In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts: effect on inducible NOS, COX-1, COX-2 and their products in J774A.1 murine macrophages.
Extracts of the plant species Pinus sylvestris L. and Plantago lanceolata L. have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of certain respiratory diseases, but little is known about their precise effects and mechanisms of action. In this study, we investigated the effect of these plant extracts on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2), NO synthase (NOS) type II, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 mRNA expression in the murine macrophage cell line J774A.1. We found that Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts inhibited NO production in a concentration-dependent manner in this cell line, without obvious cytotoxic effects as tested by MTT assay. The Plantago lanceolata extract at all doses used, and the Pinus sylvestris extract at high doses, showed significant scavenging of NO radicals released by the NO donor PAPA-NONOate. Our data also show that pre-treatment with these extracts significantly inhibits inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA production in this cell line, without affecting COX-1 mRNA expression. COX-2 mRNA levels and PGE(2) levels induced by lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma were not modified upon pre-treatment with the extracts. Thus, our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts may reflect decreased NO production, possibly due to inhibitory effects on iNOS gene expression or to NO-scavenging activity.


Sequential cytologic study of the development of squamous cell carcinoma induced in subcutaneously implanted bronchial autograft of dog.
Squamous cell metaplasias and the development of squamous cell carcinomas caused by carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon exposure of the lumen of grafted dog bronchi were followed by cytology, and were correlated to histologically and ultrastructurally observed changes seen in the biopsy specimens at the same time periods. Cytologic specimens showed a progression from mild atypia of squamous metaplastic cells, to moderate atypia, and to marked atypia before the development of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Histology obtained by the biopsy specimens revealed findings corresponding to these cytologic changes. In the premalignant phase, squamous dysplasia and carcinoma in situ-like changes were also seen. Ultrastructural findings of the epithelium, such as widened intercellular space, increasing tonofilaments, enlarged nuclei with deep indentations, and prominent nucleoli with microsegregation were characteristic changes in the preneoplastic stages. It was concluded that this method of cytology, reflecting histologic and ultrastructural changes, is a useful experimental tool for the comparative study of premalignant lesions in the human bronchus and their early neoplastic stages.


Cutaneous nasal malignancies: is primary reconstruction safe?
The nose is particularly vulnerable to cutaneous malignancies, making it the most common location for presentation. Recurrence of these cutaneous lesions is not uncommon, often compromising the timing of nasal restoration. It is the purpose of this report to reexamine the safety of primary nasal reconstruction in selected patients. Seventy-one patients who underwent nasal reconstruction at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1987 and 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 35 men and 36 women with an average age of 60 years. All nasal reconstructions were performed for defects secondary to malignancies. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common lesion (n = 49), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (n = 10) and melanoma (n = 7), with five additional variable malignancies. The most common location of the cutaneous lesions was the nasal dorsum, and the forehead flap was the most common adjacent tissue used for reconstruction. Immediate reconstruction was performed for 42 of the basal cell carcinomas, 6 of the squamous cell carcinomas, 6 melanomas, and 3 other lesions. Delayed restoration was performed for 7 basal cell carcinomas, 4 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 melanoma, and 2 additional lesions. The average time between surgical extirpation and the start of nasal reconstruction was 8.2 months for basal cell carcinoma, 29 months for squamous cell carcinoma, and 10 months for melanoma. Twenty-six recurrent lesions were identified at an average of 36 months after extirpation. Despite these numbers, only three recurred after nasal reconstruction at our institution. Follow-up averaged 41 months, with none less than 1 year. Seventy patients are still alive with no evidence of disease. Primary reconstruction is safe in selected patients. Surgical delay in reconstruction should be considered if margins are questionable, the pathology is determined to be aggressive, if there is perineural or deep bony invasion, or if postoperative radiotherapy is to be initiated. Nasal reconstruction ultimately is based upon a complex series of issues but can be performed with few complications in an effort to restore self-image.


Carotid diameter variations as a non-invasive tool to examine cardiac baroreceptor sensitivity.
Recently we developed a non-invasive ultrasound technique, enabling the determination of end-diastolic diameter and distension (increase in diameter during cardiac cycle) over a long time period. Using this technique we test the hypothesis that low-frequency variations derived from non-invasively determined common carotid artery diameter signals are superior to those derived from non-invasively determined arterial pressure to predict heart rate variability, a method used to assess baroreceptor sensitivity. Moreover, we investigate whether the reduced baroreflex sensitivity in the elderly persists after eliminating the influence of the stiffness of the vessel wall and can be attributed to an impairment of the neural baroreflex pathways. The main finding of the present study is that variability in distension rate, i.e. increase in diameter during the cardiac cycle per systolic time interval, of the common carotid artery is a considerably more accurate predictor of R-R interval variability than variability in systolic arterial finger pressure. Moreover, distension rate variability is a more accurate predictor of R-R interval variability than distension and diameter variability. The reduced baroreflex sensitivity in the elderly persists in spite of the elimination of the influence of the stiffness of the vessel wall. We conclude that: (1) in the evaluation of baroreceptor sensitivity the assessment of variations in parameters derived from carotid arterial diameter is superior to the assessment of parameters derived from peripheral arterial finger pressure; and (2) conduction by the neural baroreflex pathways deteriorates with age.


Interventions to improve guideline compliance following coronary artery bypass grafting.
Lifestyle modification and appropriate medical therapy improve long-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Our institutional experience suggested that evidence-based recommendations were not being followed postdischarge after CABG. We undertook this study to document our rate of compliance with evidence-based guidelines and to correct deficiencies in our discharge practices. Seven evidence-based interventions were studied after CABG: (1) institution of beta-blocker therapy, (2) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy, (3) aspirin, (4) lipid-lowering therapy, (5) smoking cessation intervention, (6) heart-healthy diet therapy, and (7) physical activity recommendations. The rate of compliance with guidelines in 50 control patients was measured at discharge. A multidisciplinary team including cardiac surgeons, nurses, dieticians, physical therapists, and clinical pharmacists evaluated the guideline compliance in the control group and developed interventions to assure guideline compliance at the time of discharge. A subsequent study group of 50 patients was then assessed prospectively to measure the guideline compliance after institution of intervention programs. The multidisciplinary team agreed on predefined acceptable compliance limits as follows: (1) >80% of patients receive ACE inhibitors at discharge, (2) 100% of patients receive beta-blockers, aspirin, and lipid-lowering agents at discharge, and (3) 100% of patients receive lifestyle modification counseling at discharge. Compliance with guidelines was defined as documentation in the medical record of provision of medications and lifestyle counseling at the time of discharge. In the control group, the rate of guideline compliance was surprisingly low. Rates of compliance with guidelines increased significantly after the multidisciplinary interventions were undertaken. We conclude that compliance with guidelines known to improve long-term outcome is suboptimal after CABG. A multidisciplinary intervention program can improve compliance with currently accepted guidelines and quality indicators in patients following CABG.


Interfacing mitochondrial biogenesis and elimination to enhance host pathogen defense and longevity.
Mitochondria are highly dynamic and semi-autonomous organelles, essential for many fundamental cellular processes, including energy production, metabolite synthesis and calcium homeostasis, among others. Alterations in mitochondrial activity not only influence individual cell function but also, through non-cell autonomous mechanisms, whole body metabolism, healthspan and lifespan. Energy homeostasis is orchestrated by the complex interplay between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondria-selective autophagy (mitophagy). However, the cellular and molecular pathways that coordinate these 2 opposing processes remained obscure. In our recent study, we demonstrate that DCT-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the mammalian BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX, is a key mediator of mitophagy, and functions in the same genetic pathway with PINK-1 and PDR-1 (the nematode homologs of PINK1 and Parkin respectively) to promote longevity and prevent cell damage under stress conditions. Interestingly, accumulation of damaged mitochondria activates SKN-1 (SKiNhead-1), the nematode homolog of NRF2, which in turn initiates a compensatory retrograde signaling response that impinges on both mitochondrial biogenesis and removal. In this commentary, we discuss the implications of these new findings in the context of innate immunity and aging. Unraveling the regulatory network that governs the crosstalk between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that link aberrant energy metabolism to aging and disease.


The effect of BW12C on the radiosensitivity and necrosis of murine tissues and tumours.
BW12C is a drug that has the potential to induce normal tissue and tumour hypoxia by binding to haemoglobin, increasing its affinity for oxygen and thereby reducing oxygen availability to tissues. Initial results suggested that BW12C administration caused significant radioprotection of normal tissues and induced tumour necrosis, but variable results have been reported subsequently. This work was carried to extend the range of observations concerning the ability of BW12C to radioprotect normal tissues and tumours and to induce necrosis of tumours of the mouse. BW12C was administered as 70 mg/kg i.v. 15 min before irradiation of jejunum in CBA mice and of foot skin in WHT mice with single doses of 240 kVp X-rays while mice breathed gases of varying oxygen tensions. The radiosensitivities of these tissues were assessed by the crypt survival assay and the acute skin reaction, respectively. The radiosensitivity of CaNT tumours to single fraction irradiation was assessed by the regrowth delay assay following administration of single or multiple doses of BW12C at varying times to air-breathing CBA mice. The radiation response was compared to the radiosensitivity of clamped tumours. The effect of BW12C alone on tumours was assessed by regrowth delay and histological examination for necrosis. BW12C did not change the radiosensitivity of jejunal crypts irradiated while mice breathed air or 10% O2, or of foot skin when mice breathed 12% O2. BW12C protected foot skin by a factory of 1.1 when mice breathed air. Single or multiple doses of BW12C did not influence the radiosensitivity of CaNT tumours, although marked radioprotection could be induced by clamping the tumours during irradiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


On the potential usefulness of Fourier spectra of delayed fluorescence from plants.
Delayed fluorescence (DF) from photosystem II (PSII) of plants can be potentially used as a biosensor for the detection of plant physiological status and environmental changes. It has been analyzed mainly in the time domain. Frequency-domain analysis through Fourier transform allows viewing a signal from another angle, but the usefulness of DF spectra has not been well studied. In this work, experiments were conducted to show the differences and similarities in DF spectra of different plants with short pulse excitation. The DF spectra show low-pass characteristics with first-order attenuation of high frequencies. The results also show that the low-frequency components differ while the high-frequency components are similar. These may imply the potential usefulness of Fourier spectra of DF to analyze photoelectron transport in plants and classify samples.


