[Teaching and learning narratives skills with health professionals. The cultivation of senses and possibilities].
Education for communication in the encounter between patients and colleagues is often absent in the curricula of careers related to the field of health. This article draws on some experiences, achievements and questions raised during teaching and learning activities on narrative skills. From a collaborative and dialogic perspective, these proposals aim to contribute to the dissolution of a binary perspective and to facilitate processes of understanding and construction of meanings and possibilities.


An approach for practice administration and interpretation of the MMPI-2.
This paper discusses one teaching approach for practice administration and interpretation of the MMPI-2 in a graduate course on personality assessment. After graduate students practice scoring and interpreting the MMPI-2 inventory completed with specific response sets and practice interpreting MMPI-2 profiles of cases prepared for teaching and practice in interpretation, students practice administering and interpreting the MMPI-2 for volunteer test-takers who complete the inventory with a simulated stress response set. The simulated stress response set approach may be helpful in providing skill-building practice in the early phases of learning the MMPI-2 with volunteer test-takers, while minimizing some of the ethical concerns raised regarding actual administrations with nonclient volunteers in the early phases of training in assessment.


Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Interstitial Nephritis.
Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis (DI-AIN) is a drug hypersensitivity reaction (DHR) that manifests 7 to 10 days after exposure to the culprit drug. DHRs account for fewer than 15% of reported adverse drug reactions. The kidneys are susceptible to DHR because: (1) the high renal blood flow whereby antigens are filtered, secreted, or concentrated, and (2) it is a major site of excretion for drugs and drug metabolites. More than 250 different drugs from various classes have been incriminated as causative agents of DI-AIN, the third most common cause of acute kidney injury in the hospital. DI-AIN must be differentiated from drug-induced nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis because of their differing pathophysiology and treatment. DI-AIN begins with antigen processing and presentation to local dendritic cells. The dendritic cells activate T cells, and the subsequent effector phase of the immune response is mediated by various cytokines. Incriminated antigenic mechanisms include response to a conjugation product of the drug or its metabolite with a host protein (eg, beta-lactam or sulfonamide antibiotic) or the direct binding of the drug to a particular host allele to elicit a hypersensitivity response (eg, certain anti-epileptic drugs). If the offending drug is not identified and discontinued in a timely manner, irreversible fibrosis and chronic kidney disease will occur. The core structure of each drug or its metabolite is an antigenic determinant, and the host interaction is termed the structure-activity relationship. Differing structure-activity relationships accounts for effect, hypersensitivity, and cross-reactivity among and between classes. The essence of management of DI-AIN lies with the four sequential steps: anticipation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of DI-AIN because of their potent anti-inflammatory effects on T cells and eosinophils. Anticipation and prevention require notifying the patient that DI-AIN is an idiosyncratic, hypersensitivity reaction that recurs on re-exposure, and the drug should be avoided.


The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Quality of Life in a Patient with Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Control Trial.
Objective: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) interventions increase psychological flexibility and improve mental health and quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction. Study design: A controlled clinical trial study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an ACT intervention in improving the quality of life in patients with MI in Isfahan, Iran. Method : The present controlled clinical trial with a pre and post-test design was conducted on a statistical population consisting of patients with MI admitted to hospitals in Isfahan (n = 60) who were selected through sequential sampling based on the study inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group (n1 = n2 = 30). The case group received 8 weekly 90-minute sessions of ACT and the control group received no interventions. The pretest-posttest design was administered in both groups using a demographic questionnaire and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) designed to assess the health status of patients with heart failure in terms of quality of life. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-20 using descriptive statistics and the ANCOVA. Results: In this study, 2 general areas of quality of life, including physical and mental health, were examined in the patients. There was a significant increase in the quality of life and subscales of mental and physical health in the experimental group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of ACT in improving quality of life in these patients, this method of intervention can be used as a complementary therapy in health care centers to reduce the side-effects experienced by these patients.


Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of Flublok in the prevention of seasonal influenza in adults.
Flublok is the first recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine licensed by the US Food and Drugs Administration for the prevention of influenza in adults aged 18 and older. The HA proteins produced in insect cell culture using the baculovirus expression system technology are exact analogues of wild type circulating influenza virus HAs. The universal HA manufacturing process that has been successfully scaled to the 21,000L contributes to rapid delivery of a substantial number of doses. This review discusses the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety data from five pivotal clinical studies used to support licensure of trivalent Flublok for adults 18 years of age and older in the United States. The trial data demonstrate that the higher antigen content in Flublok results in improved immunogenicity. Data further suggest improved efficacy and a slightly lower local reactogenicity compared with standard inactivated influenza vaccine, despite the presence of more antigen (statistically significant). Flublok influenza vaccine can include HAs designed to mimic 'drift' in influenza viruses as the process of predicting antigenic drift advances and, at a minimum, could address late appearing influenza viruses. The implementation of the latter will require support from regulatory authorities.


Trypanocidal activity of bergenin, the major constituent of Flueggea virosa, on Trypanosoma brucei.
The presence of bergenin in substantial amounts in the methanol leaves extract of Flueggea virosa (Euphorbiaceae) was established as a strong chemotaxomic point of differentiation between Flueggea virosa and Securinega virosa. Bergenin showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei with an IC50 value of 1 microM.


Renal mucus gland cystadenomas in a horse.
A 35-year-old horse was submitted to the necropsy service at the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. At necropsy, multiple 1-4-cm-diameter cystic structures were incidentally identified unilaterally in the right renal medulla and the cortex. On histologic examination, the cystic structures compressed the normal renal architecture, were lined by tall columnar epithelium that formed occasional papillary projections, and contained large amounts of mucicarmine and periodic acid-Schiff-positive mucinous material. The masses were diagnosed as renal mucus-gland cystadenomas. This tumor should be considered as a differential diagnosis when cystic structures are identified in the equine kidney.


A clinicopathological study of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver with special reference to vessels.
Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver is rare, and patients with inflammatory pseudotumor frequently undergo unnecessary surgical resection as a result of misdiagnosis of malignancy. In this study, we therefore investigated inflammatory pseudotumor clinicopathologically to clarify its characteristics. Twenty patients including 3 with inflammatory pseudotumor and 17 with various malignant liver tumors were studied. We further investigated tumor vessels by means of immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against CD34, factor VIII-related antigen and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Although serum levels of alkaline phosphatase were significantly higher in inflammatory pseudotumor patients than in other patients, the laboratory data alone could not precisely distinguish inflammatory pseudotumor from other hepatic tumors. On imaging studies such as ultrasonography and computed tomography, significant changes in tumor size, especially size reduction, during relatively short follow-up periods were often observed in inflammatory pseudotumor but not in other liver tumors. An enhancement of the peripheral regions of inflammatory pseudotumor was frequently observed in the early phase of contrast-medium dynamic computed tomography. This might be due to abnormal vessels located in the peripheral regions of inflammatory pseudotumor which might result from obliteration of some pre-existing vessels in portal tracts within inflammatory pseudotumor. Immunohistochemical analysis further revealed that abnormal vessels in the peripheral regions of inflammatory pseudotumor were positively stained with CD34, factor VIII-related antigen and alpha-smooth muscle actin as were tumor sinusoids within hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor capillaries in other malignant liver tumors. Although inflammatory pseudotumor seems to have some features in imaging studies, a biopsy is needed for a correct diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor.


Placebo response in depression: a search for predictors.
Although 30-40% of depressed patients respond to placebo treatment, few predictors of placebo response have been identified. We evaluated patients with moderate to severe depression who had received placebo for 3-6 weeks in multicenter clinical trials (Study 1, n = 125; Study 2, n = 88). Placebo response rates (greater than 50% improvement in Hamilton total depression score) were 38.4% and 30.7%, respectively. Despite differences in treatment outcome, baseline clinical and demographic characteristics were similar for responders and nonresponders. The studies confirmed the substantial placebo response in moderately to severely depressed patients and suggested chronicity may be a predictor.


[Erythrocytemia and splenomegaly in an experimental Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection in the mouse].
In accordance with observations reported in the litterature concerning experimental african trypanosomiasis, highly significant correlations were found between any pair of the following parameters: duration of infection, parasitaemia, spleen volume, number of erythrocytes, or between the sharp decrease of the number of erythrocytes and the combines effect of the increase of all other parameters. In subacute T. gambiense infections in mice, it was statistically demonstrated that, in the absence of variation in numbers of erythrocytes, any correlation between the increase of spleen volume and of parasitaemia is repealed. This result suggests the existence of a clear interaction, in the course of the infection, between the development of splenomegaly and the drop of erythrocytaemia. However, it is not clear which one, of the erythrophagocytic activity or the hypertrophy of the spleen is the cause of the other. The influence of splenectomy was studied, assuming that the anaemic syndrome was due to augmentation of the phagocytic activity. However, the suppression on that occasion of the erythrocytic and immunological activities of this important organ, did not produce any improvement in the course of the disease or a prolongation of the survival time of the infected animals. In rodents, the functions of production and of removal of erythrocytes are indeed performed by the same organ, so that no conclusions can be drawn from the splenectomy. We also wondered whether the sequestration and destruction of red cells sensitized by the parasitic antigen could not be extended to immature cells of the erythroblastic line present in the bone marrow (and also in the spleen, in rodents), if, as could be assumed, these cells are coated "in situ" by the soluble antigens actively concentrated by these major effector organs of the reticuloendothelial system.


