Energy expenditure and energy intake in 10-12 years obese and non-obese Chinese children in a Guangzhou boarding school.
The objective of this study was to observe the variation of energy intake and energy expenditure in the obese Chinese children. Basic metabolic rate was measured by using open-circuit indirect calorimetry in 54 obese children and 60 non-obese children aged 10-12 years in a full- time boarding school in Guangzhou suburb, China. Total energy expenditure was estimated by using a factorial method. Dietary intake was surveyed by the weighed inventory method. Physical activity was determined using a 2-day activity diary. Univariate analysis showed that basic metabolic rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in obese children than in non-obese ones, but the significant difference disappeared after controlling for fat free mass and fat mass. Energy intake and total energy expenditure were significantly higher (p<0.05) in obese than in non-obese children. Obese children spent more time in sleeping and light physical activity, but less time in moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity than non-obese children (p<0.05). Compared to non-obese children, both energy intake and expenditure were higher in obese Chinese children. It appears that an area for preventive strategies may be to encourage increased physical activity expenditure in this age group.


Is it safe to combine abdominoplasty with other dermolipectomy procedures to correct skin excess after weight loss?
The development of sophisticated bariatric surgery techniques has led to an increasing number of patients demanding a complexity of body contouring procedures that can be achieved either with a step-by-step approach or by combining dermolipectomy in various regions. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that abdominoplasty-related morbidity and outcome may be worsened by combining abdominoplasty with other dermolipectomies and to determine whether any predictive risk factor could be identified. Seventy-three consecutive patients undergoing abdominoplasty with (n = 26) and without (n = 47) additional dermolipectomy on the upper arms, inner thighs, breasts, and buttocks were included in this study. Additional dermolipectomies did not increase abdominoplasty-related morbidity but revealed better long-term results (p = 0.10). Statistically significant risk factors were male sex, age (>41 years), overweight (BMI > 30), prolonged operations (>3 hours), and extensive blood loss (1,000 mL). Most importantly, better outcome was obtained in patients whose weight reduction was greater (p = 0.04). The authors' results suggest that combined dermolipectomy procedures can be advocated in patients who have reached their intended level of weight reduction and if prolonged operative time and excessive blood loss are avoided.


Effect of coagulation of nodes in an evolving complex network.
We propose a new type of stochastic network evolution model based on annihilation, creation, and coagulation of nodes, together with the preferential attachment rule. The system reaches a unique quasistatistically steady state in which the distribution of links follows a power law, lifetime of nodes follows an exponential distribution, and the mean number of links grows exponentially with time. The master equation of the model is solved analytically by applying Smoluchowski's coagulation equation for aerosols. The results indicate that coagulation of nodes in complex networks and mean field analysis of aerosols are similar in both the growth dynamics with irreversible processes and in the steady state statistics. We confirm that the basic properties of the model are consistent with the empirical results of a business transaction network having about 1×10(6) firms.


Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes for 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase and RNase L inpatients hospitalized with West Nile virus infection.
Infection with the flavivirus West Nile virus (WNV) is a growing problem across the United States, where there is a case-fatality rate of 15%-29% in individuals >70 years old and no consistently effective treatment. Susceptibility to WNV disease in inbred strains of mice was mapped to a nonsense mutation in the gene encoding the 1b isoform of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), a member of the OAS/RNase L system of innate viral resistance. Genetic susceptibility to severe WNV disease in humans has not been determined. We sequenced each exon within all OAS and RNASEL genes in 33 individuals hospitalized with WNV infection in Houston to assess if there is a defect in this system in patients with severe WNV disease. Sequencing did not reveal any insertions, deletions, or nonsense mutations in any OAS or RNASEL gene. However, comparison of the exonic sequences between case patients and control subjects identified 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including a synonymous SNP in OASL exon 2 (rs3213545), in which the reference allele occurred at a higher frequency in case patients (P < .004). Because the reference allele contains a splice enhancer site, our finding suggests that the RNA transcripts generated from this allele may undergo increased splicing, which results in a dominant-negative OASL isozyme similar to the nonsense/truncation mutant form of Oas1b in mice.


Development of the acquisition model of online information resources at Faculty of Medicine Library, Khon Kaen University.
Faculty of Medicine Library, Khon Kaen University started to acquire online information resources since 2001 with the subscriptions to 2 databases. Nowadays it has 29 items of subscriptions and the expenses on online information resources reach to 17 million baht, more than 70 percent of the information resources budget, serving the academic purposes of the Faculty of Medicine. The problems of online information resources acquisition fall into 4 categories, and lead to 4 aspects conforming the model of the acquisition, comparing or benchmarking with the 4 selected medical school libraries in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla, and discussion with some other Thai and foreign libraries. The acquisition model of online information resources is developed from those problems and proposed for Faculty of Medicine Library, Khon Kaen University as well as for any medical libraries which prefer.


A comparison of the analysis of 3 types of body fluids using the XN-350 hematology analyzer versus light microscopy assessment.
We evaluated the capacity of the XN-350 instrument to analyze 3 different types of body fluid samples under "body fluid mode."The performance of XN-350 was evaluated in terms of precision, carryover, limit of blank, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and linearity. Cell enumeration and differential data produced by the XN-350 were compared to manual chamber counting results in 63 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 51 ascitic fluid, and 51 pleural fluid (PF) samples. Comparisons between XN-350 versus Cytospin data were also performed in PF samples.The precision, carry-over, limit of blank, and linearity of the XN-350 were acceptable. The limits of detection for white blood cells (WBCs) and red blood cells were 1.0/μL, and 1,000.0/μL, respectively; the corresponding limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 5.0/μL and 2,000.0/μL, respectively. The XN-350's cell enumeration and differential counting correlated well with those of manual chamber counting for all 3 sample types (except for differential counting in CSF samples), particularly parameters involving monocytes (r = 0.33) and mononuclear cells (MO- body fluid [BF]; r = 0.26), as well as total cell (TC-BF) enumeration (r = 0.50) and WBC-BF (r = 0.50) in PF samples. The MO-BF in CSF samples differed significantly from manual chamber counting results, but neither TC-BF nor WBC-BF in PF samples did. The XN-350 also showed good correlations with Cytospin analyses for differential counting of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes in PF samples. The differential counting of eosinophils via the XN-350 and Cytospin were not significantly correlated, but the difference between them was not significant.The XN-350 is an acceptable alternative to manual fluid analysis. Samples with low cellularity around the LOQ should be checked manually. Moreover, manual differential counting should be performed on CSF samples, particularity those with low cell numbers.


Treatment of mice with human recombinant interleukin-2 augments resistance to the facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.
The effects of exogenously administered human recombinant IL-2 (hrIL-2) on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection were examined. Intravenous injection of hrIL-2 significantly enhanced antibacterial resistance in both BDF1 and C3H/HeJ mice. The beneficial effect of hrIL-2 was observed with as little as 0.6 micrograms per mouse, whereas optimum protection occurred at 6 micrograms per mouse, hrIL-2 was equally protective when administered concomitant with the listeriae or up to 24 h prior to infection; it had little effect if given after the bacterial challenge. Kinetic experiments indicated that both the peak bacterial burden and the time lag before L. monocytogenes began to be cleared from the spleen and liver were reduced in hrIL-2-treated mice as compared with control mice. Histopathological examination of spleens and livers confirmed that hrIL-2-treated Listeria-infected mice experienced considerably less damage to these organs than did control mice. Spleen cells from Listeria-infected mice exhibited depressed levels of mitogen-induced proliferation coincident with the peak bacterial burden in the spleen and liver and during the subsequent recovery from the infection. Administration of hrIL-2 to uninfected mice had no effect on spleen cell proliferation in response to mitogens in vitro, nor did hrIL-2 treatment restore normal levels of splenocyte proliferative responses to Listeria-infected mice. In addition, hrIL-2 treatment resulted in attenuated levels of serum colony-stimulating activity in infected mice as compared with control infected mice. Coadministration of both hrIL-2 and human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha at various dose and time combinations had no detectable additive or synergistic effect. Although these data do not suggest an obvious mechanism of action, they clearly demonstrate that hrIL-2 can augment host defense against the facultative intracellular pathogen L. monocytogenes.


A novel approach for early evaluation of orthodontic process by a numerical thermomechanical analysis.
The main objective of this paper is to propose a novel method that provides an opportunity to evaluate an orthodontic process at early phase of the treatment. This was accomplished by finding out a correlation between the applied orthodontic force and thermal variations in the tooth structure. To this end, geometry of the human tooth surrounded by the connective soft tissue called the periodontal ligament and the bone was constructed by employing dental CT scan images of a specific case. The periodontal ligament was modeled by finite strain viscoelastic model through a nonlinear stress-strain relation (hyperelasticity) and nonlinear stress-time relation (viscoelasticity). The tooth structure was loaded by a lateral force with 15 different quantities applied to 20 different locations, along the midedge of the tooth crown. The resultant compressive stress in the periodontal ligament was considered as the cause of elevated cell activity that was modeled by a transient heat flux in the thermal analysis. The heat flux value was estimated by conducting an experiment on a pair of rats. The numerical results showed that by applying an orthodontic force to the tooth structure, a significant temperature rise was observed. By measuring the temperature rise, the orthodontic process can be evaluated.


