Calcaneal fracture with pulmonary embolism.
The primary factors that result in pulmonary embolism are venous stasis, intimal damage and hypercoagulability. Although pulmonary embolism is rare after calcaneal fracture, the possibility should not be overlooked because of the gravity of the consequences. Awareness of the risk factors resulting from the combination of long-term bed rest and immobilization may reduce the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.


Reverse transcription by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I.
E. coli DNA polymerase I (EC 22.214.171.124) can engage in either DNA- or RNA-directed DNA synthesis with hybrid templates. The choice of the strand to be transcribed depends primarily on the relative lengths of the two strands of the hybrid, the longer strand serving as the template and the shorter as the primer. If a polynucleotide is reduced in size by exposure to an endonuclease before being hybridized to the complementary strand, the template efficiency of the latter increases several-fold. Under properly selected conditions, highly efficient reverse transcription of the all-ribonucleotide template-primers poly(A).oligo(U), poly(C).oligo(I), and poly(I).oligo(C) can be achieved. "f1 RNA," the RNA strand of an f1 DNA.RNA hybrid, can also serve as template for reverse transcription either after "nicking" of the hybrid with DNase, or after separation from the DNA strand and priming by DNase-treated f1 DNA.


DNA damage-induced nuclear import of HSP90α is promoted by Aha1.
The interplay between yHSP90α (Hsp82) and Rad51 has been implicated in the DNA double-strand break repair (DSB) pathway in yeast. Here we report that nuclear translocation of yHSP90α and its recruitment to the DSB end are essential for homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DNA repair in yeast. The HsHSP90α possesses an amino-terminal extension which is phosphorylated upon DNA damage. We find that the absence of the amino-terminal extension in yHSP90α does not compromise its nuclear import, and the nonphosphorylatable-mutant HsHSP90αT7A could be imported to the yeast nucleus upon DNA damage. Interestingly, the flexible charged-linker (CL) domains of both yHSP90α and HsHSP90α play a critical role during their nuclear translocation. The conformational restricted CL mutant yHSP90α∆(211-259), but not a shorter deletion version yHSP90α∆(211-242), fails to reach the nucleus. As the CL domain of yHSP90α is critical for its interaction with Aha1, we investigated whether Aha1 promotes the nuclear import of yHSP90α. We found that the nuclear import of yHSP90α is severely affected in ∆aha1 strain. Moreover, Aha1 is accumulated in the nucleus during DNA damage. Hence Aha1 may serve as a potential target for inhibiting nuclear function of yHSP90α. The increased sensitivity of ∆aha1 strain to genotoxic agents strengthens this notion.


Signal and Noise in the Perception of Facial Emotion Expressions: From Labs to Life.
Human interactions are replete with emotional exchanges, and hence, the ability to decode others' emotional expressions is of great importance. The present research distinguishes between the emotional signal (the intended emotion) and noise (perception of secondary emotions) in social emotion perception and investigates whether these predict the quality of social interactions. In three studies, participants completed laboratory-based assessments of emotion recognition ability and later reported their perceptions of naturally occurring social interactions. Overall, noise perception in the recognition task was associated with perceiving more negative emotions in others and perceiving interactions more negatively. Conversely, signal perception of facial emotion expressions was associated with higher quality in social interactions. These effects were moderated by relationship closeness in Greece but not in Germany. These findings suggest that emotion recognition as assessed in the laboratory is a valid predictor of social interaction quality. Thus, emotion recognition generalizes from the laboratory to everyday life.


COVID-19 and endoscopy services in intermediately affected countries: a position statement from the saudi gastroenterology association.
With the global pandemic due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been a significant strain on healthcare facilities. The infectivity rate, as well as the rate of healthcare workers who have fallen ill to the disease, has raised concerns globally on the proper management of patients as well as the role of safe healthcare provision utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE). Furthermore, the limited supply of PPEs has mandated rationing their use to achieve maximum utility and preservation. Multiple gastroenterology associations have issued guidance and statements that would help healthcare providers in navigating these unprecedented and difficult times, and the Saudi Gastroenterology Association has provided this statement in an effort to bring the most up to date information for the management of endoscopy units in terms of resources, manpower planning, scheduling, as well as infection control policies and leadership.


Adenylate cyclase 3: a new target for anti-obesity drug development.
Obesity has become epidemic worldwide, and abdominal obesity has a negative impact on health. Current treatment options on obesity, however, still remain limited. It is then of importance to find a new target for anti-obesity drug development based upon recent molecular studies in obesity. Adenylate cyclase 3 (ADCY3) is the third member of adenylyl cyclase family and catalyses the synthesis of cAMP from ATP. Genetic studies with candidate gene and genome-wide association study approaches have demonstrated that ADCY3 genetic polymorphisms are associated with obesity in European and Chinese populations. Epigenetic studies have indicated that increased DNA methylation levels in the ADCY3 gene are involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. Furthermore, biological analyses with animal models have implicated that ADCY3 dysfunction resulted in increased body weight and fat mass, while reduction of body weight is partially explained by ADCY3 activation. In this review, we describe genomic and biological features of ADCY3, summarize genetic and epigenetic association studies of the ADCY3 gene with obesity and discuss dysfunction and activation of ADCY3. Based upon all data, we suggest that ADCY3 is a new target for anti-obesity drug development. Further investigation on the effectiveness of ADCY3 activator and its delivery approach to treat abdominal obesity has been taken into our consideration.


Pipeline embolization device for the treatment of vertebral artery aneurysms: the fate of covered branch vessels.
Preliminary studies suggest that flow-diverting stents may be suitable for the treatment of aneurysms of the posterior circulation. The safety and efficacy of using flow-diverting stents for vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms is not well defined. To examine the fate of covering the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in patients undergoing placement of a flow-diverting stent for VA aneurysm. Consecutive patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for treatment of an aneurysm of the V4 segment of the VA between April 2012 and June 2015 at our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Angiograms were reviewed to determine the patency of the PICA when the vessel origin was covered by the PED. 11 patients with VA aneurysms who underwent treatment with the PED were identified. In each case the device covered the origin of the PICA. Follow-up angiography in eight patients demonstrated thrombosis of the aneurysm with patency of the PICA. Flow-diverting stents can be used for the treatment of VA aneurysms. When appropriately sized to the vessel wall and positioned in the VA, the device may cover the origin of the PICA without impairing flow through the branching artery.


[Experience of a centre for the study of occupational adjustment disorders referred to psychological harassment-related diseases at the workplace].
The rising awareness of psychological harassment at the workplace means that it is ever more important to collect clinical data and test tools to assess psychiatric disease connected with this phenomenon. The aim of the study was to assess the experience gained by the centre for work maladjustment of the University Hospital of Pisa on a sample of patients, using the methods proposed by the centre at the Clinica del Lavoro "Luigi Devoto". The patients were submitted to a diagnostic protocol consisting of work history, medical examination, psychological assessment, psychiatric examination, subjective questionnaires, mood scale and Neutest. The analysis was made in two phases in which 109 subjects were examined to check occupational stress effects in the period March 2002 - July 2004, after which 50 subjects were selected (45.9%) with the adaptation disorder and a history of adverse working conditions. The data gathered showed a slight predominance of workers from the public administration sector. The most representative range of duration of the psychological violence varied from 6 months to 2 years (46%). From close examination of the causes of the maladjustment disorders, structural changes in organization appeared to be the most frequent (13 cases). Among patients with positive diagnosis of disorder caused by psychological violence at the workplace, three situations were prominent: attitude to being a social outcast, behaviour to ignore proposals, and professional declassing. The multidisciplinary approach was culturally very stimulating and fundamental in reaching a final diagnosis of occupational disease: diagnosis of bullying at work and related disease was possible only thanks to the fact that three specialists agreed on the aetiological role of psychological harassment at the workplace. Our experience confirms that psychological harassment can cause health impairment and the most common diagnosis is maladjustment disorder.


Patient-Centred Outcomes after Totally Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery: One-Year Follow-Up.
Patient-centred outcomes have grown in popularity over recent years in surgical care research. These patient-centred outcomes can be measured through the health-related quality of life (HRQL) without professional interpretations. In May 2022, a study regarding patient-centred outcomes up to 90 days postoperatively was published. Fourteen days after surgery, the HRQL decreased and returned to baseline levels after 30 days. Next, the HRQL significantly improved 90 days postoperatively. However, this study only focuses on a short-term follow-up of the patients. Hence, this follow-up study aims to assess the HRQL one year after totally endoscopic cardiac surgery. At baseline, 14, 30, and 90 days, and one year after surgery, the HRQL was evaluated using a 36-item short form and 5-dimensional European QoL questionnaires (EQ-5D). Using the 36-item short form questionnaire, a physical and mental component score is calculated. Over the period of one year, this physical and mental component score and the EQ-5D index value significantly improve. According to the visual analogue scale of the EQ-5D, patients score their health significantly higher one year postoperatively. In conclusion, after endoscopic cardiac surgery, the HRQL is significantly improved 90 days postoperatively and remains high one year afterward.


Thixotrophy property of hydrogels to evaluate the cell growing on the inside of the material bulk (Amber effect).
The realization of injectable hydrogels is one of the most challenging aims of biomedical research. Most injectable hydrogels are obtained by photopolymerization in situ. A hydrogel which is able to pass through a needle without losing its structure once crosslinked would be of great interest for several biomedical applications. In this work, hyaluronane and alginate-based 50% hydrogels were synthesized, their thixotrophic behavior was verified and their mechanical properties (G' and G'') were determined before and after the passage through the needle. A morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also performed in order to evaluate the effect of the passage of the hydrogel through the needle on the morphological structure of the material. The thixotrophic property of these hydrogels is used to realize a cell-containing material that supports cell proliferation and growth permitting in vivo engineering of new tissues. In fact, thixotrophic hydrogel can be sucked together with cell suspension and in this way cells remain entrapped inside the hydrogel structure (Amber effect). A comparison of the cell growth using this technique with the classical seeding technique (cell seeding onto the hydrogel) was performed. A different behavior was found between hyaluronane and alginate-based hydrogels.