Combined epikeratoplasty and homoplastic keratophakia for correction of aphakia: double curve effect.
Having used the nonfreeze Barraquer-Krumeich-Swinger set for refractive lamellar keratoplasty since January 1987, the authors found the results of this procedure to be disappointing for correction of aphakia. Insufficient refractive gains for epikeratoplasty (+39% of initial refraction at 12-month follow up) persuaded the authors to look for a more effective refractive corneal surgery technique for correcting aphakia. We describe a new technique consisting of the insertion of a plano-convex homoplastic donor cornea meniscus between the patient's cornea and a hypermetropic epikeratoplasty. A nonfreeze Barraquer-Krumeich-Swinger set was used to fashion the two donor lenticules. This double surgery, called the "double curve effect," because it uses two convex surfaces to increase the converging power of the cornea, has been performed in 15 eyes. We report the results of 10 eyes with a 6-month follow up. The average refractive gain was +11.75 D, 90% of the needed correction. But there was a loss of approximately 46% of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Three problems should be emphasized: the existence of two interfaces, the difficulty of perfectly centering the two lenticules, and the induced irregular astigmatism. Despite these problems which can reduce the level of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, the double curve effect may offer an effective solution for treating certain cases of unilateral aphakia.


ACE2 expression and spike S1 protein-mediated immune responses in oral mucosal cells.
ACE2, known as a host receptor involved with SARS-CoV-2 infection, binds to viral spike proteins for host cell entry. However, details regarding its induction and function in oral mucosal cells remain unknown. We examined ACE2 expression and its induction by transfected mimic nucleotides and pro-inflammatory cytokines in oral keratinocytes (RT7) and fibroblasts (GT1). Subsequently, the effects of viral spike S1 protein via ACE2 on CXCL10 expression induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines in both cells were examined. ACE2 was constitutively expressed in RT7 and GT1. Transfected Poly(I:C) and Poly(dA:dT) increased ACE2 expression in those cells, while knockdown of RIG-I decreased ACE2 expression induced by those transfected ds nucleotides. IFN-γ and TNF-α enhanced transfected ds nucleotides-induced ACE2 expression in RT7 but not GT1. S1 protein alone did not affect CXCL10 expression in either cell type, whereas it enhanced IFN-β-induced CXCL10 in both, while immune responses of IFN-γ- and TNF-α-induced CXCL10 enhanced by S1 protein were different between RT7 and GT1. Finally, knockdown of ACE2 decreased cytokines and S1 protein mediated-CXCL10 levels in both cells. ACE2 in oral mucosal cells may contribute to development of infection and inflammation in cooperation with pro-inflammatory cytokines following SARS-CoV-2 invasion.


Surgical ventricular reconstruction for ischaemic heart failure: state of the art.
Patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction represent the highest-risk population with heart failure (HF). The cornerstone of treatment remains guideline-driven medical therapy, which is associated with significant improvement in survival and quality of life. The most commonly considered surgical interventions are coronary artery bypass graft surgery, at times combined with surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) and surgery for mitral valve regurgitation. Surgical ventricular reconstruction has been introduced as an optional therapeutic strategy aimed to reduce LV volumes through the exclusion of the scar tissue, thereby restoring the physiological volume and shape and improving cardiac function and clinical status. This review will briefly discuss the rationale to surgically reverse LV remodelling, the technique, and the indications, to the best of our knowledge, coming from the Center with the largest worldwide experience. The evolving data on the role of SVR for the treatment of ischaemic HF will be addressed as well.


An efficient dsRNA constitutive expression system in Escherichia coli.
Synthetic dsRNA are valuable tools for reverse genetics research and virus silencing applications. Its synthesis can be performed both in vivo or in vitro. Whilst the latter presents the drawback of high production cost, the former has the advantage of being less expensive and suitable for scalable production. In general, dsRNAs are obtained in vivo from Escherichia coli heterologous systems that require the gene for the T7 RNA polymerase inducible by IPTG. The (ds)RNAs for gene of interest are then synthesized under the T7 promoter. In this work, we present a reliable vector system that includes the insulated promoter proD for the constitutive expression of dsRNA in E. coli that does not require any inducer and that renders elevated dsRNA yield. In tandem, the T7 and proD promoters render the highest dsRNA yield. The accumulation of dsRNA in this system entails a high metabolic cost for the cell. Bacterial RNA extractions that included dsRNAs homologous to the m5GFPer gene and derived from both the synthetic and constitutive promoters induce silencing of GFP expression in Nicotiana benthamiana 16c.Key points• A vector system that includes a constitutive promoter and a T7 promoter in tandem for maximizing dsRNA synthesis.• The metabolic cost for bacteria is maximum when the two promoters are operating simultaneously and results from the accumulation of dsRNA.• Bacterial RNA extractions from both the induced and constitutive systems that include a mGFP5er-derived dsRNA are capable of silencing the GFP expression in Nicotiana benthamiana 16c plants.


Atrazine effects on in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization in the bovine oocyte.
The effect of low levels of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) on in vitro oocyte maturation, in vitro capacitation of sperm, or in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes and on the quality of blastocyst formation was studied. Bovine oocytes collected from abattoir ovaries were matured, fertilized, and developed to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Embryos that reached a morula or blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33258 stain to determine the number of blastomeres per embryo. Three bulls whose fertilization rates were proven consistent among straws were used for this study. Atrazine was tested at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 microM in either the maturation medium, sperm capacitation medium, or the fertilization medium. Because atrazine was dissolved in ethanol, an ethanol control was used to determine any possible effects of ethanol on the in vitro process. The addition of atrazine to both the maturation and fertilization media did not result in any significant difference in fertilization rates between the controls and the treatments. In the capacitation medium, a significant difference between the controls and the atrazine levels of 0.1, 1, and 10 microM was noted for one bull. Atrazine did not affect the number of blastomeres per embryo. There was not a significant difference (p>0.05) in the number of blastomeres per embryo between the controls and the different levels of atrazine in each medium. This study indicates that low levels of atrazine do not have an effect on in vitro fertilization rates or the number of blastomeres per embryo produced in vitro.


Clinical application of pulse transit time and correlation with intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring: a preliminary study of 18 full-term infants.
The authors show that pulse transit time and blood pressure are reciprocal in fetal goat models. They applied this technique in clinical settings to correlate changes in pulse transit time with fetal heart rate monitoring patterns and acid-base status. In 18 uncomplicated pregnancies, pulse transit time was obtained from electrocardiograms to pulse oximeter waveform and averaged during each baseline period, defined by the interpretation of fetal heart rate monitoring. According to a > 10% change from the control value, chronological changes were categorized into shortened, unchanged, and prolonged. Pulse transit time was available in 82% +/- 11% of the recordings. In 15 fetuses, 2 (13%) showed prolonged, 7 (47%) showed shortened, and 6 (40%) showed unchanged conditions. Comparisons of the shortened and unchanged categories revealed that severe variable deceleration was significantly increased, and half or more fetuses showed hypoxemia in the shortened category. Shortening of pulse transit time, theoretically indicating a hypertensive condition, was more frequently associated with severe variable decelerations, suggesting that the pulse transit time may supplement the interpretation of fetal heart rate monitoring.


Differential expression patterns of cytokines in complex regional pain syndrome.
Complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS) are characterized by persistent and severe pain after trauma or surgery. Neuro-immune alterations are assumed to play a pathophysiological role. Here we set out to investigate whether patients with CRPS have altered systemic pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles compared to controls on mRNA and protein level. We studied blood cytokine mRNA and protein levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-8 and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF beta 1) in 40 prospectively recruited patients with CRPS I, two patients with CRPS II, and 34 controls. Quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were used. Additionally, the patients underwent quantitative sensory testing and were assessed with the McGill pain questionnaire and the Hospital anxiety and depression scale. Patients with CRPS had higher blood TNF and IL-2 mRNA levels (p=0.005; p=0.04) and lower IL-8 mRNA levels (p<0.001) than controls. The mRNA for the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 was reduced in the patient group (p=0.004; p=0.006), whereas TGF beta 1 mRNA levels did not differ between groups. These results were paralleled by serum protein levels, except for TGF beta 1, which was reduced in patients with CRPS, and for IL-8, which gave similar protein values in both groups. Sensory testing showed a predominant loss of small fiber-related modalities in the patient group. The shift towards a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with CRPS suggests a potential pathogenic role in the generation of pain.


Pragmatism and the cognitive and neural sciences.
Two prominent intellectual disciplines dominate the discipline of psychology, the cognitive and neural sciences. Separate departments for both are now commonplace at major universities across America. I suggest, however, that the discipline of psychology asks key questions about experience, mind, or central states not found in other disciplines. Psychology is embodied in both the cognitive and neural sciences, and an important common thread is the Jamesian-Deweyian emphasis on experience. The Jamesian-Deweyian tradition emphasized the sense of experience in problem-solving and functional adaptations. The pragmatists' sense of experience is the way by which one engages the world, is inherently cognitive, and orchestrated by central states of the brain. Any attempt within the neural and cognitive sciences to capture human experience will need to resurrect this tradition.


Direct 24-hour presumptive enumeration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods using hydrophobic grid membrane filter followed by serological confirmation: collaborative study.
Fifteen laboratories took part in a collaborative study to validate a method for enumerating Escherichia coli O157:H7. The method is based on use of a hydrophobic grid membrane filter and consists of 24 h presumptive enumeration on SD-39 Agar and serological confirmation to yield a confirmed E. coli O157:H7 count. Six food products were analyzed: pasteurized apple cider, pasteurized 2% milk, cottage cheese, cooked ground pork, raw ground beef, and frozen whole egg. The test method produced significantly higher confirmed count results than did the reference method for milk, pork, and beef. Test method results were numerically higher than but statistically equivalent to reference method results for cheese, cider, and egg. The test method produced lower repeatability and reproducibility values than did the reference method for most food/inoculation level combinations and values very similar to those of the reference method for the remaining combinations. Overall, 94% of presumptive positive isolates from the test method were confirmed serologically as E coli O157:H7, and 98% of these were also biochemically typical of E. coli O157:H7 (completed test). Corresponding rates for the reference method were 69 and 98%, respectively. On the basis of the results of this collaborative study and the precollaborative study that preceded it, it is recommended that this method be adopted official first action for enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 in meats, poultry, dairy foods, infant formula, liquid eggs, mayonnaise, and apple cider.


