Nectar and honeydew feeding of Phlebotomus papatasi in a focus of Leishmania major in Neot Hakikar oasis.
Feeding of Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli on nectar and honeydew was investigated in Neot Hakikar, an oasis in the southern Jordan Valley. Sand flies were caught with miniature light traps in cleared areas with large Tamarix nilotica Bunge bushes, in colonies of the sandrat Psammomys obesus Cretzschmar. Fly series were trapped and compared according to the condition of T. nilotica bushes: with flowers, soiled with honeydew excreted by cicadas, or without flowers. Near flowering bushes the catch was five times greater (7.9: 1.6 flies/trap) and the proportion of sugar-positive flies was also much greater (49.9:17.3%) than near bushes without flowers. The catch was three times greater (6.6:2.2 flies/trap) near cicada- infested than near uninfested bushes. Color markers within the gut, obtained from infested or uninfested bushes that had been sprayed with food dye, indicated feeding of 33.2% and 4.5% of these series, respectively. Sand flies were strongly attracted to flowers of T. nilotica. In similar trap series, those baited with flowering branches caught 231 flies, whereas with baits of honeydew- soiled branches, control regular branches or wet filter paper, the catch ranged between 11 to 15 flies. This study is the first evidence of nectar feeding by sand flies in the field and it indicates that nectar may be an important and an attractive source of sugar.


Translational initiation is uncoupled from elongation at 18 degrees C during mammalian hibernation.
Cellular and organismal homeostasis must be maintained across a body temperature (Tb) range of 0 to 37 degrees C during mammalian hibernation. Hibernators depress biosynthetic activities including protein synthesis, concordant with limited energy availability and temperature effects on reaction rates. We used polysome analysis to show that initiation of protein synthesis ceases during entrance into torpor in golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) when Tb reaches 18 degrees C. Elongation of preinitiated polypeptides continues slowly throughout the torpor bout. As Tb begins to rise, initiation resumes even at temperatures below 18 degrees C, although the euthermic polysome pattern is not reestablished. At precisely 18 degrees C, there is a large increase in initiation events and a complete restoration of euthermic polysome distribution patterns. These data indicate a role for both passive and active depression of translation during torpor and are consistent with a requirement for new protein biosynthesis during each interbout arousal.


Smoking was a Possible Negative Predictor of Incident Hypertension After a Five-Year Follow-up Among a General Japanese Population.
The association between cigarette smoking and hypertension is controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between smoking and incident hypertension. This is a post-hoc five-year follow-up study in a general Japanese population. Logistic regressions were performed using incident hypertension as an outcome and smoking status as an independent predictor adjusting for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), drinking status, and diabetes in 1,297 subjects without hypertension at baseline. The incidence of hypertension was 16.9% vs. 27.6% (smokers vs. nonsmokers, P = 0.01) in men and 0.0% vs. 16.9% (smokers vs. nonsmokers, P = 0.03) in women. The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) of incident hypertension was 0.38 (0.19 - 0.76) (P = 0.006) for smokers at baseline, 0.33 (0.16 - 0.68) (P = 0.003) for continuing smokers, and 2.11 (0.33 - 13.45) (P = 0.4) for ex-smokers. Age (OR = 1.52, P < 0.0001), BMI (OR = 1.46, P < 0.0001), and FPG (OR = 1.23, P = 0.007) were other independent predictors of incident hypertension. Smoking was a possible significant negative predictor of incident hypertension in a general Japanese population.


The presence of G1 and G2 populations in normal epithelium of rat urinary bladder.
The cell population kinetics of transitional epithelium of the rat urinary bladder was analysed by (3H) thymidine autoradiography and pararosanilin Feulgen DNA cytofluorometry. By flash and 72 h continuous DNA labelling, the generative cells of the transitional epithelium were found to be well localized in the basal layer, and it was postulated that che cells produced by cell proliferation in the basal layer would migrate towards the surface, maintaining direct attachment to the basement membrane by anchorage of a cellular process. Analyses of normal and wounded transitional epithelium revealed that 58.8% of all basal cells are G0 cells in G1 phase (G1-population), and 59.0% of the remaining basal cells reside in prolonged (75.1-108.0 h) G2 phase, preserving the ability to divide (G2-population). The cell cycle time of the generative basal cells including the long G2 phase was calculated as 129.1-162 h. All the cells existing in upper layers were found to be also G0 cells in G1 phase, with the DNA amounts of 2C class. No polyploid cells could be detected except for 2C-2C binucleated cells in the superficial layer. The existence of a G2-population may serve for the urgent need of cell incrementation to repair cell loss as the cells in G2 phase can divide without the time-delay needed for DNA synthesis. The rat transitional epithelium, which is composed exclusively of proliferating and potentially proliferative cells, will have much greater capability to repair damage than stratified squamous epithelia.


Actions of the pyrethroid insecticide bifenthrin on sodium channels expressed in rat cerebral cortical neurons.
Voltage-gated sodium channels are important sites for the neurotoxic actions of pyrethroid insecticides in mammals. Here, we studied the mode of action of bifenthrin on the native sodium channels in cerebral cortical neurons prepared from newborn rat brain, where the toxic effects are largely generated. Bifenthrin caused a pronounced late current that persisted at the end of a depolarizing pulse, a slowly-decaying tail current following repolarization and significant resting modification (25.3% modification at 10 μM). No significant bifenthrin-induced effect was observed at the peak current. Bifenthrin also caused a concentration-dependent hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state activation and inactivation as well as slowed recovery from channel inactivation. Repetitive depolarization increased the potency of bifenthrin with high frequency. There was approximately 64% inhibition of modification upon repetitive activation by 10-Hz trains of depolarizing pulses. These results suggest that bifenthrin binds to and modifies sodium channels in both the closed and open states and exhibits the behavior between type I and type II.


Observations of visible argon line emissions and its spatial profile from Aditya-U tokamak plasma.
The spectroscopic studies of medium and high Z impurities have been the subject of interest in fusion research due to their role in mitigating plasma disruption and reducing heat load on the plasma facing components. Line emissions from these impurities provide the rotation velocity and ion temperature measurements along with the understanding of the overall impurity behavior in plasma. In the Aditya-U tokamak, the spatially resolved Ar II line emissions have been observed using a high resolution multi-track spectroscopic diagnostic consisting of a 1 m Czerny-Turner spectrometer coupled with a charge coupled device (CCD) detector using seven lines of sight viewing plasma tangentially along the toroidal direction. The spatially resolved Ar II lines at 458.96 nm have been observed. The singly ionized Ar emission peaks at the radial location of ρ = 0.8 of the plasma having a minor radius of 25 cm. Moreover, a 0.5 m UV-visible spectrometer coupled with a CCD detector and having a line of sight passing through the plasma midplane from the radial port was used to record visible Ar survey spectra within the 670-810 nm wavelength range, and all these lines have been identified for further analysis.


In vitro mass multiplication of Ophiorrhiza mungo Linn.
A protocol for in vitro mass multiplication of plants through seedling (shoot) cultures was established for Ophiorrhiza mungo. Maximum number of adventitious shoots per shoot culture (10.4 +/- 1.72) was initiated on MS solid medium supplemented with BAP (2.22 microM) after 3 weeks. Shoots were further multiplied (12.8 +/- 2.8) through subculture of intact shoots and reculture of nodal segments of aseptic shoots (6.5 +/- 0.94) in MS solid medium containing BAP (0.89 microM). Shoot elongation (1.27 +/- 0.12 cm) was achieved in the medium containing GA3 (1.44 microM) in two weeks. Rooting was favoured in basal agar medium supplemented with IBA (12.3 microM) plus NAA (1.07 microM). The plants were successfully established (100%) in the pots containing sand and top soil (1:1) mixture in a period of two weeks.


Tim-3 is highly expressed in T cells in acute myeloid leukemia and associated with clinicopathological prognostic stratification.
T cells immunoglobulin mucin 3 (Tim-3) is an important inhibitory stimulatory molecule, which has been reported to play a vital role in the tumor immune escape and be correlated with clinicopathological prognostic stratification in solid tumor. However, the related research is rare of Tim-3 in non-solid tumor, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we investigated the expression characteristics of Tim-3 on the peripheral blood T cells of newly diagnosed AML patients and its clinical significance. Peripheral blood was obtained from 36 patients with newly diagnosed AML before intervention, with peripheral blood from 20 cases of healthy volunteers collected as normal control. Expression levels of Tim-3 on the peripheral blood T cells were assayed with flow cytometry. We found that Tim-3 expression on the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in newly diagnosed AML patients were significantly increased compared with that of normal control. CD4+ T cells/CD8+ T cell ratio (CD4/CD8) of peripheral blood in AML patients was significantly correlated with NCCN high risk group. The higher expression level of Tim-3 on CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of AML patients had significant correlation with FLT3-ITD mutation, the higher expression level of Tim-3 on CD8+ T cells in AML patients was significantly correlated with NCCN high risk group. To conclude, our results support the concept that Tim-3 is highly expressed on the peripheral blood T cells of AML patients, and Tim-3 expression significantly correlates with clinicopathological prognostic stratification in AMLTim-3, T cell, acute myeloid leukemia, tumor immune escape, clinicopathological prognostic stratification.