Kawasaki Disease: The Role of Immune Complexes Revisited.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory disease in children associated with vasculitis affecting predominantly the coronary arteries and is now the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. The etiology of KD is unknown but epidemiological studies implicate an infectious agent or toxin, which causes disease in genetically predisposed individuals. The presence of immune complexes (ICs) in the serum of children with KD was established in numerous studies during the 1970s and 80s. More recent genetic studies have identified variation in Fcγ receptors and genes controlling immunoglobulin production associated with KD. In this review we link the genetic findings and IC studies and suggest a key role for their interaction in pathophysiology of the disease.


Brain herniation into the middle ear following temporal bone fracture.
Otorrhea of leaked cerebrospinal fluid and meningitis in a 33-year-old male originated from an encephalic herniation into the middle ear following traumatic temporal bone fracture. CT demonstrated a mixed-type fracture consisting of a longitudinal fracture and a posterior oblique fracture of the left temporal bone. The left tegmen tympani was broken into a bellows-like shape and a bone splinter from it had stuck in the epitympanum at the level of the incus body. Surgery via a middle cranial fossa approach confirmed penetration of the brain tissue between the incus and lateral semicircular canal. The diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed in the context of a literature review.


Ambivalence during early pregnancy among expectant mothers.
Ambivalence during the early stages of pregnancy is a known phenomenon, among expectant mothers as well as among applicants for abortion. The conflict of wanting or not wanting to have a child must be solved in the decision-making process that precedes the choice of whether to interrupt a pregnancy or carry it to full term. The time limit for this decision making process is reduced by the medical abortion methods now available. Hasty early abortions as well as delayed abortions create problems and should be avoided. The present Swedish study, based on 123 semistructured interviews conducted among expectant mothers, focuses on this ambivalence during early pregnancy. Fifty-five percent of the interviewees reported that the current pregnancy was planned, 14% had become pregnant in spite of using contraceptives. Fifteen percent had considered an abortion during the current pregnancy. Ten in-depth interviews revealed how women contemplating abortion dealt with their ambivalence and finally decided to continue the pregnancy. The study shows that no one but the pregnant woman herself can arrive at the informed analysis necessary for a well-considered decision about the future of her pregnancy. However, all pregnant women should be offered the opportunity to talk about their situation, their thoughts and feelings to a neutral listener, in order to make that decision.


Phytochemicals and bioactive compounds effective against acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review.
This systematic review identified various bioactive compounds which have the potential to serve as novel drugs or leads against acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy that arises from the dysregulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death. The risk factors associated with the onset of AML include long-term exposure to radiation and chemicals such as benzene, smoking, genetic disorders, blood disorders, advancement in age, and others. Although novel strategies to manage AML, including a refinement of the conventional chemotherapy regimens, hypomethylating agents, and molecular targeted drugs, have been developed in recent years, resistance and relapse remain the main clinical problems. In this study, three databases, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were systematically searched to identify various bioactive compounds with antileukemic properties. A total of 518 articles were identified, out of which 59 were viewed as eligible for the current report. From the data extracted, over 60 bioactive compounds were identified and divided into five major groups: flavonoids, alkaloids, organosulfur compounds, terpenes, and terpenoids, and other known and emerging bioactive compounds. The mechanism of actions of the analyzed individual bioactive molecules differs remarkably and includes disrupting chromatin structure, upregulating the synthesis of certain DNA repair proteins, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and inhibiting/regulating Hsp90 activities, DNA methyltransferase 1, and histone deacetylase 1.


Adrenergic receptors and vascular resistance in cerebral circulation of the cat.
Infusion of catecholamines and pharmacologic blockade were used to demonstrate the presence of an adrenergic receptor system with both alpha and beta components inthe feline cerebral vasculature. For this purpose, the anatomically isolated brain preparation was perfused under controlled constant-pressure conditions to eliminate active autoregulatory changes and passive fluctuations in calculated cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) secondary to alterations of perfusion pressure. Alpha adrenergic activity was demonstrated as substantial cerebral vasoconstriction in response to infusions of l-norepinephrine and epinephrine; cerebral blood flow (CBF) was decreased by mean values of 25% and 29%, respectively, with calculated increases in CVR of 82% and 62%, respectively. Marked reductions in the vasoconstriction produced by these two catecholamines followed the use of the alpha receptor blocking drug, phenoxybenzamine. Isoproterenol consistently produced cerebral vasodilation (mean CVR decrease of 22%), and this vasodilation was blocked during infusion of a specific beta adrenergic blocking agent, propranolol. Histamine vasodilation (mean CBF increase 49%) appeared to be independent of the classic adrenergic mechanisma. The observed responses are explained on the basis of a functionally significant cerebrovascular adrenergic system having high specificity and demonstrating considerable potency. The data also indicate a predominance of alpha over beta adrenergic cerebrovascular reception.


Infinite family of persistence exponents for interface fluctuations.
We show experimentally and theoretically that the persistence of large deviations in equilibrium step fluctuations is characterized by an infinite family of independent exponents. These exponents are obtained by carefully analyzing dynamical experimental images of Al/Si(111) and Ag(111) equilibrium steps fluctuating at high (970 K) and low (320 K) temperatures, respectively, and by quantitatively interpreting our observations on the basis of the corresponding coarse-grained discrete and continuum theoretical models for thermal surface step fluctuations under attachment/detachment ("high-temperature") and edge-diffusion limited kinetics ("low-temperature"), respectively.


Hexagonal perovskite derivatives: a new direction in the design of oxide ion conducting materials.
Various structural families have been reported to support oxide ion conductivity; among these, perovskite conductors have received particular attention. The perovskite structure is generally composed of a framework of corner-sharing octahedral units. When the octahedral units share their faces, hexagonal perovskites are formed. Mixed combinations of corner-sharing and face-sharing octahedral units can give rise to a variety of hexagonal perovskite derivatives. However, the ionic conducting properties of these materials have not been well explored. In this feature article, we review the conducting properties of the most significant hexagonal perovskite derivatives, with special focus on Ba3MM'O8.5. Ba3MM'O8.5 is the first hexagonal perovskite derivative to exhibit substantial oxide ion conductivity, and here we outline the structural features that are key for the oxide ion conduction within this system. The results demonstrate that further investigation of hexagonal perovskite derivatives could open up new directions in the design of oxide ion conductors.


Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ulcerative keratitis in a Thoroughbred racehorse.
We report the first case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis in a racehorse. A 5-year-old mare developed punctate keratitis after racing. The corneal ulcer continued to expand despite ophthalmic antimicrobial therapy. On day 6, a conjunctival graft surgery was performed. The mare was euthanized, following colitis and laminitis development on day 10. MRSA was isolated from the corneal swab taken at the time of euthanasia. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated gram-positive and anti-S. aureus monoclonal antibody-positive cocci infiltration of the corneal stroma; and a diagnosis of MRSA ulcerative keratitis was made. An ophthalmic antimicrobial against the isolated MRSA did not improve the ocular lesion. The MRSA strain was found to be staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type II, a strain frequently isolated from humans in Japan.


Effects of zinc propionate supplementation on growth performance, skeletal muscle fiber, and receptor characteristics in beef steers.
A randomized complete block design experiment with 32 yearling crossbred steers (average body weight [BW] = 442 ± 17.0 kg) fed a steam-flaked corn-based diet was used to evaluate the effects of dietary Zn (KemTRACE Zn propionate 27; Kemin Industries, Inc., Des Moines, IA) supplementation on live growth performance, skeletal muscle fiber, and beta-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) characteristics during the finishing phase. Steers were blocked by BW (n = 4 blocks; 8 steers/block), assigned to pens (n = 4 steers/pen), and randomly assigned to the following treatments: control (CON; 0.0 g/[head (hd) · d] of additional Zn) or additional dietary Zn (ZnP; 1.0 g/[hd · d] additional Zn). The basal diet contained Zn (60 ppm dry matter basis) from ZnSO4; additional Zn was top-dressed at feeding. Ractopamine hydrochloride (RH; Optaflexx: Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) was included at 300 mg/(hd · d) for the final 28 d of the 111-d feeding period. Longissimus muscle biopsy samples, BW, and blood were obtained on days 0, 42, 79, and 107. Final BW was collected prior to shipping on day 111. Biopsy samples were used for immunohistochemical (IHC), mRNA, and protein analysis. Serum urea nitrogen (SUN) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were measured. Steers fed ZnP had a greater average daily gain (P = 0.02) and gain to feed ratio (G:F; P = 0.03) during the RH feeding period compared with CON. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in other growth performance variables, carcass traits, mRNA abundance, or relative protein concentration for fiber type and β-AR. Fiber types I and IIA had no differences in the cross-sectional area; however, the IIX area was greater for CON (P < 0.04) compared with ZnP and increased (P < 0.02) over time. There were no differences between treatments for the β1-AR density (P > 0.05) in skeletal muscle tissue throughout the study. A treatment × day interaction was observed in β2-AR density (P = 0.02) and β3-AR density (P = 0.02) during the RH feeding period, where the abundance of the receptors increased with ZnP but did not change in CON. Compared with CON, ZnP had greater (P < 0.01) mean NEFA concentrations. Mean SUN concentrations did increase by day (P < 0.01). Additional dietary Zn, supplied as Zn propionate, upregulates β2-AR and β3-AR and improves growth performance in feedlot steers during the RH feeding period, likely through a shift of resource utilization from lipogenesis to muscle maintenance and hypertrophy.


