Comprehensive Risk System Based on Shear Wave Elastography and BI-RADS Categories in Assessing Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis of Invasive Breast Cancer-A Multicenter Study.
To develop a risk stratification system that can predict axillary lymph node (LN) metastasis in invasive breast cancer based on the combination of shear wave elastography (SWE) and conventional ultrasound. A total of 619 participants pathologically diagnosed with invasive breast cancer underwent breast ultrasound examinations were recruited from a multicenter of 17 hospitals in China from August 2016 to August 2017. Conventional ultrasound and SWE features were compared between positive and negative LN metastasis groups. The regression equation, the weighting, and the counting methods were used to predict axillary LN metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. A significant difference was found in the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category, the "stiff rim" sign, minimum elastic modulus of the internal tumor and peritumor region of 3 mm between positive and negative LN groups (p < 0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of the regression equation, the weighting, and the counting methods (p > 0.05 for all). Using the counting method, a 0-4 grade risk stratification system based on the four characteristics was established, which yielded an AUC of 0.656 (95% CI, 0.617-0.693, p < 0.001), a sensitivity of 54.60% (95% CI, 46.9%-62.1%), and a specificity of 68.99% (95% CI, 64.5%-73.3%) in predicting axillary LN metastasis. A 0-4 grade risk stratification system was developed based on SWE characteristics and BI-RADS categories, and this system has the potential to predict axillary LN metastases in invasive breast cancer.


A new approach in bacteriology with chromogenic media.
The use of chromogenic or fluorogenic enzyme substrates for the detection, enumeration, and identification of viable bacteria from a sample is described. This method allows detection, enumeration and identification to be performed directly on the isolation plate, thus avoiding the use of subculture media and further biological tests. Tests carried out by using three new media from bioMérieux are described: CPS ID 2 to detect and identify Escherichia coli, Proteus and Enterococcus; SMID to detect Salmonella; and Albicans ID to isolate yeast and identify Candida albicans.


MiR-494-3p Upregulation Exacerbates Cerebral Ischemia Injury by Targeting Bhlhe40.
Cerebral ischemia is related to insufficient blood supply and is characterized by abnormal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis. Previous studies have revealed a key role for basic helix-loop-helix family member e40 (Bhlhe40) in oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the roles of miR-494-3p in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO/R) model was established to mimic cerebral ischemia in vivo. Brain infarct area was assessed using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) operation was adopted to mimic neuronal injury in vitro. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The relationship between miR-494-3p and Bhlhe40 was validated by luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Bhlhe40 expression was downregulated both in MCAO/R animal models and OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Bhlhe40 overexpression inhibited cell apoptosis and reduced ROS production in SH-SY5Y cells after OGD/R treatment. MiR-494-3p was verified to bind to Bhlhe40 and negatively regulate Bhlhe40 expression. Additionally, cell apoptosis and ROS production in OGD/R-treated SH-SY5Y cells were accelerated by miR-494-3p overexpression. Rescue experiments suggested that Bhlhe40 could reverse the effects of miR-494-3p overexpression on ROS production and cell apoptosis. MiR-494-3p exacerbates brain injury and neuronal injury by regulating Bhlhe40 after I/R.


Anti-fouling effect of bentonite suspension in ultrafiltration of oil/water emulsion.
The effect on membrane fouling resistance during ultrafilration of oil/water emulsion with the presence of bentonite suspension is experimentally evaluated. The fouling resistance was analyzed as a function of different membrane types and bentonite concentration. The total membrane fouling was categorized into reversible and irreversible, by adopting an appropriate chemical cleaning technique. The results revealed a 40% flux augmentation with the increase of bentonite concentration up to an optimum value of 300 mg l(-1) for cellulose acetate membrane. Further increase of bentonite concentration led to particle deposition on the membrane surface and reduced the flux. The polysulfone membrane did not show a similar flux improvement. This could be due to its high hydrophobicity. The absorption of oil/water emulsion on bentonite increased TOC removal rate from 65% to 80%, and this effect was the major cause of reduction in gel layer formation on the membrane surface. The extent of irreversible fouling of the hydrophilic cellulose acetate membrane was much smaller than that of the polysulfone membrane. These experiments demonstrated that, presence of bentonite could induce transformation of irreversible fouling caused by oil emulsion to reversible fouling, which could be periodically chemically cleaned.


Direct Echocardiographic Imaging of Berlin Heart Valves Can Aid in Early Detection of Berlin Heart Valve Dysfunction.
Mechanical circulatory support options remain limited for pediatric patients, especially neonates. The only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved pediatric device remains the Berlin Heart EXCOR, which unfortunately carries with it a 20-30% risk of neurologic complications, such as strokes. We demonstrate a new technique of direct echocardiographic color-Doppler imaging of the Berlin Heart valves to detect valve regurgitation. Increases in valve regurgitation could indicate issues with pump-valve thrombosis or increased afterload leading to valve insufficiency. Early recognition of valve thrombosis or insufficiency may reduce neurologic complications and lead to timely pump adjustments or replacement.


Post-transcriptional control of gene expression following stress: the role of RNA-binding proteins.
The ability of mammalian cells to modulate global protein synthesis in response to cellular stress is essential for cell survival. While control of protein synthesis is mediated by the regulation of eukaryotic initiation and elongation factors, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) provide a crucial additional layer to post-transcriptional regulation. RBPs bind specific RNA through conserved RNA-binding domains and ensure that the information contained within the genome and transcribed in the form of RNA is exported to the cytoplasm, chemically modified, and translated prior to folding into a functional protein. Thus, this group of proteins, through mediating translational reprogramming, spatial reorganisation, and chemical modification of RNA molecules, have a major influence on the robust cellular response to external stress and toxic injury.


Category intersections as conceptual combinations: Combining male categories of age and sexual orientation.
We reconcile interactive and additive models of category intersection by recasting these theoretical efforts within the conceptual combination framework. In three studies (Ntot = 364), we showed that, in line with an interactive approach, combining 'elderly men' with 'gay men' generated an atypical subtype with unique attributes that could not be reduced to the sum of the attributes of the constituent categories (Studies 1-3). Moreover, consistent with the additive models, combining 'heterosexual men' with age categories (i.e. young/elderly men, Study 1) made their age typicality particularly salient, and 'young men' with sexual orientation categories (i.e. gay/heterosexual men, Study 2) emphasized their sexual orientation typicality. Also, participants not only appraised 'gay men' and 'young gay men' in part as redundant categories, but they also judged 'elderly men' and 'elderly heterosexual men' to be largely overlapping. These findings take advantage of a multi-method assessment, spanning from measures of perceived typicality to the analysis of attributes freely generated in reaction to the target categories. Our results inform cognitive models of multiple category combinations and shed light on the cognitive 'invisibility' of elderly gay men and its social implications.


Symptoms of classic migraine attacks: modifications brought about by metoprolol.
There is little information available concerning whether, and to what extent, migraine-prophylactic agents interfere with the symptoms of migraine attacks. The present study is a placebo-controlled, double-blind study concerning metoprolol in classic migraine. The data refer to the symptoms of single migraine attacks. During metoprolol treatment more attacks were characterized as mild (p = 0.002), and mean global rating (an integrated estimate of headache intensity and of other discomfort) was lower (4.2 versus 5.2, p = 0.003). The mean headache intensity per attack (1.97 versus 2.15) and the mean duration (5.5 versus 6.8 h) were not significantly different. Consumption of analgesics per attack was lower during metoprolol treatment (0.6 versus 1.1; p = 0.02). Attacks with associated symptoms accompanying the headache were fewer during metoprolol treatment (p = 0.014). Total visual and non-visual aura symptoms occurred with similar frequency, but scintillations and paraesthesia were more frequent during metoprolol treatment, whereas speech disturbances were less frequent. In spite of lower consumption of analgesics, the symptoms appeared milder during metoprolol than during placebo. The pattern of changes indicates that metoprolol exerts its action via the sympathetic nervous system; peripheral vasoconstriction is hardly the underlying mechanism of action.


Aspirin protects low density lipoprotein from oxidative modification.
To examine the effects of aspirin on the potential for oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Before and after trial. University department of medicine within a district general hospital campus. Ten healthy normolipidaemic volunteers drawn from laboratory and medical staff. Aspirin (enteric coated) 300 mg daily for two weeks. In vitro oxidation of LDL following ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation with measurements made of malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, and electrophoretic mobility. There was a significant decrease in malondialdehyde production from LDL modified by aspirin in vivo following exposure to UVC irradiation for 90 minutes, culminating in a 30% decrease by 240 minutes (mean (SD) 64.2 (9.12) v 89.6 (11.6) nmol/mg LDL protein, P = 0.029). These observations were borne out using LDL modified by aspirin in vitro. The UVC induced increase in relative electrophoretic mobility of LDL was also significantly reduced following aspirin treatment (mean (SD) 2.17 (0.16) v 2.66 (0.24), P = 0.012). Aspirin, both in vivo and in vitro, protects LDL against subsequent oxidative modification, providing an additional mechanism whereby aspirin may protect against atherosclerosis.


Electronic properties of CrF and CrCl in the X 6Sigma+ state: observation of the halogen hyperfine structure by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy.
The rotational spectra of the CrF and CrCl radicals in the X 6Sigma+ state were observed by employing a Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The CrF and CrCl radicals were generated by the reaction of laser-ablated Cr with F2 and Cl2, respectively, diluted in Ar. A chromium rod made of chromium powder pasted with epoxy resin was ablated by a Nd:YAG laser. Rotational transitions were measured in the region between 8 and 26 GHz. Several hyperfine constants due to the halogen nuclei were determined by a least-squares analysis. The electronic properties of CrF and CrCl were derived from their hyperfine constants and were compared with those of other 3d transition metal monohalides: TiF, MnF, FeF, CoF, NiF, and FeCl.