The lncRNA Snhg11, a new candidate contributing to neurogenesis, plasticity and memory deficits in Down syndrome.
Down syndrome (DS) stands as the prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability, yet comprehensive understanding of its cellular and molecular underpinnings remains limited. In this study, we explore the cellular landscape of the hippocampus in a DS mouse model through single-nuclei transcriptional profiling. Our findings demonstrate that trisomy manifests as a highly specific modification of the transcriptome within distinct cell types. Remarkably, we observed a significant shift in the transcriptomic profile of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) associated with trisomy. We identified the downregulation of a specific small nucleolar RNA host gene, Snhg11, as the primary driver behind this observed shift in the trisomic DG. Notably, reduced levels of Snhg11 in this region were also observed in a distinct DS mouse model, the Dp(16)1Yey, as well as in human postmortem tissue, indicating its relevance in Down syndrome. To elucidate the function of this long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), we knocked down Snhg11 in the DG of wild-type mice. Intriguingly, this intervention alone was sufficient to impair synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis, resembling the cognitive phenotypes associated with trisomy in the hippocampus. Our study uncovers the functional role of Snhg11 in the DG and underscores the significance of this lncRNA in intellectual disability. Furthermore, our findings highlight the importance of the DG in the memory deficits observed in Down syndrome.


Metal-Free Hydrazinium Halide Perovskitoid Single Crystals for X-ray Detection.
Metal-free perovskitoids (MFPs) with N2H5+ as B-site component possess higher crystal density and hydrogen bonding networks and have been recently expanded into X-ray detection. However, research on this material is in its infancy and lacks an understanding of the function of halide components on physical properties and device performance. Here, N2H5-based MFP single crystals (SCs) with different halides are fabricated, and the influence of halides on the crystal structure, band nature, charge transport characteristics, and final device performance is actively explored. Based on theory and experiments, the tolerance factor and octahedral factor jointly determine the octahedral composition. Further, halides with different electronegativities and ionic radii also affect octahedral distortion and energy band bending, further influencing carrier transport and device performance. Finally, a sensitivity of 1284 μC Gyair-1 cm-2 and low detection limits (LoD) of 5.62 μGyair s-1 were obtained by the Br-based device due to its superior physical properties.


Systematic review on sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery for refractory gastroparesis.
Management of refractory gastroparesis is challenging after diet, prokinetics, and long-term nutritional support have failed. In this review, the efficacy and safety of surgical interventions (sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery) are evaluated systematically in patients with refractory gastroparesis. The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant studies published up to June 2021. Outcome of interest was symptom improvement and gastric emptying. Nineteen studies with 222 refractory gastroparesis patients (147 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 39 sleeve gastrectomy, and 36 subtotal gastrectomy) were included. All studies reported symptom improvement postoperatively, particularly vomiting and nausea. Gastric emptying improved postoperatively in 45% up to 67% for sleeve gastrectomy and 87% for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The findings of our systematic review suggest that sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery improve symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with refractory gastroparesis. Surgery may be effective as treatment for a small group of patients when all other therapies have failed.


Trends and characteristics of fetal and neonatal mortality due to congenital anomalies, Colombia 1999-2008.
To describe fetal and neonatal mortality due to congenital anomalies in Colombia. We analyzed all fetal and neonatal deaths due to a congenital anomaly registered with the Colombian vital statistics system during 1999-2008. The registry included 213,293 fetal deaths and 7,216,727 live births. Of the live births, 77,738 (1.08%) resulted in neonatal deaths. Congenital anomalies were responsible for 7321 fetal deaths (3.4% of all fetal deaths) and 15,040 neonatal deaths (19.3% of all neonatal deaths). The fetal mortality rate due to congenital anomalies was 9.9 per 10,000 live births and fetal deaths; the neonatal mortality rate due to congenital anomalies was 20.8 per 10,000 live births. Mortality rates due to congenital anomalies remained relatively stable during the study period. The most frequent fatal congenital anomalies were congenital heart defects (32.0%), central nervous system anomalies (15.8%), and chromosomal anomalies (8.0%). Risk factors for fetal and neonatal death included: male or undetermined sex, living in villages or rural areas, mother's age >35 years, low and very low birthweight, and <28 weeks gestation at birth. Congenital anomalies are an important cause of fetal and neonatal deaths in Colombia, but many of the anomalies may be preventable or treatable.


Kinetic distribution of paeoniflorin in cortex of normal and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats after intravenous administration of Paeoniae Radix extract.
The time course of paeoniflorin in the cortex of normal and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats, following intravenous administration of Paeoniae Radix extract at a dose of 60 mg/kg of paeoniflorin, was determined using high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay. The results showed that paeoniflorin could penetrate through the blood-brain barrier to reach the cortex, and that the injuries of ischemia-reperfusion could play an important role in pharmacokinetic process of paeoniflorin in the cortex after intravenous administration of Paeoniae Radix extract. The cortex concentrations of paeoniflorin in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats were lower 5 min after dosing and declined more slowly than that in normal control.


Physical Exercise and Self-Esteem in Women Facing Lockdown-Related Domestic Violence.
The purpose of the present brief report was to examine the effects of a 6-week long physical exercise program on global self-esteem and physical self-perceptions among women who faced lockdown-related domestic violence. Thirty-six domestic violence victims (mean age: 33.4 ± 3.5 yrs-old) were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly and equally assigned to two intervention (physical exercise, counseling/support group therapy) and one control (no intervention) groups. The French version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (ISP-25) was administered to all participants pre- and post-study. Mixed-design ANOVAs revealed significant Group by Time interactions for Global Self-Esteem, Physical Condition, and Body Attractiveness. Global Self-Esteem significantly improved in the two intervention groups, with a trend for better improvement in women who exercised compared to those who took part in support group meetings, Cohen's d = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [‒0.18, 1.54]. On the other hand, only women from the Physical Exercise group reported significant gains in Physical Condition and Body Attractiveness. There was no change in any of the assessed variables for women in the control group. The present study provides new insights on the role of physical exercise in the understudied population of women with domestic violence. Our findings are discussed and related to previous studies.


Posterior tibial nerve stimulation for treating neurologic bladder in women: a randomized clinical trial.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a disabling disorder. Treatment of cases with OAB includes behavioral, pharmacological, surgical interventions and peripheral electrical stimulation. The goal of this study was to determine effects of posterior tibial nerve stimulation on sexual function and pelvic disorders in women with Overactive bladder (OAB). Fifty women were randomly assigned to PTNS (posterior tibial nerve stimulation) plus tolterodine or tolterodine alone treatment. Tolterodine group received 4 mg tolterodine daily for three months while the other group received this treatment plus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for 12 consequence weeks. Two in PTNS group and 8 in the control group withdrew from the study. Age, education level, and occupation status were not significantly different between two groups. Mean total FSFI and its subscales were not significantly different before and after treatment between two groups. Urine leakage associated with a feeling of urgency and loss of stool or gas from the rectum beyond patient's control became significantly different after treatment between two groups. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation could help urinary problems in women with a neurologic bladder.


Hepatic allograft arterialization by means of the gastroduodenal bifurcation (branch patch) as a prognostic factor.
Because of the current shortage of cadaveric organs, it is important to determine preoperatively those variables that are readily available, inexpensive, and noninvasive that can predict a higher incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT). From April 1986 to October 2001, 717 patients underwent 804 liver transplants. All the arterial reconstructions were performed with fine (7-0) monofilament sutures in an interrupted fashion. Two methods were used: group I, end-to-end arterial anastomosis, and group II, the gastroduodenal branch patch. After a mean follow-up of 72 (range 3-174) months, HAT was observed in 19 patients (overall incidence 2.4%). End-to-end anastomosis (group I) was performed in 39.50% (316) of cases, and HAT developed in 14 (4.4%) cases. Branch-patch anastomoses (group II) were carried out in 60.5% (488) of the patients; the presence of HAT was detected in five cases (1.03%) (P = 0.03, P < 0.05). A total of 21 variables were selected in the univariate analysis; however, after the multivariate analysis, all but two of the factors lost statistical significance, and these corresponded to the type of arterial reconstruction (gastroduodenal branch patch vs. end-to-end) and the ABO compatibility. Liver transplantation with compatible grafts using branch-patch anastomosis for the arterialization (both manipulative by the transplant team) reduces HAT-derived loss of grafts, with the consequent increase in graft availability and reduced mortality rate on the waiting list.


LASSAP, a LArge Scale Sequence compArison Package.
This paper presents LASSAP, a new software package for sequence comparison. LASSAP is a programmable, high-performance system designed to raise current limitations of sequence comparison programs in order to fit the needs of large-scale analysis. LASSAP provides an API (Application Programming Interface) allowing the integration of any generic pairwise-based algorithm. Whatever pairwise algorithm is used in LASSAP, it shares with all other algorithms numerous enhancements such as: (i) intra- and inter-databank comparisons; (ii) computational requests (selections and computations are achieved on the fly); (iii) frame translations on queries and databanks; (iv) structured results allowing easy and powerful post-analysis; (v) performance improvements by parallelization and the driving of specialized hardware. LASSAP currently implements all major sequence comparison algorithms (Fasta, Blast, Smith/Waterman), and other string matching and pattern matching algorithms. LASSAP is both an integrated software for end-users and a framework allowing the integration and the combination of new algorithms. LASSAP is used in different projects such as the building of PRODOM, the exhaustive comparison of yeast sequences, and the subfragments matching problem of TREMBL.


[Type and frequency of cardiac arrhythmias dependent on age, therapeutic aspects (author's transl)].
Resting-, exercise and 24-h-ECG tracings of outpatients were examined for cardiac arrhythmias and were analyzed for age-dependent phenomena in the range between 20 and 100 years. Typical of higher age was especially the combination of different arrhythmias, in particular the simultaneous occurrence of slow and fast disturbances, which, of course, makes medical therapy difficult. Since ventricular arrhythmias, when classified according to Lown, have a better prognosis in the age group above 70 than between 40 and 70 years, antiarrhythmic drugs should be prescribed with extreme caution to older people and should be limited to exceptions which are detailed in this study.


