The relationship between protective factors and a measure of psychological resistance in women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Aim To examine the relationship of protective factors (self-esteem, optimism, proactive coping), and a measure of psychological resistance in women diagnosed with breast cancer, and the contribution of protective factors in explaining the criterion of posttraumatic growth. Methods The study included 100 women diagnosed with breast cancer. To examine optimism the Scale of Dispositional Optimism and Pessimism, the Scale of Self-esteem for self-esteem and the Scale of Proactive Coping for proactive coping were used. The posttraumatic growth measured five factors: relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual changes, appreciation of life. Results Self-esteem, optimism and proactive coping were associated with posttraumatic growth and its factors: new possibilities, personal strength, appreciation of life. Optimism and proactive coping positively corelated also with relating to others. Final model of posttraumatic growth in all three steps (self-esteem, optimism, proactive coping) explained 20.4% variability of the posttraumatic growth total score. Conclusion Posttraumatic growth does not mean a decrease in trauma, but leads to a change in the perception and view of life. It refers to more favourable management and use of its own resources, relying on its own strengths and capabilities, identifying new opportunities and connecting with others.


[Use of cytostatics in polymer-drug complexes in the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the maxilla].
The authors analyze the efficacy of antitumor drugs deposited with cyanoacrylate adhesive solution in therapy of Stages III-IV maxillary tumors. Immediate and late results of therapy with these compositions of 21 patients evidence that such treatment is not associated with the wound or general toxic complications and that wounds may be managed without tampons. Deposition of the drug and its regulated elimination from the composition helps create a high concentration of the agent at the operation site where the tumor elements remained after surgery; this permits expecting better late results.


Nitrate reductase activation state in barley roots in relation to the energy and carbohydrate status.
The NADH-dependent nitrate reductase (NR, EC 126.96.36.199) in roots of hydroponically grown barley seedlings was extracted, desalted and the activity measured in buffer containing either Mg2+ (10 mM) or EDTA (5 mM). The former gives the actual NR activity (NRact) equivalent to dephospho-NR, whereas the latter gives the maximum NR capacity of the dephospho-form (NRmax). Both values together permit an estimation of the NR-phosphorylation state. Changes in NRact and NRmax were followed in response to root aeration or to shoot illumination or shoot removal, and were correlated with sugar contents and adenylate levels. Ethanol formation was also measured in roots differing in NR activity in order to obtain information on the relation between anaerobic alcoholic fermentation and nitrate reduction. In aerated roots, NR was highly phosphorylated (about 80%) and largely inactive. It was partly dephosphorylated (activated) by anoxia or by cellular acidification (pH 4.8 plus propionic acid). Anaerobic activation (dephosphorylation) of NR was stronger at acidic external pH (5) than at slightly alkaline pH (8), although ATP levels decreased and AMP levels increased at pH 5 and at pH 8 to the same extent. Thus, rapid changes in the NR-phosphorylation state in response to anaerobiosis were not directly triggered by the adenylate pool, but rather by cytosolic pH. Under prolonged darkness (24 h) or after shoot removal. NRmax decreased slowly without a large change in the phosphorylation state. This decrease of NRmax was correlated with a large decrease in the sugar content, and was prevented by glucose feeding, which had only minor effects on the phosphorylation state. Cycloheximide also prevented the decrease in NRmax without affecting the phosphorylation state. In contrast, anaerobiosis or cellular acidification prevented the decrease of NRmax and at the same time decreased the NR-phosphorylation state. It is suggested that NR turnover in roots is controlled by several factors: NR synthesis appears to depend on sugar availability, which has little effect on the phosphorylation state; in addition, NR degradation appears to be strongly affected by the phosphorylation state in such a way that the inactive phospho-NR is a better substrate for NR degradation than the dephospho-form. The rate of anaerobic ethanol formation was not affected by NR activity, indicating that the purpose of NR activation under hypoxia or anoxia is not to decrease or prevent alcoholic fermentation.


Assessment of disability in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review of the literature.
Given the importance of accurately and reliably assessing disability in future clinical trials, which will test therapeutic strategies in acute spinal cord injury (SCI), we sought to appraise comprehensively studies that focused on the psychometric properties (i.e., reliability, validity, and responsiveness) of all previously used outcome measures in the SCI population. The search strategy included Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Two reviewers independently assessed each study regarding eligibility, level of evidence (using Sackett's criteria), and quality. Of 363 abstracts captured in our search, 36 full articles fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight different outcome measures were used to assess disability in the SCI population, including Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Spinal cord Injury Measure (SCIM), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI), Quadriplegia Index of Function (QIF), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Timed Up & Go (TUG), 6-min walk test (6MWT), and 10-m walk test (10MWT). While 19 of 36 studies provided level-4 evidence, the remaining 17 articles were classified as level-2b evidence. Most of the instruments showed convergent construct validity in the SCI population, but criterion validity was not examined due to the lack a gold standard for assessment of disability. All instruments were tested in the rehabilitation and/or community setting, but only FIM was examined in the acute care setting. Based on our results of quality assessment, the SCIM has the most appropriate performance regarding the instrument's psychometric properties. Nonetheless, further investigations are required to confirm the adequate performance of the SCIM as a comprehensive measure of functional recovery in patients with SCI in rehabilitative care. The expert panel of the Spinal Cord Injury Solutions Network (SCISN) that participated in the modified Delphi process endorsed these conclusions.


Isoelectric focusing of human hemoglobins.
Isoelectric focusing on thin layer of acrylamide gel has been used for the characterization of 79 different variants of hemoglobin A. This method has replaced the cellulose acetate electrophoresis in clinical laboratories in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Creteil for the detection of abnormal hemoglobins in populations at risk. Up to now 15,000 samples from adults have been evaluated. In addition this method has been used for the screening of 7,000 cord blood samples and for the prenatal diagnosis of severe hemoglobinopathies.


Functional characterization of Corynebacterium glutamicum mycothiol S-conjugate amidase.
The present study focuses on the genetic and biochemical characterization of mycothiol S-conjugate amidase (Mca) of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Recombinant C. glutamicum Mca was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity. The molecular weight of native Mca protein determined by gel filtration chromatography was 35 kDa, indicating that Mca exists as monomers in the purification condition. Mca showed amidase activity with mycothiol S-conjugate of monobromobimane (MSmB) in vivo while mca mutant lost the ability to cleave MSmB. In addition, Mca showed limited deacetylase activity with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) as substrate. Optimum pH for amidase activity was between 7.5 and 8.5, while the highest activity in the presence of Zn2+ confirmed Mca as a zinc metalloprotein. Amino acid residues conserved among Mca family members were located in C. glutamicum Mca and site-directed mutagenesis of these residues indicated that Asp14, Tyr137, His139 and Asp141 were important for activity. The mca deletion mutant showed decreased resistance to antibiotics, alkylating agents, oxidants and heavy metals, and these sensitive phenotypes were recovered in the complementary strain to a great extent. The physiological roles of Mca in resistance to various toxins were further supported by the induced expression of Mca in C. glutamicum under various stress conditions, directly under the control of the stress-responsive extracytoplasmic function-sigma (ECF-σ) factor SigH.


There are no aesthetic emotions: Comment on Menninghaus et al. (2019).
Menninghaus and colleagues (2019) have recently argued that aesthetic emotions constitute a distinct class of emotions. They claim that aesthetic emotions are distinct because they involve an aesthetic evaluation, they are tuned to specific aesthetic virtues, they involve subjectively felt pleasure or displeasure, and predict liking or disliking. Here we examine the theory in the light of psychological and neurobiological empirical findings. We show that Menninghaus and colleagues failed to provide evidence that aesthetic emotions are different than other kinds of emotions in terms of psychological components or neurobiological underpinnings. We present empirical evidence that strongly suggests that affective states observed during aesthetic appreciation events are not distinctly different from affective states observed during other forms of sensory valuation. We conclude that it may be time to retire the idea that aesthetic emotions constitute a special class of human emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Diagnosis and referral of patients with AL amyloidosis in Portugal: results from a Delphi panel.
Light chain amyloidosis (AL) is a complex disorder defined by the extracellular deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils formed by intact or fragmented immunoglobulin light chains, leading to cell dysfunction, rapid organ deterioration, and, ultimately, death. Although the clinical presentation of AL is directly connected to organ involvement, signs and symptoms of AL are frequently nonspecific, misinterpreted, and late recognized. Thus, an early diagnosis combined with effective therapies to cease disease progression and rescue organ function is essential. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and characterize the current clinical practice regarding AL diagnosis and referral among Portuguese physicians. A Delphi-like panel (one round only) with a group of national experts from different medical specialties (cardiology, hematology, internal medicine, nephrology, and neurology) was carried out online, in which 30 statements were classified using a 4-point Likert scale. For each statement, the consensus level was set at 70% for "fully agree/disagree" and the majority level was defined as >70% in agreement or disagreement. Although the results suggest the existence of adequate general knowledge of AL amyloidosis, they also disclosed the necessity to raise awareness for this disease. Overall, this Delphi panel revealed a high lack of consensus regarding the diagnosis and early management of patients with AL among different specialties despite the qualified majority obtained in 26 statements. An optimized strategy for AL early diagnosis, transversal to several medical fields, is urgently needed. Moreover, referral centers with access to diagnostic technology and a network of diverse specialties should be established to foster an early diagnosis and better disease approach to boost the possibility of a better outcome for patients with AL.