Prevalence of Efflux Pump and Porin-Related Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae in Baghdad, Iraq.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic bacterium that causes many infections, including septicemia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and liver abscesses. There are many mechanisms for antibiotic resistance and K. pneumonia is considered a multidrug-resistant pathogen. This study aimed to find the correlation between the susceptibility of K. pneumonia to certain antibiotics with the porin-related resistance and pumps mechanisms. In total, two genes that are responsible for porin formation were considered in the current study OmpK-35gene and OmpK-36 gene, in addition to other four genes (CfiaS, CfiaL, MFS, and MdtK genes) related to an efflux pump mechanism of antibiotic resistance. The bacterial resistance was investigated towards five cephalosporins (Cefazolin, Cefoxitin, Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, and Cefepime) and two carbapenems (imipenem and ertapenem). Clinical samples, including blood, swabs, and urine, consisting of 20 specimens for each group, were collected from patients who attended three hospitals in Baghdad. The VITEK-2 system and genetic tests (polymerase chain reaction and sequencing) of bacterial isolates were applied to confirm the diagnosis of K. pneumoniae and detect the antibiotic sensitivity profile. The results showed that 51 (85%) and 15 (25%) of the total 60 isolates had positive results for OmpK-35 and Omp-K36 genes, respectively. The MFS and MdtK genes were observed (70-88.3%) in cephalosporin-resistant isolates of K. pneumoniae. There were no significant variations of bacterial resistance genes of antibiotics within the specimen groups. It was concluded that the bacterial resistance of the selected antibiotics was elevated markedly with the loss of the OmpK-36 gene with a high expression of MFS and MdtK genes and a slight minimal occurrence in the new generation of carbapenems. The best antimicrobial agent was ertapenem with a percentage of 0% of resistance in all bacterial isolates.


Surgical planning for living donor liver transplant using 4D flow MRI, computational fluid dynamics and in vitro experiments.
This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, and in vitro experiments to predict patient-specific alterations in hepatic hemodynamics in response to partial hepatectomy in living liver donors. 4D Flow MRI was performed on three donors before and after hepatectomy and models of the portal venous system were created. Virtual surgery was performed to simulate (1) surgical resection and (2) post-surgery vessel dilation. CFD simulations were conducted using in vivo flow data for boundary conditions. CFD results showed good agreement with in vivo data, and in vitro experimental values agreed well with imaging and simulation results. The post-surgery models predicted an increase in all measured hemodynamic parameters, and the dilated virtual surgery model predicted post-surgery conditions better than the model that only simulated resection. The methods used in this study have potential significant value for the surgical planning process for the liver and other vascular territories.


Prevalence of Ipsilateral Nonstenotic Carotid Plaques on Computed Tomography Angiography in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.
Background and Purpose- Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) constitutes a large proportion of acute ischemic stroke. It is crucial to identify possible stroke etiologies in this patient subgroup to individually tailor secondary stroke prevention strategies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of carotid plaques causing <50% stenosis in ESUS patients on computed tomography angiography and the association of these plaques with ipsilateral strokes. Methods- Patients from INTERRSeCT-a multicenter prospective study of patients with acute ischemic stroke-were included in this study if their stroke etiology was not large artery atherosclerosis (>50% stenosis), and neck computed tomography angiography was obtained. Degree of stenosis (<30% versus 30%-50%), maximum plaque thickness, degree of plaque calcification (<50% versus ≥50%), plaque irregularity, ulceration, hypodensity, carotid web, and focal vessel outpouching were assessed for both carotid arteries on computed tomography angiography. Prevalence of carotid plaques with <50% stenosis (nonstenotic plaques), ipsilateral and contralateral to the stroke, in ESUS patients was determined and compared with non-ESUS patients. Features of these plaques with versus without ipsilateral stroke in ESUS patients were compared. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine associations between nonstenotic carotid plaque, plaque characteristics, and ipsilateral stroke in ESUS patients. Results- Four hundred forty-six patients were included in the study (median age, 73 years; 218 men), 138 of which were ESUS patients (median age, 70 years; 61 men). Nonstenotic carotid plaques (with <50% stenosis) were present in 54 of 138 (39.1%) ESUS patients. Twelve (8.7%) patients had bilateral carotid plaques. Forty (60.6%) of these plaques were ipsilateral and 26 (39.4%) contralateral to the side of the stroke (P=0.004). Nonstenotic carotid plaques were significantly associated with ipsilateral strokes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.05-3.18]). Conclusions- In patients with ESUS, nonstenotic carotid plaques were significantly more common on the side of the ischemic stroke, suggesting that these plaques could be a potential stroke etiology in patients in whom the ischemic stroke is classified currently as ESUS.


The suicide myth.
Suicide is a deadly decision rooted in biology and expressed in behavior. Knowing how to care for a patient who survives a suicide attempt requires a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of self-harm, who is susceptible, and how to intervene.


Demonstration of Chlamydia pneumoniae in patients with chronic pharyngitis.
12 patients with longstanding throat symptoms, who were also positive by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for Chlamydia pneumoniae were selected for a longitudinal study to determine whether C. pneumoniae is an aetiological agent for chronic pharyngitis. Specimens for culture and PCR detection of C. pneumoniae were taken from the retropharyngeal wall and blood specimens were taken for serology. Biopsies were taken from the mucosal membrane of the retropharyngeal wall for histological and immunohistochemical studies. C. pneumoniae was cultured from 4 cases. 10 patients had specific humoral antibodies to C. pneumoniae and 9 had high and increasing specific antibody titres to C. pneumoniae suggesting ongoing infection. The organism was demonstrated in the tissue from the retropharyngeal mucosal membrane by immunohistochemistry in 9 patients. The findings suggest that C. pneumoniae may be an aetiological agent for chronic pharyngitis.


[Randomized trial of two health care deliveries during premature labor].
The main target of this clinical trial was to determine if, for a diagnosis of premature labour, a home prenatal follow-up compared to a classical hospitalization influenced the outcome of pregnancy in terms of gestation age and weight at birth. The participants were recruited in the population of pregnant women in hospital for a threat of premature delivery. The data collection was carried out with the help of four instruments, i.e. the perinatal and personal information Guide, the Scale of antenatal stress, the Inventory of support behaviour and the Scale of the dyadic relations. The analyses carried out do not reveal any statistically significant differences between the two groups for the main variables. But staying at home presents a safe and human alternative to traditional hospitalization and offers some advantages for the pregnant women, specially those faced with socio-economic difficulties.


The Addition of an Immunosuppressant After Loss of Response to Anti-TNFα Monotherapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Year Study.
The addition of an immunosuppressant (IM) after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy is an emerging strategy of therapeutic optimization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, few clinical data have been reported to date. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this selective combination therapy in patients with IBD. All consecutive patients with loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy despite an intensive dose optimization who added an IM from October 2014 to October 2016 were entered into a prospective database. Among 630 patients treated with anti-TNFα agents during the study period, 46 (7.3%) added an IM. A total of 31 patients (67.4%) were treated with an intravenous anti-TNFα (infliximab, as originator or biosimilar), while 15 (32.6%) were treated with a subcutaneous anti-TNFα agent (10 adalimumab and 5 golimumab). The mean duration of follow-up was 12.8 ± 7.3 months. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) remained on combination therapy at the end of follow-up: 15 (32.6%) maintained a steroid-free remission, and 6 (13.0%) achieved a clinical response. In patients who experienced treatment success, the median value of C-reactive protein decreased from baseline to the end of follow-up (13.2 vs 3.0, P = 0.01; normal values <5 mg/L). Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were reported in 8 out of 46 patients (17.4%). In the largest cohort on this argument reported to date, the addition of an IM was an effective and safe optimization strategy after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy. Low doses of IM were sufficient to achieve a clinical response.


Bone target radiotracers for palliative therapy of bone metastases.
The skeleton is one of the most common organs affected by metastatic cancer, and bone metastases often cause severe pain, which significantly affects quality of life. Internal radiotherapy using specifically localized bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals has proven to be an effective alternative and shows fewer side effects than those associated with other forms of treatment. In this review article, we highlight not only radiopharmaceuticals, which have been approved for the palliation of bone metastases but also boneseeking radiolabeled compounds under investigation in basic research. Specifically, we review the efficacy and prospects of phosphorus- 32, strontium-89 chloride, samarium-153-EDTMP, rhenium-186/188-HEDP, rhenium-186/188-complex conjugated bisphosphonate compounds, yttrium-90-DOTA conjugated bisphosphonate, rhenium-186/188-DMSA, radium-223 chloride, thorium-227-EDTMP, thorium-227-DOTMP, and lead/bismuth-212-DOTMP.


[The nursing infant at the intersection of different bodies of knowledge].
The effects of baby children's feeding on their mortality is known. It is thus interesting to know the cultural context in which bottle-feeding was adopted. In the 1930s, many women in the Eastern Pyrenees abandoned breast-feeding on the advice of their doctor because, they said, they had bad milk that "poisoned" their baby. This idea, widely spread in France at the time, took place within a set of traditional images of maternal milk and its spoiling which referred to ancient and complex beliefs concerning feminine physiology and blood disorders. These ideas were shared by women as well as by doctors until a relatively recent date.