Long-term study of the risk factors in atherosclerosis.
A study of the risk factors in atherosclerosis carried out in 595 subjects over a period of 10 years showed an increased prevalence of arterial hypertension, of high serum cholesterol values and of overweight in 1970 as compared to 1960. This rise was significant for all the parameters studied and was particularly evident in serum cholesterol values and overweight, beginning with the 21 to 30 age decade. The frequency of subjects with risk factors increased with age. During the period of study there occurred certain changes within the population such as an increase in the total consumption of calories and in the lipid contents of the food, as well as of the cultural level of the population. The authors show that the increase in the number of subjects with risk factors and the natural history of the various diseases or disturbances depend on the changes of living conditions and of environment.


The Bronchus First and Vessels Simultaneously Stapled Technique: A Safe and Simple Method for Video-Assisted Right Upper Lobe Lobectomy.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for major pulmonary resection. The purpose of this study was to present a novel approach with a thoracoscope in the right upper lobe and to compare different lobectomy methods at our institution. We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent a thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy for lung cancer between September 2015 and September 2016. We performed 128 thoracoscopic right upper lobectomies: group A (n = 50) was treated with the bronchus-first and vessels simultaneously stapled method and group B (n = 78) was treated with the conventional isolation-ligation method. Preoperative mediastinal staging and lymphadenectomy followed the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. The intra- and postoperative outcomes were recorded and statistically compared. All patients underwent successful thoracoscopic right upper lobectomies. No significant differences in mean intraoperative blood loss, massive hemorrhage (>500 mL), and postoperative complications were observed between the two groups (p < 0.05). The mean operative time of group A was less than that of group B (110.80 ± 34.74 versus 167.01 ± 48.38 minutes, p = 0.000). The mean duration of chest drainage in group A was 4.34 ± 2.06 days, which was shorter than that of group B (5.85 ± 3.13 days, p = 0.017). No significant differences were observed in the local recurrence and distant recurrence between the two groups during the postoperative follow-up. Thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy with the lobectomy bronchus-first and vessels simultaneously stapled method is a safe and efficient procedure that leads to better recovery.


Biomedical Applications of Quantum Dots, Nucleic Acid-Based Aptamers, and Nanostructures in Biosensors.
This review is a survey of the biomedical applications of semiconductor quantum dots, nucleic acid-based aptamers, and nanosensors as molecular biosensors. It focuses on the detection of analytes in biomedical applications using (1) advances in molecular beacons incorporating semiconductor quantum dots and nanoscale quenching elements; (2) aptamer-based nanosensors on a variety of platforms, including graphene; (3) Raman scattering and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using nanostructures for enhanced SERS spectra of biomolecules, including aptamers; and (4) the electrical and optical properties of nanostructures incorporated into molecular beacons and aptamer-based nanosensors. Research done at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is highlighted throughout since it emphasizes the specific approaches taken by the bioengineering department at UIC.


The evolution of and early experience with robot-assisted mitral valve surgery.
Cardiac surgeons have embraced minimally invasive surgery with warranted enthusiasm. The acceleration of technological advances in optics, instrumentation, and cardiopulmonary bypass has allowed safe, effective, efficient minimally invasive cardiac procedures. In this article we review the evolution of and early experience with robot-assisted mitral valve surgery. Articles by leaders in the field of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, both American and European, are reviewed to describe the development of cardiac robotic surgery. The current state of robotic mitral surgery is described.


Estramustine inhibits monocyte phagocytosis.
Estramustine phosphate (EMP) influence on human monocyte phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled yeast cells was measured in vitro. The method used, a modification of Hed's technique (FEMS Microbiol Lett 1:357, 1977), can differentiate between yeast cell engulfment and adherence to the phagocytotic cell surface. EMP is now accepted in the treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma. In concentrations corresponding to the clinical situation (20-40 micrograms/ml), it dramatically inhibited the process of phagocytosis. The engulfment phase was inhibited, whereas cell adherence was less affected. This might be due to direct interaction with the microtubule system. The effects were totally reversible. In contrast, the metabolites estradiol and normustine did not affect engulfment of yeast cells, either as single agents or combined. The results demonstrate that the EMP complex caused an impaired phagocytosis, which could be of pathophysiological significance in the compromised cancer patients.


[Study on the expression of Eotaxin and the role of histamine in allergic rhinitis].
To explore the expression of Eotaxin and the effect of histamine in allergic rhinitis model (AR), and aim to explore the pathogenesis of AR. The AR models were established by application of ovum albumin in rats. The expression of Eotaxin in nasal mucosa, serum and nasal cavity lavage fluid, were observed before and after treatment of histamine or its antagonist by immunochemistry, RT-PCR and ELISA technique. The expression of Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid and nasal mucosa increased after treatment of histamine (P < 0.05). Contrarily, the expression of Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid, nasal mucosa and serum decreased after treatment of the antagonist of histamine. Both histamine and its receptor can involve in the pathogenesis of AR by affecting the expression of Eotaxin.


[Transport of 131I-hippuric acid and 22Na from the space between retina and pigment epithelium after experimental amotio].
A method was developed which allows up to puncture and fill the virtual space between retina and pigment epithelium with radioactive-labeled substances and to measure the transport of the injected substances out of this space. Experiments have been performed on 28 cats. 131I-iodo-omicron-hippurate and 22Na were used. The transport out of the space between retina and pigment epithelium of 22Na is much slower than that of 131I-iodo-omicron-hippurate. It is concluded that an active system in the pigment epithelium and/or retina is responsible for the transport of iodo-omicron-hippurate out of the eye


Implementation of a Model-Based Design in a Phase Ib Study of Combined Targeted Agents.
In recent years, investigators have recognized the rigidity of single-agent, safety-only, traditional designs, rendering them ineffective for conducting contemporary early-phase clinical trials, such as those involving combinations and/or biological agents. Novel approaches are required to address these research questions, such as those posed in trials involving targeted therapies. We describe the implementation of a model-based design for identifying an optimal treatment combination, defined by low toxicity and high efficacy, in an early-phase trial evaluating a combination of two oral targeted inhibitors in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma. Operating characteristics demonstrate the ability of the method to effectively recommend optimal combinations in a high percentage of trials with reasonable sample sizes. The proposed design is a practical, early-phase, adaptive method for use with combined targeted therapies. This design can be applied more broadly to early-phase combination studies, as it was used in an ongoing study of a melanoma helper peptide vaccine plus novel adjuvant combinations. Clin Cancer Res; 23(23); 7158-64. ©2017 AACR.


Unmasking of axial spondyloarthritis and oligoarthritis following discontinuation of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor therapy for psoriasis.
Psoriatic arthritis remains a common cause of morbidity in patients with psoriasis. Little is known about the natural history of the disease and dermatologists do not consistently screen for its presence. We describe a patient with severe psoriasis where long-term biologic therapy with a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor was interrupted for clinical reasons, leading to a rapidly evolving axial spondyloarthritis and oligoarthritis. This unusual presentation of psoriatic arthritis may reflect masking of the disease by long-term treatment with a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor. We advocate the use of screening for psoriatic arthritis, including before and during treatment with biologic therapies.


Effects of Kluyveromyces marxianus supplementation on immune responses, intestinal structure and microbiota in broiler chickens.
To investigate the effects of Kluyveromyces marxianus on immune responses, intestinal structure and microbiota in broilers, 840 1-d-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into seven groups (eight replicates) and were fed basal diets without or with 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 g/kg of K. marxianus (2.0×1010 CFU/g). Serum and intestine samples were collected at 21 d of age. The results showed that increasing K. marxianus addition linearly reduced feed conversion ratio but linearly elevated relative thymus weight, as well as quadratically increased serum lysozyme and IgG levels, with the medium dose (1.0 g/kg) being the most effective. The ratio of villus height to crypt depth of jejunum and ileum, ileal villus height and sucrase activity, as well as the mRNA expression of ileal mucin-2, claudin-1 and sodium glucose cotransporter 1 linearly responded to the increasing K. marxianus addition. Supplemental K. marxianus at low (0.5 g/kg), medium (1.5 g/kg) and high (2.5 g/kg) dose all decreased the abundance of phylum Cyanobacteria, increased the abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillus in ileum. The high dose of K. marxianus addition also reduced the abundance of order Rickettsiales and Pseudomonadales along with species Acinetobacter junii. Ileal bacterial communities between K. marxianus-treated and untreated groups formed distinctly different clusters. In summary, K. marxianus supplementation benefits feed efficiency and immune function, as well as intestinal structure in broilers, which might be attributed to the improved ileal microbial structure. Supplemental K. marxianus at high dose (2.5 g/kg) was more effective for feed efficiency and intestinal health of broilers, while the innate immunity was optimized at a medium dose (1.0 g/kg).


