Pelvic lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Atypical precursor to pulmonary disease.
A 22-year-old woman presented with left pelvic pain and mass. Ultrasonography confirmed a multilocular left adnexal mass containing cysts of varying sizes. The patient had no pulmonary symptoms at the time of presentation. The mass was surgically excised and pathologic diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) was made. Subsequently, she developed hemoptysis and pleural effusion. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest showed findings consistent with LAM. Early diagnosis and treatment for LAM was possible in this atypical case.


Deferoxamine synergistically enhances iron-mediated AP-1 activation: a showcase of the interplay between extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and tyrosine phosphatase.
Deferoxamine (DFO) is a drug widely used for iron overload treatment to reduce body iron burden. In the present study, it was shown in mouse epidermal JB6 cells that all iron compounds transiently induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, whereas DFO further enhanced ERK phosphorylation over long periods. The ERK phosphorylation by DFO treatment appears to be due to the inhibition of MAPK phosphatases (MKP) by DFO. The combined effects of iron-initiated MAPK activation and DFO-mediated MKP inhibition resulted in a synergistic enhancement on AP-1 activities. The results indicate that the interplay between MAPK and MKP is important in regulating the extent of AP-1 activation. It is known that administration of DFO in iron overload patients often results in allergic responses at the injection sites. The results suggest that this synergistic AP-1 activation might play a role in DFO-induced skin immune responses of iron overload patients.


Multivariate analysis of biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials for detection of heavy metal ions in aqueous systems.
This article focuses on implementing multivariate analysis to evaluate biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials (BCN) from three different feedstocks for the detection and differentiation of heavy metal ions in aqueous systems. The BCN were produced from dairy manure, rice straw and sorghum straw biochar using our NanoRefinery process. The NanoRefinery process transforms biochar into advanced nanomaterials using depolymerisation/chemical oxidation and purification of nanomaterials using solvent extraction. Dairy manure biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials (DMB-CN), rice straw biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials (RSB-CN) and sorghum straw biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials (SSB-CN) were utilised as probes for the evaluation of their fluorescent properties and the detection of heavy metal ions. The BCN fluorescence quenching and fluorescence recovery was tested with lead (Pb2+), nickel (Ni2+), copper (Cu2+) and mercury (Hg2+). Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis were used to differentiate among heavy metal ions in water samples. The BCN from different feedstocks had different characteristics and produced different interactions with heavy metal ions. DMB-CN had the highest quenching for Hg2+ and Ni2+ while SSB-CN and RSB-CN responded best to Cu2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The fluorescence quenching was modelled using linear and empirical functions. PCA and discriminant analysis used the quenching measurements to differentiate heavy metal ions in aqueous system. A key result was that the discriminant analysis had a 100% accuracy to detect Pb2+, 66% for Ni2+ and Cu2+, and 33% for Hg2+. This study has shown that biochar-derived carbonaceous nanomaterials could be used in heavy metal ions sensing applications. This is the first step in the development of a fast and accurate method for the detection of heavy metal ions in waters using environmentally friendly BCN.


Stable expression of rat cytochrome P-450IA1 cDNA in V79 Chinese hamster cells and their use in mutagenicity testing.
V79 Chinese hamster cells genetically engineered to express cytochrome P-450IA1 are reported. A full length cDNA encoding rat cytochrome P-450IA1 was obtained from a cDNA library prepared from rat liver mRNA. The cDNA was recombined with the SV40 early promoter and expressed in V79 cells. Three V79-derived P-450IA1-expressing cell lines (XEM1, XEM2, and XEM3) were established. The presence of the rat cytochrome P-450IA1 cDNA in these hamster cells was confirmed by Southern blotting. The transcription of the cDNA into mRNA and translation into the desired cytochrome P-450 protein was detected by Northern and Western blotting. The enzymatic activity was determined by the cytochrome P-450IA1-dependent oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene and 7-ethoxycoumarin. After exposure to benzo[a]pyrene, the mutant frequency increased in XEM1 and XEM2 cells and was higher than in V79 cells in the presence of an exogenous activating system. The mutant frequency was even more increased when XEM1 and XEM2 cells were exposed to the proximate mutagen (trans)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-benzo[a]pyrene.


Differences in 30-day outcomes between inpatient and outpatient total elbow arthroplasty (TEA).
As the health care system in the United States shifts toward value-based care, there has been increased interest in performing total joint arthroplasty in the outpatient setting to optimize costs, outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Several studies have demonstrated success in performing ambulatory total knee and hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to compare short-term outcomes and complications after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) across the inpatient and outpatient operative settings. The American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify 575 patients undergoing primary TEA using the Current Procedural Terminology code 24363. Of this sample, 458 were inpatient and 117 were outpatient procedures. Propensity score matching using a 3:1 inpatient-to-outpatient ratio was performed to account for baseline differences in several variables-age, sex, body mass index class, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and various comorbidities-between the inpatient and outpatient groups. After matching, the rates of various short-term outcomes and complications were compared between the inpatient and outpatient groups. Inpatient TEA was associated with a higher rate of complications relative to outpatient TEA, including non-home discharge (14.9% vs. 7.5%, P = .05), unplanned hospital readmission (7.4% vs. 0.9%, P = .01), surgical complications (7.6% vs. 2.6%, P = .04), and medical complications (3.6% vs. 0.0%, P = .04). Outpatient TEA has a lower short-term complication rate than inpatient TEA. Outpatient TEA should be considered for patients for whom such a discharge pathway is feasible. Future research should focus on risk stratification of patients and specific criteria for deciding when to pursue outpatient TEA.


Immune complexes bind to cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells to stimulate superoxide release. Evidence for an Fc receptor.
Contractile mesangial cells (MC) possess a number of macrophage-like characteristics, including oxygen radical generation. We suggest that under certain conditions MC may serve as immune effector cells in glomerulonephritis. Immune complex (IC) deposits are a hallmark of glomerulonephritis. Because IC elicit oxygen radicals from other cell types and because oxygen radicals can induce glomerular injury, we measured release of O2- by cultured rat MC in response to IC and, in separate experiments, the binding of IC to MC. Soluble and insoluble IC markedly stimulated dose- and time-dependent, saturable O2- release. Specific antibody (Ab) alone or mixtures of nonimmune Ab and antigen had no significant effect. IC-induced O2- release was not affected by cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of phagocytosis. Binding studies with radioiodinated IC demonstrated specific binding with an affinity of 1.56 X 10(6) M-1 and 1.02 X 10(5) receptors per cell. Both binding and O2- release required the Fc region of Ab. IC formed with F(ab')2 fragments did not bind specifically to or stimulate O2- release by MC. Cultured cells from rats depleted of bone marrow-derived phagocytes by irradiation produced amounts of O2- similar to cells from normal rats. These results provide evidence that IC affect the biology of the contractile glomerular MC in a manner that is dependent on the Fc region of Ab and suggest that MC structure and function may be altered at sites of injury.


Induction of innate immunity against herpes simplex virus type 2 infection via local delivery of Toll-like receptor ligands correlates with beta interferon production.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) constitute a family of innate receptors that recognize and respond to a wide spectrum of microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Previous studies have demonstrated that ligands for TLR3 and TLR9 induce potent innate antiviral responses against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). However, the factor(s) involved in this innate protection is not well-defined. Here we report that production of beta interferon (IFN-beta) but not production of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) strongly correlates with innate protection against HSV-2. Local delivery of poly(I:C) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides induced significant production of IFN-beta in the genital tract and provided complete protection against intravaginal (IVAG) HSV-2 challenge. There was no detectable IFN-beta in mice treated with ligands for TLR4 or TLR2, and these mice were not protected against subsequent IVAG HSV-2 challenge. There was no correlation between levels of TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma in the genital tract and protection against IVAG HSV-2 challenge following TLR ligand delivery. Both TNF-alpha(-/-) and IFN-gamma(-/-) mice were protected against IVAG HSV-2 challenge following local delivery of poly(I:C). To confirm that type I interferon, particularly IFN-beta, mediates innate protection, mice unresponsive to type I interferons (IFN-alpha/betaR(-/-) mice) and mice lacking IFN regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3(-/-) mice) were treated with poly(I:C) and then challenged with IVAG HSV-2. There was no protection against HSV-2 infection following poly(I:C) treatment of IFN-alpha/betaR(-/-) or IRF-3(-/-) mice. Local delivery of murine recombinant IFN-beta protected C57BL/6 and IRF-3(-/-) mice against IVAG HSV-2 challenge. Results from these in vivo studies clearly suggest a strong correlation between IFN-beta production and innate antiviral immunity against HSV-2.


[Geriatric department].
The medicolegal, health and organisational aspects of the department introduced by law into the Italian hospital structure are examined. A comparison is made with the proposals made in the single national contract for hospital workers. An account is given of the Senior Citizen's Department set up at Trieste, in the light of the city's demographic and socioeconomic situation.


Simultaneous determination of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry.
This paper reports a simple and fast method for the simultaneous determination of estradiol (ED) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MP) in pharmaceutical formulations by second-derivative spectrophotometry. Methanol was used to extract the drugs from formulations, and subsequently the extracts were evaluated directly by derivative spectrophotometry. The drugs were determined simultaneously by using the graphic method at 297.4 nm for ED and the zero-crossing method at 273.4 nm for MP. If both compounds are present together in a sample, it is possible to quantitate one in the presence of the other. The best signal-to-noise ratio was found when the second derivative of the spectrum was used. The linear ranges for determination of the drugs were 4.7 x 10(-6) to 1.6 x 10(-4) and 7.2 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-4) mol/L for ED and MP, respectively. The ingredients commonly found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere with the determination. Chemical and spectral variables were optimized for the determination of both analytes. Good levels of repeatability (relative standard deviation), 1.4 and 1.9%, were obtained for ED and MP, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.