Extension of the pole decomposition for the multidimensional Burgers equation.
It is shown that the generalizations to more than one space dimension of the pole decomposition for the Burgers equation with finite viscosity nu and no force are of the form u=-2nu inverted Delta ln P, where the P's are explicitly known algebraic (or trigonometric) polynomials in the space variables with polynomial (or exponential) dependence on time. Such solutions have pole singularities on the complex algebraic varieties.


A requirement for polymerized actin in DNA double-strand break repair.
Nuclear actin is involved in several nuclear processes from chromatin remodeling to transcription. Here we examined the requirement for actin polymerization in DNA double-strand break repair. Double-strand breaks are considered the most dangerous type of DNA lesion. Double-strand break repair consists of a complex set of events that are tightly regulated. Failure at any step can have catastrophic consequences such as genomic instability, oncogenesis or cell death. Many proteins involved in this repair process have been identified and their roles characterized. We discovered that some DNA double-strand break repair factors are capable of associating with polymeric actin in vitro and specifically, that purified Ku70/80 interacts with polymerized actin under these conditions. We find that the disruption of polymeric actin inhibits DNA double strand break repair both in vitro and in vivo. Introduction of nuclear targeted mutant actin that cannot polymerize, or the depolymerization of endogenous actin filaments by the addition of cytochalasin D, alters the retention of Ku80 at sites of DNA damage in live cells. Our results suggest that polymeric actin is required for proper DNA double-strand break repair and may function through the stabilization of the Ku heterodimer at the DNA damage site.


Irinophore C™, a lipid nanoparticulate formulation of irinotecan, improves vascular function, increases the delivery of sequentially administered 5-FU in HT-29 tumors, and controls tumor growth in patient derived xenografts of colon cancer.
A liposomal formulation of irinotecan, Irinophore C™ (IrC™) is efficacious in a panel of tumor models, normalizes tumor vasculature, and increases the accumulation of a second drug in the same tumor. We now show that Irinophore C™ is also effective against patient derived xenografts (PDX) of colon cancer, and examine the kinetics of vascular normalization in the HT-29 tumor model and assess how these changes might be used with 5-FU sequentially. Rag2M mice bearing HT-29 tumors were treated with IrC™ (25mg/kg; Q7D×3) for up to three weeks. Groups of tumors were harvested for analysis at 7, 14 and 21days after the start of treatment. Drug and lipid levels in the tumor were evaluated using HPLC and scintillation counts, respectively. Changes in tumor morphology (H&E), vasculature (CD31), perfusion (Hoechst 33342) and apoptosis (TUNEL) were quantified using microscopy. The accumulation of a second drug ([(14)C]-5-FU, 40mg/kg) given 3h before sacrifice was determined using liquid scintillation. The efficacy of IrC™ (Q7D×3) followed by 5-FU treatment (Q7D×3) was assessed in mice bearing established HT-29 tumors. The efficacy of IrC™ was also evaluated in primary human colorectal tumors grown orthotopically in NOD-SCID mice. Following a single dose of IrC™ the active lactone forms of irinotecan and its metabolite SN-38 were measurable in HT-29 tumors after 7days. The treatment reduced tumor cell density and increased apoptosis. Hoechst 33342 perfusion and accumulation of [(14)C]-5-FU in the treated tumors increased significantly on days 7 and 14. This was accompanied by an increase in the number of endothelial cells relative to total nuclei in the tumor sections. Pre-treatment with IrC™ (Q7D×3) followed by 5-FU (Q7D×3) delayed the time taken for tumors to reach 1cm(3) by 9days (p<0.05). IrC™ was just as effective as free irinotecan when used on patient derived xenografts of colorectal cancer. Treatment with IrC™ reduces tumor cell viability and appears to normalize the vascular function of the tumor after a single treatment cycle. A concomitant increase in the accumulation of a second drug (5-FU) in the tumor was observed in tumors from IrC™ treated animals and this was correlated with changes in vascular structure consistent with normalization. The treatment effects of sequential 5-FU dosing following IrC™ are additive with no additional toxicity in contrast to previous studies where concurrent 5-FU and IrC™ treatment exacerbated 5-FU toxicity. The studies with PDX tumors also indicate that IrC™ is just as effective as free irinotecan on PDX tumors even though the delivered dose is halved.


Corticosterone differentially modulates time-dependent fear generalization following mild or moderate fear conditioning training in rats.
Stressful and emotionally arousing experiences create strong memories that seem to lose specificity over time. It is uncertain, however, how the stress system contributes to the phenomenon of time-dependent fear generalization. Here, we investigated whether post-training corticosterone (CORT-HBC) injections, given after different training intensities, affect contextual fear memory specificity at several time points. We trained male Wistar rats on the contextual fear conditioning (CFC) task using two footshock intensities (mild CFC, 3 footshocks of 0.3 mA, or moderate CFC, 3x 0.6 mA) and immediately after the training session we administered CORT-HBC systemically. We first tested the animals in a novel context and then in the training context at different intervals following training (2, 14, 28 or 42 days). By measuring freezing in the novel context and then contrasting freezing times shown in both contexts, we inferred contextual fear generalization for each rat, classifying them into Generalizers or Discriminators. Following mild CFC training, the glucocorticoid injection promoted an accurate contextual memory at the recent time point (2 days), and increase the contextual memory accuracy 28 days after training. In contrast, after the moderate CFC training, CORT-HBC facilitated contextual generalization at 14 days, compared to the control group that maintained contextual discrimination at this timepoint. For this training intensity, however, CORT-HBC did not have any effect on recent memory specificity. These findings indicate that treatment with CORT-HBC immediately after the encoding of mild or moderately arousing experiences may differentially modulate memory consolidation and time-dependent fear generalization.


Emission factors of unintentional HCB and PeCBz and their correlation with PCDD/PCDF.
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz) have been listed as unintentional POPs in the annex of the Stockholm Convention and thus, attracted attention by government and researchers. Since the intentional production and use has ceased in most countries, the unintentional releases to the environment have increased. This study gathered 206 and 78 emission factors (EFs) of unintentional HCB and PeCBz from scientific publications and governmental reports, respectively. Most of the EFs referred to the release vector "air" (EFAir) and to a less extent to "product" (EFProduct). EFs were proposed for different source categories/classes used in the Toolkit according to the technologies that released the HCB or PeCBz. Overall, lowest and highest EFAir for HCB were found in the metallurgical industry range from 1 μg/t in well controlled plants (coke, iron and steel) up to 40,000 μg/t (secondary zinc). EFs for PeCBz were in similar order of magnitude. Due to lack of data, EFs to water, land or residue cannot be proposed. Using linear regression and statistical analysis such as Pearson correlation, we found strongest correlation of EFAir between HCB and PeCBz (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.01) and weaker, but still significant, correlations for EFAir between PCDD/PCDFTEQ and HCB (R2 = 0.56; P < 0.01) or PeCBz (R2 = 0.31 P < 0.01) for various thermal processes.


SERINC3 and SERINC5 restrict HIV-1 infectivity and are counteracted by Nef.
HIV-1 Nef and the unrelated mouse leukaemia virus glycosylated Gag (glycoGag) strongly enhance the infectivity of HIV-1 virions produced in certain cell types in a clathrin-dependent manner. Here we show that Nef and glycoGag prevent the incorporation of the multipass transmembrane proteins serine incorporator 3 (SERINC3) and SERINC5 into HIV-1 virions to an extent that correlates with infectivity enhancement. Silencing of both SERINC3 and SERINC5 precisely phenocopied the effects of Nef and glycoGag on HIV-1 infectivity. The infectivity of nef-deficient virions increased more than 100-fold when produced in double-knockout human CD4(+) T cells that lack both SERINC3 and SERINC5, and re-expression experiments confirmed that the absence of SERINC3 and SERINC5 accounted for the infectivity enhancement. Furthermore, SERINC3 and SERINC5 together restricted HIV-1 replication, and this restriction was evaded by Nef. SERINC3 and SERINC5 are highly expressed in primary human HIV-1 target cells, and inhibiting their downregulation by Nef is a potential strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.


[Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome with a Pro102Leu mutation in the prion protein gene and atypical MRI findings, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and hyperhidrosis].
A 64-year-old Japanese woman with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is reported. She was admitted to our hospital for progressive amnesia, twitching of the right upper limb, and difficulty in speaking and walking for 5 months. Physical examination revealed a fever, tachycardia, and hyperhidrosis without any evidence of inflammation or infection. Neurological examinations demonstrated dementia, frontal lobe signs, and spontaneous myoclonus. She developed akinetic mutism 4 months later. The levels of neuron-specific enolase and 14-3-3 protein were elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid, and serial EEG showed periodic synchronous discharges. DNA analysis of the prion protein gene revealed a Pro102Leu mutation and therefore she was diagnosed as GSS102. Head MRI showed abnormal high signal intensity by T2 weighted image in bilateral caudate nuclei, putamen, frontal lobes, and white matter around the posterior horn of lateral ventricles at admission, and extension to global cerebral cortex and diffuse deep white matter with marked atrophy of bilateral frontal and cerebellar cortices 4 months later. In 123I-IMP SPECT study, uptake of RI decreased slightly only in left frontal region at admission, but decreased markedly in bilateral frontal region 4 months later. Analysis of autonomic function (analysis of noradrenarine in plasma and urine, coefficient of variation of R-R intervals before and after giving atenolol, Aschner's eyeball pressure test, intracutaneous atropine and adrenaline injection test) revealed sympathetic hyperactivity but normal parasympathetic activity. This is a very rare case of GSS102 with atypical MRI findings and clinical features like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease rather than GSS102, presenting hyperthermia, tachycardia, and hyperhidrosis caused presumably by sympathetic hyperactivity as well as fatal familial insomnia. Therefore it is suggested that some factors besides the codon mutation in the prion protein gene may influence clinical symptoms in prion disease.


