MicroRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Esophageal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the major histological type of esophageal cancer in developing countries including China, and the prognosis is very poor. Many microRNAs are involved in several important biological and pathologic processes, and promote tumorigenesis. To better understand the prognostic and therapeutic roles of microRNAs in ESCC, we reviewed the diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic microRNAs (e.g. miR-21 and miR-17-92 cluster) and tumor suppressor microRNAs (e.g. miR-375, miR-133a and miR-133b), and diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic target genes (e.g. PDCD4 and CCND1) and tumor suppressor target genes (e.g. EZH2 and PDK1). We also summarized the prognostic microRNA and target gene pairs (e.g. miR-296 and CCND1, miR214 and EZH2). Taken together, our review highlights the opportunities and challenges for microRNAs in the molecular diagnosis and target therapy of ESCC.


Melanoma and ionizing radiation: is there a causal relationship?
This review was initiated in response to concerns that ionizing radiation could be a cause of melanoma. Studies presenting the relative risks for melanoma after external ionizing radiation exposure were in seven categories: (1) The Canadian Radiation Dose Registry, (2) nuclear industry workers, (3) subjects near nuclear test blasts, (4) survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan, (5) airline pilots and cabin attendants, (6) recipients of medical radiation, and (7) radiological technicians. Relative risks for leukemia in each of the studies were used to confirm the likelihood of exposure to ionizing radiation. When studies within a category were compatible, meta-analytic methods were used to obtain combined estimates of the relative risk, and a meta-regression analysis of melanoma relative risk compared to leukemia relative risk was used to examine consistency across exposure categories. Generally, exposure categories with elevated relative risks of leukemia had proportionately elevated relative risks of melanoma. This suggests that people exposed to ionizing radiation may be at increased risk of developing melanoma, although alternative explanations are possible. Future epidemiological studies of ionizing radiation effects should include melanoma as an outcome of interest.


The varying frequencies of five DNA polymorphisms of X-linked coagulant factor IX in eight ethnic groups.
Five RFLPS of X-linked coagulation factor IX were evaluated in more than 500 normal persons (723-804 X chromosomes) of both sexes who belonged to eight ethnic groups: Anglo-Americans, Basques, Swedes, African-Americans, East Africans, East Indians, Chinese, and Malays. The polymorphisms, 5' to 3', were BamHI, XmnI, TaqI, MnlI, and HhaI. A PCR procedure was developed for three previously described RFLPs-XmnI, TaqI, and MnlI; a PCRP procedure was developed for BamHI, and a PCRP which had been described by others was used for HhaI. Europeans were the most polymorphic, African-Americans and East Africans were intermediate, and Orientals were the least polymorphic. Extragenic 3' HhaI was highly polymorphic in most groups, and extragenic 5' BamHI was polymorphic only in persons with African ancestry. Two major haplotypes predominated among 247 men, and the expected and observed heterozygosities were concordant among women. Allelic association was very strong between the three intragenic PCRPs; it was present but weak between 5' extragenic BamHI and XmnI. No association was found between 3' extragenic HhaI and MnlI.


Extracellular vesicles and intercellular communication in the central nervous system.
Neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) release extracellular vesicles (EVs) to the interstitial fluid of the brain and spinal cord parenchyma. EVs contain proteins, nucleic acids and lipids that can be taken up by, and modulate the behaviour of, neighbouring recipient cells. The functions of EVs have been extensively studied in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. However, mechanisms involved in EV-mediated neuron-glial communication under physiological conditions or healthy ageing remain unclear. A better understanding of the myriad roles of EVs in CNS homeostasis is essential for the development of novel therapeutics to alleviate and reverse neurological disturbances of ageing. Proteomic studies are beginning to reveal cell type-specific EV cargo signatures that may one day allow us to target specific neuronal or glial cell populations in the treatment of debilitating neurological disorders. This review aims to synthesise the current literature regarding EV-mediated cell-cell communication in the brain, predominantly under physiological conditions.


Genetic Factors Affecting Intraoperative 5-aminolevulinic Acid-induced Fluorescence of Diffuse Gliomas.
In patients operated for malignant glioma, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence guidance is useful. However, we occasionally experience instances of non-visible fluorescence despite a histopathological diagnosis of high-grade glioma. We sought to identify factors that influence the intraoperative visualization of gliomas by their 5-ALA-induced fluorescence. We reviewed data from 60 patients with astrocytic or oligodendroglial tumors who underwent tumor removal under 5-ALA-induced fluorescence guidance between January 2014 and December 2015. Their characteristics, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, histological diagnosis, and genetic profile were analyzed and univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. In 42 patients (70%) we intraoperatively observed tumor 5-ALA fluorescence. They were 2 of 8 (25%) patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade II, 9 of 17 (53%) with grade III, and 31 of 35 (89%) patients with grade IV gliomas. Univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant association between 5-ALA fluorescence and the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) status, 1p19q loss of heterozygosity (LOH), the MIB-1 labeling index, and the tumor margin, -heterogeneity, and -contrast enhancement on MRI scans (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p = 0.046, p = 0.021, and p = 0.002, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the IDH1 status was the only independent, statistically significant factor related to 5-ALA fluorescence (p = 0.009). This study identified the IDH1 status as the factor with the most influence on the 5-ALA fluorescence of diffuse gliomas.


Jumbo Bacteriophages: An Overview.
Tailed bacteriophages with genomes larger than 200 kbp are classified as Jumbo phages, and are rarely isolated by conventional methods. These phages are designated "jumbo" owing to their most notable features of a large phage virion and large genome size. However, in addition to these, jumbo phages also exhibit several novel characteristics that have not been observed for phages with smaller genomes, which differentiate jumbo phages in terms of genome organization, virion structure, progeny propagation, and evolution. In this review, we summarize available reports on jumbo phages and discuss the differences between jumbo phages and small-genome phages. We also discuss data suggesting that jumbo phages might have evolved from phages with smaller genomes by acquiring additional functional genes, and that these additional genes reduce the dependence of the jumbo phages on the host bacteria.


[Biopsy transcriptome in kidney transplantation : ready for primetime ?]
Kidney graft biopsy is the main diagnostic tool used in kidney transplantation to classify disease processes. Graft biopsies are performed at a predetermined time (protocol) or by indication. However, they bear limitations including the interobserver variability. Intragraft transcriptomics has taken the center stage in the field of biomarkers research in kidney transplantation as it might improve disease stratification. Although already included in the international Banff classification, clinical transition has yet to be confirmed in external validation studies. Also transcriptomics performance could benefit from association with other omics data.


Small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels formed by the expression of rat SK1 and SK2 genes in HEK 293 cells.
The rat SK1 gene (rSK1) does not form functional Ca2+-activated potassium channels when expressed alone in mammalian cell lines. Using a selective antibody to the rSK1 subunit and a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) tag we have discovered that rSK1 expression produces protein that remains largely at intracellular locations. We tested the idea that rSK1 may need an expression partner, rSK2, in order to form functional channels. When rSK1 was co-expressed with rSK2 in HEK 293 cells it increased the current magnitude by 77 +/- 34% (as compared with cells expressing rSK2 alone). Co-expression of rSK1 with rSK2 also changed the channel pharmacology. The sensitivity of SK current to block by apamin was reduced approximately 16-fold from an IC50 of 94 pM (for SK2 alone) to 1.4 nM (for SK2 and SK1 together). The sensitivity to block by UCL 1848 (a potent small molecule blocker of SK channels) was similarly reduced, approximately 26-fold, from an IC50 of 110 pM to 2.9 nM. These data clearly demonstrate that rSK1 and rSK2 subunits interact. The most likely explanation for this is that the subunits are able to form heteromeric assemblies.


Sperm antigens and reactivity of antisperm monoclonal antibodies in ELISA.
Several types of sperm antigenic suspensions as well as the whole sperm, either methanol-fixed or air-dried, were checked for intensity of binding to monoclonal antisperm antibodies with known characteristics of reactivity to sperm. The activity of sperm antigen--antibody binding was measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and compared in several variations (parallely run) of the assay where different types of sperm antigen preparations were applied. The obtained results were then evaluated for statistical significance in Wilcox test. It was shown that antibody reactivity was markedly higher in experiments where the whole sperm was coated in a solid-phase in comparison to results obtained with adhered different sperm antigenic suspensions. However, one exception was noted, where the results from ELISA, run with sperm organic extract, were (statistically) insignificantly lower than those obtained with the whole sperm. Therefore, organic sperm extracts (containing mostly glycolipids) can be a valuable alternative to screening for antisperm antibody activity and/or infertility background.


Outcomes of laparoscopic and open colectomy: a national population-based comparison.
Several recent clinical studies have demonstrated that laparoscopic colectomy is safe, feasible, and associated with many short-term benefits compared with open colectomy. It is unknown if outcomes observed in clinical trials can be achieved on a population level. The authors used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify laparoscopic and open elective colon resections performed in the United States for each year from 2000 to 2004. They assessed differences in patient characteristics using demographic information and ICD-9 codes. They then used univariate and multiple logistic regression models to analyze the association between surgical approach and in-hospital morbidity, as well as in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay. Patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy tended to be younger (61 years vs 66 years, P < .001) and to have fewer comorbidities (Charlson score of 0 in 58.1% vs 37.0%, P < .001). After adjusting for patient characteristics and comorbidities, laparoscopic colectomy was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (0.6% vs 1.7%, P < .001), lower overall complication rate (32.1% vs 38.2%, P < .001), and shorter median hospital stay (5 vs 7 days, P < .001) compared with open colectomy. Significant benefits were observed in wound problems (0.8% vs 1.44%, P < .001); cardiovascular (12.5% vs 15.1%, P < .001), pulmonary (6.2% vs 8.7%, P < .001), and gastrointestinal (13.7% vs 16.1%, P < .001) morbidity; and reintervention rates (1.33% vs 1.66%, P = .02). Outcome benefits of laparoscopic colectomy previously demonstrated in clinical trials are observed on a population level.


