Effect of interfacial interaction on free volumes in phenol-formaldehyde resin-carbon nanotube composites: positron annihilation lifetime and age momentum correlation studies.
The phenol-formaldehyde-carbon nanotube composites were characterized for their free volume properties and interfacial interactions between nanotubes and the polymer matrix. The base polymeric material was a novolac type phenol-formaldehyde (PF) condensation resin cross-linked with para-toluene sulfonic acid. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized using a catalytical chemical vapor deposition method and characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The PF resin-carbon nanotubes composites having 2, 5, 10 and 20% (w/w%) MWCNTs were prepared. The crystallinity and morphology of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The free volume size in the polymer nanocomposites was observed to increase with the increase in nanotube content. Positron age momentum correlation (AMOC) studies revealed the electronic environment around different positron annihilation sites. The studies showed that ortho-positronium principally annihilates from interfacial regions of polymer and nanotubes in the nanocomposite. The positron lifetime studies together with AMOC measurements indicate an increase in the free volumes at the interface of polymer and MWCNTs in the composite. The free positron intensities showed that the polymer and nanotubes are weakly interacting in this system.


Energy-Level Alignment at Interfaces between Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers and Metal Electrodes Studied with Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy.
We studied the energy-level alignment at interfaces between various transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers, MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, and metal electrodes with different work functions (WFs). TMDs were deposited on SiO2/silicon wafers by chemical vapor deposition and transferred to Al and Au substrates, with significantly different WFs to identify the metal-semiconductor junction behavior: oxide-terminated Al (natural oxidation) and Au (UV-ozone oxidation) with a WF difference of 0.8 eV. Kelvin probe force microscopy was employed for this study, based on which electronic band diagrams for each case were determined. We observed the Fermi-level pinning for MoS2, while WSe2/metal junctions behaved according to the Schottky-Mott limit. WS2 and MoSe2 exhibited intermediate behavior.


Postoperative Delirium Prevention in the Older Adult: An Evidence-Based Process Improvement Project.
Postoperative delirium is a major complication in hospitalized older adults. Implementation of a screening tool and evidence-based delirium-prevention protocol on a surgical unit increased nurses' knowledge regarding delirium, increased identification of delirium, and produced medical treatment alterations leading to positive patient outcomes.


[Photodynamic effect of chlorophyll derivative (CPD4) with pulsed copper-vapor laser on mouse transplanted tumor].
An experimental study on photodynamic effect of newly developed photosensitizer CPD4 with pulsed copper-vapor laser and pumped dye laser to mouse transplanted tumor (CT26) was carried out. The results showed that: (1) Ten days after treatment by CPD4 with 630nm laser, the mean tumor volume of control group (n = 9) was 1.0 +/- 0.68cm3, while that of treatment group (n = 18) was 0.45 +/- 0.5cm3 (P < 0.01), with an inhibitory rate of 55%. In the treatment group, 8 mice that were treated with a dose > or = 50mg/kg(iv) of CPD4, 280mW/cm2 of laser power density and 10 minutes of irradiation, were all cured with survival time over 6 months, while that of mice in the control group was 28.2 days (2) Under certain condition (light energy 120 J/cm2), with CPD4 as a sensitizer, the mean depths of tumor necrosis were 4.9 +/- 1.0mm (n = 5), 2.8 +/- 1.1mm(n = 11), 1.8 +/- 0.5mm(n = 9) for wavelength of 670nm, 630nm and 510nm, respectively (P < 0.01). When a conventional photosensitizer hematoporphyrin derivative was used, the depths of tumor necrosis were 0 (n = 6) 2.3 +/- 0.3 (n = 5) and 2.8 +/- 1.2 (n = 5)mm for 670, 630 and 510nm, respectively. Based on the above mentioned results, a rational treatment condition in clinical application of CPD4 with copper-vapor laser and pumped dye laser was suggested.


Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis secondary to CAPD: the effect of fibrotic debridement on further dialysis.
Sclerosing peritonitis (SCP) is a complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and is characterized by progressive fibrosis of the peritoneum. Entrapment of the intestine in a fibrous sac resulting in complete intestinal obstruction is called sclerosing-encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) and represents the most severe form of the disease. Various reports have been pessimistic regarding the surgical outcome when SEP has caused complete intestinal obstruction. Continuation of CAPD after laparotomy is generally considered not feasible. The aim of this article is to present our experience in the surgical management of SEP and, in particular, in the postoperative continuation of CAPD. Seventeen consecutive patients with SCP among 175 patients undergoing CAPD during a period of 14 years in a single Unit were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups of patients were recognized. The SCP group included 9 patients with incomplete intestinal obstruction that were treated with single peritoneal catheter removal and switching to haemodialysis. The SEP group included 8 patients with complete obstruction that necessitated laparotomy for surgical debridement of the fibrotic tissue and release of the intestinal loops. Switching to haemodialysis improved the majority of the group of patients. In 2 of the SEP group of patients (early in the series), where enterectomy was inevitable, performance of an intestinal anastomosis resulted in leakage with subsequent fatal outcome. Two of the SEP group of patients were transferred to haemodialysis after the laparotomy. In the remaining 4 SEP patients (50%), exposure of a significant portion of active peritoneal surface was achieved - called "neoperitonization"-and allowed effective continuation of peritoneal dialysis for an average duration of 16 months (range 1-32). In patients with SEP, careful release of the intestinal loops avoiding enterectomies and even inadvertent intestinal wounds is mandatory. Continuation of peritoneal dialysis after meticulous debridement and removal of the fibrotic tissue is possible and may be effective. To the best of our knowledge, there have not been previously reported cases of continuations of CAPD after laparotomy for SEP.


Dynamic phase manipulation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers via on-chip integration of microfluidic channels.
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) play a key role in the development of the next generation of optoelectronic technologies, thanks to their unique characteristics, such as low-power consumption, circular beam profile, high modulation speed, and large-scale two-dimensional array. Dynamic phase manipulation of VCSELs within a compact system is highly desired for a large variety of applications. In this work, we incorporate the emerging microfluidic technologies into the conventional VCSELs through a monolithic integration approach, enabling dynamic phase control of lasing emissions with low power consumption and low thermal generation. As a proof of concept, a beam steering device is experimentally demonstrated by integrating microfluidic channel on a coherently coupled VCSELs array. Experimental results show that the deflection angles of the laser beam from the chip can be tuned from 0° to 2.41° under the injection of liquids with different refractive index into the microchannel. This work opens an entirely new solution to implement a compact laser system with real-time wavefront controllability. It holds great potentials in various applications, including optical fiber communications, laser printing, optical sensing, directional displays, ultra-compact light detection and ranging (LiDAR).


Defective binding of thrombin to platelets in myeloid leukaemia.
Platelets from patients with myeloid leukaemia showed reduced aggregation with collagen or thrombin. These platelets also had a lower capacity to bind thrombin. This lower thrombin binding is due to a decrease in the total quantity of receptors available and not because of a change in the affinity. In the presence of the patients' plasma, the aggregation behaviour of normal platelets induced by thrombin as well as the clotting time of fibrinogen remained unchanged. The results suggest that the platelet dysfunction in myeloid leukaemia is partially due to a membrane defect involving the thrombin receptors which leads to an impaired induction of the initial stimulation.


Development of a high throughput screening method to test flavour-forming capabilities of anaerobic micro-organisms.
Development of a fast, automated and reliable screening method for screening of large collections of bacterial strains with minimal handling time. The method is based on the injection of a small headspace sample (100 microl) from culture vials (2 ml) in 96-well format directly into the mass spectrometry (MS). A special sample tray has been developed for liquid media, and anaerobically grown cultures. In principle, all volatile components can be measured, but a representative mass fragment has to be obtained in the MS. Representative masses for 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylpropanal and benzaldehyde are 58, 72 and 105, respectively. In 1 day over 1500 samples could be analysed and the coefficient of variation for the response was <5%. Screening of 72 strains belonging to the genus Lactococcus in quadruple on the production of the key-flavour compound 3-methylbutanal illustrated the effectiveness of the method. Furthermore, knowledge of the biochemistry and physiology of 3-methylbutanal formation was used to optimize the composition of the growth medium to enhance 3-methylbutanal production, and thereby improve the screening. A commonly used method to control flavour formation in fermented food products is the selection of bacterial strains, which are able to produce the desired flavour compounds. As large collections of strains are available for such screenings, studying biodiversity of micro-organisms on the level of metabolic routes is strongly facilitated by highly automated high throughput screening methods for measuring enzyme activities or production of metabolites. Therefore, this method will be a useful tool for selecting flavour-producing strains and for enhancing starter culture development.


Software for DNA sequencing by hybridization.
Sequencing by hybridization (SBH) is a promising alternative approach to DNA sequencing and mutation detection. Analysis of the resolving power of SBH involves rather difficult combinatorial and probabilistic problems, and sometimes computer simulation is the only way to estimate the parameters and limitations of SBH experiments. This paper describes a software package, DNA-SPECTRUM, which allows one to analyze the resolving power and parameters of SBH. We also introduce the technique for visualizing multiple SBH reconstructions and describe applications of DNA-SPECTRUM to estimate various SBH parameters. DNA-SPECTRUM is available at http://www-hto.usc.edu/software/sbh/index. html.