Hospital cross-transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
We had for objective to measure the incidence and the clonal diversity of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in order to assess the role of patient stay in amplification of the phenomenon, in our teaching hospital. We measured the quarterly incidence rates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae producing or not producing ESBL in clinical samples between 1999 and 2010. The incidence of ESBL-producing isolates was season-adjusted. We determined the pulsotype of and identified the ESBL in all non-redundant strains isolated between 2009 and 2010. The incidence for 1000 hospitalization days increased from 0.00 to 0.44 for ESBL-producing E. coli, from 0.012 to 0.24 for ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae, from 1999 to 2010. Fifty-three different clones of E. coli were identified among the 61 genotyped isolates. The 28 K. pneumoniae isolates genotyped clustered into 11 different clones, among which one major epidemic clone that included 18 isolates. Respectively 66 and 75% of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates produced a CTX-M group 1 ESBL. The hospital seems to play a different role in the amplification of ESBL according to the producing species (K. pneumoniae or E. coli). ESBL-producing E. coli seem to have a limited cross-transmission within the hospital and seem to be added to non-producers. Conversely, ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae seem to be cross-transmitted within the hospital and to replace non-producers.


Fetal chest wall hamartoma: a case report.
A fetal chest wall hamartoma successfully treated by surgical resection after birth is described. Ultrasonography showing a heterogeneous partially calcified thoracic tumor allowed in utero diagnosis.


Follicular induction overlying a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
The term "induction" has been used to describe epidermal changes overlying a dermatofibroma (DF). Follicular induction is most often associated with DF, but can be observed in other lesions, including focal mucinosis, nevus sebaceous, seborrheic keratosis, wart, neurofibroma, and scars. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a malignant fibrohistiocytic tumor that may be difficult to distinguish from DF. In contrast to DF, the epidermis overlying DFSP is usually attenuated or ulcerated. Here, we report a case of DFSP exhibiting follicular induction of the overlying epidermis. This epidermal change has been rarely reported in DFSP and may present a diagnostic pitfall in superficially sampled lesions.


[Effects of transurethral catheterization on uroflow rate in the pressure-flow study of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].
To investigate the effects of transurethral catheterization on the uroflow rate in the pressure-flow study of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Thirty-nine men with BPH underwent free uroflowmetry and pressure-flow analysis respectively. With an 8 F urethral catheter, the standard pressure-flow variables such as the maximum flow rate, detrusor pressure at the maximum flow rate and so on were recorded. The free maximum flow rate and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization were statistically analyzed. The maximum voided volumes of the free uroflowmetry group and the pressure-flow study group were (209.23 +/- 56. 56) ml and (210.33 +/- 62.02) ml respectively (P > 0.05). The free maximum flow rate was (8.61 +/- 2.80) ml/s, and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization-was (7.39 +/- 3.01) ml/s (P < 0.05). When the patients were divided into seven grades of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) according to the Schäfer nomogram, the free maximum flow rate and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization with Grade 0-I of BOO were (12.56 +/- 1.57) ml/s and (10.95 +/- 2.51) ml/s, and those of Grade II were (9.35 +/- 0.76) ml/s and (8.41 +/- 1.23) ml/s respectively. For Grades III, IV and V-VI , the two maximum flow rates were (7.88 +/- 1.21) ml/s and (6.37 +/- 0.59) ml/s, (6.54 +/- 1.93) ml/s and (5.55 +/- 2.48) ml/s, and (6.01 +/- 2.10) ml/s and (4.84 +/- 2.89) ml/s, respectively, all with significant difference in between (P < 0.05). The 8 F urethral catheter has a significant effect on the maximum uroflow rate in the pressure-flow study and this effect is correlated with the grade of BOO.


National nutrition surveys in Asian countries: surveillance and monitoring efforts to improve global health.
Asian regions have been suffering from growing double burden of nutritional health problems, such as undernutrition and chronic diseases. National nutrition survey plays an essential role in helping to improve both national and global health and reduce health disparities. The aim of this review was to compile and present the information on current national nutrition surveys conducted in Asian countries and suggest relevant issues in implementation of national nutrition surveys. Fifteen countries in Asia have conducted national nutrition surveys to collect data on nutrition and health status of the population. The information on national nutrition survey of each country was obtained from government documents, international organizations, survey website of governmental agencies, and publications, including journal articles, books, reports, and brochures. The national nutrition survey of each country has different variables and procedures. Variables of the surveys include sociodemographic and lifestyle variables; foods and beverages intake, dietary habits, and food security of individual or household; and health indicators, such as anthropometric and biochemical variables. The surveys have focused on collecting data about nutritional health status in children aged under five years and women of reproductive ages, nutrition intake adequacy and prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases for all individuals. To measure nutrition and health status of Asian populations accurately, improvement of current dietary assessment methods with various diet evaluation tools is necessary. The information organized in this review is important for researchers, policy makers, public health program developers, educators, and consumers in improving national and global health.


The Moderating Effects of Self-Care on the Relationships between Perceived Stress, Job Burnout and Retention Intention in Clinical Nurses.
This study determines the importance of nurses' self-care by identifying its effects as a moderating variable on the relationships between perceived stress, job burnout, and retention intention in clinical nurses. Hence, 174 clinical nurses who worked at two university hospitals and one general hospital located in Seoul, South Korea, participated in this study. As the hospitals required the use of recruitment notices, convenience sampling methods were adopted to recruit volunteers. The data were collected using the perceived stress scale, the burnout assessment tool, the nurse retention index, and the self-care assessment worksheet. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics of participants, and t-test and analysis of variance were conducted for comparisons. Moderated multiple regression was conducted to verify the moderating effects of self-care on the relationships between perceived stress and retention intention and between job burnout and retention intention. The results revealed that the effect of perceived stress on retention intention and the moderating effect of self-care on the relationship between perceived stress and retention intention were not significant, whereas job burnout had a direct effect on retention intention, and self-care had a positive moderating effect on job burnout. Therefore, it is necessary to consider an instructional program on the importance of self-care and conduct campaign activities at the organizational level. Moreover, various support structures should be provided at the organizational level such that nurses can reduce their levels of job burnout.


Cancer of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavities. Part II. Results of treatment.
Part I of this account of a large consecutive series of 561 patients with cancer of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavities treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital reveals some significant clinical and radiological features. The histopathology of every case has been carefully reviewed by one pathologist. Carcinoma was found to account for almost 80 per cent of tumours. An account is given of treatment methods in present use. End-results are reported in Part II of the paper and demonstrate that patients with sinus cancer receiving combined treatment in one centre have a better prognosis than when it is given in two or more hospitals. The discussion also concentrates on the use of main treatment methods and emphasizes some advances in surgical techniques. The value of initial cytotoxic chemotherapy is unproven but may offer some further advantage in prognosis. Precise comparison with the results of other series is not possible owing to lack of agreement on classification, variable case selection and differing treatment techniques.


Study of sexual dimorphism of Malaysian crania: an important step in identification of the skeletal remains.
Sex determination is one of the main steps in the identification of human skeletal remains. It constitutes an initial step in personal identification from the skeletal remains. The aim of the present study was to provide the population-specific sex discriminating osteometric standards to aid human identification. The present study was conducted on 87 (174 sides) slices of crania using postmortem computed tomography in 45 males and 42 females, aged between 18 and 75 years. About 22 parameters of crania were measured using Osirix software 3-D Volume Rendering. Results showed that all parameters were significantly higher in males than in females except for orbital height of the left eye by independent t test (P<0.01). By discriminant analysis, the classification accuracy was 85.1%, and by regression, the classification accuracy ranged from 78.2% to 86.2%. In conclusion, cranium can be used to distinguish between males and females in the Malaysian population. The results of the present study can be used as a forensic tool for identification of unknown crania.


[New methods for the evaluation of bone quality. Diseases Affecting Bone Quality.]
Impaired bone quality is associated with fragility bone fractures independently of bone mineral density. Lifestyle disease-induced osteoporosis, such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease, and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are listed as the diseases affecting bone quality. TBS(trabecular bone score)developed recently will be able to evaluate the trabecular microarchitecture quickly and easily. Various clinical studies evaluated bone quality by TBS has performed. I give an outline about the diseases affecting bone quality.


Antibacterial, wet adhesive, and healing-promoting nanosheets for the treatment of oral ulcers.
The severe pain caused by oral ulcers seriously affects food intake and speech, bringing great inconvenience in daily life. Drug-loaded patches are mostly used to treat oral mucosal diseases such as oral ulcers and oral lichen planus, but their effects are limited because of the influences of saliva and muscle movement. To enhance the adhesion of drug-loaded patches used in the oral cavity, we designed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)-modified polycaprolactone (PCL)-collagen nanosheets (APCNs). The internal layer is a bioactive and antibacterial collagen layer modified with antimicrobial peptides. The backing layer is a hydrophobic PCL layer with good mechanical strength that can reduce external influences. We have characterized and tested the APCNs. First, the APCNs exhibited continuous and strong adhesion to irregular buccal mucosa surfaces under wet conditions and external force action. Antibacterial experiments showed that the APCNs had high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the APCNs showed good biocompatibility and promoted the adhesion of fibroblasts in vitro. Furthermore, APCNs treatment accelerated ulcer healing in a Sprague Dawley rat oral ulcer model. Our study developed antibacterial, wet-adhesive, and healing-promoting PCL-collagen nanosheets and demonstrated that these nanosheets could be promising adhesive therapeutic agents for the treatment of oral mucosal ulcers.