Phyllodiaptomusparachristineae, a new species of copepod (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from the floodplain of the lower Mekong River Basin in Thailand and Cambodia.
Phyllodiaptomus (Phyllodiaptomus) parachristineaesp. nov., a new diaptomid copepod, was collected from 30 sites in the lower Mekong River Basin floodplain in northeastern Thailand and nine sites in Cambodia. The new species is the 13th species of the genus to have been recorded across Asia. It has a wide range of habitats, occurring in small to large, temporary to permanent water bodies, and it can be found at any time of the year. The morphology of the new species is most similar to that of the males of P. (P.) christineae, having a comb on the antepenultimate segment on the right antennule, symmetrical caudal rami, a narrow hyaline lamella on the left P5 basis, a distal accessory spine on the right P5Exp-2, and a single-lobed Enp on the right P5. On the other hand, the males of the new species have second and third urosomites without hair-like setae on the ventral margin, a rounded distal margin of the P5 intersclerite plate, a semi-circular lamella on the right P5 basis, a strong principal lateral spine inserted at the proximal 1/3 of the right P5Exp-2, and a two-segmented left P5Enp. Morphological differences among species in the subgenus Phyllodiaptomus (Phyllodiaptomus) as well as the distribution and habitats of the 13 species and two subspecies of Phyllodiaptomus in Asia are discussed.


Impact of divergent selection for ultimate pH of pectoralis major muscle on biochemical, histological, and sensorial attributes of broiler meat.
The impact of divergent selection based on the ultimate pH (pHu) of pectoralis major (P. major) muscle on the chemical, biochemical, and histological profiles of the muscle and sensorial quality of meat was investigated in broiler chickens. The protein, lipid, DM, glycogen and lactate content, glycolytic potential, proteolysis, lipid and protein oxidation index, muscle fiber cross-sectional area, capillary density, and collagen surface were determined on the breast P. major muscle of 6-wk-old broilers issued from the high-pHu (pHu+) and low-pHu (pHu-) lines. Sensory attributes were also evaluated on the breast (roasted or grilled) and thigh (roasted) meat of the 2 lines. Protein, lipid, and DM content of P. major muscle were not affected by selection ( > 0.05). However, the P. major muscle of the pHu+ line was characterized by lower residual glycogen (-16%; ≤ 0.001) and lactate (-14%; ≤ 0.001) content and lower glycolytic potential (-14%; ≤ 0.001) compared with the pHu- line. Although the average cross-sectional area of muscle fibers and surface occupied by collagen were similar ( > 0.05) in both lines, fewer capillaries per fiber (-15%; ≤ 0.05) were observed in the pHu+ line. The pHu+ line was also characterized by lower lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance index: -23%; ≤ 0.05) but protein oxidation and proteolysis index were not different ( > 0.05) between the 2 lines. At the sensory level, selection on breast muscle pHu mainly affected the texture of grilled and roast breast meat, which was judged significantly more tender ( ≤ 0.001) in the pHu+ line, and the acid taste, which was less pronounced in the roasted breast meat of the pHu+ line ( ≤ 0.002). This study highlighted that selection based on pHu does not affect the chemical composition and structure of breast meat. However, by modifying muscle blood supply and glycogen turnover, it affects meat acidity and oxidant status, both of which are likely to contribute to the large differences in texture observed between the 2 lines.


The production of differentiation autoinducing activity by WEHI-3B D+ leukemia cells.
We studied the differentiation autoinducing activity in WEHI-3B D+ cell-conditioned medium (WCM). After culturing 10(6)/ml WEHI-3B D+ cells in RPMI-1640 medium without fetal calf serum (FCS) for 4 days, the supernatant was collected. The medium, concentrated 50-fold by YM-5 membrane filtration, was fractionated by gel exclusion on Ultrogel AcA44. We evaluated the effect of each of the four fractions on differentiation in WEHI-3B D+ cells by morphological, functional, and cytochemical criteria after adding the fractions to liquid or soft-agar cultures of 10(3) cells in 1 ml RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FCS; the experimental cultures contained 10% of the fractions, with a control for each without the fraction. The growth of WEHI-3B D- cells in culture was inhibited by the addition of fraction P only (mol. wt. 10,000-20,000 daltons). In these same cultures, the cells were granulocyte-like, strongly positive for naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase, and had phagocytic activity. Colonies grown in agar culture with fraction P also exhibited a peripheral halo of loosely dispersed cells around a central aggregate. Fraction P contained neither granulocyte colony-stimulating activity nor burst-promoting activity. These results suggest that fraction P contains differentiation autoinducing factor that is different from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or interleukin 3.


3D structure/function analysis of PilX reveals how minor pilins can modulate the virulence properties of type IV pili.
Type IV pili (Tfp) are widespread filamentous bacterial organelles that mediate multiple virulence-related phenotypes. They are composed mainly of pilin subunits, which are processed before filament assembly by dedicated prepilin peptidases. Other proteins processed by these peptidases, whose molecular nature and mode of action remain enigmatic, play critical roles in Tfp biology. We have performed a detailed structure/function analysis of one such protein, PilX from Neisseria meningitidis, which is crucial for formation of bacterial aggregates and adhesion to human cells. The x-ray crystal structure of PilX reveals the alpha/beta roll fold shared by all pilins, and we show that this protein colocalizes with Tfp. These observations suggest that PilX is a minor, or low abundance, pilin that assembles within the filaments in a similar way to pilin. Deletion of a PilX distinctive structural element, which is predicted to be exposed on the filament surface, abolishes aggregation and adhesion. Our results support a model in which surface-exposed motifs in PilX subunits stabilize bacterial aggregates against the disruptive force of pilus retraction and illustrate how a minor pilus component can enhance the functional properties of pili of rather simple composition and structure.


Neuroprotectin D1 induces dephosphorylation of Bcl-xL in a PP2A-dependent manner during oxidative stress and promotes retinal pigment epithelial cell survival.
Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell integrity is critical for the survival of photoreceptor cells. Bcl-x(L) is a major anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein required for RPE cell survival, and phosphorylation of Bcl-x(L) at residue Ser-62 renders this protein pro-apoptotic. In this study, we identify serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as a key regulator of Bcl-x(L) phosphorylation at residue Ser-62 in ARPE-19 cells, a spontaneously arising RPE cell line in which Bcl-x(L) is highly expressed. We found that either PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid or depletion of catalytic subunit alpha of PP2A (PP2A/Calpha) by small interfering RNA enhanced Bcl-x(L) phosphorylation when activated with hydrogen peroxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced oxidative stress. Disruption of PP2A/Calpha exacerbated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. PP2A/Calpha colocalized and interacted with S62Bcl-x(L) in cells stressed with H(2)O(2)/tumor necrosis factor alpha. By contrast, the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid derivative, neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a potent activator of survival signaling, down-regulated oxidative stress-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-x(L) by increasing protein phosphatase activity. NPD1 also attenuated the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by knockdown of PP2A/Calpha and increased the association of PP2A/Calpha with S62Bcl-x(L) as well as total Bcl-x(L). NPD1 also enhanced the heterodimerization of Bcl-x(L) with its counterpart, pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Thus, NPD1 modulates the activation of this Bcl-2 family protein by dephosphorylating in a PP2A-dependent manner, suggesting a coordinated, NPD1-mediated regulation of cell survival in response to oxidative stress.


Methotrexate toxicity presenting as ulceration of psoriatic plaques: a report of two cases.
We describe two cases of methotrexate toxicity occurring due to inappropriate self-medication with the drug. The first patient was a 57-year-old man with plaque-type psoriasis on intermittent methotrexate therapy. He discontinued his medications for 2 months and had exacerbation of psoriasis for which he self-medicated with methotrexate following which he developed ulceration of the psoriatic plaques accompanied by bone marrow suppression. The second patient was a 68-year-old man with chronic plaque-type psoriasis for 20 years and was being treated with intermittent methotrexate for 15 years. He also self medicated with oral methotrexate 15 mg daily for 7 days for exacerbation of psoriasis and developed ulceration of the psoriatic plaques with bone marrow suppression and evidence of gastrointestinal erosions.


Endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human intestine resected for necrotizing enterocolitis.
To determine the expression and function of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in submucosal arterioles harvested from human intestine resected for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or congenital bowel disease. eNOS expression was determined by using immunohistochemistry. The arteriolar diameter was measured in vitro at pressures of 10 to 40 mm Hg and also in response to the eNOS agonist acetylcholine (ACh), the exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and the smooth muscle relaxant papaverine. Arteriolar release of NO in response to ACh was determined with a Sievers NOAnalyzer. Hemodynamics were also determined at flow rates of 50 and 100 microL/min. eNOS was present in microvessels from both groups, but NEC arterioles failed to demonstrate physiological evidence of eNOS function: they constricted in response to pressure, failed to dilate or generate NO in response to ACh, and failed to dilate in response to flow. However, they dilated in response to exogenous NO and papaverine, indicating functional vascular smooth muscle and vasodilator reserve. eNOS-derived NO, a vasodilator in the newborn intestine, did not contribute to vasoregulation in arterioles harvested from intestine resected for NEC. These vessels were constricted; lack of eNOS-derived NO may contribute to this vasoconstriction.


Disturbance and resource availability act differently on the same suite of plant traits: revisiting assembly hypotheses.
Understanding the mechanisms of trait selection at the scale of plant communities is a crucial step toward predicting community assembly. Although it is commonly assumed that disturbance and resource availability constrain separate suites of traits, representing the regenerative and established phases, respectively, a quantification and test of this accepted hypothesis is still lacking due to limitations of traditional statistical techniques. In this paper we quantify, using structural equation modeling (SEM), the relative contributions of disturbance and resource availability to the selection of suites of traits at the community scale. Our model specifies and reflects previously obtained ecological insights, taking disturbance and nutrient availability as central drivers affecting leaf, allometric, seed, and phenology traits in 156 (semi-) natural plant communities throughout The Netherlands. The common hypothesis positing that disturbance and resource availability each affect a set of mutually independent traits was not consistent with the data. Instead, our final model shows that most traits are strongly affected by both drivers. In addition, trait-trait constraints are more important in community assembly than environmental drivers in half of the cases. Both aspects of trait selection are crucial for correctly predicting ecosystem processes and community assembly, and they provide new insights into hitherto underappreciated ecological interactions.


