Importance of the periareolar approach in the augmentation of the ptotic breast.
This is a retrospective review of 66 patients with grade II breast ptosis who underwent augmentation mammaplasty from January 1996 to January 2001. Of these 66 patients, 17 were augmented using a periareolar approach, and 49 were augmented using an inframammary approach. All patients had textured saline implants, and 64 of 66 patients had the implants placed in a submuscular position. Mean photographic follow-up was 4.8 months (range, 6 weeks-1 year). When compared with an inframammary approach in the presence of grade II ptosis, a periareolar approach results in improved fill of the lower pole of the breast, improved centralization of the nipple on the breast mound, and lessening or elimination of undesirable upper pole fullness.


Polymorphisms of arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT1 and NAT2) and larynx cancer susceptibility.
Our aim was to examine the role of NAT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms in human larynx cancer susceptibility. Genotype tests for NAT1 alleles *4, *10 and *11, and NAT2 alleles *4, *5, *6A and *7A, using PCR-RFLP analysis, were performed in 172 healthy Portuguese individuals and 88 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. NAT1 and NAT2 genotype frequencies were correlated between patients and control groups, using the chi-square test. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from 2 x 2 tables with the Fisher's exact model. The statistical analysis of NAT1 and NAT2 genotype frequencies revealed a significant difference of NAT1*10/*11 (p = 0.038) and NAT2*5/*7 (p = 0.003) genotype distribution between cases and controls. We also observed differences concerning tumor location, since NAT1*10/*11 genotype frequency was significantly different when comparing normal control individuals with the glottic subgroup of patients. The present data suggest that NAT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms may be correlated with an increased risk of larynx cancer.


Non-invasive predictive model for hepatic venous pressure gradient based on a 3-dimensional computed tomography volume rendering technology.
Portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis may cause a number of life-threatening complications. The rupture of gastroesophageal varices is associated with a high mortality rate of 15-30%. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is an accurate reflection of disease severity, however this can only be assessed via an invasive interventional procedure. The aim of the present study was to explore a non-invasive method based on 3D computed tomography (CT) volume rendering technology to accurately predict HVPG. A total of 77 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis underwent HVPG examination in the present study and the appropriate clinical and radiological data were retrospectively reviewed. A 3D liver and spleen volume rendering was constructed for volume measurements. All non-invasive parameters were tested using univariate analysis and the resulting variables that were statistically significant (P<0.20) were used in the multivariate linear regression model. The HVPG predictive model was as follows: HVPG = 18.726 - 0.324 (albumin) + 1.57 (aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index) + 0.004 (liver volume) (multivariate regression analysis, P=0.006). The corresponding area under receiver operating characteristic curve to identify clinically significant portal hypertension defined as HVPG ≥10 mmHg was 0.810 (95% confidence interval; 0.705-0.891), with an optimal cut-off value of 12.84, yielding a sensitivity of 80.36% a specificity of 76.19%. The results of the present study indicate that 3D CT volume rendering technology may have the potential to be used for non-invasive prediction of HVPG.


Effect of Exopolysaccharides-producing Starter Culture on the Flavor Profile and Characteristics of Low Fat Ras Cheese.
The application of the exopolysaccharide-producing starter culture for improving the texture and technical properties and evaluating flavor profile of low-fat Ras cheese was studied. The experimental design was performed to compare flavour compounds of traditional and exopolysaccharide producing starters (EPS) for different levels of fat milk cheese. Control (4% fat) with traditional starter, T1 (0% fat) with EPS, T2 (1% fat) with EPS), T3 (2% fat) with EPS and T4 (3% fat) with EPS were used. The physicochemical, textural profile analysis and organoleptic properties of fresh and stored cheeses (4 months) were determined. Also, the microscopic structural changes in fresh low-fat Ras cheese with EPS were evaluated. The results indicated that addition of EPS producing cultures with decreasing fat of cheese milk lead to an increase in the moisture of treatments as well as hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, chewiness and gumminess of the resultant cheese. The data indicated that control cheese (full-fat and without EPS-producing cultures) had the lowest values of acidity. The changes in pH values among all cheese treatments and during storage period followed opposite trend to that of titratable acidity. There were negative correlation between the rate of fat reduction and the values of SN (soluble nitrogen). Addition of EPS-producing cultures in Ras cheese milk improved sensory evaluation of resultant cheese, whereas cheese with 3% fat and EPS-producing culture (T4) selected as best Ras cheese sample.