In a mixed subtype epidemic, the HIV-1 Gag-specific T-cell response is biased towards the infecting subtype.
Southwest Tanzania is affected by an HIV-1 epidemic consisting of subtypes A, C, and D, and their recombinant forms. This study was designed to assess whether the Gag- and Nef-specific T-cell response is biased towards recognizing the infecting subtype. The infecting subtypes were characterized with a Multi-hybridization assay that discriminates between subtypes A, C and D. The interferon-gamma ELISPOT assay was used to detect the Gag- and Nef-specific T-cell responses in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 56 seropositive patients. To study the HIV-specific T-cell responses, isolate-based Gag and Nef peptide sets representative of the locally occurring subtypes were used. The results were analysed at the total protein and single peptide level. In the study population, 35% were infected with a pure C subtype, 24% and 23% with ACD or AC recombinant forms, respectively. The total magnitude (P < 0.01) and breadth (P < 0.01) of the Gag-specific T-cell response detected with the subtype C-Gag peptide set was significantly greater than that detected with either the subtype A-Gag or D-Gag peptide sets. No significant difference was observed in the Nef-specific response. In 85% of responses targeting the most immunodominant Gag epitopes with subtype-specific sequence differences, the best recognized epitope variant corresponded to the infecting subtype. The Gag-specific T-cell response had a preference for recognizing peptides related to the infecting subtype.


Shades of yellow: interactive effects of visual and odour cues in a pest beetle.
The visual ecology of pest insects is poorly studied compared to the role of odour cues in determining their behaviour. Furthermore, the combined effects of both odour and vision on insect orientation are frequently ignored, but could impact behavioural responses. A locomotion compensator was used to evaluate use of different visual stimuli by a major coleopteran pest of stored grains (Sitophilus zeamais), with and without the presence of host odours (known to be attractive to this species), in an open-loop setup. Some visual stimuli-in particular, one shade of yellow, solid black and high-contrast black-against-white stimuli-elicited positive orientation behaviour from the beetles in the absence of odour stimuli. When host odours were also present, at 90° to the source of the visual stimulus, the beetles presented with yellow and vertical black-on-white grating patterns changed their walking course and typically adopted a path intermediate between the two stimuli. The beetles presented with a solid black-on-white target continued to orient more strongly towards the visual than the odour stimulus. Visual stimuli can strongly influence orientation behaviour, even in species where use of visual cues is sometimes assumed to be unimportant, while the outcomes from exposure to multimodal stimuli are unpredictable and need to be determined under differing conditions. The importance of the two modalities of stimulus (visual and olfactory) in food location is likely to depend upon relative stimulus intensity and motivational state of the insect.


[Norman Geschwind: career and works].
Norman Geschwind was an outstanding American neurologist. He first majored in psychology and then medicine at Harvard University. After graduation, he received neurological training at Beth Israel Hospital, the National Hospital at Queen Square in London, and Boston City Hospital, under the guidance of Denny-Brown, Charles Symonds, and Fred Quadfasel. He later moved to the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital, and established the Boston University Aphasia Research Center with Edith Kaplan. This center played a cardinal role in aphasia research in the United States. In 1969, Geschwind became a Professor at Harvard Medical School. Disconnection syndromes, which made Geschwind's name famous worldwide in the field of neurology, are reviewed here in regard to pure alexia, conduction aphasia, pure word deafness, isolation of the speech area, and apraxia, with reference to the Wernicke-Geschwind model. Other contributions by Geschwind are also described, such as behavioral changes in temporal lobe epilepsy (Geschwind syndrome) and cerebral lateralization, including the Geschwind-Galaburda hypothesis.


Comparative evaluation of spinosad and phloxine B as toxicants in protein baits for suppression of three fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species.
Spinosad and phloxine B are two more environmentally friendly alternative toxicants to malathion for use in bait sprays for tephritid fruit fly suppression or eradication programs. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the relative toxicity of these two toxicants for melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett; oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel; and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) females. Field tests also were conducted with all three species to compare these toxicants outdoors under higher light and temperature conditions. In laboratory tests, spinosad was effective at much lower concentrations with LC50 values at 5 h of 9.16, 9.03, and 4.30 compared with 250.0, 562.1, and 658.9 for phloxine B (27, 62, and 153 times higher) for these three species, respectively. At 16 ppm spinosad, LT50 values were lower for all three species (significantly lower for C. capitata and B. dorsalis) than 630 ppm phloxine B LT50 values. At 6.3 ppm spinosad, the LT50 value for C. capitata (3.94) was still significantly less than the 630 ppm phloxine B LT50 value (6.33). For all species, the 100 ppm spinosad concentrations gave LT50 values of < 2 h. In comparison among species, C. capitata was significantly more sensitive to spinosad than were B. cucurbitae or B. dorsalis, whereas B. cucurbitae was significantly more sensitive to phloxine B than were C. capitata or B. dorsalis. LC50 values were reduced for both toxicants in outdoor tests, with greater reductions for phloxine B than for spinosad for B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae. Fly behavior, though, is likely to keep flies from being exposed to maximum possible outdoor light intensities. Comparable levels of population suppression for any of the three species tested here will require a much higher concentration of phloxine B than spinosad in the bait.


Development of personalized tumor biomarkers using massively parallel sequencing.
Clinical management of human cancer is dependent on the accurate monitoring of residual and recurrent tumors. The evaluation of patient-specific translocations in leukemias and lymphomas has revolutionized diagnostics for these diseases. We have developed a method, called personalized analysis of rearranged ends (PARE), which can identify translocations in solid tumors. Analysis of four colorectal and two breast cancers with massively parallel sequencing revealed an average of nine rearranged sequences (range, 4 to 15) per tumor. Polymerase chain reaction with primers spanning the breakpoints was able to detect mutant DNA molecules present at levels lower than 0.001% and readily identified mutated circulating DNA in patient plasma samples. This approach provides an exquisitely sensitive and broadly applicable approach for the development of personalized biomarkers to enhance the clinical management of cancer patients.


Bone mineral content has stronger association with lean mass than fat mass among Indian urban adolescents.
There are conflicting reports on the relationship of lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) with bone mineral content (BMC). Given the high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in India, we planned the study to evaluate the relationship between LM and FM with BMC in Indian children and adolescents. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship of BMC with LM and FM. Total and regional BMC, LM, and FM using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and pubertal staging were assessed in 1403 children and adolescents (boys [B]: 826; girls [G]: 577). BMC index, BMC/LM and BMC/FM ratio, were calculated. The age ranged from 5 to 18 years, with a mean age of 13.2 ± 2.7 years. BMC adjusted for height (BMC index and BMC/height ratio) was comparable in both genders. There was no difference in total BMC between genders in the prepubertal group but were higher in more advanced stages of pubertal maturation. The correlation of total as well as regional BMC was stronger for LM (B: Total BMC - 0.880, trunk - 0.715, leg - 0.894, arm - 0.891; G: Total BMC - 0.827, leg - 0.846, arm - 0.815 (all value indicate r (2), P < 0.0001 for all) when compared with FM (B: Total BMC - 0.776, trunk - 0.676, leg - 0.772, arm - 0.728; G: Total BMC - 0.781, leg - 0.741, arm - 0.689; all P < 0.0001) except at trunk BMC (LM - 0.682 vs. FM - 0.721; all P < 0.0001), even after controlling for age, height, pubertal stage, and biochemical parameters. BMC had a stronger positive correlation with LM than FM.


Nine phenylethanoid glycosides from Magnolia officinalis var. biloba fruits and their protective effects against free radical-induced oxidative damage.
To systematically study the chemical constituents in Magnolia officinalis var. biloba fruits, nine phenylethanoid glycosides were isolated by solvent extraction, silica gel, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analyses, including COSY, HMQC and HMBC correlations, and HPLC analysis of sugar residue. Nine phenylethanoid glycosides, namely, magnoloside Ia (1), magnoloside Ic (2), crassifolioside (3), magnoloside Ib (4), magnoloside IIIa (5), magnoloside IVa (6), magnoloside IIa (7), magnoloside IIb (8) and magnoloside Va (9), were first isolated from the n-butanol fraction of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba fruits alcohol extract. Free radical scavenging activities of the nine phenylethanoid glycosides were assessed using the DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. Simultaneously, protective effects of all compounds against free radical-induced oxidative damage were evaluated by two different kinds of mitochondrial damage model. The protective effects were assessed by mitochondrial swelling, the formations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). All phenylethanoid glycosides showed significant protective effects.


Self-reported prostate cancer screening in Austria.
The prevalence of self-reported participation and frequency of prostate cancer screening (digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA)) in Austrian men aged 40-79 years in the year 2005 is reported. In a population-based cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 500 men was asked whether they ever had heard of early detection of prostate cancer by DRE or PSA test and, if so, whether they had ever had a prostate cancer screening test during their life, and if so the number of tests and the type of physician. Overall, the prevalence of self-reported prostate cancer screening was 55.8% (23.7% DRE only). The highest prevalence was observed in the age group of 60-69 years with 68.8% (28.1% DRE only). The highest prevalence of PSA tests was observed in the age group 70-79 years (40.9%). About 75% of the screening tests were performed by urologists. More than half of the target population (men aged 40-79 years) have had at least one prostate cancer screening test. Nearly one-third of men have already had one or more PSA tests. One-fifth of the PSA tests were requested by general practitioners or internists.