Assessment of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, pica and rumination disorder: interview and questionnaire measures.
This article reviews available assessment instruments for three of the feeding and eating disorder diagnostic categories: avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), pica, and rumination disorder (RD). It includes an overview of the current status of screening tools, questionnaire measures, and diagnostic instruments. Screening instruments are available for all three disorders; however, for pica and RD, these typically include single screening items only and do not cover any specific features of these presentations. Only one questionnaire suitable for clinical populations is included, covering ARFID only. Standardized diagnostic interviews are limited to two covering both pica and RD, only one of which provides further clinical information. Of the five diagnostic instruments for ARFID described here, two include diagnostic items as well as allowing more detailed assessment of clinical features. There are a limited number of assessment measures available for all three disorders, with instruments for ARFID being the greatest in number and widest in terms of scope. A commonly encountered difficulty is that many assessment instruments do not adequately cover diagnostic exclusion criteria, which raises the likelihood of false positive findings. All currently available measures require further study to determine their reliability and validity.


Screening of solid and porous materials for pacemaker electrodes.
Several different materials, including one which was porous, were studied to assess their properties as pacemaker electrode tips. Leads were implanted in sheep for periods up to one year. Electrical measurements were made during the implant period and histopathological examination performed after sacrifice. Although titanium vapor-deposited carbon, and silver did not lower the chronic stimulation threshold below that of platinum, their electrical characteristics were within generally acceptable limits. Zinc evoked a severe tissue reactions and a high threshold. Porous titanium alloy electrodes demonstrated reduced dislodgement, more frequent attachment and a lower sensing impedance than other electrodes.


Development of two-dimensional piezoelectric laser scanner with large steering angle and fast response characteristics.
We describe a two-dimensional piezoelectric laser scanner designed and tested to obtain a large steering angle of 1° and fast response characteristics of 200 Hz. To overcome the relatively small expansion capability of piezoelectric actuators, the displacement amplification mechanisms with two levers in series are employed to magnify the end tip of the lever which is connected to a 0.5-in. glass mirror. For fast response characteristics, the natural frequencies of the hinge mechanisms were calculated by using the finite element analysis technique. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed scanner, the hinge mechanism has been manufactured of titanium alloy and the natural frequencies of the hinge mechanism have been measured by sine sweep test. Also, the actual machining test on the burning paper has been done by using a high power laser, and it is shown that the proposed laser scanner is capable of steering the laser beam 1° with a frequency of 200 Hz.


The Effect of Family-Centered Education on the Care Burden of Family Caregivers of the Elderly with Cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study.
Given the role of the family in decisions related to the patient's health, their role in educating the patient should be considered in the health care program. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of family-centered education on the care burden of family caregivers of the elderly with cancer. In this quasi-experimental study, 30 elderly caregivers with cancer were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 15 intervention and 15 control from 1 March 2020 to 1 July 2021. Data collection tools were demographic characteristics questionnaire and care burden questionnaire. The intervention was performed as individual training to caregivers in two one-hour sessions. 6 weeks after the intervention, care burden was measured in both groups. Data were collected and analyzed using PSSS software version 23. According to the independent t-test, before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean score of care burden in the intervention and control groups, but after the intervention, the mean score of care burden in the intervention group decreased from 56.93 ±11.08 to 42.93 ± 9.78 and in the control group It changed from 54.27 ± 11.38 to 56.80 ± 11.43 and there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of the two groups (P <0.001). Based on the findings of the present study, family-centered education intervention can be effective in reducing the care burden of caregivers of the elderly with cancer in a sample of Iranian society. Therefore, it is predicted that providing such educational services in the health care delivery system is absolutely necessary and effective, and the use of this type of training in nursing activities is recommended.


Failure of nifedipine and reperfusion to reduce infarct size relative to region at risk as measured by NADH fluorophotography.
In this report we describe a new technique for the measurement of region at risk after coronary artery ligation in the rabbit by NADH fluorophotography. We also describe the application of this technique to a study of nifedipine combined with reperfusion in experimental myocardial infarction. In 16 untreated rabbits the epicardial surface area of NADH fluorescence immediately after coronary ligation correlated with infarct size at 24 hr after coronary occlusion, as measured by nitro blue tetrazolium staining (r = .84, p less than .001). In 24 rabbits we studied the effect of nifedipine administered immediately after coronary ligation and combined with reperfusion at 1 hr after occlusion. Nifedipine had no significant effect on region at risk or infarct size.


[Functional characteristics of the basic internal system of hippocampal connections].
Functional characteristics of two main intrahippocampal connections (dentate fascia-field CA3 and field CA3-field CA1) were studied in unanesthetized rabbits. Electrical stimulation of FD or CA3 was used during extracellular recording of the CA3 or CA1 neuronal activity, respectively. The system CA3-CA1 is a highly effective, with a very narrow threshold zone and wide range of active frequencies. The process of recruitment during continuous rhythmic stimulation is weak, any signs of prolonged potentiation are absent. The system FD-CA3 is characterized by low effeciency, a wide threshold zone, narrow range of active frequencies. It is able of gradual building up and prolonged preservation of potentiated state. The morphological reasons of these differences and possible role of these systems in the hippocampal activity are discussed.


Revision of long-term gastrostomy.
Insertion of gastrostomy has become a popular choice for children with feeding problems. With the passage of time, gastrostomies require revision for various reasons. The aims of the present study are to report our experience of the revision of long-term gastrostomies, to ascertain the reasons for revision, and to discuss any measures that may prevent the need for revision. We conducted a retrospective review of all of the patients requiring gastrostomy revision by the senior author between 2005 and June 2011. The patients had had their original operation in several different hospitals within the United Kingdom, between 1997 and 2008. We excluded those patients requiring the revision for an acute complication (within 1 month) or required revision for subsequent fundoplication. The patients' hospital notes were reviewed to identify the reasons for revision and a literature search was done to find ways to prevent these. There were 15 patients who required revision of gastrostomy. Epithelialisation of the gastrostomy track with gastric mucosa was the most common cause (9/15). Other reasons were buried bumper syndrome (BBS) (4/15) and migration of the gastrostomy exit site toward the rib cage (2/15). The mean interval before revision due to the epithelialisation of the tract was 101 months since the insertion of the gastrostomy. The mean for other complications was 26 months for BBS and 95 months for migration of the exit site. We believe that the incidence of gastrostomy revision could be reduced. Preventing epithelialisation is difficult and may be minimised by aggressive and generous use of topical silver nitrate. The gastrostomy exit site needs to be as far away from the rib edge as possible. Checking the bumper regularly or use of a gastrostomy balloon button instead of a tube eliminates BBS. Parents need to be aware of the possibility that a long-term gastrostomy may need surgical revision.


Biogenic amines in carotid body of adult and infant rats--a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay.
A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was used for the determination of biogenic amines in carotid body of adult and 10 days old rats. The method is ideally suited for this measurement since only small amounts of tissue were available (dry weight carotid body: adult 8.3 mug; infant 5.6 mug). In adult carotid body large amounts of dopamine (1 950 pmol/mg protein) and norepinephrine (1 140 pmol/mg protein) were found together with a comparatively small concentration of serotonin (505 pmol/mg protein). The carotid bodies of infant rats contained 1 065 pmol dopamine/mg protein and 410 pmol norepinephrine/mg protein. Epinephrine could not be detected. Surgical sympathetic denervation and chemical sympathectomy (6-hydroxydopamine) of adult carotid bodies did not significantly change the catecholamine content as compared to the controls. Reserpine depleted the catecholamines dosedependently. Administration of L-Dopa and pargyline (a monoamineoxidaseinhibitor) drastically increased the concentration of catecholamines. Treatment with a dopamine-beta-hydroxlase-inhibitor resulted in a decreased amount of norepinephrine without a simultaneous increase of dopamine. This may indicate that certain storage sites in this tissue may store dopamine while in other sites dopamine is a precursor of norepinephrine. Probably most of the dopamine and norepinephrine are stored in different cells.


[Gravitational biology of integrative organisms and ecological system--the road map of space activities].
History of the International Space Station, ISS, and planning of its scientific use are described in this essay. Fundamental gravitational biology and its facility on the ISS have been identified to have the highest priority to conduct scientific experiments with variable G environment in orbit. The road map of space activities is clearly directing the efforts toward manned Mars exploration. The Centrifuge is a core element of the facilities dedicated to this endeavor. Several research subjects are discussed with the results obtained from the past space experiments. Direct effects of gravity on the biological system at the level of integrative organisms are major subjects of study that will be conducted on the large scaled centrifuge.