Apnea of prematurity: II. Respiratory reflexes.
Airway obstruction is a cause of apnea in preterm infants. The activity of protective respiratory reflexes was determined in 18 preterm infants with apnea (mean of 32 episodes of more than 20 seconds duration per day) and in 18 neonates without apnea used as control subjects. This was done in order to elucidate the role of respiratory reflexes in apnea of prematurity. The infants were matched for birth weight (1,068 g v 1,065 g), gestational age (30.2 weeks v 30.2 weeks), and postnatal age (8.6 days v 8.3 days). The airway occlusion technique was used to determine the inspiratory prolongation of the occluded breath and the effective elastance of the respiratory system. Inspiratory prolongation is a measure for the reflex influence on inspiratory duration, and effective elastance reflects load compensating ability. Inspiratory prolongation was 7.3% +/- 33.5% in infants with apnea and 30.6% +/- 22.7% in the control group (P less than .025). Effective elastance was 1.1 +/- 0.5 cm H2O/mL in the apneic group and 1.5 +/- 0.5 cm H2O/mL in the infants without apnea (P less than .025). The results indicate that during exposure to respiratory loads, the infants with apnea maintained inspiratory effort poorly and had a decreased ability for load compensation. Their respiratory reflexes were significantly more immature than the reflex activity of the infants without apnea. This functional immaturity of respiratory reflexes may be a contributing factor in the etiology of apnea of prematurity.


Research on unknown fault diagnosis of rolling bearings based on parameter-adaptive maximum correlation kurtosis deconvolution.
Maximum correlation kurtosis deconvolution (MCKD) is an effective means of identifying the periodic impulses of fault signals. However, the multiple input parameters required by MCKD complicate the process of fault diagnosis. To overcome this drawback, a new method for identifying fault types based on a parameter-adaptive MCKD method is proposed. First, an improved adaptive variational mode decomposition is developed to denoise the raw signal. The improved method adopts the weighted envelope entropy, which is constructed by combining the envelope entropy with the kurtosis, allowing the salience of the denoising performance to be evaluated. Furthermore, the mean maximum correlation kurtosis is constructed to allow the specification of fault types and the corresponding parameters. Finally, two rolling bearing test datasets are used to demonstrate the strong adaptability of this method compared with other adaptive techniques.


A Novel Mutation in ACTG2 Gene in Mother with Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction and Fetus with Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome.
Background. A novel mutation in the ACTG2 gene is described in a pregnant patient followed up for chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (CIPO) during pregnancy and her fetus with megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS). Case. 24-year-old gravida 1 para 1 with CIPO and persistent nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, admitted at 28 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound revealed a fetus measuring greater than the 95th percentile, polyhydramnios, and megacystis. At delivery, the newborn was noted to have an enlarged bladder, microcolon, and intolerance of oral intake. Genetic testing of mother and child revealed a novel mutation in the ACTG2 gene (C632F>A, p.R211Q). Conclusion. This is the first case in the literature describing a novel mutation in ACTG2 associated with visceral myopathy affecting both mother and fetus/neonate. Visceral myopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of megacystis diagnosed by ultrasound, and suspicion should increase with family history of CIPO or MMIHS.


Longitudinal stability and change in time-frequency measures from an oddball task during adolescence and early adulthood.
Time-frequency representations of electroencephalographic signals lend themselves to a granular analysis of cognitive and psychological processes. Characterizing developmental trajectories of time-frequency measures can thus inform us about the development of the processes involved as well as correlated traits and behaviors. We decomposed electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in a large sample of individuals (N = 1692; 917 females), assessed at approximately 3-year intervals from the age of 11 to their mid-20s. Participants completed an oddball task that elicits a robust P3 response. Principal component analysis served to identify the primary dimensions of time-frequency energy. Component loadings were virtually identical across assessment waves. A common and stable set of time-frequency dynamics thus characterized EEG activity throughout this age range. Trajectories of changes in component scores suggest that aspects of brain development reflected in these components comprise two distinct phases, with marked decreases in component amplitude throughout much of adolescence followed by smaller yet significant rates of decreases into early adulthood. Although the structure of time-frequency activity was stable throughout adolescence and early adulthood, we observed subtle change in component loadings as well. Our findings suggest that striking developmental change in event-related potentials emerges through a gradual change in the magnitude and timing of a stable set of dimensions of time-frequency activity, illustrating the usefulness of time-frequency representations of EEG signals and longitudinal designs for understanding brain development. In addition, we provide proof of concept that trajectories of time-frequency activity can serve as potential endophenotypes for childhood externalizing psychopathology and alcohol use in adolescence and early adulthood.


Acute coronary vasoconstrictive effects of cigarette smoking in coronary heart disease.
To investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on the coronary vasculature, coronary sinus flow and myocardial oxygen delivery were measured at rest and during incremental atrial pacing in 10 patients with coronary artery disease. Measurements were then repeated while the patients smoked 2 unfiltered, high-nicotine cigarettes. Although smoking significantly increased the heart rate at rest and double product, coronary sinus flow did not change significantly (141 +/- 32 vs 146 +/- 28 ml/min). At the lowest equivalent pacing rate before and during smoking, the double products were comparable. However, coronary sinus flow was reduced by smoking (146 +/- 28 vs 159 +/- 28 ml/min, p less than 0.01) and coronary vascular resistance was increased (0.96 +/- 0.15 vs 0.83 +/- 0.13 mm Hg ml-1 min, p less than 0.02). The double products were also comparable at the peak pacing rate before and during smoking. Nonetheless, the coronary sinus flow was again lower (167 +/- 23 vs 227 +/- 41 ml/min, p = 0.02) and the coronary vascular resistance was higher (0.77 +/- 0.10 vs 0.63 +/- 0.09 mm Hg ml-1 min, p less than 0.01) during smoking. The transmyocardial arteriovenous oxygen difference was unchanged by smoking; therefore, myocardial oxygen delivery was reduced in proportion to the reductions in coronary sinus flow. Thus, cigarette smoking appears to acutely alter the ability of the coronary vasculature to regulate flow in accordance with the oxygen requirements of the myocardium.


New cyclopeptide alkaloids from the whole plant of Justicia procumbens L.
Three novel 14-membered cyclopeptide alkaloids, justicianenes B-D (1-3), were isolated from the EtOH extract of the whole plant of Justicia procumbens L., and their structures were determined on the basis of detailed NMR spectroscopic data and the absolute stereochemistry of the ring-bonded α-amino acids in the cyclopeptide alkaloids were determined by ECD spectra. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines, including brest cancer MCF-7, cervix carcinoma HeLa, lung cancer A549 and H460, and diphyllin (14) showed moderate cytotoxicity against the HeLa, A549 and H460 cells with IC50 of 9.13, 23.12, 42.34 µM, respectively, justicianene D showed weak cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell with inhibition rate of 50% at the concentration of 90 µM.


Labeling and testing of 99mTc-streptokinase for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.
A detailed study has been made of the method for labeling streptokinase with 99mTc in order to get a radioactive indicator for rapid scintigraphic visualization of thrombi and emboli. The best method found for preparing 99mTc-streptokinase was by reducing 99mTc-pertechnetate with 2 mumole SnCl2 at pH 0.7 and then adding 50,000-75,000 IU of streptokinase at a final pH of about 2. After 1 hr of equilibration the labeling efficiency was 75-80% as determined by the method of gel chromatography column scanning. The dynamic behavior and distribution of 99mTc-streptokinase in different organs was studied in rabbits where a high uptake was found in liver. In a clinical investigation using 99mTc-streptokinase prepared according to this work, however, the liver uptake in man was only 10-20%.


[Simultaneous determination of isoorientin, scutellarin and cynaroside in rat plasma and pharmacokinetics by UPLC-MS/MS].
To establish a UPLC-MS/MS analysical method for simultaneous determination of concentrations of isoorientin, scutellarin and cynaroside in rat plasma and to study their pharmacokinetic characteristics after intravenous injection of 3 doses of Fufang Hongcao in rats. Acidified plasma samples were precipitated for protein with methanol. Waters Acquity BEH C18 column was adopted for spectrum, with mobile phase as 0. 1% formic acid acetonitrile-0. 1% formic acid-water gradient elution. Detection was carried out by the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive ion mode with ESI ionization source. Three flavonoids show a good linear relationship, with the extraction recovery ranging between 78.56% and 101.91% and a high intra-and inter-day precisions and accuracy. The MRT of the three flavonoids were all lower than 22 min in rats. The above men tioned method is so specific, rapid, sensitive that it is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of Fufang Hongcao injection in rats.


Stability of continuously pumped atom lasers.
A multimode model of a continuously pumped atom laser is shown to be unstable below a critical value of the scattering length. Above the critical scattering length, the atom laser reaches a steady state, the stability of which increases with pumping. Below this limit the laser does not reach a steady state. This instability results from the competition between gain and loss for the excited states of the lasing mode. It will determine a fundamental limit for the linewidth of an atom laser beam.


Benzophenanthridine alkaloids from the roots of Thalictrum microgynum Lecoy.ex Oliv.
A new benzophenanthridine alkaloid, 2,3,9-trimethoxy-7,8-methylenedioxy-5-methylbenzo[c]-6(5H) phenanthridone (2) and a benzophenanthridine alkaloid first found from natural sources, 2,3-dimethoxy-7,8- methylenedioxy-5-methylbenzo[c]-6(5H)- phenanthridone (1) together with two known benzophenanthridine alkaloids, Dihydrosanguinarine (3) and Dihydrochelilutine (4) were isolated from the roots of Thalictrum microgynum Lecoy.ex Oliv. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using various spectroscopic techniques including HRESIMS and 1 D and 2 D NMR. Antibacterial activity of these compounds were tested. Compound 1, 3 and 4 showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 50, 100, 25 μg/mL, respectively.


Switchable liquid shutter operated by electrowetting for security of mobile electronics.
This paper presents a new type of switchable liquid shutter for the security and design of mobile electronic devices. The operation test of the liquid shutter is conducted using a prototype sample prepared by standard microfabrication processes. The liquid shutter consists of an opaque liquid for absorbing light and a transparent oil for transmitting light on two parallel plates with patterned indium titanium oxide electrodes. The liquid shutter can be opened and closed by sequentially applying an electrical voltage to the patterned electrodes owing to an electrowetting principle. The switching time of the liquid shutter is measured using a high-speed camera and is found to take about 550 ms to open the shutter and 240 ms to close the shutter at 70 Vrms (1 kHz). To validate the applicability of the liquid shutter, the operation of liquid shutters with different colored liquids mounted on a smartphone is successfully demonstrated. The proposed liquid shutter not only allows a simple design to be easily miniaturized and integrated with electronic devices but also provides a robust and fast switching operation.