Circular RNA circVRK1 suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by regulating zinc finger protein ZNF652 expression via microRNA miR-337-3p.
Circular RNA is an innovative kind of endogenous non-coding RNA, which could take part in tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, the potential molecular mechanisms of circVRK1 in the progression of osteosarcoma remain unresolved. In the current study, we initially investigated circVRK1 levels in osteosarcoma clinical samples and cell lines by qRT-PCR analysis and northern blot assay. RNase R treatments, RNA stability assay and nucleoplasmic separation assay were conducted to identify the characteristics of circVRK1. We adopted CCK-8, colony formation, wound-healing, and transwell assays to assess the biological effects of circVRK1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of osteosarcoma cells in vitro. We then constructed a xenograft model in nude mice to confirm the suppressive role of circVRK1 in vivo. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays were utilized to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms mediated by circVRK1. We demonstrated that circVRK1 was a stable circular transcript localized in the cytoplasm of osteosarcoma cells, and the down-regulation of circVRK1 in osteosarcoma tissues was related to poor outcome of patients. Meanwhile, over-expressed circVRK1 obviously restrained the growth, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circVRK1 was assumed to be a microRNA sponge for miR-337-3p, and ZNF652 was the downstream gene of miR-337-3p. CircVRK1 overexpression or miR-337-3p knockdown accelerated ZNF652 expression, and up-regulated miR-337-3p efficiently abolished the promotion of ZNF652 induced by circVRK1. Moreover, rescue experiments have proved that circVRK1 inhibits the progression of osteosarcoma by modulating the miR-337-3p/ZNF652 axis. Therefore, we conclude that circVRK1 promotes ZNF652 expression by sponging miR-337-3p. CircVRK1 serves as a molecule sponge for miR-337-3p and mediates the ceRNA network to promote the expression of ZNF652, thus suppresses osteosarcoma proliferation, migration and invasion.


Heat transport in proximity structures.
We study heat and charge transport through a normal diffusive wire coupled with a superconducting wire over the region smaller than the coherence length. Because of partial Andreev reflection of quasiparticles from the interface, the subgap thermal flow is essentially suppressed and approaches zero along with energy, which is specific for diffusive structures. Whereas the electric conductance shows a conventional reentrance effect, the thermal conductance kappa rapidly decreases with temperature which qualitatively explains the results of recent experiments. In the Andreev interferometer geometry, kappa experiences full-scale oscillations with the order parameter phase difference.


Optical properties of Pd-Ag and Pt-Ag nanoboxes synthesized via galvanic replacement reactions.
Silver nanocubes dispersed in water were transformed into Pd-Ag or Pt-Ag nanoboxes by adding either Na(2)PdCl(4) or Na(2)PtCl(4). By controlling the amount of noble metal salt added, and therefore the molar ratio of Na(2)PdCl(4) or Na(2)PtCl(4) to Ag, we could tune the surface plasmon resonance peak of the nanostructures across the entire visible spectrum, from 440 to 730 nm. Replacement of Ag with Pd resulted in the formation of a nanobox composed of a Pd-Ag alloy single crystal, but the nanobox formed after replacement of Ag with Pt was instead composed of distinct Pt nanoparticles. DDA calculations suggest that both nanoboxes absorb light strongly, with Q(abs)/Q(sca) approximately 5. After galvanic replacement, Pd-Ag and Pt-Ag nanostructures remain SERS active, suggesting their use as a SERS probe for studying the dependence of interfacial chemistry on composition.


Mesoscale eddies: hotspots of prokaryotic activity and differential community structure in the ocean.
To investigate the effects of mesoscale eddies on prokaryotic assemblage structure and activity, we sampled two cyclonic eddies (CEs) and two anticyclonic eddies (AEs) in the permanent eddy-field downstream the Canary Islands. The eddy stations were compared with two far-field (FF) stations located also in the Canary Current, but outside the influence of the eddy field. The distribution of prokaryotic abundance (PA), bulk prokaryotic heterotrophic activity (PHA), various indicators of single-cell activity (such as nucleic acid content, proportion of live cells, and fraction of cells actively incorporating leucine), as well as bacterial and archaeal community structure were determined from the surface to 2000 m depth. In the upper epipelagic layer (0-200 m), the effect of eddies on the prokaryotic community was more apparent, as indicated by the higher PA, PHA, fraction of living cells, and percentage of active cells incorporating leucine within eddies than at FF stations. Prokaryotic community composition differed also between eddy and FF stations in the epipelagic layer. In the mesopelagic layer (200-1000 m), there were also significant differences in PA and PHA between eddy and FF stations, although in general, there were no clear differences in community composition or single-cell activity. The effects on prokaryotic activity and community structure were stronger in AE than CE, decreasing with depth in both types of eddies. Overall, both types of eddies show distinct community compositions (as compared with FF in the epipelagic), and represent oceanic 'hotspots' of prokaryotic activity (in the epi- and mesopelagic realms).


Diterpenoids from Isodon species and their biological activities.
Isodon species (Labiatae) are widely distributed plants, many of which are used in folk medicine. Over the past twenty years, they have received considerable phytochemical and biological attention. Thestructures of their many diterpenoids constituents, especially those with an ent-kaurane skeleton, have been elucidated. The significant phytochemical and pharmacological diterpenoids form the subject of this review. There are 290 references.


Reconstruction of specular reflectors by iterative image source localization.
A method is presented to reconstruct the geometry of specular reflectors with an ultrasonic array based on the image source principle. The ultrasonic beam is focused at a point in space emulating a point source within the medium. The transmitted wave interacts with the specular reflector and propagates back to the array as if it were generated by an image source. The reflected wave is analyzed with a sound source localization algorithm to estimate the image source location, and the reflector geometry is extracted using the mirror equation for spherical reflectors. The method is validated experimentally and its accuracy is studied. Under ideal conditions the method provides an accurate reconstruction of the position, orientation, and radius of curvature of specular reflectors, with errors Δr < 0.2 mm, Δα < 3°, and ΔR/R0 < 0.2, respectively. The method performs very well in the presence of high levels of thermal and speckle noise, with no degradation of the reconstruction as long as SNR(th) > -3 dB (signal-to-thermal-noise ratio) and SNR(sp) > 7 dB (signal-to-speckle-noise ratio). An iterative scheme based on the proposed method is presented to reconstruct the geometry of arbitrary reflectors by subdividing the reflector boundary into smaller segments. The iterative scheme is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally.


Identification of pathogens from native urine samples by MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry.
Reliable high-throughput microbial pathogen identification in human urine samples is crucial for patients with cystitis symptoms. Currently employed methods are time-consuming and could lead to unnecessary or inadequate antibiotic treatment. Purpose of this study was to assess the potential of mass spectrometry for uropathogen identification from a native urine sample. In total, 16 urine samples having more than 105 CFU/mL were collected from clinical outpatients. These samples were analysed using standard urine culture methods, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing serving as control and here described culture-independent MALDI-TOF/TOF MS method being tested. Here we present advantages and disadvantages of bottom-up proteomics, using MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry, for culture-independent identification of uropathogens (e.g. directly from urine samples). The direct approach provided reliable identification of bacteria at the genus level in monobacterial samples. Taxonomic identifications obtained by proteomics were compared both to standard urine culture test used in clinics and genomic test based on 16S rRNA sequencing. Our findings indicate that mass spectrometry has great potential as a reliable high-throughput tool for microbial pathogen identification in human urine samples. In this case, the MALDI-TOF/TOF, was used as an analytical tool for the determination of bacteria in urine samples, and the results obtained emphasize high importance of storage conditions and sample preparation method impacting reliability of MS2 data analysis. The proposed method is simple enough to be utilized in existing clinical settings and is highly suitable for suspected single organism infectious etiologies. Further research is required in order to identify pathogens in polymicrobial urine samples.


Perinatal risk factors in newborns with gastrointestinal perforation.
To investigate correlation of perinatal risk factors in newborns with gastrointestinal perforation (GIP). Single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1990 and December 2012. Medical records on all newborns with GIP were reviewed (n = 35). Surgical records and histopathologic examination of all perforated intestine samples were also reviewed. The most common cause of GIP was necrotizing enterocolitis (51.4%). The most common site of perforation was large intestine. Mortality rate was 31%. Infants with GIP more frequently had very low birth weight (< 1500 g), especially birth weight below 10th percentile according to gestational age. Ponderal index was not differing between infants with GIP and control subjects. In infants with GIP anemia was more frequently found than in control group. GIP in newborns is mostly disease of infants with birth weight below 10th percentile according to gestational age. GIP occurs more often in infants with anemia.


Assembly of Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxide on Cuprous Phosphide Nanowire with Strong Built-In Potential for Accelerated Overall Water Splitting.
Heterostructure plays an important role in boosting the overall water splitting (OWS) performance of nonprecious metal electrocatalysts. However, rational design and synthesis of semiconductor heterojunctions especially for Cu-based ones as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still face challenges, and the in-depth study of catalytic mechanisms is urgently needed. Herein, n-type cobalt layered double hydroxide nanosheets are assembled on p-type cuprous phosphide nanowire to form p-n junction. This heterostructure with a strong built-in potential (EBI ) of 1.78 V provides enlarged electrochemical active surface area, enhanced active site, facilitated electron separation and transfer, and accelerated formation of superoxide radical. As expected, the heterogeneous electrocatalyst exhibits significantly improved activities for OWS, achieving an overpotential of 111 mV for HER and 221 mV for OER and an applied voltage of 1.575 V for OWS at 10 mA cm-2 in 1 m KOH. Moreover, the overpotentials are further decreased under visible light irradiation. This work represents a new insight into Cu-based catalysts toward OWS and an approach based on EBI to design semiconductor heterostructure promising for renewable energy applications.