Carrier status of Streptococcus suis in the palatine tonsils of apparently healthy slaughtered pigs of India.
Streptococcus suis is an emerging bacterial pathogen of huge economic impact to the swine industry worldwide. The information regarding the carrier status of S. suis in the slaughtered pigs along with its genetic characterization is not available in Indian pig population, which needs to be addressed for the therapeutic and preventive measures. In the present study, 563 palatine tonsils of apparently healthy slaughtered pigs were probed for the prevalence, and genetic characterization of S. suis and prevalence were found to be 15.45% and 32.68% by bacteriological and molecular methods, respectively. In 87 isolates recovered, 6 cps-types were detected showing the predominance of serotype 7 (24.13%) and 5 (18.39%), whereas 11 cps-types were detected in tonsillar DNA involving cps-types 9 (28.26%) and 7 (14.13%) as the major serotypes with arcA+/sly+/epf+/mrp- being the prevalent genotype. The histopathological changes with the immunodetection of S. suis antigen confirmed its persistence in asymptomatic carriers. Of 87 bacterial isolates, 7 isolates (serotypes 7 & 2) were pathogenic to Swiss albino mice showing the classical lesions of meningitis and septicemia. The presence of virulent serotypes of S. suis in healthy slaughtered pigs suggests a great health risk to the people engaged in piggery operations and in-contact pigs.


Magnetic nanocomposites based on phosphorus-containing polymers-structural characterization and thermal analysis.
Fabrication of magnetic nanocomposites containing iron oxide nanoparticles formed in situ within a phosphorus-containing polymer matrix as well as its structural characterization and its thermal degradation is reported here. Comparative structural studies of the parent polymer and nanocomposites were performed using FTIR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The results confirmed the presence of dispersed iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The formed composite combines the properties of porous polymer carriers and magnetic particles enabling easy separation and reapplication of such polymeric carriers used in, for example, catalysis or environmental remediation. Studies on thermal degradation of the composites revealed that the process proceeds in three stages while a significant influence of the embedded magnetic particles on that process was observed in the first two stages. Magnetic force microscopy studies revealed that nanocomposites and its calcinated form have strong magnetic properties. The obtained results provide a comprehensive characterization of magnetic nanocomposites and the products of their calcination that are important for their possible applications as sorbents (regeneration conditions, processing temperature, disposal, etc).


Rapid identification of monoclonal antibodies to differential antigens by dot immunobinding assay.
A simple and highly sensitive method, dot immunobinding assay, has been developed to select of monoclonal antibodies recognizing differential antigens. Antigen as low as picogram level can be detected by monoclonal antibody at concentrations even lower than 0.1 microgram/ml. This technique has successfully identified six differential antigens which are either increased (three) or decreased (three) during T cell activation. The differential properties were further confirmed by direct visualization of the resting and activated T cells with immunofluorescent staining or by indirect evidence when resting and activated T cell extracts were prepared and analysed with immunoblot assay. CC-98 (105 KD) was found in the nuclei, principally associated with the nucleoli. Activated T cells expressed a highly intense immunofluorescent pattern at their nucleolar localization compared to that of resting T cells. SH-1 antigen with a diffuse molecular weight range of 90-145 KD was expressed mainly in resting T cells and rapidly decreased, especially the high molecular weight species (120-145 KD), to a very low level in the activated T cells. SH-1 was identified as an intracellular molecule. NY-16 and CC-262 are identical with characteristics ascribed to those of the major histocompatibility class I antigen. Cell surface molecules CC-80 (135 KD) and CC-86 (135 KD) were decreased, while CC-196 was increased during T cell activation. These six molecules, with their differentiating properties, may have very important functions related to cell activation.


On-chip epithelial barrier function assays using electrical impedance spectroscopy.
A bio-impedance chip has been developed for real-time monitoring of the kinetics of epithelial cell monolayers in vitro. The human bronchial epithelial cell line (16-HBE 14o-) was cultured in Transwells creating a sustainable and interactive model of the airway epithelium. Conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) was electrochemically deposited onto the surface of gold-plated electrodes to reduce the influence of the electrical double layer on the impedance measurements. Finite element and equivalent circuit models were used to model and determine the electrical properties of the epithelial cell monolayer from the impedance spectra. Electrically tight, confluent monolayers of 16 HBE 14o- cells were treated with increasing concentrations of either Triton X-100 to solubilize cell membranes or ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethyl-ether)-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) to disrupt cell-cell adhesion. Experimental impedance data showed that disruption of epithelial barrier function in response to Triton X-100 and EGTA can be successfully measured by the bio-impedance chip. The results were consistent with the conventional hand-held trans-epithelial electrical resistance measurements. Immunofluorescent staining of the ZO-1 tight junction protein in the untreated and treated 16HBEs was performed to verify the disruption of the tight junctions by EGTA.


Pilot plant scale production of human lymphoblastoid interferon.
Pilot plant scale production of human lymphoblastoid (Namalva) interferon (IF) is described. Namalva cells were grown in a semicontinuous cultivation method in pilot plant scale fermentors having up to 40-liter culture volume. The harvested Namalva cells were suspended in a serum-free medium at a concentration of 10(7) cells per ml and were induced to produce IF by infection with Sendai virus. The content of IF and protein in the culture supernatant ranged between 2.5 to 5.0 x 10(4) IF units and 150 to 250 microgram protein per ml, respectively. Concentration and partial purification of the IF was done by trichloroacetic acid precipitation, followed by gel filtration through an Ultrogel AcA 54 column. The specific activities of the IF preparations ranged between 2 to 4 x 10(6) IF units per mg protein. Scaling-up the IF production system to 300 liter fermentor scale is under research and development.


Impact of saturated and trans fatty acid enriched oil blends on atherosclerosis in rabbits fed cholesterol-free diets.
Thirty six-male New Zealand White rabbits subdivided into four dietary groups (9 animals per group) were fed high fat (36% en), cholesterol-free diets for nine months. The dietary oil blends were formulated to contain high levels of the target fatty acids namely trans-rich (partially hydrogenated soybean oil; TRANS), cis monounsaturated-rich (rapeseed, sunflower seed oil and palm olein; MONO), palmitic-rich (palm olein; POL) and lauric-myristic rich (coconut, palm kernel and corn oils; LM). Ad libitum feeding of the rabbits resulted in normal growth throughout the nine months and no differences in the final body weights of the animals were evident at autopsy. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly elevated only by the LM enriched diet compared with all other treatments; values were comparable between the other three treatment groups. Changes in the total cholesterol were not reflected in the VLDL and LDL lipoproteins. However, HDL-cholesterol was significantly lowered by the TRANS diet compared with all other dietary groups. HDL-cholesterol was also significantly increased by the LM diet in comparison to the POL-diet. Both adipose and liver triglyceride fatty acid compositions tended to reflect the type of fatty acids fed the animals. Trans fatty acids were evident only in animals fed the trans diet and it was apparent that the trans fatty acids competed with linoleic acid for incorporation into these tissues. Increased concentrations of lauric and myristic fatty acids in the LM-fed animals were also evident. In the POL and high MONO fed rabbits, palmitic and oleic fatty acids (respectively) were concentrated in the adipose and liver. The diets, however, failed to induce severe atherosclerosis in this study. This can be explained, in part, by the lack of dietary cholesterol and the use of plant (rather than animal) proteins in our dietary formulations. The effect of these important atherosclerosis modulators in association with these fatty acids requires further evaluation.


Process evaluation of an effective church-based diet intervention: Body & Soul.
Body & Soul has demonstrated effectiveness as a dietary intervention among African American church members. The process evaluation assessed relationships between program exposure and implementation factors and study outcomes and characterized factors important for adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Data sources included participant surveys and qualitative interviews with program staff, church liaisons, and volunteer advisors who conducted motivational interviewing (MI) calls. Outcomes included changes in dietary intake and psychosocial variables. Process variables included program exposure, participation, and dose and perceptions about MI calls. Results showed that attendance at project events, receiving educational materials, and self-reported quality of the MI calls were associated with significantly (p < .05) greater fruit and vegetable intake, decreased fat consumption, and other secondary outcomes. Interviews indicated implementation and sustainability issues and needs including more training to enhance MI implementation as well as ongoing support and resources. The results have implications for future dissemination efforts of Body & Soul.


Flight feather development: its early specialization during embryogenesis.
Flight feathers, a type of feather that is unique to extant/extinct birds and some non-avian dinosaurs, are the most evolutionally advanced type of feather. In general, feather types are formed in the second or later generation of feathers at the first and following molting, and the first molting begins at around two weeks post hatching in chicken. However, it has been stated in some previous reports that the first molting from the natal down feathers to the flight feathers is much earlier than that for other feather types, suggesting that flight feather formation starts as an embryonic event. The aim of this study was to determine the inception of flight feather morphogenesis and to identify embryological processes specific to flight feathers in contrast to those of down feathers. We found that the second generation of feather that shows a flight feather-type arrangement has already started developing by chick embryonic day 18, deep in the skin of the flight feather-forming region. This was confirmed by shh gene expression that shows barb pattern, and the expression pattern revealed that the second generation of feather development in the flight feather-forming region seems to start by embryonic day 14. The first stage at which we detected a specific morphology of the feather bud in the flight feather-forming region was embryonic day 11, when internal invagination of the feather bud starts, while the external morphology of the feather bud is radial down-type. The morphogenesis for the flight feather, the most advanced type of feather, has been drastically modified from the beginning of feather morphogenesis, suggesting that early modification of the embryonic morphogenetic process may have played a crucial role in the morphological evolution of this key innovation. Co-optation of molecular cues for axial morphogenesis in limb skeletal development may be able to modify morphogenesis of the feather bud, giving rise to flight feather-specific morphogenesis of traits.


