Falls in Older Adults With Cancer: Evaluation by Oncology Providers.
Falls in older adults are common. Screening for falls is quick, simple, and important because falls increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in older patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate oncology providers' recognition of and response to falls in older patients with cancer. From a sample of older patients with cancer who completed a geriatric assessment blinded to oncology providers, we identified patients who self-reported falls within the past 6 months. Their history and physical and/or clinic notes completed by an oncology provider were reviewed for the following: documentation of falls, gait assessment, referral to geriatrics or physical and/or occupational therapy, and measurement of 25-hydroxy vitamin D level. In our sample of older patients with cancer who reported at least one recent fall (N = 125), the average age was 72 years (range, 65 to 93 years), 78% were female, and 62% had a breast cancer diagnosis. Chart reviews showed that 13 (10%) had falls documented, 25 (20%) had a gait assessment, eight (6%) were referred, and 21 (17%) had vitamin D level measured. We found that only 10% of older patients with cancer who self-reported a recent fall had appropriate medical record documentation. Oncologists are often the primary care providers for older patients and are largely unfamiliar with the frequency and impact of falls in this population. There is a need to increase awareness of falls prevalence and consequences among oncology providers in order to provide timely interventions to reduce the risks associated with falls.


Mode of action of human urinary colony-stimulating factor.
Human urinary colony-stimulating factor (CSF-HU) has been highly purified using procedures containing DEAE cellulose, phenyl Sepharose CL-4B, Sephadex G-200, hydroxylapatite, and high performance liquid chromatography. The final preparation had a specific activity of 3.3 X 10(7) U/mg protein. Although the purified CSF-HU was not active on human monocyte-depleted bone marrow cells, it stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes obtained from five healthy volunteers to produce human active granulocytic colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which stimulated human monocyte-depleted bone marrow cells to form granulocytic colonies. The human G-CSF-producing activity of CSF-HU was not neutralized by polymyxin B, which is known to inhibit the effect of endotoxin. Newly produced G-CSF had an approximate molecular weight of 24,000 daltons as judged by chromatography on Sephadex G-150. These results indicate that CSF-HU stimulates human monocytes to produce human G-CSF in vitro.


Proton block of proton-activated TRPV1 current.
The TRPV1 cation channel is a polymodal nociceptor that is activated by heat and ligands such as capsaicin and is highly sensitive to changes in extracellular pH. In the body core, where temperature is usually stable and capsaicin is normally absent, H(+) released in response to ischemia, tissue injury, or inflammation is the best-known endogenous TRPV1 agonist, activating the channel to mediate pain and vasodilation. Paradoxically, removal of H(+) elicits a transient increase in TRPV1 current that is much larger than the initial H(+)-activated current. We found that this prominent OFF response is caused by rapid recovery from H(+) inhibition of the excitatory current carried by H(+)-activated TRPV1 channels. H(+) inhibited current by interfering with ion permeation. The degree of inhibition is voltage and permeant ion dependent, and it can be affected but not eliminated by mutations to acidic residues within or near the ion selectivity filter. The opposing H(+)-mediated gating and permeation effects produce complex current responses under different cellular conditions that are expected to greatly affect the response of nociceptive neurons and other TRPV1-expressing cells.


cDNA cloning and chromosomal mapping of a novel human GAP (GAP1M), a GTPase-activating protein of Ras.
We have previously isolated a novel Ras GTPase-activating protein (Ras GAP), Gap1m, from rat brain. Gap1m is considered to be a negative regulator of the Ras signaling pathways, like other Ras GAPs, neurofibromin, which is a gene product of the neurofibromatosis type I gene, and p120GAP. In this study we have isolated a human cDNA of this Gap and mapped the gene. The gene encodes a protein of 853 amino acids that shows 89% sequence identity to rat Gap1m. The human gene was mapped to chromosome 3 by PCR analysis on a panel of human-mouse hybrid cells. FISH analysis refined the location of the gene further to 3q22-q23.


The long-term cost of multiple sclerosis in France and potential changes with disease-modifying interventions.
To evaluate the long-term costs and quality of life (QoL) with and without disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Data on resource consumption, productivity losses, QoL (utility), and fatigue were collected from 1355 patients registered with a patient association and descriptive analyses was performed.A Markov model was developed to estimate costs and utility over 20 years using the survey data. Disease progression without DMTs was taken from an epidemiological cohort in France (EDMUS cohort, LYON). Progression under DMTs was estimated from the Stockholm MS registry. Results are presented as cost per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), from the societal perspective, in EUR2007, discounted at 3%. Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 4.4 and mean total annual costs per patient were EUR44,400, of which 47% were productivity losses and 11% informal care. Public payers cover an estimated 48% of costs. Mean utility was 0.52, and the loss compared with the normal population was estimated at 0.28. Costs and utility ranged from EUR16,000 and 0.79 at EDSS 1 to EUR76,000 and 0.11 at EDSS 8-9.Over 20 years, costs were estimated at EUR429,000 and QALYs at 8.96 for patients without DMTs and at EUR433,207 and 9.24 QALYs if all patients were starting treated with DMTs at EDSS 1-3. Although the data for this analysis come from different sources, the results indicate that the cost increase with DMTs is moderate.


[Insemination: history and state of the art in animals].
Insemination has been used since 1950 in the bovine and since the seventies in other domestic species. The use of insemination varies between the different species in terms of activity and method. The methods depend on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of each species, which lead to different sites of semen deposition and different minimal numbers of inseminated spermatozoa to obtain efficient fertility results. The use of frozen semen influences also the methods of insemination. Intra-uterine insemination is principally used when only small quantities of semen are available and/or to reduce the number of inseminated spermatozoa. Recent results in different species indicate that the use of intra-uterine insemination could be developed in the next years.


Long term efficacy and safety of adalimumab plus methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: ARMADA 4 year extended study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) given for up to 4 years in patients with active, longstanding rheumatoid arthritis. Patients responding inadequately to MTX were entered into a 24 week, controlled study (ARMADA) with adalimumab plus MTX or placebo plus MTX, and some were enrolled in a subsequent open label extension. The efficacy and safety of treatment were evaluated. Additional analyses were made for those patients whose corticosteroid and/or MTX dosages were adjusted during the extension. Of 271 patients in the original ARMADA trial, 262 received at least one dose of adalimumab and were evaluated. At the time of analysis, 162/262 (62%) patients had remained in the study and received treatment for a mean of 3.4 years. Withdrawals were for lack of efficacy (8%), adverse events (12%), and other reasons (18%). In 147 patients who completed 4 years' treatment, efficacy achieved at 6 months was maintained. At 4 years, 78%, 57%, and 31% had achieved ACR20/50/70; 43% achieved clinical remission (DAS28 <2.6); and 22% had no physical function abnormalities (HAQ = 0). Results were similar for 196 patients who received treatment for 2-4 years. Efficacy was maintained in many patients when dosages were decreased (corticosteroids (51/81 (63%) patients), MTX (92/217 (42%)), or both (25/217 (12%))). Serious adverse events were comparable during open label treatment and the controlled phase. Serious infections occurring during open label treatment and the blinded period were similar (2.03 v 2.30 events per 100 patient-years, respectively). Adalimumab plus MTX sustained clinical response and remission in patients with RA during 4 years. The safety profile during the first 6 months was similar to that after 4 years' follow up. Reduction of corticosteroid and/or MTX dosages did not adversely affect long term efficacy.


Primary care and urology patients with the male pelvic pain syndrome: symptoms and quality of life.
We assessed symptoms and health related quality of life in men who received prostatitis-prostatodynia diagnoses at primary care and urology visits, and compared those in whom pain-discomfort had versus had not resolved approximately 1 month later. Telephone interviews were done with 357 men an average of 1 month after a prostatitis-prostatodynia diagnosis was made at a health maintenance organization visit. The interview included the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, and pain and health related quality of life measures. The most common pain location was the pubic-bladder area. Mean scores on most health related quality of life measures were below average, and higher pelvic pain and urinary symptom scores were associated with worse quality of life. This episode of pelvic pain was the first lifetime episode in fewer urology (22%) than primary care (38%) patients (p = 0.02). Urology patients had longer symptom episodes (p = 0.000), more days with pain in the last month (p = 0.002) and higher National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index pain scores (p = 0.002). Men with pain in the testicles, penis or between the rectum and testicles at the visit, and with longer symptom duration before the visit were significantly more likely to have continued pain between the visit and interview. Pelvic pain is often a persistent, recurrent condition that can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. The average symptom severity in men with pelvic pain in primary care and urology settings is lower than that in tertiary care samples.


Induction of DNA double-strand breaks by 1H and 4He lons in primary human skin fibroblasts in the LET range of 8 to 124 keV/microm.
Yields of DNA double-strand breaks were determined in primary human skin fibroblasts exposed to 1H and 4He ions at various linear energy transfers (LETs) and to 15 MeV electrons as the reference radiation. The values obtained for the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) were 2.03, 1.45 and 1.36 for 1H ions at LETs of 35, 23 and 7.9 keV/microm, respectively, and 1.2, 1.18, 1.38 and 1.31 for 4He ions at LETs of 124, 76, 35 and 27 keV/microm, respectively. The data were obtained using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of DNA released from cells using the chromosomes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as length markers and fitting the experimental mass distributions of fragmented DNA to those obtained by computer simulation of the random breakage of human chromosomes. The RBE values for induction of DSBs in mammalian cells cannot be fitted to a common RBE-LET relationship for electrons and 1H, 4He and light ions. Comparison of the RBEs for mammalian cells with the corresponding RBEs obtained for yeast cells shows similar RBEs of electrons for yeast and mammalian cells; however, for 4He and light ions in the LET range of 100 to 1000 keV/microm, the RBEs for yeast are significantly higher compared with mammalian cells. These characteristics of the RBE-LET relationships for yeast and mammalian cells are attributed to the fraction of small DNA fragments induced by particles when traversing the higher-order chromatin structures which are different to some extent in these two cell types.