Renal Function in Relation to Cardiac (123)I-MIBG Scintigraphy in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.
The aim of this study was to explore if estimates of renal function could explain variability of (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) assessed myocardial sympathetic activity. Furthermore estimates of renal function were compared to (123)I-MIBG as predictors of cardiac death in chronic heart failure (CHF). Semi-quantitative parameters of (123)I-MIBG myocardial uptake and washout were calculated using early heart/mediastinum ratio (H/M), late H/M and washout. Renal function was calculated as estimated Creatinine Clearance (e-CC) and as estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (e-GFR). Thirty-nine patients with CHF (24 males; age: 64.4 ± 10.5 years; NYHA II/III/IV: 17/20/2; LVEF: 24.0 ± 11.5%) were studied. Variability in any of the semi-quantitative (123)I-MIBG myocardial parameters could not be explained by e-CC or e-GFR. During follow-up (60 ± 37 months) there were 6 cardiac deaths. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that late H/M was the only independent predictor for cardiac death (Chi-square 3.2, regression coefficient: -4.095; standard error: 2.063; hazard ratio: 0.17 [95% CI: 0.000-0.950]). Addition of estimates of renal function did not significantly change the Chi-square of the model. Semi-quantitative (123)I-MIBG myocardial parameters are independent of estimates of renal function. In addition, cardiac sympathetic innervation assessed by (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy seems to be superior to renal function in the prediction of cardiac death in CHF patients.


Epidemiology and Risk of Amputation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) stems from atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries with resultant arterial narrowing or occlusion. The most severe form of PAD is termed chronic limb-threatening ischemia and carries a significant risk of limb loss and cardiovascular mortality. Diabetes mellitus is known to increase the incidence of PAD, accelerate disease progression, and increase disease severity. Patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus and PAD are at high risk for major complications, such as amputation. Despite a decrease in the overall number of amputations performed annually in the United States, amputation rates among those with both diabetes mellitus and PAD have remained stable or even increased in high-risk subgroups. Within this cohort, there is significant regional, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic variation in amputation risk. Specifically, residents of rural areas, African-American and Native American patients, and those of low socioeconomic status carry the highest risk of amputation. The burden of amputation is severe, with 5-year mortality rates exceeding those of many malignancies. Furthermore, caring for patients with PAD and diabetes mellitus imposes a significant cost to the healthcare system-estimated to range from $84 billion to $380 billion annually. Efforts to improve the quality of care for those with PAD and diabetes mellitus must focus on the subgroups at high risk for amputation and the disparities they face in the receipt of both preventive and interventional cardiovascular care. Better understanding of these social, economic, and structural barriers will prove to be crucial for cardiovascular physicians striving to better care for patients facing this challenging combination of chronic diseases.


Teaching Laboratory Management Principles and Practices Through Mentorship and Graduated Responsibility: The Assistant Medical Directorship.
With the changing landscape of medicine in general, and pathology in particular, a greater emphasis is being placed on laboratory management as a means of controlling spiraling medical costs and improving health-care efficiency. To meet this challenge, pathology residency programs have begun to incorporate formal laboratory management training into their curricula, using institutional curricula and/or online laboratory management courses offered by professional organizations. At the University of Utah, and its affiliated national reference laboratory, ARUP Laboratories, Inc, interested residents are able to supplement the departmental lecture-based and online laboratory management curriculum by participating in assistant medical directorship programs in one of several pathology subspecialty disciplines. The goals of many of the assistant medical directorship positions include the development of laboratory management skills and competencies. A survey of current and recent assistant medical directorship participants revealed that the assistant medical directorship program serves as an excellent means of improving laboratory management skills, as well as improving performance as a fellow and practicing pathologist.