Study on the Mechanical Properties of Continuous Composite Beams under Coupled Slip and Creep.
Steel-concrete continuous composite beams are widely used in buildings and bridges and have many economic benefits. Slip has always existed in composite beams and will reduce the stiffness of composite beams. The effect of creep under a long-term load will also be harmful. Many scholars ignore the combined effects of slip and creep. In order to more accurately study the mechanical properties of steel-concrete continuous composite beams under long-term loads, this paper will consider the combined actions of slip and creep. By combining the elastic theory and the age-adjusted effective modulus method, the differential equation of the composite beam is derived via the energy variational method. The analytical solutions of axial force, deflection and slip under a uniform load are obtained by substituting the relevant boundary conditions. The creep equation is used to simulate the behavior of concrete with time in ANSYS. The analytical solution is verified by establishing a finite element model of continuous composite beams considering slip and creep. The results suggest the following: the analytical solution is consistent with the finite element simulation results, which verifies the correctness of the analytical solution. Considering the slip and creep effects will increase the deflection of the composite beam and the bending moment of the steel beam, reduce the bending moment of the concrete slab and have a significant impact on the structural performance of the continuous composite beam. The research results considering the coupling effect of slip and creep on continuous composite beams can provide a theoretical basis for related problems.


Isolation of Escherichia coli from piglets in South Korea with diarrhea and characteristics of the virulence genes.
Escherichia coli was isolated from the feces of 122 piglets with diarrhea on 55 farms in Korea. The virulence genes of each isolate were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 562 isolates, 191 carried 1 or more of the virulence genes tested for in this study. Of the 191 isolates, 114 (60%) carried 1 or more of the genes for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) fimbriae F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41 and ETEC toxins LT, STa, and STb, 57 (30%) carried 1 or more of the genes for the Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) toxins Stx1, Stx2, and Stx2e, and 21% and 37% carried the gene for enteropathogenic E. coli intimin and for enteroaggregative E. coli toxin, respectively. Collectively, our results indicate that other pathotypes of E. coli as well as ETEC can be strongly associated with diarrhea in piglets. In addition, detection of the genes for Stx1 and Stx2 indicates that pigs are reservoirs of human pathogenic STEC.


Montelukast Reduces Serum Levels of Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin in Preschool Asthma.
Several markers for eosinophilic inflammation have been proposed to predict response to asthma treatment. However, definitive criteria for treatment decisions have not yet been established. We investigate a potentially useful relatively non-invasive biomarker, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), to predict favorable responses to budesonide or montelukast, common treatment for children with asthma. Young children (1 to 6 years old) were enrolled in this randomized, parallel, 2-group, open-label trial. Criteria for eligibility included: 1) being symptomatic during the run-in period; and 2) having a serum EDN (sEDN) level ≥ 53 ng/mL, with positive specific immunoglobulin E to house dust mite. Eligible patients were randomly placed into 2 groups: the BIS group received budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS) 0.5 mg once daily; the MONT group received montelukast 4 mg once daily. Ineligible patients were invited to receive montelukast 4 mg once daily (OBS group). Treatment period was 12 weeks. Asthma control days increased significantly in the BIS and MONT groups (P < 0.000) over the 12-week study period. There was no significant change in sEDN in the BIS group but there was a significant decrease in the MONT group (P < 0.000). Patients in the OBS group with high EDN levels (< 53 ng/mL) showed a significant decrease due to MONT treatment (P = 0.023). Rescue medication usage significantly decreased in the BIS and MONT groups (P < 0.000). EDN is a useful relatively non-invasive biomarker for predicting responses to montelukast and budesonide treatment of preschool children with beta2-agonist responsive recurrent wheeze and multiple-trigger wheeze (Trial registry at UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000008335).


Giant splenic artery aneurysm presenting as unusual cause of obstructive jaundice.
Giant splenic aneurysms larger than 8 cm (GSAA) are rare and often asymptomatic but present an increased risk of dramatic rupture, a life-threatening complication. The management of these aneurysms is especially challenging. We probably report the first case of GSAA revealed by clinical mechanical jaundice due to direct compression of the biliary tree. The lesion was diagnosed during abdominal ultrasound in a 68-year-old patient but determination of the specific splenic origin and extensive anatomic preoperative evaluation were achieved by MDCT. The case illustrates the new high quality performances of MDCT in the evaluation of complex vascular abdominal situations and is presented with a brief review of the relevant literature.


Applying Judgment Analysis Theory and Methods to Obtain an Insight Into Clinical Judgments: Implementation and Findings With a Simulated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Setup.
Clinicians who provide acute care are required to quickly identify and judge the illness severity of patients who experience deterioration in their clinical state. Accuracy of judgments can only be tested with respect to a valid reference, but in most health care areas, there is no such score. Judgment analysis theory and methods are presented and proposed as a framework to obtain insight into clinical judgments. A study in a simulated neonatal intensive care unit setup is described to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. Sixteen participants from a neonatal intensive care unit department reviewed 31 clips of simulated cases. The participants were directed to use a 5-point scale to rate their personal interpretation regarding the illness severity of the simulated patient. Judgment analysis techniques were used to identify the judgment capabilities of the participants and to determine factors that influence those capabilities. Most participants interpreted the clinical signs information consistently, but interpretation varied remarkably between clinicians, providing possible explanation to the differences between the clinicians' judgments. Significant correlations were found between the doctors' years of medical experience and attributes of their judgments. Judgment analysis can be used to obtain insight into clinical judgments and to identify and quantify factors that affect clinicians' judgments. Judgment analysis can promote health care by enhancing clinical assessment teaching, by providing objective and personalized feedback to team members about their judgment performance, and by introducing a unified and objective method to study elements that affect clinical judgments.


Spontaneous bone regeneration in a large haemophilic pseudotumour of mandible.
Pseudotumours of haemophilia (PTH) are locally expansile destructive haematomas which result in varying morbidity among haemophilic patients. Adequate haematological treatment and prophylaxis helps in preventing these haematomas. Currently, there is no uniform standard management protocol for this entity due to rarity of these lesions. PTH are seen in 1%-2% of the severe haemophilic patients. They may also be seen in moderate cases when adequate factor coverage is not provided or in cases with factor VIII inhibitors. We report a rare case of mandibular pseudotumour in a patient with moderate haemophilia and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, treated successfully with decompression of the haematoma. Postdecompression, sequential radiography revealed spontaneous bone regeneration at the site of the lesion. With 2 years follow-up, the mandible had no residual lesion. This reveals the role and potential of conservative decompression even in cases with severe osteodestruction secondary to developing haematoma of the mandible in haemophilic patients.


Chemical interaction of phosphoric acid ester with hydroxyapatite.
Among functional monomers used in contemporary dental adhesives, 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) has been found to interact chemically with hydroxyapatite (HAp) most intensively and stably. This effect was thought to be the basis of the superior bonding effectiveness of MDP-based self-etch adhesives to enamel/dentin. To elucidate fully the chemical interaction and reactivity of MDP with HAp, we used (31)P CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy and powder x-ray diffraction. In an aqueous ethanol solution, Ca ions were leached from HAp to form, at short term, a MDP-calcium salt (CaMHP(2)) layered structure on the HAp surface. When MDP was allowed to interact for longer time (< 24 hrs), CaHPO(4).2H(2)O precipitated on top of this MDP-calcium salt layered structure. In conclusion, the intense chemical interaction of MDP with HAp must be ascribed to superficial dissolution of HAp induced by the MDP adsorption and subsequent deposition of MDP-calcium salt with a solubility lower than that of CaHPO(4).2H(2)O.


Reliable transient promoter assay using fluorescein-di-beta-D-galactopyranoside substrate.
The promoter region of the mouse myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) gene was cloned into a promoter testing vector, pIP111. The pIP111 vector is a promoterless derivative of pCH110 (SV40 early region promoter-lacZ) and contains the Escherichia coli lpp transcription terminator sequence at the 5' end of the cloning site. The newly constructed PLP-lacZ fusion plasmid (pWP) was transfected into PLP-nonproducing NIH-3T3 fibroblasts or PLP-producing C6 cells. When the measured beta-galactosidase activity in the pWP-transfected cells was normalized to the pCH110-transfected cells (an appropriate control if the SV40 early region promoter functions constitutively in various cell lines), the results suggested that the promoter region of the PLP gene contains the information necessary for initiation of transcription in a C6 cell-specific manner. However, the beta-galactosidase produced in viable cells was also detected by fluorescein-di-beta-D-galactopyranoside (FDG) treatment followed by image analysis using inverted fluorescent microscopy, which allowed the transfection efficiency to be calculated, and the beta-galactosidase activity obtained by the regular ONPG method was normalized with the value obtained. This procedure indicated that the promoter region of the PLP gene did not show C6-specific expression, because the SV40 early-region promoter was 10 times more active in NIH-3T3 cells than in C6 cells. Thus, the standard experiment gave misleading results. As our detection method is simple and can be used to analyze the promoter activity in a single cell, many applications should be possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Transport and utilization of alditols in the yeast Rhodotorula gracilis glutinis (author's transl)].
The obligate aerobic yeast Rhodoturula gracilis was found to take up the alditols D-glucitol, D-mannitol, ribitol, xylitol, D-arabinitol, L-arabinitol and erythritol by means of a constitutive mobile membrane carrier. This uptake involved active transport, that is, it was dependent on the supply of metabolic energy, leading to the accumulation of alditols inside the cells. The accumulation ratio (intracellular concentration to extracellular concentration, Si/SO) was much lower for alditols than for monosaccharides. As for monosaccharides, this ratio decreased with increasing extracellular concentration, even to values below 1. The kinetic data showed that the carrier system for alditols was identical to that for monosaccharides, though it had a much lower affinity and maximum velocity for alditols. Hence the uptake of alditols was blocked in the presence of monosaccharides. Only ribitol and L-arabinitol were catabolized following enzyme induction. The other alditols were not broken down.


