Susceptibility of various human tissues to transformation in vivo with human papillomavirus type 11.
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with proliferative lesions in a variety of human epithelial types. In some cases, the associations are highly specific in that a certain papillomavirus type may infect only one human epithelial cell phenotype. In other cases, one papillomavirus apparently infects several tissue types and not others. Further, HPV replication capacity varies considerably in different epithelia. Due to the lack of a suitable method, it has not been possible, until now, to define the role of the host cell phenotype in determining the outcome of infection with an HPV. We recently developed a system in which human epithelium was exposed to HPV-II and transplanted to athymic mice. Cervix and skin grafts developed into typical condylomata. We now test the hypothesis that the outcome of infection of diverse epithelial types with a single human papillomavirus is largely determined by the phenotype of the original epithelial cell. For example, skin obtained from a number of disparate sites from a single patient varied dramatically in its capacity for morphological transformation with HPV-II. Skin from penis was highly susceptible, but skin from abdomen did not transform. Vocal cord from 3 children and 2 adults responded to HPV-II infection by producing typical laryngeal papillomata. A variety of tissues were obtained from II donor infants and infected with HPV-II. Foreskin and cervical tissues of these children were transformed at a frequency of 100%. Vocal cord was transformed at an incidence of 88% and urethra at 73%. Only 37% of esophagus samples were transformed and both abdominal skin and urinary bladder from the same infants were totally resistant to morphological transformation. In a separate study, ureteral tissues from a child and an adult were completely resistant to HPV-II infection. Papillomavirus replication was readily detected as capsid antigen in foreskin, cervix, and urethra, but was poorly expressed in morphologically-transformed esophagi and vocal cords. In the last two tissues HPV-II DNA and RNA were demonstrated in cells by in situ hybridization techniques. We conclude that the epithelial cell phenotype is a major determinant of HPV-II infection, controlling both morphological transformation and viral replication.


Optimization of process parameters for the bioconversion of activated sludge by Penicillium corylophilum, using response surface methodology.
The optimization of process parameters for the bioconversion of activated sludge by Penicillium corylophilum was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The three parameters namely temperature of 33 degrees C, agitation of 150 r/min, and pH of 5 were chosen as center point from the previous study of fungal treatment. The experimental data on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (%) were fitted into a quadratic polynomial model using multiple regression analysis. The optimum process conditions were determined by analyzing response surface three-dimensional surface plot and contour plot and by solving the regression model equation with Design Expert software. Box-Behnken design technique under RSM was used to optimize their interactions, which showed that an incubation temperature of 32.5 degrees C, agitation of 105 r/min, and pH of 5.5 were the best conditions. Under these conditions, the maximum predicted yield of COD removal was 98.43%. These optimum conditions were used to evaluate the trail experiment, and the maximum yield of COD removal was recorded as 98.5%.


Behavioral effects of U-78875, a quinoxalinone anxiolytic with potent benzodiazepine antagonist activity.
U-78875 (3-(5-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-5-(1-methylethyl) imidazo[1,5-a]-quinoxalin-4(5H)-one) is a chemically novel compound with a high affinity for the benzodiazepine receptors. It has anticonflict effects in both the Vogel and Cook-Davidson models of anxiety, with a potency similar to that of diazepam (1-3 mg/kg, i.p.). In unanesthetized rats implanted with cortical electrodes for EEG recording, i.p. injections of U-78875 (3-10 mg/kg) increased the EEG power density in frequencies above 12 Hz, and decreased EEG power at lower frequencies. This EEG effect is similar to that of diazepam, and was completely antagonized by pretreatment with flumazenil. In animal models measuring central nervous system depression, U-78875 is much weaker than diazepam. It produced minimal impairment of rotarod performance in rats at doses up to 30 mg/kg, but at lower doses completely reversed the impairment from 10 mg/kg of diazepam. In rats trained to avoid shocks in a shuttle box, U-78875 (3-10 mg/kg) increased avoidance responses and antagonized the suppression of avoidance from diazepam (10 mg/kg). In the mouse one-trial passive avoidance task, pretreatment with U-78875 (1-10 mg/kg) before training produced no anterograde amnesia, but completely blocked the amnesic effect from diazepam (10 mg/kg). The diazepam antagonist potency for U-78875 is 10 to 100 times that of flumazenil. This unusual profile of mixed agonist/antagonist activities suggests U-78875 to be a unique anxiolytic agent with a minimum of central nervous system depression.


Quantitative bacteriological analysis of sputum as a test of antibiotic efficacy.
After 5 days of treatment, sputa were analyzed from 40 patients treated with sodium fusidate and 20 patients treated with naficillin. There was a significant decrease in the number of staphylococci, but no significant change in the other flora. The quantitative bacteriological analysis of sputum specimens proved to be a useful laboratory procedure for providing information on the in vivo effectiveness of specific antibacterial therapy in respiratory infections.


Isolated effect of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies in early pregnancy on gestational diabetes mellitus: a birth cohort study in China.
This article aims to understand the isolated effect of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in early pregnancy on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Based on a birth cohort, pregnant women presented to maternity hospitals for the first antenatal care from Nov 2008 to Oct 2010 were invited to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was asked to complete to collect data on socio-economic variables, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, method of conception, previous endocrinic and metabolic diseases, and pregnancy-related anxiety in 1st trimester of the index pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy BMI was measured. Serum samples were collected, and TSH, FT4 and TPOAb were assayed. GDM was confirmed from medical records screened on 24-28 gestational weeks by using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The prevalence of isolated subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroidemia and positive TPOAb in early pregnancy was 2.0%, 2.0% and 12.8%. Prevalence of GDM in women with the isolated sub-clinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinemia and positive TPOAb was 2.9%, 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively, which were all higher than that detected in euthyroidism women (1.2%). Women with isolated positive TPOAb had significantly higher TSH and lower FT4 level compared with euthyroidism women. It was found that isolated positive TPOAb in early pregnancy increased the risk of GDM, adjusted RR and 95%CI being 2.541(1.037-6.226). No significant relationships were identified between isolated sub-clinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia with GDM. In conclusion, isolated thyroid autoimmunity, represented by positive TPOAb, in early pregnancy were associated with GDM independent of TSH and FT4.


Cloning and sequence analysis of the rpsL and rpsG genes of Mycobacterium smegmatis and characterization of mutations causing resistance to streptomycin.
The Mycobacterium smegmatis rpsL and rpsG genes, encoding the ribosomal proteins S12 and S7, were cloned, and their DNA sequence was determined. The third nucleotide of the S12 termination codon overlapped the first nucleotide of the S7 translation initiation codon. A collection of 28 spontaneous streptomycin-resistant mutants of M. smegmatis were isolated. All had single-base-pair substitutions in the rpsL gene which were changed to a streptomycin-sensitive phenotype by complementation with a low-copy-number plasmid carrying the wild-type M. smegmatis rpsL gene. A total of eight different mutations were found in two specific regions of the rpsL gene. Fifty-seven percent (16 of 28) altered the Lys codon at position 43. Forty-six percent of the mutations (13 of 28) were due to a transition changing an AAG Lys codon to an AGG Arg codon, with eight changes at codon 43 and five at codon 88.


[Markers of coagulation/fibrinolysis in angitis].
Endothelial cells exhibit antithrombogenic properties, including PGI2 and NO production which inhibit platelet functions and induce blood vessel dilatation. Endothelium also produces thrombomodulin which converts thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. These antithrombogenic properties are altered by several factors, which include inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF) resulting hypercoagulable state in inflammation. Thus increased markers of coagulation/fibrinolysis were observed in angitis syndrome. The hypercoagulable state showing the activity of angitis may cause thrombosis and may act as a progressive factor for angitis.


Advances in the Treatment of Syndromic Midface Hypoplasia Using Monobloc and Facial Bipartition Distraction Osteogenesis.
Midface hypoplasia or retrusion remains a persistent feature of syndromic craniosynostosis years after successful treatment of the cranium. Although expansion of the cranial vault in infancy by traditional fronto-orbital advancement, posterior expansion, or both, can treat the immediate intracranial constriction, midface hypoplasia and its stigmata of exorbitism, sleep apnea, central face concavity, and malocclusion remain suboptimally treated. Initial enthusiasm for the procedures was tempered due to a high rate of infectious complications; timing and indications for surgery continue to stir controversy. During the last decade renewed interest with the monobloc and facial bipartition procedure using distraction osteogenesis with either an internal or external distraction system has decreased morbidity significantly. These procedures have re-emerged as powerful and comprehensive tools in the treatment of syndromic midface hypoplasia.


Regression of cutaneous neoplasms following delayed-type hypersensitivity challenge reactions to microbial antigens or lymphokines.
Induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity challenge reactions to microbial antigens at sites of neoplasms involving the skin resulted in regression of mycosis fungoides, reticulum cell sarcoma, superficial basal cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the breast. Similar reactions induced by lymphokine preparations also resulted in regression of lesions of mycosis fungoides and superficial basal cell carcinoma. The role of the large monomuclear cells in the inflammatory infiltrate of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction in eliciting the tumor regression is discussed. It is proposed that these large mononuclear cells represent the effectors in a primitive surveillance mechanism for neoplastic cells.


How Do Different Ingredients and Additives Affect the Production Steps and the Bioactive Potential of Mead?
Mead is a fermented alcoholic beverage that is made from honey diluted in water and commonly with the addition of other ingredients. The chemical characteristics of mead are closely related to the ingredients and additives that are used in its preparation, especially the type of honey, yeast strain and prefermentation nutrients, as well as herbs, spices and/or fruits. These additives can affect not only the fermentation process, in particular the yeast activity, the formation of metabolites and fermentation time, but also the bioactive potential of the mead, which mainly depends on phenolic compounds. Scientific studies have shown that the mead with added different plant species contains considerable amounts of different classes of polyphenols, which have important biological activities. Within this context, this review study seeks to investigate how different ingredients and additives can affect each of the stages of the preparation of mead, as well as its bioactive potential, in order to understand the effects on its chemical composition, and thus add greater commercial value to this beverage.


