Genetic Characterization of Novel H7Nx Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses from Wild Birds in South Korea during the Winter of 2020-2021.
Zoonotic infection with avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of subtype H7, such as H7N9 and H7N4, has raised concerns worldwide. During the winter of 2020-2021, five novel H7 low pathogenic AIVs (LPAIVs) containing different neuraminidase (NA) subtypes, including two H7N3, an H7N8, and two H7N9, were detected in wild bird feces in South Korea. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the novel H7Nx AIVs were reassortants containing two gene segments (hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix) that were related to the zoonotic Jiangsu-Cambodian H7 viruses causing zoonotic infection and six gene segments originating from LPAIVs circulating in migratory birds in Eurasia. A genomic constellation analysis demonstrated that all H7 isolates contained a mix of gene segments from different viruses, indicating that multiple reassortment occurred. The well-known mammalian adaptive substitution (E627K and D701N) in PB2 was not detected in any of these isolates. The detection of multiple reassortant H7Nx AIVs in wild birds highlights the need for intensive surveillance in both wild birds and poultry in Eurasia.


Life-threatening hemophagocytic syndrome related to mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Hemophagocytosis is a classic but uncommon complication of tuberculosis and can lead to a life-threatening condition. We report two cases of severe hemophagocytic syndrome related to mycobacterium tuberculosis. The etiologic diagnosis was made by specific polymerase chain reaction in one patient. These reports illustrate that tuberculosis should be considered for the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome in critically ill patients.


Range of motion and function are not affected by increased post constraint in patients undergoing posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.
Constrained primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can provide stability in the face of incompetent collateral structures or irreconcilable flexion-extension imbalances. However, little is known about its effect on overall knee range of motion (ROM). This study determines whether TKA with increased constraint affects postoperative ROM. Patients undergoing primary TKA using either posterior stabilized (PS) or constrained condylar knee (CCK) inserts were match-paired based on body mass index, preoperative ROM, and direction and severity of the coronal deformity, yielding 68 pairs. ROM and Knee Society Score (KSS) were obtained preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 4 months, and 1 year. When the 68 matched pairs were considered, all outcome variables related to ROM between the PS and CCK groups at each of the postoperative intervals were similar. Additionally, both the individual items and combined scores of the KSS were similar between groups at all time points. We demonstrate that the use of increased constraint does not affect ROM, relief of pain, or function after TKA. Level III (retrospective case-controlled study, based on prospectively collected data).


Factors associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality among Hispanic patients living on the USA-Mexico border.
COVID-19 has ravaged the medical, social, and financial landscape across the world, and the USA-Mexico border is no exception. Although some risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality have already been identified in various ethnic cohorts, there remains a paucity of data among Hispanics, particularly those living on borders. Ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes in Hispanic and black populations have been reported. We sought to identify the clinical presentation, treatment, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of 82 Hispanic patients in a county hospital and describe the factors associated with rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (48.8%) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (39%), both found to be associated with hospitalization and mortality, while only DM was associated with increased rate of ICU admission. Multivariable analysis showed that individuals with fever, low oxygen saturation (SpO2), nasal congestion, shortness of breath, and DM had an increased risk of hospitalization. Individuals with fever, decreased levels of SpO2, and advanced age were found to be associated with an increased risk of death. The most common cause of death was respiratory failure (28.9%), followed by shock (17.8%) and acute kidney injury (15.6%). Our findings are critical to developing strategies and identifying at-risk individuals in a Hispanic population living on borders. Research aiming to identify key evidence-based prognostic factors in our patient population will help inform our healthcare providers so that best interventions can be implemented to improve the outcomes of patients with COVID-19.


Collective and decentralized management model in public hospitals: perspective of the nursing team.
This research aims to present the implementation of the collective and decentralized management model in functional units of a public hospital in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, according to the view of the nursing staff and the health technical assistant. This historical and organizational case study used qualitative thematic content analysis proposed by Bardin for data analysis. The institution started the decentralization of its administrative structure in 1999, through collective management, which permitted several internal improvements, with positive repercussion for the care delivered to users. The top-down implementation of the process seems to have jeopardized workers adherence, although collective management has intensified communication and the sharing of power and decision. The study shows that there is still much work to be done to concretize this innovative management proposal, despite the advances regarding the quality of care.


Presoaking ACL Grafts in Vancomycin Decreases the Frequency of Postoperative Septic Arthritis: A Cohort Study of 29,659 Patients, Systematic Review, and Meta-analysis From the SANTI Study Group.
Presoaking anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts in vancomycin has been reported to reduce the occurrence of septic arthritis (SA). However, strong recommendations for its universal use have been precluded by concerns regarding the fragility of previous meta-analyses. The primary objective was to investigate whether presoaking ACL grafts in vancomycin was associated with a reduction in the rate of SA in a large series of patients. The secondary objective was to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of vancomycin in reducing the rate of SA. Cohort study and systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) at our institution was undertaken. Rates of postoperative SA were determined and analyzed according to whether patients had received grafts presoaked in vancomycin. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of SA were calculated according to the inverse variance approach. Results were presented using forest plots, funnel plots, and the fragility index. A total of 5300 patients underwent primary ACLR during the study period. The rate of SA was 0.34% (11/3228) in the control group and 0.05% (1/2072) in the presoaked group. There was a 5-fold greater risk of SA in patients who did not receive grafts presoaked in vancomycin (OR, 5.13 [95% CI, 1.16-48.30]; P = .04). Overall, 11 studies were included in the systematic review (29,659 ACLR procedures). The meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly greater risk of SA in those patients who did not receive grafts presoaked in vancomycin (OR, 14.39 [95% CI, 5.90-35.10]; fragility index = 23). This finding held true for the subpopulation receiving hamstring tendon grafts (fragility index = 16), but only a trend was demonstrated for bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts. The meta-analysis demonstrated that presoaking ACL grafts in vancomycin was associated with significant reductions in the rates of SA when all graft types were analyzed together. This finding held true specifically for hamstring tendon autografts. The fragility index of these findings allows for a strong recommendation for the universal use of vancomycin presoaking. However, it should be noted that only a trend toward reduced SA rates was demonstrated with presoaking bone-patellar tendon-bone autografts in vancomycin.


A wide and versatile combined surgical approach to the shoulder.
Complex injuries and conditions of the shoulder may necessitate wide exposure during the operative procedure. The commonly used approach today is a wide anterior deltopectoral approach with extensive detachment of the deltoid muscle, leading to muscle damage, which may result in difficult postoperative rehabilitation and deteriorated function. We describe a simple combined approach that consists of a deltopectoral approach in conjunction with a subcutaneously performed lateral deltoid split with a single skin incision. We believe this surgical technique provides another useful tool to achieve wide and versatile exposure of the shoulder without jeopardizing the function of either the deltoid muscle or axillary nerve.


Predictors identifying those at increased risk for STDs: a theory-guided review of empirical literature and clinical guidelines.
SummarySexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are leading causes of substantial morbidity worldwide. Identification of risk factors for estimating STD risk provides opportunities for optimising service delivery in clinical settings, including improving case finding accuracy and increasing cost-efficiency by limiting the testing of low-risk individuals. The current study was undertaken to synthesise the evidence supporting commonly cited chlamydia and gonorrhoea risk factors. The level of empirical support for the following predictors was strong/moderate: age, race/ethnicity, multiple lifetime sexual partners, sex with symptomatic partners and concurrent STD diagnosis. The following predictors had weak evidence: socio-economic status, transactional sex, drug/alcohol use, condom use and history of STD diagnosis. The most frequently listed predictors among nine clinical guidelines were younger age and multiple sexual partners; the least consistently listed predictor was inconsistent condom use. We found reasonably good concordance between risk factors consistently listed in the recommendations and predictors found to have strong empirical support in the literature. There is a need to continue building the evidence base to explicate the mechanisms and pathways of STD acquisition. We recommend periodic reviews of the level of support of predictors included in clinical guidelines to ensure that they are in accordance with empirical evidence.


[From admission team to hospital bed management].
Reduction on number of hospital beds i.e. on patients' admission among hospitals in Lazio has lead to a reformulation of health service framework within Lazio indentifying hospital as the only place to go to treat acute and urgent diseases. San Camillo-Forlanini, the largest hospital in Rome, according to the regional health plan, the recovery plan and the redevelopment of network hospital has had a significant reduction of hospital beds leading, as consequence, to the need of an internal reorganization. In order to correctly address this issue, the management of the Hospital started in February 2008 a project, setting up a group made up by nursing coordinators which had as a main aim to manage the number of hospital beds needed for emergencies. This group has been called "Admission Team" and nurses within the group are familiar with hospital policies and organization. The team collaborates daily with physicians and nurses in emergency room, in order to decide the most appropriate health care protocol for each patient. The project follows a specific methodology i.e. Systemic Analysis. Over the years this project has contributed to the improvement to a number of indicators and more generally to the health care within the hospital together with the enhancement of education of new managerial roles among health professional. In 2009, the Regional Council of Lazio has recognized this project as strategic within private and public hospitals.


IgG antibodies, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary function values in farmer's lung patients and matched controls.
We measured IgG antibody levels against eight different microbes in farmer's lung (FL) patients an average of 14 years after the first diagnosed episode of FL and in matched controls. The study population consisted of 87 FL patients and 81 control farmers, matched by age, sex, and smoking habits. Clinical studies included the measurement of IgG antibody levels against Absidia corymbifera, Aspergillus umbrosus, A. fumigatus, Humicola grisea, Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, Penicillium brevicompactum, Rhodotorula glutinis, and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, in addition to spirometry, pulmonary diffusing capacity (DL(CO)), and the evaluation of chronic bronchitis. Median IgG antibody levels were two or more times higher in FL patients than control farmers against Ab. corymbifera, S. rectivirgula, and T. vulgaris (P<0.001). Against A. fumigatus, H. grisea, and R. glutinis, FL patients also had significantly higher antibody levels. FL patients often had positive antibody titers against several microbes, whereas control farmers usually had a positive titer against one or two microbes. A positive association between IgG antibody levels and chronic bronchitis and DL(CO) was observed in FL patients, but not in control farmers. It is suggested that the high antibody levels noted in FL patients were due not only to high exposure but also to individual sensitivity to environmental microbes.