Nucleotide sequence of the promoter region of chicken cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene.
The nucleotide sequence of the promoter region and its flanking regions which span - 1855 to +2083 in the chicken cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene was determined. The transcription initiation site was located at 119 nucleotides downstream of the previously reported chicken kidney transcription initiation site of this gene. The nucleotide sequences of exons 1, 2, and 3 were highly homologous to the corresponding exons of the rat gene. Homology of the sequence - 1 to - 500 to that of rat gene was 52% and most of the hormone-responsive sequences in rat gene, such as the glucocorticoid-responsive region, were not conserved in the chicken gene, in accord with the species-specific responsiveness to starvation. In contrast, in the region of - 1 to - 300, some sequence motifs conserved both in the chicken and rat genes were found at essentially the same positions in the promoters. Such sequence motifs included a cAMP-responsive element (CRE), a nuclear factor-1 (NF-1/CTF)-binding site, and a hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1)-binding site. Transient expression of the reporter luciferase gene ligated to the 3' end of this chicken sequence (-1855 to +7) was observed in a primary culture of chick hepatocytes when dibutyryl cyclic AMP was added to the culture medium.


Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis associated with autoimmune myopathy.
Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis is a rare acute inflammatory myelinopathy of central nervous system with high mortality. We report a case of an unusual presentation of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis with autoimmune myopathy and a complete recovery with steroids and plasmapheresis. A 24-year-old female admitted with generalized seizure, lethargy, but no focal neurological signs. Head scans revealed right frontal hypodensity with loss of basal cisterns, mild transfalcine shift to the left, a mass lesion with abnormal signal and multiple small hemorrhages. Biopsy pathology showed white matter demyelinating lesions with necrotizing destruction of small vessels and acute inflammation. EMG was consistent with demyelinating diffuse polyneuropathy and myopathy. Pathology of muscle showed myopathic changes suggestive of autoimmune myopathy. Patient was initially treated with Dexamethasone, Mannitol, Keppra, Antibiotics and Acyclovir. Later when she developed diffuse polyneuropathy and myopathy, she was given plasmapheresis. The patient responded to the treatment and made a full recovery. Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis is a rare and usually fatal disorder. The etiology of AHLE remains clear; cross-reactivity between human myelin antigens and viral or bacterial antigens is thought to initiate an immune process causing demyelination. Usually the autoimmune process targets CNS myelin and spares the peripheral; however, in this case there was diffuse involvement of central and peripheral myelin and muscle.


Design and Solution-Phase Synthesis of Membrane-Targeting Lipopeptides with Selective Antibacterial Activity.
Designing selective antibacterial molecules remains an unmet goal in the field of membrane-targeting agents. Herein, we report the rational design and synthesis of a new class of lipopeptides, which possess highly selective bacterial killing over mammalian cells. The selective interaction with bacterial over mammalian membranes was established through various spectroscopic, as well as microscopic experiments, including biophysical studies with the model membranes. A detailed antibacterial structure-activity relationship was delineated after preparing a series of molecules consisting of the peptide moieties with varied sequence of amino acids, such as d-phenylalanine, d-leucine, and d-lysine. Antibacterial activity was found to vary with the nature and positioning of hydrophobicity in the molecules, as well as number of positive charges. Optimized lipopeptide 9 did not show any hemolytic activity even at 1000 μg mL-1 and displayed >200-fold and >100-fold selectivity towards S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. More importantly, compound 9 was found to display good antibacterial activity (MIC 6.3-12.5 μg mL-1 ) against the five top most critical bacteria according to World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens list. Therefore, the results suggested that this new class of lipopeptides bear real promises for the development as future antibacterial agents.


[Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for hyperlipidemia after menopause].
Women are about 10 years older than men to suffer from ischemic heart disease(IHD) and they often experience a sudden rise in cholesterol after menopause. These phenomena are thought to be caused by the production of estrogen in women during normal menstruation cycle and its loss after menopause. Hormone replacement therapy(HRT) has been shown to reduce IHD by nearly 50 per cent. This is caused in part by effects of estrogen on lipid metabolism; it reduces LDL and Lp(a), and increases HDL. Although the first large prospective trial of HRT for secondary prevention of IHD failed to demonstrate estrogen's protective effects, HRT was effective in women with high Lp(a). Thus, selection of patients and HRT regimen seems important.


Synthesis of silver nanoparticle-decorated hydroxyapatite nanocomposite with combined bioactivity and antibacterial properties.
Combination of bioactive material such as hydroxyapatite (HAp) with antibacterial agents would have great potential to be used as bone implant materials to avert possible bacterial infection that can lead to implant-associated diseases. The present study aimed to develop an antibacterial silver nanoparticle-decorated hydroxyapatite (HAp/AgNPs) nanocomposite using chemical reduction and thermal calcination approaches. In this work, natural HAp that was extracted from chicken bone wastes is used as support matrix for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to produce HAp/AgNPs nanocomposite. XRD, FESEM-EDX, HRTEM, and XPS analyses confirmed that spherical AgNPs were successfully synthesized and deposited on the surface of HAp particles, and the amount of AgNPs adhered on the HAp surface increased with increasing AgNO3 concentration used. The synthesized HAp/AgNPs nanocomposites demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, where the antibacterial efficiency is relied on the amount and size of deposited AgNPs. In addition, the in vitro bioactivity examination in Hank's balanced salt solution showed that more apatite were grown on the surface of HAp/AgNPs nanocomposite when AgNO3 concentration used >1 wt.%. Such nanocomposite with enhanced bioactivity and antibacterial properties emerged as a promising biomaterial to be applied for dentistry and orthopedic implantology.


Six-Hour Sepsis Bundle Decreases Mortality: Truth or Illusion - A Prospective Observational Study.
The aim of the study is to evaluate whether 6-h sepsis bundle component compliance (complete vs. incomplete) decreases mortality in pediatric patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Patients aged 1 month-13 years admitted to pediatric intensive care unit with severe sepsis, or septic shock were prospectively enrolled. The clinical data and blood investigations required for sepsis bundle were recorded. Predicted mortality was calculated at admission by the online pediatric index of mortality-2 (PIM-2) score calculator. Patients who fulfilled all the components of 6-h sepsis bundle were taken as compliant while failure to fulfill even a single component rendered them noncompliant. The outcome was recorded as died or discharged. Of 116 patients, 90 (77.59%) had 100% sepsis bundle component compliance and were taken into the compliant group while the rest 26 (22.41%) were noncompliant. Forty out of 90 patients (44.4%) died in compliant group in comparison to 5 out of 26 (19.3%) in noncompliant group, P = 0.020. The pre- and post-interventional lactates were significantly higher in compliant group as compared to the noncompliant group, P < 0.0001 and 0.019, respectively. Rising lactate level parallels increasing predicted mortality by PIM-2 score in compliant group, but this association failed to reach significance in noncompliant group which can be attributed to less number of subjects available in this group. Irrespective of sepsis bundle compliance (complete/incomplete), outcome depends on the severity of illness reflected by high lactate and predicted mortality.


The impact of psychiatric disorders with cardiac syndrome X on quality of life: 3 months prospective study.
The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of psychiatric disorders with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) on the patients' quality of life, as well as the efficacy of psychiatric support. Fifty-six CSX and fifty-three Coronary Heart Disease patients were included in the study after coronary angiography. Patients were evaluated right after the angiography and 3 months thereafter. The socio-demographic characteristics, comorbid disorders, Beck Anxiety (BAI), Depression (BDI) Inventory, and Health Related Quality of Life (SF-36) were compared between groups. The most common mental disorders was depression which account for 41%, the next were anxiety disorders (64%, n = 36) and somatoform (24%, n = 14). Initially, BAI, BDI in the CSX group were significantly higher when compared to the control group. There was significant difference in all subgroups of SF-36 at the end of the second evaluation versus the first evaluation in the CSX patients. The present study revealed that patients with CSX have higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities and lower quality of life. Psychiatric approaches are benefit for CSX patients to improvement their quality of life.


CSF-1 and interferon-gamma act synergistically to promote differentiation of FDC-P1 cells into macrophages.
FDC-P1 cells expressing the wildtype CSF-1 receptor, FDwtfms, differentiate into macrophages during incubation with CSF-1. This response is amplified in the presence of interferon-gamma. Cells expressing the 807F mutant receptor, 807F cells, proliferate in response to CSF-1 and do not differentiate. However, in response to CSF-1 and interferon-gamma they differentiate as well. CSF-1 causes the activation of STAT proteins in FDwtfms cells, but not in 807F cells. Cellular differentiation correlates with a sustained activation of STAT1 and STAT3 in response to interferon-gamma over at least 40 hours. However, interferon-gamma alone did not cause differentiation of cells expressing either receptor. Other defects in response to CSF-1 of the 807F cells, such as lack of PLC gamma 2 activation, were not complemented by co-incubation of the cells with CSF-1 and interferon-gamma. It appears that a combination of signaling pathways are activated by CSF-1 and interferon-gamma which caused the shift of response from proliferation to differentiation in the 807F cells and an enhanced differentiation in the FDwtfms cells.


The Evolution of Damage Control in Concept and Practice.
Damage control surgery (DCS) began as an adjunct approach to hemorrhage control, seeking to facilitate the body's innate clotting ability when direct repair or ligation was impossible, but it has since become a valuable instrument for a broader collection of critically ill surgical patients in whom metabolic dysfunction is the more immediate threat to life than imminent exsanguination. Modern damage control is a strategy that combines the principles of DCS with those of damage control resuscitation. When used correctly, damage control may improve survival in previously unsalvageable patients; when used incorrectly, it can subject patients to imprudent risk and contribute to morbidity. This review discusses the evolution of damage control in both concept and practice, summarizing available literature and experience to guide patient selection, medical decision-making, and strategy implementation throughout the preoperative, intraoperative, and early postoperative periods.