A Rare Case of Takayasu Arteritis Presenting as Pericarditis with Effusion.
Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare large-vessel vasculitis that is seen primarily in young females of Asian descent and is infrequently diagnosed in the United States. Pericardial effusion with or without pericarditis as a presenting feature of TAK is rare, with only about five percent of cases of pericarditis attributable to any autoimmune etiology. We present a case of a 22-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a large, symptomatic pericardial effusion of unclear etiology, who after extensive laboratory workup and imaging to include whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) was diagnosed with TAK. In our patient, the use of whole-body PET showing characteristic hypermetabolism within the aortic arch helped secure our diagnosis while avoiding the need for pericardiocentesis. The patient had rapid symptomatic and radiographic improvement with the use of high-dose oral steroids in addition to colchicine and ibuprofen for her pericarditis and associated pericardial effusion. At follow-up just 1 week after initiation of steroids, only trace effusion was identified on transthoracic echocardiogram.


Effect of varying metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations in diets of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets 1. Growth performance.
This study was undertaken to assess dietary ME and CP concentrations for optimum growth performance of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 540 one-day-old Pearl Gray guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,900, 3,000, and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 20, 22, and 24% CP, respectively, from 0 to 8 wk of age (WOA). From 9 to 16 WOA, these diets were adjusted to contain 3,000, 3,100, and 3,200 kcal of ME/ kg, and each had 17, 19, and 21% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Overall, feed consumption was higher in birds on 2,900 and 3,000 kcal of ME/kg of feed and the 24 and 21% CP diets than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. When compared with other dietary treatments, cumulative BW gains were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,000 and 3,100, and 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 2 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Pullets receiving 24 and 21% CP diets also exhibited higher BW gains than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Feed conversion ratios were lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,100, and both 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 1 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, than other dietary treatments. Pullets fed 24% CP diets and either 17 or 19% CP diets exhibited lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratios than other dietary treatments at 1 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Thus, diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg were utilized more efficiently by the Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets at 0 to 5 and 5 to 16 WOA, respectively. Also, these birds more efficiently utilized diets containing 24 and 17% CP at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively.


Lymphocyte immunophenotyping in inflammatory myositis: a review.
This is a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on predominant immune cell phenotypes involved in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Major circulating immune cell subpopulations described in IIM encompass the lymphocyte compartment. An unbalance in T cell subsets seems to consistently affect the peripheral and muscle compartment, with a predominance of CD4+ T and B cells in dermatomyositis, CD8+ T cells in polymyositis/inclusion body myositis (IBM) and novel findings highlighting novel proinflammatory T subsets, that is, CD8+Tbet+ and CD28- T cells across different IIM subsets. On the other hand, an impairment in Treg cells number and function has been described especially across polymyositis/dermatomyositis and IBM. Total T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, increased in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, skewed toward Tfh2 and Tfh17 in dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. B cell compartment is more rarely described in IIM, yet an unbalance in this pool is as well likely. Evidence of plasma cells increased in polymyositis, dermatomyositis, IBM, and Bregs decreased in dermatomyositis have been reported. Perturbations in the memory and naïve subsets are common in dermatomyositis/polymyositis and antisynthetase syndrome. Protean immune cell abnormalities characterize different IIM subsets, reflecting the complexity of these autoimmune conditions. A deeper understanding of B-cell and T-cell immunophenotyping may promote early diagnosis and identification of new potential therapeutic targets.


Synthesis and the photophysical and biological properties of tricarbonyl Re(I) diimine complexes bound to thiotetrazolato ligands.
Twelve Re(I) tricarbonyl diimine (2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline) complexes with thiotetrazolato ligands have been synthesised and fully characterised. Structural characterisation revealed the capacity of the tetrazolato ligand to bind to the Re(I) centre through either the S atom or the N atom with crystallography revealing most complexes being bound to the N atom. However, an example where the Re(I) centre is linked via the S atom has been identified. In solution, the complexes exist as an equilibrating mixture of linkage isomers, as suggested by comparison of their NMR spectra at room temperature and 373 K, as well as 2D exchange spectroscopy. The complexes are photoluminescent in fluid solution at room temperature, with emission either at 625 or 640 nm from the metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited states of triplet multiplicity, which seems to be exclusively dependent on the nature of the diimine ligand. The oxygen-sensitive excited state lifetime decay ranges between 12.5 and 27.5 ns for the complexes bound to 2,2'-bipyrdine, or between 130.6 and 155.2 ns for those bound to 1.10-phenanthroline. Quantum yields were measured within 0.4 and 1.5%. The complexes were incubated with human lung (A549), brain (T98g), and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells, as well as with normal human skin fibroblasts (HFF-1), revealing low to moderate cytotoxicity, which for some compounds exceeded that of a standard anti-cancer drug, cisplatin. Low cytotoxicity combined with significant cellular uptake and photoluminescence properties provides potential for their use as cellular imaging agents. Furthermore, the complexes were assessed in disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacterial strains, which revealed negligible antibacterial activity in the dark or after irradiation.


An analysis of the unconfined compression of articular cartilage.
Analytical solutions have been obtained for the internal deformation and fluid-flow fields and the externally observable creep, stress relaxation, and constant strain-rate behaviors which occur during the unconfined compression of a cylindrical specimen of a fluid-filled, porous, elastic solid, such as articular cartilage, between smooth, impermeable plates. Instantaneously, the "biphasic" continuum deforms without change in volume and behaves like an incompressible elastic solid of the same shear modulus. Radial fluid flow then allows the internal fluid pressure to equilibrate with the external environment. The equilibrium response is controlled by the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the solid matrix.


Resistive indices of cerebral arteries in very preterm infants: values throughout stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and impact of patent ductus arteriosus.
Little is known about cerebral artery resistive index values in infants born extremely preterm. To report resistive index values in various cerebral arteries in a prospective cohort of preterm infants born at <29 weeks' gestation, and to compare resistive index in these arteries and assess the relationship between resistive index and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. Using Doppler imaging, we obtained resistive index values of internal carotid arteries, basilar artery, anterior cerebral artery, and pial and striatal arteries in the first 3 days of age and weekly thereafter until discharge or death. We analyzed paired observations using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, between-group comparisons with the Mann-Whitney test. We performed 771 examinations in 235 infants. Resistive indices differed among arteries: vessels with larger diameters showed significantly higher resistive indices. Resistive index in infants without patent ductus arteriosus was lower than that in infants with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (median in anterior cerebral artery: 0.75 and 0.82, respectively; P<0.001), though this was not statistically significant in all arteries. There was no difference in pre- and post-ligation resistive indices in infants who underwent patent ductus arteriosus ligation. For accurate follow-up and comparison of cerebral artery resistive index, the same artery should be examined on each occasion.


Updated Estimates of Chronic Conditions Affecting Risk for Complications from Coronavirus Disease, United States.
We updated estimates of adults at risk for coronavirus disease complications on the basis of data for China by using recent US hospitalization data. This update to our previous publication substitutes obesity for cancer as an underlying condition and increases adults reporting any of the conditions from 45.4% to 56.0%.


[Procedures in the pregnant and non-pregnant uterus under sonographic control (author's transl)].
Several procedures during pregnancy under ultra-sonographic control are described. Amniocentesis and puncture of the fetus may be done accurately without too much problems when a multi-element ultra-sound scanner is used for sonographic control. The principle of manipulation with ultra-sonographic control may be used for curettage. Instruments within the uterus may be localized and their movements can be submitted to continual visual control. A curettage under sonographic control may reduce the risk of the curettage in cases of uterine anomalies, anomalies of the position or unusually soft uteri.


[Hybridization analysis of nucleic acids using stained latex].
Method of the latex hybridization analysis has been developed: after hybridization of NA-target with biotinylated probe visualization of hybrids was carried out using latex particles, containing fluorescent dye pyronin G and coated with streptavidin. Due to encapsulation of the fluorescent dye in polymer particles sensitivity of the analysis was increased by several orders of magnitude in comparison with methods, using fluorescently labelled probes. Possessing a number of advantages, the method yields to none of any other methods of NA hybridization analysis in sensitivity.


Bioequivalence of subcutaneous and intravenous body-weight-independent high-dose low-molecular-weight heparin Certoparin on anti-Xa, Heptest, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor activity in volunteers.
The objective of the study was to demonstrate the bioequivalence of subcutaneously (s.c.) and intravenously (i.v.) administered fixed, high-dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on anti-activated factor X activity (anti-FXa). Secondary objectives were the analysis of the pharmacodynamic effects on Heptest, thrombin inhibition, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and the urinary excretion of LMWH in the randomized cross-over study following i.v. and s.c. application of 8000 anti-FXa units LMWH Certoparin in 18 healthy subjects. The bioequivalence following s.c. administration was demonstrated from the antilog of the point estimator for the application differences (s.c. minus i.v.) by an area under the activity-time curve (0-24 h) of 101% (range, 93-110%). LMWH was bioequivalent also on Heptest and TFPI, and was 50% on thrombin inhibition. The urinary excretion of biologically active material was 4.1 and 3.6% following i.v. and s.c. administration, respectively. Differences in the pharmacodynamic parameters of the assays indicate specific biological actions of high and low molecular sacharide chains of the LMWH.


Comparison of maximum production rates and optimum operating/design parameters in overloaded elution and displacement chromatography.
The results of a study of the optimization of the experimental conditions for maximum production rate in overloaded elution and displacement chromatography are discussed. This study is based on the use of the equilibrium-dispersive model of chromatography and the competitive Langmuir isotherms to calculate individual band profiles in the elution and displacement modes, and of a simplex algorithm to optimize the production rate. The operating parameters (sample size, mobile phase velocity, and the displacer concentration in the displacement model) and the column design parameters (column length and average particle diameter) are optimized simultaneously. Binary mixtures having relative concentrations 3:1 and 1:3, and separation factors of 1.2 to 1.8 are investigated. One of our major results is that, in both modes of chromatography, the maximum production rate is achieved at very low values of the retention factors, k', much lower than those used in current practice. In all cases, unless k' exceeds greatly that optimum value, the production rate is higher in overloaded elution than in displacement chromatography. This is particularly true for the extraction of a minor component, which is eluted second.