Spergularia hanoverensis (Caryophyllaceae): Validation and Recircumscription of a Misinterpreted Species from South Africa.
The name "Spergularia hanoverensis Simon" has been misapplied to an endemic taxon confined to inland semidesert ecosystems in central-western South Africa. It is commonly accepted as a small annual species occurring in saline habitats in a wide elevation range, but its identity still remains obscure. In the context of taxonomic and phylogenetic research on the African species of Spergularia, we found that the name was never validly published. After revision of herbarium material housed in South African herbaria, a voucher collected from Hanover was found at PRE bearing some labels handwritten by E. Simon that suggest it might be an intended type for the name. Additional herbarium material and wild populations from the Karoo region were identified that matched the samples in that voucher, and taxonomic research was conducted to clarify their identity. Among other characters, those Karoo plants show a woody dense compact habit, woody perennial at base; stems prostrate to ascendent; leaves entirely glabrous, somewhat glaucous; large white-hyaline conspicuous stipules; inflorescence glanduliferous, many-flowered subdichasial cyme, with minute bracts; flowers small, with white petals approximately equalling sepals in length, stamens 7-8, and styles free from base; capsule small, with seeds dimorphic, unwinged to broadly winged, with testa always densely tuberculate. Molecular analyses of plastid (trnL-trnF region) and nuclear ribosomal (5.8S-ITS2 region) DNA sequence data support morphological differentiation of the Karoo plants, for which the name S. hanoverensis is here effectively published. A full morphological description and data on ecology, habitat, distribution, and taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of S. hanoverensis are compared to other members of the "South African group", namely S. glandulosa, S. namaquensis, and S. quartzicola, from which the new species considerably differs. The adaptative significance of dimorphic seeds of S. hanoverensis is briefly commented on in the context of the species habitat preference. An identification key is presented for the South African related taxa.


Hydroperoxide formation in different lean meats.
Peroxide is one of the compounds that are indicated to be toxic in the human digestion system. Lean fresh meat samples were collected from beef, lamb, pork and chicken to investigate their hydroperoxide formation potential. Total peroxides of fresh comminuted raw meat were determined by analysing protein-bound peroxides and hydroperoxide compounds in water-methanol and chloroform extracted phases. The amount of total peroxides was ranked as: beef>pork>lamb>chicken. Hydroperoxide formation was examined at different pH values and at different incubation times, using beef and chicken samples. All peroxides were transient, with a maximum value after 2-4 h of incubation at 37 °C. When pH fell from 7 to 1.5, the different peroxides fell by 10-20%. Non-polar peroxide formation could largely (70%) be described by variation in fatty acid composition and hemin content of the meat, while protein-bound peroxide variation was less explained by these variables. Liposome addition increased (40%) the amount of protein-bound peroxides.


[Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction in the Ile de France].
This enquiry was carried out to evaluate the measures of secondary prevention at 6 months and over of myocardial infarction in the ile de France region with respect to the recommendations of scientific societies and results of large scale therapeutic trials. A questionnaire was completed for the 1,215 patients selected from data obtained from the hospital discharge summary, interrogation and examination of the patient, and a telephone conversation with the attending physician. The data covered cardiovascular risk factors, the main clinical parameters, the results of biological tests and investigations carried out for risk stratification, plus different elements of therapeutic management. Compared with previous studies of the same type, this enquiry showed a favourable tendency towards the prescription of antithrombotic drugs and betablockers (98.3% and 82.4% of patients, respectively), and to patients with reputedly normal blood pressure values (84.7%). A positive result concerning the reduction in the number of smokers (17.4%) and the increase in lipid lowering prescriptions should be tempered by the fact that advice about stopping smoking was rarely given and that the quantitative target of LDL cholesterol was often ignored. Finally, the prescriptions of ACE inhibitors, physical exercise and cardiac rehabilitation remained well below the recommendations or recent scientific data.


Raised neutrophil phospholipase A2 activity and defective priming of NADPH oxidase and phospholipase A2 in sickle cell disease.
Intermittent painful crises due to vasoocclusion are the major clinical manifestation of sickle cell disease (SCD), but subclinical episodes may also occur. There is sparse evidence for the involvement of neutrophils in the pathophysiology of SCD, but production of cytokines by the damaged endothelium might influence neutrophil function and modulate responses to subsequent cytokine exposure. In addition, the activation of neutrophils in the microcirculation could itself exacerbate vasoocclusion. To test whether neutrophil inflammatory responses were altered in SCD, neutrophil phospholipase A2 and NADPH oxidase activity in response to in vitro priming by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured both during and between painful crises. Resting levels of neutrophil phospholipase A2 activity in steady-state SCD (4.0% +/- 0. 5% of total cell radioactivity) were raised relative to control values (2.0% +/- 0.2%, n = 10, P = .008). There was no defect of agonist-stimulated phospholipase A2 or NADPH oxidase activity in steady-state SCD; however, the ability of phospholipase A2 to respond to priming with GM-CSF was attenuated to 63% +/- 17% of control values (n = 10, P = .04). Similarly, neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity after priming with GM-CSF and TNF-alpha was, respectively, 65% +/- 11% (n = 7, P = .03) and 57% +/- 7% of control (n = 10, P = .007) in steady-state disease, and was further reduced during painful vasoocclusive crises to 34% +/- 9% and 25% +/- 3% of control for GM-CSF and TNF-alpha, respectively. These data were not explained by poor splenic function or any racial factor, as normal cytokine responses were seen in splenectomized patients in remission from Hodgkin's disease and in healthy Afro-Caribbean subjects. Abnormal neutrophil cytokine priming responses were not observed in either patients with rheumatoid arthritis or iron-deficiency anemia. Our findings are indicative of an ongoing inflammatory state in SCD between painful crises involving neutrophil activation and an abnormality of cytokine-regulated neutrophil function, which may compromise the host defenses against certain microorganisms.


[Microbial metabolism in typical flooded paddy soils ].
[OBJECTIVE] The object of this study is to reveal the composition of active microorganism and their metabolic activities in flooded paddy soils with long-term fertilization ( Mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, NPK) and without fertilizer (Control check, CK) by environmental transcriptomics. [METHODS] Flooded soil microcosms were incubated in the laboratory for two weeks, then total RNA were extracted from the soil for transcriptome sequencing. Resulting fastq files were uploaded to the Metagenomics Analysis Server (MG-RAST) for taxonomic analysis, gene annotation and function classification. [RESULTS] Transcripts from diverse active microorganism, including bacteria ( > 95% ) , archaea, eukaryotes and viruses, were detected in both flooded paddy soils of CK and NPK treatments. Most of the transcripts (active genes) of bacteria and archaea were derived from Proteobacteria (more than 50% of total bacterial transcripts) and Thaumarchaaeota (about 70% of total archaeal transcripts ) respectively in both treatments. Transcriptional activity of Acidobacteria in NPK treatment paddy soil was significantly higher than that in CK treatment paddy soil. As for other phyla of bacteria and archaea, there were no significant differences of transcriptional activity of them between CK and NPK treatment paddy soils. The highest expressed gene in both CK and NPK treatment paddy soils is ABC transporter encoding gene which related to the transmembrane transport of substances. Based on gene function category of COG (Clusters of Orthologous Genes), Subsystem and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) database, we found that the main metabolic activities of microorganisms in both CK and NPK treatment paddy soils were related to energy production and conversion, carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism and amino acid metabolism, and the dominant KEGG pathways were oxidative phosphorylation and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. [ CONCLUSION] Composition of active microorganism in CK and NPK treatment paddy soils was generally similar, except Acidobacteria whose transcriptional activity was significantly different between these two treatment paddy soils. It was also very similar between CK and NPK treatment paddy soils considering the metabolic activities of microorganisms in them, for dominant metabolic processes in these two soils were both related to energy obtaining and protein metabolism. So, dominant metabolic activities of microorganism in flooded paddy soils used in this study were not altered significantly under long - term inorganic fertilization.


Use of pulmonary artery flotation catheters in the coronary care unit.
As critical care nurses strive towards holistic patient care they must now interpret parameters previously regarded as the domain of the physician. The interpretation and understanding of results derived from pulmonary artery flotation catheters are important skills that are outlined in this article.


[Interference resistance in electrogastrography].
Parameters of electrogastrosignals and noise have been studied during cutaneous electrogastrography . Backgrounds are classified; signal parameters are analytically determined. As a result of the study an electrogastroenterograph is developed providing the stability of recording over a wide frequency range.


Dealing with a hyper-successful neighbor: effects of the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata on exotic and native snails in South America.
Pomacea canaliculata is a successful invader and also a competitor and predator of other snails and may play a key role in structuring freshwater snail communities both in its native and invaded range. In the present study we evaluated the contact and distant effects of P. canaliculata in its native range on exotic (Melanoides tuberculata and Physa acuta) and native snails (Heleobia parchappii, Biomphalaria peregrina, and Chilina parchappii). Habitat use was affected in P. acuta, H. parchappii, and B. peregrina by contact effects of P. canaliculata, whereas survival was only affected in P. acuta through combined contact and distant effects. Fecundity was reduced in P. acuta and B. peregrina by combined contact and distant effects; evidence of egg mass predation was also observed in both species. Melanoides tuberculata was not affected at all by P. canaliculata. The snail species with higher withdrawal responses to contacts with P. canaliculata were those that suffered less mortality by corporal contact, whereas snails with high crawling away responses suffered from higher mortality. The effects of P. canaliculata seem to be highly negative to small nonoperculate snails that lay gelatinous egg masses, whereas large operculate ovoviviparous snails are not affected in their survival and reproduction. This apple snail may exert biotic resistance against P. acuta but could favor the establishment of M. tuberculata and other functionally similar species in new habitats in South America.


Pancreatic abscess following acute pancreatitis.
Without surgical treatment, pancreatic abscess remains a highly lethal complication of acute pancreatitis. Many surgical series have reported mortality rates of 32 to 65 per cent in treated cases. Although pancreatic abscess is a rare condition, it is more common in patients with severe pancreatitis. A retrospective study of 130 patients admitted to our unit with severe acute pancreatitis during the period from 1965 to 1987 revealed 18 cases of pancreatic abscess. All pancreatic abscesses were primary in nature, and no infected pseudocysts were included in the series. Clinical surveillance, repeated laboratory tests, conventional radiology, and especially ultrasonography and CT scan all contributed to the preoperative diagnosis. The applied treatment was surgical debridement of all necrotic tissue and either local or extensive external drainage. In 12 cases this procedure was combined with other surgical interventions. The recorded mortality rate was 16.66 per cent. Factors adversely affecting survival include: 1) severity of precipitating pancreatitis; 2) difficulty in making early and accurate diagnosis of the pancreatic abscess; 3) marked tendency for recurrence of sepsis; and 4) life-threatening associated complications and/or diseases.


