Judging trustworthiness from faces: Emotion cues modulate trustworthiness judgments in young children.
By adulthood, people judge trustworthiness from appearances rapidly and reliably. However, we know little about these judgments in children. This novel study investigates the developmental trajectory of explicit trust judgments from faces, and the contribution made by emotion cues across age groups. Five-, 7-, 10-year-olds, and adults rated the trustworthiness of trustworthy and untrustworthy faces with neutral expressions. The same participants also rated faces displaying overt happy and angry expressions, allowing us to investigate whether emotion cues modulate trustworthiness judgments similarly in children and adults. Results revealed that the ability to evaluate the trustworthiness of faces emerges in childhood, but may not be adult like until 10 years of age. Moreover, we show that emotion cues modulate trust judgments in young children, as well as adults. Anger cues diminished the appearance of trustworthiness for participants from 5 years of age and happy cues increased it, although this effect did not consistently emerge until later in childhood, that is, 10 years of age. These associations also extended to more subtle emotion cues present in neutral faces. Our results indicate that young children are sensitive to facial trustworthiness, and suggest that similar expression cues modulate these judgments in children and adults.


Chemistry of transition-metal clusters with mixed Sb/S ligands: evidence for a terminal Sb=S double bond in Cp*3Rh3Sb2S5 (Cp* = C5Me5).
The reaction of [Cp2*Rh2Cl4] (Cp* = C5Me5) with a slight excess of K(3)SbS(3) in boiling THF gave the neutral clusters [Cp*4Rh4S5] (1), [Cp*3Rh3Sb2S5] (2), and after salt metathesis [Cp*3Rh3SbSn]PF6 (3; n = 5 and 6). The structures of 1-3 are heterocubane clusters with CpRh, S, and Sb vertices but with sulfur inserted into one (1 and 2) or two (3) edges. X-ray diffraction analysis of 2 additionally reveals a very short Sb-S distance of 2.297(1) A within the novel mu3-Sb2S4 ligand. Density functional theory calculation of the model compounds [SSbS]3-, [HSSbS]2-, and [HSSbH2S]0 provided strong evidence for the existence of a stable terminal Sb=S double bond in 2.


A structured model for monoclonal antibody synthesis in exponentially growing and stationary phase hybridoma cells.
An initial structured unsegregated kinetic model describing monoclonal antibody synthesis by a murine hybridoma cell line (9.2.27) grown in 1 liter batch cultures is described. The model is based on the intracellular balances of the heavy and light chain coding mRNAs, the intracellular balances of heavy and light chains and the description of the kinetics of heavy and light chain assembly. Model parameters were varied with specific growth rate in order to account for changes in the rates of antibody synthesis and secretion with entrance of the cells from the exponential into the stationary phase of growth. The parameters were varied based. on experimental data obtained in our laboratory on the variation of total cellular RNA content and the half-lives of heavy (H) and light (L) chain mRNAs with specific growth rate, and data from other investigators on immunoglobulin synthesis and secretion. The model successfully predicts the experimentally observed decrease in the intracellular heavy and light chain mRNA levels with entrance of 9.2.27 cells from the exponential into the stationary phase of growth, as well as the extracellular accumulation of antibody (IgG(2a)) during batch culture.


Effect of biochar and bioorganic fertilizer on the microbial diversity in the rhizosphere soil of Sesbania cannabina in saline-alkaline soil.
Biochar and bioorganic fertilizer (BOF) application in agriculture has garnered increasing interest recently. However, the effects of biochar and BOF on rhizosphere soil microecology, especially in a region with saline-alkaline soil, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we performed Illumina-based 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the effects of biochar with or without BOF addition, as well as at different addition rates and particles sizes, on the microecology of saline-alkaline rhizosphere soil. In the field experiment, biochar and BOF application altered the rhizosphere soil microecology. Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi accounted for >60% of the total bacterial population in each treatment. In the different treatments, Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria were the predominant classes; Micromonosporales and Vicinamibacterales were the dominant orders; norank_f__Geminicoccaceae and Micromonosporaceae were the most abundant families; and Micromonospora and norank_f_Geminicoccaceae were the predominant genera. Application of biochar with or without BOF decreased soil electrical conductivity (EC) by 7% -11.58% only at the depth of 10 cm below the surface, again, soil EC can be significantly reduced by an average of 4% at 10 cm depth soil after planting Sesbania cannabina. Soil organic carbon, organic matter, available potassium, and available phosphorus contents had significant effects on the soil bacterial community structure. Co-application of biochar and BOF resulted in the greatest improvement of rhizosphere soil microecology, either by promoting plant growth or improving the nutrition and physicochemical properties of soil, followed by BOF alone and biochar alone. Additionally, higher application rate of biochar was better than lower application rate, and fine biochar had a stronger effect than coarse biochar. These results provide guidance for the development of new saline-alkaline soil remediation strategies.


A Hybrid Nanomaterial Based on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Cross-Linked via Axially Substituted Silicon (IV) Phthalocyanine for Chemiresistive Sensors.
In this work, the novel hybrid nanomaterial SWCNT/SiPc made of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) cross-linked via axially substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine (SiPc) was studied as the active layer of chemiresistive layers for the detection of ammonia and hydrogen. SWCNT/SiPc is the first example of a carbon-based nanomaterial in which an axially substituted phthalocyanine derivative is used as a linker. The prepared hybrid material was characterized by spectroscopic methods, thermogravimetry, scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The layers of the prepared hybrid were tested as sensors toward ammonia and hydrogen by a chemiresistive method at different temperatures and relative humidity as well as in the presence of interfering gases like carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic vapors. The hybrid layers exhibited the completely reversible sensor response to both gases at room temperature; the recovery time was 100-200 s for NH3 and 50-120 s in the case of H2 depending on the gas concentrations. At the relative humidity (RH) of 20%, the sensor response was almost the same as that measured at RH 5%, whereas the further increase of RH led to its 2-3 fold decrease. It was demonstrated that the SWCNT/SiPc layers can be successfully used for the detection of both NH3 and H2 in the presence of CO2. On the contrary, H2S was found to be an interfering gas for the NH3 detection.


The effect of different forms for the delay in a model of the nephron.
We investigate how the dynamics of a mathematical model of a nephron depend on the precise form of the delay in the tubuloglomerular feed- back loop. Although qualitative behavioral similarities emerge for diferent orders of delay, we find that significant quantitative diferences occur. With- out more knowledge of the form of the delay, this places restrictions on how reasonable it is to expect close quantitative agreement between the mathemat- ical model and experimental data.


The Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris/Cicer arietinum pathosystem: a case study of the evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi into races and pathotypes.
The use of resistant cultivars is one of the most practical and cost-efficient strategies for managing plant diseases. However, the efficiency of resistant cultivars in disease management is limited by pathogenic variability in pathogen populations. Knowledge of the evolutionary history and potential of the pathogen population may help to optimize the management of disease-resistance genes, irrespective of the breeding strategy used for their development. In this review, we examine the diversity in virulence phenotypes of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of chickpeas, analyze the genetic variability existing within and among those phenotypes, and infer a phylogenetic relationship among the eight known pathogenic races of this fungus. The inferred intraspecific phylogeny shows that each of those races forms a monophyletic lineage. Moreover, virulence of races to resistant chickpea cultivars has been acquired in a simple stepwise pattern, with few parallel gains or losses. Although chickpea cultivars resistant to Fusarium wilt are available, they have not yet been extensively deployed, so that the stepwise acquisition of virulence is still clearly evident.


Management of antiplatelet therapy during acute percutaneous coronary intervention: new strategies and therapeutics.
Aggressive intravenous and oral dual antiplatelet therapy has established primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as the standard of care for acute myocardial infarction. Clopidogrel is currently the thienopyridine of choice for dual antiplatelet therapy in patients treated with PCI. The dose regime and duration of therapy of clopidogrel has undergone multiple refinements. Recently, 2 novel third generation oral inhibitors of P2Y12 receptors, prasugrel and ticagrelor, have undergone clinical evaluation with promising results. This article is a non-exhaustive review of the literature, concentrating on the role of current and novel oral antiplatelet agents for acute myocardial infarction particularly highlighting the limitations and issues associated with clopidogrel use.


Progress in understanding GJB2-linked deafness.
Mutations in the GJB2 gene (encoding for Connexin 26 protein) represent a leading cause of genetic hearing impairment. Extensive epidemiological and molecular studies have been reported, describing GJB2 mutations type, frequency and distribution. Moreover, several aspects of GJB2 mutations pathogenic effects have been elucidated taking advantage of in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. Progress through reported studies is reviewed, highlighting recent major achievements in this field. Attention is focused on different unresolved questions regarding GJB2 deafness pathogenesis and genotype-phenotype relationships. Clarification of these important clues will significantly increase our understanding of the molecular basis of hearing loss and will improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and counselling of this frequent disease.


'Seeking authorization': a grounded theory exploration of mentors' experiences of assessing nursing students on the borderline of achievement of competence in clinical practice.
To develop a substantive theoretical explanation of how mentors make sense of their experiences where nursing students are on the borderline of achievement of competence in clinical practice. The reluctance of Registered Nurse mentors to fail nursing students in clinical practice despite concerns about competence remains a contemporary issue in international healthcare education. Mentors' assessment decisions have considerable impact for a variety of key stakeholders, not least for students in these circumstances. Grounded theory qualitative study. Phase one involved 20 individual semi-structured interviews with nurse mentors in one United Kingdom National Health Service Health Board (July-October 2009). Phase two included eight individual semi-structured interviews and seven focus groups with mentors and practice educators (n = 38) in four further Health Boards (June 2011-February 2012). Data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding consistent with grounded theory method. Three categories 'the conundrum of practice competence,' 'the intensity of nurturing hopefulness,' and 'managing assessment impasse,' led to the study's substantive theoretical explanation - 'Seeking authorization: Establishing collective accountability for mentorship.' This demonstrates how mentors are dependent on key sources of support and feedback to validate their assessment decision-making, notwithstanding substantial personal, professional and organizational pressures. We conclude that management of borderline assessment situations is considerably developed by recognition of the authorizing effects of a wider community of assessors. Consequently, we identify the personal, professional and organizational implications involved in the preparation, support and regulation of mentors specifically during borderline assessment circumstances.


