Improving target dose coverage and organ-at-risk sparing in intensity-modulated radiotherapy of advanced laryngeal cancer by a simple optimization technique.
To evaluate a simple optimization technique intended to improve planning target volume (PTV) dose coverage and organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of advanced laryngeal cancer. Generally acceptable initial IMRT plans were generated for 12 patients and were improved individually by the following two techniques: (1) base dose function-based (BDF) technique, in which the treatment plans were reoptimized based on the initial IMRT plans; (2) dose-controlling structure-based (DCS) technique, in which the initial IMRT plans were reoptimized by adding constraints for hot and cold spots. The initial, BDF and DCS IMRT plans and additionally generated volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were compared concerning homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) of PTVs prescribed at 70 Gy/60 Gy (PTV70/PTV60), OAR sparing, monitor units (MUs) per fraction and total planning time. Compared with the initial IMRT and DCS IMRT plans, the BDF technique provided superior HI/CI, by approximately 19-37%/4-11%, and lower doses to most OARs, by approximately 1-7%, except for the comparable HI of PTV60 to DCS IMRT plans. Compared with VMAT plans, the BDF technique provided comparable HI, CI and most-OAR sparing, except for the superior HI of PTV70, by approximately 13%. The BDF technique produced more MUs and reduced the planning time. The BDF optimization technique for IMRT of advanced laryngeal cancer can improve target dose homogeneity and conformity, spare most OARs and is efficient. A novel optimization technique for improving IMRT was assessed and found to be effective and efficient.


Preparation and evaluation of pranoprofen gel for percutaneous administration.
The percutaneous delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has the advantages of avoiding the hepatic first pass effect and delivering the drug to the inflammation site at a sustained, concentrated level over an extended period of time. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and poloxamer 407 were used in an attempt to develop new topical formulations of pranoprofen. The effects of the drug concentration (0.04, 0.08, 0.12, 0.16, and 0.20%) on the rate of drug release from HPMC-poloxamer 407 gels were examined using a synthetic cellulose membrane at 37+/-0.5 degrees C. The rate of drug permeation increased significantly with increasing drug concentration in the gels until the concentration reached 0.16%, and increased slightly thereafter. The effects of temperature on the rate of drug release from the 0.16% pranoprofen gels were evaluated at 32, 37, and 42 degrees C. The rate of drug release from the 0.16% pranoprofen gels increased with increasing temperature with activation energy (Ea) of 8.88 kcal/mol. Various penetration enhancers, such as nonionic surfactants and fatty acids, were incorporated in the gel formulation in an attempt to increase the level of drug permeation. Among the enhancers used, octanoic acid had the strongest enhancing effects with an enhancement factor of 3.09. The anti-inflammatory effect of the pranoprofen gel was evaluated using a rat paw-edema model. The 0.16% pranoprofen gel containing octanoic acid as an enhancer reduced the edema size by approximately 73% compared with that of the control group. These results highlight the feasibility of a topical gel formulation of pranoprofen containing an enhancer.


Towards standardization of the nomenclature of resistance training exercises.
There is a disagreement surrounding the names of resistance training exercises. The purpose of this study was to survey different professionals regarding the nomenclature of resistance training exercises. Two hundred five participants volunteered for the study, of which, 64.9 % were male. Participants self-identified as either certified athletic trainer (22.4%), academic (18.5%), strength and conditioning coach (25.9%), personal trainer (15.6%), or clinician (17.6%). Participants were asked to name 10 resistance training exercises as depicted by pictures. A χ2 for exercise name by current profession analysis was used to analyze frequency differences. All exercises in the survey yielded inconsistent terminology primarily related to the responders' profession and 3 items in their naming patterns as follows: specification, equipment, and exercise. These results reveal a need to establish consistent naming pattern guidelines for resistance training exercises. The use of a consistent naming pattern may provide direction and clarity when working with athletes and clients in a strength training environment. We suggest a "specification, equipment, exercise" (e.g., 1 arm dumbbell row) naming pattern be used when naming resistance training exercises.


[Diagnostic strategies of the stomach].
Gastric surgery is still a major part of routine surgical practice. Diagnostic strategies should be oriented to the surgical consequences and their value for our understanding of pathophysiological connections. Endoscopy, perhaps with biphasic radiography, is mandatory for diagnosis of tumor malignity and localisation. Analysis of secretion is indicated in cases of ulcer recurrence. Postoperative syndromes can be detected and classified by scintigraphic methods. The new procedure of endoscopic ultrasonography seems to offer special benefits for diagnostic problems such as gastric lymphoma and other intramural tumors.


Fabrication of rutile TiO2 tapered nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections via anisotropic corrosion route.
We demonstrate here for the first time the fabrication of a novel morphology of rutile TiO(2) tapered nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections via a facile hydrothermal method using TiO(2) nanorod as the precursor. A plausible anisotropic corrosion mechanism for the formation of TiO(2) nanotubes is also proposed.


Sexual Dysfunction in Men With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A New IBD-Specific Scale.
Men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have increased sexual dysfunction. To measure the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in our male patients, we aimed to develop a new IBD-specific Male Sexual Dysfunction Scale (the IBD-MSDS). We used a cross-sectional survey and enrolled male patients (N = 175) ≥18 years old who attended IBD clinics at 2 Boston hospitals. We collected information on sexual functioning via a 15-item scale. General male sexual functioning was measured using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF); the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) measured depressive symptoms. Medical history and sociodemographic information were extracted from medical record review. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) assessed unidimensionality, factor structure, reliability, and criterion and construct validity of the 15-item scale. We used regression models to identify clinical factors associated with sexual dysfunction. EFA suggested retaining 10-items generating a unidimensional scale with strong internal consistency reliability, α = 0.90. Criterion validity assessed using Spearman's coefficient showing that the IBD-MSDS was significantly correlated with all the subscales of the IIEF. The IBD-MSDS was significantly correlated (construct validity) with the PHQ-9 (P < 0.001) and the composite score for active IBD cases (P < 0.05). Male sexual dysfunction in IBD was significantly associated with the presence of an ileoanal pouch anastomosis (P = 0.047), depression (P < 0.001), and increased disease activity (P = 0.021). We have developed and validated an IBD-specific scale to assess the psychosexual impact of IBD. This new survey tool may help physicians screen for and identify factors contributing to impaired sexual functioning in their male patients.


Comparison of dicyclomine with antacid and without antacid in dyspepsia.
In a study of forty-two patients with dyspepsia, hiatus hernia or duodenal ulcer, dicyclomine (Merbentyl) has been demonstrated to be effective in the control of the symptoms of this disorder. Under double-blind conditions an antacid or placebo supplement was provided and no significant difference in benefit was recorded. The antacid was given in a large tablet and this preparation was more conscientiously taken by patients, and this was equally true for large placebo tablets. Clearly patients like to take frequent treatment for dyspepsia, but symptom control is quite adequate if Merbentyl is given alone.


Avapritinib in unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor with PDGFRA exon 18 mutation: safety and efficacy.
Avapritinib (formerly known as BLU-285) is an orally available type I tyrosine kinase inhibitor that, in 2020, obtained regulatory approval for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) harboring a primary mutation in PDGFRA exon 18, including the PDGFRA D842V mutation. Herein, we comprehensively review the available efficacy and safety data on avapritinib, with the final goal of providing practical knowledge to both sarcoma and community-based oncologists for the correct management of this rare GIST subpopulation with this novel therapy. The approval of avapritinib in GIST is a milestone in precision oncology, as this is the first agent ever demonstrating unequivocal antitumoral activity in GIST driven by the multi-resistant PDGFRA D842V mutation. The safety profile is manageable and tolerability-guided dose adjustment is recommended to manage treatment-related adverse events without compromising efficacy. Based on its unprecedented activity, avapritinib should be considered as first-line therapy for GIST patients harboring this mutation. We strongly recommend to determine KIT/PDGFRA genotype in order to identify the different GIST molecular subtypes and guide treatment decision.


Differential expression of cell cycle genes in rhesus monkey oocytes and embryos of different developmental potentials.
Correct cell cycle regulation is especially challenging at the start of life. Ovulated oocytes must maintain meiotic arrest until fertilization, and then complete meiosis and initiate a series of modified cell divisions without growth. Moreover, myriad key developmental events, such as chromatin remodeling and transcriptional activation of the genome, are coordinated with each other via the cell cycle, particularly passage through the DNA synthesis phase (S Phase). We examined here the expression of more than 30 mRNAs related to cell cycle regulation in rhesus monkey oocytes and embryos and compared the expression of these mRNAs between oocytes and embryos of different developmental potentials. We find that the maternally inherited stores of cell cycle regulatory mRNAs are especially susceptible to disruption in cases of diminished oocyte and embryo quality in the rhesus monkey. In comparison to published mouse array data, we also observed striking species differences in the temporal expression patterns of many of these genes, suggesting that mechanisms of cell cycle control may differ and that the responses of oocytes and embryos to external insults may likewise differ.


Interaction between warfarin and tamoxifen: a case report.
Warfarin is a commonly used anticoagulant with documented reports of drug interactions. Tamoxifen is used in the adjuvant hormonal treatment of women with oestrogen-receptor- positive breast cancer. Warfarin and tamoxifen are known to interact with each other with a resultant increase in the bleeding tendency. These reports are mainly from the white population. We report a case of drug interaction between warfarin and tamoxifen with an acute onset. This report suggests that when these drugs are co administered, careful monitoring of the coagulation profile is needed.