Molecular differences between mature and immature dental pulp cells: Bioinformatics and preliminary results.
Although previous studies have demonstrated that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from mature and immature teeth exhibit potential for multi-directional differentiation, the molecular and biological difference between the DPSCs from mature and immature permanent teeth has not been fully investigated. In the present study, 500 differentially expressed genes from dental pulp cells (DPCs) in mature and immature permanent teeth were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus online database. Based on bioinformatics analysis using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery, these genes were divided into a number of subgroups associated with immunity, inflammation and cell signaling. The results of the present study suggest that immune features, response to infection and cell signaling may be different in DPCs from mature and immature permanent teeth; furthermore, DPCs from immature permanent teeth may be more suitable for use in tissue engineering or stem cell therapy. The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database stated that Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), a differentially expressed gene in DPCs from mature and immature permanent teeth, serves a crucial role in the development of craniofacial tissues, including teeth, which further confirmed that SHH may cause DPCs from mature and immature permanent teeth to exhibit different biological characteristics. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database revealed that SHH has functional protein associations with a number of other proteins, including Glioma-associated oncogene (GLI)1, GLI2, growth arrest-specific protein 1, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)2 and BMP4, in mice and humans. It was also demonstrated that SHH may interact with other genes to regulate the biological characteristics of DPCs. The results of the present study may provide a useful reference basis for selecting suitable DPSCs and molecules for the treatment of these cells to optimize features for tissue engineering or stem cell therapy. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction should be performed to confirm the differential expression of these genes prior to the beginning of a functional study.


Impairment of tumor-initiating stem-like property and reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation in head and neck cancer by resveratrol treatment.
Recent reports have demonstrated that head and neck cancer-derived tumor-initiating cells (HNC-TICs) presented high tumorigenic, chemoradioresistant, metastatic properties, and were coupled with gain of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemotherapeutic effect and regulatory mechanisms of resveratrol on HNC-TICs. We first observed that the treatment of resveratrol significantly downregulated the ALDH1 activity and CD44 positivity of head and neck cancer (HNC) cells in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Moreover, resveratrol treatment reduced self-renewal property and stemness genes signatures (Oct4, Nanog, and Nestin) expression in sphere-forming HNC-TICs. Additionally, the repressive effect of resveratrol on in vitro malignant properties including invasiveness/anchorage-independent growth was mediated by regulating productions of EMT markers Slug, ZEB1, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Vimentin. Importantly, an in vivo nude mice model showed that resveratrol treatment to xenograft tumors by oral gavage reduced tumor growth, stemness, and EMT markers in vivo. Lastly, synergistic effect of resveratrol and conventional chemotreatment attenuated tumor-initiating cells property in HNC-TICs. Our results demonstrated that resveratrol would be a valuable therapeutics clinically in combination with conventional chemotherapy treatment modalities for malignant HNCs by elimination of tumor-initiating stem-like and EMT properties.


Self-implantable hearing devices.
Though traditional hearing aids remain the mainstay of treatment for most uncorrectable hearing loss, partially implantable devices may offer solutions when standard therapy fails.


Prevalence and factors associated with false positive suspicion of acute aortic syndrome: experience in a patient population transferred to a specialized aortic treatment center.
Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment at specialized centers. We sought to determine the frequency and etiology of false positive activation of a regional AAS network in a patient population emergently transferred for suspected AAS. We evaluated 150 consecutive patients transferred from community emergency departments directly to our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) with a diagnosis of suspected AAS between March, 2010 and August, 2011. A final diagnosis of confirmed acute Type A, acute Type B dissection, and false positive suspicion of dissection was made in 63 (42%), 70 (46.7%) and 17 (11.3%) patients respectively. Of the 17 false positive transfers, ten (58.8%) were suspected Type A dissection and seven (41.2%) were suspected Type B dissection. The initial hospital diagnosis in 15 (88.2%) patients was made by a computed tomography (CT) scan and 10 (66.6%) of these patients required repeat imaging with an ECG-synchronized CT to definitively rule out AAS. Five (29.4%) patients had prior history of open or endovascular aortic repair. Overall in-hospital mortality was 9.3%. The diagnosis of AAS is confirmed in most patients emergently transferred for suspected AAS. False positive activation in this setting is driven primarily by uncertainty secondary to motion-artifact of the ascending aorta and the presence of complex anatomy following prior aortic intervention. Network-wide standardization of imaging strategies, and improved sharing of imaging may further improve triage of this complex patient population.


The immunosenescence.
Aging is a post-maturational process, biologically characterized by the progressive failure to maintain or restore the physiologic homeostasis. Such a complex phenomenon is influenced by the interaction among genetic, epigenetic, environmental, behavioral and socio-economic factors and involves the whole body, including immune system. The age-related immune system changes, collectively termed immunosenescence and historically defined as a state of immunodeficiency, actually represent a complex remodeling that entails the increase of some immune functions and the decrease or invariability of others. These adjustments may either successfully result in a longstanding active immune system with a greater chance of long survival, or unsuccessfully lead to a dysregulated immunity with a higher risk of infections, malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Revealing the complete scenario of the biological events occurring in the immune system with advancing age might allow to identify immunosupportive treatments and/or behaviors direct to positively modulate the immunosenescence process.


[Experimental treatment for human colorectal carcinoma by tissue type specific expression of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene].
An expression plasmid pCEA-TK, in which HSV-TK gene was under the control of CEA promoter, was constructed. The human colorectal carcinoma cell line LoVo or the human uterine cervical cancer cell line HeLa was co-transfected with pSV2-neo and pCEATK, respectively. After G418 selection, both transgenic cell clones (LoVo/CEATK and HeLa/CEATK) were obtained. LoVo/CEATK cells were 1300 times more sensitive to the cytotoxicity of ganciclovir than LoVo cells. However, the elevation of GCV sensitivity induced by pCEATK gene in HeLa line was only 8 times. Injection of GCV resulted in significant regression of HSV-TK transfected LoVo tumor in nude mice. These data suggested that the expression of TK gene driven by CEA promoter specifically killed CEA-positive colorectal carcinoma cells. Transmission electromicroscopy and DNA fragmentation assay demonstrated that GCV could induce apoptosis in LoVo/CEATK cells. The possibility of the CEATK/GCV system in the treatment of human colorectal carcinoma was discussed.


Dissolved Mineral Ash Generated by Vegetation Fire Is Photoactive under the Solar Spectrum.
Vegetation fire generates vast amounts of mineral ash annually that can be readily mobilized by water or wind erosion. Little is known about the photoactivity of dissolved mineral ash in aquatic systems and its ability to mediate redox reactions of environmental pollutants. This study reports that dissolved mineral ash derived from pyrolysis of biomass is photoactive under simulated sunlight, generating reactive oxygen species. It can mediate the photoreduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in the presence of electron donors; for example, phenols and dissolved organic matter, at pH 4.7. The reaction kinetics followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, suggesting a heterogeneous photocatalytic reaction. The enhancement of reduction efficiency was linearly correlated with the one-electron reduction potential of phenols. The synergy between dissolved mineral ash and phenols is attributed to the inhibition of electron-hole recombination. The reduction rate decreases with increasing solution pH, owing to the decreased reduction potential and surface adsorption of Cr(VI). The silicon and silicon carbide components are most likely responsible for the photocatalytic activity of dissolved mineral ash. Our results suggest that dissolved mineral ash is a natural photocatalyst that can mediate redox reactions of pollutants in sunlit aquatic systems, playing an overlooked role in natural attenuation and aquatic photochemistry.


Feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for obese Korean women with endometrial cancer: long-term results at a single institution.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical feasibility of and survival outcome after laparoscopy in obese Korean women with endometrial cancer which has recently been increasing. We reviewed the medical records of the patients treated at our medical institution between 1999 and 2012. The patients were divided into three groups, non-obese (Body Mass Index [BMI]<25.0), overweight (BMI 25-27.99), and obese (BMI≥28.0). These patient groups were compared in terms of their clinical characteristics, treatment methods, as well as surgical and survival outcomes. In total, 55 of the 278 eligible patients were obese women. There were no differences in the three groups in terms of the proportion of patients who underwent lymphadenectomy, their cancer stage, histologic type, type of adjuvant treatment administered, intra-, post-operative, and long-term complications, operative time, number of removed lymph nodes, blood loss, and duration of hospitalization (P=0.067, 0.435, 0.757, 0.739, 0.458, 0.173, 0.076, 0.124, 0.770, 0.739, and 0.831, respectively). The Disease-Free Survival (DFS) times were 139.1 vs. 121.6 vs. 135.5 months (P=0.313), and the Overall Survival (OS) times were 145.2 vs. 124.8 vs. 139.5 months (P=0.436) for each group, respectively. Obese women with endometrial cancer can, therefore, be as safely managed using laparoscopy as women with normal BMIs.