Plasma free amino acids of children consuming a diet with uneven distribution of protein relative to energy.
Adequate N retention and growth have been demonstrated in children consuming diets in which the total daily protein is fed in a single meal, energy intake being spread over a 14 hour period. To elucidate how adequate protein nutriture continues when protein is not consumed in parallel to energy, plasma free amino acids were measured in 11 children fed a casein-modified cow's milk based diet providing all protein (6.4% of calories) in one feeding, while energy was evenly distributed among five feedings. Children were fed at 0800 hours, 1200 hours, 1500 hours (protein-containing meal), 1900 hours, and 2200 hours. Fasting plasma aminograms were determined in all 11 children. During a long-term growth study with the diet, six children had additional determinations 3 and 4 hours after the first feeding on the same day on which the fasting sample was obtained; samples prior to and 3 and 4 hours after the 1500 hour feeding were obtained on a different day. In a seventh child, all six samples were obtained on a single day. Fasting values for total amino acids (TAA), total essential amino acids (TEAA) and TEAA/TAA, Val, Ile and Pro were elevated in most cases, a pattern seen in children fed high protein diets. The 1100 hour and 1200 hour samples showed a marked decrease in TAA, TEAA and TEAA/TAA. A further drop at 1500 hour produced a pattern characteristic of protein deficiency. Following the protein containing meal, TAA increased 50-100%, TEAA 100-200%, with disproportionate increases in Leu, Ile, Val and Pro. The persistence of this pattern in some cases up to 17 hours suggested that EAA were available for protein synthesis when additional energy was subsequently consumed. An aminogram characteristic of protein deficiency was seen only 18-20 hours after the last protein intake.


Architecture of the type IV coupling protein complex of Legionella pneumophila.
Many bacteria, including Legionella pneumophila, rely on the type IV secretion system to translocate a repertoire of effector proteins into the hosts for their survival and growth. Type IV coupling protein (T4CP) is a hexameric ATPase that links translocating substrates to the transenvelope secretion conduit. Yet, how a large number of effector proteins are selectively recruited and processed by T4CPs remains enigmatic. DotL, the T4CP of L. pneumophila, contains an ATPase domain and a C-terminal extension whose function is unknown. Unlike T4CPs involved in plasmid DNA translocation, DotL appeared to function by forming a multiprotein complex with four other proteins. Here, we show that the C-terminal extension of DotL interacts with DotN, IcmS, IcmW and an additionally identified subunit LvgA, and that this pentameric assembly binds Legionella effector proteins. We determined the crystal structure of this assembly and built an architecture of the T4CP holocomplex by combining a homology model of the ATPase domain of DotL. The holocomplex is a hexamer of a bipartite structure composed of a membrane-proximal ATPase domain and a membrane-distal substrate-recognition assembly. The presented information demonstrates the architecture and functional dissection of the multiprotein T4CP complexes and provides important insights into their substrate recruitment and processing.


SAAP-RRBS: streamlined analysis and annotation pipeline for reduced representation bisulfite sequencing.
Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) is a cost-effective approach for genome-wide methylation pattern profiling. Analyzing RRBS sequencing data is challenging and specialized alignment/mapping programs are needed. Although such programs have been developed, a comprehensive solution that provides researchers with good quality and analyzable data is still lacking. To address this need, we have developed a Streamlined Analysis and Annotation Pipeline for RRBS data (SAAP-RRBS) that integrates read quality assessment/clean-up, alignment, methylation data extraction, annotation, reporting and visualization. This package facilitates a rapid transition from sequencing reads to a fully annotated CpG methylation report to biological interpretation. SAAP-RRBS is freely available to non-commercial users at the web site http://ndc.mayo.edu/mayo/research/biostat/stand-alone-packages.cfm.


De Novo Transcriptome Assembly in Firmiana danxiaensis, a Tree Species Endemic to the Danxia Landform.
Many Firmiana species are locally endemic, providing an interesting system for studying adaptation and speciation. Among these species, F. danxiaensis is a tree species endemic to Mount Danxia in Guangdong, China, which is an area known for presenting the Danxia landform. How F. danxiaensis could have adapted to the stressful environment of rocky cliffs covered with barren soils in the Danxia landform is still unknown. In this study, we performed de novo assembly of the transcriptome of F. danxiaensis, obtaining 47,221 unigenes with an N50 value of 987 bp. Homology analysis showed that 32,318 of the unigenes presented hits in the NCBI non-redundant database, and 31,857 exhibited significant matches with the protein database of Theobroma cacao. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation showed that hundreds of unigenes participated in responses to various stresses or nutritional starvation, which may help us to understand the adaptation of F. danxiaensis to Danxia landform. Additionally, we found 263 genes related to responses to Cd, partially explaining the high accumulation of Cd observed in Firmiana species. The EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations revealed many genes playing roles in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and environmental adaptation, which may also contribute to the survivor and success of Firmiana species in extreme environments. Based on the obtained transcriptome, we further identified a Firmiana-specific whole-genome duplication event that occurred approximately 20 Mya, which may have provided raw materials for the diversification of Firmiana species.


Translating neurotrophic and cellular plasticity: from pathophysiology to improved therapeutics for bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder (BD) likely involves, at a molecular and cellular level, dysfunctions of critical neurotrophic, cellular plasticity and resilience pathways and neuroprotective processes. Therapeutic properties of mood stabilizers are presumed to result from a restoration of the function of these altered pathways and processes through a wide range of biochemical and molecular effects. We aimed to review the altered pathways and processes implicated in BD, such as neurotrophic factors, mitogen-activated protein kinases, Bcl-2, phosphoinositol signaling, intracellular calcium and glycogen synthase kinase-3. We undertook a literature search of recent relevant journal articles, book chapter and reviews on neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in BD. Search words entered were 'brain-derived neurotrophic factor,''Bcl-2,''mitogen-activated protein kinases,''neuroprotection,''calcium,''bipolar disorder,''mania,' and 'depression.' The most consistent and replicated findings in the pathophysiology of BD may be classified as follows: i) calcium dysregulation, ii) mitochondrial/endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction, iii) glial and neuronal death/atrophy and iv) loss of neurotrophic/plasticity effects in brain areas critically involved in mood regulation. In addition, the evidence supports that treatment with mood stabilizers; in particular, lithium restores these pathophysiological changes. Bipolar disorder is associated with impairments in neurotrophic, cellular plasticity and resilience pathways as well as in neuroprotective processes. The evidence supports that treatment with mood stabilizers, in particular lithium, restores these pathophysiological changes. Studies that attempt to prevent (intervene before the onset of the molecular and cellular changes), treat (minimize severity of these deficits over time), and rectify (reverse molecular and cellular deficits) are promising therapeutic strategies for developing improved treatments for bipolar disorder.


Cervical spinal cord neurons receiving sensory input from the cranial vasculature.
The superior sagittal sinus, middle meningeal artery or superficial temporal artery was stimulated electrically in anaesthetized cats. Field potential recordings were used to locate areas of maximum responses in the upper cervical cord, which were then further examined for responsive single units. Short latency units responded to stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus with a mean latency of 11.9 ms. Some units also responded at longer latencies in the 200-250 ms range. Spontaneous discharge rates of some units in a dorsolateral area of the cervical cord were accelerated by iontophoretic application of glutamic or homocysteic acid to these same units. Evoked action potentials were commonly multiphasic. Dorsolateral area units commonly received convergent input from two vessels and often had receptive fields on the face and limbs. Spontaneously active cells which respond to electrical stimulation were accelerated by the local application of bradykinin to the sinus and responses of dorsolateral area units could be reversibly blocked by local application of lignocaine to the sinus. It was concluded that the dorsolateral area is a relay area for the perception of pain from cranial vessels.


CR1 density polymorphism and expression on erythrocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
The present study investigated the expressed number of CR1 on erythrocytes (E) in relationship of the CR1 density genotype from 46 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 47 healthy volunteers. The CR1 genotype was determined by a method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the genomic DNA fragment of 1.8 kb separated by HindIII endonuclease digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. Our data supported the earlier results that the number of binding sites/E for monoclonal anti-CR1 decreased among SLE patients compared with normal individuals having the same alleles for the CR1/E density. At the same time the novelty of our recent results was that the decreased expression of CR1 on E correlated significantly with kidney involvement in patients homozygous for the CR1/E high density allele (HH). These data suggest that the deficiency of the detectable number of CR1 on erythrocytes is acquired in this SLE population.


Screening of bacteria from the cattle gastrointestinal tract for inhibitory activity against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7, O111:H-, and O26:H11.
A quick and reproducible microgel plate assay was adapted to screen bacteria from cattle gastrointestinal tracts for production of compounds inhibitory to the growth of three enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serotypes: O157:H7, O111:H-, and O26:H11. The inhibitory activity of 309 bacteria, isolated on several agar media, was assessed by a microgel assay performed in 96-well microtiter plates. Fifty-three isolates secreted inhibitory compounds with a molecular weight of less than 1,000. In 12 isolates, the inhibitory activity was attributable to compounds other than lactic or acetic acid. These compounds were highly heat tolerant, with varying sensitivity to digestion by proteolytic enzymes. The inhibitory isolates were identified as lactic acid-producing bacteria on the basis of a combination of analyses, including 16S-rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms, 16S-rDNA gene sequences, and fermentation end products. The lactic acid bacteria of ruminants may contain antibacterial compounds not yet described. Naturally occurring populations of lactic acid bacteria may have potential as probiotics, to reduce the carriage of EHEC in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants.


Capping-agent-free synthesis of substrate-supported porous icosahedral gold nanoparticles.
We report a new capping-agent-free strategy for the synthesis of substrate-supported porous icosahedral Au nanoparticles (NPs) with rough naked surfaces, based on the crystallization from substrate-supported thin solution layers followed by solid-phase thermolysis. The plasmonic properties of icosahedral Au NPs have been studied using single particle dark-field scattering microscopy and spectroscopy. The two distinct localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands observed in the single particle dark-field spectra can be ascribed to the quadrupole resonance at ca. 425 nm and the size-dependent dipole resonance in the red region (645-708 nm). The unique rough naked surface, the facile synthesis, together with the ability to control the nanoparticle size and to vary the LSPR frequency in the red region, would make the substrate-supported porous icosahedral Au NPs promising on multiple levels in the applications of catalysis, ultrasensitive biosensors, and in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).


