PCR amplification from single DNA molecules on magnetic beads in emulsion: application for high-throughput screening of transcription factor targets.
We have developed a novel method of genetic library construction on magnetic microbeads based on solid-phase single-molecule PCR in a fine and robust water-phase compartment formed in water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions. In this method, critically diluted DNA fragments were distributed over the emulsion as templates, where beads crosslinked with multiple primers and other PCR components were encapsulated to form multiple reaction compartments. The delivered DNA was then amplified and covalently immobilized on the beads in parallel, within individual compartments, to construct a genetic library on beads (GLOBE), which was readily applicable to a genomewide global scanning of genetic elements recognized by a defined DNA-binding protein. We constructed a GLOBE of Paracoccus denitrificans and selected gene beads that were bound to the His-tagged transcription factor PhaR by flow cytometry. As a result of flow cytometry screening with an anti-His fluorescent antibody, the PhaR target fragments were enriched 1200-fold from this library with this system. Therefore, this system is a powerful tool for analyzing the transcription network on a genomewide scale.


Small-colony variants (SCVs) of staphylococci: a role in foreign body-associated infections.
Staphylococci have various strategies for resisting therapy that extend beyond classic mechanisms. Clinical experience with device-associated infections as well as with infections due to small-colony variants (SCVs) clearly shows that both antibacterial chemotherapy and host defense mechanisms are often unable to eliminate the pathogens and cure these infections. Of particular interest is the fact that in the past few years an increasing number of various foreign body-related infections due to staphylococcal SCVs have been reported. In this overview, the characteristics of SCVs recovered from clinical specimens and of defined mutants displaying the SCV phenotype are described. Their slow growth and changing biochemical and physiological features represent a challenge to clinical laboratory personnel, because recovery, identification, as well as susceptibility testing of these variants need particular efforts. In addition, the reduced susceptibility to aminoglycosides and the ability of SCVs to persist intracellularly require specific attention for the treatment of these infections. Thus, special efforts to search for these variants formed by Staphylococcus aureus or by coagulase-negative staphylococci should be considered when an infection is particularly resistant to therapy, persists for a long period or fails to respond to apparently adequate therapy with antimicrobial compounds.


Kinetic Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model for fast reactive mixtures and its hydrodynamic limit.
A recently proposed consistent Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook-type approach for reversible bimolecular chemical reactions, well suited to deal with collision dominated gas mixtures in which mechanical and chemical relaxation times are of the same order of magnitude (fast reactions), is discussed. The model recovers essential features of the chemical process such as mass action law at equilibrium and reactive H theorem. The hydrodynamic limit, at both Euler and Navier-Stokes levels, is derived by a Chapman-Enskog procedure, in terms of the relevant hydrodynamic variables, and compared to the corresponding limits holding in the nonreactive and in the slowly reactive cases. In particular, results show that reactive corrections to transport coefficients cannot be neglected for fast reactions.


Diet and metabolism are back: The oldest known Islamic medical manuscript bridges the gap from ancient to modern gout management.
Gout is a chronic disease frequently associated with lifestyle; its prevalence is increasing in Western societies, as well as in the Middle East. Apart from its partial genetic features, diet accounts for 12% of the causality of the disease, while purine-rich foods contribute decisively to its development and evaluation. The influential Persian physician of the medieval ages, Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariya al-Razi (or by his Latin name Rhazes; 860-925 AD), wrote a short book (20 chapters) entitled 'Treatise on gout'. Rhazes adopted the Hippocratic humoralism, and suggested that the disease results from metabolic excess in the peripheral blood, presenting sex dimorphism and age-dependence. His therapeutic guidelines include a diet prescribed by a physician, the use of laxatives and emetics, counter-balancing excess or deficiency of bile or phlegm and analgesics, bloodletting, foot and steam baths, as well as salves and poultices as preventive measures. He appends differential dietary restrictions/suggestions for phlegmatic or choleric patients: Small rations and intake of good quality foods low in purine by 20% for phlegmatic and 28% for choleric patients, as well as the restriction of foods high in purine by 27% for phlegmatic and 22% for the choleric patients. Finally, the acidic to alkaloid food intake ratio suggested is 2/5 for choleric and 3/7 for phlegmatic patients. His suggested foods and drugs are vitamin C and B-rich complexes, thereby inhibiting the accumulation of tophi.


Integrative Review of Technology to Support Communication With Parents of Infants in the NICU.
To synthesize findings from the published literature on the use of technology in the NICU to improve communications and interactions among health care providers, parents, and infants. Electronic databases including Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for related research published through May 2016. The reference lists of all studies were reviewed, and a hand search of key journals was also conducted to locate eligible studies. Eleven studies (five quantitative, two qualitative, and four mixed methods) were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Only studies published in English were included. Whittemore and Knafl's methodology for conducting integrative reviews was used to guide data extraction, analysis, and synthesis. Data were extracted and organized according to the following headings: author, year, and location; study purpose and design; sample size and demographics; technology used; study findings; and limitations. Various technologies were used, including videoconferencing, videophone, and commercially available modalities such as Skype, FaceTime, AngelEye, and NICView Webcams. In the 11 studies, three main outcomes were evaluated: parents' perception of technology use, health care providers' perceptions of technology use, and objective outcomes, such as parental anxiety or stress or infant length of stay. Overall, parents and health care providers perceived the varied interventions quite favorably, although a few significant differences were found for the objective measures. Several interventions have been tested to improve communications and promote interactions among NICU health care team members, parents, and infants. Although initial findings are positive, research in this area is quite limited, and the reviewed studies had several limitations. There is a significant need for further rigorous research to be conducted with diverse samples.


Elucidation of penetration enhancement mechanism of Emu oil using FTIR microspectroscopy at EMIRA laboratory of SESAME synchrotron.
It has been proposed that Emu oil possesses skin permeation-enhancing effect. This study aimed to address its possible penetration enhancement mechanism(s) using IR microscopy, in accordance with LPP theory. The penetration of Emu oil through the layers of human skin was accomplished by monitoring oil-IR characteristic feature at 3006cm-1. The unsaturated components of Emu oil accumulated at about 270μm depth of skin surface. The interaction of Emu oil with lipid and protein constituents of SC was investigated in comparison with a commonly used enhancer, IPM. Inter-sample spectral differences were identified using PCA and linked with possible enhancement mechanisms. Emu oil treatment caused a change in the slope of the right contour of amide I band of the protein spectral range. This was also clear in the second derivative spectra where the emergence of a new shoulder at higher frequency was evident, suggesting disorganization of keratin α-helix structure. This effect could be a result of disruption of some hydrogen bonds in which amide CO and NH groups of keratin are involved. The low intensity of the emerged shoulder is also in agreement with formation of weaker hydrogen bonds. IPM did not affect the protein component. No conclusions regarding the effect of penetration enhancers on the SC lipids were obtained. This was due to the overlap of the endogenous (skin) and exogenous (oil) CH stretching and scissoring frequencies. The SC carbonyl stretching peak disappeared as a result of IPM treatment which may reflect some degree of lipid extraction.


Update on neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is an embryonic cancer arising from neural crest stem cells. This cancer is the most common malignancy in infants and the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. The clinical course may be highly variable with the possibility of spontaneous regression in the youngest patients and increased risk of aggressive disease in older children. Clinical heterogeneity is a consequence of the diverse biologic characteristics that determine patient risk and survival. This review will focus on current progress in neuroblastoma staging, risk stratification, and treatment strategies based on advancing knowledge in tumor biology and genetic characterization. TYPE OF STUDY: Review article. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.


Conditional probability versus spatial contiguity in causal learning: Preschoolers use new contingency evidence to overcome prior spatial assumptions.
This study examines preschoolers' causal assumptions about spatial contiguity and how these assumptions interact with new evidence in the form of conditional probabilities. Preschoolers saw a toy that activated in the presence of certain objects. Children were shown evidence for the toy's activation rule in the form of patterns of probability: The toy was more likely to activate either when objects made contact with its surface (on condition) or when objects were several inches above its surface (over condition). In Experiment 1, 61 three-year-olds saw a deterministic activation rule. In Experiments 2 and 3, 48 four-year-olds saw an activation rule that was probabilistic. In Experiment 4, 30 four-year-olds saw a screening-off pattern of activation. In all 4 experiments, children used new evidence in the form of patterns of probability to make accurate causal inferences, even in the face of conflicting prior beliefs about spatial contiguity. However, children were more likely to make correct inferences when causes were spatially contiguous, particularly when faced with ambiguous evidence.


Anticholinergic premedication in infants: a comparison of atropine and glycopyrrolate on heart rate, demeanor, and facial flushing.
Heart rate, demeanor, and facial flushing following intramuscular injection of atropine or glycopyrrolate were compared in 80 paediatric patients under 1 year of age. No significant differences occurred between the two drugs in the doses used. Neither was there any difference in drug response between those children aged under 2 months and the other patients in the study.


Acceleration of capsule formation around silicone implants by infection in a guinea pig model.
Fibrous capsules surrounding silicone implants were investigated in a new guinea pig model to delineate some of the factors leading to capsular contracture. Both the implant surfaces and tissue capsules were examined by light and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM + SEM) with x-ray energy spectroscopy (XES). The capsular tissues were qualitatively similar to those recovered clinically, showing dense parallel collagen deposits, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, macrophages, and foreign-body giant cells. Silicone was positively identified within intercellular vacuoles and the rough endoplasmic reticulum of macrophages by XES. Tissue recovered from the capsules that surrounded implants that were contaminated with S. aureus presented a qualitatively similar histologic spectrum. The contaminated specimens did show an accelerated response. SEM showed a cellular invasion of the silicone envelopes. We conclude that the model accurately simulates the clinical situation and suggests that immune mechanisms may play a key role in capsular contracture.