Does advanced chronic kidney disease impact transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt efficacy and safety?
There are currently limited data available summarizing the clinical outcomes and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in cases of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study aimed to assess efficacy and safety of TIPS in patients with advanced CKD. Seventeen patients (M :F 8 :9, age 55 years, MELD 24) with grade 4-5 CKD who underwent TIPS for ascites (n = 7) or varices (n = 10) were analyzed. The primary outcome was TIPS efficacy - assessed by comparing paracentesis frequency and diuretic regimen pre- and post-TIPS among ascites patients - and through bleeding cessation in variceal bleeding patients. Other outcomes included hepatic encephalopathy (HE), GFR increase, and mortality. Median baseline GFR was 19.9 mL/min. No patients were hemodialysis dependent. Median post-TIPS pressure gradient was 8 mm Hg. Among ascites patients, 5/6 (83%) were TIPS responsive, with reduced or stable diuretics in 4/5 (80%). Among variceal hemorrhage cases, bleeding cessation rate was 90% (9/10). New or worsening HE incidence was 47% (8/17), and one patient required shunt reduction. Of 8 patients with lab follow-up, 6 (75%) demonstrated significant GFR increase (42.2 versus 20.0 mL/min, P = 0.028). The 90-day mortality incidence was 29% (5/17). In conclusion, TIPS can potentially address ascites and variceal bleeding in advanced CKD patients, though HE incidence may be increased. Further investigation in larger cohorts may corroborate these results.


Cardiorespiratory response to walking in trained and sedentary pregnant women.
In order to test whether trained (n = 10) and sedentary (n = 29) pregnant women have different responses to weight-bearing exercise in the second trimester (range 23 to 28 weeks of gestation), subjects walked continuously on a treadmill for 26 minutes: at low intensity for 10 minutes, then an intermediate stage, followed by moderate intensity for 10 minutes. In the trained group, the mean heart rate was lower (p < 0.02) with both low [104.0 +/- 4.5 (SD) versus 117.4 +/- 2.3 bpm] and moderate intensity exercise (128.4 +/- 5.7 versus 145.2 +/- 2.9 bpm) and the associated mean stroke volume was higher (105 +/- 16 versus 84 +/- 17 ml; 103 +/- 15 versus 86 +/- 18 ml, respectively) (p < 0.02). The mean cardiac output, blood pressure and oxygen consumption were the same in the two groups (p > 0.02) at the same absolute workloads. The potential implications of these findings for exercise prescriptions for pregnant women, research evaluation and exercise testing are discussed.


Maximising use of in vitro ADMET tools to predict in vivo bioavailability and safety.
The drastic increase in the costs for discovering and developing a new drug and the high attrition rate of development candidates led to shifting of drug discovery strategy to parallel assessment of comprehensive drug properties along with efficacy. The article reviews the benefits and caveats of implementing comprehensive in vitro tools in early drug discovery and their impact on addressing in vivo ADMET issues. With the proposal of four-barrier profiling paradigm and employment of integrated risk assessment, one can exponentially enhance the predictive power of those in vitro tools by taking into consideration the interplays among those profiling parameters. An 'Exposure Cube' is proposed to promote collective employment of solubility/dissolution, permeability and metabolic clearance to address in vivo exposure and to direct optimization of new chemical entities in drug discovery.


Cavernous sinus/orbital apex syndrome associated with indwelling orbital catheter use.
A 46-year-old man with a history of right orbital fractures and blindness underwent simultaneous fracture repair and enucleation with orbital implantation. During surgery, an orbital catheter was placed for administering local anesthesia to control postoperative pain. After administration of local anesthesia through the catheter on postoperative day 1, the patient had development of a complete ptosis, total ophthalmoplegia, mydriasis, vision loss from 20/20 to NLP, and hypesthesia of the V1 and V2 trigeminal nerve distribution. Intraocular pressures and dilated funduscopic examination were normal. There was no evidence of central nervous system effects or respiratory depression. After 4 hours of observation, the vision, sensation, motility, ptosis, and pupil response all returned to normal. Although rare, contralateral cavernous sinus/orbital apex syndrome may occur with indwelling orbital catheter administration of local anesthetic in an orbit with fractures.


Factors affecting the clinical response to treatment with digoxin and two calcium antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation.
It has been suggested that patients in whom atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with poor exercise tolerance respond better to treatment with xamoterol plus digoxin than to digoxin alone; this may be attributable to better control of exercise induced tachycardia. We have examined data obtained during studies comparing digoxin and two calcium antagonists in the treatment of AF to see whether subgroups of patients with particularly poor exercise tolerance, rheumatic heart disease or rapid post-exercise heart rates might derive particular benefit from one modality of treatment as opposed to another. The results do not indicate that calcium antagonists improve exercise tolerance compared with digoxin in any of these subgroups despite achieving consistently better control of exercise induced tachycardia.


Early arteriolopathy following "high-dose" cyclosporine in kidney transplantation.
Thirty-seven consecutive kidney graft biopsies from 37 patients immunosuppressed with "high-dose" cyclosporine (CsA) were mixed with 37 random biopsies obtained from 37 patients given azathioprine and prednisone (Aza/P) and reexamined by light microscopy, without knowledge of the therapy, for occurrence of early arteriolopathy. All biopsies were taken within 35 days after transplantation. Arteriolopathy was demonstrated in 12 biopsies from 37 patients given CsA but in none of those from 37 patients on Aza/P. The specific alteration found in those 12 biopsies was glycogen storage in the muscular layer of the arterioles. The average donor was significantly older in those grafts in which arteriolopathy was shown than in those without arteriolopathy but also given CsA (p less than 0.001). All kidneys from donors more than 53 yr old had arteriolopathy. The occurrence of arteriolopathy was independent of the average CsA level from transplantation to biopsy, but the CsA level had never been below 380 ng/ml in those patients with arteriolopathy. The clinical course in grafts with arteriolopathy was characterized by poorer graft function as judged from the renograms, delayed onset of function and a high proportion of "never-functioning" grafts (50%). We concluded that patients receiving a cadaver graft from a donor older than 50 yr should not be treated with "high-dose" CsA. If the arteriolopathy is demonstrated in kidney graft biopsies within the first 5 weeks after transplantation in patients treated with CsA, one should consider a change or modification of the treatment strategy.


The present status of proximal gastric vagotomy.
It is now clearly established that proximal gastric vagotomy, which has been in clinical use for over seven years, had lower mortality and morbidity rates than all other forms of operation currently used in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. Although no long-term figures are yet available, the ulcer recurrence rates is not likely to be greater than that for truncal vagotomy. The technique is not without problems, however, and has yet to gain wide acceptance in this country.


[Pharmacognosy of Ranunculus chinensis Bge].
Ranunculus chinensis is a folk herb popular in some districts of Yunnan Province. The paper deals with the plant resources, macroscopic shape and microscopic characteristics of this herb so as to provide referential information for clinics, research institutes and herbal market.


Variant Gaucher disease characterized by dysmorphic features, absence of cardiovascular involvement, laryngospasm, and compound heterozygosity for a novel mutation (D409H/C16S).
A 20-month-old girl with developmental delay, dysmorphic features, horizontal supranuclear gaze palsy, retrocollis, and episodes of laryngospasm was diagnosed with variant neuronopathic Gaucher disease. The diagnosis was made enzymatically. Mutation analysis showed compound heterozygosity for D409H and a previously unreported mutation C16S. The presence of dysmorphic features, laryngospasm, absent cardiac findings, and the severe clinical phenotype distinguishes our case from other cases of variant neuronopathic Gaucher disease. We therefore propose to extend the spectrum of variant Gaucher disease.


Use of noninvasive laboratory testing in the prediction of thrombosis in the nephrotic syndrome.
A noninvasive method for diagnosing thrombosis in the nephrotic syndrome could be useful clinically. We measured hematocrit, fibrinogen, creatinine, antithrombin III, plasminogen, and alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor levels in 20 patients with nephrotic syndrome objectively studied for the presence of thrombosis, and found that by using combinations of three or more of these variables good discrimination could be obtained between those patients with and without thrombosis. We conclude that it is possible to predict risk of thrombosis in nephrotic syndrome using relatively simple noninvasive laboratory tests.


The assessment of the complexity of care through the clinical nursing information system in clinical practice: a study protocol.
The costs of nursing staff amounts to approximately 50% of the total budget of the health workforce and accounts for 20% to 30% of the total costs incurred by the health care companies. The goal of the study, by analyzing the complexity of care, is to provide a quantification of the assistance delivered, through the assessment of the technical aspects of the welfare activities according to the variable of time. Data from these activities flow into the clinical nursing information system Professional Assessment Instrument - PAI - which is used at the health facility involved in this study. This instrument allows nurses to document the nursing process in electronic format by using a standardized nursing language (nursing diagnoses, nursing interventions and nursing outcomes). The design of the study is observational. The participants will be patients that are hospitalized in the cardiology departments, the intensive care units for cardiac and thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine and medical oncology of the "A.Gemelli" hospital in Rome, Italy. The observers who will carry out the surveys will be students of the nursing degree course and the coordinators of the respective wards. The times recorded for each health care activity will be correlated with variables that are defined in the literature as the indicators of the complexity of care. The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the "A. Gemelli" Hospital in June 2015. In terms of results, this study aims to verify the reliability of the Professional Assessment Instrument tool as a system for the classification and measurement of nursing care which includes the entire care process, taking into account all of the variables deemed crucial to the nursing care effort. This study will provide a tool for the assessment of the complexity of care, with the goal of improving the quality of care for the patients and of interacting with the health administration system for the management of resources.


[Metagenomic analysis of samples in cystitis].
Detecting bacteria in pathological material and testing their sensitivity to antibiotics is essential in determining a treatment strategy and the choice of antimicrobial therapy. The results of the study showed that metagenomic analysis detects more bacteria in the pathological material than standard laboratory methods. We found a variety of bacteria, described as causative agents of urinary tract infections, evading the standard culture conditions used in routine diagnostic laboratories. These data show that in urinary tract infections mixed pathogens may be much more common than usually believed. At that, the pathological process involves bacteria with unexplored pathogenicity and sensitivity to antibiotics.