Pulse wave velocity in early-treated children living with perinatal HIV infection is similar to uninfected children.
HIV is associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease, due to HIV-associated metabolic abnormalities, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and HIV itself. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the noninvasive gold standard measurement of arterial stiffness, and associated with incident vascular events in adults. It is unclear if arterial stiffness is accelerated in children living with perinatal HIV (CHIV) who initiate ART early in life. We compared the longitudinal trajectory of PWV in CHIV to children unexposed to HIV. A secondary comparison compared HIV exposed uninfected children (CHEU) to unexposed children. Four hundred and sixty-five children (141 CHIV, 160 CHEU, 164 unexposed) previously in the children with HIV early antiretroviral therapy (ART) (CHER) and P1060 trials were followed annually at Tygerberg Children's Hospital, South Africa between 2014 and 2020. CHIV initiated ART in infancy or early childhood, with excellent ART adherence and largely sustained viral suppression. The primary outcome was PWV, measured using the Vicorder system, and evaluated using linear mixed effects models. Median (interquartile range) age at first PWV measurement was 8.64 (7.7-9.1) years, and median follow-up time 2.9 (1.6-4.0) years. Adjusted analyses showed no significant mean difference in PWV in CHIV and CHEU compared to unexposed [CHIV: 0.101 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.012 to 0.214; CHEU: 0.068 m/s, 95% CI -0.047 to 0.183], after adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity, mean arterial pressure, resting average heart rate and family history of cardiovascular disease. Early-treated CHIV with sustained viral suppression have similar PWV to unexposed children. Excellent adherence and early ART initiation may protect against cardiovascular disease.


[Energy metabolism and energy consumption of intensive care patients on respirators].
There are two main reasons for assessing energy turnover individually and as accurately as possible; firstly, the marked variation in available data on the degree to which energy turnover increases after severe trauma, and secondly accumulating evidence of the potential dangers of an inappropriately high so-called "hypercaloric" substrate dosage, which exceeds energy requirements. The energy turnover of 50 polytraumatized intensive care patients was therefore measured by indirect calorimetry and compared with norm values. Comparison of the median values revealed an approximately 50% higher energy turnover in the polytraumatized cases than calculated basal levels. The median values of our patients all lay within a similar range, but for each individual case we found marked differences between the energy turnover as measured by indirect calorimetry, and that estimated from norm tables. The oxygen consumption and CO2 production rates of 10 polytraumatized ventilated patients, measured at short time intervals, showed only minimal variations during the course of 24 h. The separate measurements carried out at hourly intervals varied by less than 10% when compared to an 1-h period of observation between 11 and 12 a.m. The oxygen consumption of a group of 40 polytraumatized, ventilated intensive care patients receiving various different i.v. infusions and parenteral nutrition regimens was, with an average of 382 +/- 47 ml/min, much higher than physiologically normal values. The energy turnover rate of these patients was correspondingly much higher than that of a fit person at rest, despite the fact that the rates measured were relatively low when compared to values found in the older literature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Visible near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRS) for rapid measurement of organic matter in compost.
Commercial compost is the inherently variable organic product of a controlled decomposition process. In the USA, assessment of compost's physicochemical parameters presently relies on standard laboratory analyses set forth in Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC). A rapid, field-portable means of assessing the organic matter (OM) content of compost products would be useful to help producers ensure optimal uniformity in their compost products. Visible near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRS) is a rapid, proximal-sensing technology proven effective at quantifying organic matter levels in soils. As such, VisNIR DRS was evaluated to assess its applicability to compost. Thirty-six compost samples representing a wide variety of source materials and moisture content were collected and scanned with VisNIR DRS under moist and oven-dry conditions. Partial least squares (PLS) regression and principal component regression (PCR) were used to relate the VisNIR DRS spectra with laboratory-measured OM to build compost OM prediction models. Raw reflectance, and first- and second-derivatives of the reflectance spectra were considered. In general, PLS regression outperformed PCR and the oven-dried first-derivative PLS model produced an r(2) value of 0.82 along with a residual prediction deviation value of 1.72. As such, VisNIR DRS shows promise as a suitable technique for the analysis of compost OM content for dried samples.


On the Cusp of a Healthcare Revolution: BME Technologies Have the Potential to ?Transform Our World?
Of the key technologies listed as "ready to propel industries and transform our world" in the 2017 report Top 50 Emerging Technologies: Growth Opportunities of Strategic Imperative, most fall under the scope of biomedical engineering (BME). Issued by the major market research and analysis company Frost and Sullivan [1], the report's findings are no surprise to the researchers, clinicians, and others who are heavily invested in this field.


Patient-triggered ventilation.
During patient triggered ventilation, the infant's inspiratory efforts should occur synchronously with ventilator inflations. Such an optimal interaction, however, is dependent on the performance of the triggering device and the ventilator and the infant's lung function. Triggered ventilation (assist control, A/C), synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), pressure support ventilation (PSV), volume targeted ventilation (VTV) with A/C, SIMV, PSV or proportional assist ventilation (PAV) can be delivered via the endotracheal tube or via nasal prongs. Meta-analysis of randomised trials demonstrated that the only advantage of A/C/SIMV over non-triggered positive pressure ventilation was a shorter duration of ventilation, in particular there was no significant effect on the incidence of chronic lung disease. The reduction in ventilation duration, however, was only seen if triggered ventilation is started in the recovery stage rather than in the acute phase of respiratory distress syndrome. Results from small randomised trials have suggested that A/C rather than SIMV is a better weaning mode, as reduction of the SIMV rate below 20 breaths per minute increases the work of breathing. Other small trials have highlighted triggered ventilation delivered by nasal prongs may reduce extubation failure rate. Physiological studies have demonstrated some advantages of PSV with and without VTV and PAV, whether these translate into improvements in long term clinical outcomes remains to be tested in appropriately designed randomised trials.


Characterizing the Uncultivated Microbial Minority: towards Understanding the Roles of the Rare Biosphere in Microbial Communities.
Microbial communities are frequently numerically dominated by just a few species. Often, the long "tail" of the rank-abundance plots of microbial communities constitutes the so-called "rare biosphere," microorganisms that are highly diverse but are typically found in low abundance in these communities. Their presence in microbial communities has only recently become apparent with advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies. Despite their low numbers, they are thought to play important roles in their communities and may function as potential members to keep the communities intact and resilient. Their phylogenetic diversity also means that they are important subjects for better understanding the interplay between microbial diversity and evolution. I propose that more efforts should be put into characterizing these poorly understood and mostly unknown microbial lineages that hold vast potentials for our understanding of microbial diversity, ecology, and evolution of life on this planet.


Mitochondria are physiologically maintained at close to 50 °C.
In endothermic species, heat released as a product of metabolism ensures stable internal temperature throughout the organism, despite varying environmental conditions. Mitochondria are major actors in this thermogenic process. Part of the energy released by the oxidation of respiratory substrates drives ATP synthesis and metabolite transport, but a substantial proportion is released as heat. Using a temperature-sensitive fluorescent probe targeted to mitochondria, we measured mitochondrial temperature in situ under different physiological conditions. At a constant external temperature of 38 °C, mitochondria were more than 10 °C warmer when the respiratory chain (RC) was fully functional, both in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and primary skin fibroblasts. This differential was abolished in cells depleted of mitochondrial DNA or treated with respiratory inhibitors but preserved or enhanced by expressing thermogenic enzymes, such as the alternative oxidase or the uncoupling protein 1. The activity of various RC enzymes was maximal at or slightly above 50 °C. In view of their potential consequences, these observations need to be further validated and explored by independent methods. Our study prompts a critical re-examination of the literature on mitochondria.


The incidence of sexually acquired reactive arthritis: a systematic literature review.
Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an inflammatory spondyloarthritis occurring after infection at a distant site. Chlamydia trachomatis is proposed to be the most common cause of ReA, yet the incidence of sexually acquired ReA (SARA) has not been well established. We therefore carried out a systematic literature review to collate and critically evaluate the published evidence regarding the incidence of SARA. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched using free-text and MeSH terms relating to infection and ReA. The title and abstract of articles returned were screened independently by two reviewers and potentially relevant articles assessed in full. Data was extracted from relevant articles and a risk of bias assessment carried out using a validated tool. Heterogeneity of study methodology and results precluded meta-analysis. The search yielded a total of 11,680 articles, and a further 17 were identified from review articles. After screening, 55 papers were assessed in full, from which 3 met the relevant inclusion criteria for the review. The studies reported an incidence of SARA of 3.0-8.1 % and were found to be of low to moderate quality. More studies are required to address the lack of data regarding the incidence of SARA. Specific and sensitive classification criteria must be developed in order for consistent classification and valid conclusions to be drawn. In clinical practice, it is recommended clinicians discuss the possibility of ReA developing at the time of STI diagnosis and to encourage patients to return if they experience any relevant symptoms.


Risk Factors for Parametrial Involvement in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer and Identification of Patients Suitable for Less Radical Surgery.
The aim of this study was to determine risk factors associated with parametrial involvement (PI) and to identify the subgroup of patients at low risk for PI. The study comprised 565 patients with early-stage cervical cancer, who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic node dissection at Songklanagarind Hospital between 1987 and 2011. Analysis was performed to determine factors associated with PI. Overall, 24 (4.25%) women had PI. PI was more common in patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma, deep stromal invasion (DSI), tumor size > 2 cm, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and pelvic node involvement. Multivariate analysis showed that DSI (p < 0.001) and tumor size > 2 cm (p < 0.001) were independently associated with PI. PI was linked with decreased recurrence-free (p < 0.001) and overall (p = 0.002) survival. Of 347 patients with tumor size ≤ 2 cm and no DSI, only 1 (0.29%) had PI. These findings confirm that PI in early-stage cervical cancer is uncommon. Risk factors associated with PI were DSI and tumor size > 2 cm. PI is a predictor of cervical cancer recurrence and decreased survival. Less radical surgery may be considered in low-risk patients.