Synthesis and Properties of New 3-Heterylamino-Substituted 9-Nitrobenzanthrone Derivatives.
In the present study, new fluorophores based on disubstituted benzanthrone derivatives were designed starting from 9-nitro-3-bromobenzanthrone with nucleophilic substitution of the bromine atom with some secondary cyclic amines. It has been found that this reaction is positively affected by the presence of a nitro group in comparison with 3-bromobenzanthrone. The new compounds exhibit intense absorption and pronounced luminescent properties in various organic solvents. In this regard, their photophysical properties were evaluated with an experimental study of the solvatochromic behavior of the obtained compounds in various solvents. It has recently been found that the addition of an electron-withdrawing nitro group to the benzanthrone core increases its first- and second-order hyperpolarizability. Such dyes can be used in the fabrication of optical limiter devices. Therefore, the developed fluorescent molecules have a potential prospect for extensive application in optoelectronics.


[2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography during atrioseptostomy using the Rashkind method. Alternative umbilical approach in the newborn infant].
Balloon atrial septostomy was performed in 16 patients using 2-D echocardiography (20 D Echo). Patients, 8 hours to 27 days old (5.6 +/- 8.5 days) had cyanotic congenital heart disease: (13 transposition of the great arteries (TGA), 2 pulmonary atresia (AP) and one mitral atresia (AM). In seven patients procedure was performed by way of saphenous-femoral vein. In the nine remaining it was done through umbilical vein, being successful in seven patients (it was necessary to use the saphenous-femoral vein in two). Seven in whom it was possible to use umbilical vein were less than 24 hours old. No complications arose as a consequence of technique, although in one, dissection performed by saphenous vein damaged femoral artery. AS was considered effective in all cases. There was no difference between results obtained by umbilical or saphenous-femoral veins. Umbilical approach proved to be simplest, fastest, and more reliable than saphenous-femoral access in the AS of those patients under 24 hours of age. Special importance is given to the value of 2-D Echo in performing AS and the immediate evaluation of the results and functional evaluation by pulsed Doppler echocardiography.


Saccharification of chitin using solid-state culture of Aspergillus sp. S1-13 with shellfish waste as a substrate.
Saccharification of chitin was performed in a suspension (mash) of a solid-state culture of chitinase-producing Aspergillus sp. Sl-13 with acid-treated shellfish waste as a substrate. The conditions for the saccharifying reaction and the solid-state cultivation were examined from the viewpoint of saccharification in the mash. Optimum cultivation conditions were defined: a solid-state medium consisting of 5 g of 10% lactic acid-treated crab shells (0.50-2.36 mm in size) and 3 ml of a basal medium (0.028% KH2PO4 0.007% CaCl2.2H2O, and 0.025% MgSO4.7H2O) supplemented with 0.3% peptone was inoculated with 4 ml of spore suspension (1 x 10(7) spores/ml), and the water content of the medium was adjusted to 75%; static cultivation at 37 degrees C for 7 d. When a culture obtained under the optimum conditions was suspended in 70 ml of 50 mM sodium phosphate-citrate buffer (pH 4.0) and incubated at 45 degrees C for 11-13 d, 55 mM N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) was formed in the solid-state culture mash, indicating that at least 33% of the initial chitin in the solid material was hydrolyzed. Through the experiments, the amounts of G1cNAc formed in the solid-state culture mash varied in a way similar to that of the water-extractable pnitrophenyl beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminide-hydrolyzing enzyme in the culture, but not to that of the colloidal chitin-hydrolyzing enzyme. G1cNAc-assimilating lactic acid bacteria, which were inoculated into the mash after or at the start of the saccharification, formed lactic acid with decreasing GlcNAc.


Mediating Mechanisms for the Intergenerational Transmission of Constructive Parenting: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.
Based on a prospective longitudinal panel data set that was collected at three developmental stages-early adolescence, young adulthood, and middle adulthood- this study investigates marital satisfaction and educational attainment as mediating mechanisms as well as gender's moderating effect for the intergenerational transmission of constructive parenting (N = 1,560). The results show that perceived satisfying experiences with parents during early adolescence are positively related to marital satisfaction and educational attainment in young adulthood, which, in turn, are positively related to individuals' utilization of constructive parenting in middle adulthood. The two mediating mechanisms account for most of the direct effect of the intergenerational transmission of constructive parenting. Furthermore, the mediating effect of marital relationship is stronger for current fathers than for mothers because of a stronger association between marital satisfaction and constructive parenting for men. The implications are discussed.


Validation of the Polish Version of Knee Outcome Survey Activities of the Daily Living Scale in a Group of Patients after Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
The study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Polish version of Knee Outcome Survey Activities of the Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS) in a group of patients after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The study was a longitudinal study with repeated measures. One hundred and twelve subjects who qualified for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (mean age = 31.8 years) were initially enrolled in this study. The Polish version of KOS-ADLS and Short Form-36 v. 2.0 (SF-36) were used. The Polish version of KOS-ADLS in subjects after ACL rupture demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha for KOS-ADLS- total = 0.91), and test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC-total = 0.98). The standard error of measurement (SEM) value was 0.81 and the minimal detectable change (MDC) was 2.23 for KOS-ADLS-total. The validity analysis showed a moderate and low correlation between KOS-ADLS and different domains of SF-36 from r = 0.354 between KOS-ADLS activity and the physical component scale (PCS) of SF-36: to r = 0.206 between KOS-ADLS activity and the mental component scale (MCS) of SF-36. The Polish version of KOS-ADLS turned out to be a reliable, valid and responsive self-reported outcome measure, allowing for the self-assessment of symptoms and function related to the knee joint impairment after ACL reconstruction. Therefore, the scale can be applied in clinical practice and research.


Prognostic value of micrometastases in esophageal and colorectal carcinoma (a clinical experience).
The term "micrometastases" has been confused in many aspects. While the influence of lymph node metastases in esophageal and colorectal cancer is well known, the presence and importance of micrometastases is under debate. We investigated micro lymph node invasion in two different kinds of digestive tumors with very high mortality, and identified its possible repercussion on patient survival. Lymph nodes of two groups of patients N0 on routine histopathology after radical resection (R0): 21 with esophageal carcinoma (Group I), and 21 with colorectal carcinoma (Group II), were studied by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies directed against cytokeratins of wide spectrum. The results were classified as positive or negative and compared with patient survival. Five of twenty-one (5/21) patients in group I and eight of twenty-one (8/21) in group II were positive for micrometastases. Median survival time in the positive esophageal group was 9.5 months vs. 68 in the negative one (p=0.16). Median survival time in the positive subset colorectal group was 54.5 months vs. 76.8 in the negative subgroup (p=0.5). Our results did not show statistical differences in survival time between patients positive or negative for micrometastases; however it is evident, especially in the esophageal cancer group, that there is a negative tendency of positive micrometastases on survival time. The presence of micrometastases in lymph nodes of patients N0 after conventional histopathology is frequent. Our preliminary results did not allow definitive conclusions but we may suppose its negative influence on patient survival.


Do variations in hip geometry explain differences in hip fracture risk between Japanese and white Americans?
Despite lower femoral neck bone mass, Japanese women have a substantially lower incidence of hip fracture than North American whites. Reasons for this discrepancy were sought in a study of 57 Japanese and 119 white American women aged 50-79. All women were in good health. Bone mineral content (BMC) in the femoral neck, femoral neck length (NL), femoral neck angle (theta), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), safety factor (SF), and fall index (FI) were calculated using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Height and weight were greater in Americans than in Japanese (1.62 versus 1.52 m; p < 0.0001 and 66.0 versus 49.4 kg; p < 0.0001, respectively). Mean BMC in the femoral neck and CSMI were greater in Americans than in Japanese (3.91 versus 3.02 g; p < 0.0001 and 0.99 versus 0.57 cm4; p < 0.0001, respectively). NL was longer in Americans (5.6 versus 4.4 cm; p < 0.0001) and theta was larger in Americans (130 versus 128 degrees; p < 0.01), whereas SF and FI were less in Americans than in Japanese (3.41 versus 5.12; p < 0.0001 and 1.00 versus 1.40; p < 0.0001, respectively). These results indicate that despite lower bone mass, Japanese women have lower risks of structural failure in the femoral neck, attributable primarily to shorter femoral necks and, to a lesser degree, a smaller femoral neck angle. Geometric characteristics of the femoral neck in Japanese women are associated with their lower hip fracture risk, and the measurement of proximal femoral geometry, combined with bone mass, may provide further clinical information about the risk of hip fracture.


Molecular genetics, seed morphology and fatty acids diversity in castor (Ricinus communis L., Euphorbiaceae) Iranian populations.
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) seeds contain a large amount of oil that has several biological activities. In the current research, phytogeographic distribution, seed morphological characteristics, molecular genetic diversity and structure, and fatty acid composition were investigated in nine Iranian castor populations. The cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol was used to extract the nuclear genomes. These were later amplified using 13 SCoT molecular primers. The phytogeographic distribution was determined based on the Zohary mapping, GC apparatus determined the fatty acid composition of the seeds. GenAlex, STRUCTURE, GenoDive, PopGene, and PopART software were used for the statistical analyzes. On phytogeographic mapping, the harvested populations belonged to different districts of the Euro-Siberian and Irano-Turanian regions (Holarctic kingdom). Most of the quantitative morphological traits of the seeds differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) between the populations. The AMOVA test demonstrated a large proportion of significant genetic diversity assigned among populations, which were approved by some estimated parameters of genetic diversity such as Nm, Ht, Hs, and Gst. Nei's genetic distance and structure analysis confirmed the existence of two main genotype groups and some intermediates. However, there was no isolation by distance between the genotypes. Unsaturated fatty acids were detected as the main component of seed oil with linoleic and ricinoleic acids. Significant correlations were detected between the main fatty acids of seed oil with seed morphological traits, geographic distance and the geographic parameters of habitats. According to the composition of the seed fatty acids, four chemotypes groups were detected. The classification patterns of the populations based on molecular genetic data, fatty acid composition, and phytogeographic mapping were not identical. These findings indicated that Iranian castor populations had unusual seed fatty acid composition which strongly depended on habitat geographic factors and seed morphological traits. However, the identified chemotypes and genotypes can be used in future breeding programs.


