Polyethylene Oxide as a Multifunctional Binder for High-Performance Ternary Layered Cathodes.
Nickel cobalt manganese ternary cathode materials are some of the most promising cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries, due to their high specific capacity, low cost, etc. However, they do have a few disadvantages, such as an unstable cycle performance and a poor rate performance. In this work, polyethylene oxide (PEO) with high ionic conductance and flexibility was utilized as a multifunctional binder to improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode materials. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the addition of PEO can greatly improve the adhesion of the electrode components and simultaneously enhance the integrity of the electrode. Thus, the PEO-based electrode (20 wt% PEO in PEO/PVDF) shows a high electronic conductivity of 19.8 S/cm, which is around 15,000 times that of the pristine PVDF-based electrode. Moreover, the PEO-based electrode exhibits better cycling stability and rate performance, i.e., the capacity increases from 131.1 mAh/g to 147.3 mAh/g at 2 C with 20 wt% PEO addition. Electrochemical impedance measurements further indicate that the addition of the PEO binder can reduce the electrode resistance and protect the LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode materials from the liquid electrolyte attack. This work offers a simple yet effective method to improve the cycling performance of the ternary cathode materials by adding an appropriate amount of PEO as a binder in the electrode fabrication process.


Characteristics of children discharged from hospitals in the United States in 2000 with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever.
The goal was to describe characteristics of children discharged from hospitals in the United States in 2000 with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. We explored characteristics of children <21 years of age who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever by using the 2000 Kids' Inpatient Database, weighted to estimate the number and rate of acute rheumatic fever-associated hospitalizations in the United States. In 2000, an estimated 503 acute rheumatic fever hospitalizations occurred among children <21 years of age, at a rate of 14.8 cases per 100,000 hospitalized children, with a mean age of 10 years. In comparison with all Kids' Inpatient Database admissions, acute rheumatic fever hospitalizations were more common in the age group of 6 to 11 years and among male patients. Chorea was more common in female patients (61.7%). White patients were significantly underrepresented, whereas Asian/Pacific Islander patients and patients of other races were overrepresented. Hospitalizations of patients with acute rheumatic fever were significantly more common in the Northeast and less common in the South. The highest rates of acute rheumatic fever hospitalizations occurred in Utah, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and New York. Significantly more acute rheumatic fever admissions occurred in March. The expected payor was more likely to be private insurance and less likely to be Medicaid. Acute rheumatic fever hospitalizations were more likely to occur in teaching hospitals, freestanding children's hospitals, and children's units in general hospitals and in urban locations. The median length of stay for acute rheumatic fever hospitalizations was 3 days, and the median total charges were $6349. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.6%. In 2000, we found that hospitalizations for acute rheumatic fever were infrequent and varied according to race, season, location, and type of hospital.


Low-temperature crystallographic analyses of the binding of Hoechst 33258 to the double-helical DNA dodecamer C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G.
The crystal structure of the complex of Hoechst 33258 and the DNA dodecamer C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G has been solved from X-ray data collected at three different low temperatures (0, -25, and -100 degrees C). Such temperatures have permitted collection of higher resolution data (2.0, 1.9, and 2.0 A, respectively) than with previous X-ray studies of the same complex. In all three cases, the drug is located in the narrow central A-A-T-T region of the minor groove. Data analyses at -25 and -100 degrees C (each with a 1:1 drug/DNA ratio in the crystallizing solution) suggest a unique orientation for the drug. In contrast, two orientations of the drug were found equally possible at 0 degrees C with a 2:1 drug/DNA ratio in solution. Dihedral angles between the rings of Hoechst 33258 appear to change in a temperature-dependent manner. The drug/DNA complex is stabilized by single or bifurcated hydrogen bonds between the two N-H hydrogen-bond donors in the benzimidazole rings of Hoechst and adenine N3 and thymine O2 acceptors in the minor groove. A general preference for AT regions is conferred by electrostatic potential and by narrowing of the walls of the groove. Local point-by-point AT specificity follows from close van der Waals contacts between ring hydrogen atoms in Hoechst 33258 and the C2 hydrogens of adenines. Replacement of one benzimidazole ring by purine in a longer chain analogue of Hoechst 33258 could make that particular site GC tolerant in the manner observed at imidazole substitution for pyrrole in lexitropsins.


A model for designing intraocular pressure-regulating glaucoma implants.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for vision. The key risk factor for the development and progression of this disease is increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Implantable glaucoma drainage devices have been developed to divert aqueous humor from the glaucomatous eye as a means of reducing IOP. The artificial drainage pathway created by these devices drives the fluid into a filtering bleb. The long-term success of filtration surgery is dictated by the proper functioning of the bleb and overlying Tenon's and conjunctival tissue. To better understand the influence of the health condition of these tissues on IOP, we have developed a mathematical model of fluid production in the eye, its removal from the anterior chamber by a particular glaucoma implant-the PRESERFLO® MicroShunt-, drainage into the bleb and absorption by the subconjunctival vasculature. The mathematical model was numerically solved by commercial FEM package COMSOL. Our numerical results of IOP for different postoperative conditions are consistent with the available evidence on IOP outcomes after the implantation of this device. To obtain insight into the adjustments in the implant's hydrodynamic resistance that are required for IOP control when hypotony or bleb scarring due to tissue fibrosis take place, we have simulated the flow through a microshunt with an adjustable lumen diameter. Our findings show that increasing the hydrodynamic resistance of the microshunt by reducing the lumen diameter, can effectively help to prevent hypotony. However, decreasing the hydrodynamic resistance of the implant will not sufficiently decrease the IOP to acceptable levels when the bleb is encapsulated due to tissue fibrosis. Therefore, to effectively reduce IOP, the adjustable glaucoma implant should be combined with a means of reducing fibrosis. The results reported herein may provide guidelines to support the design of future glaucoma implants with adjustable hydrodynamic resistances.


[Methodological requirements for precise measurements using DNA single cell cytometry].
Methodological aspects on DNA single cell cytometry were investigated. Specimens can be homogeneously Feulgen-stained if a high constancy of temperature is realized in the staining cuvette during acid hydrolysis. For the TV image analysis system under investigation (TAS-plus, Leitz) a linear correlation (r greater than 0.99) between physically defined optical transmission values and resulting electronic signals was found. Shading effects can be controlled by using a narrow mask width (VQ less than 1.5%). As an internal standard blood cells or epithelial cells can be used if a correction factor, that was found to be mainly constant, is calculated.


A new benzaldehyde from the coral-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3 and its anti-inflammatory effects via suppression of MAPK signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells.
Marine fungi are important members of the marine microbiome, which have been paid growing attention by scientists in recent years. The secondary metabolites of marine fungi have been reported to contain rich and diverse compounds with novel structures (Chen et al., 2019). Aspergillus terreus, the higher level marine fungus of the Aspergillus genus (family of Trichocomaceae, order of Eurotiales, class of Eurotiomycetes, phylum of Ascomycota), is widely distributed in both sea and land. In our previous study, the coral-derived A. terreus strain C23-3 exhibited potential in producing other biologically active (with antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory activity) compounds like arylbutyrolactones, territrems, and isoflavones, and high sensitivity to the chemical regulation of secondary metabolism (Yang et al., 2019, 2020; Nie et al., 2020; Ma et al., 2021). Moreover, we have isolated two different benzaldehydes, including a benzaldehyde with a novel structure, from A. terreus C23-3 which was derived from Pectinia paeonia of Xuwen, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China.


Bladder transitional cell carcinomas: a comparative study of washing and tumor bioptic samples by DNA flow cytometry and FISH analyses.
We compared information obtained from samples of tumor biopsy and bladder washing to evaluate the representatives of the latter type of sampling. Both types of samples from 44 cases of superficial bladder TCCs and one papilloma were analyzed by FCM, to evaluate cellular DNA content, and FISH, to detect numerical aberration of chromosome 9. The use of both tumor and washing samples by FCM and FISH analyses evidenced alterations in 95% of cases. FCM evidenced higher aneuploid frequency in bladder washing than in bioptic specimens. In bladder washing, FISH analysis showed higher frequency of monosomy and lower frequency of trisomy than in biopsy. No correlation was found between histological grade and centromeric chromosome 9 loss while correlation was evidenced with centromeric 9 gain. Irrigation specimens, analyzed by FCM and FISH, can complement information obtained by biopsy in cytodiagnosis and follow-up of patients with bladder TCC.


Bisindolylpyrrole Induces a Cpr3- and Porin1/2-Dependent Transition in Yeast Mitochondrial Permeability in a Low Conductance State via the AACs-Associated Pore.
Although the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) is presumably formed by either ATP synthase or the ATP/ADP carrier (AAC), little is known about their differential roles in PTP activation. We explored the role of AAC and ATP synthase in PTP formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using bisindolylpyrrole (BP), an activator of the mammalian PTP. The yeast mitochondrial membrane potential, as indicated by tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester signals, dissipated over 2-4 h after treatment of cells with 5 μM BP, which was sensitive to cyclosporin A (CsA) and Cpr3 deficiency and blocked by porin1/2 deficiency. The BP-induced depolarization was inhibited by a specific AAC inhibitor, bongkrekate, and consistently blocked in a yeast strain lacking all three AACs, while it was not affected in the strain with defective ATP synthase dimerization, suggesting the involvement of an AAC-associated pore. Upon BP treatment, isolated yeast mitochondria underwent CsA- and bongkrekate-sensitive depolarization without affecting the mitochondrial calcein signals, indicating the induction of a low conductance channel. These data suggest that, upon BP treatment, yeast can form a porin1/2- and Cpr3-regulated PTP, which is mediated by AACs but not by ATP synthase dimers. This implies that yeast may be an excellent tool for the screening of PTP modulators.