Exposure to a 50-hz magnetic field induces a circadian rhythm in 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate excretion in mice.
The effect of magnetic field (MF) exposure on melatonin production was studied in female CD(2)F(1)(BALB/c x DBA/2) mice. The mice were exposed to a 50 Hz MF at 100 microT for 52 days and nocturnal urine was collected 1, 3, 7, 14, 16 and 23 days after the beginning of MF exposure. The animal room was illuminated for 12 h daily at 200 lux. To study the circadian rhythm of melatonin production, night and day samples of urine were collected once, at about 40 days after the beginning of MF exposure. Urinary 6-hydroxy melatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) was determined to assess melatonin production. The pineal glands were analyzed for melatonin content at the middle of the dark period. No statistically significant peak of melatonin was observed in either group. The light-regulated natural melatonin rhythm was absent in sham-exposed mice. The MF exposure caused a significant day-night difference in the 6-OHMS levels, but did not affect the total excretion of 6-OHMS during the 24-hour period. A possible interpretation of the findings is that MF exposure increases the sensitivity of the pineal gland to light in this strain normally insensitive to the circadian light variations. Further studies on interaction of light and MF exposure might help in understanding the inconsistencies of earlier research on MFs and melatonin.


airpg: automatically accessing the inverted repeats of archived plastid genomes.
In most flowering plants, the plastid genome exhibits a quadripartite genome structure, comprising a large and a small single copy as well as two inverted repeat regions. Thousands of plastid genomes have been sequenced and submitted to public sequence repositories in recent years. The quality of sequence annotations in many of these submissions is known to be problematic, especially regarding annotations that specify the length and location of the inverted repeats: such annotations are either missing or portray the length or location of the repeats incorrectly. However, many biological investigations employ publicly available plastid genomes at face value and implicitly assume the correctness of their sequence annotations. We introduce airpg, a Python package that automatically assesses the frequency of incomplete or incorrect annotations of the inverted repeats among publicly available plastid genomes. Specifically, the tool automatically retrieves plastid genomes from NCBI Nucleotide under variable search parameters, surveys them for length and location specifications of inverted repeats, and confirms any inverted repeat annotations through self-comparisons of the genome sequences. The package also includes functionality for automatic identification and removal of duplicate genome records and accounts for taxa that genuinely lack inverted repeats. A survey of the presence of inverted repeat annotations among all plastid genomes of flowering plants submitted to NCBI Nucleotide until the end of 2020 using airpg, followed by a statistical analysis of potential associations with record metadata, highlights that release year and publication status of the genome records have a significant effect on the frequency of complete and equal-length inverted repeat annotations. The number of plastid genomes on NCBI Nucleotide has increased dramatically in recent years, and many more genomes will likely be submitted over the next decade. airpg enables researchers to automatically access and evaluate the inverted repeats of these plastid genomes as well as their sequence annotations and, thus, contributes to increasing the reliability of publicly available plastid genomes. The software is freely available via the Python package index at http://pypi.python.org/pypi/airpg .


Enteric disease in postweaned beef calves associated with Bovine coronavirus clade 2.
Bovine coronavirus (BoCV; Betacoronavirus 1) infections are associated with varied clinical presentations including neonatal diarrhea, winter dysentery in dairy cattle, and respiratory disease in various ages of cattle. The current report presents information on BoCV infections associated with enteric disease of postweaned beef cattle in Oklahoma. In 3 separate accessions from a single herd, 1 in 2012 and 2 in 2013, calves were observed with bloody diarrhea. One calf in 2012 died and was necropsied, and 2 calves from this herd died in 2013 and were necropsied. A third calf from another herd died and was necropsied. The gross and histologic diagnosis was acute, hemorrhagic colitis in all 4 cattle. Colonic tissues from all 4 animals were positive by fluorescent antibody testing and/or immunohistochemical staining for BoCV antigen. Bovine coronavirus was isolated in human rectal tumor cells from swabs of colon surfaces of all animals. The genomic information from a region of the S envelope region revealed BoCV clade 2. Detection of BoCV clade 2 in beef cattle in Oklahoma is consistent with recovery of BoCV clade 2 from the respiratory tract of postweaned beef calves that had respiratory disease signs or were healthy. Further investigations on the ecology of BoCV in cattle are important, as BoCV may be an emerging disease beyond the initial descriptions. Challenge studies are needed to determine pathogenicity of these strains, and to determine if current BoCV vaccines are efficacious against the BoCV clade 2 strains.


Validation of body composition assessment techniques in the dialysis population.
Assessment of body composition remains a goal for the routine assessment of nutritional status of patients on long-term dialysis. Methods generally available for estimation of body fat in healthy individuals are limited by practicality and availability for use in this patient population. Anthropometry, which is cost effective and easy to perform, is limited by the lack of appropriate reference standards for patients on dialysis and artifact caused by hydration status. Bioelectrical impedance affords new opportunities for non-invasive assessment of fluid volume, its distribution, and body cell mass; estimation of fat-free mass and body fat can be affected by hydration status. Dual x-ray absorptiometry permits estimation of bone status and fat mass because changes in hydration status are reflected in estimates of fat-free mass. Evaluation of validity of techniques for fluid status and body composition assessment requires the use of appropriate reference methods and proper statistical procedures to examine error, not only between groups, but by individual. Use of body composition assessment methods together with biochemical measurements will enhance the nutritional assessment of end-stage renal disease patients on long-term hemodialysis.


Rehabilitation options for patients with low vision.
Loss of vision has a profound effect on an individual's life. Reduced visual function, whether present at birth or appearing later in life, greatly affects one's perception of useful existence. When medical intervention can no longer restore or maintain a person's functional vision, rehabilitative measures are necessary to enable that person to adjust both physically and psychologically to his or her sensory loss. Rehabilitation for low vision offers visually impaired individuals a renewed independence and productivity that will enable them to rejoin society as active participants. Often patients and healthcare providers are unaware of the rehabilitation options that are available to them. Low-vision devices such as magnifiers and telescopes, as well as counseling and vocational training, are among the available options. Rehabilitation nurses are particularly qualified to identify patients with reduced functional ability and to recommend an appropriate visual assessment that can lead to maximized residual vision.


Effects of punishing target response during extinction on resurgence and renewal in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
We examined the effects of the presence and absence of punishment on the resurgence and renewal of extinguished operant behavior with zebrafish. With resurgence, food deliveries reinforced target responding in Phase 1 was exposed to shock punishment plus extinction (PUN + EXT) versus extinction alone (EXT) while introducing alternative reinforcement in Phase 2. All contingencies were discontinued in Phase 3. With renewal, target reinforcement during Phase 1 occurred in Context A and then during Phase 2 was exposed to either PUN + EXT or EXT in Context B. All contingencies were discontinued in Context A during Phase 3. During Phase 2 for both resurgence and renewal, decreases in target responding were more rapid with PUN + EXT than EXT. During testing in Phase 3, resurgence was less following PUN + EXT than EXT. In contrast, renewal was greater following PUN + EXT than EXT but differences in response rates at the end of Phase 2 complicated the interpretation. We discuss these differences between resurgence and renewal as due to differences in learning about alternative reinforcement (resurgence) versus more general contextual changes (renewal).


Increased drug accumulation ex vivo with cyclosporin in chronic lymphatic leukemia and its relationship to epitope masking of P-glycoprotein.
The ability of cyclosporin to modify drug accumulation in vitro, measured by the cellular accumulation of daunorubicin, was examined. In 42 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia this correlates well with the levels of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) measured by immunofluorescent labelling of Pgp after treatment of the cells with neuraminidase to unmask the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody MRK 16. It is shown that flow cytometric analysis using MRK 16 to detect Pgp expression levels together with drug accumulation studies can rapidly assess the multidrug-resistant phenotype of patients' cells, and enable selection of those suitable for therapy with agents known to circumvent mdr-1 mediated drug resistance.


Adenovirus infection in children with acute lower respiratory tract infections in Beijing, China, 2007 to 2012.
Human adenoviruses (HAdV) play a significant role in pediatric respiratory tract infections. To date, over 60 types of HAdV have been identified. Here, HAdV types are characterized in children in the Beijing area with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) and the clinical features and laboratory findings of hospitalized HAdV-infected cases are described. Respiratory specimens were collected from pediatric patients with ALRTIs in the emergency department or from those admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital between March 2007 and December 2012. Infections with common respiratory viruses were determined by PCR or RT-PCR. HAdV positive samples were further typed by PCR and sequencing. Among 3356 patients with ALRTIs, 194 (5.8 %) were found to have HAdV infection. HAdV infection was primarily confined to children (88.35 %) less than 5 years of age. A total of 11 different types of HAdV were detected throughout the study period, with HAdV-B7 (49.0 %) and HAdV-B3 (26.3 %) as the most prevalent types, followed by HAdV-C2 (7.7 %) and HAdVC1 (4.6 %). Newly emerging and re-emergent types or variants, HAdV-B55 (n = 5), HAdV-C57 (n = 3), and HAdV-B14p1 (n = 1), were identified. Results also included the reported first case of co-infection with HAdV-C2 and HAdV-C57. Clinical entities of patients with single HAdV infection (n = 49) were similar to those with mixed HAdV/respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections (n = 41). Patients with HAdV-B7 infection had longer duration of fever and higher serum levels of muscle enzymes than HAdV-B3-infected patients. During the study period, HAdV-B7 and HAdV-B3 were the predominant types identified in pediatric ALRTIs. HAdV-B7 infection tends to have more severe clinical consequences. The presence of newly emerging types or variants and co-infection with different types of HAdV highlights the need for constant and close surveillance of HAdV infection.