Dopamine D4 receptor activation increases hippocampal gamma oscillations by enhancing synchronization of fast-spiking interneurons.
Gamma oscillations are electric activity patterns of the mammalian brain hypothesized to serve attention, sensory perception, working memory and memory encoding. They are disrupted or altered in schizophrenic patients with associated cognitive deficits, which persist in spite of treatment with antipsychotics. Because cognitive symptoms are a core feature of schizophrenia it is relevant to explore signaling pathways that potentially regulate gamma oscillations. Dopamine has been reported to decrease gamma oscillation power via D1-like receptors. Based on the expression pattern of D4 receptors (D4R) in hippocampus, and pharmacological effects of D4R ligands in animals, we hypothesize that they are in a position to regulate gamma oscillations as well. To address this hypothesis we use rat hippocampal slices and kainate-induced gamma oscillations. Local field potential recordings as well as intracellular recordings of pyramidal cells, fast-spiking and non-fast-spiking interneurons were carried out. We show that D4R activation with the selective ligand PD168077 increases gamma oscillation power, which can be blocked by the D4R-specific antagonist L745,870 as well as by the antipsychotic drug Clozapine. Pyramidal cells did not exhibit changes in excitatory or inhibitory synaptic current amplitudes, but inhibitory currents became more coherent with the oscillations after application of PD168077. Fast-spiking, but not non-fast spiking, interneurons, increase their action potential phase-coupling and coherence with regard to ongoing gamma oscillations in response to D4R activation. Among several possible mechanisms we found that the NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 also blocks the D4R mediated increase in gamma oscillation power. We conclude that D4R activation affects fast-spiking interneuron synchronization and thereby increases gamma power by an NMDA receptor-dependent mechanism. This suggests that converging deficits on fast-spiking interneurons may lead to decreased network function and thus aberrant gamma oscillations and cognitive decline in schizophrenia.


Institutional identity, integrity, and conscience.
Bioethics has focused on the areas of individual ethical choices -- patient care -- or public policy and law. There are however, important arenas for ethical choices that have been overlooked. Health care is populated with intermediate arenas such as hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and health care systems. This essay argues that bioethics needs to develop a language and concepts for institutional ethics. A first step in this direction is to think about institutional conscience.


Search for Dark Photons with Superconducting Radio Frequency Cavities.
We conduct the first "light-shining-through-wall" (LSW) search for dark photons using two state-of-the-art high-quality-factor superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities -Dark SRF-and report the results of its pathfinder run. Our new experimental setup enables improvements in sensitivity over previous searches and covers new dark photon parameter space. We design delicate calibration and measurement protocols to utilize the high-Q setup at Dark SRF. Using cavities operating at 1.3 GHz, we establish a new exclusion limit for kinetic mixing as small as ε=1.6×10^{-9} and provide the world's best constraints on dark photons in the 2.1×10^{-7}-5.7×10^{-6} eV mass range. Our result is the first proof of concept for the enabling role of SRF cavities in LSW setups, with ample opportunities for further improvements. In addition, our data set a competitive lab-based limit on the standard model photon mass by searching for longitudinal photon polarization.


Effect of combined dopamine and diltiazem on renal function after cardiac surgery.
In order to evaluate the effect of the combined use of dopamine and diltiazem on renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), we conducted a prospective randomized study. Sixty patients (8F, 52M) with normal preoperative renal function undergoing CABG were divided randomly into four groups, including control (n=15), use of dopamine-only (n=15), use of diltiazem-only (n=15), and combined use of dopamine and diltiazem (n=15). The patients ranged in age from 38 to 74 years (mean 59.3). Drug administration (diltiazem: intravenous infusion of 2 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), dopamine: 2 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was initiated 24 hours before surgery and was continued for 72 hours. Creatinine and osmotic clearances were found to be significantly higher in the combined group compared with the other groups 24 hours after surgery (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in respect to creatinine clearance, osmotic clearance, and free water clearance in the dopamine-only and diltiazem-only groups compared to the control group. The free water clearance at 24 and 72 hours after surgery were significantly higher in the combined group compared with the other groups (p<0.05). In the control group, dopamine-only, and diltiazem-only groups beta(2)-microglobulin was statistically higher 72 hours postoperative than preoperatively (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in beta(2)-microglobulin levels in the combined group. The combined use of dopamine and diltiazem may provide a positive contribution and sufficient protection for early postoperative renal function in patients undergoing CABG.


The fasciated ear2 gene encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein that regulates shoot meristem proliferation in maize.
The ability to initiate organs throughout the lifecycle is a unique feature of plant development that is executed by groups of stem cells called meristems. The balance between stem cell proliferation and organ initiation is carefully regulated and ensures that organs can be initiated in regular geometric patterns. To understand how this regulation is achieved, we isolated a novel mutant of maize, fasciated ear2 (fea2), which causes a massive overproliferation of the ear inflorescence meristem and a more modest effect on floral meristem size and organ number. We cloned the fea2 gene using transposon tagging, and it encodes a membrane localized leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein that is most closely related to CLAVATA2 from Arabidopsis. These findings provide evidence that the CLAVATA pathway for regulation of meristem size is functionally conserved throughout the angiosperms. A possible connection of fea2 to the control of crop yields is discussed.


CT-guided stereotactic neurosurgery: experience in 24 cases with a new stereotactic system.
Twenty-four cases have been operated upon using a prototype Brown-Roberts-Wells, CT-guided stereotactic neurosurgical system. This device has proved to be practical and flexible in clinical use. No CT scanner modifications were required, a fact which simplified its use in more than one hospital. Multiple targets can be biopsied with ease and relative safety. Drainage and other therapeutic procedures can be carried out with minimal hazard. Future applications of this system may include its use with NMR and PET images.


Preparation of evaporation-resistant aqueous microdroplet arrays as a model system for the study of molecular order at the liquid/air interface.
Aqueous arrays of microdroplets typically sized between 2 and 10 microm were generated by microfluid contact printing and stabilized with respect to evaporation by incorporation of poly(ethylene oxide). The arrays are used as a model system for the study of structure formation at liquid/air or liquid/liquid interfaces. In particular, we demonstrated the self-organization of fatty acids with photopolymerizable diacetylene units (10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid) at the liquid/air interface of the microdroplets. Topochemical polymerization behavior of this compound and the autofluorescence property of the resulting polyconjugated polymer are appropriate features to prove the molecular order of the amphiphilic molecules at the interface.


Choanal atresia treated with transpalatal approach.
A case of unilateral choanal atresia (CA) presented in adulthood with unilateral nasal discharge and obstruction, and coloboma of right lower eyelid. Diagnosis of choanal atresia was made with 0 degree telescope and CT scan. It was treated surgically by transpalatal (TP) approach. Stent was kept for 6 weeks. Few adhesions developed, which were broken. There was no other complication in follow-up.


Apoptosis of mouse myeloma cells induced by curcumin via the Notch3-p53 signaling axis.
Resistance to apoptosis is a characteristic of cancer. Curcumin has become a potential anticancer drug for its pro-apoptotic effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Furthermore, the Notch3-p53 signaling axis serves an important role in cell fate. The present study was designed to investigate the antitumor effect of curcumin by the Notch3-p53 axis in mouse myeloma P3X63Ag8 cells. The effects of curcumin on the viability of P3X63Ag8 cells were evaluated using an MTT assay. Quantitative expression of the Notch3-p53 signaling axis-associated genes was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis was used to investigate the expression of proteins. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to measure the ratio of apoptosis. The results demonstrated that curcumin could significantly inhibit cell viability. No significant pro-apoptotic effect was observed when the concentration of curcumin was <30 µM. At 30 µM, curcumin-treated cells exhibited an apoptotic phenomenon, and the ratio of late apoptosis increased with the concentration of curcumin, and reached 28.4 and 51.8% in the medium- and high-dose groups, respectively. Curcumin inhibited the expression of Notch3, while the middle- and high-dose groups promoted p53. The expression of Notch3-responsive genes Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 and Hes-related family transcription factor with YRPW motif 1 were notably promoted. Curcumin treatment significantly downregulated B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) at the mRNA and protein levels, but upregulated Bcl-2-associated X. These data indicated that curcumin exhibited antitumor effects in mouse myeloma cells with induction of apoptosis by affecting the Notch3-p53 signaling axis.


Immunosenescence and immunogenetics of human longevity.
At present, individuals can live up to 80-120 years, a time much longer than that of our ancestors, as a consequence of the improvements in life conditions and medical care. Thus, the human immune system has to cope with a lifelong and evolutionarily unpredicted exposure to a variety of antigens, which are at the basis of profound age-related changes globally indicated as immunosenescence, a multifaceted phenomenon that increases morbidity and mortality due to infections and age-related pathologies. The major changes occurring during immunosenescence are the result of the accumulation of cellular, molecular defects and involutive phenomena (such as thymic involution) occurring concomitantly to a hyperstimulation of both innate and adaptive immunity (accumulation of expanded clones of memory and effector T cells, shrinkage of the T cell receptor repertoire, progressive activation of macrophages), and resulting in a low-grade, chronic state of inflammation defined as inflammaging. It is unknown whether inflammaging, which represents a risk factor for most age-related pathologies, is a cause or rather an effect of the aging process. In this complex scenario, the role of genetic background likely represents a fundamental variable to attain successful aging and longevity. Accordingly, centenarians seem to be equipped with gene variants that allow them to optimize the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, and thus to minimize the effects of the lifelong exposure to environmental insults and stressors. The remarkable features of the genetics of aging and longevity are reviewed, stressing the unexpected and unusual results obtained regarding such a postreproductive type of genetics.