Effect of steroid and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy on opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome occurring in neuroblastoma.
The authors describe a case of an 8-month-old boy with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) and coincident unresectable neuroblastoma (NB). He achieved a complete remission for NB after 6 courses of standard-dose chemotherapy without significant neurological improvement despite the use of steroids and high-dose immunoglobulin (HIG), administered separately. Only the combined treatment withthese two drugs induced a complete disappearance of neurological symptoms. On the basis of this experience, the authors suggest the association of steroids plus HIG for the treatment of OMS in patients not responsive to conventional first line therapy with steroids.


Esophageal Perforation Accompanying Mediastinitis in Blunt Trauma in a Patient with Thoracic Osteophytes.
We herein report a 61-year-old man who sustained injury after a 2-m fall and developed mediastinitis. He presented to another hospital two days after the fall and was transferred to our hospital four days after the fall with a fever and dysphagia. Computed tomography revealed osteophytes on the second and third thoracic vertebrae and free air in the mediastinum, indicating esophageal perforation. Emergent surgery was performed. Intraoperatively, a longitudinal esophageal tear was identified. We stress the importance of being aware of the possibility of osteophyte-related esophageal perforation in patients with a history of a fall. A delayed diagnosis affects the prognosis.


Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Genes in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci-Stability, Expression, and Genomic Context.
In the current study, we screened a collection of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates for orthologues of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) involved in S. aureus-related staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP). The amplicons corresponding to SEs were detected in S. chromogenes, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. borealis, S. pasteuri, S. saprophyticus, S. vitulinus, S. warneri, and S. xylosus. All amplicons were sequenced and identified as parts of known S. aureus or S. epidermidis SE genes. Quantitative real-time PCR allowed determining the relative copy number of each SE amplicon. A significant portion of the amplicons of the sea, seb, sec, and seh genes occurred at low copy numbers. Only the amplicons of the sec gene identified in three isolates of S. epidermidis displayed relative copy numbers comparable to sec in the reference enterotoxigenic S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. Consecutive passages in microbiological media of selected CoNS isolates carrying low copy numbers of sea, seb, sec, and seh genes resulted in a decrease of gene copy number. S. epidermidis isolates harbored a high copy number of sec, which remained stable over the passages. We demonstrated that enterotoxin genes may occur at highly variable copy numbers in CoNS. However, we could identify enterotoxin genes only in whole-genome sequences of CoNS carrying them in a stable form at high copy numbers. Only those enterotoxins were expressed at the protein level. Our results indicate that PCR-based detection of enterotoxin genes in CoNS should always require an additional control, like analysis of their presence in the bacterial genome. We also demonstrate S. epidermidis as a CoNS species harboring SE genes in a stable form at a specific chromosome site and expressing them as a protein.


Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative vomiting (POV), post-discharge nausea and vomiting (PDNV), and opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) continue to be causes of pediatric morbidity, delay in discharge, and unplanned hospital admission. Research on the pathophysiology, risk assessment, and therapy for PDNV, OINV and pain therapy options in children has received increased attention. Multimodal pain management with the use of perioperative regional and opioid-sparing analgesia has helped decrease nausea and vomiting. Two common emetogenic surgical procedures in children are adenotonsillectomy and strabismus repair. Although PONV risk factors differ between adults and children, the approach to decrease baseline risk is similar. As PONV and POV are frequent in children, antiemetic prophylaxis should be considered for those at risk. A multimodal approach for antiemetic and pain therapy involves preoperative risk evaluation and stratification, antiemetic prophylaxis, and pain management with opioid-sparing medications and regional anesthesia. Useful antiemetics include dexamethasone and serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists such as ondansetron. Multimodal combination prophylactic therapy using two or three antiemetics from different drug classes and propofol total intravenous anesthesia should be considered for children at high PONV risk. "Enhanced recovery after surgery" protocols include a multimodal approach with preoperative preparation, adequate intravenous fluid hydration, opioid-sparing analgesia, and prophylactic antiemetics. PONV guidelines and management algorithms help provide effective postoperative care for pediatric patients.


How trematodes cause limb deformities in amphibians.
We used trematode cyst infestation to induce limb deformities in two species of frogs of the genus Rana and compared them to deformities induced by surgical limb bud rotations. The specific deformities produced by both treatments closely resemble those of wild-caught deformed amphibians and are consistent with a known developmental response to disruption of the spatial organization of cells in developing limb buds. Histological analysis showed that trematode cysts cause massive disruption and abnormal cellular growth involving the limb buds of infected individuals. Our results indicate that trematode cyst infestation causes deformities in frogs by perturbation of the positional relationships of cells in developing limb buds. The crippling effects of cyst-infection on frogs may reflect complex co-evolutionary interactions among trematodes, frogs, and other hosts in the trematode's life cycle.


Myocardial Fibrosis in Heart Failure: Anti-Fibrotic Therapies and the Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Drug Trials.
All heart muscle diseases that cause chronic heart failure finally converge into one dreaded pathological process that is myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial fibrosis predicts major adverse cardiovascular events and death, yet we are still missing the targeted therapies capable of halting and/or reversing its progression. Fundamentally it is a problem of disproportionate extracellular collagen accumulation that is part of normal myocardial ageing and accentuated in certain disease states. In this article we discuss the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging biomarkers to track fibrosis and collate results from the most promising animal and human trials of anti-fibrotic therapies to date. We underscore the ever-growing role of CMR in determining the efficacy of such drugs and encourage future trialists to turn to CMR when designing their surrogate study endpoints.


Inferring a weighted elastic network from partial unfolding with coarse-grained simulations.
A number of studies have demonstrated that simple elastic network models can reproduce experimental B-factors, providing insights into the structure-function properties of proteins. Here, we report a study on how to improve an elastic network model and explore its performance by predicting the experimental B-factors. Elastic network models are built on the experimental Cα coordinates, and they only take the pairs of Cα atoms within a given cutoff distance rc into account. These models describe the interactions by elastic springs with the same force constant. We have developed a method based on numerical simulations with a simple coarse-grained force field, to attribute weights to these spring constants. This method considers the time that two Cα atoms remain connected in the network during partial unfolding, establishing a means of measuring the strength of each link. We examined two different coarse-grained force fields and explored the computation of these weights by unfolding the native structures.


Topical hemostatics for bleeding control in pre-hospital setting: Then and now.
Massive hemorrhage causes instant and early deaths because of hypovolemia. However, even if the victim makes it to the hospital, hypothermia, metabolic acidosis, and coagulation impairments caused by bleeding pose a great risk for survival. Many topical hemostatic agents are developed for neck, armpit, or groin injuries that are not amenable to tourniquet application and for extremity wounds to be used in conjunction with tourniquets. This paper focuses on those hemostatics that differ based on the action mechanism and are suitable for pre-hospital setting and summarizes the latest recommendations regarding their usage.


Membrane lipid co-aggregation with α-synuclein fibrils.
Amyloid deposits from several human diseases have been found to contain membrane lipids. Co-aggregation of lipids and amyloid proteins in amyloid aggregates, and the related extraction of lipids from cellular membranes, can influence structure and function in both the membrane and the formed amyloid deposit. Co-aggregation can therefore have important implications for the pathological consequences of amyloid formation. Still, very little is known about the mechanism behind co-aggregation and molecular structure in the formed aggregates. To address this, we study in vitro co-aggregation by incubating phospholipid model membranes with the Parkinson's disease-associated protein, α-synuclein, in monomeric form. After aggregation, we find spontaneous uptake of phospholipids from anionic model membranes into the amyloid fibrils. Phospholipid quantification, polarization transfer solid-state NMR and cryo-TEM together reveal co-aggregation of phospholipids and α-synuclein in a saturable manner with a strong dependence on lipid composition. At low lipid to protein ratios, there is a close association of phospholipids to the fibril structure, which is apparent from reduced phospholipid mobility and morphological changes in fibril bundling. At higher lipid to protein ratios, additional vesicles adsorb along the fibrils. While interactions between lipids and amyloid-protein are generally discussed within the perspective of different protein species adsorbing to and perturbing the lipid membrane, the current work reveals amyloid formation in the presence of lipids as a co-aggregation process. The interaction leads to the formation of lipid-protein co-aggregates with distinct structure, dynamics and morphology compared to assemblies formed by either lipid or protein alone.


Acute pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparison of two different formulations of temazepam.
Twelve healthy subjects ingested temazepam 20 mg in two different formulations (soft gelatine capsule or uncoated tablet) and matched placebo at one-week intervals in double-blind and cross-over conditions. Venous blood was sampled before the drug intake and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, and 24 hours after it, and plasma temazepam concentrations were assayed by gas chromatography. Psychomotor performance was measured objectively (digit symbol substitution, letter cancellation, Maddox wing) and subjectively (visual analogue scales) before the drug intake and 1, 2, and 3 hours after it. Peak concentrations of plasma temazepam were reached at about one hour, and they were higher after the capsule than after the tablet (mean values 750 vs. 587 ng/ml), while the computed AUCs and elimination half-lives (6-22 hours) proved to be similar after either formulation. Impaired performance was measured in objective tests over the first three hours, the capsule being somewhat more effective than the tablet. Self-assessments indicating subjective sedation returned to the placebo level within 3 hours after the capsule but not after the tablet. This rapid subjective recovery after the capsule might result from an acute tolerance developed after the high peak, and it tallies with the lack of residual sedation previously reported in trials with temazepam 20 mg given in soft gelatine capsules.