Impact of Hip Antibiotic Spacer Dislocation on Final Implant Position and Outcomes.
Dislocation of dynamic antibiotic hip spacers during the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection is a well-described complication. Unfortunately, the repercussions of such events after reimplantation of the definitive prosthesis remain largely unknown. As such, we devised a study comparing the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of patients having undergone reimplantation with and without spacer dislocation. A search of our institutional database was performed. Two retrospective cohorts were created: dislocated and nondislocated hip spacers. The radiographic and clinical outcomes for each cohort were collected. The two retrospective cohorts contained 24 patients for the dislocated group and 66 for the nondislocated group. Continuous variables noted to be significantly different between the dislocated and nondislocated groups were as follows: clinical leg-length discrepancy (1.35 cm vs 0.41 cm, P = .027), acetabular center of rotation (1.34 cm vs 0.60 cm, P = .011), total packed red blood cell transfusions (4.05 vs 2.37, P = .019), operative time (177.4 min vs 147.3 min, P = .002), and hospital length of stay (7.79 days vs 5.89 days, P = .018). Categorical variables noted to be significantly different were requirement for complex acetabular reconstruction (58.3% vs 13.7%, P < .001), requirement of constrained liners (62.5% vs 37.3%, P = .040), and dislocation after second stage (20.8% vs 6.1%, P = .039). Dislocation of dynamic hip spacers leads to inferior clinical results and perioperative outcomes after reimplantation of the definitive prosthesis. Additionally, complex acetabular reconstruction is often required. As such, every effort should be made to prevent hip spacer dislocation.


Burden of cancer mortality and differences attributable to demographic aging and risk factors in Argentina, 1986-2011.
The world faces an aging population that implies a large number of people affected with chronic diseases. Argentina has reached an advanced stage of demographic transition and presents a comparatively high rate of cancer mortality within Latin America. The objectives of this study were to examine cancer mortality trends in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, between 1986 and 2011, and to analyze the differences attributable to risk variations and demographic changes. Longitudinal series of age-standardized mortality rates for overall, breast and prostate cancers were modeled by Joinpoint regression to estimate the annual percent change. The Bashir & Estève method was used to split crude mortality rate variation into three components: mortality risk, population age structure and population size. A decreasing cancer age-standardized mortality rates trend was observed (1986-2011 annual percent change: -1.4, 95%CI: -1.6, -1.2 in men; -0.8, 95%CI: -1.0, -0.6 in women), with a significant shift in 1996. There were positive crude mortality rate net changes for overall female cancer, breast and prostate cancers, which were primarily attributable to demographic changes. Inversely, overall male cancer crude mortality rate showed a 9.15% decrease, mostly due to mortality risk. Despite favorable age-standardized mortality rates trends, the influence of population aging reinforces the challenge to control cancer in populations with an increasingly aged demographic structure.


Stat5-dependent cardioprotection in late remote ischaemia preconditioning.
To study the protective effects of late remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and determine whether Stat5 is involved in this protection by using cardiomyocyte-specific Stat5 knockout mice (Stat5-cKO). Mice were exposed to lower limb RIPC or sham ischaemia. After 24 h, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was ligated for 30 min, then reperfused for 180 min. The myocardial infarct size (IS), apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes, and serum myocardial enzymes were measured to evaluate for cardioprotective effects. Heart tissues were harvested to determine the cardiomyocytes' anti-apoptotic and survival signaling. When compared with the Stat5fl/fl mice without RIPC, Stat5fl/fl mice with RIPC (Stat5fl/fl+RIPC + I/R) displayed a decreased myocardial IS/LV (16 ± 1.5 vs. 30.1 ± 3.1%, P < 0.01; IS/ area at risk (AAR), 42.2 ± 3.5 vs. 69.2 ± 4.9%, P < 0.01), a reduced cardiomyocyte apoptotic rate (2.1 ± 0.37 vs. 5.5 ± 0.53%, P < 0.01), and lower creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels. To the contrary, the Stat5-cKO mice (Stat5fl/fl; Tnnt2Cremice with Doxycycline treatment for 7 days) did not exhibit any effect of RIPC-induced cardioprotection. Activation of STAT5 protein was significantly higher in the Stat5fl/fl+RIPC + I/R group than in the Stat5fl/fl+I/R group, while there was no significant difference between the Stat5-cKO + RIPC + I/R and the Stat5-cKO + I/R group. Further analyses with heart tissues detected decreased protein expressions of cytochrome c (Cyt c) and cleaved Caspase-3 in the Stat5fl/fl+RIPC + I/R mice, along with increased anti-apoptotic molecules, including B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2); such changes were not noted in the Stat5-cKO + RIPC + I/R mice. Additionally, RIPC increased cardiac hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α) and interleukin-10 (IL10) protein levels and caused activation of AKT, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), and vascular endothelial growth factor in the heart of the Stat5fl/fl mice. However, these changes were completely inhibited by the absence of Stat5. These results suggest that RIPC-induced late cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury is Stat5-dependent and is correlated with the activation of anti-apoptotic signaling and cardiomyocyte-survival signaling.


Autophagy-Mediated Secretory Pathway is Responsible for Both Normal and Pathological Tau in Neurons.
Increased levels of total tau (t-tau) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are well documented and strongly correlate with AD pathology. Recent studies have further shown that human tau can be released into the extracellular space and transferred to nascent neurons. However, because the tau protein has no signal peptide identity, the mechanisms underlying its secretion remain poorly understood. In the present study, we confirmed that tau protein secretion was promoted by autophagy inducers and downregulated by beclin1 knockdown or autophagy inhibitors derived from human wild type tau (wt-tau)-overexpressing SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, both t-tau and p-tau secretion were increased by autophagy activation. Furthermore, we identified that six isoforms of tau protein are secreted in an autophagy-dependent manner. These results indicate that both normal and pathological tau are secreted via an autophagy-mediated secretory pathway in neurons. Understanding this new pathway for tau secretion may provide critical future insights into tau pathologies, such as AD.


Interactions of metaphit with phencyclidine and sigma agonist actions in rat cerebellum: determination of specificity and selectivity.
The interactions of phencyclidine (PCP) and related agonists with putative receptor blockers were studied on cerebellar Purkinje neurons using electrophysiological techniques. Depressions induced by PCP or dexoxadrol, a sigma receptor agonist, were markedly antagonized by the PCP receptor antagonist metaphit, which acylates PCP receptors via its isothiocyanate moiety. Conversely, the depressant effect of levoxadrol, the (-) isomer of dexoxadrol, was not affected by metaphit. Further evidence that metaphit's specific antagonism of dexoxadrol- and PCP-mediated depressions was derived from data showing that drugs which respectively acylate mu and delta opioid receptors, benzimidazole isothiocyanate and fentanyl isothiocyanate, do not antagonize the actions of either PCP or dexoxadrol. Moreover, tyramine, which like PCP acts as an indirect norepinephrine agonist, is not antagonized by metaphit. These observations support the concept that metaphit causes a pharmacologically specific and irreversible antagonism of the effects of both PCP and dexoxadrol in the cerebellum. Thus, the electrophysiological mechanisms of PCP actions are similar to those triggered by sigma opioid agonists in this brain area.


Trace level Al3+ detection in aqueous media utilizing luminescent ensembles comprising pyrene laced dynamic surfactant assembly.
Easily synthesizable amphiphilic probes have been designed for the detection of Al3+ exclusively at mesoscopic interfaces. The surface charge of the surfactant assemblies and the fluidity of the lipid aggregates show pronounced effects on the extent of Al3+ detection. Excellent sensitivity has been observed specifically in the presence of anionic surfactants and the lipid membranes with more sol-like characteristics. Moreover, a variation in the modes of Al3+ complexation is observed on shifting from one regioisomer to another. For instance, the para isomer exhibits a 1 : 2 stoichiometry with the Al3+ ion, while for the ortho-isomer, it is a 1 : 1 interaction. Considering the excellent sensitivity of the probe molecule towards Al3+, the present system has been utilized for the estimation of soluble aluminum content in acidic soil samples as well as in pharmaceutical tablets. Low-cost paper strips are developed for rapid, on-site detection of Al3+ without involving advanced instruments or trained technicians. Finally, the bioimaging of Al3+ is achieved in cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.


Pregnenolone-sulfate: an endogenous antagonist of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complex in brain?
The interaction of the 'neurosteroid', pregnenolone-sulfate (PS), with the GABA/benzodiazepine/chloride ionophore receptor complex was investigated in rat brain subcellular preparations. At low micromolar concentrations PS competitively inhibited the binding of the convulsant [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) and antagonized pentobarbital-stimulated [3H]flunitrazepam binding to synaptosomes. In addition, PS inhibited muscimol-stimulated 36Cl-uptake in brain synaptoneurosomes, including that PS has characteristics of a relatively potent antagonist of the chloride channel coupled to the GABA receptor. Together with our previous finding that A-ring reduced metabolites of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone also interact with the GABA receptor complex but as hypnotic barbiturates, these data suggest that the regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission by various neurosteroids may be an important mechanism for controlling neuronal excitability.