Examination of cross-group contact at work and school in relation to acute and retrospective discrimination experiences and drinking to cope for Black and White young adult drinkers.
Black drinkers experience more alcohol problems compared to White drinkers at comparable levels of alcohol use (Mulia et al., 2009; Witbrodt et al., 2014; Zapolski et al., 2014). Research has found that Black compared to White drinkers endorse drinking to cope more frequently via retrospective report (Bradizza et al., 1999; Cooper et al., 2008). Additional research is needed to understand contributors to these racial differences. The primary aim of the present study was to examine how quality and frequency of cross-group contact at work and/or school relates to experiencing discrimination and, in turn, drinking to cope. Seventy-two young adult drinkers (Mage = 25, 72% female, 28% male; 64% Black, 36% White) completed baseline questionnaires and a subset (n = 50) completed a 17-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol. Cross-group contact frequency and quality was assessed at baseline while discrimination and coping motives were assessed via retrospective report at baseline and acutely via EMA. Accounting for sociodemographic covariates, path analyses utilizing retrospective measures revealed a significant indirect pathway from race to coping motives through quality of work/school cross-group contact and discrimination experiences related to assumptions of inferiority. Identical path analyses utilizing the acute EMA data revealed a significant indirect pathway from race to coping motives through quality of work/school cross-group contact. Improving cross-group contact at work and school may reduce drinking to cope. Additional research examining multiple domains of discrimination, quality of cross-group contact, and alcohol problems over time is needed to further understanding of social determinants of health inequities in alcohol problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


[Surgery for cancer patients and informed consent].
Cancer treatment in medical centers traditionally provide high-quality medical care but are often perceived by patients to be lacking in humanity, respect for individual dignity, and personal comfort. The most important features of approach are that patients are more informed about their condition and medical options than before, and another point is growing recognition of the importance of caring not only for the body but also for the personal, emotional, educational needs of cancer patients and their families.


Alternative therapy applications for postoperative nausea and vomiting.
The potential for postoperative nausea and vomiting is present in any patient who undergoes surgery and both are unpleasant and potentially dangerous consequences of surgery. Three types of complementary and alternative therapies that may help patients with postoperative nausea and vomiting include acupressure, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.


[Baroreceptor reflex function in young normotensive men with a family history of hypertension].
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the baroreflex function using lower body negative pressure (LBNP) and neck suction in young normotensive men with or without a family history of hypertension. Twenty-two young normotensive men with a family history of hypertension (FH+) and eight young normotensive men who had no family history of hypertension (FH-) were studied. FH(+) consisted of men who had a family history of hypertension within second degree relatives. We studied cardiopulmonary baroreflex function using LBNP and carotid sinus baroreflex function using neck suction and evaluated the reflex function under stimulated conditions using both LBNP and neck suction at the same time. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP)(F = 5.42, p < 0.0001) and pulse pressure (PP)(F = 15.57, p < 0.0001) decreased similarly in both groups in response to LBNP. SAP and PP responses to LBNP were not significantly affected by the family history of hypertension. Diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) increased (F = 2.89, p < 0.005) in both groups. There was a relationship between the LBNP level and family history of hypertension (F = 2.53, p < 0.013), and the increment in DAP during LBNP -30, -40 mmHg was larger in the FH(+) group. Through mean arterial pressure (MAP) was not effected by LBNP, there LBNP level was related to the family history of hypertension (F = 2.23, p < 0.02). Heart rate increased progressively (F = 25.7, p < 0.0001) with increasing levels of LBNP; however, these changes did not differ significantly in either group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


External detection of axoplasmic transport using 32P-ATP as precursor.
Axoplasmic transport was studied by employing a new external detection method, comparing it to the scintillation method. 32P-ATP was used as the precursor, and the pattern obtained was one typical of slow transport. The patterns recorded from nerves with the external detector system were seen to be closely similar to those found in the same nerves with the usual scintillation method, the external detector systems having the advantage of allowing studies to be made of changes in the pattern of transport in the same nerve over a period of days.


Heparin-Binding Protein Measurement Improves the Prediction of Severe Infection With Organ Dysfunction in the Emergency Department.
Early identification of patients with infection and at risk of developing severe disease with organ dysfunction remains a difficult challenge. We aimed to evaluate and validate the heparin-binding protein, a neutrophil-derived mediator of vascular leakage, as a prognostic biomarker for risk of progression to severe sepsis with circulatory failure in a multicenter setting. A prospective international multicenter cohort study. Seven different emergency departments in Sweden, Canada, and the United States. Adult patients with a suspected infection and at least one of three clinical systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (excluding leukocyte count). None. Plasma levels of heparin-binding protein, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, lactate, and leukocyte count were determined at admission and 12-24 hours after admission in 759 emergency department patients with suspected infection. Patients were defined depending on the presence of infection and organ dysfunction. Plasma samples from 104 emergency department patients with suspected sepsis collected at an independent center were used to validate the results. Of the 674 patients diagnosed with an infection, 487 did not have organ dysfunction at enrollment. Of these 487 patients, 141 (29%) developed organ dysfunction within the 72-hour study period; 78.0% of the latter patients had an elevated plasma heparin-binding protein level (>30 ng/mL) prior to development of organ dysfunction (median, 10.5 hr). Compared with other biomarkers, heparin-binding protein was the best predictor of progression to organ dysfunction (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.80). The performance of heparin-binding protein was confirmed in the validation cohort. In patients presenting at the emergency department, heparin-binding protein is an early indicator of infection-related organ dysfunction and a strong predictor of disease progression to severe sepsis within 72 hours.


Epididymal metastasis of a prostatic carcinoma.
We report the case of a 73-year-old patient who presented with a local recurrence of a prostatic carcinoma which had metastasized to the right epididymis. The histopathological examination of the resected tissue after transurethral resection of the prostate 8 years before revealed a pluriformal adenocarcinoma of the prostate, but the patient refused any kind of therapy at that time.


Identification of regions of poliovirus 2BC protein that are involved in cytotoxicity.
The expression of poliovirus 2BC protein in yeast and mammalian cells leads to a number of metabolic and morphological alterations, such as growth inhibition, intracellular membrane proliferation, blockade of the exocytic pathway, and enhanced membrane permeability. Yeast cells that express poliovirus 2BC in an inducible manner were used to identify the regions of 2BC implicated in the modifications of these cellular functions. Several 2BC deletion mutants were generated to define the minimal portion of 2BC required to alter these activities. Additional deletion mutants that were obtained by random mutagenesis followed by selection in yeast cells provided new insights into the structure and mechanism of action of 2BC. The activity responsible for membrane proliferation is located in 2C, while the activities responsible for membrane permeabilization and inhibition of the exocytic pathway are located in 2B. Several regions of 2B and 2C required for the different functions of 2BC were identified. Thus, the integrity of the N termini of both 2B and 2C is necessary for 2BC-induced cytotoxicity. It is also possible to separate the different cellular alterations provoked by 2BC by the use of several 2BC variants. Deletion of amino acids 52 to 65 in 2B generates a 2BC deletion variant, 2bC deltaAvrII, that still blocks yeast growth but is unable to enhance membrane permeability or to inhibit the exocytic pathway. On the other hand, 2Bcl28*.32b and 2Bcl28*.3c, which contain only 73 and 77 amino acids of 2B, interfere with yeast division and enhance membrane permeability but affect the exocytic pathway only weakly and do not induce membrane proliferation. Our findings indicate that Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a useful model system to analyze the functions of poliovirus 2BC and show the feasibility of separating the activities assigned to this protein.


Eradication therapy for gastric cancer in Inner Mongolia: A single-center study over 10 years.
To understand the characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer in a specific geographical region. The retrospective study was conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, China, and comprised clinical and pathological data of patients with gastric cancer treated from 2007 to 2017. Data was analysed according to the patients' ethnicity, gender, age, tumour location, differentiation degree, Bormann classification, tumour-nodes-metastases staging and pathological type. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22. Of the 2,049 patients, 1619(79.01%) were males and 430(20.99%) were females. The overall mean age of the sample was 60.94±10.90 years. The incidence of gastric antrum was the highest, with 830(40.51%) cases. The proportion of gastric cancers was different in different age groups (p=0.001). Of the total, 922(45%) cases were poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. There were significant differences in the histological types of gastric cancer in different age groups (p=0.001). There were 130(6.3%) cases of Mongolian patients, and the composition ratio of each age group was not significantly different from that of Han ethnicity (p>0.05). However, location was different with 55(42.31%) cases involving oesophago-gastric junction. The diagnostic rate of gastric cancer in Western Inner Mongolia was relatively low. The incidence of gastric cancer among both Mongolian and Han patients was higher in elderly men. The incidence of gastric antrum was dominant in Han patients, followed by oesophago-gastric junction, while the reverse was true of Mongolian patients.


Minimally invasive calcaneo-stop method for idiopathic, flexible pes planovalgus in children.
The aim of this study was to correct heel valgus in children and to lift the longitudinal arch of the foot using a temporary cancellous screw placed percutaneously across the talocalcaneal articulation. From April, 1997, to June, 2003, 94 procedures were done on 48 children between the ages of 8 and 14 years. The Meary angle to determine the degree of collapse of the medial longitudinal arch was 170 degrees or less, and the weightbearing hindfoot was in valgus. Presumably, the screw achieves correction by stimulating the proprioceptive foot receptors allowing active inversion of the foot. At 5 years followup, no serious complications occurred. The correction of the Meary angle on average was 17.10 +/- 5.51 degrees. In every foot, heel valgus and the longitudinal arch of the foot were improved radiographically and clinically without the loss of function. We removed the screws in all patients. In 91 feet, the arch of the foot and heel valgus remained in the corrected position. The 'calcaneo-stop' method is a simple, effective, minimally invasive technique for the treatment of idiopathic, flexible pes planus in carefully selected pediatric patients.


Increased expression of the CD45RO (memory) antigen on T cells in HIV-infected children.
Expression of the CD45RO putative memory cell antigen on CD4 (helper) and CD8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) lymphocytes of children born to HIV-infected women was investigated using the UCHL1 antibody. Significantly raised numbers of CD45RO+ CD8 lymphocytes were found in all nine of the infected children compared with uninfected and control children. Expression of CD45RO on CD4 lymphocytes was variable; absolute numbers were not increased, although the percentage was increased in four out of nine infected children. All the infected children except two (who had comparatively low numbers of CD45RO+ CD8 cells) were clinically well, which suggests that an increase in CD45RO+ CD8 cells may be indicative of a functionally active immune response against HIV.