Crizanlizumab in sickle cell disease.
Vaso-occlusion in sickle cell disease (SCD) leads to a myriad of manifestations driving morbidity and mortality in patients with SCD. Increased leucocyte adhesion and P-selectin expression on platelets and endothelial cells is an inciting event that leads to obstruction of microcirculation by adhesion with rigid sickled red blood cells. Crizanlizumab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that inhibits P-selectin and has been shown to decrease the frequency of vaso-occlusive pain crises in patients with SCD in clinical trials. The role of crizanlizumab in other manifestations of SCD still needs further investigation.


The Unified Hamiltonian Formalism of Spin-Orbit Jahn-Teller and Pseudo-Jahn-Teller Problems in All Axial Symmetries.
Spatial degeneracy of electronic states closely connects spin-orbit coupling and vibronic coupling, which together determine properties of materials, especially heavy element compounds. Accurate description of those materials entails accurate mathematical formulas for spin-orbit vibronic Hamiltonians. For the first time ever, we in this work derive the Hamiltonian formalism to describe all spin-orbit Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller vibronic problems in all axial symmetries. The conventional one-electron approximation of spin-orbit coupling, which was the foundation of all previous studies in this field, is not involved in the present work. Actually, the present formalism is applicable to all time-reversal symmetric hermitian Hamiltonian that has a Rank-1 dependence on the spin operator, without any restriction on the type and the number of term symbols and vibrational modes.


Papillomaviruses in dogs and cats.
Papillomaviruses (PVs) cause disease in both dogs and cats. In dogs, PVs are thought to cause oral papillomatosis, cutaneous papillomas and canine viral pigmented plaques, whereas PVs have been rarely associated with the development of oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in this species. In cats, PVs are currently thought to cause oral papillomas, feline viral plaques, Bowenoid in situ carcinomas and feline sarcoids. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that PVs may also be a cause of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas in cats. These diseases are discussed in this review. Additionally, there is a brief overview of PV biology, including how these viruses cause disease. Diagnostic techniques and possible methods to prevent PV infection are also discussed.


[Effects of infarcted myocardium on coronary flow reserve: a study by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography].
Myocardial disorder or microvascular disorder can cause impairment of coronary flow reserve in patients without epicardial coronary artery stenosis. This study investigated whether infarcted myocardium influences the coronary flow reserve using transesophageal echocardiography. The coronary flow reserve was examined in 15 patients with anterior myocardial infarction without residual coronary artery stenosis in the chronic phase. The patients underwent 201Tl scintigraphy and were classified into two groups. Group I included six patients without salvaged myocardium and group II included nine patients with salvaged myocardium. The coronary blood flow velocity at the proximal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography before and after dipyridamole administration (0.56 mg/kg/4 min). The ratios of the diastolic peak and mean velocities at hyperemia versus baseline were used as indices of coronary flow reserve (P-CFR and M-CFR, respectively). P-CFR and M-CFR were 1.7 +/- 0.3 and 1.5 +/- 0.4 in group I, and 2.9 +/- 0.5 and 2.7 +/- 0.6 in group II, respectively. Control subjects (n = 7) had P-CFR and M-CFR of 3.8 +/- 0.9 and 3.9 +/- 1.7, respectively. Coronary flow reserve decreased in patients with myocardial infarction, especially in patients without salvaged myocardium in the infarcted area. Infarcted myocardium has an important influence on coronary flow reserve, and transesophageal echocardiography is useful for evaluating coronary flow reserve.


Protective effect of melatonin on paraquat-induced cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes.
Paraquat (PQ) is a known herbicide that causes acute cell injury by undergoing redox cycling. In previous reports, it has been reported that melatonin reduces PQ-induced hepatic toxicity in vivo, but, at the moment, there is no evidence that this effect occurs in this organ in vitro. In the present study we examined the effect of melatonin on PQ-induced oxidative damage in the liver using a hepatocyte suspension as a biological model. Preincubation of hepatocytes with melatonin (0.5, 1 or 2 mM), 30 min prior to PQ (10 mM) addition, prevented in a dose-and time-dependent manner the loss of viability, the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, depletion of intracellular glutathione and malondialdehyde accumulation induced by the herbicide. Melatonin at the highest dose assayed (2 mM) completely prevented cell damage caused by PQ. These effects of melatonin are similar to those described in studies carried out in vivo. These results confirm that melatonin confers protection against PQ-induced hepatic oxidative stress and show that freshly isolated hepatocyte suspension is an adequate in vitro system for evaluating the cytoprotective effects of melatonin on oxidative injury caused by xenobiotics.


The efficacy of edaravone (radicut), a free radical scavenger, for cardiovascular disease.
Edaravone was originally developed as a potent free radical scavenger, and has been widely used to treat acute ischemic stroke in Japan since 2001. Free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Therefore, free radicals may be targets for therapeutic intervention in these diseases. Edaravone shows protective effects on ischemic insults and inflammation in the heart, vessel, and brain in experimental studies. As well as scavenging free radicals, edaravone has anti-apoptotic, anti-necrotic, and anti-cytokine effects in cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Edaravone has preventive effects on myocardial injury following ischemia and reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Edaravone may represent a new therapeutic intervention for endothelial dysfunction in the setting of atherosclerosis, heart failure, diabetes, or hypertension, because these diseases result from oxidative stress and/or cytokine-induced apoptosis. This review evaluates the potential of edaravone for treatment of cardiovascular disease, and covers clinical and experimental studies conducted between 1984 and 2013. We propose that edaravone, which scavenges free radicals, may offer a novel option for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, additional clinical studies are necessary to verify the efficacy of edaravone.


Potential of two entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) life stages in northern climates.
Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a major pest of pome and stone fruits in North America. We evaluated the potential efficacy of two entomopathogenic nematode species for suppression of plum curculio in northern regions, targeting life stages that reside in soil during spring and summer. A strain of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora isolated from soil infested with plum curculio in northern Utah and a commercially available strain of Steinernema feltiae known to tolerate cool temperatures were tested in the laboratory against three life stages of plum curculio. Bioassays used the southern strain of plum curculio because availability of the northern strain from the field was inadequate. H. bacteriophora was more virulent than S. feltiae to all plum curculio life stages. Adults and pupae were more susceptible than larvae. Temperature bioassays were conducted with a surrogate host: last instars of Galleria mellonella. The two nematodes exhibited different, but overlapping, thermal activity ranges. Both species performed best at 20 degrees C: virulence and reproductive potential was higher; however, H. bacteriophora was superior to S. feltiae at 30 degrees C and vice versa at 10 degrees C. The reproductive potential of H. bacteriophora was > 2.5 times greater than for S. feltiae, and H. bacteriophora required fewer individuals to initiate a successful host infection. S. feltiae was a better fit for temperatures expected in northern climates, but H. bacteriophora was more virulent to plum curculio and produced more infective juveniles that may benefit nematode recycling and continuation and spread of insect suppression in the field.


A Case of Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas.
We report a rare case of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm in a 24-year-old woman, who presented with progressively worsening left epigastric and right lower quadrant abdominal pain for several weeks. A CT scan showed a mass in the tail of the pancreas that extended to the hilum of the spleen. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and immunohistochemical analysis exhibited findings pathognomonic for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm. The patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Post-surgical biopsy confirmed the FNA findings, with the tumor confined to the pancreas and no extension to nearby structures. The patient did not require any other adjuvant therapy. She was asymptomatic at the one-month follow-up and showed no signs of disease. We discuss the unique circumstances of this case and highlight the importance of differentiating this tumor from other pancreatic neoplasms.


On the generation of novel anticancer drugs by recombinant DNA technology: the use of combinatorial biosynthesis to produce novel drugs.
Chemotherapeutic drugs for cancer treatment have been traditionally originated by the isolation of natural products from different environmental niches, by chemical synthesis or by a combination of both approaches thus generating semisynthetic drugs. In the last years, a number of gene clusters from several antitumor biosynthetic pathways, mainly produced by actinomycetes and belonging to the polyketides family, are being characterized. Genetic manipulation of these antitumor biosynthetic pathways will offer in the near future an alternative for the generation of novel antitumor derivatives and thus complementing current methods for obtaining novel anticancer drugs. Novel antitumor derivatives have been produced by targetted gene disruption and heterologous expression of single (or a few) gene(s) in another hosts or by combining genes from different, but structurally related, biosynthetic pathways ("combinatorial biosynthesis"). These strategies take advantage from the "relaxed substrate specificity" that characterize secondary metabolism enzymes.


Base-catalyzed halogen dance reaction and oxidative coupling sequence as a convenient method for the preparation of dihalo-bisheteroarenes.
A one-pot preparation of the 2,2'-dibromo-1,1'-bisheteroarenes 3a-d from bromo-heteroarenes utilizing the sequence of the base-catalyzed halogen dance (BCHD) reaction and CuCl(2)-promoted oxidative coupling of the in situ formed alpha-lithio-beta-halo-heteroarenes 2a-d provides a convenient access to precursors for the preparation of tricyclic heteroaromatic cores. The structures of 3a,b,d, 6, and 9 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis, and dibromides 3a and 3b were used for the preparation of dithieno-[2,3-b:3',2'-d]-pyrrole 10a and its selenophene analogue 10b, respectively.


Improvement of postnatal neovascularization by human adipose tissue-derived stem cells.
Several studies have suggested that stem cells are present in the stroma-vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue (AT). To characterize the cell populations that compose the SVF of human AT originating from subcutaneous and visceral depots, fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis was performed by use of fluorescent antibodies directed against the endothelial and stem cell markers CD31, CD34, CD133, and ABCG2. The freshly harvested SVF contained large numbers of CD34+ cells as well as cells expressing CD133 and ABCG2. Further analysis of the CD34+ cells revealed 2 CD34+ cell populations with differential expression of the endothelial cell marker CD31. Selection of the CD34+/CD31- cells by use of magnetic microbeads, followed by cell culture, demonstrated that this cell population could differentiate under appropriate conditions into endothelial cells. Moreover, in mouse ischemic hindlimb, intravenous injection of CD34(+)/CD31(-) cells was associated with an increase in the blood flow and the capillary density and an incorporation of the cells in the leg vasculature. Our data indicate the presence of a cell population within the SVF of human AT characterized as CD34+/CD31- exhibiting characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells. Therefore, human AT might represent a source of stem/progenitor cells useful for cell therapy to improve vasculogenesis in adults.