β-Estradiol-dependent activation of the JAK/STAT pathway requires p/CIP and CARM1.
The steroid receptor coactivator p/CIP, also known as SRC-3, is an oncogene commonly amplified in breast and ovarian cancers. p/CIP is known to associate with coactivator arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) on select estrogen responsive genes. We have shown, using a ChIP-on-chip approach, that in response to stimulation with 17β-estradiol (E2), the p/CIP/CARM1 complex is recruited to 204 proximal promoters in MCF-7 cells. Many of the complex target genes have been previously implicated in signaling pathways related to oncogenesis. Jak2, a member of the Jak/Stat signaling cascade, is one of the direct E2-dependent targets of the p/CIP/CARM1 complex. Following E2-treatment, histone modifications at the Jak2 promoter are reflective of a transcriptionally permissive gene, and modest changes in RNA and protein expression lead us to suggest that an additional factor(s) may be required for a more notable transcriptional and functional response. Bioinformatic examination of the 204 proximal promoter sequences of p/CIP/CARM1 targets supports the idea that transcription factor crosstalk is likely the favored mechanism of E2-dependent p/CIP/CARM1 complex recruitment. This data may have implications towards understanding the oncogenic role of p/CIP in breast cancer and ultimately allow for the identification of new prognostic indicators and/or viable therapeutic targets.


Effect of pregnancy on urinary functions in Thai nulliparous pregnant women.
Many epidemiological studies have shown that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common during the first pregnancy. Both prevalence and severity ofLUTSseem to increase through out pregnancy. It also compromised daily life of pregnant women. Both anatomical change and hormonal change during pregnancy can disrupt the normal urinary tract function. The aim of the present study is to identify the effect ofpregnancy in different trimesters ofpregnancy on urinary function of Thai nulliparous women by using free uroflowmetry. A prospective study of 111 Thai nulliparous pregnant women at 8-12, 24-28 and 32-38 gestational weeks. They attended the antenatal clinic in Thammasat Hospital. All women were interviewed about their urinary symptoms such as hesitancy, frequency, nocturia, stress incontinence, urge incontinence and difficulty in passing urine. The severity of each symptom was clarified as none, mild, moderate and severe. Free uroflowmetry was performed using a special-setting toilet in the clinic. Maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), voided volume (VV) and residual urine volume were measured. Mean age of 111 women was 26.6±5.4 years and the mean body weight was 52.4±9.4 kilograms. The average gestational age was 8.6±1.9 weeks at first visit, 26.1±1.3 weeks at second visit and 34.1±1.6 weeks at last visit. The symptom ofurinary frequency and nocturia increased throughoutpregnancy. Only two women at 24-28 weeks and one woman at 34- 38 weeks reported moderate to severe stress incontinence. No women had moderate to severe urge incontinence. Maximum and average flow rates slightly increased toward the end ofpregnancy. But voided volume was slightly decreased in the second and third visits. Residual urine of less than 50 ml was found in all women and allperiods. Urinary frequency and nocturia were common in Thai nulliparous pregnancy. Most of them did not complain of stress nor urge incontinence. Maximum and average flow rate seem to increase consistently while gestational age increase and average voided volume were reduced in late pregnancy.


Recent Evidence on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure.
This review provides a comprehensive conclusion of the relationship between the intake of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and different dietary patterns, pointing to the accompanying potential health risks. To achieve this, existing pertinent research was collected and analyzed. The collation revealed that the concentration of PAHs in food and their dietary patterns were diverse in different regions. Specifically, the concentration of PAHs in food was found to be related to the level of pollution in the area, including soil, air, and water pollution, which is then accumulated through the food chain into food that can be ingested directly by the human body, resulting in malformations in offspring, increased risk of cancer, and gene mutation. Guidebooks and dietary surveys were consulted to uncover disparities in dietary patterns, which indicated regional variations in taste preferences, traditional foods, and eating habits. Different regions are spatially categorized in this assessment by cities, countries, and continents. Notably, smoking and grilling are two of the food processing methods most likely to produce high levels of PAHs. To prevent excessive intake of PAHs from food items and attain a higher quality of life, more health education is urgently needed to promote healthy eating patterns.


Effect of the crude extract of Evodiae Fructus on the intestinal transit in mice.
One of the uses of Evodiae Fructus (EF, the dried, unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa) in Chinese medicine is recommended in diarrhea, but its underlying mechanism has not yet been studied. The present study examined the effect of an aqueous extract of EF on the intestinal transit in mice by the charcoal meal method. Intraperitoneal administration (i.p.) of EF (1.9-30 g/kg) significantly inhibited the intestinal transit in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of EF was not attenuated by the i.p. pretreatment with an alpha 2-, alpha 1-, or beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, i.e. yohimbine (10 mg/kg), prazosin (2 mg/kg), or propranolol (6 mg/kg), respectively. In the isolated mouse duodenum, jejunum, and ileum preparations, EF (10-50 mg/ml) concentration-dependently abolished 10 microM carbachol-induced contraction with an IC50 of 9.9, 11.7, and 16.3 mg/ml, respectively. This inhibitory effect was not competitive. Receptor binding assay showed that EF (1-50 mg/ml) significantly competed with [3H]-N-methylscopolamine for specific binding to muscarinic receptors on the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum membrane preparations with a Ki value of 7.1, 8.4, and 14.4 mg/ml, respectively. Therefore, the above results suggested that the inhibitory effect of EF on intestinal transit was probably via an action directly on the muscarinic receptors but not on the alpha 2, alpha 1-, and beta-adrenoceptors in the small intestine.


AgI -Induced Switching of DNA Binding Modes via Formation of a Supramolecular Metallacycle.
The histidine derivative L1 of the DNA intercalator naphthalenediimide (NDI) forms a triangular AgI complex (C2). The interactions of L1 and of C2 with DNA were studied by circular dichroism (CD) and UV/Vis spectroscopy and by viscosity studies. Different binding modes were observed for L1 and for C2, as the AgI complex C2 is too large in size to act as an intercalator. If AgI is added to the NDI molecule that is already intercalated into a duplex, higher order complexes are formed within the DNA duplex and cause disruptions in the helical duplex structure, which leads to a significant decrease in the characteristic CD features of B-DNA. Thus, via addition of a metal we show how a classic and well-known organic intercalator unit can be turned into a partial metallo insertor. We also show how electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be used to probe DNA binding modes on DNA films that are immobilized on gold surfaces.


Lethal and Sub-Lethal Effects of Insecticides on the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).
The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a pest of many plants, and a new problem on dates in California. The effects of seven insecticides and water on different life stages of this mealybug were studied to identify the best material for control. Water did not have any significant effect on mealybugs, but the insecticide treatments significantly affected all life stages tested. The egg hatch rate ranged from 28.5% to 17.2% for spirotetramat, bifenthrin, flupyradifurone, fenpropathrin, and buprofezin treatments, and was lower for sulfoxaflor (2.8%) and acetamiprid (0.1%). Despite high survival of neonate crawlers in the non-treated control and water treatments, 53.1% and 34.6% survived in the spirotetramat and buprofezin treatments, respectively; survival was zero in the other treatments. Spirotetramat and buprofezin caused very low mortality of nymphs in the first day post-treatment, but mortality significantly increased over time and reached 42.8% and 50.6% by day 6, respectively. The other treatments were highly toxic to the nymphs (79.4⁻99.4% on day 6). Insecticides also had a significant effect on the feeding ability of nymphs. By day 6 after treatment, 73.9% to 100% of nymphs treated with different insecticides stopped feeding although they were still alive. Insecticides showed no effect on the mortality of adult females, but the percentages of ovipositing females were significantly reduced (51.1% to 10.6%) in all insecticide treatments, except buprofezin, which was not statistically different from water and the non-treated control. In the process of our studies, we identified abnormalities in the appearance of eggs from females treated with various insecticides, and these aberrant eggs are described.


Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of active specialistic medical dressings in the treatment of decubitus.
Treatment of decubitus ulcers is a grave medical problem. In many cases, it is difficult to cure a pressure ulcer, especially when it is deep and extensive, and prognosis is usually unfavourable. Treatment of decubitus ulcers requires new specialist dressings, which play an important role in the healing process. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of active specialist medical dressings in the treatment of decubitus. Research involved 40 patients - 18 (45%) women and 22 (55%) men, suffering from decubitus ulcers of different size and depth, localized in the sacral region, lasting from 1.5 to 30 months. Patients were randomly assigned to two research groups (20 people each), were treated for 4 weeks with 2 different specialist dressings. ATRAUMAN Ag, which contains silver ions, was used in the first group, while paraffin gauze of BACTIGRAS type was used in the second group. An assessment of pressure ulcers' healing progress was done with a planimetric method, which evaluates the wound surface area. The analysis results showed a significant statistical decrease in an average decubitus ulcer surface area in both research groups: in the first group by 60.2% (p = 0.001), and in the second group by 32.95% (p < 0.001), which speaks in favour of dressings with silver ions as having better therapeutic effectiveness. Using specialist dressings results in a significant decrease in the decubitus ulcer surface area, depending on the type of dressing and active substances contained within, while silver ions support curative effectiveness of the dressing used.


Erythema toxicum neonatorum is an innate immune response to commensal microbes penetrated into the skin of the newborn infant.
Erythema toxicum neonatorum is a common rash of unknown etiology affecting healthy newborn infants. In this study, we postulated that the rash reflects a response to microbial colonization of the skin at birth, and that the hair follicle constitutes an "easily opened door" for microbes into the skin of the newborn. We collected microbial cultures from the skin of 69 healthy, 1-d-old infants with and without erythema toxicum to identify the colonizing flora and correlate culture results with clinical findings. We also analyzed biopsies from lesions of erythema toxicum with scanning and transmission electron microscopy in the search for microbes. Finally, each infant's body temperature was measured as a sign of acute phase response. We found that 84% of 1-d-old healthy infants, with and without erythema toxicum were colonized with coagulase-negative staphylococci. In all lesions of erythema toxicum, TEM identified cocci-like bacteria localized in the hair follicle epithelium and into recruited immune cells surrounding the hair follicle; morphology and dimension supported their identification as belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. SEM revealed 10 times more hair structures per skin surface unit in newborns compared with adults. Infants with erythema toxicum also had higher body temperature. In erythema toxicum, commensal microbes gain entry into the skin tissue, most probably through the hair canal. This triggers the local immune system and a systemic acute phase response, including an increase in body temperature. We speculate that early microbial exposure to the newborn may be important for the maturation of the immune system.