Interiors, intentions, and the "spirituality" of Islamic ritual practice.
The Arabic term niyya (intention) is prominent in texts of Islamic ritual law. Muslim jurists require niyya in the "heart" during such ritual duties as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage. Western scholars often treat niyya as a "spiritual" component of Islamic ritual. Muslim jurists, however, consistently treat niyya as a formal, taxonomic matter, a mental focus that makes a given act into the specific named duty required by religious law. Although the effort to thrust niyya into a "spiritual" role is meant to defend Islam from charges of "empty ritualism," it subtly reinforces the characterization of Islam as rigidly legalistic. Much scholarship on niyya belies the scholars' own definition of "proper religion" centered on an inner, individual, nonmaterial dimension of the self. Instead of trying to wash away the formalism of niyya, I argue that scholars ought to recognize that such embodied practices are properly religious rather than spiritually defective.


Changes in hemodynamics and respiration in rats with different resistance to acute hypoxia.
Effects of acute hypoxia on hemodynamics and respiration were studied in acute experiments on narcotized rats. The animals were divided into groups characterized by high, low-, and medium- resistance to hypoxia by the time of respiration arrest during inhalation of gas mixture containing 3% O2. Hemodynamic parameters of highly resistant animals were higher than in low-resistant rats throughout the entire hypoxic period. The development of a rare (with prolonged inspiratory phase) respiratory rhythm in highly resistant rats is an adaptive reaction, which allows them longer tolerate hypoxia compared to low-resistant animals.


One-year clinical evaluation of bonded amalgam restorations.
Using one selected amalgam bonding agent, the authors evaluated bonded and unbonded restorations in clinical service. Based on postoperative sensitivity one to two weeks after placement and marginal fracture at one year, no difference was found between the bonded and unbonded restorations. Furthermore, some technical difficulties were experienced with use of the bonding agent.


Muscle-Bone Crosstalk: Emerging Opportunities for Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Treat Musculoskeletal Pathologies.
Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are age-related musculoskeletal pathologies that often develop in parallel. Osteoporosis is characterized by a reduced bone mass and an increased fracture risk. Sarcopenia describes muscle wasting with an increasing risk of injuries due to falls. The medical treatment of both diseases costs billions in health care per year. With the impact on public health and economy, and considering the increasing life expectancy of populations, more efficient treatment regimens are sought. The biomechanical interaction between both tissues with muscle acting on bone is well established. Recently, both tissues were also determined as secretory endocrine organs affecting the function of one another. New exciting discoveries on this front are made each year, with novel signaling molecules being discovered and potential controversies being described. While this review does not claim completeness, it will summarize the current knowledge on both the biomechanical and the biochemical link between muscle and bone. The review will highlight the known secreted molecules by both tissues affecting the other and finish with an outlook on novel therapeutics that could emerge from these discoveries.


Effect of geometrical uncertainty on cemented hip implant structural integrity.
A large number of parameters such as material properties, geometry, and structural strength are involved in the design and analysis of cemented hip implants. Uncertainties in these parameters have a potential to compromise the structural performance and lifetime of implants. Statistical analyses are well suited to investigating this type of problem as they can estimate the influence of these uncertainties on the incidence of failure. Recent investigations have focused on the effect of uncertainty in cement properties and loading condition on the integrity of the construct. The present study hypothesizes that geometrical uncertainties will play a role in cement mantle failure. Finite element input parameters were simulated as random variables and different modes of failure were investigated using a response surface method (RSM). The magnitude of random von Mises stresses varied up to 8 MPa, compared with a maximum nominal value of 2.38 MPa. Results obtained using RSM are shown to match well with a benchmark direct Monte Carlo simulation method. The resulting probability that the maximum cement stress will exceed the nominal stress is 62%. The load and the bone and prosthesis geometries were found to be the parameters most likely to influence the magnitude of the cement stresses and therefore to contribute most to the probability of failure.


Fabrication of gold microtubes and microwires in high aspect ratio capillary arrays.
In this communication, we describe the sequential deposition of materials in capillaries as a means to produce self-assembled three-dimensional gold microtubes, hollow gold microwires, and microtube and microwire arrays with unprecedented aspect ratios. The initial application of this technique is the fabrication of an array of microwires within a silica capillary array. The physical characteristics of these microwires are characterized via SEM, electrochemistry, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence emission.


Self-reported early detection activities for breast cancer in Colombia in 2010: impact of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
To explore which socioeconomic and demographic characteristics influence Colombian women to utilize screening mammography (SMMG). Data of women aged 40-49 years (n=12 345) and 50-69 years (n=14 771) from the Colombian national survey of demography and health 2010 was analyzed. Risk estimates (odds ratios, OR) of self-reported SMMG use were obtained using logistic regression. Among women aged 50-69 years, high wealth index (OR=4.7; CI95%, 3.9-5.8), affiliation to special or contributory health insurance regime (OR=3.4; CI95% 2.6-4.6 and OR=2.5; CI95% 2.1-3.0 respectively), health consultation in previous year (OR=2.7; CI95% 2.3-3.1), high education level (OR=2.3; CI95% 1.8-2.9) and very good self-reported health (OR=1.5; CI95% 1.1-2.0) positively influenced SMMG utilization. Among women aged 40-49 years, likelihood of having a SMMG was high after a health consultation in the previous year. Socioeconomic and demographic differences in use of SMMG need to be contemplated in screening recommendations before considering an organized population-based programme.


Human antibody fragments specific for the epidermal growth factor receptor selected from large non-immunised phage display libraries.
Antibodies to EGFR have been shown to display anti-tumour effects mediated in part by inhibition of cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, and by enhancement of apoptosis. Humanised antibodies are preferred for clinical use to reduce complications with HAMA and HAHA responses frequently seen with murine and chimaeric antibodies. We have used depletion and subtractive selection strategies on cells expressing the EGFR to sample two large antibody fragment phage display libraries for the presence of human antibodies which are specific for the EGFR. Four Fab fragments and six scFv fragments were identified, with affinities of up to 2.2nM as determined by BIAcore analysis using global fitting of the binding curves to obtain the individual rate constants (ka and kd). This overall approach offers a generic screening method for the identification of growth factor specific antibodies and antibody fragments from large expression libraries and has potential for the rapid development of new therapeutic and diagnostic reagents.


Underestimation Rate in the Percutaneous Diagnosis of Radial Scar/Complex Sclerosing Lesion of the Breast: Systematic Review.
To evaluate the underestimation rate in breast surgical biopsy after the diagnosis of radial scar/complex sclerosing lesion through percutaneous biopsy. A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The PubM: ed, SciELO, Cochrane, and Embase databases were consulted, with searches conducted through November 2020, using specific keywords (radial scar OR: complex sclerosing lesion, breast cancer, anatomopathological percutaneous biopsy AND/OR: surgical biopsy). Study selection was conducted by two researchers experienced in preparing systematic reviews. The eight selected articles were fully read, and a comparative analysis was performed. A total of 584 studies was extracted, 8 of which were selected. One of them included women who had undergone a percutaneous biopsy with a histological diagnosis of radial scar/complex sclerosing lesion and subsequently underwent surgical excision; the results were used to assess the underestimation rate of atypical and malignant lesions. The overall underestimation rate in the 8 studies ranged from 1.3 to 40% and the invasive lesion underestimation rate varied from 0 to 10.5%. The histopathological diagnosis of a radial scar/complex sclerosing lesion on the breast is not definitive, and it may underestimate atypical and malignant lesions, which require a different treatment, making surgical excision an important step in diagnostic evaluation.


Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents who have been sexually abused.
The sexual abuse of children and adolescents is a significant worldwide problem. It is associated with a wide variety of negative psychological, social and physical consequences for the victims. These effects can often be seen immediately following sexual abuse, but they may manifest later on and sometimes only in adult life. There are a number of different interventions aimed at helping children and adolescents who have been sexually abused, and psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy has a long-established tradition of being used for such victims. In this review, we set out to find the evidence for its effectiveness specifically in children and adolescents who have been sexually abused. To assess the effectiveness of psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents who have been sexually abused. We searched the following databases in May 2013: CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Social Science Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Social Science and Humanities, LILACS and WorldCat. We also searched three trials registers, checked the reference lists of relevant studies and contacted known experts. Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy with treatment as usual or no treatment/waiting list control for children and adolescents up to age of 18 who had experienced sexual abuse at any time prior to the intervention. The review authors (BP and WT) independently screened search results to identify studies that met eligibility criteria. No studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria for this review. There are no randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compare psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy with treatment as usual, no treatment or waiting list control for children and adolescents who have been sexually abused. As a result, we cannot draw any conclusions as to the effectiveness of psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy for this population. This important gap emphasises the need for further research into the effectiveness of psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy in this population. Such research should ideally be in the form of methodologically high-quality, large-scale randomised controlled trials. If these are not conducted, future systematic reviews on this subject may need to consider including other lower quality evidence in order to avoid overlooking important research.


High Density, High Radiance $\mu$ LED Matrix for Optogenetic Retinal Prostheses and Planar Neural Stimulation.
Optical neuron stimulation arrays are important for both in-vitro biology and retinal prosthetic biomedical applications. Hence, in this work, we present an 8100 pixel high radiance photonic stimulator. The chip module vertically combines custom made gallium nitride μ LEDs with a CMOS application specific integrated circuit. This is designed with active pixels to ensure random access and to allow continuous illumination of all required pixels. The μLEDs have been assembled on the chip using a solder ball flip-chip bonding technique which has allowed for reliable and repeatable manufacture. We have evaluated the performance of the matrix by measuring the different factors including the static, dynamic power consumption, the illumination, and the current consumption by each LED. We show that the power consumption is within a range suitable for portable use. Finally, the thermal behavior of the matrix is monitored and the matrix proved to be thermally stable.