A Fluorescent Probe as a Lead Compound for a Selective α-Synuclein PET Tracer: Development of a Library of 2-Styrylbenzothiazoles and Biological Evaluation of [18F]PFSB and [18F]MFSB.
A method to detect and quantify aggregated α-synuclein (αSYN) fibrils in vivo would drastically impact the current understanding of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, revolutionizing their diagnosis and treatment. Several efforts have produced promising scaffolds, but a notable challenge has hampered the establishment of a clinically successful αSYN positron emission tomography (PET) tracer: the requirement of high selectivity over the other misfolded proteins amyloid β (Aβ) and tau. By designing and screening a library of 2-styrylbenzothiazoles based on the selective fluorescent probe RB1, this study aimed at developing a selective αSYN PET tracer. [3H]PiB competition binding assays identified PFSB (Ki = 25.4 ± 2.3 nM) and its less lipophilic analogue MFSB, which exhibited enhanced affinity to αSYN (Ki = 10.3 ± 4.7 nM) and preserved selectivity over Aβ. The two lead compounds were labeled with fluorine-18 and evaluated using in vitro autoradiography on human brain slices, where they demonstrated up to 4-fold increased specific binding in MSA cases compared to the corresponding control, reasonably reflecting selective binding to αSYN pathology. In vivo PET imaging showed [18F]MFSB successfully crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is taken up in the brain (SUV = 1.79 ± 0.02). Although its pharmacokinetic profile raises the need for additional structural optimization, [18F]MFSB represents a critical step forward in the development of a successful αSYN PET tracer by overcoming the major challenge of αSYN/Aβ selectivity.


Similar 1-year subjective outcome after a distal radius fracture during the 10-year-period 2003-2012.
Background and purpose - During the last decades, treatment of distal radius fractures (DRFs) has changed, with surgical intervention being more common and with new techniques. We investigated whether this change has influenced the subjective outcome. Here we report, year by year, the 1-year score after a DRF over a 10-year-period, using a patient-reported outcome measure. Patients and methods - Patients aged 18 years or more with a DRF between 2003 and 2012 were prospectively and consecutively registered in a longitudinal outcome database. 1 year after the fracture, all the patients were sent a validated subjective outcome questionnaire, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH). The lower the score (0-100), the better the outcome. Results - Between 2003 and 2012, 3,666 patients (2,833 of them women; mean age 62 (18-98) years) were included. 22% were operated and the rate remained constant over the years. The surgical methods shifted from external fixators (42%) and fragment-specific plates (45%) in 2003, to mainly volar locking plates (65%) in 2012. 70% of the patients responded to the 1-year DASH questionnaire. The median DASH score was 9 (IQR: 2-25) for the cohort, both in surgically treated patients (9 (IQR: 3-25)) and in non-surgically treated patients (9 (IQR 2-27)). Subgroup analysis showed a higher median DASH score for women than for men; for patients with AO type C fractures rather than type B or type A fractures; for patients with external fixation or fragment-specific fixation than for those who underwent surgery using volar locking plates; and for patients who were operated by a general orthopedic surgeon rather than a hand surgeon. Interpretation - The shift in surgical treatment had no influence on the subjective outcome for the cohort.


Risk of Soil Recontamination Due to Using Eleusine coracana and Panicum maximum Straw After Phytoremediation of Picloram.
This study aimed to evaluate the herbicidal activity of picloram on the biomass of the remediation plants Eleusine coracana and Panicum maximum after cultivation in a soil contaminated with this herbicide. These species were grown in three soils, differentiated based on texture (clayish, middle, and sandy, with 460, 250, and 40 g kg(-1) of the clay, respectively), previously contaminated with picloram (0, 80, and 160 g ha(-1)). After 90 days, the plants were harvested and an extract was produced by maceration of leaves and stems of these plants. It was applied to pots containing washed sand, comprising a bioassay in a growth chamber using soybean as a bioindicator for picloram. Soil and plant samples were analyzed by HPLC. The results showed the presence of picloram or metabolites with herbicidal activity in the shoots of E. coracana and P. maximum at phytotoxic levels with regard to soybean plants, indicating that they work only as phytoextractors and that the presence of straw on the soil surface can promote recontamination within the area. It is not recommended to cultivate species susceptible to picloram in areas where it was reported remediation by E. indica and P. maximum and still present residues of these species.


Multiaxial constitutive behavior of an interstitial-free steel: Measurements through X-ray and digital image correlation.
Constitutive behaviors of an interstitial-free steel sample were measured using an augmented Marciniak experiment. In these tests, multiaxial strain field data of the flat specimens were measured by the digital image correlation technique. In addition, the flow stress was measured using an X-ray diffractometer. The flat specimens in three different geometries were tested in order to achieve 1) balanced biaxial strain, and plane strain tests with zero strain in either 2) rolling direction or 3) transverse direction. The multiaxial stress and strain data were processed to obtain plastic work contours with reference to a uniaxial tension test along the rolling direction. The experimental results show that the mechanical behavior of the subjected specimen deviates significantly from isotropic behavior predicted by the von Mises yield criterion. The initial yield loci measured by a Marciniak tester is in good agreement with what is predicted by Hill's yield criterion. However, as deformation increases beyond the vonMises strain of 0.05, the shape of the work contour significantly deviates from that of Hill's yield locus. A prediction made by a viscoplastic self-consistent model is in better agreement with the experimental observation than the Hill yield locus with the isotropic work-hardening rule. However, none of the studied models matched the initial or evolving anisotropic behaviors of the interstitial-free steel measured by the augmented Marciniak experiment.


Dry eye syndrome and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome-a prospective population-based study in Taiwan.
The clinical association between dry eye syndrome (DES) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remain unclear with less evidences. We aimed to investigate the relationship between CFS and DES using a national insurance and prospective cohort study. Data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 was applied to estimate the incidence of CFS among patients with DES, and their age- and sex-matched controls without DES over a long-term follow-up period. All participants were CFS free at baseline, before the interval (2005-2007), but were later diagnosed with CFS. DES patients and its relative matched controls were excluded prevalent CFS before the same interval. We identified 884 patients with DES and 3,536 matched controls in baseline and estimated the hazard ratios for incident CFS in the follow-up period. Patients with DES had a 2.08-fold considerably increasing risk of developing CFS, compared to non-DES group. An elevated risk of developing CFS remained (1.61-fold risk) even after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities. There was a presence of increasing risk in DES-related CFS when CFS-related comorbidities existing (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.98, 95% confidence interval, 1.19-3.29; p < 0.01). The subsequent risk for CFS between DES and non-DES patients was significant increased with three or more annual medical visits, the adjusted risk for CFS was 4.88-fold risk (95% CI, 2.26-10.58, p < 0.001). We recommended that physicians should be aware of the increased risk of CFS among DES patients and adequately assess the health impacts among these patients.


Synthesis and Electrophysiological Testing of Carbonyl Pheromone Analogues for Carposinid Moths.
Sex pheromone analogues were synthesized and tested on two pest carposinid moth species: the guava moth, Coscinoptycha improbana, and the raspberry bud moth, Heterocrossa rubophaga. The pheromone analogues used for the electroantennogram testing included (Z)-11-methylenenonadec-7-ene, (Z)-nonadec-12-en-9-amine, (Z)-11-methoxynonadec-7-ene, (Z)-1-(octylsulfinyl)-dec-3-ene, and (Z)-nonadec-12-en-9-ol. An imine analogue, N-((Z)-nonadec-12-en-9-ylidene)cyclopropanamine, was also synthesized but was too unstable for testing with the moths. None of the analogue compounds elicited significant responses from the male moth antennae.


Mothers' willingness to pay for HPV vaccines in Anambra state, Nigeria: a cross sectional contingent valuation study.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination in Nigeria will require substantial financing due to high cost of HPV vaccine and inexistence of structures to support adolescent vaccination. Alternative sources are needed to sustain the government funded HPV vaccination programme. This study assessed Nigerian mothers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for HPV vaccine. We also compared the difference between the average WTP and estimated costs of vaccinating a pre-adolescent girl (CVG). We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional, survey-based study in which 50 questionnaires were distributed to each of 10 secondary schools located in two rural and one urban city in Anambra state. The questionnaires were then randomly distributed to girls aged 9-12 years of age to give to their mothers. Contingent valuation approach using the payment card technique was used to estimate the average maximum WTP among the survey participants. Correlates of WTP for HPV vaccination were obtained using multivariate logistic regression. Estimated CVG was obtained by adapting cost of HPV vaccine delivery in Tanzania to the Nigerian setting. A total of 438 questionnaires (88 %) were returned. The average WTP was US$ 11.68. This is opposed to estimated delivery cost of US$ 18.16 and US$ 19.26 for urban and rural populations respectively at vaccine price offered by the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and US$ 35.16 and US$ 36.26 for urban and rural populations respectively at the lowest obtainable public sector vaccine price. Demand for HPV vaccine was deemed high (91.6 %) and was significantly associated with respondents previously diagnosed of HPV infection. Demand for HPV vaccine was high although short of estimated CVG. High demand for vaccine should be capitalized upon to increase vaccine uptake. Education on cervical cancer and provider-initiated vaccination should be promoted to increase vaccine uptake. Co-payment could be a feasible financing strategy in the event of national HPV vaccination.


Pulmonary response of Fischer 344 rats to acute nose-only inhalation of indium trichloride.
We have previously shown that rats dosed intratracheally with indium trichloride (InCl3) develop severe lung damage and fibrosis. However, it is not clear what pulmonary effects would result following accidental occupational exposure to low concentrations of indium by inhalation. The present study uses a model of acute lung injury based on single 1-hr nose-only exposures to 0.2, 2.0, or 20 mg InCl3/m3. Exposure to 0.2 mg InCl3/m3 was capable of initiating an inflammatory response. Seven days following inhalation of 20 mg InCl3/m3 the total cell number, fibronectin, and TNF alpha levels in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid were 8, 40, and 5 times higher than the control, respectively. Commensurate with the level of lung injury 7 days after exposure, an acute restrictive lung lesion and increased airway responsiveness to acetylcholine were observed. Forty-two days after exposure a compensatory increase in lung volume and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in the 20 mg InCl3/m3 group suggested recovery from the lung injury. Lung collagen levels were increased in a concentration-dependent manner 42 days postexposure. These data indicate that inhalation of InCl3/m3 causes acute inflammatory changes in the lung.