Role of adenosine in isoflurane-induced cardioprotection.
This investigation tested the hypothesis that adenosine (A1) receptor blockade modulates the cardioprotective effects of isoflurane. Hemodynamics and percentage segment shortening (%SS) in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) perfusion territory were evaluated in barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 31) at selected intervals after pretreatment with the selective A1 receptor antagonist (8-cyclopentyl-1,3,dipropyl-xanthine; DPCPX 0.8 mg/kg, intravenously) or drug vehicle in the presence or absence of 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane. Dogs were subjected to five 5-min occlusions and reperfusions of the LAD, followed by 180 min of final reperfusion. Isoflurane was administered for 30 min before and during LAD occlusions and reperfusions and was discontinued at the onset of final reperfusion. Two other groups of dogs (n = 17) were used to measure interstitial concentrations of purines in the LAD region using a microdialysis technique in the presence and absence of isoflurane. Dogs receiving drug vehicle or DPCPX exhibited no recovery of %SS after 180 min of reperfusion (-5 +/- 7 and 5 +/- 11% of baseline, respectively, +/- SEM). In contrast, dogs receiving isoflurane alone demonstrated complete recovery of %SS at 60 min after reperfusion. DPCPX pretreatment partially attenuated isoflurane-induced enhancement of recovery of %SS (34 +/- 11% of baseline 180 min after reperfusion; P < 0.05). Interstitial purine concentrations were increased during multiple occlusions and reperfusions of the LAD in dogs not receiving isoflurane, but they were unchanged by coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion in dogs receiving isoflurane. The results indicate that isoflurane-induced cardioprotection in stunned myocardium is partially mediated by adenosine type 1 receptor activation and is accompanied by decreases in endogenous adenosine release.


Comparison of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation and conventional thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation and conventional thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules (TNs) by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases for clinical trials from the date of their inception to 1 April 2019. Two investigators independently examined the trials to select qualified studies, extracted relevant information and assessed the risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration checklist (Oxford, UK). The primary study outcomes were safety (hoarseness, hypothyroidism and postoperative pain) and efficacy (symptom improvement, postoperative cosmetic effects and hospitalization time). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019125643).Results: Seven studies involving 1289 patients were included. The results demonstrated that the incidences of hoarseness [odds ratio (OR) 0.33, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) (0.14, 0.79)], hypothyroidism [risk difference (RD) -0.31, 95% CI (-0.34, -0.28)] and postoperative pain [OR 0.35, 95% CI (0.25, 0.49)] were lower, and the hospitalization time was shorter [standard mean difference (SMD) -4.01, 95% CI (-4.22, -3.81)], in the thermal ablation group than in the conventional thyroidectomy group, and postoperative cosmetic effects were better [relative risk (RR) ratio 1.12, 95% CI (1.01, 1.24)] (p < 0.05). For symptom improvement, the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: This study shows that for benign TNs, ultrasound-guided thermal ablation may have potential advantages in terms of safety, cosmetic effects and shorter hospitalization time compared with conventional thyroidectomy, while symptom improvement is the same.


Anti-inflammatory activity of fruit fractions in vitro, mediated through toll-like receptor 4 and 2 in the context of inflammatory bowel disease.
Pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) are important in detecting and responding to stress and bacterial stimuli. Defect or damage in the TLR2 and TLR4 pathways can lead to sustained inflammation, characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The goal of this study was to identify fruit fractions that can be tested further to develop them as complementary therapies for IBD. In order to do this, we identified fruit fractions that mediate their anti-inflammatory response through the TLR4 and TLR2 pathway. Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK)-hTLR4 and hTLR2 cells were stimulated with their respective ligands to induce inflammation. These cells were treated with one of the 12 fractionated fruits and the inflammatory effect measured. 10 of the fruits came up as anti-inflammatory in the hTLR4 assay and nine in the hTLR2 assays. Many of the fruit fractions mediated their anti-inflammatory actions either mainly in their hydrophobic fractions (such as elderberry) or hydrophilic fractions (such as red raspberry), or both. The strongest anti-inflammatory effects were seen for feijoa and blackberry. This study shows that fruits can have multiple fractions eliciting anti-inflammatory effects in a pathway specific manner. This suggests that the compounds found in fruits can act together to produce health benefits by way of reducing inflammation. Exploiting this property of fruits can help develop complimentary therapies for inflammatory diseases.


Is there a trans-abdominal testicular descent during the second gestational trimester? Study in human fetuses between 13 and 23 weeks post conception.
To confirm if a real inner descend of testis occurs, correlating the testicular position with fetal parameters and analyzing the position of the testes relative to the internal ring. Twenty nine human fetuses between 13 and 23 weeks post conception (WPC) were studied. The fetuses were carefully dissected with the aid of a stereoscopic lens with 16/25X magnification and testicular position observed. With the aid of a digital pachymeter the distance between the lower pole of the kidney and the upper extremity of the testis (DK-T) was measured to show the position of the testis. During the dissection we also indicated the position of the testes relative to the internal ring. Means were statistically compared using simple linear regression and the paired T-test. The 58 testes had abdominal position. The DK-T in the right side measured between 0.17 and 1.82cm (mean=0.79cm) and in the left side it was between 0.12 and 1.84cm (mean=0.87cm), without statistically differences (p=0.0557). The linear regression analysis indicated that DK-T in both sides correlated significantly and positively with fetal age. All fetuses with more than 20 WPC, heavier than 350g and with CRL over 22cm had a greater distance than the average DK-T. We xobserved that the 58 testis remains adjacent to the internal ring throughout the period studied. The testes remains adjacent to the internal ring throughout the period studied, indicating that there is no real trans-abdominal testicular descent during the second gestational trimester.


Functional characterization of Brassica napus DNA topoisomerase Iα-1 and its effect on flowering time when expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Previous studies have shown that DNA topoisomerase Iα (AtTOP1α) has specific developmental functions during growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, little is known about the roles of DNA topoisomerases in the closely related and commercially important plant, rapeseed (Brassica napus). Here, the full-length BnTOP1α-1 coding sequence was cloned from the A2 subgenome of the Brassica napus inbred line L111. We determine that all BnTOP1α paralogs showed differing patterns of expression in different organs of L111, and that when expressed in tobacco leaves as a fusion protein with green fluorescent protein, BnTOP1α-1 localized to the nucleus. We further showed that ectopic expression of BnTOP1α-1 in the A. thaliana top1α-7 mutant fully complemented the early flowering phenotype of the mutant. Moreover, altered expression levels in top1α-7 seedlings of several key genes controlling flowering time were restored to wild type levels by ectopic expression of BnTOP1α-1. These results provide valuable insights into the roles of rapeseed DNA topoisomerases in flowering time, and provide a promising target for genetic manipulation of this commercially significant process in rapeseed.


Impact of Meal Fatty Acid Composition on Postprandial Lipemia in Metabolically Healthy Adults and Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review.
Consuming fat results in postprandial lipemia, which is defined as an increase in blood triglyceride (TG) concentration. According to current knowledge, an excessively elevated postprandial TG concentration increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is well known that meal-dependent (e.g., nutrient composition) as well as meal-independent factors (e.g., age) determine the magnitude of the lipemic response. However, there is conflicting evidence concerning the influence of fatty acid (FA) composition on postprandial TG concentration. The FA composition of a meal depends on the fat source used; for example, butter and coconut oil are rich in SFAs, while olive oil and canola oil have a high content of unsaturated FAs. To investigate the influence of meals prepared with fat sources rich in either SFAs or unsaturated FAs on postprandial lipemia, we carried out a systematic literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Randomized crossover studies were analyzed and the AUC of postprandial TG concentration served as the primary outcome measure. To examine the influence of health status, we differentiated between metabolically healthy individuals and those with CVD risk factors. In total, 23 studies were included. The results show that, in metabolically healthy adults, the FA composition of a meal is not a relevant determinant of postprandial lipemia. However, in individuals with CVD risk factors, SFA-rich meals (>32 g SFA/meal) often elicited a stronger lipemic response than meals rich in unsaturated FAs. The results suggest that adults with hypertriglyceridemia, an elevated BMI (≥30 kg/m2), and/or who are older (>40 y) may benefit from replacing SFA sources with unsaturated FAs. These hypotheses need to be verified by further studies in people with CVD risk factors using standardized postprandial protocols. This review was registered in PROSPERO as CRD42021214508 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).


Decreased antioxidant enzyme expression and increased oxidative damage in erosive lichen planus of the vulva.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased oxidative stress occurs in erosive lichen planus of the vulva. Skin biopsies from six patients with untreated, histologically confirmed erosive lichen planus of the vulva were examined immunohistochemically using antibodies against antioxidant enzymes. The protein-bound lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenale (4-HNE) and the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were investigated. Protein carbonyls as markers of protein oxidation were visualised using the dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPH) method. Normal vulval tissues from 12 subjects served as controls. In vulval lichen planus tissue the enzymatic antioxidant defence was found to be significantly decreased in the epidermal layers. Furthermore, a significant increase of lipid peroxidation products and oxidative DNA damage was found within the epidermis. Protein oxidation occurred predominantly in the papillary dermis. This is the first study to demonstrate a decreased antioxidant defence and increased oxidative damage to lipids, DNA and proteins in lichen planus. These oxidative modifications point to pathophysiological alterations mainly within the basal cell layers of the epidermis and at the dermoepidermal junction. Further studies are warranted to investigate the potential role of oxidative stress in the development of autoimmunity in this disease.


Heat rectification, heat fluxes, and spectral matching.
Heat rectifiers would facilitate energy management operations such as cooling or energy harvesting, but devices of practical interest are still missing. Understanding heat rectification at a fundamental level is key to helping us find or design such devices. The match or mismatch of the phonon band spectrum of device segments for forward or reverse temperature bias of the thermal baths at device boundaries was proposed as the mechanism behind rectification. However, no explicit theoretical relation derived from first principles had been found so far between heat fluxes and spectral matching. We study heat rectification in a minimalistic chain of two coupled ions. The fluxes and rectification can be calculated analytically. We propose a definition of the matching that sets an upper bound for the heat flux. In a regime where the device rectifies optimally, matching and flux ratios for forward and reverse configurations are found to be proportional. The results can be extended to a system of N particles in arbitrary traps with nearest-neighbor linear interactions.