Ice-age endurance: DNA evidence of a white spruce refugium in Alaska.
Paleorecords offer key information for evaluating model simulations of species migration in response to forecast climatic change. However, their utility can be greatly compromised by the existence of glacial refugia that are undetectable in fossil records (cryptic refugia). Despite several decades of investigation, it remains controversial whether Beringia, the largely unglaciated area extending from northeastern Siberia to the Yukon Territory, harbored small populations of certain boreal tree species during the last glaciation. Here, we present genetic evidence for the existence of a glacial refuge in Alaska that helps to resolve this long-standing controversy. We sequenced chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of white spruce (Picea glauca), a dominant boreal tree species, in 24 forest stands across northwestern North America. The majority of cpDNA haplotypes are unique, and haplotype diversity is relatively high in Alaska, arguing against the possibility that this species migrated into the region from areas south of the Laurentide Ice Sheet after the end of the last glaciation. Thus, white spruce apparently survived long glacial episodes under climatic extremes in a heterogeneous landscape matrix. These results suggest that estimated rates of tree migration from fossil records may be too high and that the ability of trees to track anthropogenic warming may be more limited than previously thought.


A motif-based approach to network epidemics.
Networks have become an indispensable tool in modelling infectious diseases, with the structure of epidemiologically relevant contacts known to affect both the dynamics of the infection process and the efficacy of intervention strategies. One of the key reasons for this is the presence of clustering in contact networks, which is typically analysed in terms of prevalence of triangles in the network. We present a more general approach, based on the prevalence of different four-motifs, in the context of ODE approximations to network dynamics. This is shown to outperform existing models for a range of small world networks.


Postload Plasma Glucose but Not Fasting Plasma Glucose Had a Greater Predictive Value for Cardiovascular Disease in a Large Prospective Cohort Study in Southwest China.
Uncertainty remains regarding the relevance of glycemia, though below the threshold for diabetes, for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the Southwest Chinese. We aimed to examine the associations of the first-onset CVD with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postload glucose (2h-PG) in Southwest China. The current study examined data from the Guizhou Population Health Cohort Study (GPHCS) of 9,280 participants aged 18 to 95 years recruited from 12 areas since 2010 in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Participants were followed-up until December, 2020. Primary outcomes were the first onset of a composite of or one of major CVD events, including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke and myocardial infarction. FPG, 2h-PG, other metabolic factors and some demographic factors were collected at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of CVD associated with FPG and 2h-PG. Sensitive analysis and stratified analysis were conducted among participants across different modifiable risk factors and demographic features. During a median of 6.58 years of follow-up, of 7,593 participants with available data for analysis, 174 experienced at least one CVD events, 158 developed stroke (including 126 ischemic stroke and 39 Ischemic stroke events), and 24 developed myocardial infarction. The risk of major CVD events was significantly increased with elevated 2h-PG but not FPG. Compared with participants in the lowest tertile of 2h-PG, those in the highest tertile had a 1.87-fold (95%CI: 1.26-2.77) increased risk for overall CVD, a 1.82-fold (95%CI: 1.20-2.75) increased risk for overall Stroke, and a 1.82-fold (95%CI: 1.20-2.75) increased risk for ischemic stroke, respectively, after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, ethnic group, education level, systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglycerides (TG), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). However, there was no relation of glycemia of haemorrhagic stroke or myocardial infarction (P > 0.05). The effect sizes in the associations of CVD with 2h-PG become enhanced among those within normal range of glycemia, SBP, TG, BMI, as well as those without hypertension, dyslipidemia.and obesity. 2h-PG, in contrast to FPG, is a significant indicator in predication of CVD in Southwest Chinese. Elevated 2h-PG, though below the below the threshold for diabetes, remains independently increased the risk of CVD.


Value of multiphase computed tomography for gastrointestinal bleeding before endovascular treatment in hemodynamically unstable patients.
There has been no practice-based study regarding the multiphase computed tomography (CT) before endovascular treatment in hemodynamically unstable gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and concerns exist regarding the time delay. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of multiphase CT before endovascular treatment in hemodynamically unstable GIB and to investigate the predictors of angiographic localization and recurrent bleeding. The multicenter retrospective study included 93 consecutive hemodynamically unstable patients who underwent conventional angiography for non-variceal GIB after failed endoscopic localization. Enrolled patients were divided into a CT group (n = 61) and a non-CT group (n = 32). The clinical characteristics did not differ between the two groups except for the time to angiography (CT group, 14.8±15.1 h; non-CT group, 9.2±11.7 h, P = 0.022). The rate of angiographic localization was significantly higher in the CT group than in the non-CT group only for lower GIB (P = 0.049). Indirect sign was significantly more frequent in the CT group than in the non-CT group (P = 0.014). CT localization was positive predictor (odd ratio [OR] = 7.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-27.94; P = 0.002) and prolonged time to angiography was negative predictor (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.9- 0.98; P = 0.001) for angiographic localization. A higher systolic blood pressure until index angiography (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.91-1; P = 0.044) was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent bleeding. In hemodynamically unstable patients, multiphase CT is particularly useful for angiographic localization of lower GIB. It should be considered immediately after failed endoscopic hemostasis to reduce time to angiography.


Family caregivers and indicators of cancer-related distress.
Increases in the cost of medical care coupled with shorter hospital stays and an aging population are but a few of the reasons why home care for patients has become so important. This study examines variables that contribute to distress among lay-caregivers who provide home care to cancer survivors. Participants consisted of 135 survivor-caregiver dyads in which the caregiver was a member of the survivor's family or a close friend. Measures of caregiver distress were selected from the Ferrell et al. (1995) quality of life tool; predictor variables included cancer survivor and caregiver demographics, physical and emotional health status and behavioural characteristics. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that, jointly, the three sets of indicators accounted for 35% of caregiver distress. Standardized regression coefficients indicated that relational deprivation (feelings of loss of togetherness, planned activities and contact with other individuals) was the most important predictor of caregiver distress (p<0.01). Female sex, less practice of healthy behaviours, greater number of patient care needs and pessimistic expectations (all ps<0.05) also were significant predictors in the final trimmed model. Results suggest that cancer support services that address the needs of the care receiver with the protection of the family caregiver in mind should be considered.


Uncommon occupational lung diseases: high-resolution CT findings.
The purpose of this article is to describe the high-resolution CT (HRCT) features of uncommon occupational lung diseases. HRCT plays an increasing role in the evaluation of occupational lung diseases. We present several cases of unusual occupational lung diseases and their HRCT findings. The diseases studied were siderosis, talcosis, berylliosis, calcicosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (due to wheat flour and isocyanates), and Ardystil syndrome. The characteristic HRCT findings together with clinical features and related occupational history improve the diagnostic accuracy of these diseases.


Design and testing of a novel multi-stroke micropositioning system with variable resolutions.
Multi-stroke stages are demanded in micro-/nanopositioning applications which require smaller and larger motion strokes with fine and coarse resolutions, respectively. This paper presents the conceptual design of a novel multi-stroke, multi-resolution micropositioning stage driven by a single actuator for each working axis. It eliminates the issue of the interference among different drives, which resides in conventional multi-actuation stages. The stage is devised based on a fully compliant variable stiffness mechanism, which exhibits unequal stiffnesses in different strokes. Resistive strain sensors are employed to offer variable position resolutions in the different strokes. To quantify the design of the motion strokes and coarse/fine resolution ratio, analytical models are established. These models are verified through finite-element analysis simulations. A proof-of-concept prototype XY stage is designed, fabricated, and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of the presented ideas. Experimental results of static and dynamic testing validate the effectiveness of the proposed design.


Growth and Death of Selected Microorganisms in Ultrafiltered Milk.
Studies were made to compare the growth and death of Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli in skim milk concentrated by ultrafiltration to that in unconcentrated skim milk. Skim milk was volume concentrated to 2× in laboratory-scale stirred UF cells. Behavior of the organisms was analyzed in four inoculated milk samples: 2× retentate, 1× water-diluted retentate, milk equivalent (retentate plus permeate) and unconcentrated skim milk. Growth of each organism and of total aerobes did not vary in the four milk samples at either 7 or 13°C. For S. faecalis and E. coli , D-values for samples heated to 62.7°C did not significantly differ in the four milk samples (p>0.01). The D-value of S. aureus in water-diluted retentate was slightly but significantly lower than those in the other three milk samples (p<0.01), possibly due to the lowered lactose level in this sample.


Drosophila Su(Hw) insulator can stimulate transcription of a weakened yellow promoter over a distance.
The insulator element from the gypsy transposon is a DNA sequence that blocks activation of a promoter by a transcriptional enhancer when placed between them. The insulator contains reiterated binding sites for the Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] zinc-finger protein. A protein encoded by another gene, modifier of mdg4 [mod(mdg4)], is also required for the enhancer-blocking activity of the Su(Hw) insulator. Here we present evidence that the Su(Hw) insulator activates a weakened yellow promoter at a distance. Deletion of the upstream promoter region (UPR), located close by the TATA box, significantly reduces yellow expression. The Su(Hw) insulator placed at different positions relative to the yellow promoter partially compensates for loss of the UPR. Su(Hw) is able to stimulate yellow expression even if it is located at a 5-kb distance from the promoter. The stimulatory activity depends on the number of Su(Hw)-binding sites. Mutational analysis demonstrates that only the DNA-binding domain and adjacent regions of the Su(Hw) protein are required for stimulation of yellow transcription.