Weak organic acids: a panoply of effects on bacteria.
Weak organic acids have been used for centuries to preserve foods, but only recently has the possible mechanism for bacterial growth inhibition been investigated. Although the lowering of internal pH was favored as the cause of growth inhibition, the emphasis has shifted to the anion and its specificity. There are a number of applications of weak organic acids to foods and in the food industry be they pre- or postharvest, However, there is concern that the ability of foodborne pathogens to adapt to these acids may allow longer survival in these commodities and also to better survive transit through the gastric acid barrier of the stomach. Genomic and proteomic approaches have been applied to the identification of genes and proteins that may allow prokaryotes to cope with organic acid stress. These technologies in combination with genetic approaches may provide better identification of genes essential for survival to organic acids. These acids may have other roles: they can induce phenotypic antibiotic resistance, and the high concentrations of these acids in the colon may signal a relationship to diet, colonic microflora, and human health.


[Features of forming oxidative stress in blood of postinfarct cardiosclerosis patients during aortocoronary bypass].
Patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis in association with angina (NYHA class III) during coronary artery bypass grafting usually develop oxidative stress in erythrocytes which is characterized by enhanced free radical oxidation and depression of antioxidative enzymes. This process is of especially great importance and lasts longer in patients with the reperfusion syndrome. The consequences of this process could be revealed as derangement of the functional and structural state of erythrocytes, "rheological crises", further depression of the postischemic myocardium, rhythm and coronary flow disturbances. The results obtained show the effective prophylactics and antioxidant treatment of the oxidative stress syndrome to be necessary.


Nonfatal physical assault-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments--United States, 2000.
CDC, in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), expanded CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) in July 2000 to include all types and external causes of nonfatal injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs). This ongoing surveillance system, called NEISS All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP), can be used to calculate national, annualized, weighted estimates for nonfatal injuries treated in U.S. hospital EDs. This report summarizes NEISS-AIP data, which indicate that approximately 1.6 million persons were treated in U.S. EDs during 2000 for nonfatal physical (i.e., nonsexual) assault-related injuries. Such injuries occurred disproportionately among males, adolescents, and young adults, particularly among black males; most of these injuries were contusions or lacerations, few of which resulted in hospital admission. NEISS-AIP data can increase understanding of physical assault-related injuries and serve as a basis for monitoring trends, facilitating additional research, and evaluating intervention approaches.


Comparison of PLLA-PEG and PDLLA-PEG micelles for co-encapsulation of docetaxel and resveratrol.
The interest in combining chemosensitizers with cytostatics in cancer therapy is growing, which causes also a need to develop their delivery systems. Example of the combination with beneficial therapeutic effects is docetaxel (Dtx) and resveratrol (Res). Although poly(lactide)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) micelles have been considered as one of the most promising platforms for drug delivery, their properties may depend on the stereoisomeric form of hydrophobic block. Therefore, the aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of PLA block on co-encapsulation and release rate of Dtx and Res, which has not been studied so far. This article presents a comparison of single- (Dtx or Res) and dual-drug (Dtx and Res) loaded micelles obtained from poly(l,l-lactide)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA-PEG) and poly(d,l-lactide)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PDLLA-PEG). The analyzes of the micelles have been conducted including morphology, drug(s) encapsulation efficiency, intermolecular interactions, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity. Differences in drug loading ability and release profile have been observed between Res and Dtx but also depending on the polymer and number of drugs in micelles (single vs. dual loaded). The PLLA-PEG micelles have a significantly higher Dtx encapsulation capacity than PDLLA-PEG micelles. The highest cytotoxicity was shown for Dtx and Res dual-loaded micelles, regardless of the polymer. The findings may be used for selection of PLA-based drug delivery systems containing Dtx and Res.


Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis in elderly high-risk patients.
Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an alternative treatment for acute cholecystitis (AC) in elderly patients with high surgical risk and has lower morbidity and mortality than emergency cholecystectomy. There is controversy about whether cholecystectomy should be performed after PC in elderly high-risk patients. Medical records of patients with AC admitted to the Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, China, between January 2004 and July 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. The elderly high-risk patients with AC who underwent PC were selected for further study. The safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of PC without cholecystectomy were evaluated in these patients. The symptoms of AC resolved in 98.6 per cent of patients; drainage-related morbidity and mortality rates were 4.1 and 1.4 per cent, respectively. No patient underwent cholecystectomy after PC. The recurrence rate of cholecystitis was 4.1 per cent. The one-year survival rate was 82.2 per cent, and the three-year survival rate was 39.7 per cent. No death was related to cholecystitis, but one patient died of septic shock on the second day after PC. Considering limited survival and a low recurrence rate of cholecystitis in elderly high-risk patients with AC, we propose that PC is a definitive treatment and cholecystectomy is not necessary after resolution of AC symptoms.


Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19: Early Diagnosis and Prognostic Information.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multiple organ disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Among the organs and tissues affected by the disease, the skin has received less attention. Skin is the largest tissue in the body and is responsible for temperature maintenance, protection against external dangers and dehydration, and other roles. Although the skin manifestations of COVID-19 are common, the lack of standardization in the description of its signs makes it difficult to group them together. Considering the literature available so far, the skin manifestations can be divided into 4 patterns: exanthem, urticarial lesions, vascular and acro-papular eruptions. The localization, age, onset, symptoms and severity vary among them. The treatment, when necessary, is usually focused on the inflammatory response control. The pathophysiological mechanisms seem to involve the apoptosis of keratinocytes as well as endothelial cell dysfunction, favouring the establishment of skin inflammation. The better characterization of the skin manifestations is essential to understand the possible effects of COVID-19 on skin as well as for the development of appropriate treatments.


A role for lipid rafts in the protection afforded by docosahexaenoic acid against ethanol toxicity in primary rat hepatocytes.
Previously, we demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid enhanced ethanol-induced oxidative stress and cell death in primary rat hepatocytes via an increase in membrane fluidity and lipid raft clustering. In this context, another n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was tested with a special emphasis on physical and chemical alteration of lipid rafts. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with DHA reduced significantly ethanol-induced oxidative stress and cell death. DHA protection could be related to an alteration of lipid rafts. Indeed, rafts exhibited a marked increase in membrane fluidity and packing defects leading to the exclusion of a raft protein marker, flotillin. Furthermore, DHA strongly inhibited disulfide bridge formation, even in control cells, thus suggesting a disruption of protein-protein interactions inside lipid rafts. This particular spatial organization of lipid rafts due to DHA subsequently prevented the ethanol-induced lipid raft clustering. Such a prevention was then responsible for the inhibition of phospholipase C-γ translocation into rafts, and consequently of both lysosome accumulation and elevation in cellular low-molecular-weight iron content, a prooxidant factor. In total, the present study suggests that DHA supplementation could represent a new preventive approach for patients with alcoholic liver disease based upon modulation of the membrane structures.


Quantifying the Sensitivity of Human Immune Cells to Chemoattractant.
The efficient recruitment of immune cells is a vital cornerstone of our defense against infections and a key challenge of immunotherapeutic applications. It relies on the ability of chemotaxing cells to prioritize their responses to different stimuli. For example, immune cells are known to abandon gradients of host-cell-produced cytokines in favor of complement-derived anaphylatoxins, which then guide the cells toward nearby pathogen surfaces. The aptitude to triage stimuli depends on the cells' specific sensitivities to different chemoattractants. We here use human neutrophils as uniquely capable biodetectors to map out the anaphylatoxic cloud that surrounds microbes in the presence of host serum. We quantify the neutrophil sensitivity in terms of the ratio between the chemoattractant concentration c and the production rate j0 of the chemoattractant at the source surface. An integrative experimental/theoretical approach allows us to estimate the c/j0-threshold at which human neutrophils first detect nearby β-glucan surfaces as c/j0 ≈ 0.0044 s/μm.


Cyclic adducts and intermediates induced by simple epoxides.
Simple epoxides such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, epichlorohydrin and glycidol are mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds that are important industrial chemicals. Mutagenic and carcinogenic epoxides can also be formed metabolically from Industrially important compounds such as alkenes (ethylene, butadiene, propylene and styrene), vinyl halides (vinyl chloride and vinyl bromide) and other vinyl monomers (acrylonitrile and acrylamide). Simple epoxides react with nucleosides and DNA predominantly by the SN2 mechanism at the most nucleophilic sites (ring nitrogens) in DNA to form 2-hydroxy-2-alkyl adducts. The major hydroxyalkyl adducts that form at N7 of deoxyguanosine and N3 of deoxyadenosine are chemically unstable owing to the presence of a charged quaternary nitrogen at the site of alkylation, and they depurinate spontaneously to remove the charge, forming potentially mutagenic abasic sites. Hydroxyalkylation at N1 of deoxyadenosine and N3 of deoxycytidine also results in the production of charged, unstable species because the pKa increases dramatically after alkylation. The charge can be lost from these adducts by the formation of cyclic adducts, which occurs when there is a good leaving group on the hydroxyalkyl side-chain. Most simple epoxides remove the charge on hydroxyalkyl adducts at N1 of deoxyadenosine and N3 of deoxyxytidine by competitive rearrangements, such as hydrolytic deamination, to form 1-hydroxyalkyl-deoxyinosine and 3-hydroxyalkyl-deoxyuridine adducts and Dimroth rearrangement to form N6-hydroxyalkyl-deoxyadenosine adducts. These rearrangements are facilitated intramolecularly by the formation of cyclic intermediates, with the participation of the hydroxyl group of the hydroxyalkyl side-chain. These adducts are uncharged, stable and potentially mutagenic and are likely to contribute to the biological activity of simple epoxides.