Fibrinogen as a risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction.
To study the possible risk factors for cardiovascular disease, we collected data on plasma levels of coagulation factors, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and smoking in a random sample of 792 men 54 years of age. During 13.5 years of follow-up, myocardial infarction occurred in 92 men, stroke in 37, and death from causes other than myocardial infarction or stroke in 60. The blood pressure, degree of smoking, serum cholesterol, and fibrinogen level measured at the base-line examination proved to be significant risk factors for infarction by univariate analyses during follow-up, and blood pressure and fibrinogen were risk factors for stroke. Fibrinogen and smoking were strongly related to each other. The relation between fibrinogen and infarction, and between fibrinogen and stroke, became weaker when blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and smoking habits were taken into account, but was still significant for stroke. Although causality cannot be inferred from these data, it is possible that the fibrinogen level plays an important part in the development of stroke and myocardial infarction.


Effects of pH and temperature on colloidal properties and molecular characteristics of Konjac glucomannan.
The hydrocolloidal characteristics of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) are important for its application as a thickening and gelling agent for liquid foods. In this study, the rheological behavior and molecular properties such as molar mass, hydrodynamic radius and chain conformation of KGM in water were determined at various pH levels (4.0-10.0) during heating from 20 to 80 °C. Acidic and neutral conditions (pH 4.0-7.0) promoted the dispersion of KGM, and alkaline condition at pH 10 favored its aggregation in water, while KGM maintained a random coil conformation in the whole pH range. Associated with the pH effects were changes in the rheological behavior during heating from 20 to 80 °C. The significant differences in the colloidal and rheological characteristics were mainly attributed to alteration of intermolecular interaction (attractive or repulsive) rather than deacetylation at various pH levels. Deacetylation occurred in both acidic and alkaline condition. The second virial value was positive in acidic and negative in alkaline condition. The results showed that hydrocolloidal characteristics of KGM in water were significantly affected by pH.


Nonafluorobutanesulfonyl azide as a shelf-stable highly reactive oxidant for the copper-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-diynes from terminal alkynes.
Nonafluorobutanesulfonyl azide is a highly efficient reagent for the copper-catalyzed coupling of terminal alkynes to give symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes in good to excellent yields and with good functional group compatibility. The reaction is extremely fast (<10 min), even at low temperature (−78 °C), and requires substoichiometric amounts of a simple copper(I) or copper(II) salt (2–5 mol %) and an organic base (0.6 mol %). A possible mechanistic pathway is briefly discussed on the basis of model DFT theoretical calculations. The quantitative assessment of the safety of use and shelf stability of nonafluorobutanesulfonyl azide has confirmed that this reagent is a superior and safe alternative to other electrophilic azide reagents in use today.


Relationships among pain, depressed mood, and global status in fibromyalgia patients: post hoc analyses of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of milnacipran.
Patients with fibromyalgia often experience depressive symptoms in addition to chronic pain and other characteristic symptoms associated with this disorder. To examine the relationships among pain, depressive symptoms, and global status in a clinical trial of milnacipran for fibromyalgia. Data from a randomized, double-blind study (milnacipran 100 mg/d, n = 516; placebo, n = 509) were analyzed. Treatment outcomes included quantitative changes in pain and Beck depression inventory (BDI) scores, mean Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scores, and three responder endpoints: patients with ≥30% pain improvement, PGIC score ≤2, and patients meeting both pain and PGIC responder criteria (2-measure composite responders). Correlations and path analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships among improvements in depressive symptoms, pain, and PGIC. Patients receiving milnacipran had greater decreases in mean pain scores, lower mean PGIC endpoint scores, and higher responder rates regardless of baseline severity of depressive symptoms. The highest responder rates were found in patients with greater than four-point improvement in BDI scores (milnacipran vs. placebo: pain, 57.5% vs. 39.0%; PGIC, 60.1% vs. 38.2%; 2-measure composite, 49.0% vs. 27.9%; all p < 0.01), although significant differences between treatment groups were also found in patients with no improvement or worsening of depressive symptoms. Correlations between changes in BDI and changes in pain or PGIC were low (r ≤ 0.3). Path analyses indicated 87.2% of pain reduction to be a direct effect of milnacipran treatment. Symptom improvements with milnacipran were only weakly associated with baseline depressive symptoms and were largely independent of improvements in depressive symptomatology.


Tribological properties of poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) films: influence of polymer architecture and adsorbed conformation.
The tribological properties of poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG)-coated oxide interfaces have been investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a function of the molecular structure. Polymer-bearing surfaces were obtained via spontaneous adsorption of the polymer onto the oxide substrate from a buffered solution of physiological pH. Interfacial friction of these PLL-g-PEG-coated surfaces was found to be highly dependent on the duration of deposition and the architecture of PLL-g-PEG. In terms of the architecture, the PEG chain length and the grafting ratio (i.e., the molar ratio of L-lysine monomer to PEG side chain) of adsorbed PLL-g-PEG significantly influence the interfacial friction; specifically, friction is reduced as the PEG chain length increases and as the molar ratio of L-lysine monomer to PEG side chain decreases. The characteristics of the polymer deposition time and the influence of the lysine/PEG grafting ratio are rationalized in terms of spatial packing density considerations.


Effect of rosuvastatin and sevelamer on the progression of coronary artery calcification in chronic kidney disease: a pilot study.
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is highly prevalent among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and its strong association with mortality has been recognized early in the course of CKD. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of rosuvastatin and sevelamer hydrochloride on the progression of CAC in nondialyzed CKD patients. An open-label, randomized and controlled pilot study was conducted including 117 CKD patients (62% men, 56.9 ± 11.2 years, eGFR 36 ± 16.5 ml/min). Patients were randomly assigned to rosuvastatin (n = 38; 10 mg/day), to sevelamer hydrochloride (n = 38; 2,400 mg/day) and to control (n = 41) groups. CAC (by multislice computed tomography) and biochemical analyses were performed at baseline and after 24 months. At baseline, CAC was observed in 55%, 58% and 61% of patients in the rosuvastatin, sevelamer hydrochloride and control groups, respectively (p = 0.87). Calcium score at baseline as well as its absolute and relative changes during 24 months were similar among the groups. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) was higher and decreased significantly in the rosuvastatin group (p < 0.01). The analysis adjusting for LDL-c showed that the drug regimens were not associated with the progression of CAC (drug effect p = 0.85; time-effect p < 0.001; interaction p = 0.76). Treatment with rosuvastatin and sevelamer hydrochloride may not delay the progression of CAC in non-dialysis dependent CKD patients.


Multisensory training can promote or impede visual perceptual learning of speech stimuli: visual-tactile vs. visual-auditory training.
In a series of studies we have been investigating how multisensory training affects unisensory perceptual learning with speech stimuli. Previously, we reported that audiovisual (AV) training with speech stimuli can promote auditory-only (AO) perceptual learning in normal-hearing adults but can impede learning in congenitally deaf adults with late-acquired cochlear implants. Here, impeder and promoter effects were sought in normal-hearing adults who participated in lipreading training. In Experiment 1, visual-only (VO) training on paired associations between CVCVC nonsense word videos and nonsense pictures demonstrated that VO words could be learned to a high level of accuracy even by poor lipreaders. In Experiment 2, visual-auditory (VA) training in the same paradigm but with the addition of synchronous vocoded acoustic speech impeded VO learning of the stimuli in the paired-associates paradigm. In Experiment 3, the vocoded AO stimuli were shown to be less informative than the VO speech. Experiment 4 combined vibrotactile speech stimuli with the visual stimuli during training. Vibrotactile stimuli were shown to promote visual perceptual learning. In Experiment 5, no-training controls were used to show that training with visual speech carried over to consonant identification of untrained CVCVC stimuli but not to lipreading words in sentences. Across this and previous studies, multisensory training effects depended on the functional relationship between pathways engaged during training. Two principles are proposed to account for stimulus effects: (1) Stimuli presented to the trainee's primary perceptual pathway will impede learning by a lower-rank pathway. (2) Stimuli presented to the trainee's lower rank perceptual pathway will promote learning by a higher-rank pathway. The mechanisms supporting these principles are discussed in light of multisensory reverse hierarchy theory (RHT).


Geographic and demographic differences in the frequency of human cytomegalovirus gB genotypes 1-4 in immunocompromised patients.
To test the hypothesis that human cytomegalovirus (CMV) gB genotype may differ with geographic origin or patient demographics, CMV DNA was amplified for gB typing from immunocompromised patients in Italy and Africa and compared with previously reported frequencies in California. Increased gB2 frequency occurred in Italian homosexual AIDS patients, as compared with both Italian heterosexual injection drug users with AIDS and heterosexual Zimbabwe AIDS patients. Occurrence of gB3 in Italy was higher in injection drug users than in homosexual AIDS patients. The incidence of gB4 was higher overall in the Italian as compared with the California patients. Therefore geographic and demographic differences in patients affect gB distribution and should be considered before associations of gB genotypes and virulence are made.


Dynamics and Kinetics Study of "In-Water" Chemical Reactions by Enhanced Sampling of Reactive Trajectories.
High potential energy barriers and engagement of solvent coordinates set challenges for in silico studies of chemical reactions, and one is quite commonly limited to study reactions along predefined reaction coordinate(s). A systematic protocol, QM/MM MD simulations using enhanced sampling of reactive trajectories (ESoRT), is established to quantitatively study chemical transitions in complex systems. A number of trajectories for Claisen rearrangement in water and toluene were collected and analyzed, respectively. Evidence was found that the bond making and breaking during this reaction are concerted processes in solutions, preferentially through a chairlike configuration. Water plays an important dynamic role that helps stabilize the transition sate, and the dipole-dipole interaction between water and the solute also lowers the transition barrier. The calculated rate coefficient is consistent with the experimental measurement. Compared with water, the reaction pathway in toluene is "narrower" and the reaction rate is slower by almost three orders of magnitude due to the absence of proper interactions to stabilize the transition state. This study suggests that the "in-water" nature of the Claisen rearrangement in aqueous solution influences its thermodynamics, kinetics, as well as dynamics.


