Sex and Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Ophthalmology Subspecialty Fellowship Applicants.
Physician-patient concordance in sex and race is associated with improved patient outcomes. Studies have explored diversity among ophthalmology residents and faculty, but to our knowledge, not among ophthalmology fellows. To assess diversity by sex and race and ethnicity among fellowship applicants in ophthalmology subspecialties and compare match rates by applicants' sex and underrepresented in medicine (URiM) status. This cohort study examined ophthalmology subspecialty fellowship data from the 2021 San Francisco Match. Applicant characteristics were stratified by sex and URiM status and compared using χ2, Mann-Whitney U, and median tests. For applicants who matched, the percentages of female and URiM applicants were compared among the ophthalmic subspecialties. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association of applicant characteristics with their match outcomes. Included in the sample were 537 candidates who applied for an ophthalmology fellowship using the 2021 San Francisco Match; 224 applicants (42.6%) were female, and 60 applicants (12.9%) had URiM status. Females and males had similar match rates (70.5% [n = 158] and 69.2% [n = 209], respectively; P = .74), but females had a higher median (IQR) US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) score (248 [240-258] vs 245 [234-254]; P = .01). The pediatric ophthalmology subspecialty had the highest percentage of female matched applicants (67.5%; 27 of 40 matched applicants), while the retina subspecialty had the highest percentage of males (68.9%; 84 of 122 matched applicants). URiM applicants had lower match rates (55.0%, n = 33) than non-URiM applicants (72.2%, n = 293; P = .007). The URiM applicants had lower median (IQR) scores on the USMLE Step 1 (238 [227-247]) compared with Asian applicants (246 [235-254]) and White applicants (243 [231-252]; P = .04). Additionally, URIM applicants submitted fewer median (IQR) applications (10 [1-23]) than Asian (21 [8-37]) and White (17 [8-32]; P = .001) applicants and completed fewer interviews (median [IQR], 2 [0-11]) than Asian (median [IQR], 12 [3-18]) and White applicants (median [IQR], 8 [1-14]; P = .001). Among matched fellows in each subspecialty, URiM applicants comprised 13.9% (n = 11) in glaucoma, 10% (n = 4) in pediatric ophthalmology, 7.3% (n = 6) in cornea, and 6.6% (n = 8) in retina. Ophthalmology subspecialty fellowship match rates were lower for URiM vs non-URiM applicants in 2021. Underrepresentation of females exists in the retina subspecialty, while racial and ethnic differences exist in all ophthalmology subspecialty fellowships examined. Monitoring trends in fellowship diversity over time should help inform where targeted efforts could improve diversity.


6-Bromoindolglyoxylamido derivatives as antimicrobial agents and antibiotic enhancers.
The combination of increased incidence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria and a lack of novel drugs in development creates an urgency for the search for new antimicrobials. Initial screening of compounds from an in-house library identified two 6-bromoindolglyoxylamide polyamine derivatives (3 and 4) that exhibited intrinsic antimicrobial activity towards Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and S. intermedius with polyamine 3 also displaying in vitro antibiotic enhancing properties against the resistant Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A series of 6-bromo derivatives (5-15) were prepared and biologically evaluated, identifying analogues with enhanced antibacterial activity towards Escherichia coli and with moderate to excellent antifungal properties. Polyamine 3, which includes a spermine chain, was the most potent of the series - its mechanism of action was attributed to rapid membrane permeabilization and depolarization in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.


In Vitro Effect of Bleaching With 810 nm and 980 nm Diode Laser on Microhardness of Self-cure and Light-Cure Glass Ionomer Cements.
Introduction: This study sought to assess the effect of bleaching combined with irradiation of 810 nm and 980 nm diode laser on microhardness of 2 commonly used self-cure and light-cure glass ionomer cements (GICs) in comparison with conventional bleaching (without laser). Methods: In this in vitro, experimental study, 60 samples were fabricated of A2 shade of Fuji IX and Fuji II LC GICs (n=30) and each group was divided into 3 subgroups (n=10). The first subgroups were subjected to bleaching with Opalescence Xtra Boost plus 980 nm diode laser irradiation. The second subgroups were subjected to bleaching with Opalescence Boost plus 810 nm diode laser irradiation and the third subgroups were subjected to bleaching with Opalescence Xtra Boost without laser. Microhardness was measured at baseline and after the intervention using Vickers hardness tester. The data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P<0.05). Results: Microhardness decreased in all subgroups after the intervention (P<0.001) irrespective of the type of GIC (P=0.201) or surface treatment (P=0.570). The baseline microhardness of the three subgroups within each group of GIC was not significantly different (P=0.456), but the baseline microhardness of conventional GIC was significantly higher than that of resin modified GIC (P=0.004). Conclusion: Bleaching with/without laser irradiation decreases the microhardness of GICs. The baseline microhardness of conventional GIC is higher than that of resin modified GIC.


Complex Permittivity of Planar Building Materials Measured With an Ultra-Wideband Free-Field Antenna Measurement System.
Building materials are often incorporated into complex, multilayer macrostructures that are simply not amenable to measurements using coax or waveguide sample holders. In response to this, we developed an ultra-wideband (UWB) free-field measurement system. This measurement system uses a ground-plane-based system and two TEM half-horn antennas to transmit and receive the RF signal. The material samples are placed between the antennas, and reflection and transmission measurements made. Digital signal processing techniques are then applied to minimize environmental and systematic effects. The processed data are compared to a plane-wave model to extract the material properties with optimization software based on genetic algorithms.


Cardiomyocyte PKA Ablation Enhances Basal Contractility While Eliminates Cardiac β-Adrenergic Response Without Adverse Effects on the Heart.
PKA (Protein Kinase A) is a major mediator of β-AR (β-adrenergic) regulation of cardiac function, but other mediators have also been suggested. Reduced PKA basal activity and activation are linked to cardiac diseases. However, how complete loss of PKA activity impacts on cardiac physiology and if it causes cardiac dysfunction have never been determined. We set to determine how the heart adapts to the loss of cardiomyocyte PKA activity and if it elicits cardiac abnormalities. (1) Cardiac PKA activity was almost completely inhibited by expressing a PKA inhibitor peptide in cardiomyocytes (cPKAi) in mice; (2) cPKAi reduced basal phosphorylation of 2 myofilament proteins (TnI [troponin I] and cardiac myosin binding protein C), and one longitudinal SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum) protein (PLB [phospholamban]) but not of the sarcolemmal proteins (Cav1.2 α1c and PLM [phospholemman]), dyadic protein RyR2, and nuclear protein CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) at their PKA phosphorylation sites; (3) cPKAi increased the expression of CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II), the Cav1.2 β subunits and current, but decreased CaMKII phosphorylation and CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation of PLB and RyR2; (4) These changes resulted in significantly enhanced myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity, prolonged contraction, slowed relaxation but increased myocyte Ca2+ transient and contraction amplitudes; (5) Isoproterenol-induced PKA and CaMKII activation and their phosphorylation of proteins were prevented by cPKAi; (6) cPKAi abolished the increases of heart rate, and cardiac and myocyte contractility by a β-AR agonist (isoproterenol), showing an important role of PKA and a minimal role of PKA-independent β-AR signaling in acute cardiac regulation; (7) cPKAi mice have partial exercise capability probably by enhancing vascular constriction and ventricular filling during β-AR stimulation; and (8) cPKAi mice did not show any cardiac functional or structural abnormalities during the 1-year study period. PKA activity suppression induces a unique Ca2+ handling phenotype, eliminates β-AR regulation of heart rates and cardiac contractility but does not cause cardiac abnormalities.


Polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin-tegafur conjugate shows anti-cancer activity and a potential for gene delivery.
Polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin-tegafur (PEI-CyD-tegafur) conjugate was synthesized as a novel multifunctional prodrug of tegafur for co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agent tegafur and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter plasmid DNA. Conjugation of tegafur to PEI-CyD via chemical linkage was characterized by (1)H NMR spectrometry and ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry. PEI-CyD-tegafur was able to condense plasmid DNA into complexes of around 150 nm with positive charge at the N/P ratio of 25, in accordance with electron microscopy observation of compact and monodisperse nanoparticles. The results of in vitro experiments showed enhanced cytotoxicity and considerable transfection efficiency in B16F10 cell line. Therefore, PEI-CyD-tegafur may have great potential as a co-delivery system with anti-cancer activity and potential for gene delivery.


Sarcoidosis.
A Pink, elevated, granulomatous, indurated plaques on the face, including the nasal alae, of a 52-year-old woman with a darker skin tone. B Orange and pink, elevated, granulomatous, indurated plaques on the face of a 55-year-old woman with a lighter skin tone.


Economy of water, carbon, and nitrogen in the developing cowpea fruit.
The nutritional economy of the fruit of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv Vita 3) was assessed quantitatively from intake and utilization of carbon, nitrogen, and water. Fruits failed to make net gains of CO(2) from the atmosphere during daytime, although pod photosynthesis did play a role in the fruit's carbon economy by refixing a proportion of the fruit's respired CO(2). Of every 100 units by weight of carbon entering the fruit, 70.4 were finally incorporated into seeds, 10.3 remained as nonmobilizable material in pod walls, and the remaining 19.3 were lost in fruit respiration. Phloem supplied 97% of the fruit's carbon and 72% of its nitrogen. The xylem contribution of nitrogen occurred mainly in early growth. Ninety-six% of the fruit's nitrogen was incorporated into seeds, approximately 10% of this mobilized from the senescing pod. The mean transpiration ratio of the fruit was very low-8 milliliters water transpired per gram dry matter accumulated. Models of carbon, nitrogen, and water flow were constructed for the two consecutive 11 day periods of fruit development, and indicated a considerably greater entry of water through xylem and phloem than could be accounted for in changes in fruit tissue water and transpiration loss. This discrepancy was greater in the second half of fruit growth and was interpreted as evidence that a significant fraction of the water entering the fruit through phloem cycled back to the parent plant via the xylem.