The effect of different dietary levels of dl-methionine and dl-methionine hydroxy analogue on the antioxidant and immune status of young turkeys.
The hypothesis postulating that the antioxidant and immunological effects of dietary methionine (Met) in young turkeys (1-8 weeks of age) can be differentiated by level and source of Met was investigated in this study. A total of 544 female Hybrid Converter turkeys were divided into four groups and fed diets in which Met content was tailored through supplementation with dl-methionine (dl-Met) or dl-methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) to levels recommended by NRC (1994) (Groups dl-MetL and MHAL) and exceeding them by 50% (Groups dl-MetH and MHAH). Regardless of its source, the increased dietary Met content led to significantly higher body weight gains but had no effect on feed conversion rates. Moreover, an increased Met content lowered lipid peroxide concentrations in breast meat and increased selected indicators of the plasma antioxidant status like uric acid levels, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) concentrations, the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) plasma levels and decreased interleukin 6 levels. In comparison with dl-Met, MHA decreased the activities of SOD and catalase, and GSH concentrations in plasma. A dosage by source interaction revealed that the lower MHA content was associated with the lowest plasma GSH concentrations, FRAP values and activities of SOD and catalase. The higher dietary MHA level resulted for most parameters similar values, except for a decrease in lipid peroxide concentrations and an increase in plasma IgA levels. It can be concluded that an increased dietary dl-Met and MHA content (about 150% of the recommendations given by NRC 1994) not only increased the growth rate of young turkeys but also improved their antioxidant status. MHA appears to be a less desirable source of dietary Met for young turkeys when the inclusion level of Met matches the current recommendations. Therefore, a further debate is needed to establish the dietary requirements for Met in poultry.


DoD-Supported Overseas Training Rotations in Tropical Medicine and Global Health, 2000-2015.
In 1999, the Department of Defense developed a tropical medicine training program (TMTP) to train military physicians, medical students, and scientists in performing surveillance activities in an overseas environment. This review describes the competencies, educational approach, program participants, institutional collaborations, and process outcomes of the TMTP from 2000 to 2015. TMTP-sponsored rotations addressed a wide variety of interdisciplinary competencies, many of which have military-unique applications. Rotations consisted of both didactic and experiential (overseas) components. The program provided 282 rotations for 260 trainees between 2006 and 2015, the years for which data were available. The Department of Defense accrues benefits from this training program in three main ways: (1) building a cadre of health care professionals who will go on to work at the overseas research laboratories, (2) supporting force health protection and readiness through experiential tropical medicine training, and (3) engaging in global health collaborations and partnerships. The primary challenges include funding, health and security, trainee and site heterogeneity, supervision, trainee engagement, and burden on the host institution. The program will continue to focus on improvement in these areas, with special attention to trainee preparation, communication with both trainees and host sites, and increasing reciprocity with host sites and their faculty.


Guideline-Based Statin Eligibility, Cancer Events, and Noncardiovascular Mortality in the Framingham Heart Study.
Purpose Cancer and cardiovascular disease share risk factors, and there is some evidence that statins reduce cancer mortality. We sought to determine the accuracy of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association statin eligibility criteria to identify individuals at a higher risk of developing cancer or of dying as a result of cancer or other noncardiovascular causes. Methods We included 2,196 participants (50.5 ± 8.1 years of age; 55% female) who were statin naïve and free of cancer at baseline from the offspring and third-generation cohorts of the community-based longitudinal Framingham Heart Study. Statin eligibility was determined per American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines, and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by computed tomography. The primary outcome was incident cancer at a median of 10.0 years (interquartile range, 9.1-10.6 years) of follow-up, and secondary outcomes were cancer mortality and noncardiovascular mortality. Results The incident cancer rate was 11.2% (247 of 2,196), with 58 noncardiovascular deaths, including 39 cancer deaths (1.8%). Overall, 37% (812 of 2,196) were statin eligible. Incident cancer occurred in 125 (15%) of the 812 statin-eligible participants versus 122 (8.8%) of the 1,384 of noneligible participants (subdistribution hazard ratio [SDHR], 1.8 [1.4 to 2.3]; P < .001). Cancer mortality occurred in 34 (4.2%) of the 812 statin-eligible participants versus five (0.4%) of the 1,384 noneligible participants (SDHR, 12.1 [4.7 to 31]; P < .001). Noncardiovascular mortality occurred in 49 (6.0%) of the 812 statin-eligible participants versus nine (0.7%) of the 1,384 noneligible participants (SDHR, 10.1 [5.0 to 21]; P < .001). In stratified analyses, these findings were independent of any individual causative risk factor such as body mass index, age, or smoking status. Conclusion In this community-based primary prevention cohort, guideline-based statin eligibility accurately identified patients at a higher risk of developing cancer and cancer-related mortality. Shared risk profiles and potential benefits of statins between cancer and cardiovascular outcomes may provide a unique opportunity to improve population health.


A modified, lingually supported cantilevered Herbst appliance.
This new, fixed-functional appliance/Herbst/Bioprogressive system is designed for patient comfort and mandatory compliance. It also combines the positive clinical effects of four fixed-functional systems. It allows rapid palatal expansion of the upper arch, alveolar uprighting of the lower arch, upper and lower incisor alignment, and sagittal correction of Class II malocclusions to occur simultaneously with one appliance fixed in both arches. It is indicated for use in growing patients with skeletal Class II malocclusions. The ideal timing for treatment is the late mixed dentition. Being able to remove the appliance after one year with the upper second bicuspids erupting slightly Class III so the clinician can immediately begin fixed finishing mechanics would be ideal. This new Herbst design will reduce the frequency of orthognathic surgery and upper bicuspid extraction to camouflage Class II malocclusions. At the same time, it gives total control to the clinician in treating some more difficult, non-compliant patients. Fixed-functional appliances, which improve treatment efficiency and treatment results and provide for patient comfort, while at the same time give the treating clinician almost total control of the three planes of facial growth will open new doors for orthodontic treatment and research in the next century.


Fate of Duct-Dependent, Discontinuous Pulmonary Arteries After Arterial Duct Stenting.
Significant and balanced PA growth following arterial duct (AD) stenting has already been consistently reported in literature. However, to date, no data are available about the role of this approach as palliation of congenital heart disease with a duct-dependent discontinuous pulmonary artery (dPA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of a dPA of ductal origin following trans-catheter AD stabilization. Angiographic PA evaluation was performed in seven patients submitted to neonatal AD stenting as palliative recruitment of dPA. Five patients showed discontinuity of one PA, while two patients had both PAs served by bilateral ducts. PA growth was evaluated as per the Nakata index, McGoon ratio as well as dPA (n = 9) versus heart-dependent PA (hPA; n = 5) size and z-score changes. AD stabilization was performed using coronary stents dilated to 3.2 ± 0.3 mm (median 3.4), with significant increase of O2 saturation (from 83 ± 11 to 95 ± 5%, p < 0.02). Control angiography was performed 5.1 ± 2.8 months (median 6 months) after duct stenting, showing significant growth of the dPA (from 3.7 ± 1.0 to 7.6 ± 2.7 mm, p < 0.001; z-score from -0.7 ± 1.4 to 1.7 ± 2.2, p < 0.01). A trend toward better growth of the dPA as compared with the hPA was found (117 ± 87 vs. 54 ± 34%, p = NS). The final vessel size was still significantly different between the groups (dPA 7.6 ± 2.7 vs. hPA 11.9 ± 3.4 mm, p = 0.02), although the final z-score value did not significantly differ (dPA 1.7 ± 2.2 vs. hPA 3.8 ± 0.9 mm, p = NS). In conclusion, percutaneous AD stenting is effective in promoting a significant catch-up growth of duct-dependent dPA, being, therefore, advisable as a reliable alternative to surgical palliation.


Vertebral fracture and cortical bone changes in corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.
Despite an intriguing understanding of trabecular bone dynamics, little is known about corticosteroid-induced cortical bone loss and fractures. Recently, we verified a steroid-induced decrease in cortical bone volume and density using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in adult asthmatic patients given oral corticosteroids. Subsequently, the pQCT parameters and presence of vertebral fractures were investigated to further clarify the role of cortical bone quality in fractures in 86 postmenopausal (>5 years after menopause) asthmatic patients on high-dose oral steroid (>10 g cumulative oral prednisolone) (steroid group) and 194 age-matched controls (control group). Cortical and trabecular bone was subjected to measurement of various parameters using pQCT (Stratec XCT960). Relative Cortical Volume (RCV) was calculated by dividing the cortical area by the total bone area. Strength Strain Index (SSI) was determined in the radius based on the density distribution around the axis. Spinal fracture was assessed on lateral radiographs. Patients treated with high doses of oral steroid (>10 g cumulative oral prednisolone) were found to have an increased risk of fracture compared with control women receiving no steroid medication (odds ratio, 8.85; 95% CI, 4.21-18.60) after adjustment was made for years since menopause, body mass index and RCV. In both groups, the diagnostic and predictive ability of the pQCT parameters for vertebral fracture was assessed by the areas under their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All parameters were found to be significant predictors ( p<0.0001) in the control group. In the steroid group, however, the cortical bone mineral density (BMD) ( p = 0.001), RCV ( p<0.0001) and SSI ( p = 0.001) were found to be significant predictors, but not trabecular BMD ( p = 0.176). For comparison between the two groups, thresholds of all parameters for vertebral fracture were also calculated by the point of coincidence of sensitivity with specificity in ROC testing and the 90th percentile value. Although a rise in fracture threshold in the steroid group was suggested, considerable difference in the values obtained by the two methods of calculation precluded any conclusion. High-dose oral steroid administration was associated with an increased risk of fracture. Cortical bone parameters obtained by pQCT could play a role as good predictors of future corticosteroid-induced vertebral fractures.