Statistical modeling of nitrogen-dependent modulation of root system architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Plant root development is strongly affected by nutrient availability. Despite the importance of structure and function of roots in nutrient acquisition, statistical modeling approaches to evaluate dynamic and temporal modulations of root system architecture in response to nutrient availability have remained as widely open and exploratory areas in root biology. In this study, we developed a statistical modeling approach to investigate modulations of root system architecture in response to nitrogen availability. Mathematical models were designed for quantitative assessment of root growth and root branching phenotypes and their dynamic relationships based on hierarchical configuration of primary and lateral roots formulating the fishbone-shaped root system architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana. Time-series datasets reporting dynamic changes in root developmental traits on different nitrate or ammonium concentrations were generated for statistical analyses. Regression analyses unraveled key parameters associated with: (i) inhibition of primary root growth under nitrogen limitation or on ammonium; (ii) rapid progression of lateral root emergence in response to ammonium; and (iii) inhibition of lateral root elongation in the presence of excess nitrate or ammonium. This study provides a statistical framework for interpreting dynamic modulation of root system architecture, supported by meta-analysis of datasets displaying morphological responses of roots to diverse nitrogen supplies.


The Significance of CD109 Expression in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Up-regulation of CD109 occurs in malignant tumours, although its role is unknown. Here we aimed to evaluate the significance of CD109 expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess CD109 expression in 169 patients with OPSCC. We assessed the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated inhibition of CD109 expression on the proliferation and invasiveness of the human papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+) head and neck SCC cell line UM-SCC-47. Expression of CD109 was associated with higher tumour differentiation in p16+ OPSCC (p=0.0036), and the CD109+ subgroup experienced significantly shorter progression-free survival (p=0.03). UM-SCC-47 cells with siRNA-mediated inhibition of CD109 expression showed reduced invasiveness (p=0.07). CD109 expression is associated with poor prognosis of HPV16+ OPSCCs.


[Primary sacral epidural hydatid cyst: a case report].
Primary epidural hydatid cyst of the spinal canal without bone involvement is very rare. The authors report the case of a 35 year old man presenting with lower cauda equina compression. MRI showed a cystic lesion with signal characteristics similar to cerebrospinal fluid. Surgical exploration through a midline posterior approach was used which confirmed the hydatid nature of the cyst. There was no bone lesion. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Hydatid cyst should be suspected in case of cystic lesion causing cord compression or cauda equina syndrome.


Single-strand scissions of chromosomal DNA during commitment to recombination at meiosis.
Diploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced to undergo meiosis accumulate single-strand scissions in both template and newly synthesized DNA during commitment to genetic recombination. No evidence for accumulation of double-strand breaks during meiosis was obtained. When commitment to recombination is at the full meiotic level there are approximately 70 to 200 single-strand scissions per meiotic cell in which approximately 150 recombination events have been reported to occur.


Tricellulin Expression and its Deletion Effects in the Endolymphatic Sac.
Tricellulin is a tight junction (TJ)-forming protein that participates in the sealing function of tricellular TJs. Tricellulin-knockout (Tric-/-) mice show progressive hearing loss with degeneration of hair cells in the cochlea without physiological or physical disorders. In the present study, we investigated the tricellulin expression and its deletion effects in the endolymphatic sac (ES) using Tric-/- mice. The ES epithelia from wild-type (WT) mice were laser-microdissected, and RT-PCR was performed. The ES sections from Tric-/- and WT mice were immunostained with an anti-tricellulin antibody. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for morphological examination. The inner ear of Tric-/- mice was perfused with biotinylation reagents, and the ES sections were observed for tracer permeability assay after applying streptavidin-Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate. The tricellulin expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and by immunohistochemistry in the WT ES. The ES in Tric-/- mice showed normal morphology and revealed no biotin leakage from the lumen. The ES in Tric-/- mice showed no changes in morphology or disruption in macromolecular barrier function. The effects of solute leakages in the ES of Tric-/- mice may be very limited and compensatable, or that the ES epithelia may have other sealing system covering the lack of tricellulin.


Pharmacology of the myogenic heart of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis.
1. We have used pharmacologic, immunologic, and biochemical techniques to examine the role of neurochemicals in modulating the myogenic heart of the snail, Lymnaea. 2. 5-HT [high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and immunocytochemistry], dopamine (HPLC), FMRFamide-related peptides (radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry) and substance P-related peptides (immunocytochemistry) were shown to be localized within heart tissue. 3. The pharmacologic actions of these substances on the auricle from an isolated heart preparation were examined together with other putative modulators, acetylcholine (ACh), small cardioactive peptides A and B (SCPA and SCPB), [Arg]8vasotocin (AVT), and Lymnaea native FMRFamide-related peptides [Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide), Ser-Asp-Pro-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH2 (SDPFLRFamide) and Gly-Asp-Pro-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH2 (GDPFLRFamide)]. 4. The response to each substance could be distinguished by different effect on beat rate, amplitude, and diastolic tonus, as well as by the duration of responses to standard 1-min applications. ACh was inhibitory at low concentrations (threshold less than 10(-10) M) but excitatory at high concentrations (10(-6) M). AVT was alone in producing no dose-dependent response. At high concentrations (10(-4) M), AVT caused a massive tonic contraction and cessation of auricle beat. All other substances examined were excitatory. 5. Antagonists to 5-HT (cinanserin), dopamine (ergonovine), and ACh (alpha-bungarotoxin) were identified. 6. ACh, 5-HT, dopamine, and FMRFamide-related peptides all acted on the auricle at low concentrations, and the rapid onset and short duration of their excitatory effects (ACh inhibitory at low concentrations) suggested that they may have roles as neurotransmitters. SCPA and SCPB were also potent (threshold less than 10(-10) M) but produced long-duration responses suggesting a modulatory or hormonal role.


Mycobacterial disease in patients with rheumatic disease.
This Review focuses on the emergence of mycobacterial disease in patients undergoing treatment for rheumatic disease with four new drug classes--tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, human interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonists, anti-CD20 antibodies and CD4(+) T-cell costimulation modulators--collectively referred to as biologic agents. Mycobacterial disease is a major cause of severe infection in patients undergoing anti-TNF therapy. Reports are now emerging of an association between mycobacterial infection and antirheumatic treatment with anti-IL-1 or anti-CD20 antibodies. Although tuberculosis is the most common mycobacterial disease, nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease is an increasingly recognized problem in this setting. Among the antirheumatic drugs currently in development, agents that target IL-17, IL-23, Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling, and metalloproteinases are likely to confer an increased risk of mycobacterial disease. Although screening and preventive treatments have lowered the incidence of active tuberculosis, these tools are not applicable to patients with NTM disease. All patients receiving drugs associated with an increased risk of mycobacterial disease should be carefully monitored, and suspect lesions should undergo Mycobacterium culture. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of NTM disease in this setting, and to evaluate the safety of simultaneous anti-TNF and antimycobacterial treatment.


A multicomponent psychosocial intervention among people with early-stage dementia involving physical exercise, cognitive stimulation therapy, psychoeducation and counselling: Results from a mixed-methods study.
There is increasing awareness of the benefits of both physical and psychosocial interventions to empower and benefit people with dementia and their caregivers. However, the potential additional benefits of combining physical and psychosocial interventions have only been sparsely explored. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the acceptability and potential impact of a multicomponent intervention comprising physical exercise, cognitive stimulation therapy (CST), psychoeducation and counselling for people with early-stage dementia. A 15-week multicomponent group-based intervention was offered to people with early-stage dementia in Denmark (N = 44). A mixed-methods design combining interviews, observations, tests of cognitive and physical functioning and an interviewer-assisted questionnaire on quality of life was applied to (1) investigate acceptability of the intervention, including whether people with dementia and their caregivers found the intervention meaningful and (2) to explore and assess changes in participants' physical and cognitive functioning and quality of life. The study was conducted between June 2018 and August 2019. The pilot study demonstrated that the multicomponent intervention was acceptable for people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. Test results did not show significant changes in measures of participants' physical and cognitive functioning or quality of life. However, qualitative data revealed that participants perceived the intervention as meaningful and found that it had a positive influence on their physical and social well-being. In addition, interaction and support from peers and staff members was considered important and rewarding. This multicomponent intervention constitutes a meaningful and beneficial activity for people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. It provides an opportunity to engage in social interactions with peers and experience professional support. The study also underlines the importance of providing prolonged and sustainable interventions for people with dementia to maintain personal and social benefits.