Comet tail artifact on ultrasonography: is it a reliable finding of benign gallbladder diseases?
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the comet tail artifact on ultrasonography can be used to reliably diagnose benign gallbladder diseases. This retrospective study reviewed the clinical findings, imaging findings, preoperative ultrasonographic diagnoses, and pathological diagnoses of 150 patients with comet tail artifacts who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with pathologic confirmation. The extent of the involved lesion was classified as localized or diffuse, depending on the degree of involvement and the anatomical section of the gallbladder that was involved. This study evaluated the differences in clinical and imaging findings among pathologic diagnoses. All gallbladder lesions exhibiting the comet tail artifact on ultrasound examination were confirmed as benign gallbladder diseases after cholecystectomy, including 71 cases of adenomyomatosis (47.3%), 74 cases of chronic cholecystitis (49.3%), two cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (1.3%), and three cases of cholesterolosis (2.0%); there were two cases of coexistent chronic cholecystitis and low-grade dysplasia. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the clinical and ultrasonographic findings, with the exception of gallstones (P=0.007), among the four diseases. There were no significant differences in the average length, thickness, or number of comet tail artifacts among the four diagnoses. No malignancies were detected in any of the 150 thickened gallbladder lesions. The ultrasonographic finding of the comet tail artifact in patients with thickened gallbladder lesions is associated with the presence of benign gallbladder diseases, and can be considered a reliable sign of benign gallbladder disease.


Clinical manifestations and progression, seasonal variation, and environmental factors associated with Paederus dermatitis among patients attending the outpatient dermatology clinic of Thailand's largest national tertiary referral center: a prospective cohort study.
Paederus dermatitis (PD) is a skin reaction to a chemical substance called paederin, which emanates from a beetle of Paederus spp. This study's objective was to investigate the clinical manifestations and progression, seasonal variation, and environmental factors associated with PD among patients attending the outpatient dermatology clinic of Siriraj Hospital. This prospective cohort study included patients who were diagnosed with PD at the Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand during the October 2017 to July 2018 study period. Sociodemographic and environmental data were collected by questionnaire. Twenty-five PD patients (16 females, 9 males) were included with a mean age of 40.9 years (range 17-69 years). The most common sites were the upper and lower extremities. Erythema, linear, and kissing lesions (where two skin surfaces contact) were found in 100%, 32%, and 28% of patients, respectively. Seventy-six percent of patients demonstrated more than one lesion. Eighty percent of patients lived in Bangkok, and 44% of patients had a home near a farm or forest. Fluorescent lighting was used in the homes of 24 patients. All 25 patients were treated with topical steroid, and some received other supportive regimens. Two patients had post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as a complication; only 7 of 25 patients attended the scheduled follow-up visit. In Thailand, PD presents throughout the year, but the most active month is December. Skin lesions vary from mild irritant dermatitis to severe dermatitis, and the average time to complete cure is 12 days. History and clinical manifestation are essential for accurate diagnosis.


Polyethylenimine Ethoxylated-Mediated All-Solution-Processed High-Performance Flexible Inverted Quantum Dot-Light-Emitting Device.
We report on an all-solution-processed fabrication of highly efficient green quantum dot-light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with an inverted architecture, where an interfacial polymeric surface modifier of polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) is inserted between a quantum dot (QD) emitting layer (EML) and a hole transport layer (HTL), and a MoOx hole injection layer is solution deposited on top of the HTL. Among the inverted QLEDs with varied PEIE thicknesses, the device with an optimal PEIE thickness of 15.5 nm shows record maximum efficiency values of 65.3 cd/A in current efficiency and 15.6% in external quantum efficiency (EQE). All-solution-processed fabrication of inverted QLED is further implemented on a flexible platform by developing a high-performing transparent conducting composite film of ZnO nanoparticles-overcoated on Ag nanowires. The resulting flexible inverted device possesses 35.1 cd/A in current efficiency and 8.4% in EQE, which are also the highest efficiency values ever reported in flexible QLEDs.


Allergies in India: a study on medication compliance.
There are no studies in Indian literature on compliance to various medications for allergic diseases such as nasal sprays, inhalers, immunotherapy and antihistamines. This study was initiated to cover this lacuna. Eighty young patients suffering from asthma with rhinitis or urticaria between the age group of 10 and 40 years were included in this study. Compliance to medications was carefully observed using dose diaries for a period of one year. The data obtained revealed the highest compliance for sublingual immunotherapy (84.19%) and the lowest for a nasal spray (62.32%). The compliance for a dry powder inhaler was 69.31% and for fexofenadine tablets it was 71.78%. These figures are surprisingly low, especially since this study was conducted in a private clinic.


Tooth intentional replantation from 1964 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis.
There is no thorough overview of intentional tooth replantation techniques. We performed a bibliometric analysis of the development of intentional tooth replantation. A comprehensive search of the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases was conducted in February 2023. Original articles and reviews of human studies with "intentional replantation" or synonyms in the titles, abstracts, or keywords were included. A descriptive analysis of bibliographic data, co-occurrence analysis, and coupling of publications was performed. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the bibliometric parameters associated with the citation counts. The study included 171 papers, which were co-authored by 500 individuals affiliated with 217 institutions from 28 countries/regions. The USA contributed the greatest number of publications, followed by China, and Japan. The USA had 694 citations, followed by Japan (210), and Turkey (210). The Journal of Endodontics and Dental Traumatology contributed the most citations. Five directions for future research were identified based on the coupling relationships of publications, including "managing vertical root fractures with adhesive resin using the intentional replantation technique," "intentional replantation for periodontally hopeless or endodontically compromised teeth," "intentional replantation for treating abnormalities of morphological development," "outcomes and prognosis factors of intentional replantation," and "treating root replacement resorption by intentional replantation." Multivariate analysis showed that the publication year, Journal Citation Reports ranking of journals, study design, and disease type were predictors of citation counts. This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive description of the intentional replantation technique. The USA published the greatest volume of papers and generated the most citations. The Journal of Endodontics and Dental Traumatology are considered the most influential. The Journal Citation Reports journal ranking (Q1, Q2), study design (case reports, cohort studies), and disease type (crown root fractures) were associated with the citation counts.


Clearance of glucoregulatory peptide hormones during haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration in non-diabetic end-stage renal disease patients.
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have increased fasting concentrations and disturbed postprandial responses of several glucoregulatory hormones. We aimed to evaluate the impact of high-flux haemodialysis (HD) and high-volume haemodiafiltration (HDF) on fasting and postprandial plasma levels of glucoregulatory pancreatic and gut peptide hormones in ESRD patients. Ten non-diabetic HD-treated ESRD patients were included to undergo a 3-h standardized liquid mixed meal test 1 h into an HD and an HDF, respectively. On a third, optional, examination day, the meal test was performed without concurrent dialysis treatment. Concentrations of glucose, C-peptide, insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide were measured in plasma and dialysate. Ten participants completed the meal test during HD, eight completed the meal test during HDF and four completed the optional meal test without dialysis. All plasma hormone concentrations declined significantly during the first fasting hour of dialysis with no differences between HD and HDF. Significant clearance of the investigated hormones was observed for both dialysis modalities with significantly higher clearance of insulin, C-peptide and GIP during HDF compared with HD. The fractional appearance of hormones entering the utilized dialysate was higher during HDF. Both dialysis modalities reduced postprandial plasma hormone concentrations in a similar manner. Our findings show that HD and HDF, respectively, significantly remove glucoregulatory peptide hormones from plasma of non-diabetic ESRD patients; a phenomenon which may affect the glucose metabolism in dialysis-treated ESRD patients.


Developmental expression pattern of Hspb8 mRNA in the mouse brain: analysis through online databases.
Hspb8 is a member of the Hspb family of chaperone-like proteins. It is involved in several neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary distal motor neuropathy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth's disease. In this work, we aimed to characterize its expression pattern in the mouse brain, by using the information available at online databases of high-throughput in situ hybridization. Therefore, we downloaded and analyzed the image series from these databases showing Hspb8 mRNA expression from embryonic to adult and aging stages. In early gestational embryos, Hspb8 was expressed in the hippocampal anlagen and in the ventricular layer of rhombomere 4. At perinatal stages, there appeared transitory expression in the dentate gyrus and the cerebellar cortex. From perinatal to aging stages, the neurons of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus and cranial motor nuclei displayed stable and strong Hspb8 expression. Additionally, along these stages there was moderate and relatively homogenous expression in the anterodorsal thalamic, lateral mammillary, arcuate hypothalamic and medial habenular nuclei, and in the locus coeruleus. In its turn, the basal ganglia, cerebellar inner granular layer and diverse sensory and reticular formation nuclei of the hindbrain contained scattered cells with strong expression. In conclusion, Hspb8 mRNA is constitutively expressed in specific brain structures across ontogeny, so that eventually they could be affected by the malfunction or deregulation of this molecule.