Reviving the Two-State Markov Chain Approach.
Probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs) is a well-established computational framework for modelling biological systems. The steady-state dynamics of PBNs is of crucial importance in the study of such systems. However, for large PBNs, which often arise in systems biology, obtaining the steady-state distribution poses a significant challenge. In this paper, we revive the two-state Markov chain approach to solve this problem. This paper contributes in three aspects. First, we identify a problem of generating biased results with the approach and we propose a few heuristics to avoid such a pitfall. Second, we conduct an extensive experimental comparison of the extended two-state Markov chain approach and another approach based on the Skart method. We analyze the results with machine learning techniques and we show that statistically the two-state Markov chain approach has a better performance. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of the extended two-state Markov chain approach on a case study of a large PBN model of apoptosis in hepatocytes.


The impact of considering land intensification and updated data on biofuels land use change and emissions estimates.
The GTAP model has been used to estimate biofuel policy induced land use changes and consequent GHG emissions for more than a decade. This paper reviews the history of the model and database modifications and improvements that have occurred over that period. In particular, the paper covers in greater detail the move from the 2004 to the 2011 database, and the inclusion of cropland intensification in the modeling structure. The results show that all the changes in the global economy and agricultural sectors cause biofuels induced land use changes and associated emissions can be quite different using the 2011 database versus 2004. The results also demonstrate the importance of including land intensification in the analysis. The previous versions of GTAP and other similar models assumed that changes in harvested area equal changes in cropland area. However, FAO data demonstrate that it is not correct for several important world regions. The model now includes land intensification, and the resulting land use changes and emission values are lower as would be expected. Dedicated energy crops are not similar to the first generation feedstocks in the sense that they do not generate the level of market-mediated responses which we have seen in the first-generation feedstocks. The major market-mediated responses are reduced consumption, crop switching, changes in trade, changes in intensification, and forest or pasture conversion. These largely do not apply to dedicated energy corps. The land use emissions for cellulosic feedstocks depend on what we assume in the emissions factor model regarding soil carbon gained or lost in converting land to these feedstocks. We examined this important point for producing bio-gasoline from miscanthus. Much of the literature suggests miscanthus actually sequesters carbon, if grown on the existing active cropland or degraded land. We provide some illustrative estimates for possible assumptions. Finally, it is important to note the importance of the new results for the regulatory process. The current California Air Resources Board carbon scores for corn ethanol and soy biodiesel are 19.8 and 29.1, respectively (done with a model version that includes irrigation). The new model and database carbon scores are 12 and 18, respectively, for corn ethanol and soy biodiesel. Thus, the current estimates values are substantially less than the values currently being used for regulatory purposes.


The effect of torsional muscle dysfunction and surgery on eye position under general anesthesia.
Under general anesthesia, normal eyes exhibit 2.0 degrees to 2.5 degrees of extorsion. To investigate the effect of torsional muscle dysfunction and surgery on eye position under general anesthesia, we measured the torsional change before and after torsional muscle surgery in 26 eyes of 18 patients with clinical torsional muscle dysfunction. Under general anesthesia, compared with normals, eyes with preoperative intorter overaction or extorter underaction demonstrated a significant intorsional change (P < .01). However, eyes with intorter underaction or extorter overaction did not demonstrate a significant extorsional change. Postoperatively, while patients remained under general anesthesia, intorter weakening procedures produced measurable extorsion while intorter strengthening procedures and extorter weakening procedures produced measurable intorsion. Superior oblique tenotomy produced a greater net torsional change than inferior oblique weakening surgery (P < .01). Under general anesthesia, eyes with preoperative torsional muscle dysfunction exhibit torsion in the direction consistent with the dysfunction. After surgery on the torsional muscles, a measurable torsional effect can be demonstrated while the patient is still under general anesthesia.


Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: long-term stability.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes and long-term stability in patients treated by surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) and to compare the results with a matched, untreated control group. The sample comprised consecutive study models from 31 subjects (17 males and 14 females) with a mean pre-treatment age of 25.9 years [standard deviation (SD) 9.6]. The mean follow-up time was 6.4 years (SD 3.3). The transverse distances between the maxillary canines and maxillary first molars were measured with digital sliding callipers before treatment (T0), after treatment (T1), and at follow-up (T2). The data were analysed with a Mann-Whitney U, Spearman's rho, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. At T1, all posterior crossbites were corrected and the expansions were statistically significant. At T2, despite some reduction in the transverse measurements, the posterior crossbites remained corrected. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups at T2 regarding transverse measurements, except for the distance between the mesio-buccal cusp tips of the maxillary first molars. In the treatment group, there was no significant difference in terms of reductions in the transverse dimensions over the short- or long-term, no significant correlations between age or gender and the decrease in transverse dimensions or between the degree of anterior and posterior expansion. There were no significant correlations between the degree of expansion and subsequent post-treatment decrease. The results indicate that SARME normalizes the transverse discrepancies and is stable a mean of 6 years post-treatment. The decreases in the transverse dimensions are most pronounced during the first 3 years post-treatment.


Occupational accidents with biological material among professionals in clinical laboratories in Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil.
Occupational accidents in health institutes can result in the transmission of human infectious diseases. Thecollection and processing of biological samples are risk factors for accidents involving clinical laboratory workers. Toidentify occupational accidents with biological material among healthcare workers in the clinical laboratories of Cajazeiras city, Paraíba, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional and analytical study using a semi-structured questionnaire distributed to 38 workers at six clinical laboratories. Social-demographic data, types of occupational accidents, post-exposure procedures, biosafety practices, and emotional impact were analyzed. Workplace accidents were reported by 22 (57.9%) interviewees. Female gender (81.6%) was more prevalent in this study population. Nurse technicians and biochemists related the most frequent exposures. Accidents occurred mainly in the upper extremities (91%). The biological fluids related to the occupational accidents included blood (81.8%) and urine (45.5%). Thirty-three (86.8%) workers reported undergoing a post-exposure evaluation in the workplace. Fourteen (63.6%) participants underwent laboratory testing after biological material exposure. The data showed that occupational accidents in clinical laboratories are frequent among healthcare workers. We suggest new approaches for occupational accidents in the clinical laboratories to ameliorate the biosafety guidelines and working conditions of healthcare professionals.


Cutaneous manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex and the paediatrician's role.
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem genetic disorder stemming from unregulated activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, resulting in the growth of hamartomas in multiple organs. TSC-related skin lesions often develop early in life and can be disfiguring, emotionally distressful and even painful at times. Recognition of TSC-associated skin features by paediatricians can be a catalyst for facilitating early implementation of treatment strategies and establishing appropriate follow-up care. The range of potential treatment options for symptomatic or disfiguring TSC-associated skin lesions includes non-pharmacological (surgical excision, laser therapy) and pharmacological (eg, topical or systemic mTOR inhibitors) alternatives. In this review, we discuss the relevance of TSC-associated skin findings, highlight available treatment options, review guideline recommendations and emphasise the role of the primary care physician in the management of this complex disease.


Generalization gradients for fear and disgust in human associative learning.
Previous research indicates that excessive fear is a critical feature in anxiety disorders; however, recent studies suggest that disgust may also contribute to the etiology and maintenance of some anxiety disorders. It remains unclear if differences exist between these two threat-related emotions in conditioning and generalization. Evaluating different patterns of fear and disgust learning would facilitate a deeper understanding of how anxiety disorders develop. In this study, 32 college students completed threat conditioning tasks, including conditioned stimuli paired with frightening or disgusting images. Fear and disgust were divided into two randomly ordered blocks to examine differences by recording subjective US expectancy ratings and eye movements in the conditioning and generalization process. During conditioning, differing US expectancy ratings (fear vs. disgust) were found only on CS-, which may demonstrated that fear is associated with inferior discrimination learning. During the generalization test, participants exhibited greater US expectancy ratings to fear-related GS1 (generalized stimulus) and GS2 relative to disgust GS1 and GS2. Fear led to longer reaction times than disgust in both phases, and the pupil size and fixation duration for fear stimuli were larger than for disgust stimuli, suggesting that disgust generalization has a steeper gradient than fear generalization. These findings provide preliminary evidence for differences between fear- and disgust-related stimuli in conditioning and generalization, and suggest insights into treatment for anxiety and other fear- or disgust-related disorders.


Colony formation in vitro by leukemic cells in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
An assay system in vitro for the growth of malignant lymphoblastic colony-forming cells (CFC) was established. Growth of malignant myeloblastic CFC has been previously reported, but this is the first report of growth of malignant lymphoblastic CFC. Established assay systems in vitro have been very helpful in elucidating the control of growth and differentiation of both normal and malignant bone marrow cells. Lymphoblastic CFC were grown from the bone marrow aspirates of 20 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Growth of these colonies was established on an agar assay system and maintained in the relative hypoxia (7% oxygen) of a Stulberg chamber. The criteria for malignancy of these colonies was based upon cellular cytochemical staining characteristics, the presence of specific cell surface markers, and the ability of these lymphoid cells to grow without the addition of a lymphoid mitogen. With this technique, specific nutritional requirements and drug sensitivities can be established in vitro, and these data may permit tailoring of individual antileukemic therapy.