[Brain conventional MR and DWI in cirrhotic patients:correlated with portal hypertension].
To explore the relationship among brain routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion weight imaging (DWI), and parameters of portal hypertension of cirrhosis patients. Two hundred and seventy-five patients with cirrhosis underwent routine MRI exams were analyzed retrospectively. Signal intensities of putamen and globus pallidus (GP) were measured on T1WI to compute globus pallidus index (GPI). In apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images, regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the white matter of parietal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, caudate head, putamen, GP, and thalamus to get ADC values of each location. In abdomen CT images, liver areas of all slices were drawn to multiply slice thickness to get liver volumes, and maximum portal venous caliber and portosystemic shunting collateral caliber were recorded. Independent-samples t test was performed to explore the significance of GPI between GP hyperintensity group and GP non-hyperintensity group, as well as between cirrhosis groups underwent 1.5T and 3.0T MR exams. One-way ANOVA test was performed to evaluate differences among Child-Pugh classes. The difference between baseline and follow-up MR exams were compared with paired-samples t test. Pearson correlation test was performed to explore the relationships among GPI, ADC values, parameters of portal hypertension, and venous blood ammonia levels. Spearman rank correlation test was performed to explore the relationships among GPI, ADC values, and Child-Pugh classes. (1) The GPI in GP hyperintensity group was significantly higher than GP non-hyperintensity group (0.128 ± 0.031 vs 0.057 ± 0.021, t = 22.244, P < 0.01). The ADC values and venous blood ammonia levels showed no significant difference between two groups. GP hyperintensity group showed larger portal venous and collateral calibers than GP non-hyperintensity group ( (18 ± 4)mm vs (17 ± 3) mm, (10 ± 6) mm vs (6 ± 4) mm, t was 2.816 and 5.048 respectively; P was 0.005 and <0.01 respectively). GP hyperintensity group showed less liver volumes than the other group ( (1 113 ± 445)ml vs (14 443 ± 698)ml, t = -4.280, P < 0.01). Child-Pugh classes showed no significant difference among each other (all P > 0.05). (2) The GPI of 1.5T and 3.0T exams showed significant difference between each other (t = -5.15, P < 0.01). Short-term follow-up patients showed no significant difference of GPI between two exams (t = -0.271, P = 0.788). (3) GPI showed negative correlation with liver volumes of cirrhosis patients (r = -0.240;P < 0.01), and GPI positively correlated with portal venous calibers and portosystemic shunting collateral calibers (r = 0.296, 0.355; both P < 0.01). ADC values of parietal lobe, frontal lobe, caudate head, GP, and occipital lobe positively correlated with GPI (r = 0.309, 0.156, 0.174, 0.155, 0.185; all P < 0.05). ADC values of parietal lobe positively correlated with portal venous calibers (r = 0.187, P = 0.025), ADC values of other locations showed no significant correlation with parameters of portal hypertension (all P > 0.05). GPI and thalamus ADC values showed positive correlation with Child-Pugh classes (r = 0.195 and 0.217; both P < 0.05), ADC values of other locations showed no significant correlation with Child-Pugh classes (all P > 0.05). The GPI of cirrhosis patients was correlated with severity of portal hypertension, and showed significant correlation with ADC values, while ADC values had no relationship with portal hypertension. Besides, venous blood ammonia values and Child-Pugh classes have little effect on GPI and ADC values.


Morphology and phase controlled cobalt nanostructures in magnetic polypropylene nanocomposites: the role of alkyl chain-length in maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene.
A novel function of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP) with different backbone chain-lengths was demonstrated, i.e., in controlling the cobalt morphologies (dispersed polyhedral vs. assembled chain nanostructure), crystalline structures (ε- vs. β-phase), and magnetic property (242 vs. 808 Oe) in the synthesized magnetic PP nanocomposites.


[Hemodynamic Derangements in Patients With Functional Univentricular Heart: Mechanisms of Development, Possibilities of Treatment].
Heart failure (HF) is a predictable outcome of nearly all cardiovascular diseases including congenital heart diseases (CHD). A special category comprises patients with functional single ventricle (FSV) of the heart because of extreme diversity of anatomical changes of the heart and great vessels, complex mechanisms of development of HF, multistage surgical correction of the defect, presence of arrhythmias, progressive rise of pulmonary vascular resistance, etc. Prevention and treatment of HF in patients with FSV includes surgical optimization of pulmonary blood flow during neonatal period, timely staged surgical correction of the defect, pharmacotherapy, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and in severe cases mechanical cardiac support and heart transplantation. This article contains review of the mechanisms of HF development in patients with FSV as well as analysis of current approaches to recognition and treatment of this condition.


Scientific Evidence of Chinese Herbal Medicine (Gegen Qinlian Decoction) in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.
Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD), a Chinese herbal compound, has been widely used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in China. However, evidence from systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) of GQD in UC remains highly controversial. To collate, evaluate, and synthesize the current evidence, we carried out this study. SRs/MAs of GQD for UC were obtained from eight databases. Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) was utilized to appraise the methodological quality, Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for reporting quality, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) for evidence quality. Four eligible SRs/MAs were obtained. According to AMSTAR 2, all SRs/MAs were graded as critically low quality. According to PRISMA checklist, all SRs/MAs failed to report the information of protocol and registration. With GRADE, no outcome measure with high-quality evidence was found, and the evidence quality for outcome measures was in the moderate to critically low levels. GQD with conventional medicine (CM) seems to be more effective in UC than CM alone. This finding provides a new alternative strategy for the treatment of UC. However, owing to the limitations of the evidence provided by the included SRs/MAs, this conclusion must be treated with caution.


Dissociable effects of game elements on motivation and cognition in a task-switching training in middle childhood.
Although motivational reinforcers are often used to enhance the attractiveness of trainings of cognitive control in children, little is known about how such motivational manipulations of the setting contribute to separate gains in motivation and cognitive-control performance. Here we provide a framework for systematically investigating the impact of a motivational video-game setting on the training motivation, the task performance, and the transfer success in a task-switching training in middle-aged children (8-11 years of age). We manipulated both the type of training (low-demanding/single-task training vs. high-demanding/task-switching training) as well as the motivational setting (low-motivational/without video-game elements vs. high-motivational/with video-game elements) separately from another. The results indicated that the addition of game elements to a training setting enhanced the intrinsic interest in task practice, independently of the cognitive demands placed by the training type. In the task-switching group, the high-motivational training setting led to an additional enhancement of task and switching performance during the training phase right from the outset. These motivation-induced benefits projected onto the switching performance in a switching situation different from the trained one (near-transfer measurement). However, in structurally dissimilar cognitive tasks (far-transfer measurement), the motivational gains only transferred to the response dynamics (speed of processing). Hence, the motivational setting clearly had a positive impact on the training motivation and on the paradigm-specific task-switching abilities; it did not, however, consistently generalize on broad cognitive processes. These findings shed new light on the conflation of motivation and cognition in childhood and may help to refine guidelines for designing adequate training interventions.


Effects of angiotensin II on insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose metabolism in rats.
The hypothesis that angiotensin II (AII) might play a role in glucose homeostasis was studied in eight paired male littermate rats who had fasted for 16 h and were infused with either AII (50 ng/kg/min) or saline for 60 min. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and plasma glucose (PG) did not change significantly in the saline-infused rats. In the AII-infused rats, however, MAP increased by 14.1 +/- 1.3 mm Hg and PG increased within 10 min to reach a new steady state that was approximately 10 mg/dL higher than the preinfusion PG (P < .001). Mean PG over 60 min was significantly higher during AII infusion compared to saline infusion (80.5 +/- 1 v 70.4 +/- 0.7 mg/dL, P = .0354 by repeated measures ANOVA), and plasma insulin was approximately 20 mu U/mL higher during AII infusion (66 +/- 6 v 46 +/- 2, P = .0023). Glucose turnover rate, determined isotopically from a single bolus injection of [3-(3)H]-glucose given after the new steady state was established, was no different in the two groups. However, insulin sensitivity declined by 33% in the AII-infused rats (0.116 +/- 0.012 v 0.152 +/- 0.016, P = .047). It is concluded that AII infusion at a dose that results in a physiologic increase in blood pressure acutely induces a new steady state of insulin resistance, from either reduced glucose utilization due to vasoconstriction or increased hepatic glucose production. The result of the insulin resistance is an increase in plasma glucose levels, and hyperinsulinemia, which overcomes insulin resistance, returning glucose turnover to normal despite continuing AII infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Antimicrobial Biomaterials for the Healing of Infected Bone Tissue: A Systematic Review of Microtomographic Data on Experimental Animal Models.
Bone tissue infection is a major clinical challenge with high morbidity and a significant healthcare burden. Therapeutic approaches are usually based on systemic antibacterial therapies, despite the potential adverse effects associated with antibiotic resistance, persistent and opportunistic infections, hypersensitivity, and toxicity issues. Most recently, tissue engineering strategies, embracing local delivery systems and antibacterial biomaterials, have emerged as a promising alternative to systemic treatments. Despite the reported efficacy in managing bacterial infection, little is known regarding the outcomes of these devices on the bone healing process. Accordingly, this systematic review aims, for the first time, to characterize the efficacy of antibacterial biomaterials/tissue engineering constructs on the healing process of the infected bone within experimental animal models and upon microtomographic characterization. Briefly, a systematic evaluation of pre-clinical studies was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines, further complemented with bias analysis and methodological quality assessments. Data reported a significant improvement in the healing of the infected bone when an antibacterial construct was implanted, compared with the control-construct devoid of antibacterial activity, particularly at longer time points. Furthermore, considering the assessment of bias, most included studies revealed an inadequate reporting methodology, which may lead to an unclear or high risk of bias and directly hinder future studies.


Synthesis of composite sorbent for the treatment of aqueous solutions contaminated with methylene blue dye.
To apply the principles of sustainability, this study aims to prepare the composite sorbent from mixing of solid wastes that resulted from activities of treatment plants for wastewater and water supply. The manufacturing process depends on the mixing of sewage sludge with waterworks sludge at different proportions and the best mixture is modified by ferric nitrate solution. The prepared composite sorbent was evaluated as permeable reactive barrier (PRB) in the capturing of methylene blue (MB) dye presented in the simulated groundwater. Results proved that the suitable mixture of composite sorbent consisting of 0.25 g sewage sludge with 0.75 g waterworks sludge coated with aqueous solution of 2 g of Fe(NO3)2 achieved the maximum sorption capacity. In comparison with Freundlich model, Langmuir expression described the sorption measurements in a well manner; so, the chemisorption is governed by the removal of MB with maximum adsorption capacity reached to 268.98 mg/g. Kinetic measurements could be more representative by pseudo-first-order model and this means that the sorption process is supported by physical forces. Finally, the effects of inlet concentrations and bed thickness on the migration of MB front were simulated in an efficient manner by COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a package with root mean squared errors not in excess of 0.152.