Spontaneous correction of pathologic tooth migration and reduced infrabony pockets following nonsurgical periodontal therapy: a case report.
This case report describes the spontaneous correction of pathologic tooth migration and reduced infrabony pockets after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. A 3-mm diastema between the maxillary incisors was closed completely, and the mandibular teeth, which had migrated pathologically, returned to the optimal position. Clinical evaluation showed a significant reduction in probing depth, with increased clinical attachment and bone deposition demonstrated radiologically.


Micropatterned substratum adhesiveness: a model for morphogenetic cues controlling cell behavior.
It is generally considered that tracks of cell adhesiveness are important in controlling cell migration during the development and regeneration of many tissues. In order to investigate this experimentally, a number of techniques have in the past been employed to make patterns of differential adhesiveness for in vitro studies. However, practical limitations on patterning resolution and the introduction of residual topography to the experimental substrata have restricted their usefulness. Here we describe a simplified photolithographic technique for patterning cell adhesiveness which allows a high degree of flexibility and precision. We have quantified, using adhesion and spreading characteristics of BHK cells, the differential adhesiveness that can be created on patterned surfaces, how this alters with the duration of exposure to serum proteins, and how this, in turn, relates to the persistence of cell patterning despite increases in cell density. We believe that this technique will prove extremely useful for the detailed in vitro examination of the mechanisms controlling cell behavior as it offers a degree of precision and ease of fabrication that has previously been unavailable.


Current pharmacological treatment options for male lower urinary tract symptoms.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly prevalent disease in the aging male and significantly impairs quality of life. Men with BPH present with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which include storage and voiding disorders. Medical therapy is the first option in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. α1-adrenoceptor antagonists, 5α-reductase inhibitors or the combination of both have been considered gold standard for pharmacological treatment over the last decade in this patient cohort. Recently, a variety of novel substances have been tested which include Phosphodiesterase Typ 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), anti-cholinergic agents and β-3-agonists. This article highlights the key studies with regard to each drug class and discusses current pharmacotherapy and possible future treatment options. In patients with small prostates, α1-adrenoceptor antagonists represent the gold standard in the medical treatment of mild LUTS. For men with large prostate glands and mild to moderate LUTS, recent data support the combination of α1-adrenoceptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors. PDE5i may be useful in men with LUTS and concomitant erectile dysfunction, while anti-cholinergics have been shown to be beneficial in patients with predominant storage disorders. Future studies have to elucidate the role of β-3-agonists in men with BPH and LUTS.


Maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 14 with diabetes mellitus.
A 20-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital because of thirst and weight loss. His fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and urinary C-peptide were 262 mg/dl, 13.6%, and 44.8 microg/day, respectively, and the autoimmune antibodies related to type 1 diabetes were negative. Chromosome analysis of his peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a mos45,XY,der(14;14)(q10;ql0)[129]/ 46,XY,+14, der(14;14)(q10;q10)[1] karyotype. His parents were karyotypically normal. Microsatellite marker analysis on chromosome 14 demonstrated mosaic maternal segmental isodisomy for 14q21-q24. Although the parents had normal glucose regulation, the patient who finally returned to impaired glucose tolerance and his mother both have a deficiency in early postprandial insulin secretion. Since obesity was mild (body mass index, 24.1 kg/m2) and he was relatively young for type 2 diabetes, we speculated that his isodisomy 14 may have been involved in the onset of diabetes mellitus in this patient.


[The relationship between free-running period and monoamines in the SCN].
Free-running period of blinded rats that had kept in a cage with a running wheel varied markedly between 23.4-24.7 h. The free-running period correlated negatively with motor activity (r = -0.61, P less than 0.005). In the SCN, 5-HT concentration correlated positively with motor activity (r = 0.70, P less than 0.005), consequently correlated negatively to the free-running period (r = -0.79, P less than 0.005). Similarly, 5-HIAA content showed weakly negative correlation to the free-running period (r = -0.45, P less than 0.05) but such correlation was never observed in other monoamines and their metabolites examined (NE, DA, DOPAC and HVA). Further, no correlation was seen between free-running period and contents of amines and their metabolites, including 5-HT and 5-HIAA, in the areas tested other than SCN. These facts suggest that motor activity affects the activity of serotonergic system in SCN, resulting in the change in the free-running period.


Mating advantage for rare males in wild guppy populations.
To understand the processes that maintain genetic diversity is a long-standing challenge in evolutionary biology, with implications for predicting disease resistance, response to environmental change, and population persistence. Simple population genetic models are not sufficient to explain the high levels of genetic diversity sometimes observed in ecologically important traits. In guppies (Poecilia reticulata), male colour pattern is both diverse and heritable, and is arguably one of the most extreme examples of morphological polymorphism known. Negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS), a form of selection in which genotypes are favoured when they are rare, can potentially maintain such extensive polymorphism, but few experimental studies have confirmed its operation in nature. Here we use highly replicated experimental manipulations of natural populations to show that males with rare colour patterns have higher reproductive fitness, demonstrating NFDS mediated by sexual selection. Rare males acquired more mates and sired more offspring compared to common males and, as previously reported, had higher rates of survival. Orange colour, implicated in other studies of sexual selection in guppies, did predict male reproductive success, but only in one of three populations. These data support the hypothesis that NFDS maintains diversity in the colour patterns of male guppies through two selective agents, mates and predators. Similar field-based manipulations of genotype frequencies could provide a powerful approach to reveal the underlying ecological and behavioural mechanisms that maintain genetic and phenotypic diversity.


Promoting farsighted decisions via episodic future thinking: A meta-analysis.
Episodic future thinking (EFT) denotes our capacity to imagine prospective events. It has been suggested to promote farsighted decisions that entail a trade-off between short-term versus long-term gains. Here, we meta-analyze the evidence for the impact of EFT on such intertemporal choices that have monetary or health-relevant consequences. Across 174 effect sizes from 48 articles, a three-level model yielded a medium-sized effect of g = .44, 95% (CI) [.33, .55]. Notably, this analysis included a substantial number of unpublished experiments, and the effect remained significant following further adjustments for remaining publication bias. We exploited the observed heterogeneity to determine critical core components that moderate the impact of EFT. Specifically, the effect was stronger when the imagined events were positive, more vivid, and related to the delayed choice. We further obtained evidence for the contribution of the episodicity and future-orientedness of EFT. These results indicate that the impact of EFT cannot simply be accounted for by other modes of prospection (e.g., semantic future thinking). Of note, EFT had a greater impact in samples characterized by choice impulsivity (e.g., in obesity), suggesting that EFT can ameliorate maladaptive decision making. It may accordingly constitute a beneficial intervention for individuals who tend to make myopic decisions. Our analyses moreover indicated that the effect is unlikely to merely reflect demand characteristics. This meta-analysis highlights the potential of EFT in promoting long-term goals, a finding that extends from the laboratory to real-life decisions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


Distal interphalangeal joint abnormalities in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Involvement of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints was noted radiographically in 24 (43.6%) of 55 patients with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. DIP changes were apparent later in the course of the disease and were less severe than in other affected joints. Soft tissue swelling and joint space narrowing were the most frequent abnormalities in the DIP joints. Erosive changes and angular deformities were uncommon. There was no significant correlation between DIP joint involvement and sex, age at presentation, involvement of the hands and wrists at presentation, or positivity of either rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibody. There was a strong correlation between the presence of extraarticular signs and symptoms and involvement of the DIP joints; however, this may reflect the greater severity of the disease in these patients generally.


Early-Onset Infantile Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: A Timely Review.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)-the worldwide third most common inherited muscular dystrophy caused by the heterozygous contraction of a 3.3 kb tandem repeat (D4Z4) on a chromosome with a 4q35 haplotype-is a progressive genetic myopathy with variable onset of symptoms, distribution of muscle weakness, and clinical severity. While much is known about the clinical course of adult FSHD, data on the early-onset infantile phenotype, especially on the progression of the disease, are relatively scarce. Contrary to the classical form, patients with infantile FSHD more often have a rapid decline in muscle wasting and systemic features with multiple extramuscular involvements. A rough correlation between the phenotypic severity of FSHD and the D4Z4 repeat size has been reported, and the majority of patients with infantile FSHD obtain a very short D4Z4 repeat length (one to three copies, EcoRI size 10-14 kb), in contrast to the classical, slowly progressive, form of FSHD (15-38 kb). With the increasing identifications of case reports and the advance in genetic diagnostics, recent studies have suggested that the infantile variant of FSHD is not a genetically separate entity but a part of the FSHD spectrum. Nevertheless, many questions about the clinical phenotype and natural history of infantile FSHD remain unanswered, limiting evidence-based clinical management. In this review, we summarize the updated research to gain insight into the clinical spectrum of infantile FSHD and raise views to improve recognition and understanding of its underlying pathomechanism, and further, to advance novel treatments and standard care methods.