Epstein-Barr virus-enhancing plant promoters in east Africa.
The extracts of a certain African plant species, Euphorbia tirucalli, were found to have markedly enhancing effects on the activation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes in the EBV carrying lymphoblastoid cells and also on EBV-induced transformation of human lymphocytes. The Euphorbia tirucalli was especially noticeable in highly endemic areas of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), an EBV-associated malignancy, in Kenya and Tanzania. The activation of the latent EBV genome and the EBV-induced transformation enhancement were also observed with the soil and drinking water taken around the plants, strongly indicating that the people living in BL endemic areas are frequently exposed to such an EBV-enhancing plant promoter substance.


Hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria present different peptide content when viewed from the perspective of the T cell.
Different types of bacteria face different pressures from the immune system, with those that persist ("hit-and-stay") potentially having to adapt more in order to escape than those prone to short-lived infection ("hit-and-run"), and with commensal bacteria potentially different from both due to additional physical mechanisms for avoiding immune detection. The Janus Immunogenicity Score (JIS) was recently developed to assess the likelihood of T cell recognition of an antigen, using an analysis that considers both binding of a peptide within the antigen by major histocompatability complex (MHC) and recognition of the peptide:MHC complex by cognate T cell receptor (TCR). This score was shown to be predictive of T effector vs. T regulatory or null responses in experimental data, as well as to distinguish viruses representative of the hit-and-stay vs. hit-and-run phenotypes. Here, JIS-based analyses were conducted in order to characterize the extent to which the pressure to avoid T cell recognition is manifested in genomic differences among representative hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria. Overall, extracellular proteins were found to have different JIS profiles from cytoplasmic ones. Contrasting the bacterial groups, extracellular proteins were shown to be quite different across the groups, much more so than intracellular proteins. The differences were evident even at the level of corresponding peptides in homologous protein pairs from hit-and-run and hit-and-stay bacteria. The multi-level analysis of patterns of immunogenicity across different groups of bacteria provides a new way to approach questions of bacterial immune camouflage or escape, as well as to approach the selection and optimization of candidates for vaccine design.


Using an SU-8 photoresist structure and cytochrome C thin film sensing material for a microbolometer.
There are two critical parameters for microbolometers: the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the sensing material, and the thermal conductance of the insulation structure. Cytochrome c protein, having a high TCR, is a good candidate for infrared detection. We can use SU-8 photoresist for the thermal insulation structure, given its low thermal conductance. In this study, we designed a platform structure based on a SU-8 photoresist. We fabricated an infrared sensing pixel and recorded a high TCR for this new structure. The SU-8 photoresist insulation structure was fabricated using the exposure dose method. We experimentally demonstrated high values of TCR from 22%/K to 25.7%/K, and the measured noise was 1.2 × 10(-8) V2/Hz at 60 Hz. When the bias current was 2 μA, the calculated voltage responsivity was 1.16 × 10(5) V/W. This study presents a new kind of microbolometer based on cytochrome c protein on top of an SU-8 photoresist platform that does not require expensive vacuum deposition equipment.


Action competence: A concept analysis.
The aim of this article is to analyze the concept of action competence and comprise a definition of the concept suitable to apply to virtual simulation in nursing education. Virtual simulation has become an instructional method increasingly used in nursing education which creates a challenge for assessment of clinical competence. This concept analysis was performed using Walker and Avant's eight stages of concept analysis. A literature search was conducted using search engines and included peer-reviewed articles from various disciplines. The concept analysis resulted in an operational definition of action competence that is useful in nursing education. The use of action competence during virtual simulation sessions provides a means for knowledge transfer, accountability of actions on the part of the students, self-awareness, and reflection. Through this process, students gain critical problem-solving skills that, through sustainability, can be applied to varying future patient scenarios. Action competence contains concrete components applicable to sustainability of knowledge gained by nursing students during virtual simulation.


Family planning: knowledge, attitudes and practice survey in Zigone, Myanmar.
Perhaps the most important finding of this Zigone KAP survey was that about 50.3% (95% CI 46.2-54.2) of the married women of reproductive age were currently practicing modern methods of contraception. For a country like Myanmar, where the government has until recently favored a pronatalist population policy, this is indeed surprising. This 30 cluster survey, designed to determine the prevalence of various family planning methods adopted, as well as knowledge and attitudes, among villagers in rural Myanmar, covered a sample of 600 married women of reproductive age in Zigone township which has a population of 70,000. The survey results showed a high awareness of specific contraceptive methods among the target group and the ever-use rate of birth spacing methods was about 54% (95% CI 50.7-58.7). The most used method was oral contraceptives (64.6% of all users), followed by injectable contraceptives (32.3%). There was a small number of IUD users (1.1%), use of a permanent method (sterilization) was extremely low (0.3%). Seven out of ten married women of reproductive age did not want more children and one out of two women in this group were current users of contraception. Therefore a certain proportion of user was probably using these (mainly temporary) methods to terminate fertility rather than for birth spacing purposes. Moreover, only 63% of those wanting children, but not in the next 12 months, were using a contraceptive method. These findings demonstrated that there was a large group of potential contraceptive users who were currently not using a method. In an attempt to investigate the factor hindering the non-use of contraceptives when needed, the women were divided, according to their contraceptive practice, into two groups. Logistic regression was employed to compare the characteristics of women in the user and nonuser groups. After adjusting for covariates, it was found that economic group and number of living children had a positive effective effect on contraceptive use, while age and number of children under three years of age had a negative effect. The survey also found that about 48% of the contraceptive users were obtaining their supplies from the private sector and another 40% received supplies from government health officers. The reference by respondents to "health staff", as the source of supply, was assumed to be health staff working in their private practice, since the government's current health program does not cover the provision of contraceptives.


Examining the Needs of Patient Stakeholders as Research Partners in Health Data Networks for Translational Research.
Patient stakeholders are getting increasingly involved in research health data networks, particularly as research partners. However, tools do not exist to help effectively orient, educate, and engage patient stakeholders as they take on these roles. Using a human centered design approach, we conducted a patient stakeholder needs assessment qualitative study to identify key user needs to drive design recommendations for development of an online education and engagement tool for research health data networks. We found three key needs related to multiple role identities, motivations and expectations for participation on research teams, and patient journeys. Design recommendations derived from the needs assessment are discussed that can support future tool design and testing.


The ER exit sites are specialized ER zones for the transport of cargo proteins from the ER to the Golgi apparatus.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a multifunctional organelle, including secretory protein biogenesis, lipid synthesis, drug metabolism, Ca2+ signalling and so on. Since the ER is a single continuous membrane structure, it includes distinct zones responsible for its different functions. The export of newly synthesized proteins from the ER is facilitated via coat protein complex II (COPII)-coated vesicles, which form in specialized zones within the ER, called the ER exit sites (ERES) or transitional ER. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the structural organization of ERES, the correlation between the ERES and Golgi organization, and the faithful cargo transport mechanism from the ERES to the Golgi.


Molecular dynamics simulations of peptide carboxylate hydration.
Aqueous solvation of carboxylate groups, as present in the glycine zwitterion and the dipeptide aspartylalanine, is studied employing a force-field that includes distributed multipole electrostatics and induction contributions (Amoebapro: P. Ren and J. W. Ponder, J. Comput. Chem., 2002, 23, 1497; P. Ren and J. W. Ponder, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2003, 107, 5933; J. W. Ponder and D. A. Case, Adv. Protein Chem., 2003, 66, 27). Radial and orientation distribution functions, as well as hydration numbers, are calculated and compared with existing simulation data derived from Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD), and also distributed-charge force-fields. Connections are also made with experimental data for solvation of carboxylates in water. Our findings show that Amoebapro yields carboxylate solvation properties in very good agreement with CPMD results, significantly closer agreement than can be obtained from traditional force-fields. We also demonstrate that the influence of solvation on the conformation of the dipeptide is markedly different using Amoebapro compared with the other force-fields.


Toll-like receptor 2 agonist exacerbates renal injury in diabetic mice.
Inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a ligand-activated membrane-bound receptor, which induces an inflammatory response, thus serving a crucial role in the pathogenesis of DN. The present study aimed to determine whether a TLR2 agonist, Pam3CysSK4, modulates the development of DN. A mouse model of DN was induced using streptozotocin (STZ) and, following the confirmation of hyperglycemia, mice were treated with or without Pam3CysSK4. Pathological and functional markers, including the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, expression of TLR2, inflammatory infiltration, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were assessed. STZ-treated mice exhibited elevated blood glucose levels and increased serum creatinine levels, which increased further following Pam3CysSK4 treatment. In addition, Pam3CysSK4 treatment was observed to increase podocyte foot process formation. Furthermore, STZ-induced renal glomerular sclerosis was significantly exacerbated in Pam3CysSK4-treated mice. Pam3CysSK4-treated mice also exhibited increased levels of collagen IV following renal immunostaining, associated with increased macrophage infiltration. Renal expression of TLR2 was markedly elevated in STZ-induced mice; this was further increased in Pam3CysSK4-treated mice, accompanied by upregulation of proinflammatory genes and activation of NF-κB. This indicates that enhanced renal expression of TLR2 is associated with inflammatory infiltration in DN and demonstrates that renal injury was exacerbated by the TLR2 agonist in diabetic mice.