[Open field testing of the progeny of rats with iodine deficiency].
Experimental studies show depressive behavior of rats caused by hypothyroidism and anti-depressive effect of thyroid hormones. The present study analysis changes in emotional state of the progeny of rats suffered from iodine deficiency of different severity before mating and during whole period of gestation. The basic diet with low content of iodine markedly decreased animal's motor activity and that was clearly demonstrated in open field testing. More pronounced changes in open field behavior was observed in group of animals with more restricted iodine diet (addition of KClO(4) to the basic diet) -- animals show significant decrease number crossed squares, number of entering into central squares and vertical standings, and increased frequency of gumming. Addition of the iodine to the diet prevents development of the mentioned changes.


Activation and detection of facilitation as studied by presynaptic voltage control at the inhibitor of the crayfish opener muscle.
Facilitation at the crayfish neuromuscular inhibitor synapse was investigated with the use of a presynaptic voltage control method in which 5-ms presynaptic pulses were used to activate and monitor facilitation. A single 5-ms pulse was able to activate facilitation with a decay time constant similar to that of the F2 component of facilitation activated by action potentials. The quality of the control of presynaptic potential during F2 facilitation was evaluated by measuring the amplitude of presynaptic pulses and by analyzing the shape of the depolarization-release coupling plot during facilitation. Both approaches suggested that neither the amplitude of presynaptic depolarizations nor the space clamp of the presynaptic axon was changed during F2 facilitation. The activation of facilitation was examined by changing the amplitude of conditioning pulses systematically and using a test pulse of a constant amplitude to monitor facilitation. We found that a significant amount of facilitation could be activated by conditioning pulses that were subthreshold to the activation of transmitter release. Facilitation plateaued before the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) activated by conditioning pulses reached their maximum. A double logarithm plot of facilitation magnitude against the conditioning IPSP amplitude yielded a slope of 0.34, which implies that the calcium ion cooperativity of activating facilitation is about one third of the secretion process. These findings enabled us to activate near maximal facilitation, by a burst of subthreshold conditioning pulses, without any conditioning transmitter release, and, therefore, to avoid complications associated with previous transmitter release. The detection of facilitation was examined by changing test pulse amplitude systematically to evaluate the ability of the test pulse to detect a constant level of facilitation. The magnitude of normalized facilitation decreased with increasing test pulse amplitude. The magnitude of absolute facilitation (the amplitude of the facilitated minus the control IPSP) increased with increasing test pulse amplitude. A double logarithm plot between facilitated and control IPSPs gave rise to a slope of 0.77, which suggests that the calcium cooperativity of transmitter release was decreased during facilitation.


High-throughput sequencing of complete human mtDNA genomes from the Philippines.
Because of the time and cost associated with Sanger sequencing of complete human mtDNA genomes, practically all evolutionary studies have screened samples first to define haplogroups and then either selected a few samples from each haplogroup, or many samples from a particular haplogroup of interest, for complete mtDNA genome sequencing. Such biased sampling precludes many analyses of interest. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing platforms to generate, rapidly and inexpensively, 109 complete mtDNA genome sequences from random samples of individuals from three Filipino groups, including one Negrito group, the Mamanwa. We obtained on average ∼55-fold coverage per sequence, with <1% missing data per sequence. Various analyses attest to the accuracy of the sequences, including comparison to sequences of the first hypervariable segment of the control region generated by Sanger sequencing; patterns of nucleotide substitution and the distribution of polymorphic sites across the genome; and the observed haplogroups. Bayesian skyline plots of population size change through time indicate similar patterns for all three Filipino groups, but sharply contrast with such plots previously constructed from biased sampling of complete mtDNA genomes, as well as with an artificially constructed sample of sequences that mimics the biased sampling. Our results clearly demonstrate that the high-throughput sequencing platforms are the methodology of choice for generating complete mtDNA genome sequences.


Relationship between irregular diet and risk of esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis.
Background: Associations between irregular diet and the risk of esophageal cancer remain unclear. The current meta-analysis was performed to determine whether the presence of irregular diet increases the risk of esophageal cancer. Methods: The data from PubMed, Cochrane Libraries, and Embase up to 23 January 2022 were included in our analysis to identify studies that investigated associations between irregular diet and the risk of esophageal cancer. Summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Results: Five cohort studies and one case-control study investigating associations between irregular diet and the risk of esophageal cancer were included. None of the articles demonstrated publication bias. The summary RR was 4.181 (95% CI 2.196-7.960, I2 = 66.1%, p = 0.011). In the subgroup analysis, we found significant heterogeneity in the Non-disease-causing group, nurse group and Asian group. The above three that produce heterogeneity may be the source of heterogeneity in the results of this study. Conclusion: The current meta-analysis indicates that irregular diet increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Trial registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/), (PROSPERO, CRD42022306407).


Phosphorus-Containing Flame-Retardant Benzocyclobutylene Composites with High Thermal Stability and Low CTE.
As a component of printed circuit substrate, copper clad laminate (CCL) needs to meet the performance requirements of heat resistance, flame retardancy, and low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which, respectively, affects the stability, safety, and processability of terminal electronic products. In this paper, benzocyclobutylene (BCB)-functionalized phosphorus-oxygen flame retardant composites were prepared through introducing the BCB groups, and the performance was researched by thermogravimetric analysis, microcombustion calorimetry, and thermomechanical analysis. The research results show that these phosphorus oxide compounds containing BCB groups show good thermal stability and low total heat release (THR) after thermal curing, and the more BCB groups on the phosphorus oxide monomers, the better the thermal stability and flame retardancy of cured resins. The Td5 and THR of the composite (M3) are as high as 443 °C and 23.1 kJ/g, respectively. In addition, the CTE of M3 is as low as 16.71 ppm/°C. Introduction of BCB groups which can be crosslinked through heat to improve the thermal stability, flame retardancy, and reduced CTE of traditional organophosphorus flame retardant materials. These materials are expected to be good candidates for CCL substrates for electronic circuits.


Hemojuvelin Predicts Acute Kidney Injury and Poor Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is detrimental after cardiac surgery. In this multicenter study, the novel biomarker hemojuvelin (HJV) was evaluated for AKI prediction following cardiac surgery. Urinary HJV, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and urinary creatinine were measured in 151 patients after surgery. The outcomes of advanced AKI (KDIGO stages 2 and 3) and all causes of in-hospital mortality as the composite outcome were recorded. Areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) and a multivariate generalized additive model (GAM) were applied to predict these outcomes of interest. Urinary HJV differentiated patients with/without AKI, advanced AKI or composite outcome after surgery (p < 0.001, by a generalized estimating equation) in this study. At three hours post-surgery, urinary HJV predicted advanced AKI (p < 0.001) and composite outcome (p < 0.001) with corresponding AUC values of 0.768 and 0.828, respectively. The performance of creatinine-adjusted HJV was also superior to NGAL in predicting advanced AKI (AUC = 0.784 and 0.694; p = 0.037) and composite outcome (AUC = 0.842 and 0.676; p = 0.002). The integration of HJV into the Cleveland Clinic score for advanced AKI led to a significant increase in risk stratification (net reclassification improvement [NRI] = 0.598; p < 0.001).


Sacral chordoma: can local recurrence after sacrectomy be predicted?
Surgical resection margins are reportedly the most important predictor of survival and local recurrence with sacral chordomas. We examined the relevance of invasion of the surrounding posterior pelvic musculature (piriformis and gluteus maximus) at initial diagnosis to local recurrence after sacrectomy. We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with histologically verified sacral chordoma seen at our institution between 1998 and 2005. There were 14 men and four women with a mean age of 65.1 years (range, 31-78 years). The average overall followup was 4.4 years (range, 0.5-10 years), 5.4 years for the living patients (range, 3-10 years), and 2.8 years for the deceased (range, 0.5-5.4 years). Local recurrence occurred in 12 patients (66%) 29 months postoperatively (range, 2-84 months). Six of these patients had wide excisions at initial surgery, five had marginal excisions, and one had an intralesional excision. Ten patients had wide surgical margins, six of whom (60%) had local recurrences. Tumor invasion of adjacent muscles at presentation was present in 14 patients, 12 of whom (85%) had local recurrences. Sacroiliac joint involvement was seen in 10 patients, nine of whom (90%) had local recurrences. The findings suggest obtaining wide surgical margins posteriorly, by excising parts of the piriformis, gluteus maximus, and sacroiliac joints, may result in better local disease control in patients with sacral chordoma. Level IV, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


Extinction dynamics of Lotka-Volterra ecosystems on evolving networks.
We study a model of a multispecies ecosystem described by Lotka-Volterra-like equations. Interactions among species form a network whose evolution is determined by the dynamics of the model. Numerical simulations show power-law distribution of intervals between extinctions, but only for ecosystems with sufficient variability of species and with networks of connectivity above certain threshold that is very close to the percolation threshold of the network. The effect of slow environmental changes on extinction dynamics, degree distribution of the network of interspecies interactions, and some emergent properties of our model are also examined.