Left-right development in Xenopus and zebrafish.
One of the most striking features of the vertebrate body plan is that most exterior structures are bilaterally symmetric while many interior structures are left-right asymmetric. Left-right asymmetries are displayed in the heart, the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems and in the central nervous system. A fundamental question in the study of all patterning events, including left-right axis formation, is how does asymmetry arise from apparent symmetry. A second important question that is perhaps unique to the study of left-right development, is how does the left-right axis align with the asymmetries that develop along the orthogonal axes; dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior. Recent experiments in Xenopus laevis and zebrafish address both of these questions and have identified signaling molecules and interactions with midline cells that regulate left-right development.


Giant myofibroblastoma of breast: a case report.
Myofibroblastoma of the breast is a very rare benign neoplasm usually seen in elderly male and is of very small size. A 40 year old nulliparous woman was admitted with chief complain of massive enlargement of left breast. The case was clinically diagnosed as Phyllodes tumor Left mastectomy was done. The tumor was histopathologically and immunohistochemically diagnosed as Myofibroblastoma. The case is reported because of its rarity and very rare clinical presentation.


Metabolic profiling and transcriptome analysis provide insights into the accumulation of flavonoids in chayote fruit during storage.
Chayote (Sechium edulel) fruits are rich in flavonoids, folate, and low-calorie food. However, studies about the flavonoids and the corresponding regulatory mechanism of flavonoid synthesis in chayote fruits was still unclear. In present study, an integrated transcriptome and metabolite analysis of chayote fruits at three different storage stages were conducted to explore the flavonoid compositions and gene expression associated with flavonoid synthesis. Through the UPLC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 57 flavonoid compounds were detected. Of these, 42 flavonoid glycosides were significantly differential accumulation in chayote fruits at three different storage stages. Many genes associated with flavonoid synthesis were differentially expressed in chayote fruits at three different storage stages through RNA-seq analysis, including structural genes and some TFs. There was a high correlation between RNA-seq analysis and metabolite profiling, and the expression level of candidate genes in the flavonoid synthesis pathway were consistent with the dynamic changes of flavonoids. In addition, one R2R3-MYB transcription factor, FSG0057100, was defined as the critical regulatory gene of flavonoid synthesis. Furthermore, exogenous application of phenylalanine increased the total content of flavonoids and promoted some flavonoid biosynthesis-related gene expression in chayote fruits. The above results not only make us better understand the molecular mechanism of flavonoid synthesis in chayote fruits, but also contribute to the promotion and application of chayote products.


A novel steric effect-regulated isothermal exponential amplification technology for the one-step homogeneous sensing of proteins.
A simple and homogeneous technology, the steric effect-regulated isothermal exponential amplification reaction (SER-EXPAR), was developed to sense proteins. By using a small molecule linked DNA nanostructure, termed enzyme-binding hairpin (EBH), the protein-small molecule binding events could be readily sensed by utilizing the steric effect generated between the protein and enzyme. It set free the enzyme to be active again, thus regulating the amplification rate of EXPAR.


Fosfomycin Susceptibility Testing Using Commercial Agar Dilution Test.
The reference standard for fosfomycin antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is agar dilution, but it is laborious and is not routinely used in diagnostic microbiology. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a ready-to-use commercially available agar dilution kit for fosfomycin AST (Liofilchem Diagnostics). We compared this kit with the reference standard agar dilution, performed according to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in 229 clinical isolates. The isolates were selected to represent both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, with various MIC values. It consisted of 43 enterococci (E. faecalis n = 16, E. faecium n = 27), 13 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 118 Enterobacterales (Escherichia coli n = 94, Klebsiella pneumoniae n = 20, and Enterobacter cloacae complex n = 4), 55 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and three ATCC isolates. Using CLSI breakpoints for enterococci for oral treatment of urinary tract infections, European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints for intravenous dosing for Enterobacterales and Staphylococci, and epidemiological cutoff value for P. aeruginosa, the essential agreement was 87.5%, and 99.6% after discrepancy resolution. There was no very major error, and 1.9% major error before, and 0.9% major error after resolution of discrepancies. The commercial test showed 100% reproducibility. In conclusion, in comparison to the reference standard, the ready-to-use commercially available agar dilution kit for fosfomycin AST showed excellent performance. IMPORTANCE Fosfomycin is increasingly needed to treat infection due to multidrug resistant microorganisms. Yet, the antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) of fosfomycin is fraught with difficulties or often laborious to perform. An easy-to-use AST method for fosfomycin is thus needed. In this study, we showed that the ready-to-use commercially available agar dilution kit, in comparison to the reference standard, showed excellent performance.


Fatal Powassan Encephalitis (Deer Tick Virus, Lineage II) in a Patient With Fever and Orchitis Receiving Rituximab.
Powassan virus is a rare but increasingly recognized cause of severe neurological disease. To highlight the diagnostic challenges and neuropathological findings in a fatal case of Powassan encephalitis caused by deer tick virus (lineage II) in a patient with follicular lymphoma receiving rituximab, with nonspecific anti-GAD65 antibodies, who was initially seen with fever and orchiepididymitis. Comparison of clinical, radiological, histological, and laboratory findings, including immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, antibody detection, and unbiased sequencing assays, in a single case report (first seen in December 2016) at an academic medical center. Infection with Powassan virus. Results of individual assays compared retrospectively. In a 63-year-old man with fatal Powassan encephalitis, serum and cerebrospinal fluid IgM antibodies were not detected via standard methods, likely because of rituximab exposure. Neuropathological findings were extensive, including diffuse leptomeningeal and parenchymal lymphohistiocytic infiltration, microglial proliferation, marked neuronal loss, and white matter microinfarctions most severely involving the cerebellum, thalamus, and basal ganglia. Diagnosis was made after death by 3 independent methods, including demonstration of Powassan virus antigen in brain biopsy and autopsy tissue, detection of viral RNA in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by targeted real-time polymerase chain reaction, and detection of viral RNA in cerebrospinal fluid by unbiased sequencing. Extensive testing for other etiologies yielded negative results, including mumps virus owing to prodromal orchiepididymitis. Low-titer anti-GAD65 antibodies identified in serum, suggestive of limbic encephalitis, were not detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Owing to the rarity of Powassan encephalitis, a high degree of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis, particularly in an immunocompromised patient, in whom antibody-based assays may be falsely negative. Unbiased sequencing assays have the potential to detect uncommon infectious agents and may prove useful in similar scenarios.


Stereographic measurement of orbital volume, a digital reproducible evaluation method.
Up to date, no standardised reproducible orbital volume measurement method is available. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a new measurement method, which delineates the boundaries of orbital cavity three-dimensionally (3D). In order to calculate the orbital volume from axial CT slice images of the patients, using our first described measurement method, the segmentation of the orbital cavity and the bony skull was performed using Amira 3D Analysis Software. The files were then imported into the Blender program. The stereographic skull model was aligned based on the Frankfurt horizontal plane and superposed according to defined anatomical reference points. The anterior sectional plane ran through the most posterior section of the lacrimal fossa and the farthest dorsal point of the anterior latero-orbital margin, which is positioned perpendicular to the Frankfurt horizontal plane. The volume of each orbital cavity was then determined automatically by the Blender program. The 10 consecutive subjects (5 female, 5 male) with mean age of 50.3±21.3 years were considered for analysis in the current study. The first investigator reported a mean orbital volume of 20.24±1.01 cm3 in the first and 20.25±1.03 cm3 in the second evaluation. Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed an excellent intrarater agreement (ICC=0.997). Additionally, the second investigator detected a mean orbital volume of 20.20±1.08 cm3 in his assessment, in which an excellent inter-rater agreement was found in ICC (ICC=0.994). This method provides a standardised and reproducible 3D approach to the measurement of the orbital volume.


Using winter 2009-2010 to assess the accuracy of methods which estimate influenza-related morbidity and mortality.
We used the winter of 2009-2010, which had minimal influenza circulation due to the earlier 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, to test the accuracy of ecological trend methods used to estimate influenza-related deaths and hospitalizations. We aggregated weekly counts of person-time, all-cause deaths, and hospitalizations for pneumonia/influenza and respiratory/circulatory conditions from seven healthcare systems. We predicted the incidence of the outcomes during the winter of 2009-2010 using three different methods: a cyclic (Serfling) regression model, a cyclic regression model with viral circulation data (virological regression), and an autoregressive, integrated moving average model with viral circulation data (ARIMAX). We compared predicted non-influenza incidence with actual winter incidence. All three models generally displayed high accuracy, with prediction errors for death ranging from -5% to -2%. For hospitalizations, errors ranged from -10% to -2% for pneumonia/influenza and from -3% to 0% for respiratory/circulatory. The Serfling and virological models consistently outperformed the ARIMAX model. The three methods tested could predict incidence of non-influenza deaths and hospitalizations during a winter with negligible influenza circulation. However, meaningful mis-estimation of the burden of influenza can still result with outcomes for which the contribution of influenza is low, such as all-cause mortality.


