternative to oral anticoagulants in the long-term treatment of venous thrombosis.


Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro.
Epidemiological studies indicate that increased flavonoid intake correlates with decreased mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the United States (US) and Europe. Berries are widely consumed in the US and have a high polyphenolic content. Polyphenols have been shown to interact with many molecular targets and to exert numerous positive biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Polyphenols isolated from blackberry (BL), raspberry (RB), and black raspberry (BRB) reduce oxidative stress and cellular senescence in response to angiotensin II (Ang II). This work provides a detailed description of the protocol used to prepare the polyphenol extracts from freeze-dried berries. Polyphenol extractions from freeze-dried berry powder were performed using 80% aqueous ethanol and an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method. The crude extract was further purified and fractionated using chloroform and ethyl acetate, respectively. The effects of both crude and purified extracts were tested on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) in culture.


Comparing the Fiscal Consequences of Controlled and Uncontrolled Osteoarthritis Pain Applying a UK Public Economic Perspective.
Background: Individuals experiencing osteoarthritis (OA) pain can pose significant costs for governments due to reduced work activity in these individuals and increasing reliance on public support benefits. In this analysis we capture the broader economic impact of OA pain by applying a government perspective, public economic framework to assess controlled and uncontrolled pain. Methods: We used a Markov model to compare labour market participation in people with uncontrolled OA hip or knee pain compared to a cohort with controlled OA pain. The likelihood of employment, long-term sickness, disability, and early retirement in those with controlled pain used publicly available UK data. The relative effect of uncontrolled OA pain on fiscal outcomes is drawn from peer reviewed publications reporting reduced work activity and reliance on public benefits for people with uncontrolled OA pain. Lost tax revenue was derived using UK tax rates and national insurance contributions applied to annual earnings. Social benefit rules were applied to calculate government financial support to individuals. Health-care costs were calculated based on estimates from an UK observational study. The base case analysis compared the projected lost tax revenue and transfer payments for a 50-year-old cohort with severe OA pain, retiring at age 65. Results: For a 50-year-old individual with moderate uncontrolled OA pain with 15-years remaining work expectancy, the model estimated a £62 383 reduction in employment earnings, a £24 307 reduction in tax contributions and a need for £16 034 in government benefits, compared to a person with controlled OA pain. In people with severe uncontrolled OA pain incremental foregone earnings were estimated to be £126 384, £44 925 were not paid through taxation and £25 829 were received in public benefits, compared to the controlled pain cohort. Health-care costs represented 13% and 12% of all OA-related fiscal cost in the moderate uncontrolled OA pain and severe uncontrolled OA pain comparison, respectively. Conclusions: For governments, maintaining an active workforce is paramount to maintaining economic growth and reducing spending on government programs. The approach described here can be used to augment cost-effectiveness models to inform a range of stakeholders of benefits attributed to controlled OA pain.


VarSim: a high-fidelity simulation and validation framework for high-throughput genome sequencing with cancer applications.
VarSim is a framework for assessing alignment and variant calling accuracy in high-throughput genome sequencing through simulation or real data. In contrast to simulating a random mutation spectrum, it synthesizes diploid genomes with germline and somatic mutations based on a realistic model. This model leverages information such as previously reported mutations to make the synthetic genomes biologically relevant. VarSim simulates and validates a wide range of variants, including single nucleotide variants, small indels and large structural variants. It is an automated, comprehensive compute framework supporting parallel computation and multiple read simulators. Furthermore, we developed a novel map data structure to validate read alignments, a strategy to compare variants binned in size ranges and a lightweight, interactive, graphical report to visualize validation results with detailed statistics. Thus far, it is the most comprehensive validation tool for secondary analysis in next generation sequencing. Code in Java and Python along with instructions to download the reads and variants is at http://bioinform.github.io/varsim. email@example.com Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.