Fluid transport in cartilage.
Creep in cartilage is in quantitative agreement with fluid loss. The hydraulic permeability decreases steeply and the internal pressure increases as the fluid content of cartilage is reduced due to compressive loading. At any given water content the hydraulic permeability and the internal pressure are practically independent of the applied load. The ionic contribution to the osmotic pressure of femoral head cartilage has been found by a number of methods to be around 1 x 7 atm at full hydration.


Physicochemical, structural, and digestive properties of pea starch obtained via ultrasonic-assisted alkali extraction.
As a new and clean extraction technology, ultrasonic extraction has been demonstrated with great potential in the preparation of modified starch. In order to increase its added value, it is necessary to modify pea starch to enlarge its application. In this study, the efficiency of combining ultrasonic with alkali in the extraction of pea starch was evaluated and compared to conventional alkali extraction. Ultrasonic-assisted alkali extraction conditions were optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The results revealed that maximum yield of pea starch (54.43 %) was achieved using ultrasound-assisted alkali extraction under the following conditions: sodium hydroxide solution with a concentration of 0.33 %, solid/alkali solution ratio of 1:6 (w/v), ultrasonic power of 240 W, temperature of 42 °C, and extraction time of 22 min. The ultrasound-assisted alkali extraction yielded 13.72 % greater pea starch than conventional alkali extraction. On the other hand, morphological, structural, and physicochemical properties of the obtained starch isolates were evaluated. The ultrasound-assisted alkali extraction resulted in pea starch with greater amylose content, water-solubility, swelling power, and viscosity compared with conventional alkali extraction. Furthermore, ultrasonication influenced the morphological properties of pea starch granules, while the molecular structure and crystal type were not affected. Moreover, the ultrasonic-assisted extraction produced starch with a slightly greater resistant starch content. Therefore, ultrasonic-assisted extraction can be suggested as a potential method for extracting pea starch with improved functional properties.


Inferior wall diverticulum of left ventricle coexisting with mental retardation and atrial septal defect.
We report a case of congenital inferior wall left ventricular diverticulum (LVD), atrial septal defect and mental retardation detected by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The combination of three features strongly suggests that genetic factors play important role in the pathogenesis of the disorder. Most LVDs are asymptomatic. Echocardiographers and cardiac anesthesiologists should be aware of this anomaly, and include it in the differential diagnosis of abnormally shaped ventricular wall and seek other congenital abnormalities if LVD is detected.


Alcohol and the male reproductive system.
Alcohol use affects all three parts of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, a system of endocrine glands and hormones involved in male reproduction. Alcohol use is associated with low testosterone and altered levels of additional reproductive hormones. Researchers are investigating several potential mechanisms for alcohol's damage. These mechanisms are related to alcohol metabolism, alcohol-related cell damage, and other hormonal reactions associated with alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol use in male rats also has been shown to affect their reproductive ability and the health of their offspring.


Distribution of Metabolites between Chloroplast and Cytoplasm during the Induction Phase of Photosynthesis in Leaf Protoplasts.
A method for rapid separation of the chloroplast and cytoplasmic fractions from isolated leaf protoplasts of wheat and spinach has been used to determine the distribution of (14)C-labeled products during photosynthesis. In the dark, CO(2) fixation was only 1 to 2% of that in the light and the products were mainly in the cytoplasmic fraction suggesting fixation by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Label appeared rapidly in the chloroplast fraction following illumination but the amount leveled off after 4 to 5 minutes reflecting the buildup of intermediates to steady state levels. There was only a slight lag before label appeared in the cytoplasmic fraction and it continued to increase at a constant rate reflecting synthesis of neutral products. In the light, the percentage of label in the chloroplast fraction decreased rapidly in the first minute of illumination and was only 10 to 20% in the steady-state. It is suggested that the chloroplast phosphate transporter promotes a rapid transfer of sugar phosphates from the chloroplast to the cytoplasm, even during the induction phase of photosynthesis.


Do NF1 gene deletions result in a characteristic phenotype?
Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with marked variability of expression. Analysis of the NF1 gene (NF1) has detected a variety of mutations without any clear correlation with phenotype. However, deletions which remove all of NF1 have been reported in a small number of patients who have minor facial abnormalities, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and early or excessive burden of cutaneous or plexiform neurofibromas. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these phenotypic traits are associated with whole gene deletions. Out of 406 of our NF1 patients, 70 patients had manifestations previously associated with gene deletions. Thirty-five of these patients from 26 families were available for study. By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, 4 were found to have deletions of the entire gene, including 2 sporadic cases, 1 familial case, and 1 case where family history could not be verified. In addition, the mother of the familial case was found to be mosaic for the deletion. Our results suggest that although large NF1 deletions occur with relatively high frequency in patients with certain findings, the presence of a deletion cannot be predicted solely on the basis of clinical phenotype.


ADP-ribosylation factor 6 expression increase in oesophageal adenocarcinoma suggests a potential biomarker role for it.
ADP-ribosylation factor 6 small GTPase plays an important role in cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis, which are the hallmarks of cancer. Although alterations in ARF6 expression and activity have been linked to metastatic cancer in one or two tissues, the expression of ARF6 in cancers over a wide range of tissues has not been studied so far. In this report, we analysed the expression of ARF6 mRNA in cancers and corresponding healthy controls from 17 different tissues by real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We further evaluated ARF6 protein expression in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) tissue microarray cores by immunohistochemistry. The ARF6 gene expression levels are highly variable between healthy and cancer tissues. Our findings suggest that the ARF6 gene expression is up-regulated highest in oesophageal cancer. In EAC TMAs, ARF6 protein expression increase correlated with EAC progression. This is the first study to investigate ARF6 gene expression in a wide array of cancer tissues and demonstrate that ARF6 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, is significantly upregulated in higher grades of EAC, which may be useful in targeting ARF6 for cancer diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.


Genome-Wide Analysis of the Gene Structure, Expression and Protein Interactions of the Peach (Prunus persica) TIFY Gene Family.
The TIFY family is a plant-specific gene family involved in regulating many plant processes, such as development and growth, defense and stress responses, fertility and reproduction, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The v2.0 peach (Prunus persica) genome, which has an improved chromosome-scale assembly and contiguity, has recently been released, but a genome-wide investigation of the peach TIFY family is lacking. In this study, 16 TIFY family genes from the peach genome were identified according to the peach reference genome sequence information and further validated by cloning sequencing. The synteny, phylogenetics, location, structure, and conserved domains and motifs of these genes were analyzed, and finally, the peach TIFY family was characterized into 9 JAZ, 1 TIFY, 1 PPD and 5 ZML subfamily members. Expression profiles of peach JAZ, PPD, and ZML genes in various organs and fruit developmental stages were analyzed, and they showed limited effects with fruit ripening cues. Four TIFY members were significantly affected at the mRNA level by exogenous treatment with MeJA in the peach epicarp, and among them, PpJAZ1, PpJAZ4 and PpJAZ5 were significantly correlated with fruit epicarp pigmentation. In addition, the TIFY family member protein interaction networks established by the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay not only showed similar JAZ-MYC2 and JAZ homo- and heterodimer patterns as those found in Arabidopsis but also extended the JAZ dimer network to ZML-ZML and JAZ-ZML interactions. The PpJAZ3-PpZML4 interaction found in this study suggests the potential formation of the ZML-JAZ-MYC complex in the JA-signaling pathway, which may extend our knowledge of this gene family's functions in diverse biological processes.


Rapid Raman imaging of stable, functionalized nanoshells in mammalian cell cultures.
Two Raman-active poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules, one linear (MW 5000) and the other branched (MW 2420), are synthesized to stabilize gold-silica nanoshells in cell culture media and track nanoparticles in mammalian cell cultures. The linear PEG provides greater nanoshell stability in saline solution compared to commercially available PEG-thiol or the branched PEG. Surface enhanced Raman scattering rapidly tracks the probes and provides semiquantitative information regarding particle localization within mouse macrophage (RAW 264.7) and human breast cancer (MCF 7) cell cultures.


Temporary Migration for Training: A Special Case.
Against a background of globalization and medical migration, issues have been raised regarding training outside the clinician's own context. There is a dearth of published literature on these issues and we aimed to explore these. Taking Chang Gung Memorial Hospital fellowships in microfacial and craniofacial surgery as our case study, we developed an online survey to look at the circumstances leading junior doctors to seek specific, high-level training outside their country of intended practice and how effective this was for their future career, the service they provide, and their institutions. Fellows come to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital predominantly from Europe, North America, and Asia, rather than specifically from developing countries. The predominant reasons were professional, personal, and to gain training that was not available at home, followed by career development. The fellowship was not commonly used as a career step or a means of migration. Our results showed that most fellows received training that enabled them to provide a service for complex cases on returning to their home country. Implementing newly acquired skills at home did not present any consistent challenges for fellows. This study addressed a new phenomenon for the literature on medical migration: temporary migration from developed countries for the purposes of training and not permanent migration. The motivation for seeking these fellowships was to make up for training opportunities that were not available in highly planned health economies. To develop their practice in their home institutions, fellows often had to make adjustments to ensure effective transfer of skills and, in doing so, contribute to service development.