Intravascular ultrasound-guided vs angiography-guided drug-eluting stent implantation in complex coronary lesions: Meta-analysis of randomized trials.
The relative outcomes of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with angiography-guided PCI with drug-eluting stent (DES) in complex lesions have not been established. We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of IVUS-guided PCI with angiography-guided PCI in patients with complex coronary lesions treated with DES. Electronic databases were searched to identify all randomized trials comparing IVUS-guided vs angiography-guided DES implantation. We evaluated major adverse cardiac events (MACE), all-cause and cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stent thrombosis outcomes at the longest reported follow-up. Random-effects modeling was used to calculate pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% CIs. Eight trials comprising 3,276 patients (1,635 IVUS-guided and 1,641 angiography-guided) enrolling only patients with complex lesions were included. Mean follow-up was 1.4±0.5years. Compared with angiography-guided PCI, patients undergoing IVUS-guided PCI had significantly lower MACE (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.51-0.80, P=.0001), TLR (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.86, P=.004), and TVR (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.87, P=.007). There were no significant differences for stent thrombosis, cardiovascular death, or all-cause death. In meta-regression analysis, IVUS-guided PCI was of greatest benefit in reducing MACE in patients with acute coronary syndromes, diabetes, and long lesions. The present meta-analysis demonstrates a significant reduction in MACE, TVR, and TLR with IVUS-guided DES implantation in complex coronary lesions.


(5,5'-Dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)-iodido-trimethyl-platinum(IV).
In the title compound, [Pt(CH(3))(3)I(C(12)H(12)N(2))], the Pt(IV) atom is six-coordinated in a slightly distorted octa-hedral configuration with one CH(3) group and the I atom forming a near perpendicular axis relative to the square plane formed by the bipyridine ligand and the two remaining CH(3) groups. The CH(3) group trans to the I atom has a slightly elongated bond to Pt compared to the other CH(3) groups, indicating a difference in trans influence between iodine and the bipyridine ligand.


Validation of a Smartphone Pupillometry Application in Diagnosing Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
The pupillary light reflex (PLR) is an important biomarker for the detection and management of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated the performance of PupilScreen, a smartphone-based pupillometry app, in classifying healthy control subjects and subjects with severe TBI in comparison to the current gold standard NeurOptics pupillometer (NPi-200 model with proprietary Neurological Pupil Index [NPi] TBI severity score). A total of 230 PLR video recordings taken using both the PupilScreen smartphone pupillometer and NeurOptics handheld device (NPi-200) pupillometer were collected from 33 subjects with severe TBI (sTBI) and 132 subjects who were healthy without self-reported neurological disease. Severe TBI status was determined by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at the time of recording. The proprietary NPi score was collected from the NPi-200 pupillometer for each subject. Seven PLR curve morphological parameters were collected from the PupilScreen app for each subject. A comparison via t-test and via binary classification algorithm performance using NPi scores from the NPi-200 and PLR parameter data from the PupilScreen app was completed. This was used to determine how the frequently used NPi-200 proprietary NPi TBI severity score compares to the PupilScreen app in ability to distinguish between healthy and sTBI subjects. Binary classification models for this task were trained for the diagnosis of healthy or severe TBI using logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machine, and random forest machine learning classification models. Overall classification accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, and F1 score values were calculated. Median GCS was 15 for the healthy cohort and 6 (interquartile range 2) for the severe TBI cohort. Smartphone app PLR parameters as well as NPi from the digital infrared pupillometer were significantly different between healthy and severe TBI cohorts; 33% of the study cohort had dark eye colors defined as brown eyes of varying shades. Across all classification models, the top performing PLR parameter combination for classifying subjects as healthy or sTBI for PupilScreen was maximum diameter, constriction velocity, maximum constriction velocity, and dilation velocity with accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and F1 score of 87%, 85.9%, 88%, 0.869, and 0.85, respectively, in a random forest model. The proprietary NPi TBI severity score demonstrated greatest AUC value, F1 score, and sensitivity of 0.648, 0.567, and 50.9% respectively using a random forest classifier and greatest overall accuracy and specificity of 67.4% and 92.4% using a logistic regression model in the same classification task on the same dataset. The PupilScreen smartphone pupillometry app demonstrated binary healthy versus severe TBI classification ability greater than that of the NPi-200 proprietary NPi TBI severity score. These results may indicate the potential benefit of future study of this PupilScreen smartphone pupillometry application in comparison to the NPi-200 digital infrared pupillometer across the broader TBI spectrum, as well as in other neurological diseases.


Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Unsymmetrical Acyclic Aliphatic syn-1,3-Diols.
Disclosed is a mild, reliable, and enantioselective catalytic parallel kinetic resolution of unsymmetrical acyclic aliphatic syn-1,3-diol derived acetals mediated by chiral phosphoric acid. This method provides stereoselective access to a variety of syn-1,3-diols as valuable building blocks with high enantioselectivity. Moreover, this mild system allows for site-selective protection of optically pure syn-1,3-diols in excellent regioselectivity.


Comparison of waveguide properties and Raman spectroscopic visualization of C and O ion implantation on LaAlO(3) crystals.
LaAlO3 crystals were implanted by C ions and O ions at an energy of 6.0 MeV with a fluence of 1.5×1015 ions/cm2. The profiles of the guided modes were measured through prism coupling and end-face coupling methods with a 633 nm laser source. A nonleaky waveguide structure in the TM mode was fabricated by O ion implantation after a proper annealing treatment. Characteristics of the implanted C and O ions were compared. Some changes of the full width at half of the maximum and intensity of the Raman spectra were observed between the waveguide and substrate regions in LaAlO3 crystals. Thus, the Raman spectra can be used to visualize any damage or defects in the LaAlO3 crystals during the implantation process.


Human embryo research and the 14-day rule.
In many jurisdictions, restrictions prohibit the culture of human embryos beyond 14 days of development. However, recent reports describing the successful maintenance of embryos in vitro to this stage have prompted many in the field to question whether the rule is still appropriate. This Spotlight article looks at the original rationale behind the 14-day rule and its relevance today in light of advances in human embryo culture and in the derivation of embryonic-like structures from human pluripotent stem cells.


Influence of Antibiotics on Functionality and Viability of Liver Cells In Vitro.
(1) Antibiotics are an important weapon in the fight against serious bacterial infections and are considered a common cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). The hepatotoxicity of many drugs, including antibiotics, is poorly analyzed in human in vitro models. (2) A standardized assay with a human hepatoma cell line was used to test the hepatotoxicity of various concentrations (Cmax, 5× Cmax, and 10× Cmax) of antibiotics. In an ICU, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, ampicillin, cefepime, cefuroxime, levofloxacin, linezolid, meropenem, rifampicin, tigecycline, and vancomycin, were incubated with HepG2/C3A cells for 6 days. Cell viability (XTT assay, LDH release, and vitality), albumin synthesis, and cytochrome 1A2 activity were determined in cells. (3) In vitro, vancomycin, rifampicin, and tigecycline showed moderate hepatotoxic potential. The antibiotics ampicillin, cefepime, cefuroxime, levofloxacin, linezolid, and meropenem were associated with mild hepatotoxic reactions in test cells incubated with the testes Cmax concentration. Rifampicin and cefuroxime showed significantly negative effects on the viability of test cells. (4) Further in vitro studies and global pharmacovigilance reports should be conducted to reveal underlying mechanism of the hepatotoxic action of vancomycin, rifampicin, tigecycline, and cefuroxime, as well as the clinical relevance of these findings.


Possible Future Career Challenges and Associated Factors among Dental Students and Interns.
Dental students face a variety of challenges as they enter the dental profession. The study aimed at assessing dental students' opinions about their perceived future career challenges in the dental profession and the associated factors. This cross-sectional study of 637 students representing different public and private dental colleges was conducted in Saudi Arabia. The participants responded to a pretested questionnaire conducted online. There were 59.7% (n = 380) of males and 40.3% (n = 257) of females, and the mean age of the students was 21.80 (±2.14) years. The majority of participants thought that they will have difficulties in establishing their private clinic (63.9%) and finding a government job (>60%). Senior students were more likely to perceive getting a government job (OR = 1.79, P = 0.02), securing an admission into specialty program (OR = 2.75, P = 0.001), and establishing a private dental clinic (OR = 2.51, P = 0.001) as future career challenges than junior students. Similarly, female gender was associated with increased perception of challenges about finding a government job (OR = 1.911, P = 0.002), getting an admission into specialty program (OR = 1.5, P = 0.038), and establishing a private clinic (OR = 2.02, P = 0.001). In addition, low academic score and low level of father's education were associated with increased odds of perceiving challenges of finding a government job and getting an admission into specialty programs. Establishing a private clinic and getting a government job were the most common career challenges. Senior students, female students, and students with low academic scores had increased likelihood of facing employment and academic-related difficulties.