Borrelia burgdorferi BBB07 interaction with integrin alpha3beta1 stimulates production of pro-inflammatory mediators in primary human chondrocytes.
Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, activates multiple signalling pathways leading to induction of pro-inflammatory mediators at sites of inflammation. Binding of B. burgdorferi to integrin alpha(3)beta(1) on human chondrocytes activates signalling leading to release of several pro-inflammatory mediators, but the B. burgdorferi protein that binds integrin alpha(3)beta(1) and elicits this response has remained unknown. A search of the B. burgdorferi genome for a canonical integrin binding motif, the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) tripeptide, revealed several candidate ligands for integrins. In this study we show that one of these candidates, BBB07, binds to integrin alpha(3)beta(1) and inhibits attachment of intact B. burgdorferi to the same integrin. BBB07 is expressed during murine infection as demonstrated by recognition by infected mouse sera. Recombinant purified BBB07 induces pro-inflammatory mediators in primary human chondrocyte cells by interaction with integrin alpha(3)beta(1). This interaction is specific, as P66, another integrin ligand of B. burgdorferi, does not activate signalling through alpha(3)beta(1). In summary, we have identified a B. burgdorferi protein, BBB07, that interacts with integrin alpha(3)beta(1) and stimulates production of pro-inflammatory mediators in primary human chondrocyte cells.


Sedative effect of monoterpene alcohols in mice: a preliminary screening.
Many essential oils and monoterpenes are used therapeutically as relaxing drugs and tranquilizers. In this study, ten structurally related monoterpene alcohols, present in many essential oils, were evaluated in mice to investigate their pharmacological potential in the central nervous system. Isopulegol (1), neoisopulegol (2), (+/-)-isopinocampheol (3), (-)-myrtenol (4), (-)-cis-myrtanol (5), (+)-p-menth-1-en-9-ol (6) and (+/-)-neomenthol (8) exhibited a depressant effect in the pentobarbital-induced sleep test, indicating a sedative property. (-)-Menthol (7), (+)-dihydrocarveol (9), and (+/-)-isoborneol (10) were ineffective in this test. The results show that these psychoactive monoterpenes have the profile of sedative drugs, and this pharmacological effect is influenced by the structural characteristics of the molecules.


Lateral hypothalamic dopaminergic neural activity in response to total parenteral nutrition.
The lateral hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons dominate modulation of food intake. Changes in lateral hypothalamic synaptic dopaminergic release before and during total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and its components were measured in vivo with microdialysis probes. Rats had an intracerebral guide cannula and an internal jugular catheter placed. Ten days after recovery, rats were fasted for 24 hours. A 2 mm microdialysis probe was inserted into the lateral hypothalamus neurons via the guide cannula. Dopamine level was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in three 60-minute baseline dialysis samples. TPN, glucose, fat, or amino acid was then infused via the internal jugular catheter, and dopamine level was measured in three more 60-minute dialysate samples. Single nutrients were infused for 24 hours, and dopamine was measured during the 3 hours after the infusions were stopped. Data were analyzed by paired t test (mean +/- standard error) and represented percentage change from baseline. Dopamine levels rose significantly (p < 0.05) and remained so during infusions in TPN (26% +/- 3%), glucose (26.5% +/- 4.6%), fat (36.2% +/- 6.7%), and amino acids (9.6% +/- 4.2%). After infusions were stopped, dopamine levels decreased to -35.4% +/- 1.5% in glucose but remained unchanged with fat and amino acids. Increase in lateral hypothalamic dopamine level occurs with TPN and its components, and changes persist temporarily after stopping the infusions, explaining in part the slow recovery of food intake after TPN is stopped.


Early intravenous cannulation in children during inhalational induction of anaesthesia.
Intravenous cannulation is obtained in almost all patients scheduled for operative intervention under anaesthesia. In our practice, inhalational induction precedes cannulation in children in order to avoid pain and discomfort, and cannulation is delayed until the child is adequately anaesthetized in fear of precipitating laryngospasm due to painful stimulus of venepuncture in the light stage of anaesthesia. This study was performed on 150 patients between two to eight years of age to determine if there is a difference in the incidence of untoward incidents, if cannulation is performed when children are lightly anaesthetized (Early, Group E), as compared to when they are deeply anaesthetized (Late, Group L). In patients randomized to early cannulation, the results showed that there was a significantly shorter time from induction to venous cannulation, the halothane concentration was lower at the time of cannulation, there was a greater incidence of movement on cannulation and a greater incidence of changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. There was no significant differences in the incidence of laryngospasm or in the success rate of intravenous cannulation between the two groups. We conclude that venous cannulation can be safely performed during the light stages of anaesthesia.


Biogenic Aldehydes as Therapeutic Targets for Cardiovascular Disease.
Aldehydes are continuously formed in biological systems through enzyme-dependent and spontaneous oxidation of lipids, glucose, and primary amines. These highly reactive, biogenic electrophiles can become toxic via covalent modification of proteins, lipids and DNA. Thus, agents that scavenge aldehydes through conjugation have therapeutic value for a number of major cardiovascular diseases. Several commonly-prescribed drugs (e.g., hydralazine) have been shown to have potent aldehyde-conjugating properties which may contribute to their beneficial effects. Herein, we briefly describe the major sources and toxicities of biogenic aldehydes in cardiovascular system, and provide an overview of drugs that are known to have aldehyde-conjugating effects. Some compounds of phytochemical origin, and histidyl-dipeptides with emerging therapeutic value in this area are also discussed.


Building and validating a prognostic index for biomarker studies.
An important aspect of modern cancer research is identifying molecular and genetic markers that predict an individual's risk of recurrence and response to treatment. Increasingly, a large number of biomarkers are included in studies, even though at most a small proportion of them will be prognostic. This article considers the selection and validation of prognostic biomarkers, and proposes a method for building and validating a prognostic index based on potentially many markers. We use simulation to show that our proposed method controls false-positive rate while retaining reasonable power. The prognostic index gets its power from combining prognostic biomarkers. It can be very powerful even when there are few markers that are predictive.


Aminoxyl-Catalyzed Electrochemical Diazidation of Alkenes Mediated by a Metastable Charge-Transfer Complex.
We report the development of a new aminoxyl radical catalyst, CHAMPO, for the electrochemical diazidation of alkenes. Mediated by an anodically generated charge-transfer complex in the form of CHAMPO-N3, radical diazidation was achieved across a broad scope of alkenes without the need for a transition metal catalyst or a chemical oxidant. Mechanistic data support a dual catalytic role for the aminoxyl serving as both a single-electron oxidant and a radical group transfer agent.


Severe Dysphagia after inferior alveolar nerve block preceded by cervical botolinum toxin injection: a case report.
A 39-year-old Iranian female patient who was a known case of primary cervical dystonia since 10 years ago presented to a private office for Dysport injection. The patients experienced severe dysphagia after inferior alveolar nerve block which was preceded by cervical botolinum toxin injection. A possible synergistic effect of botolinum toxin and lidocaine to produce severe dysphagia is presented in this case report.


On the Role of Teacher-Student Rapport on English as a Foreign Language Students' Well-Being.
Given the centrality of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' wellbeing in their academic success, identifying factors that may be influential in fostering students' well-being is of high importance. As such, several studies have delved into the role of various personal and interpersonal factors in increasing EFL students' well-being. However, little attention has been devoted to the function of teacher-student rapport. Besides, no systematic or theoretical review has been conducted in this regard. To address these gaps, the present study intends to illustrate different definitions of student well-being and teacher-student rapport, their sub-components, and their theoretical relations. Building upon the theoretical and empirical bases, the facilitative function of teacher-student rapport in increasing EFL students' well-being was proved. Some beneficial implications are also discussed.


Early-onset Streptomyces endocarditis in a prosthetic aortic valve.
A 66-year-old Australian man underwent elective replacement of a severely stenotic aortic valve with a 22-mm Medtronic-Hall valve. Six weeks later, he was readmitted with worsening dyspnea, fever, and mild anemia. Investigations confirmed pulmonary edema and moderate periprosthetic aortic regurgitation. The pulmonary edema was managed conservatively, and a second 22-mm Medtronic-Hall valve was implanted. Infective endocarditis was suspected in the aortic annulus below the orifice of the right coronary artery. A bacteriological study revealed a rare bacteria of Streptomyces species. The patient received intensive antibiotic therapy over a 6-week period of hospitalization, and the aortic regurgitation disappeared one week postoperatively.


Immunoelectron microscopy of corticotropes and melanotropes in the pituitary gland of the European ferret, Mustela putorius furo.
The superimposition technique and protein A-gold method of immunoelectron microscopy were employed to study the ultrastructure of corticotropes as well as melanotropes in the ferret pituitary gland. This is the first study ever elucidating the ultrastructural heterogeneity of melanotropes in mammalian pars intermedia on an immunocytochemical basis. Morphological heterogeneity of pars distalis corticotropes has also been elucidated. It is suggested that the different subtypes may represent stages of development (histogenesis), or functional phases of a single cell type. In addition, the occurrence and distribution of both corticotropes and melanotropes in different hypophyseal components have been studied by light-microscopic immunocytochemistry.


Effects of eupatilin on the contractility of corpus cavernosal smooth muscle through nitric oxide-independent pathways.
Eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyflavone) is one of the main compounds present in Artemisia species. Eupatilin has both antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and a relaxation effect on vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function. We evaluated the relaxant effects of eupatilin on the corpus cavernosum (CC) of rabbits and the underlying mechanisms of its activity in human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) cells. Isolated rabbit CC strips were mounted in an organ bath system. A conventional whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to measure activation of calcium-sensitive K+ -channel currents in human CCSM cells. The relaxation effect of eupatilin was evaluated by cumulative addition (10-5 m ~ 3 × 10-4 m) to CC strips precontracted with 10-5 m phenylephrine. Western blotting analysis was performed to measure myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and protein kinase C-potentiated inhibitory protein for heterotrimeric myosin light chain phosphatase of 17-kDa (CPI-17) expression and to evaluate the effect of eupatilin on the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway. Eupatilin effectively relaxed the phenylephrine-induced tone in the rabbit CC strips in a concentration-dependent manner with an estimated EC50 value of 1.2 ± 1.6 × 10-4 m (n = 8, p < 0.05). Iberiotoxin and tetraethylammonium significantly reduced the relaxation effect (n = 8, p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Removal of the endothelium or the presence of L-NAME or indomethacin did not affect the relaxation effect of eupatilin. In CCSM cells, the extracellular application of eupatilin 10-4 m significantly increased the outward currents, and the eupatilin-stimulated currents were significantly attenuated by treatment with 10-7 m iberiotoxin (n = 13, p < 0.05). Eupatilin reduced the phosphorylation level of MYPT1 at Thr853 of MLCP and CPI-17 at Thr38. Eupatilin-induced relaxation of the CCSM cells via NO-independent pathways. The relaxation effects of eupatilin on CCSM cells were partially due to activation of BKCa channels and inhibition of RhoA/Rho-kinase.