Impaired dexamethasone-related increase of anticoagulants is associated with the development of osteonecrosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Coagulation alterations may be involved in osteonecrosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Retrospectively, we evaluated the available coagulation parameters at diagnosis and during induction treatment of 161 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients: 24 with symptomatic osteonecrosis (median age: 13.8 years, range 4.0-17.2) and 137 without osteonecrosis (median age: 4.9 years, range 1.0-16.7). Coagulation parameters of both groups were similar at diagnosis. After four weeks of treatment including dexamethasone, levels of antithrombin and protein S were significantly less in osteonecrosis-positive than in osteonecrosis-negative patients. Subsequently, after four doses of asparaginase and tapering dexamethasone, these coagulation parameters equally decreased in both groups. Consequently, nadirs of antithrombin and protein S were significantly lower in osteonecrosis-positive than in osteonecrosis-negative patients, even reaching levels below lower normal limits in the osteonecrosis-positive group. A reduced dexamethasone related increase of antithrombin and protein S, and subsequent decline below normal levels after introduction of asparaginase, may result in a hypercoagulable state, contributing to development of symptomatic osteonecrosis.


Dose calculation software for helical tomotherapy, utilizing patient CT data to calculate an independent three-dimensional dose cube.
Treatment plans for the TomoTherapy unit are produced with a planning system that is integral to the unit. The authors have produced an independent dose calculation system, to enable plans to be recalculated in three dimensions, using the patient's CT data. Software has been written using MATLAB. The DICOM-RT plan object is used to determine the treatment parameters used, including the treatment sinogram. Each projection of the sinogram is segmented and used to calculate dose at multiple calculation points in a three-dimensional grid using tables of measured beam data. A fast ray-trace algorithm is used to determine effective depth for each projection angle at each calculation point. Calculations were performed on a standard desktop personal computer, with a 2.6 GHz Pentium, running Windows XP. The time to perform a calculation, for 3375 points averaged 1 min 23 s for prostate plans and 3 min 40 s for head and neck plans. The mean dose within the 50% isodose was calculated and compared with the predictions of the TomoTherapy planning system. When the modified CT (which includes the TomoTherapy couch) was used, the mean difference for ten prostate patients, was -0.4% (range -0.9% to +0.3%). With the original CT (which included the CT couch), the mean difference was -1.0% (range -1.7% to 0.0%). The number of points agreeing with a gamma 3%∕3 mm averaged 99.2% with the modified CT, 96.3% with the original CT. For ten head and neck patients, for the modified and original CT, respectively, the mean difference was +1.1% (range -0.4% to +3.1%) and 1.1% (range -0.4% to +3.0%) with 94.4% and 95.4% passing a gamma 4%∕4 mm. The ability of the program to detect a variety of simulated errors has been tested. By using the patient's CT data, the independent dose calculation performs checks that are not performed by a measurement in a cylindrical phantom. This enables it to be used either as an additional check or to replace phantom measurements for some patients. The software has potential to be used in any application where one wishes to model changes to patient conditions.


Studies of proteinases and their inhibitors in lung secretions.
The study of proteinases and their inhibitors in lung secretions may provide an understanding of the pathogenesis of many chronic lung diseases. However problems arise in the collection and assessment of the samples that leads to variability both within and between subjects. The purpose of the paper is to highlight these problems as well as the methods used to overcome them in secretions obtained from patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis. The results show that between subject variability is high; and may be up to 150% within an individual. Conventional means of reducing variability (standardisation for albumin) may not be appropriate for some proteins, leading to increased variability. The function of inhibitors is probably best expressed as enzyme inhibited/unit of inhibitor though even this shows daily variability within the same individual. An awareness of such variability is necessary for the interpretation of results obtained from patients.


Metabolic mapping of Schisandra sphenanthera extract and its active lignans using a metabolomic approach based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Schisandra sphenanthera, the dried ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils, is widely used as a restorative, tonic and nutrition in many countries. Wuzhi tablet, an ethanol extract preparation of Schisandra sphenanthera, is a well-known herbal medicine widely used in China. Our previous studies show that Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans significantly protect liver injury. However, its metabolic profile remains unknown in vivo and in vitro. In this study, ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry based metabolomics was employed to decipher the metabolic map of Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans. Serum (2 h) and urine (24 h) samples after a 700 mg/kg single oral dose of Wuzhi tablet, and mice liver microsome samples after incubation with its active lignans were collected and analyzed. The data were further analyzed using metabolomics and metabolite identification software. In total, 33 metabolites in vivo and 34 metabolites in vitro were identified, and six among them were new metabolites. The major metabolic reactions encompassed demethylation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and epoxidation. Taken together, in vitro and in vivo studies revealed the metabolic profile of Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans and demethylation and hydroxylation were their major metabolic pathways.


[A case of drug-induced granulomatous interstitial nephritis during the long course of Crohn's disease].
A 33-year-old man was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2001, and treated with mesalazine and ranitidine. Administration of infliximab was started in 2007 and led to a decrease in the activity of the Crohn's disease. He was referred to our department in the summer of 2011 following rapid progression of renal insufficiency, with serum creatinine levels increasing from 1.5 mg/dL to 4.3 mg/dL within 2 months. On admission, laboratory findings showed signs of inflammation, anemia, proteinuria, and hematuria. Renal biopsy results indicated the diagnosis of granulomatous interstitial nephritis. Neither clinical manifestations nor laboratory findings were suggestive of infectious disease, sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis or tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis. Mesalazine and ranitidine were discontinued in view of reports of drug-induced granulomatous interstitial nephritis. Levels of C-reactive protein immediately decreased, but renal function remained unimproved. Treatment with steroid pulse therapy was then initiated, followed by oral prednisolone at 40 mg/day, and his serum creatinine recovered to 2.3 mg/dL. Mesalazine and/or ranitidine appear to have been responsible for the granulomatous interstitial nephritis. In cases of Crohn's disease showing rapid deterioration of renal function, drug-induced renal disease should be considered, even if the drugs have been taken without apparent problems for a long duration.


Early detection and visualization of human adenovirus serotype 5-viral vectors carrying foot-and-mouth disease virus or luciferase transgenes in cell lines and bovine tissues.
Recombinant replication-defective human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vaccines containing capsid-coding regions from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have been demonstrated to induce effective immune responses and provide homologous protective immunity against FMDV in cattle. However, basic mechanisms of Ad5-FMDV vaccine function including virus tropism, transgene expression, and antigen presentation, remain incompletely understood. The current study characterized the dynamics of Ad5 viral vector (Ad5-FMDV-A24 and Ad5-luciferase) infection in cell lines and early post-inoculation vector-host interactions in cattle. Adenovirus dissemination was described utilizing novel rPCR, rRT-PCR, luminometry, and immunomicroscopy techniques. In vitro infection of human and bovine cells with both Ad5 vectors resulted in dose-dependent detection of vector DNA, mature mRNA transcripts, and transgene-encoded proteins. Subsequent to intramuscular inoculation of cattle, Ad5 and transgene products were detected at the injection sites of all animals at all time-points examined (6, 24, and 48 hpi). Microscopically, injection sites were characterized by marked infiltrates of interstitium consisting of predominantly large mononuclear cells. Immunomicroscopy indicated these cells infrequently contained adenovirus and/or transgenic proteins and were phenotypically consistent with antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells). Vector DNA and mature mRNA transcripts were first detected at the draining and local lymph nodes as early as 6 hpi and systemically at 24 hpi. These results provide novel insights for understanding Ad5-mediated immunity against FMDV using novel techniques that will contribute to ongoing efforts for the improvement of future Ad-FMDV vaccine platforms.


Skeletal evidence for variable patterns of handedness in chimpanzees, human hunter-gatherers, and recent British populations.
Previous studies have shown a strong correspondence between long bone bilateral asymmetry and reported handedness. Here, we compare the pattern of asymmetry in mechanical properties of the humerus and second metacarpal of Pan troglodytes, recent British industrial and medieval populations, and a broad range of human hunter-gatherers, to test whether technological variation corresponds with lateralization in bone function. The results suggest that P. troglodytes are left-lateralized in the morphology of the humerus and right-lateralized in the second metacarpal, while all human populations are predominantly right-biased in the morphology of these bones. Among human populations, the second metacarpals of 63% of hunter-gatherers show right-hand bias, a frequency similar to that found among chimpanzees. In contrast, the medieval and recent British populations show over 80% right-lateralization in the second metacarpal. The proportion of individuals displaying right-directional asymmetry is less than the expected 90% among all human groups. The variation observed suggests that the human pattern of right-biased asymmetry developed in a mosaic manner throughout human history, perhaps in response to technological development.


Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in adhesive microcavities.
The homeostasis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC) in the bone marrow is regulated by a complex interplay of exogenous signals, including extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, cell-cell contacts, and cytokines. To investigate the influence of spatial restriction and adhesive interactions on HSC fate decisions, we prepared a set of fibronectin-coated micrometer-sized cavities. Analysis of human CD133+ HSCs isolated after culture on these surfaces revealed that proliferation and differentiation is decreased when HSCs are supported by substrates with small microcavities. Single cell analysis of adherent cells also revealed decreased DNA synthesis and higher levels of HSC marker expression inside the smaller cavities. Increasing the cytokine concentration highlighted the tight balance of adhesion related signals and soluble cues acting on HSC fate decisions. Our results suggest that confining human HSCs in ECM-coated microcavities is a possible method to maintain these cells in a quiescent and immature state, an important advantage for several HSC applications.


Physical and psychosocial factors associated with health-promoting behaviors among elderly Chinese with type-2 diabetes.
This study explored how physical and psychosocial factors influenced the practice of health-promoting behaviors among elderly Chinese patients with type-2 diabetes. Individual structured interviews were conducted with 191 elderly Chinese attending an outpatient clinic in Hong Kong. Results showed that demographic and illness characteristics were unrelated to health practices. Participants were more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors when they were physically well, valued their health, were confident of practicing the behaviors and viewed their illness as controllable by both doctors and themselves. The above factors exerted their respective main effects, instead of interaction effects, in predicting health practices.