[Toxic effect of butenolide on chondrocyte differentiation and the protective effect of selenium].
To study the effect of butenolide (BUT) on cultured chondrocytes differentiation and the possible protective effects of selenium (Se). Ex-vivo cultured chondrocytes were divided into six groups: (1) Control group (without BUT and Se); (2) Se 0.1 microg/ml control group; (3) BUT 0.1 microg/ml group; (4) BUT 1.0 microg/ml group; (5) BUT 5.0 microg/ml group; and (6) BUT 1.0 microg/ml + Se 0.1 microg/ml group. The expression of collagen II (Col II), collagen X (ColX), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in (or around) chondrocytes in all groups were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT + Se group were significantly higher than those in the 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group (P < 0.05). The expressions of bFGF and PTHrP of BUT groups were significantly higher than those in the Se and control groups (P < 0.05). No expression of ColX was observed in all groups. BUT can affect the collagen II synthesis of the chondrocytes. Selenium supplementation may play a protective role.


Dynamic studies of nitrophenols adsorption on perfil in a fixed-bed column: application of single and two resistance model.
The mechanism of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) adsorption on perfil-natural mineral taken from Bulgarian deposits, in a fixed-bed column was investigated. The single component experiments were conducted at constant initial sorbate concentration, volumetric flow rate, temperature and pH. The effect of adsorbent bed depth (Z 1, 2, 3, 6 cm) and sorbate nature on the adsorption capacity, mass transfer parameters and mechanisms was studied. The equilibrium behaviour of the system 4-NP-perfil was described by Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models. The single resistance Thomas model, including Reynolds-Richards and Walter solutions, and the two-resistance Arnold model were applied for mathematical modeling of the experimental data. The comparative analyses indicated that external mass transfer was the rate limiting mechanism during the initial adsorption stages, while intraparticle diffusion was dominant in the middle and high concentration ranges. The effect of axial dispersion on the dynamics of adsorption was evaluated.


p-Coumaric acid suppresses reactive oxygen species-induced senescence in nucleus pulposus cells.
p-Coumaric acid (PCA) is a phenolic acid that is widely present in numerous plants and human diets. Studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-senescence effects of PCA in different cell types. However, the anti-senescence effects of PCA in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells have remained to be determined. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to measure the gene expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), p53, p16, aggrecan and collagen-2 in NP cells. Immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the protein expression of p53, p16 and collagen-2 in NP cells. In addition, cell cycle of NP cells was measured by flow cytometry. β-galactosidase staining were used to investigate the senescence of NP cells. Preliminary results indicated that PCA suppressed ROS-induced senescence in NP cells via both the p16 and p53 pathways. NP cells were pretreated with PCA at a concentration of 10 or 50 µg/ml prior to stimulation with 200 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Pretreatment with PCA significantly inhibited H2O2-induced cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. PCA also reduced the gene expression of Cox-2, iNOS, p53 and p16 induced by H2O2. By contrast, aggrecan and collagen-2 expression in NP cells was upregulated after PCA treatment. Furthermore, PCA suppressed H2O2-induced changes in the protein expression of p16, p53 and collagen-2. H2O2 stimulation of NP cells increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activities, while PCA treatment markedly reversed these SA-β-gal activities. Collectively, the present results indicated that PCA attenuated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cellular senescence, suggesting a potential therapeutic utility of PCA in intervertebral disc degeneration.


The accuracy of sentinel node biopsy by 99mTc-sodium phytate in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. The identification of the first nodal drainage site (sentinel node) may improve the detection of metastatic nodes and can contribute to a less invasive surgery. We aimed to determine the accuracy of sentinel node mapping in patients with pancreatic cancer using intraoperative radiotracer injection technique. At surgical exposure, peritumoral injection of 0.4-0.5 mci/0.5 ml of 99mTc- sodium phytate was performed. After tumor resection, sentinel nodes were investigated in the most common areas using a hand-held gamma probe. Any lymph node with in vivo count twice the background was considered as sentinel node, thus, it was removed and sent for pathological assessment. Then a standard lymph node dissection was performed for all patients. Fourteen patients with cancer in the head of the pancreas were included in this study. Overall, 180 lymph nodes were harvested with a mean of 11.6±4.7 lymph nodes per patient. In eight patients, at least one sentinel node could be identified (detection rate about 64%). False negative rate of the study was 3/5 (60%). Our study revealed insufficient diagnostic accuracy and high false negative rate for sentinel lymph node mapping with 99mTc- sodium phytate in pancreatic cancer.


Simultaneous liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification of urinary opiates, cocaine, and metabolites in opiate-dependent pregnant women in methadone-maintenance treatment.
Opiates, cocaine, and metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in 284 urine specimens, collected thrice weekly, to monitor possible drug relapse in 15 pregnant heroin-dependent women. Opiates were detected in 149 urine specimens (52%) with limits of quantification (LOQ) of 10-50 microg/L. Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, and/or morphine-6-glucuronide were positive in 121 specimens; 6-acetylmorphine, a biomarker of heroin ingestion, was quantifiable in only 7. No heroin, 6-acetylcodeine, papaverine, or noscapine were detected. One hundred and sixty-five urine specimens (58%) from all 15 participants were positive for one or more cocaine analytes (LOQ 10-100 microg/L). Ecgonine methylester (EME) and/or benzoylecgonine were the major cocaine biomarkers in 142. Anhydroecgonine methylester, a biomarker of smoked cocaine, was positive in six; cocaethylene and/or ecgonine ethylester, biomarkers of cocaine and ethanol co-ingestion, were found in 25. At the current Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration cutoffs for total morphine (2000 microg/L), codeine (2000 microg/L), 6-acetylmorphine (10 microg/L), and benzoylecgonine (100 microg/L), 16 opiate- and 29 cocaine-positive specimens were identified. Considering 100 microg/L EME as an additional urinary cocaine biomarker would identify 51 more positive cocaine specimens. Of interest is the differential pattern of opiate and cocaine biomarkers observed after LC-MS as compared to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.


Prolonged inhibition of luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in male rats with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist SB-75.
Inhibitory effects of the potent antagonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone N-Ac-[3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine1,4-chloro-D-phenylalanine2,3- (3-pyridyl)-D- alanine3,D-citrulline6,D-alanine10]luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (SB-75) free of edematogenic effects were investigated in male rats. In a study to determine the effect on luteinizing hormone levels in castrated male rats, SB-75 was injected s.c. in doses of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 micrograms. Blood samples were taken at different intervals for 48 hr. All doses of SB-75 significantly decreased luteinizing hormone levels for greater than 6 hr (P less than 0.01); this inhibition lasted for greater than 24 hr (P less than 0.01) with a dose of 5.0 micrograms and greater than 48 hr with 10 micrograms (P less than 0.05). Serum testosterone levels were also measured in intact male rats injected with SB-75 in doses of 25, 50, and 100 micrograms. All doses produced a dramatic fall in testosterone to castration levels 6 hr after injection (P less than 0.01); this inhibition of serum testosterone was maintained for greater than 72 hr, but only the 100-micrograms dose could keep testosterone in the castration range for greater than 24 hr (P less than 0.01). In another study using a specific RIA, we obtained the pharmacokinetic release pattern of SB-75 from two sustained delivery formulations of SB-75 pamoate microgranules and examined their effect on serum testosterone. After a single i.m. injection of 20 mg of one batch of microgranules, a large peak corresponding to SB-75 at 45.8 ng/ml was observed, corresponding to the "burst" effect. Levels of the analog decreased to 19.6 ng/ml on day 2, gradually reached a concentration of 4.7 ng/ml on day 7, and kept declining thereafter. Testosterone levels were reduced on day 1 (P less than 0.01) and were maintained at low values for greater than 7 days (P less than 0.05). In rats injected with 10 mg of SB-75 pamoate microgranules of the second batch, SB-75 serum levels rose to 33 ng/ml 3 hr after administration and then fell gradually to approximately 3.4 ng/ml on day 16, but a second small peak was seen on day 28. Subsequently, the analog levels decreased slowly to 2.9 ng/ml on day 42. At this time, testosterone serum levels were still significantly lower than in controls. These overall results demonstrate the efficacy of SB-75 in the suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis. This modern luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist can possibly be used for treating sex hormone-sensitive cancers and other disorders.


Exact moment of a gastrocnemius muscle strain captured on video.
A left gastrocnemius strain was sustained by an elite cricket batsman while he was taking off to run. The exact moment of injury, captured by a camera in the middle stump, appears to correspond to the sudden appearance of a deficit in the gastrocnemius muscle, seen through the player's trousers. The strain occurred when the entire body weight was on the left foot with the centre of mass well in front of the leg. The injury probably occurred close to the time when the gastrocnemius complex was moving from an eccentric to an isometric phase.


A lateral-field-excited LiTaO3 high-frequency bulk acoustic wave sensor.
The most popular bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensor is the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), which has electrodes on both the top and bottom surfaces of an AT-cut quartz wafer. In the QCM, the exciting electric field is primarily perpendicular to the crystal surface, resulting in a thickness field excitation (TFE) of a resonant temperature compensated transverse shear mode (TSM). The TSM, however, can also be excited by lateral field excitation (LFE) in which electrodes are placed on one side of the wafer leaving a bare sensing surface exposed directly to a liquid or a chemi/bio selective layer allowing the detection of both mechanical and electrical property changes caused by a target analyte. The use of LFE sensors has motivated an investigation to identify other piezoelectric crystal orientations that can support temperature-compensated TSMs and operate efficiently at high frequencies resulting in increased sensitivity. In this work, theoretical search and experimental measurements are performed to identify the existence of high-frequency temperature-compensated TSMs in LiTaO(3). Prototype LFE LiTaO(3) sensors were fabricated and found to operate at frequencies in excess of 1 GHz and sensitively detect viscosity, conductivity, and dielectric constant changes in liquids.