[Machismo, made in Mexico? Social implications of the masculine hegemony in Mexico].
Hegemonic masculinity may be considered a public health problem in that it promotes aggressive behavior, violence towards men and women, and self-injury. "Being a man" within such a pattern implies stress, tension and anxiety to prove one's own masculinity. This article proposes that it is necessary to understand how dominant masculinity is individually and socially connected with the exercise of power over women and its implications in legislation and rights, to go beyond it. This text reviews these connections both through interviews with men and through examining how literature on masculinities presents the rarely discussed connections among power, law, legislation and dominant notions of masculinity. It explores the notion of power present both in literature and in men's perceptions, as a way to understand which perceptions of authority are culturally and socially legitimated by men. It is concluded that masculinities are in a process of transformation in Mexico, but that important vacuums persist which arrest the eradication of dominant masculinity. The analysis is based on a bibliographic revision, together with group and individual interviews with men. Results show how in the men's perceptions and reflections on the exercise of power, there persists a lack of criticism.


Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of laevodopa and its metabolites in the rat.
1. Plasma levels of total radioactivity, unchanged laevodopa, dopamine, 3-O-methyldopa and non-amino phenolic acids were measured in rats treated orally with [3H]laevodopa at total laevodopa doses of 1, 10, 20 and 100mg/kg while the radioactive dose was maintained at 100muCi/kg for all animal groups. 2. Within the dosage range studied, non-linear pharmacokinetics were observed for unchanged laevodopa, non-amino phenolic acids and dopamine but not for 3-O-methyldopa. 3. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve for laevodopa increased exponentially with linear increments in the oral dose. This non-linear increase in laevodopa bioavailability is consistent with the hypothesis that high oral doses of laevodopa are required to saturate gastro-intestinal metabolism of the drug. 4. At the lower doses (1 and 20 mg/kg), only 2-3% of total radioactivity could be attributed to dopamine. At 100mg/kg, the dopamine metabolite fraction amounted to about 1/3 of total radioactivity in the plasma.


The psychopathology, medical management and dental implications of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric illness characterized by thought disturbances, bizarre behaviors and cognitive impairments that may diminish a person's abilities in the areas of social relations, school or work and self-care. The onset of the disorder typically occurs between the late teens and mid-30s. Advanced dental disease is seen frequently in patients with schizophrenia for several reasons: the disease impairs these patients' ability to plan and perform oral hygiene procedures; some of the antipsychotic medications they take have adverse orofacial effects such as xerostomia; and these patients sometimes have limited access to treatment because of a paucity of financial resources and adequate number of dentists comfortable in providing care. The recent introduction of more effective medications has permitted the majority of patients to receive their psychiatric care from community-based providers rather than in the hospital. Consequently, dentists in the private sector also are being called on more frequently to care for these people. Dentists cognizant of the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia are likely to feel more secure in treating patients with schizophrenia and more confident when obtaining consultative advice from the patients' psychiatrists. Dentists usually can provide a full range of services to such patients, can enhance these patients' self-esteem and can contribute to the psychotherapeutic aspect of management. To effectively provide treatment to patients with schizophrenia, dentists must be familiar with the disease process so that they can communicate effectively with the patient, the treating psychiatrist and family members who serve as caregivers. In addition, dental treatment may need to be modified because of the patient's impaired ability to think logically, the local and systemic effects of psychiatric medications, and adverse interactions between these drugs and medications used in dentistry.


Human studies on the biological actions of IGF-1. Evidence suggesting that human fetal and postnatal epiphyseal cartilage is a target tissue for IGF-1 action.
Recent data show that in humans IGF-1 has insulin-like anabolic and growth promoting effects. However, the plasma levels at which IGF-1 exerts these effects differ. IGF-1 plasma levels similar to those in normal children and adults have a growth promoting effect, but higher levels are necessary for IGF-1 to exert insulin-like anabolic effects, and hypoglycemia is a potential risk. Longitudinal bone growth results from the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes in epiphyseal cartilage. We present our data from cultured human epiphyseal chondrocytes, which suggest that epiphyseal cartilage may be a target tissue for IGF-1 action during human fetal and postnatal development.


Obstacles to condom use: the combination of other forms of birth control and short-term monogamy.
Two hundred thirty-seven college students involved in heterosexual relationships were surveyed to determine the effects of relationship type and use of forms of contraception other than condoms on condom use. Findings indicated that in the context of a short-term, monogamous relationship, the use of another form of birth control was associated with decreased condom use. In addition, 20% of the participants reported that they had wanted to use a condom for disease prevention on at least one occasion but had decided not to do so because they were using another form of contraception. Implications for preventive health are discussed.


Facile synthesis and anion binding studies of fluorescein/benzo-12-crown-4 ether based bis-dipyrromethane (DPM) receptors.
Two novel fluorescein as well as benzo-12-crown-4 ether functionalized dipyrromethane receptors (DPM3 and DPM4) have successfully been synthesized. The anion (used as their TBA salts) binding studies of thus prepared DPM3 and DPM4 receptors were evaluated by the UV-visible spectrophotometric titrations. Binding affinities as well as the stoichiometry were determined through the UV-visible titrations data with the involvement of the BindFit (v0.5) package available online at https://supramolecular.org. Moreover, binding events were validated by means of the comparison of the partial 1H-NMR spectrum of the simple host molecule with that of the host-guest complex, and the 1 : 1 stoichiometry were further confirmed by the Job's method of continuous variation. From the results, we observed the binding constant (Ka) values of DPM3/DPM4 with various tested anions in the range of 516.07 M-1 to 63789.81 M-1, depending upon the nature/shape/size of the anions. Moreover, the anion-π interactions were confirmed by the partial 1H-NMR spectral data, and further supported by the literature reported systems. The authors hope that such types of valued receptors will be benefitted in future for the recognizing/binding of a variety of biologically important anions.


Na(+)-Cl(-)-K+ cotransport activity in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells and its absence in intact bovine lenses.
Using 86RbCl, experiments were directed to identify the pathways for K+ entry in bovine lens cells. Experiments were performed on cultured bovine lens epithelial cells, which are known to transform spontaneously in vitro, and on whole bovine lenses. In cultured epithelial monolayers, K+ inflow occurred nearly equally via the Na(+)-K+ pump and a bumetanide-sensitive, Na(+)- and Cl(-)-dependent process. In the simultaneous presence of ouabain and bumetanide, uptake was inhibited by 98%. Significant passive movement of label through K+ channels could not be detected as indicated by the lack of an effect by 5 mM Ba2+. In the presence of ouabain, the concentration of bumetanide producing half-maximal inhibition of K+ uptake was 1.2 x 10(-7) M, a value similar to those of other cell systems in which Na(+)-Cl(-)-K+ cotransport has been demonstrated by various methods. The present system was not affected by attempts to independently perturb cell Ca2+ and cAMP, but K+ uptake was inhibited upon exposure to phorbol esters and to a cell permeable analog of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator diacylglycerol. From experiments with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the reduced inflow was attributed to an inhibition of the bumetanide-sensitive pathway. In contrast, treatment with a phorbol ester known not to activate PKC, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD), was ineffective; in toto suggesting that the inositol signaling system regulates K+ fluxes in these cells primarily by affecting the rate via a Na(+)-Cl(-)-K+ cotransport mechanism. These results contrasted with those garnered with the intact lens. Lenses were isolated in a bicameral Ussing-type arrangement so that their anterior and posterior aspects could be bathed independently. K+ inflow across the epithelial surface was predominantly mediated by the Na(+)-K+ pump, i.e. ouabain inhibited uptake by 87%. Addition of bumetanide to the anterior bath resulted in an uptake rate not different from that found under control conditions. The present results are consistent with findings in other cell systems which indicate that the Na(+)-Cl(-)-K+ cotransport activity is associated with highly proliferative cells, such as the cultured cells used. It remains to be determined whether activation, or expression, of the cotransporter has a role in the intact lens.


Antifouling and Water Flux Enhancement in Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membranes by Incorporating Water-Soluble Cationic Polymer of Poly [2-(Dimethyl amino) ethyl Methacrylate].
Novel ultrafiltration (UF) polymer membranes were prepared to enhance the antifouling features and filtration performance. Several ultrafiltration polymer membranes were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of water-soluble cationic poly [2-(dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) into a homogenous casting solution of polyethersulfone (PES). After adding PDMAEMA, the effects on morphology, hydrophilicity, thermal stability, mechanical strength, antifouling characteristics, and filtration performance of these altered blended membranes were investigated. It was observed that increasing the quantity of PDMAEMA in PES membranes in turn enhanced surface energy, hydrophilicity, and porosity of the membranes. These new modified PES membranes, after the addition of PDMAEMA, showed better filtration performance by having increased water flux and a higher flux recovery ratio (FRR%) when compared with neat PES membranes. For the PES/PDMAEMA membrane, pure water flux with 3.0 wt.% PDMAEMA and 0.2 MPa pressure was observed as (330.39 L·m-2·h-1), which is much higher than that of the neat PES membrane with the value of (163.158 L·m-2·h-1) under the same conditions. Furthermore, the inclusion of PDMAEMA enhanced the antifouling capabilities of PES membranes. The total fouling ratio (TFR) of the fabricated PES/PDMAEMA membranes with 3.0 wt.% PDMAEMA at 0.2 MPa applied pressure was 36 percent, compared to 64.9 percent for PES membranes.