The Role of School Connectedness in Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Youth: Recommendations for School Nurses.
The importance of students feeling connected in school cannot be overstated, as this perception is crucial to support their health and well-being. A lack of school connectedness can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including bully victimization. Numerous factors, including individual, social, and environmental, influence students' perceived sense of school connectedness. School nurses are well positioned to establish and maintain school connectedness due to their knowledge, accessibility to students, and familiarity with the school environment. This article details the importance of school connectedness and describes the associations between school connectedness, bullying, and mental health. In addition, we offer recommendations geared toward school nurses regarding strengthening school connectedness and promoting a culture of care and inclusivity within school environments, especially salient in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Developing pediatric three-dimensional upper airway normative values using fixed and interactive thresholds.
To develop and compare pediatric upper airway three-dimensional normative values using the two most commonly used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) software: Invivo5 (fixed threshold) and Dolphin 3D (interactive threshold). Out of 3738 CBCT scans, scans of 81 pediatric patients were utilized after applying strict exclusion criteria. The sample was grouped into two age groups (7-11 and 12-17 years). Intra-class correlation coefficient was used to test intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and showed coefficients greater than 0.9 indicating good reliability of the methods used. Paired t tests showed that volumetric and area measurements obtained using Dolphin 3D were significantly larger than those obtained using Invivo5 (p < 0.05). The mean minimal cross-sectional areas (MCSA) for Dolphin 3D were 151 mm2 and 177 mm2 for age groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean MCSA values for Invivo5 for age groups 1 and 2 were 120 mm2 and 145 mm2, respectively. Pediatric upper airway volumetric, area, and linear measurements were reported after applying strict exclusion criteria including a validated sleep questionnaire. Our goal is that clinicians utilize the proposed-here normative values for screening and assist in the timely diagnosis and management of pediatric sleep apnea.


Activity of LH receptor, LH-stimulated cyclic AMP and testosterone production in the Leydig cell of heat-acclimatized rats.
Key reactions associated with the capacity of the isolated Leydig cell to synthesize testosterone were studied in male rats acclimatized to a hot environment (33-35 degrees C, 25-40% relative humidity) and controls (20-22 degrees C, 30-50% relative humidity). The results demonstrate that acclimatization to heat coincides with: (1) a lower number of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) receptors (P less than 0.01) in the Leydig cell, (2) higher affinity of the Leydig cell for hCG (P less than 0.05), (3) lower hCG-stimulated cyclic AMP production (P less than 0.05) by the Leydig cell and (4) lower capacity of the Leydig cell to synthesize testosterone (P less than 0.01) after hCG challenge. It is suggested that the major cellular alteration responsible for the decreased testosterone secretion by the Leydig cell lies distal to the step involving the binding of the trophic hormone to its receptor and that heat-acclimatization induces changes in the integrity of the various cellular membranes leading to the impeded function of adenylate cyclase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase.


Basic fibroblast growth factor is a testicular germ cell product which may regulate Sertoli cell function.
Previously, a proteinacious factor secreted by a mixture of rat testicular spermatocytes and round spermatids was shown to stimulate transferrin mRNA and protein levels in Sertoli cells. To identify the germ cell-secreted proteins which affect Sertoli cell functions, concentrated germ cell-conditioned medium was fractionated by reverse-phase HPLC. The fraction which eluted at 35% acetonitrile increased transferrin secretion in Sertoli cell cultures 2.4-fold above the basal level. Both the active fraction and a protein extract from cultured germ cells were positive for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as determined by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. The apparent molecular sizes of the immunoreactive proteins were 30, 27, and 24 kilodaltons (kDa). By immunohistochemistry, bFGF was shown to be present in pachytene spermatocytes and Leydig cells. The bFGF receptor was also examined by immunohistochemistry and found to be present in Leydig cells, round and elongated spermatids, and Sertoli cells. The presence of receptors was more pronounced in stages I-VIII. Western blot analysis confirmed that the receptors were expressed in isolated round spermatids, elongated spermatids, and Sertoli cells. Two major receptor species with apparent molecular sizes of 120 and 145 kDa were detected in the rat testis. Germ cells contained both of these receptors, but Sertoli cells possessed only the 120-kDa receptor. From these experiments, it is evident that bFGF is a germ cell product which may regulate Sertoli cell function. The expression of bFGF and its receptor may be an important component of germ cell-Sertoli cell and/or germ cell-germ cell communication during spermatogenesis.


Functional asymmetry of medial olivocochlear system in humans. Towards a peripheral auditory lateralization.
The aim of this study was to investigate the human peripheral auditory system in either ear to allow comparison of right and left medial olivocochlear inhibition during contralateral ear stimulation with a broad band noise. The efferent system showed a statistically significant greater right-side activity among 44 young subjects. This laterality appeared to be related to the presence of spontaneous otoacoustic emission but not to gender. This efferent asymmetry and the parallel spontaneous otoacoustic emission asymmetry could explain the lateralization of auditory sensitivity, temporary threshold shift and tinnitus.


Inhibition of tumor cell ribonucleotide reductase by macrophage-derived nitric oxide.
Macrophage-derived nitric oxide (NO) is cytostatic to tumor cells and microbial pathogens. We tested whether one molecular target for the cytostatic action of NO may be ribonucleotide reductase (RR), a rate-limiting enzyme in DNA synthesis. In a concentration-dependent manner, NO gas and lysates of activated macrophages that generated comparable amounts of NO led to the same degree of inhibition of partially purified RR from L1210 mouse lymphoma cells. Lysates from nonactivated macrophages, which do not produce NO, were noninhibitory. With lysates from activated macrophages, RR was protected by omitting L-arginine or by adding the NO synthase inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium, N omega-methyl-L-arginine, or N omega-amino-L-arginine. L-Arginine, but not D-arginine, abolished the protective effect of N omega-amino-L-arginine. The prototypic pharmacologic inhibitor of RR is hydroxyurea. Its structural resemblance to N omega-hydroxy-L-arginine, a reaction intermediate of NO synthase, prompted us to test if hydroxyurea can generate NO. In the presence of H2O2 and CuSO4, hydroxyurea produced NO2-/NO3-, aerobic reaction products of NO. Addition of morpholine blocked NO2-/NO3- generation from hydroxyurea and led to formation of nitrosomorpholine, as detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Thus, hydroxyurea can produce an NO-like, nitrosating rectant. L1210 cell DNA synthesis was inhibited completely by activated macrophages or by hydroxyurea, and was partially restored to the same degree in both settings by providing deoxyribonucleosides to bypass the block in RR. Thus, both NO gas and NO generated by activated macrophage lysates inhibit tumor cell RR. The RR inhibitor hydroxyurea can also generate an NO-like species. Similar, partial restoration of tumor cell DNA synthesis by deoxyribonucleosides in the presence of activated macrophages or hydroxyurea suggests that cytostasis by activated macrophages and by hydroxyurea has comparable mechanisms, including, but probably not limited to, inhibition of RR.


Hyperglycemia in acute coronary syndromes: from mechanisms to prognostic implications.
Hyperglycemia is a frequent condition in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Hyperglycemia during ACS is caused by an inflammatory and adrenergic response to ischemic stress, when catecholamines are released and glycogenolysis induced. Although the involved pathophysiological mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated, it is believed that hyperglycemia is associated with an increase in free fat acids (which induce cardiac arrhythmias), insulin resistance, chemical inactivation of nitric oxide and the production of oxygen reactive species (with consequent microvascular and endothelial dysfunction), a prothrombotic state, and vascular inflammation. It is also related to myocardial metabolic disorders, leading to thrombosis, extension of the damaged area, reduced collateral circulation, and ischemic preconditioning. In the last few years, several observational studies demonstrated that hyperglycemia in ACS is a powerful predictor of survival, increasing the risk of immediate and long-term complications in patients both with and without previously known diabetes mellitus. Glucose management strategies in ACS may improve outcomes in patients with hyperglycemia, perhaps by reducing inflammatory and clotting mediators, by improving endothelial function and fibrinolysis and by reducing infarct size. Recent clinical trials of insulin in ACS have resulted in varying levels of benefit, but the clinical benefit of an aggressive treatment with insulin is yet unproved.


Adolescent drug use: findings of national and local surveys.
Adolescent drug use increased until about 1981, but since then it has steadily declined. Current data show some drug use in the 4th and 5th grades and considerable increases from the 6th to the 9th grades. For drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and stimulants, lifetime prevalence continues to increase through high school; for drugs such as inhalants and heroin, lifetime prevalence may decline for Grades 10, 11, and 12, suggesting that students who use these drugs early may drop out. Drug use of rural youth is similar to that of other youth. Barrio, ghetto, and Native-American reservation youth may have high rates of use, but use of Black and Hispanic seniors may be equivalent to or less than that of White seniors. National data and broadly defined ethnic data, however, may cover up important subgroup differences. For example, Western Mexican-American girls have lower use than Western Spanish-American girls, possibly because of the greater influence of "marianisma." Different locations may also have very different patterns of adolescent drug use, calling for different types of local intervention.