Effect of artemether on electrocardiogram in severe falciparum malaria.
The effect of intramuscular artemether (intramuscular loading dose of 160 mg, followed by 80 mg daily for another 6 doses), in comparison with that of quinine (intravenous infusion of loading dose of 20 mg/kg, followed by 10 mg/kg q 8 hourly for 7 days), on the electrocardiograph of severe falciparum malaria patients were investigated in 102 Thai patients (92 males, 10 females) admitted to Pra Pokklao Hospital, Chantaburi, southeast of Thailand. Fifty patients (19 with quinine and 31 with artemether) were eligible for ECG analysis. Hypotension was found significantly more common in the quinine group (13 vs 2 cases). Thirteen, 5 and 1 patients with quinine treatment, respectively, had tachycardia, non-specific T-wave change and QTc prolongation. No significant dysrhythmia was found despite high plasma quinine concentrations. Five patients died; their ECGs were not significantly different from those who survived. In the group with intramuscular artemether, 17 cases had tachycardia prior to artemether treatment. QTc prolongation and non-specific T-wave change were found in 2 and 6 cases. One patient had RBBB and second degree AV-block on Day 1, but returned to normal on Day 2. No other dysrhythmia or other significant changes in ECG tracing which would suggest any effect of artemether on cardiovascular system were observed.


Gallic acid-based indanone derivatives as anticancer agents.
Gallic acid-based indanone derivatives have been synthesised. Some of the indanones showed very good anticancer activity in MTT assay. Compounds 10, 11, 12 and 14 possessed potent anticancer activity against various human cancer cell lines. The most potent indanone (10, IC(50)=2.2 microM), against MCF-7, that is, hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line, showed no toxicity to human erythrocytes even at higher concentrations (100 microg/ml, 258 microM). While, indanones 11, 12 and 14 showed toxicities to erythrocytes at higher concentrations.


Myelin basic protein stimulates insulin and glucagon secretion from rat pancreatic islets in vitro and in vivo.
The effect of myelin basic protein on insulin and glucagon secretion from rat pancreatic islets was studied in vivo and in vitro. The myelin basic proteins isolated from bovine, human and rat brains all stimulated insulin secretion in a similar fashion. In a static incubation of isolated pancreatic islets, myelin basic protein at doses of 15.6-250 micrograms in a 0.5-ml reaction volume (1.7 X 10(-6) to 2.7 X 10(-5) M) significantly stimulated hormone release. Maximal stimulation, obtained at the 250-micrograms dose, was 6.5-fold greater than control for insulin secretion and 6.7-fold greater than control for glucagon secretion. In the case of glucagon no saturation was observed, but saturation was obvious for insulin release at doses of myelin basic protein of 62.5-250 micrograms, larger doses causing permeabilization of the islet membranes as indicated by leakage of acid phosphatase. At a 100-micrograms dose the time course of insulin secretion induced by myelin basic protein indicated a fast initial release, and after the first 2 h only a little more insulin was released. At the lower doses of myelin basic protein (11 and 33 micrograms) the secretion rate was nearly constant after the first hour. Significant stimulation of glucagon release by myelin basic protein was seen after 60 min, the rate of release being roughly constant at 33- and 100-micrograms doses thereafter. At the 11-micrograms dose significant stimulation of hormone release was observed only after a 4-h incubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[A prospective study on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft versus gamma irradiated allograft].
To analyze the stability and clinical outcomes of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with gamma irradiated patellar tendon allograft compared with autograft. From January 2004 to October 2007, 69 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were prospectively randomized consecutively into two groups: group A (autograft, n=36) and group B (gamma irradiated allograft, n=33). In group A, there were 30 males and 6 females with an average age of 30.1 years, including 30 cases of simple ACL rupture and 6 cases of ACL rupture with medial accessory ligament injury; ACL rupture was caused by sports in 28 cases, by traffic accident in 5 cases, and by others in 3 cases; and the time from injury to operation was 1.4 months on average. In group B, there were 26 males and 7 females with an average age of 32.5 years, including 27 cases of simple ACL rupture and 6 cases of ACL rupture with medial accessory ligament injury; ACL rupture was caused by sports in 27 cases, by traffic accident in 4 cases, and by others in 2 cases; and the time from injury to operation was 1.5 months on average. There were no significant differences in general data between two groups (P > 0.05). The same arthroscopic technique was used in all ACL reconstructions done by the same surgeon. The clinical outcome was evaluated and compared by general conditions, pivot shift test, Lachman test, KT-2000 arthrometer testing, Daniel's one-leg hop test, International Knee Documental Committee (IKDC) scoring, Lysholm knee scoring scale, and Tegner activity score. All patients were followed up for 39.5 months (group A) and 37.6 months (group B). In group A, patella fracture occurred in 1 case and anterior knee pain in 2 cases postoperatively. No complication occurred in group B. The hospitalization times in groups A and B were (15.6 +/- 2.4) days and (15.5 +/- 1.5) days, respectively, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05). The operation time of group A was longer than that of group B and the fever time of group A was shorter than that of group B, showing significant differences (P < 0.05). At the final follow-up, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in Lachman test and the pivot shift test between two groups, between pre- and post-operation; there. were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in Daniel's one-leg hop test, the IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner activity scores between two groups, however, there was a decreased trend in the functional and activity levels in group B. And there was significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05). At the final follow-up, the differences between normal side and affected side were (2.4 +/- 0.6) mm in group A and (5.5 +/- 3.6) mm in group B, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in tibial advancement between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05). The functional and activity level of the knee after ACL reconstruction with autograft and gamma irradiated patellar tendon allograft were similar, but anterior and rotational stability of the involved knee decreases significantly in the group with gamma irradiated patellar tendon allograft.


Cyclic AMP can promote APL progression and protect myeloid leukemia cells against anthracycline-induced apoptosis.
We show that cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevating agents protect blasts from patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) against death induced by first-line anti-leukemic anthracyclines like daunorubicin (DNR). The cAMP effect was reproduced in NB4 APL cells, and shown to depend on activation of the generally cytoplasmic cAMP-kinase type I (PKA-I) rather than the perinuclear PKA-II. The protection of both NB4 cells and APL blasts was associated with (inactivating) phosphorylation of PKA site Ser118 of pro-apoptotic Bad and (activating) phosphorylation of PKA site Ser133 of the AML oncogene CREB. Either event would be expected to protect broadly against cell death, and we found cAMP elevation to protect also against 2-deoxyglucose, rotenone, proteasome inhibitor and a BH3-only mimetic. The in vitro findings were mirrored by the findings in NSG mice with orthotopic NB4 cell leukemia. The mice showed more rapid disease progression when given cAMP-increasing agents (prostaglandin E2 analog and theophylline), both with and without DNR chemotherapy. The all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced terminal APL cell differentiation is a cornerstone in current APL treatment and is enhanced by cAMP. We show also that ATRA-resistant APL cells, believed to be responsible for treatment failure with current ATRA-based treatment protocols, were protected by cAMP against death. This suggests that the beneficial pro-differentiating and non-beneficial pro-survival APL cell effects of cAMP should be weighed against each other. The results suggest also general awareness toward drugs that can affect bone marrow cAMP levels in leukemia patients.


Bacterial siderophores promote plant growth: Screening of catechol and hydroxamate siderophores.
The aim of the study was to determine the quality and quantity of siderophores produced by bacteria isolated from plants' roots. The second aim was to determine the effect of siderophores on plants growth (Festuca rubra L. and Brassica napus L.). The study was carried out using bacteria isolated from roots of: Arabidopsis thaliana L., F. rubra, and Agrostis capillaris L., growing on the heavy metals contaminated area. The chrome azurol sulfonate (CAS) test, Arnow's test for catechol siderophores, and Csaksy's test for hydroxamate siderophores were performed. Among the bacteria, 42 isolates (39%) had a positive result in the CAS. Endophytic bacteria were mostly producing the catechol siderophores. It was found that F. rubra is the plant which is linked with the highest number of siderophores producing bacteria. The highest concentration of siderophores was noted for ectorhizospheric bacteria associated with A. thaliana, hyperaccumulating plant. It was found that hydroxamate siderophores are mainly produced by ectorhizosphere and rhizoplane bacteria. The siderophores producing bacteria reduced the toxicity of metals and improved the phytoremediation. Siderophores treatment increased the growth of plants in the biological assay, growing on two different soils: one highly contaminated with heavy metals and the second strongly alkaline soil.


Incorporation of SKI-G-801, a Novel AXL Inhibitor, With Anti-PD-1 Plus Chemotherapy Improves Anti-Tumor Activity and Survival by Enhancing T Cell Immunity.
A recently developed treatment strategy for lung cancer that combines immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy has been applied as a standard treatment for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), and it has improved the outcomes of chemotherapy. Maintenance treatment with anti-PD-1 antibody (aPD-1) enhances the effect of immunochemical combination therapy and improves therapeutic efficacy, which contributes toward a significant improvement in patient survival rates. The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), which is expressed in tumor cells, plays an essential role in the resistance of cancers to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and stimulates signaling associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in metastatic cancer. AXL is thus an attractive target for controlling resistance to anti-tumor therapies. In this study, we examined the effect of AXL inhibitors on immune activation and tumor growth in TC1 and C3PQ mouse tumor models, in the context of clinical immunotherapy/chemotherapy and maintenance treatment, using an aPD-1 with/without pemetrexed. To determine the optimal timing for administration of SKI-G-801, an AXL inhibitor, we investigated its anti-tumor effects based on inclusion at the immunochemotherapy and maintenance therapy stages. We also performed flow cytometry-based immune profiling of myeloid cells and lymphoid cells at different points in the treatment schedule, to investigate the immune activation and anti-tumor effects of the AXL inhibitor. The addition of SKI-G-801 to the immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy stage, as well as the maintenance therapy stage, produced the best anti-tumor results, and significant tumor growth inhibition was observed in both the TC1 and C3PQ models. Both models also exhibited increased proportion of effector memory helper T cells and increased expression of CD86+ macrophages. Especially, regulatory T cells were significantly reduced in the TC1 tumor model and there was an increase in central memory cytotoxic T cell infiltration and an increased proportion of macrophages with high CD80 expression in the C3PQ tumor model. These results suggest increased infiltration of T cells, consistent with previous studies using AXL inhibitors. It is expected that the results from this study will serve as a stepping stone for clinical research to improve the existing standard of care.