A study of the influence of muscle type and muscle force level on individual frequency bands of the EMG power spectrum.
The aim of this study was to analyse the electromyographic (EMG) power spectrum indicating differences in the frequency bands of the spectrum resulting from differences in muscle type and force level for the extensor digitorum (ED), palmaris longus (PL) and biceps brachii (BB) muscles. The study was performed on 12 young men as 2 tests different in terms of the type of exerted force (30, 15 and 5% MVC, maximum voluntary contraction). The parameters of the EMG power spectrum were obtained as a result of a division of the EMG power spectrum into ranges determined by border frequencies. The results suggest that (a) frequency bands contained in the 30-80 Hz range and over the frequency of 300 Hz depend on muscle force, and (b) the power spectrum in the frequency range of up to 40 Hz and 60-300 Hz indicates muscle type.


The Hare and the Hedgehog: Empirical evidence on the relationship between the individual Pace of Life and the speed-accuracy continuum.
Against the background of the speed-accuracy trade-off, we explored whether the Pace of Life can be used to identify heterogeneity in the strategy to place more weight on either fast or accurate accomplishments. The Pace of Life approaches an individual's exposure to time and is an intensively studied concept in the evolutionary biology research. Albeit overall rarely, it is increasingly used to understand human behavior and may fulfill many criteria of a personal trait. In a controlled laboratory environment, we measured the participants' Pace of Life, as well as their performance on a real-effort task. In the real-effort task, the participants had to encode words, whereby each word encoded correctly was associated with a monetary reward. We found that individuals with a faster Pace of Life accomplished more tasks in total. At the same time, they were less accurate and made more mistakes (in absolute terms) than those with a slower Pace of Life. Thus, the Pace of Life seems to be useful to identify an individual's stance on the speed-accuracy continuum. In our specific task, placing more weight on speed instead of accuracy paid off: Individuals with a faster Pace of Life were ultimately more successful (with regard to their monetary revenue).


A general presentation on how to carry out a CHARMS analysis for prognostic multivariate models.
The CHARMS (critical appraisal and data extraction for systematic reviews of prediction modelling studies) checklist was created to provide methodological appraisals of predictive models, based on the best available scientific evidence and through systematic reviews. Our purpose is to give a general presentation on how to carry out a CHARMS analysis for prognostic multivariate models, making clear what the steps are and how they are applied individually to the studies included in the systematic review. This tutorial is aimed at providing such a resource. In addition to this explanation, we will apply the method to a real case: predictive models of atrial fibrillation in the community. This methodology could be applied to other predictive models using the steps provided in our review so as to have complete information for each included model and determine whether it can be implemented in daily clinical practice.


Reprocessed bipolar energy for laparoscopic colectomy: Is it worth it?
Reprocessed (re-sterilized) bipolar energy devices represent one effort to reduce operative costs. Between January 2014 to October 2015, 76 patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy using a reprocessed bipolar energy device and were case-matched to 76 patients from a prospectively-maintained database from November 2012 to December 2013 when an identical, new device was used. Outcomes included reprocessed device safety, efficiency and hospital costs. There was no difference in patient demographics, operative times or failed pedicle ligation requiring intervention between groups (all P > 0.05). In 19.7% of reprocessed cases, the surgeon opened an additional new device after dissatisfaction with the reprocessed instrument. Operating room costs and total costs were less for the reprocessed device group (all P < 0.05). Reprocessed bipolar energy devices were associated with savings in operative expenses, however, larger studies are warranted due to the high surgeon dissatisfaction regarding safety concerns with the reprocessed equipment.


Ferulic acid reduces cerebral infarct through its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
Both Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (AS) and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (LC) have been used to treat stroke in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Ferulic acid (FA), a component in both AS and LC, plays a role in neuroprotection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of FA on cerebral infarct and the involvement of neuroprotective pathway. Rats underwent 2 hours and 24 hours of reperfusion after 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). The cerebral infarct and neurological deficits were measured after 24 hours of reperfusion. Furthermore, the expression of superoxide radicals, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) immunoreactive cells were assessed after 2 hours and 24 hours of reperfusion. Administration of 80 and 100 mg/kg of FA at the beginning of MCAo significantly reduced cerebral infarct and neurological deficit-score, similar results were obtained by 100 mg/kg of FA administered 30 min after MCAo. FA treatment (100 mg/kg i.v.) effectively suppressed superoxide radicals in the parenchyma lesion, and ICAM-1 immunoreactive vessels in the ischemic striatum after 2 hours of reperfusion. FA (100 mg/kg i.v.) reduced the expression of ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB in the ischemic cortex and striatum, also down-regulated MPO immunoreactive cells in the ischemic cortex after 24 hours of reperfusion. These results showed that the effect of FA on reducing cerebral infarct area and neurological deficit-score were at least partially attributed to the inhibition of superoxide radicals, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB expression in transient MCAo rats.


An assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte rigidity in HIV-infected individuals after immune recovery.
To determine whether polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) remain rigid after immune reconstitution in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals with a history of severe immunosuppression. PMN rigidity was measured in vitro in three groups: (1) HIV-infected individuals with a history of CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts of less than 50/microL, but with current counts of more than 200/microL attributable to potent antiretroviral therapy (group 1); (2) HIV-infected individuals whose CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts had always been more than 200/microL (group 2); and (3) HIV-negative control subjects. Rigidity was determined with a cell transit analyzer (containing a micropore filter with 30 identical, 8-microm diameter pores), representing a simple in vitro model of a capillary bed. A longer PMN pore transit time reflects increased PMN rigidity. PMN transit time (median) in group 1 (n = 11) was 3.34 ms, in group 2 (n = 9) was 3.19 ms, and in control subjects (n = 15) was 2.66 ms. PMN rigidity was significantly greater in groups 1 (P = 0.014) and 2 (P = 0.046) than in control subjects (Wilcoxon rank-sum test). A significant difference was not identified between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.518). The increased PMN rigidity known to occur in severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected individuals persists after immune reconstitution. Furthermore, PMN rigidity is increased in those HIV-infected individuals who do not have a history of severe immunosuppression. Because PMN rigidity can alter microvascular blood flow, HIV-infected individuals may remain at risk for retinal vascular damage in the era of potent antiretroviral therapy.


T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against autologous EBV-genome-bearing B cells.
We have stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro with autologous EBV-infected or noninfected B cells. A cytotoxic response was obtained only when virally infected cells were used. The activity of the effector cells was restricted by the major histocompatibility complex and was directed against EBV-genome-bearing targets. The highest cytolytic response was obtained when lymphocytes of individuals previously exposed to the virus (EBV-VCA positive) were used. Lymphocytes of noninfected donors (EBV-VCA negative) gave a low response; the relative frequency of their effector cells was at least 4-fold lower. Lymphocytes of newborns did not respond. The cytotoxic activity was mediated by T lymphocytes of the cytotoxic/suppressor subset, as determined by cytofluorographic analysis and antibody plus complement-mediated lysis, using monoclonal antibodies to human lymphocyte surface antigen.


Microregulatory patterns of family interactions: cultural pathways to toddlers' self-regulation.
Pathways to children's self-regulation were examined in 2 cultures representing individualistic and collectivistic orientations. Family interactions were observed in 100 Israeli and 62 Palestinian couples and their firstborn child at 5 months and in a problem-solving task at 33 months. Patterns of gaze, affect, proximity, touch, and parental teaching strategies were coded. Child self-regulation was observed at child care locations. Among Israeli families, interactions involved face-to-face exchange, social gaze, object focus, and active touch in infancy and indirect parental assistance to toddlers. Among Palestinian families, interactions consisted of continuous contact, neutral affect, reduced negative emotionality, and concrete assistance. Levels of self-regulation were comparable and were predicted by culture-specific patterns. Social gaze, touch, and indirect teaching were found to predict self-regulation among Israeli toddlers; contact and concrete assistance were predictors among Palestinians. Discussion considers the ways early relational patterns mirror cultural philosophies on the self and differentially support self-regulation at the transition from family to the larger social context.


[Effect of afobazole on the accumulation of free radical oxidation products and the catalase activity in rats with cerebral ischemia].
The influence of afobazole on the accumulation of free radical oxidation products (reactive oxygen species, ROS) and on the activity of antioxidative enzyme catalase was studied in striatum and cortex of rats under cerebral ischemia damage conditions. Afobazole showed a tendency to decrease the extent of ROS accumulation in the cortex. In striatum, the intensity of ROS accumulation in rats after ischemia wasa reliably lower as compared to that in control rats, but afobazole produced a partial recovery of this parameter. Afobazole induced an increase in the catalase activity in the cortex of rats with ischemia. In contrast, afobazole did not change the activity of this enzyme in striatum (where it was also decreased by ischemia). Thus, afobazole increased the resistance of neuron membrane structures to free radical oxidation in cortex and striatum and stimulated the catalase activity in the cortex in rats with global reversible cerebral ischernia.


THE EFFECT OF A VARIABLE ENVIRONMENT ON THE GENETIC CORRELATION STRUCTURE IN A FIELD CRICKET.
The evolutionary trajectory of a trait depends not only on the presence of genetic variation, but also on the pattern of genetic correlations (rg ) among traits. Genetic correlations are most easily measured under homogeneous, controlled laboratory conditions, whereas natural populations typically experience a higher degree of environmental variability. The effect of environmental variability on genetic correlations in the cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, was studied by measuring genetic correlations within and between two environments differing in levels of environmental heterogeneity. Within-environment rg among morphological traits measured in the homogeneous laboratory environment were found to be reliable predictors of rg measured in the experimental field environment. Laboratory measures of rg involving life-history traits, though, were not found to reflect the same correlations measured in the heterogeneous environment. A significant negative genetic correlation between fecundity and developmental time was found in the field environment, yet was not detectable when measured in the laboratory. Phenotypic correlations may be obtained much more easily than genetic correlations, but their usefulness in evolutionary inference depends on the pattern of similarity between the two correlations. A comparison of genetic and phenotypic correlations revealed a close match between the two measures for morphological traits, but revealed only broad similarities when considering life-history traits. Male-female genetic correlations between morphological traits were high (all rg > 0.73) and were consistently higher in the field environment than in the laboratory. The genetic correlations between the sexes in developmental time followed the same trend, but the male-female genetic correlation of gonad weights was low in both environments. Across-environment correlations were found to be strong for morphological traits and for gonad weight, whereas the genetic expression of developmental time was found to be dependent on the environment in which the crickets were raised.