Synthesis of functionalized asymmetric star polymers containing conductive polyacetylene segments by living anionic polymerization.
Novel 3-arm ABC, 4-arm ABCD, and 5-arm ABCDE asymmetric star polymers comprising the conductive polyacetylene precursor, poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) (PMePVSO), and other segments, such as polystyrene, poly(alpha-methylstyrene), poly(4-methoxystyrene), poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene), and poly(4-methylstyrene), were synthesized by the methodology based on living anionic polymerization using DPE-functionalized polymers. This methodology involves the addition reaction of a DPE-functionalized polymer to a living anionic polymer followed by the living anionic polymerization of MePVSO initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion with two, three, or four polymer segments. The resultant asymmetric star polymers possessed predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.03), and desired compositions as confirmed by SEC, 1H NMR, SLS, and elemental analysis. After thermal treatment, the PMePVSO segment in the star polymer could be completely converted into a conductive polyacetylene segment, evident from TGA and elemental analysis. These asymmetric star polymers are expected to exhibit interesting solution properties and unique microphase-separated morphological suprastructures with potential applications in nanoscopic conductive materials. Moreover, this methodology can afford the target asymmetric star polymers with arm segments varying in a wide range and enables the synthesis of more complex macromolecular architectures.


Eyeblink conditioning in the infant rat: an animal model of learning in developmental neurotoxicology.
Classical conditioning of the eyeblink reflex is a relatively simple procedure for studying associative learning that was first developed for use with human subjects more than half a century ago. The use of this procedure in laboratory animals by psychologists and neuroscientists over the past 30 years has produced a powerful animal model for studying the behavioral and biological mechanisms of learning. As a result, eyeblink conditioning is beginning to be pursued as a very promising model for predicting and understanding human learning and memory disorders. Among the many advantages of this procedure are (a) the fact that it can be carried out in the same manner in both humans and laboratory animals; (b) the many ways in which it permits one to characterize changes in learning at the behavioral level; (c) the readiness with which hypotheses regarding the neurological basis of behavioral disorders can be formulated and tested; (d) the fact that it can be used in the same way across the life-span; and (e) its ability to distinguish, from normative groups, populations suffering from neurological conditions associated with impaired learning and memory, including those produced by exposure to neurotoxicants. In this article, we argue that these properties of eyeblink conditioning make it an excellent model system for studying early impairments of learning and memory in developmental neurotoxicology. We also review progress that has been made in our laboratory in developing a rodent model of infant eyeblink conditioning for this purpose.


Non-gait-specific intervention for the rehabilitation of walking after SCI: role of the arms.
Arm movements modulate leg activity and improve gait efficiency; however, current rehabilitation interventions focus on improving walking through gait-specific training and do not actively involve the arms. The goal of this project was to assess the effect of a rehabilitation strategy involving simultaneous arm and leg cycling on improving walking after incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). We investigated the effect of 1) non-gait-specific training and 2) active arm involvement during training on changes in over ground walking capacity. Participants with iSCI were assigned to simultaneous arm-leg cycling (A&L) or legs only cycling (Leg) training paradigms, and cycling movements were assisted with electrical stimulation. Overground walking speed significantly increased by 0.092 ± 0.022 m/s in the Leg group and 0.27 ± 0.072m/s in the A&L group after training. Whereas the increases in the Leg group were similar to those seen after current locomotor training strategies, increases in the A&L group were significantly larger than those in the Leg group. Walking distance also significantly increased by 32.12 ± 8.74 m in the Leg and 91.58 ± 36.24 m in the A&L group. Muscle strength, sensation, and balance improved in both groups; however, the A&L group had significant improvements in most gait measures and had more regulated joint kinematics and muscle activity after training compared with the Leg group. We conclude that electrical stimulation-assisted cycling training can produce significant improvements in walking after SCI. Furthermore, active arm involvement during training can produce greater improvements in walking performance. This strategy may also be effective in people with other neural disorders or diseases. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work challenges concepts of task-specific training for the rehabilitation of walking and encourages coordinated training of the arms and legs after spinal cord injury. Cycling of the legs produced significant improvements in walking that were similar in magnitude to those reported with gait-specific training. Moreover, active engagement of the arms simultaneously with the legs generated nearly double the improvements obtained by leg training only. The cervico-lumbar networks are critical for the improvement of walking.


Gut hypersensitivity reactions in guinea pigs following vaccination or infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis.
A quantitative approach to measuring gut hypersensitivity responses to parasite antigens is described. Guinea pigs exposed to infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, were sensitised to excretory-secretory products and homogenates of third-stage larvae (L3), fourth-stage larvae (L4) and adult worms. The nature of these responses and their modification by pharmacological agents were typical of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. Gut sensitivity was greatest in the anterior half of the small intestine, persisted for at least 12 months and was more pronounced against L3 antigens than against L4 or adult preparations. Guinea pigs injected with homogenates of L3, L4 or adult worms were sensitised to these homogenates, but not to T. colubriformis excretory-secretory products.


Prevalence of Bacteriuria and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns among Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients Attending at Debre Tabor Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
Background. Urinary tract infection is a major health problem especially in developing countries. Information about bacterial pathogens isolated from urinary tract infection in diabetic patients and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed at isolating bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Methods. A hospital based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Tabor. Urine sample was inoculated onto cysteine lysine electrolyte deficient (CLED) medium. Bacterial pathogens were identified using standard bacteriological methods. The data were cleaned and entered into SPSS version 20. P value less than 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Result. A total of 384 study participants were included in the study. Of them, 21 (10.9%) were from diabetics and 9 (4.7%) of them were from nondiabetics. Large proportion of gram positive bacteria at 18 (58.1%) were isolated compared to gram negatives at 13 (41.9%). Gram positive isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole 10 (58.8%). Conclusion. The isolation rates of bacterial pathogens were higher in diabetic than nondiabetic patients. Bacteriuria was significantly associated with sex and type of diabetes. Multidrug resistance to two or more antibiotics was observed in 56.7% of bacterial isolates. Rational use of antimicrobial agent should be thought of to prevent the emergence of multidrug resistance.


Distinguishing dynamical features of water inside protein hydration layer: Distribution reveals what is hidden behind the average.
Since the pioneering works of Pethig, Grant, and Wüthrich on a protein hydration layer, many studies have been devoted to find out if there are any "general and universal" characteristic features that can distinguish water molecules inside the protein hydration layer from bulk. Given that the surface itself varies from protein to protein, and that each surface facing the water is heterogeneous, search for universal features has been elusive. Here, we perform an atomistic molecular dynamics simulation in order to propose and demonstrate that such defining characteristics can emerge if we look not at average properties but the distribution of relaxation times. We present results of calculations of distributions of residence times and rotational relaxation times for four different protein-water systems and compare them with the same quantities in the bulk. The distributions in the hydration layer are unusually broad and log-normal in nature due to the simultaneous presence of peptide backbones that form weak hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic amino acid side chains that form no hydrogen bond, and charged polar groups that form a strong hydrogen bond with the surrounding water molecules. The broad distribution is responsible for the non-exponential dielectric response and also agrees with large specific heat of the hydration water. Our calculations reveal that while the average time constant is just about 2-3 times larger than that of bulk water, it provides a poor representation of the real behaviour. In particular, the average leads to the erroneous conclusion that water in the hydration layer is bulk-like. However, the observed and calculated lower value of static dielectric constant of hydration layer remained difficult to reconcile with the broad distribution observed in dynamical properties. We offer a plausible explanation of these unique properties.


The use of Bassia indica for salt phytoremediation in constructed wetlands.
The treatment and reuse of wastewater in constructed wetlands offers a low-cost, environmentally-friendly alternative for common engineered systems. Salinity in treated wastewater is often increased, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, and may harm crops irrigated from wetlands. We have strong evidence that halophyte plants are able to reduce the salinity of wastewater by accumulating salts in their tissues. Bassia indica is an annual halophyte with unique adaptations for salt tolerance. We performed three experiments to evaluate the capability of B. indica for salt phytoremediation as follows: a hydroponic system with mixed salt solutions, a recirculated vertical flow constructed wetland (RVFCW) with domestic wastewater, and a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) for treating goat farm effluents. B. Indica plants developed successfully in all three systems and reduced the effluent salinity by 20-60% in comparison with unplanted systems or systems planted with other wetland plants. Salinity reduction was attributed to the accumulation of salts, mainly Na and K, in the leaves. Our experiments were carried out on an operative scale, suggesting a novel treatment for green desalination in constructed wetlands by salt phytoremediation in desert regions and other ecosystems.