The constant force continuous molecular dynamics for potentials with multiple discontinuities.
In this work, we present an extension of the constant force approach [P. Orea and G. Odriozola, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 214105 (2013)] to the case of potentials with multiple discontinuities. To illustrate the method, we selected the square well potential of range λ=1.5 that exhibits two discontinuities. Square well single phase properties, vapor-liquid phase diagram, and surface tension were calculated and compared with available simulation data. Besides, we analyzed the internal energies of a square well plus a square shoulder potential having three discontinuities. For both potentials, a good agreement has been found when compared with results of other simulation techniques (discontinuous molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods). This extension can be easily implemented to more general and efficient continuous molecular dynamics packages (HOOMD, GROMACS, NAMD, etc.).


Frame shift mutation, exon skipping, and a two-codon deletion caused by splice site mutations account for pyruvate kinase deficiency.
Three novel splice site mutations and two novel missense mutations were identified by molecular analysis of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency associated with hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. A Nepalese PK variant, PK Kowloon, was found to have a homozygous transversion at the 5'-splice site of the seventh intervening sequence (IVS) of the L-type PK gene (Ivs7[+1]gt --> tt). Using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, we showed that the R-type PK mRNA in the proband's reticulocytes included the seventh IVS between the seventh and eighth exon, introducing a stop codon 3 nucleotides downstream of the mutated site. Consequently, the translational product may lack 44% of the R-PK polypeptide. A transition at the last nucleotide of exon 9 (1269GCG --> GCA) was found in a Japanese PK variant, PK 'Kamata.' The mutation did not alter the amino acid sequence, but caused skipping of the ninth exonic sequence in the R-PK transcripts. As a result, the affected R-type PK lost 51 amino acid residues (373Met-423Ala del). A transversion at the splice acceptor site of the third IVS (Ivs 3[-2]ag --> tg) was identified in PK 'Aomori.' The mutation resulted in aberrant splicing at a cryptic splice site within exon 4, causing deletion of two codons in the aberrant R-PK transcript (95 Gly-96 Pro --> del). Both PK 'Kamata' and PK 'Aomori' had a missense mutation on the other allele, 1044AAG --> AAT (348Lys --> Asn) and 1075CGC --> TGC (359Arg --> Cys), respectively. Although both 348Lys and 359Arg were located in the sixth loop of A domain (beta/alpha)8 barrel, which has been shown to contain the substrate and cation binding sites, the degree of anemia was much more severe in PK 'Kamata' than PK 'Aomori,' possibly because the 51 amino acid deletion of PK 'Kamata' but the 2 amino-acid deletion of PK 'Aomori' may abolish PK catalytic activity.


Relationship between oestrogen, prostaglandin F2alpha and histamine in delayed implantation in the mouse.
Treatment of pregnant mice ovariectomized on day 3 (23.00-2330 h) with progesterone (1 mg/day/mouse, from day 4 through 11 post coitum (p.c.)) and oestrogen (single injection of 0.05 mug on day 8 p.c.) induced implantation in all the animals. Implantation was inhibited in animals following three subcutaneous injections of indomethacin given on the morning and afternoon of day 8 and the morning of day 9 p.c. A single injection of histamine on day 8 p.c. partially compensated the effect of indomethacin. A complete reversal of the antifertility effect of indomethacin was achieved following intraperitoneal administration of histamine (2 mug at noon of day 8 p.c.) and PGF2alpha (20 mug on the morning and afternoon of day 8 p.c.). This study suggests that in the mouse uterus indomethacin impairs the physiological changes which are required for the decidual cell formation and implantation. It is likely that an injection of oestradiol in the progesterone treated ovariectomized mice triggers the release of PGF2alpha and histamine and that these compounds are involved in the chain of events leading to implantation of blastocysts.


The Temporal Risk of Heart Failure Associated With Adjuvant Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer Patients: A Population Study.
The late cardiac effect of adjuvant trastuzumab and its potential interaction with anthracycline have not been well-studied on a population level. In this retrospective population-based cohort study, female breast cancer patients in Ontario, diagnosed between 2003 and 2009, were identified by the Ontario Cancer Registry and linked to administrative databases to ascertain demographics, cardiac risk factors, comorbidities, and use of adjuvant trastuzumab and other chemotherapy. Patients with pre-existing heart failure (HF) were excluded. The main endpoint was new diagnosis of HF. Analyses included Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, multivariable piecewise Cox regression, and competing risk and propensity score analyses. All statistical tests were two-sided. Nineteen thousand seventy-four women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy were identified, of whom 3371 (17.7%) also received adjuvant trastuzumab. Anthracycline use was 84.9% overall. After a median follow-up of 5.9 years, patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy were more likely to develop HF than patients on chemotherapy alone (5-year cumulative incidences of 5.2% vs 2.5%; log-rank P < .001). After adjusting for confounders, adjuvant trastuzumab remained independently associated with incident HF in the first 1.5 years (HR = 5.77, 95% CI = 4.38 to 7.62, P < .001), but not thereafter (HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.33, P = .53). Anthracycline use did not increase the risk of HF with trastuzumab synergistically, neither within (P interaction = .92) nor beyond 1.5 years (P interaction = .23). Adjuvant trastuzumab was associated with increased risk of new incidence of HF in breast cancer survivors during the period of adjuvant treatment but not thereafter. Routine intensive monitoring may not be necessary after completing adjuvant therapy.


Multiweek cell culture project for use in upper-level biology laboratories.
This article describes a laboratory protocol for a multiweek project piloted in a new upper-level biology laboratory (BIO 426) using cell culture techniques. Human embryonic kidney-293 cells were used, and several culture media and supplements were identified for students to design their own experiments. Treatments included amino acids, EGF, caffeine, epinephrine, heavy metals, and FBS. Students researched primary literature to determine their experimental variables, made their own solutions, and treated their cells over a period of 2 wk. Before this, a sterile technique laboratory was developed to teach students how to work with the cells and minimize contamination. Students designed their experiments, mixed their solutions, seeded their cells, and treated them with their control and experimental media. Students had the choice of manipulating a number of variables, including incubation times, exposure to treatment media, and temperature. At the end of the experiment, students observed the effects of their treatment, harvested and dyed their cells, counted relative cell numbers in control and treatment flasks, and determined the ratio of living to dead cells using a hemocytometer. At the conclusion of the experiment, students presented their findings in a poster presentation. This laboratory can be expanded or adapted to include additional cell lines and treatments. The ability to design and implement their own experiments has been shown to increase student engagement in the biology-related laboratory activities as well as develop the critical thinking skills needed for independent research.


Baseline values of cardiovascular and respiratory parameters predict response to acute hypoxia in young healthy men.
The majority of the available works have studied distinct hypoxic responses of respiratory and cardiovascular systems. This study examines how these systems interact while responding to hypoxia and whether baseline metrics moderate reactions to a hypoxic challenge. Central hemodynamic, aortic wave reflection, and gas exchange parameters were measured in 27 trained young men before and after 10-min normobaric isocapnic hypoxia (10 % O2). Associations were assessed by correlation and multiple regression analyses. Hypoxic changes in the parameters of pulse wave analysis such as augmentation index (-114 %, p=0.007), pulse pressure amplification (+6 %, p=0.020), time to aortic reflection wave (+21 %, p<0.001) report on the increase in arterial distensibility. Specifically, initially compliant arteries blunt the positive cardiac chronotropic response to hypoxia and facilitate the myocardial workload. The degree of blood oxygen desaturation is directly correlated with both baseline values and hypoxic responses of aortic and peripheral blood pressures. The hypoxia-induced gain in ventilation (VE), while controlling for basal VE and heart rate (HR), is inversely associated with deltaHR and deltasystolic blood pressure. The study suggests that cardiovascular and respiratory systems mutually supplement each other when responding to hypoxic challenge.


A DFT-metadynamics study disclosing key properties of ring-opening polymerization catalysts to produce polyethercarbonate polyols from cyclic ethylene carbonate as part of an emerging CCU technology.
The ring opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates made from epoxide and CO2 to CO2-containing polymers constitutes an emerging technology of particular industrial interest. Considering the reaction of ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethylene carbonate to produce polyethercarbonate polyols, several types of catalysts were tested experimentally and mechanistic pathways were proposed, but a detailed analysis of structure property relationship including the CO2-liberation pathways is still lacking. This contribution is using computational methods to investigate reported benchmark catalysts with the lead structure AxMyOz (A: alkali metal or alkyl, M: main group element or transition metal) that are particularly approved as effiecient catalysts for industrial purpose. Employing DFT-metadynamics simulations, free energy surfaces (FESs) for the key-steps in the catalytic polymerization of cyclic ethylene carbonate (cEC) are generated. Important structural criteria and characteristics of the catalysts that influence the catalytic performance and (side)reaction pathways are determined. It turns out that less nucleophilicity of the catalyst anion and more labile cations remain major criteria for prohibiting CO2 liberation during polymerization. The key learnings of this contribution currently serve as a basis to develop the next generation of catalysts to bring this emerging carbon capture and use (CCU) technology into industrial application.


[Two cases of locally advanced colorectal cancer curatively resected after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin plus panitumumab].
Case1: A 63-year-old woman with diarrhea and hematochezia was diagnosed as having rectal cancer invading the pelvis. Six courses of the 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin( mFOLFOX6) plus panitumumab regimen were administered after sigmoid colostomy, following which low anterior resection was performed. Since the 6 courses of mFOLFOX6 were administered postoperatively, no evidence of recurrence has been observed for 18 months. Case2: A 52-year-old man with high fever and abdominal pain was diagnosed as having rectal cancer invading the bladder with a vesicorectal fistula. After transverse colostomy and 6 courses of mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab, high anterior resection with partial cystectomy was performed. Since the 8 courses of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) were administered postoperatively, no evidence of recurrence has been observed for 12 months. Although no consensus has been reached pertaining to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer, we could, in this study, demonstrate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with panitumumab for the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer.