Endoluminal therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease: prospective assessment of quality of life in 190 patients.
The objective of our study was to assess the impact of endoluminal treatment on health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Changes in quality of life were prospectively evaluated in 190 patients before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Physical, emotional, and general health components were determined using the short-form (36 items) health survey (SF-36). Claudicant patients were compared with patients who had critical limb ischemia. The influence of the lesion location (iliac, femoropopliteal, or crural) restenosis, and additional interventions on quality of life were evaluated. Six- and 12-month follow-up data were available for 136 and 103 patients, respectively. Significant improvements in quality of life were observed in most of the patients after the intervention. Many of the SF-36 scores decreased from the 6- to the 12-month follow-up but remained significantly higher than the score before the intervention. Reduction of bodily pain was the most evident effect of treatment. Claudicant patients seemed to benefit more from treatment than patients with critical limb ischemia. In terms of SF-36 scores, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the crural arteries was equally as effective as endoluminal revascularization of the iliac and femoropopliteal arteries and multilevel interventions were as effective as single-level interventions. The occurrence of a restenosis was significantly related to lower SF-36 scores, and restenosis not followed by a second intervention was associated with lower SF-36 scores. Although there were several differences between the groups, significant improvements in quality of life up to 12 months after endoluminal therapy were observed in most patients.


Tooth Shade and Skin Colour: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.
Selection of proper tooth shade is one of the most significant factors influencing patients' aesthetic perception and improved prosthesis acceptance. Guidelines in the dental literature suggest age, sex, colour of skin, hair and eye for selecting tooth shade when past records cannot be obtained. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of the most common tooth shade in relation to the skin colour and the prevalence of the same in relation to age and sex. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Kathmandu Medical College from June to August 2019. Vitapan Classical Shade guide was used to select the shade of upper right central incisor in 338 participants. Revlon Foundation Makeup Shade guide was used to determine colour of skin. Participants were examined without facial makeup. Skin colour and teeth shade were examined in daylight at about the same time of the day. Data obtained were computed and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 software. Prevalence of tooth shade with high value (lighter shade) was seen in all fair 121 (35.8%), medium 63 (18.6%) and dark skin tones 23 (6.8%). Most common teeth shade in fair individuals was B1 47 (37.9%), in medium also B1 25 (7.4%) and dark was B2 9 (2.7%). Age range of 10 to 35 years had tooth shade with higher value 159 (47.04%). Hence, teeth shade with high value (lighter shade) was prevalent in skin tone of all types in current study. Skin tone was not related to teeth shade selection, teeth became darker with age and females had lighter teeth shade (high value).


Signaling of MK2 sustains robust AP1 activity for triple negative breast cancer tumorigenesis through direct phosphorylation of JAB1.
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are generally more invasive than estrogen receptor-positive (ER + ) breast cancer cells. Consistent with the importance of activator protein 1 (AP1) transcription factors in invasion, AP1 activity is much higher in TNBC lines than ER + lines. In TNBC cells, robust AP1 activity is facilitated by both ERK and p38MAPK signaling pathways. While ERK signaling pathway regulates AP1 activity by controlling the abundance of AP1 transcription factors, p38MAPK signaling pathway does it by enhancing AP1 binding to AP1 sites without altering their abundance. Here, we show that p38MAPK regulation of AP1 activity involves both MAPKAPK2 (MK2) and JAB1, a known JUN-binding protein. MK2 not only interacts with JAB1 but also directly phosphorylates JAB1 at Ser177 in TNBC cells. Interestingly, Ser177 phosphorylation does not affect JAB1 and JUN interaction. Instead, interfering with p38MAPK signaling pathway or introducing an S to A point mutation at Ser177 of JAB1 reduces JUN recruitment to the AP1 sites in cyclin D1, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor promoters. Moreover, knockdown of JAB1 diminishes >60% of AP1 transcriptional activity in TNBC cells. Taken together, these results indicate that MK2-mediated phosphorylation of JAB1 facilitates JUN recruitment to AP1 sites, thus augmenting AP1 activity. In line with the role of JAB1 in AP1 activity, silencing JAB1 leads to dramatic reduction in TNBC cell growth, in vitro invasion and in vivo tumor outgrowth. This study suggests that the p38MAPK-MK2 signaling pathway promotes TNBC tumorigenesis by sustaining robust AP1 activity.


ArgR-independent induction and ArgR-dependent superinduction of the astCADBE operon in Escherichia coli.
For Escherichia coli, growth in the absence of ammonia is termed nitrogen limited and results in the induction of genes that assimilate other nitrogen sources, a response mediated by sigma(54) and nitrogen regulator I (NR(I), also called NtrC). The astCADBE operon, which is required for growth with arginine as the sole nitrogen source, is moderately expressed during general nitrogen limitation and maximally expressed in the presence of arginine. The operon is also induced in stationary phase. Primer extension analysis of E. coli revealed the presence of a sigma(54)-dependent promoter utilized in exponential phase during nitrogen limitation and a sigma(S)-dependent promoter active during stationary phase. We used an ast-lacZ fusion to show that arginine stimulates expression, that ArgR, the arginine repressor, enhances expression from both promoters but is not essential, and that transcription by the two forms of the RNA polymerase is competitive and mutually exclusive. We demonstrated the binding of RNA polymerase holoenzymes, NR(I), and ArgR to the promoter region in vitro. We also reconstituted transcription from both promoters with purified components, which confirmed the accessory role of ArgR for the sigma(54)-dependent promoter. Thus, the ast operon exhibits nitrogen source-specific induction that is unique for an NR(I)-dependent gene. The transcriptional regulation of the ast operon in E. coli differs from that in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, in which ArgR is required for ast operon expression.


Induction of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.
We previously showed that S-adenosylmethionine-mediated hypermethylation of the PTEN promoter was important for the growth of tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (TAMR-MCF-7) cancer cells. Here, we found that the basal expression level of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), a critical enzyme for the biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, was up-regulated in TAMR-MCF-7 cells compared with control MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the basal expression level of MAT2A in T47D cells, a TAM-resistant estrogen receptor-positive cell line was higher compared to MCF-7 cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that MAT2A expression in TAM-resistant human breast cancer tissues was higher than that in TAM-responsive cases. The promoter region of human MAT2A contains binding sites for nuclear factor-κB, activator protein-1 (AP-1), and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the activities of these three transcription factors were enhanced in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Both the protein expression and transcriptional activity of MAT2A in TAMR-MCF-7 cells were potently suppressed by NF-κB inhibition but not by c-Jun/AP-1 or Nrf2 knock-down. Interestingly, the expression levels of microRNA (miR)-146a and -146b were diminished in TAMR-MCF-7 cells, and miR-146b transduction decreased NF-κB-mediated MAT2A expression. miR-146b restored PTEN expression via the suppression of PTEN promoter methylation in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Additionally, miR-146b overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and reversed chemoresistance to 4-hydroxytamoxifen in TAMR-MCF-7 cells.


Caffeine promotes apoptosis in mitotic spindle checkpoint-arrested cells.
The spindle assembly checkpoint arrests cells in mitosis when defects in mitotic spindle assembly or partitioning of the replicated genome are detected. This checkpoint blocks exit from mitosis until the defect is rectified or the cell initiates apoptosis. In this study we have used caffeine to identify components of the mechanism that signals apoptosis in mitotic checkpoint-arrested cells. Addition of caffeine to spindle checkpoint-arrested cells induced >40% apoptosis within 5 h. It also caused proteasome-mediated destruction of cyclin B1, a corresponding reduction in cyclin B1/cdk1 activity, and reduction in MPM-2 reactivity. However, cells retained MAD2 staining at the kinetochores, an indication of continued spindle checkpoint function. Blocking proteasome activity did not block apoptosis, but continued spindle checkpoint function was essential for apoptosis. After systematically eliminating all known targets, we have identified p21-activated kinase PAK1, which has an anti-apoptotic function in spindle checkpoint-arrested cells, as a target for caffeine inhibition. Knockdown of PAK1 also increased apoptosis in spindle checkpoint-arrested cells. This study demonstrates that the spindle checkpoint not only regulates mitotic exit but apoptosis in mitosis through the activity of PAK1.


Transgenic mice containing a 248-kb yeast artificial chromosome carrying the human beta-globin locus display proper developmental control of human globin genes.
Transgenic mice were generated using a purified 248-kb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) bearing an intact 82-kb human beta-globin locus and 148 kb of flanking sequence. Seventeen of 148 F0 pups were transgenic. RNase protection analysis of RNA isolated from the blood of 13 gamma- and beta-globin-positive founders showed that only the human beta-globin gene was expressed in the adult founders. Studies of F1 and F2 fetuses demonstrated that the genes of the beta-locus YAC displayed the proper developmental switches in beta-like globin gene expression. Expression of epsilon- and gamma-globin, but not beta-globin, was observed in the yolk sac, there was only minor gamma and mostly beta expression in the 14-day liver, and only beta mRNA in the blood of the adult animals. Structural data showed that the locus was intact. These results indicate that it is now possible to dissect regulatory mechanisms within the context of an entire locus in vivo by using the ability to perform mutagenesis efficiently in yeast via homologous recombination, followed by purification of the altered YAC and its introduction into mice.


Synthesis and structure determination of covalent conjugates formed from the sulfury-roasty-smelling 2-furfurylthiol and di- or trihydroxybenzenes and their identification in coffee brew.
Recent investigations demonstrated that the reaction of odor-active thiols such as 2-furfurylthiol with thermally generated chlorogenic acid degradation products is responsible for the rapid aroma staling of coffee beverages. To get a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this aroma staling, the existence of putative phenol/thiol conjugates needs to be verified in coffee. The aim of the present study was therefore to synthesize such conjugates for use as reference substances for LC-MS screening of coffee. To achieve this, catechol, 3-methyl-, 4-methyl-, and 4-ethylcatechol, pyrogallol, hydroxyhydroquinone, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and caffeic acid, respectively, were reacted with 2-furfurylthiol in the presence of iron(III) chloride and air oxygen. After purification, the structures of 25 phenol/thiol conjugates were identified by means of LC-MS/MS and 1D/2D NMR experiments. Using these compounds as reference materials, four conjugates, namely, 3-((2-furylmethyl)sulfanyl)catechol, 3-((2-furylmethyl)sulfanyl)-5-ethylcatechol, 4-((2-furylmethyl)sulfanyl)hydroxyhydroquinone, and 3,4-bis((2-furylmethyl)sulfanyl) hydroxyhydroquinone, were identified for the first time in coffee brew by means of HPLC-MS/MS(MRM). These findings clearly demonstrate catechol, 4-ethylcatechol, and hydroxyhydroquinone as the primary thiol trapping agents involved in the aroma staling of coffee beverages.