Prolonged allograft survival but no tolerance induction by modulating CD28 antibody JJ319 after high-responder rat heart transplantation.
Allograft rejection depends on T cell immune responses requiring antigen recognition and costimulatory signals through accessory T cell receptors, including CD28. Inhibition of CD28 signaling with a CTLA-4-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein has resulted in immunosuppression and occasional T cell anergy in mouse transplant models, but not in rats. Because this approach also inhibits a potentially tolerizing signal through CTLA-4, selective blockade of CD28 ligation might induce more profound immunosuppression and transplant tolerance. The effects of escalating doses of the rat CD28 monoclonal antibody JJ319 on allograft survival were studied after vascularized heterotopic heart transplantation in a high responder strain combination (DA to Lewis). CD28 antigen modulation and circulating antibody levels were monitored by flow cytometry. CD28 antibody JJ319 markedly prolonged cardiac graft survival compared with untreated controls (7 days, range: 6-8). A strictly dose-dependent increase in median graft survival time was demonstrated with a maximum of 36 days (range: 30-40; p <0.001) after the administration of 8 x 1 mg JJ319 i.p. (days -1 to +6 before/after transplantation). However, indefinite graft survival and tolerance could not be induced by JJ319 treatment. At the maximal dose, flow cytometry showed complete down modulation of the CD28 receptor for 10-14 days without T cell depletion in close temporal relation to antibody presence in serum. In vitro, CD28-modulated T cells showed significantly reduced responses to activation. CD28 antibody JJ319 induces profound immunosuppression after rat heart transplantation, however without development of transplant tolerance. The underlying mechanism seems to be receptor modulation during primary alloantigen recognition. While still potentially applicable clinically, there are no qualitative or quantitative differences to the treatment with CTLA-4/lg or the blockade of CD2 or LFA-1, as reported elsewhere. Thus, a CD28-modulating approach seems not to allow therapeutic exploitation of a tolerizing signal delivered by CTLA-4 but may still be clinically applicable, especially in combined immune interventions.


Secondary structure analysis of synthetic peptides of the extracellular domain of the human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor.
Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is a glycoprotein hormone receptor and possesses a large extracellular domain (ECD) instrumental in hormone binding. The ECD is characterized by the presence of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) structures made up of alpha-helices flanked by beta-strands. Our previous studies with the synthetic peptides corresponding to the potentially surface-oriented regions of the ECD had led to the identification of some of these regions in either FSH-binding or FSH-induced cAMP production or both. This study was undertaken with an aim to correlate the findings made in vitro with the secondary structures of the respective peptides. Accordingly, all peptides were screened for their secondary structures in different biochemical environments. This study correlates the observed alpha-helical signature with the previously demonstrated activity in signal generation for peptides 15-31 and 216-235 hFSHR, while FSH binding is correlated with the maintenance of beta-sheet structure in peptides 285-300 and 297-310 hFSHR as observed in vitro.


Obstetric outcome and incidence of congenital anomalies in 2351 IVF/ICSI babies.
The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive follow-up of fetal and perinatal outcome and the incidence of congenital anomalies in babies born after fresh embryo transfers compared to those conceived spontaneously in infertile couples. Retrospective comparative analysis of all clinical pregnancies from fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles (IVF and ICSI) compared with infertile patients who conceived spontaneously in the same time period (control). Congenital anomalies were classified following the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) classification. A total of 2414 assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies were compared to 582 spontaneous conceptions in the control infertile group representing 2306 deliveries. No significant differences were found in pregnancy outcome between the two groups (delivery rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancies, medical abortions for fetal anomalies, single and twins mean gestational age, and weight at delivery). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found in the twin (21.3 vs 2.3 %) and triplet rates (2.3 vs 0 %). A total of 2351 babies were delivered in the ART group and 449 in the control group. A total of 90 babies (3.8 %) were diagnosed with a major congenital anomaly in the ART group and 15 (3.3 %) in the control group (p = ns). The overall rate of major congenital anomalies (105/2800) in ART and spontaneous pregnancies in infertile couples was significantly higher when compared to the EUROCAT 2.0 versus 3.75 % (p = 0.0002). Babies born after ART treatments and from spontaneous conception in infertile couples had rates of congenital anomalies higher than those recorded by the EUROCAT. However, the rates of anomalies were not different within the infertile population whether conceived by ART or spontaneously. These data suggest that the diagnosis of infertility in itself is the common denominator for the increase in the rates of anomalies seen in both ART and spontaneous conceptions.


Conformational studies of dextran [alpha-(1----6)-D-glucan].
A theoretical conformational study of dextran, a (1----6)-linked alpha-D-glucan polysaccharide, has been made to allow n explicit comparison with earlier results on pustulan, the corresponding (1----6)-linked beta-D-glucan. The nonbonded, torsional and hydrogen bond contributions to potential energy were calculated as a function of rotational angles phi, psi, and omega. The (phi, psi, omega)-space of the disaccharide and of helices contain many local energy minima with very small energy differences. A comparison of (1----6)-alpha-D-glucans with (1----6)-beta-D-glucans indicates significantly differences in conformational behavior. Specifically, our results shed light on the fact that dextran does not gel, whereas pustulan does. The difference in tendency to gel may be related to the fact that dextran has no particularly favored conformations with structural regularity whereas pustulan does.


Analysis of Results of Continuous Invasive Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring in Postoperative Patients.
In patients with postoperative circulatory instability, the exploration of invasive arterial blood pressure (IABP) monitoring is of great significance because it can provide real-time cardiovascular function information and help medical staff to better assess and manage the patient's circulatory status. To explore the value of IABP monitoring for patients with postoperative circulatory instability in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). From January to December 2021, 160 postoperative patients with circulatory instability were randomly divided into a control group and a study group (80 patients in each group). A random number sequence is generated through a random number table, and random numbers are distributed to different patients to achieve random grouping. SPSS was used for data processing and statistical analysis, t test was used for continuous variables, chi-square test was used for count data, and the significance level was P < .05.We compared various parameters, such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), PACU observation time, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), total hospitalization time, heart rate (HR), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), re-intubation rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), adverse events, and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), between the two groups. Flow cytometry was used to analyze changes in immune lymphocyte subsets in the patient's peripheral blood. During the postoperative observation period, there were no significant differences in SBP, PaCO2, HR, SaO2, MAP, and PaO2 between the two groups (P > .05)The study group showed higher SBP, SaO2, MAP, and PaO2, and lower HR and PaCO2 compared to the control group (P < .05). The study group also had shorter PACU observation time, total hospitalization time, and a lower re-intubation rate compared to the control group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse events between the two groups (7.50% vs 3.75%) (P > .05). The study group showed significantly higher proportions of lymphocytes, CD3+ T cells, CD3+ CD4+ T cells, and CD3+ CD4+/CD3+ CD8+ ratio compared to the control group (P < .05). This change may reflect the patients with a positive response of the immune system, help to resist disease progress and infection. IABP monitoring can continuously, dynamically and accurately collect arterial blood pressure data of patients with postoperative circulatory instability, contributing to the recovery of immune competence in patients to help formulate the best clinical treatment and intervention plan. The dynamic and accurate arterial blood pressure data collection provided by IABP monitoring contributes not only to immune competence recovery but also to overall patient management and treatment planning.


Randomized clinical trial of comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimization in vascular surgery.
Increasing numbers of older patients are undergoing vascular surgery. Inadequate preoperative assessment and optimization may contribute to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Patients aged at least 65 years scheduled for elective aortic aneurysm repair or lower-limb arterial surgery were enrolled in an RCT of standard preoperative assessment or preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimization. Randomization was stratified by sex and surgical site (aorta/lower limb). Primary outcome was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcome measures included new medical co-morbidities, postoperative medical or surgical complications, discharge to a higher level of dependency and 30-day readmission rate. A total of 176 patients were included in the final analysis (control 91, intervention 85). Geometric mean length of stay was 5·53 days in the control group and 3·32 days in the intervention group (ratio of geometric means 0·60, 95 per cent c.i. 0·46 to 0·79; P < 0·001). There was a lower incidence of delirium (11 versus 24 per cent; P = 0·018), cardiac complications (8 versus 27 per cent; P = 0·001) and bladder/bowel complications (33 versus 55 per cent; P = 0·003) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Patients in the intervention group were less likely to require discharge to a higher level of dependency (4 of 85 versus 12 of 91; P = 0·051). In this study of patients aged 65 years or older undergoing vascular surgery, preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay. Patients undergoing assessment and optimization had a lower incidence of complications and were less likely to be discharged to a higher level of dependency. Registration number: ISRCTN23142588 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).


The suggestible brain: posthypnotic effects on value-based decision-making.
Hypnosis can affect perception, motor function and memory. However, so far no study using neuroimaging has investigated whether hypnosis can influence reward processing and decision-making. Here, we assessed whether posthypnotic suggestions can diminish the attractiveness of unhealthy food and whether this is more effective than diminishing attractiveness by one's own effort via autosuggestion. In total, 16 participants were hypnotized and 16 others were instructed to associate a color cue (blue or green) with disgust regarding specific snacks (sweet or salty). Afterwards, participants bid for snack items shown on an either blue or green background during functional magnetic resonance imaging measurement. Both hypnosis and autosuggestion successfully devalued snacks. This was indicated by participants' decision-making, their self-report and by decreased blood oxygen level-dependent signal in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), a region known to represent value. Different vmPFC subregions coded for cue and snack type. The cue had significantly stronger effects on vmPFC after hypnosis than after autosuggestion, indicating that hypnosis was more effective in genuinely reducing value. Supporting previous findings, the precuneus was involved in the hypnotic effects by encoding whether a snack was sweet or salty during hypnotic cue presentation. Our results demonstrate that posthypnotic suggestions can influence valuation and decision-making.