Forgotten digital tourniquet: salvage of an ischaemic finger by application of medicinal leeches.
Individual finger tourniquets are appropriate to the management of a wide range of conditions presenting to an accident and emergency department. They are simpler and more comfortable to use than upper arm pneumatic tourniquets and commercially available digital tourniquets are not readily available in the accident and emergency unit. However, if a finger tourniquet is overlooked, ischaemia of the digit results, and gangrene may follow if the problem is not defused early enough, leading to potential disaster. We present one case where a digit was salvaged after 4 days of tourniquet application, using medicinal leeches.


Tumor-associated redox state in metastatic colorectal cancer.
The high incidence of recurrence and metastasizing in colorectal cancer (CRC) poses the challenge for the improvement in long-term treatment outcome. To determine the major indicators of redox-formative molecules in the tissue of metastatic CRC (mCRC), stages Т2-4N0-2M0G2-3, namely the rate of superoxide radical (SR) generation, nitric oxide (NO) content, the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), lactoferrin (LF) content, and "free" iron and their association with some clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients. mCRC samples from 51 patients were analyzed (stage II, 31 patients; stage III, 20 patients). The LF and "free" iron were assessed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at the temperature of 77 °K. The rate of SR and NO generation was determined with spin traps (ТЕМРО-Н, diethyl dithiocarbamate). The activity of MMP-2 and -9 was measured by gelatin zymography using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ki-67 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence technique. In tumors with metastases into the regional lymph nodes (N1-2 category), SR generation rate was 2.2-fold higher than in the tumors categorized as N0. In G3 mCRC, SR generation rate was 1.7-fold higher than in G2-tumors (p < 0.05). The rate of SR generation correlated inversely with differentiation grade of the tumor (r=-0.61; p < 0.05). MMP-2 and -9 activities in mCRC tissue correlated with SR generation rate and NO level (r = 0.44 ÷ 0.53, p < 0.05). The direct correlation between LF content and the stage of the disease (r = 0.42) and "free" iron content (r = 0.61) was demonstrated while the correlation between LF content and tumor differentiation grade was inverse (r = -0.57; p < 0.05). The altered tumor-associated redox state in mCRC tissue contributes to the increased cell proliferation and formation of aggressive phenotype of the tumor. The assays for the content of redox-formative components in mCRC may be used as additional prognostic markers of the course of the disease in CRC patients.


Two complementary approaches toward 2-alkoxy carboxylic acid synthesis from 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones.
Two complementary approaches to prepare 2-alkoxy carboxylic acids have been developed. Reductive ring opening of various 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones using TiCl(4)/Et(3)SiH or (t)BuMgCl affords the desired 2-alkoxy carboxylic acid in moderate to excellent chemical yield without loss of optical purity.


Face lift, Part 4: Use of superficial musculoaponeurotic system suspending sutures.
We describe nonabsorbable sutures running from one or more sites in the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), to other sites at a distance, or to fixed sites beyond or deep to SMAS for the purpose of pulling on or suspending the distal selected SMAS sites or changing contours between the suture ends. Our reasons for abandoning some sutures and continuing with others are stated. In face lifting, we still often employ sutures running from the anterior part of the platysma and SMAS back to the sternocleidomastoid fascia. These sutures help prevent platysma "cording" and are useful in the restoration and preservation of a more youthful profile in the neck. Examples and controls are demonstrated. These sutures and the long-term results of their use have never been shown before. Problems encountered in using suspending sutures are described.


The dynamic conformational landscape of gamma-secretase.
The structure and function of the gamma-secretase proteases are of great interest because of their crucial roles in cellular and disease processes. We established a novel purification protocol for the gamma-secretase complex that involves a conformation- and complex-specific nanobody, yielding highly pure and active enzyme. Using single particle electron microscopy, we analyzed the gamma-secretase structure and its conformational variability. Under steady-state conditions, the complex adopts three major conformations, which differ in overall compactness and relative position of the nicastrin ectodomain. Occupancy of the active or substrate-binding sites by inhibitors differentially stabilizes subpopulations of particles with compact conformations, whereas a mutation linked to familial Alzheimer disease results in enrichment of extended-conformation complexes with increased flexibility. Our study presents the csecretase complex as a dynamic population of interconverting conformations, involving rearrangements at the nanometer scale and a high level of structural interdependence between subunits. The fact that protease inhibition or clinical mutations, which affect amyloid beta (Abeta) generation, enrich for particular subpopulations of conformers indicates the functional relevance of the observed dynamic changes, which are likely to be instrumental for highly allosteric behavior of the enzyme.


Yeast Rad55 and Rad57 proteins form a heterodimer that functions with replication protein A to promote DNA strand exchange by Rad51 recombinase.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD51, RAD55, and RAD57 genes, required for genetic recombination and DNA double-strand-break repair, encode proteins homologous to one another and to the Escherichia coli RecA protein. Rad51 protein catalyzes the DNA strand-exchange reaction with a dependence on ATP and on the heterotrimeric single-strand DNA (ssDNA) binding factor replication protein A (RPA). By several independent criteria, RAD55- and RAD57-encoded products are shown here to exist as a stable heterodimer, with a dissociation constant of <2 x 10(-10) M. In strand exchange, the reaction proceeds efficiently if RPA is incorporated after nucleation of Rad51 onto ssDNA, but if RPA is present during the nucleation phase, as is likely the case in vivo, the amount of strand-exchange products becomes relatively insignificant. Inclusion of the Rad55-Rad57 heterodimer with Rad51 and RPA results in a marked stimulation of strand exchange, providing evidence for a role of the Rad55-Rad57 heterodimer in overcoming the inhibitory effect of RPA.


Effects of oral potassium on blood pressure. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
To assess the effects of supplementation with oral potassium on blood pressure in humans. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. English-language articles published before July 1995. Thirty-three randomized controlled trials (2609 participants) in which potassium supplementation was the only difference between the intervention and control conditions. Using a standardized protocol, 2 of us independently abstracted information on sample size, duration, study design, potassium dose, participant characteristics, and treatment results. By means of a random-effects model, findings from individual trials were pooled, after results for each trial were weighted by the inverse of its variance. An extreme effect of potassium in lowering blood pressure was noted in 1 trial. After exclusion of this trial, potassium supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in mean (95% confidence interval) systolic and diastolic blood pressure of -3.11 mm Hg (-1.91 to -4.31 mm Hg) and -1.97 mm Hg (-0.52 to -3.42 mm Hg), respectively. Effects of treatment appeared to be enhanced in studies in which participants were concurrently exposed to a high intake of sodium. Our results support the premise that low potassium intake may play an important role in the genesis of high blood pressure. Increased potassium intake should be considered as a recommendation for prevention and treatment of hypertension, especially in those who are unable to reduce their intake of sodium.


Psychodynamic aspects of occupational stress.
Freud described work as that which attaches the individual most firmly to reality. Many patients present to psychiatrists with disturbances in the capacity to work. This paper reviews common psychodynamic constellations in such patients in the belief that depth psychological approaches should complement recent person-environment fit considerations. Work inhibitions may arise from repressed aggression and/or sexuality displaced onto occupational tasks. Fear of success may be rooted in both oedipal and pre-oedipal conflicts. Work compulsion may evince attempts to appease a harsh super-ego. Chronic job dissatisfaction often arises from maladaptive attempts to regulate self-esteem. More importantly however, these disturbances frequently arise from interacting dynamic factors which must be carefully attended to by clinicians.


Impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the directed connectivity of autism EEG signals: a pilot study.
To compare the differences in directed connectivity between typically developing (TD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children and identify the potential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on brain connectivity and behavior of children with ASD; 26 TD children (18 males/8 females; the average age was 6.34 ± 0.45) and 30 ASD children (21 males/9 females; the average age was 6.42 ± 0.17) participated in the experiment. ASD children were divided randomly into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 18 rTMS sessions (twice a week for nine weeks), whereas the control group received the same procedures with sham stimulation. Directed transfer function (DTF) was used to calculate the effective connectivity as a way of investigating differences between ASD and TD children while simultaneously evaluating the effectiveness of rTMS for ASD. The results illustrate that the DTF of TD children in the frontal lobe (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8) and temporal lobe (T7, T8) is higher than that of ASD children in all frequency bands; however, the DTF of ASD children is higher than TD in the midline (Fz, Cz), central lobe (C3, C4), and parietal lobe (P3, P4). In the experimental group of ASD children, the effective connectivity decreased from O1 to T7 and from P7 to Fp1 in the alpha band and from Pz to T8 in the gamma band after stimulation. Significant changes in Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores were also found in social behaviors. Effective connectivity derived from DTF distinguishes ASD from TD children. rTMS provides changes in connectivity and behavior, suggesting its potential use as a viable treatment option for ASD individuals.