Improving medication adherence in stroke survivors: the intervention development process.
Medications targeting stroke risk factors have shown good efficacy, yet adherence is suboptimal. A lack of underlying theory may contribute to the ineffectiveness of eliciting or sustaining behaviour change in many existing interventions targeting medication adherence in stroke. Intervention effectiveness and implementation could be enhanced by consideration of evidence base and theory to drive development. The purpose of this study is to identify appropriate components for a theory-driven and evidence-based medication adherence intervention for stroke survivors. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), a guide to intervention development, informed our systematic process of intervention development. Our earlier systematic review had identified important determinants of medication adherence that were mapped into the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), with Knowledge, Beliefs about consequences and Emotions found to be more influential. Utilising the BCW facilitated selection of intervention options and behaviour change techniques (BCTs); the active ingredients within an intervention. To further refine BCT selection, APEASE criteria were employed, allowing evaluation of potential BCTs within context: The National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom (UK). Five intervention functions (Education, Persuasion, Training, Environmental Restructuring and Enablement) and five policy categories (Communication/marketing, Guidelines, Regulation, Environmental/social planning and Service provision) were identified as potential intervention options, underpinned by our systematic review findings. Application of APEASE criteria led to an initial pool of 21 BCTs being reduced to 11 (e.g. Habit Formation, Information about Health Consequences and Action Planning) identified as potential intervention components that would both be feasible and directly target the underlying determinants of stroke survivors' medication adherence. Careful consideration of underlying evidence and theory to drive intervention design, facilitated by the BCW, enabled identification of appropriate intervention components. BCTs including Habit Formation, Information about Health Consequences and Self-monitoring of Behaviour were considered potentially effective and appropriate to deliver within the NHS. Having reduced the pool of potential intervention components to a manageable number, it will now be possible to explore the perceived acceptability of selected BCTs in interviews with stroke survivors and healthcare professionals. This approach to intervention development should be generalisable to other chronic conditions and areas of behaviour change (e.g. exercise adherence).


[The LMP1 oncogene sequence variations in patients with oral tumours associated or not associated with the Epstein Barr].
The role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous lymphotropic human herpesvirus type 4, in the etiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not fully understood. The mechanism of NPC carcinogenesis, associated with the virus, is also not clear. The objective of present investigation was to carry out comparative analysis of the structure of an LMP1 oncogene of EBV in viral isolates obtained from patients with two types of tumors of the oral cavity: (a) associated (i.e., NPC) and (b) not associated (other tumors of the same anatomical region, OTOC) with EBV. Comparative analysis of C-terminal regions of LMP1 variants that was based on a sequence analysis of LMP1 from tumor, blood and throat washing samples of NPC and OTOC patients showed that all structural characteristics of LMP1 in both groups of patients were genetically similar, and differences found between compared parameters were statistically insignificant. Thus, for the first time it has been revealed that in NPC and OTOC patients in Russia genetically related EBV strains with structurally similar LMP1 variants are persisting that are likely to reflect a polymorphism of the virus circulating in population. The findings allow us to suggest that in non-NPC-endemic regions of the world, which include Russia, the risk of NPC development does not depend on the EBVstrain and its variant of LMP1 so much, but mostly from the genetic predisposition of infected persons to the disease and the exposure to other, as yet unknown agents.


Managing ecological thresholds of a risky commons.
Common resources are often overexploited and appear subject to critical transitions from one stable state to another antagonistic state. Many times resulting in tragedy of the commons (TOC)-exploitation of shared resources for personal gain/payoffs, leading to worse outcomes or extinction. An adequate response would be strategic interaction, such as inspection and punishment by institutions to avoid TOC. This strategic interaction is often coupled with dynamically changing common resources. However, effect of strategic interaction in complex, coupled socio-ecological systems is less studied. Here, we develop replicator equations using evolving games in which strategy and common resources co-evolve. We consider the shared commons as fish dynamics governed by the intrinsic growth rate, predation and harvesting. The joint dynamics exhibit an oscillatory TOC, revealing that institutions need to pay special attention to intrinsic growth rate and nonlinear interaction. Our research shows that the co-evolving system exhibits a broader range of dynamics when predation is present compared to the disengaged fishery system. We conclude that the usefulness, chances and challenges of modelling co-evolutionary games to create sustainable systems merit further research.