Versatility of Two Diimidazole Building Blocks in Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly.
A series of discrete molecular architectures was synthesized via self-assembly of two "linear" diimidazole donors [L1 = 1,4-di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene and L2 = 1,1'-(2,5-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)bis(1H-imidazole)] independently with cis-[(tmeda)Pd(NO3)2] [tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine], cis-[(tmeda)Pt(NO3)2], a diplatinum(II) acceptor (bisPt), and Pd(NO3)2. The donors L1 and L2 are isostructural with four hydrogens in the benzene ring of L1, whereas in L2 two of such hydrogens are substituted by methyl groups. The assemblies were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses along with single-crystal structure determination of three of them. While the self-assembly of L1 with cis-[(tmeda)Pd(NO3)2] solely formed a [3 + 3] self-assembled molecular triangle (1), L2 with the same acceptor predominantly resulted in the formation of a [4 + 4] molecular square (3). Such a dramatic change in the final outcome in the coordination-driven self-assembly by simple alkyl substitution of isostructural donors is remarkable. Interestingly, self-assembly of L1 and L2 with analogous Pt(II) acceptor cis-[(tmeda)Pt(NO3)2] yielded mixtures of [3 + 3] triangle and [4 + 4] square, where the molecular triangles (4 and 6) were the predominant products in both the cases. The same donors in combination with a 0° acceptor bisPt independently formed the expected [2 + 2] metallo-macrocycles (8 and 9). Surprisingly, the macrocycle (9) involving L2 is found to exist in more than one conformation at room temperature. Moreover, the diimidazole donors formed unprecedented Pd6L12 molecular spheres (10 and 11) when they were separately treated with Pd(NO3)2. The imidazole moieties in the ligands are found to appear in versatile orientations in the synthesized molecules due to their rotational flexibility to produce required bite angles for the particular architecture.


Markov random field segmentation for industrial computed tomography with metal artefacts.
X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) has become an important tool for industrial measurement and quality control through its ability to measure internal structures and volumetric defects. Segmentation of constituent materials in the volume acquired through XCT is one of the most critical factors that influence its robustness and repeatability. Highly attenuating materials such as steel can introduce artefacts in CT images that adversely affect the segmentation process, and results in large errors during quantification. This paper presents a Markov Random Field (MRF) segmentation method as a suitable approach for industrial samples with metal artefacts. The advantages of employing the MRF segmentation method are shown in comparison with Otsu thresholding on CT data from two industrial objects.


Association between the dietary approaches to hypertension diet and hypertension in youth with diabetes mellitus.
Among youth with diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure represents one of the most common comorbidities. Hence, exploring dietary factors that may help prevent or control hypertension in this population is of paramount importance. We investigated whether adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is associated with hypertension in youth with diabetes mellitus from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. Between 2001 and 2005, 2830 youth aged 10 to 22 years (2440 with type 1 and 390 with type 2 diabetes mellitus) completed a study visit. For each of the 8 DASH food groups, a score of 10 was assigned when the DASH recommendation was met. Lower intakes were scored proportionately, and the 8 individual scores were summed. The association between the overall DASH score and hypertension was evaluated using multiple logistic regression. The crude prevalence of hypertension was 6.8% for youth with type 1 and 28.2% for youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In youth with type 1, a higher adherence to DASH was inversely related to hypertension, independent of demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics (tertile 2 versus 1: odds ratio: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.0; 3 versus 1: odds ratio: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4 to 0.9; P(trend)=0.007). For type 2 diabetes mellitus, the DASH diet was not associated with hypertension (tertile 2 versus 1: odds ratio: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.4; 3 versus 1: odds ratio: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.5; P(trend)=0.6). Prospective observational studies or clinical trials are needed to investigate whether adherence to the DASH guidelines may help prevent hypertension in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, more research with a larger sample is necessary.


Feeding behaviour and susceptibility of Myzus persicae (Sulz) and Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) to [14C] phorate in artificial diet.
The effect of artificial diet on the growth and reproduction of the aphids Myzus persicae (Sulz) and Brevicoryne brassicae (L) was studied. Following the application of [14C] phorate to the diet, the results showed that B. brassicae was more susceptible than M. persicae. In these experiments the dead and live aphids and their honeydew were also analysed. The dead aphids contained more toxic 14C than the live ones with a direct correlation between the amount of insecticide in the diet and the insecticide extracted from the aphids. The total amount of 14C imbided by aphids was calculated but it bore no correlation with the insecticide applied. The amounts of honeydew produced before and after application of the insectide were measured. In both the species the honeydew production was increased as the insecticide was increased from sublethal doses until the toxic range was reached when honeydew production fell gradually. The results obtained from foliar application of the insecticide were compared with those following treatment of the diet. It was found that the aphids were more susceptible to insecticide applied to the diet.


Specific inhibitory activity against granulocyte-progenitor cells produced by non-T lymphocytes from patients with neutropenia.
Bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of patients with non-leukemic neutropenia contain and elaborate a granulocyte-progenitor cell inhibitory activity. The inhibitory activity is common to the neutropenias of the various etiologies studied, which included congenital, idiopathic, autoimmune, cyclical, common variable immuno-deficiency with hypogammaglobulinemia and drug induced states. It derives from non-adherent, low density, slowly sedimenting and non-E-rosetting cells and appears to require RNA and protein synthesis, but not cell division, for its production. The material is not species specific, inhibits autologous and allogeneic normal CFUgm and leukemic CFUgm, is not cell-cycle specific in action and is most effective against granulocyte colony forming cells (CFUg), less effective against mixed granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells (CFUgm) and least or non-effective against macrophage colony forming cells (CFUm). This inhibitory activity has no influence on cells which generate CFUc in suspension culture or on the erythroid colony forming (CFUe) and burst forming (BFUe) units. It is different from other known inhibitory activities such as lactoferrin, leukemia inhibitory activity, E type prostaglandins, interferon and immunoglobulins. This inhibitory activity, while at present an in vitro phenomenon, may be produced as a secondary response within a compromised host.


A Fall in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) level activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis independent of plasma glucose: evidence for brain sensing of circulating FFA.
The brain responds to a fall in blood glucose by activating neuroendocrine mechanisms for its restoration. It is unclear whether the brain also responds to a fall in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) to activate mechanisms for its restoration. We examined whether lowering plasma FFA increases plasma corticosterone or catecholamine levels and, if so, whether the brain is involved in these responses. Plasma FFA levels were lowered in rats with three independent antilipolytic agents: nicotinic acid (NA), insulin, and the A1 adenosine receptor agonist SDZ WAG 994 with plasma glucose clamped at basal levels. Lowering plasma FFA with these agents all increased plasma corticosterone, but not catecholamine, within 1 h, accompanied by increases in plasma ACTH. These increases in ACTH or corticosterone were abolished when falls in plasma FFA were prevented by Intralipid during NA or insulin infusion. In addition, the NA-induced increases in plasma ACTH were completely prevented by administration of SSR149415, an arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist, demonstrating that the hypothalamus is involved in these responses. Taken together, the present data suggest that the brain may sense a fall in plasma FFA levels and activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to increase plasma ACTH and corticosterone, which would help restore FFA levels. Thus, the brain may be involved in the sensing and control of circulating FFA levels.


Developments in the tools and methodologies of synthetic biology.
Synthetic biology is principally concerned with the rational design and engineering of biologically based parts, devices, or systems. However, biological systems are generally complex and unpredictable, and are therefore, intrinsically difficult to engineer. In order to address these fundamental challenges, synthetic biology is aiming to unify a "body of knowledge" from several foundational scientific fields, within the context of a set of engineering principles. This shift in perspective is enabling synthetic biologists to address complexity, such that robust biological systems can be designed, assembled, and tested as part of a biological design cycle. The design cycle takes a forward-design approach in which a biological system is specified, modeled, analyzed, assembled, and its functionality tested. At each stage of the design cycle, an expanding repertoire of tools is being developed. In this review, we highlight several of these tools in terms of their applications and benefits to the synthetic biology community.


Preparation and Characterization of Protocatechuic Acid Sulfates.
Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid; PCA) is a phenolic acid present in plants as a secondary metabolite and is also produced in the human organism as a metabolite from the degradation of polyphenols by the intestinal microbiota, particularly of flavonoids. However, PCA, like most polyphenols, is biotransformed in the human body to different conjugates as sulfates, which are found circulating in blood and could be involved in the bioactivity of the original compound. This paper describes a simple process for the preparation of PCA monosulfates with satisfactory yields. Two compounds were obtained that were identified as PCA-3-sulfate and PCA-4-sulfate by mass spectrometry and ¹H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance using one- and two-dimensional techniques (heteronuclear single-quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation). Differential MS fragmentation behavior and UV spectra were observed for each compound, which could be used for their identification in samples of unknown composition. The described procedure can be used for the preparation of these polyphenol metabolites in view of their use in in vivo and in vitro studies, as well as standards for their analysis in biological fluids, to contribute to the elucidation of biological effects of dietary polyphenols.


Severe case of peripheral leukocytosis initially diagnosed as myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable, but possibly prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis.
Leukocytosis is occasionally seen in patients with presumptive but undiagnosed myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for tarry stools, anemia, and marked peripheral leukocytosis of 1.4×10(5)/μL. Gastroenteroscopy revealed an acute gastric and duodenal mucosal lesion that was treated successfully via endoscopic hemoclipping. Bone marrow aspiration revealed marked megakaryocyte proliferation with atypia of naked nuclei and marrow hypercellularity (90% cellularity). A fluorescence in situ hybridization test could not detect the BCR-ABL fusion gene. Bone marrow aspiration later revealed further abnormalities of megakaryocytes. The patient died from cerebral bleeding. The present case fulfilled 2 of the 3 major criteria of primary myelofibrosis according to the World Health Organization 2008 classification:namely, megakaryocytic hyperplasia with hypercellular marrow and granulocytic hyperplasia. However, the megakaryocytic abnormality was not strictly compatible with the criteria. Instead, we considered prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis as a possibility, although myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable (MDS/MPN-U) was technically the correct diagnosis. The present case shows that MPN diagnosis remains difficult and suggests that other cases of peripheral leukocytosis with diagnosed MDS/MPN-U might include similar findings.