The determinants of actinic skin damage: problems of confounding among environmental and constitutional variables.
Constitutional and environmental determinants of actinic skin damage, assessed by cutaneous microtopography, were evaluated in 1,216 subjects attending the 1981 Busselton Health Survey in Western Australia. Increasing age, male sex, the tendency to burn on exposure to sunlight and outdoor occupation were found to have independent predictive value for the presence of actinic skin damage. Crude positive and inverse associations of actinic skin damage with several other factors were shown to arise from confounding. Effect measures for outdoor leisure pursuits and sunscreen use were underestimated due to inverse associations of these factors with older age, and inverse associations of high-exposure outdoor activities with poor skin response to sunlight. Associations of constitutional traits typical of fair individuals and sunscreen use with the tendency to burn resulted in overestimation of effect measures. Empirical relationships of actinic skin damage with certain leisure activities and with use of sunscreens were also confounded by sex. The results indicate a need for greater attention to confounding in nonexperimental skin cancer research.


Quantitative SPLITT fractionation of lagoon sediments.
In this work, SPLITT Fractionation (split flow thin cell) is used to sort hydrodynamically sedimented particles coming from the Sacca di Goro, a lagoon-like system close to the Po River delta (Italy). First the possibility of performing quantitative mass separations with a SPLITT cell apparatus was checked on a standard silica sample of known particle size distribution (PSD). Environmental sediment samples and relative SPLITT sub-fractions were subject to Inductive Coupled Plasma--Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) characterization for the following elements: Al, Fe, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn. The distribution of these metals by particle size fractions has been investigated. The accuracy of the entire separation procedure has been also evaluated.


Hepatitis B viral markers in Nigerian patients with primary liver carcinoma.
Sera from 65 patients with primary liver carcinoma (PLC) and 69 sex- and age-matched controls were examined for Hepatitis B virus markers. Forty two of the patients (65%) and 25 controls (36%) were HBsAg positive. Anti-HBc was demonstrated in over 80% and in 84% of the study groups respectively. Over 70% of hepatitis B infection was anicteric and traditional surgical intervention correlated with prevalence of PLC. The data provide support for the etiological role of HBV in Nigerian patients with PLC; this is the first report that the incidence of PLC is highest in the northern Savannah region of Nigeria.


Increasing compliance with mammography recommendations: health assessment forms.
Inexpensive reminder systems are needed to ensure that primary care physicians consistently provide health maintenance services to their patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive health assessment form in place of the standard chart note to increase physician compliance with mammography recommendations. A health assessment form with a reminder for screening mammography was implemented in a family practice in 1987 and was to be used as the official chart record for health maintenance visits. The charts of all women 50 years of age and older with two or more office visits during the years 1985 through 1988 were audited to determine how many mammograms were completed. Results were compared with mammography completion rates at a similar practice that did not use a health assessment form. The study group showed a significant increase in mammography completion after implementation of the form, with compliance increasing from 7.3% to 32.0% (P < .001). The comparison group had an increase in mammogram completion from 12.0% to 17.8% (P < .001). The difference between the changes in rates of mammography in the two practices was statistically significant (P < .001). Among women in the study group who had a scheduled health maintenance visit during the study period the average rate of mammography completion increased from 21.2% to 65.2% (P < .001). The addition of a health assessment form with a mammography reminder at the health maintenance visit is an effective and inexpensive method to increase compliance with mammography.


Investigating mode errors on automated flight decks: illustrating the problem-driven, cumulative, and interdisciplinary nature of human factors research.
The goal of this article is to illustrate the problem-driven, cumulative, and highly interdisciplinary nature of human factors research by providing a brief overview of the work on mode errors on modern flight decks over the past two decades. Mode errors on modem flight decks were first reported in the late 1980s. Poor feedback, inadequate mental models of the automation, and the high degree of coupling and complexity of flight deck systems were identified as main contributors to these breakdowns in human-automation interaction. Various improvements of design, training, and procedures were proposed to address these issues. The author describes when and why the problem of mode errors surfaced, summarizes complementary research activities that helped identify and understand the contributing factors to mode errors, and describes some countermeasures that have been developed in recent years. This brief review illustrates how one particular human factors problem in the aviation domain enabled various disciplines and methodological approaches to contribute to a better understanding of, as well as provide better support for, effective human-automation coordination. Converging operations and interdisciplinary collaboration over an extended period of time are hallmarks of successful human factors research. The reported body of research can serve as a model for future research and as a teaching tool for students in this field of work.


Phenylketonuria and its variants: observations on intellectual functioning.
The age at diagnosis, dietary treatment and intelligence quotient (IQ) of 119 patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) and its variants who were under long-term observation were studied. In 27 of the 79 patients with classic PKU the diagnosis had been made and treatment begun late (after 2 months of age). The mean IQ of these 27 patients was 57.6 when they were in their early 20s (although 2 had normal IQs). In contrast, among the 52 patients with classic PKU who were not treated late the mean IQ was 93.6 for the 27 who were still receiving dietary therapy. The mean IQs were 99.3 and 92.7 at ages 5 (when the diet was discontinued) and 15 years respectively for the 12 who had been treated "adequately". It was 76.0 for the 13 who were "over-treated" (malnourished) in the first 6 months of life. Among the patients with atypical PKU, who were treated early, the mean IQs were 110.0 for the 7 who were still receiving dietary therapy and 102.7 for the 12 who were not. The 21 patients with persistent benign hyperphenylalaninemia, who were not treated, had a mean IQ of 104.2. The most important factor in the ultimate IQ of patients with classic PKU is very early diagnosis (by 2 weeks of age) along with immediate initiation of dietary therapy.


Cleaning and Disinfection of Bacillus cereus Biofilm.
Methodology has been evolving for the testing of disinfectants against bacterial single-species biofilms, as the difficulty of biofilm remediation continues to gain much-needed attention. Bacterial single-species biofilm contamination presents a real risk to good manufacturing practice-regulated industries. However, mixed-species biofilms and biofilms containing bacterial spores remain an even greater challenge for cleaning and disinfection. Among spore-forming microorganisms frequently encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing areas, the spores of Bacillus cereus are often determined to be the hardest to disinfect and eradicate. One of the reasons for the low degree of susceptibility to disinfection is the ability of these spores to be encapsulated within an exopolysachharide biofilm matrix. In this series of experiments, we evaluated the disinfectant susceptibility of B. cereus biofilms relative to disassociated B. cereus spores and biofilm from a non-spore-forming species. Further, we assessed the impact that pre-cleaning has on increasing that susceptibility. Methodology has been evolving for the testing of disinfectants against bacterial single-species biofilms, as the difficulty of biofilm remediation continues to gain much-needed attention. Bacterial single-species biofilm contamination presents a real risk to good manufacturing practice-regulated industries. However, mixed-species biofilms and biofilms containing bacterial spores remain an even greater challenge for cleaning and disinfection. Among spore-forming microorganisms frequently encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing areas, the spores of Bacillus cereus are often determined to be the hardest to disinfect and eradicate. One of the reasons for the low degree of susceptibility to disinfection is the ability of these spores to be encapsulated within an exopolysachharide biofilm matrix. In this series of experiments, we evaluated the disinfectant susceptibility of B. cereus biofilms relative to disassociated B. cereus spores and biofilm from a non-spore-forming species. Further, we assessed the impact that pre-cleaning has on increasing that susceptibility.


Differences in Posttraumatic and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Internally Displaced Persons.
Refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons differ in their experiences, potentially affecting posttraumatic outcomes such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, and posttraumatic growth (PTG), as well as psychosocial outcomes such as social connection, discrimination, and well-being. We explored these differences in a sample of N = 112 Muslim displaced persons. Results from planned contrasts indicated that refugees reported more PTSD symptoms (t[46.63] = 3.04, p = 0.004, d = 0.77) and more PTG (t[94] = 2.71, p = 0.008, d = 0.61) than asylum seekers. Higher posttraumatic cognitions predicted less social connections across displacement immigration category. The strength of this relationship was more pronounced for asylum seekers than refugees (b = -0.43, p = 0.014). Refugees may focus more on direct threats from others, resulting in more PTSD symptoms, whereas asylum seekers' uncertainty may pose a greater threat, exacerbating posttraumatic beliefs that drive social disconnection.


State risk pools and mental health care use.
State risk pools provide an opportunity for persons with mental health and substance abuse (MH/SA) problems to purchase health insurance. This study uses data from eight risk pools during the period 1988-1991 to analyze the utilization and enrollment experience for persons who submit claims for MH/SA treatment. Special consideration is given to the effect of variation in inpatient benefits across risk pools. The experience of Connecticut's risk pool differs markedly from that of the other risk pools. Given that two states (Connecticut and Florida) have restricted MH/SA benefits over time, we discuss the ability of risk pools to maintain comprehensive MH/SA benefits.