Spontaneous electrical activity induced by depolarizing currents in canine ventricular myocardium. A preliminary note.
Spontaneous action potential (AP) discharge could be induced by an application of long (5-10 sec) depolarizing currents in 68% of canine ventricular myocardium tested in the voltage range between about -65 and -10 mV. The constant currents of various intensities were applied across a sucrose gap, and intracellular potentials were recorded with a microelectrode. The firing rate of the AP's was voltage-dependent and ranged between 0.7 and 2.5 Hz. The AP was dependent on both [Ca++]0 and [Na+]0. Increase of [Na+]0. Increase of [Na+]0 from 37 to 149 mM increased the firing rate, maximum rate of rise, and overshoot of the AP's while increase of [Ca++]0 from 0.45 mM to 1.8 and 7.2 mM increased the firing rate and maximum rate of rise, but did not change the amplitude of overshoot. AP discharges were not blocked by tetrodotoxin (10(-5) Gm/ml), but were effectively blocked by verapamil (6 X 10(-6) Gm/ml). Adrenaline (5 X 10(-6) Gm/ml) initiated AP's in otherwise quiescent preparations. The results suggest that spontaneous AP's may be produced by inflowing of slow Na+ and Ca++ currents modified by underlying change of K+-permeability. Possible clinical significance of this phenomenon is discussed in relation to ventricular arrhythmia.


Applications of additive manufacturing in dentistry: A review.
Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing has been hailed as the third industrial revolution as it has caused a paradigm shift in the way objects have been manufactured. Conventionally, converting a raw material to a fully finished and assembled, usable product comprises several steps which can be eliminated by using this process as functional products can be created directly from the raw material at a fraction of the time originally consumed. Thus, AM has found applications in several sectors including automotive, aerospace, printed electronics, and healthcare. AM is increasingly being used in the healthcare sector, given its potential to fabricate patient-specific customized implants with required accuracy and precision. Implantable heart valves, rib cages, and bones are some of the examples where AM technologies are used. A vast variety of materials including ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites have been processed to fabricate intricate implants using 3D printing. The applications of AM in dentistry include maxillofacial implants, dentures, and other prosthetic aids. It may also be used in surgical training and planning, as anatomical models can be created at ease using AM. This article gives an overview of the AM process and reviews in detail the applications of 3D printing in dentistry. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2058-2064, 2018.


Using intervention mapping to deconstruct cognitive work hardening: a return-to-work intervention for people with depression.
Mental health related work disability leaves are increasing at alarming rates with depression emerging as the most common mental disorder in the workforce. Treatments are available to alleviate depressive symptoms and associated functional impacts; however, they are not specifically aimed at preparing people to return to work. Cognitive work hardening (CWH) is a novel intervention that addresses this gap in the health care system. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the components and underlying mechanisms of CWH using Intervention Mapping (IM) as a tool to deconstruct its elements. The cognitive sequelae of depression and their relevance to return-to-work (RTW) are examined together with interpersonal skills and other work-related competencies that affect work ability. IM, a tool typically used to create programs, is used to deconstruct an existing program, namely CWH, into its component parts and link them to theories and models in the literature. CWH has been deconstructed into intervention elements which are linked to program performance objectives through underlying theoretical models. In this way, linkages are made between tools and materials of the intervention and the overall program objective of 'successful RTW for people with depression'. An empirical study of the efficacy of CWH is currently underway which should provide added insight and understanding into this intervention. The application of IM to CWH illustrates the theoretical underpinnings of the treatment intervention and assists with better understanding the linkage between intervention elements and intervention objective. Applying IM to deconstruct an existing program (rather than create a program) presents an alternate application of the IM tool which can have implications for other programs in terms of enhancing understanding, grounding in theoretical foundations, communicating program design, and establishing a basis for program evaluation and improvement.


Research on B Cell Algorithm for Learning to Rank Method Based on Parallel Strategy.
For the purposes of information retrieval, users must find highly relevant documents from within a system (and often a quite large one comprised of many individual documents) based on input query. Ranking the documents according to their relevance within the system to meet user needs is a challenging endeavor, and a hot research topic-there already exist several rank-learning methods based on machine learning techniques which can generate ranking functions automatically. This paper proposes a parallel B cell algorithm, RankBCA, for rank learning which utilizes a clonal selection mechanism based on biological immunity. The novel algorithm is compared with traditional rank-learning algorithms through experimentation and shown to outperform the others in respect to accuracy, learning time, and convergence rate; taken together, the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm indeed effectively and rapidly identifies optimal ranking functions.


The visual guidance of action is not insulated from cognitive interference: A multitasking study on obstacle-avoidance and bisection.
The Perception-Action Model (PAM) considers the visual system to be divided into two streams defined by their specific functions, a ventral stream for vision and a dorsal stream for action. In this study we investigated two behavioral paradigms which according to PAM represent the two contrasting functions of the ventral and dorsal stream, namely bisection and obstacle-avoidance, respectively. It is an assumption of PAM that while ventral stream processing is ultimately linked with processing in other cognitive systems, dorsal stream processing is insulated from cognition. Accordingly it can be expected that a secondary task will interfere with bisection but not with obstacle-avoidance. We tested this prediction using a rapid serial visual presentation task as our secondary task (RSVP). Contrary to expectations we found significant interference for both bisection and obstacle-avoidance. Our findings suggest that dorsal-stream processing is not insulated from cognitive processes.


Structure and antimicrobial activity of phloroglucinol derivatives from Achyrocline satureioides.
The new prenylated phloroglucinol α-pyrones 1-3 and the new dibenzofuran 4, together with the known 23-methyl-6-O-demethylauricepyrone (5), achyrofuran (6), and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyflavone (gnaphaliin A), were isolated from the aerial parts of Achyrocline satureioides. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies, while the absolute configuration of the sole stereogenic center of 1 was established by vibrational circular dichroism measurements in comparison to density functional theory calculated data. The same (S) absolute configuration of the α-methylbutyryl chain attached to the phloroglucinol nucleus was assumed for compounds 2-6 based on biogenetic considerations. Derivatives 7-16 were prepared from 1 and 5, and the antimicrobial activities of the isolated metabolites and some of the semisynthetic derivatives against a selected panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as a set of yeast molds, were determined.


The Ser/Thr Protein Kinase Protein-Protein Interaction Map of M. tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, the leading cause of death among all infectious diseases. There are 11 eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinases (STPKs) in Mtb, which are thought to play pivotal roles in cell growth, signal transduction and pathogenesis. However, their underlying mechanisms of action remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, using a Mtb proteome microarray, we have globally identified the binding proteins in Mtb for all of the STPKs, and constructed the first STPK protein interaction (KPI) map that includes 492 binding proteins and 1,027 interactions. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the interacting proteins reflect diverse functions, including roles in two-component system, transcription, protein degradation, and cell wall integrity. Functional investigations confirmed that PknG regulates cell wall integrity through key components of peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis, e.g. MurC. The global STPK-KPIs network constructed here is expected to serve as a rich resource for understanding the key signaling pathways in Mtb, thus facilitating drug development and effective control of Mtb.


Molecular Mechanisms of Microglial Motility: Changes in Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease.
Microglia are the tissue-resident immune cells of the central nervous system, where they constitute the first line of defense against any pathogens or injury. Microglia are highly motile cells and in order to carry out their function, they constantly undergo changes in their morphology to adapt to their environment. The microglial motility and morphological versatility are the result of a complex molecular machinery, mainly composed of mechanisms of organization of the actin cytoskeleton, coupled with a "sensory" system of membrane receptors that allow the cells to perceive changes in their microenvironment and modulate their responses. Evidence points to microglia as accountable for some of the changes observed in the brain during ageing, and microglia have a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. The present review describes in detail the main mechanisms driving microglial motility in physiological conditions, namely, the cytoskeletal actin dynamics, with emphasis in proteins highly expressed in microglia, and the role of chemotactic membrane proteins, such as the fractalkine and purinergic receptors. The review further delves into the changes occurring to the involved proteins and pathways specifically during ageing and in Alzheimer's disease, analyzing how these changes might participate in the development of this disease.


[Thymic neuroendocrine tumors: report on 6 cases].
the aim of our study was to analyze a series of 6 thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNET). we report the clinical and pathological features of 6 TNET reclassified according to the last WHO classification (2004). there were 4 men and 2 women, (mean age of 61.3 years), presenting with local symptoms in 4 cases. The tumors were reclassified as 3 atypical carcinoids (AC), 2 small cell carcinomas (SCC) and 1 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). Cytokeratin, EMA and neuroendocrine markers were expressed in poorly-differentiated tumors. Two patients were lost of follow-up. Two patients with AC died of disease at 20 and 36 months. One patient with SCC died of disease at 2 years and the patient with the LCNEC died of disease in 3 months. TNET are poor prognosis tumors with a prognosis similar to thymic carcinomas. Adequate surgical resection is a strong prognosis factor.


Efficacy of Camrelizumab in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Prognostic Analysis of Different PET/CT Features.
To evaluate the efficacy of the PD-1 inhibitor camrelizumab plus chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the prognostic differences of patients with different PET/CT features. Between December 2018 and October 2020, 100 patients with NSCLC assessed for eligibility treated in our institution were recruited and randomly assigned (1 : 1) to receive either the TC regimen chemotherapy (control group) or the TC regimen chemotherapy plus camrelizumab (study group). The primary endpoints were clinical efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). A decrease of max standard uptake value (SUVmax) of >30% in primary lung cancer was considered as metabolic remission. The prognostic differences of the eligible patients with different PET/CT features were assessed. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method to obtain the survival rate and calculate the median survival time. The metabolic remission rate and objective remission rate were significantly higher with chemotherapy plus camrelizumab versus chemotherapy alone. The study group had significantly higher CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell ratios and CD4+/CD8+ ratio and significantly lower CD8+ T-cell ratio than the control group after treatment. PFS (10 months versus 4 months) and OS (HR = 37.094, P ≤ 0.001) were better with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy versus stand-alone chemotherapy. The incidence of adverse events (AE) was similar between the two groups. The patients in the study group were stratified into metabolic remission and metabolic nonremission based on PET/CT results. Intersubgroup analysis showed significantly better PFS and OS in the metabolic remission group than in the nonmetabolic remission group. The camrelizumab plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment option for NSCLC significantly increases the survival benefit. Metabolic status shown by PET/CT correlates with long-term prognosis and demonstrates a great potential for early assessment of efficacy to support the choice of treatment regimens.