Nitric oxide detection by DAF (diaminofluorescein) fluorescence in human myometrial tissue.
Nitric oxide (NO) is considered to be involved in the modulation of uterine contractility. In the present pilot study, the direct detection of intracellular NO in pregnant human myometrial tissues has been investigated by using the fluorescent indicator 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA). Pregnant myometrial tissue samples were obtained during Cesarean sections between week 34 and 40 of gestation before the onset of labor. Living explants were loaded with 10 microM DAF-2DA, stimulated with 1 mM arginine, subsequently fixed with glutaraldehyde and examined by fluorescence microscopy. The presence of NO synthases (NOS) was studied by immunohistochemistry. After application of DAF-2DA, DAF fluorescence was located primarily in blood vessels and to a minor extent in myometrial cells. By immunohistochemistry, strong endothelial NOS (eNOS) staining was found in vessel walls. In myometrial cells weak staining of eNOS and inducible NOS was observed. We conclude that the direct NO detection by DAF-2DA provides a new and independent method to identify sites of NO production in myometrium and other heterogeneous tissues.


Two-dimensional crystallization experiments.
Our experience in the growth of two-dimensional crystals of different proteins is presented. Polyethylene glycol was used to produce two-dimensional arrays of haemocyanin from O. vulgaris and of cholera toxin. The arrays showed a hexagonal close-packed structure of only randomly oriented molecules. The increase in protein concentration probably occurred too quickly to allow complete crystallization. Different two-dimensional arrays of hexameric haemocyanin molecules (from P. interruptus) were obtained by microdialysis through the specimen supporting film. A comparison was made with X-ray data. Two-dimensional tetrameric arrays of molecules, possibly rhodopsin, were seen in samples of bovine retinal rod outer segments in the presence of ammonium sulphate. Two-dimensional crystals of complex I (from bovine mitochondria) were prepared by dialysis in the presence of ammonium sulphate. A three-dimensional reconstruction was made from two tilt-series by computer filtration using the direct SIRT procedure. Finally, the possibility of computer crystallization using correlation techniques in combination with correspondence analysis is discussed.


An automated intervention with stepped increases in support to increase uptake of colorectal cancer screening: a randomized trial.
Screening decreases colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, yet almost half of age-eligible patients are not screened at recommended intervals. To determine whether interventions using electronic health records (EHRs), automated mailings, and stepped increases in support improve CRC screening adherence over 2 years. 4-group, parallel-design, randomized, controlled comparative effectiveness trial with concealed allocation and blinded outcome assessments. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00697047) 21 primary care medical centers. 4675 adults aged 50 to 73 years not current for CRC screening. Usual care, EHR-linked mailings ("automated"), automated plus telephone assistance ("assisted"), or automated and assisted plus nurse navigation to testing completion or refusal ("navigated"). Interventions were repeated in year 2. The proportion of participants current for screening in both years, defined as colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (year 1) or fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) in year 1 and FOBT, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy (year 2). Compared with those in the usual care group, participants in the intervention groups were more likely to be current for CRC screening for both years with significant increases by intensity (usual care, 26.3% [95% CI, 23.4% to 29.2%]; automated, 50.8% [CI, 47.3% to 54.4%]; assisted, 57.5% [CI, 54.5% to 60.6%]; and navigated, 64.7% [CI, 62.5% to 67.0%]; P < 0.001 for all pair-wise comparisons). Increases in screening were primarily due to increased uptake of FOBT being completed in both years (usual care, 3.9% [CI, 2.8% to 5.1%]; automated, 27.5% [CI, 24.9% to 30.0%]; assisted, 30.5% [CI, 27.9% to 33.2%]; and navigated, 35.8% [CI, 33.1% to 38.6%]). Participants were required to provide verbal consent and were more likely to be white and to participate in other types of cancer screening, limiting generalizability. Compared with usual care, a centralized, EHR-linked, mailed CRC screening program led to twice as many persons being current for screening over 2 years. Assisted and navigated interventions led to smaller but significant stepped increases compared with the automated intervention only. The rapid growth of EHRs provides opportunities for spreading this model broadly.


Comparison of a flexible-tip laparoscope with a rigid straight laparoscope for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
This study assessed whether a flexible-tip laparoscope improves operative outcomes including operative length while performing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) compared with the use of a conventional straight laparoscope. The flexible-tip laparoscope decreased the operative time compared with the straight laparoscope. Although SILC has potential benefits, surgeons experience problems for in-line viewing through a laparoscope and from contact of instruments with the laparoscope, resulting in longer operative times and the need for additional ports. The aim of this study was to determine whether a flexible-tip laparoscope improves operative outcomes, including operative length and the rate of insertion of additional ports, while performing SILC compared with the use of a conventional rigid straight laparoscope. We reviewed data on patients for whom we performed SILC at the Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, for the period from November 1, 2009, to February 28, 2013. The information was assessed with respect to patient characteristics, types of laparoscope used, operative data as well as postoperative outcomes. Operating time for SILC using the flexible-tip laparoscope was significantly shorter than with the straight laparoscope (81.5 ± 23.2 vs 94.4 ± 21.1 minutes) as a result of a better view of the operating field without contact with working instruments. Although a trend was shown toward a reduced rate of the need for extra ports in the flexible-tip laparoscope group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Using the flexible-tip laparoscope solved the problem of in-line viewing and decreased the operative time for SILC.


Ultrasound screening of asymptomatic siblings of children with vesicoureteral reflux: a long-term followup study.
Siblings of patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are at greater risk of having reflux than the general population, and the role of screening in this group is widely accepted. While voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is the gold standard for diagnosis of VUR, ultrasound (US) is often used for screening select patients. We examine the outcomes of a conventional US screening program in older asymptomatic siblings. Between 1984 and 2003 asymptomatic siblings older than 5 years as well as children whose parents refused VCUG were screened with conventional US and urine studies. If US showed a discrepancy in renal size, renal scarring or hydronephrosis, or a change in the size of the renal pelvis during the study, then VCUG was performed. Additionally, any child with a normal US who subsequently had symptoms of urinary tract infection was then referred for VCUG. Chart review was performed and 117 siblings were identified who met these criteria (age range 2 months to 15 years). An attempt was made to contact all 117 siblings to obtain long-term followup data. Of the 117 siblings 11 (9.4%) were referred for VCUG secondary to abnormal US findings (9) and development of urinary tract infection (2). VCUG was negative in the 2 symptomatic children, while 5 of the 9 (55.6%) with abnormal US were found to have VUR. Telephone contact was established with 85 of the 117 (72.6%) siblings or their parents (average followup 8.3 years, range 2 months to 19 years). All 85 siblings with available followup information had normal US, and none had had symptoms or complications of VUR since screening. Given the lower incidence and seemingly innocuous nature of VUR in older asymptomatic siblings of known patients with reflux, observation alone in this group is an acceptable form of management. If either parental or physician anxiety exists in this approach, then conventional US offers a reliable alternative to invasive VCUG screening in this population.


Updating the Evidence: Systematic Literature Review of Risk Factors and Strategies for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Surgical Site Infection After Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery.
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major potential complication following pediatric spinal deformity surgery that is associated with significant morbidity and increased costs. Despite this, SSI rates remain high and variable across institutions, in part due to a lack of up-to-date, comprehensive prevention, and treatment protocols. Furthermore, few attempts have been made to review the optimal diagnostic modalities and treatment strategies for SSI following scoliosis surgery. The aim of this study was to systematically review current literature on risk factors for SSI in pediatric patients undergoing scoliosis surgery, as well as strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. On January 19, 2022, a systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting risk factors for acute, deep SSI (<90 d) or strategies for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of SSI following pediatric scoliosis surgery were included. Each included article was assigned a level of evidence rating based on study design and quality. Extracted findings were organized into risk factors, preventive strategies, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options and each piece of evidence was graded based on quality, quantity, and consistency of underlying data. A total of 77 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review, of which 2 were categorized as Level I, 3 as Level II, 64 as Level III, and 8 as Level IV. From these studies, a total of 29 pieces of evidence (grade C or higher) regarding SSI risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment were synthesized. We present an updated review of published evidence for defining high-risk patients and preventing, diagnosing, and treating SSI after pediatric scoliosis surgery. The collated evidence presented herein may help limit variability in practice and decrease the incidence of SSI in pediatric spine surgery. Level III-systematic review.


[Refugees at Malmö Epidemic Hospital in 1945].
In 1945, 423 refugees were admitted because of contagious disease at Malmö Epidemic Hospital. Of these refugees 159 men and 167 women arrived from the German concentration camps in Ravensbrück, Buchenwald, Bergen-Belsen, Neuengamme and others. Others arrived in a boat destined to be sunk when peace came and the crew changed mind, letting the boat board at Malmö harbour. Thus life was saved to more than 95% of its passengers. Of the refugees 31% came from Poland, 24% from Scandinavian countries, 12% from Benelux and 10% from France. Louse-borne typhus was the most frequent diagnosis that occurred in 35%. Other common disorders were diphtheria, scarlet fever, enteric fever and tuberculosis. Almost all prisoners from concentration camps were malnourished and had sustained severe cruelty. Most of them recovered rapidly when given food and vitamins.