The mosaic of proteins synthesized by Salmonella typhimurium.
A profusion of proteins with heterologous serological specificities was synthesized by S. typhimurium grown on artificial media; accordingly, sera prepared in rabbits with these proteins displayed an abundance of antibodies reacting, in agar gel, against numerous heterologous proteins. the absorption of the sera with different Enterobacterial proteins proved that the S. typhimurium proteins are a mixture of specific proteins, and common E. coli and Salmonellae determinants; in addition, a group of strongly cross-precipitating proteins common to S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis and to S. typhimurium and S. kentucky were identified that were not present in the proteins common to S. enteritidis, S. typhi and E. coli, or in the S. paratyphi A proteins used absorptions. The specific proteins of S. typhimurium were synthesized on artificial media in, apparently, smaller amounts than the common proteins; their role in the protection of mice against infection with their natural pathogen was, however, proof of their specificity and contrasted with the ineffectiveness, in protecting the mice, of the common proteins.


[Development and Hosting of a Perioperative Advanced Life Support Training Course for Anesthesiologists].
Participation in the American Heart Association advanced cardiac life support provider course is a prerequisite for taking the anesthesiology specialist examination in Japan. The course teaches fundamental resuscitation methods for different types of cardiac arrest. However, crisis in the perioperative period can result from airway trouble, central venous catheter displacement, or massive hemorrhage. We report our experience of holding a problem- and learning-based perioperative advanced life support training course, Advanced Life Support for Operation (ALS-OP). Main contents of the course included circulation management, airway management central venous catheters, and pain clinic-related complications. ALS-OP simulation training may be beneficial for educating anesthesiologist and promoting perioperative patient safety.


[Choroidal metastasis after a bronchial carcinoid tumor].
59-year-old patient present at the left eye a symptomatic retinal detachment, angiofluorographic and ultrasonographical confirmed. The histopathological exam, made after the globe enucleation, revealed a tumoural formation having the structure of the squamocellular carcinoma. The general clinical investigations showed neoplastic lesions at the level of the right lung. The patient was directed to the oncology department with the diagnosis of choroidal metastasis at the left eye, after bronchial carcinoid tumour.


Prenatal syphilis screening among pregnant Medicaid enrollees by sexually transmitted infection history as well as race and ethnicity.
Congenital syphilis can cause severe morbidity, including miscarriage and stillbirth, and rates are increasing rapidly within the United States. However, congenital syphilis can be prevented with early detection and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy. Current screening recommendations propose that all women should be screened early in pregnancy, whereas women with elevated risks for congenital syphilis should be screened again later in pregnancy. The rapid increase in congenital syphilis rates suggests that there are still gaps in prenatal syphilis screening. This study aimed to examine associations between the odds of prenatal syphilis screening and sexually transmitted infection history or other patient characteristics across 3 states with elevated rates of congenital syphilis. We used the Medicaid claims data from Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Carolina for women with deliveries between 2017 and 2021. Within each state, we examined the log-odds of prenatal syphilis screening as a function of the mother's health history, demographic factors, and Medicaid enrollment history. Patient history was established using a 4-year lookback period of the Medicaid claims data; in state A, sexually transmitted infection surveillance data were used to improve the sexually transmitted infection history. The prenatal syphilis screening rates varied by state, ranging from 62.8% to 85.1% of deliveries to women without a recent history of sexually transmitted infections and from 78.1% to 91.1% of deliveries to women with a previous sexually transmitted infection. For the main outcome of syphilis screening at any time during pregnancy, deliveries associated with previous sexually transmitted infections had 1.09 to 1.37 times higher adjusted odds ratios of undergoing screening. Deliveries to women with continuous Medicaid coverage throughout the first trimester also had higher odds of syphilis screening at any time (adjusted odds ratio, 2.45-3.15). Among deliveries to women with a previous sexually transmitted infection, only 53.6% to 63.6% underwent first-trimester screening and this rate was still just 55.0% to 69.5% when considering only deliveries to women with a previous sexually transmitted infection and full first-trimester Medicaid coverage. Fewer delivering women underwent third-trimester screening (20.3%-55.8% of women with previous sexually transmitted infection). Compared with deliveries to White women, deliveries to Black women had lower odds of first-trimester screening (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85 in all states) but higher odds of third-trimester screening (adjusted odds ratio, 1.23-2.03), potentially impacting maternal and birth outcomes. For state A, linkage to surveillance data doubled the rate of detection of a previous sexually transmitted infection because 53.0% of deliveries by women with a previous sexually transmitted infection would not have had sexually transmitted infection history detected using Medicaid claims alone. A previous sexually transmitted infection and continuous preconception Medicaid enrollment were associated with higher rates of syphilis screening, but Medicaid claims alone do not fully capture the sexually transmitted infection history of patients. The overall screening rates were lower than would be expected given that all women should undergo prenatal screening, but the rates in the third trimester were particularly low. Of note, there are gaps in early screening for non-Hispanic Black women who had lower odds of first-trimester screening when compared with non-Hispanic White women despite being at elevated risk for syphilis.


Gastric type mucinous endocervical adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: very rare and interesting case.
Gastric type mucinous endocervical adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix (GAC) are a newly classified mucinous subtype with morphologically in 2014, WHO. They have a much more aggressiveness and show unusual metastatic patterns compared to usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma. They tend to present at higher stage and even in stage I, they have worse survival. Therefore, differential diagnosis of GAC from the usual type of endocervical adenocarcinoma is very important because they are related to a significant risk of recurrence and decreased 5-year disease-specific survival. Besides, GACs are mostly not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and p16 immunohistochemistry is also typically negative in GAC that is HPV-unassociated tumor. We report a very rare and interesting case of stage IB1 GAC with negative HPV DNA and p16.


The Biotechnology Facility for International Space Station.
The primary mission of the Cellular Biotechnology Program is to advance microgravity as a tool in basic and applied cell biology. The microgravity environment can be used to study fundamental principles of cell biology and to achieve specific applications such as tissue engineering. The Biotechnology Facility (BTF) will provide a state-of-the-art facility to perform cellular biotechnology research onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The BTF will support continuous operation, which will allow performance of long-duration experiments and will significantly increase the on-orbit science throughput.


Alport's syndrome: risk of glomerulonephritis induced by anti-glomerular-basement-membrane antibody after renal transplantation.
Two patients with Alport's syndrome developed glomerulonephritis induced by anti-glomerular-basement-membrane (anti-GBM) antibody after renal transplantation. One patient presented at 5 months after transplantation the second patient 18 months after transplantation. Both grafts failed and the patients returned to dialysis. Our observations suggest that the patients with Alport's syndrome are at risk of developing anti-GBM antibody type glomerulonephritis in the transplanted kidney. This does not occur in the early period after transplantation, probably because of heavy immunosuppression.


Leveraging Systems Science to Promote the Implementation and Sustainability of Mental Health and Psychosocial Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Advancements in global mental health implementation research have revealed promising strategies for improving access to evidence-based mental health care. These advancements have not translated, however, into a reduced prevalence of mental disorders. In this review we examine the relationships between determinants (i.e., barriers and facilitators) and outcomes of mental health services in low- and middle-income countries to identify opportunities for improving the population-level impact and sustainability of innovations in global mental health. We identified three key implementation and services outcomes that influenced the prevalence of mental disorders in the 56 included review articles: supply (access, implementation), demand (help seeking, utilization), and quality (effectiveness, quality of care) of mental health services. Determinants of these outcomes revealed seven themes: community stakeholder engagement; cultural relevance; stigma; human resource capacity; organization of services; governance, policy, and financing; and sociopolitical and community context. We developed a causal loop diagram to illustrate the relationships among these determinants and outcomes. The causal loop diagram revealed the central role of community stakeholder engagement in bridging implementation and patient outcomes, the importance of addressing stigma and social determinants of mental health, and the need to complement supply-side implementation strategies with approaches to equilibrate demand and improve the quality of services. Applying systems science methodologies to global mental health research presents an opportunity to examine the complex relationships among community and health system factors that influence implementation of evidence-based interventions in order to identify sustainable approaches to improve the population-level impact of mental health services in low- and middle-income countries.


A bifactor model of obsessive beliefs: Specificity in the prediction of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.
Although current cognitive-behavioral models suggest that maladaptive "obsessive beliefs" about threat, responsibility, uncertainty, perfectionism, importance, and control of thoughts contributes to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the structure of such beliefs is unclear. The current study evaluated a bifactor model of obsessive beliefs, as assessed by the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44), and its association with OCD symptoms in clinical (Study 1; N = 264) and nonclinical (Study 2; N = 437) samples. The goals were as follows: (a) to evaluate whether obsessive beliefs should be conceptualized as unidimensional or whether distinct dimensions should be interpreted, and (b) to use structural equation modeling to examine the extent to which distinct beliefs predict OCD symptoms above and beyond a general obsessive belief factor. Results revealed that in both clinical and nonclinical samples, a bifactor model fit the data well and significantly better than a standard three-factor model of the OBQ-44 that specified 3 separate, yet correlated factors (Responsibility/Threat Estimation, Perfectionism/Certainty, and Importance/Control of Thoughts). Despite evidence that the OBQ-44 consists of a general factor and the 3 specific factors, structural equation modeling showed that only the general factor uniquely predicted a broad OCD symptom latent factor in clinical and nonclinical samples. Although obsessive beliefs about Perfectionism/Certainty did predict symmetry and ordering symptoms of OCD when controlling for the general factor in both studies, the general factor was a more robust predictor of specific OCD symptoms than the 3 factors. These findings suggest that the general factor of the OBQ-44 may have more utility than its specific factors in predicting the heterogeneity of OCD symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Fulminate Hepatic Failure in a 5 Year Old Female after Inappropriate Acetaminophen Treatment.
Acetaminophen is a drug widely used in children because of its safety and efficacy. Although the risk of its toxicity is lower in children such reactions occur in pediatric patients from intentional overdoses and less frequently attributable to unintended inappropriate dosing. The aim of reporting this case is to attract the attention to the risk of the acetaminophen toxicity when administered in high doses. We report here a 5 year old girl who developed fulminate liver failure with renal impairment and acute pancreatitis, as a result of acetaminophen toxicity caused from unintentional repeated supratherapeutic ingestion, with a total administered dose of 4800 mg in three consecutive days, 1600 mg/day, approximately 90 mg/kg/day. The blood level of acetaminophen after 10 hours of the last administered dose was 32 mg/l. The patient presented with high fever, jaundice, lethargic, agitating with abdominal pain accompanied by encephalopathy. The liver function test revealed with high level of alanine aminotransferase 5794 UI/l and aspartate aminotransferase 6000 UI/l. Early initiation of oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) after biochemical evidence of liver toxicity was beneficial with rapid improvement of liver enzymes, hepatic function and encephalopathy. During the course of the illness the child developed acute pancreatitis with hyperamylasemia 255 UI/L and hyperlypasemia 514 UI/L. Patient totally recovered within 29 days. Healthcare providers should considered probable acetaminophen toxicity in any child who has received the drug and presented with liver failure. When there is a high index of suspicion of acetaminophen toxicity NAC should be initiated and continued until there are no signs of hepatic dysfunction.