Long-Term Stability of Short Circuits in Deep Brain Stimulation.
To evaluate the long-term course of DBS electrodes with short-circuited contacts. Electrodes with bipolar impedances below 150 Ω were identified from a cohort of 1044 patients with 2082 electrodes for variable movement disorders. The long-term course was analyzed from follow-up data. Short circuits were found in 62 electrodes (3.0%) from 60 patients (5.7%). They were restricted to two contacts in 57 electrodes (91.9%) and included more than two contacts in five electrodes. Onset was related to surgery (implantation, impulse generator replacements, or other surgical revisions) in 42 electrodes (67.7%). The onset was undetermined in 11 electrodes. In eight electrodes (12.9%) with previously normal impedances, the short circuit occurred spontaneously during long-term DBS and in one electrode after a fall. Repeated impedance checks at follow-ups of ≥3 months were available in 41 electrodes with short circuits. Twenty-six electrodes (63.4%) showed stable low impedances during observation up to nine years and two months (median 29 months). In four electrodes low impedances were stable until surgical revisions. In eight electrodes (19.5%) with observation up to nine years and seven months (median 54 months), short circuits were only detected intermittently but remained restricted to two contacts. In three electrodes (7.3%) intermittent short circuits between more than two contacts were found during long-term DBS. An increasing cumulative incidence demonstrates the clinical importance of short circuits. In the majority of electrodes, short circuits are restricted and remain restricted to two contacts during long-term stimulation.


Surgical service centralisation in Australia versus choice and quality of life for rural patients.
High patient volume for both hospitals and surgeons is an important determinant of operative mortality and outcome for complex and infrequently performed operations. The 13% of Australia's population who live in rural and remote areas often choose to have surgery close to home and support networks despite the potentially higher operative mortality and morbidity. Rural patients should be able to make an informed choice about having their surgery locally. Rural and metropolitan surgeons should discuss and reach mutual agreement on where each patient is best treated. A balance must be struck between quality of services that can be provided locally and geographic convenience.


Ankle brachial index screening for occult vascular disease is not useful in HIV-positive patients.
Metabolic complications common to the HIV-positive population may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) is a screening tool commonly used for the detection of asymptomatic PAD. The prevalence of asymptomatic PAD based on ABI in HIV-positive patients is unknown. This study was cross-sectional in design and assessed PAD by measuring the systolic ABI as determined by a handheld 8-MHz Doppler probe with the patient at rest in a supine position. A brief medical history including pertinent risk factors was obtained. One hundred and sixty-seven HIV-positive patients were evaluated (97.6% male; mean age 52.0 years; 31.2% current smokers, 29.4% former smokers, 26.3% diabetes mellitus). Asymptomatic PAD (ABI < or = 0.9) was found in four patients (2.4%, 95% CI: 0.3-4.5%). Smoking was a significant predictor of PAD. Patients with a positive test for PAD had at least two major risk factors for the disease including smoking, a history of disease in another vascular bed, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension. All patients with a positive test for PAD had a high risk (>20%) for cardiovascular disease according to the Framingham risk score. Three of the four patients with positive tests had previously diagnosed vascular disease (CAD, stroke). Three patients presenting with PAD were evaluated and all had a positive ABI. The prevalence of PAD compared to previous studies on PAD in HIV was low and identified only those patients with high cardiovascular risk based on other features. ABI was not useful in detecting occult vascular disease in HIV-positive patients and offers no additional information to that derived from cardiovascular risk stratification.


Identification of immunogenic antigen candidate for Chlamydophila pneumoniae diagnosis.
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a Gram-negative intracellular obligate human pathogen and accounts for 5-10% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia. However, isolating and culturing this pathogen is difficult, so there have been several studies searching for new biomarkers for its diagnosis. In this study, we obtained immunogenic proteins of C. pneumoniae KNIH-1 for diagnosis using immunoproteomics. C. pneumoniae infection sera were selected for the highest index value of C. pneumoniae-specific IgG using microimmunofluorescence (MIF). The detected protein spots in common from C. pneumoniae infection sera using proteome analysis were identified as Omp11, type III secretion system ATPase, and PmpG by LC-MS/MS and MS databases. They were selected as candidate antigens. In addition, using in silico prediction we also identified proteins encoded by Omp11, PmpG and IncA as antigens. And then, IncA acts as an effector by a type III secretion system ATPase, as identified by mass spectrometry, and was selected as a candidate antigen. Thus, we predict proteins encoded by Omp11, the PmpG family and by IncA as candidate diagnostic immunogens.


History of the Journal of the American College of Toxicology.
This companion article to the History of the American College of Toxicology also is written in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the American College of Toxicology (ACT). It relates how the official journal of the College evolved from a privately owned publication, the Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology (JEPT), into publications owned and managed by the College and its Board, for the first 17 years as the Journal of the American College of Toxicology (JACT) and currently as The International Journal of Toxicology (IJT). It relates how the first journal focused on toxicological studies, potential cancer causes and concerns associated with environmental contamination and chemical exposure safety issues. It tells how this journal was replaced by one more broadly based that addressed multiple industries and regulatory approaches, accepted previously unpublishable "no-effect" studies, so important in eliminating unwarranted animal use, and provided review articles, rather than only original research. It also described how the JACT evolved into an international journal finally recognized for its quality reviews and peer-reviewed research. Each of the three journals that represented the College is described, as well as interesting events associated with their development and publication, including the activities and contributions of the first four editors in chief, Drs. Myron A. Mehlman, Mildred S. Christian, Robert M. Diener and Harihara Mehendale.


An IVS-I-117 (G-->A) acceptor splice site mutation in the alpha 1-globin gene is a nondeletional alpha-thalassaemia-2 determinant in an Indian population.
In 1991 we reported the identification of two deletional alpha-thalassaemia-2 determinants (-3.7 kb and -4.2 kb) and one nondeletional alpha-thalassaemia-2 determinant (Hb Koya Dora alpha 2 codon 142, TAA-->TCA) in a tribal population in Central India (Gupta et al, 1991). Evidence was obtained at that time for the possible presence of an additional nondeletional alpha-thalassaemia-2 because of low levels of Hb S (< 28%) in some Hb S heterozygotes with a simple alpha-thalassaemia-2 heterozygosity (-alpha/alpha alpha). This abnormality has now been identified as a G-->A mutation at IVS-I-117 of the alpha 1-globin gene (acceptor splice site) which makes this gene nonfunctional. Its frequency was established at approximately 6% which raises the total frequency of alpha-thalassaemia determinants in this population to approximately 60%. Subjects with a deletional alpha-thalassaemia-2 and the newly discovered alpha 1 acceptor splice junction mutation in trans appear to have an alpha chain deficiency similar to that of an alpha-thalassaemia-2 homozygote (-alpha/-alpha). An additional change (C-->G) at the Cap -4 site was observed in six alpha 1- and one alpha 2-globin genes; this polymorphism is not associated with a decrease in alpha chain synthesis and is not linked to the IVS-I-117 (G-->A) mutation.


Cognitive control of emotional distraction - valence-specific or general?
Emotional information captures attention due to privileged processing. Consequently, performance in cognitive tasks declines (i.e. emotional distraction, ED). Therefore, shielding current goals from ED is essential for adaptive goal-directed- behaviour. It has been shown that ED is reduced when participants recruit cognitive control before or after the presentation of an emotional negative distractor. Following up on this, we asked first, whether cognitive control of ED is negative-valence-specific or valence-general. A valence-general-account predicts that control shields against distracting influence of emotion, irrespective of the specific valence. In contrast, a negative-valence-specific-account predicts that control interacts with the valence and ED is reduced for negative stimuli only. Second, we asked whether this effect of ED differs between control modes operating on different time scales (i.e. proactively or reactively). To test this, we manipulated emotional distractor valence (positive/high-arousal; negative/high-arousal; neutral/low-arousal) and assessed how control interacts with ED. Results showed that ED was reduced for negative and positive valent stimuli when control was triggered before (i.e. proactive control, nExp1 = 141, between-subject-design) and after (reactive control, nExp2 = 37, within-subject-design) the emotional stimuli. Accordingly, control blocks off high-arousing emotional distractors from interfering with goal-directed-actions, irrespective of their valence (i.e. valence-general-account) and for both, proactive and reactive control modes.


Eicosanoids in leukocyte function.
Agonist-induced release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and its oxygenation by specific enzymes to generate bioactive eicosanoids represent an important series of events that is thought to play a pivotal role in both physiologic and pathologic responses. Research during the past year confirmed and extended our knowledge of lipoxygenase activation and assembly of the 5-lipoxygenase complex in leukocytes. Many of the key enzymes and proteins in the arachidonic acid signaling cascade were identified, and rational drug design is in progress to interact with these targets. The role of transcellular biosynthesis in leukotrienes, lipoxins, and other novel eicosanoids is emerging as an important theme in eicosanoid formation in multicellular events including thrombosis, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Moreover, new bioactions were identified for both leukotrienes and lipoxins. Counterregulatory roles demonstrated for lipoxins suggest that these compounds may serve as endogenous chalones generated via lipoxygenase- and cell-cell interactions.


Cryptosporidiosis in children in a north Jordanian paediatric hospital.
We investigated the rate of infection by Cryptosporidium parvum among children from birth to 12 years attending Princess Rahma Teaching Hospital in Irbid, Jordan and evaluated various diagnostic methods. We collected single stool specimens from 300 children; 7 specimens were from children undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Diagnostic methods used for detection of infection were direct wet mount preparation, flotation concentration, cold Kinyoun Ziehl-Neelsen stain and direct immunofluorescence. We detected C. parvum oocysts in 112 samples (37.3%) using direct immunofluorescence, which showed the highest sensitivity. Source of drinking water appeared to be an important risk factor for transmission of infection. A higher incidence of infection was recorded during January-May, the rainy season.