Changing children's eating behaviour - A review of experimental research.
The interest in children's eating behaviours and how to change them has been growing in recent years. This review examines the following questions: What strategies have been used to change children's eating behaviours? Have their effects been experimentally demonstrated? And, are the effects transient or enduring? Medline and Cab abstract (Ovid) and Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) were used to identify the experimental studies. A total of 120 experimental studies were identified and they are presented grouped within these 11 topics; parental control, reward, social facilitation, cooking programs, school gardens, sensory education, availability and accessibility, choice architecture and nudging, branding and food packaging, preparation and serving style, and offering a choice. In conclusion, controlling strategies for changing children's eating behaviour in a positive direction appear to be counterproductive. Hands-on approaches such as gardening and cooking programs may encourage greater vegetable consumption and may have a larger effect compared to nutrition education. Providing children with free, accessible fruits and vegetables have been experimentally shown to positively affect long-term eating behaviour. The authors recommend future research to examine how taste and palatability can positively affect children's attitudes and eating behaviour.


Phase analysis of platelet aggregation in acute disturbances of cerebral circulation.
In 120 patients with atherosclerosis, complicated in 43 patients by a haemorrhagic, in 47 patients by an ischaemic, and in 30 patients by a transient cerebral insult, phase analysis of platelet aggregation was performed by the turbidimetric method according to Born with graphic recording according to O'Brien. An increase in the platelet activity was found in ischaemic insult, manifesting itself by the occurrence of spontaneous aggregationin 60% of the cases, an acceleration of ADP-induced aggregation, and the second aggregation phase in all patients examined. A direct correlation was revealed between the secondary aggregation and the intensity of spontaneous and of ADP-induced aggregation, and the possibility of a transformation of the spontaneous into the secondary aggregation of platelets was demonstrated. Haemorrhagic insults were characterized by the absence of spontaneous and secondary aggregation and by the suppression of ADP-induced aggregation. In a transient insult, the mean values of the aggregatogram items did differ from normal. In vitro, the role of increased permeability of platelet membranes in the mechanism triggering off spontaneous aggregation and the second phase of ADP-induced aggregation was documented.


Reduction of Salmonella on turkey breast cutlets by plant-derived compounds.
The foodborne illnesses associated with poultry meat due to Salmonella are a major concern in the United States. In this study, the antimicrobial efficacy of carvacrol, eugenol, thyme essential oil, and trans-cinnamaldehyde was determined against different Salmonella serotypes in vitro and on turkey breast cutlets. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antimicrobial agents were determined using a microdilution colorimetric assay. Carvacrol was the most effective antimicrobial agent since it exhibited the lowest MIC and MBC (0.313 μL/mL, respectively) in culture media against Salmonella. Turkey breast cutlets inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Heidelberg, and Salmonella Typhimurium were dip treated with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 5% vol/vol) of carvacrol, eugenol, thyme essential oil, and trans-cinnamaldehyde for 2 min. Samples were analyzed after 24-h storage at 4°C for recovery of Salmonella. Significant reductions of Salmonella (p≤0.05) on turkey breast cutlets were obtained with 1, 2, and 5% treatments. These compounds exhibited a concentration-dependent response on turkey breast cutlets against Salmonella. For example, 1% carvacrol resulted in 1.0 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g reduction of Salmonella whereas 5% carvacrol caused 2.6 log CFU/g reduction. Based on its efficacy in the 2-min dip study, carvacrol was selected for 30-s and 60-s dip treatments of Salmonella-inoculated turkey breast cutlets. Dipping turkey breast cutlets in 5% carvacrol for 30 s and 60 s resulted in 1.0 and 1.8 log reductions of Salmonella (p≤0.05), respectively. None of the antimicrobial agents caused any changes in the meat pH (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that plant-derived compounds such as carvacrol can reduce Salmonella on turkey breast cutlets without changing the pH of meat.


The group therapist's shame: a much undiscussed topic.
The topic of shame in group therapy has received limited attention in the group therapy literature. When the topic has been addressed, the focus has been on the shame of the group members. The shame of the group leader and its effect on leadership efficacy and group process has received inadequate attention, given what seems to be its power and prevalence. In this article we examine shame and the group therapist with regard to (1) potentially shameful topics and (2) dynamics that evoke shame. Suggestions for both the mitigation of shame and the enhancement of the leader's self-esteem in dispatching the role and functions of group therapist are offered. In discussing this subject, we propose to normalize group therapist shame by emphasizing the challenges and complexity of group leadership. While the examples illustrate an array of emotions, our purpose is to focus on their shameful elements because they are (1) frequently ignored or overlooked; (2) not made explicit; or (3) discussed in other terms, such as narcissism. In doing so, we invite the reader to consider the clinical utility of the hypothesis that shame has a powerful presence and impact on our leadership image and effectiveness.


The incidence and outcome of perioperative pulmonary aspiration in a university hospital: a 4-year retrospective analysis.
We evaluated the current incidence and outcome of perioperative pulmonary aspiration (PPA) in the nonobstetric adult population at a tertiary university medical center. A 4-yr retrospective analysis (January 2001-December 2004) was conducted using both quality improvement data and the hospital-wide medical archive recording system. PPA was defined as either detection of nonrespiratory secretions from the tracheobronchial tree or development of new pulmonary symptoms and/or new abnormalities in chest radiographs within 24 hr postoperatively. Of 99,441 anesthetics, 14 cases had confirmed PPA. Seven of them (50%) occurred in connection with gastroesophageal procedures. All patients had one or more predisposing risk factors for PPA. PPA occurred under general anesthesia in 10 patients and under monitored anesthesia care in 4 patients. In general anesthesia cases, the aspiration was recognized immediately after induction in 5 patients and occurred during changing of the endotracheal tubes in 5. The PPA was detected during the surgical procedures in all the monitored anesthesia care cases. Six patients with confirmed PPA developed pulmonary complications, of which, one died. Ten of 14 (70%) cases of PPA were the result of improper anesthesia technique. The current incidence of PPA is 1 of 7103, with morbidity 1 of 16,573 and mortality 1 of 99,441.


[An integrative metabolomics and network pharmacology method for exploring bioactive components and preliminary pharmacodynamics in medicinal parts of Harrisonia perforata].
In this paper,metabolomics and network pharmacology were used to investigate the bioactive components of Harrisonia perforata and their possible mechanisms of action. Metabolites in the flowers,fruits,branches,leaves and stalks of H. perforata were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Meanwhile,multiple statistical analysis methods including principal component analysis( PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis( OPLS-DA)were applied to screen and identify differential compounds. With metabolomics method,9 differential compounds were preliminarily identified from leaves and other non-traditional medicinal parts. Subsequently,these compounds were explored by using network pharmacology. With gastrointestinal absorption and drug-likeness as limiting conditions,they were imported into the Swiss ADME,from which 7 compounds with potential medicinal activity were obtained. Then,their targets were predicted by PharmMapper,with Human Protein Targets Only and Normalized Fit Score>0. 9 set as limiting conditions,and 60 standardized potential targets were identified with Uniprot. KEGG( Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathway data was obtained using metascape and the " potential active ingredients-target-pathway" network was constructed with Cytoscape 3. 7. 2. The enrichment analysis of KEGG demonstrated that the 60 targets were enriched in 78 signaling pathways( min overlap: 3,P value cutoff: 0. 01,min enrichment: 1. 5),many of which are related to anti-bacteria,anti-inflammation and anti-virus,such as IL-17 signaling pathway,RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Finally,depending on the clinical activity of H. perforata,the relevant signaling pathways were analyzed through experimental data and literature. Dehydroconiferyl alcohol was reported to have the anti-inflammatory effect and perforamone D to possess the antimycobacterial activity. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that dehydroconiferyl alcohol could act on the Alzheimer's disease( AD) signaling pathway by targeting CDK5 R1 and BACE1. ACh E inhibitor is the most promising drug to treat AD,while dehydroconiferyl alcohol has been proved to inhibit ACh E according to literature. The experimental results revealed that the extract of leaves of H. perforata can effectively inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. These are consistent with the enrichment analysis results of KEGG. This study explored the bioactive components and pharmacodynamics of the leaves of the H. perforata,laying a theoretical foundation for its in-depth development and rational application.


Human sirtuins are differentially sensitive to inhibition by nitrosating agents and other cysteine oxidants.
Sirtuins (e.g. human Sirt1-7) catalyze the removal of acyl groups from lysine residues in proteins in an NAD+-dependent manner, and loss of sirtuin deacylase activity correlates with the development of aging-related diseases. Although multiple reports suggest that sirtuin activity is regulated by oxidative post-translational modifications of cysteines during inflammation and aging, no systematic comparative study of potential direct sirtuin cysteine oxidative modifications has been performed. Here, using IC50 and kinact/KI analyses, we quantified the ability of nitrosothiols (S-nitrosoglutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-d,l-penicillamine), nitric oxide, oxidized GSH, and hydrogen peroxide to post-translationally modify and inhibit the deacylase activity of Sirt1, Sirt2, Sirt3, Sirt5, and Sirt6. The inhibition was correlated with cysteine modification and assessed with chemical-probe and blot-based assays for cysteine S-nitrosation, sulfenylation, and glutathionylation. We show that the primarily nuclear sirtuins Sirt1 and Sirt6, as well as the primarily cytosolic sirtuin Sirt2, are modified and inhibited by cysteine S-nitrosation in response to exposure to both free nitric oxide and nitrosothiols (kinact/KI ≥ 5 m-1 s-1), which is the first report of Sirt2 and Sirt6 inhibition by S-nitrosation. Surprisingly, the mitochondrial sirtuins Sirt3 and Sirt5 were resistant to inhibition by cysteine oxidants. Collectively, these results suggest that nitric oxide-derived oxidants may causatively link nuclear and cytosolic sirtuin inhibition to aging-related inflammatory disease development.