Distraction osteogenesis for management of obstructive sleep apnea secondary to TMJ ankylosis.
Mandibular retrognathism due to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is one of the important contributing factors to the obstructive sleep apnea(OSA). Such patients suffer from number of apneic or hyponeic events during sleep, snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, inability to concentrate, irritability. At the same time facial asymmetry due TMJ ankylosis lead to a progressive lack of confidence. Distraction osteogenesis is a less invasive surgical technique in the management of OSA, secondary to TMJ ankylosis. This modality not only treats the OSA but also corrects the facial asymmetry at the same time, and the results have been gratifying.


Electrochemical Biosensors Based on Nanomaterials for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an untreatable neurodegenerative disease that initially manifests as difficulty to remember recent events and gradually progresses to cognitive impairment. The incidence of AD is growing yearly as life expectancy increases, thus early detection is essential to ensure a better quality of life for diagnosed patients. To reach that purpose, electrochemical biosensing has emerged as a cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic techniques, due to its high sensitivity and selectivity. Of special relevance is the incorporation of nanomaterials in biosensors, as they contribute to enhance electron transfer while promoting the immobilization of biological recognition elements. Moreover, nanomaterials have also been employed as labels, due to their unique electroactive and electrocatalytic properties. The aim of this review is to add value in the advances achieved in the detection of AD biomarkers, the strategies followed for the incorporation of nanomaterials and its effect in biosensors performance.


[Corrigendum] Exosomes derived from Piwil2‑induced cancer stem cells transform fibroblasts into cancer‑associated fibroblasts.
Following the publication of the above paper, the authors have realized that they made an error during the assembly of the western blotting data in Fig. 4; essentially, the western blotting data shown for the FAP experiment in Fig. 5 were mistakenly inserted into Fig. 4 to show the metalloproteinase‑9 (MMP‑9) data. The authors re‑examined their original data, and discovered how the error in the compilation of Fig. 4 arose. The corrected version of Fig. 4, incorporating the correct data for the MMP‑9 experiment, is shown below. Note that this error did not affect the overall conclusions reported in the study. The authors are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for allowing them the opportunity to publish this Corrigendum; furthermore, they apologize for any inconvenience caused to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published in Oncology Reports 43: 1125‑1132, 2020; DOI: 10.3892/or.2020.7496].


Experience of Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter in Patients with Hematologic Diseases.
Objective Although use of the peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) has become increasingly common, there are few reports of PICCs used for patients with hematologic diseases. In this study, we analyzed the safety of PICC placement in patients with hematologic diseases where PICCs had been placed to perform blood collection, blood transfusion, drug administration, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods This study included 142 PICCs placed in 95 patients managed at our department from November 2013 to December 2015. The PICCs used were the Groshong® Catheter (NXT single-lumen; BARD Inc.). Results A total of 95 patients underwent the placement of 142 PICCs. The mean patient age was 65.5 years. The total duration of catheterization was 8,089 days, with a mean duration of 57.0 days. Chemotherapy was administered through 107 catheters. Stem cells were injected through 12 catheters. Although a fever was observed in association with 103 catheters, it was generally controlled by antimicrobial therapy. There were 18 catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) cases, an incidence equivalent to 2.1 cases per 1,000 catheter-days. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a low CRBSI incidence rate and found no evidence of serious complications with PICC placement. PICCs can be used for blood collection, blood transfusion, drug administration, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without problems. Thus, PICC placement appears to be a safe procedure for patients with hematologic diseases. Safe catheters are therefore urgently needed for these patients. We expect that PICCs will be widely adopted in Japan in the near future.


The human embryo in the Christian tradition: a reconsideration.
Recent claims that the Christian tradition justifies destructive research on human embryos have drawn upon an article by the late Professor Gordon Dunstan which appeared in this journal in 1984. Despite its undoubted influence, this article was flawed and seriously misrepresented the tradition of Christian reflection on the moral status of the human embryo.


Induction of Immune Tolerance in Islet Transplantation Using Apoptotic Donor Leukocytes.
Allogeneic islet transplantation has become an effective treatment option for severe Type 1 diabetes with intractable impaired awareness due to hypoglycemic events. Although current immunosuppressive protocols effectively prevent the acute rejection associated with initial T cell activation in recipients, chronic rejection has remained an obstacle for achieving long-term allogeneic islet engraftment. The development of donor-specific immune tolerance to the allograft is the ultimate goal given its potential ability to overcome chronic rejection and disregard the need for maintenance immunosuppression, which may be toxic to islet grafts. Recently, a breakthrough in tolerance induction during allogeneic islet transplantation using apoptotic donor lymphocytes (ADLs) in a non-human primate model had been reported. Several studies have suggested that the clonal depletion, anergy, and expansion of the antigen-specific regulatory immune network are the mechanisms for donor-specific tolerance with ADLs, which act synergistically to induce robust transplant tolerance. This achievement represents a huge step forward toward the clinical application of immune tolerance induction. We herein summarize the reported operational induction therapies in islet transplantation using the ADLs. Moreover, a few obstacles for the engraftment of transplanted islets, such as islet immunogenicity and instant blood-mediated response, which need to be resolved in the future, are also discussed.


Blockade of the PDGFR family together with SRC leads to diminished proliferation of colorectal cancer cells.
Among the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) has attracted increasing attention as a potential target of anti-tumor therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC). To study the function of PDGFRβ in CRC cell lines, SW480, DLD-1 and Caco-2 cells showing high PDGFRβ expression were used for receptor down-regulation by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and using the pharmacological inhibitor of PDGFRβ Ki11502. Blockade of PDGFRβ using both approaches led to moderate inhibition of proliferation and diminished activation of the downstream PI3K-signaling pathway in all three cell lines. Surprisingly, incubation with Ki11502 resulted in an arrest of SW480 cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, whereas the siRNA approach did not result in this effect. To address this difference, we analyzed the involvement of the PDGFRβ family member c-KIT in Ki11502 effectiveness, but siRNA and proliferation studies in SW480 and DLD-1 cells could not prove the involvement of c-KIT inactivation during Ki11502 treatment. Hence, an RTK activation antibody array on SW480 cells led us to the identification of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase SRC, which is inactivated after Ki11502 treatment but not after the siRNA approach. Further studies using the SRC-specific inhibitor PP2 showed that SRC inhibition upon treatment with the inhibitor Ki11502 is responsible for the observed effects of Ki11502 in SW480 and DLD-1 CRC cells. In summary, our results demonstrate that the inhibition of PDGFRβ alone using siRNA has only moderate cellular effects in CRC cell lines; however, the multi-target inhibition of PDGFRβ, c-KIT and SRC, e.g., using Ki11502, represents a promising therapeutic intervention for the treatment of CRC.


Sexual assault: a report on human immunodeficiency virus postexposure prophylaxis.
The objective of this report is to describe an urban county hospital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention protocol offering prophylactic combination antiretroviral medications to female victims of sexual assault. A retrospective chart review was conducted from June, 2007 through June, 2008 of 151 women who were prescribed antiretroviral prophylaxis by protocol. All women receiving HIV prophylaxis initially screened HIV seronegative. Of the 58 women who reported taking any HIV prophylaxis, 36 (62%) were HIV screened at 12 and/or 24 weeks and none had HIV seroconverted. Although the initiation of an HIV post exposure prophylaxis protocol for sexual assault in a county hospital population is feasible, patient follow-up for counseling and HIV serostatus evaluation is an identified barrier.


Assisted reproductive techniques for canines: preservation of genetic material in domestic dogs.
Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and cryopreservation of gametes/zygotes, have been developed to improve breeding and reproduction of livestock, and for the treatment of human infertility. Their widespread use has contributed to improvements in human health and welfare. However, in dogs, only artificial insemination using frozen semen is readily available as an ART to improve breeding and control genetic diversity. A recent priority in sperm cryopreservation is the development of alternatives to egg yolk, which is widely used as a component of the sperm extender. Egg yolk can vary in composition among batches and is prone to contamination by animal pathogens. The latter can be a problem for international exchange of cryopreserved semen. Low-density lipoprotein and skim milk are promising candidates for use as extenders, to ensure fertility after artificial insemination. Although not tested for its effects on fertility following artificial insemination, polyvinyl alcohol may also be a useful alternative to egg yolk as an extender. The development of cryopreservation techniques for canine embryos lags behind that for other mammals, including humans. However, given the success of non-surgical embryo transfer in 2011, studies have sought to refine this approach for practical use. Research on sperm cryopreservation has yielded satisfactory results. However, investigation of other approaches, such as cryopreservation of oocytes and gonadal tissues, remains insufficient. Techniques for the efficient induction of estrus may aid in the development of successful canine ARTs.


Morphologic changes of red blood cells during hemorrhagic shock replicate changes of aging.
Blood loss leads to the reduction in vitality of red blood cells (RBCs). However, the changes in morphology at different stages of hemorrhagic shock have not been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify and quantitate the sequence of morphological changes in RBCs during hemorrhage. This study was performed on 15 adult inbred dogs. Blood samples were taken before hemorrhage, when the mean arterial pressure reached 40 mm Hg (initial stage of shock), and at a mean arterial pressure level of 20 mm Hg (decompensated stage of shock). The volume of blood removed averaged 33.6+/-8.9 and 55.1+/-6.9 mL/kg, respectively. Evaluation of RBC morphology was performed by computerized light microscopic morphometry and scanning electron microscopy. At the early stage of hemorrhage the number of "young-appearing" RBCs with large visible surface areas (41-50 microm2) increased from 17.7%+/-3.1% to 26.6%+/-3.5% (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, the number of "old-appearing" RBCs with small visible surface area (20-30 microm2) significantly decreased from 5.3%+/-2.7% to 2.7%+/-2.3% (P < 0.01). At the stage of decompensated blood loss, the opposite phenomenon was observed. The number of "old-appearing" RBCs increased to 8.2%+/-1.1% (P < 0.01), whereas the number of "young-appearing" RBCs decreased to 12.3%+/-4.2% (P< 0.01). The changes in visible surface area of RBCs was accompanied by significant alterations in their shape. The percentage of abnormal shaped RBCs increased from 8.9%+/-1.1% before the hemorrhage to 36.4%+/-5.8% at the stage of decompensated hemorragic shock (P < 0.01). Thus, during the late decompensated stage of hemorrhagic shock, RBCs assume shape and surface area changes that are similar to those seen in aging. These changes in RBC size and shape may be due to the effects of shock-induced oxidative stress.