PECULIARITIES OF FORMATION OF CADETS' PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AND PHYSICAL READINESS FOR COMBAT STRESS.
The aim: To investigate the impact of special physical training sessions on the formation of cadets' psychological resilience and physical readiness for the stress factors of future professional and combat activities. Materials and methods: The research involved 96 cadets (men) in the 2nd training year of S. P. Koroliov Zhytomyr Military Institute (Ukraine) aged 18-20 years, who were divided into two groups: the experimental (E, n = 47) and the control (C, n = 49). The cadets of the E group studied according to the authors' program, and the C group cadets - according to the existing program. Cadets' psychological resilience was studied using psycho-diagnostic methods aimed at assessing their volitional qualities. Cadets' physical fitness was assessed by the tests of general and special physical training. Results: It was found that the level of general physical training of the E and the C group cadets was significantly the same (p > 0.05) at the end of the research but in terms of special physical training and psychological readiness, the E group cadets had all indicators significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) better than those of the C group. Conclusions: It has been proved that the special physical training sessions conducted according to the authors' program were more effective than the existing program in forming cadets' physical readiness and psychological resilience for stress factors of future professional and combat activities.


[Progress of fMRI research in central effect mechanism of acupuncture overseas].
Through analysis of oversea published literatures on central effect mechanism of acupuncture in recent years, the general tendency in this filed is discussed so as to provide references for later studies. Pubmed database from January 2009 to May 2012 is retrieved with the key words of acupuncture and fMRI. As a result, 38 articles are included. Healthy subjects are adopted for most of researches. And studies are carried out through three aspects of response characteristics of acupuncture analgesia, response characteristics of acupuncture specificity and duration of acupuncture effect. However, the brain activities of healthy subjects are obviously different from that of patients. Moreover, acupuncture treatment is also different from modern therapies. Therefore, it is held that patients should be adopted as study subjects in the future studies, and various bias in research designation and implementation course should be avoided.


Glucose as the sole metabolic fuel: overcoming a misconception using conceptual change to teach the energy-yielding metabolism to Brazilian high school students.
A misconception regarding the human metabolism has been shown to be widespread among high school students. The students consider glucose as the sole metabolic fuel, disregarding that lipids and amino acids can be oxidized for ATP production by human cells. This misconception seems to be a consequence of formal teaching in grade and high schools. The present study reports the evaluation of a teaching strategy based on the use of a dialogic teaching methodology within a conceptual change approach to remediate that misconception. Students were stimulated to formulate hypotheses, outline experiments, and to discuss their outcomes. The results showed that students were able to reformulate their original concepts immediately after teaching. The majority of the students showed adequate learning of the topic eight months after the application of the teaching strategy, although some level of misconception recurrence was observed. The educational consequences of the teaching unit are discussed in the context of the possible reasons for its success as well as the need for similar initiatives at grade school to avoid the establishment of the misconception.


Quantitative evaluation of a beam-matching procedure using one-dimensional gamma analysis.
This article provides a quantitative evaluation of Varian Medical Systems' beam matching procedure. A one-dimensional y analysis is employed to investigate the level of agreement of matched beams. A customized concept of one-dimensional gamma evaluation was designed. Our algorithm first performs a "local" fit of the reference and the evaluated datasets. For a particular point on the fitted evaluated curve, the y is derived as the shortest distance between the point and the fitted reference curve. This approach removes variations of the obtained y value related to the discrete character and noise in the original datasets. Criteria of 1 mm distance-to-agreement and 1% dose difference were used to evaluate the level of agreement of according profiles. Relative point and profile measurements were performed for all photon and electron beams of two Varian Clinacs 2100C/D. Matched beams show a good level of agreement. 70% of profiles completely pass the chosen criteria. The analysis of remaining 30% of the profiles demonstrates that measurement error becomes a limiting factor in achieving a better score. The highest obtained y value was 1.70. The quality of beam matching allowed us to treat according beams of both treatment units as "identical" and to use the reference beam data for the new unit. Nevertheless, the vendor's acceptance criteria of beam matching are much more benevolent. It might happen that the acceptance criteria are met, however, resulting quality of beam matching does not allow full interchangeability of beams.


The Abundance and Organization of Salmonella Extracellular Polymeric Substances in Gallbladder-Mimicking Environments and In Vivo.
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi causes chronic infections by establishing biofilms on cholesterol gallstones. The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) is key to biofilm development, and biofilm architecture depends on which EPSs are made. The presence and spatial distribution of Salmonella EPSs produced in vitro and in vivo were investigated in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and S. Typhi biofilms by confocal microscopy. Comparisons between serovars and EPS-mutant bacteria were carried out by examining growth on cholesterol-coated surfaces, with human gallstones in ox or human bile, and in mice with gallstones. On cholesterol-coated surfaces, no major differences in EPS biomass were found between serovars. Cocultured biofilms containing wild-type (WT) and EPS-mutant bacteria demonstrated WT compensation for EPS mutations. Analysis of biofilm EPSs from gallbladder-mimicking conditions found that culture in human bile more consistently replicated the relative abundance and spatial organization of each EPS on gallstones from the chronic mouse model than culture in ox bile. S. Typhimurium biofilms cultured in vitro on gallstones in ox bile exhibited colocalized pairings of curli fimbriae/lipopolysaccharide and O-antigen capsule/cellulose, while these associations were not present in S. Typhi biofilms or in mouse gallstone biofilms. In general, the inclusion of human bile with gallstones in vitro replicated biofilm development on gallstones in vivo, demonstrating the strength of this model for studying biofilm parameters or EPS-directed therapeutic treatments.


Effect of acute ambient temperature exposure on cardio-pulmonary and respiratory kinetics in men.
The goal of the study was to compare the kinetic responses of heart rate (HR) and pulmonary (V̇O2pulm) and muscular (V̇O2musc) oxygen uptake during dynamic leg exercise across different acute ambient temperature conditions in a climatic chamber. Thirteen physically healthy, active, male volunteers demonstrated pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) changes between 30 and 80 W at 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C, respectively. HR was measured beat-to-beat using an echocardiogram and V̇O2pulm by breath-by-breath gas exchange; V̇O2musc estimations were assessed by applying a circulatory model and cross-correlation functions. No significant differences were observed across the various temperature conditions in each case for HR, V̇O2pulm or V̇O2musc kinetics (p > 0.05). Baroreflex regulation based on HR kinetics does not seem to be influenced between ambient temperatures of 15 °C and 35 °C during dynamic exercise. The results imply that ambient temperatures of 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C have no effect on HR, V̇O2pulm or V̇O2musc kinetics during dynamic moderate exercise. The applied approach may be of interest for assessments of the cardio-pulmonary and respiratory health statuses of individuals working or performing sports in extreme temperature environments. Furthermore, differentiation between systemic (e.g. cardio-dynamic: HR) and specific (e.g. exercising tissues: V̇O2musc) determinants of the relevant physiological systems may improve the evaluation of an individual's health status.


A multiple mediation model of trait worry and hazardous drinking among treatment-seeking smokers: the roles of coping and conformity drinking motives.
Alcohol use is associated with poorer smoking cessation-related outcomes, and smokers with elevated levels of worry experience greater smoking cessation problems. Yet, little is known about the explanatory mechanisms that may underlie the relationship between trait worry and hazardous drinking among smokers. Therefore, this study explored the explanatory roles of coping and conformity drinking motives in the relationship between trait worry and hazardous drinking outcomes including alcohol consumption, alcohol problems, maximum number of drinks, and the number of prior alcohol quit attempts among treatment-seeking smokers. Participants included 377 treatment-seeking smokers who consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the last year (48% female; 86.2% Caucasian; Mage = 34.83 years, SD = 13.38). Results showed a significant indirect effect of trait worry through coping-related drinking motives in relation to alcohol consumption, alcohol problems, maximum number of drinks, and number of prior drinking quit attempts. These findings were evident after controlling for gender, cigarette dependence, and current psychopathology. These findings suggest that coping drinking motives are one mechanism that may explain the relation between trait worry and hazardous drinking outcomes among treatment-seeking smokers.


Electrical impedance tomography in adult patients undergoing mechanical ventilation: A systematic review.
The purpose of the study is to systematically review and summarize current literature concerning the validation and application of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in mechanically ventilated adult patients. An electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science was performed up to June 2014. Studies investigating the use of EIT in an adult human patient population treated with mechanical ventilation (MV) were included. Data extracted included study objectives, EIT details, interventions, MV protocol, validation and comparators, population characteristics, and key findings. Of the 67 included studies, 35 had the primary objective of validating EIT measures including regional ventilation distribution, lung volume, regional respiratory mechanics, and nonventilatory parameters. Thirty-two studies had the primary objective of applying EIT to monitor the response to therapeutic MV interventions including change in ventilation mode, patient repositioning, endotracheal suctioning, recruitment maneuvers, and change in positive end-expiratory pressure. In adult patients, EIT has been successfully validated for assessing ventilation distribution, measuring changes in lung volume, studying regional respiratory mechanics, and investigating nonventilatory parameters. Electrical impedance tomography has also been demonstrated to be useful in monitoring regional respiratory system changes during MV interventions, although existing literature lacks clinical outcome evidence.