Investigation of the catalytic mechanism of the hotdog-fold enzyme superfamily Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase.
The 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA (4-HB-CoA) thioesterase from Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 catalyzes the final step of the 4-chlorobenzoate degradation pathway, which is the hydrolysis of 4-HB-CoA to coenzyme A (CoA) and 4-hydroxybenzoate (4-HB). In previous work, X-ray structural analysis of the substrate-bound thioesterase provided evidence of the role of an active site Asp17 in nucleophilic catalysis [Thoden, J. B., Holden, H. M., Zhuang, Z., and Dunaway-Mariano, D. (2002) X-ray crystallographic analyses of inhibitor and substrate complexes of wild-type and mutant 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 27468-27476]. In the study presented here, kinetic techniques were used to test the catalytic mechanism that was suggested by the X-ray structural data. The time course for the multiple-turnover reaction of 50 μM [(14)C]-4-HB-CoA catalyzed by 10 μM thioesterase supported a two-step pathway in which the second step is rate-limiting. Steady-state product inhibition studies revealed that binding of CoA (K(is) = 250 ± 70 μM; K(ii) = 900 ± 300 μM) and 4-HB (K(is) = 1.2 ± 0.2 mM) is weak, suggesting that product release is not rate-limiting. A substantial D(2)O solvent kinetic isotope effect (3.8) on the steady-state k(cat) value (18 s(-1)) provided evidence that a chemical step involving proton transfer is the rate-limiting step. Taken together, the kinetic results support a two-chemical pathway. The microscopic rate constants governing the formation and consumption of the putative aspartyl 17-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)anhydride intermediate were determined by simulation-based fitting of a kinetic model to time courses for the substrate binding reaction (5.0 μM 4-HB-CoA and 0.54 μM thioesterase), single-turnover reaction (5 μM [(14)C]-4-HB-CoA catalyzed by 50 μM thioesterase), steady-state reaction (5.2 μM 4-HB-CoA catalyzed by 0.003 μM thioesterase), and transient-state multiple-turnover reaction (50 μM [(14)C]-4-HB-CoA catalyzed by 10 μM thioesterase). Together with the results obtained from solvent (18)O labeling experiments, the findings are interpreted as evidence of the formation of an aspartyl 17-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)anhydride intermediate that undergoes rate-limiting hydrolytic cleavage at the hydroxybenzoyl carbonyl carbon atom.


Incremental validity of positive and negative valence in predicting personality disorder.
The Big Seven model of personality includes five dimensions similar to the Big Five model as well as two evaluative dimensions—Positive Valence (PV) and Negative Valence (NV)—which reflect extremely positive and negative person descriptors, respectively. Recent theory and research have suggested that PV and NV predict significant variance in personality disorder (PD) above that predicted by the Big Five, but firm conclusions have not been possible because previous studies have been limited to only single measures of PV, NV, and the Big Five traits. In the present study, we replicated and extended previous findings using three markers of all key constructs—including PV, NV, and the Big Five—in a diverse sample of 338 undergraduates. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that PV incrementally predicted Narcissistic and Histrionic PDs above the Big Five and that NV nonspecifically incremented the prediction of most PDs. Implications for dimensional models of personality pathology are discussed.


The effect of calcium channel blockade on the action of chronic ECT and imipramine on responses of alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptors in the rat cerebral cortex.
Chronic co-administration of nifedipine and ECT or imipramine results in an increase in responsiveness of cerebral cortical alpha 1-adrenoceptors as measured by accumulation of inositol phosphate in cortical slices after noradrenaline stimulation; the responsiveness of beta-adrenoceptor, measured by accumulation of cyclic AMP, was depressed similarly by antidepressant treatment with and without nifedipine.


The relationship between exercise intensity and neurophysiological responses to food stimuli in women: A randomized crossover event-related potential (ERP) study.
We tested the effect of different intensities of acute exercise on hunger, and post-exercise energy intake, and neurophysiological measures of attention towards food- and non-food stimuli in women. In a within-subjects crossover design, forty-two women completed no exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, and vigorous-intensity exercise sessions separated by one week, in a counterbalanced fashion. At each session, participants completed a passive viewing task of food (high- and low-calorie) and non-food pictures while electroencephalogram (EEG) data were recorded. The early posterior negativity (EPN), P3, and late positive potential (LPP) components of the event-related potential (ERP) measured neurophysiological responses. Subjective ratings of hunger were measured before and immediately after each condition using a visual analog scale (VAS) and food intake was measured using an ad libitum snack buffet offered at the end of each condition. Results indicated that hunger levels increased as time passed for all sessions. EPN amplitude was larger to non-food compared to food images; P3 amplitude was larger to food than non-food stimuli. LPP amplitude did not differ by high-calorie, low-calorie, or non-food images. Notably, there were no significant main effects or interactions of any ERP component amplitude as a function of exercise intensity. Food intake also did not differ by rest or moderate or vigorous exercise, although subjective arousal ratings to the images were higher after moderate and vigorous exercise compared to rest. Food images also had higher arousal and valence ratings than non-food images overall. Findings indicate that, in this sample, acute moderate and vigorous exercise compared to rest did not disproportionately affect neurophysiological measures of attention to food or non-food stimuli, caloric intake, or hunger.


Haemoprotein-mediated metabolism of enamines and the possible involvement of one-electron oxidations.
1. Microsomal metabolism of 1-benzylpiperidine (1-BP), its cis-2,6-dimethyl (cis-2,6-DMBP), 4,4-dimethyl (4,4-DMBP), and alpha, alpha-dimethyl (alpha, alpha-DMBP) analogues, and phencyclidine (PCP) has been studied to assess the involvement of P450 oxidation of the enamine tautomers of the initial endocyclic iminium metabolites. 2. The selective prevention by cyanide of the metabolite production of 1-benzyl-3-piperidone but not 1-benzyl-3-piperidinol from 1-BP is consistent with the enamine as the source of the 3-one metabolite. 3. The parent amines and particularly the independently prepared iminium species induced a pattern of metabolism-dependent irreversible inactivation of P450 benz-phetamine demethylase activity, consistent with involvement of enamine C-3 oxidation in the inactivation process. 4. Substrate activity of the endocyclic enamines and alpha-aminoketones (presumably the enol-enamine tautomers) for horseradish peroxidase under conditions where simple aliphatic amines display no activity is consistent with metabolic one-electron oxidations of the enamines.


Species of the genus Euseius Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiinae) from Taiwan.
The six mite species of the genus Euseius Wainstein from Taiwan are reviewed, including E. ovalis (Evans), E. daluensis sp. nov., E. macaranga sp. nov., E. paraovalis sp. nov., and two species recorded for the first time in Taiwan, E. aizawai (Ehara & Bhandhufalck) and E. circellatus (Wu & Li). Measurements of these species and an identification key for adult females of the six Euseius species from Taiwan are provided.


Improving surgical precision--application of navigation system in orthopedic surgery.
Navigation systems track objects with precision expressed as root mean square equalling even up to 0.15 mm. Application of navigation system combined with imaging technique makes surgical operations less invasive, which results in the reduced risk of infection, smaller scar and a shorter time of rehabilitation. Imaging techniques allow surgeon to create individual virtual models for virtual surgery planning. Navigation system tracks the positions of surgical tools in relation to the patient's coordinate systems. Medical imaging enables low-invasive surgery, whereas the position of surgical instruments is monitored on screen. The paper presents a newly developed computer-aided surgical system consisting of ultrasonographic probe and tracking system to measure bone geometry, design surgical scenario virtually and follow it intraoperatively. The system assists surgeon to correct bone deformities. The paper presents the results of several accuracy tests, which demonstrate good repeatability and accuracy.


Computational studies of ion pairing. 8. Ion pairing of tetraalkylammonium ions to nitrosobenzene and benzaldehyde redox species. A general binding motif for the interaction of tetraalkylammonium ions with benzenoid species.
Very little data is available on the detailed structures of ion pairs in solution, since few general experimental methods are available for obtaining such information. For this reason, computational methods have emerged as the method of choice for determining the structures of organic ion pairs in solution. The present study examines the ion pairs between a series of tetraalkylammonium ions and several redox forms of nitrosobenzene and a series of substituted benzaldehydes. The structures, though previously unexpected, are chemically reasonable and fit into a previous pattern of ion pairing described in previous publications in this series. To date in these studies, a total of 73 ion pairs and related species have in fact been identified having exactly the same unusual orientation of the tetraalkylammonium component with respect to the donor species. The results are pertinent to topics of general current interest, including self-assembly, molecular recognition, and supramolecular assembly.


Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide mitogenicity with characterized anti-lipid A monoclonal antibodies.
Antibodies to lipid A were raised in mice immunized with non-hydrolysed Bordetella pertussis microorganisms, coated with lipid A isolated from the same bacteria. Anti-lipid A activity of immune sera was measured by radioimmunoassay. Four hybrid cell lines that secrete antibodies directed against the hydrophobic region of B. pertussis lipopolysaccharide were produced by cell fusion between myeloma cells and spleen cells from immunized C3H/He-PAS mice. Differences were observed in the potency of the isolated monoclonal antibodies to inhibit B cell proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by lipid A, suggesting a selective recognition of effector sites present on the hydrophobic region of LPS.


Identification of the human ltk gene product in placenta and hematopoietic cell lines.
Two different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against an extracellular domain and a C-terminal portion of the human ltk protein which is a receptor-type protein tyrosine kinase. Western blot analysis showed that these MAbs specifically immunoprecipitated a 100 kDa ltk protein which was transiently expressed in COS-1 cells transfected with a human ltk cDNA. By an in vitro immune complex kinase assay using these MAbs, a 100 kDa phosphoprotein was detected in human placenta and hematopoietic cell lines. These data indicate that the ltk gene product expressed in human placenta and hematopoietic cells shows tyrosine kinase activity. This is the first detection of native ltk protein naturally expressed in human cells.