Hepatocyte growth factor is a potential biomarker for osteoproliferation and osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis.
We explored relations between serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), disease activity, osteoproliferation, and bone mineral density (BMD) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), in comparison with healthy controls. HGF was increased especially in male AS patients and smokers and associated with both lower BMD and more chronic radiographic changes in the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by both osteoproliferation and increased bone loss. Biomarkers are requested to predict the processes. The aims of this study were to compare serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in AS patients with healthy controls (HC) and to explore the associations with disease activity, osteoproliferation, and bone mineral density (BMD). Serum from AS patients (modified NY-criteria) and HC was analyzed for HGF, MMP-3, and VEGF with ELISA. Disease activity parameters were collected. Osteoproliferation was assessed with modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) and BMD was measured in femoral neck. Totally, 204 AS patients and 80 sex and age matched HC were included. Serum HGF was higher in the AS patients compared with the HC, whereas serum MMP-3 and VEGF were not. Serum HGF was also higher in smokers and in the male AS patients positively correlated with age, BASMI, and mSASSS, and negatively correlated with BMD. The biomarkers were all positively associated with ESR, CRP, and WBC. In multiple linear regression analysis serum HGF remained associated with higher mSASSS and lower BMD, after adjusting for age, sex, CRP, smoking, and body mass index. Serum HGF was increased in male AS patients and associated with higher mSASSS and lower BMD. In addition, serum HGF was positively associated with risk factors for osteoproliferation such as age, CRP and smoking. HGF could be a potential biomarker of importance for the bone metabolism in AS. NCT00858819.


Replacement of the aortic valve with a bioprosthesis at the time of continuous flow ventricular assist device implantation for preexisting aortic valve dysfunction.
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has become a mainstay of therapy for advanced heart failure patients who are either ineligible for, or awaiting, cardiac transplantation. Controversy remains over the optimal therapeutic strategy for preexisting aortic valvular dysfunction in these patients at the time of LVAD implant. In patients with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, surgical approaches are center specific and range from variable leaflet closure techniques to concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a bioprosthesis. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed our outcomes in patients who underwent simultaneous AVR and LVAD implantation secondary to antecedent aortic valve pathology. Between January 2004 and June 2010, 144 patients underwent LVAD implantation at a single institution. Of these, 7 patients (4.8%) required concomitant AVR. Five of the 7 patients (71%) survived to hospital discharge and suffered no adverse events in the perioperative period. One-year survival for the discharged patients was 80%, and no prosthetic valve-related adverse events were observed in long-term follow-up. Given our experience, we conclude that bioprosthetic AVR is a plausible alternative for end-stage heart failure patients at the time of LVAD implantation.


Comparison of nitric oxide production in response to carbachol between macrovascular and microvascular cardiac endothelial cells.
Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (EC) play an important role in the physiological regulation of coronary blood flow, but their function has not been rigorously examined, because suitable in vitro models have not been available. Cardiac macrovascular and microvascular EC were isolated and cultured from 14-16-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats to examine the pharmacological responses of carbachol-induced nitric oxide (NO) production using a Griess method. Carbachol-induced NO production was only detected in cardiac macrovascular EC, which suggests that endothelial production of NO differs between macrovascular and microvascular EC. Next, cardiac microvascular EC was treated with either vehicle, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (captopril, 10 micromol/L) or angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist (CV11974, 10 micromol/L) for 4 days. Carbachol-induced NO production was improved by captopril (136+/-45nmol, p<0.01 vs vehicle) and CV11974 (146+/-30nmol, p<0.01 vs vehicle). Angiotensin II concentration in the culture medium and protein expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and AT1 receptor in the EC were similar among the 3 groups. Interestingly, the level of muscarinic subtype 3 (M3) receptor was significantly increased in the EC treated with captopril (214%, p<0.01) and CV11974 (296%, p<0.01). When cardiac microvascular EC were treated with neomycin (non-selective phospholipase C inhibitor), carbachol-induced NO production was also improved (146+/-35nmol, p<0.01, neomycin I mmol/L) together with increased expression of M3 receptor (p<0.01). These data suggest that the upregulation of the M3 receptor by captopril or CV11974 occurs via a phospholipase C-dependent pathway. Cardiac microvascular EC also produced NO constitutively, as did the macrovascular EC, but carbachol-induced NO production was decreased. The present data suggest that the upregulation of the M3 receptor by the ACE inhibitor and AT1 receptor antagonist is a new beneficial effect of these drugs on microvascular endothelial function.


Differences Between Gait on Stairs and Flat Surfaces in Relation to Fall Risk and Future Falls.
We used body-worn inertial sensors to quantify differences in semi-free-living gait between stairs and on normal flat ground in older adults, and investigated the utility of assessing gait on these terrains for predicting the occurrence of multiple falls. Eighty-two community-dwelling older adults wore two inertial sensors, on the lower back and the right ankle, during several bouts of walking on flat surfaces and up and down stairs, in between rests and activities of daily living. Derived from the vertical acceleration at the lower back, step rate was calculated from the signal's fundamental frequency. Step rate variability was the width of this fundamental frequency peak from the signal's power spectral density. Movement vigor was calculated at both body locations from the signal variance. Partial Spearman correlations between gait parameters and physiological fall risk factors (components from the Physiological Profile Assessment) were calculated while controlling for age and gender. Overall, anteroposterior vigor at the lower back in stair descent was lower in subjects with longer reaction times. Older adults walked more slowly on stairs, but they were not significantly slower on flat surfaces. Using logistic regression, faster step rate in stair descent was associated with multiple prospective falls over 12 months. No significant associations were shown from gait parameters derived during walking upstairs or on flat surfaces. These results suggest that stair descent gait may provide more insight into fall risk than regular walking and stair ascent, and that further sensor-based investigation into unsupervised gait on different terrains would be valuable.


[Clinical and psychosocial characteristics of schizophrenia patients related to the duration of their hospitalization].
Factors affecting the term of the hospital confinement of schizophrenic patients were evaluated using the Automated Rehabilitation Information System (ARIS). The formalized files on 682 patients treated in the V. M. Bekhterev Institute, Leningrad, USSR) and several hospitals in the GDR were analyzed. From the 725 signs studied 53 common factors were selected which reflected the clinical, personal and psychosocial characteristics of the patient as related to the hospital treatment duration. A computerized prognosis of the hospital treatment term using the image detection algorithms proved possible.


General self-efficacy as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress in gender-minority individuals.
To investigate the mediating role of general self-efficacy (i.e., belief in one's competence to cope with a broad range of stressful or challenging demands) in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression) in gender minority individuals, which include people with a gender identity that is not aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The study sample included gender minority participants who participated in Waves 4 and 5 of Project AFFIRM, a multi-site longitudinal study of gender minority health. ACEs, general self-efficacy, and psychological distress were measured using the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Module at Wave 4, the PROMIS General self-efficacy measure at Wave 4, and the Brief Symptoms Inventory Global Severity Index (GSI) at Wave 5, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, including age, race, sex assigned at birth, and income, multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess each component of the proposed mediation model. Next, mediation analyses were used to determine whether general self-efficacy mediated the association between ACEs and psychological distress. The sample for this study consisted of 166 gender minority adults with a mean age of 38.6 ± 12.2 years. Most were non-Hispanic White (46.4%) and female assigned at birth (59.6%). Mean ACEs score was 3.2 ± 2.1 (range 0-8), mean general self-efficacy score was 13.9 ± 3.6 (range 4-20), and mean raw-score GSI was 17.3 ± 13.7 (range 0-64). Participants who reported experiencing more ACEs had greater psychological distress (B 1.60; 95% CI = 0.66, 2.54) and lower general self-efficacy (B -0.41; 95% CI = -0.67, -0.15). In addition, lower general self-efficacy was associated with higher psychological distress (B -1.06; 95% CI = -1.61, -0.51). Bootstrap estimation of the indirect effect was significant (95% CI = 0.14, 0.90) and explained 27.1% (95% CI = 7.76, 69.76) of the total effect of ACEs on psychological distress in gender minority adults. Our findings suggest that general self-efficacy partially mediated the positive association between ACEs and psychological distress in gender minority adults. Interventions that aim to improve general self-efficacy may be beneficial in alleviating psychological distress in gender minority adults. Nurses can play an important role in reducing the health risks associated with ACEs by screening gender minority individuals using a trauma-informed approach to care and offering resources and referrals, as appropriate.


Low hepatitis B virus-specific T-cell response in males correlates with high regulatory T-cell numbers in murine models.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection shows significant gender-related differences in pathogenesis, disease progression, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The gender-associated differences in HBV replication and viral protein levels may be associated with distinct HBV-specific immune responses in the host. In the present study, we examined the impact of gender on HBV-specific immune responses in two different mouse models representing transient and persistent hepadnaviral infection; hydrodynamic injection with the HBV genome mimicked acute HBV infection, whereas the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination was studied in the woodchuck hepatitis virus transgenic mouse model. Consistent with previous reports, significantly higher HBV DNA and protein levels were detected in male compared to female mice. Although hydrodynamic injection with the HBV genome resulted in similar numbers of intrahepatic HBV-specific cluster of differentiation 8-positive (CD8+ ) T cells, their functionality was significantly reduced in males and correlated with higher numbers of intrahepatic regulatory T cells (Tregs). Similar effects were observed in woodchuck hepatitis virus transgenic mice immunized with a DNA prime-recombinant adenovirus boost vaccination protocol. Male mice showed functionally suppressed woodchuck hepatitis virus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in the liver and significantly higher numbers of intrahepatic Tregs compared to females. Blockade of Treg responses in male mice led to augmented effector functions of specific CD8+ T cells and subsequently improved virus control in both models of transient and persistent hepadnaviral infection. The functionality of virus-specific CD8+ T cells in male mice was suppressed by intrahepatic Tregs and inversely correlated with levels of hepadnaviral DNA and viral protein; the induction of intrahepatic Tregs by viral replication and/or protein levels may explain the gender-related differences in the outcomes of HBV infection and limit the success of immunotherapeutic strategies in male patients. (Hepatology 2017;66:69-83).