Long-term intraventricular baclofen infusion in beagles.
This study was designed to evaluate the clinical and histopathological effects of long-term (3-month) intraventricular baclofen (IVB) infusion in beagle dogs. Catheters were inserted stereotactically into the lateral ventricles of nine dogs and were connected to implanted Synchromed II pumps. Saline solution (control animals) and IVB (experimental animals) were infused continuously. The IVB dosages ranged from 100 to 1000 microg/day. An IVB infusion of 135 microg/day or less throughout a 3-month period was associated with no adverse side effects in any animal. Infusion of 150 microg/day produced overt seizures in one dog and produced adverse side effects in another; a reduction in the dosage given to these animals to 135 microg/day was tolerated with no adverse effects. Infusion of IVB at a dosage of 250, 500, or 1000 microg/day caused lethal toxicity within the first 4 days of infusion. Histopathological specimens obtained at necropsy revealed no ventricular or subependymal changes in animals receiving an IVB dosage of 135 microg/day or less. Intraventricular baclofen infusion in beagles has dose-related toxicity; however, no clinical or neurological toxicity was evidenced at clinically tolerated dosages (< or =135 microg/day) throughout 3 months of infusion.


Severe acute pancreatitis: nutritional management in the ICU.
Patients with acute pancreatitis have elevated nutritional needs due to increased energy expenditure and catabolism. It is a clinical challenge to provide adequate nutrition to these patients while maintaining gut function, preventing pancreatic stimulation, and minimizing the risk of septic and metabolic complications associated with nutritional support. We present the case of a patient who had severe acute pancreatitis and was initially given total parenteral nutrition. After a period of initial improvement, he developed hyperglycemia, bacteremia, and sepsis. Parenteral nutrition was discontinued and infection was treated with antibiotics. Subsequent nutritional support consisted of enteral feeding with an elemental diet infused via a nasojejunal feeding tube. His condition improved gradually and he made a full recovery. This case illustrates the difficulties encountered while managing a case of severe acute pancreatitis and provides an evidence based approach to the nutritional management of severe acute pancreatitis in the intensive care unit setting.


Recent Advances and Emerging Applications in Text and Data Mining for Biomedical Discovery.
Precision medicine will revolutionize the way we treat and prevent disease. A major barrier to the implementation of precision medicine that clinicians and translational scientists face is understanding the underlying mechanisms of disease. We are starting to address this challenge through automatic approaches for information extraction, representation and analysis. Recent advances in text and data mining have been applied to a broad spectrum of key biomedical questions in genomics, pharmacogenomics and other fields. We present an overview of the fundamental methods for text and data mining, as well as recent advances and emerging applications toward precision medicine.


Effect of natural organic matter on zinc inhibition of hematite bioreduction by Shewanella putrefaciens CN32.
The effect of zinc on the biological reduction of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) by the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium (DMRB) Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 was studied in the presence of four natural organic materials (NOMs). Experiments were performed under non-growth conditions with H2 as the electron donor and zinc inhibition was quantified as the decrease in the 5 d extent of hematite bioreduction as compared to no-zinc controls. Every NOM was shown to significantly increase zinc inhibition during hematite bioreduction. NOMs were shown to alter the distribution of both biogenic Fe(II) and Zn(II) between partitioned (hematite and cell surfaces) and solution phases. To further evaluate the mechanism(s) of NOM-promoted zinc inhibition, similar bioreduction experiments were conducted with nitrate as a soluble electron acceptor, and hematite bioreduction experiments were conducted with manganese which was essentially non-inhibitory in the absence of NOM. The results suggest that Me(II)-NOM complexes may be specifically inhibitory during solid-phase bioreduction via interference of DMRB attachment to hematite through the formation of ternary Me(II)-NOM-hematite complexes.


Digoxin for the Management of Unstable Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia in a Patient Who Refused Electrical Cardioversion in a Rural Hospital.
The most frequent atrioventricular tachycardia in the emergency room is atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The first treatment option for ending stable narrow QRS complex SVTs is vagal maneuvers and adenosine. When adenosine or vagal maneuvers fail to change a patient's rhythm to normal sinus rhythm, long-acting AV nodal-blocking medications, including nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem), flecainide, or beta-blockers, are employed. Electricity (synchronized cardioversion) is the preferred form of treatment for unstable patients. Case Presentation. A 40-year-old male patient presented to the Emergency Department of Dubti General Hospital, the Afar regional state in Ethiopia, with a complaint of shortness of breath, palpitation, extreme fatigue, and chest pain of a day's duration. His blood pressure was 80/50 mmHg, he had cold extremities and a weak radial pulse, and his apical heart rate was fast, making it difficult to count. His electrocardiogram (ECG) showed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) with a heart rate of 200. He was a candidate for electrical cardioversion due to unstable PSVT, but he and his family members refused to give consent. Even though he is not indicated for pharmacologic therapy, none of the commonly used drugs were available at the hospital. We managed him with digoxin, and the outcome was positive. Even though we could not find a clear recommendation regarding the use of digoxin for patients with unstable PSVT (AVNRT), by taking into consideration its negative chronotropic effect and its action to suppress the AV nodal conduction velocity, it may reduce the heart rate, and it can be used as an alternative in such difficult scenarios and a resource-limited setting. But this should be further investigated.


Identification and functional study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
In many eukaryotes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) via the transmembrane endoribonuclease IRE1 to maintain ER homeostasis. The ER stress response in microalgae has not been studied in detail. Here, we identified Chlamydomonas reinhardtii IRE1 (CrIRE1) and characterized two independent knock-down alleles of this gene. CrIRE1 is similar to IRE1s identified in budding yeast, plants, and humans, in terms of conserved domains, but differs in having the tandem zinc-finger domain at the C terminus. CrIRE1 was highly induced under ER stress conditions, and the expression of a chimeric protein consisting of the luminal N-terminal region of CrIRE1 fused to the cytosolic C-terminal region of yeast Ire1p rescued the yeast ∆ire1 mutant. Both allelic ire1 knock-down mutants ire1-1 and ire1-2 were much more sensitive than their parental strain CC-4533 to the ER stress inducers tunicamycin, dithiothreitol and brefeldin A. Treatment with a low concentration of tunicamycin resulted in growth arrest and cytolysis in ire1 mutants, but not in CC-4533 cells. Furthermore, in the mutants, ER stress marker gene expression was reduced, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) marker gene expression was increased. The survival of ire1 mutants treated with tunicamycin improved in the presence of the ROS scavenger glutathione, suggesting that ire1 mutants failed to maintain ROS levels under ER stress. Together, these results indicate that CrIRE1 functions as an important component of the ER stress response in Chlamydomonas, and suggest that the ER stress sensor IRE1 is highly conserved during the evolutionary history.


Human nasal immune system: a special site for immune response establishment.
The mucosal immune system located in correspondence to the olfactory organs in adult humans is not well identifiable but has proven important in establishing an effective immune response against inhaled antigens, including the generation of Helper 1 (TH1)- and TH2-cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), plasma cells (PCs) and memory B cells. It is constituted by a diffused network of cells of epithelial and immune origin, as well as organized lymphoid tissue, where each component has a role in the initiation and maintenance of a long-lasting immune response, which is evoked not only in the oral and nasal cavities but also in the respiratory, intestinal and genito-urinary tracts. These peculiarities, in association to the easy anatomical accessibility of such immunological site, render the nasal mucosa a good candidate for the development of vaccine, even if a better understanding of the mechanism of the immune response induction as well as finding a safe adjuvant are necessary.


A smart palladium catalyst in ionic liquid for tandem processes.
New catalytic systems based on in situ and preformed palladium nanoparticles in ionic liquids (characterised by TEM) starting from palladium acetate or dipalladiumtris(dibenzylideneacetone) have been applied in the synthesis of 4-phenylbutan-2-one (II), a model compound for the preparation of fragrances. Imidazolium-based ionic liquid containing a methyl hydrogenophosphonate anion leads to an efficient Pd-catalyzed tandem coupling/reduction process, taking advantage of the multi-role of this solvent (nanoparticles stabiliser, base, hydrogen transfer agent). The influence of the mono-phosphine ligands (1-3) on the catalyst has been evaluated, showing that the ligand-free palladium system turns into the most appropriate for the formation of II using Pd(OAc)(2) as precursor. Fine-tuning conditions involved in this multi-parameter process have led us to propose a plausible mechanism based on the hydrogen transfer coming from the methyl hydrogenophosphonate anion.


Chemical constituents of Geum urbanum L. roots.
A new dehydrodigallic acid derivative (1), along with 19 known compounds, including 6 phenolic derivatives, 2 steroids and 11 triterpenoids were isolated from the ethanol extract of the root of Geum urbanum. Herein, there is the first report of steroid and triterpene in Geum urbanum. The purified metabolites were characterised by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. The identification of the known compounds (2-20) was based on the comparison of their NMR spectroscopic features with previously published data. The structural characteristics of compound 1 were elucidated by comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and acid hydrolysis.