3D Model of Heat Flow during Diffusional Phase Transformations.
The structure of metallic materials has a significant impact on their properties. One of the most popular methods to form the properties of metal alloys is heat treatment, which uses thermally activated transformations that take place in metals to achieve the required mechanical or physicochemical properties. The phase transformation in steel results from the fact that one state becomes less durable than the other due to a change in conditions, for example, temperature. Phase transformations are an extensive field of research that is developing very dynamically both in the sphere of experimental and model research. The objective of this paper is the development of a 3D heat flow model to model heat transfer during diffusional phase transformations in carbon steels. This model considers the two main factors that influence the transformation: the temperature and the enthalpy of transformation. The proposed model is based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and uses CUDA parallel computations. The developed heat flow model is directly related to the microstructure evolution model, which is based on frontal cellular automata (FCA). This paper briefly presents information on the FCA, LBM, CUDA, and diffusional phase transformation in carbon steels. The structures of the 3D model of heat flow and their connection with the microstructure evolution model as well as the algorithm for simulation of heat transfer with consideration of the enthalpy of transformation are shown. Examples of simulation results of the growth of the new phase that are determined by the overheating/overcooling and different model parameters in the selected planes of the 3D calculation domain are also presented.


Career choices of lesbian women.
I focus on lesbian women's career choices and analyse how they explain their choices in relation to their sexuality. In addition to personal accounts and experiences, I use survey data that shows that several factors influence lesbian women's occupational circumstances. The Sexual Minority Survey included 726 respondents, of which 415 are women. The survey was conducted as part of the project Sexual and Gender Minorities at Work. Although many lesbian women claim that their sexuality did not influence their career choices, their career choice processes seem to be linked in many ways with sexuality, gender, and heteronormativity in society.


Preferred collagen fiber orientation human peri-implant bone after a short- and long-term loading period: a case report.
Immediate loading of dental implants offers treatment cost advantages to patients and avoids the functional and psychological problems caused by the wearing of provisional dentures. There is evidence that the amount of transverse collagen fiber orientation in bone is influenced by mechanical stresses and strains. Two osseointegrated dental implants in humans were used in the present study. Two implants inserted in the maxilla were analyzed: 1 short-term implant (implant A) immediately loaded and retrieved after 4 months of loading and 1 long-term implant (implant B) immediately loaded and retrieved after 12 years. We hypothesized that the bone functional strain caused by immediate loading correlated well with the collagen fiber organization occurring after both short- and long-term functional healing. Circularly polarized light (CPL) was used to assess the area fraction extension related to the transverse collagen fiber orientation in the bone matrix. After evaluating a total of 68 digitized images taken at x50 magnification, birefringence measurements were performed all around the implant surfaces by using 2 central sections from each implant. The results showed that the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) percentage for implant A was 67.9% +/- 9.5% (mean +/- SD), whereas the BIC percentage for implant B was 74.6% +/- 11.2% (mean +/- SD). The area fraction extension was 2.7% +/- 1.4 % (mean +/- SD) for implant A, whereas the area fraction extension was 4.7% +/- 1.2% (mean +/- SD) for implant B. The CPL measurements of the birefringence for transverse collagen fibers of implant A vs implant B indicated that the bone fraction area difference was not high. In the bone near both dental implants, no differences were found in the amount of transverse collagen fibers. Immediate loading seemed to determine and maintain the collagen fiber's orientation over a long period.


COMPLEX COLONY STRUCTURE IN SOCIAL INSECTS: II. REPRODUCTION, QUEEN-WORKER CONFLICT, AND LEVELS OF SELECTION.
Differences in colony structure between two populations of the forest ant, Myrmica punctiventris, have had dramatic consequences on allocation to growth and reproduction. A population in Vermont, in which colonies have a single, once-mated queen, shows no evidence of inbreeding or population subdivision and has allocated 25% of sexual reproduction to males in two consecutive years. In contrast, for a population in New York that is facultatively polygynous, we have evidence of microgeographic genetic structure and inbreeding, and the populationwide allocation ratio was extremely male-biased. Additionally, the Vermont population allocated much more energy to sexual reproduction than did the New York population. Detailed analysis of data from the Vermont population, within which colonies undergo a seasonal cycle of expansion to multiple nesting sites (polydomy), gave strong evidence of queen-worker conflict over male allocation and indicated that workers are winning that conflict. Finally, we used contextual analysis to find that fertility selection operates almost exclusively at the level of the individual nest rather than at the higher level of the multinest colony.