Generation of streamwise vortices in square sudden-expansion flows.
The intent of the present work is to investigate the nature of jet spreading and the process of evolution of the associated embedded streamwise vortices for the steady flow through a two-step square sudden expansion. Simulations are performed to review the flow physics within a square channel which undergoes a first expansion with an uniform step height 0.75h ( h being the inlet channel width); and at a streamwise distance 8h from the plane of first expansion the channel goes through another expansion with the second step height being half of the first step height. Unlike asymmetric jets, the square jet is observed to experience relatively faster nonuniform azimuthal perturbations during its streamwise evolution and at some downstream location the jet expands in such a way that it looks as if it has locally rotated by 45 degrees. The developed four pairs of outflow type streamwise vortices (with each pair occupying their position at the end of a jet diagonal), which dominated over the first expansion zone, seems to control the azimuthal jet deformation process through their induced outward velocity. Another important aspect of the present investigation is that here we have established a unique pressure analysis which efficiently predicts the presence of all the streamwise vortices in the setup and also their nature of dynamics without any ambiguity. Moreover, the presented pressure analysis suggests that nonuniform lateral flow acceleration within the channel, as induced by the developed transverse pressure gradient skewing, influences the generation of the streamwise vortices. The pressure analysis also successfully predicts every local change in the dynamics of the embedded streamwise vortices, during the downstream evolution of the jet.


Video-assisted total thyroidectomy.
During the last few years, video-assisted neck surgery (VANS) became one option for thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Reports on VANS were limited to partial resection of the thyroid gland. In this study, we described total thyroidectomy in a patient with Graves' disease. The patient had a thyrotoxic periodic paralysis and methimazole-induced hepatic toxicity as well as hepatitis B virus. Two incisions of 3.5 and 3 cm were placed in the right and left subclavicular regions, respectively. A third incision of 0.5 cm was made just to the right of the midline for the camera. Devascularization of the thyroid gland was performed by using ultrasonically activated shear. Tubal drains were inserted on both sides. The patient suffered from temporary postoperative hoarseness with the voice but had a normal calcium level. The drains were removed on the first postoperative day. The use of VANS may provide a new method for total thyroidectomy with a better cosmetic outcome.


The Caenorhabditis elegans mel-11 myosin phosphatase regulatory subunit affects tissue contraction in the somatic gonad and the embryonic epidermis and genetically interacts with the Rac signaling pathway.
Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic elongation is driven by cell shape changes that cause a contraction of the epidermal cell layer enclosing the embryo. We have previously shown that this process requires a Rho-associated kinase (LET-502) and is opposed by the activity of a myosin phosphatase regulatory subunit (MEL-11). We now extend our characterization and show that mel-11 activity is required both in the epidermis during embryonic elongation and in the spermatheca of the adult somatic gonad. let-502 and mel-11 reporter gene constructs show reciprocal expression patterns in the embryonic epidermis and the spermatheca, and mutations of the two genes have opposite effects in these two tissues. These results are consistent with let-502 and mel-11 mediating tissue contraction and relaxation, respectively. We also find that mel-11 embryonic inviability is genetically enhanced by mutations in a Rac signaling pathway, suggesting that Rac potentiates or acts in parallel with the activity of the myosin phosphatase complex. Since Rho has been implicated in promoting cellular contraction, our results support a mechanism by which epithelial morphogenesis is regulated by the counteracting activities of Rho and Rac.


Neuroadaptive Performance Guaranteed Control for Multiagent Systems With Power Integrators and Unknown Measurement Sensitivity.
This article investigates the adaptive performance guaranteed tracking control problem for multiagent systems (MASs) with power integrators and measurement sensitivity. Different from the structural characteristics of existing results, the dynamic of each agent is a power exponential function. A method called adding a power integrator technique is introduced to guarantee that the consensus is achieved of the MASs with power integrators. Different from existing prescribed performance tracking control results for MASs, a new performance guaranteed control approach is proposed in this article, which can guarantee that the relative position error between neighboring agents can converge into the prescribed boundary within preassigned finite time. By utilizing the Nussbaum gain technique and neural networks, a novel control scheme is proposed to solve the unknown measurement sensitivity on the sensor, which successfully relaxes the restrictive condition that the unknown measurement sensitivity must be within a specific range. Based on the Lyapunov functional method, it is proven that the relative position error between neighboring agents can converge into the prescribed boundary within preassigned finite time. Finally, a simulation example is proposed to verify the availability of the control strategy.


Glutathione S-transferase and insecticide resistance in laboratory strains and field populations of Musca domestica.
Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity of 10 house fly laboratory strains and 21 field populations are described with two substrates, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), commonly associated with resistance. Three laboratory strains selected by tetrachlorvinphos, lindane (gamma-HCH) and dimethoate, respectively, had significantly elevated CDNB- and DCNB-GST activities. The multiresistant field population 791a had significantly elevated CDNB- and DCNB-GST activities. Many strains recorded several individuals with high CDNB- and/or DCNB-GST activity and to evaluate these differences, phenotypes were defined by cluster analysis. A phenotype, GST-R, indicating high CDNB- and DCNB-GST activities, was found in 23 of 31 laboratory strains or field populations. GST-R was likely to be involved in gamma-HCH resistance in strain 17e, tetrachlorvinphos resistance in strain 39m2b, and dimethoate resistance in strain 49r2b. The frequency of GST-R in selected laboratory strains and field population correlated with the frequency of house flies surviving the organophosphate azamethiphos either topically applied or by ingestion. There was no significant correlation between GST activity and the toxicity of the organophosphate dimethoate or the pyrethroids bioresmethrin and pyrethrin.


[A case of gastric cancer with intensive peritoneal dissemination treated with long-term chemotherapy and surgery].
A 45-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of advanced gastric cancer and peritoneal dissemination. After he received an S-1 plus cisplatin( CDDP) regimen for 6 courses, the primary lesion and ascites had disappeared. However, the primary lesion recurred, and he underwent treatment with 16 courses of an S-1 plus docetaxel regimen. He subsequently developed peripheral neuropathy, and was switched to the irinotecan (CPT-11) regimen. As he experienced appetite loss, it was impossible to continue the chemotherapy. Therefore, he underwent a salvage surgery and an R0 resection was performed. However, 9 months after the surgery, he experienced paraaortic lymph node recurrence and peritoneal dissemination. The patient died 13 months after the surgery.


Clinical care of patients with epidural infusions.
Opioids and local anaesthetics are the two main agents used in epidural analgesia. The procedure has many potential side-effects, including hypotension, pruritus, urinary retention, headache and respiratory depression.


Immediate and long‑term outcomes of native aortic coarctation and postsurgical aortic recoarctation treated with stent implantation: a single‑center experience.
INTRODUCTION Stent implantation has become the treatment of choice for native aortic coarctation (CoA) and postsurgical aortic recoarctation (reCoA) in adults and adolescents. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the immediate and long‑term outcomes of patients with native CoA and postsurgical reCoA who underwent stent implantation in our center. PATIENTS AND METHODS The data of 136 patients with native CoA and reCoA who underwent stent implantation between May 1999 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The study population was divided into 2 groups: 108 patients with native CoA and 28 patients with reCoA. Clinical and procedural characteristics and immediate and long‑term outcomes after the intervention were compared between the groups. The use of antihypertensive drugs was analyzed in all patients. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of the study groups. The gradient before the intervention was significantly higher in the native CoA than in the reCoA group (P = 0.011), and the diameter of stenosis before the intervention was smaller in the native CoA group compared with the ReCoA group (P = 0.003). Procedural treatment was successful in 77.8% of the patients with native CoA and 78.5% of those with reCoA. There were no differences in the immediate and long‑term outcomes between the groups. The antihypertensive treatment was tapered or discontinued in about 34% of the study population. CONCLUSIONS Stenting is an effective and safe procedure in patients with native CoA and reCoA, with good late outcomes.


MAIGO2 is involved in exit of seed storage proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Seed storage proteins are synthesized on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as precursors and then transported to protein storage vacuoles, where they are processed into mature forms. Here, we isolated an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, maigo2 (mag2), that accumulated the precursors of two major storage proteins, 2S albumin and 12S globulin, in dry seeds. mag2 seed cells contained many novel structures, with an electron-dense core that was composed of the precursor forms of 2S albumin. 12S globulins were segregated from 2S albumin and were localized in the matrix region of the structures together with the ER chaperones lumenal binding protein and protein disulfide isomerase, which were more abundant in mag2 seeds. The MAG2 gene was identified as At3g47700, and the MAG2 protein had a RINT-1/TIP20 domain in the C-terminal region. We found that some MAG2 molecules were peripherally associated with the ER membrane. MAG2 had an ability to bind to two ER-localized t-SNAREs (for target-soluble NSF [N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein] attachment protein receptor; At Sec20 and At Ufe1). Our findings suggest that MAG2 functions in the transport of storage protein precursors between the ER and Golgi complex in plants.