Posttranslational processing of Uukuniemi virus glycoproteins G1 and G2.
Uukuniemi virus, which matures specifically in the Golgi complex, contains two species of envelope glycoproteins, G1 (Mr, 70,000) and G2 (Mr, 65,000). These are translated as a polyprotein, p110, from an mRNA which is complementary to the medium-sized segment of the virion RNAs. By synchronized initiation of protein synthesis and pulse-labeling, it was shown that glycoprotein G1 is amino terminal in precursor protein p110. Apparently, the nonglycosylated forms of these proteins (Mr, 54,000 to 57,000), synthesized in the presence of tunicamycin, comigrate in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, because a similar-sized protein could be isolated by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies directed against either G1 or G2. The G1 protein, which in the virion contains exclusively endoglycosidase H (endo H)-resistant glycans, was converted to the endo H-resistant form in a half time of about 45 min. The G2 protein, which in the virion has a heterogeneous glycosylation pattern as revealed by endo H digestion, attained this partial endo H resistance only after 90 to 150 min of chase. The transport time of Uukuniemi virus glycoproteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex was considerably longer than that for alpha and rhabdovirus glycoproteins. Determination of the transport time of G1 and G2 to extracellular virions revealed that G1 is incorporated into mature virions about 10 min faster than G2, suggesting that G1 and G2 are transported with different kinetics to the site of virus maturation.


Distribution and evolution of ferripyoverdine receptors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacterium, which is also able to cause severe opportunistic infections in humans. The colonization of the host is importantly affected by the production of the high-affinity iron (III) scavenging peptidic siderophore pyoverdine. The species P. aeruginosa can be divided into three subgroups ('siderovars'), each characterized by the production of a specific pyoverdine and receptor (FpvA). We used a multiplex PCR to determine the FpvA siderovar on 345 P. aeruginosa strains from environmental or clinical origin. We found about the same proportion of each type in clinical strains, while FpvA type I was slightly over-represented (49%) in environmental strains. Our multiplex PCR also detected the presence or absence of an additional receptor for type I pyoverdine (FpvB). The fpvB gene was in fact present in the vast majority of P. aeruginosa strains (93%), regardless of their siderovar or their origin. Finally, molecular analyses of fpvA and fpvB genes highlighted a complex evolutionary history, probably linked to the central role of iron acquisition in the ecology and virulence of P. aeruginosa.


Establishing pediatric cancer nursing research priorities: a Delphi study.
The purpose of this study was to have pediatric oncology nurses identify and rate topic priorities for clinical nursing research in the specialty and to determine if nurses in a pediatric cancer center identified different priorities than did nursing colleagues in other settings. The sample consisted of 44 nurses from a comprehensive pediatric cancer center and 43 nurses attending the 12th Annual APON Conference. A decision-making method, the classical Delphi technique, was used. Three rounds of soliciting opinions by questionnaires were completed, and data from each round were reviewed and categorized by a research team of six nurses until group consensus was achieved. The majority of priorities identified by both groups concerned nursing procedures, the pediatric oncology patient, and the specialty itself. The least number of priorities were in the categories of care delivery systems and families. One difference between the two groups was that professional issues dominated the cancer center sample, whereas psychosocial issues were more prominent in the APON sample.


Identification of bacteria in juice/lettuce using magnetic nanoparticles and selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.
Ensuring food safety requires a rapid and reliable method for detecting food-borne pathogens. Mass spectrometry has been demonstrated as a powerful tool to classify pure bacterial species. However, matrix interference from food backgrounds may lead to false results because of the suppression of microbial signals. It is useful to develop a method for bacterial enrichment and marker identification in food samples. Magnetic zirconia nanoparticles were used to concentrate spiked microorganisms from apple juice/lettuce under specific conditions (pH 4.5). Bacterial identification was achieved using nanoLC-MS. Selected reaction monitoring of bacteria-related peptides was applied for the first time to identify bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This study presents an accurate means for bacterial identification in food matrixes using MS. The analysis time is less than 90 min and the minimum concentration of E. coli detected was 5 × 103 CFU/mL. The interaction between bacteria and the magnetic nanoparticles was electrostatic and nonspecific, in contrast to immunoassays which require specific antibodies. The targeted peptide analysis focuses on the bacterial markers, thus significantly simplifying the analysis and leading to an accurate identification of bacteria.


An Overview of Antibody Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising drug delivery systems (DDS) for identifying and treating cancer. Active targeting NPs can be generated by conjugation with ligands that bind overexpressed or mutant cell surface receptors on target cells that are poorly or not even expressed on normal cells. Receptor-mediated endocytosis of the NPs occurs and the drug is released inside the cell or in the surrounding tissue due to the bystander effect. Antibodies are the most frequently used ligands to actively target tumor cells. In this context, antibody-based therapies have been extensively used in HER2+ breast cancer. However, some patients inherently display resistance and in advanced stages, almost all eventually progress. Functionalized NPs through conjugation with antibodies appear to be a promising strategy to optimize targeted therapies due to properties related to biocompatibility, suitable delivery control and efficiency of functionalization. This review is focused on the different strategies to conjugate antibodies into polymeric NPs. Recent antibody conjugation approaches applied to the improvement of breast cancer therapy are highlighted in this review.


Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) anticipate future outcomes of foraging choices.
In 2 experiments we investigated the cognitive abilities of wild-caught black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in future anticipation tasks. Chickadees were sensitive to anticipatory contrast effects over time horizons of 5, 10, and 30 min (Experiment 1). Chickadees also learned the order of events and anticipated that the quality of future foraging outcomes was contingent on current foraging choices. This behavior was demonstrated while foraging in a naturalistic aviary environment with a 30-min delay between the initial choice and the future outcome (Experiment 2). These results support the hypothesis that black-capped chickadees can cognitively travel in time both retrospectively and prospectively using episodic memory. This result shows the occurrence of anticipatory cognition in a noncorvid species of food-storing bird and supports the idea that cognitive time travel may have evolved in nonhuman animals in response to specific ecological selection pressures.


Impact of a nurse-driven mobility protocol on functional decline in hospitalized older adults.
The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of a nurse-driven mobility protocol on functional decline. A nonequivalent control group design was used; the independent variable was mobility protocol and dependent variables were functional status and length of stay. Older adults who participated in a mobility protocol maintained or improved functional status and had a reduced length of stay. Practice implications include an emphasis on ambulation in hospitalized older adults.


Relationship between PRRX1, circulating tumor cells, and clinicopathological parameter in patients with gastric cancer.
Paired related homoeobox 1 (PRRX1) has been identified as a new epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer in gastric cancer and that PRRX1 upregulation is closely correlated with gastric cancer metastasis. In addition, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play an important role in the process of gastric cancer's distant metastasis. Our study aimed to correlate Prrx1, CTCs and the clinicopathological parameters in primary gastric cancer patients. Expressions of PRRX1 in a sample of 95 gastric carcinoma and adjacent nontumorous tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Then the integrated subtraction enrichment and immunostaining fluorescence in situ hybridization (SET-imFISH) platform were applied to detect and characterize CTCs in patients with gastric cancer. Finally, their correlations with clinicopathological parameters could be analyzed. The positive rate of PRRX1in gastric cancer was 56.84% and the rate was 36.84% in adjacent normal gastric mucosa, which was confirmed to be statistically significant. In the meantime, both the expression of PRRX1 and the positive rate of CTCs did not significantly correlate with age, gender or histologic type (p>0.05) but significantly related to tumor size, grade of differentiation, lymph node invasion, vascular invasion, metastasis status, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (p<0.05). Besides, there was a close relationship between the PRRX1 of gastric cancer and the CTCs of peripheral blood specimens of cancer patients with the correlation coefficient 0.322. Gastric cancer tissues showed that the level of PRRX1 expression was higher compared to the adjacent normal gastric mucosa. Both the expression of PRRX1 and the positive rate of CTCs significantly correlated with clinicopathological parameters. In addition, there was a positive correlation relationship between the PRRX1 of gastric cancer and the CTCs of peripheral blood specimens of cancer patients. These findings demonstrate that higher-level expression of PRRX1 in gastric cancer tissues increased the amount of CTCs in peripheral blood and facilitated the invasion and metastasis in patients with gastric cancer. Meanwhile, it gave some clues to clinical treatment. CTCs may contribute to promotion in diagnosis, therapy monitoring and prognosis of gastric cancer.