Changes in Total Plate Counts and Quality of Pig Small Intestine by Different Washing and Packaging Methods.
Pig small intestine not only is used as food but also for sausage casings production in many countries worldwide. However, it is well recognized that the small intestine is important source of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of different washing and packaging methods on the changes of microbial levels and physicochemical characteristics of pig small intestine. After collecting and trimming off of visible fats, the pig small intestine samples were treated with; (i) different packaging methods: aerobic packaging (AP), skin packaging (SP), and vacuum packaging (VP); and (ii) washing with different concentrations of acetic acid. The treated samples were then stored at 4℃ for 1, 4, 7, and 10 d. At 1-d storage, higher pH value was found in the AP-treated samples, however, after 7 to 10 days the samples treated with SP had higher values compared to the ones treated with AP and VP (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values were higher in the AP-treated samples than those of the SP- and VP- treated samples at 7-d storage (p<0.05). At 10th d, total plate counts (TPC) were higher in the control than in the acetic acid-washed samples (p<0.05). Additionally, the TPC was lower in the SP- and VP-treated samples than the AP-treated samples at 7-d storage (p<0.05). These obtained results suggest that the applications of washing with acetic acid solution and/or SP and VP methods could be an effective way to extend the shelf-life of pig small intestine during cold distribution.


Studying the lung dose uncertainty during chest CT scans using phantoms with statistical lung volumes and shapes.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in constructing a series of deformable phantoms which follow the statistical distributions of some anatomical variations, known as 'statistical phantoms'. The main purpose of this study was to develop statistical phantoms by considering the variations in lung volume and shape, in order to evaluate the lung dose uncertainty for individuals undergoing chest computed tomography. Calculations were performed for 100 statistical lung volume phantoms and 70 statistical lung shape phantoms at tube voltages of 80 and 120 kVp, with the use of Monte Carlo MCNP code. The obtained results indicate that dose fluctuations for low tube voltage (80 kVp) are higher than those at 120 kVp. Moreover, it shows that the impact of statistical variations in lung volume on dose discrepancy (5% to 7%) is higher than the impact of statistical lung shape variations (around 2%).


A mixed methods investigation of Black college-attending emerging adults' experiences with multilevel racism.
Experiences of racism contribute to the mental health burden of Black individuals in the United States, and during emerging adulthood, these impacts may be especially intensified. The majority of research on racism captures individual-level experiences and utilizes frequency-based measures. This mixed methods investigation examines convergence and divergence between a measure of recent experiences of racism and a measure of worst experiences of racism at multiple levels (individual, cultural, institutional). A sample of 186 Black college-attending emerging adults (Mage = 19.36; 62.7% female) reported their recent experiences using a quantitative measure and their worst experiences via a qualitative open-ended response, which were analyzed via convergent parallel design. The results indicated that a majority of reported worst experiences had an institutional-level component. Although the quantitative measure of recent experiences corresponded with reports of individual-level worst experiences, the institutional- and cultural-level worst experiences were rarely fully captured by the recent experiences measure. Implications for the mental health of Black college-attending emerging adults are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


The Nature and Predictive Value of Mothers' Beliefs Regarding Infants' and Toddlers' TV/Video Viewing: Applying the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction.
Viewing television and video programming has become a normative behavior among US infants and toddlers. Little is understood about parents' decision-making about the extent of their young children's viewing, though numerous organizations are interested in reducing time spent viewing among infants and toddlers. Prior research has examined parents' belief in the educational value of TV/videos for young children and the predictive value of this belief for understanding infant/toddler viewing rates, though other possible salient beliefs remain largely unexplored. This study employs the integrative model of behavioral prediction (Fishbein & Ajzen, 2010) to examine 30 maternal beliefs about infants' and toddlers' TV/video viewing which were elicited from a prior sample of mothers. Results indicate that mothers tend to hold more positive than negative beliefs about the outcomes associated with young children's TV/video viewing, and that the nature of the aggregate set of beliefs is predictive of their general attitudes and intentions to allow their children to view, as well as children's estimated viewing rates. Analyses also uncover multiple dimensions within the full set of beliefs, which explain more variance in mothers' attitudes and intentions and children's viewing than the uni-dimensional index. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.


Near-infrared fluorescence imaging for real-time intraoperative anatomical guidance in minimally invasive surgery: a systematic review of the literature.
Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, using contrast agents with fluorescent characteristics in the near-infrared (NIR: 700-900 nm) window, is considered to possess great potential for clinical practice in the future of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), given its capacity for intraoperative, real-time anatomical navigation, and identification. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the literature concerning the current and potential future applications of fluorescence imaging in supporting anatomical guidance during MIS, and thereby guiding future research. A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases. All identified articles were screened and checked for eligibility by two authors. In addition, literature was sought by screening references of eligible articles. After administration of a fluorescent dye (e.g., indocyanine green), NIRF imaging can be helpful to improve the visualization of vital anatomical structures during MIS. Extra-hepatic bile ducts, arteries, ureters, sentinel lymph nodes, and lymph vessels have successfully been identified using NIRF imaging. A uniform approach regarding timing and route of dye administration has not yet been established. Optimization of both imaging systems and fluorescent dyes is needed to improve current shortcomings. New preclinical dyes are considered for optimization of NIRF imaging. Future implementation of new intraoperative optical methods, such as NIRF, could significantly contribute to intraoperative anatomy navigation and facilitate critical decision-making in MIS. Further research (i.e., large multi-center randomized controlled trials) is needed to establish the true value of this innovative optical imaging technique in standard clinical practice.


"You'll have to be my eyes and ears": A conversation analytic study of physical examination on a health helpline.
To explore the accomplishment of physical examination on a health helpline. By focusing on the ways in which callers are asked to examine themselves and report information to nurses, we aim to provide insight into how physical examination at a distance is achieved. Physical examination is a routine feature of healthcare encounters. In face-to-face settings, patients are subject to professional scrutiny through talk, touch and observation. Health professionals working on helplines face challenges in assessing signs of illness when they do not have physical access to patients. Conversation analysis was used to explore sequences of interaction between nurses and callers that involved physical examination. Analysis examined how physical examination was routinely accomplished in a helpline environment. Nurses typically guided callers in self-examination by drawing on gross categorisations that required reporting of large-scale characteristics of symptoms (e.g., whether a body part looked "normal"). Physical examination was also regularly accomplished by nurses through two-component speaking turns: a prefacing component that involved instructions about self-examination; followed by a second component that included an information-soliciting question. These practices resulted in callers successfully accomplishing physical examination, despite their lack of professional medical knowledge. This study identifies the communicative practices used by nurses to accomplish physical examination in helpline calls. Such practices involved asking questions that sought general, rather than specific, information and the prefacing of questions with simple instructions on how to undertake self-examination. Previous research indicates that physical examination in telehealth can be challenging, particularly in environments where clinicians need patients to examine themselves. This study identifies how nurses on a helpline manage this challenge. The findings highlight ways in which nurses can recruit patients to undertake tasks that would typically be undertaken by clinicians in physically co-present consultations.


Self-Collapse Lithography.
We report a facile, high-throughput soft lithography process that utilizes nanoscale channels formed naturally at the edges of microscale relief features on soft, elastomeric stamps. Upon contact with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) functionalized substrates, the roof of the stamp collapses, resulting in the selective removal of SAM molecules via a chemical lift-off process. With this technique, which we call self-collapse lithography (SCL), sub-30 nm patterns were achieved readily using masters with microscale features prepared by conventional photolithography. The feature sizes of the chemical patterns can be varied continuously from ∼2 μm to below 30 nm by decreasing stamp relief heights from 1 μm to 50 nm. Likewise, for fixed relief heights, reducing the stamp Young's modulus from ∼2.0 to ∼0.8 MPa resulted in shrinking the features of resulting patterns from ∼400 to ∼100 nm. The self-collapse mechanism was studied using finite element simulation methods to model the competition between adhesion and restoring stresses during patterning. These results correlate well with the experimental data and reveal the relationship between the line widths, channel heights, and Young's moduli of the stamps. In addition, SCL was applied to pattern two-dimensional arrays of circles and squares. These chemical patterns served as resists during etching processes to transfer patterns to the underlying materials (e.g., gold nanostructures). This work provides new insights into the natural propensity of elastomeric stamps to self-collapse and demonstrates a means of exploiting this behavior to achieve patterning via nanoscale chemical lift-off lithography.


A new species of Proceroplatus Edwards (Diptera: Keroplatidae) in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic.
Keroplatid fungus gnats (Diptera: Keroplatidae) were hitherto known from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola from a single named species in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic. Here we describe the new fossil species Proceroplatus preziosii Evenhuis & Penney based on a mature male specimen, which differs markedly from both fossil and extant taxa in the structure of its gonostyli and U-shaped wing pattern. We also document the first record of extant Keroplatidae, Proceroplatus pictipennis (Williston), from Hispaniola.


Temperature-Independent Period Immediately After Fertilization in Sea Urchin Eggs.
The experiments described here explore the regulation of the duration of cleavage cycles in sea urchin eggs. We measured the timing of early cleavages in individual fertilized eggs under various temperature conditions and applied methods of statistical analysis to the data obtained. At least for the first three cleavages, the temperature dependence of the cleavage intervals was nearly equal. In addition, we identified a temperature-independent period at the beginning of the first cleavage cycle. This period occurs immediately after fertilization and lasts for several minutes. Our results suggest that this interval of temperature independence is related to the process of egg activation.