Aliifodinibius roseus gen. nov., sp. nov., and Aliifodinibius sediminis sp. nov., two moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from salt mine samples.
Two rod-shaped, non-motile bacteria were isolated from two separate salt mines in Yunnan, south-western China. These strains, designated YIM D15(T) and YIM J21(T), were Gram-negative and moderately halophilic. The two strains required 6-10 % NaCl (w/v; optimal) for growth. The DNA G+C contents of strains YIM D15(T) and YIM J21(T) were 49.0 mol% and 48.4 mol%, respectively. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The polar lipid profiles of strains YIM D15(T) and YIM J21(T) were composed predominantly of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unknown polar lipids and one glycolipid. Minor amounts of other lipids were also detectable. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c/10 methyl-C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the two isolates formed a distinct clade with the genus Fodinibius (in the phylum Bacteroidetes) and were related to the species Fodinibius salinus, with sequence similarities of 91.9-92.4 %. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains YIM D15(T) and YIM J21(T) were related to each other (97.3 % sequence similarity). The DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness between the two isolates was 34 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strains YIM D15(T) and YIM J21(T) should be classified as members of a novel genus and as two novel species, for which the names Aliifodinibius roseus gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain YIM D15(T) = ACCC 10715(T) = KCTC 23442(T)) and Aliifodinibius sediminis sp. nov. (type strain YIM J21(T) = ACCC 10714(T) = DSM 21194(T)) are proposed.


Correlation between the expressions of circular RNAs in peripheral venous blood and clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Recent studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the expression of preoperative peripheral venous blood circRNAs in HCC patients and their predictive ability for microvascular invasion (MVI). Seven circRNAs (circMTO1, circ-10720, circZKSCAN1, cSMARCA5, circHIPK3, circSETD3 and ciRS-7) were screened from the literature as circRNAs with reported biological functions in HCC. The expression levels of seven circRNAs in preoperative blood samples and HCC tissues were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The correlations between the circRNA expressions in blood and the clinicopathological factors of HCC patients were analyzed. The risk factors of MVI were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The functional role of circSETD3 in cell migration and invasion was evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays in vitro. The expressions of all seven circRNAs were measured in peripheral venous blood samples. The venous expression levels of circHIPK3 and circMTO1 were significantly associated with gender, while circ-10720 and circMTO1 levels were significantly correlated with gross vascular invasion. Furthermore, circMTO1 and cSMARCA5 levels were significantly associated with alpha-fetoprotein level and ciRS-7 was significantly associated with satellite nodules. Importantly, low venous circSETD3 expression was significantly associated with prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) level, MVI, gross vascular invasion, and liver capsule. Furthermore, venous circSETD3 expression had predictive ability for MVI. Knockdown of circSETD3 promoted cell invasion and metastasis in vitro. CircRNAs were stably present in peripheral venous blood and associated with multiple clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients. Venous circSETD3 was an independent risk factor of MVI and shows ability to predict MVI in HCC patients before surgery.


Evolutionary neuroscience of cumulative culture.
Culture suffuses all aspects of human life. It shapes our minds and bodies and has provided a cumulative inheritance of knowledge, skills, institutions, and artifacts that allows us to truly stand on the shoulders of giants. No other species approaches the extent, diversity, and complexity of human culture, but we remain unsure how this came to be. The very uniqueness of human culture is both a puzzle and a problem. It is puzzling as to why more species have not adopted this manifestly beneficial strategy and problematic because the comparative methods of evolutionary biology are ill suited to explain unique events. Here, we develop a more particularistic and mechanistic evolutionary neuroscience approach to cumulative culture, taking into account experimental, developmental, comparative, and archaeological evidence. This approach reconciles currently competing accounts of the origins of human culture and develops the concept of a uniquely human technological niche rooted in a shared primate heritage of visuomotor coordination and dexterous manipulation.


Dickkopf 3 Promotes the Differentiation of a Rostrolateral Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuronal Subset In Vivo and from Pluripotent Stem Cells In Vitro in the Mouse.
Wingless-related MMTV integration site 1 (WNT1)/β-catenin signaling plays a crucial role in the generation of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons, including the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) subpopulation that preferentially degenerates in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the precise functions of WNT1/β-catenin signaling in this context remain unknown. Stem cell-based regenerative (transplantation) therapies for PD have not been implemented widely in the clinical context, among other reasons because of the heterogeneity and incomplete differentiation of the transplanted cells. This might result in tumor formation and poor integration of the transplanted cells into the dopaminergic circuitry of the brain. Dickkopf 3 (DKK3) is a secreted glycoprotein implicated in the modulation of WNT/β-catenin signaling. Using mutant mice, primary ventral midbrain cells, and pluripotent stem cells, we show that DKK3 is necessary and sufficient for the correct differentiation of a rostrolateral mdDA neuron subset. Dkk3 transcription in the murine ventral midbrain coincides with the onset of mdDA neurogenesis and is required for the activation and/or maintenance of LMX1A (LIM homeobox transcription factor 1α) and PITX3 (paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3) expression in the corresponding mdDA precursor subset, without affecting the proliferation or specification of their progenitors. Notably, the treatment of differentiating pluripotent stem cells with recombinant DKK3 and WNT1 proteins also increases the proportion of mdDA neurons with molecular SNc DA cell characteristics in these cultures. The specific effects of DKK3 on the differentiation of rostrolateral mdDA neurons in the murine ventral midbrain, together with its known prosurvival and anti-tumorigenic properties, make it a good candidate for the improvement of regenerative and neuroprotective strategies in the treatment of PD. Significance statement: We show here that Dickkopf 3 (DKK3), a secreted modulator of WNT (Wingless-related MMTV integration site)/β-catenin signaling, is both necessary and sufficient for the proper differentiation and survival of a rostrolateral (parabrachial pigmented nucleus and dorsomedial substantia nigra pars compacta) mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neuron subset, using Dkk3 mutant mice and murine primary ventral midbrain and pluripotent stem cells. The progressive loss of these dopamine-producing mesodiencephalic neurons is a hallmark of human Parkinson's disease, which can up to now not be halted by clinical treatments of this disease. Thus, the soluble DKK3 protein might be a promising new agent for the improvement of current protocols for the directed differentiation of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells into mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neurons and for the promotion of their survival in situ.


Spontaneous Avian Erythroblastosis in a Chicken Confirmed by Immunohistochemical Detection of Hemoglobin in Tumor Cells.
Avian erythroblastosis (AE; erythroid leukosis) was detected in a 78-day-old Japanese native chicken. At necropsy, the liver was enlarged and diffusely dark red in color. Moderate splenomegaly was observed. Histologically, round to polygonal tumor cells were observed only in the blood vessels of the liver and other organs. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections to characterize tumor cells. Tumor cells, as well as normal erythrocytes as positive controls, were consistently positive for IHC by using the commercially available anti-human hemoglobin antibody. Exogenous avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroup B and endogenous ALV-E genes were detected by PCR, although ultrastructural observation revealed no viral particles associated with tumor cells. Results suggest that the commercial anti-human hemoglobin antibody used in the study cross-react to chicken erythrocytes on FFPE sections by IHC and can also be used for definitive diagnosis of the spontaneous case of AE in chickens.


Palindromic Sequence-Targeted (PST) PCR, Version 2: An Advanced Method for High-Throughput Targeted Gene Characterization and Transposon Display.
Genome walking (GW), a strategy for capturing previously unsequenced DNA fragments that are in proximity to a known sequence tag, is currently predominantly based on PCR. Recently developed PCR-based methods allow for combining of sequence-specific primers with designed capturing primers capable of annealing to unknown DNA targets, thereby offering the rapidity and effectiveness of PCR. This study presents a methodological improvement to the previously described GW technique known as palindromic sequence-targeted PCR (PST-PCR). Like PST-PCR, this new method (called PST-PCR v.2) relies on targeting of capturing primers to palindromic sequences arbitrarily present in natural DNA templates. PST-PCR v.2 consists of two rounds of PCR. The first round uses a combination of one sequence-specific primer with one capturing (PST) primer. The second round uses a combination of a single (preferred) or two universal primers; one anneals to a 5' tail attached to the sequence-specific primer and the other anneals to a different 5' tail attached to the PST primer. The key advantage of PST-PCR v.2 is the convenience of using a single universal primer with invariable sequences in GW processes involving various templates. The entire procedure takes approximately 2-3 h to produce the amplified PCR fragment, which contains a portion of a template flanked by the sequence-specific and capturing primers. PST-PCR v.2 is highly suitable for simultaneous work with multiple samples. For this reason, PST-PCR v.2 can be applied beyond the classical task of GW for studies in population genetics, in which PST-PCR v.2 is a preferred alternative to amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) or next-generation sequencing. Furthermore, the conditions for PST-PCR v.2 are easier to optimize, as only one sequence-specific primer is used. This reduces non-specific random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-like amplification and formation of non-templated amplification. Importantly, akin to the previous version, PST-PCR v.2 is not sensitive to template DNA sequence complexity or quality. This study illustrates the utility of PST-PCR v.2 for transposon display (TD), which is a method to characterize inter- or intra-specific variability related to transposon integration sites. The Ac transposon sequence in the maize (Zea mays) genome was used as a sequence tag during the TD procedure to characterize the Ac integration sites.


[Female homicide victims in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, 2009-2010: a descriptive study].
This study investigated the epidemiological profile of female homicide victims in Recife, Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil. An observational descriptive and prospective study included all homicides from March 2009 to February 2010 with female victims from Recife, 10 to 49 years of age. A questionnaire was used to record socioeconomic, demographic, and biological risk factors. Relatives of the victims were interviewed, and data were collected from death certificates. We identified 60 homicides during the study period. Most victims were adult women with brown skin color and low schooling and low income. Other characteristics included smoking in 39.7%, alcohol and illicit drugs in 48.3% and 24.1%, respectively, and physical and/or sexual violence in the 12 months prior to the murder in 29.3%. Firearms were used in 69% of these homicides.