Equal-loudness contours using subjective tinnitus as the standard.
For six patients with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, we determined the level of comparison tones (Co) of various frequencies that were judged to be as loud as the tinnitus (i.e., an equal-loudness contour was obtained). To prevent interactions of the Co and the tinnitus, the Co was chosen to lie outside of the region of pitch matches made to the tinnitus. If the loudness of the tinnitus is assumed to be fixed at L sones, then the level, P, of the Co is nearly predicted from the equation, L = K(P - p0).6 where p0 is the absolute threshold of the Co used for the match. The rate of increase of loudness therefore depends on the threshold of the Co: For constant loudness, the larger the absolute threshold of the Co, the smaller is its sensation level. For persons with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, therefore, the sensation level of the Co is always smaller in the region of loss than in the normal region. It follows that the sensation level of the Co does not reflect the loudness of the tinnitus; thus, tinnitus cannot be viewed as a weak tone simply because it is matched to a tone at low sensation level.


[The epidemiology and pathogeny investigation of two clusters of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome disease outbreaking in Henan Province, 2022].
To investigate two clusters of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Xinyang City, Henan Province, in 2022, and analyze their causes, transmission route, risk factors, and the characteristics of virus genetic variation. Case search and case investigation were carried out according to the case definition. Blood samples from cases, family members and neighbors and samples of biological vectors were collected for RT-PCR to detect SFTSV. The whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on the collected positive samples. A total of two clustered outbreaks occurred, involving two initial cases and ten secondary cases, all of which were family recurrent cases. Among them, nine secondary cases had close contact with the blood of the initial case, and it was determined that close contact with blood was the main risk factor for the two clustered outbreaks. After genome sequencing analysis, we found that the SFTSV genotype in two cases was type A, which was closely related to previous endemic strains in Xinyang. The nucleotide sequence of the SFTSV in the case was highly homologous, with a total of nine amino acid mutation sites in the coding region. It was not ruled out that its mutation sites might have an impact on the outbreak of the epidemic.


Designing a Multilayered Oxygen Barrier Structure to Tackle Oxidation Challenges in Phase-Change Memory for Improved Reliability.
Phase-change memory (PCM) is considered one of the most promising candidates for universal memory. However, during the manufacturing process of PCM, phase-change materials (PCMs) encounter severe oxidation, which can cause degraded performance and reduced stability of PCM, hindering its industrialization process. In this work, a multilayered oxygen barrier (MOB) structure is proposed to tackle this challenge. Material characterization shows that the MOB structure can significantly reduce the extent of oxidation of PCMs from around 70% to as low as around 10%, achieving a remarkably low level of oxidation. Moreover, the material in the MOB structure exhibits notable enhancements in crystallization temperature and cycling capability. The improved stability is attributed to the oxygen barrier effect and the suppression of elemental segregation within the material, which are both conferred by the MOB structure. In summary, this work provides an effective solution to address the oxidation of PCMs, offering valuable guidance for realizing a high-reliability PCM in practical production.


Clinical comparison of the osteochondral autograft transfer system and subchondral drilling in osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head.
Osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head can deteriorate to osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint if left untreated. Treatment options for osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head vary widely. To compare the clinical outcomes of the osteochondral autograft transfer system with those of subchondral drilling for the treatment of osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. The authors retrospectively evaluated 24 cases of osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head treated operatively; 14 patients underwent subchondral drilling (group A), while 10 were treated with the osteochondral autograft transfer system (group B). The association of variables of osteochondral defects with clinical outcomes was assessed in each group. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scale, and the Roles and Maudsley score. The Tegner activity scale and an activity rating scale were used to determine the activity levels. The mean VAS score in both groups was significantly improved (from 6.9 ± 0.9 to 3.9 ± 1.3 in group A and from 7.4 ± 0.8 to 3.4 ± 1.2 in group B; P < .05). No difference was noted between the 2 groups at final follow-up (P = .651). The mean AOFAS score in both groups was significantly improved (from 62.9 ± 5.8 to 73.2 ± 8.2 in group A and from 65.0 ± 4.1 to 81.5 ± 5.8 in group B; P < .05). There was a significant difference in mean AOFAS score between the 2 groups at final follow-up (P = .032). Large defect size (≥50 mm(2)) and the existence of a subchondral cyst were significant predictors of unsatisfactory clinical outcomes in group A (P = .047 and P = .019, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed a defect size larger than 50 mm(2) was associated with significantly worse outcomes on the last follow-up VAS and AOFAS scores in group A (P = .005 for VAS and P = .006 for AOFAS). There was no association of defect size and subchondral cyst with clinical outcomes in group B (P > .05). No association was found between location of the defect area and clinical outcome in either group. For osteochondral defects larger than 50 mm(2) or when a subchondral cyst exists, the osteochondral autograft transfer system could potentially be used as a treatment of choice for osteochondral defects of the first metatarsal head to restore functionality of the metatarsophalangeal joint.


Molecular analysis of Malassezia species isolated from hospitalized neonates.
Malassezia species are a part of the skin microflora of neonates. Under certain circumstances, they can cause diseases ranging from simple pustulosis to lifethreatening fungemia in newborn infants. Little information is available about the epidemiology of Malassezia species in neonates. In the present study, we successfully isolated Malassezia yeasts from 68.7% of hospitalized neonates. Using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFPL), M. furfur (88.06%) was identified as the most isolated species, followed in frequency by M. globosa (10.48%), M. obtusa (0.73%), and M. slooffiae (0.73%). Among the variables studied, only a longer stay in the ward resulted in a higher colonization rate. Using multiple logistic regression, only the type of hospital and ward had some effects on the colonization rate. Our results supported the hypothesis that neonates acquire Malassezia flora through direct contact with their mothers or hospital personnel.


Lactobacilli as effectors of host functions: no influence on the activities of enzymes in enterocytes of mice.
Preparations of lactobacilli are often used as dietary supplements to improve the growth and efficiency in utilizing food of animals of commercial value. We tested in an experimental model whether the effects of lactobacilli on growth of and food utilization by animals may be due to alteration of the activities of absorptive enzymes in the small bowel. Germfree mice housed in isolators under tightly controlled conditions were monoassociated with one of four strains of indigenous Lactobacillus spp. From 1 to 5 weeks later, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was assayed in homogenates of segments of the upper small intestines of the associated animals and of matched germfree controls. The specific activity of the enzyme was the same in the mice in the two groups. In other experiments, epithelial cells were isolated from the upper small intestines of mice associated with eight Lactobacillus strains (octa-associated) and from those of matched germfree mice and assayed for alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, and thymidine kinase activities. The epithelial cells were harvested sequentially from the tips of the villi toward the crypts of Lieberkühn of the intestines. In all preparations, mice of both types yielded an equivalent mass (wet weight) of cells. The protein content of the cells reflected the mass. The activities of the microvillous membrane enzymes alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase and the cytosol enzyme thymidine kinase were the same whether or not the animals contained the bacteria. Therefore, any effects on animal growth and food utilization observed when lactobacilli are used as dietary supplements may not be due to a direct alteration by the bacteria of the absorptive enzymes of the host animal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Associations for change in physical and psychological factors and treatment response following exercise in knee osteoarthritis: an exploratory study.
Understanding how changes in physical and psychological factors following therapeutic exercise are associated with treatment outcome could have important implications for refining rehabilitation programs for knee osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to examine the association of changes in these factors with changes in pain and function after an exercise program for people with knee OA. In total, 152 people with knee OA completed an exercise program consisting of lower extremity strengthening, stretching, range of motion, balance and agility, and aerobic exercises. The change from baseline to the 2-month followup was calculated for physical and psychological factors, including self-reported knee instability, quadriceps strength, knee and ankle range of motion, lower extremity muscle flexibility, fear of physical activity, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Treatment response was defined as a minimum of a 20% improvement from baseline in both a numerical knee pain rating scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function scale. The association of each factor with treatment response was examined with logistic regression mutually adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, radiographic severity, and exercise group. Change in self-reported knee instability (odds ratio [OR] 1.67 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.13-2.47]) and fear of physical activity (OR 0.93 [95% CI 0.88-1.00]) were the only 2 factors that were significantly associated with treatment response after adjustment for covariates. Improvement in knee instability and fear of physical activity were associated with increased odds of a positive treatment response following therapeutic exercise in subjects with knee OA.


Extracting hierarchical features of cultural variation using network-based clustering.
High-dimensional datasets on cultural characters contribute to uncovering insights about factors that influence cultural evolution. Because cultural variation in part reflects descent processes with a hierarchical structure - including the descent of populations and vertical transmission of cultural traits - methods designed for hierarchically structured data have potential to find applications in the analysis of cultural variation. We adapt a network-based hierarchical clustering method for use in analysing cultural variation. Given a set of entities, the method constructs a similarity network, hierarchically depicting community structure among them. We illustrate the approach using four datasets: pronunciation variation in the US mid-Atlantic region, folklore variation in worldwide cultures, phonemic variation across worldwide languages and temporal variation in first names in the US. In these examples, the method provides insights into processes that affect cultural variation, uncovering geographic and other influences on observed patterns and cultural characters that make important contributions to them.


Differential regulation of activator protein 1 activity by glycyrrhizin.
Glycyrrhizin, a major component of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root, is a saponin and exhibits a number of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-ulcer, anti-allergy, and anticarcinogenesis. Activator protein I (AP-1), a nuclear transcription factor, consists of Jun/Fos heterodimers or Jun/Jun homodimers, and blocking of tumor promoter-induced AP-1 activity could inhibit induced cellular transformation. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of glycyrrhizin-induced anticarcinogenesis, effect of glycyrrhizin on the AP-1 activity in untreated and tumor promoter-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated conditions was analyzed in this study. Glycyrrhizin induced the AP-1/TATA reporter activity in a dose-dependent fashion, which was judged by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay and electrophoretic mobility-shift assay. Similar results were observed in HepG2 and Vero cells, suggested that glycyrrhizin effect was cell type-independent. In addition, the cis element responsible for glycyrrhizin activity was AP-1 responsive element. Further analysis indicated that glycyrrhizin exhibited a different regulation on the AP-1 activity in untreated and TPA-treated cells. Glycyrrhizin induced the AP-1 activity in untreated cells, while it inhibited the TPA-induced AP-1 activation in TPA-treated cells. These results provide insight into the biological actions of glycyrrhizin and the molecular basis for the development of new chemoprotective agents for cancer.