Presence of Tetracycline and Sulfonamide Resistance Genes in Salmonella spp.: Literature Review.
Tetracyclines and sulfonamides are broad-spectrum antibacterial agents which have been used to treat bacterial infections for over half a century. The widespread use of tetracyclines and sulfonamides led to the emergence of resistance in a diverse group of bacteria. This resistance can be studied by searching for resistance genes present in the bacteria responsible for different resistance mechanisms. Salmonella is one of the leading bacteria causing foodborne diseases worldwide, and its resistance to tetracyclines and sulfonamides has been widely reported. The literature review searched the Virtual Health Library for articles with specific data in the studied samples: the resistance genes found, the primers used in PCR, and the thermocycler conditions. The results revealed that Salmonella presented high rates of resistance to tetracycline and sulfonamide, and the most frequent samples used to isolate Salmonella were poultry and pork. The tetracycline resistance genes most frequently detected from Salmonella spp. were tetA followed by tetB. The gene sul1 followed by sul2 were the most frequently sulfonamide resistance genes present in Salmonella. These genes are associated with plasmids, transposons, or both, and are often conjugative, highlighting the transference potential of these genes to other bacteria, environments, animals, and humans.


[Esophageal resections in Denmark 1997-2000].
We evaluated the changes in Denmark since the 1980s in the incidence, management and outcome of oesophageal resections. The national patient hospital register and discharge information from the hospitals were examined for the number of oesophageal resections performed, the length of the postoperative stay, readmission, postoperative complications, and hospital mortality in the period 1/1-1997 to 30/6-2000. Twenty-six departments in 18 hospitals performed 476 resections. Five hospitals accounted for 92% of all the resections performed. In three hospitals, the resections were carried out in three different departments and 18 departments performed fewer than four resections per year. The postoperative stay was 19.2 days. The frequency of surgical complications was 19% and hospital mortality was 10.7%. The small number of oesophageal resections performed in many departments in Denmark is not in accordance with international recommendations, which say that the operation should be performed in high volume centres by experienced oesophageal surgeons, including thoracic surgeons, surgical gastroenterologists, and thoracic anaesthesiologists. On these results, it is recommended that the operation is performed in few centres and by few surgeons in multidisciplinary teams.


Properties of Lectins in the Root and Seed of Lotononis bainesii.
A lectin was purified from the root of Lotononis bainesii Baker by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-blood group substance A + H. The molecular weight of the lectin was estimated by gel filtration to be 118,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the lectin was a tetramer composed of two slightly different subunits with respective molecular weights of 32,000 and 35,000. The lectin had a hexose content of 12% (w/w) and contained the sugars fucose, glucosamine, mannose, and xylose. Root lectin hemagglutination was preferentially inhibited by disaccharides with terminal nonreducing galactose residues. Antigens capable of cross-reaction with root lectin antibody were not detected in the seed of L. bainesii.A lectin from the seed of L. bainesii was partially purified by adsorption to pronase-treated rabbit erythrocytes. The lectin preparation had a molecular weight of approximately 200,000. Galactose and galactono-1,4-lactone inhibited seed lectin hemagglutination but lactose was ineffective. There was no evidence that the root of L. bainesii contained material antigenically related to the seed lectin.


Functional Toll-like receptor 4 mutations modulate the response to fibrinogen.
Fibrinogen has been implicated in atherosclerosis; in part by activating the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The fibrinogen-TLR4 signalling pathway remains uncharacterised. In human macrophages fibrinogen stimulated interleukin (IL)6 expression and ERK (extracellular signal-related kinase) phosphorylation. In HEK293-CD14-MD2 cells expressing TLR4, fibrinogen induced robust phosphorylation of ERK1, p38alpha and JNK and activated transcription factors NFkappaB, Elk-1 and AP-1 (activator protein-1). The net effect of this signalling pathway was a pro-inflammatory response characterised by IL6 and TNFalpha synthesis and increased IL8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP9, and MCP-1 promoter activity. Two common TLR4 mutations, D299G and T399I, render the receptor LPS hyporesponsive. The effect of fibrinogen on polymorphic variant TLR4s was markedly different; enhancing activation of kinases, transcription factors, cytokine synthesis and promoter activity. This study indicates that fibrinogen activates TLR4, explaining how fibrinogen promotes inflammatory protein expression.


Essential conditions for the implementation of comprehensive school health to achieve changes in school culture and improvements in health behaviours of students.
Comprehensive School Health (CSH) is an internationally recognized framework that holistically addresses school health by transforming the school culture. It has been shown to be effective in enhancing health behaviours among students while also improving educational outcomes. Despite this effectiveness, there is a need to focus on how CSH is implemented. Previous studies have attempted to uncover the conditions necessary for successful operationalization, but none have described them in relation to a proven best practice model of implementation that has demonstrated positive changes to school culture and improvements in health behaviours. The purpose of this research was to identify the essential conditions of CSH implementation utilizing secondary analysis of qualitative interview data, incorporating a multitude of stakeholder perspectives. This included inductive content analysis of teacher (n = 45), principal (n = 46), and school health facilitator (n = 34) viewpoints, all of whom were employed within successful CSH project schools in Alberta, Canada between 2008 and 2013. Many themes were identified, here called conditions, that were divided into two categories: 'core conditions' (students as change agents, school-specific autonomy, demonstrated administrative leadership, dedicated champion to engage school staff, community support, evidence, professional development) and 'contextual conditions' (time, funding and project supports, readiness and prior community connectivity). Core conditions were defined as those conditions necessary for CSH to be successfully implemented, whereas contextual conditions had a great degree of influence on the ability for the core conditions to be obtained. Together, and in consideration of already established 'process conditions' developed by APPLE Schools (assess, vision, prioritize; develop and implement an action plan; monitor, evaluate, celebrate), these represent the essential conditions of successful CSH implementation. Overall, the present research contributes to the evidence-base of CSH implementation, ultimately helping to shape its optimization by providing school communities with a set of understandable essential conditions for CSH implementation. Such research is important as it helps to support and bolster the CSH framework that has been shown to improve the education, health, and well-being of school-aged children.


Intestinal immunization of mice with antigen conjugated to anti-MHC class II antibodies.
We have explored a new technique for immunization of the intestinal tract of mice, using protein antigens bound to antibodies with specificity for murine MHC class II molecules (MHC-II). Either of two protein antigens, hen avidin (AV) or hen egg lysozyme (HEL) were covalently conjugated to anti-MHC-II antibodies and the purified conjugates were given orally (p.o.) or by direct intraduodenal (i.d.) injection into the intestinal lumen of mice. A secondary immunization p.o. with the same conjugate or with the non-conjugated antigen in the presence of cholera toxin (CTX) resulted in production of both intestinal secretory IgA and serum IgA antibody by those mice. In addition, serum IgG antibodies were produced. Conjugates with appropriate MHC-II specificity targeted the antigen because they induced more IgA and IgG antibody than conjugates with irrelevant antibody specificity or antigen alone, and because they induced antibody in mice that were genetic low responders to antigen. The results indicate the feasibility of oral subunit type vaccines with antibody targeting technology.


Passivity and passification of memristor-based recurrent neural networks with time-varying delays.
This paper presents new theoretical results on the passivity and passification of a class of memristor-based recurrent neural networks (MRNNs) with time-varying delays. The casual assumptions on the boundedness and Lipschitz continuity of neuronal activation functions are relaxed. By constructing appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals and using the characteristic function technique, passivity conditions are cast in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be checked numerically using an LMI toolbox. Based on these conditions, two procedures for designing passification controllers are proposed, which guarantee that MRNNs with time-varying delays are passive. Finally, two illustrative examples are presented to show the characteristics of the main results in detail.


Effect of taurine supplementation on cytochrome P450 2E1 and oxidative stress in the liver and kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
To investigate whether diabetes-induced alterations of CYP2E1 and oxidative stress can be modulated by dietary taurine supplementation, male Wistar rats were divided into non-diabetic, diabetic, and diabetic taurine-supplemented groups (administered at 2% in the drinking water). Increased levels of CYP2E1-catalyzed p-nitrophenol hydroxylation were found in liver and kidney microsomes of rats with STZ-induced diabetes compared to those of non-diabetic control rats. Immunoblot and RT-PCR analyses of CYP2E1 protein and mRNA levels in the liver and kidneys showed the same trend as with enzyme activities. Taurine supplementation significantly decreased the enzyme activity and expression (protein and mRNA) of CYP2E1 in diabetic rat kidneys. Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was significantly reduced in taurine-treated diabetic rats. The induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA was suppressed by taurine treatment in diabetic rat kidneys. An increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) and a higher ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) together with lower values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were observed in the kidneys of taurine-treated diabetic rats. However, taurine supplementation caused only a slight or insignificant effect on these alternations in the liver of diabetic rats. Our results show dietary taurine may reduce CYP2E1 expression and activity, and oxidative stress in kidneys of diabetic rats.


Skeletal development, bone remodeling, and hematopoiesis.
In adult mammals, the bone marrow microenvironment is defined by close interactions between cells derived from mesenchymal progenitors and cells derived from hematopoietic progenitors. The influence that one population of cells has over the other has been a matter of intense study since it was established that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) require support of stromal elements to engraft, self-renew, and progress towards lineage commitment. Within the stromal components, cells of the osteoblastic lineage have the ability to interact with HSCs, and it has been proposed that they could be one of the main cell types responsible for the generation and maintenance of hematopoietic niches. Possible molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between osteoblastic and hematopoietic cells have been described. However, understanding the relative importance of each one of them, their production by defined cells, and their kinetics of appearance have been limited by the lack of in vivo models allowing the physical and/or temporal dissection of the components of the osteoblastic lineage. Here, we provide a summary of the evidence that have established the importance of osteoblasts in hematopoiesis, and we propose new experimental strategies that could help to define the nature of these interactions.