Decisional balance for health and weight is associated with whole-fruit intake in low-income young adults.
Bone health, decreased risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and stroke has been associated with the consumption of fruits. These and other health benefits, such as feeling better and weight loss, have been identified as intrinsic motivators for consumers to increase their consumption of fruits. Thus, if individuals believe more could be gained than lost (decisional balance) by increasing their fruit intake, it is likely that they will consume more. However, despite fruits' positive effect on health, young adults and individuals with low incomes, limited education, or low self-efficacy consume insufficient amounts. To determine variables associated with increased fruit consumption, we hypothesized that decisional balance pros for health and weight would be associated with increased fruit consumption in young adults with low incomes. We surveyed 235 respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 years, with an annual income less than $25,000. Multiple regression analysis measured the impact of the independent variables' (i.e., age, weight satisfaction, income, education, self-efficacy, and pros and cons decisional balance) association with fruit consumption. The decisional balance pros was significantly (F = 2.189, P = .036) associated with overall fruit consumption. Respondents consumed 1.94 +/- 1.64 cups of fruit daily, with fruit juices consumed in greater amounts than any other form of fruit. Decisional balance questions relating to health (P < .05) and weight (P < .01) were significantly related to increased whole fruit intake. Results of this study suggest that decisional balance pros for health and weight can be used to predict whole-fruit consumption in low-income young adults.


The furcal nerve revisited.
Atypical sciatica and discrepancy between clinical presentation and imaging findings is a dilemma for treating surgeon in management of lumbar disc herniation. It also constitutes ground for failed back surgery and potential litigations thereof. Furcal nerve (Furcal = forked) is an independent nerve with its own ventral and dorsal branches (rootlets) and forms a link nerve that connects lumbar and sacral plexus. Its fibers branch out to be part of femoral and obturator nerves in-addition to the lumbosacral trunk. It is most commonly found at L4 level and is the most common cause of atypical presentation of radiculopathy/sciatica. Very little is published about the furcal nerve and many are unaware of its existence. This article summarizes all the existing evidence about furcal nerve in English literature in an attempt to create awareness and offer insight about this unique entity to fellow colleagues/professionals involved in spine care.


Nano-Physical Characterization of Chemical Vapor Deposition-Grown Monolayer Graphene for High Performance Electrode: Raman, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, and Electrostatic Force Microscopy Studies.
To achieve high-quality chemical vapor deposition of monolayer graphene electrodes (CVD-MG), appropriate characterization at each fabrication step is essential. In this article, (1) Raman spectroscopy/microscopy are employed to unravel the contact effect between the CVD-MG and Cu foil in suspended/supported formation. (2) The Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) system is described, unveiling the presence of a z-directional radial breathing-like mode (RBLM) around 150 cm-1, which matches the Raman shift of the radial breathing mode (RBM) from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) around 150 cm-1. This result indicates the CVD-MG located between the Au NPs and Au film is not flat but comprises heterogeneous protrusions of some domains along the z-axis. Consequently, the degree of carrier mobility can be influenced, as the protruding domains result in lower carrier mobility due to flexural phonon-electron scattering. A strongly enhanced G-peak domain, ascribed to the presence of scrolled graphene nanoribbons (sGNRs), was observed, and there remains the possibility for the fabrication of sGNRs as sources of open bandgap devices. (3) Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) is used for the measurement of surface charge distribution of graphene at the nanoscale and is crucial in substantiating the electrical performance of CVD-MG, which was influenced by the surface structure of the Cu foil. The ripple (RP) structures were determined using EFM correlated with Raman spectroscopy, exhibiting a higher tapping amplitude which was observed with structurally stable and hydrophobic RPs with a threading type than surrounding RPs. (4) To reduce the RP density and height, a plausible fabrication could be developed that controls the electrical properties of the CVD-MG by tuning the cooling rate.


Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in rRNA operons for subtyping Shigella sonnei.
Shigella sonnei is the most frequent cause of shigellosis in the United States. Epidemiologic studies of this organism have been hampered by the lack of adequate typing procedures. Ribosomal DNA analysis (ribotyping), a method which analyzes restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the chromosomal genes that encode rRNA, has recently been shown to be useful for microbial species identification and subtyping. To determine whether ribotyping could be used to distinguish between S. sonnei isolates, we conducted Southern hybridization studies on isolates from 16 different geographic locations and from four recent outbreaks. S. sonnei genomic DNA fragments generated following digestion with SalI hybridized with Escherichia coli 16S and 23S rRNAs to produce six distinct patterns; strains with patterns 1, 2, and 3 were each further subdivided into two additional patterns by using PvuII, SmaI, and SstI, respectively. Epidemiologically related strains had identical patterns. Ribotyping appears to be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of shigellosis caused by S. sonnei.


Experimental realization of plasmonic filters for multispectral and dual-polarization optical detection.
We report the design and implementation of a new class of plasmonic filters that are both wavelength and polarization selective. The plasmonic filter consists of a five-layer metallic photonic crystal structure and operates inside the photonic bandgap regime. We show that by manipulating the middle layer geometry alone, it is possible to tune the Fabry-Perot resonance over a broad spectral range (lambda=1.25to1.63 microm) and in a monolithic fashion. Furthermore, we show that the resonance has a definite polarization character that is determined by the orientation of the first layer grating. The plasmonic filter may be integrated with an array of photodetectors for high-throughput spectral and polarimetric imaging applications.


Strong coupling between phonon-polaritons and plasmonic nanorods.
We perform far-field spectroscopy of infrared metal antennas on silicon oxide layers of different thickness, where we find a splitting of the plasmonic resonance. This splitting can result in a transparency window, corresponding to suppression of antenna scattering, respectively "cloaking" of the antenna. Backed up by theory, we show that this effect is caused by strong coupling between the metal antenna plasmons and the surface phonon polaritons in the oxide layer. The effect is a kind of induced transparency in which the strength of the phonon-polariton field plays the crucial role. It represents a further tuning possibility for the optical performance of infrared devices.


Comparative genomics approaches to study organism similarities and differences.
Comparative genomics is a large-scale, holistic approach that compares two or more genomes to discover the similarities and differences between the genomes and to study the biology of the individual genomes. Comparative studies can be performed at different levels of the genomes to obtain multiple perspectives about the organisms. We discuss in detail the type of analyses that offer significant biological insights in the comparisons of (1) genome structure including overall genome statistics, repeats, genome rearrangement at both DNA and gene level, synteny, and breakpoints; (2) coding regions including gene content, protein content, orthologs, and paralogs; and (3) noncoding regions including the prediction of regulatory elements. We also briefly review the currently available computational tools in comparative genomics such as algorithms for genome-scale sequence alignment, gene identification, and nonhomology-based function prediction.


A High Frequency Geometric Focusing Transducer Based on 1-3 Piezocomposite for Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging.
Due to the small aperture of blood vessel, a considerable disadvantage to current intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging transducers is that their lateral imaging resolution is much lower than their axial resolution. To solve this problem, a single-element, 50 MHz, 0.6 mm diameter IVUS transducer with a geometric focus at 3 mm was proposed in this paper. The focusing transducer was based on a geometric-shaped 1-3 piezocomposite. The impedance/phase, pulse echo, acoustic intensity field, and imaging resolution of the focusing transducer were tested. For comparison, a flat IVUS transducer with the same diameter and 1-3 piezocomposite was made and tested too. Compared with their results, the fabricated focusing transducer exhibits broad bandwidth (107.21%), high sensitivity (404 mV), high axial imaging resolution (80 μm), and lateral imaging resolution (100 μm). The experimental results demonstrated that the high frequency geometric focusing piezocomposite transducer is capable of visualizing high axial and lateral resolution structure and improving the imaging quality of related interventional ultrasound imaging.


Immunohistochemical localization of glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in adult Syrian hamster tissues and during kidney development.
Tissues from adult Syrian hamsters were studied with immunoperoxidase techniques using polyclonal antibodies to glutathione-S-transferase (rat liver and human placental enzymes) and human erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. Most tissues immunostained similarly with these antibodies. Most notable was the cytoplasmic staining of mesenchyme tissues, especially smooth muscle, by all three antibodies. Epithelial cells stained distinctively, but usually less intensely than mesenchyme. Epithelial cells from all levels of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory epithelium, transitional epithelium, and epidermis all showed strong staining with these antibodies. Other epithelial cell types were usually positive but showed less dramatic staining. Most epithelial tissues showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining; some also showed cell-surface (eg, cilia) staining. The role of these enzymes in cell differentiation of a stable organ was studied by immunostaining the kidney during its development. Early stroma (13- and 15-day fetuses) of the kidney (metanephric mesenchyme) showed strong cell-surface staining for glutathione transferases and moderate staining for glutathione peroxidase; renal tubules (which are epithelial cells) at this stage were negative for these markers. As renal tubules differentiated, first cytoplasm and then nuclei stained moderately, suggesting that glutathione-S-transferases and glutathione peroxidase are markers of both mesenchymal cells, including embryonic mesenchyme, and terminal differentiation of at least some epithelial cells.


Case Report: Benign Infantile Seizures Temporally Associated With COVID-19.
Background: Non-febrile illness seizures may present in previously healthy children as afebrile seizures associated with minor infections, such as mild gastroenteritis or respiratory tract infections, and are linked to a genetic predisposition. For the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, fever, cough, and gastrointestinal complaints are the most common symptoms in children, and a hyperimmune response may be present. No detailed temporally associated neurological complications have been documented in pediatric case series so far. Case description: We present the case of a 3-months-old girl with non-febrile repeated seizures in a COVID-19 family setting. The infant started with a mild fever and cough that lasted for 2 days. At day 6 from onset, the girl presented with two focal motor seizures with impaired consciousness and awareness. All investigations ruled out signs of meningo-encephalitis or active epilepsy, including normal electroencephalogram and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. PCR from nasal and throat swabs was positive for SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, blood ferritin and D-dimer levels were increased. At day 9, the infant presented another afebrile motor seizure, and levetiracetam dose was modified there was a favorable response within 3 months of the follow-up. Much interest has been raised with regards to host genetic determinants to disease severity and susceptibility to COVID-19. We thus performed whole exome sequencing, revealing a pathogenic frameshift mutation in the PRRT2 gene in both the mother and the infant. The mother had presented two late infantile febrile convulsions with normal outcome afterwards. Discussion: The hyperimmune response described in adult cases with COVID-19 can be seen in infants, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Moreover, COVID-19 may present in infants as non-febrile seizures, triggering early onset seizures in infants with a genetic predisposition. In this pandemic situation, precision medicine using massive sequencing can shed light on underlying molecular mechanisms driving the host response to COVID-19.