College students' perceptions of anticipated career burnout.
Objective: Although burnout has been studied in-depth among working professionals, less is known about college students' perceptions of burnout in their future careers. In this study, we explored the prevalence and correlates of anticipated career burnout and engagement among students. Participants: Participants were 351 undergraduate students. Methods: Students completed an online survey. Results: Students planning to enter both helping and non-helping professions were worried about burnout in their chosen careers. They expected more burnout and less engagement 10 years into their career when compared to two or three years. However, students who perceived their future work as a good fit to their personal skills and abilities expected less burnout and more engagement. Conclusions: These findings can be applied to career assessment and planning so that students are able to move into careers that align with their goals, career orientation, and expectations to maximize their experience of engagement in their future work.


[Substrate specificity and properties of methyl-directed site-specific dna endonucleases].
Methyl-directed site-specific DNA endonucleases (MD endonucleases) form a small group of enzymes which specifically cleave only methylated DNA. There are N6-methyladenine- and 5-methylcytosine-directed enzymes in this group. In spite of limited information on the MD endonucleases they are considered to be a very interesting subject for both fundamental investigations and practical use in biotechnology and epigenomics. In this review for the first time the data on properties of MD endonucleases are summarized in particular on substate specificity of these enzymes. The role of MD endonucleases in bacterial cells and the potential of their practical use are also discussed.


Mechanistic Insight into the Reactivity of Chlorine-Derived Radicals in the Aqueous-Phase UV-Chlorine Advanced Oxidation Process: Quantum Mechanical Calculations.
The combined ultraviolet (UV) and free chlorine (UV-chlorine) advanced oxidation process that produces highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (HO•) and chlorine radicals (Cl•) is an attractive alternative to UV alone or chlorination for disinfection because of the destruction of a wide variety of organic compounds. However, concerns about the potential formation of chlorinated transformation products require an understanding of the radical-induced elementary reaction mechanisms and their reaction-rate constants. While many studies have revealed the reactivity of oxygenated radicals, the reaction mechanisms of chlorine-derived radicals have not been elucidated due to the data scarcity and discrepancies among experimental observations. We found a linear free-energy relationship quantum mechanically calculated free energies of reaction and the literature-reported experimentally measured reaction rate constants, kexp, for 22 chlorine-derived inorganic radical reactions in the UV-chlorine process. This relationship highlights the discrepancy among literature-reported rate constants and aids in the determination of the rate constant using quantum mechanical calculations. We also found linear correlations between the theoretically calculated free energies of activation and kexp for 31 reactions of Cl• with organic compounds. The correlation suggests that H-abstraction and Cl-adduct formation are the major reaction mechanisms. This is the first comprehensive study on chlorine-derived radical reactions, and it provides mechanistic insight into the reaction mechanisms for the development of an elementary reaction-based kinetic model.


[Clinical aspects and genetics of congenital skin defects].
Congenital skin defects are uncommon anomalies in neonates, confronting the clinician with diagnostic problems because of their etiologic heterogeneity. The classifications currently in use are didactically unsatisfactory. Therefore, we propose a new classification taking account of the localization of the congenital skin defect (head, trunk, extremities) and the criterion of isolated or associated occurrence. The groups clinically defined in this way, tables showing the pathognomonic symptoms and, in addition, a short review of all syndromes involving congenital skin defects should allow a rapid diagnosis. Clinical and genetic features of the isolated congenital skin defects are also reviewed.


The Molecular Spectrum of β- and α-Thalassemia Mutations in Non-Endemic Umbria, Central Italy.
The aim of this study was to describe the mutational spectrum of hemoglobinopathies during the period 1988-2015 in Umbria, Central Italy, which has never been considered endemic for these conditions. Twenty-four different β-globin gene mutations were identified in 188 patients and eight different α-globin gene mutations in 74 patients. Sixty percent β-thalassemia (β-thal), 85.0% sickle cell disease, 44.0% Hb S (HBB: c.20A>T)/β-thal and 85.0% compound heterozygotes for hemoglobin (Hb) variant-carrying patients were diagnosed or molecularly characterized in the last 3 years. Moreover, most homozygous or compound heterozygous patients (84.5%) came from foreign countries, while only 15.5% were of Italian origin. These data are in accordance with the increasing foreign resident population in Umbria, which has nearly doubled in 10 years (2004-2014). Different from β-globin gene variations, no increasing trend in α defects was observed in our study cohort. Consistently, 58.0% of patients have an Italian origin, suggesting no broad influence of foreign migration in the α-globin genes genetic background. As few defects are prevalent in each country of origin or ethnic group, their knowledge may provide a proper strategy for the identification of mutations in immigrant individuals in a non-endemic region and be important for carrier identification and prenatal screening.


[Clinical therapeutic strategies of refracture after bone transport for tibial bone defect].
To explore the clinical therapeutic strategies of refracture after Ilizarov bone transport technique in the treatment of tibial bone defect. A retrospective study was performed on 19 patients with infected tibial bone defect treated by Ilizarov bone transport technique and then refracture from August 2010 to January 2020, including 18 males and 1 female with an average age of (37.7±13.0) years old ranging from 15 to 66 years old. Cause of injury invlved falling injury in 4 cases, crashing injury 1 case, crushing injury in 1 case and without obvious injury history in 13 cases. The ipsilateral distal femoral fracture in 2 cases occurred before the external fixator of tibia was removed, and the other 17 cases had a minimum of 1 day and a maximum of 30 months after the external fixator had been removed. The site of refracture was at regenerative zone in 8 cases, at docking site in 9 cases, at ipsilateral femoral shaft in 2 cases. According to the modified Simpson classification proposed by the author, the refracture was classified. The treatment of refracture include plaster splint, traction or external fixation. Bone healing and function were evaluated according to the standards of the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov(ASAMI). All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 9 to 17 months with an average of (12.3±3.2) months. According to the modified Simpson classification, there were 3 cases of type Ⅰa, 1 case of type Ⅰb, 3 cases of type Ⅰc, 1 case of type Ⅱ, 9 cases of type Ⅲ and 2 cases of type Ⅴ. All the refractures healed without infection or malunion. The fracture healing time of conservative treatment for 6 cases were 3, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2 months fespectively;and the healing time of fracture treated by surgery for 13 cases was 2 to 6 months, with an average of(4.4±1.4) months. According to ASAMI evaluation criteria, bony results showed all patients obtained excellent results, and functional results showed 6 patients got excellent results, 13 good beacause of ankle or knee stiffness. The modified Simpson classification could contain most clinical types of refracture after bone transport, and the external fixation is a simple and effective method for refracture.


Adapting to an Uncertain World: Cognitive Capacity and Causal Reasoning with Ambiguous Observations.
Ambiguous causal evidence in which the covariance of the cause and effect is partially known is pervasive in real life situations. Little is known about how people reason about causal associations with ambiguous information and the underlying cognitive mechanisms. This paper presents three experiments exploring the cognitive mechanisms of causal reasoning with ambiguous observations. Results revealed that the influence of ambiguous observations manifested by missing information on causal reasoning depended on the availability of cognitive resources, suggesting that processing ambiguous information may involve deliberative cognitive processes. Experiment 1 demonstrated that subjects did not ignore the ambiguous observations in causal reasoning. They also had a general tendency to treat the ambiguous observations as negative evidence against the causal association. Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 included a causal learning task requiring a high cognitive demand in which paired stimuli were presented to subjects sequentially. Both experiments revealed that processing ambiguous or missing observations can depend on the availability of cognitive resources. Experiment 2 suggested that the contribution of working memory capacity to the comprehensiveness of evidence retention was reduced when there were ambiguous or missing observations. Experiment 3 demonstrated that an increase in cognitive demand due to a change in the task format reduced subjects' tendency to treat ambiguous-missing observations as negative cues.


Construction of bioengineered yeast platform for direct bioethanol production from alginate and mannitol.
Brown macroalgae are a sustainable and promising source for bioethanol production because they are abundant in ocean ecosystems and contain negligible quantities of lignin. Brown macroalgae contain cellulose, hemicellulose, mannitol, laminarin, and alginate as major carbohydrates. Among these carbohydrates, brown macroalgae are characterized by high levels of alginate and mannitol. The direct bioconversion of alginate and mannitol into ethanol requires extensive bioengineering of assimilation processes in the standard industrial microbe Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we constructed an alginate-assimilating S. cerevisiae recombinant strain by genome integration and overexpression of the genes encoding endo- and exo-type alginate lyases, DEH (4-deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronic acid) transporter, and components of the DEH metabolic pathway. Furthermore, the mannitol-metabolizing capacity of S. cerevisiae was enhanced by prolonged culture in a medium containing mannitol as the sole carbon source. When the constructed strain AM1 was anaerobically cultivated in a fermentation medium containing 6% (w/v) total sugars (approximately 1:2 ratio of alginate/mannitol), it directly produced ethanol from alginate and mannitol, giving 8.8 g/L ethanol and yields of up to 32% of the maximum theoretical yield from consumed sugars. These results indicate that all major carbohydrates of brown macroalgae can be directly converted into bioethanol by S. cerevisiae. This strain and system could provide a platform for the complete utilization of brown macroalgae.