Electronic excitation energies of molecules in solution within continuum solvation models: investigating the discrepancy between state-specific and linear-response methods.
In a recent article [R. Cammi, S. Corni, B. Mennucci, and J. Tomasi, J. Chem. Phys. 122, 104513 (2005)], we demonstrated that the state-specific (SS) and the linear-response (LR) approaches, two different ways to calculate solute excitation energies in the framework of quantum-mechanical continuum models of solvation, give different excitation energy expressions. In particular, they differ in the terms related to the electronic response of the solvent. In the present work, we further investigate this difference by comparing the excitation energy expressions of SS and LR with those obtained through a simple model for solute-solvent systems that bypasses one of the basic assumptions of continuum solvation models, i.e., the use of a single Hartree product of a solute and a solvent wave function to describe the total solute-solvent wave function. In particular, we consider the total solute-solvent wave function as a linear combination of the four products of two solute states and two solvent electronic states. To maximize the comparability with quantum-mechanical continuum model the resulting excitation energy expression is recast in terms of response functions of the solvent and quantities proper for the solvated molecule. The comparison of the presented expressions with the LR and SS ones enlightens the physical meaning of the terms included or neglected by these approaches and shows that SS agrees with the results of the four-level model, while LR includes a term classified as dispersion in previous treatments and neglects another related to electrostatic. A discussion on the possible origin of the LR flaw is finally given.


Subthalamic nucleus tumor causing hyperphagia--case report.
A 42-year-old woman with locally advanced breast cancer developed headache just after completing adjuvant chemotherapy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass located in the left subthalamic nucleus (STN) and involving the posterior part of the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The patient refused a radiologically guided biopsy and gamma knife treatment was not financially possible. Palliative whole brain radiotherapy with hormonal therapy was administered. The patient gained 19 kg body weight during 4 months follow up because of hyperphagia. This solitary tumor, either a breast cancer metastasis or a primary tumor, involving the STN is extremely unusual.


The duality of selection: excitatory and inhibitory processes in auditory selective attention.
Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measurements were made in an auditory selective-attention paradigm, both before and after a series of inhibition or discrimination training sessions. The presence of distractors caused poor perceptual sensitivity, weak P3 responses, conservative responding, and slow reaction times relative to baseline. Distraction prompted a frontal enhancement of ERP components occurring 100-250 ms after the onset of attended signals (N1, P2, and N2). Training ameliorated behavioral interference from distraction. Participants receiving inhibition training acquired improved inhibitory processing of distractors, an effect that peaked 200 ms after distractor onset. In a proposed model, distinct excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms work interactively to maintain sensitivity to environmental change in the face of disruption from the contextual integration of irrelevant events.


Effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum Administration on Wistar Rat Pregnancy: Biochemical and Histological Aspects.
Bryophyllum pinnatum is widely used in folk medicine. It has neuropharmacological, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects, among others. It also acts on uterine contractility. It is prescribed by practitioners of anthroposophic medicine for preterm labor, insomnia, and emotional disorders, and has other potential uses in obstetrics. As all drugs currently used in preterm labor have side effects, new tocolytic agents remain an area of active research. To evaluate the effect of B. pinnatum mother tincture (MT) on albino rats and their offspring throughout pregnancy from a biochemical and histological standpoint. Longitudinal, prospective, randomized controlled bioassay. This is the second stage of a trial that investigated 60 animals distributed across six equal groups: controls C1 and C2, which received 1 and 25 times the vehicle dose (30% ethanol), B1 and B2 (1- and 25-fold doses of B. pinnatum MT), and B3 and B4 (which received 50- and 100-fold doses of B. pinnatum concentrate). At this stage, blood chemistry parameters (glucose, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen) were measured in dams, as well as histological aspects of dam liver, kidney, placenta, and uterine tissue and fetal liver, kidney, heart, and brain. No differences were found between group B1 (therapeutic dose) and its control C1 in relation to glucose, AST, ALT, and creatinine. Group B2 exhibited lower glucose levels than groups C1, B3, and B4. There was no difference in AST across groups. Groups B3 and B4 exhibited higher ALT levels than groups C1 and B1. Groups B1-B4 exhibited higher urea nitrogen levels than group C1. Creatinine levels were higher in groups B2 and B3 than group C1. On morphological evaluation, fatty infiltration of the liver was observed in the alcoholic vehicle control groups (C1 and C2). Daily administration of B. pinnatum at therapeutic doses (group B1) to pregnant albino rats appears to be safe, with reduced glucose at dose B2, elevated ALT at doses B3 and B4, and increased urea at doses B1 to B4 and creatinine at B2 and B3, but never exceeding the normal reference range. It was not associated with histological changes in specimens of the maternal or fetal structures of interest.


Doxorubicin-induced skeletal muscle atrophy: Elucidating the underlying molecular pathways.
Loss of skeletal muscle mass is a common clinical finding in cancer patients. The purpose of this meta-analysis and systematic review was to quantify the effect of doxorubicin on skeletal muscle and report on the proposed molecular pathways possibly leading to doxorubicin-induced muscle atrophy in both human and animal models. A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CENTRAL databases. The internal validity of included studies was assessed using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Twenty eligible articles were identified. No human studies were identified as being eligible for inclusion. Doxorubicin significantly reduced skeletal muscle weight (ie EDL, TA, gastrocnemius and soleus) by 14% (95% CI: 9.9; 19.3) and muscle fibre cross-sectional area by 17% (95% CI: 9.0; 26.0) when compared to vehicle controls. Parallel to negative changes in muscle mass, muscle strength was even more decreased in response to doxorubicin administration. This review suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in doxorubicin-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. The increased production of ROS plays a key role within this process. Furthermore, doxorubicin activated all major proteolytic systems (ie calpains, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and autophagy) in the skeletal muscle. Although each of these proteolytic pathways contributes to doxorubicin-induced muscle atrophy, the activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is hypothesized to play a key role. Finally, a limited number of studies found that doxorubicin decreases protein synthesis by a disruption in the insulin signalling pathway. The results of the meta-analysis show that doxorubicin induces skeletal muscle atrophy in preclinical models. This effect may be explained by various interacting molecular pathways. Results from preclinical studies provide a robust setting to investigate a possible dose-response, separate the effects of doxorubicin from tumour-induced atrophy and to examine underlying molecular pathways. More research is needed to confirm the proposed signalling pathways in humans, paving the way for potential therapeutic approaches.


SrZn(11): a new binary compound with the BaCd(11) structure.
Single crystals of strontium undecazinc, SrZn(11), were obtained when decomposing SrZn(2) under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. The new binary Sr-Zn compound crystallizes in the space group I4(1)/amd (BaCd(11) structure type) with one Sr position (\overline{4}m2) and three Zn sites (\overline{4}m2, .2/m., 1). The structure is described in terms of all-face-capped Zn(8) tetrahedra as the central building unit, defined by the Zn atoms on .2/m. and 1. The building units are condensed into chains by the central tetrahedra sharing edges, and the chains are interconnected by shared capping atoms. The resulting three-dimensional framework of Zn atoms yields channels that are occupied by Sr and Zn atoms on the high-symmetry \overline{4}m2 positions.


Giant parathyroid adenoma associated with severe hypercalcemia in an adolescent patient.
The objective of this study is to bring attention to the importance of differential diagnosis in adolescent patients with skeletal involvement and hypercalcemia. A 17-year-old male patient with a complaint of severe leg pain was admitted to our hospital. Seven months before he had a fracture of his distal humerus after falling on to his left shoulder and was treated conservatively. Five months previously, he had a rupture of his quadriceps tendon. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for the quadriceps tendon rupture and was evaluated as polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD). Doctors decided to operate for the ruptured tendon but they detected severe hypercalcemia in the pre-operative blood tests and noticed that the main disease was primary hyper-parathyroidisim (PHPT) which was caused by a giant parathyroid adenoma. Conclusions Giant parathyroid adenoma can present in adolescent patients with multiple bone lesions and severe hypercalcemia. PHPT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pathological bone fractures and benign bone tumors in every age. This may prevent patients from miss or delayed diagnosis of PHPT.


Suppression of T-cell proliferation by Mycobacterium leprae and its products: the role of lipopolysaccharide.
Addition of soluble molecules obtained from sonicated Mycobacterium leprae markedly suppressed the proliferative response to the mitogen anti-CD3 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and isolated T cells. Suppression was nonspecific and occurred with cells from lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy patients as well as control donors. The purified lipoarabinomannans from M. leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis had a similar spectrum of inhibition whereas their deacylated derivatives were without effect. All mycobacterial preparations of either a crude or purified state, which suppressed cellular responses, contained appreciable quantities of bacterial lipopolysaccharide by the Limulus amebocyte assay. Contamination with lipopolysaccharide could account for the extent and nonselectivity of the T-cell suppression. Suppression was also monocyte-dependent and in part due to the release of arachidonate metabolites of the cyclooxygenase pathway.


Surface localization of the sea urchin egg receptor for sperm.
The sea urchin egg receptor for sperm is thought to be involved in species-specific sperm-egg interactions at the egg surface. Recent revisions in the deduced amino acid sequence of the cloned cDNAs indicate that the protein encoded does not possess the common structural hallmarks of a membrane protein. Thus, investigation of the localization and association of the protein with the egg surface is crucial. We describe and characterize a new monoclonal antibody raised against recombinant sperm receptor protein. This antibody, in conjunction with several polyclonal antibodies, was used to study the receptor protein in eggs. Immunoprecipitation studies indicated that the antibodies recognize the high Mr (ca. 350 K) sperm receptor protein which copurified with egg plasma membrane-vitelline layer complexes. The sperm receptor protein was solubilized only by detergents and not by treatments designed to solubilize peripherally associated or lipid-anchored membrane proteins, suggesting a tight association with the membrane fraction. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of live eggs indicated surface staining. Finally, lysylendoproteinase C treatment of live eggs resulted in a loss of the high Mr receptor protein epitopes, and the concomitant release of a 70-kDa proteolytic fragment, which correlated with a reduced ability of the eggs to be fertilized. Taken together, these data indicate that at least some fraction of the sperm receptor protein is present on the egg surface, a requisite locale for a sperm binding protein.