Effect of anemia on blood and tissue lead in rats.
The effect of anemia on the lead content of blood, red cells, and tissue was studied in rats given oral lead, 54 mg/kg-day for 6 days. The 16 rats made anemic (hematocrit, 26%) by bleeding on days 1, 3, and 5 had significantly higher concentrations of lead in the kidney, liver, red cells, blood, and brain (but not in the bone marrow). Increases in blood lead in anemic subjects were correlated with the concentrations in red cells, kidney, and liver. The greater increase in the lead content of all tissues of the anemic rats is consistent with increased lead absorption in anemia and is considered relevant to the clinical coexistence of anemia and lead poisoning.


Alpha-pinene moderates memory impairment induced by kainic acid via improving the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in rat hippocampus.
The potential benefits of natural ingredients in the alleviation of neurodegenerative disorders are of great interest. Alpha-pinene (APN) is an essential oil belonging to monoterpenes with multiple beneficial effects. In this study, the possible improving effects of alpha-pinene on memory impairment induced by kainic acid and the underlying molecular mechanisms were examined. Memory impairment was induced by i.c.v. injection of kainic acid (KA) in male Wistar rats. Alpha-pinene (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was injected for 21 days, including 14 days before the KA injection and seven days afterward. Spatial working memory and inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory performance were assessed five and even days following KA injection, respectively. The hippocampal protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-like receptor kinase B (TrkB), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and neuronal loss in the CA1 region were also examined. Results revealed that the i.c.v. injection of KA triggered memory impairment, which was notably diminished by alpha-pinene pre-and post-treatment. Histopathological evaluation revealed that alpha-pinene significantly moderated the attenuation in CA1 alive neurons induced by KA injection. Western blotting analysis confirmed that alpha-pinene pre-and post-treatment significantly reversed the KA-induced decreases in the hippocampal levels of BDNF, TrkB, phosphorylated TrkB, CREB, and phosphorylated CREB. These findings suggest that alpha-pinene pre-and post-treatment moderate memory impairment induced by KA by restoring the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in the rat hippocampus.


Improving risk assessment and familial aggregation of age at onset in schizophrenia using minor physical anomalies and craniofacial measures.
Age at onset is the most important feature of schizophrenia that could indicate its origin. Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) characterize potential marker indices of disturbances in early neurodevelopment. However, the association between MPAs and age at onset of schizophrenia is still unclear. We aimed to compare risk assessment and familial aggregation in patients with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS) with MPAs and craniofacial measures.We estimated the risk assessment of MPAs among patients with EOS (n = 68), patients with AOS (n = 183), nonpsychotic relatives (n = 147), and healthy controls (n = 241) using 3 data-mining algorithms. In addition, we assessed the magnitude of familial aggregation of MPAs with respect to the age at onset of schizophrenia.The performance of EOS was superior to that of AOS, with discrimination accuracies of 89% and 76%, respectively. Combined MPA scores as the risk assessment were significantly higher in all schizophrenia subgroups and the nonpsychotic relatives of EOS patients than in the healthy controls. The recurrence risk ratio for familial aggregation of the MPA scores of EOS families (odds ratio 9.27) was substantially higher than that of AOS families (odds ratio 2.47).The results highlight that EOS improves risk assessment and has a severe magnitude of familial aggregation of MPAs. These findings indicate that EOS might result from a stronger genetic susceptibility to neurodevelopmental deficits.


Pathology of dogs in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis.
Different parasites that commonly occur concomitantly can influence one another, sometimes with unpredictable effects. We evaluated pathological aspects of dogs naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis. The health status of the dogs was investigated based on histopathological, hematological and biochemical analyses of 21 animals infected solely with L. infantum and 22 dogs co- infected with L. infantum and E. canis. The skin of both groups showed chronic, predominantly lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammatory reaction. The plasmacytosis in the lymphoid tissues was likely related with the hypergammaglobulinemia detected in all the dogs. The disorganization of extracellular matrix found in the reticular dermis of the inguinal region and ear, characterized by the substitution of thick collagen fibers for thin fibers, was attributed to the degree of inflammatory reaction, irrespective of the presence of parasites. In addition, the histopathological analysis revealed that twice as many dogs in the co-infected group presented Leishmania amastigotes in the ear skin than those infected solely with Leishmania, increasing the possibility of becoming infected through sand fly vectors. Our findings highlight the fact that the health of dogs infected concomitantly with L. infantum and E. canis is severely compromised due to their high levels of total plasma protein, globulins, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase, and severe anemia.


The role of anesthetic drug and technique in endothelial glycocalyx: A narrative review.
The level of endothelial glycocalyx (EG) shedding is associated with morbidity and mortality, and vascular endothelial barrier dysfunction is one of the pivotal clinical problems faced by critically ill patients, so research on the protective effects of EG is of great clinical significance for the treatment of critically ill diseases. Studies have illustrated that clinical anesthesia has different degrees of effects on vascular EG. Therefore, we reviewed the effects of distinct anesthesia methods and diverse anesthetic drugs on EG, aiming to provide a brief summary of what we know now, and to discuss possible future directions for investigations in this area. So as to provide a theoretical basis for future research on potential EG-positive drugs and targets, to minimize perioperative complications and improve the prognosis of surgical patients.


Decay of visual information from a single letter.
If the trace of a letter can be matched more rapidly with a physically identical letter (as in the pair AA) than it can be with a letter having only the same name (as in the pair Aa), then the trace must preserve the visual aspect of the letter. The visual information from a single letter decays in about 1.5 seconds if the task provides little incentive for preservation.


Hypercalcemia and peptic ulcer disease-related Milk-alkali syndrome.
Milk-alkali syndrome was considered "extinct" by 1985 because of the advent of non-alkaline ulcer medications (ie, histamine-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors). At that time, it was thought to cause <1% of hypercalcemia, which occurred when one ingested a sufficient quantity of calcium and alkali together. This case emphasizes the importance of considering this syndrome in patients who self-medicate for control of symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux and peptic ulcer disease and for those using calcium supplementation for prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.


THE QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN SILENE LATIFOLIA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE). II. RESPONSE TO SEX-SPECIFIC SELECTION.
A well-established theoretical relationship exists between genetic correlations between the sexes and the dynamics of response to sex-specific selection. The present study investigates the response to sex-specific selection for two sexually dimorphic traits that have been documented to be genetically variable, calyx diameter and flower number, in Silene latifolia. Following the establishment of a base generation with a known genetic background, selection lines were established and two generations of sex-specific selection were imposed. Calyx diameter responded directly to sex-specific selection, and the positive genetic correlation between the sexes was reflected in correlated responses in the sex that was not the basis for selection within a particular line. Flower number showed a more erratic response to sex-specific selection in that selection in some lines was initially in the wrong direction, that is, selection for a decrease in flower number resulted in an increase. These erratic responses were attributable to genotype-environment interaction as reflected in significant heteroscedasticity in variance among families. Correlated responses to selection in the sex that was not the immediate basis for selection indicated the possible existence of a negative genetic correlation between the sexes for this trait. These results test for the first time the impact of genetic correlations between the sexes on the evolutionary dynamics of sexually dimorphic traits in a plant species.


Synthetic gel of carotid artery plaque.
Atherosclerosis is a complex disease that affects medium and large arteries, leading to the formation and progression of plaque. In this process the proteins play an essential role and as a consequence, proteomic-based strategies examining the protein content of cells or tissues could offer a useful approach for the study of plaque proteins. Due to the heterogeneous cell composition of plaque, proteome analysis of whole lesions is difficult, besides being also complicated by the presence of plasma proteins that cannot be completely eliminated. A good way to study variations in protein expression among series of gels is to construct a synthetic gel. This type of gel is obtained by averaging the positions, shapes and optical densities of spots in a given set of gels. To be included in the synthetic gel, spots must be found in at least three gels. To obtain a profile representative of the proteome of atherosclerotic plaque, cancelling its high variability, we constructed a synthetic gel using an average of ten carotid plaque samples. We then compared it with an equivalent synthetic gel constructed using ten plasma samples from the same carotid surgery patients. For the comparison of two synthetic gels (plasma/plaque) we could discriminate plasma proteins from plaque proteins. Besides analysis of spots common to plasma, the synthetic gel is useful to detect spots exclusive to plaque, thus simplifying a very complex mixture.


Evidence for acyl homoserine lactone signal production in bacteria associated with marine sponges.
We report for the first time the production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) by bacteria associated with marine sponges. Given the involvement of AHLs in bacterial colonization of many higher organisms, we speculate that such quorum sensing signals could play a part in interactions between sponges and the dense bacterial communities living within them.