Thrombospondin deposition in rat carotid artery injury.
The balloon catheter injury model was used to determine the relative contributions of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and platelets to thrombospondin (TSP) antigen deposition in the artery wall. Rat carotid arteries were denuded of endothelium, exposing the thrombogenic subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) to the circulation. Rats were killed after 1 hour, or 5, 10, or 20 days. Thrombospondin antigen deposition in the injured arteries was assessed using a specific polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbit against rat platelet TSP and a sensitive silver-enhanced immunogold staining method. Faint immunostaining for TSP antigen was detected, associated mostly with cells, in the media of the carotid artery of the nonoperated controls. One hour after balloon catheter injury, however, prominent cell-associated immunostaining was evident in the media; extracellular matrix staining was negligible. At this time, large foci of immunostaining were present on the lumenal surface of the vessel. Intimal proliferation was evident on most stained sections of tissue taken 5 days after balloon injury. Thrombospondin antigen immunostaining was markedly increased compared to nonoperated controls in all sections, regardless of the degree of intimal thickening. Thrombospondin immunostaining remained associated with cells in the neointima and media; extracellular matrix staining remained negligible. Ten days after endothelial injury, immunostaining for TSP antigen was detected in all layers of the artery, but was greater in the neointima and media. Reaction product was still associated only with cells. Thrombospondin antigen levels, as detected by this procedure, remained high in the injured tissue through 10 days of observation but appeared less prominent 20 days after injury. At this time extracellular matrix staining was obvious and cell-associated staining was reduced. These data support the hypotheses that thrombospondin (TSP) expression by vascular smooth muscle cells is an early response to injury and that the primary source of TSP antigen in injured artery is the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). These results support data derived from in vitro studies of TSP secretion.


A new method for selective reduction in TRAP sequence with a contraindication to fetoscopic surgery: A case report.
The preferred method for multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) is a transabdominal intrathoracic or intracranial injection of potassium chloride (KCl). However, in monochorionic multiple pregnancies (MMPs), especially in monoamnionic multifetal pregnancies, selective feticide by this method is often associated with miscarriage of the remaining fetuses. Selective fetal reduction in MMPs by blood flow ablation using radiofrequency ablation or fetoscopic laser surgery may improve survival of the remaining fetus. Although often successful, MFPR by these methods is contraindicated in cases of twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence in triplet pregnancies complicated by polyhydramnios or anterior placenta, as it is difficult to locate the ablation target. 2 cases were admitted to Xiangya Hospital, Central South University with triplet pregnancies at 23 or 21weeks of gestation. Case 1 was a 29-year-old woman with a triplet pregnancy in 2 distinct amniotic sacs and 1 fetus with multiple malformations. Case 2 was a 32-year-old woman who was identified as a triplet pregnancy with TRAP sequence with an acardiac/acephalic twin and anterior placenta. Both of the 2 cases were underwent a new method for MFPR involving fine needle amniotic fluid aspiration and injection of hypertonic sodium chloride (10% NaCl) into the Wharton jelly of the umbilical cord. The 2 cases resulted in selective feticide and the birth of the remaining infants from the triplet pregnancies. All infants were healthy at birth and the 2-year follow-up. The new approach provided a safer, more accessible, and more cost-effective method for MFPR in MMPs with a contraindication to fetoscopic surgery compared to radiofrequency ablation and fetoscopic laser surgery.


Liver echinococcosis in a renal transplant patient: a particularly intriguing case report.
A renal transplant patient was admitted to his local town hospital with suspected acute pancreatitis (jaundice, abdominal pain and fever). Despite intensive medical care (including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and several negative radiological exams (including computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy), no certain diagnosis could be made. After 1 month, the patient was transferred to our facility, where a new sonography was performed, as a prelude to a liver biopsy, which showed the presence of multiple fluid-filled cysts (up to 8 cm), strongly suggestive of hydatid liver disease. Empirical therapy with albendazole was started, and cyclosporine dosage, previously reduced, was restored. This enabled a prompt resolution of the disease and the progressive fibrous evolution of the cysts over the 18-month follow-up period, with no damage to renal function, which remained stable.


Radiative recombination mechanisms in individual wurtzite ZnSe nanowires with a defect-free single-crystalline microstructure.
Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy performed on arrays of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) suffers from ensemble broadening of PL lines, and fails to separate the PL from NWs of different crystal structures in the ensemble. Even the results on PL from single NWs are not devoid of ambiguity. This is because the influence of structural defects in NWs, such as stacking faults, twin boundaries and dislocations, on their optical spectra cannot be accounted for since the structural characteristics of the same NW remain largely unknown. We performed low-temperature PL spectroscopy on individual wurtzite (WZ) ZnSe NWs, and confirmed a homogeneous single-crystalline microstructure without any extended defects in these NWs, thus excluding any role of structural imperfections in their optical spectra. The luminescence is shown to be dominated solely by native point defects, while no role of extrinsic impurities was found. The radiative recombination is shown to originate from excitons bound to vacancies of Zn (VZn), VZn-complexes, and their phonon replicas. The binding energies of the acceptor-bound excitons, ionization energies of the acceptors, and average number of phonons emitted for shallow donor-VZn acceptor pair related transition were determined. Distinct from previous studies on PL from arrays of ZnSe NWs, this work provides an unambiguous interpretation of the PL spectra and assignment of PL peaks to WZ ZnSe. Narrow excitonic emission of linewidths 2.9 meV indicate excellent optical quality of WZ ZnSe NWs.


Biocompatibility of Bletilla striata Microspheres as a Novel Embolic Agent.
We have prepared Chinese traditional herb Bletilla striata into microspheres as a novel embolic agent for decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of Bletilla striata microspheres (BSMs). After a thermal test of BSMs in vitro, the cell biocompatibility of BSMs was investigated in mouse fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells using the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. In addition, blood biocompatibility was evaluated. In vivo intramuscular implantation and renal artery embolization in rabbits with BSMs were used to examine the inflammatory response. The experimental rabbits did not develop any fever symptoms after injection of BSMs, and BSMs exhibited no cytotoxicity in cultured mouse fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Additionally, BSMs exhibited high compatibility with red blood cells and no hemolysis activity. Intramuscular implantation with BSMs resulted in a gradually lessened mild inflammatory reaction that disappeared after eight weeks. The occlusion of small renal vessels was associated with a mild perivascular inflammatory reaction without significant renal and liver function damage. In conclusion, we believe that BSMs exhibit high biocompatibility and are a promising embolic agent.


['Triangular Cord' Sign in Biliary Atresia].
Biliary atresia is an unknown etiology of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction with a 'fibrous ductal remnant,' which represents the obliterated ductal remnant in the porta hepatis. The sonographic'triangular cord' (TC) sign has been reported to indicate a fibrous ductal remnant in the porta hepatis. In this review, we discuss the correlations among surgicopathological and sonographic findings of the porta hepatis and the definition, objective criteria, diagnostic accuracy, and differential diagnosis of the TC sign in biliary atresia.


[The dapagliflozin and prevention of adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease: results of the DAPA-CKD study].
The article presents the main results of a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled trial of DAPA-CKD. The study included patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the possibility of using dapagliflozin at a dose of 10 mg once a day compared with placebo. The study involved 386 centers from 21 countries. A total of 4304 patients were included in the study, the average age was 61.8 years, men predominated, 2906 (67.5%) patients had an initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Patients with diabetic and non-diabetic CKD were included with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 25 to 75 ml/min/1.73 m2 and a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of 200 to 5000 mg/g. The primary composite endpoint (time to eGFR reduction of 50% or more compared to baseline, time to end-stage renal disease defined as eGFR15 ml/min/1.73 m2, need for chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation, time to renal or cardiovascular death) was shown to occur in 9.2% of patients treated with dapagliflozin and in 14.5% of patients treated with placebo. Also, dapagliflozin therapy was less likely to have a secondary endpoint, such as a combination of a decrease in eGFR by 50% or more, end-stage kidney disease, or renal death. Less frequently, the dapagliflozin group experienced cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, as well as death from any cause. Thus, dapagliflozin demonstrated the ability, in comparison with placebo, to reduce the primary composite point and a number of secondary composite points in patients with both diabetic and non-diabetic CKD.


Utilizing Social Determinants of Health Model to Understand Barriers to Medication Adherence in Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review.
Ischemic strokes and their recurrence create an immense disease burden globally. Therefore, preventing recurrent strokes by promoting medication adherence is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. In addition, understanding the barriers to medication adherence related to the social determinants of health (SDoH) could promote equity among persons with ischemic stroke. To explore the barriers to medication adherence among patients with ischemic stroke through the SDoH. This systematic review included studies published between January 2018 and December 2022 identified through PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus Full Text. The descriptions of the studies were systematically summarized and discussed based on the SDoH from the US Healthy People 2030 initiative. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The most common barrier to adherence was inappropriate medication beliefs, medication side effects, and patient-physician relationship, which relate to the dimensions of healthcare access and quality. Health literacy and health perception, dependent on education access and quality, frequently influenced adherence. Other social determinants, such as financial strain and social and community context, were found to alter adherence behaviors. No study addressed the neighborhood and built environment domain. We found that cognitive impairment is another factor that impacts adherence outcomes among stroke patients. Multifaceted approaches are needed to address the SDoH to improve medication adherence among patients with ischemic stroke. This review emphasized strategies, including patient education, provider-patient communication, social support, health literacy, technology, and policy advocacy to enhance adherence.


MicroRNA-210 is involved in the regulation of postmenopausal osteoporosis through promotion of VEGF expression and osteoblast differentiation.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-protein-codingRNAs that function as negative gene expression regulators. miRNA-210 (miR-210) has recently been recognized in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis associated with angiogenesis. Herein we aimed to explore the clinical significance of miR-210 treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The expression of miR-210 was detected in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro and miR-210 significantly promoted the expression of vascular edothelial growth factor (VEGF) in BMSCs in a time-dependent manner (p<0.05). And miR-210 suppressed PPARγ expression but increased the expression of ALP and osterix, demonstrating that miR-210 inhibited adipocyte differentiation and promoted osteoblast differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. The protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and VEGF in 17β-estradiol (E2) treated osteoblasts were significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p<0.05). And E2 inducted the VEGF expression through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in osteoblasts. Taken together, these data implied that miR-210 played an important role in ameliorating the estrogen deficiency caused-postmenopausal osteoporosis through promotion the VEGF expression and osteoblast differentiation.