PROBLEMS WITH TESTING INBREEDING AVOIDANCE: THE CASE OF THE COLLARED FLYCATCHER.
Four year's data on collared flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, breeding in a nestbox plot on the island of Gotland, Sweden, was used to investigate whether individuals avoid mating with close kin (i.e., parents or sibs). Only one case of close inbreeding (0.5% of all pairs) was observed during the years of study. The observed frequency of close inbreeding was compared to expected frequencies based on two different null models. Assuming no inbreeding avoidance behaviors (e.g., dispersal or kin recognition), but taking into account the fact that mortality, and different arrival and pairing times of individuals reduce the probability of mating with close kin, the expected frequency of close inbreeding is 10% and 15% for female and male recruits (i.e., born in the study plot), respectively. However, assuming mating to be random within the study plot reduced the expected frequency of close inbreeding to 1% or less for both males and females. Consequently, conclusions drawn concerning inbreeding avoidance depend on the null model used. Contrasting estimated costs of tolerating close inbreeding with those of avoiding it (by dispersal to other plots), however, suggests that the costs of avoiding close inbreeding are substantially greater than those of tolerating it. Therefore, although inbreeding avoidance cannot be rejected as a cause of dispersal of this species, it is not the primary cause, and particularly not for sex-biased dispersal. The general problems of investigating inbreeding avoidance are discussed. It is argued that all previous null models based on random mating in finite populations produce expected frequencies of close inbreeding that in fact include inbreeding avoidance, since they implicitly assume random dispersal within a finite population. Thus, comparisons between observed and expected frequencies of close inbreeding based on random mating are inadequate. The most promising method of investigating inbreeding avoidance is to experimentally study individual movements and mating preferences in the presence and absence of close kin.


Optimedin: a novel olfactomedin-related protein that interacts with myocilin.
Mutations in the MYOC gene may lead to juvenile open-angle glaucoma with high intraocular pressure, and are detected in about 4% of people with adult onset glaucoma. Most of these mutations are found in the third exon of the gene encoding the olfactomedin-like domain located at the C terminus of the protein. Another olfactomedin-related protein, known as noelin or pancortin, is involved in the generation of neural crest cells. Here we describe the identification of a novel olfactomedin-related gene, named optimedin, located on chromosome 1p21 in humans. Optimedin and noelin are both expressed in brain and retina. However, unlike noelin, rat optimedin is also highly expressed in the epithelial cells of the iris and the ciliary body in close proximity to the sites of Myoc expression. In the human eye, optimedin is expressed in the retina and the trabecular meshwork. Both optimedin and myocilin are localized in Golgi and are secreted proteins. The presence of mutant myocilin interferes with secretion of optimedin in transfected cells. Optimedin and myocilin interact with each other in vitro as judged by the GST pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation and far-western binding assays. The C-terminal olfactomedin domains are essential for interaction between optimedin and myocilin, while the N-terminal domains of both proteins are involved in the formation of protein homodimers. We suggest that optimedin may be a candidate gene for disorders involving the anterior segment of the eye and the retina.


The response of durum wheat to the preceding crop in a Mediterranean environment.
Crop sequence is an important management practice that may affect durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) production. Field research was conducted in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons in a rain-fed cold Mediterranean environment to examine the impact of the preceding crops alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on yield and N uptake of four durum wheat varieties. The response of grain yield of durum wheat to the preceding crop was high in 2007-2008 and was absent in the 2008-2009 season, because of the heavy rainfall that negatively impacted establishment, vegetative growth, and grain yield of durum wheat due to waterlogging. In the first season, durum wheat grain yield was highest following alfalfa, and was 33% lower following wheat. The yield increase of durum wheat following alfalfa was mainly due to an increased number of spikes per unit area and number of kernels per spike, while the yield decrease following wheat was mainly due to a reduction of spike number per unit area. Variety growth habit and performance did not affect the response to preceding crop and varieties ranked in the order Levante > Saragolla = Svevo > Normanno.