Heparanase wildtype is associated with a reduced incidence of transplant-associated systemic vasculopathies.
Some of the early complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) concerning the small vessels can be summarized as transplant-associated systemic vasculopathies (TASV). One enzyme known to play a major role in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and repair processes as well as tumor metastasis is heparanase (HPSE). HPSE genetic variants have recently been associated with significant influence on the risk of developing certain TASV such as a sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. This study aimed to validate the two known HPSE single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-rs4693608 and rs4364254-as a genetic predictor of TASV in a cohort of 494 patients and were correlated retrospectively with the clinical course post-HSCT. Significant association was revealed for rs4364254, showing that the incidence of TASV (38.0% vs. 57.8%, p = .009) and in particular of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) (36.3% vs. 54.0%, p = .0138) was lower in wildtype CC carriers than in TC/TT carriers. Moreover, compared with all other genotypes, the allelic combination GG-CC had the lowest incidence of TASV (34.9% vs. 57.4%, p = .0109) and aGvHD in particular (34.9% vs. 53.5%, p = .0315). A competing risk regression analysis confirmed a significantly reduced risk for a TASV in patients with GG (subhazard ratio [SHR] = 0.670, p = .043) and CC (SHR = 0.598, p = .041) compared with the corresponding homozygote SNP as well as for allelic combinations correlated with low HPSE gene expression (SHR = 0.630, p = .016) and in correlation with clinical risk factors. In summary, our study emphasizes an association of HPSE gene SNPs with TASV, in particular with aGvHD, which could be implementable as pre-transplant risk stratification if validated prospectively.


Mechanisms of inflammatory liver injury: adhesion molecules and cytotoxicity of neutrophils.
During recent years, increasing experimental evidence has suggested that hepatic nonparenchymal cells, in particular Kupffer cells and neutrophils, can contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of liver injury in various chemical toxicities. Neutrophils are central to the mechanism of injury after hepatic ischemia reperfusion and endotoxemia. In this symposium summary, an overview of critical aspects of neutrophil-dependent liver injury is presented. A general introduction to the involvement of adhesion molecules in neutrophil rolling and transendothelial migration is provided. Mediators and mechanisms of neutrophil sequestration in the liver vasculature, extravasation, and adherence-dependent cytotoxicity are discussed using the examples of endotoxin-induced hepatic failure and ischemia-reperfusion injury. These processes involve a complex network of inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and lipid-derived compounds. The role of neutrophil-derived cytotoxic mediators, e.g., reactive oxygen and proteases, in the molecular mechanisms of parenchymal cell injury is discussed. Furthermore, interactions between neutrophils and contractile, perisinusoidal, stellate cells that influence microvascular blood flow in the liver are discussed. Results of these and other investigations are leading to increased understanding of the complex interactions between neutrophils and tissues that result in injury.


Human factors based recommendations for the design of medication related clinical decision support systems (CDSS).
This study is part of a research project aiming at developing advanced functions of medication related CDSS to support the monitoring of patients' therapeutic treatments based mainly on corresponding lab values. We adopted a user-centred approach to the design of these advanced CDSS functions. We collected existing recommendations in the literature and completed previous Human Factors (HF) field studies and analyses by focused observations and modeling. We present resulting HF based recommendations for the design of such advanced medication CDSS and focus more specifically on two innovative high level recommendations completing those already existing in the literature. For illustration purposes, an example of the operationalization of one of the recommendation is presented.


DISTRIBUTION OF HBV GENOTYPES AMONG GEORGIAN PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major healthcare problems in Georgia with a prevalence of 2.9% in the adult population. There is no published data on HBV genotype distribution among different age groups in the country. The study aims to evaluate genotype distribution in Georgian HBV-infected patients among different age groups. Data was extracted from the clinical database of Mrcheveli medical center. Genotyping was performed using INNO-LiPA methodology. Statistical analysis was done using the statistical software SPSS 23.0. The total number of patients enrolled in the study was 84, of which 52 (62.1%) were males. Participants were mostly from Tbillisi (63.2%, N=53). Even though HBV genotype D was more predominant (found in 57.1% (N=48) of study participants), than genotype A (found in 42.9% (N=36) of the study population). Age was significantly associated with genotype distribution. The majority of the participants (58.3%, N=49) were 35 years old or younger. Genotype D was predominant in 71.4% of the study participants older than 35 years old, versus 46.9% of individuals 35 or younger with genotype D (p<0.001). Genotype A, among those <35 and >= 35 was presented in 53.1% and 28.6% of cases, respectively. Our data suggests that HBV genotype D is most prevalent among older Georgian patients chronically infected with hepatitis B. More than half of younger patients (35 years old or younger) have Genotype A.


A protocol for DNA fragment extraction from polyacrylamide gels.
A simple and efficient method of purifying linear plasmid DNA from contaminating DNA fragments is described. Both vector and insert containing plasmids may be used without extensive purification, in particular without cesium chloride centrifugation. Careful deproteinization with phenol-chloroform allows efficient restriction enzyme digestion. Fragment separation can be performed immediately after restriction endonuclease digestion in a single 6% polyacrylamide gel. Extraction of DNA fragments from the gel is easy and gives a good yield. The DNA may be used for ligation and transformation without further purification.


Low PD-1 Expression in Cytotoxic CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Confers an Immune-Privileged Tissue Microenvironment in NSCLC with a Prognostic and Predictive Value.
Purpose: The success of immune checkpoint inhibitors strengthens the notion that tumor growth and regression are immune regulated. To determine whether distinct tissue immune microenvironments differentially affect clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), an extended analysis of PD-L1 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) was performed.Experimental Design: Samples from resected adenocarcinoma (ADC 42), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC 58), and 26 advanced diseases (13 ADC and 13 SCC) treated with nivolumab were analyzed. PD-L1 expression and the incidence of CD3, CD8, CD4, PD-1, CD57, FOXP3, CD25, and Granzyme B TILs were immunohistochemically assessed.Results: PD-L1 levels inversely correlated with N involvement, although they did not show a statistically significant prognostic value in resected patients. The incidence and phenotype of TILs differed in SCC versus ADC, in which EGFR and KRAS mutations conditioned a different frequency and tissue localization of lymphocytes. NSCLC resected patients with high CD8pos lymphocytes lacking PD-1 inhibitory receptor had a longer overall survival (OS: HR = 2.268; 95% CI, 1.056-4.871, P = 0.03). PD-1-to-CD8 ratio resulted in a prognostic factor both on univariate (HR = 1.952; 95% CI, 1.34-3.12, P = 0.001) and multivariate (HR = 1.943; 95% CI, 1.38-2.86, P = 0.009) analysis. Moreover, low PD-1 incidence among CD8pos cells was a distinctive feature of nivolumab-treated patients, showing clinical benefit with a prolonged progression-free survival (PFS: HR = 4.51; 95% CI, 1.45-13.94, P = 0.004).Conclusions: In the presence of intrinsic variability in PD-L1 expression, the reservoir of PD-1-negative effector T lymphocytes provides an immune-privileged microenvironment with a positive impact on survival of patients with resected disease and response to immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC. Clin Cancer Res; 24(2); 407-19. ©2017 AACR.


Effect of niceritrol on lipid metabolism of aorta in atherosclerotic rats.
Atherosclerotic lesions were formed in the aorta of rats given a high cholesterol diet containing propylthiouracil (PTU) and vitamin D2 (atherogenic diet) for 8 weeks. The effects of niceritrol (pentaerythritol tetranicotinate), which lower the plasma lipid level, on lipid metabolism in the arterial wall of the atherosclerotic rats were studied. Niceritrol significantly decreased the plasma cholesterol level of atherosclerotic rats, which was 823 mg/100 ml, or about ten times that of control rats. On treatment with niceritrol, the cholesterol level was reduced most in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction (d less than 1.006). Heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase activity in epididymal adipose tissue, lipoprotein lipase activity in post-heparin plasma, and VLDL-triolein hydrolyzing activity in adipose tissue stromal vessels were all higher in niceritrol-treated atherosclerotic rats. Of the enzymes in the arterial wall concerned with cholesterol ester metabolism, acid cholesterol esterase activity was decreased in atherosclerotic rats, while niceritrol treatment increased this activity. The ratio of acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase activity (ACAT) to neutral cholesterol esterase activity was higher in atherosclerotic rats than in control rats, but was lower in niceritrol-treated rats than in atherosclerotic rats. From these results, it is concluded that niceritrol modifies enzyme activities in such a way as to reduce the cholesterol ester content of the arterial wall and lower plasma VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels.


Transition between social protection systems for workers with long term health problems: A controlled retrospective cohort study.
Many nations have established workers' compensation systems as a feature of their social protection system. These systems typically provide time-limited entitlements such as wage replacement benefits and funding for medical treatment. Entitlements may end for workers with long-term health conditions before they have returned to employment. We sought to determine the prevalence of transitions to alternative forms of social protection, specifically social security benefits, among injured workers with long-term disability, when workers' compensation benefits end. We linked Australian workers' compensation and social security data to examine receipt of social security payments one year before and after workers' compensation benefit cessation. Study groups included (1) injured workers whose workers' compensation benefits ceased due to reaching a 260-week limit introduced by legislative reform (N = 2761), (2) a control group of injured workers with at least 104 weeks workers compensation income support (N = 3890), and (3) a matched community control group (N = 10,114). Adjusted binary logistic regression examined the odds of transitions to social security in the injured worker groups relative to the community control group. Within 12 months of workers' compensation benefit cessation, 60% (N = 1669) of the exposed group received social security payments, of which 41% (N = 1120) received the unemployment allowance and 19% (N = 516) the disability pension. Among the work injured control group, 42% (N = 1676) received social security payments after workers compensation benefits ceased. Transitions to social security payments were significantly more common than community levels for both exposed (OR 25.0, 95%CI = 20.7, 30.1) and work injured control groups (OR 4.7, 95%CI = 4.2, 5.3). Many injured workers with long-term health problems transition to social security when their workers' compensation benefits cease. Transitions were more common among workers whose claims ended due to legislative reform which time-limited benefits. Design and implementation of system level policy reform should consider the social and economic impacts of transitions between separate social protection systems.