Benign and malignant odontogenic neoplasms of the jaws show a concordant nondiscriminatory p63/p40 positive immunophenotype.
Antibody p40, which recognizes exclusively ΔNp63 but not TAp63, has shown diagnostic utility in salivary gland and sinonasal tract malignancies. Although p63 immunophenotypic characterization of odontogenic lesions has been reported, p40 expression has not been previously studied. We aimed to study p40 immunoreactivity in odontogenic tumors (OTs) and odontogenic cysts (OCs) and to investigate possible discriminatory properties of the combined p63/p40 immunoprofile in OTs and OCs. Fourteen ameloblastomas, 7 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, 6 calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors, 1 squamous odontogenic tumor, 4 primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinomas, 5 calcifying odontogenic cysts, 4 glandular odontogenic cysts, 3 odontogenic keratocysts, 3 dentigerous cysts, and 1 each radicular and orthokeratinized cysts were stained for p63 (4A4) and p40 (BC28) antibodies. Ameloblastoma, adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, squamous odontogenic tumor, and primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma demonstrated concordant p63+/p40+ immunophenotype. P40, similar to p63, highlighted almost all lesional cells of OTs and, overall, the full thickness of the epithelial lining of the cystic areas of OCs and ameloblastoma. The keratin layer of OKC and the adluminal ductal and mucous cells of GOC were p63-/p40-. Both ΔNp63 and TAp63 isoforms are present in neoplastic and developmental odontogenic lesions; and p63/p40 immunophenotype is nondiscriminatory pertaining to benign and malignant OTs and OCs.


Docetaxel-encapsulating small-sized polymeric micelles with higher permeability and its efficacy on the orthotopic transplantation model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) elicits a dense stromal response that blocks vascular access because of pericyte coverage of vascular fenestrations. In this way, the PDAC stroma contributes to chemotherapy resistance, and the small-sized nanocarrier loaded with platinum has been adopted to address this problem which is not suitable for loading docetaxel (DTX). In the present study, we used the poly(D,L-lactide)-b-polyethylene glycol-methoxy (mPEG-b-PDLLA) to encapsulate DTX and got a small-sized polymeric micelle (SPM); meanwhile we functionalized the SPM's surface with TAT peptide (TAT-PM) for a higher permeability. The diameters of both SPM and TAT-PM were in the range of 15-26 nm. In vitro experiments demonstrated that TAT-PM inhibited Capan-2 Luc PDAC cells growth more efficiently and induced more apoptosis compared to SPM and Duopafei. The in vivo therapeutic efficiencies of SPM and TAT-PM compared to free DTX was investigated on the orthotopic transplantation model of Capan-2 Luc. SPM exerted better therapeutic efficiency than free DTX, however, TAT-PM didn't outperformed SPM. Overall, these results disclosed that SPM could represent a new therapeutic approach against pancreatic cancer, but its permeability to PDAC was not the only decisive factor.


An innovative eye-tracker: Main features and demonstrative tests.
We present a set of results obtained with an innovative eye-tracker based on magnetic dipole localization by means of an array of magnetoresistive sensors. The system tracks both head and eye movements with a high rate (100-200 Sa/s) and in real time. A simple setup is arranged to simulate head and eye motions and to test the tracker performance under realistic conditions. Multimedia material is provided to substantiate and exemplify the results. A comparison with other available technologies for eye-tracking is drawn, discussing advantages (e.g., precision) and disadvantages (e.g., invasivity) of the diverse approaches, with the presented method standing out for low cost, robustness, and relatively low invasivity.


Caregiver strain in Parkinson's disease: national Parkinson Foundation Quality Initiative study.
National Parkinson Foundation Quality Improvement Initiatives (NPF-QII) is the first large scale data-driven initiative in Parkinson's disease (PD) aimed at identifying variables predicting best care models and outcomes. To determine what measures of PD disability, demographics, and patient quality of life are associated with caregiver strain among caregivers of patients with PD. All PD patients at 18 participating sites are eligible for enrollment into the NPF-QII registry. Dataset includes multidimensional measures of disease severity, health care utilization, PD quality of life questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) and multidimensional caregiver strain inventory (MCSI). A univariate as well as an adjusted analysis was performed to examine the relationship between caregiver strain and variables of PD disability. The single best factor associated with high caregiver strain was the PDQ-39 total score (c-statistic of continuous variable = 0.792, p < 0.001) followed by the PDQ-mobility subscore (c = 0.776, p < 0.001). PDQ-39 ≥ 47 was the optimal cut off associated with a high caregiver strain with a sensitivity = 83% and specificity = 64%. A multiple logistic regression model with stepwise selection showed that in addition to PDQ-39 ≥ 47 (OR and 95% confidence interval = 5.1 (3.2, 8.2), the following subject characteristics were associated with high caregiver strain: (model p < 0.001, c = 0.838): Hoehn and Yahr stage >3 (2.0 (1.3, 3.1)), presence of concomitant medications such as antidepressants (2.1 (1.5, 3.1)) and antipsychotics (2.5 (1.5, 4.2)), social worker visits (1.6 (1.2, 2.1)), male gender (2.3 (1.5, 3.5)), and decreased verbal fluency (0.95 (0.92, 0.98)). There is a high prevalence of caregiver strain in PD. PDQ-39 total score has the strongest association with high levels of caregiver strain. These results could guide clinicians in the assessment of caregivers at risk.


ABI4 and its role in chloroplast retrograde communication.
The acquisition of plastids is a landmark event in plant evolution. The proper functionality of these organelles depends on strict and continuous communication between the plastids and the nucleus to precisely adjust gene expression in response to the organelle's requirements. Signals originating from the plastids impact the expression of a variety of nuclear genes, and this retrograde communication is essential to couple the nuclear expression of plastid-localized products with organelle gene expression and, ultimately, functionality. Major advances have been made in this field over the past few years with the characterization of independent retrograde signaling pathways and the identification of some of their components. One such factor is the nuclear transcriptional factor ABI4 (ABA-INSENTIVE 4). ABI4, together with the plastid PPR GUN1 protein, has been proposed to function as a node of convergence for multiple plastid retrograde signaling pathways. ABI4 is conserved among plants and also plays important roles in various critical developmental and metabolic processes. ABI4 is a versatile regulator that positively and negatively modulates the expression of many genes, including other transcriptional factors. However, its mode of action during plastid retrograde signaling is not fully understood. In this review, we describe the current evidence that supports the participation of ABI4 in different retrograde communication pathways. ABI4 is regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. A known regulator of ABI4 includes the PTM transcription factor, which moves from the chloroplast to the nucleus. This transcription factor is a candidate for the transmission of retrograde signals between the plastid and ABI4.


Analysis of Related Risk Factors of Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
To forecast the onset of microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatoma by evaluating the preoperative aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and other clinicopathological data. In this study, we retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 62 patients who received radical surgery for hepa toma from 2019 to 2021. Patients were separated into the MVI-negative group and the MVI-positive group according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The relationships between MVI and NLR, APRI, AFP, tumor size, and other clinical data were assessed using the univariate analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and logistic analysis. The ROC curve determined that the cutoff values of NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and APRI were 1.520, 98, and 0.275, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that the MVI-positive result was associated with five factors: tumor size (χ 2 = 10.620, p = 0.001), AFP (χ 2 = 10.524, p = 0.001), Edmondson grade (χ 2 = 20.736, p < 0.001), NLR (χ 2 = 8.744, p = 0.003), and APRI (χ 2 = 4.849, p = 0.028). The LASSO analysis indicated that the risk factors were the number of tumors, PLR, APRI, NLR, AFP, Edmondson grade, and tumor size. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR ≥ 1.520 (OR 11.119, p = 0.006), APRI ≥ 0.275 (OR 12.515, p = 0.009), AFP ≥ 200 μg/mL (OR 7.823, p = 0.016), and tumor size > 3 cm (OR 7.689, p = 0.022) were independent risk factors for MVI in patients with hepatoma. Preoperative NLR, APRI, AFP, and tumor size are reliable indicators for predicting the appearance of MVI in patients with hepatoma and are of great value in making detailed and reliable treatment protocols for these patients before surgery.


[Postoperative disorder of bladder emptying in gynecology: pathophysiology and possibilities for treatment].
Urinary retention after radical hysterectomy is due to partial or complete denervation of the bladder and proximal urethra which is dependent on surgical radicality. In contrast, incomplete bladder emptying after surgery for stress induced urinary incontinence, has its origin in an infravesicular functional obstruction and is dependent on the operation performed. The use of drugs (alpha-sympatholytics, parasympathomimetics) seem to be of limited value, especially after stress-incontinence surgery. Preoperative information, perioperative supra pubic bladder drainage, postoperative bladder training and in rare cases intermittent self-catheterisation and transurethral surgery are the key factors in successful treatment of postoperative urinary retention.


Myofibrillar protein synthesis following ingestion of soy protein isolate at rest and after resistance exercise in elderly men.
Increased amino acid availability stimulates muscle protein synthesis, however, aged muscle appears less responsive to the anabolic effects of amino acids when compared to the young. We aimed to compare changes in myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) in elderly men at rest and after resistance exercise following ingestion of different doses of soy protein and compare the responses to those we previously observed with ingestion of whey protein isolate. Thirty elderly men (age 71 ± 5 y) completed a bout of unilateral knee-extensor resistance exercise prior to ingesting no protein (0 g), or either 20 g or 40 g of soy protein isolate (0, S20, and S40 respectively). We compared these responses to previous responses from similar aged men who had ingested 20 g and 40 g of whey protein isolate (W20 and W40). A primed constant infusion of L-[1-13 C]leucine and L-[ring-13 C6]phenylalanine and skeletal muscle biopsies were used to measure whole-body leucine oxidation and MPS over 4 h post-protein consumption in both exercised and non-exercised legs. Whole-body leucine oxidation increased with protein ingestion and was significantly greater for S20 vs. W20 (P = 0.003). Rates of MPS for S20 were less than W20 (P = 0.02) and not different from 0 g (P = 0.41) in both exercised and non-exercised leg muscles. For S40, MPS was also reduced compared with W40 under both rested and post-exercise conditions (both P < 0.005); however S40 increased MPS greater than 0 g under post-exercise conditions (P = 0.04). The relationship between protein intake and MPS is both dose and protein source-dependent, with isolated soy showing a reduced ability, as compared to isolated whey protein, to stimulate MPS under both rested and post-exercise conditions. These differences may relate to the lower postprandial leucinemia and greater rates of amino acid oxidation following ingestion of soy versus whey protein.