Defining Care Patterns and Outcomes Among Persons Living with HIV in Washington, DC: Linkage of Clinical Cohort and Surveillance Data.
Triangulation of data from multiple sources such as clinical cohort and surveillance data can help improve our ability to describe care patterns, service utilization, comorbidities, and ultimately measure and monitor clinical outcomes among persons living with HIV infection. The objective of this study was to determine whether linkage of clinical cohort data and routinely collected HIV surveillance data would enhance the completeness and accuracy of each database and improve the understanding of care patterns and clinical outcomes. We linked data from the District of Columbia (DC) Cohort, a large HIV observational clinical cohort, with Washington, DC, Department of Health (DOH) surveillance data between January 2011 and June 2015. We determined percent concordance between select variables in the pre- and postlinked databases using kappa test statistics. We compared retention in care (RIC), viral suppression (VS), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and non-HIV comorbid conditions (eg, hypertension) and compared HIV clinic visit patterns determined using the prelinked database (DC Cohort) versus the postlinked database (DC Cohort + DOH) using chi-square testing. Additionally, we compared sociodemographic characteristics, RIC, and VS among participants receiving HIV care at ≥3 sites versus <3 sites using chi-square testing. Of the 6054 DC Cohort participants, 5521 (91.19%) were included in the postlinked database and enrolled at a single DC Cohort site. The majority of the participants was male, black, and had men who have sex with men (MSM) as their HIV risk factor. In the postlinked database, 619 STD diagnoses previously unknown to the DC Cohort were identified. Additionally, the proportion of participants with RIC was higher compared with the prelinked database (59.83%, 2678/4476 vs 64.95%, 2907/4476; P<.001) and the proportion with VS was lower (87.85%, 2277/2592 vs 85.15%, 2391/2808; P<.001). Almost a quarter of participants (23.06%, 1279/5521) were identified as receiving HIV care at ≥2 sites (postlinked database). The participants using ≥3 care sites were more likely to achieve RIC (80.7%, 234/290 vs 62.61%, 2197/3509) but less likely to achieve VS (72.3%, 154/213 vs 89.51%, 1869/2088). The participants using ≥3 care sites were more likely to have unstable housing (15.1%, 64/424 vs 8.96%, 380/4242), public insurance (86.1%, 365/424 vs 57.57%, 2442/4242), comorbid conditions (eg, hypertension) (37.7%, 160/424 vs 22.98%, 975/4242), and have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (77.8%, 330/424 vs 61.20%, 2596/4242) (all P<.001). Linking surveillance and clinical data resulted in the improved completeness of each database and a larger volume of available data to evaluate HIV outcomes, allowing for refinement of HIV care continuum estimates. The postlinked database also highlighted important differences between participants who sought HIV care at multiple clinical sites. Our findings suggest that combined datasets can enhance evaluation of HIV-related outcomes across an entire metropolitan area. Future research will evaluate how to best utilize this information to improve outcomes in addition to monitoring them.


Tolerability of Midazolam to treat acute agitation in elderly demented patients: A systematic review.
Behavioural disorders are difficult to manage in elderly demented patients because of the lack of appropriate drugs or difficulties surrounding the route of administration. The tolerability of Midazolam is well described in the emergency management of agitation for young patients, when administered intramuscularly or intravenously. However, very little data are available on the use of oral Midazolam for this indication and in the elderly population. A literature review was conducted, and studies were included if involving adults, receiving Midazolam, alone or in combination, whatever the route, dosage or indication and if they reported adverse events related to the use of Midazolam. Forty-one articles were included. Eleven different adverse events were identified from the studies. Hypotension and desaturation were the two most frequent adverse events reported. Adverse reactions appear to be more common in older patients but also when Midazolam was used in combination with other drugs. The frequency of these adverse effects was lower than those reported for neuroleptic drugs. The oral route appears to be appropriate to provide a rapid and well-tolerated response. Further studies will be needed to confirm the good tolerance of oral Midazolam in the management of acute agitation in elderly demented patients.


Strategies for inhibition of MDR1 gene expression.
Several distinct strategies have been used to modulate the expression of cancer-associated genes, including antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and artificial transcriptional factors. One major cause for chemotherapeutic treatment failure in cancer is the overexpression of P-glycoprotein, the product of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1. In this study, we tested the ability of siRNAs to inhibit MDR1 gene expression. We evaluated the efficiency of chemically synthesized dsRNAs as well as vector-based hairpin siRNAs and investigated the behavior of clones of multidrug-resistant NCI/ADR-RES breast carcinoma cells stably transfected with hairpin siRNA vectors. The effects of siRNA on the MDR phenotype were compared with those elicited by antisense oligonucleotides or by designed transcription factors targeting the MDR1 promoter. These studies suggest that there are several comparably effective strategies for inhibiting MDR1 expression.


Preliminary studies of the pharmacokinetics of talisomycin in the rhesus monkey.
The single dose intravenous pharmacokinetics of talisomycin (3 mg/M2) and bleomycin (18 U/M2) were determined in the rhesus monkey at non-nephrotoxic doses. Serum concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay procedures. The tissue distribution of talisomycin was significantly higher and the elimination slower than bleomycin. The volume of distribution (Vdss) was 2.3 and 22.6 L/M2 for bleomycin and talisomycin, respectively. The volume of the peripheral tissue compartment (V2) of talisomycin was 17 times greater than bleomycin. The slower elimination of talisomycin was reflected by a half-life (t1/2) of 10.6 hr versus 1.6 hr for bleomycin. The slower elimination from the peripheral tissue compartments was also evidenced by a five-fold difference in the tissue transfer ratio (k12/k21) for these compounds. Similar differences, of lesser magnitude, have also been reported in the dog. The potential for higher tissue distribution and slower elimination of talisomycin could be related to the differences in in vivo antitumor activity and toxicity, and should be considered in design of the dose schedule in clinical studies.


Oryzanol alleviates high fat and cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia associated with the modulation of the gut microbiota in hamsters.
A high fat and cholesterol diet (HFCD) can modulate the gut microbiota, which is closely related with hypercholesterolemia. This study aimed to explore the anti-hypercholesterolemia effect of oryzanol, and investigate whether the function of oryzanol is associated with the gut microbiota and related metabolites. 16S rRNA and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry were applied for the gut microbiota and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. The results showed that HFCD significantly upregulated body fat accumulation and serum lipids, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and ratio of LDL-c/HDL-c, which induced hypercholesterolemia. Oryzanol supplementation decreased body fat accumulation and serum lipids, especially the LDL-c concentration and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio. In addition, the abundances of Desulfovibrio, Colidextribacter, norank_f__Oscillospiraceae, unclassified_f__Erysipelotrichaceae, unclassified_f__Oscillospiraceae, norank_f__Peptococcaceae, Oscillibacter, Bilophila and Harryflintia were increased and the abundance of norank_f__Muribaculaceae was decreased in HFCD-induced hyperlipidemia hamsters. Metabolites were changed after HFCD treatment and 9 differential metabolites belonged to bile acids and 8 differential metabolites belonged to amino acids. Those genera and metabolites were significantly associated with serum lipids. HFCD also disrupted the intestinal barrier. Oryzanol supplementation reversed the changes of the gut microbiota and metabolites, and intestinal barrier injury was also partly relieved. This suggests that oryzanol supplementation modulating the gut microbiota contributes to its anti-hyperlipidemia function, especially anti-hypercholesterolemia.


Targeted SNP discovery in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) genes using a 3'UTR-primed SNP detection approach.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) represent the most widespread type of DNA variation in vertebrates and may be used as genetic markers for a range of applications. This has led to an increased interest in identification of SNP markers in non-model species and farmed animals. The in silico SNP mining method used for discovery of most known SNPs in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has applied a global (genome-wide) approach. In this study we present a targeted 3'UTR-primed SNP discovery strategy that utilizes sequence data from Salmo salar full length sequenced cDNAs (FLIcs). We compare the efficiency of this new strategy to the in silico SNP mining method when using both methods for targeted SNP discovery. The SNP discovery efficiency of the two methods was tested in a set of FLIc target genes. The 3'UTR-primed SNP discovery method detected novel SNPs in 35% of the target genes while the in silico SNP mining method detected novel SNPs in 15% of the target genes. Furthermore, the 3'UTR-primed SNP discovery strategy was the less labor intensive one and revealed a higher success rate than the in silico SNP mining method in the initial amplification step. When testing the methods we discovered 112 novel bi-allelic polymorphisms (type I markers) in 88 salmon genes [dbSNP: ss179319972-179320081, ss250608647-250608648], and three of the SNPs discovered were missense substitutions. Full length insert cDNAs (FLIcs) are important genomic resources that have been developed in many farmed animals. The 3'UTR-primed SNP discovery strategy successfully utilized FLIc data to detect novel SNPs in the partially tetraploid Atlantic salmon. This strategy may therefore be useful for targeted SNP discovery in several species, and particularly useful in species that, like salmonids, have duplicated genomes.


Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Proximal Femur and Its Management - A Case Report.
Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign, expansile, non-neoplastic lesion of the bone, characterized by channels of blood and spaces that are separated by fibrous septae. Giant ABC is an uncommon condition and can be difficult to handle because of the destructive effect of the cyst on the bones and the compressive effect on the nearby structures, especially in weight-bearing bones of the body. We report a case of a giant aneurysmal bone cyst in the proximal femur of a six-year-old child, which was treated with a sclerosing agent and ender's nail fixation first. There was recurrence after 13 months. It was then curetted out extensively, the cavity was filled with bone graft, and fixation with a dynamic hip screw (DHS) was done. At 19 months follow-up, the lesion had subsided and patient was walking pain-free without any deformity. We suggest this method of treatment to be worthwhile for ABC at this site and at this age.