AIDS and the mycoses.
Profoundly immunoincompetent, patients with AIDS are vulnerable to myriad opportunistic bacterial, viral, protozoal, and fungal pathogens. Opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS are often severe, persistent, and relapsing despite appropriate therapy. Some infections are virtually untreatable. This article describes the mycotic complications in these patients.


Development of a novel method to populate native disulfide-bonded intermediates for structural characterization of proteins: implications for the mechanism of oxidative folding of RNase A.
RNase A, a model protein for oxidative folding studies, has four native disulfide bonds. The roles of des [40-95] and des [65-72], the two native-like structured three-disulfide-bonded intermediates populated between 8 and 25 degrees C during the oxidative folding of RNase A, are well characterized. Recent work focuses on both the formation of these structured disulfide intermediates from their unstructured precursors and on the subsequent oxidation of the structured species to form the native protein. The major obstacles in this work are the very low concentration of the precursor species and the difficulty of isolating some of the structured intermediates. Here, we demonstrate a novel method that enables the native disulfide-bonded intermediates to be populated and studied regardless of whether they have stable structure and/or are present at low concentrations during the oxidative folding or reductive unfolding process. The application of this method enabled us to populate and, in turn, study the key intermediates with two native disulfide bonds on the oxidative folding pathway of RNase A; it also facilitated the isolation of des [58-110] and des [26-84], the other two native-like structured des species whose isolation had thus far not been possible.


Errors associated with digital preview of computer-engineered complete dentures and guidelines for reducing them: A technique article.
Patient reports, clinical studies, and systematic reviews reveal a rapid increase in interest in computer-engineered complete dentures (CECDs). The advantages of CECDs include a reduced number of visits, improved fit and retention, and electronic archiving. However, patient dissatisfaction has been reported with CECDs, which may be due to the lack of a trial placement appointment. This technique article identifies errors that occur when CECDs are previewed digitally and proposes guidelines and a checklist to reduce complications such as inadequate esthetics, poor tooth arrangement, misaligned occlusal plane, and inappropriate denture base characteristics.


Improved shear wave motion detection using coded excitation for transient elastography.
Transient elastography (TE) is well adapted for use in studying liver elasticity. However, because the shear wave motion signal is extracted from the ultrasound signal, the weak ultrasound signal can significantly deteriorate the shear wave motion tracking process and make it challenging to detect the shear wave motion in a severe noise environment, such as within deep tissues and within obese patients. This paper, therefore, investigated the feasibility of implementing coded excitation in TE for shear wave detection, with the hypothesis that coded ultrasound signals can provide robustness to weak ultrasound signals compared with traditional short pulse. The Barker 7, Barker 13, and short pulse were used for detecting the shear wave in the TE application. Two phantom experiments and one in vitro liver experiment were done to explore the performances of the coded excitation in TE measurement. The results show that both coded pulses outperform the short pulse by providing superior shear wave signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), robust shear wave speed measurement, and higher penetration intensity. In conclusion, this study proved the feasibility of applying coded excitation in shear wave detection for TE application. The proposed method has the potential to facilitate robust shear elasticity measurements of tissue.


Three-dimensional broadband light beam manipulation in forward scattering samples.
Focusing light into highly disordered biological tissue is a major challenge in optical microscopy and biomedical imaging due to scattering. However, correlations in the scattering matrix, known as "memory effects", can be used to improve imaging capabilities. Here we discuss theoretically and numerically the possibility to achieve three-dimensional ultrashort laser focusing and scanning inside forward scattering media, beyond the scattering mean free path, by simultaneously taking advantage of the angular and the chromato-axial memory effects. The numerical model is presented in details, is validated within the state of the art theoretical and experimental framework and is finally used to propose a scheme for focusing ultra-short laser pulses in depth through forward scattering media.


Hormetic mechanisms.
This article provides the first extensive documentation of mechanisms of hormetic dose/concentration responses. The mechanisms selected were principally those mediated via receptor and/or cell signaling pathways. Mechanisms are reported for greater than 100 agents affecting nearly 400 dose/concentration responses from a wide range of chemical classes, affecting a broad range of cell types and endpoints. Regardless of the model (i.e. in vitro or in vivo), inducing agent, endpoint, or receptor/cell signaling pathway mediated mechanism, the quantitative features of the hormetic dose/concentration responses are similar, suggesting that the magnitude of the response is a measure of biological plasticity, within a broad range of biological contexts. These findings represent an important advance in the understanding of the hormetic dose/concentration response, its generalizability and potential biomedical applications, including drug discovery/efficacy assessment and the risk assessment process.


Marking and measuring single microtubules by PRC1 and kinesin-4.
Error-free cell division depends on the assembly of the spindle midzone, a specialized array of overlapping microtubules that emerges between segregating chromosomes during anaphase. The molecular mechanisms by which a subset of dynamic microtubules from the metaphase spindle are selected and organized into a stable midzone array are poorly understood. Here, we show using in vitro reconstitution assays that PRC1 and kinesin-4, two microtubule-associated proteins required for midzone assembly, can tag microtubule plus ends. Remarkably, the size of these tags is proportional to filament length. We determine the crystal structure of the PRC1 homodimer and map the protein-protein interactions needed for tagging microtubule ends. Importantly, length-dependent microtubule plus-end-tagging by PRC1 is also observed in dividing cells. Our findings suggest how biochemically similar microtubules can be differentially marked, based on length, for selective regulation during the formation of specialized arrays, such as those required for cytokinesis.


Requirement of a second oxidation equivalent for ferryl oxygen transfer to styrene in the epoxidation catalyzed by myoglobin-H2O2.
Ferric myoglobin (Mb) is oxidized by H2O2 to a ferryl (FeIV = O) species and a protein radical, whereas ferrous Mb is similarly oxidized to the ferryl species without the protein radical. The protein radical is unstable and decays within 5 min, but the ferryl species is stable for more than 1 h. Previous studies have shown that styrene is oxidized to styrene oxide and benzaldehyde by ferric Mb and H2O2. We demonstrate here that the ferryl species produced from ferrous equine Mb and H2O2 does not epoxidize styrene. Furthermore, the EPR signal intensity of the protein radical formed from ferric equine Mb and the ability to oxidize styrene decrease in parallel as a function of the time separating the addition of H2O2 and styrene. The ability to oxidize styrene as a function of time after addition of H2O2 is lost much more rapidly with the H64V/K102Q/Y103F/Y146F/Y151F mutant of sperm whale Mb than with the native protein or the Y146F/Y151F mutant. The results indicate that styrene epoxidation requires a two-electron oxidized species of Mb in which the ferryl (FeIV = O) complex is coupled to a protein or highly transient (undetectable) porphyrin radical. Benzaldehyde formation appears to be catalyzed by the same oxidizing species. Styrene oxidation thus differs from linoleic acid oxygenation, which is catalyzed by the ferryl species alone.


[Changes of serum HBsAg in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis patients with sustained viral response to long-term lamivudine treatment].
HBsAg loss is rare in chronic hepatitis B patients, even in the patients with long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy; therefore information about serum HBsAg kinetics will be of value in understanding this unusual occurrence. Forty-five consecutive patients were studied, which were all HBeAg positive and never had antiviral therapy prior to lamivudine treatment; they then achieved rapid and good viral responses (defined as undetectable HBV DNA [Roche Lightcycler, less than 1000 copies/ml] at treatment week 24 and they remained so until week 156). Abbott Architect HBsAg assay was used to quantify serum HBsAg and HBV genotypes were determined by direct sequencing. Twenty-six (57.8%) patients had HBeAg loss during the observation and one patient had HBsAg loss following his HBeAg seroconversion. Serum HBsAg levels decreased to 39.5% (median) of their baseline values at week 12, but no further significant reductions of serum HBsAg were found afterwards. Changes of serum HBsAg were comparable between patients with or without HBeAg loss. Serum HBsAg levels at their baselines were higher in HBV genotype B (HBV/B, n = 21) patients than in genotype C (HBV/C, n = 24) patients. HBV/B patients achieved many more HBsAg reductions than HBV/C ones (75.5 vs. 26.0%, median, P less than 0.05) in the first 12 treatment weeks, however HBsAg levels at week 156 were comparable between these two subgroups. HBsAg changes mainly showed two distinct patterns: a biphasic pattern (HBsAg levels were less than 60% of baseline ones at week 12 and 24, n = 25) and a maintaining pattern (HBsAg levels were greater than 80% of the baseline ones at week 12 and 24, n = 14). Logistic regression analysis showed that low serum HBsAg at baseline (odds ratio 0.020, 95% confidence interval 0.002-0.743, P less than 0.05) and HBV/C infection (odds ratio 8.206, 95% confidence interval 1.070-62.948, P less than 0.05) were the determinants of the occurrences of the maintaining pattern. In patients we examined, their HBsAg changes were mainly presented as either a biphasic pattern or a maintaining pattern, which were associated with HBV genotypes (B/C) but not with HBeAg loss. This might explain that why HBsAg loss is a rare occurrence even with long-term lamivudine therapy.


Insomnia and the risk of incident heart failure: a population study.
Insomnia is highly prevalent among heart failure patients, but only a few small studies have investigated insomnia symptoms and risk of heart failure. We aimed to assess the prospective association between self-reported insomnia symptoms and the risk of incident heart failure in a large Norwegian cohort. Baseline data on insomnia symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep and having non-restorative sleep, socio-demographic variables, and health status, including established cardiovascular risk factors, were collected from 54 279 men and women 20-89 years of age who participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health study (HUNT) between 1995 and 1997 and were free from known heart failure at baseline. The cohort was followed for incident heart failure from baseline through 2008. We used Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association of baseline insomnia symptoms with the risk of heart failure. A total of 1412 cases of heart failure occurred during a mean follow-up of 11.3 years (SD = 2.9 years), either identified at hospitals or by the National Cause of Death Registry. There was a dose-dependent association between the number of insomnia symptoms and risk of heart failure. The multi-adjusted hazard ratios were 0.96 (0.57-1.61), 1.35 (0.72-2.50), and 4.53 (1.99-10.31) for people with one, two, and three insomnia symptoms, compared with people with none of the symptoms (P for trend 0.021). Insomnia is associated with an increased risk of incident heart failure. If our results are confirmed by others and causation is proved, evaluation of insomnia symptoms might have consequences for cardiovascular prevention.