Patient-physician agreement on function and pain is associated with long-term outcomes in sarcoma: findings from a longitudinal study.
We aimed to describe the level of agreement between patients and physicians on the ratings of daily functioning and pain in a cohort of sarcoma patients and assess how (dis)agreement and its change over time predicted patient-reported outcomes in survivorship. We performed secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a sarcoma-specialty clinic in Montreal, Canada. Demographics, clinical characteristics and patient-physician agreement were summarized descriptively. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effects of time, baseline agreement, change in agreement over time, interaction of time and change in agreement and 12-month daily functioning, quality of life, and fatigue. Data were available for 806 patients (57.7% male, x̄ = 53.3 years) who completed at least one questionnaire. Patient-physician disagreement was common on the level of function (43.4%) and pain (45.7%). Baseline physician-patient agreement was associated with better 12-month outcomes. Improvement in agreement on function over time was significantly associated with daily functioning (F(2, 212) = 3.18, p = 0.043) and quality of life (F(2, 212) = 3.17, p < 0.044). The pattern was similar though less pronounced for the agreement on pain. Our study offers novel insights into the importance of patient-physician agreement and communication's role in long-term patient-reported outcomes in sarcoma. The results emphasize the importance of mutual understanding of symptoms and patients' needs and suggest that further consultation in cases of discordance of ratings and opinions might be beneficial for optimal survivorship.


Fifty years of porphyria at the University of Cape Town.
The porphyrias are a group of disorders resulting from defective haem biosynthesis. One form, variegate porphyria, is common in South Africa as a result of a founder effect. Over the past 50 years, the University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences has built and maintained an international reputation for excellence in the field of porphyria. The porphyria group is respected for its research and for its accumulated experience in the management of these disorders. Equally important has been the comprehensive and holistic care offered to patients with porphyria, and to their families.


Rational design of formamidine tin-based perovskite solar cell with 30% potential efficiency via 1-D device simulation.
As a promising photovoltaic technology, halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have recently attracted wide attention. This work presents a systematic simulation of low bandgap formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3)-based p-n heterojunction PSCs to investigate the effects of multiple optoelectronic variations on the photovoltaic performance. The structures of the simulated devices are n-i-p, electron transport layer-free (ETL-free), hole transport layer-free (HTL-free), and inverted HTL-free. The simulation is conducted with the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D). The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) dramatically decrease when the acceptor doping density (NA) of the absorber layer exceeds 1016 cm-3. For all devices, the photovoltaic parameters dramatically decrease when the absorber defect density (Nt) is over 1015 cm-3, and the best absorber layer thickness is 1000 nm. It should be pointed out that the Nt and the interface defect layer (IDL) are the primary culprits that seriously affect the device performance. When the interfacial defect density (Nit) exceeds 1012 cm-3, PCEs begin to decline significantly. Therefore, paying attention to these defect layers is necessary to improve the PCE. Furthermore, the proper conduction band offset (CBO) between the electron transport layer (ETL) and absorber layer positively affects PSCs' performance. These simulation results help fabricate highly efficient and environment-friendly narrow bandgap PSCs.


An analysis of Michigan and California CO remote sensing measurements.
Remote sensing measurements of CO emissions from onroad vehicles were made in California in 1991 and in Michigan in 1992. It was determined that both fleets had a small linear increase in the high emitter frequency (vehicles emitting more than 4% CO) as a function of vehicle age for 1986 and newer model vehicles. Although high emitting vehicles were only a small minority of the fleet, they had a dominant impact on the mean CO and total CO emitted by the fleet. In Michigan, the highest emitting 5% of passenger cars generated 45% of the CO from cars. In California, the highest emitting 5% of passenger cars generated 38% of the CO from cars. There was a high correlation between the mean CO emitted by each model year of vehicle and the frequency of high emitting vehicles within the model year for both the Michigan and California fleets. The frequency of high emitters within any model year had no obvious relation to that model year's certification standards. The high emitter frequencies for vehicles less than nine years old were very similar for the California and Michigan fleets. An increase in the high emitter frequency in the ten-year-old and older Michigan passenger car fleet (relative to the California passenger car fleet), suggests, but does not conclusively demonstrate, that the rate of high emitters in Michigan and California is reduced by the inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs.


[The ISIAH rat locomotion in the open field test is under control of the genes on chromosome 2 and chromosome 16].
The QTL analysis was performed in order to identify the genetic loci that contribute to the behavior in the open field tests in the ISIAH rat strain with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension. Two F2 populations of 3-4-month-old (n = 106) and 6-month-old (n = 130) male rats derived from a cross between the normotensive Wistar albino Glaxo (WAG) and hypertensive ISIAH rats were used in the search for the QTL. In 3-4-month-old rats, QTL were found: a) for the rat locomotion at the periphery of the open field in the region of D2Rat157-D2Rat88 markers (logarithm of odds (LOD) score 4.83; p= 0.000058) on Chr. 2 and in the vicinity of the D16Rat32 marker (LOD score 3.71; p = 0.00023) on Chr. 16. These two QTL describe the 42.9% of the trait variability. b) for the rat locomotion during the first minute of the open field test on Chr.16 near the D16Rat58 marker (LOD score 3.78; p = 0.00028). The results provided support for the existence of the age-dependent differences in the genetic control of the traits analyzed.


Implementation of a neighbourhood care model in a Scottish integrated context-views from patients.
There is a need to test new models of integrated health and social care, particularly due to increasing financial and epidemiological pressures on services. One critical component of testing new models is the acceptability to patients. Here, the aim was to understand the acceptability of a new model of care to patients by understanding their experience of being supported by a self-managing, community-based, integrated, health and social care team. The INCA service consisted of three support workers and three nurses in two teams. These teams were self-managing and had autonomy over service operations and care delivery. Eight interviews and satisfaction questionnaires were conducted with patients. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Patients found the service highly acceptable (mean overall satisfaction of 98%), self-reporting a variety of benefits to their wellbeing. Central to this acceptability was the autonomy of staff to adjust care frequency and duration to patients' needs, in addition to describing an active engagement and partnership within their support plans. Future work should aim to ascertain the experiences of staff working in this model and whether receiving support in this way improves clinical outcomes.


Parotid fistula complicating postauricular basal cell carcinoma excision.
Parotid fistulas after cutaneous surgery are a rare occurrence. To our knowledge there have been no cases reported of a parotid fistula occurring in the postauricular region. We present a case complicating a postauricular basal cell carcinoma excision and further discuss this rare but important complication of cutaneous facial surgery.


Large-Scale Algorithmic Search Identifies Stiff and Sloppy Dimensions in Synaptic Architectures Consistent With Murine Neocortical Wiring.
Complex systems can be defined by "sloppy" dimensions, meaning that their behavior is unmodified by large changes to specific parameter combinations, and "stiff" dimensions, whose change results in considerable behavioral modification. In the neocortex, sloppiness in synaptic architectures would be crucial to allow for the maintenance of asynchronous irregular spiking dynamics with low firing rates despite a diversity of inputs, states, and short- and long-term plasticity. Using simulations on neural networks with first-order spiking statistics matched to firing in murine visual cortex while varying connectivity parameters, we determined the stiff and sloppy parameters of synaptic architectures across three classes of input (brief, continuous, and cyclical). Algorithmically generated connectivity parameter values drawn from a large portion of the parameter space reveal that specific combinations of excitatory and inhibitory connectivity are stiff and that all other architectural details are sloppy. Stiff dimensions are consistent across input classes with self-sustaining synaptic architectures following brief input occupying a smaller subspace as compared to the other input classes. Experimentally estimated connectivity probabilities from mouse visual cortex are consistent with the connectivity correlations found and fall in the same region of the parameter space as architectures identified algorithmically. This suggests that simple statistical descriptions of spiking dynamics are a sufficient and parsimonious description of neocortical activity when examining structure-function relationships at the mesoscopic scale. Additionally, coarse graining cell types does not prevent the generation of accurate, informative, and interpretable models underlying simple spiking activity. This unbiased investigation provides further evidence of the importance of the interrelationship of excitatory and inhibitory connectivity to establish and maintain stable spiking dynamical regimes in the neocortex.


Ethylene oxide functionalization enhances the ionic conductivity of a MOF.
Varying the degree of ethylene oxide (EO) functionalization of the zirconium MOF UiO-68 affords two novel MOFs; UiO-68-EO and UiO-68-2EO exhibit solvent-free ionic conductivity upon loading LiTFSI in their pores. Incorporating EO chains provides a pathway for lithium ion migration between the coordinated sites and results in an ionic conductivity of 3.8 × 10-7 S cm-1 and 3.9 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 90 °C for UiO-68-EO/LiTFSI and UiO-68-2EO/LiTFSI respectively.