Cellular interactions between axon terminals containing endogenous opioid peptides or corticotropin-releasing factor in the rat locus coeruleus and surrounding dorsal pontine tegmentum.
Recent evidence suggests that certain stressors release both endogenous opioids and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) to modulate activity of the locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine (NE) system. In ultrastructural studies, axon terminals containing methionine(5)-enkephalin (ENK) or CRF have been shown to target LC dendrites. These findings suggested the hypothesis that both neuropeptides may coexist in common axon terminals that are positioned to have an impact on the LC. This possibility was examined by using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopic analysis of the rat LC and neighboring dorsal pontine tegmentum. Ultrastructural analysis indicated that CRF- and ENK-containing axon terminals were abundant in similar portions of the neuropil and that approximately 16% of the axon terminals containing ENK were also immunoreactive for CRF. Dually labeled terminals were more frequently encountered in the "core" of the LC vs. its extranuclear dendritic zone, which included the medial parabrachial nucleus (mPB). Triple labeling for ENK, CRF, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) showed convergence of opioid and CRF axon terminals with noradrenergic dendrites as well as evidence for inputs to TH-labeled dendrites from dually labeled opioid/CRF axon terminals. One potential source of ENK and CRF in the dorsal pons is the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA). To determine the relative contribution of ENK and CRF terminals from the CNA, the CNA was electrolytically lesioned. Light-level densitometry revealed robust decreases in CRF immunoreactivity in the LC and mPB on the side ipsilateral to the lesion but little or no change in ENK immunoreactivity, confirming previous studies of the mPB. Degenerating terminals from the CNA in lesioned rats were found to be in direct contact with TH-labeled dendrites. Together, these data indicate that ENK and CRF may be colocalized to a subset of individual axon terminals in the LC "core." The finding that the CNA provides, to dendrites in the area examined, a robust CRF innervation, but little or no opioid innervation, suggests that ENK and CRF axon terminals impacting LC neurons originate from distinct sources and that terminals that colocalize ENK and CRF are not from the CNA.


Effects of recombinant human G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-1 alpha on the growth of purified human peripheral blood progenitors.
The effects of recombinant products of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF), granulocyte/macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), human interleukin-3 (IL-3), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were studied using purified target cell populations from patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after myeloablative therapy. Cells were subjected to combined purification procedures including negative selection with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (CD2, 3, 5, 10, and 20). The purified cells were enriched for HLA-DR+ (51% to 71%) and My-10+ (CD34; 37% to 54%) and had a plating efficiency of up to 20%. In the liquid-suspension limiting dilution clonal assay (LDA), purified progenitors responded directly to IL-3 by proliferation with single-hit kinetics. The ability of GM-CSF to support progenitor growth was inferior to that of IL-3, and the cells were virtually unresponsive when cultured with G-CSF, supporting the notion that these blood-derived progenitors belong to a primitive population of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The results obtained in simultaneous methycellulose cultures (MC) showed the same trend and provided additional information on the ability of GM-CSF and IL-3 to support erythroid progenitor growth. The combination of IL-3 plus G-CSF, but not IL-3 plus GM-CSF, resulted in a synergistic increase in colony number. IL-1 alpha increased both the size and number of colonies when added to IL-3 or G-CSF. Study of this enriched progenitor cell population in MC and LDA represents an excellent model for the investigation of myeloid and erythroid differentiation and for evaluating the influence of various cytokines on human hematopoiesis.


A global perspective on energy: health effects and injustices.
The exploitation of fossil fuels is integral to modern living and has been a key element of the rapid technological, social, and cultural changes of the past 250 years. Although such changes have brought undeniable benefits, this exploitation has contributed to a burden of illness through pollution of local and regional environments, and is the dominant cause of climate change. This pattern of development is therefore unsustainable at a global level. At the same time, about 2.4 billion of the world's population, disadvantaged by lack of access to clean energy, are exposed to high levels of indoor air pollutants from the inefficient burning of biomass fuels. Even in high-income countries, many people live in fuel poverty, and throughout the world, increasingly sedentary lifestyles (to which fossil-fuel-dependent transport systems contribute) are leading to chronic disease and injuries. Energy security is also an issue of growing concern to many governments in both the developed and developing world, and a potential source of international tension and conflict. In this Series, we examine the opportunities to improve health, reduce climate effects, and promote development through realistic adjustments in the way energy and food are produced and consumed.


Plasma carnitine in alcoholism.
Carnitine is essential for the beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids in the mitochondria and probably has a major role in modulating the acyl-coenzyme A/reduced coenzyme A ratio in the matrix of mitochondria. Plasma carnitine concentrations are elevated in several conditions and reflect changes at the cellular level. We previously had reported elevated plasma carnitine in patients with alcoholic liver disease compared to healthy control subjects. In this study we measured plasma carnitine in a third group, alcoholic patients without overt liver disease. The alcoholic patients (n = 20) had significantly elevated plasma long-chain acylcarnitine (P less than 0.01) compared to 32 healthy men of identical age and significantly lower short-chain (P less than 0.01) and long-chain acylcarnitine (P less than 0.01) than 28 men with alcoholic liver disease. We conclude that alcoholism is another condition in which carnitine homeostasis is altered.


Fermentation quality and nutritive value of total mixed ration silages based on desert wormwood (Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) combining with early stage corn.
This study aimed to investigate the fermentation quality and nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages based on desert wormwood (DW) combined with early stage corn (ESC) as forage and determine an optimum formula. Desert wormwood and ESC were harvested, chopped, and mixed with other ingredients according to a formula, packed into laboratory silos at densities of 500-550 g/L, and stored in the dark for 60 days. The DW proportions in the forage of TMR were 1, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0, based on fresh weight. As the proportion of DW decreased, the pH also decreased (P < 0.05), while lactic acid, lactic acid/acetic acid, crude protein, starch, and the in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber increased (P < 0.05). Ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen in the TMR silages with DW proportions of 0.75, 0.25 and 0 in the forage was more than 10%. These results indicated that the quality of the TMR silage containing DW alone as forage was poor, TMR silages containing DW proportions of 0.75 and 0.25, and ESC alone, in the forage were not well preserved. The optimum TMR silage formula contained a DW proportion of 0.5 in the forage.


Effect of the SORT1 low-density lipoprotein cholesterol locus is sex-specific in a fit, Canadian young-adult population.
The SORT1 locus was originally identified by genome-wide association studies of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults. Although the effect sizes of this locus are relatively small, we hypothesized that a younger population would show a greater genetic effect because of fewer confounding variables. As such, we investigated the association between the SORT1 locus and LDL-C in a group of healthy young adults. Subjects (n = 122, mean age = 23.2 years) were recruited from the University of Calgary. Lipid measures and genomic DNA were collected from peripheral blood after an overnight fast. Blood pressure, percent body fat (%BF), and maximal oxygen consumption were also measured. Associations between genotype and LDL-C were investigated using linear regression. Nearly one half (42.9%) of the female and 21.7% of the male subjects had a %BF that was above a healthy range. More than one quarter of the subjects had LDL-C values that were considered nonoptimal. Although the association was not significant when both sexes were combined, a significant association was observed between the SORT1 locus (GG: 2.46 ± 0.11 mmol·L(-1) vs. GT-TT: 2.06 ± 0.12 mmol·L(-1), p = 0.016) and LDL-C in male subjects, with genotype explaining 3.0% of the variability in LDL-C. A high prevalence of nonoptimal LDL-C exists in this young population even though it is otherwise fit and healthy. A significant association was found between LDL-C and the minor SORT1 allele in male subjects, with an effect size larger than previously reported in older populations. SORT1 is a valuable target for identifying individuals who would most benefit from early interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease.


Antepartum uterine rupture at 29 weeks gestation following unilateral salpingectomy and review of literature.
Antepartum uterine rupture following salpingectomy is a rare condition and is associated with high fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. We illustrate a 33-year-old primigravida who presented with abdominal pain at 29 weeks of gestation. Her previous obstetric history included a ruptured right ectopic pregnancy for which she underwent laparoscopic salpingectomy with no breach of uterine cavity. Her antenatal care had otherwise been unremarkable. Following admission for undetectable fetal heart, ultrasound and CT demonstrated an extrauterine fetus at the right adnexal region with free fluid consistent with intra-abdominal haemorrhage. An exploratory laparotomy was performed which revealed a uterine rupture at the right cornua with the extruded fetus en caul. The fetus was delivered and the uterus repaired in three layers. The patient made an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged 5 days following surgery. We review the current literature including the evaluation and management of this rare condition.


Possible involvement of indolamines in the glycogenic effect of the convulsant methionine sulfoximine in rat brain.
The aim of the present investigation was to look for the mechanisms causing disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism during the action of the epileptogenic agent methionine sulfoximine. The levels of glucose, glycogen, and indolamines were measured in seven different regions of rat brain. Methionine sulfoximine induced a decrease in serotonin level which was roughly dose-dependent. There were no obvious changes in tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic levels in any area. Methionine sulfoximine induced the known increase in glucose and glycogen levels. The direct precursor of serotonin. 5-hydroxytryptophan, and benserazide (a decarboxylase inhibitor) were then injected into rats in association with methionine sulfoximine. In this case, methionine sulfoximine failed to induce seizures. Moreover, the serotonin level was unchanged and the carbohydrate content did not significantly increase. There was only a rise in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid level. This work shows a striking parallelism between serotonin decrease and glycogen increase.