Correlation of serum anti-Müllerian hormone with accelerated follicle loss following 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced follicle loss in mice.
A chemically induced model of ovarian failure has been developed in rodents, and was used to test whether or not anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can be used as a non-invasive measure of primordial follicle numbers. Repeated exposures of mice to 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) induce loss of primordial and earliest growing ovarian follicles. An accelerated exposure regimen was used to eliminate small ovarian follicles in C57BL6/J mice (240mg VCD/kg/day, 5 days, i.p.). Follicle populations were determined and correlated with circulating AMH levels. Exposures decreased only primordial and small primary follicles by 96% on day 16 after initiating exposures, followed by almost complete follicle elimination on days 37-100. AMH levels in VCD-exposed mice were similar to vehicle-treated mice on day 16, but became significantly lower or undetectable at later time points. Thus, AMH correlated well with growing follicle numbers. AMH only correlated with primordial follicles at time points after ovarian insult at which their loss led to decreased growing follicle numbers.


Longitudinal stability of the diurnal rhythm of intraocular pressure in subjects with healthy eyes, ocular hypertension and pigment dispersion syndrome.
The diurnal fluctuation of intraocular pressure may be relevant in glaucoma. The aim of this study was to find out whether the timing of diurnal fluctuation is stable over the years. Long-term IOP data from the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry, consisting of several annual extended diurnal IOP profiles for each patient, was retrospectively analyzed. Normal subjects, patients with ocular hypertension and with pigment dispersion syndrome were included because these subjects had not been treated with antiglaucomatous medications at the time of data acquisition. A cosine curve was fitted to the IOP data and the stability of individual rhythms over the years was tested using the Rayleigh test. To compare the peak times among groups, means were calculated only from subjects with a significant Rayleigh test. Of the fifty-two eligible subjects, a total of 364 extended diurnal IOP profiles measured in a sitting position had been collected over a period of 114 ± 39 months. The Rayleigh test indicated intraindividual stability of phase timing only in 19 subjects (36%). In subjects with pigment dispersions syndrome, peak IOP occurred on average two hours and seven minutes later during the day compared with subjects without this condition (p = 0.05). Fitting of cosine curves to the clinical IOP profiles was generally feasible, although careful interpretation is warranted due to lack of measurements in supine position and between midnight and 7 am. The interesting observation of a phase lag in eyes with pigment dispersion syndrome warrants confirmation and exploration in future prospective studies. The analysis of the IOP data showed no stable individual rhythm in the long term in a majority of patients.


Self-organized hierarchical structures in polymer surfaces: self-assembled nanostructures within breath figures.
Herein we report the preparation of hierarchically micro- and nanostructured polymer surfaces in block copolymer/homopolymer blends. The structural order at different length scales was obtained combining two methodologies, e.g., the breath figures method to produce porous microstructures ("top-down" approach) with block copolymer self-assembly to induce microphase separation at the nanometer length scale ("bottom-up" approach). The interplay of the breath figure formation during the spin-coating and self-assembly of the triblock copolymer allowed the preparation of polymer surfaces having micrometer-sized cavities decorated with nanostructured block copolymers. The system described herein possesses unique characteristics. First, the surface chemical composition can be varied by a surface rearrangement upon annealing either to dry or humid air. Moreover, surface rearrangement is accompanied with structural changes, i.e. both topography and nanostructuration can be reversibly modified upon annealing. In terms of topograghy, a transition between holes and hills was obtained upon soft annealing to water vapor and can be recovered upon annealing to dry air. Finally, the pore nanostructure can be modulated from a micellar array to a lamellar phase when the film is exposed either to air or to tetrahydrofuran vapor.


Organic agriculture and field edges uphold endospheric wheat microbiota at field and landscape scale.
Agricultural intensification has been demonstrated to induce a loss of biodiversity. Despite the key role of symbiotic microorganisms in plant nutrition and protection, the impact of agricultural intensification on these microorganisms is not fully understood. Organic farming and field edges (as semi-natural elements) may promote a higher microbial diversity thanks to lower anthropic disturbance and higher plant diversity. We sampled wheat individuals in pairs of wheat fields (one organic and one conventional) along a distance gradient to the edges (hedgerow vs. grassy), in 20 landscape windows selected along an uncorrelated gradient of organic farming and hedgerow density. We demonstrated that organic farming shaped microbial composition and increased fungal and bacterial richness, while hedgerows had a neutral or negative effect on richness depending on the microbial phyla considered. In contrast to bacteria, fungal communities were heterogeneously distributed within fields, having a higher diversity for some phyla close to field edges. Overall we highlighted that fungi responded more to the field scale while bacteria were more affected by landscape scale. The effect of agricultural intensification on plant microbiota and therefore on the functions provided by microorganisms to the plants has to be considered at a multiple spatial scale-from field to landscape.


Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the proliferation-associated protein Ebp1.
ErbB-3-binding protein 1 (Ebp1) is a member of the family of proliferation-associated 2G4 proteins (PA2G4s) and plays a role in cellular growth and differentiation. Ligand-induced activation of the transmembrane receptor ErbB3 leads to dissociation of Ebp1 from the receptor in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The non-associated protein is involved in transcriptional and translational regulation in the cell. Here, the overexpression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of Ebp1 from Homo sapiens are reported. Initially observed crystals were improved by serial seeding to single crystals suitable for data collection. The optimized crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 and diffracted to a resolution of 1.6 A.


Intravascular ultrasound in the management of acute coronary artery dissection: a case report.
Crossing total occlusions is frequently difficult. The guidewire may enter a false lumen, thereby preventing successful balloon dilatations. We present a case of an acute arterial dissection following attempted angioplasty of a totally occluded right coronary artery. With an intravascular ultrasound probe in the false lumen, we were able to visualize a second guidewire and direct its passage into the true arterial lumen. This allowed for successful balloon dilatation and stent deployment restoring vessel patency.


JACLS ALL-02 SR protocol reduced-intensity chemotherapy produces excellent outcomes in patients with low-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. As overall cure rates of childhood ALL have improved, reduction of overall treatment intensity while still ensuring excellent outcomes is imperative for low-risk patients. We report the outcomes of patients treated following the standard-risk protocol from the prospective Japan Association of Childhood Leukemia Study (JACLS) ALL-02 study, which was conducted between 2002 and 2008 for patients with newly diagnosed ALL aged 1-18 years. Of 1138 patients with B-cell precursor ALL, 388 (34.1%) were allocated to this protocol. Excellent outcomes were achieved despite the overall treatment intensity being lower than that of most contemporary protocols: 4 years event-free survival (EFS) was 92.3% and 4 years overall survival 98.2%. Patients with high hyperdiploidy (HHD) involving triple trisomy (trisomy of chromosomes 4, 10, and 17) or ETV6-RUNX1 had even better outcomes (4 years EFS 97.6% and 100%, respectively). Unique characteristics of this protocol include a selection of low-risk patients with a low initial WBC count and good early treatment response and reduction of cumulative doses of chemotherapeutic agents while maintaining dose density. In Japan, we are currently investigating the feasibility of this protocol while incorporating minimal residual disease into the patient stratification strategy.


Distinctive abnormalities of facial reflexes in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy.
Spontaneous and voluntary eyelid motility is often abnormal in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. In contrast, their eyelid reflex responses are relatively preserved, and only those generated by an acoustic startle have been found absent or severely reduced. We hypothesized that, because of their relevant brainstem pathology, patients with progressive supranuclear palsy might have other brainstem reflex abnormalities which, on detection, could help with their neurophysiological characterization. In this study, we examined facial reflex responses in 14 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, 12 patients with multisystem atrophy, 10 patients with Parkinson's disease, six patients with corticobasal ganglionic degeneration, 11 patients with various non-parkinsonian neurological illnesses and 10 normal subjects. EMG activity was simultaneously recorded from the orbicularis oculi and mentalis muscles following electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist. Mentalis responses were obtained in two normal subjects and in all patients except one with Parkinson's disease, one with progressive supranuclear palsy and one with corticobasal ganglionic degeneration; there were no differences between groups of subjects regarding latency or peak amplitude. Orbicularis oculi responses were always present in control subjects and patients who exhibited mentalis responses, with the significant exception of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, in whom only the response of mentalis was obtained. Blink-reflex responses to supraorbital nerve electrical stimuli were present at a normal latency and amplitude in all patients. An abnormally enhanced blink-reflex excitability recovery curve to paired stimuli was found in a similar percentage of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, multisystem atrophy and Parkinson's disease, but in only two patients with corticobasal ganglionic degeneration. Patients with progressive supranuclear palsy have a functional involvement of circuits mediating orbicularis oculi responses to median nerve electrical stimuli, that is a distinctive feature with respect to other parkinsonian syndromes.


Biological and Cheminformatics Studies of Newly Designed Triazole Based Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors against Mushroom Tyrosinase.
A series of nine novel 1,2,4-triazole based compounds were synthesized through a multistep reaction pathway and their structures were scrutinized by using spectral methods such as FTIR, LC-MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. The synthesized derivatives were screened for inhibitory activity against the mushroom tyrosinase and we found that all the synthesized compounds demonstrated decent inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. However, among the series of compounds, N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(5-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio) acetamide exhibited more prominent activity when accompanied with the standard drug kojic acid. Furthermore, the molecular docking studies identified the interaction profile of all synthesized derivatives at the active site of tyrosinase. Based on these results, N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(5-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio) acetamide could be used as a novel scaffold to design some new drugs against melanogenesis.


Endometriosis in rhesus monkeys.
Endometriosis was present in five out of six Rhesus monkeys who had to be sacrificed because of disease in a colony of 90. The monkeys lost appetite and became constipated. The abdomen was distended and often a pelvic mass could be palpated. At autopsy, 300-500 ml of blood-stained fluid was found in the abdomen together with intestinal or pelvic endometriosis. The ethiology of endometriosis in Rhesus monkeys is unknown. The most probable explanation is intraabdominal implantation of endometrial tissue through retrograde menstruation. The lesion is rare in animals in free ranging colonies. It is not known whether this is due to a higher frequency of pregnancies in animals with free access to matings or to its consequences, i.e. more infrequent menstruations.