[Periodic nocturnal ventilation using an Emerson chest respirator as an alternative to permanent tracheostomy with positive pressure ventilation in patients with idiopathic scoliosis and severe global respiratory insufficiency].
Sustained success was achieved in treating a 40-year-old patient who had had severe progressive thoracic kyphoscoliosis since childhood and developed cardiorespiratory failure with terminal alveolar hypoventilation and hypoxemia due to acute pulmonary infection. On emergency admission to this hospital mechanically controlled ventilation by tracheostomy tube produced a remarkable improvement in cardiorespiratory function. Weakness of the respiratory muscles made complete disconnection from ventilatory support impossible. Instead of positive pressure ventilation by tracheostomy tube with resultant patient invalidity, nighttime external negative pressure ventilation with an Emerson chest respirator was started leaving the patient free for daytime activity. This type of ventilation is a simple, effective and well tolerated long-term treatment at low cost. The patient has been using it nightly at home for over 6 months and no problems have arisen. These findings show that intensive care is indicated in patients with severe thoracic kyphoscoliosis and cardiorespiratory failure since long-term treatment of terminal hypoventilation and cardiorespiratory failure is possible with a cheap and simple nocturnal ventilation system.


Prevalence of leftover medicines, disposal practices, and associated factors in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia.
The increased prevalence of leftover medicines in the community is currently a global concern due to the detrimental effects on the environment and health. However, several developing countries have failed to give sufficient consideration to the issue. The primary purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of leftover medicines, disposal practices, and the factors affecting those in households in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia. A community-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among households in Bere Edigetber and Nech Sar of Arba Minch town, from June 25 to August 27, 2022. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews with revalidated structured questionnaires. A multistage sampling technique was utilized to select each household. Three hundred forty-eight households agreed to participate in a study, resulting in a 94.8% response rate. Of the study participant, 172 (49.4%) of the households had leftover medicines, with antibiotics being the most common (64% of 172). Subsidy of symptoms and saving for later use were two frequently cited reasons for the presence of leftover medicines in the house. Throwing leftover medicines in household garbage was the preferred method of disposal (>60%). Only 0.1% of respondents considered returning leftover medicines to healthcare facilities or professionals. A binary regression analysis identified four predictors for having leftover medicines. Medicines obtained without prescription were the strongest predictor (odds ratio = 3.7; p < 0.001), followed by higher family monthly income (odds ratio = 2.5; p = 0.005), those waived paying for medicine (odds ratio = 0.294; p = 0.049), and those used medications for acute diseases (p = 0.048; odds ratio = 0.450). Respondents who had prior information on safe medicine disposal were 2.3 (p = 0.04) more likely to dispose of possessed leftover medicines rather than keep them for future use. This study revealed a high prevalence of leftover medicines and their improper disposal in Arba Minch town. The preferred methods of leftover medicine disposal in this study deviate from conventional standards. Significant factor variables that predict having leftover medicines are attributed to purchasing medicine without a prescription, higher family monthly income, those waived paying for medicine, and those who used medications for acute diseases. Prior knowledge of proper disposal practices predicated the decision to dispose of on-hand leftover medicines or keep them for future use. These findings would be critical in developing strategies to reduce leftover medicines and promote proper disposal practices.


Does public housing reduce housing cost burden among low-income families with children?
About half of all renter households and over three-quarters of very low-income households in the United States experience a housing cost burden, with higher rates among families with children. Public housing may be an important tool for reducing families' housing cost burdens. The current study uses nearly four decades of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and its Assisted Housing Database to explore the relationship between public housing and housing cost burden among children in low-income families. Results from fixed effects models suggest that public housing is associated with a greatly reduced risk of experiencing housing cost burden when housing assistance receipt is measured a year before housing cost burden. These findings highlight the importance of public housing for reducing low-income families' housing cost burdens.


Identification of nucleus pulposus precursor cells and notochordal remnants in the mouse: implications for disk degeneration and chordoma formation.
A classically identified "notochordal" cell population in the nucleus pulposus is thought to regulate disk homeostasis. However, the embryonic origin of these cells has been under dispute for >60 years. Here we provide the first direct evidence that all cell types in the adult mouse nucleus pulposus are derived from the embryonic notochord. Additionally, rare isolated embryonic notochord cells remained in the vertebral column and resembled "notochordal remnants," which in humans have been proposed to give rise to a rare type of late-onset cancer called chordoma. Previously, this cell type had not been identified in the mouse model system. The development and characterization of a mouse model that can be used to fate map nucleus pulposus precursor cells in any mutant background will be useful for uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disk degeneration. In addition, the identification of notochordal remnants in mice is the first step towards generating an in vivo model of chordoma.


Quantification of Workload and Wellness Measures in a Women's Collegiate Volleyball Season.
The purpose of this paper was to quantify internal and external loads completed by collegiate volleyball athletes during a competitive season. Eleven players were sampled (using accelerometers and subjective wellness surveys) during the practice (n = 55) and game (n = 30) sessions over the 2019 season. Longitudinal data were evaluated for trends across the preseason, non-conference play, and conference play periods. Data were also analyzed with respect to positional groups. Longitudinal analysis of accelerometer data showed higher workload demand during practices than games. Positional group differences were most when evaluating jump count and height. Setters accrued over twice as many jumps in a practice than during a game and had similar overall jump counts in practice to attacking positions. Average team wellness values varied with time in the season, especially during times of congested travel. This is the first study to look at both game and practice workload and wellness measures in collegiate women's volleyball. The results suggest athlete monitoring can be used to understand the demands of volleyball and used in the future to enhance practice and recovery day design to optimize athlete well-being.


Development of a social skills training programme to target social isolation using virtual reality technology in primary mental health care.
People with severe mental illness often have a small or no network of friends and limited contact with their family and live social isolated lives. We developed a social skills training programme to be administered by public mental health professionals in helping those with mental illness to overcome their social isolation. The programme was developed over 3 years in close collaboration among psychologists, service users, municipal mental health professionals, mental health service researchers and a local firm providing virtual reality (VR) training. We started with the simplest available equipment, that is, a cardboard headset combined with a smartphone, then we used Oculus Quest and now Oculus Quest 2. The resulting programme is comprised of eight steps from: 1) identify service user's primary and secondary goals to 8) three-month follow-up. Several factors made adoption and implementation of VR technology possible in a relatively short timeframe: namely, the municipality and service users were involved from the beginning of the development process, efforts were made to introduce VR to mental health professionals and allow them to reflect on its usability, solutions were low-tech and low cost, and the long-term research collaboration was established without municipal financial obligations.


A Functional Return-to-Play Progression After Exertional Heat Stroke in a High School Football Player.
To present a functional return-to-play (RTP) progression after exertional heat stroke (EHS) in a 17-year-old high school football defensive end (height = 185 cm, mass = 145.5 kg). The patient had no pertinent medical history but moved to a warm climate several days before the EHS occurred. After completing an off-season conditioning test (14- × 110-yd [12.6- × 99.0-m] sprints) on a warm afternoon (temperature = approximately 34°C [93°F], relative humidity = 53%), the patient collapsed. An athletic trainer (AT) was called to the field, where he found the patient conscious but exhibiting central nervous system dysfunction. Emergency medical services were summoned and immediately transported the patient to the hospital. Exertional heat stroke, heat exhaustion, exertional sickling, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiac arrhythmia. The patient was immediately transported to a hospital, where his oral temperature was 39.6°C (103.3°F). He was transferred to a children's hospital and treated for rhabdomyolysis, transaminitis, and renal failure. He was hospitalized for 11 days. After a physician's clearance once the laboratory results normalized, an RTP progression was completed. The protocol began with light activity and progressed over 3 weeks to full football practice. During activity, an AT monitored the patient's gastrointestinal temperature, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, fluid consumption, and sweat losses. Documentation of RTP guidelines for young athletes is lacking. We used a protocol intended for the football setting to ensure the athlete was heat tolerant, had adequate physical fitness, and could safely RTP. Despite his EHS, he recovered fully, with no lasting effects, and successfully returned to compete in the final 5 games of the season. Using a gradual RTP progression and close monitoring, a high school defensive end successfully returned to football practice and games after EHS. This case demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a safe RTP protocol after EHS and may serve as a guide to ATs working in the high school setting. This case also highlights the need for more research in this area.


HPLC quantification of zolpidem and prothipendyl in a voluntary intoxication.
Zolpidem, a recently developed sleep inducer, and prothipendyl, a neuroleptic azaphenothiazine, were involved in a voluntary intoxication along with ethanol. After administration of flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepines antagonist, respiratory depression was corrected. HPLC with UV detection methods after selective extraction were developed to measure simultaneously prothipendyl and zolpidem without flumazenil interaction. These methods could be applied in drug monitoring and in emergency toxicology.


Role of p38 Mapk in development of acute hepatic injury in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model of human Wilson's disease.
The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat, an animal model of human Wilson's disease, spontaneously develops fulminant hepatitis associated with severe jaundice at about 4 months of age. In this study, we examined the changes in gene expression during progression of acute hepatic injury. When levels of gene expression in the liver of LEC rats at 13 weeks of age were compared to those in rats at 4 weeks of age using oligonucleotide arrays, 1,620 genes out of 7,700 genes analyzed showed more than 2-fold differences. Expression levels of 11 of 29 genes related to stress-activating protein kinase (SAPK) changed by more than 2-fold in the liver of LEC rats, but none of the SAPK-related genes showed changes in expression levels in the liver of control rats. Activity of p38 mapk in the liver of LEC rats at 13 weeks of age was about 8.1-fold higher than that in rats at 4 weeks of age. When LEC rats were administered SB203580, a p38 mapk-specific inhibitor, by s.c. injection twice a week from 10 to 13 weeks of age, activities of p38 mapk in the liver, activities of AST and ALT and concentrations of bilirubin in sera of rats administered SB203580 significantly decreased compared to those in rats not administered. These results showed that the increase in activities of p38 mapk was related to the occurrence of acute hepatic injury in LEC rats.