[Clinical studies of reduced accommodation in patients with HIV-1 infection].
PROBLEM Reduced accommodation in HIV-patients has been described. Yet, in literature, statistics on this item cannot be found. PATIENTS AND METHOD In 58 HIV-infected subjects of different infection stages, accommodation was measured using Clement-Clark's accommodometer. Average age was 34.9 years (sigma = 8.3 years) Stages of HIV-infection were defined according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control)-classification. RESULTS The decrease in accommodation did not show any correlation to the stage of HIV-infection neither to its frequency nor to its amount. An antiretroviral therapy may reduce accommodation loss. However, the effect is not statistically significant. Incommodating accommodation loss occurred only in a few cases. CONCLUSION Reduced accommodation is an early ophthalmological symptom of HIV-1-infection. Possible causes of this phenomenon may be either direct neuronal infection by HIV 1, pathologic changes of the lens or the ciliary body.


Extension of Wertheim's thermodynamic perturbation theory to include higher order graph integrals.
This work extends Wertheim's Thermodynamic Perturbation Theory (TPT) to include dimer-dimer graphs, i.e., we extend the theory beyond the so-called single-chain approximation. The theory is referred to as thermodynamic perturbation dimer theory. We provide a graph-theoretical derivation of the additional dimer-dimer term and resum the graphs in terms of 3- and 4-particle correlation functions. It is shown how orientationally averaged (hard-sphere) correlation functions can be obtained by Monte Carlo simulation. The 4-particle correlation function, which arises from the additional order term, is adjusted to results of molecular (hard-sphere) dimer fluid simulations. A new equation of state for linear, flexible hard chain fluids is obtained. The predictions of the compressibility factor and the second virial coefficient of the new theory show a better agreement to results from molecular simulations compared as compared to TPT1 and TPT2. We compare the results of the derived theories with simulated data of chains with length ν = 4, 8, 16, and 64 and show that simply considering higher orders of the regular TPT is not sufficient to describe the low-density behavior of longer chains.


Analysis of antibiotics by CE and their use as chiral selectors: An update.
The widespread use of antibiotics in medicine and as growth-promoting agents has increased the demand for suitable analytical techniques for their analysis. Analytical methods based on CE or miniaturized CE systems have proved over the years their ability for the analysis of antibiotics. Since our last review (Electrophoresis 2014, 35, 28-49) several new CE methodologies have been reported for antibiotic analysis. This review presents an update of the literature published from June 2013 to June 2015 for the analysis of antibiotics by CE. UV continues being the most used detection system for antibiotics analysis by CE. Strategies to improve sensitivity as the use of sensitive detection systems and the application of preconcentration techniques appear to be the major developments. Furthermore, the use of portable and miniaturized devices for antibiotic analysis is presented in detail. Applications of the developed methodologies to the determination of residues of antibiotics in biological, food, and environmental samples are carefully described. Finally, new developments and applications of antibiotics as chiral selectors in CE are also included.


The Neo-Papilla: a new modification of porcine ex vivo simulators for ERCP training (with videos).
Computer simulators, live pigs, and ex vivo porcine simulators are used for training in ERCP. The location of the porcine biliary orifice in the proximal duodenum is dissimilar to human anatomy, making the endoscopy experience less realistic. In addition, in native porcine anatomy, the pancreatic duct enters the duodenum distal to the biliary orifice, limiting the teaching of pancreatic techniques and selective duct cannulation. To overcome these limitations, we aimed to construct a Neo-Papilla that could be incorporated into an ex vivo model. We attached chicken heart tissue to the porcine duodenum, with integrated porcine arteries that resembled an artificial common bile duct and a pancreatic duct. The simulator was presented and evaluated at 2 major GI endoscopy conferences. The feasibility and the realism of this prototype was tested by 9 recognized ERCP experts who rated this model in comparison to other teaching models for ERCP by recollection of prior experience. The Neo-Papilla was more prominent and more distally located than the native porcine papilla. The experts rated this modification superior to existing models in its usefulness as an educational tool. Pilot study. We demonstrated the technical feasibility of a real-tissue Neo-Papilla modification of porcine ex vivo simulators, more closely approximating the natural anatomy. This new model should facilitate ERCP training. Formal validation studies are warranted.


Expression and role of cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) in the proliferation of biliary epithelium.
Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells that line the biliary tree, can proliferate under the stimulation of several factors through both autocrine and paracrine pathways. The cocaine-amphetamine-regulated-transcript (CART) peptide has several physiological functions, and it is widely expressed in several organs. CART increases the survival of hippocampal neurons by upregulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whose expression has been correlated to the proliferation rate of cholangiocytes. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of CART and its role in modulating cholangiocyte proliferation in healthy and bile duct ligated (BDL) rats in vivo, as well as in cultured normal rat cholangiocytes (NRC) in vitro. Liver samples from both healthy and BDL (1 week) rats, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for CART, CK19, TrkB and p75NTR BDNF receptors. PCNA staining was used to evaluate the proliferation of the cholangiocytes, whereas TUNEL assay was used to evaluate biliary apoptosis. NRC treated or not with CART were used to confirm the role of CART on cholangiocytes proliferation and the secretion of BDNF. Cholangiocytes proliferation, apoptosis, CART and TrkB expression were increased in BDL rats, compared to control rats. We found a higher expression of TrkB and p75NTR, which could be correlated with the proliferation rate of biliary tree during BDL. The in vitro study demonstrated increased BDNF secretion by NRC after treatment with CART compared with control cells. As previously reported, proliferating cholangiocytes acquire a neuroendocrine phenotype, modulated by several factors, including neurotrophins. Accordingly, CART may play a key role in the remodeling of biliary epithelium during cholestasis by modulating the secretion of BDNF.


Herpes simplex myelitis as a cause of acute necrotizing myelitis syndrome.
We report a patient with herpes simplex virus (HSV) myelitis with a clinical history of rapidly progressive spinal cord dysfunction and extensive necrosis of the lumbosacral spinal cord at autopsy. The etiologic agent was HSV type 2. The close resemblance of the clinical features of this case to the syndrome of acute necrotizing myelitis emphasizes the need to recognize HSV myelitis as a cause of this syndrome, since it is diagnosable during life by culturing the CSF and is treatable.


l-Leucine influx through Slc7a5 regulates inflammatory responses of human B cells via mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling.
Objectives: Increasing evidence has revealed the close correlation between immune cell functions and their intracellular metabolism. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is the important metabolism-modulating signal that regulates cellular activities. In certain types of cell, it is known that mTORC1 activation depends on influx of l-leucine through an amino acid transporter, Slc7a5. In B cells, however, the expression and the role of Slc7a5 have never been investigated. Methods: CD19+ B cells were obtained from peripheral blood of healthy adults and stimulated by a toll-like receptor 9 ligand, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. The expression of Slc7a5 and l-leucine uptake were evaluated by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and radioisotope assay. Then the effect of Slc7a5 inhibition on mTORC1 activity, plasmablast differentiation and production of IgG and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. Results: CpG stimulation significantly induced the expression of Slc7a5 in B cells, resulting in l-leucine influx. Furthermore, inhibition of Slc7a5 abrogated mTORC1 activation, plasmablast differentiation, and production of IgG and inflammatory cytokines in CpG-stimulated B cells. Conclusion: l-leucine influx through Slc7a5 critically regulates mTORC1 activity and the immunological responses of human B cells. Slc7a5-mTORC1 pathway may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases.


Proton Channel Activity of Influenza A Virus Matrix Protein 2 Contributes to Autophagy Arrest.
Influenza A virus infection can arrest autophagy, as evidenced by autophagosome accumulation in infected cells. Here, we report that this autophagosome accumulation can be inhibited by amantadine, an antiviral proton channel inhibitor, in amantadine-sensitive virus infected cells or cells expressing influenza A virus matrix protein 2 (M2). Thus, M2 proton channel activity plays a role in blocking the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, which might be a key mechanism for arresting autophagy.


Ferritin oxidation and proteasomal degradation: protection by antioxidants.
The accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins is a well-known hallmark of aging and several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntigton's diseases. These highly oxidized protein aggregates are in general not degradable by the main intracellular proteolytic machinery, the proteasomal system. One possible strategy to reduce the accumulation of such oxidized protein aggregates is the prevention of the formation of oxidized protein derivatives or to reduce the protein oxidation to a degree that can be handled by the proteasome. To do so an antioxidative strategy might be successful. Therefore, we undertook the present study to test whether antioxidants are able to prevent the protein oxidation and to influence the proteasomal degradation of moderate oxidized proteins. As a model protein we choose ferritin. H2O2 induced a concentration dependent increase of protein oxidation accompanied by an increased proteolytic susceptibility. This increase of proteolytic susceptibility is limited to moderate hydrogen peroxide concentrations, whereas higher concentrations are accompanied by protein aggregate formation. Protective effects of the vitamin E derivative Trolox, the pyridoindole derivative Stobadine and of the standardized extracts of flavonoids from bark of Pinus Pinaster Pycnogenol and from leaves of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) were studied on moderate damaged ferritin.


Early nutrition and epigenetic programming: chasing shadows.
The ways in which epigenetic modifications fix the effects of early environmental events, ensuring sustained responses to transient stimuli, which result into modified gene expression patterns and phenotypes later in life, is a topic of considerable interest. This review focuses on recently discovered mechanisms and calls into question prevailing views about the dynamics, positions and functions of relevant epigenetic marks. Animal models, including mice, rats, sheep, pigs and rabbits, remain a vital tool for studying the influence of early nutritional events on adult health and disease. Most epigenetic studies have addressed the long-term effects on a small number of epigenetic marks, at the global or individual gene level, of environmental stressors in humans and animal models. They have demonstrated the existence of a self-propagating epigenetic cycle. In parallel, an increasing number of studies based on high-throughput technologies and focusing on humans and mice have revealed additional complexity in epigenetic processes, by highlighting the importance of crosstalk between the different epigenetic marks. In recent months, a number of studies focusing on the developmental origin of health and disease and metabolic programming have identified links between early nutrition, epigenetic processes and long-term illness. Despite recent progress, we are still far from understanding how, when and where environmental stressors disturb key epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, identifying the original key marks and their changes throughout development, during an individual's lifetime or over several generations, remains a challenging issue.