Thermochemical studies of benzoylnitrene radical anion: the N-H bond dissociation energy in benzamide in the gas phase.
The thermochemical properties of benzoylnitrene radical anion, C6H5CON-, were determined by using a combination of energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (CID) and proton affinity bracketing. Benzoylnitrene radical anion dissociates upon CID to give NCO- and phenyl radical with a dissociation enthalpy of 0.85 +/- 0.09 eV, which is used to derive an enthalpy of formation of 33 +/- 9 kJ/mol for the nitrene radical anion. Bracketing studies with the anion indicate a proton affinity of 1453 +/- 10 kJ/mol, indicating that the acidity of benzamidyl radical, C6H5CONH, is between those of benzamide and benzoic acid. Combining the measurements gives an enthalpy of formation for benzamidyl radical of 110 +/- 14 kJ/mol and a homolytic N-H bond dissociation energy in benzamide of 429 +/- 14 kJ/mol. Additional thermochemical properties obtained include the electron affinity of benzamidyl radical, the hydrogen atom affinity of benzoylnitrene radical anion, and the oxygen anion affinity of benzonitrile.


Genital Herpes: Insights into Sexually Transmitted Infectious Disease.
Etiology, transmission and protection: Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) is a leading cause of sexually transmitted infections with recurring manifestations throughout the lifetime of infected hosts. Currently no effective vaccines or prophylactics exist that provide complete protection or immunity from the virus, which is endemic throughout the world. Pathology/Symptomatology: Primary and recurrent infections result in lesions and inflammation around the genital area and the latter accounts for majority of genital herpes instances. Immunocompromised patients including neonates are susceptible to additional systemic infections including debilitating consequences of nervous system inflammation. Epidemiology, incidence and prevalence: More than 500 million people are infected worldwide and most reported cases involve the age groups between 16-40 years, which coincides with an increase in sexual activity among this age group. While these numbers are an estimate, the actual numbers may be underestimated as many people are asymptomatic or do not report the symptoms. Treatment and curability: Currently prescribed medications, mostly nucleoside analogs, only reduce the symptoms caused by an active infection, but do not eliminate the virus or reduce latency. Therefore, no cure exists against genital herpes and infected patients suffer from periodic recurrences of disease symptoms for their entire lives. Molecular mechanisms of infection: The last few decades have generated many new advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that drive HSV infection. The viral entry receptors such as nectin-1 and HVEM have been identified, cytoskeletal signaling and membrane structures such as filopodia have been directly implicated in viral entry, host motor proteins and their viral ligands have been shown to facilitate capsid transport and many host and HSV proteins have been identified that help with viral replication and pathogenesis. New understanding has emerged on the role of autophagy and other innate immune mechanisms that are subverted to enhance HSV pathogenesis. This review summarizes our current understanding of HSV-2 and associated diseases and available or upcoming new treatments.


Interleukin-like EMT inducer regulates partial phenotype switching in MITF-low melanoma cell lines.
ILEI (FAM3C) is a secreted factor that contributes to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cell biological process that confers metastatic properties to a tumor cell. Initially, we found that ILEI mRNA is highly expressed in melanoma metastases but not in primary tumors, suggesting that ILEI contributes to the malignant properties of melanoma. While melanoma is not an epithelial cell-derived tumor and does not undergo a traditional EMT, melanoma undergoes a similar process known as phenotype switching in which high (micropthalmia-related transcription factor) MITF expressing (MITF-high) proliferative cells switch to a low expressing (MITF-low) invasive state. We observed that MITF-high proliferative cells express low levels of ILEI (ILEI-low) and MITF-low invasive cells express high levels of ILEI (ILEI-high). We found that inducing phenotype switching towards the MITF-low invasive state increases ILEI mRNA expression, whereas phenotype switching towards the MITF-high proliferative state decreases ILEI mRNA expression. Next, we used in vitro assays to show that knockdown of ILEI attenuates invasive potential but not MITF expression or chemoresistance. Finally, we used gene expression analysis to show that ILEI regulates several genes involved in the MITF-low invasive phenotype including JARID1B, HIF-2α, and BDNF. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that ILEI-regulated genes are enriched for JUN signaling, a known regulator of the MITF-low invasive phenotype. In conclusion, we demonstrate that phenotype switching regulates ILEI expression, and that ILEI regulates partial phenotype switching in MITF-low melanoma cell lines.


Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 14, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 3, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 4, and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Development of Periapical Lesions.
Periapical cysts and granulomas are chronic lesions caused by an inflammatory immune response against microbial challenge in the root canal. Different cell types, cytokines, and molecules have been associated with periapical lesion formation and expansion. Therefore, because of the chronic inflammatory state of these lesions, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in situ expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14 and -19, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3 and -4, CD68, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in periapical cysts and granulomas. Sixteen cases of periapical cysts and 15 cases of periapical granulomas were analyzed. Ten normal dental pulps were used as the negative control. Immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-MMP-19, anti-MMP-14, anti-TIMP-3, anti-TIMP-4, anti-iNOS, and anti-CD68 antibodies. The expression of TIMP-3, TIMP-4, iNOS, and CD68 was significantly higher in both the cyst and granuloma groups than in the control group. TIMP-4 was also significantly higher in cases of chronic apical abscess. There was also a significant difference in the expression of MMP-14 between the cyst and control groups. However, there were no differences in the expression of MMP-19 between the 3 groups. Our data suggest that the expression of MMP-14, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 is associated with the development of periapical lesions.


A preliminary study of melatonin in irritable bowel syndrome.
Melatonin is involved in the regulation of gut motility and sensation. We aimed to determine if melatonin was effective in improving bowel symptoms, extracolonic symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Eighteen patients (aged 18 to 65 y; 6 females) were randomly assigned to receive either melatonin 3 mg (n=9) or matching placebo (n=9) at bed time for 8 weeks. The overall IBS scores, extracolonic IBS scores, QOL scores were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks during treatment and at 16, 24, and 48 weeks during follow up. Compared with placebo, melatonin taken for 8 weeks significantly improved overall IBS score (45% vs. 16.66%, P<0.05). The posttreatment overall extracolonic IBS score was significantly lower (49.16% to 13.88%, P<0.05) when compared with placebo group. The overall improvement in QOL score was 43.63% in melatonin group and 14.64% in placebo group that is statistically significant. The result of this study showed that melatonin has some beneficial role in IBS. Further studies using large number of patients may provide a definite answer.


Ruthenium(II) Bipyridyl Complexes with Cyclometalated NHC Ligands.
We present the synthesis and characterization of novel cyclometalated ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of the general formula [Ru(C^C*)(bpy)2]PF6 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), with the C^C* ligand being based on different 1-phenylimidazoles. They were synthesized in a one-pot procedure starting from the corresponding p-cymene NHC complexes [Ru(C^C*)(p-cymene)Cl]. Their structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties were investigated by NMR, X-ray, UV/vis, and CV, as well as density functional theory methods. Because of the stronger electron-donating carbene ligands, these complexes represent a new class of bisheteroleptic dyes with improved photophysical and electrochemical properties.


Highly Expressed Soluble Recombinant Anti-GFP VHHs in Escherichia coli via Optimized Signal Peptides, Strains, and Inducers.
Antigen-binding variable domains of the H chain of heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs), also known as nanobodies (Nbs), are of great interest in imaging technique, disease prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. High-level expression of soluble Nbs is very important for its industrial production. In this study, we optimized the expression system of anti-green fluorescent protein (GFP) VHHs with three different signal peptides (SPs), outer-membrane protein A (OmpA), pectate lyase B (PelB), and L-asparaginase II SP (L-AsPsII), in different Escherichia coli strains via isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction and auto-induction, respectively. The solubility of recombinant anti-GFP VHHs with PelB or OmpA was significantly enhanced to the same extent by IPTG induction and auto-induction in BL21 (DE3) E. coli strain and the maximum yield of target protein reached approximately 0.4 mg/l in a shake flask. The binding activity of recombinant anti-GFP VHHs was also confirmed to be retained by native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). These results suggest that SPs like OmpA and PelB could efficiently improve the recombinant anti-GFP VHH solubility without changing its bioactivity, providing a novel strategy to optimize the E. coli expression system of soluble VHHs, and lay the foundation for the industrial production of soluble recombinant anti-GFP VHHs and the research of other VHHs in the future.


Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member TROY is a novel melanoma biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
Incidence of melanoma continues to rise, and a better understanding of its genetics will be critical to improve diagnosis and develop new treatments. Here, we search for novel melanoma-specific genes that may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets by using an in vitro genetic screen. One identified cDNA encoded TROY, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF). TROY is widely expressed during embryogenesis, but in adults expression is restricted to hair follicles and brain. However, TROY had never been associated with melanoma, and it was selected for further study. First we show that expression in melanoma is specific by semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of a large panel of established tumor cell lines. Next, specificity of expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry analysis of primary cell cultures and patient tissues. TROY is expressed in 2/2 primary melanoma cells and 45/45 melanoma tissue samples (p < 0.0001). With the exception of sebaceous glands, TROY is not expressed in normal skin biopsies (p < 0.0001) or primary skin cell cultures that contain keratinocytes and epidermal melanocytes, nor is it expressed in other skin tumor cells (p < 0.0001). Finally, we show that TROY regulates melanoma growth, because replication of melanoma cells with reduced TROY levels through treatment with short-interfering RNA was significantly decreased relative to control cells (p < 0.004). In summary, TROY is the first TNFRSF member that is a biomarker for melanoma. TROY also presents a potentially novel cell surface signaling target for inhibitors, cell and/or antibody-based immunotherapies.


The enhanced transcriptional activity of the V-val subtype of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 in epithelial cell lines.
The Epstein-Barr virus encoded nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) is required for the replication and maintenance of the episomal EBV genome and for the transactivation of viral gene expression. EBNA1 has been classified into five subtypes, among which the V-val subtype was reported to be associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here we report a higher transcriptional activity of the V-val subtype of EBNA1 than for the prototype derived from B95.8 cells to transactivate FR-containing luciferase plasmid, which was mainly a consequence of the mutations in the carboxy-terminus of EBNA1. This interpretation was further supported by the finding that the variant form of EBNA1 has a higher binding affinity for the FR sequence than the prototype by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The functional advantage of the V-val EBNA1 investigated in this study may contribute to the oncogenesis of NPC.