A prospective 8-year follow-up of posterior resin composite restorations in permanent teeth of children and adolescents in Public Dental Health Service: reasons for replacement.
The aim of the study was to investigate reasons for replacement and repair of posterior resin composite (RC) restorations placed in permanent teeth of children and adolescents attending Public Dental Health Service in Denmark. All posterior RC placed consecutively by 115 dentists over a period of 4 years were evaluated at baseline and up to 8 years later. The endpoint of each restoration was defined when repair or replacement was performed. The influence of patient, dentist and material factors on reasons for repair or replacement was investigated. A total of 4,355 restorations were placed. Replacements comprised 406 and repairs 125 restorations. The cumulative survival rate at 8 years was 84 %. Failed restorations were most frequently seen due to secondary caries (57 %), post-operative sensitivity (POS) (10 %) and RC fracture (6 %). POS was observed in 1.5 % of the evaluations and reported more often in girls and from teeth restored with a base material. Older dentists showed lower proportion of replaced restorations due to secondary caries than younger dentists. Posterior RC restorations in children and adolescents performed in general practice showed a good durability with annual failure rates of 2 %. The main reason for failure was secondary caries followed by post-operative sensitivity and resin composite fracture. A high proportion of replaced/repaired RC restorations were caused by primary caries in a non-filled surface. Secondary caries was the main reason for failure of RC in children and young adults. More teeth with post-operative sensitivity and a shorter longevity of restorations were observed when a base material was used.


The association analysis polymorphism of CDKAL1 and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese Han population.
To identify the contribution of CDKAL1 to the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese population. A case-control study was performed to investigate the genetic association between DR and polymorphic variants of CDKAL1 in Chinese Han population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A well-defined population with T2DM, consisting of 475 controls and 105 DR patients, was recruited. All subjects were genotyped for the genetic variant (rs10946398) of CDKAL1. Genotyping was performed by iPLEX technology. The association between rs10946398 and T2DM was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analysis. There were significant differences in C allele frequencies of rs10946398 (CDKAL1) between control and DR groups (45.06% versus 55.00%, P<0.05). The rs10946398 of CDKAL1 was found to be associated with the increased risk of DR among patients with diabetes. Our findings suggest that rs10946398 of CDKAL1 is independently associated with DR in a Chinese Han population.


[Biochemical basis of aging].
1. Biological ageing means change of structure and function with the beginning of the autonomy of a human being up to the death of the individual. 2. Already early in the first third of life begin changes caused by ageing, which in concurrence with developmental processes increasingly predominate. 3. Thus the total biological functional capacity of an organism decreases, which we called "vitability". 4. Ageing processes do not only occur on post-mitotic cells, but also on intermitotic cells regular changes caused by ageing are to be established.


Predicting protein-peptide interactions via a network-based motif sampler.
Many protein-protein interactions are mediated by peptide recognition modules (PRMs), compact domains that bind to short peptides, and play a critical role in a wide array of biological processes. Recent experimental protein interaction data provide us with an opportunity to examine whether we may explain, or even predict their interactions by computational sequence analysis. Such a question was recently posed by the use of random peptide screens to characterize the ligands of one such PRM, the SH3 domain. We describe a general computational procedure for identifying the ligand peptides of PRMs by combining protein sequence information and observed physical interactions into a simple probabilistic model and from it derive an interaction-mediated de novo motif-finding framework. Using a recent all-versus-all yeast two-hybrid SH3 domain interaction network, we demonstrate that our technique can be used to derive independent predictions of interactions mediated by SH3 domains. We show that only when sequence information is combined with such all versus all protein interaction datasets, are we capable of identifying motifs with sufficient sensitivity and specificity for predicting interactions. The algorithm is general so that it may be applied to other PRM domains (e.g. SH2, WW, PDZ). The Netmotsa software and source code, as part of a general Gibbs motif sampling library, are available at http://sf.net/projects/netmotsa


Relationship Between the Comprehensive Nutritional Index and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.
This study aimed to explore the relationship between the comprehensive nutritional index (CNI) and quality of life in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The nutritional index, which includes total lymphocyte count, hemoglobin and albumin levels, body mass index, and usual body weight percentage, was evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment in patients who underwent IMRT. The quality of life of NPC patients was measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) at four time points: pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3 and 6 mo after IMRT. A comprehensive nutritional model was used to assess the correlation with QLQ-H&N35. The nutritional index decreased significantly post-treatment. The CNI was associated with immunotherapy; the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage; concurrent chemotherapy; speech problems, trouble with social contact, feeling ill and having dental problems at pre-treatment; sexuality at 3 mos post-treatment; and sensory problems and xerostomia at 6 mo post-treatment (P < 0.05). The nutritional status and QLQ-H&N35 scores in NPC patients decreased during IMRT. Our study provides an alternative measure of the CNI to improve the QLQ-H&N35 evaluation system for patients with NPC.


Aminopeptidase N Expression, Not Interferon Responses, Determines the Intestinal Segmental Tropism of Porcine Deltacoronavirus.
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an economically important enteropathogen of swine with worldwide distribution. PDCoV primarily infects the small intestine instead of the large intestine in vivo However, the underlying mechanism of PDCoV tropism to different intestinal segments remains poorly understood as a result of the lack of a suitable in vitro intestinal model that recapitulates the cellular diversity and complex functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we established the PDCoV infection model of crypt-derived enteroids from different intestinal segments. Enteroids were susceptible to PDCoV, and multiple types of different functional intestinal epithelia were infected by PDCoV in vitro and in vivo We further found that PDCoV favorably infected the jejunum and ileum and restrictedly replicated in the duodenum and colon. Mechanistically, enteroids from different intestinal regions displayed a distinct gene expression profile, and the differential expression of primary viral receptor host aminopeptidase N (APN) instead of the interferon (IFN) responses determined the susceptibility of different intestinal segments to PDCoV, although PDCoV substantially elicited antiviral genes production in enteroids after infection. Additional studies showed that PDCoV infection significantly induced the expression of type I and III IFNs at the late stage of infection, and exogenous IFN inhibited PDCoV replication in enteroids. Hence, our results provide critical inputs to further dissect the molecular mechanisms of PDCoV-host interactions and pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE The zoonotic potential of the PDCoV, a coronavirus efficiently infecting cells from a broad range species, including porcine, chicken, and human, emphasizes the urgent need to further study the cell and tissue tropism of PDCoV in its natural host. Herein, we generated crypt stem cell-derived enteroids from porcine different intestinal regions, which well recapitulated the events in vivo of PDCoV infection that PDCoV targeted multiple types of intestinal epithelia and preferably infected the jejunum and ileum over the duodenum and colon. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the expression of APN receptor rather than the IFN responses determined the susceptibility of different regions of the intestines to PDCoV infection, though PDCoV infection markedly elicited the IFN responses. Our findings provide important insights into how the distinct gene expression profiles of the intestinal segments determine the cell and tissue tropism of PDCoV.


Loss of nitrogen from organs in rats induced by exogenous glucagon.
Rats weighing 220 g were injected sc with zinc protamin glucagon 20 micrograms once daily (recurrent hyperglucagonemia) and zinc protamin glucagon 60 micrograms three times daily (chronic hyperglucagonemia); the controls received the vehicle three times daily. In the first group blood glucagon rose to above 200 ng/liter for 5 h every day; in the second group it constantly stayed above 600 ng/liter. After both 2 (n = 5) and 14 (n = 5) days treatment the control total blood alpha-amino-nitrogen (AAN) concentration was 4.3 +/- 0.1 mmol/liter, and the urea nitrogen synthesis rate was 4.9 +/- 0.4 mumol/(min.100 g BW) (mean +/- SEM) in controls. In recurrent hyperglucagonemic rats, treated for both 2 (n = 5) and 14 (n = 5) days, total AAN was 3.6 +/- 0.2 mmol/liter (P less than 0.05 vs. control) and urea nitrogen synthesis rate 4.5 +/- 0.8 mumol/(min.100 g BW). In chronic hyperglucagonemic, treated for both 2 (n = 5) and 14 (n = 5) days, total AAN was 2.2 +/- 0.1 mmol/liter (P less than 0.05 vs. control) and UNSR 7.9 +/- 0.8 mumol/(min.100g BW) (P less than 0.05 vs. control). The urea excretion was identical in controls and during recurrent hyperglucagonemia, but it was increased by 50% during chronic hyperglucagonemia. Food intake was the same in all groups. N Balances decreased from 10 mmol/24 h to 5 mmol/24 h (P less than 0.05) by chronic hyperglucagonemia. The total organ N content did not change by recurrent hyperglucagonemia, but in chronic hyperglucagonemia it decreased to 65-85% (P less than 0.01) in carcass, intestines, liver, and kidneys. In conclusion chronic but not recurrent hyperglucagonemia increases the rate of urea synthesis and decreases the blood amino acid concentration. This is suggested to be a reason for the loss of N from organs by chronic hyperglucagonemia.


Chinese Adolescents' Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Social Support, and Resilience-The Impact of School Type Selection.
Choosing a school that can best assist children's development has become one of the major concerns of Chinese parents. To categorize schools by where students stay after school, this paper consider boarding schools or day schools as two major school types. This study examined the relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), perceived social support (from friends and family), and resilience for 493 Chinese adolescents (male = 249, female = 244; mean age = 13.9, SD = 0.71), and investigated how school type difference impacts these relationships. This research first used a moderator analysis to investigate the effects of trait emotional intelligence on resilience by perceived social support from family and friends, respectively. Results show that social support from family was non-significant, while support from friends was significant in moderating the relationship between EI and resilience. Furthermore, a moderated moderation analysis was used to understand if moderation by school type of perceived social support differs in the effect of trait EI on resilience. Results indicated that the magnitude of the moderation by social support from friends depended on school type. For students who have lower perceived friend support, boarding school experiences provided a stronger positive relationship between trait EI and resilience than day school experience. Ways to enhance students' perceived social support are discussed, along with the limitations of the current research and recommendations for future research.