Greater dyspnea is associated with lower health-related quality of life among European patients with COPD.
Dyspnea is a defining symptom in the classification and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the degree of variation in burden among symptomatic COPD patients and the possible correlates of burden remain unclear. This study was conducted to characterize patients in Europe currently being treated for COPD according to the level of dyspnea in terms of sociodemographics, health-related quality of life, work productivity impairment, and health care resource use assessed by patient reports. Data were derived from the 5-EU 2013 National Health and Wellness Survey (N=62,000). Respondents aged ≥40 years who reported currently using a prescription for COPD were grouped according to their level of dyspnea as per the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines and compared on health status (revised Short Form 36 [SF-36]v2), work impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire), and number of health care visits in the past 6 months using generalized linear models with appropriate distributions and link functions. Of the 768 respondents who met the inclusion criteria, 245 (32%) were considered to have higher dyspnea (equivalent to modified Medical Research Council score ≥2). Higher dyspnea was associated with decrements ranging from 3.9 to 8.2 points in all eight domains of the SF-36 health profile after adjustment for sociodemographics, general health characteristics, and length of COPD diagnosis; mental component summary scores and Short Form-6D health utility scores were lower by 3.5 and 0.06 points, respectively. Adjusted mean activity impairment (55% vs 37%, P<0.001) and number of emergency room visits (0.61 vs 0.40, P=0.030) were higher in patients with greater dyspnea. Many European patients with COPD continue to experience dyspnea despite treatment and at levels associated with notable impairments in the patients' ability to function across a multitude of domains. These patients may benefit from more intense treatment of their symptoms.


Sex and Age Specific Projections of Smoking Prevalence in Spain: A Bayesian Approach.
To project future smoking prevalence rates in Spain by sex and age groups using Bayesian methods and to estimate the probability of a 30% relative reduction between 2010 and 2025. We used the data from the Spanish National Health Surveys (2003, 2006, and 2011) to obtain information about current and former smoking. We reconstructed annual smoking rates from 1989 through 2011 by sex and 5-year age groups. The prevalence were projected for the period 2012-2025 using a Bayesian logistic binomial model and estimated the probability to achieve the 30% relative reduction endorsed by the WHO. We calculated the 95% credible interval (CrI) of the posterior distribution, which includes a 95% of the distribution of potential smoking prevalences. In men, the projections show a decline for crude (-2.64% annually, 95% CrI: -3.32; -1.97) and adjusted (-2.50%, 95% CrI:-3.14; -1.87) prevalence. In women, the projections show a decline for crude prevalence (-0.36%, 95% CrI: -1.02; -0.30)) and the age-adjusted prevalence (-1.02%, 95% CrI: -1.61, -0.47). By age groups, the decline is greater among women aged 15-39 years (-3.92%, 95% CrI: -4.92; -2.96)) while for women aged 40-64 years an increase (1.84%, 95% CrI: 1.06; 2.58) is expected. In men, the probability to achieve the WHO target is 0.728 and in women is less than 0.001. The age group 15-39 shows the highest probability to achieve the target. The results suggest smoking prevalence will decrease during 2012-2025 in all age groups for both sexes except for women aged 40-64. We found that the WHO target of a 30% reduction in prevalence is likely to be achieved overall and in the 15-39 years age groups for both sexes, but not achieved for older women and it is uncertain whether it will be achieved for older men. These results highlight the need to strengthen public health interventions that focus on reducing tobacco use in adult women aged 40-64 years old. We project a decrease in smoking prevalence in during 2012-2025 except for women aged 40-64. The WHO Target of a 30% relative reduction could be achieved in the population aged 15-39; but not in women and the results are inconclusive in men. These results highlight the need to strengthen public health interventions that focus on reducing tobacco use in adult women aged 40-64 years old.


B-raf, a new member of the raf family, is activated by DNA rearrangement.
Complementary DNA clones of a putative transforming gene were isolated from NIH 3T3 cells transformed with human Ewing sarcoma DNA. The gene was termed B-raf because it is related to but distinct from c-raf and A-raf. It appears that substitution in the amino-terminal portion of the normal B-raf protein confers transforming activity to the gene.


Seminoma after orchiopexy. A case report.
A 29-year-old man had been operated on for bilateral cryptorchism at the age of 11. The right testis was not found and was considered to be aplastic. The left testis was placed surgically in the scrotum. When he entered a follow-up study for early detection of testicular cancer, the right testis was found intraperitoneally and was removed. A left testicular biopsy showed carcinoma in situ and orchiectomy was performed. This testis contained an invasive seminoma.


Adipocytokines: mediators linking adipose tissue, inflammation and immunity.
There has been much effort recently to define the role of adipocytokines, which are soluble mediators derived mainly from adipocytes (fat cells), in the interaction between adipose tissue, inflammation and immunity. The adipocytokines adiponectin and leptin have emerged as the most abundant adipocyte products, thereby redefining adipose tissue as a key component not only of the endocrine system, but also of the immune system. Indeed, as we discuss here, several adipocytokines have a central role in the regulation of insulin resistance, as well as many aspects of inflammation and immunity. Other adipocytokines, such as visfatin, have only recently been identified. Understanding this rapidly growing family of mainly adipocyte-derived mediators might be of importance in the development of new therapies for obesity-associated diseases.


Effect of a combined exercise program on physical fitness, lung function, and quality of life in patients with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.
Asthmatic patients may benefit from exercise training, although the effects of a combined aerobic and resistance training program are still poorly investigated in children and adolescents. To analyze the effects of a combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) program on aerobic fitness, lung function, asthma control and quality of life in a group of mild-moderate asthmatic children with exercise symptoms. This was a 12-week randomized controlled trial including children and adolescents diagnosed with mild-moderate asthma and presenting exercise-induced symptoms. The intervention group (IG) performed the exercise training (resistance and aerobic) 3 days/week, for 60 minutes. The control group (CG) followed routine clinical orientations. The main outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, lung function, quality of life, asthma control, and functional tests after 3 months of the intervention. Fifty-three patients (IG = 25 and CG = 28) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 2.6 years were included. No significant differences were found between groups regarding lung function, asthma control, quality of life, and functional tests. Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold (P = .025; ηp2 = 0.083), peak oxygen consumption (P = .008; ηp2 = 0.116) and test duration (P = .014; ηp2 = 0.1) presented greater improvements in the IG. In addition, improvements were observed in leg press (P < .001; ηp2 = 0.36), hamstring curl (P = .001; ηp2 = 0.217), high row (P = .003; ηp2 = .167), low row (P = .009; ηp2 = 0.128) and quadriceps leg extension (P = .015; ηp2 = 0.108) in the IG. Combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) improved cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children and adolescents with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms.


Craniofacial developmental abnormalities.
Major advances have been made in the elucidation of the molecular basis of a number of human dysmorphic syndromes involving abnormalities of craniofacial development. This will lead, in turn, to a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie normal craniofacial development.


Exposure-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for phobic and anxiety disorders: treatment effects and maintenance for Hispanic/Latino relative to European-American youths.
To examine treatment response and maintenance to exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for Hispanic/Latino relative to European-American youths with phobic and anxiety disorders. A total of 131 Hispanic/Latino and European-American youths (aged 6-16 years) who participated in two previous clinical trials for phobic and anxiety disorders were compared along diagnostic recovery rates, clinically significant improvement, and youth- and parent-completed questionnaire scores using traditional hypothesis tests, including effect sizes, and statistical equivalence tests. After treatment, Hispanic/Latino and European-American youths responded similarly to exposure-based CBT in their diagnostic recovery rates and questionnaires. Effect sizes for questionnaire data were also more similar than different across the two groups. With regard to treatment maintenance, Hispanic/Latino and European-American youths also responded more similarly than differently, albeit with some variations within specific assessment points in questionnaire data. Exposure-based CBT for phobic and anxiety disorders produced positive treatment gains and maintenance for Hispanic/Latino youths who participated in the trials. The treatment response that can be expected is generally similar (i.e., favorable) and equivalent to that found with European-American youths based on all the available indices of change.


Cost-effectiveness of dronedarone and standard of care compared with standard of care alone: US results of an ATHENA lifetime model.
The first antiarrhythmic drug to demonstrate a reduced rate of cardiovascular hospitalization in atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) patients was dronedarone in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel arm Trial to assess the efficacy of dronedarone 400 mg bid for the prevention of cardiovascular Hospitalization or death from any cause in patiENts with Atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (ATHENA trial). The potential cost-effectiveness of dronedarone in this patient population has not been reported in a US context. This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of dronedarone from a US health care payers' perspective. ATHENA patient data were applied to a patient-level health state transition model. Probabilities of health state transitions were derived from ATHENA and published data. Associated costs used in the model (2010 values) were obtained from published sources when trial data were not available. The base-case model assumed that patients were treated with dronedarone for the duration of ATHENA (mean 21 months) and were followed over a lifetime. Cost-effectiveness, from the payers' perspective, was determined using a Monte Carlo microsimulation (1 million fictitious patients). Dronedarone plus standard care provided 0.13 life years gained (LYG), and 0.11 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), over standard care alone; cost/QALY was $19,520 and cost/LYG was $16,930. Compared to lower risk patients, patients at higher risk of stroke (Congestive heart failure, history of Hypertension, Age ≥ 75 years, Diabetes mellitus, and past history of Stroke or transient ischemic attack (CHADS(2)) scores 3-6 versus 0) had a lower cost/QALY ($9580-$16,000 versus $26,450). Cost/QALY was highest in scenarios assuming lifetime dronedarone therapy, no cardiovascular mortality benefit, no cost associated with AF/AFL recurrence on standard care, and when discounting of 5% was compared with 0%. By extrapolating the results of a large, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (ATHENA), this model suggests that dronedarone is a cost-effective treatment option for approved indications (paroxysmal/persistent AF/AFL) in the US.