Characterization and treatment of Denizli landfill leachate using anaerobic hybrid/aerobic CSTR systems.
Leachate generated in municipal solid waste landfill contains large amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants. In the scope of the study, characterization and anaerobic/aerobic treatability of leachate from Denizli (Turkey) Sanitary Landfill were investigated. Time-based fluctuations in characteristics of leachate were monitored during a one-year period. In characterization study; chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen, NH4-N, BOD5/COD ratio, suspended solid, inert COD, anaerobic toxicity assay and heavy metals concentrations in leachate were monitored. Average COD, BOD and NH4-N concentration in leachate were measured as 18034 mg/l, 11504 mg/l and 454 mg/l, respectively. Generally, pollution parameters in leachate were higher in summer and relatively lower in winter due to dilution by precipitation. For treatment of leachate, two different reactors, namely anaerobic hybrid and aerobic completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) having effective volumes of 17.7 and 10.5 litres, respectively, were used. After 41 days of start-up period, leachate was loaded to hybrid reactor at 10 different organic loading rates (OLRs). OLR was increased by increasing COD concentrations. COD removal efficiency of hybrid reactor was carried out at a maximum of 91%. A percentage of 96% of residual COD was removed in the aerobic reactor. NH4-N removal rate in CSTR was quite high. In addition, high methane content was obtained as 64% in the hybrid reactor. At the end of the study, after 170 operation days, it can be said that the hybrid reactor and CSTR were very effective for leachate treatment.


Suture anchor and percutaneous intra-articular transtendon biceps tenodesis.
Several arthroscopic biceps tenodesis techniques have been described for surgical management of tendonitis and/or partial thickness tears of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon resulting in recalcitrant anterior shoulder pain. This chapter describes an arthroscopic tenodesis using percutaneous intra-articular transtendon technique with suture anchor fixation. The percutaneous technique allows excellent access to the biceps tendon, and the addition of a suture anchor provides superior fixation to isolated soft tissue fixation.


Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric population: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy.
Helicobacter pylori, one of the most commonly encountered human pathogens, has been recognized in more than half of adults and children with chronic nonspecific gastritis, and nearly all children with peptic ulcer disease demonstrate antral infection with H. pylori. A high prevalence and early colonization of H. pylori infection in childhood was described in developing countries in contrast to developed countries. The current diagnostic methods include histology, microbiological culture, urease activity detection, polymerase chain reaction, and stool antigen detection. The infection often presents with nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain but may remain asymptomatic. The treatment modality options are multiple; however, the association of a proton-pump inhibitor and two antibiotics for 1 or 2 weeks gives the best eradication rates. Drug resistance is a growing problem in this microorganism and new therapeutic options are currently limited.


Pseudopsychodermatologic disease.
Just as psychodermatologic disorders can mimic real dermatologic conditions, real dermatologic or other bona fide physical problems such as neurologic disorders can also mimic psychodermatologic disorders. This article illustrates several cases of pseudopsychodermatologic disorders. When faced with a difficult patient or baffling case, sometimes there is a tendency to "jump to conclusions" with regard to the psychogenic origins of the case. It is important to be cognizant of the possibility that one may be missing a real organic disorder if one does not keep an open mind with regard to diagnosis of the patient's skin condition.


Ultra-early rebleeding of an anterior spinal artery aneurysm.
The authors report the case of a 38-year-old patient who presented with a ruptured anterior spinal artery aneurysm confirmed by MRI. This patient harbored neurological deterioration related to a rebleeding at Day 1. Control angiography showed spontaneous occlusion of both aneurysm and distal anterior spinal axis. Expectative strategy was finally chosen because of the rebleeding. However, these spinal aneurysms must be treated urgently because of the risk of ultra-early rebleeding.


Three-dimensional morphological characterization of colorectal pits from label-free microscopy images.
The prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most prevalent pathologies worldwide, is linked to early detection. Kudo's pit pattern classification states morphological pit patterns of the Lieberkühn crypts by analyzing the superficial mucosa, predicting the histology of colorectal lesions. Its use as a highly accurate two-dimensional diagnostic criterion has increased, mostly involving expert endoscopists' judgment. The processing of autofluorescence images could allow the diagnostic, bypassing staining techniques and decreasing the biopsies, resources and times involved in the inspection. That criterion could be extended by data of the pit three-dimensional (3D) morphology. Thus, this work was aimed at obtaining 3D morphological information by quantifying geometrical and shape descriptors through software processing and analysis of widefield autofluorescence microscopy image stacks acquired by fresh colon tissue samples from a murine model of CRC. Statistical analyses included pits from control mice and from the second (2nd), fourth (4th), and eighth (8th) weeks of treatment. Statistically significant differences were found for almost all parameters between the pits from control and from the 4th treated week, stating that the major morphological changes begin after the 2nd week. In particular, pits from control or initial treatment time points were more tubular, straighter and less rough than the ones from later treatment points. Therefore, they may be more associated to normal or non-neoplastic crypt lumens than linked to adenomas or even cancer crypts. These preliminary outcomes could be considered an advance in 3D pit morphology characterization.


Scottish Women's Hospitals--the 90th anniversary of their work in Serbia.
The Scottish Women's Hospitals (SWH), a unique health institution in the history of medicine, staffed entirely by women, was founded soon after the outbreak of the First World War, August 12, 1914 in Edinburgh, by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The founder and the main driving force behind this organisation was Dr. Elsie Inglis (1864-1917). Although her proposition to the British War Office had been rejected, she offered her services to the Allies (France, Belgium, Russia and Serbia). The first 200 bed SWH unit was sent to France in November 1914, and soon after followed other units, so at the end there were 13 very well equipped SWH units working in the various theatres of war in Belgium, Serbia, Russia, Rumania and Greece. The first unit of SWH came to Serbia in early January 1915, and was located at Kragujevac. Soon after, three other SWH units arrived to Serbia and were stationed at Mladenovac, Valjevo and Lazarevac. It was an enormous help to Serbia, full of wounded and sick people, due to the dreadful typhus epidemic which was devastating the country. A large SWH unit, attached to the Southern Slav Volunteer Division, had worked on the Dobrudja front, and there were three hospitals and a special transport unit on the Salonika Front, which were all engaged in the treatment of Serbian wounded soldiers until the end of the First World War. Two other SWH units, located in France, were treating the Serbian refugees. Serving bravely and honorably on the various theatres of war, the legendary Scottish Women's Hospitals made enormous contributions to the allied war efforts, and helped Serbian people a great deal.


Somatostatin withdrawal as generator of pulsatile GH release in the dog: a possible tool to evaluate the endogenous GHRH tone?
Reportedly, somatostatin (SS) withdrawal is an effective generator of pulsatile GH release in mammals and it has been proposed that the amplitude of the GH bursts is related to the functional activity of GHRH-producing neurons. Our study was designed to test this hypothesis in the unanesthetized dog, under different conditions of endogenous GHRH function. First, we evaluated the ability of withdrawal of SS infusion to induce a GH secretory burst under basal conditions when GHRH function is thought to be enhanced, i.e. in young (2- to 3-year-old) dogs under sustained (30 days) caloric restriction (CR) or a 2-day fast. Secondly, we performed experiments in aged (11- to 17-year-old) dogs, in which hypothalamic GHRH secretion is thought to be reduced. Old dogs were evaluated under basal conditions, after a 2-day fast and after a 10-day administration of GHRH alone or followed by fasting. Both before and 14 h after the end of each experimental period, young and old dogs underwent a 3-hour (from 10.00 to 13.00 h) intravenous SS infusion (4 micrograms.kg-1.h-1). The secretory profile of GH was generated by 15-min sampling from 09.00 to 15.00 h. Under baseline conditions, SS withdrawal induced a significant burst of GH in young but not in old dogs. After CR, termination of SS infusion was followed in young dogs by a robust GH burst, significantly higher than that observed when dogs were fed ad libitum. In this instance, reduction of plasma IGF-I concentrations was unlikely to be responsible for the higher GH burst; the same pattern was present in the young dogs after a 2-day fast, when circulating IGF-I was unaltered. In old dogs, SS withdrawal did not modify baseline GH levels even after fasting, but induced a significant GH increase after GHRH priming. When GHRH priming was followed by fasting, SS withdrawal resulted in a GH burst higher than that occurring after fasting or GHRH alone. Altogether, these data support the view that the rebound rise in GH induced by withdrawal of SS is related to the endogenous GHRH tone. It is suggested that extrapolation of these findings to humans might permit probing, albeit inferentially, the endogenous GHRH tone under different physiologic or pathologic conditions.


Photosensitive lichenoid reaction to torsemide--a loop diuretic.
Torsemide, a potent loop diuretic of the sulfonylurea class, has been available for clinical use in the United States since 1993. Adverse generalized and cutaneous reactions to this medication are uncommon and are usually mild and transient. In this article, we describe an 82-year-old man who had a photosensitive lichenoid reaction due to torsemide therapy, a previously undescribed phenomenon. The overwhelming presence of T lymphocytes within the lesional skin biopsy specimen and the photodistributed nature of the eruption supported a localized photoallergic cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to torsemide. The presumed epitope targeted in this reaction is unclear. Because of the potential risk for cross-reactivity of torsemide with the sulfonamide group of medications, torsemide should be used cautiously in sulfonamide-hypersensitive patients.


Multiple-Phase Quantum Interferometry: Real and Apparent Gains of Measuring All the Phases Simultaneously.
We characterize operationally meaningful quantum gains in a paradigmatic model of lossless multiple-phase interferometry and stress the insufficiency of the analysis based solely on the concept of quantum Fisher information. We show that the advantage of the optimal simultaneous estimation scheme amounts to a constant factor improvement when compared with schemes where each phase is estimated separately, which is contrary to widely cited results claiming a better precision scaling in terms of the number of phases involved.


Severe drought and calf survival in elephants.
Climate change in Africa is expected to lead to a higher occurrence of severe droughts in semi-arid and arid ecosystems. Understanding how animal populations react to such events is thus crucial for addressing future challenges for wildlife management and conservation. We explored how gender, age, mother's experience and family group characteristics determined calf survival in an elephant population during a severe drought in Tanzania in 1993. Young males were particularly sensitive to the drought and calf loss was higher among young mothers than among more experienced mothers. We also report high variability in calf mortality between different family groups, with family groups that remained in the National Park suffering heavy calf loss, compared with the ones that left the Park. This study highlights how severe droughts can dramatically affect early survival of large herbivores and suggests that extreme climatic events might act as a selection force on vertebrate populations, allowing only individuals with the appropriate behaviour and/or knowledge to survive.