Transmission of atypical varicella-zoster virus infections involving palm and sole manifestations in an area with monkeypox endemicity.
During a suspected monkeypox outbreak in the Republic of Congo, we documented transmission of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection with palm and sole manifestations among 5 family members. Genotyping results confirmed the VZV strain European E2, a genotype not previously reported in Africa. VZV with palm and sole involvement should be considered when differentiating a monkeypox diagnosis.


Metabolic-Activity-Based Assessment of Antimicrobial Effects by D2O-Labeled Single-Cell Raman Microspectroscopy.
To combat the spread of antibiotic resistance, methods that quantitatively assess the metabolism-inhibiting effects of drugs in a rapid and culture-independent manner are urgently needed. Here using four oral bacteria as models, we show that heavy water (D2O)-based single-cell Raman microspectroscopy (D2O-Raman) can probe bacterial response to different drugs using the Raman shift at the C-D (carbon-deuterium vibration) band in 2040 to 2300 cm-1 as a universal biomarker for metabolic activity at single-bacterial-cell resolution. The "minimum inhibitory concentration based on metabolic activity" (MIC-MA), defined as the minimal dose under which the median ΔC-D-ratio at 8 h of drug exposure is ≤0 and the standard deviation (SD) of the ΔC-D ratio among individual cells is ≤0.005, was proposed to evaluate the metabolism-inhibiting efficacy of drugs. In addition, heterogeneity index of MIC-MA (MIC-MA-HI), defined as SD of C-D ratio among individual cells, quantitatively assesses the among-cell heterogeneity of metabolic activity after drug regimens. When exposed to 1× MIC of sodium fluoride (NaF), 1× MIC of chlorhexidine (CHX), or 60× MIC of ampicillin, the cariogenic oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans UA159 ceased propagation yet remained metabolically highly active. This underscores the advantage of MIC-MA over the growth-based MIC in being able to detect the "nongrowing but metabolically active" (NGMA) cells that underlie many latent or recurring infections. Moreover, antibiotic susceptible and resistant S. mutans strains can be readily discriminated at as early as 0.5 h. Thus, D2O-Raman can serve as a universal method for rapid and quantitative assessment of antimicrobial effects based on general metabolic activity at single-cell resolution.


Extracellular biosynthesis of magnetite using fungi.
The development of synthetic processes for oxide nanomaterials is an issue of considerable topical interest. While a number of chemical methods are available and are extensively used, the collaborations are often energy intensive and employ toxic chemicals. On the other hand, the synthesis of inorganic materials by biological systems is characterized by processes that occur at close to ambient temperatures and pressures, and at neutral pH (examples include magnetotactic bacteria, diatoms, and S-layer bacteria). Here we show that nanoparticulate magnetite may be produced at room temperature extracellularly by challenging the fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium sp., with mixtures of ferric and ferrous salts. Extracellular hydrolysis of the anionic iron complexes by cationic proteins secreted by the fungi results in the room-temperature synthesis of crystalline magnetite particles that exhibit a signature of a ferrimagnetic transition with a negligible amount of spontaneous magnetization at low temperature.


Diagnostic value of combined pleural interleukin-33, adenosine deaminase and peripheral blood tuberculosis T cell spot detection TB for tuberculous pleurisy.
To investigate the correlation between pleural fluid interleukin-33 (IL-33) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) and peripheral blood tuberculosis T cell spot detection (T-SPOT.TB), and the combined value of the three tests for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. 79 patients with pleural effusion admitted from June 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled. They were divided into tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) group (57 cases, 72.2%) and malignant pleural effusion group (17 cases, 21.5%), pneumonia-like pleural effusion group (5 cases, 6.3%). Correlation between pleural fluid IL-33, pleural effusion ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB was analyzed, comparison of the three separate and combined diagnostic efficacy was also performed. The levels of IL-33, ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB in patients with TPE were significantly higher than those in non-TPE (P < 0.001). The level of pleural fluid IL-33 was positively correlated with pleural effusion ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB. The Area under the ROC curve (AUC) of TPE diagnosed by pleural IL-33, ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB were 0.753, 0.912 and 0.865, respectively. AUC for combined detection of pleural effusion IL-33, ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB is the largest, with a value of 0.962. Specificity is 100% and sensitivity is 88.5%. Combined detection of pleural effusion IL-33, ADA and peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB can improve the diagnostic efficacy of tuberculous pleurisy.


Perfluorocarbon Nanoparticles Mediated Platelet Blocking Disrupt Vascular Barriers to Improve the Efficacy of Oxygen-Sensitive Antitumor Drugs.
Currently, limited tumor drug permeation and poor oxygen perfusion are two major bottlenecks that significantly impair the efficacy of existing antitumor drugs, especially oxygen-sensitive antitumor drugs. One vital cause of these major bottlenecks is the abnormal tumor vessel barrier. To the best knowledge of the authors, platelets play a vital role in the maintenance of an abnormal tumor blood barrier through platelet-tumor interaction. Thus, platelet inhibition may present a new way to enhance drug delivery. In this study, it is originally discovered that perfluorotributylamine-based albumin nanoparticles (PFTBA@HSA) possess excellent platelet inhibiting abilities, which then selectively disrupt the tumor vessel barrier, resulting in a remarkably enhanced intratumoral drug accumulation. Interestingly enough, the tumor hypoxia is also obviously relieved by enhanced oxygen carrier red blood cell distribution and PFTBA@HSA infiltration in the tumors. Finally, the efficacy of oxygen-sensitive antitumor drugs is significantly amplified by PFTBA@HSA owing to enhanced drug permeation and relieved tumor hypoxia. Therefore, for the first time, it is demonstrated that PFTBA@HSA could be used as an effective way to improve the efficacy of existing tumor therapies by disrupting tumor vessel barriers through targeted platelet inhibition.


Interactive effects of dispositional mindfulness and PETTLEP imagery training on basketball shooting performance: A randomized controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effects of dispositional mindfulness and visualized PETTLEP imagery training on basketball mid-range shooting performance and retention. Seventy-three participants (M age = 20.32 ± 1.09) with high/low dispositional mindfulness (high n = 35; low n = 38) selected out of 302 college students were randomly assigned into the following six groups: (a) high mindfulness internal imagery (H-II, n = 13); (b) high mindfulness external imagery (H-EI, n = 11); (c) high mindfulness control (H-CO, n = 11); (d) low mindfulness internal imagery (L-II, n = 13); (e) low mindfulness external imagery (L-EI, n = 12); and (f) low mindfulness control (L-CO, n = 13). Participants engaged in a pretest to measure their basketball shooting performance, then participated in a 6-week (3 times/per-week) intervention, plus a posttest and retention test. A three-way 2 (high/low mindfulness) X 3 (treatments: internal-, external imagery, and control) X 3 (measurement time: pretest, posttest, and retention) mixed ANOVA statistical analysis found dispositional mindfulness interacted with treatments and measurement time. The main effects showed high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low dispositional mindfulness, and internal imagery training performed better than external imagery training on mid-range basketball performance at retention. The 3-way interaction indicated that when using either internal or external imagery, high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low mindfulness on retention but not posttest. For 2-way interaction, high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low dispositional mindfulness on retention but not posttest. Our results extended current knowledge on sport imagery and dispositional mindfulness and gained several theoretical implications for researchers. The limitations, future research directions, and practical implications were also discussed.


Silicon-based cross-coupling reaction: an environmentally benign version.
Much attention has been paid to the cross-coupling reaction of organosilicon compounds due to their stability, non-toxicity, and natural abundance of silicon. In addition, the silicon-based cross-coupling has many advantages over other cross-coupling protocols. Successful examples of the silicon-based cross-coupling reaction are reviewed, focusing especially on the advances made in the last decade. Having had a number of highly effective palladium catalysts developed mainly for other cross-coupling reactions, the development of the silicon-based protocol owes heavily to the design of organosilicon reagents which effectively undergo transmetalation, a key elemental step of the silicon-based cross-coupling reaction. This tutorial review thus classifies various organosilicon reagents depending on substituents on silicon and surveys their cross-coupling reactions with various electrophiles.


Confidentiality of workers' medical records.
Many employers require workers to have pre-employment medical examinations, routine exams to determine fitness and suitability for work, evaluations for continuing disability, or assessments before a return to work after illness or injury. The physician's medical assessment and recommendations can influence whether a worker is hired, promoted, retired early, efficient, satisfied with work, and safe on the job. The doctor should ensure there is a written agreement with the patient about the purpose of the report, potential information in it, and who is to receive copies. The employer must understand the confidentiality of the doctor/patient relationship, and that the doctor owns the medical record.


Dynamic Color Displays Using Stepwise Cavity Resonators.
High-resolution multicolor printing based on pixelated optical nanostructures is of great importance for promoting advances in color display science. So far, most of the work in this field has been focused on achieving static colors, limiting many potential applications. This inevitably calls for the development of dynamic color displays with advanced and innovative functionalities. In this Letter, we demonstrate a novel dynamic color printing scheme using magnesium-based pixelated Fabry-Pérot cavities by gray scale nanolithography. With controlled hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, magnesium undergoes unique metal and dielectric transitions, enabling distinct blank and color states from the pixelated Fabry-Pérot resonators. Following such a scheme, we first demonstrate dynamic Ishihara plates, in which the encrypted images can only be read out using hydrogen as information decoding key. We also demonstrate a new type of dynamic color generation, which enables fascinating transformations between black/white printing and color printing with fine tonal tuning. Our work will find wide-ranging applications in full-color printing and displays, colorimetric sensing, information encryption and anticounterfeiting.