Near-death experiences and the change of worldview in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest: A phenomenological and hermeneutical study.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) can occur during episodes of unconsciousness from life-threatening conditions, such as sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs). This study is based on interviews with patients who had an NDE. The interviews were analyzed with phenomenological hermeneutical method for their lived experiences and the meaning for the view of life and death. Four participants were interviewed 10 weeks after their NDE. Four themes emerged: being on the other side, in another dimension; not dreaming, this is a real experience; being in a non-physical condition without my body; and comparing views of life and death before and after the NDEs. The participants described the NDEs as an experience of another realm as non-physical in nature and existing beyond space and time. This study shows that this experience of another state of being, through the lived experiences of NDEs, gave the participants an entirely new meaning on life and death. To them, death was no longer viewed as an end but a passage into something else and that life continues after death. This realization instantly changed their worldview.


Bowel Injury and Insidious Pneumoperitoneum after Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Retrospective review of prospectively collected cases. To report bowel injury cases and determine the incidence and risk factors of insidious pneumoperitoneum after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Minimally invasive LLIF is considered a safe surgical approach with a low risk of complications. Visceral injury after LLIF is rare and, to our knowledge, no studies on pneumoperitoneum after LLIF have been performed. Bowel injury is a catastrophic complication, but the clinical signs may not be apparent. After we encountered two cases of bowel injury after LLIF, we decided to perform computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis (APCT) after surgery for all patients who underwent LLIF. A total of 90 patients underwent APCT within 48 hours of surgery. Medical records were reviewed to determine each patient's age, sex, body mass index, medical and surgical histories, characteristics of LLIF procedures, and subjective symptoms and abnormal findings in the physical examination related to acute abdomen after surgery. Various parameters were compared between patients with and without pneumoperitoneum. Bowel injuries were identified in the first two patients and five patients (5.5%) were diagnosed with pneumoperitoneum only on APCT. We found that the greater the number of fused segments, the higher the incidence of postoperative bowel injury and/or pneumoperitoneum. The incidence was significantly high when the L2-3 level was included in the LLIF surgery. Pneumoperitoneum after LLIF indicates damage to the peritoneum and the presence of bowel injury that may lead to peritonitis. However, it is difficult to distinguish pneumoperitoneum and/or bowel injury from general abdominal pain after surgery because patients may present with a wide range of symptoms. We recommend that APCT be routinely performed after LLIF surgery in order to promptly identify pneumoperitoneum and bowel injury.


Detection of exposure effects of mixtures of heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in zebrafish embryos.
In this study we evaluated the exposure effects of mixtures of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); namely, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and chrysene on zebrafish embryos. Supplementation of the exposure media with 0.45% dimethyl sulfoxide and 50 ppm of Tween 20 could guarantee the solubilization and stabilization of the PAHs up to 24 h without affecting the embryos development. The exposure effects were tested by detecting the differential expression of a number of genes related to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene battery. Effects were detectable already after 6 h of exposure. After 24 h of exposure, all PAHs, except for benzo[a]anthracene, acted as potent inducers of the gene cyp1a1. Benzo[k]fluoranthene was the major inducer; the effect caused by the mixture at the lower concentration tested (1 ng ml-1 ) was dominated by its presence. However, in the mixture at the highest concentration tested (10 ng ml-1 ) it caused less induction and was not dominant. No significant bioaccumulation values were detected on embryos exposed to the PAHs tested in this study; however, the results obtained, indicated that PAHs undergo a very rapid metabolization inside the embryos, and that those biotransformation products yield changes on the expression of genes involved in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Future work should focus on identification of the PAH metabolization products and on the effect of these metabolites on toxicity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Effect of different final irrigants on bond strength of resilon/epiphany and resilon/epiphany self-etch.
To assess the effects of different final irrigants on the bond strength of bonded root filling materials, Epiphany/Resilon and Epiphany self-etch (SE)/Resilon. The root canals of eighty single-rooted extracted human teeth were prepared. After the smear layer was removed using 17% EDTA, the samples were randomly divided into eight groups. In groups 1 and 2, no additional irrigant was used after EDTA. In the other groups, final irrigation was performed with 2.5% NaOCl (groups 3 and 4), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) (groups 5 and 6), and normal saline (groups 7 and 8). The root canals were obturated with Epiphany/Resilon in groups 1, 3, 5 and 7 and obturated with Epiphany SE/Resilon in groups 2, 4, 6 and 8. After the middle thirds of the roots were horizontally sectioned, the push-out bond strength of root filling materials was assessed using the universal testing machine. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The significance level was set at p<0.05. There was no significant difference between the push-out bond strength of Epiphany/Resilon and Epiphany SE/Resilon (p>0.05). Considering the irrigation protocols, final irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl was associated with a significantly lower bond strength of both filling materials than the other irrigants (p<0.05). EDTA, CHX and normal saline had similar effects on the bond strengths of filling materials (p>0.05). Final irrigation of the root canals with 2.5% NaOCl following application of EDTA had a negative effect on the bond strength of Epiphany and Epiphany SE obturation systems.


Poor reported sleep quality predicts low positive affect in daily life among healthy and mood-disordered persons.
Sleep disturbance is a core symptom of mood disorders. However, surprisingly little is known about the relationship between sleep quality and ambulatory daily mood, especially in mood-disordered populations. We assessed ambulatory positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) 10 times daily for three consecutive days with the computerized experience sampling method among persons with major depression (n = 35), minor depression (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 36). Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Poorer sleep quality predicted lower ambulatory PA, even after accounting for the effects of diagnostic group and self-reported anxiety. Conversely, sleep quality did not predict ambulatory NA once diagnostic group was accounted for. Analyzes of specific PSQI component scores indicated that poor subjective sleep quality and self-reported daytime dysfunction were the sleep components most strongly tied to reports of low ambulatory PA. Impaired sleep quality may be responsible for reduced pleasurable experience in everyday life.


[Aldosterone: the mechanisms of molecular action].
Aldosterone: a steroid hormone of adrenal cortex, has recently attracted much interest not only due to its great importance in regulation of salt and water balance, but also because of its key role in therapy of cardiovascular and renal pathology. The classical genomic mechanism of molecular action of aldosterone is mediated through interaction with mineral-corticoid receptors. Fast nongenomic pathway of cell signal transduction begins with interaction with hypothetic membrane receptors and includes activation of different kinase cascades. Interference of these two pathways of signal transduction assures abroad spectrum of aldosterone effects depending on the cell type, and also secures multycomponent regulation depending on the need of specific functional and stress situation. This review is dedicated to modern views of mechanisms of aldosterone molecular action, mostly of the level of aldosterone-sensitive segment of kidney nephron.


Taking the halogen bonding-hydrogen bonding competition one step further: complexes of difluoroiodomethane with trimethylphosphine, dimethyl sulfide and chloromethane.
To rationalize the driving factors in the competition of halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding, the complexes of the combined halogen-/hydrogen-bond donor difluoroiodomethane with the Lewis bases trimethylphosphine, dimethyl sulfide and chloromethane are studied. For all Lewis bases, ab initio calculations lead to halogen- and hydrogen-bonded complexes. Fourier transform-IR experiments involving solutions of mixtures of difluoroiodomethane with trimethylphosphine(-d9) or dimethyl sulfide(-d6) in liquid krypton confirm the coexistence of a halogen-bonded and hydrogen-bonded complex. Also for solutions containing chloromethane, evidence of the formation of binary associations is found, but no definitive assignment of the multiple complex bands could be made. Using van't Hoff plots, the experimental complexation enthalpies for the halogen- and hydrogen-bonded complex of difluoroiodomethane with trimethylphosphine are determined to be -15.4 (4) and -10.5 (3) kJ mol-1, respectively, while for the halogen- and hydrogen-bonded complexes with dimethyl sulfide, the values are -11.3 (5) and -7.7 (6) kJ mol-1, respectively. The experimental observation that for both trimethylphospine and dimethyl sulfide the halogen-bonded complex is more stable than the hydrogen-bonded complex supports the finding that softer Lewis bases tend to favor iodine halogen bonding over hydrogen bonding.


Phenazasiline/Spiroacridine Donor Combined with Methyl-Substituted Linkers for Efficient Deep Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters.
Phenazasiline, a sp3 hybridized silicon-bridged diphenylamine, is a promising donor moiety for deep-blue TADF emitters because of its deep highest occupied molecular orbital, high triplet level of 3.1 eV, and orthogonal connection with acceptor moieties. Herein, we report highly efficient deep-blue TADF emitters composed of phenazasiline donor and triazine acceptor combined with methyl-substituted phenylene linkers. As a series of methyl-substituted linker-based TADF emitters, we also synthesized spiroacridine donor-based sky-blue TADF emitters to study the effect of methyl-substituted linkers on the photophysical properties of TADF emitters. Deeper blue emissions of TADF emitters were obtained by substituting either one or two methyl groups at the phenylene linker of TADF molecules, and a small singlet-triplet gap below 0.2 eV was maintained for efficient reverse intersystem crossing. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with spiroacridine-based TADF emitters, TTSA and TXSA, showed external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 27.9 and 20.7% with sky-blue emission of Commision Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates of (0.158, 0.283) and (0.154, 0.251), respectively. With phenazasiline-based TADF emitters, TTAZ and TXAZ, highly efficient deep-blue OLEDs were realized with EQEs of 23.7 and 16% with improved CIE coordinates of (0.148, 0.158) and (0.148, 0.131), respectively.