Revisiting the mine/thine problem: a sensitizing exercise for clinic, classroom, and attributional research.
Two studies revisit a sensitivity exercise designed to heighten awareness of the social psychology of disability. The "mine/thine problem" (Wright, 1975) is an imagination exercise where one's own (self-defined) disability is paired with a different disability. Participants imagine whether they would prefer to retain their disability or to exchange it for the other. Study 1 (N = 52) was a conceptual replication, while Study 2 (N = 50) paired participants' own disabilities with one independently rated as more or less severe. Study 2 participants also completed the Scale of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (SADP; Antonak & Livneh, 1988) 3 times: 1 week before participation, immediately after, and 2 weeks later. Replicating Wright (1975), participants retained their own disabilities (78% in Study 1, 90% in Study 2); varying the paired disabilities' severity had no effect on preference in Study 2, where, compared with pretest scores, participants expressed more favorable attitudes on the 2 posttest assessments of the SADP. The exercise sensitizes participants to insider (people with disabilities) and outsider (nondisabled) perspectives, leading to more favorable attitudes toward disability. Rehabilitation psychologists will benefit by revisiting and using this perspective-broadening exercise in clinic, classroom, and research settings.


Genetic amelioration of fruit and vegetable crops to increase biotic and abiotic stress resistance through CRISPR Genome Editing.
Environmental changes and increasing population are major concerns for crop production and food security as a whole. To address this, researchers had focussed on the improvement of cereals and pulses and have made considerable progress till the beginning of this decade. However, cereals and pulses together, without vegetables and fruits, are inadequate to meet the dietary and nutritional demands of human life. Production of good quality vegetables and fruits is highly challenging owing to their perishable nature and short shelf life as well as abiotic and biotic stresses encountered during pre- and post-harvest. Genetic engineering approaches to produce good quality, to increase shelf life and stress-resistance, and to change the time of flowering and fruit ripening by introducing foreign genes to produce genetically modified crops were quite successful. However, several biosafety concerns, such as the risk of transgene-outcrossing, limited their production, marketing, and consumption. Modern genome editing techniques, like the CRISPR/Cas9 system, provide a perfect solution in this scenario, as it can produce transgene-free genetically edited plants. Hence, these genetically edited plants can easily satisfy the biosafety norms for crop production and consumption. This review highlights the potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the successful generation of abiotic and biotic stress resistance and thereby improving the quality, yield, and overall productivity of vegetables and fruits.


Impact of Light Conditions on Visual Performance following Premium Pseudophakic Presbyopia Corrections.
The primary objective of this study was to objectively compare the visual performance of patients following premium pseudophakic presbyopia corrections in different light combinations for near- and intermediate-vision activities of daily living (ADLs). This is a prospective, comparative study. A total of 75 patients populated three study groups: G1-patients with bilateral trifocal implantation, G2-patients with bilateral bifocal implantation, and G3-patients with bilateral monofocal implantation. All participants addressed 10 ADLs in nine combinations of light temperature (3000 K, 4000 K, and 6000 K) and light intensity (25 fc, 50 fc, and 75 fc) and declared their subjectively optimal light combination while reading. G2 and G3 had the best total ADL scores in 6000 K/75 fc, while G1 had the best total ADL score in 4000 K/75 fc. Total ADL, easy ADL, and moderate difficulty ADL scores were significantly better in G2, while difficult ADL score was significantly better in G1. The majority of all groups selected 6000 K/75 fc as the most comfortable light combination, and no group selected 3000 K and 25 fc. In conclusion, trifocal patients benefit from intense daylight, while bifocal and monofocal patients benefit from intense, cold lighting. Trifocal patients present superior near-vision capacity in difficult near-vision daily tasks, while bifocal patients present superiority in easy and moderate-difficulty ADLs.


REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF NATURAL SELECTION: STATISTICAL INFERENCE AND BIOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION.
Recent theoretical work in quantitative genetics has fueled interest in measuring natural selection in the wild. We discuss statistical and biological issues that may arise in applications of Lande and Arnold's (1983) multiple-regression approach to measuring selection. We review assumptions involved in estimation and hypothesis testing in regression problems, and we note difficulties that frequently arise as a result of violation of these assumptions. In particular, multicollinearity (extreme intercorrelation of characters) and extrinsic, unmeasured factors affecting fitness may seriously complicate inference regarding selection. Further, violation of the assumption that residuals are normally distributed vitiates tests of significance. For this situation, we suggest applications of recently developed jackknife tests of significance. While fitness regression permits direct assessment of selection in a form suitable for predicting selection response, we suggest that the aim of inferring causal relationships about the effects of phenotypic characters on fitness is greatly facilitated by manipulative experiments. Finally, we discuss alternative definitions of stabilizing and disruptive selection.


[Unusual features in Glanzmann thrombasthenia; proliferation of B-lymphocytes, lead poisoning].
Four case histories are reported: 1. A 37-year-old woman suffering from Glanzmann's thrombasthenia has been regularly seen since 1955. Characteristically (and in contrast to the first description by Glanzmann!) persistently prolonged bleeding times were noted. Clot retraction is severely diminished and the platelets fail to aggregate upon various stimuli. (Platelet agglutination upon addition of ristocetin to platelet rich plasma is normal.) The diagnosis of thrombasthenia was confirmed by demonstration of a deficiency of the membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. In recent years the patient has become refractory to platelet transfusion therapy, a response shown to be due to antibodies against GPIIb/IIIa in the plasma. Spontaneous bleeding tendency has appeared to improve over the years. 2. Two patients with proliferation of B-lymphocytes are presented. a) Splenomegaly and an increase of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were detected in a 45-year-old asymptomatic man. DNA analysis suggested that polyclonal proliferation of B-lymphocytes was present. Diagnostic considerations are discussed. b) In a 46-year-old male patient with subacute aleukemic leukemia of a pre-B-cell type diagnosed in 1981, the disease showed an unexpectedly benign course: after initial mild chemotherapy the patient has remained in a stable condition while off cytotoxic treatment for the last two years. Nevertheless, besides anemia necessitating regular transfusions, persistent agranulocytosis is present which is not explained by bone marrow infiltration. In vitro experiments suggest suppression of myelopoiesis by cellular interaction with leukemic cells or a deficiency of growth factors causing agranulocytosis. 3. An 81-year-old man showed signs and symptoms of lead intoxication which proved to be due to oral ingestion of a lead-containing ointment.


Factors That Affect Continuation of Antipsychotic Long-Acting Injections.
Long-acting injection (LAI) is a drug administration method that reduces symptoms and prevents recurrence or relapse of schizophrenia. We examined factors related to the continuation of LAI treatment. The study population included patients with schizophrenia who were undergoing LAI treatment involving risperidone, paliperidone, or aripiprazole at Fujita Health University Hospital between October 2009 and June 2017. We assessed the continuation rate of LAI treatment at six months, and collected patient characteristics such as medication history. Furthermore, we classified patients into two clusters according to the reason for introducing LAI based on a previous study (Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry, 2008, Heres et al.). The study included 82 patients (mean age, 44.9 ± 15.0 years); the continuation rate of LAI after six months was 63.4%. Factors that affected LAI continuation included cluster II [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 5.74, p = 0.017], switching from the same component as LAI (adjusted OR: 7.13, p < 0.001), and diazepam conversion rate (adjusted OR: 0.88, p < 0.001). LAI significantly improved the continuation rate of treatment in the patient group belonging to cluster II. Furthermore, based on other factors and reasons for discontinuation, LAI should be preferably commenced in patients with a more stable condition.


Changes in cellular distribution regulate SKD1 ATPase activity in response to a sudden increase in environmental salinity in halophyte ice plant.
Halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (ice plant) rapidly responds to sudden increases in salinity in its environment by activating specific salt-tolerant mechanisms. One major strategy is to regulate a series of ion transporters and proton pumps to maintain cellular Na(+)/K(+) homeostasis. Plant SKD1 (suppressor of K(+) transport growth defect 1) proteins accumulate in cells actively engaged in the secretory processes, and play a critical role in intracellular protein trafficking. Ice plant SKD1 redistributes from the cytosol to the plasma membrane hours after salt stressed. In combination with present knowledge of this protein, we suggest that stress facilitates SKD1 movement to the plasma membrane where ADP/ATP exchange occurs, and functions in the regulation of membrane components such as ion transporters to avoid ion toxicity.