Depyrogenation by endotoxin removal with positively charged depth filter cartridge.
Bacterial endotoxin, a major quality of parenteral pharmaceuticals, is negatively charged lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A depth filter chemically modified to carry positively charged functional groups is applied to remove endotoxin from aqueous solutions and buffers through charge interaction. The environmental conditions, such as pH and electrolytes, known to affect the efficiency of endotoxin removal by the filter were studied. The charge character of the solid filter was titrated potentiometrically. Other factors such as pyrogen concentration and flow rate were also studied. The effectiveness of depyrogenating the aqueous solution by endotoxin removal through charge interaction with the depth type filter cartridge is fully demonstrated. An optimized cartridge performance can be achieved by following the conditions illustrated in this report. A multi-cell cartridge capable of processing bulk volume of fluid at or over 5 GPM makes it an effective depyrogenating device for the pharmaceutical industry.


The Role of IL-1 Family Members and Kupffer Cells in Liver Regeneration.
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family and Kupffer cells are linked with liver regeneration, but their precise roles remain unclear. IL-1 family members are pleiotropic factors with a range of biological roles in liver diseases, inducing hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as liver regeneration. Kupffer cells are the main source of IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), the key members of IL-1 family. This systemic review highlights a close association of IL-1 family members and Kupffer cells with liver regeneration, although their specific roles are inconclusive. Moreover, IL-1 members are proposed to induce effects on liver regeneration through Kupffer cells.


Isolation of Acinetobacter species from Clinical Specimens with Detection of Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern from a Tertiary Care Hospital, Bangladesh.
Acinetobacter species are important opportunistic and nosocomial pathogens capable of causing both community and health care-associated infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Acinetobacter species and determination of the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Acinetobacter. A total of 341 specimens were collected over a period of one year from January 2017 to January 2018 from ICU and Surgery unit of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of all Acinetobacter isolates was done using Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion technique as per recommendations of Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). MIC of commonly used Imipenem and newly introduced Tigecycline by agar dilution method was done and was compared it with disc diffusion method. From total 341 specimens, 119(34.8%) pathogen were isolated. Among 119 isolates total 46(38.6%) Acinetobacter were isolated. Maximum number of Acinetobacter was isolated from respiratory samples- endotracheal secretions. Regarding antimicrobial resistance, 42(91.3%), 33(71.7%), 20(43.5%), 28(60.9%) and 1(2.2%) were resistant to Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Doxycycline, Imipenem, Colistin and Tigecycline. Regarding, MIC of Imipenem, 41.3% was resistant, 32.6% was intermediate and 26.1% was sensitive. Regarding MIC of Tigecycline none was resistant, 39.1% was intermediate and 60.9% was sensitive. Acinetobacter species is emerging as a predominant healthcare associated multidrug resistant pathogen. The findings of this study will help our clinicians to apply appropriate antibiotics for treatment of patients.


The effect of pirmenol administration on the anti-coagulant activity of warfarin.
The effect of administration of pirmenol, an extensively metabolized and plasma protein-bound antiarrhythmic agent, was evaluated in ten patients on chronic warfarin therapy. After a 3-week baseline period and 7 days of placebo administration, patients received 150 mg of oral pirmenol every 12 hours for 14 days. Prothrombin time was determined during the baseline and placebo periods, during pirmenol administration, and 14 days after the last pirmenol dose (washout). There was no significant difference between mean baseline, placebo, pirmenol, and washout prothrombin times. Coadministration of pirmenol does not appear to affect the anticoagulant activity of warfarin.


Commercial implementation of postmortem electrical stimulation.
Postmortem electrical stimulation (ES) of meat-producing species is not a new technology but has recently been adapted for commercial use with poultry. Unlike its use in red meats to reduce the inherent toughness and facilitate grading, the application of ES in poultry is to reduce the need for aging carcasses before deboning by reducing the toughening that occurs when the meat is deboned early after death. The current practice of aging intact carcasses or breast halves 4 h or more prior to deboning costs the industry millions of dollars in lost yield and creates logistical problems in plants. Electrical stimulation reduces the need for aging by accelerating the energy depletion involved in rigor mortis development to reduce the shortening-related toughness of early deboning. Some ES systems have the additional effect of inducing physical disruption in the muscle, reducing muscle integrity and counteracting the toughness induced by early deboning. Several ES systems have been reported in the literature with some having been recently developed into commercial-scale devices. With this new technology and the growing pressure on processors to maximize operating efficiencies, processors will need to evaluate their tenderness management programs and customer demands to determine the role ES can play in their operations.


Bovine IgG repertoire is dominated by a single diversified VH gene family.
Using methods based upon the PCR, we have analyzed sequences that encode the V domain of bovine Ig heavy chain. Pairwise comparison indicates that the heavy chain repertoire in cattle is dominated by a single VH gene family that is homologous to human VHII. The third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) is particularly variable and 60% of the sequences encode a CDR3 in excess of 21 amino acids. Southern blots, single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis, and sequencing of segments from the germline indicate that the dominant VHII gene family is of small size, comprising as few as 10 unique members, and carries a very low level of diversity in CDRs 1 and 2. Comparison of germline VH sequences with those gathered from adult bovine splenic cDNA demonstrates a pattern of nucleotide substitution that is consistent with diversification through somatic hypermutation.


Treatment options for periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome in children and adults: a narrative review.
Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most frequent non-hereditary autoinflammatory disorder in childhood: Its onset is usually observed before 5 years, though reports regarding adulthood are increasing. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is not completely understood, but a multifactorial origin, probably based on a polygenic pattern of susceptibility, is the most probable rational pathogenetic hypothesis. Treatment of PFAPA syndrome relies on the administration of low-dose corticosteroids, which promptly abort flares but cannot prevent subsequent disease episodes over time. Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy has proved to be successful in some pediatric patients, as proven by different studies. On the other hand, colchicine, cimetidine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and interleukin-1 inhibitors have shown efficacy, which require further definite confirmations. This review is aimed at summarizing all the recent evidence about treatment options available for PFAPA syndrome both in pediatric and adult patients.


Improved readability and functions needed for mHealth apps targeting patients with heart failure: An app store review.
To maintain their quality of life and avoid hospitalization and early mortality, patients with heart failure must recognize and respond to symptoms of exacerbation. A promising method for engaging patients in their self-care is through mobile health applications (mHealth apps). However, for mHealth to have its greatest chance for improving patient outcomes, the app content must be readable, provide useful functions and be based in evidence. The study aimed to determine: (1) readability, (2) types of functions, and (3) linkage to authoritative sources of evidence for self-care focused mHealth apps targeting heart failure patients that are available in the Apple and Google Play Stores. We systematically searched for mHealth apps targeting patients with heart failure in the Apple and Google Play Stores and applied selection criteria. Readability of randomly selected informational paragraphs were determined using Flesch-Kincaid grade level test tool in Microsoft Word. Ten mHealth apps met our criteria. Only one had a reading grade level at or below the recommended 6th grade reading level (average 9.35). The most common functions were tracking, clinical data feedback, and non-data-based reminders and alerts. Only three had statements that clearly linked the mHealth app content to trustworthy, evidence-based sources. Only two had interoperability with the electronic health record and only one had a communication feature with clinicians. Future mHealth designs that are tailored to patients' literacy level and have advanced functions may hold greater potential for improving patient outcomes.


Changes of urinary nerve growth factor and prostaglandins in male patients with overactive bladder symptom.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) and prostaglandins (PG) in the urinary bladder can be affected by pathology of bladder, and this change can be noted in the urine. This study was performed to investigate the changes in urinary NGF and PG in male patient with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. The study group included 75 male patients with OAB symptoms and 20 males without bladder symptoms as controls. Evaluation included history-taking, urinalysis, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and urodynamic study. The NGF, PGE2, PGF(2alpha) and PGI2 levels in voided urine were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and these results were compared in control and OAB patients. Also, the urinary levels of NGF and PG were correlated with IPSS score and urodynamic parameters in OAB patients. The urinary levels of NGF and PGE2 were signi fi cantly increased in patients with OAB compared with control (P < 0.05). The urodynamic study in OAB patients showed that more than half of the patients had detrusor overactivity and bladder outlet obstruction. The incidence of detrusor underactivity was noted in seven patients in the OAB group. The urinary level of PGE2 was decreased in patients with detrusor underactivity compared with patients without detrusor underactivity (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with maximum bladder capacity in OAB patients (P < 0.05). NGF and PG may have important role in male patients with OAB, and the urinary level of PGE2 can change according to detrusor function. Therefore, these results may be used as urinary markers to evaluate the OAB symptoms.


Temperature dependence of the crystal structure of 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole from 10 K.
A single crystal of 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole has been the subject of structure determinations at 10, 100, 120 and 299 K. Above approximately 110 K, the structure is Pbca, a approximately 11.3, b approximately 20.6, c approximately 10 A, Z = 8. Below 110 K, the c axis is doubled and the space group becomes Pb2(1)a, Z = 16. Here the asymmetric unit is comprised of four molecules, arranged as a pair of overlapping hydrogen-bonded dimers, all components being ordered. In each case one methyl group of each t-butyl group lies coplanar with its parent pyrazole ring and, within each quasi-inversion-related dimer, one molecule has both of these methyl groups directed away from the N(2) component 'cis', while in the other, one methyl group is toward ('trans'). Above 110 K the four molecules collapse into one, with one t-butyl group (corresponding to an overlaid 'cis/trans' pair of the low-temperature form) modelled as disordered. The disorder has been previously described as 'temperature dependent', but the present studies suggest it to be dependent on the history of the particular specimen as well.