A case of ocular hypertension complicated by SUNCT syndrome.
We report a 53-year-old woman with laser iridotomy (LI)-resistant angle-closure and conjunctival injection, which was thought to be the cause of ciliochoroidal effusion associated with short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome. LI had no effect on any of the symptoms except for intraocular pressure. The symptoms disappeared after a subsequent procedure for SUNCT syndrome. MRI of the left eye showed ciliochoroidal effusion at paroxysm and was normalized upon relief.


Absence of aneuploidy and gastrointestinal tumours in a man with a chromosomal 2q13 deletion and BUB1 monoallelic deficiency.
Chromosomal instability is a potentially critical step in the development of colorectal cancer. The budding uninhibited by benzimidazole 1 (BUB1) gene is a highly conserved protein that plays a critical role at the spindle assembly checkpoint during cell division. BUB1 mutations function in a dominant-negative fashion and have been implicated in causing dysfunctional kinetochore attachments, premature chromatid separation, accelerated mis-segregation of whole chromosomes and aneuploidy. BUB1 mutations have been observed in patients with colorectal cancers. We report a remarkable case of BUB1 haploinsufficiency owing to a 1.7 Mb deletion of chromosome 2q13 in a 54-year-old man with no prior history of carcinoma. These mutant alleles were observed in both tissue from the hand and peripheral blood. Aneuploidy was not observed on cytogenetic analysis. These findings highlight the insufficiency of BUB1 haploinsufficiency to directly stimulate tumourigenesis, and suggest that other factors may be more critical to this process.


Evolution of a collaborative model between nursing and computer science faculty and a community service organization to develop an information system.
Nursing and computer science students and faculty worked with the American Red Cross to investigate the potential for information technology to provide Red Cross disaster services nurses with improved access to accurate community resources in times of disaster. Funded by a national 3-year grant, this interdisciplinary partnership led to field testing of an information system to support local community disaster preparedness at seven Red Cross chapters across the United States. The field test results demonstrate the benefits of the technology and the value of interdisciplinary research. The work also created a sustainable learning and research model for the future. This article describes the collaborative model used in this interdisciplinary research and exemplifies the benefits to faculty and students of well-timed interdisciplinary and community collaboration.


Stature of early Europeans.
The ancestors of modern Europeans arrived in Europe at least 40,000 years before present. Pre-glacial maximum Upper Palaeolithic males (before 16,000 BC) were tall and slim (mean height 179 cm, estimated average body weight 67 kg), while the females were comparably small and robust (mean height 158 cm, estimated average body weight 54 kg). Late Upper Palaeolithic males (8000-6600 BC) were of medium stature and robusticity (mean height 166 cm, estimated average body weight 62 kg). Stature further decreased to below 165 cm with estimated average body weight of 64 kg in Neolithic males of the Linear Band Pottery Culture, and to 150 cm with estimated average body weight of 49 kg in Neolithic females. The body stature of European males remained within the range of 165 to 170 cm up to the end of the 19th century.


[Risk factors for falls and survival after falling in elderly people in a community].
The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with falls and to examine the effects of falls on survival of elderly people in a community. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 16,462 urban elderly dwellers aged 65 years or more in City A in September 2001. A follow-up survey was carried out in September 2004. We analyzed the data of 8,285 subjects who answered both questionnaires and had not relocated by August 2007. Baseline assessments of health and functioning were carried out in 2001. Falls experienced during the 1-year period before September 2004 were recorded, and the deaths were recorded until August 2007. Statistical analysis was performed using a logistic regression model and Cox's proportional hazards analysis. A total of 6,420 subjects (3,127 men and 3,293 women) who had provided complete answers about their falls were included in the analyses. Of these, 27.8% of women and 16.4% of men had experienced falls, while 6.2% of women and 2.1% of men had experienced falls that caused fractures. We found that the likelihood of fall, with or without fracture development, was greater in women than in men (P < 0.001). The rate of falls tended to increase with age in both women and men. Risk factors associated with falls, in addition to age and gender, were pain (odds ratio [OR], 1.75), lack of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL; OR, 1.45), poor self-rated health status (OR, 1.42), and presence of disease (OR, 1.35). Risk factors associated with falls that caused fracture were pain (OR, 1.85) and lack of IADL (OR, 1.61). Cox's proportional hazards analysis showed a significant increase in mortality in both men and women who had experienced falls than in those who had not (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94, 1.43). Aging, pain and disease, lack of IADL, and poor self-rated health status were all significant risk factors for falls in elderly people, and a fall was related to subsequent mortality.


The closed conformation of a highly flexible protein: the structure of E. coli adenylate kinase with bound AMP and AMPPNP.
The structure of E. coli adenylate kinase with bound AMP and AMPPNP at 2.0 A resolution is presented. The protein crystallizes in space group C2 with two molecules in the asymmetric unit, and has been refined to an R factor of 20.1% and an Rfree of 31.6%. In the present structure, the protein is in the closed (globular) form with the large flexible lid domain covering the AMPPNP molecule. Within the protein, AMP and AMPPNP, and ATP analog, occupy the AMP and ATP sites respectively, which had been suggested by the most recent crystal structure of E. coli adenylate kinase with Ap5A bound (Müller and Schulz, 1992, ref. 1) and prior fluorescence studies (Liang et al., 1991, ref. 2). The binding of substrates and the positions of the active site residues are compared between the present structure and the E. coli adenylate kinase/Ap5A structure. We failed to detect a peak in the density map corresponding to the Mg2+ ion which is required for catalysis, and its absence has been attributed to the use of ammonium sulfate in the crystallization solution. Finally, a comparison is made between the present structure and the structure of the heavy chain of muscle myosin.


ATP promotes extracellular matrix biosynthesis of intervertebral disc cells.
We have recently found a high accumulation of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the center of healthy porcine intervertebral discs (IVD). Since ATP is a powerful extracellular signaling molecule, extracellular ATP accumulation might regulate biological activities in the IVD. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of extracellular ATP on the extracellular matrix (ECM) biosynthesis of porcine IVD cells isolated from two distinct anatomical regions: the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP). ATP treatment significantly promotes ECM deposition and corresponding gene expression (aggrecan and type II collagen) by both cell types in three-dimensional agarose culture. A significant increase in ECM accumulation has been found in AF cells at a lower ATP treatment level (20 μM) compared with NP cells (100 μM), indicating that AF cells are more sensitive to extracellular ATP than NP cells. NP cells also exhibit higher ECM accumulation and intracellular ATP than AF cells under control and treatment conditions, suggesting that NP cells are intrinsically more metabolically active. Moreover, ATP treatment also augments the intracellular ATP level in NP and AF cells. Our findings suggest that extracellular ATP not only promotes ECM biosynthesis via a molecular pathway, but also increases energy supply to fuel that process.


How consistent is mind wandering across situations and tasks? A latent state-trait analysis.
Mind wandering is often defined as the phenomenon of one's attention drifting away from the current activity toward inner thoughts and feelings. In the laboratory, mind wandering is most frequently assessed with thought reports that are collected while people perform some ongoing activity. It is not clear, however, inasmuch the resulting mind-wandering reports are reflective of person-consistent mind-wandering tendencies and/or situation-driven fluctuations in mind-wandering behavior. To shed light on this question, we tested how consistent mind-wandering reports are across different measurement occasions and tasks to investigate to which extent they indicate individual differences in mind wandering. Results from a latent state-trait analysis showed that mind-wandering reports are occasion-consistent to some extent and also somewhat task-specific. Theoretical implications of these findings are that mind wandering in the laboratory is less affected by situational factors than often assumed, but that individual differences in mind wandering partly depend on the currently ongoing task. Future research should investigate the origins of task-specificity effects on mind wandering and researchers should further incorporate the idea of task-specificity in future theory building. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


Surface-anchored MOF-based photonic antennae.
The loading of a metal-organic framework (MOF), [Cu(3)(btc)(2)xH(2)O] HKUST-1, with europium β-diketonate complexes is studied with the goal to using the porous molecular framework as a photonic antenna. Whereas loading of HKUST-1 powder particles produced via the conventional solvothermal synthesis method was strongly hindered, for HKUST-1 SURMOFs, thin MOF films fabricated using the liquid phase epitaxy method, a high filling factor can be achieved. The optical properties of the HKUST-1-MOFs before and after loading were analysed with the aid of luminescence spectroscopy. Careful analysis of the absorption spectra reveals the presence of an effective energy transfer between the HKUST-1 framework and the Eu(3+) centers.


Chromosomally-determined induced tolerance to copper in Escherichia coli.
Pre-exposure of Echerichia coli to sub-lethal concentrations of cupric sulphate induced copper tolerance: pre-exposed (habituated) organisms were essentially unaffected by concentrations of Cu2+ which completely prevented colony formation by non-habituated ones. The observed copper tolerance was not dependent on the selection of copper-resistant mutants but resulted from a phenotypic change in the organisms during the pre-exposure period.


In situ dark field microscopy for on-line monitoring of yeast cultures.
A new-type in situ probe has been developed to acquire dark field images of yeast in bioreactors. It has been derived from an in situ bright field microscope that is able to measure cell density in bioreactors during fermentation processes. The illumination part of the probe has been replaced with a dark field device, in which an aspheric condenser is used, so that high contrast dark field images can be obtained. The technique of second imaging is implemented to improve the sharpness of the images by means of a relay lens. This new in situ probe is expected to enable the evaluation of the cell viability without staining owing to modern image processing.