Effects of growth hormone therapy on circadian osteocalcin rhythms in idiopathic short stature.
The effects of GH administration on the circadian osteocalcin (Oc) rhythm were determined in four prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature (height, less than 5th percentile; growth velocity, less than 50th percentile for age). Each child underwent 24-h sequential blood sampling on three occasions: immediately before the initiation of GH treatment, 6 months later, and at the end of 12 months of treatment. The growth rate increased more than 50% over baseline in three of the four children during at least one of the 6-month periods. Insulin-like growth factor-I levels increased during treatment in all of the children. Twenty-four-hour Oc levels increased on 7 of the 8 treatment days evaluated. When mean 24-h Oc patterns for each of the 3 study days were derived by averaging across individual subjects at each time point and then compared, we noted an upward shift in the entire pattern during treatment (t = 13.2 at P less than 0.001 and t = 5.9 at P less than 0.001 for 6 and 12 month comparisons vs. the pretreatment day, respectively). This was more easily appreciated after the data were smoothed using the method of running means. There was, in addition, a progressive improvement in the shape of the Oc pattern compared to a normative model derived from a study of healthy adult men. The correlation between the model and the pre-GH day was 0.46, that between the model and the 6 months of GH day was 0.77, and that between the model and the 12 months of GH day was 0.96. Cross-correlation analyses showed that the peak correlation between the 2 treatment days and the model occurred at zero lag. In contrast, the peak correlation between the pre-GH day and the model or the pre-GH day and either of the 2 treatment days occurred when the pre-GH series was lagged by 2-3 h. Thus, an additional finding is the synchronization of the Oc series that occurred during treatment. We conclude that GH treatment increases Oc concentrations in children with idiopathic short stature by affecting its circadian rhythm. This rise in Oc values may not necessarily reflect an increase in growth velocity.


[Advances in the molecular treatment of depression].
The objective of this study is to survey present and future antidepressant drug therapy based on the progress made in the field of biotechnology. The simplistic and mistaken view that one single system of neurotransmission is altered in depression and that there is, therefore, just one single treatment has changed. Molecular biology and Genetics have enabled us to determine other possible chemical alterations in the brain, beyond the sole participation of the monoaminergic modulation systems, which is the classical hypothesis. In this paper we describe the evidence for the relations between depression and the therapeutic effect the classical antidepressants have on: 1. The peptidergic system of the corticotropin-releasing hormone, cortisol and the functional state of its receptors; 2. Intracellular signalling systems such as cAMP on transcription factors like CREB and neurotrophins; 3. The immune system and cytosines; 4. Glutamate transmission; and 5. The neuropeptidergic system of substance P, neuroactive steroids and the neuroglia. This has allowed other biochemical hypotheses about depression and the possibility of new treatments to be put forward. We are still not certain about the exact cause or the processes that determine mental illnesses such as depression or how improvements are achieved with the antidepressants we currently have available. Nevertheless, biotechnology is expected to be a great help in advancing towards a better understanding of the interrelations between the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, with their intracellular cascades and final outcomes in genetic expression and protein function, in depression. This will enable more efficient, more selective and faster-acting drugs to be developed and, in the future and with the help of psychogenomics, even make it possible to produce tailor-made medication for each patient.


Analgesia in foals.
The alleviation of pain in foals is an important welfare issue, increases patient and personnel safety, results in less disruption of homeostasis, and enhances return to normal function. It is important to anticipate and prevent noxious stimuli because pain in the neonatal period can alter pain processing, leading to altered pain thresholds and responses later in life as well as aversive behaviors. The key to assessing pain in foals is observation of behavior. Despite limited pharmacokinetic and efficacy information, understanding the unique physiology of foals and the mode of action of available drugs allows practitioners to strive to ensure the comfort of these patients.


Quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury.
The primary objective of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) in spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors. Secondary objectives were to determine the effects of various sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on QoL. This cross-sectional study included 54 patients with SCI. The Turkish version of the Short-Form-36 Health Survey was used to assess health-related QoL. Functional status was measured with Functional Independence Measure. Higher values were obtained in younger individuals for bodily pain, in paraplegic patients for physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, and role-emotional. Moreover, it was observed that functional status correlated well with physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, and role-emotional. Among the complications investigated, bladder incontinence is related to low health-related QoL in most domains. SCI may interfere with some health domains of QoL according to the patient's age, neurologic levels, functional status and presence of complications, mainly bladder incontinence.


Sclerotial formation of Polyporus umbellatus by low temperature treatment under artificial conditions.
Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia have been used as a diuretic agent in China for over two thousand years. A shortage of the natural P. umbellatus has prompted researchers to induce sclerotial formation in the laboratory. P. umbellatus cultivation in a sawdust-based substrate was investigated to evaluate the effect of low temperature conditions on sclerotial formation. A phenol-sulfuric acid method was employed to determine the polysaccharide content of wild P. umbellatus sclerotia and mycelia and sclerotia grown in low-temperature treatments. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, expressed as the fluorescence intensity of mycelia during sclerotial differentiation was determined. Analysis of ROS generation and sclerotial formation in mycelia after treatment with the antioxidants such as diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), apocynin (Apo), or vitamin C were studied. Furthermore, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of sclerotial differentiation were observed. Sclerotia were not induced by continuous cultivation at 25°C. The polysaccharide content of the artificial sclerotia is 78% of that of wild sclerotia. In the low-temperature treatment group, the fluorescent intensity of ROS was higher than that of the room temperature (25°C) group which did not induce sclerotial formation all through the cultivation. The antioxidants DPI and Apo reduced ROS levels and did not induce sclerotial formation. Although the concentration-dependent effects of vitamin C (5-15 mg mL(-1)) also reduced ROS generation and inhibited sclerotial formation, using a low concentration of vitamin C (1 mg mL(-1)) successfully induced sclerotial differentiation and increased ROS production. Exposure to low temperatures induced P. umbellatus sclerotial morphogenesis during cultivation. Low temperature treatment enhanced ROS in mycelia, which may be important in triggering sclerotial differentiation in P. umbellatus. Moreover, the application of antioxidants impaired ROS generation and inhibited sclerotial formation. Our findings may help to provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying sclerotial morphogenesis in P. umbellatus.


Detection of lung cancer in exhaled breath with an electronic nose using support vector machine analysis.
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies and has a low 5-year survival rate. There are no cheap, simple and widely available screening methods for the early diagnostics of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether analysis of exhaled breath with an artificial olfactory sensor using support vector analysis can differentiate patients with lung cancer from healthy individuals and patients with other lung diseases, regardless of the stage of lung cancer and the most common comorbidities. Patients with histologically or cytologically verified lung cancer, healthy volunteers and patients with other lung diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, benign lung tumors) were enrolled in the study. Breath sample collection and analysis with a Cyranose 320 sensor device was performed and data were further analyzed using a support vector machine (SVM). The SVM correctly differentiated between cancer patients and healthy volunteers in 98.8% of cases. The cancer versus non-cancer group patients (healthy volunteers and patients with other lung diseases) were classified correctly by SVM in 87.3% of cases. In the mixed diagnosis groups (only cancer, only COPD, cancer + COPD and control) all 79 out of 79 patients were predicted correctly in the cancer + COPD group, with the rate of correct prognosis in other patient groups being lower. Exhaled breath analysis by electronic nose using a SVM is able to discriminate patients with lung cancer from healthy subjects and mixed groups of patients with different lung diseases. It can also provide a certain level of discrimination between lung cancer patients, lung cancer patients with concomitant COPD, COPD alone and a healthy control group.


LNC CRYBG3 inhibits tumor growth by inducing M phase arrest.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are usually associated with tumor development and progression and some of them are dysregulated in various human cancers. The mechanisms underlying their dysregulation are worth further study. Here, we demonstrate that the expression level of LNC CRYBG3 is correlated with 1501 aberrantly expressed proteins in A549 cells (non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells). LNC CRYBG3 overexpression results in M phase arrest and promoted cell death, whereas LNC CRYBG3 knockdown did not elicit the opposite effects. The overexpression of LNC CRYBG3 inhibits cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it upregulates the expression of cyclin B1 and the phosphorylation of H3, whereas it inhibited the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 and cyclin D1. Taken together, these findings suggest that LNC CRYBG3 regulates the cell cycle process of A549 cells, suggesting its potential application for the treatment of this disease.


Spatial and temporal variations in local transmission of Schistosoma haematobium in Msambweni, Kenya.
As part of an extensive study of the eco-epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis along the southern coast of Kenya, spatial and temporal transmission patterns were associated with various ponds infested with Bulinus snails. The household-level spatial pattern of infection for children of various age groups in 2000 was contrasted with historical data from 1984. Significant local clustering of high and low infection levels among school age children was detected, and the spatial extent of clusters and their direction from specific water sources were measured. High infection levels were clustered around ponds known to contain Bulinus nasutus snails that shed Schistosoma haematobium cercariae, and low infection levels were concentrated near a river where intermediate host snails were rarely found. The spatial patterns of infection varied between 2000 and 1984 and between age groups. High levels of infection were clustered around different transmission foci in the two study periods, and, for younger children in 2000, were clustered nearer to the transmission foci than for the older children. Simultaneous consideration of the effects of different foci on transmission will allow for targeted application of control measures aimed at interrupting S. haematobium transmission at a local level.


The Bacillus subtilis DinR binding site: redefinition of the consensus sequence.
Recently, the DinR protein was established as the cellular repressor of the SOS response in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. It is believed that DinR functions as the repressor by binding to a consensus sequence located in the promoter region of each SOS gene. The binding site for DinR is believed to be synonymous with the formerly identified Cheo box, a region of 12 bp displaying dyad symmetry (GAAC-N4-GTTC). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that highly purified DinR does bind to such sites located upstream of the dinA, dinB, dinC, and dinR genes. Furthermore, detailed mutational analysis of the B. subtilis recA operator indicates that some nucleotides are more important than others for maintaining efficient DinR binding. For example, nucleotide substitutions immediately 5' and 3' of the Cheo box as well as those in the N4 region appear to affect DinR binding. This data, combined with computational analyses of potential binding sites in other gram-positive organisms, yields a new consensus (DinR box) of 5'-CGAACRNRYGTTYC-3'. DNA footprint analysis of the B. subtilis dinR and recA DinR boxes revealed that the DinR box is centrally located within a DNA region of 31 bp that is protected from hydroxyl radical cleavage in the presence of DinR. Furthermore, while DinR is predominantly monomeric in solution, it apparently binds to the DinR box in a dimeric state.