Competitive inhibition of amino acid transport in human preovulatory ovarian follicles.
To date we have yet to examine whether amino acid (AA) transport in human ovarian follicles is affected by competitive inhibition. In contrast, transplacental transfer of AAs in late-gestation sheep is characterized by reciprocal competition. This phenomenon has been described by algebraic equations of umbilical uptake of AAs based on maternal arterial concentrations. In the present translational study at a university teaching hospital, we verified whether these equations apply to the transport of AAs from blood to follicular fluid (FF) in human preovulatory follicles. For this purpose we used our data on AA concentrations in blood and FF measured earlier by high-performance liquid chromatography in specimens from 14 patients undergoing oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization after controlled ovarian stimulation. The main outcome measure was statistical significance of Spearman correlation coefficients for measured versus calculated concentrations of 8 AAs: isoleucine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, lysine, and arginine. Equations for umbilical uptake provided a highly accurate description of blood-to-FF transport for 7 AAs with the exception of lysine: R ≥ 0.899 (p < 0.0001) for the branched-chain AAs, R = 0.829 (p = 0.0003) for threonine, R = 0.754 (p = 0.0019) for arginine, and R = 0.631 (p = 0.0156) for phenylalanine and methionine. We conclude that these equations indicate competitive inhibition between the AAs studied. Our study strongly suggests that many AA transport systems operating in the placenta should also be active in the cells of the preovulatory follicle. Future studies on AA fluxes in human ovarian follicles must consider possible competitive inhibition. AA: amino acid; FF: follicular fluid; HPLC: high-performance liquid chromatography.


Effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model on promoting self-care behaviors of type-2 diabetes patients.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which patients require lifelong self-care behaviors. The present study offset to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on promoting self-care behaviors of type 2 diabetes patients in Ilam, Iran 2014. A quasi-experimental research was conducted based on HBM in which 70 type 2 diabetic patients from Ilam, western Iran in 2014 were selected by multi-stage random sampling. A self-designed questionnaire was used, and pre-test was administered, subsequently, the educational intervention sessions were provided in the form of presentation, questions and answers, group discussion, and practical demonstrations in four sessions over a period of one month. Two months after the intervention, the post-tests were administered. The data were analyzed via SPSS 20 applying independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, and univariate and multivariate regressions at a significance level of less than 0.05. The mean scores of susceptibility, severity, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors were at average and lower levels before the intervention; nonetheless, after the educational intervention, the mean score of each HBM construct and the self-care behaviors significantly increased (p<0.001). Health education through HBM promotes the self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes.


DNA diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome in a series of 236 mentally retarded subjects and evidence for a reversal of mutation in the FMR-1 gene.
The cloning of the FMR-1 gene and the identification of an expanded CGG repeat in DNA of fragile X patients has made reliable DNA diagnosis feasible. Southern blotting and PCR assays of the CGG repeat in an unselected series of 236 mentally retarded subjects resulted in the identification of 10 new fragile X families. Reevaluation of previously assessed fragile X families resulted in the first observation of the presence of a reversal of mutation in the FMR-1 gene.


Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization for Diagnosis of Whipple's Disease in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue.
Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare chronic systemic infection with a wide range of clinical symptoms, routinely diagnosed in biopsies from the small intestine and other tissues by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) diastase staining and immunohistological analysis with specific antibodies. The aim of our study was to improve the pathological diagnosis of WD. Therefore, we analyzed the potential of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for diagnosing WD, using a Tropheryma (T.) whipplei-specific probe. 19 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) duodenal biopsy specimens of 12 patients with treated (6/12) and untreated (6/12) WD were retrospectively examined using PAS diastase staining, immunohistochemistry, and FISH. 20 biopsy specimens with normal intestinal mucosa, Helicobacter pylori, or mycobacterial infection, respectively, served as controls. We successfully detected T. whipplei in tissue biopsies with a sensitivity of 83% in untreated (5/6) and 40% in treated (4/10) cases of WD. In our study, we show that FISH-based diagnosis of individual vital T. whipplei in FFPE specimens is feasible and can be considered as ancillary diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of WD in FFPE material. We show that FISH not only detect active WD but also be helpful as an indicator for the efficiency of antibiotic treatment and for detection of recurrence of disease when the signal of PAS diastase and immunohistochemistry lags behind the recurrence of disease, especially if the clinical course of the patient and antimicrobial treatment is considered.


[Residents of homes for the aged in Germany: characteristics of social structure and choice of nursing home].
In this paper some important aspects of institutionalization in old age are studied. Compared with old people living in private households, people living in residential care facilities show some sociostructural particularities which are hints at possible factors related to institutionalization. The following analyses of the factors related to institutionalization in old age result in a conformity of objective and subjective reasons: poor health, lack of social network and bad housing conditions in combination with needs for care are essential factors related to institutionalization. In addition, the question of denominational choice of the residential care facility and the question about migration in old age is examined more closely. With regard to the religious community it is amazing that, in spite of secularization, there are major interdenominational differences. A further analysis of regional mobility suggests some sociostructural differences: women and widowed persons for example do not move over far distances (from the private household to the residential care facility), compared to men and married persons.


[Effects of simulating acid rain on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Quercus glauca Quercus glauca].
At three levels of simulated acid rainfall intensities with pH values of 2.5 (severe), 40 (medium) and 5.6 (light) respectively, the responses of chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters of Quercus glauca seedlings were studied in three acid rainfall treatments, i. e. only the aboveground of seedlings exposed to acid rain (T1), both of the seedlings and soil exposed to acid rain (T2), only the soil exposed to acid rain (T3) compared with blank control (CK). Under the severe acid rainfall, T1 significantly inhibited chlorophyll synthesis, and thus reduced the primary photochemical efficiency of PS II ( F(v)/F(m)), potential activity of PS II (F(v)/F(o)) , apparent quantum (Y), net photosynthetic rate (P(n)), and transpiration rate (T(r)), but increased the light compensation point (LCP) and dark respiration rate (R(d)) of Q. glauca seedlings. T2 inhibited, but T3 played a little enhancement on the aforementioned parameters of Q. glauca seedlings. Under the conditions of medium and light acid rainfall intensities, the above parameters in the three treatments were higher than that of CK, except with lower R(d). The chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters showed a similar tendency in the three treatments, i. e. T2>T3 >T1. It indicated that T1 had the strongest inhibition on seedlings in condition of the severe acid rainfall, while T2 had the most dramatic facilitating effect on seedlings under the medium and light acid rainfall. Intensity of acid rainfall had significant influences on SPAD, F(v)/F(m), F(v)/F(o), Y, P(n), T(r), and maximum photosynthetic rate (A(max)), whereas treatments of acid rainfall affected SPAD, F(v)/F(m), Y, P(n), T(r), A(max) and light saturation point (LSP). The interaction of acid rainfall intensities and treatments played significant effects on SPAD, F(v)/F(m), Y, P(n) and A(max).


Acts of caring: nurses caring for nurses.
Caring behaviors displayed toward nurses by nurse managers and nurse peers play a significant role in establishing relationships that promote a healthy work environment. A qualitative study was done to identify behaviors perceived to be caring toward nurses. The theoretical background used for the study was Nursing as Caring by Boykin and Schoenhofer. Data were collected from focus groups consisting of registered nurses currently employed in the practice setting. Content analysis was used for the analysis. The overarching category that was identified was tending to a caring environment. The following emergent categories were also found: caring through helping and supporting, caring through appreciating, and acknowledging unappreciated caring. The findings suggest that nurses demonstrate caring behaviors toward their colleagues by coming to know them on both a professional and a personal level. These behaviors form the foundation for an environment that supports a consistent demonstration of caring.


Very-long-range disynaptic V1 connections through layer 6 pyramidal neurons revealed by transneuronal tracing with rabies virus.
Neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) integrate across the representation of the visual field through networks of long-range projecting pyramidal neurons. These projections, which originate from within V1 and through feedback from higher visual areas, are likely to play a key role in such visual processes as low contrast facilitation and extraclassical surround suppression. The extent of the visual field representation covered by feedback is generally much larger than that covered through monosynaptic horizontal connections within V1, and, although it may be possible that multisynaptic horizontal connections across V1 could also lead to more widespread spatial integration, nothing is known regarding such circuits. In this study, we used injections of the CVS-11 strain of rabies virus to examine disynaptic long-range horizontal connections within macaque monkey V1. Injections were made around the representation of 5° eccentricity in the lower visual field. Along the opercular surface of V1, we found that the majority of connected neurons extended up to 8 mm in most layers, consistent with twice the typically reported distances of monosynaptic connections. In addition, mainly in layer 6, a steady presence of connected neurons within V1 was observed up to 16 mm away. A relatively high percentage of these connected neurons had large-diameter somata characteristic of Meynert cells, which are known to project as far as 8 mm individually. Several neurons, predominantly in layer 6, were also found deep within the calcarine sulcus, reaching as far as 20° of eccentricity, based on estimates, and extending well into the upper visual field representation. Thus, our anatomical results provide evidence for a wide-ranging disynaptic circuit within V1, mediated largely through layer 6, that accounts for integration across a large region of the visual field.


Preventing sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths.
Sudden infant death syndrome, a type of sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of postneonatal mortality in the United States and the third leading cause of infant death overall. Despite the evidence-based risk-reduction strategies and the highly publicized campaigns for a safe sleep environment, some infants continue to sleep in unsafe sleep conditions. Clinicians need to know the current best practices to reduce the incidence of sleep-related SUID and be knowledgeable to counsel caregivers who may resist adhering to these recommendations. This article describes the different types of SUID, associated risk factors, and highlights recommendations to help parents and caregivers ensure safe sleep environments for infants.