Malignant neoplasms of decidual origin (deciduosarcomas) induced by estrogen-progestin-releasing intravaginal devices in rabbits.
A combination of estrogen and levonorgestrel was continuously delivered to 23 adult rabbits for up to 2 years via a Silastic ring device sutured into the vagina. Twenty-one control rabbits were given similar rings devoid of drugs. A marked decidual reaction of the endometrium occurred in 16 of 23 test rabbits. In 14 test rabbits (61%) malignant tumors developed of decidual type cells not heretofore described. The deciduosarcomas were composed of anaplastic cells that invaded the uterine walls, uterine lymphatics, and in 4 of 13 (31%) rabbits that survived 2 years of treatment, the tumors metastasized to the lungs. Several deciduosarcomas appeared to arise within the spleen or other abdominal organs. Other drug-related lesions included uterine or vaginal polyps, endometrial atrophy, and focal necrosis and mineralization of the uterine wall. Cells from several deciduosarcomas failed to produce tumors in nude mice or to colonize on soft agar. No decidualization or decidual neoplasms were seen in the controls.


The SWISS-PROT protein sequence data bank: current status.
SWISS-PROT is an annotated protein sequence database established in 1986 and maintained collaboratively, since 1988, by the Department of Medical Biochemistry of the University of Geneva and the EMBL Data Library. The SWISS-PROT protein sequence data bank consist of sequence entries. Sequence entries are composed of different lines types, each with their own format. For standardization purposes the format of SWISS-PROT follows as closely as possible that of the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database. A sample SWISS-PROT entry is shown in Figure 1.


Validity of Self-Reported Hepatitis C Virus Status Among Criminal Justice-Involved Persons Living With HIV.
The prevalence of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection among justice-involved persons is high. The validity of self-reported HCV status in this population has important public health implications, yet has not been studied. Justice-involved persons with HIV from Washington, DC, were enrolled in a study that investigated a mobile health intervention to support HIV treatment. Self-reported and laboratory-confirmed HCV status was compared. Among 103 participants, chronic HCV prevalence was 13%. Positive predictive value of self-reported positive chronic HCV status was low at 55%, and negative predictive value was 98%. Cohen's kappa statistic was 0.60 for agreement. Two women who reported negative HCV status were found to have HCV.


A competitive microflora increases the resistance of Salmonella typhimurium to inimical processes: evidence for a suicide response.
The presence of a viable competitive microflora at cell densities of 10(8) CFU ml-1 protects an underlying population of 10(5) CFU of Salmonella typhimurium ml-1 against freeze injury. The mechanism of enhanced resistance was initially postulated to be via an RpoS-mediated adaptive response. By using an spvRA:: luxCDABE reporter we have shown that although the onset of RpoS-mediated gene expression was brought forward by the addition of a competitive microflora, the time taken for induction was measured in hours. Since the protective effect of a competitive microflora is essentially instantaneous, the stationary-phase adaptive response is excluded as the physiological mechanism. The only instantaneous effect of the competitive microflora was a reduction in the percent saturation of oxygen from 100% to less than 10%. For both mild heat treatment (55 degrees C) and freeze injury this change in oxygen tension affords Salmonella a substantive (2 orders of magnitude) enhancement in survival. By reducing the levels of dissolved oxygen through active respiration, a competitive microflora reduces oxidative damage to exponential-phase cells irrespective of the inimical treatment. These results have led us to propose a suicide hypothesis for the destruction of rapidly growing cells by inimical processes. In essence, the suicide hypothesis proposes that a mild inimical process leads to the growth arrest of exponential-phase cells and to the decoupling of anabolic and catabolic metabolism. The result of this is a free radical burst which is lethal to unadapted cells.


[Animal experiments for intratumoral chemotherapy with bleomycin (author's transl)].
The intense clinical interest in bleomycin as an anti-tumour agent has led to different methods of administration in an attempt to administer sufficiently high concentrations of the drug to the tumor. Therefore, a study was designed to determine the distribution and the therapeutic effect of a bleomycin emulsion and aqueous bleomycin after different routes of application. The tissue distribution of radioactively labelled bleomycin emulsion and aqueous bleomycin was determined in tumor-free CF 1 and tumor-bearing (EL 4, L 1210) C 57 Bl 6 and DBA 2 mice after local (s.c., i.t.) and systemic (i.v.) injection. The distribution studies for aqueous 57Co-bleomycin showed increased activity in the injection sites and the lymph nodes draining the injection sites after s.c. and i.t. injection compared to i.v. administration of the drug. In comparison to the aqueous local administration, the application of 57Co-bleomycin emulsion resulted in a disproportional increase of the 57Co-bleomycin concentration at the injection sites and in the draining lymph nodes. To prove the therapeutic relevance of the bleomycin tissue distribution tumor-bearing (line 10) strain 2 guinea pigs were treated with different modes of bleomycin. Animals with already lymphogenously metastasized tumors have been cured by means of low i.t. doses of the bleomycin emulsion. Guinea pigs treated with i.t. administration of aqueous bleomycin need, compared to the bleomycin emulsion, five times higher doses for tumor-free survival. Intravenously treated animals died either because of progressive tumor growth or because of toxic bleomycin effects. These findings made by animal experiments favor the i.t. treatment of head and neck carcinomas with a bleomycin emulsion.


Induction of ABCG2/BCRP restricts the distribution of zidovudine to the fetal brain in rats.
Safety concerns for fetus development of zidovudine (AZT) administration as prophylaxis of vertical transmission of HIV persist. We evaluated the participation of the ATP-binding cassette efflux transporter ABCG2 in the penetration of AZT into the fetal brain and the relevance for drug safety. Oral daily doses of AZT (60mg/kg body weight) or its vehicle were administered between post gestational days 11 (E11) and 20 (E20) to Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats. At E21, animals received an intravenous bolus of 60mg AZT/kg body weight in the presence or absence of the ABCG2 inhibitor gefitinib (20mg/kg body weight, ip) and AZT in maternal plasma and fetal brain were measured by HPLC-UV. ABCG2 protein expression in placenta and fetal brain, as well as mitochondrial function and ultrastructure in fetal brain were also analyzed. In utero chronic exposure to AZT markedly induced ABCG2 expression in placenta and fetal brain whereas did not significantly alter mitochondrial functionality in the fetal brain. The area-under-the-concentration-time-curve of AZT significantly decreased in fetal brains isolated from AZT-exposed fetuses compared to control group, but this effect was abolished by ABCG2 inhibition. Our results suggest that the absence of mitochondrial toxicity in the fetal brain after chronic in utero administration of AZT could be attributed to its low accumulation in the tissue caused, at least in part, by ABCG2 overexpression. We propose that any interference with ABCG2 activity due to genetic, pathological or iatrogenic factors would increase the amount of AZT reaching the fetal brain, which could increase the risk of toxicity of this drug on the tissue.


Computer surveillance of hospital-acquired infections: a 25 year update.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of patient harm and increased healthcare cost. Many states have instituted mandatory hospital-wide reporting of HAIs which will increase the workload of infection preventionists and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is no longer paying hospitals to treat certain HAIs. These competing priorities for increased reporting and prevention have many hospitals worried. Manual surveillance of HAIs cannot provide the speed, accuracy and consistency of computerized surveillance. Computer tools can also improve the speed and accuracy of HAI analysis and reporting. Computerized surveillance for HAIs was implemented at LDS Hospital in 1984, but that system required manual entry of data for analysis and reporting. This paper reports on the current functionality and status of the updated computer system for HAI surveillance, analysis and reporting used at LDS Hospital and the 21 other Intermountain Healthcare hospitals.


Development of behavioural profile in the Northern common boa (Boa imperator): Repeatable independent traits or personality?
Recent studies of animal personality have focused on its proximate causation and ecological and evolutionary significance in particular, but the question of its development was largely overlooked. The attributes of personality are defined as between-individual differences in behaviour, which are consistent over time (differential consistency) and contexts (contextual generality) and both can be affected by development. We assessed several candidates for personality variables measured in various tests with different contexts over several life-stages (juveniles, older juveniles, subadults and adults) in the Northern common boa. Variables describing foraging/feeding decision and some of the defensive behaviours expressed as individual average values are highly repeatable and consistent. We found two main personality axes-one associated with foraging/feeding and the speed of decision, the other reflecting agonistic behaviour. Intensity of behaviour in the feeding context changes during development, but the level of agonistic behaviour remains the same. The juveniles and adults have a similar personality structure, but there is a period of structural change of behaviour during the second year of life (subadults). These results require a new theoretical model to explain the selection pressures resulting in this developmental pattern of personality. We also studied the proximate factors and their relationship to behavioural characteristics. Physiological parameters (heart and breath rate stress response) measured in adults clustered with variables concerning the agonistic behavioural profile, while no relationship between the juvenile/adult body size and personality concerning feeding/foraging and the agonistic behavioural profile was found. Our study suggests that it is important for studies of personality development to focus on both the structural and differential consistency, because even though behaviour is differentially consistent, the structure can change.


Selective separation of microorganisms by lectins: yeast and concanavalin A as a model system.
Specific aggregation and separation of microorganisms was investigated using yeasts and concanavalin A as a model system. Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were specifically aggregated and so separated from those of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Optimum aggregation with over 99% of cells aggregated was achieved by adjustment to pH value and applied agitation. Dimeric lectin structure caused a far higher degree of aggregation than did tetrameric. Degree of aggregation was also strongly influenced by the ratio of lectin/cell concentrations, optimum aggregation occurring in the middle range of ratios. A high ratio of lectin to cells inhibited aggregation, occupation of most of the available receptors preventing intercellular bonding by divalent lectins. Detachment and reuse of concanavalin A was demonstrated using switching from moderate to low pH value. Potential uses for species-specific-separation of microorganisms are discussed.