Effects provoked by chronic undernourishment on the fibre type composition and contractility of fast muscles in male and female developing rats.
In this study, we compare the effects of pre- and post-natal food deprivation on the relative proportion of fibre types and contractile responses in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle of female and male rats at different post-natal ages. EDL muscles from undernourished male (UM) rats showed a higher proportion of Type IIB than IIA fibres and larger normalized twitch responses (with respect to muscle weight) than those of controls (CM). In contrast, EDL muscles from control (CF) and undernourished female rats (UF) showed no significant differences in their fibre type composition and normalized twitch forces at most of the ages analysed. Our data are indicative that the EDL muscles from undernourished males are more susceptible to the effects exerted by low food income than the EDL muscles from female rats. It is proposed that changes in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration and hormonal factors, due to undernutrition, are involved in the alterations observed in the fibre type composition and force production of EDL muscles in undernourished male rats and that estrogens may have an antioxidant protective role on the undernourished EDL muscles in female rats.


Infectious mononucleosis treated by an antihistamine: a comparison of the efficacy of ranitidine (Zantac) vs placebo in the treatment of infectious mononucleosis.
This study investigated whether the course of infectious mononucleosis was influenced by medication with ranitidine (Zantac). A double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 117 patients and either ranitidine 300 mg or placebo were given twice daily for 2 wk. Patients were examined on day 5, 10, 15 and 30. Efficacy variables included severity and duration of fever, scores of cervical lymph node size and tonsil size, eating problems, fatigue, influence on general condition, the use of analgesics and blood analyses. Results were analysed in 91/117 patients. Small differences were found between treatment groups in favour of the active drug. However, they were not statistically significant. After 2 wks of treatment abnormal 'liver enzymes' (ALAT/ASAT) were found in 13/48 (0.27) of the ranitidine group in contrast with 18/36 (0.50) of the placebo group (P = 0.03). The conclusion is that the course of infectious mononucleosis is little influenced by ranitidine treatment for 2 wks. The faster normalization of the 'liver enzymes' may reflect modulation of the immune system by ranitidine.


Differential expression of class I major histocompatibility complex determinants by lymphoblastic leukemia-lymphoma cell lines.
Two T-cell lines (XR11-4T and XR11-5T), established from radiation-induced, murine lymphoblastic lymphomas, were examined for the expression of class I major histocompatibility complex antigen and tumor induction. These cell lines expressed class I private determinants, H-2.9 and H-2.26, but not the monomorphic determinant defined by monoclonal antibody M1/42. Both cell lines produced tumors in syngeneic and allogeneic hosts. The monomorphic determinant could be demonstrated on both cell lines following growth in allogeneic (BALB/c mice) but not in syngeneic (RFM mice) hosts. The re-expressed determinant present on cells following growth in allogeneic mice was not of host origin. Thus, tumorigenic x irradiation may differentially affect the expression of class I major histocompatibility complex determinants.


Vaccination of foxes against rabies using ingested baits.
A method for immunizing foxes against rabies was evaluated. Fifteen of 36 red foxes (Vulpes fulva) fed baits impregnated with modified live virus rabies vaccine developed serum rabies neutralizing antibody. The vaccine-bait proved unstable when held at 4 C or 25 C for 96 hours prior to feeding. For safety testing the vaccine virus was administered to opossums (Didelphis virginiana), cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), and chickens (Gallus domesticus) in either liquid or bait form. One of ten cotton rats fed liquid vaccine died of vaccine induced rabies. No animals which ate the vaccine-baits died of vaccine induced rabies.


Multiple mechanisms for elongation processivity within the reconstituted tetrahymena telomerase holoenzyme.
To maintain telomeres, telomerase evolved a unique biochemical activity: the use of a single-stranded RNA template for the synthesis of single-stranded DNA repeats. High repeat addition processivity (RAP) of the Tetrahymena telomerase holoenzyme requires association of the catalytic core with the telomere adaptor subcomplex (TASC) and an RPA1-related subunit (p82 or Teb1). Here, we used DNA binding and holoenzyme reconstitution assays to investigate the mechanism by which Teb1 and TASC confer high RAP. We show that TASC association with the recombinant telomerase catalytic core increases enzyme activity. Subsequent association of the Teb1 C-terminal domain with TASC confers the capacity for high RAP even though the Teb1 C-terminal domain does not provide a high-affinity DNA interaction site. Efficient RAP also requires suppression of nascent product folding mediated by the central Teb1 DNA-binding domains (DBDs). These sequence-specific high-affinity DBDs of Teb1 can be functionally substituted by the analogous DBDs of Tetrahymena Rpa1 to suppress nascent product folding but only if the Rpa1 high-affinity DBDs are physically tethered into holoenzyme context though the Teb1 C-terminal domain. Overall, our findings reveal multiple mechanisms and multiple surfaces of protein-DNA and protein-protein interaction that give rise to elongation processivity in the synthesis of a single-stranded nucleic acid product.


Epidemiology of Skin Infections in Men's Wrestling: Analysis of 2009-2010 Through 2013-2014 National Collegiate Athletic Association Surveillance Data.
Our knowledge of the current epidemiology of skin infections among wrestlers is limited. To analyze and report the epidemiology of skin infections among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's wrestling student-athletes during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years. Descriptive epidemiology study. Aggregate skin infection and exposure data collected by the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. Collegiate men's wrestling student-athletes. All viral, bacterial, or fungal skin infections reported by athletic trainers at 17 NCAA programs were analyzed, providing 35 team-seasons of data. Skin infection rates per 10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs), rate ratios, skin infection proportions, and skin infection proportion ratios were calculated. The athletic trainers reported 112 skin infections contracted by 87 student-athletes across 78 720 AEs. The overall skin infection rate was 14.23/10 000 AEs (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.59, 16.86). Of the skin infections identified, 22.3% (n = 25) were recurrent skin infections. Most skin infections (65.2%) were attributable to 5 team-seasons (range, 11-19 infections). Most skin infections occurred during the regular season (n = 76, 67.9%), were identified during practice (n = 100, 89.3%), and resulted in ≥24 hours' time loss (n = 83, 74.1%). The rate for viral skin infections was 1.72 times the rate for bacterial skin infections (95% CI = 1.09, 2.72) and 2.08 times the rate for fungal skin infections (95% CI = 1.28, 3.39). Fungal skin infections more often resulted in time loss <24 hours compared with all other skin infections (75.0% versus 12.5%; infection proportion ratio = 6.00; 95% CI = 3.30, 10.92). Our findings highlight the contagiousness of skin infections and suggest that skin infection rates may be attributable to high incidences among particular teams.


Hernia fibroblasts lack beta-estradiol-induced alterations of collagen gene expression.
Estrogens are reported to increase type I and type III collagen deposition and to regulate Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expression. These proteins are reported to be dysregulated in incisional hernia formation resulting in a significantly decreased type I to III ratio. We aimed to evaluate the beta-estradiol mediated regulation of type I and type III collagen genes as well as MMP-2 gene expression in fibroblasts derived from patients with or without history of recurrent incisional hernia disease. We compared primary fibroblast cultures from male/female subjects without/without incisional hernia disease. Incisional hernia fibroblasts (IHFs) revealed a decreased type I/III collagen mRNA ratio. Whereas fibroblasts from healthy female donors responded to beta-estradiol, type I and type III gene transcription is not affected in fibroblasts from males or affected females. Furthermore beta-estradiol had no influence on the impaired type I to III collagen ratio in fibroblasts from recurrent hernia patients. Our results suggest that beta-estradiol does not restore the imbaired balance of type I/III collagen in incisional hernia fibroblasts. Furthermore, the individual was identified as an independent factor for the beta-estradiol induced alterations of collagen gene expression. The observation of gender specific beta-estradiol-dependent changes of collagen gene expression in vitro is of significance for future studies of cellular response.


CORRELATION OF SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.
To characterize the features of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration with spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to determine whether OCTA can be used to determine clinical activity of CNV. Observational, retrospective, consecutive case series. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed CNV in 28 eyes (62.2%) while 17 eyes (37.8%) did not demonstrate CNV vessels. Choroidal neovascularization was classified as well circumscribed in 12 eyes (42.8%) and poorly circumscribed in 16 eyes (57.2%). Twenty-two eyes with a CNV on OCTA were clinically active, whereas six eyes with visible CNV on OCTA were clinically inactive. Of the 17 eyes that did not have evidence of CNV on OCTA imaging, 14 were clinically inactive and 3 were clinically active. Presence of CNV on OCTA correlated with clinical activity and absence of CNV correlated with inactivity (P < 0.0001). Optical coherence tomography angiography is a noninvasive imaging technique that can be used to visualize blood flow comprising CNV. Optical coherence tomography angiography detects CNV vessels in some albeit not all eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Although the presence or absence of CNV vessels on OCTA highly correlated with clinical activity of CNV, the morphologic appearance of CNV on OCTA did not have significant correlation with clinical activity.


Prostaglandin F2alpha receptor (FP receptor) agonists are potent adipose differentiation inhibitors for primary culture of adipocyte precursors in defined medium.
Prostaglandin F2alpha inhibits adipose differentiation of primary culture of adipocyte precursors and of the adipogenic cell line 1246 in defined medium. In the present paper, we investigated the effect of FP receptor agonists cloprostenol and fluprostenol on the differentiation of newborn rat adipocyte precursors in primary culture. The results show that cloprostenol and fluprostenol are very potent inhibitors of adipose differentiation. Dose response studies indicate that both agonists are more potent than PGF2alpha in inhibiting adipocyte precursors differentiation. 50% inhibition of adipose differentiation was observed at a concentration of 3 x 10(-12) M for cloprostenol and 3 to 10 x 10(-11) M for fluprostenol respectively whereas the PGF2alpha concentration required to elicit the same effect was 10(-8) M. In contrast compounds structurally related to PGE2 such as 17-phenyl trinor PGE2 had no effect on adipose differentiation except when added at a 10,000-fold higher concentration.