Fine-needle aspiration cytology of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
The histopathologic features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) have been well described. There have been limited studies on the cytologic features of MPNST. In this present study, we have retrospectively reviewed eight histopathology confirmed cases of MPNST over a 5-year period. Detailed cytomorphological analysis of these cases was carried out individually by two observers. On cytology, these cases were diagnosed as benign spindle-cell tumor (two), spindle-cell tumor possibly benign (one), spindle-cell tumor possibly malignant (one), malignant spindle-cell tumor (two), spindle-cell tumor, and neural origin (two). The cardinal cytomorphologic features were loosely cohesive clusters and fascicular arrangement of spindle cells with rounded ends. The kinking of nuclei was not a conspicuous finding. Fibrillary background was noted in two of the cases. Nuclear pleomorphism was ranged from mild to moderate degree. One case exhibited extensive intranuclear pseudoinclusions. Mitotic figures (including atypical forms) were present in almost all the cases. Possibly a constellation of cytologic features such as clusters of short and long fascicles of cells admixed with dissociated spindle cells of round-ended nuclei and prominent nucleoli on myxoid or fibrillary background and frequent mitosis may be helpful in diagnosis of MPNSTs. The cytomorphologic features along with clinical correlation are necessary to increase the diagnostic accuracy of MPNST on aspiration cytology.


Endothelial chemokines destabilize L-selectin-mediated lymphocyte rolling without inducing selectin shedding.
Chemokines presented on specialized endothelial surfaces rapidly up-regulate leukocyte integrin avidity and firm arrest through G(i)-protein signaling. Here we describe a novel, G-protein-independent, down-regulatory activity of apical endothelial chemokines in destabilizing L-selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling. Unexpectedly, this anti-adhesive chemokine suppression of rolling does not involve L-selectin shedding. Destabilization of rolling is induced only by immobilized chemokines juxtaposed to L-selectin ligands and is an energy-dependent process. Chemokines are found to interfere with a subsecond stabilization of selectin tethers necessary for persistent rolling. This is a first indication that endothelial chemokines can attenuate in situ L-selectin adhesion to endothelial ligands at subsecond contacts. This negative feedback mechanism may underlie the jerky nature of rolling mediated by L-selectin in vivo.


[Motor cortex stimulation for post-stroke pain using neuronavigation and evoked potentials: report of 3 cases].
Although motor cortex stimulation (MCS) has been accepted as an effective therapeutic option for central pain, the efficacy of MCS widely varies among previous reports. In this report, we describe our recent trial for successful MCS in 3 patients with central pain due to cerebral stroke. Medical treatments were transiently effective, but gradually became ineffective in all of the cases. During surgery, the appropriate cortical target was determined by using neuronavigation, somatosensory evoked potential (SEP), and motor evoked potential (MEP). A flat, four-plate electrode was positioned on the dura mater parallel to the motor cortex. After surgery, pain almost resolved in 2 of 3 patients and markedly improved in another. The pain relief depended on their motor function. These findings strongly suggest that both patient selection and intraoperative monitoring for targeting the motor cortex are quite important for successful MCS, although further studies were essential.


HIV and risk behaviour among men who have sex with men in Denmark--the 2006 Sex Life Survey.
Behavioural surveys among men who have sex with men (MSM) are important for HIV surveillance. The Danish 2006 Sex Life Survey was carried out as a self administered questionnaire, which was distributed at gay venues and bars and posted on the internet. The questionnaire was completed by 3,141 MSM. We describe the methods, the respondent group and the results of the 2006 Sex Life Survey, and discuss it implications. The main finding of this survey is that 33% of the respondents have practised unsafe sex, defined as unprotected anal intercourse with one or more partners of different or unknown HIV status. In the three previous Sex Life Surveys of 2000, 2001 and 2002, this figure was between 26% and 28%.


Accuracy and precision of venous pressure measurements of endovascular microcatheters in the setting of dural venous sinus stenosis.
Dural venous sinus stenosis (DVSS) may lead to increased intracranial pressure, sometimes requiring a stent if a high pressure gradient exists. Many neuroendovascular physicians use microcatheters to measure gradients, yet there are no studies comparing the accuracies and precisions of modern day microcatheters. We examined pressure recordings from five commonly used microcatheters in an experimental DVSS model. Using a programmable pump, dynamic flow was established in a closed circuit mimicking the venous sinus waveform. Microcatheters with 150 cm effective lengths were connected proximally to pressure transducers. Mean recording pressures were compared with a high fidelity microcatheter (HFM) in several configurations including no stenosis, proximal to a focal stenosis, and distal to a focal stenosis in opposing orientations. All microcatheters recorded lower pressures than the HFM. Three of the five microcatheters successfully met intracranial pressure monitoring device standards in all conditions, while one did not meet standards in any configuration. The performance of the final microcatheter was variable, with inaccuracies occurring in unrestricted flow. All microcatheters demonstrated relatively high precision, but with variable accuracies. The larger diameter microcatheters displayed the least damping and therefore the greatest accuracies. Of the three smaller microcatheters, dimensions did not predict performance, suggesting that microcatheter construction may also play a role in pressure accuracy. The use of microcatheters to record dural venous sinus pressures must be done with an understanding of the inherent limitations and inaccuracies, especially if clinical decisions are made from the results.


Lesion-Constrained Electrical Source Imaging: A Novel Approach in Epilepsy Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.
Electrical source imaging may yield ambiguous results in multilesional epilepsy. The aim of this study was to test the clinical utility of lesion-constrained electrical source imaging in epilepsy surgery in children with tuberous sclerosis complex. Lesion-constrained electrical source imaging is a novel method based on a proposed head model in which the source solution is constrained to lesions. Using a goodness of fit analysis, we rank-ordered individual tubers by their ability to approximate interictal and ictal EEG data. The overlap with the surgical resection cavity was determined qualitatively, and placed findings in the context of epilepsy surgical outcome, and compared with the low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography solution. Low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography predicted the surgical cavity in only one patient with good outcome (true positive) and localized to outside of the cavity in two patients with a good outcome (false negative). In one patient with a poor outcome, the interictal low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography solution overlapped with the cavity (false positive). Lesion-constrained electrical source imaging of ictal EEG data identified tubers concordant with the resection zone in three patients with a good surgical outcome (true positive) and appropriately discordant in three other patients with a poor outcome (true negative). Lesion-constrained electrical source imaging on low-resolution EEG data provides complementary information in the presurgical workup for patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, although further validation is required. In the appropriate clinical context, the yield of source localization on low-resolution EEG data may be increased by reduction of the solution space.


Prophylactic Central Lymph Node Dissection Improves Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Intermediate and High Risk Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis on 399 Patients.
The role of prophylactic central lymph node dissection (pCLND) in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is controversial and still a matter of debate. The primary outcome of our study was to assess whether pCLND is effective in reducing the incidence of recurrent disease, and the secondary goal was to estimate the incidence of postoperative complications in patients who underwent pCLND and to evaluate the prognostic value of occult node metastases. In this retrospective study, we included patients with preoperative diagnosis of DTC and clinically uninvolved lymph nodes (cN0). The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the surgical approach: total thyroidectomy alone (TT group) or total thyroidectomy and pCLND (pCLND group). Three hundred and ninety-nine patients were included in this study, 320 (80.2%) in the TT group and 79 (19.8%) in the pCLND group. There were no significant differences in morbidity among the two groups. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated a similar distribution of aggressive features, especially regarding multicentricity, extrathyroidal extension, and angioinvasivity between the two groups. Occult lymph node metastases were found in 20 (25.3%) patients in the pCLND group. Prophylactic CLND was effective in improving disease-free survival in patients with intermediate and high risk of disease recurrence (p = 0.0392); occult lymph node metastases resulted as a significant negative prognostic factor (p < 0.001).


Normal and paralyzed muscle force and fatigability induced by electrical stimulation.
The aim of this article is to review the basic research concerned with force and fatigue induced by electrical stimulation. Specific reports on human and animal models are covered. Articles dealing with specific afflictions of the neuromuscular system are also reviewed. The main sources for article retrieval were the classic bibliographic data bases in the exercise, rehabilitation and physiological science fields such as Index Medicus and Medline. Indexing terms used included human and animal in conjunction with electrical stimulation, force and fatigue. Language and time constraints limited the search to French and English texts of this century. Proceedings of different electrical stimulation conferences were also covered. All authors had to approve the selection of the articles to be included in this review. The narrow scope of the review made it possible to include most of the articles investigated. Redundancy of information was the only rejection criterion. Initially, the first author collated the articles and extracted the relevant data. This collation was then verified with respect to the original information and approved by all authors. Possible sites of the fatigue mechanisms may include the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the neuromuscular junction, and the muscle excitation-contraction coupling. Even though not unanimous, data gathered from normal muscles seem to support that the major contributor to fatigue is the muscle fiber and not the nervous system or the neuromuscular junction. Other work involving paralyzed muscles suggest that electrically induced exercise alters the contractile properties of the muscle more specifically. It appears that muscle intracellular processes dominate the force decrease associated with muscular fatigue. Accordingly, when dealing with a problem involving loss of force and hyperfatigability, the metabolic aspects and muscle physiology should be prime considerations in choosing a therapeutic approach. The nervous and/or neuromuscular implications are, however, not to be discarded.