Chemically modified olive stone: a low-cost sorbent for heavy metals and basic dyes removal from aqueous solutions.
In the present work, we have investigated the sorption efficiency of treated olive stones (TOS) towards cadmium and safranine removal from their respective aqueous solutions. TOS material was prepared by treatment of olive stones with concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature followed up by a subsequent neutralization with 0.1 M NaOH aqueous solution. The resulting material has been thoroughly characterized by SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), MAS (13)C NMR, FTIR and physicochemical parameters were calculated. The sorption study of TOS at the solid-liquid interface was investigated using kinetics, sorption isotherms, pH effect and thermodynamic parameters. The preliminary results indicate that TOS exhibit a better efficiency in terms of sorption capacities toward the two pollutants (128.2 and 526.3 mg/g for cadmium and safranine, respectively) than those reported so far in the literature. Moreover, the sorption process is ascertained to occur fast enough so that the equilibrium is reached in less than 15 min of contact time. The results found in the course of this study suggest that ion exchange mechanism is the most appropriate mechanism involved in cadmium and safranine removal. Finally, the sorption efficiency of TOS is compared to those of other low-cost sorbents materials yet described in the literature.


Role of Ptc2 type 2C Ser/Thr phosphatase in yeast high-osmolarity glycerol pathway inactivation.
Three type 2C Ser/Thr phosphatases (PTCs) are negative regulators of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae high-osmolarity glycerol mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Ptc2 and Ptc3 are 75% identical to each other and differ from Ptc1 in having a noncatalytic domain. Previously, we showed that Ptc1 inactivates the pathway by dephosphorylating the Hog1 MAPK; Ptc1 maintains low basal Hog1 activity and dephosphorylates Hog1 during adaptation. Here, we examined the function of Ptc2 and Ptc3. First, deletion of PTC2 and/or PTC3 together with PTP2, encoding the protein tyrosine phosphatase that inactivates Hog1, produced a strong growth defect at 37 degrees C that was dependent on HOG1, providing further evidence that PTC2 and PTC3 are negative regulators. Second, overexpression of PTC2 inhibited Hog1 activation but did not affect Hog1-Tyr phosphorylation, suggesting that Ptc2 inactivates the pathway by dephosphorylating the Hog1 activation loop phosphothreonine (pThr) residue. Indeed, in vitro studies confirmed that Ptc2 was specific for Hog1-pThr. Third, deletion of both PTC2 and PTC3 led to greater Hog1 activation upon osmotic stress than was observed in wild-type strains, although no obvious change in Hog1 inactivation during adaptation was seen. These results indicate that Ptc2 and Ptc3 differ from Ptc1 in that they limit maximal Hog1 activity. The function of the Ptc2 noncatalytic domain was also examined. Deletion of this domain decreased V(max) by 1.6-fold and increased K(m) by 2-fold. Thus Ptc2 requires an additional amino acid sequence beyond the catalytic domain defined for PTCs for full activity.


[Neoplastic ureteral obstruction: drainage by percutaneous nephrostomy or double J catheterization].
Neoplasic obstruction of the ureter is observed in patients with pelvic or extra-pelvic cancer. Indications of upper urinary tract drainage need to be clarified. Percutaneous nephrostomy or double J catheter drainage was performed in 104 patients with ureteral obstruction due to pelvic cancer (bladder, prostate, uterus, ovary, rectum) or extra-pelvic cancer (usually breast and digestive cancers). Percutaneous nephrostomy or double J catheter was the first drainage procedure in 85 and 76 patients respectively. Success rate in first intention drainage was 74.5% with the double J catheter. When this procedure was impossible, percutaneous nephrostomy was always performed. In 52 cases we attempted to convert the nephrostomy to double J catheter drainage. Success rate was 68.8%. The main complications observed were ineffective drainage (12.5%) and infection (10.5%). These patients have a mean survival of 6.8 months despite the chemotherapy which is facilitated by the improved renal function.


Dysregulation of microRNA in cholangiocarcinoma identified through a meta-analysis of microRNA profiling.
In the past decades, the potential of microRNA (miRNA) in cancer diagnostics and prognostics has gained a lot of interests. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted upon the pooled miRNA microarray data of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). To identify differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and perform functional analyses in order to gain insights to understanding miRNA-target interactions involved in tumorigenesis pathways of CCA. Raw data from 8 CCA miRNA microarray datasets, consisting of 443 samples in total, were integrated and statistically analyzed to identify DE miRNAs via comparison of levels of miRNA expression between CCA and normal bile duct samples using t-tests (P < 0.001). The 10-fold cross validation was performed in order to increase the robustness of the t-test results. Our data showed 70 up-regulated and 48 down-regulated miRNAs in CCA. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that mRNA targets of DE miRNAs were significantly involved in several biological processes. The most prominent dysregulated pathways included phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase and Ras signaling pathways. DE miRNAs found in our meta-analysis revealed dysregulation in major cancer pathways involved in the development of CCA. These results indicated the necessity of understanding the miRNA-target interactions and the significance of dysregulated miRNAs in terms of diagnostics and prognostics of cancers.


Comprehensive Analysis of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Chloroplast Genome.
In the last decade, several studies have relied on a small number of plastid genomes to deduce deep phylogenetic relationships in the species-rich Myrtaceae. Nevertheless, the plastome of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, an important representative plant of the Rhodomyrtus (DC.) genera, has not yet been reported yet. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast (CP) genome of R. tomentosa, which is a 156,129-bp-long circular molecule with 37.1% GC content. This CP genome displays a typical quadripartite structure with two inverted repeats (IRa and IRb), of 25,824 bp each, that are separated by a small single copy region (SSC, 18,183 bp) and one large single copy region (LSC, 86,298 bp). The CP genome encodes 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes and three pseudogenes (ycf1, rps19, ndhF). A considerable number of protein-coding genes have a universal ATG start codon, except for psbL and ndhD. Premature termination codons (PTCs) were found in one protein-coding gene, namely atpE, which is rarely reported in the CP genome of plants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. tomentosa has a sister relationship with Eugenia uniflora and Psidium guajava. In conclusion, this study identified unique characteristics of the R. tomentosa CP genome providing valuable information for further investigations on species identification and the phylogenetic evolution between R. tomentosa and related species.


Common molecular scaffold for two unrelated RGD molecules.
The sequence arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) is important for recognition of cell adhesion proteins by cell surface receptors (integrins). This tripeptide sequence is present in a number of proteins including fibronectin, vitronectin, von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen. Specific and selective binding of the RGD sequence by different receptors suggests that the conformational orientation of the tripeptide is critical for stereochemical recognition. The crystal structures of two proteins that contain the RGD signal were determined: (i) the cell-binding type III module of fibronectin (FNIII10) and (ii) an anti-receptor antibody fragment (OPG2) that is a functional RGD ligand mimic with an RYD recognition site in the variable (VH) domain. Both of these modules are folded into beta-barrels with two layers of antiparallel beta-sheets enclosing a hydrophobic core. Since these molecules each contain the RGD (RYD) sequence, there is a unique opportunity for direct structural comparison. The comparison has defined a common molecular scaffold in these two unrelated molecules. Within this framework, the RGD (RYD) sites are located in structurally related loops in the two modules, i.e. at one end of the scaffold in a long loop connecting the last two strands in one of the beta-sheets. This shared scaffold is used for the stereochemical presentation of the RGD site for receptor recognition.


Magnetic resonance imaging in pregnancy.
MR imaging can be important to demonstrate nonpelvic, pelvic, and fetal abnormalities in the pregnant patient. New, faster techniques expand diagnostic capabilities. Although no convincing evidence for fetal injury has been demonstrated, a rational approach to MR imaging in pregnancy is proposed in this article.


Apoptotic change in response to magnesium therapy after moderate diffuse axonal injury in rats.
The biochemical factors related to moderation of secondary or delayed damage to the central nervous system (CNS) remain undefined. We have recently demonstrated that the weight- drop induced moderate diffuse axonal injury (mDAI) in rats causes a rapid decline in serum ionized magnesium (Mg(2+)) and a significant increase in the amount of serum ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) relative to Mg(2+) (Ca(2+)/ Mg(2+)). For three hours, serum Mg(2+) levels remained significantly depressed at 76% of preinjury values (p < 0.05), but total serum magnesium remained unchanged (tMg, p > 0.05). Head trauma resulted in a small decrease of Ca(2+) (about 10%), but a significant increase in the amount of Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) (mean value in control group: in injured group for 3 hours after trauma =4.65 +/- 0.012 : 5.69 +/- 0.015, p < 0.05) was observed. In order to further investigate the relationship between Mg(2+) and brain injury, the effect of Mg(2+) treatment on posttraumatic histological changes (apoptotic changes) was examined following the weight-drop induced brain injury. At 30 min postinjury, animals treated with MgSO(4) (750 micromol/kg) showed significant improvements of apoptotic changes when compared to the control group (54.8 +/- 1.7, 51.5 +/- 3.2 at 12, 24 h in control group, 24.8 +/- 2.6, 20.5 +/- 1.4 at 12, 24 h in treated group, p < 0.05). The early decline in serum Mg(2+) and the increase in the amount of Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) immediately following brain trauma uncovered by these findings suggest that they may be a critical factor in the development of irreversible tissue injury. If this proves to be the case, treatment with MgSO(4) may be effective in improving histological findings following experimental traumatic brain injury in rats.