Identifying Hallmark Symptoms of Developmental Prosopagnosia for Non-Experts.
Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is characterised by a severe and relatively selective deficit in face recognition, in the absence of neurological injury. Because public and professional awareness of DP is low, many adults and children are not identified for formal testing. This may partly result from the lack of appropriate screening tools that can be used by non-experts in either professional or personal settings. To address this issue, the current study sought to (a) explore when DP can first be detected in oneself and another, and (b) identify a list of the condition's everyday behavioural manifestations. Questionnaires and interviews were administered to large samples of adult DPs, their unaffected significant others, and parents of children with the condition; and data were analysed using inductive content analysis. It was found that DPs have limited insight into their difficulties, with most only achieving realisation in adulthood. Nevertheless, the DPs' reflections on their childhood experiences, together with the parental responses, revealed specific indicators that can potentially be used to spot the condition in early childhood. These everyday hallmark symptoms may aid the detection of individuals who would benefit from objective testing, in oneself (in adults) or another person (for both adults and children).


Mechanical properties and microstructures of dental cast Ti-6Nb-4Cu, Ti-18Nb-2Cu, and Ti-24Nb-1Cu alloys.
The mechanical properties -tensile strength, yield strength, elongation after fracture, and Vickers hardness- and alloy phases of the dental cast alloys Ti-6%Nb-4%Cu, Ti-18%Nb-2%Cu, and Ti-24%Nb-1%Cu were investigated. Ti-6%Nb-4%Cu consisted of a single α-phase, while Ti-18%Nb-2%Cu and Ti-24%Nb-1%Cu consisted of α- and β-phases. The tensile strengths, yield strengths, and hardnesses of these alloys were higher than those of Ti-5%Cu and Ti-30%Nb; however, their breaking elongations were smaller. These differences in the mechanical properties are attributable to solid-solution strengthening or to precipitation strengthening by the dual-phase (α+β) structure. Thus, Ti-Nb-Cu alloys are suitable for use in high-strength dental prostheses, such as implantretained superstructures and narrow-diameter implants.


Characterization of IK cytokine expression in mouse endometrium during early pregnancy and its significance on implantation.
The expression of IK cytokine was investigated in the mouse endometrium during early pregnancy (D1-D7 of pregnancy) and pseudopregnancy using real-time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis, and the effects of IK cytokine on embryo implantation were observed by injection with antisense IK cytokine oligodeoxynucleotides in the uterine horn. Our data showed that the expression of IK cytokine mRNA increased gradually from D1 to D4 of pregnancy and reached a peak level at D4 of pregnancy (P<0.05). Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression of IK cytokine protein increased gradually from D1 to D5 of pregnancy and reached a peak level at D5 of pregnancy (P<0.05). The expression of IK cytokine in the pseudopregnant uterus was significantly lower compared to that in the normal pregnant uterus and the level of the protein never showed a high peak during the whole pseudopregnancy. The expression of IK cytokine at the implantation site was much stronger than that in the peri-implantation site on Day 5 of pregnancy. After 24 and 48 h of injection with antisense IK cytokine oligodexynucleotides in the uterine horn on D3 of pregnancy (i.e. implantation window), the expression of IK cytokine in the uterus was remarkably inhibited, while the expression of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) increased and the number of implanted embryos significantly decreased in the site of uterine horns receiving antisense IK cytokine (P<0.05). These results suggested that IK cytokine may play a crucial role in implantation.


Gender, anxiety, and experimental pain sensitivity: an overview.
Our objective was to review human experimental studies to see if anxiety had a differential impact on the pain perceptions of men and women. We searched MEDLINE and PsycINFO for studies of anxiety and pain sensitivity in men and women published from 1966 to 2001. Research indicated that women are more sensitive to pain than men, and that anxiety may be partly responsible for the observed differences. Anxiety may also differentially affect men's and women's report of pain. Anxiety may be an important factor when considering sex differences in pain perception and warrants further investigation.


IP-10, apoptotic genes, and calcineurin subtype messenger RNA kinetics occurring in rat renal isografts from brain-dead donors.
Brain death (BD) and following ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury has cardinal implications in kidney transplantation (Tx). We hypothesize that inflammation, apoptosis, and drug nephrotoxicity are central mechanisms leading to initial organ damage in transplantation from BD donors. In this study, the gene kinetics of a chemokine (IP-10), an apotosis-related gene, and of calcineurin (Cn) subtype were compared using kidney isografts from BD versus living donors. Donors were intubated and mechanically ventilated for 6 hours. Grafts were harvested 6 hours after BD, and at 1, 6, and 24 hours and 5 days after engraftment. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was assessed using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression of IP-10 was up-regulated only among BD donor kidneys, particularly following I/R injury. These changes recovered to baseline levels thereafter. Bcl-2 was suppressed within 6 hours of BD and 1 hour after engraftment. In contrast, Bax in kidneys from BD donors was significantly up-regulated at 6 hours after engraftment. These changes were minimal in the controls. Cn Aalpha and Abeta were decreased in kidneys from BD donors before and within 1 hour after engraftment. However, these differences became insignificant thereafter. Marked up-regulation of IP-10 may predict the initial graft injury and the onset of delayed graft function. Apoptotic gene changes may lead kidney grafts to a preapoptotic condition and up-regulate renal toxicity caused by Cn inhibitors. This initial antigen-independent donor circumstance may be one risk factor for chronic rejection.


An epidemiological and knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices study of sexually transmitted infections in older men.
This study was conducted to determine the disease patterns of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in older men, as well as to gather information on their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and sexual practices. A prospective study was carried out from January to June 2005 in men aged 50 years or older who attended the Department of STI Control clinic. There were 104 men enrolled. The majority (92.3 percent) were Chinese, and 62.5 percent were aged between 50 and 59 years, 25.9 percent between 60 and 69 years, and 11.5 percent aged 70 years or older. The patients were predominantly heterosexual, and had fairly low levels of education--85.6 percent of the patients had received primary or secondary school level of education. Majority (79.8 percent) of the men had been sexually active in the preceding six months, and 37.3 percent had paid sex during that time. 29.8 percent of men reported having taken drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) or similar drugs such as vardenafil (Levitra, Bayer, Wuppertal, Germany) or tadalafil (Cialis, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN, USA). 56.7 percent of the men had active infections, with non-gonococcal urethritis (15.4 percent), genital warts (12.5 percent) and gonorrhoea (10.6 percent) being the commonest. Generally, condom usage was accepted as an effective way to prevent transmission of STI. However, many of the men surveyed felt that condom usage reduced their sexual pleasure, and 38.5 percent felt that condoms were inconvenient. There were also areas of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge that were lacking. Most patients listed the media as their main source of knowledge about STI and HIV. Older males attending the clinic remain at significant risk of STI and targeted educational efforts are warranted.


The Gestalt of functioning in autism spectrum disorder: Results of the international conference to develop final consensus International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health core sets.
Autism spectrum disorder is associated with diverse social, educational, and occupational challenges. To date, no standardized, internationally accepted tools exist to assess autism spectrum disorder-related functioning. World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health can serve as foundation for developing such tools. This study aimed to identify a comprehensive, a common brief, and three age-appropriate brief autism spectrum disorder Core Sets. Four international preparatory studies yielded in total 164 second-level International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health candidate categories. Based on this evidence, 20 international autism spectrum disorder experts applied an established iterative decision-making consensus process to select from the candidate categories the most relevant ones to constitute the autism spectrum disorder Core Sets. The consensus process generated 111 second-level International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health categories in the Comprehensive Core Set for autism spectrum disorder-one body structure, 20 body functions, 59 activities and participation categories, and 31 environmental factors. The Common Brief Core Set comprised 60 categories, while the age-appropriate core sets included 73 categories in the preschool version (0- to 5-year-old children), 81 in the school-age version (6- to 16-year-old children and adolescents), and 79 in the older adolescent and adult version (⩾17-year-old individuals). The autism spectrum disorder Core Sets mark a milestone toward the standardized assessment of autism spectrum disorder-related functioning in educational, administrative, clinical, and research settings.


The Impact of Reduction Mammaplasty on Breast Sensation: A Systematic Review.
Loss of sensation is one of the most feared complications of breast reduction surgery. Although several techniques have been proposed to maximize sensitivity preservation, the scientific literature still reports contradictory findings. This systematic review aimed to assess whether breast reduction mammaplasty is associated with measurable changes in breast sensation. This review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), Scopus (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Web of Science (Clarivate, Philadelphia, PA) databases were searched for clinical studies investigating breast sensation after breast reduction mammaplasty. The initial search identified 1523 studies of which 22 articles met our specific inclusion criteria. Most of the included studies are consistent in describing only transient sensation decrease or even sensation improvement after surgery compared to the presurgery condition with any approach, except those investigating outcomes after superior or superolateral pedicle reduction mammaplasty. Nevertheless, the overall quality of evidence is low or very low due to the limited availability of randomized controlled trials or controlled studies and the high risk of bias.


Birth control methods in the United States.
U.S. women have fewer birth control options than do women in other developed countries. Reliance on sterilization helps many couples make up for their lack of choices, but high rates of sterilization among relatively young women are a cause for concern, given the chance of later regret. Although pill use is very high among young women, it falls dramatically among those in their 30s and, often unnecessarily, is minimal among those over 35. The IUD is most appropriate for older women in mutually monogamous relationships who have completed their families, and its availability has been limited in recent years because of liability problems. Although barrier methods are widely used by women of all ages, they are less effective than the pill or IUD. It is fair to conclude that given U.S. women's sometimes long intervals of exposure to the risk of unintended pregnancy, too few safe and effective reversible contraceptives are available in the United States. The addition of an acceptable new method would certainly lead to a reduction in unintended pregnancies, but many potentially useful new methods will not be developed in this century unless the amount of money invested in contraceptive research and development is substantially increased.