L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of non-heme iron sites: experimental determination of differential orbital covalency.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been utilized to obtain the L-edge multiplet spectra for a series of non-heme ferric and ferrous complexes. Using these data, a methodology for determining the total covalency and the differential orbital covalency (DOC), that is, differences in covalency in the different symmetry sets of the d orbitals, has been developed. The integrated L-edge intensity is proportional to the number of one-electron transition pathways to the unoccupied molecular orbitals as well as to the covalency of the iron site, which reduces the total L-edge intensity and redistributes intensity, producing shake-up satellites. Furthermore, differential orbital covalency leads to differences in intensity for the different symmetry sets of orbitals and, thus, further modifies the experimental spectra. The ligand field multiplet model commonly used to simulate L-edge spectra does not adequately reproduce the spectral features, especially the charge transfer satellites. The inclusion of charge transfer states with differences in covalency gives excellent fits to the data and experimental estimates of the different contributions of charge transfer shake-up pathways to the t(2g) and e(g) symmetry orbitals. The resulting experimentally determined DOC is compared to values calculated from density functional theory and used to understand chemical trends in high- and low-spin ferrous and ferric complexes with different covalent environments. The utility of this method toward problems in bioinorganic chemistry is discussed.


Comparative description of the mRNA expression profile of Na+ /K+ -ATPase isoforms in adult mouse nervous system.
Mutations in genes encoding Na+ /K+ -ATPase α1, α2, and α3 subunits cause a wide range of disabling neurological disorders, and dysfunction of Na+ /K+ -ATPase may contribute to neuronal injury in stroke and dementia. To better understand the pathogenesis of these diseases, it is important to determine the expression patterns of the different Na+ /K+ -ATPase subunits within the brain and among specific cell types. Using two available scRNA-Seq databases from the adult mouse nervous system, we examined the mRNA expression patterns of the different isoforms of the Na+ /K+ -ATPase α, β and Fxyd subunits at the single-cell level among brain regions and various neuronal populations. We subsequently identified specific types of neurons enriched with transcripts for α1 and α3 isoforms and elaborated how α3-expressing neuronal populations govern cerebellar neuronal circuits. We further analyzed the co-expression network for α1 and α3 isoforms, highlighting the genes that positively correlated with α1 and α3 expression. The top 10 genes for α1 were Chn2, Hpcal1, Nrgn, Neurod1, Selm, Kcnc1, Snrk, Snap25, Ckb and Ccndbp1 and for α3 were Sorcs3, Eml5, Neurod2, Ckb, Tbc1d4, Ptprz1, Pvrl1, Kirrel3, Pvalb, and Asic2.


Perceived shifts in saturation and hue of chromatic stimuli in the near peripheral retina.
Using an asymmetric color matching technique, we measured the perceived changes that occur in the saturation and hue of colored stimuli at different eccentricities within the central 25 degrees of the human retina in nine color-normal subjects. A cone-opponent-based vector model was used to compute the activity of the L-M and S-(L+M) channels. The results show that a large proportion of the shifts in saturation and hue that occur with increasing retinal eccentricity are mirrored by decreased activity of the L-M channel. In comparison, the contribution of the S cone-opponent system undergoes relatively little change within the central 20 degrees . In addition, we also found that changes in saturation and hue are different from each other in terms of their variation across color space and their variation with stimulus size. Our findings suggest that perceived shifts in saturation and hue are mediated largely via the reduction in activation of the L-M cone-opponent channel but that saturation and hue might be subject to different retinal and/or cortical influences that contribute to their differing size dependencies in the peripheral retina.


How to approach the study of syndromes in macroevolution and ecology.
Syndromes, wherein multiple traits evolve convergently in response to a shared selective driver, form a central concept in ecology and evolution. Recent work has questioned the existence of some classic syndromes, such as pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. Here, we discuss some of the major issues that have afflicted research into syndromes in macroevolution and ecology. First, correlated evolution of traits and hypothesized selective drivers is often relied on as the only evidence for adaptation of those traits to those hypothesized drivers, without supporting evidence. Second, the selective driver is often inferred from a combination of traits without explicit testing. Third, researchers often measure traits that are easy for humans to observe rather than measuring traits that are suited to testing the hypothesis of adaptation. Finally, species are often chosen for study because of their striking phenotypes, which leads to the illusion of syndromes and divergence. We argue that these issues can be avoided by combining studies of trait variation across entire clades or communities with explicit tests of adaptive hypotheses and that taking this approach will lead to a better understanding of syndrome-like evolution and its drivers.


Kinetics of the apoptotic response induced by anti-IgM engagement of the B cell receptor is dependent on the density of cell surface immunoglobulin M expression.
The effect of B cell receptor (BCR) density on anti-BCR-induced apoptosis was assessed in Ramos cell lines, expressing low, medium, or high levels of surface IgM (sIgM(LO), sIgM(MED), sIgM(HI)). All cells required a 6-mug/ml threshold of anti-IgM to elicit apoptosis. Anti-IgM treatment of sIgM(LO) cells induced growth inhibition and limited dose-independent apoptosis. Anti-IgM treatment of sIgM(MED) cells induced dose-independent death with a 32-h lag. Ligation of the BCR in the sIgM(HI) cells induced rapid apoptosis beginning by 6 h, which was dose-dependent. Secondary crosslinking reagents did not affect apoptosis, and this effect was independent of anti-IgM concentration, time, or sIgM density. These results suggest that the response to BCR engagement strongly depends on the cell surface receptor density.


NMR structure of the water soluble Aβ17-34 peptide.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world. Its most significant symptoms are memory loss and decrease in cognition. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by aggregation of two proteins in the brain namely Aβ (amyloid β) and tau. Recent evidence suggests that the interaction of soluble Aβ with nAChR (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) contributes to disease progression. In this study, we determine the NMR structure of an Aβ17-34 peptide solubilized by the addition of two glutamic acids at each terminus. Our results indicate that the Aβ peptide adopts an α-helical structure for residues 19-26 and 28-33. The α-helical structure is broken around residues S26, N27 and K28, which form a kink in the helical conformation. This α-helix was not described earlier in an aqueous solution without organic solvents, and at physiological conditions (pH 7). These data are in agreement with Aβ adopting an α-helical conformation in the membrane before polymerizing into amyloid β-sheets and provide insight into the intermediate state of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease.


The management of dyspepsia.
Dyspepsia is a general term that describes pain or discomfort that is centred in the upper abdomen. It reportedly affects up to 40 per cent of adults in any one year. A test and treat strategy is now recommended for all patients with uncomplicated dyspepsia. Any patient presenting with alarm features, such as recurrent vomiting or dysphagia, should be referred to a specialist for further investigation.


Clinical review: management of difficult airways.
Difficulties or failure in airway management are still important factors in morbidity and mortality related to anesthesia and intensive care. A patent and secure airway is essential to manage anesthetized or critically ill patients. Oxygenation maintenance during tracheal intubation is the cornerstone of difficult airway management and is always emphasized in guidelines. The occurrence of respiratory adverse events has decreased in claims for injuries due to inadequate airway management mainly at induction of anesthesia. Nevertheless, claim reports emphasize that airway emergencies, tracheal extubation and/or recovery of anesthesia phases are still associated with death or brain damage, indicating that additional educational support and management strategies to improve patient safety are required. The present brief review analyses specific problems of airway management related to difficult tracheal intubation and to difficult mask ventilation prediction. The review will focus on basic airway management including preoxygenation, and on some oxygenation and tracheal intubation techniques that may be performed to solve a difficult airway.


Photorefractive effect due to a photoinduced surface-charge modulation in undoped liquid crystals.
We demonstrate that some peculiarities of the surface-induced photorefractive effect (SIPRE) in undoped nematic planar cells can be simply explained considering the electric field induced by a modulated surface-charge distribution. Polarization-dependent forced light scattering and two-beam coupling experiments indicate that the observed anisotropy of the diffraction efficiency and the energy transfer between the pump beams strongly depend on the experimental geometry. The investigation suggests that the unusual dichotomy between local and nonlocal behavior can be ascribed to a modulated longitudinal electric field component, in phase with the interference pattern, which is not accountable by the conventional photorefractivity. In a simple and general approach we demonstrate that the conceived charge distribution model for the SIPRE produces a space-charge field having two orthogonal modulated components, in-phase and pi/2 out of phase, respectively. The electric field configuration within the nematic sample gives reason for the main experimental features.


Association of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth With Heart Failure and Its Prediction for Short-Term Outcomes.
Background Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common pathological condition of intestinal microbiota. The prevalence of SIBO and its prognostic value in patients with heart failure (HF) are unknown. Methods and Results A total of 287 patients tested for SIBO using lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test were evaluated. At least 1 of the following criteria fulfilled was SIBO positive: patients with fasting hydrogen level ≥20 parts per million (ppm) or a ≥20 ppm rise in hydrogen by 90 minutes were diagnosed with SIBO (H2) positive; and patients with methane levels ≥10 ppm at any test point were diagnosed with SIBO (CH4) positive. The association between SIBO and the composite of cardiovascular death and HF rehospitalization was investigated. In 287 consecutive patients with HF, 128 (45%) were positive for SIBO. Our result showed SIBO increased the risk of HF rehospitalization in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (P<0.001), and the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with HF with preserved EF (P=0.011). SIBO was an independent risk factor of primary end point in patients with HF (hazard ratio [HR], 2.13; 95% CI; 1.26-3.58; P=0.005). In addition, SIBO (CH4) showed a prognostic value on adverse outcomes (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.38-4.02; P<0.001), whereas the association between SIBO (H2) and outcomes was not statistically significant. Conclusions There was high prevalence of SIBO in patients with HF, and SIBO was independently associated with poor outcomes. Proactive treatment for SIBO may provide extra benefit for patients with HF.