Radiative double electron capture in collisions of O8+ ions with carbon.
Multielectron capture processes observed in low energy collisions of bare ions with target atoms open insight into electron correlations in electromagnetic fields. Radiative double electron capture (RDEC) provides the simplest tool for investigation of such processes. Here, the experimental observation of the RDEC process in collisions of O8+ ions with thin carbon films is presented and the RDEC cross section value obtained is compared with recent theoretical calculations.


Lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase and MAS sterols in mammalian gametogenesis.
The lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase protein complex is composed of a cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP51 and its redox partner NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. The complex participates in cholesterol biosynthesis and produces folicular fluid meiosis activating sterol (FF-MAS) from lanosterol. FF-MAS is metabolized further by sterol Delta14-reductase to testis-meiosis activating sterol (T-MAS). Additional enzymatic steps are needed before cholesterol is produced. Using the anti-human CYP51 antibody we have studied CYP51 protein expression by confocal microscopy in male and female mouse gonads. Leydig cells and acrosomes of spermatids express the highest levels of the CYP51 protein. CYP51 protein is also detected in primary mouse oocytes of non-treated mice and in some granulosa cells. While regulatory mechanisms responsible for FF-MAS accumulation in the ovary are not yet established, two mechanisms contributing to production the of T-MAS in the testis have been found. Potential in vivo roles of FF-MAS and T-MAS in fertilization are discussed.


A comparison between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and selected acute-phase proteins in the elderly.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and selected acute-phase proteins (APPs) were studied in 101 elderly people (mean age, 72 years) to determine their utility as diagnostic aids in subjects with underlying infections or inflammation. ESR and values for serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), the fourth component of complement (C4), haptoglobin, and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) all correlated with infection or inflammation. C4 was the only test predictive of mortality at six months. Neither ESR nor any of the APPs demonstrated concomitantly high sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed low true positive to false positive ratios for all of the tests studied. In the elderly, measurement of APPs as a guide to underlying infection or inflammation has limited utility and offers no advantage over the traditional low-cost ESR.


Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of N-aryl carbamates.
An efficient synthesis of aryl carbamates was achieved by introducing alcohols into the reaction of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of ArX (X = Cl, OTf) with sodium cyanate. The use of aryl triflates as electrophilic components in this transformation allowed for an expanded substrate scope for direct synthesis of aryl isocyanates. This methodology provides direct access to major carbamate protecting groups, S-thiocarbamates, and diisocyanate precursors to polyurethane materials.


Defining Phylogenetic Network Distances Using Cherry Operations.
In phylogenetic networks, picking a cherry consists of removing a leaf that shares a parent with another leaf, or removing a reticulate edge whose endpoints are parents of leaves. Cherry-picking operations were recently shown to have several structural and algorithmic applications in the study of networks, for instance in determining their reconstructibility or in solving the network hybridization and network containment problems. In particular, some networks within certain classes are isomorphic if they can be reduced to a single node by the same sequence of cherry-picking operations. Therefore, cherry-picking sequences contain information on the level of similarity between two networks. In this paper, we expand on this idea by devising four novel distances on networks based on cherry picking and their reverse operation. We provide bounds between these distances and show that three of them are equal despite their different formulations. We also show that computing these three equivalent distances is NP-hard, even when restricted to comparing a tree and a network. On the positive side, we show that they can be computed in quadratic time on two trees, providing a new comparative measure for phylogenetic trees that can be computed efficiently.


Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 5 Mediates Ca2+ Influx and Inhibits Chondrocyte Autophagy in a Rat Osteoarthritis Model.
Autophagy, a self-protective mechanism of chondrocytes, has become a promising target to impede the progress of osteoarthritis (OA). Autophagy is regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ activity and may thus be modified by the Ca2+ permeable transient receptor potential channel vanilloid 5 (TRPV5). Therefore, we investigated the potential role of TRPV5 in mediating Ca2+ influx and in inhibiting chondrocyte autophagy in a rat OA model. The rat OA model was assessed by macroscopic and histological analyses. light chain 3B (LC3B) immunolocalization was detected by immunohistochemistry. TRPV5, LC3B and calmodulin in OA articular cartilage were assessed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. TRPV5 small interfering RNA (TRPV5 siRNA) were transfected into rat primary chondrocyte then the calmodulin and LC3B was detected by immunofluorescence. The functionality of the TRPV5 was assessed by Ca2+ influx. Western blot was used to measure autophagy-related proteins. We constructed a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) -induced rat OA model and found that ruthenium red (TRPV5 inhibitor) slowed the progression of joint destruction. We found that the TRPV5 and calmodulin were up-regulated but LC3B was down-regulated in articular cartilage following prolonged progression of OA. Furthermore, the up-regulated TRPV5 channel caused an increase in the Ca2+ influx in chondrocytes. The up-regulation of TRPV5 stimulated Ca2+ influx, which inhibited autophagy by increasing the production of calmodulin, phosphorylation of calmodulin dependent protein kinases II (p-CAMK II), phosphorylation of Beclin1 (p-Beclin1), and protein of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and attenuating ratio of LC3-II/ LC3-. Up-regulated TRPV5 as an initiating factor inhibited chondrocyte autophagy via the mediation of Ca2+ influx.


Randomized placebo-controlled study of the effects of Yunnan Baiyao on hemostasis in horses.
OBJECTIVE To determine effects of oral administration of Yunnan Baiyao on platelet activation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in healthy horses. ANIMALS 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES In a randomized blinded crossover study that included a 4-week washout period between treatments, horses were orally administered a paste containing Yunnan Baiyao (15 mg/kg) or placebo at 12-hour intervals for 3 days. Blood samples were collected before start of treatment (time 0) and at 24 and 72 hours for a CBC, measurement of fibrinogen concentration, coagulation screening tests, and a panel of assays to assess platelet activation (including ADP- and collagen-induced aggregation and closure times, flow-cytometric variables of platelet-leukocyte aggregates, platelet membrane P-selectin and phosphatidylserine expression, and microparticle release), von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentration, and cofactor activity. In addition, thrombelastography was used to evaluate fibrin formation in tissue factor-activated whole blood and plasma and to assess tissue plasminogen activator-induced plasma fibrinolysis. For each treatment, values obtained before and 72 hours after start of administration were compared by use of Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS Yunnan Baiyao treatment had no significant effect on any hemostatic variable, compared with results for the placebo treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Administration of Yunnan Baiyao at a dosage typically used in clinical practice had no effect on in vitro measures of platelet or vWF function and no enhancement of fibrin-clot formation or stability. Any hemostatic actions of Yunnan Baiyao may require higher dosages or result from cell-surface interactions at sites of vascular and tissue injury not examined in this study.


Cardiovascular disease incidence, mortality and case fatality related to diabetes and metabolic syndrome: A community-based prospective study (Ansung-Ansan cohort 2001-12).
We evaluated the separate and combined effect of metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD mortality and case fatality risk (CFR). 8898 subjects were categorized into four groups on the basis of the presence of MS and diabetes (with MS, with diabetes, with both or without either). We compared the development of CVD events, mortality and CFR. Over a mean follow-up of 8.0 years, 690 subjects developed CVD. There were 434 deaths, of which 101 were from CVD. The presence of diabetes alone, MS alone, or both was associated with an increased risk for incident CVD and CVD mortality. Compared with the MS only group, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CVD events and CVD mortality in the diabetes only group was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-1.48) and 2.02 (95% CI 0.99-1.72), respectively. Among individuals with diabetes, the presence of MS did not significantly increase CVD risk and CVD mortality. The adjusted odds ratio for CVD CFR, including adjustment for the presence of MS, in subjects with diabetes versus without diabetes was 2.11 (95% CI 1.34-3.31). There was no difference in the risk of incident CVD between individuals with diabetes alone and MS alone, whereas CVD mortality was much higher in individuals with diabetes only. The presence of MS did not exhibit an additive effect on CVD risk and mortality in individuals with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes had a higher CVD case fatality regardless of the presence of MS.


Strengthening human rights, in particular the freedom of choice for women in matters relating to sexual behaviour and reproduction.
The collapse of the Socialist States in Eastern and Central Europe started a series of transformations which could result in the global rejection of everything which is associated with the previous system, including the idea of equality between men and women. Initally, the political changes were perceived by women as an opportunity to improve their situation. However, after three years, it can be said that the transformation of the system constitutes a serious threat to women's status. For instance, in Poland, women's unemployment is already higher than men's but the direct threat to women's rights is the most visible in the domain of reproductive choices. In 1990, the first non-communist government issued regulations restricting access to abortion and, while an anti-abortion bill is now in Parliament, the new medical code of ethics forbids any physician to practice abortion except in case of danger for the mother's life or in case of rape. The authors propose finally a strategy for the future based on promoting the rights of women both at national and international levels.


Herbicide acetochlor interferes with proliferation activity of MCF-7 cells enhanced by estradiol.
It is well documented that pesticides used in agricultural processes may have detrimental effects upon human health. Moreover, many of these compounds have been indicated as potential endocrine and reproductive disruptors. In the present study, the ability of herbicide acetochlor to affect a growth of estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 mammary epithelial carcinoma cells was studied using E-screen test. Acetochlor alone did not affect proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Significant inhibition of estradiol-induced (10-14-10-8 M) MCF-7 cell growth by the action of acetochlor (10-5 M) and interaction between these chemicals were observed. Estradiol-stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation was decreased by 41% of positive control (17β-estradiol, 10-8 M, 100%) in the presence of acetochlor (10-5 M). Our results demonstrate that acetochlor might interfere with estradiol signaling conducted to altered proliferation activity of MCF-7 cells and might support endocrine disruptive effects of acetochlor.