Hemophilia A with a Rare Presentation of Hemarthrosis and Arthropathy Involving Multiple Joints in a Young Male Child.
Hemophilia A is an X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder that is rarely encountered by most physicians and surgeons in their practice. Patients with mild hemophilia A tend to bleed profusely after surgery or trauma whereas a severe variant may manifest as spontaneous bleeding after minor trauma, mainly into the joints and muscles. However, seldom do we find a case where the patient experiences bleeding into multiple joints at the same time. In the South Asian population, the incidence of hemarthrosis in hemophilic patients holds scarce literature, making this an under-reported entity.


Neuropeptide feedback modifies odor-evoked dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans olfactory neurons.
Many neurons release classical transmitters together with neuropeptide co-transmitters whose functions are incompletely understood. Here we define the relationship between two transmitters in the olfactory system of C. elegans, showing that a neuropeptide-to-neuropeptide feedback loop alters sensory dynamics in primary olfactory neurons. The AWC olfactory neuron is glutamatergic and also expresses the peptide NLP-1. Worms with nlp-1 mutations show increased AWC-dependent behaviors, suggesting that NLP-1 limits the normal response. The receptor for NLP-1 is the G protein-coupled receptor NPR-11, which acts in postsynaptic AIA interneurons. Feedback from AIA interneurons modulates odor-evoked calcium dynamics in AWC olfactory neurons and requires INS-1, a neuropeptide released from AIA. The neuropeptide feedback loop dampens behavioral responses to odors on short and long timescales. Our results point to neuronal dynamics as a site of behavioral regulation and reveal the ability of neuropeptide feedback to remodel sensory networks on multiple timescales.


Removal of broken screws on implant abutment by digital guide plate: A case report and literature review.
Implant restoration is currently the most mainstream method for repairing missing teeth. With the increasing number of plantings, various planting complications begin to be paid attention to. Among them, there are many reports of disability phenomena such as loose and broken abutment screws and broken top screws, which cause the implant to fail or fail to function. In recent years, with the development of computer-aided software and its application in the field of oral treatment, digital guide plates based on 3D printing of oral CBCT scanning data are widely used in oral implants. Therefore, we explore the application prospect of post-core crown restoration after removing broken screws from the implant abutment with a digital guide plate. We reported a case of upper right first molar implant abutment screws broken, which were removed by a digital guide plate and customized turning bur. The resin-matrix ceramics crown post core was prepared, and then the occlusal force was tested by the T-ScanIII system. It provides a reference for the application of digital guide plates in special cases such as broken screws of implant abutment.


Modeling Dissolution of Soluble Compounds from Multicomponent NAPL Using a Desorption Approximation.
Groundwater professionals require methods to estimate the potential time required to achieve remedial goals, including locations within and downgradient of zones containing nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). NAPLs have long been recognized as persistent contaminant sources to groundwater. Dissolution of multicomponent NAPLs is particularly complex, and numerical models that explicitly simulate it are not widely available. This study introduces an equilibrium partitioning approximation to simulate the dissolution of the most soluble chemical components from multicomponent NAPL containing a significant fraction of relatively insoluble mass. The effective distribution coefficient that describes depletion of a specific compound from NAPL is estimated based on the properties of the NAPL and the porous medium. This study also presents numerical modeling results that support the utility of the method, with verification using published empirical data collected during dissolution of residual coal tar in a controlled laboratory sand tank experiment. The numerical modeling method uses equilibrium partitioning as an approximation and matched the concentrations of the two most soluble NAPL components in and downgradient of the NAPL zone with reasonable accuracy. The results suggest that the method should be useful for screening-level assessments and can be adapted to compare relative groundwater restoration timeframes of select NAPL components for various remedial alternatives.


Performance management in British health care: will it deliver?
In its latest attempt to improve performance, the British National Health Service (NHS) has turned to the business models of performance management. A range of managerial instruments has been deployed, signaling national priorities to local managers and seeking to offer the information, incentives, and capacity they need to respond appropriately. The arrangements are intellectually coherent and offer the prospect of major improvements in the quality of British health care. However, implementation is at an early stage, and some key issues have to be addressed. The various performance management instruments have not yet been properly aligned, and greater conceptual clarity in implementation is required. Performance management will not be fully effective unless adequate capacity--in information, leadership, and managerial resources--is made available.


sRNA expedites polycistronic mRNA decay in Escherichia coli.
In bacteria, most small RNA (sRNA) elicits RNase E-mediated target mRNA degradation by binding near the translation initiation site at the 5' end of the target mRNA. Spot 42 is an sRNA that binds in the middle of the gal operon near the translation initiation site of galK, the third gene of four, but it is not clear whether this binding causes degradation of gal mRNA. In this study, we measured the decay rate of gal mRNA using Northern blot and found that Spot 42 binding caused degradation of only a specific group of gal mRNA that shares their 3' end with full-length mRNA. The results showed that in the MG1655Δspf strain in which the Spot 42 gene was removed, the half-life of each gal mRNA in the group increased by about 200% compared to the wild type. Since these mRNA species are intermediate mRNA molecules created by the decay process of the full-length gal mRNA, these results suggest that sRNA accelerates the mRNA decaying processes that normally operate, thus revealing an unprecedented role of sRNA in mRNA biology.


A comparison of cyclobenzaprine and placebo in the management of fibrositis. A double-blind controlled study.
The efficacy of cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), as compared with placebo, was tested in a 12-week, double-blind, controlled trial of 120 patients with fibrositis. Of the patients who received placebo, 52% dropped out due to lack of efficacy of the drug, compared with 16% of patients taking cyclobenzaprine. The dropout rate due to adverse reactions was similar in the 2 groups. Patients taking cyclobenzaprine experienced a significant decrease in the severity of pain and a significant increase in the quality of sleep. There was a trend toward improvement in the symptoms of fatigue, but morning stiffness was not alleviated. These improvements in symptoms were associated with a significant reduction in the total number of tender points and in muscle tightness. Our findings indicate that cyclobenzaprine is a useful adjunct in treating patients with the fibrositis syndrome.


Management of gout and hyperuricemia: Multidisciplinary consensus in Taiwan.
Gout is an inflammatory disease manifested by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints, cartilage, synovial bursa, tendons or soft tissues. Gout is not a new disease, which was first documented nearly 5,000 years ago. The prevalence of gout has increased globally in recent years, imposing great disease burden worldwide. Moreover, gout or hyperuricemia is clearly associated with a variety of comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, urolithiasis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, and psoriasis. To prevent acute arthritis attacks and complications, earlier use of pharmacotherapeutic treatment should be considered, and patients with hyperuricemia and previous episodes of acute gouty arthritis should receive long-term urate-lowering treatment. Urate-lowering drugs should be used during the inter-critical and chronic stages to prevent recurrent gout attacks, which may elicit gradual resolution of tophi. The goal of urate-lowering therapy should aim to maintain serum uric acid (sUA) level <6.0 mg/dL. For patients with tophi, the initial goal can be set at lowering sUA to <5.0 mg/dL to promote tophi dissolution. The goal of this consensus paper was to improve gout and hyperuricemia management at a more comprehensive level. The content of this consensus paper was developed based on local epidemiology and current clinical practice, as well as consensuses from two multidisciplinary meetings and recommendations from Taiwan Guideline for the Management of Gout and Hyperuricemia.


Modeling for waste management associated with environmental-impact abatement under uncertainty.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment can generate significant amounts of pollutants, and thus pose a risk on human health. Besides, in MSW management, various uncertainties exist in the related costs, impact factors, and objectives, which can affect the optimization processes and the decision schemes generated. In this study, a life cycle assessment-based interval-parameter programming (LCA-IPP) method is developed for MSW management associated with environmental-impact abatement under uncertainty. The LCA-IPP can effectively examine the environmental consequences based on a number of environmental impact categories (i.e., greenhouse gas equivalent, acid gas emissions, and respiratory inorganics), through analyzing each life cycle stage and/or major contributing process related to various MSW management activities. It can also tackle uncertainties existed in the related costs, impact factors, and objectives and expressed as interval numbers. Then, the LCA-IPP method is applied to MSW management for the City of Beijing, the capital of China, where energy consumptions and six environmental parameters [i.e., CO2, CO, CH4, NOX, SO2, inhalable particle (PM10)] are used as systematic tool to quantify environmental releases in entire life cycle stage of waste collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of. Results associated with system cost, environmental impact, and the related policy implication are generated and analyzed. Results can help identify desired alternatives for managing MSW flows, which has advantages in providing compromised schemes under an integrated consideration of economic efficiency and environmental impact under uncertainty.


Comorbidity of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia in an Adolescent.
We report a case of a girl with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) subsequently exhibiting psychosis. She never attained remission since the outset. Initially she seemed to be resistant to most antipsychotics, namely, risperidone, haloperidol, paliperidone, quetiapine, and clozapine. However, she later responded remarkably better to risperidone after it was reintroduced for the second time. Recognizing and understanding the various pathogenesis of OCD or obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in schizophrenia are vital in laying out plan to manage the patient effectively.


Molecular diagnostics complementing morphology in superficial mesenchymal tumors.
Molecular techniques are increasingly important in the practice of surgical pathology. In soft tissue tumors, there are a number of tumors with recurring cytogenetic abnormalities. Knowledge of these abnormalities has furthered our understanding of these tumors and has also allowed development of molecular techniques to aid in the diagnosis. This review will focus on mesenchymal tumors with specific cytogenetic abnormalities that may present as a superficial tumor of the dermis or subcutis.