Retinal applications of swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
The advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT) revolutionized both clinical assessment and research of vitreoretinal conditions. Since then, extraordinary advances have been made in this imaging technology, including the relatively recent development of swept-source OCT (SS-OCT). SS-OCT enables a fast scan rate and utilizes a tunable swept laser, thus enabling the incorporation of longer wavelengths than conventional spectral-domain devices. These features enable imaging of larger areas with reduced motion artifact, and a better visualization of the choroidal vasculature, respectively. Building on the principles of OCT, swept-source OCT has also been applied to OCT angiography (SS-OCTA), thus enabling a non-invasive in depth-resolved imaging of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature. Despite their advantages, the widespread use of SS-OCT and SS-OCTA remains relatively limited. In this review, we summarize the technical details, advantages and limitations of SS-OCT and SS-OCTA, with a particular emphasis on their relevance for the study of retinal conditions. Additionally, we comprehensively review relevant studies performed to date to the study of retinal health and disease, and highlight current gaps in knowledge and opportunities to take advantage of swept source technology to improve our current understanding of many medical and surgical chorioretinal conditions. We anticipate that SS-OCT and SS-OCTA will continue to evolve rapidly, contributing to a paradigm shift to more widespread adoption of new imaging technology to clinical practice.


Scalable Asymmetric Syntheses of Foslevodopa and Foscarbidopa Drug Substances for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.
Foslevodopa (FLD, levodopa 4'-monophosphate, 3) and foscarbidopa (FCD, carbidopa 4'-monophosphate, 4) were identified as water-soluble prodrugs of levodopa (LD, 1) and carbidopa (CD, 2), respectively, which are useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Herein, we describe asymmetric syntheses of FLD (3) and FCD (4) drug substances and their manufacture at pilot scale. The synthesis of FLD (3) employs a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination reaction followed by enantioselective hydrogenation of the double bond as key steps to introduce the α-amino acid moiety with the desired stereochemistry. The synthesis of FCD (4) features a Mizoroki-Heck reaction followed by enantioselective hydrazination to install the quaternary chiral center bearing a hydrazine moiety.


Outcome of Transcanalicular Endolaser and External Dacryocystorhinostomy in Chronic Dacryocystitis.
Nasolacrimal duct obstruction due to chronic dacryocystitis is the most common cause of epiphora. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the treatment of choice for chronic dacryocystitis. This can be carried out by external, endoscopic and endolaser surgical approach. Though external DCR is still a gold standard and most popular method, the latest procedure of less traumatic DCR is transcanalicular approach. The study was done to evaluate the outcome of Transcanalicular Endolaser DCR regarding epiphora and surgery related complications by measuring anatomical success rate (patency assessed by irrigation), functional success rate (symptom free) and complication rate and to compare with External DCR (Ext-DCR). This prospective interventional study was conducted from October 2011 to September 2012 in Ophthalmology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Total 62 patients included in the study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria of them 31 for TCEL-DCR and 31 for Ext-DCR. But during follow-up one patient was dropped from each group and finally outcome of 30 patients analyzed in each group. Mean age of the patients TCEL-DCR was 38.3±11.54 and of Ext-DCR was 38.4±14.01. In both groups females were the most sufferer (female: male = 1.5: 1). Functional and anatomical success rate of TCEL-DCR showed 93.3% and 83.3% after 3 months; 83.3% and 76.7% after 6 months respectively. Statistically non-significant difference was observed about success rate in comparison between groups. Per-operative complications were pain excessive bleeding. In TCEL-DCR pain complained 13.3% and excessive bleeding occurred in 3.3%. Where as in Ext-DCR pain complained 16.7% and excessive bleeding occurred in 20%; difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). Post-operative complications were bleeding and scar formation. Bleeding occurred in TCEL-DCR 6.67% and in Ext-DCR 10%. So, TCEL-DCR could be an alternative option for the treatment of chronic dacryocystitis especially for those patients who are conscious about scar formation and afraid about Ext-DCR technique.


[Congenital epiphora in patients with Down syndrome].
To describe the causes of congenital epiphora in patients with Down syndrome. Retrospective study of 695 patients with congenital epiphora, of the Lacrimal Sector of the Department of Ophthalmology, São Paulo "Santa Casa", Brazil, between October 1998 and July 2005. This study analyzed: the main symptom of continuous epiphora or mucous discharge, which affected one or both eyes, since birth. Subjects were separated in to two groups: group A, with 30 patients with Down syndrome and group B, with 665 control patients. The lacrimal evaluation was performed by the throw irrigation test after general anesthesia. Both groups were statistically similar regarding age (p=0.07), sex (p=0.63) and race (p=0.68). Bilateral symptoms were more frequent in group A (p=0.0008). Anatomic obstruction of the lacrimal canal was present in 32.73% of group A and in 85.51% of group B (p<0.0001). The most frequent cause of congenital epiphora in Down syndrome is due to functional block of the lacrimal pump. Eyelid muscle hypotony and eyelid changes, common in Down syndrome, is the main hypothesis of lacrimal dysfunction, but further studies will be necessary for confirmation.


Recombinant Immunotoxin Therapy of Solid Tumors: Challenges and Strategies.
Immunotoxins are a group of protein-based therapeutics, basically comprising two functional moieties: one is the antibody or antibody Fv fragment that allows the immunotoxin to bind specifically to target cells; another is the plant or bacterial toxin that kills the cells upon internalization. Immunotoxins have several unique features which are superior to conventional chemotherapeutics, including high specificity, extraordinary potency, and no known drug resistance. Development of immunotoxins evolves with time and technology, but significant progress has been achieved in the past 20 years after introduction of recombinant DNA technique and generation of the first single-chain variable fragment of monoclonal antibodies. Since then, more than 1,000 recombinant immunotoxins have been generated against cancer. However, most success in immunotoxin therapy has been achieved against hematological malignancies, several issues persist to be significant barriers for effective therapy of human solid tumors. Further development of immunotoxins will largely focus on the improvement of penetration capability to solid tumor mass and elimination of immunogenicity occurred when given repeatedly to patients. Promising strategies may include construction of recombinant antibody fragments with higher binding affinity and stability, elimination of immunodominant T- and B-cell epitopes of toxins, modification of immunotoxins with macromolecules like poly(ethylene glycol) and liposomes, and generation of immunotoxins with humanized antibody fragments and human endogenous cytotoxic enzymes. In this paper, we briefly reviewed the evolution of immunotoxin development and then discussed the challenges of immunotoxin therapy for human solid tumors and the potential strategies we may seek to overcome the challenges.


Evidence of Differences in Covariation Among Root Traits Across Plant Growth Forms, Mycorrhizal Types, and Biomes.
Fine roots play an important role in plant ecological strategies, adaptation to environmental constraints, and ecosystem functions. Covariation among root traits influence the physiological and ecological processes of plants and ecosystems. Root trait covariation in multiple dimensions at the global scale has been broadly discussed. How fine-root traits covary at the regional scale and whether the covariation is generalizable across plant growth forms, mycorrhizal types, and biomes are largely unknown. Here, we collected six key traits - namely root diameter (RD), specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD), root C content (RCC), root N content (RNC), and root C:N ratio (RCN) - of first- and second-order roots of 306 species from 94 sampling sites across China. We examined the covariation in root traits among different plant growth forms, mycorrhizal types, and biomes using the phylogenetic principal component analysis (pPCA). Three independent dimensions of the covariation in root traits were identified, accounting for 39.0, 26.1, and 20.2% of the total variation, respectively. The first dimension was represented by SRL, RNC, RTD, and RCN, which was in line with the root economics spectrum (RES). The second dimension described a negative relationship between RD and SRL, and the third dimension was represented by RCC. These three main principal components were mainly influenced by biome and mycorrhizal type. Herbaceous and ectomycorrhizal species showed a more consistent pattern with the RES, in which RD, RTD, and RCN were negatively correlated with SRL and RNC within the first axis compared with woody and arbuscular mycorrhizal species, respectively. Our results highlight the roles of plant growth form, mycorrhizal type, and biome in shaping root trait covariation, suggesting that root trait relationships in specific regions may not be generalized from global-scale analyses.


Visualization of plasticity in fear-evoked calcium signals in midbrain dopamine neurons.
Dopamine is broadly implicated in fear-related processes, yet we know very little about signaling dynamics in these neurons during active fear conditioning. We describe the direct imaging of calcium signals of dopamine neurons during Pavlovian fear conditioning using fiber-optic confocal microscopy coupled with the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP3. We observed calcium transients in a subset of dopamine neurons to an unconditioned fear stimulus on the first day of Pavlovian fear conditioning. On the second day, calcium transients occurred in response to conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. These results demonstrate plasticity in dopamine neuron calcium signals and the occurrence of activity-dependent processes in these neurons during fear conditioning.


Exploring the Effect of Pd on the Oxygen Reduction Performance of Pt by In Situ Raman Spectroscopy.
Directly monitoring the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process in situ is very important to deeply understand the reaction mechanism and is a critical guideline for the design of high-efficiency catalysts, but there is still lack of definite in situ evidence to clarify the effect between adsorbed intermediates and the strain/electronic effect for enhanced ORR performance. Herein, in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was employed to detect the intermediates during the ORR process on the Au@Pd@Pt core/shell heterogeneous nanoparticles (NPs). Direct spectroscopic evidence of the *OOH intermediate was obtained, and an obvious red shift of the *OOH frequency was identified with the controllable shell thickness of Pd. Detailed experimental characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that such improved ORR activity after inducing Pd into Au@Pt NPs can be attributed to the optimized adsorbate-substrate interaction due to the strain and electronic effect, leading to a higher Pt-O binding energy and a lower O-O binding energy, which was conducive to O-O dissociation and promoted the subsequent reaction. Notably, this work illustrates a relationship between the performance and strain/electronic effect via the intermediate detected by SERS and paves the way for the construction of ORR electrocatalysts with high performance.


pH dependencies of the Tetrahymena ribozyme reveal an unconventional origin of an apparent pKa.
The L-21 ScaI ribozyme derived from the Tetrahymena thermophila pre-rRNA group I intron catalyzes a site-specific endonucleolytic cleavage of RNA, DNA, and chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotides: CCCUCUA5 + G-->CCCUCU + GA5. The pH-rate dependence was determined for the reaction of the E.G complex with the oligonucleotide substrate d(CCCUC)r(U)d(A5) [(kcat/Km)S conditions]. Although it was shown that the pH dependence is not affected by specific buffers, there is inhibition by specific monovalent cations. The intrinsic pH-rate dependence is log-linear with slope 1 below pH 7, displays an apparent pKa of 7.6, remains nearly level until pH 8.5, and then begins to fall. Two models to explain the apparent pKa were ruled out: (1) the pKa represents loss of a proton from the nucleophilic 3' OH of G, and (2) the pKa arises from a change in rate-limiting step from a pH-dependent to a pH-independent step. In addition, these models, or others involving a single titration, cannot account for the decrease in activity at high pH. A third, unconventional, model is consistent with all of the data. It involves inactivation of the ribozyme by any of several independent titrations of groups with pKa values considerably higher than the apparent pKa of 7.6. The data are consistent with loss of catalytic function upon release of a proton from any one of 19 independent sites with pKa = 9.4 (the unperturbed pKa of N1 of G and N3 of U in solution). Independent experiments investigating the effect of pH on different reaction steps supported this model and suggested the identity of some of the required protons. This mechanism of inactivation is expected to generally affect the behavior of RNAs at pH values removed from the pKa of the titrating bases.