Cerebral and spinal vascular involvement in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telengiectasia: Report of two cases.
We present two cases of Hereditary Hemmorhagic Telengiectasia (HHT), one pediatric and the other adult, with a view to highlight the myriad cerebral and spinal vascular manifestations of this disease. The syndrome and its various findings will be reviewed including the utility of angiography in assessing the various vascular abnormalities of the cerebral and spinal vasculature. A review of literature regarding various developmental abnormalities including brain and spinal cord arterio-venous malformations (AVMs), arterio-venous fistulae (AVFs), micro AVMs, micro-fistulae, aneurysms and cavernomas that occur in pediatric and adult population subsets of HHT. Both patients underwent thorough clinical and laboratory evaluation. The pediatric patient underwent a contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the chest; cerebral, Pulmonary & celiac angiography. The adult patient underwent cerebral and spinal angiography. The spectrum of vascular malformations in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telengiectasia (HHT) is varied.The incidence and manifestations of brain and spinal cord AVMs, AVFs, micro AVMs, micro-fistulae, aneurysms and cavernomas are different in the pediatric and adults affected by the disease. Cerebral and spinal angiography are necessary in characterising the various developmental vascular abnormalities in order to guide further management.


Analysis of the risk of infection in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the era of novel therapies.
We studied the risk of infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL). Major infections were defined as requiring hospital admission or intravenous antimicrobial treatment. Incidence rate (IR) ratios (IRR) were used to compare infection rates. Of 263 CLL patients followed for 936.9 person-years, 60% required treatment for progressive CLL (66 received ibrutinib). Infections occurred in 71.9% patients (IR 92.4/100 person-years) with 31.9% having major infections (IR 20.3/100 person-years) and infections causing 37.5% of deaths. CLL treatment was associated with significantly higher risk of major (IRR 3.31, 95% CI 2.10, 5.21) and minor (IRR 1.78, 95% CI 1.43, 2.22) infections. Compared to their previous chemoimmunotherapy patients receiving salvage ibrutinib therapy (n = 47) had a significantly increased risk of a major infection (IRR 2.35 95% CI 1.27, 4.34). The risk of infection in CLL patients remains high even with use of less immunosuppressive therapies.


Contrasting effects of viscous and particulate fibers on colonic fermentation in vitro and in vivo, and their impact on intestinal water studied by MRI in a randomized trial.
Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and particulate, and viscous fibers, respectively, with laxative properties yet contrasting fermentability. We assessed the fermentability of these fibers in vitro and their effects on intestinal function relevant to laxation in vivo using MRI. Each fiber was predigested prior to measuring gas production in vitro during 48-h anaerobic incubation with healthy fecal samples. We performed a randomized, 3-way crossover trial in 14 healthy volunteers who ingested 7.5 g fiber twice on the day prior to study initiation and once with the study test meal. Serial MRI scans obtained after fasting and hourly for 4 h following meal ingestion were used to assess small bowel water content (SBWC), colonic volumes, and T1 of the ascending colon (T1AC) as measures of colonic water. Breath samples for hydrogen analysis were obtained while patients were in the fasted state and every 30 min for 4 h following meal ingestion. In vitro, the onset of gas production was significantly delayed with psyllium (mean ± SD: 14 ± 5 h) compared with wheat bran (6 ± 2 h, P = 0.003) and was associated with a smaller total gas volume (P = 0.01). Prefeeding all 3 fibers for 24 h was associated with an increased fasting T1AC (>75% of values >90th centile of the normal range). There was a further rise during the 4 h after psyllium (0.3 ± 0.3 s P = 0.009), a fall with wheat bran (-0.2 ± 0.2 s; P = 0.02), but no change with nopal (0.0 ± 0.1 s, P = 0.2). SBWC increased for all fibers; nopal stimulated more water than wheat bran [AUC mean (95% CI) difference: 7.1 (0.6, 13.8) L/min, P = 0.03].Breath hydrogen rose significantly after wheat bran and nopal but not after psyllium (P < 0.0001). Both viscous and particulate fibers are equally effective at increasing colonic T1 over a period of 24 h. Mechanisms include water trapping in the small bowel by viscous fibers and delivery of substrates to the colonic microbiota by more fermentable particulate fiber. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03263065.


Characterization of dielectric properties of residual ashes obtained from rice husk and annoni grass.
This paper presents a study about the characterization of dielectric properties (dielectric constant [Formula: see text] and dielectric-loss constant [Formula: see text]) of samples derived from two different biomass types: rice husk ash (RHA) and annoni grass ash (AGA).The procedure is carried out using the resonant cavity method along with a vector network analyzer. For this purpose, four different ashes were produced, by burning rice husk and annoni grass at two different temperatures and burning times: 400 °C/30 min (RHA40030 and AGA40030) and 800 °C/5 h (RHA8005h and AGA8005h). These ashes were combined with Bakelite to produce cylindrical samples with diameter of 30 mm and thickness of 4.5 mm, which were characterized considering the frequency in the test band for 5G technologies ([Formula: see text] GHz). Experimental results showed that the samples burnt at high temperature showed very high [Formula: see text] when compared to the samples burnt at low temperature, mainly for AGA8005h. These values are [Formula: see text] 0.1690 and 1.4900 for RHA8005h and AGA8005h, respectively. The resulting dielectric constants are [Formula: see text] = 3.87 for RHA8005h and [Formula: see text] = 15.14 for AGA8005h). These very high dielectric loss tangent, indicate that these materials exhibit formidable properties for electromagnetic energy absorption, hence allowing the application as radiation-absorbent material (RAM).


Gender differences in adolescent depression.
Depression in adolescents is more common in girls; this gender disparity becomes more apparent during the teen years when girls have close to twice the rate of depression compared with boys. Vulnerability-stress models help explain these differences, and a tendency toward rumination may play a role both in the development and continuation of depressive symptoms. Psychiatric nursing interventions must focus on reappraisal of relationships, challenging rumination, and promoting autonomy.


Clinical correlates of valproate augmentation in refractory bipolar disorder.
We examined the clinical correlates of valproate (VPA) therapy in refractory bipolar disorder. Retrospective chart review was used to collect demographic and clinical data including present diagnosis, diagnosis at illness onset, duration of illness, number of hospitalizations, VPA dose, side effects, and maximum serum concentration. Global response was rated once patients serum VPA exceeded 50 mg/dL. The charts of all inpatients admitted over a two-year period and treated with VPA for acute episodes of bipolar disorder in manic, mixed, or depressed phase were reviewed. Seventeen of these patients began VPA augmentation while hospitalized and became the cohort for review. Patients were excluded if VPA was started prior to admission or the patient was discharged less than one week after drug initiation. Patients were not excluded on the basis of EEG, CT, or neurological exam findings. Overall, 12 of 17 (71%) of the patients showed a moderate or marked improvement while 5 of 17 (29%) showed mild or no response. Responders were older and had a longer duration of illness with an increased number of hospitalizations. There was a strong trend for responders to achieve a higher serum VPA level. A significant positive correlation was found between response in acute mania and psychotic symptoms at first episode of illness.


Changes in immunostaining of inner ears after antigen challenge into the scala tympani.
To study the mechanisms of immune responses and immune injuries in inner ears, labyrinthitis was induced by inoculation of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) into the scala tympani of systemically sensitized guinea pigs. Inner ears were then immunostained for KLH, immunoglobulin G (IgG), albumin, connexin26 (Cx26), and sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphate (Na,K-ATPase). Inflammatory cells containing KLH were observed in the scala tympani and in the collecting venule of the spiral modiolar vein (SMV). Spiral ligament, spiral limbus, and blood vessels including the SMV were diffusely positive for IgG and albumin. Immunoreactivity for Cx26 and Na,K-ATPase was decreased compared with the normal ears in the fibrocytes of the spiral ligament. These results suggest that inflammatory cells and blood constituents could extravasate into the cochlea from blood vessels and that fibrocyte damage in the spiral ligament could cause cochlear dysfunction.


[The "specific" liability regime for blood products].
Based on the system of liability for defective products as organized by the European Directive of 25 July 1985, responsibility for blood products does not therefore constitute a genuine specific regime. However, European law leaves States a margin of discretion in the implementation of the Directive with regard to health products. This is the case in particular with the exemption for development risk.


[Management of in utero foetal death: Which assessment to undertake?].
To assess the value of para-clinical exams prescribed in case of in utero foetal death, to result in the establishment of a new algorithm of diagnostic tests. A retrospective analysis on a series of 106 stillbirths gathered between September 1989 and December 1998 in the obstetrical and gynaecological department of the Lausanne University Hospital which is a tertiary centre. Stillbirth was defined as foetal death occurring as from the date of foetal viability. Thus, only pregnancies from 24 weeks and onwards were included in this series. We excluded all stillbirths occurring during medical termination of pregnancy and cases with incomplete data files. The Fretts' classification was used. The different exams asked by the physician were screened and we analysed their pertinence to determine the aetiological diagnosis for each case. The search for significant risk factors was also taken into account. We compared our management of in utero foetal death with data from the literature to propose a new algorithm. The aetiology of in utero foetal death could be attributed in ninety percent of the cases. The principal causes were in utero growth retardation (19.8%), foetal congenital and chromosomal anomalies (18.9%), infections (15.1%), placental abruption (7.5%), preeclampsia (5.6%), maternal diabetes (3.8%). The remaining 18.9% are divided in to miscellaneous causes. In 10.4% of the cases we could not find any explanation to the death of the foetus. The exams that yielded the most information when done were: foetal autopsy which was abnormal in 92.7%, placental investigation which was abnormal in 93% and the babygramme (X-ray of the foetal skeleton) which was abnormal in 53%. Maternal serology for infections was informative in 6.6% of the cases. We present here a protocol for the diagnostic management of stillbirth which is differentiated according to the circumstances surrounding the event. This should prove useful to reduce superfluous tests.