Vitamin supplement use and risk for breast cancer: the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study.
The influence of vitamin supplements on breast cancer risk is unclear and the interactive effects of dietary and supplemental sources are unknown. This study investigated (1) the association between self-reported vitamin supplement use (multivitamin, A, B, C, and E) and breast cancer and (2) the combined effect of vitamin supplements in relation to dietary vitamin intakes on breast cancer risk. The Shanghai Breast Cancer Study was a population-based case-control study conducted in Shanghai in 1996-1998 (Phase I) and 2002-2004 (Phase II). Participants were aged 25-64 (Phase I) and 20-70 years (Phase II). The analyses included 3,454 incident breast cancer cases and 3,474 controls. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to determine adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for breast cancer risk associated with vitamin supplement use. Overall, breast cancer risk was not related to any vitamin supplement intake. However, a 20% reduction in breast cancer risk was observed with vitamin E supplement use among women with low-dietary vitamin E intake (OR = 0.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.6-1.0). A non-significant 20% risk reduction was observed among vitamin B supplement users with low B dietary intake (OR = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.6-1.1). Frequent use of a vitamin B supplement was adversely associated with breast cancer risk among those with high dietary vitamin B intake (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.9-2.1; P for interaction = 0.07). This study suggests that vitamins E and B supplements may confer protection against breast cancer among women who have low dietary intake of those vitamins.


[Hepatocytes growth factor (HGF), leptin, neopterin serum concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
In 18 patients with chronic hepatitis C we evaluated leptin (with IRMA method) and HGF and neopterin (with ELISA method) serum concentrations. Concentrations of leptin, HGF and neopterin were higher than in the control group. Leptin serum concentrations correlated with liver biopsy inflammatory grading, but higher HGF concentrations were connected with fibrosis staging. Neopterin correlated with both parameters and GGTP activity. increased neopterin concentrations could inform about liver inflammation activity; leptin and HGF serum concentrations could reflect the liver damage intensity.


Use of ARFI elastography in the prediction of placental invasion anomaly via a new Virtual Touch Quantification Technique.
We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of placental elasticity in predicting a placental invasion anomaly with the Virtual Touch Quantification (VTQ) technique. Pregnant women in the third trimester with suspected placental invasion anomaly were enrolled into the research (n = 58). The placenta was evaluated and divided into three equal parts as foetal edge (inner 1/3 of placenta), maternal edge (outer 1/3 of placenta) and the central part (central 1/3 of placenta). Shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements were used in the elastographic evaluation of placentas by VTQ. We performed the measurements at the different regions of placenta for sampling the variety areas of the placenta. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastography scores were significantly higher in the group in which an invasion was detected during the surgery of patients with preoperative placental invasion suspicion. A significant difference in the measurements of the inner, central and outer third of the placenta between the groups was found (p < .001). In this study, we have shown higher SWV scores of placental measurements of the patients with preoperative suspected anomalies and an invasion detected during their surgery. These findings may reflect an event at the tissue elasticity level and we hope that the use of the VTQ technique may contribute to an early prediction of placental invasions before surgery in the future via new research. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Placenta invasion anomalies (PIA's) are characterized by haemorrhages which can threat the mother's life. Placental invasion anomalies are among the most important causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis is very important condition in reducing the mortality and morbidity. Gray scale ultrasonography (US) is mostly used in early diagnosis of PIA's. Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI) is a new elastographic ultrasonography technic. We aimed to evaluate a new method in the early diagnosis of PIA's using ARFI technique. There is no study in the diagnosis of PIA's by ARFI in the literature to our knowledge. We think that this original study will contribute to the literature. What do the results of this study add? We showed the accuracy of ARFI in determination of PIA's. ARFI scores were significantly higher in the group in which invasion was detected during surgery of patients with preoperative placental invasion suspicion. What are the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our findings may reflect an event at the tissue elasticity level and we hope that the use of VTQ technique may contribute to early predict of placental invasions before surgery in the future via new researches. Early diagnosis of placental invasion anomalies may reduce mortality and morbidity.


Dynamics of voluntary cough maneuvers: a theoretical model.
Voluntary cough maneuvers are characterized by transient peak expiratory flows (PEFs) exceeding the maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve. In some cases, these flows can be well in excess of the MEFV, generally referred to as supramaximal flows. Understanding the flow-structure interaction involved in these maneuvers is the main goal of this study. We present a simple theoretical model for investigating the dynamics of voluntary cough and forced expiratory maneuvers. The core modeling idea is based on a 1D model of high Reynolds number flow through flexible-walled tubes. The model incorporates key ingredients involved in these maneuvers: the expiratory effort generated by the abdominal and expiratory muscles, the glottis, and the flexibility and compliance of the lung airways. Variations in these allow investigation of the expiratory flows generated by a variety of single cough maneuvers. The model successfully reproduces the transient PEFs, reported in cough studies. The amplitude of the PEFs is shown to depend on the cough generation protocol, the glottis reopening time, and the compliance of the airways. The particular highlight is in simulating supramaximal PEFs for very compliant tubes. The flow-structure interaction mechanisms behind these are discussed. The wave-speed theory of flow limitation is used to characterize the PEFs. Existing hypotheses of the origin of PEFs, from cough and forced expiration experiments, are also tested using this model. This modeling framework could be a first step toward more sophisticated cough models as well as in developing ideas for new bench-top experiments.


Bio-Diesel Production from Deoxygenation Reaction Over Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 Supported Transition Metal (Ni, Cu, Co, and Mo) Catalysts.
Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 supported transition metal (Me = Ni, Cu, Co, and Mo) catalysts have been investigated to screen for the catalytic activity and selectivity for deoxygenation reaction of oleic acid. Me-Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 catalysts were prepared by a co-precipitation method. Ni-Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 catalyst exhibited much higher oleic acid conversion, selectivity for C9 to C17 compounds, and oxygen removal efficiency than the others. This is mainly ascribed to the presence of free Ni species, synergy effects between Ni and Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, and the highest BET surface area.


High oxygen tension increases global methylation in bovine 4-cell embryos and blastocysts but does not affect general retrotransposon expression.
Retrotransposons are transposable elements that insert extra copies of themselves throughout the genome via an RNA intermediate using a 'copy and paste' mechanism. They account for more than 44% of the bovine genome and have been reported to be functional, especially during preimplantation embryo development. In the present study, we tested whether high oxygen tension (20% O2) influences global DNA methylation analysed by immunofluorescence staining of developing bovine embryos and whether this has an effect on the expression of some selected retrotransposon families. High oxygen tension significantly increased global DNA methylation in 4-cell embryos and blastocysts. A significant expression difference was observed for ERV1-1-I_BT in female blastocysts, but no significant changes were observed for the other retrotransposon families tested. Therefore, the study indicates that global DNA methylation is not necessarily correlated with retrotransposon expression in bovine preimplantation embryos.


[Topical application of vascular endothelial growth factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell caused effects to the survival rate of random flap].
Experimental study on the survival rate of random flap using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). MSC was isolated through the combined utilization of density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening methods. MSC was cultured and its purity and biological properties were identified. Forty Wistar rat models were established and divided into control group, VEGF group, MSC group and MSC+VEGF group. Designed 2 cm x 5 cm pedicle flap on each rat's back. The flaps were observed for 14 d after operation. On the 14th day, the rats were killed. The survival rates of random flap in each group were counted, and the histological sections were stained at the flap which was 4 cm far from the pedicle, and the number of microvascular was observed. 1) MSC was detected by flow cytometry, adipogenic and osteogenic induction detection. The results showed that MSC could differentiate to fat and cartilage by induction and certified that the MSC had multi-differentiation potential. 2) Immune rejection did not appear on each animal. The survival rate of random flap in control group, VEGF group, MSC group and MSC+VEGF group were 55.4% +/- 4.4%, 70.7% +/- 6.3%, 65.1% +/- 7.1%, and 93.4% +/- 9.4%, respectively. The survival rate of each experimental group was higher than control group (P < 0.05). The survival rate of MSC+VEGF group was the highest (P < 0.05). 3) The histological examination showed that the granulation tissue, fibroblast and neovascularity was most abundant in MSC+VEGF group. 1)The purified and multi-differentiated MSC can be obtained by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening methods. 2) The human MSC has no immunogens or minimal immunogenicity, immunological would not be caused when it is transmitted in cross-species. 3) VEGF and MSC have synergetic effect when they are used together, it can rebuild the blood circulation of the ischemic region in a short time, solve ischemia of the flap far from the pedicle, improve survival rate of the flap and enhance the repair quality of the wound.


DISPERSAL, VICARIANCE, AND CLOCKS: HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY AND SPECIATION IN A COSMOPOLITAN PASSERINE GENUS (ANTHUS: MOTACILLIDAE).
Dispersal and vicariant hypotheses have for decades been at odds with each other, notwithstanding the fact that both are well-established natural processes with important histories in biogeographic analyses. Despite their importance, neither dispersal nor vicariant methodologies are problem-free. The now widely used molecular techniques for generating phylogenies have provided a mechanism by which both dispersal- and vicariance-driven speciation can be better tested via the application of molecular clocks; unfortunately, substantial problems can also exist in the employment of those clocks. To begin to assess the relative roles of dispersal and vicariance in the establishment of avifaunas, especially intercontinental avifaunas, I applied a test for clocklike behavior in molecular data, as well as a program that infers ancestral areas and dispersal events, to a phylogeny of a speciose, cosmopolitan avian genus (Anthus; Motacillidae). Daughter-lineages above just 25 of 40 nodes in the Anthus phylogeny are evolving in a clocklike manner and are thus dateable by a molecular clock. Dating the applicable nodes suggests that Anthus arose nearly 7 million yr ago, probably in eastern Asia, and that between 6 and 5 million yr ago, Anthus species were present in Africa, the Palearctic, and North and South America. Speciation rates have been high throughout the Pliocene and quite low during the Pleistocene; further evidence that the Pleistocene may have had little effect in generating modern species. Intercontinental movements since 5 million yr ago have been few and largely restricted to interchange between Eurasia and Africa. Species swarms on North America, Africa, and Eurasia (but not South America or Australia) are the product of multiple invasions, rather than being solely the result of within-continent speciation. Dispersal has clearly played an important role in the distribution of this group.