The formation of glycine and other complex organic molecules in exploding ice mantles.
Complex Organic Molecules (COMs), such as propylene (CH3CHCH2) and the isomers of C2H4O2 are detected in cold molecular clouds (such as TMC-1) with high fractional abundances (Marcelino et al., Astrophys. J., 2007, 665, L127). The formation mechanism for these species is the subject of intense speculation, as is the possibility of the formation of simple amino acids such as glycine (NH2CH2COOH). At typical dark cloud densities, normal interstellar gas-phase chemistries are inefficient, whilst surface chemistry is at best ill defined and does not easily reproduce the abundance ratios observed in the gas phase. Whatever mechanism(s) is/are operating, it/they must be both efficient at converting a significant fraction of the available carbon budget into COMs, and capable of efficiently returning the COMs to the gas phase. In our previous studies we proposed a complementary, alternative mechanism, in which medium- and large-sized molecules are formed by three-body gas kinetic reactions in the warm high density gas phase. This environment exists, for a very short period of time, after the total sublimation of grain ice mantles in transient co-desorption events. In order to drive the process, rapid and efficient mantle sublimation is required and we have proposed that ice mantle 'explosions' can be driven by the catastrophic recombination of trapped hydrogen atoms, and other radicals, in the ice. Repeated cycles of freeze-out and explosion can thus lead to a cumulative molecular enrichment of the interstellar medium. Using existing studies we based our chemical network on simple radical addition, subject to enthalpy and valency restrictions. In this work we have extended the chemistry to include the formation pathways of glycine and other large molecular species that are detected in molecular clouds. We find that the mechanism is capable of explaining the observed molecular abundances and complexity in these sources. We find that the proposed mechanism is easily capable of explaining the large abundances of all three isomers of C2H4O2 that are observationally inferred for star-forming regions. However, the model currently does not provide an obvious explanation for the predominance of methyl formate, suggesting that some refinement to our (very simplistic) chemistry is necessary. The model also predicts the production of glycine at a (lower) abundance level, that is consistent with its marginal detection in astrophysical sources.


[Correlation of hemoglobin concentration with the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm and long-term patient survival].
To assessed the relationships between hemoglobin concentration from the patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and its diameter as well as patients' long-term survival. Between January 2002 to June 2012, 255 AAA patients were reviewed retrospectively. The outcomes were compared between 3 groups of different treatments (excluding 20 cases dead within 30 days). The procedures included open AAA repair (n=76), endovascular (EVAR) (n=62) and non-operated (n=97). The mean follow-up period was 63±42 months. The association of hemoglobin level with AAA diameter was assessed with multiple linear regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of anemic and non-anemic patient groups were compared by the log-rank method in 3 groups. Cox's proportional hazard regression mode was used to determine the effects of anemia on vital status after EVAR, open AAA repair or non-operation. A total of 88 (34.5%) of AAA patients had anemia. After adjustment for various risk factors, hemoglobin level was inversely correlated with maximal AAA diameter (β=-0.152, P=0.017). During a long-term follow-up, the 5-year survival rates were 56%, 51% and 42% in anemic patients versus 94%, 90% and 80% in non-anemic ones. Survival was lower in anemic patients than those without anemia in 3 groups (P=0.005, 0.001, 0.025 by log-rank respectively). In three groups, according to multivariable Cox regression analysis, the hemoglobin levels were independently correlated with long-term mortality respectively after adjusting for various risk factors. The hemoglobin levels were correlated with death (HR: 0.923, 0.963, 0.963; P: 0.001, 0.002, 0.028; 95%CI: 0.8798-0.970, 0.941-0.986, 0.932-0.996). Hemoglobin concentration is independently associated with AAA diameter and reduced long-term survival after undergoing EVAR, open AAA repair and non-operation.


Herpes vegetans, an atypical herpes lesion in HIV patient: A case report.
Herpes vegetans is a rare form of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in immunocompromised patients that clinically presents as a verrucous and hypertrophic lesion. In this case, we present a 36-year-old man with exophytic verrucous masses in the genital area that was initially suspected as a malignancy. Difficulty to properly diagnose the patient resulted in a few failed attempts at treating the lesion. After excluding other differential diagnoses, the atypical lesion proved to be caused by vegetative herpes infection due to a good response to HSV therapy. Reevaluation of biopsy also showed signs of HSV etiology. Atypical presentation of herpes simplex in immunocompromised patients still proves to be a challenge to diagnose and treat. Proper clinical identification and workup are needed to diagnose and to choose proper regiments.


Municipal Wastewater Surveillance Revealed a High Community Disease Burden of a Rarely Reported and Possibly Subclinical Salmonella enterica Serovar Derby Strain.
Clinical surveillance of enteric pathogens like Salmonella is integral to track outbreaks and endemic disease trends. However, clinic-centered disease monitoring biases toward detection of severe cases and underestimates the incidence of self-limiting gastroenteritis and asymptomatic strains. Monitoring pathogen loads and diversity in municipal wastewater (MW) can provide insight into asymptomatic or subclinical infections which are not reflected in clinical cases. Subclinical infection patterns may explain the unusual observation from a year-long sampling campaign in Hawaii: Salmonella enterica serovar Derby was the most abundant pulsotype in MW but was detected infrequently in clinics over the sampling period. Using whole-genome sequencing data of Salmonella isolates from MW and public databases, we demonstrate that the Derby serovar has lower virulence potential than other clinical serovars, particularly based on its reduced profile of genes linked with immune evasion and symptom production, suggesting its potential as a subclinical salmonellosis agent. Furthermore, MW had high abundance of a rare Derby sequence type (ST), ST-72 (rather than the more common ST-40). ST-72 isolates had higher frequencies of fimbrial adherence genes than ST-40 isolates; these are key virulence factors involved in colonization and persistence of infections. However, ST-72 isolates lack the Derby-specific Salmonella pathogenicity island 23 (SPI-23), which invokes host immune responses. In combination, ST-72's genetic features may lead to appreciable infection rates without obvious symptom production, allowing for subclinical persistence in the community. This study demonstrated wastewater's capability to provide community infectious disease information-such as background infection rates of subclinical enteric illness-which is otherwise inaccessible through clinical approaches.IMPORTANCE Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been conventionally used to analyze community health via the detection of chemicals, such as legal and illicit drugs; however, municipal wastewater contains microbiological determinants of health and disease as well, including enteric pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that WBE can be used to examine subclinical community salmonellosis patterns. Derby was the most abundant Salmonella serovar detected in Hawaii wastewater over a year-long sampling study, with few corresponding clinical cases. Comparative genomics analyses indicate that the normally rare strain of S Derby found in wastewater has a unique combination of genes which allow it to persist as a subclinical infection without producing symptoms of severe gastroenteritis. This study shows that WBE can be used to explore trends in community infectious disease patterns which may not be reflected in clinical monitoring, shedding light on overall enteric disease burden and rates of asymptomatic cases.


Health-related quality of life in partners of persons with MS: a longitudinal 10-year perspective.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in partners, but knowledge on the longitudinal perspective is needed. The aim was to analyse HRQL in partners of persons with MS living in Sweden a decade ago and after 10 years. Partners were identified through a population-based study of persons with MS in Stockholm. Information on HRQL (the Sickness Impact profile), personal factors and disease-specific factors, and measures of functioning of persons with MS was collected at both time points mainly by home visits. Some 64 of 102 identified partners (63%) agreed to participate at baseline, and at 10 years 40 of 54 eligible partners were included (74%). HRQL in partners was worse than in a Swedish, aged-grouped reference population at both baseline and follow-up. Depressive symptoms in persons with MS were independently associated with worse HRQL in partners. Depressive symptoms in persons with MS were associated with worse HRQL in their partners, and HRQL of partners was continuously impacted in the longitudinal perspective. This knowledge needs to be accounted for in the planning of MS care, together with the development of evidence-based support for depressive symptoms, and engagement in recreational life in both partners and persons with MS.


Muscle fiber excitation system.
Persons unable to exercise due to old age, immobility or medical condition may develop low bone density, decline in muscle contraction, blood pooling or clot. Due to musculoskeletal fragility caution is required in bone and muscle strengthening. Similarly, caution is required to use anticoagulant drug to prevent blood clot due to side effect, and compression devices are not as effective as drug. This paper presents a transcutaneous muscle fiber excitation system adaptable for use in seated, walking or lying position. Clinical trials will determine performance in pathological cases.


Regulation of Rho signaling pathways in interleukin-2-stimulated human T-lymphocytes.
Rho GTPases are key regulators of many cellular functions, including cytoskeleton organization which is important for cell morphology and mobility, gene expression, cell cycle progression, and cytokinesis. In addition, it has recently been recognized that Rho GTPase activity is required for development of the immune system, as well as for the specialized functions of the peripheral cells that act in the immune response such as antigen presenting cells and lymphocytes. Stimulation of T lymphocytes with interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces clonal expansion of antigen-specific populations and provides a model to study cell cycle entry and cell cycle progression. We have performed gene expression analysis in a model of human T lymphocytes, which proliferate in response to IL-2. In addition to changes in genes relevant to cell cycling and to the antiapoptotic effects of IL-2, we have analyzed expression and variations of more than 300 genes involved in Rho GTPase signaling pathways. We report here that IL-2 regulates the expression of a number of proteins, which participate in the Rho GTPase pathways, including some of the GTPases themselves, GDP/GTP exchange factors, GTPase activating proteins, as well as GDIs and effectors. Our results suggest that regulation of expression of components of the Rho GTPase pathways may be an important mechanism in assembling specific signal transduction cascades that need to be active at certain times during the cell cycle. Some of our findings may also be relevant to the roles of Rho GTPases in T lymphocyte functions and proliferation.