How compliant are in vitro fertilization member clinics in following embryo transfer guidelines? An analysis of 59,689 fresh first in vitro fertilization autologous cycles from 2011 to 2012.
To determine whether IVF clinics are compliant with American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) (ASRM/SART) guidelines and assess the multiple pregnancy outcomes according to the number of embryos transferred. Retrospective cohort study. Not applicable. Data from 59,689 fresh first autologous IVF cycles from the 2011-2012 SART registry. None. Percentage of compliant cycles, multiple pregnancy rate (PR). Between 2011 and 2012, a total of 59,689 fresh first autologous cycles were analyzed. Among cleavage-stage ET cycles, the noncompliance rate ranged from 10%-27.4% depending on the age group. The multiple PR was significantly increased in noncompliant cycles involving patients <35 years (38.1% vs. 28.7%) and 35-37 years (35.4% vs. 24.5%) compared with compliant cycles. Among blastocyst-stage ET cycles, the highest rate of noncompliance was seen in patients <35 years old (71%), which resulted in a statistically higher multiple PR (48.3% vs. 2.8%) compared with compliant cycles. Far fewer cycles were noncompliant in patients 35-40 years of age. In a subanalysis of compliant cycles, transferring two blastocyst embryos in patients 35-37 years and 38-40 years resulted in a higher live birth rate compared with the transfer of one embryo (50.4% vs. 40.9% and 42.1% vs. 30.0%, respectively) but the multiple PR was also significantly higher (40.5% vs. 1.7% and 34.0% vs. 2.0%, respectively). Most first fresh autologous IVF cycles performed from 2011-2012 were compliant with ASRM/SART guidelines, except those that involved a blastocyst ET in patients <35 years. Despite compliance, cycles that involved the transfer of >1 embryo resulted in a high multiple PR, whereas noncompliant cycles resulted in an even more remarkable multiple PR for both cleavage and blastocyst-stage embryos. Clinics need to be more compliant with ET limits and ASRM/SART need to consider revising their guidelines to limit the number of blastocyst transfer to one in patients ≤40 years of age undergoing their first IVF cycle. Furthermore, decreasing the number of cleavage-stage embryos transferred in patients ≤40 years of age should also be considered.


Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Nigelladine A via Late-Stage C-H Oxidation Enabled by an Engineered P450 Enzyme.
An enantioselective total synthesis of the norditerpenoid alkaloid nigelladine A is described. Strategically, the synthesis relies on a late-stage C-H oxidation of an advanced intermediate. While traditional chemical methods failed to deliver the desired outcome, an engineered cytochrome P450 enzyme was employed to effect a chemo- and regioselective allylic C-H oxidation in the presence of four oxidizable positions. The enzyme variant was readily identified from a focused library of three enzymes, allowing for completion of the synthesis without the need for extensive screening.


Early feeding of larger volumes of formula milk is associated with greater body weight or overweight in later infancy.
The relation between infant feeding and growth has been extensively evaluated, but studies examining the volume of formula milk consumption on infant growth are limited. This study aimed to examine the effects of early feeding of larger volumes of formula on growth and risk of overweight in later infancy. In total, 1093 infants were studied prospectively. Milk records collected at 3 mo of age were used to define the following 3 feeding groups: breast milk feeding (BM, no formula), lower-volume formula milk feeding (LFM, <840 ml formula/d), and higher-volume formula milk feeding (HFM, ≥840 ml formula/d). Body weight and length were measured at 3 time points of 3, 6 and 12 mo of age. The results showed that the difference in weight and length between the HFM and BM infants was significant at 3 mo of age (P < 0.05) and continued until 12 mo of age (P < 0.001). The adjusted mean changes in weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) and BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) from 3 to 6 mo of age were significantly higher in HFM and LFM group than in BM group. Two-way interactions between feeding practice and age intervals were significant for WLZ changes (P = 0.002) and BAZ changes (P = 0.017). Compared with BM-fed infants, infants fed with HFM had 1.60-fold (95% CI 1.05-2.44) higher odds of greater body weight (1SD < WLZ ≤2 SD) at the age of 6 mo and 1.55-fold (95% CI 1.01-2.37) higher odds of greater body weight and 2.13-fold (95% CI 1.03-4.38) higher odds of overweight (WLZ > 2 SD) at the age of 12 mo. Feeding higher volumes of formula in early infancy is associated with greater body weight and overweight in later infancy.


Evaluation of a mandatory theory-based physical activity course on motivation among predominantly Hispanic college students.
ObjectiveThe present study aims to examine the impacts of a mandatory physical activity (PA) course on exercise motivation among predominately Hispanic college students. The course was designed based on the Self-Determination Theory to increase students' PA motivation. Methods: A total of 383 college students (nmales=126; nfemales=257; Mage=19.6; 67.6% Hispanic/Latino[a]) participated in the course and completed the Behavioral Regulation to Exercise Questionnaire-2 at the beginning (pretest) and the end of the course (post-test). This questionnaire measured five motivation constructs: amotivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, introjected regulation, and identified regulation. Results: Findings showed significant increases from pretest to post-test in all five motivation constructs (ps < 0.01). Conclusions: Although the mandatory PA curriculum successfully increased the intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, introjected regulation, and identified regulation among college students, amotivation was also increased. These outcomes suggested some positive impacts on Hispanic college students' motivation to participate in PA. Findings can assist researchers and educators in developing, implementing, and evaluating required PA courses in colleges and universities.


White wine proteins: how does the pH affect their conformation at room temperature?
Our studies focused on the determination of aggregation mechanisms of proteins occurring in wine at room temperature. Even if the wine pH range is narrow (2.8 to 3.7), some proteins are affected by this parameter. At low pH, the formation of aggregates and the development of a haze due to proteins sometimes occur. The objective of this work was to determine if the pH impacted the conformational stability of wine proteins. Different techniques were used: circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the modification of their secondary and tertiary structure and also SAXS to determine their global shape. Four pure proteins were used, two considered to be stable (invertase and thaumatin-like proteins) and two considered to be unstable (two chitinase isoforms). Two pH values were tested to emphasize their behavior (pH 2.5 and 4.0). The present work highlighted the fact that the conformational stability of some wine proteins (chitinases) was impacted by partial modifications, related to the exposure of some hydrophobic sites. These modifications were enough to destabilize the native state of the protein. These modifications were not observed on wine proteins determined to be stable (invertase and thaumatin-like proteins).


Effect of Andrographis paniculata Extract on Triglyceride Levels of the Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Hypertriglyceridemia is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and reduction oftriglyceride (TG) level is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for the treatment. Recently, andrographolide, a main active compound of Andrographispaniculata has been shown to possess hypolipidemic effects in animals. To investigate the TG-lowering effects of A. paniculata extract (APE) in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥ 150 mg/dL) using gemfibrozil treatment as the reference. A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in sixty subjects with hypertriglyceridemia. They were divided into three groups and treated with low dose of APE (APE-L, andrographolide 71.64-72.36 mg/day), high dose of APE (APE-H, andrographolide 119.64-120.36 mg/day), and gemfibrozil 300 mg/day. The treatments were conducted for 8 weeks. Guidance on lifestyle modifications was provided. The primary endpoint was the mean difference ± SD (95% CI) in TG levels (baseline from the end of treatment), which were -3 ± 125.6 (-59.1, 58.5), 41.6 ± 86.3 (1.2, 82), and 57.1 ± 94.9 (12.7, 101.6) in the APE-L, APE-H, and gemfibrozil groups, respectively. APE-H 120 mg/day and gemfibrozil 300 mg/day caused a significant reduction of TG level (P = 0.0442 and 0.0145, respectively) when compared to the baseline. There was no notable difference in the safety or tolerability among the treatment groups. In patients with modest hypertriglyceridemia with lifestyle intervention, APE-H reduced the TG level comparable to the effect of gemfibrozil 300 mg/day. APE treatment was as tolerable as gemfibrozil treatment. Hence, Andrographis paniculata might be used as an alternative medicine in treating hypertriglyceridemic patients.


[From inducers of panic attack to neurobiology of panic disorder].
Various provocative agents, including sodium lactate, carbon dioxide (CO2), caffeine, yohimbine and cholecystokinin (CCK), have been utilized as panicogenics in studies on healthy volunteers as well as in panic disorder patients. Most provocative agents are lacking in specificity, limiting their use in identifying neurotransmitter systems involved in panic attacks. CCK appears to offer several advantages over other challenge strategies since it is a putative neurotransmitter in the CNS, with its own neuronal pathways and receptors, and reliably provokes panic attacks in a dose-dependent manner. It is important to clarify the relationships between CCK and other neurotransmitter systems in order to further understand the neurobiology of panic disorder. The possible roles of some of these neurotransmitters in panic disorder are discussed in this review.


Matrix Mechanosensing: From Scaling Concepts in 'Omics Data to Mechanisms in the Nucleus, Regeneration, and Cancer.
Many of the most important molecules of life are polymers. In animals, the most abundant of the proteinaceous polymers are the collagens, which constitute the fibrous matrix outside cells and which can also self-assemble into gels. The physically measurable stiffness of gels, as well as tissues, increases with the amount of collagen, and cells seem to sense this stiffness. An understanding of this mechanosensing process in complex tissues, including fibrotic disease states with high collagen, is now utilizing 'omics data sets and is revealing polymer physics-type, nonlinear scaling relationships between concentrations of seemingly unrelated biopolymers. The nuclear structure protein lamin A provides one example, with protein and transcript levels increasing with collagen 1 and tissue stiffness, and with mechanisms rooted in protein stabilization induced by cytoskeletal stress. Physics-based models of fibrous matrix, cytoskeletal force dipoles, and the lamin A gene circuit illustrate the wide range of testable predictions emerging for tissues, cell cultures, and even stem cell-based tissue regeneration. Beyond the epigenetics of mechanosensing, the scaling in cancer of chromosome copy number variations and other mutations with tissue stiffness suggests that genomic changes are occurring by mechanogenomic processes that now require elucidation.