Emerging therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.
Despite decades of intense research, therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still limited to symptomatic treatments that possess only short-term efficacy. Recently, several large-scale Phase III trials targeting amyloid-β production or clearance have failed to show efficacy, leading to a reexamination of the amyloid hypothesis as well as highlighting the need to explore alternatives in both clinical testing strategies and drug discovery targets. In this review, we discuss therapeutics currently being tested in clinical trials and up-and-coming interventions that have shown promise in animal models, devoting attention to the mechanisms that may underlie their ability to influence disease progression and placing particular emphasis on tau therapeutics.


MaMADS1-MaNAC083 transcriptional regulatory cascade regulates ethylene biosynthesis during banana fruit ripening.
The hormone ethylene is crucial in the regulation of ripening in climacteric fruit, such as bananas. The transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis throughout banana fruit ripening has received much study, but the cascaded transcriptional machinery of upstream transcriptional regulators implicated in the ethylene biosynthesis pathway is still poorly understood. Here we report that ethylene biosynthesis genes, including MaACS1, MaACO1, MaACO4, MaACO5, and MaACO8, were upregulated in ripening bananas. NAC (NAM, ATAF, CUC) transcription factor, MaNAC083, a ripening and ethylene-inhibited gene, was discovered as a potential binding protein to the MaACS1 promoter by yeast one-hybrid screening. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that MaNAC083 bound directly to promoters of the five ethylene biosynthesis genes, thereby transcriptionally repressing their expression, which was further verified by transient overexpression experiments, where ethylene production was inhibited through MaNAC083-modulated transcriptional repression of ethylene biosynthesis genes in banana fruits. Strikingly, MaMADS1, a ripening-induced MADS (MCM1, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, SRF4) transcription factor, was found to directly repress the expression of MaNAC083, inhibiting trans-repression of MaNAC083 to ethylene biosynthesis genes, thereby attenuating MaNAC083-repressed ethylene production in bananas. These findings collectively illustrated the mechanistic basis of a MaMADS1-MaNAC083-MaACS1/MaACOs regulatory cascade controlling ethylene biosynthesis during banana fruit ripening. These findings increase our knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of ethylene biosynthesis at the transcriptional level and are expected to help develop molecular approaches to control ripening and improve fruit storability.


Current status of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in China.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTSV is associated with a high mortality rate and has been reported in China, South Korea and Japan. SFTSV undergoes rapid changes owing to evolution, gene mutations, and reassortment between different strains of SFTSV. In this review, we summarize the recent cases and general properties of SFTS, focusing on the epidemiology, genetic diversity, clinical features, and diagnostics of SFTSV in China. From 2010 to October 2016, SFTS cases were reported in 23 provinces of China, with increased numbers yearly. Infection and death cases are mainly found in central China, where the Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks are spread. The national average mortality rate of SFTS infection was 5.3%, with higher risk to elder people. The main epidemic period was from May to July, with a peak in May. Thus, SFTS reminds a significant public health problem, and development of prophylactic vaccines and effective antiviral drugs will be highly needed.


Solvation of copper ions by acetone. structures and sequential binding energies of Cu+(acetone)x, x = 1-4 from collision-induced dissociation and theoretical studies.
Collision-induced dissociation of Cu+(acetone)(x), x = 1-4, with Xe is studied as a function of kinetic energy using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. In all cases, the primary and lowest energy dissociation channel observed is endothermic loss of one acetone molecule. The primary cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0 and 298 K bond energies after accounting for the effects of multiple ion-neutral collisions, internal energy of the complexes, and dissociation lifetimes. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory are used to determine the structures of these complexes and provide molecular constants necessary for the thermodynamic analysis of the experimental data. Theoretical bond dissociation energies are determined from single point calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p) and MP2(full)/6-311+G(2d,2p) levels, using the B3LYP/6-31G* optimized geometries. The experimental bond energies determined here are in good agreement with previous experimental measurements made in a high-pressure mass spectrometer for the sum of the first and second bond energy (i.e., Cu+(acetone)2 --> Cu+ + 2 acetone) when these results are properly anchored. The agreement between theory and experiment is reasonable in all cases, but varies both with the size of the cluster and the level of theory employed. B3LYP does an excellent job for the x = 1 and 3 clusters, but is systematically low for the x = 2 and 4 clusters such that the overall trends in sequential binding energies are not parallel. In contrast, all MP2 values are somewhat low, but the overall trends parallel the measured values for all clusters. The trends in the measured Cu+(acetone), binding energies are explained in terms of 4s-3d sigma hybridization effects and ligand-ligand repulsion in the clusters.


Psychological profiles and health status in Japanese female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the Miyagi Lupus Collaborative Study.
Psychological factors have been suspected to be associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and patient's health status. However, psychological profiles among Japanese patients with SLE have been poorly understood. We started a prospective study of female patients with SLE in 1995. Using the baseline data from 279 patients in this prospective study, we cross-sectionally analyzed the relations of clinical factors and social factors to psychological factors, and the association between psychological factors and mental and physical health status. We used the Japanese notion ikigai as an indicator of mental health, and ambulatory activity as an indicator of their physical health, respectively. To measure psychological factors, the short-form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (short EPQ-R) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (HLOC) scale were used. Active phase of the disease was significantly related to the neuroticism score in the short EPQ-R. Educational level was inversely related to the scores of powerful others and chance HLOC belief. As for health status, the internal HLOC belief was significantly associated with ikigai, and the chance HLOC belief was inversely associated with ambulatory activity. The scores on the short EPQ-R (Extraversion/Introversion and Neuroticism) were exclusively related to ikigai. This study suggests that psychological factors may have effects on both the development of SLE and patient's health status.


Proliferation of epithelial cell rests, formation of apical cysts, and regression of apical cysts after periapical wound healing.
There is continuing controversy regarding the potential for inflammatory apical cysts to heal after nonsurgical endodontic therapy. Molecular cell biology may provide answers to a series of related questions. How are the epithelial cell rests of Malassez stimulated to proliferate? How are the apical cysts formed? How does the lining epithelium of apical cysts regress after endodontic therapy? Epithelial cell rests are induced to divide and proliferate by inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors released from host cells during periradicular inflammation. Quiescent epithelial cell rests can behave like restricted-potential stem cells if stimulated to proliferate. Formation of apical cysts is most likely caused by the merging of proliferating epithelial strands from all directions to form a three-dimensional ball mass. After endodontic therapy, epithelial cells in epithelial strands of periapical granulomas and the lining epithelium of apical cysts may stop proliferating because of a reduction in inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors. Epithelial cells will also regress because of activation of apoptosis or programmed cell death through deprivation of survival factors or by receiving death signals during periapical wound healing.


Adaptation of a behavioral parent-training curriculum for Hispanic caregivers: HOT DOCS Español.
This article presents the process utilized to adapt a behavioral parent-training curriculum for Hispanic caregivers from a program currently available in English. Throughout this process, a number of cultural and language elements were identified as needing to be modified to meet the needs of the Hispanic population served. Fidelity and fit were balanced to develop a curriculum acceptable to diverse Hispanic caregivers while also incorporating all the essential elements of a theory-based approach to training caregivers. The lessons learned from this adaptation may assist others in their attempts to meet the needs of Hispanic families.


Flow-assembled chitosan membranes in microfluidics: recent advances and applications.
The integration of membranes in microfluidic devices has been extensively exploited for various chemical engineering and bioengineering applications over the past few decades. To augment the applicability of membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms for biomedical and tissue engineering studies, a biologically friendly fabrication process with naturally occurring materials is highly desired. The in situ preparation of membranes involving interfacial reactions between parallel laminar flows in microfluidic networks, known as the flow-assembly technique, is one of the most biocompatible approaches. Membranes of many types with flexible geometries have been successfully assembled inside complex microchannels using this facile and versatile flow-assembly approach. Chitosan is a naturally abundant polysaccharide known for its pronounced biocompatibility, biodegradability, good mechanical stability, ease of modification and processing, and film-forming ability under near-physiological conditions. Chitosan membranes assembled by flows in microfluidics are freestanding, robust, semipermeable, and well-aligned in microstructure, and show high affinity to bioactive reagents and biological components (e.g. biomolecules, nanoparticles, or cells) that provide facile biological functionalization of microdevices. Here, we discuss the recent developments and optimizations in the flow-assembly of chitosan membranes and chitosan-based membranes in microfluidics. Furthermore, we recapitulate the applications of the chitosan membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms dedicated to biology, biochemistry, and drug release fields, and envision the future developments of this important platform with versatile functions.


Comparative studies with extracorporeal hypothermal kidney perfusion.
Various solutions of extra- and intracellular, or non-electrolyte type supplemented with papaverine or lidocaine were administered by gravity perfusion to 60 dog kidneys. Cooling in the kidneys perfused with the solutions containing papaverine lowered the temperature of kidneys in significantly shorter time than in those containing lidocaine. The histological examinations revealed good perfusion with solutions containing papaverine; even the rim of the cortical substance has been freed of blood. Identical results could not be achieved with lidocaine. These results are to be considered in the clinical work.


Antithrombotic and interventional treatment options in cardioembolic transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke.
Peer-reviewed data pertaining to anti-thrombotic and interventional therapy for transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ischaemic stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, interatrial septal abnormalities, or left ventricular thrombus were reviewed. Long-term oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin is the treatment of choice for secondary stroke prevention following TIA or minor ischaemic stroke in association with persistent or paroxysmal non-valvular atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. If warfarin is contraindicated, long-term aspirin is a safe, but much less effective alternative treatment option in this subgroup of patients with cerebrovascular disease. Management of young patients with TIA or stroke in association with an interatrial septal defect is controversial. Various treatment options are outlined, but readers are encouraged to include these patients in one of the ongoing randomised clinical trials in this area. It is reasonable to consider empirical anticoagulation in patients with TIA or ischaemic stroke in association with left ventricular thrombus formation following myocardial infarction or in association with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. If warfarin is prescribed, one should aim for a target international normalised ratio of 2.5 (range 2-3) to achieve the best balance between adequate secondary prevention of cardioembolic events and the risk of major haemorrhagic complications.