Engineering the xenobiotic substrate specificity of maize glutathione S-transferase I.
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a heterogeneous family of enzymes that catalyse the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to electrophilic sites on a variety of hydrophobic substrates. In the present study three amino acid residues (Trp12, Phe35 and Ile118) of the xenobiotic binding site (H-site) of maize GST I were altered in order to evaluate their contribution to substrate binding and catalysis. These residues are not conserved and hence may affect substrate specificity and/or product dissociation. The results demonstrate that these residues are important structural moieties that modulate an enzyme's catalytic efficiency and specificity. Phe35 and Ile118 also participate in k(cat) regulation by affecting the rate-limiting step of the catalytic reaction. The effect of temperature on the catalytic activity of the wild-type and mutant enzymes was also investigated. Biphasic Arrhenius and Eyring plots for the wild-type enzyme showed an apparent transition temperature at 35 degrees C, which seems to be the result of a change in the rate-limiting step of the catalytic reaction. Thermodynamic analysis of the activity data showed that the activation energy increases at low temperatures, whereas the entropy change seems to be the main determinant that contributes to the rate-limiting step at high temperatures.


Functional contribution of α1D-adrenoceptors in the renal vasculature of left ventricular hypertrophy induced with isoprenaline and caffeine in Wistar-Kyoto rats.
This study investigated the role of α1D-adrenoceptor in the modulation of renal haemodynamics in rats with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH was established in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with isoprenaline (5.0 mg · (kg body mass)(-1), by subcutaneous injection every 72 h) and caffeine (62 mg · L(-1) in drinking water, daily for 14 days). Renal vasoconstrictor responses were measured for noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE), and methoxamine (ME) before and immediately after low or high dose intrarenal infusions of BMY 7378, a selective α1D-adrenoceptor blocker. The rats with LVH had higher mean arterial blood pressure and circulating NA levels, but lower renal cortical blood perfusion compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). In the LVH group, the magnitude of the renal vasoconstrictor response to ME was blunted, but not the response to NA or PE (P < 0.05), compared with the control group (LVH vs. C, 38% vs. 50%). The magnitude of the drop in the vasoconstrictor responses to NA, PE, and ME in the presence of a higher dose of BMY 7378 was significantly greater in the LVH group compared with the control group (LVH vs. C, 45% vs. 25% for NA, 52% vs. 33% for PE, 66% vs. 53% for ME, all P < 0.05). These findings indicate an impaired renal vasoconstrictor response to adrenergic agonists during LVH. In addition, the α1D-adrenoceptor subtype plays a key role in the modulation of vascular responses in this diseased state.


Novel strategies for the treatment of acute pancreatitis based on the determinants of severity.
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disease for which a specific treatment remains elusive. The key determinants of the outcome from AP are persistent organ failure and infected pancreatic necrosis. The prevention and treatment of these determinants provides a framework for the development of specific treatment strategies. The gut-lymph concept provides a common mechanism for systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. Acute and critical illness, including AP, is associated with intestinal ischemia and drastic changes in the composition of gut lymph, which bypasses the liver to drain into the systemic circulation immediately proximal to the major organ systems which fail. The external diversion of gut lymph and the targeting of treatments to counter the toxic elements in gut lymph offers novel approaches to the prevention and treatment of persistent organ failure. Infected pancreatic necrosis is increasingly treated with less invasive techniques, the mainstay of which is drainage, both endoscopic and percutaneous. Further improvements will occur with the strategies to accelerate liquefaction and through a fundamental re-design of drains, both of which will increase drainage efficacy. The determinants of severity and outcome in patients admitted with AP provide the basis for innovative treatment strategies. The priorities are to translate the gut-lymph concept to clinical practice and to improve the design and active use of drains for infected complications of AP.


Maternal first trimester parameters in the prediction of excessive fetal growth in pregnant women with metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome (MS) and obesity is an important risk factor for fetal complications like excessive fetal growth manifested by large for gestational age (LGA) and macrosomia, which is a consequence of metabolic disturbances present in the first trimester of pregnancy. The aim of this prospective observational study is to analyze the relationship between the first trimester biochemical and anthropometric parameters of fetuses with the incidence of their macrosomia and LGA so to early predict such complications in women with symptoms of MS. A total of 124 Caucasian women in singleton pregnancies who fulfilled MS criteria were enrolled into the study group and compared to 30 healthy pregnant controls. Patients' blood was drawn and sampled for analysis at 11 - 13+6 weeks of gestation. Specific factors were analyzed in terms of influence on fetal growth and perinatal morbidity in both pregnancy groups. The maternal parameters obtained at first trimester that with respect to controls proved influential towards macrosomia defined as > 4000 g were: BMI and weight (28.0 versus 22 m/kg2; P < 0.001), (77.9 kg versus 60.8 kg; P < 0.001), fasting glucose (87.2 versus 82.1 mg/dl; P < 0.042), significantly higher s-E-selectin concentration (32.0 versus 24.5 ng/ml; P < 0.011) and lower adiponectin: (5.6 versus 9.1 μg/ml; P < 0.001). Similarly, the parameters for LGA fetuses were found to be: maternal weight (80.3 versus 60.8 kg; P < 0.001), BMI (28.7 versus 21.6 kg/m2; P < 0.001), fasting glucose (87.2 versus 82.4mg/dl; P < 0.022), increased s-E-selectin (30.8 versus 24.5 ng/ml; P < 0.022) and decreased adiponectin (6.3 versus 8.2 μg/ml; P < 0.024). We concluded that: 1) first trimester BMI with cut-off of 25.5 was significant risk factor for excessive fetal growth; 2) maternal glycemia, as well as adiponectin and soluble E-selectin serum concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy could be predictive of LGA and fetal macrosomia; 3) maternal weight at 11 - 13+6 weeks of pregnancy cut-off 67 kg had high sensitivity and specificity in detecting LGA and fetal macrosomia.


Prevalence, characterization, and genotypic analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7/NM from selected beef exporting abattoirs of Argentina.
In Argentina, Escherichia coli O157:H7/NM (STEC O157) is the prevalent serotype associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is endemic in the country with more than 400 cases per year. In order to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of STEC O157 in beef cattle at slaughter, a survey of 1,622 fecal and carcass samples was conducted in nine beef exporting abattoirs from November 2006 to April 2008. A total of 54 samples were found positive for STEC O157, with an average prevalence of 4.1% in fecal content and 2.6% in carcasses. Calves and heifers presented higher percentages of prevalence in feces, 10.5 and 8.5%, respectively. All STEC O157 isolates harbored stx(2) (Shiga toxin 2), eae (intimin), ehxA (enterohemolysin), and fliC(H7) (H7 flagellin) genes, while stx(1) (Shiga toxin 1) was present in 16.7% of the strains. The prevalent (56%) stx genotype identified was stx(2) combined with variant stx(2c (vh-a)), the combination of which is also prevalent (>90%) in STEC O157 post-enteric HUS cases in Argentina. The clonal relatedness of STEC O157 strains was established by phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The 54 STEC isolates were categorized into 12 different phage types and in 29 XbaI-PFGE patterns distributed in 27 different lots. STEC O157 strains isolated from 5 of 21 carcasses were identical by PFGE (100% similarity) to strains of the fecal content of the same or a contiguous bovine in the lot. Five phage type-PFGE-stx profiles of 10 strains isolated in this study matched with the profiles of the strains recovered from 18 of 122 HUS cases that occurred in the same period.


Comprehensive environmental monitoring during remediation of a nuclear legacy site in the Far East of Russia.
In compliance with the fundamentals of the government's policy on nuclear and radiation safety, Russia is continuing to implement its national program for decommissioning its nuclear legacy. Under this program, the State Atomic Energy Corporation, 'Rosatom', is carrying out decommissioning and remediation of the Navy's former shore technical bases (STBs) in the Russian Far East. Along with the 'old problems' accumulated during the operation of STBs in the past, new challenges arise because of the planned intensification of radioactive waste (RW) management on the site in the nearest future. The paper presents the results of comprehensive environmental monitoring at the site of temporary storage for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and RW at Sysoeva Bay, located in Primorsky Krai. One of the site's features is the cross contamination of the environment with radioactive substances and nonradiological pollutants. The dominant radionuclides in the environmental media are137Cs,90Sr, and a minor contribution from60Сo. The soil contamination with artificial radionuclides predominantly relates to the category of industrial waste with local areas classified as very low-level RWs. The contamination penetrated the underground water via migration from the damaged SNF and RW storage facilities. Along with cesium and strontium radionuclides, widespread groundwater pollution with heavy metals (I-III hazardous classes), including Be and As, was revealed. Moreover, the exceedance of permissible levels of Cd reaches 1000 times, and that of radionuclides (90Sr)reaches 50 times. It dictates the necessity to improve the environmental impact assessment by accounting for the nonradiological pollutants in monitoring design. The radiological conditions in the residential area are characterized by the regional background levels. The average annual effective dose of public exposure due to artificial sources does not exceed 40µSv.


Paternal preconception modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes: a review of contemporary evidence from observational studies.
The preconception period represents transgenerational opportunities to optimize modifiable risk factors associated with both short and long-term adverse health outcomes for women, men, and children. As such, preconception care is recommended to couples during this time to enable them to optimise their health in preparation for pregnancy. Historically, preconception research predominately focuses on maternal modifiable risks and health behaviours associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes; limited attention has been given to inform paternal preconception health risks and outcomes. This systematic review aims to advance paternal preconception research by synthesising the current evidence on modifiable paternal preconception health behaviours and risk factors to identify associations with pregnancy and/or offspring outcomes. Medline, Embase, Maternity and Infant care, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ISI Proceedings were searched on the 5th of January 2023, a date limit was set [2012-2023] in each database. A Google Scholar search was also conducted identifying all other relevant papers. Studies were included if they were observational, reporting associations of modifiable risk factors in the preconception period among males (e.g., identified as reproductive partners of pregnant women and/or fathers of offspring for which outcomes were reported) with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Exposure and outcome heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, and results were summarised in tables. This review identified 56 cohort and nine case control studies. Studies reported on a range of risk factors and/or health behaviours including paternal body composition (n = 25), alcohol intake (n = 6), cannabis use (n = 5), physical activity (n = 2), smoking (n = 20), stress (n = 3) and nutrition (n = 13). Outcomes included fecundability, IVF/ISCI live birth, offspring weight, body composition/BMI, asthma, lung function, leukemia, preterm birth, and behavioural issues. Despite the limited number of studies and substantial heterogeneity in reporting, results of studies assessed as good quality showed that paternal smoking may increase the risk of birth defects and higher paternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight. The current evidence demonstrates a role of paternal preconception health in influencing outcomes related to pregnancy success and offspring health. The evidence is however limited and heterogenous, and further high-quality research is needed to inform clinical preconception care guidelines to support men and couples to prepare for a health pregnancy and child.