Molecular structure of Hf(BH4)4 investigated by quantum mechanical calculations and gas-phase electron diffraction.
The structure of the gaseous hafnium tetrakis(tetrahydroborate) molecule, Hf(BH4)4, has been investigated by detailed quantum mechanical calculations and by analysis of its gas electron-diffraction (GED) pattern. The ground-state geometry possesses T symmetry with all of the triply-bridged BH4 groups twisted equally about the Hf...B-H axes. Salient structural parameters (ra distances, r angles) deduced from the GED pattern by the SARACEN method were: r(Hf...B) 231.4(2), r(Hf-Hb) 221.5(7), r(B-Hb) 127.6(5), r(B-Ht) 121(1) pm, Hf...B-Hb 69.4(3), Hb-B-Hb 108.4(4), Hb-B-Ht 110.6(3), B...Hf...B-Hb 166(1) degrees. A notable feature is the large magnitude of the Hf...B and Hf-Hb anharmonicity parameters, attributed to the fluxional hydrogen atom exchange process. The properties are compared with those of related tetrahydroborates..


A potential role for Galectin-3 inhibitors in the treatment of COVID-19.
The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. With no standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19, there is an urgent need to identify therapies that may be effective in treatment. Recent evidence has implicated the development of cytokine release syndrome as the major cause of fatality in COVID-19 patients, with elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) observed in patients. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an animal lectin that has been implicated in the disease process of a variety of inflammatory conditions. Inhibitors of the small molecule Gal-3 have been shown to reduce the levels of both IL-6 and TNF-α in vitro and have shown anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Additionally, a key domain in the spike protein of β-coronaviridae, a genus which includes SARS-CoV2, is nearly identical in morphology to human Gal-3. These spike proteins are critical for the virus' entry into host cells. Here we provide a systematic review of the available literature and an impetus for further research on the use of Gal-3 inhibitors in the treatment of COVID-19. Further, we propose a dual mechanism by which Gal-3 inhibition may be beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19, both suppressing the host inflammatory response and impeding viral attachment to host cells.


The significance of human papillomavirus infection detected by cervical cytology among women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a risk factor for both human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of underlying SIL among women with a cytological diagnosis of HPV infection alone. Of 160 women, the overall prevalence of HIV infection and SIL was 41.9% and 36.9%, respectively. Biopsy which confirmed SIL of any grade was demonstrated in 49.3% and 28% of HIV-infected and HIV-non-infected women. However, for individual grade of SIL, there was no statistical significant difference among the HIV-infected and HIV-non-infected groups. Although the finding of a cytological diagnosis of HPV among HIV-non-infected women is usually managed conservatively, the finding of a high rate of underlying SIL among HIV-infected women may argue against such a conservative approach.


Depressive and anxious symptoms and the risk of secondary school non-completion.
BackgroundEvidence regarding the association between adolescent internalising symptoms and school non-completion has been limited and inconclusive.AimsTo examine whether depressive and anxious symptoms at secondary school entry predict school non-completion beyond confounders and whether associations differ by baseline academic functioning.MethodWe used logistic regression to examine associations between depressive and anxious symptoms in grade 7 (age 12-14) and school non-completion (age 18-20) in 4962 adolescents.ResultsDepressive symptoms did not predict school non-completion after adjustment, but moderation analyses revealed an association in students with elevated academic functioning. A curvilinear association was found for anxiety: both low and high anxious symptoms predicted school non-completion, although only low anxiety remained predictive after adjustment.ConclusionsAssociations between internalising symptoms and school non-completion are modest. Common school-based interventions targeting internalising symptoms are unlikely to have a major impact on school non-completion, but may prevent non-completion in selected students.


A comparison of methods for nasal mast cell demonstration.
Nasal turbinates were studied from 14 rhinitis patients following surgical turbinectomy, and from five subjects at autopsy. Mast cell counts on turbinectomy specimens were compared following staining with toluidine blue or Alcian blue and safranin after fixation in either paraformaldehyde or neutral buffered formalin. Mast cell numbers were significantly greater in the superficial submucosa than in the epithelium or deep submucosa in both the rhinitis group and the autopsy subjects. The combination of PFA fixation and ABS staining gave maximum mast cell counts, revealed two morphological mast cell sub-types and gave optimal demonstration of nasal tissue. Nasal mast cells are thus not uniformly distributed, appear heterogeneous under light microscopy, are present in large numbers even in the elderly, and are best demonstrated using PFA fixation and ABS staining.


Epidemiology of group B streptococci in an Israeli hospital.
A technique for the rapid identification and quantification of Group B streptococci (GBS) utilizing timed coagglutination and selective broth media was designed. A prospective study of 283 mothers and 121 newborns based on this methodology revealed a GBS colonization rate of 5.3 and 4.1%, respectively. A retrospective study of 19,875 births revealed a GBS attack rate of 0.2 per 1,000 live births. Both the low colonization and the low attack rates confirm previous anecdotal reports of a low incidence of GBS colonization and disease in Israel. The technique described herein can aid in identifying those infants at risk for invasive disease.


First N-Borylated Emitters Displaying Highly Efficient Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence and High-Performance OLEDs.
Despite the fast boom of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters bearing borane-based acceptor, so far, no TADF emitter with a direct B-N linkage between N-donor and boryl acceptor has been reported. The latter should simplify the molecular architecture and hence facilitate the synthetic design and versatility. We report here the preparation and characterization of a new series of N-borylated compounds with functional acridine donor unit; namely: ACBM, PACBM, and SACBM. Spectroscopic studies were performed to explore their photophysical properties that exhibited prominent solvatochromism and thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The time-dependent DFT calculation indicated the involvement of substantial intramolecular charge transfer character for which HOMO and LUMO are spatially separated. For compound SACBM, fabrication of green emitting OLED gave CIE chromaticity of (0.22, 0.59) and maximum external quantum efficiency, luminance efficiency and power efficiency of 19.1%, 60.9 cd/A, and 43.6 lm/W, respectively, demonstrating for the first time the highly efficient OLEDs using N-borylated TADF emitters.


Recruitment with high physiological doses of estradiol preceding chemotherapy: flow cytometric and therapeutic results in women with locally advanced breast cancers--a Southwest Oncology Group study.
One theoretical method of increasing chemotherapeutic efficacy in breast cancer is to temporarily increase the number of tumor cells in cycle through hormonal recruitment prior to initiation of chemotherapy. In an effort to determine when and if this could be reliably accomplished, 50 women with locally advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer with known estrogen receptor (ER) status were entered into a serial breast biopsy study designed to measure increases in S-phase fraction (SPF) and proliferative index (PI; S + G2 + M) following administration of a high physiological dose of estrogen via estradiol vaginal suppositories prior to chemotherapy. Blood levels of estradiol were maintained in a range (0.5-5 nM) known to increase SPF in vitro. Compliance with suppository administration was monitored by serial blood sampling. Tumors were sampled at 0, 24, 48, 72, and/or 96 h. Thirty-one ER-positive and 9 ER-negative women had evaluable baseline biopsies and at least 1 subsequent biopsy. An increase was seen for SPF in 20 (69%) and for PI in 23 (79%) of 29 ER-positive patients at 48 h after estrogen initiation (95% confidence intervals, 49-85% for SPF and 60-92% for PI); similar increases were seen at 72 h. Median baseline SPF and PI values in ER-positive patients for whom increases were noted at 48 h were 6.2 and 8.5%, respectively. The median relative increases in these patients were 170 and 100%, respectively, at 48 h. The increases observed at 24 h in 4 (SPF) and 6 (PI) of the 9 ER-negative patients could have occurred by chance alone. Twenty-five of the 28 locally advanced (T4 and/or N2-3) patients achieved a complete response during combined modality treatment (estradiol-chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiation). At a minimum follow-up time of 42 months, estimated 5-year progression-free and overall survivals are 30 and 49%, respectively, with a median time to progression of 35 months. Twenty-two women had metastatic disease (19 also had locally advanced disease). Thirteen had a complete or partial response, with a median duration of 12 months. Median progression-free and over-all survival times for all metastatic patients are 4 and 17 months, respectively. Estimated 5-year survival for metastatic disease patients is 27%. A high physiological dose of estrogen administered to patients with locally advanced ER-positive tumors can reliably increase the tumor SPF and PI within 48 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


The gigA/gigB Genes Regulate the Growth, Stress Response, and Virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 Strain.
Acinetobacter baumannii is an important pathogen of nosocomial infection. Recently, a group of genes, named "gig" (for Growth in Galleria), have been identified in a contemporary multi-drug resistant clinical isolate of A. baumannii-strain AB5075. Among these so-called gig genes, gigA and gigB were found to promote antibiotic resistance, stress survival, and virulence of AB5075 by interacting with the nitrogen phosphotransferase system (PTSNtr). This study aimed to investigate the roles of gigA/gigB, which appear to comprise a stress-signaling pathway (encoding for an atypical two-component system response regulator and a predicted anti-anti-sigma factor, respectively), and the involvement of ptsP (encoding the Enzyme I component of the PTSNtr) in the growth, stress resistance, and virulence of the widely studied A. baumannii strain ATCC 17978. Genetic analyses of strains harboring mutations of gigA and gigB were performed to investigate the roles of these genes in bacterial growth, stress resistance, evading macrophage defense, and killing of Galleria mellonella larva. In contrast with findings from strain AB5075 where gigA and gigB contribute to aminoglycoside resistance, the data presented herein indicate that the loss of gigA/gigB does not impact antibiotic resistance of strain ATCC 17978. Interestingly, however, we found that deletion of gigA/gigB in the ATCC 17978 background imparts a general growth in laboratory medium and also conferred growth and replication defects within murine macrophages and an inability to kill G. mellonella larvae. Importantly, studies as well as the loss of ptsP restored the phenotypes of the gigA/gigB mutant to that of the wild-type. The data presented herein indicate that in A. baumannii ATCC 17978, the gigA/gigB genes play a key role in both growth and virulence traits, but are dispensable for other stress-resistance survival phenotypes, including aminoglycoside resistance. Our findings thus highlight several similarities and also important differences between the gigA/gigB stress-signaling pathway in two commonly studied isolates of this troublesome pathogen.