Modification of type III VLDL, their remnants, and VLDL from ApoE-knockout mice by p-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, a product of myeloperoxidase activity, causes marked cholesteryl ester accumulation in macrophages.
Very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) from apolipoprotein (apo) E2/E2 subjects with type III hyperlipoproteinemia, VLDL remnants, and VLDL from apoE-knockout (EKO) mice are taken up poorly by macrophages. The present study examined whether VLDL modification by the reactive aldehyde p-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (pHA) enhances cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation by J774A.1 macrophages. pHA is the major product derived from the oxidation of L-tyrosine by myeloperoxidase and is a component of human atherosclerotic lesions. Incubation of J774A.1 cells with native type III VLDL, their remnants, and EKO-VLDL increased cellular CE by only 3-, 5-, and 5-fold, respectively, compared with controls. In striking contrast, cells exposed to VLDL modified by purified pHA (pHA-VLDL) exhibited marked increases in cellular CE of 38-, 47-, and 35-fold, respectively (P</=0.0001). Addition of the lipoprotein lipase inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin decreased cellular CE accumulation induced by the 3 pHA-modified VLDL preparations by 73%, 59%, and 73%, respectively. Addition of the acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor DuP 128 to cells incubated with the pHA-modified lipoproteins decreased cellular CE by 100%, 82%, and 95%, respectively, but had no effect on cellular triglycerides. To examine whether the type A scavenger receptors (SR-As) mediated the uptake of pHA-VLDL, incubations were performed in the presence of polyinosine (poly I), a polynucleotide known to block binding to SR-As (types I and II), or in cells preincubated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a cytokine known to decrease expression of SR-A type I. Coincubation of pHA-VLDL with poly I reduced cellular CE by only 38%, 44%, and 49%, respectively, whereas coincubation with IFN-gamma reduced CE by only 18%, 27%, and 65%, respectively. In marked contrast to pHA-VLDL, both poly I and IFN-gamma inhibited, by>95%, CE accumulation induced by copper-oxidized VLDL. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism for the conversion of type III VLDLs, their remnants, and EKO-VLDL into atherogenic particles and suggest that macrophage uptake of pHA-VLDL (1) requires catalytically active lipoprotein lipase, (2) involves acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-mediated cholesterol esterification, and (3) involves pathways distinct from the SR-A.


Importance of venting the left ventricle in aortic valve surgery.
Routine use of left ventricular vent is controversial in patients undergoing open heart surgery. However, surgeons use it during valvular surgery to maintain a dry field to make the operation easier. In addition it helps to prevent left ventricular distention during the critical period of rewarming and reperfusion, if ventricular function does not return immediately following the release of aortic cross clamp. In our country, patients present for valvular surgery at a very late stage and they often have severe left ventricular hypertrophy. This may affect the return of cardiac rhythm after the release of aortic cross clamp with progressive left ventricular distention. In the authors' experience, insertion of left ventricular vent through the apex is occasionally necessary to decompress the left ventricle as the left atrial vent usually fails to do so. This paper deals with retrospective analysis of the seven patients (out of a total of 395 patients who underwent valve surgery) who required insertion of left ventricular vent through the apex and reviews the beneficial effects of an apical left ventricular vent under refractory circumstances. It is recommended that insertion of left ventricular vent through apex should be strongly considered in patients having severe aortic valve disease with hypertrophied hearts, if cardiac rhythm in not restored with conventional management with left atrial vent and 3 to 5 DC shocks following the release of aortic cross clamp.


Hospitals seek cash enhancements to compensate for PIP's demise.
The demise of Medicare's periodic interim payment program on July 1, 1987, is prompting hospital administrators to take measures that will shorten the lag time in getting claim reimbursement from Medicare and provide immediate cash to pay bills during the interruption in claims payments. Since 1968, hospitals have been able to receive equal biweekly reimbursements from fiscal intermediaries to pay the bills until Medicare claims could be processed. In July hospitals will no longer receive Medicare "prepayments," prompting an immediate six- to eight-week gap in claim reimbursement. In addition to speeding up the in-house patient billing process, administrators are exploring avenues that will have long-term cost-saving benefits. Among these is consignment buy-back, a method by which hospitals can obtain immediate cash for existing inventories while using additional cash that otherwise would have been tied up in maintaining in-stock supplies.


Expressed antibody repertoires in human cord blood cells: 454 sequencing and IMGT/HighV-QUEST analysis of germline gene usage, junctional diversity, and somatic mutations.
Human cord blood cell-derived IgM antibodies are important for the neonate immune responses and construction of germline-based immunoglobulin libraries. Several previous studies of a relatively small number of sequences found that they exhibit restrictions in the usage of germline genes and in the diversity of the variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 compared to adults. To further characterize such restrictions on a larger scale and to compare the early B-cell diversity to adult IgM repertoires, we performed 454 sequencing and IMGT/HighV-QUEST analysis of cord blood IG libraries from two babies and determined germline gene usage, V-D-J rearrangement, VHCDR3 diversity, and somatic mutations to characterize human neonate repertoire. Most of the germline subgroups were identified with frequencies comparable to those present in the adult IgM repertoire except for the IGHV1-2 gene that was preferentially expressed in the cord blood cells. The gene usage diversity contributed to 1,430 unique IGH V-D-J rearrangement patterns while the exonuclease trimming and N region addition at the V-D-J junctions along with gene diversity created a wide range of VHCDR3 with different lengths and sequence variability. We observed a lower degree of somatic mutations in the CDR and framework regions of antibodies from cord blood cells compared to adults. These results provide insights into the characteristics of human cord blood antibody repertoires, which have gene usage diversity and VHCDR3 lengths similar to that of the adult IgM repertoire but differ significantly in some of the gene usages, V-D-J rearrangements, junctional diversity, and somatic mutations.


Effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on enzymatic elastolysis of insoluble elastin determined by a conductimetric method.
The effect of some divalent cations on the elastolysis of insoluble elastin by pancreatic elastase has been studied with a conductimetric method. Mn2+ and Cu2+ give progressive inhibition, while Ca2+ initially slightly increases elastolysis, then becomes an inhibitor at concentrations higher than 10(-4) M. A stronger effect is demonstrated with Mg2+ which increases the initial velocity of the enzymatic reaction. However, there is no effect when N-succinyl-(Ala)(3)-paranitroanilide is used as the substrate. The different effects observed can be explained by an enzymatic activation process (cation-enzyme complex) and/or by a conformational change of the insoluble elastin.


CdS/CdSe core-shell nanorod arrays: energy level alignment and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.
Novel CdS/CdSe core-shell nanorod arrays were fabricated by a chemical bath deposition of CdSe on hydrothermally synthesized CdS nanorods. The CdS rods were hexagonal phase faced and the top of the rod was subulate. After the chemical bath deposition approach, CdS nanorod arrays were encapsulated by a uniform CdSe layer resulting enhanced absorbance and extended absorption edges of the films. A tandem structure of the energy bands of CdS/CdSe was also formed as a result of the Fermi level alignment, which is a benefit to the efficient separation of photogenerated charges. CdS/CdSe core-shell arrays gave a maximum photocurrent of 5.3 mA/cm(2), which was 4 and 11 times as large as bare CdS and CdSe, respectively.


Reasons for using traditional methods and role of nurses in family planning.
The withdrawal method and other traditional methods of contraception are still used in Turkey. Ninety-eight percent of women in Turkey know about modern family planning methods and where to find contraceptives. In fact, only one in every three women uses an effective method. The aim of this descriptive and experimental study was to investigate reasons for using traditional methods and the role of nurses in family planning. The women included in the sample were visited in their homes by nurses and educated for family planning in four sessions. Overall, 53.3% of women were using an effective method. However, 54.3% of women living in the Sirintepe district and 41.6% of women living in the Yenikent district were still using the traditional methods they used before. After the education sessions, the most widely used method was found to be intrauterine device (22.8%) in Sirintepe and condom (25%) in Yenikent. There was a significant difference in family planning methods between these two districts (p < 0.001).


Investigations of multiple detection of polymers.
Theoretical and experimental aspects of multiple detection analysis of polymers are critically revised for size exclusion chromatography (SEC). In particular, different combinations of detectors, the importance of the injected mass and the influence of the tacticity of polymers are evaluated in respect to the accuracy of the weight fractions of the polymer components. It is also shown how overlapping detector responses of the chemical components will affect the accuracy of the weight fractions. The calculation of the weight fractions is performed with equations derived for n different chemical components and detectors by using the slopes and intercepts of the linear response equations. Several detector combinations of dual detection in SEC are evaluated with PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers to determine the comonomer compositions and for the first time different combinations of triple detections are performed for the determination of the weight fractions of a blend of three homopolymers, respectively. The correct determination of the weight fractions of minor and main components of polymers is strongly affected by the chosen combination of detectors, the injected mass and the intercept of the response calibrations. It is shown how these conditions have to be changed to obtain correct quantifications of the weight fractions according to the experimental setups. The experimental results are approved with online SEC-(1)H/NMR where no response factors are required.