An update on the genetics of atopic dermatitis: scratching the surface in 2009.
A genetic basis for atopic dermatitis (AD) has long been recognized. Historic documents allude to family history of disease as a risk factor. Before characterization of the human genome, heritability studies combined with family-based linkage studies supported the definition of AD as a complex trait in that interactions between genes and environmental factors and the interplay between multiple genes contribute to disease manifestation. A summary of more than 100 published reports on genetic association studies through mid-2009 implicates 81 genes, in 46 of which at least 1 positive association with AD has been demonstrated. Of these, the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG) has been most consistently replicated. Most candidate gene studies to date have focused on adaptive and innate immune response genes, but there is increasing interest in skin barrier dysfunction genes. This review examines the methods that have been used to identify susceptibility genes for AD and how the underlying pathology of this disease has been used to select candidate genes. Current challenges and the potential effect of new technologies are discussed.


Stability and removal of spironolactone from wastewater.
Stability and removal of spironolactone (SP) from wastewater produced at Al-Quds University Campus were investigated. Kinetic studies on both pure water and wastewater coming from secondary treatment (activated sludge) demonstrated that the potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill), spironolactone, underwent degradation to its hydrolytic derivative, canrenone, in both media. The first-order hydrolysis rate of SP in activated sludge at 25°C (3.80 × 10(-5) s(-1)) was about 49-fold larger than in pure water (7.4 × 10(-7) s(-1)). The overall performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed in the University Campus was assessed showing that more than 90% of spiked SP was removed together with its newly identified metabolites. In order to look for a technology to supplement or replace ultra-filtration membranes, the effectiveness of adsorption and filtration by micelle-clay filters for removing SP was tested in comparison with activated charcoal. Batch adsorption in aqueous suspensions was well described by Langmuir isotherms, showing a better removal by the micelle-clay material. Filtration of SP water solutions by columns filled with a mixture of sand and a micelle-clay complex showed complete removal of the drug at concentrations higher than in sand/activated-charcoal filled filters.


Chlorozotocin (DCNU)--induced pulmonary toxicity.
A case of pulmonary toxicity after chlorozotocin (DCNU) is described. This patient developed shortness of breath, nonproductive cough, and interstitial infiltrates after his third dose of DCNU. This was documented on pulmonary function tests which showed a reduction in vital capacity and pulmonary diffusion capacity. Similar findings have been reported in restrictive pulmonary disease associated with other nitrosoureas. This is the first case reported of pulmonary toxicity induced by DCNU.


Neural Connectivity Changes Facilitated by Familiar Auditory Sensory Training in Disordered Consciousness: A TBI Pilot Study.
For people with disordered consciousness (DoC) after traumatic brain injury (TBI), relationships between treatment-induced changes in neural connectivity and neurobehavioral recovery have not been explored. To begin building a body of evidence regarding the unique contributions of treatments to changes in neural network connectivity relative to neurobehavioral recovery, we conducted a pilot study to identify relationships meriting additional examination in future research. To address this objective, we examined previously unpublished neural connectivity data derived from a randomized clinical trial (RCT). We leveraged these data because treatment efficacy, in the RCT, was based on a comparison of a placebo control with a specific intervention, the familiar auditory sensory training (FAST) intervention, consisting of autobiographical auditory-linguistic stimuli. We selected a subgroup of RCT participants with high-quality imaging data (FAST n = 4 and placebo n = 4) to examine treatment-related changes in brain network connectivity and how and if these changes relate to neurobehavioral recovery. To discover promising relationships among the FAST intervention, changes in neural connectivity, and neurobehavioral recovery, we examined 26 brain regions and 19 white matter tracts associated with default mode, salience, attention, and language networks, as well as three neurobehavioral measures. Of the relationships discovered, the systematic filtering process yielded evidence supporting further investigation of the relationship among the FAST intervention, connectivity of the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and auditory-language skills. Evidence also suggests that future mechanistic research should focus on examining the possibility that the FAST supports connectivity changes by facilitating redistribution of brain resources. For a patient population with limited treatment options, the reported findings suggest that a simple, yet targeted, passive sensory stimulation treatment may have altered functional and structural connectivity. If replicated in future research, then these findings provide the foundation for characterizing the unique contributions of the FAST intervention and could inform development of new treatment strategies. For persons with severely damaged brain networks, this report represents a first step toward advancing understanding of the unique contributions of treatments to changing brain network connectivity and how these changes relate to neurobehavioral recovery for persons with DoC after TBI. Clinical Trial Registry: NCT00557076, The Efficacy of Familiar Voice Stimulation During Coma Recovery (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).


Analysis on the Influence of Table Tennis Elective Course on College Students' Health.
College physical education elective course is the last physical education course for college students. It also plays an irreplaceable positive role in the formation of College Students' lifelong physical education. Table tennis, as China's national ball, is of great significance to enhance the physique of elective courses. As an elective course of college physical education, table tennis is widely loved by college students. It is a very popular course in college physical education elective courses. This paper discusses the influence of table tennis on health. This paper puts forward the reform scheme of teaching plan design of table tennis elective course in colleges and universities, which has a certain reference value for the development of College Physical Education in China.


Ginger facilitates cell migration and heat tolerance in mouse fibroblast cells.
The components of ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) are widely used for various medicinal purposes. Several bioactive compounds have been identified in ginger, including 6‑, 8‑ and 10‑gingerols, and 6‑shogaol, which are agonists of the thermo‑sensors transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel subfamily V member 1 and TRP ankyrin 1. Our previous study demonstrated that ginger powder may affect human metabolism in vivo. However, the effects of the bioactive compounds of ginger on cells have not been completely elucidated. The present study investigated whether ginger powder extracts could modify cell functions in mouse fibroblast cells. The active components of ginger powder extracts were characterized using high‑performance liquid chromatography. The activation of protein kinases, actin assembly, cell migration, expression levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and cell viability after heat shock were analyzed in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Subsequently, 6‑, 8‑, 10‑ and 12‑gingerols, as well as 6‑, 8‑ and 10‑shogaols, were detected in ginger powder extracts. The levels of phosphorylated Akt, mTOR, ERK and p38 MAPK increased after a 10‑min stimulation with ginger powder extracts. In addition, HSP expression levels, lamellipodia formation occurring at cell edges, cell migration and tolerance against heat shock were facilitated following ginger powder extract stimulation. These results suggest that ginger modified cell functions, including actin assembly and heat tolerance, in vitro.


Immunolocalization of proteins specific for adhaerens junctions in human gingival epithelial cells grown on differently processed titanium surfaces.
The localization of desmoplakins 1 and 2 (DP 1&2), components of desmosomes, vinculin, and actin, was studied in gingival epithelial cells grown on cell culture glass and on titanium plates with various surface topography. The results showed that epithelial cells attached and spread more readily on smooth than on rough, sandblasted titanium surfaces. Moreover, the cells appeared to develop more granular DP 1&2 immunoreactivity at their ventral surfaces when grown on smooth or etched titanium as compared to glass. In cells grown on sandblasted titanium surfaces, DP 1&2-specific immunoreactivity was primarily located at cell-cell contacts. Cells grown on smooth titanium surfaces harbored a fine network of actin filaments with apparent cell-to-cell organization. Vinculin was confined to cell-cell contact areas. No vinculin-containing focal adhesions could be detected, suggesting that the cells adhere either by means of close contacts, extracellular matrix contacts, or by means of hemidesmosomes. The findings suggest that smooth of finely grooved titanium surfaces could be optimal in maintaining the adhesion and specialized phenotype of gingival epithelial cells.


Functions of Wnt signaling pathway in hair cell differentiation and regeneration.
Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Through their bindings with the Frizzled receptors, the Wnt ligands regulate a wide range of developmental processes, such as axis patterning, cell division, and cell fate specification. Wnt signaling plays vital roles in the development of inner ear of the mouse. In the early stages of inner ear development, Wnt signaling specifies the size of the placode and the formation of the otic vesicle. In later stages, Wnt signaling mediates hair cell specification and orients the stereociliary bundles in a uniform direction. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the roles of Wnt signaling in hair cell differentiation and regeneration, which may provide references and insights for investigators in the field.


Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term outcome and prognostic factors.
To investigate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the prognostic factors for post-RFA survival rate. From 1999 to 2006, 266 patients with 392 HCCs underwent ultrasound guided RFA treatment. They were 216 males and 50 females, average age 59.4+/-15.4 years (24-87 years). The HCC were 1.2-6.7 cm in diameters (average 3.9+1.3 cm). There were 158 patients with single tumor, and the rest had multiple (2-5) tumors. Univariate and multivariate analysis with 19 potential variables were examined to identify prognostic factors for post-RFA survival rate. The overall post-RFA survival rates at 1st, 3rd, and 5th year were 82.9%, 57.9% and 42.9%, respectively. In the 60 patients with stage I HCC (AJCC staging), the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate were 94.8%, 76.4% and 71.6%, significantly higher than the 148 patients with stage II-IV tumors (81.8%, 57.6% and 41.2%, P=0.006). For the 58 patients with post-surgery recurrent HCC, the survival rates were 73.2%, 41.9% and 38.2% at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th year, which were significantly lower than those of stage I HCC (P=0.005). Nine potential factors were found with significant effects on survival rate, and they were number of tumors, location of tumors, pre-RFA liver function enzymes, Child-Pugh classification, AJCC staging, primary or recurrent HCC, tumor pathological grading, using mathematical protocol in RFA procedure and tumor necrosis 1 month after RFA. After multivariate analysis, three factors were identified as independent prognostic factors for survival rate, and they were Child-Pugh classification, AJCC staging and using mathematical protocol. Identifying prognostic factors provides important information for HCC patient management before, during and after RFA. This long-term follow-up study on a large group of HCC patients confirmed that RFA could not only achieve favorable outcome on stage I HCC, but also be an effective therapy for stage II-IV or recurrent HCC.