P21 and p27: roles in carcinogenesis and drug resistance.
Human cancers arise from an imbalance of cell growth and cell death. Key proteins that govern this balance are those that mediate the cell cycle. Several different molecular effectors have been identified that tightly regulate specific phases of the cell cycle, including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and CDK inhibitors. Notably, loss of expression or function of two G1-checkpoint CDK inhibitors - p21 (CDKN1A) and p27 (CDKN1B) - has been implicated in the genesis or progression of many human malignancies. Additionally, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that functional loss of p21 or p27 can mediate a drug-resistance phenotype. However, reports in the literature have also suggested p21 and p27 can promote tumours, indicating a paradoxical effect. Here, we review historic and recent studies of these two CDK inhibitors, including their identification, function, importance to carcinogenesis and finally their roles in drug resistance.


Using Femtosecond Laser Irradiation to Enhance the Vertical Electrical Properties and Tailor the Morphology of a Conducting Polymer Blend Film.
We report femtosecond infrared laser-induced selective tailoring of carrier transport as well as surface morphology on a conducting polymer blend thin film. Maximal 2.4 times enhancement on vertical current transport in poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, was achieved by this irradiation. The laser irradiation induced a photo expansion without deteriorating its molecular structure and the film morphology could be customized in the micron scale by adjusting the laser writing parameters. In the photoexpanded region, the face-on populations were about 2.2 times larger in comparison with the pristine region, which was a major contributor to the enhanced carrier transport.


Intraoperative Surgeon Assessment of Bone: Correlation to Bone Mineral Density, CT Hounsfield units and Vertebral Bone Quality.
Retrospective observational study of consecutive patients. The purpose of the study is to determine if a surgeon's qualitative assessment of bone intraoperatively correlates with radiologic parameters of bone strength. Preoperative radiologic assessment of bone can include modalities such as CT Hounsfield Units (HUs), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry bone mineral density (DXA BMD) with trabecular bone score (TBS) and MRI vertebral bone quality (VBQ). Quantitative analysis of bone with screw insertional torque and pull-out strength measurement has been performed in cadaveric models and has been correlated to these radiologic parameters. However, these quantitative measurements are not routinely available for use in surgery. Surgeons anecdotally judge bone strength, but the fidelity of the intraoperative judgement has not been investigated. All adult patients undergoing instrumented posterior thoracolumbar spine fusion by one of seven surgeons at a single center over a 3-month period were included. Surgeons evaluated the strength of bone based on intraoperative feedback and graded each patient's bone on a 5-point Likert scale. Two independent reviewers measured preoperative CT HUs and MRI VBQ. BMD, lowest T-score and TBS were extracted from DXA within 2 years of surgery. Eighty-nine patients were enrolled and 16, 28, 31, 13 and 1 patients had Likert grade 1 (strongest bone), 2, 3, 4, and 5 (weakest bone), respectively. The surgeon assessment of bone correlated with VBQ (τ=0.15, P=0.07), CT HU (τ=-0.31, P<0.01), lowest DXA T-score (τ=-0.47, P<0.01), and TBS (τ=-0.23, P=0.06). Spine surgeons' qualitative intraoperative assessment of bone correlates with preoperative radiologic parameters, particularly in posterior thoracolumbar surgeries. This information is valuable to surgeons as this supports the idea that decisions based on feel in surgery have statistical foundation.


Evaluation of platelet and leukocyte functions in effort angina patients using high shear conditions in small-sized collagen bead columns.
This study used a small-sized collagen bead column system to investigate platelet functions under high shear stress in 28 patients with effort angina and 15 healthy controls. Soluble P-selectin and soluble L-selectin were also evaluated. Patients underwent stent insertion, followed by treatment with aspirin (100 mg/day) and ticlopidine (200 mg/day). High-shear-dependent platelet function was measured using small-sized collagen beads. The retention rate of platelets from patients with angina was higher than that in healthy controls (10.9% +/- 3.9% versus 5.6% +/- 1.7%, P < .01). Soluble P-selectin and soluble L-selectin levels of patients with angina significantly increased after passage through the columns. Levels of soluble P-selectin and L-selectin in healthy controls did not exhibit significant changes with passage through the columns. These results suggested that high shear stress caused abnormal activation of leukocytes or adhesive proteins in patients with effort angina, and ticlopidine failed to suppress hyperaggregability of platelets in these patients.


Surface ultrastructure of human ependyma.
Specimens of human ependyma obtained immediately after death were immersion-fixed and studied with a scanning electron microscope. Human ependyma is nearly identical in its surface ultrastructural features to the ependyma of other mammals.


Mass extinction efficiency and extinction hygroscopicity of ambient PM2.5 in urban China.
The ambient PM2.5 pollution problem in China has drawn substantial international attentions. The mass extinction efficiency (MEE) and hygroscopicity factor (f(RH)) of PM2.5 can be readily applied to study the impacts on atmospheric visibility and climate. The few previous investigations in China only reported results from pilot studies and are lack of spatial representativeness. In this study, hourly average ambient PM2.5 mass concentration, relative humidity, and atmospheric visibility data from China national air quality and meteorological monitoring networks were retrieved and analyzed. It includes 24 major Chinese cities from nine city-clusters with the period of October 2013 to September 2014. Annual average extinction coefficient in urban China was 759.3±258.3Mm-1, mainly caused by dry PM2.5 (305.8.2±131.0Mm-1) and its hygroscopicity (414.6±188.1Mm-1). High extinction coefficient values were resulted from both high ambient PM2.5 concentration (68.5±21.7µg/m3) and high relative humidity (69.7±8.6%). The PM2.5 mass extinction efficiency varied from 2.87 to 6.64m2/g with an average of 4.40±0.84m2/g. The average extinction hygroscopic factor f(RH=80%) was 2.63±0.45. The levels of PM2.5 mass extinction efficiency and hygroscopic factor in China were in comparable range with those found in developed countries in spite of the significant diversities among all 24 cities. Our findings help to establish quantitative relationship between ambient extinction coefficient (visual range) and PM2.5 & relative humidity. It will reduce the uncertainty of extinction coefficient estimation of ambient PM2.5 in urban China which is essential for the research of haze pollution and climate radiative forcing.


Work ethic, daily activities, and retirement satisfaction.
Relationships among satisfaction in retirement, strength of the work ethic, and daily activities were examined. Seventy-six retired men and women aged 53 to 88 years (M = 69.6) completed two measures of retirement satisfaction (the Life Satisfaction Index-A and the Retirement Description Index), the Protestant Ethic scale, and kept activity diaries for 1 week, in which activities were rated for usefulness and pleasantness. Retirement satisfaction, work values, and usefulness ratings were related complexly such that the least satisfied retirees, as measured by the RDI, were those with high work values who did not perceive their activities as being useful and those with low work values who perceived their activities as being highly useful. Greater satisfaction, as measured by the LSI-A, was associated with higher usefulness ratings. The mean number of activities listed correlated negatively with Protestant Ethic scores, but positively with both measures of retirement satisfaction, suggesting that retirees with strong work values are not as active or as satisfied in retirement.


Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) in prostate cancer in México, survey of SOMERA (Sociedad Mexicana de Radioterapeutas/Mexican Society of Radiation Oncologists) with recommendations on its implementation and process.
Prostate cancer is one of the main tumors worldwide, its treatment is multidisciplinary, includes radiotherapy in all stages: curative, radical, adjuvant, salvage and palliative. Technological advances in planning systems, image acquisition and treatment equipment have allowed the delivery of higher doses limiting toxicity in healthy tissues, distributing radiation optimally and ensuring reproducibility of conditions. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is not standard in guidelines, only recommended with heterogeneity in its own process. A survey was conducted to members of the Mexican Society of Radiation Oncologists (SOMERA), to know the current status and make recommendations about its implementation and use, taking into account existing resources. Responses of 541 patients were evaluated, 85% belonged to the intermediate-high risk group, 65% received adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy (RT), 80% received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using doses up to 80 Gy/2 Gy. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed on 506 (93.5%), (100% IMRT) and 90% at a periodicity of 3-5/week. 3D treatment with 42% portal images 1/week. Online correction strategies (36% changes before treatment), following a diet and bladder and rectal control. Evidence and recommendations are reviewed. IGRT should be performed in patients with prostate cancer. In Mexico, despite limitations in the distribution of human and technological resources, it is routinely applied. More information is still needed on clinical evidence of its benefits and the process should be implemented according to infrastructure, following institutional guidelines, recommending to report the initial experience that helps to standardize national conduct.


Bacillus subtilis spores germinate in the chicken gastrointestinal tract.
A number of poultry probiotics contain bacterial spores. In this study, orally administered spores of Bacillus subtilis germinated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of chicks. Furthermore, 20 h after spores were administered, vegetative cells outnumbered spores throughout the GI tract. This demonstrates that spore-based probiotics may function in this host through metabolically active mechanisms.


Persistent CT nephrograms following cardiac catheterisation and intervention: initial observations.
To describe persistent nephrographic patterns detected by unenhanced renal CT at 24 h after cardiac catheterisation and intervention. This prospective study was Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant and institutional review board approved. Twenty-nine patients (20 men, nine women; average age 63.27 and range 41-85 years) agreed to undergo unenhanced dual-energy computed tomography (CT) limited to their kidneys at 24 h after cardiac catheterisation. CT attenuation values (Hounsfield units) were made from the cortical and medullary regions and single kidney total parenchymal iodine values (milligrams) were measured. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and a two-sided Fisher's exact test were used in the statistics. Focal nephrograms were observed in at least one kidney (range, one to five regions per kidney) in 10/29 (34%) of patients and bilateral global nephrograms in 13/29 (45%) of patients. Focal nephrograms correlated with cardiac catheterisation fluoroscopic time (r = 0.48; P = 0.0087). For global nephrograms, the total iodine content of right and left kidneys correlated with fluoroscopic time (r = 0.79 and 0.76; P < 0.0001, respectively) and the amount of contrast material (CM) used (r = 0.77 and r = 0.74; P < 0.0001, respectively). Persistent focal and global nephrograms occur commonly as assessed by non-contrast CT at 24 h post cardiac catheterisation and our observations suggest they could be related to procedural factors.