3D Wood Microfilter for Fast and Efficient Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Water.
Adsorption is an effective method for the treatment of heavy metal ions in water; however, the existing adsorbents are complicated to prepare, and costly and difficult to recover. In this work, a 3D wood microfilter was prepared by modifying wood for the removal of heavy metal contaminants from water. First, a green deep eutectic solvent was used to remove lignin from beech wood. Then citric acid and l-cysteine were sequentially used to graft carboxyl and sulfhydryl groups (-SHs) on the surface of cellulose. Finally, a three-dimensional wood microfilter with an abundant porous structure and adsorption sites was formed. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms of heavy metal ions on the 3D wood microfilter were systematically investigated using Cu2+ and Cd2+ as model species. The results showed that the 3D wood microfilter had a fast adsorption rate and high saturation capacity for both Cu2+ and Cd2+. Based on the advantages of easy processing and multilayer assembly and stacking, a three-layer wood microfilter was designed to achieve high flux rate (1.53 × 103 L m-2 h-1) and high efficiency (>98%) for the removal of heavy metal ions in water. The enhancement mechanism of the adsorption process of Cu2+ and Cd2+ by the 3D wood microfilter was investigated using SEM and EDS, FTIR, and XPS characterization. The simple synthesis method and high adsorption efficiency of this wood microfilter provide a new strategy for the preparation of cheap, efficient, and recyclable adsorbents for heavy metal ions in water.


Emergency splenectomy for trauma in the setting of splenomegaly, axillary lymphadenopathy, and incidental B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report.
The spleen is the most commonly injured intra-abdominal solid organ following blunt trauma. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukocytic dyscrasia affecting adults in Western countries. Splenomegaly with axillary and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy are common physical findings. This case investigates an emergency splenectomy in a community hospital involving a 45-year-old man with blunt abdominal trauma following an assault with incidental splenomegaly and axillary lymphadenopathy, with surgical pathology findings of B-cell CLL. A 45- year-old man without past medical or family history who was the victim of an assault presented to the emergency department 6h later with left upper quadrant pain and radiation to the left flank and a positive Kehr sign. An elevated absolute lymphocyte count above 7×109 and CT confirmation of a Grade V splenic laceration with splenomegaly, axillary lymphadenopathy, with hemodynamic compromise led to an exploratory laparotomy and emergency splenectomy regardless of the potential for malignancy. Hemoperitoneum with blunt splenic injury (BSI) caused by abdominal trauma with hemodynamic instability should be treated with exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy even in the face of potential malignancy with splenomegaly and axillary lymphadenopathy. An appropriate oncologic work up and treatment can be provided after the emergency intervention. An emergency splenectomy is an appropriate operative intervention for a grade V splenic laceration with hemoperitoneum, splenomegaly, and axillary lymphadenopathy regardless of the potential for a neoplastic process such as B-cell CLL. Post-splenectomy vaccinations and oncologic follow-up for systemic chemotherapy should be facilitated after recovery.


Comparison of efficiency of in vitro cloned sheep embryo production by conventional somatic cell nuclear transfer and handmade cloning technique.
Conventional somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique of in vitro production of cloned embryos involves use of costly and complicated micromanipulators. Handmade cloning (HMC) technique has been applied as efficient and cost-effective alternative in many livestock species. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of in vitro production and in vitro development of cloned sheep embryos by the two techniques. Cloned embryos were produced by conventional SCNT using micromanipulator apparatus and by HMC technique. Enucleation efficiency and efficiency of fusion with somatic cell (nucleus donor) were compared. Cleavage percentage was observed on day 2 of in vitro culture (IVC), and morula and blastocyst percentages were calculated on day 7 of IVC. Higher enucleation efficiency (96.98 ± 1.01 vs. 93.62 ± 1.03; p > .05) as well as fusion efficiency was obtained with HMC technique than with conventional SCNT (96.26 ± 1.34 vs. 92.63 ± 0.70, p < .05); 181 cloned sheep embryos were produced in vitro by conventional SCNT and 92 by HMC. Cleavage percentage observed on day 2 of in vitro culture was higher in HMC than SCNT (66.92 ± 3.72 vs. 55.97 ± 2.5, respectively, p < .05). Morula percentage obtained was higher in SCNT than HMC (44.12 ± 2.93 vs. 30.43 ± 6.79, respectively, p < .05), whereas blastocyst percentage obtained by HMC was higher (12.46 ± 4.96) than SCNT (5.31 ± 2.25; p > .05). It was inferred that HMC technique provides a cost-effective and efficient method of in vitro production of cloned sheep embryos with a comparatively simpler technique with a possibility of automation. Efficiency of cloned embryo production could be improved further by propagating and standardizing this technique.


Growth Trends in Dental Service Organizations.
There are a number of factors fueling the growth of large group practices managed by corporations across the U.S., including California. These evolving trends are shaping the dental profession and practice models in a variety of ways.


Chemistry and biology of the ubiquitin signal.
Ubiquitination is one of the most utilized posttranslational modifications in eukaryotes and is involved in a wide range of cellular processes, but is mostly known as a signal for proteasomal degradation. Recently, it has become clear that the ubiquitin signal is far more complex and is dictated by the ubiquitin component and the substrate. The remarkable diversity of the ubiquitin signaling process has triggered an incredible amount of effort to investigate the role of ubiquitination on biological processes. However, despite more than three decades of studies, several important questions remain unanswered. A major hurdle is the inability to obtain homogeneous ubiquitin bioconjugates in sufficient amounts from cells or by application of the enzymatic machinery. Recent breakthroughs in chemical and semisynthetic strategies, however, offer solutions to these challenges. In this Review, we survey the fundamental biological aspects of the ubiquitin signal and present the emerging non-enzymatic approaches for overcoming these obstacles.


Ablation of teflon granuloma with the free-electron laser emitting in the eight- to nine-micron range.
In this study, we developed a rat model for Teflon granuloma and used this model to evaluate the removal of the granuloma at laser wavelengths at which Teflon has a maximal absorption. Twenty-four Teflon granulomas were created in 12 rats, and the gross and histologic effects from laser incision at four different wavelengths (8.25, 8.5, 8.75, and 10.6 microm) were evaluated acutely and at 7 and 14 days postoperatively. Polytetrafluoroethylene, or Teflon, is a relatively inert substance that has been used over the past 4 decades for endoscopic injection into the thyroarytenoid muscle of the larynx for the purposes of laryngeal rehabilitation in cases of unilateral vocal fold paralysis or incomplete glottic closure. In certain cases in which formation of granulomatous reaction to the Teflon occurs, patients may have significant dysphonia or airway compromise. Once Teflon has infiltrated the surrounding tissue planes, it is exceedingly difficult to remove endoscopically. Endoscopic removal of this granuloma is usually attempted with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and has had limited success. Examination of the infrared absorption spectrum of polytetrafluoroethylene reveals strong absorption in the mid-infrared region in the 8- to 9-microm range, with minimal absorption at 10.6 microm. Therefore, this absorption spectrum predicts a more efficient vaporization of Teflon at wavelengths near 8.5 microm. Using the free-electron laser to generate 8.25-, 8.5-, and 8.75-microm laser light, we found Teflon granuloma ablation was far superior to CO2 laser ablation at 10.6 microm. The 8.25-, 8.5-, and 8.75-microm wavelengths selectively ablated Teflon granuloma with minimal to no collateral thermal injury to tissue. The differences in thermal effects observed while actually using the lasers were confirmed histologically.


Serum Cohn fraction IV-1 supports the growth of Giardia lamblia in vitro.
Bovine serum Cohn fractions were substituted for whole bovine serum in TYI-S-33 medium. Only fraction IV-1 supported attachment, cysteine uptake, and growth of Giardia lamblia. Among the mammalian sources tested, only goat and horse fractions showed activities comparable to that of the bovine fraction. Agglutinating immunoglobulins were identified as deleterious agents in human, rat, rabbit, and dog fractions.


A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system.
A new species of tyrannosaurid from the upper Two Medicine Formation of Montana supports the presence of a Laramidian anagenetic (ancestor-descendant) lineage of Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids. In concert with other anagenetic lineages of dinosaurs from the same time and place, this suggests that anagenesis could have been a widespread mechanism generating species diversity amongst dinosaurs, and perhaps beyond. We studied the excellent fossil record of the tyrannosaurid to test that hypothesis. Phylogenetic analysis places this new taxon as the sister species to Daspletosaurus torosus. However, given their close phylogenetic relationship, geographic proximity, and temporal succession, where D. torosus (~76.7-75.2 Ma) precedes the younger new species (~75.1-74.4 Ma), we argue that the two forms most likely represent a single anagenetic lineage. Daspletosaurus was an important apex predator in the late Campanian dinosaur faunas of Laramidia; its absence from later units indicates it was extinct before Tyrannosaurus rex dispersed into Laramidia from Asia. In addition to its evolutionary implications, the texture of the facial bones of the new taxon, and other derived tyrannosauroids, indicates a scaly integument with high tactile sensitivity. Most significantly, the lower jaw shows evidence for neurovasculature that is also seen in birds.


Developmental changes in the presence of specific chicken fetal-leukemic antigen determinants in the chicken, Japanese quail, and the interspecific hybrid.
The pattern and timing of expression of chicken fetal-leukemic antigen (CFA) on peripheral red blood cells (RBCs) is reported for specific periods of postembryonic development in chickens, Japanese quail, and quail-chicken hybrids. Individual CFA determinants were lost from the peripheral RBCs of chickens and hybrids at specific times of development. The sequential pattern of phasing in these sources suggests that at least some of the CFA determinants may be expressed independently on the cell surface. In addition, the time of phasing for each determinant may represent a developmentally-controlled change in the internal or external environment of the differentiating erythrocyte. In contrast, three CFA determinants appeared to be lost simultaneously, or over a short period of time, from the RBCs of Japanese quail. This phasing event appears to occur approximately one week prior to the onset of egg production. In the interspecific hybrid, the same three CFA determinants appeared to be independent with regard to the periods in which they were expressed on peripheral RBCs.