Regulation of testicular anti-M ullerian hormone secretion.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein secreted by Sertoli cells from the time of testicular differentiation and is responsible for the regression of Müllerian ducts in the male fetus. The chronology of AMH expression is very important because Müllerian ducts lose their responsiveness a few days after AMH secretion begins, which suggests that the AMH gene is under precise transcriptional control. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is the only transcriptional regulator with demonstrated action on AMH expression. Although necessary for AMH expression, SF-1 alone is not sufficient to induce AMH transcription. SRY expression is turned on in Sertoli cells just before AMH expression is initiated, but the effective implication of SRY in AMH regulation remains unclear. During puberty, AMH expression is regulated negatively by androgens and declines dramatically in seminiferous tubules with meiotic development. Low serum AMH levels are observed in both central and gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, which suggests that gonadotropins do not down-regulate AMH at puberty. Serum AMH returns to normal infantile values 3-6 months after treatment. The absence of androgen response elements on the AMH promoter and the slow response to androgen withdrawal suggest that androgen regulation of AMH secretion is indirect. In patients with defects of androgen production or action, serum AMH reaches abnormally high levels in the neonatal and pubertal periods, which suggests a possible stimulatory role for gonadotropins that could be observed only in the absence of suppressive effects of androgens.


Illusions of competence for phonetically, orthographically, and semantically similar word pairs.
Illusions of competence are thought to arise when judgements of learning (JOLs) made in the presence of intact cue-target pairs during study create a "foresight bias," such that JOLs are inflated by the apparent association between a cue and a target, despite the lack of benefit this association has for recall performance. For example, Castel, McCabe, and Roediger (2007) recently demonstrated an illusion of competence for identical word pairs (mouse-mouse). In two experiments, the authors examined possible sources for this over confidence, including phonetic, semantic, and orthographic similarity. An illusion of competence was found for homophones, synonyms, orthographically similar, and unrelated items, whereas no illusion of competence was found for word pairs with a relatively high forward-semantic association. Self-paced study times indicated that encoding fluency was not closely associated with the magnitude of over confidence. Error data revealed participants may have been engaging in strategic responding in order to maximise correct recall. Our results underscore the importance of considering factors that influence both JOLs and recall performance when considering sources of (mis)calibration in absolute accuracy.


Vertebral and Intraspinal Anomalies in Indian Population with Congenital Scoliosis: A Study of 119 Consecutive Patients.
Retrospective case study by clinical and radiological data analysis. To analyze different types of vertebral anomalies and the incidence of associated intraspinal anomalies in the Indian population. This is the largest study of congenital scoliosis and associated intraspinal anomalies in Indian population. Incidence of intraspinal anomaly in this series is 47% which is higher than previous literature. Hemivertebra was the most common anomaly as seen in previous studies. A total of 119 patients with congenital scoliosis who underwent surgery between December 2006 and December 2012 were studied. Data was reviewed with medical records, plain radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Thoracolumbar curve was most common, seen in 43.6% of patients. In addition to scoliotic deformity, kyphosis was seen in 26% of patients. Failure of formation, the most common vertebral anomaly, was seen in 51.2% of patients, failure of segmentation was seen in 19.3% of patients, and there were 29.4% patients having both formation and segmentation anomalies. Hemivertebra was the most common vertebral anomaly seen in 66.3% of patients and for whom 63.2% were in thoracic spine. Intraspinal anomalies were associated with 47% of patients with congenital scoliosis. Tethered cord was the most common intraspinal abnormality and was found in 48.2% patients with intraspinal anomalies. The patients with failure of segmentation and mixed deformities were found to have a significantly higher incidence of intraspinal anomalies (65% and 57%, respectively) than those with failure of formation (34%). Out of 31 patients with kyphotic deformity 29% had intraspinal anomalies, and amongst them tethered cord was the most common anomaly seen in 66% patients. Out of 12 patients with neurocutaneous markers, 83% patients had intraspinal anomaly. Intraspinal anomalies were seen in 47% of patients with congenital scoliosis in the Indian population. Tethered cord was the most common intraspinal anomaly, seen in 48% cases of congenital scoliosis. Hemivertebra was seen in 66% cases and was the most common vertebral defect. Hence MRI imaging of whole spine should be done in all cases of congenital scoliosis before any surgical intervention. Special attention should be given to physical examination and visualization of any neurocutaneous markers, which are associated with a higher incidence of intraspinal anomalies; absence of a neurocutaneous marker, however, does not rule out intraspinal anomaly.


Fecal Microbiota Comparison Between Healthy Teaching Horses and Client-Owned Horses.
The objective of this study was to compare the fecal microbiota of two healthy teaching horse herds with that of client-owned horses from the same geographic areas. The fecal microbiota of client-owned horses from Ontario Canada (n = 15) and Florida, USA (n = 11) was compared with that teaching horses from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada (n = 10) and the University of Florida, Florida, USA (n = 15). The fecal microbiota was characterized by sequencing of bacterial DNA using the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The diversity (inverse Simpson index) of the fecal microbiota was significantly higher in teaching than client owned horses from the same geographical area (P < .05). The community membership (Jaccard Index) and structure (Yue and Clayton index) of teaching horses was also significantly different from that of client owned horses from the same geographical area (AMOVA P < .001). The bacterial membership and structure of the fecal microbiota of Ontario and Florida teaching horses were significantly different, while the bacterial membership, but not the structure of Ontario and Florida client owned horses was significantly different (AMOVA P < .001). In all four groups of healthy horses, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidales, Clostridiales, and Treponema were detected in high relative abundance. The fecal microbiota of healthy horses from teaching herds kept in the same environment with identical management practices differs significantly from that of horses housed in different facilities with dissimilar management practices. Our results suggest an effect of the environment and management practices on the gastrointestinal microbiota. Researchers should attempt to include healthy horses from the same farm with similar management as control groups when comparing with diseased horses.


Investigating the hydrate conversion propensity of different etoricoxib lots.
The physical stability of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is of significant scientific and regulatory concern. Carrying out physical stability testing on lots with varying rates of hydrate conversion can potentially lead to erroneous conclusions if these rate differences remain unknown and unstudied. The lot dependency of etoricoxib's rate of hemihydrate conversion was investigated and a quick discriminatory technique was developed to qualitatively assess relatively slow to rapidly converting lots. This novel technique was also used to screen potential parameters affecting the hydrate conversion rate such as particle size/surface area, amorphous content, and initial hemihydrate content. Based on qualitative X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and quantitative Raman data, significant effects on the rate of hydration were observed with the addition of small amounts of amorphous etoricoxib. Furthermore, it was found that the presence of hemihydrate also increased the rate of conversion by seeding anhydrous etoricoxib. This suggests that the initial presence of the hydrate form can cooperatively accelerate conversion. A better understanding of the factors affecting hydrate conversion rates resulted in the appropriate selection of storage conditions for both the bulk API and the formulated product.


Challenges in classification of gluteal cleft and buttocks wounds: consensus session reports.
The damaging effects of moisture, pressure, friction, and shear on human tissue are well-known among wound care experts. Nevertheless, accurate classification of these lesions is frequently challenging, even for experienced wound clinicians. The authors gathered clinical illustrations of gluteal cleft wounds and conducted a literature search as a basis for presentation to conference attendees, with the goal of gaining consensus regarding guidelines for accurate classification of these wounds. The aim of this article was to summarize results of the consensus sessions that occurred at the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses' Society National conferences in 2011 and 2012, and to highlight areas where consensus has been achieved as well as areas in which consensus has not yet been reached.


Composite electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors.
Manganese dioxide nanofibers with length ranged from 0.1 to 1 μm and a diameter of about 4-6 nm were prepared by a chemical precipitation method. Composite electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors were fabricated by impregnation of the manganese dioxide nanofibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into porous Ni plaque current collectors. Obtained composite electrodes, containing 85% of manganese dioxide and 15 mass% of MWCNT, as a conductive additive, with total mass loading of 7-15 mg cm-2, showed a capacitive behavior in 0.5-M Na2SO4 solutions. The decrease in stirring time during precipitation of the nanofibers resulted in reduced agglomeration and higher specific capacitance (SC). The highest SC of 185 F g-1 was obtained at a scan rate of 2 mV s-1 for mass loading of 7 mg cm-2. The SC decreased with increasing scan rate and increasing electrode mass.


Your path to research.
Undertaking robust research and basing practice on the best available evidence is everyone's responsibility. But career pathways that combine research, clinical practice and teaching are limited, and nurses often have to choose between working primarily in a clinical or an academic setting.


Investigation of the relationship between classical and nonclassical ultrasound nonlinearity parameters and microstructural mechanisms in metals.
This research studies two nonlinear ultrasound techniques: second harmonic generation and nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, and the relationship to microstructural mechanisms in metals. The results show that there is a large change in both the classical, β, and nonclassical, α, ultrasound nonlinearity parameters in response to three specific microstructural mechanisms: precipitate growth in and along the grain boundaries, dislocations, and precipitate pinned dislocations. For example, both β and α increase with the growth of the precipitate radii (precipitate-pinned-dislocations). Additionally, both β and α increase when there is a growth of precipitates in and along the grain boundaries. As expected, β and α decrease when there is a removal of dislocations in the material. The relationship between β and α, and the microstructural mechanisms studied provide a quantitative understanding of the relationship between measured nonlinearity parameters and microstructural changes in metals, helping to demonstrate the possibility of using these two independent, but complementary, nonlinear ultrasound procedures to monitor microstructural damage.