Rehabilitation of patients with haemophilia after orthopaedic surgery: a case study.
Preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation may be useful for improving the recovery of patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery, particularly in those with co-morbidity or special requirements. This case study, of a patient with haemophilia and inhibitors to factor VIII undergoing total knee replacement, demonstrates the benefits of 6 weeks' preoperative physiotherapy ('prehabilitation') combined with 6 weeks' postoperative rehabilitation. The supervised physiotherapy regimen was individually tailored to specifically increase range of motion and muscle strength, enabling rapid mobilization and recovery of function, whilst minimizing the risk of bleeding.


Influence of local-field corrections on Thomson scattering in collision-dominated two-component plasmas.
The dynamic structure factor, which determines the Thomson scattering spectrum, is calculated via an extended Mermin approach. It incorporates the dynamical collision frequency as well as the local-field correction factor. This allows to study systematically the impact of electron-ion collisions as well as electron-electron correlations due to degeneracy and short-range interaction on the characteristics of the Thomson scattering signal. As such, the plasmon dispersion and damping width is calculated for a two-component plasma, where the electron subsystem is completely degenerate. Strong deviations of the plasmon resonance position due to the electron-electron correlations are observed at increasing Brueckner parameters r(s). These results are of paramount importance for the interpretation of collective Thomson scattering spectra, as the determination of the free electron density from the plasmon resonance position requires a precise theory of the plasmon dispersion. Implications due to different approximations for the electron-electron correlation, i.e., different forms of the one-component local-field correction, are discussed.


The situation in Scandinavia.
The history of legislation controlling the treatment of venereal infections and undergraduate and postgraduate training in venereology is outlined. Arrangements for research into these infections and the advantages of centralized facilities for serum antibody tests are described. Syphilis, gonorrhoea, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma venereum are notifiable. One present problem is the difficulty of collecting information on non-gonococcal urethritis. There is a high incidence of infection in Greenland and further research should be undertaken there.


[Comparison of serum biochemistry between specific pathogen-free and conventional aged Wistar rats].
To investigate the differences in serum biochemistry between specific pathogen-free (SPF) and conventional aged Wistar rats. Coulter-JT Analyzer was used to measure the values of serum biochemistry in the two grades of rats. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, Fe, P, glucose, uric acid (UA), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were very significantly different between male and female Wistar rats of either conventional or SPF grade (P<0.01), which also had significant difference in albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (P<0.05). Between male aged Wistar rats of the two grades, the differences of TP, albumin, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, TC, TG, blood glucose, ApoA1, ApoB, UA, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), LDL, and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) were very significant (P<0.01), with also significant differences in ALT, Fe, Mg (P<0.05). Between the female rats of the two grades, the serum levels of ALT, TP, albumin, A/G ratio, ALP, TG, BUN, creatinine, Fe, ApoA1, APOB, HDL, LDL, and bile acids were very significantly different (P<0.01), and Mg was significantly different (P<0.05). Different microbiological profiles affect serum biochemistry of aged Wistar rats.


Depolarization of the internal membrane system in the activation of frog skeletal muscle.
"Skinned" muscle fibers, single fibers from the frog semitendinosus muscle in which the sarcolemma had been removed, could be reversibly activated by electrical stimulation. Electrical responsiveness was abolished when the skinned fiber was prepared from a muscle exposed to a cardiac glycoside, and the development of responsiveness was delayed when the muscle was bathed in high potassium solution. The findings were taken as evidence that active sodium-potassium exchange across the internal membranes restored electrical excitability, after the sarcolemma had been removed, by establishing a potential gradient across the internal membranes. In general, the contractions were graded with the strength of the applied current. On occasion, however, "all-or-none" type responses were seen, raising the possibility that the internal membranes were capable of an electrically regenerative response. Activation could also be produced by an elevation of the intracellular chloride ion concentration or a decrease in the intracellular potassium, ion concentration, suggesting that depolarization of some element of the internal membrane system, that is, a decrease in the potential of the lumen of the internal membrane system relative to the potential of the myofibrillar space, was responsible for activation in these experiments. The distribution of both the electrically induced contractions and those produced by changes in the intracellular ion concentrations indicated that the responsive element of the internal membrane system was electrically continuous over many sarcomeres.


SUMOylation is developmentally regulated and required for cell pairing during conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila.
The covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to target proteins regulates numerous nuclear events in eukaryotes, including transcription, mitosis and meiosis, and DNA repair. Despite extensive interest in nuclear pathways within the field of ciliate molecular biology, there have been no investigations of the SUMO pathway in Tetrahymena. The developmental program of sexual reproduction of this organism includes cell pairing, micronuclear meiosis, and the formation of a new somatic macronucleus. We identified the Tetrahymena thermophila SMT3 (SUMO) and UBA2 (SUMO-activating enzyme) genes and demonstrated that the corresponding green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged gene products are found predominantly in the somatic macronucleus during vegetative growth. Use of an anti-Smt3p antibody to perform immunoblot assays with whole-cell lysates during conjugation revealed a large increase in SUMOylation that peaked during formation of the new macronucleus. Immunofluorescence using the same antibody showed that the increase was localized primarily within the new macronucleus. To initiate functional analysis of the SUMO pathway, we created germ line knockout cell lines for both the SMT3 and UBA2 genes and found both are essential for cell viability. Conditional Smt3p and Uba2p cell lines were constructed by incorporation of the cadmium-inducible metallothionein promoter. Withdrawal of cadmium resulted in reduced cell growth and increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. Interestingly, Smt3p and Uba2p conditional cell lines were unable to pair during sexual reproduction in the absence of cadmium, consistent with a function early in conjugation. Our studies are consistent with multiple roles for SUMOylation in Tetrahymena, including a dynamic regulation associated with the sexual life cycle.


Autophagy Plays an Important Role in Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms Stimulated by Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor.
Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has been reported to alleviate neuroinflammation. Here, we aimed to determine the role of autophagy in α7nAChR-mediated inhibition of neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanism. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglia were used as in vivo and in vitro models of neuroinflammation, respectively. The severity of EAE was evaluated with neurological scoring. Autophagy-related proteins (Beclin 1, LC3-II/I, p62/SQSTM1) were detected by immunoblot. Autophagosomes were observed using transmission electron microscopy and tandem fluorescent mRFP-GFP-LC3 plasmid was applied to test autophagy flux. The mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by real-time PCR. We used 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and autophagy-related gene 5 small interfering RNA (Atg5 siRNA) to block autophagy in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Activating α7nAChR with PNU282987 ameliorates EAE severity and spinal inflammatory infiltration in EAE mice. PNU282987 treatment also enhanced monocyte/microglia autophagy (Beclin 1, LC3-II/I ratio, p62/SQSTM1, colocalization of CD45- or CD68-positive cells with LC3) both in spinal cord and spleen from EAE mice. The beneficial effects of PNU282987 on EAE mice were partly abolished by 3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor. In vitro, PNU282987 treatment increased autophagy and promoted autophagy flux. Blockade of autophagy by Atg5 siRNA or bafilomycin A1 attenuated the inhibitory effect of PNU282987 on IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α mRNA. Our results demonstrate for the first time that activating α7nAChR enhances monocyte/microglia autophagy, which suppresses neuroinflammation and thus plays an alleviative role in EAE.


Nucleotide sequence of katG, encoding catalase HPI of Escherichia coli.
The gene katG, encoding catalase HPI of Escherichia coli, was sequenced, predicting a 726-amino-acid protein. The sequence was confirmed by identification of potential regulatory elements and amino acid sequencing of peptides. HPI shows no homology to other catalases. The distances between katG, metF, and ppc were defined.


Evaluation of elastic matching system for anatomic (CT, MR) and functional (PET) cerebral images.
To evaluate the performance of our elastic matching system, we have created a digitized atlas from the brain of a normal young man, using 135 myelin-stained sections at 700 microns spacing. Software was written to enter and edit regional anatomic contours, which were stacked and aligned to create a three-dimensional atlas. We then evaluated the matching system by comparing computer generated contours with expert defined contours for several subcortical structures, based on CT scans from six neurologically normal patients. The error in positioning, as defined by the distance between the centers of gravity, averaged 4.2 mm for the computer and 1.7 mm for the worst expert's reading, with the computer drawn region frequently inscribed within that of the expert. Comparison was also made for each structure by determining the volume of overlap and the volumes not overlapping. On average, the computer's agreement with the experts was approximately 20% less than the agreement among the experts. This was a preliminary test of the system using only subcortical structures. The results are promising, and techniques are being implemented to overcome the current deficiencies.


The effect of body position on postprandial perceptions, gastric emptying, and intragastric meal distribution: an ultrasonographic study in reclining healthy subjects.
Postprandial dyspepsia is common and may be associated with abnormal intragastric distribution of food. We aimed to determine the effect of body position on gastric emptying, meal distribution, and postprandial perceptions in healthy subjects. Eight adolescents (4 females and 4 males aged 14 years) were investigated using three-dimensional ultrasonography. The subjects were studied twice in a random order: once in the right lateral recumbent (RLR) position and once in the left lateral recumbent (LLR) position. Postprandial perceptions, gastric volumes, and antral areas were recorded immediately after the ingestion of 500 ml of a low-caloric meat soup over 4 min, and at 10 and 20 min following the meal. Postprandial perceptions (epigastric pain, nausea, and fullness) were more pronounced in the RLR position compared to the LLR position, particularly at the end of the meal ingestion (p < 0.01). Gastric volumes were significantly smaller in the RLR position compared to the LLR position at 10 min (p < 0.01) and 20 min (p < 0.05). Antral areas were significantly wider in the RLR position compared to the LLR position at 10 min (p < 0.05) and 20 min (p < 0.01). Postprandial perceptions are more pronounced, gastric emptying is faster, and antral area is wider in the RLR position compared to the LLR position. The results suggest that lying on the left side after a meal may be a measure to reduce postprandial dyspeptic sensations.