Tuning microstructures in organogels: gelation and spectroscopic properties of mono- and bis-cholesterol-linked diphenylbutadiene derivatives.
The gelation and photophysical properties of mono- and bis-cholesterol derivatives linked to diphenylbutadiene have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy of xerogels of the monocholesterol derivatives indicated that these molecules self-assemble into 3D networks consisting of helically twisted fibers. In contrast, the morphology of xerogels of the bis-cholesterol derivatives indicated agglomerated spheres. In concentrated solutions (> 10(-4) M), the self-assembled superstructure of the monocholesterol derivatives consists of helically twisted fibers whereas that of the bis-cholesterol derivatives indicated clustered spheres. An investigation of spectroscopic properties suggests that the morphology of the superstructures formed in these systems may be correlated to the nature of the molecular aggregates formed. Absorption and emission spectral studies as a function of concentration and temperature suggested the formation of predominantly J-type aggregates in the monocholesterol and H-type aggregates in the bis-cholesterol derivatives. It is proposed that the slipped stack arrangement within the J aggregates of the monocholesterol derivatives resulted in the formation of helically twisted fibers, whereas the cofacial arrangement in the H aggregates of the bis-cholesterol derivatives could prevent such fiber formation, resulting in the formation of the agglomerated spheres.


Columbid herpesvirus-1 in two Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) with fatal inclusion body disease.
We report two separate naturally occurring cases of fatal herpesviral disease in Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii). Gross lesions included splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, with diffuse pale mottling or scattered small white foci. Histologic lesions included splenic and hepatic necrosis associated with eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies characteristic of herpesvirus. In one case, necrosis and inclusions were also noted in bone marrow, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, ceca, and the enteric system. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated viral particles typical of herpesvirus within hepatocyte nuclei and budding from the nuclear membrane. Herpesviral DNA was amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of paraffin-embedded liver and spleen, and sequence data were consistent with columbid herpesvirus-1, an alphaherpesvirus of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). PCR results provide evidence that this disease is transmitted to raptors via Rock Pigeons, most likely through ingestion of Rock Pigeons as prey.


Responses of cockroach antennal lobe projection neurons to pulsatile olfactory stimuli.
Behavioral evidence indicates that insects preferentially orient toward pulses of odorants as they occur downwind from a point source. Our recent results have shown that cockroach olfactory receptor neurons are able to reliably resolve 10-Hz pulses of the general "green' odorant 1-hexanol, but it is unknown to what extent the central olfactory pathway is able to resolve temporal aspects of a general odor stimulus. In the present study, temporal response characteristics were measured in antennal lobe projection neurons of female American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana in response to series of short odor pulses (2.5-20 Hz). Odor pulses were delivered to olfactory sensilla in a moving airstream controlled by electromagnetic valves and quantified by replacing the odorant with oil smoke and measuring the concentration of smoke passing through a light beam. The responses of projection neurons were recorded with an intracellular microelectrode placed in the projection neuron cell body. A variety of time courses of responses were recorded. Response patterns were consistent among identical stimuli within a neuron and varied among neurons. Some neurons increased spike frequency with stimulus onset while others decreased spike frequency. The latency to the change in spike frequency and the duration of the response also varied among neurons. Regardless of the temporal characteristics of the responses, nearly all projection neurons were able to resolve pulses of 1-hexanol presented at 5 Hz and some could resolve 10-Hz pulses. Thus, responses of antennal lobe projection neurons can reflect fine structures of non-uniform distributions of general odorants in a turbulent odor plume. In addition, the variety of temporal response characteristics to identical stimuli suggests that odor quality is coded by a temporal code expressed across a population of projection neurons.


Revision of polyethylene acetabular liners with a cemented polyethylene cup: a laboratory study.
Various technique parameters for the revision of failed polyethylene acetabular liners using a cemented polyethylene cup were evaluated in this laboratory study. The effects of cement mantle thickness and roughening the inner surface of the shell or outer surface of the cup were determined by measuring cup dissociation strength from the metal shell after cyclic loading of the cup. The use of a cement mantle thickness of 2 to 4 mm provided dissociation strengths 3 to 4 times greater than that of the original, press-fit polyethylene liner. If a failed acetabular liner is revised by a cemented cup within the existing, well-fixed, metal shell, the size of the cup selected should create a cement mantle of <4 mm. Roughening the inside of a smooth shell or one with few screw-holes increases fixation strength approximately 20% but also creates particulate debris.


Efficacy and Safety of Vacuum-Assisted Excision for Benign Breast Mass Lesion: A Meta-Analysis.
Background and Objective: Breast mass lesions are common; however, determining the malignant potential of the lesion can be ambiguous. Recently, to evaluate breast mass lesions, vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) biopsy has been widely used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of VAE. Materials and Methods: Relevant articles were obtained by searching PubMed and EMBASE on 3 September 2021. Meta-analyses were performed using odds ratios and proportions. To assess heterogeneity, we conducted a subgroup analysis and meta-regression tests. Results: Finally, 26 studies comprising 18,170 patients were included. All of these were observational studies. The meta-analysis showed that the complete resection rate of VAE was 0.930. In the meta-regression test, there was no significant difference. The meta-analysis showed a recurrence rate of 0.039 in the VAE group. The meta-regression test showed no statistical significance. Postoperative hematoma, pain, and ecchymosis after VAE were 0.092, 0.082, and 0.075, respectively. Conclusion: VAE for benign breast lesions showed favorable outcomes with respect to complete resection and complications. This meta-analysis suggested that VAE for low-risk benign breast lesions is a reasonable option for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.


Studies on the Control of the Rhythm of Photosynthetic Capacity in Synchronized Cultures of Euglena gracilis (Z).
Synchronous cell division in Euglena gracilis (strain Z) was obtained in 24-hour light cycles consisting of 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness; cell division was restricted to the dark period. Photosynthetic capacity was found to vary in a cyclic manner during the cell cycle, reaching a peak 2 hours before the onset of darkness. Light reactions were investigated during the cell cycle to determine what role they played in the control of the observed rhythmic changes in capacity. Light-saturation curves showed no major change in the light-limited region. No fluctuations were found in Hill reaction activity or photoreduction of methyl red during the cell cycle. These results imply that the reactions comprising photosystems I and II do not generate the capacity rhythm.Some of the photosynthetic dark reactions were also followed during the cell cycle in an attempt to determine their possible role in the control of the rhythm of photosynthetic capacity. The activity of ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate carboxylase showed no correlation with the rhythm. On the other hand, the activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was found to parallel the change in photosynthetic rate under various growth conditions. The rhythm in photosynthetic capacity could be effectively divorced from the cell cycle itself by placing cultures in high frequency light cycles (LD: 2,4) or in stationary growth-phase conditions. If synchronously dividing cultures previously grown in LD: 10, 14 were released into continuous dim illumination and constant temperature, the rhythm of capacity persisted for only one full cycle.


Low Band Gap Donor⁻Acceptor Type Polymers Containing 2,3-Bis(4-(decyloxy)phenyl)pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine as Acceptor and Different Thiophene Derivatives as Donors.
Four donor⁻acceptor type conducting polymers, namely poly(2,3-bis(4-decyloxy)phenyl)-5,8-bis(4-thiophen-2-yl)pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine) (P1), poly(2,3-bis(4-decyloxy)phenyl)-5,8-bis(4-butylthiophen-2-yl)pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine) (P2), poly(2,3-bis(4-(decyloxy)phenyl)-5,8-bis(4-hexyloxythiophen-2-yl)pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine) (P3) and poly(2,3-bis(4-(decyloxy)phenyl)-5,8-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-7-yl)pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine) (P4), containing thiophene or its derivative as the donor and pyrido[4,3-b]pyrazine as the acceptor were prepared and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to detect the influence of the donor units' strength on the electrochromic performances. The results demonstrated that all of the polymers could be reversibly reduced and oxidized by p-type doping and n-type doping, and showed near-infrared activities and different color changes in p-type doping process. Especially, P3 and P4 showed lower optical band gap than P1 and P2 due to the strong electron-donating hexyloxythiophen group of P3 and ethylenedioxythiophene group of P4. Besides, P3 and P4 displayed the saturated green color at the neutral state and the desirable transparency at the oxidized state. All the polymers displayed desirable optical contrasts, satisfactory coloration efficiency, excellent stability and short switching time, which made the polymers fascinating candidates in the electrochromic device applications.