Reappraisal on anopheline mosquitoes of Garhwal region, Uttarakhand, India.
The study examines occurrence of anopheline mosquitoes in seven districts--Dehradun, Pauri, New Tehri, Hardwar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand state, India. The methodological approach comprised sampling and processing of adult/immature mosquitoes, data compilation, meteorological information and parasitological survey. A total of 87 localities covering 24 tehsils/blocks were surveyed during January 2000 to December 2005 for mosquito sampling. The study encountered 18 species of anophelines including three malaria vectors namely Anopheles culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. stephensi collected from Kalsi, Dehradun City, Sahaspur, Hardwar town, Roorkee, New Tehri town and Kotdwar localities. An. pallidus has been recorded for the first time from the Garhwal region. All the collected species have been presented with particular reference to their both adult and immature distribution, brief account of bionomics and some ecological notes. Out of 18 collected anopheline species, 15 were non-vectors and they were found to create nuisance to the inhabitants. As far as the species distribution was concerned the diversity was more at elevation between 150 and 1000 m above the mean sea level, while the immature of some species were not recovered from those localities where their adults were collected. Certain species of Anopheles were climate determined and their distribution was localized while some others were cosmopolitan.


Lipid peroxidation and the system of antioxidant defence in humans after hypergravitational influence.
Hypergravitational influence (HI) +Gz (head-pelvis) within ranges of up to 3, up to 5, and up to 7 g with an acceleration speed of 0.03 g/s was applied to a group of men of an age of 25 to 45 y.o. In their blood serum the parameters of lipid peroxidation (LP) and the system of antioxidant defence (AOD) had been studied. HI results in LP intensity changing in a human body. HI increasing caused an increase in a number of AOD components involved in the free radical processes (FRP) compensation and functioning in a water phase. The characteristics of AOD lipid-phase link does not change. The mechanisms of compensating and monitoring of FRP intensity at HI required further studies.


7-Difluoromethoxyl-5,4'-di-n-octyl genistein inhibits the stem-like characteristics of gastric cancer stem-like cells and reverses the phenotype of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer cells.
7-Difluoromethoxyl-5,4'-di-n-octyl genistein (DFOG), a novel synthetic genistein analogue, exerts anticarcinogenic activity in several types of cancers, including gastric cancer. Accumulating evidence in recent years strongly indicates the existence of cancer stem cells in gastric cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether DFOG inhibits the stemness and reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype of gastric cancer stem-like cells (GCSLCs) derived from human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and to identify its potential mechanism. Sphere-forming cells (SFCs) from the SGC-7901 cells possessed the properties of GCSLCs. DFOG preferentially inhibited self-renewal, cell migration and cell invasion, and downregulated the expression of stem cell biomarkers in a dose-dependent manner. At the molecular level, these effects were accompanied by the downregulation of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1). Meanwhile, FoxM1 siRNA transfection was able to synergize the inhibition of expression of FoxM1 and Twist1 induced by DFOG in GCSLCs. In addition, we found that DFOG treatment decreased the expression of N-cadherin and increased the expression of E-cadherin. More importantly, FoxM1 siRNA transfection cooperated with DFOG to suppress the self-renewal capacity, cell migration and cell invasion, and downregulated the expression of CD133, CD44, ALDH1, and also regulated the expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin. These findings showed that DFOG inhibited the stem-like characteristics of GCSLCs and reversed the EMT phenotype by modulation of FoxM1 and further decreased Twist1 expression. Our results provide a further rationale and experimental basis for using DFOG to improve the efficacy of treatment for patients with gastric cancer.


Evaluation of (1-sarcosine, 8-isoleucine) angiotensin II as a therapeutic agent for oleic acid-induced pulmonary edema.
(1-Sarcosine, 8-isoleucine) angiotensin II was assessed as a therapeutic agent for acute respiratory distress syndrome with oleic acid pulmonary edema in sheep used as an experimental model. Under general anesthesia with controlled mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen, 32 sheep received oleic acid (0.075 ml/kg) intravenously. After oleic acid infusion, 20 animals were treated with continuous intravenous infusion of the angiotensin II analogue; nine received 300 ng/kg/min, six received 600 ng/kg/min, and five received 2000 ng/kg/min. Cardiopulmonary measurements were repeated every 30 minutes for 270 minutes. According to time-integrated PaO2, six of 15 animals of the groups given 300 and 600 ng/kg/min (43%) did not respond to the treatment. All animals responded in the group given 2000 ng/kg/min. Animals in the latter group had lower Qs/Qt, PaCO2, and airway resistance than had the control animals. Elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance was limited and mean arterial blood pressure was well maintained. These results reveal that (1-Sar, 8-Ile) angiotensin II is effective in the treatment of oleic acid-induced pulmonary edema.


In vivo metabolism of organophosphate flame retardants and distribution of their main metabolites in adult zebrafish.
Understanding the metabolism of chemicals as well as the distribution and depuration of their main metabolites in tissues are essential for evaluating their fate and potential toxicity in vivo. Herein, we investigated the metabolism of six typical organophosphate (OP) flame retardants (tripropyl phosphate (TPRP), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tri-p-cresyl phosphate (p-TCP)) in adult zebrafish in laboratory at three levels (0, 1/150 LC50 (environmentally relevant level), and 1/30 LC50 per OP analog). Twenty main metabolites were detected in the liver of OPs-exposed zebrafish using high resolution mass spectrometry (Q-TOF). The reaction pathways involving scission of the ester bond (hydrolysis), cleavage of the ether bond, oxidative hydroxylation, dechlorination, and coupling with glucuronic acid were proposed, and were further confirmed by the frontier electron density and point charge calculations. Tissue distribution of the twenty metabolites revealed that liver and intestine with the highest levels of metabolites were the most active organs for OPs biotransformation among the studied tissues of intestine, liver, roe, brain, muscle, and gill, which showed the importance of hepatobiliary system (liver-bile-intestine) in the metabolism and excretion of OPs in zebrafish. Fast depuration of metabolites from tissues indicated that the formed metabolites might be not persistent in fish, and easily released into water. This study provides comprehensive information on the metabolism of OPs in the tissue of zebrafish, which might give some hints for the exploration of their toxic mechanism in aquatic life.


Inhibition of DNA synthesis by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and methylazoxymethanol acetate in rabbit colon mucosa in organ culture.
When maintained in organ culture, colon mucosa from male New Zealand White rabbits showed a near-normal mucosal morphology and linear incorporation of [3H]thymidine into mucosal DNA up to 36 hours of incubation. Explants from the descending colon had a higher DNA synthetic activity than did other segments of the large bowel. Inhibition of DNA synthesis in colon explants by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate was dose-dependent. When DNA synthesis was determined after an 18-hour incubation, MAM acetate inhibited DNA synthesis at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, and 200 microgram/ml. With the same concentration of DMH, little or no inhibition was observed. At the concentration of 200 microgram/ml, both carcinogens significantly inhibited DNA synthesis after 3 and 6 hours of incubation. With longer incubation, the inhibitory effect of DMH appeared to be reversible, whereas DNA synthesis was continuously inhibited by MAM acetate up to 18 hours of incubation. No altered uptake of [3H]thymidine by colon explants incubated in the presence of DMH or MAM acetate for 18 hours was observed. No morphologic changes were seen in colon explants treated with 200 microgram MAM acetate/ml for 18 hours. Physostigmine sulfate had no influence on MAM acetate-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis in colon explants. These in vitro observations reflected a direct action of DMH and MAM acetate on the colon mucosa and supported the possibilility that colon epithelial cells contain enzymes capable of activating DMH and MAM acetate to their alkylating carcinogens.


Stress response decreases NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and increases I-kappaBalpha expression in A549 cells.
The stress response and stress proteins confer protection against diverse forms of cellular and tissue injury, including acute lung injury. The stress response can inhibit nonstress protein gene expression, therefore transcriptional inhibition of proinflammatory responses could be a mechanism of protection against acute lung injury. To explore this possibility, we determined the effects of the stress response on nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, an important regulator of proinflammatory gene expression. In A549 cells induction of the stress response decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated NF-kappaB nuclear translocation. TNF-alpha initiates NF-kappaB nuclear translocation by causing dissociation of the inhibitory protein I-kappaBalpha from NF-kappaB and rapid degradation of I-kappaBalpha. Prior induction of the stress response inhibited TNF-alpha-mediated dissociation of I-kappaBalpha from NF-kappaB and subsequent degradation of I-kappaBalpha. Induction of the stress response also increased expression of I-kappaBalpha. We conclude that the stress response affects NFkappaB-mediated gene regulation by two independent mechanisms. The stress response stabilizes I-kappaBalpha and induces expression of I-kappaBalpha. The composite result of these two effects is to decrease NF-kappaB nuclear translocation. We speculate that the protective effect of the stress response against acute lung injury involves a similar effect on the I-kappaB/NF-kappaB pathway.


[Molecular cytogenetic markers of cryptic species and hybrids of the common vole superspecies complex Microtus arvalis s. l].
Molecular markers of cryptic cytogenetical differentiation were shown in chromosomal polymorphic Pan-European model group of rodents Microtus arvalis s. l. by FISH analysis. The polytypy of 46-chromosomes karyotypes determined by the sites of interstitial telomeric sequences (ITS) and ribosomal DNA emphasizes the genetical isolation of M. arvalis s. s. and M. obscurus.