Evaluation of osteoporosis treatment in seniors after hip fracture.
A retrospective chart review was carried out on all consecutive patients over 65 years of age admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital with a diagnosis of a new hip fracture. A further chart review occurred after discharge from post-surgery rehabilitation. The primary objective was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment in both phases of the study. Secondary objectives included evaluation of the mortality rates, length of stay, prevalence of osteoporosis investigation, and prevalence of osteoporosis diagnosis based on the clinical subspecialty involved. There were 311 patients evaluated in the initial phase, and 226 after rehabilitation. The mortality rate was 5.8% (10% for men, 4% for women; p<0.005) in the acute care hospital and 9.3% (8% men, 10% women) during rehabilitation. Previous hip fracture occurred in 17.4%, and 1.5% were readmitted during the study period with fracture of the opposite hip. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in the acute care hospital on admission in 11.9% and on discharge in 15.4%. In the rehabilitation hospital it was diagnosed in 9.7% on admission and 11.2% on discharge (p=NS). Osteoporosis treatment (including calcium or vitamin D therapy) was instituted in 13% on admission to acute care and in 9.7% at the time of discharge. For the rehabilitation hospital, treatment occurred in 12.8% on admission and 10.2% on discharge. The diagnosis of osteoporosis significantly increased the prevalence of treatment (p<0.001). Use of specific agents (hormone replacement therapy, bisphosphonates or calcitonin) occurred in <66% of all patients. Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed and under-treated in this group of elderly hip fracture patients. It is associated with significant mortality and morbidity and every effort should be made to prevent future fractures. Physicians in the 'front line' of hip fracture treatment are missing this key aspect of management in their patients. Education of these physicians, as well as the public, may be the key to addressing this care gap.


Influence of Strengthened Nodes on the Mechanical Performance of Aeolian Sand-Geogrid Interface.
Node thickening is a way to strengthen the nodes of a geogrid. Increasing the node thickness in conventional biaxial geogrids enhances the interface frictional strength parameters and improves its three-dimensional reinforcement effect. Based on the triaxial tests of aeolian sand, single-rib strip tests of geogrids, and pull-out tests of geogrid in aeolian sand, a three-dimensional discrete element pull-out model for geogrids with strengthened nodes was developed to investigate the mechanical performance of an aeolian sand-geogrid interface. The influences of increasing node thickness, the number of strengthened nodes, and the spacing between adjacent nodes on the mechanical performance of the geogrid-soil interface were extensively studied used the proposed model. The results demonstrated that strengthened nodes effectively optimize the reinforcing performance of the geogrid. Among the three node-thickening methods, that in which both the upper and lower sides of nodes are thickened showed the most significant improvement in ultimate pull-out resistance and interface friction angle. Moreover, when using the same node-thickening method, the ultimate pull-out resistance increase shows a linear relationship with the node thickness increase and the strengthened node quantity. In comparison with the conventional geogrid, the strengthened nodes in a geogrid lead to a wider shear band and a stronger ability to restrain soil displacement. When multiple strengthened nodes are simultaneously applied, there is a collective effect that is primarily influenced by the spacing between adjacent nodes. The results provide a valuable reference for optimizing the performance of geogrids and determining the spacing for geogrid installation.


Catalytic oxidation of methanol on Pd metal and oxide clusters at near-ambient temperatures.
Supported Pd clusters catalyze methanol oxidation to methyl formate with high turnover rates and >90% selectivity at near ambient temperatures (313 K). Metal clusters are much more reactive than PdO clusters and rates are inhibited by the reactant O(2). These data suggest that ensembles of Pd metal atoms on surfaces nearly saturated with chemisorbed oxygen are required for kinetically-relevant C-H bond activation in chemisorbed methoxide intermediates. Pd metal surfaces become more reactive with increasing metal particle size. The higher coordination of surface atoms on larger clusters leads to more weakly-bound chemisorbed species and to a larger number of Pd metal ensembles available during steady-state catalysis. Chemisorbed oxygen removes H-atoms formed in C-H bond activation steps and inhibits methoxide decomposition and CO(2) formation, two functions essential for the high turnover rates and methyl formate selectivities reported here.


Dual Therapy with Aspirin and Cilostazol May Improve Platelet Aggregation in Noncardioembolic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.
Objective Some previous studies have found clinical benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and cilostazol for prevention of secondary stroke, but the physiological mechanism involved remains unknown. We aimed to clarify the effects of aspirin/cilostazol therapy on the platelet and endothelial functions of patients with acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke, in comparison to patients who were treated with aspirin alone. Methods The present randomized prospective pilot study enrolled 24 patients within a week after the onset of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. The patients were randomly allocated to receive aspirin (100 mg/day) (A group; 11 patients) or cilostazol (200 mg/day) plus aspirin (100 mg/day) (CA group; 13 patients). We measured platelet aggregation, platelet activation, and the thrombomodulin (TM), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and von Willebrand (vWF) antigen levels and vWF activity over a 4-week period after enrollment. Results There was no significant difference in the platelet functions of the A and CA groups. However, the platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was decreased at 2 and 4 weeks (p<0.05) after treatment in comparison to the pre-treatment values in the CA group, but not in the A group. Platelet activation, and the hs-CRP, TM, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and vWF values did not significantly decrease after treatment in either group. Conclusion Although there were no significant differences in platelet aggregation, platelet activation or the endothelial biomarker levels of the A and CA groups, dual therapy with aspirin and cilostazol inhibited platelet aggregation in comparison to the pre-treatment values, similarly to patients who received aspirin alone. This may suggest the clinical usefulness of dual therapy with aspirin and cilostazol in the treatment of patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.


SIZE-DEPENDENT ASYMMETRY: FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY VERSUS ANTISYMMETRY AND ITS RELEVANCE TO CONDITION-DEPENDENT SIGNALING.
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) has received much recent attention in studies of the evolution of sexual signaling systems. Tests apparently showing that symmetry decreases as individual condition decreases have bolstered the view that FA plays a significant role in the evolution of sexual signals. However, a closer inspection of several examples of bilateral variation as a function of trait size (a correlate of condition) suggests a different pattern of variation. Rather than FA, these traits suggest a pattern of size-dependent antisymmetry (a bimodal frequency distribution of R - L). We introduce some quantitative methods to test for condition- or size-dependent FA. Our analyses reject pure FA for four of the five published datasets involving signals (the fifth is equivocal), but confirm the presence of size-dependent FA in one nonsignaling trait. In the studies not conforming to FA, the data appear to fit more closely a pattern of antisymmetry in individuals with smaller signaling traits. Our results thus suggest that current discussions and conclusions about the role of FA in the evolution of signaling systems should be reconsidered. More specifically, we note that condition-dependent antisymmetry offers a more reliable indicator than condition-dependent FA. We caution, however, that additional work will be needed to determine whether the pattern is general and not an artifact. Our method of analysis could usefully be applied to studies of other continuous factors expected to be correlated with asymmetries, including heterozygosity, inbreeding, and environmental stress. Finally, we suggest that antisymmetry may have commonly been mistaken for FA in a variety of cases dealing with a variety of problems.


Zebrafish exposure to environmentally relevant concentration of depleted uranium impairs progeny development at the molecular and histological levels.
Uranium is an actinide naturally found in the environment. Anthropogenic activities lead to the release of increasing amounts of uranium and depleted uranium (DU) in the environment, posing potential risks to aquatic organisms due to radiological and chemical toxicity of this radionucleide. Although environmental contaminations with high levels of uranium have already been observed, chronic exposures of non-human species to levels close to the environmental quality standards remain scarcely characterized. The present study focused on the identification of the molecular pathways impacted by a chronic exposure of zebrafish to 20 μg/L of DU during 10 days. The transcriptomic effects were evaluated by the use of the mRNAseq analysis in three organs of adult zebrafish, the brain the testis and the ovaries, and two developmental stages of the adult fish progeny, two-cells embryo and four-days larvae. The results highlight generic effects on the cell adhesion process, but also specific transcriptomic responses depending on the organ or the developmental stage investigated. The analysis of the transgenerational effects of DU-exposure on the four-day zebrafish larvae demonstrate an induction of genes involved in oxidative response (cat, mpx, sod1 and sod2), a decrease of expression of the two hatching enzymes (he1a and he1b), the deregulation of the expression of gene coding for the ATPase complex and the induction of cellular stress. Electron microscopy analysis of skeletal muscles on the four-days larvae highlights significant histological impacts on the ultrastructure of both the mitochondria and the myofibres. In addition, the comparison with the transcriptomic data obtained for the acetylcholine esterase mutant reveals the induction of protein-chaperons in the skeletal muscles of the progeny of fish chronically exposed to DU, pointing towards long lasting effects of this chemical in the muscles. The results presented in this study support the hypothesis that a chronic parental exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of DU could impair the progeny development with significant effects observed both at the molecular level and on the histological ultrastructure of organs. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic dataset useful for ecotoxicological studies on other fish species at the molecular level. It also provides a key DU responsive gene, egr1, which may be a candidate biomarker for monitoring aquatic pollution by heavy metals.