Systemic Treatments and Molecular Biomarkers for Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumors: A Single-institution Retrospective Analysis.
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa) are a large family of mesenchymal neoplasms, with variable clinical course. Evidence regarding treatment of advanced PEComas is scarce, with only one FDA-approved treatment available. The goals of this study were to provide data regarding systemic treatments for advanced PEComas and to identify biomarkers of prognostic relevance. This is a single-institution retrospective study of patients with advanced PEComas requiring systemic treatment, including malignant PEComa, angiomyolipoma (including the epithelioid variant), and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Outcomes measured were overall survival (OS), first-line and combined progression-free survival (PFS), and tumor response. Kaplan-Meier, univariable, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed. A total of 29 patients were included, most with malignant PEComa (n = 17). Median OS was 204.9 months, while median PFS was 92.4 months from first-line, and 15.8 months for all lines combined. TFE3 overexpression correlated with higher risk of death (HR: 11.8, P = 0.04), and shorter median OS (P = 0.001). Chemotherapy and mTOR inhibitors showed similar OS (P = 0.84), and first-line PFS (P = 0.67). Combined PFS was similar between individual mTOR inhibitors, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors and other treatments (P = 0.19). Different mTOR inhibitors demonstrated similar efficacy, making cost and availability important considerations when choosing a specific agent. mTOR inhibitors showed similar outcomes as chemotherapy, suggesting that these should be preferred whenever possible for patients with PEComas given the morbidity associated with chemotherapy. TFE3 overexpression highlighted a subgroup of PEComas with worse prognosis and more aggressive behavior. This study examines systemic treatments for advanced PEComas, a rare group of sarcomas, and identifies molecular biomarkers of prognosis. Our results show that mTOR inhibitors have similar efficacy as chemotherapy, and that TFE3 overexpression, on IHC or FISH, correlates with a more aggressive disease course.


Orexin stimulates breathing via medullary and spinal pathways.
A central neuronal network that regulates respiration may include hypothalamic neurons that produce orexin, a peptide that influences sleep and arousal. In these experiments, we investigated 1) projections of orexin-containing neurons to the pre-Botzinger region of the rostral ventrolateral medulla that regulates rhythmic breathing and to phrenic motoneurons that innervate the diaphragm; 2) the presence of orexin A receptors in the pre-Botzinger region and in phrenic motoneurons; and 3) physiological effects of orexin administered into the pre-Botzinger region and phrenic nuclei at the C3-C4 levels. We found orexin-containing fibers within the pre-Botzinger complex. However, only 0.5% of orexin-containing neurons projected to the pre-Botzinger region, whereas 2.9% of orexin-containing neurons innervated the phrenic nucleus. Neurons of the pre-Botzinger region and phrenic nucleus stained for orexin receptors, and activation of orexin receptors by microperfusion of orexin in either site produced a dose-dependent, significant (P <0.05) increase in diaphragm electromyographic activity. These data indicate that orexin regulates respiratory activity and may have a role in the pathophysiology of sleep-related respiratory disorders.


Influence of ischemia/reperfusion and modulation of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway on matrix metalloproteinase-2 in rat hearts.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play an important role in degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix and MMP-2 has been also shown as a primary mediator of the acute mechanical dysfunction of the heart immediately after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The aims of the study were to investigate the influence of I/R on MMP-2 and to study the effects of wortmannin on modulation of MMP-2 activities after cycle of short I/R procedures (ischemic preconditioning, IP). Wortmannin is a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway activation of which was found to play a role in infarct size limiting mechanisms in the rat heart. In the study isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts subjected to protocols of prolonged (test) I/R and/or IP were used. Wortmannin was infused before and during the reperfusion phase of IP. The levels and activation of proteins were determined by immunoblot assay. The MMP-2 activities were measured by zymography. We found that ischemia induced time-dependent activation of tissue pro-MMP-2. Strong activation occurred after 15 min ischemia, during prolonged ischemia and following reperfusion the activities of this form of MMP-2 declined. The specific activities of both 72 and 63 kDa forms of MMP-2 were increased in perfusates collected during reperfusion after 30 min ischemia and these activities peaked in the first minute of reperfusion. Cycle of short ischemia and reperfusion that led to increased cardiac tolerance against prolonged I/R reduced 72 kDa MMP-2 activities and induced also an activation of Akt kinase. The application of wortmannin was connected with inhibition of IP-mediated Akt kinase activation. Moreover, the actions of wortmannin were linked with modulation of MMP-2 activities. Our results suggest that MMP-2 may be involved in the responses of rat hearts to ischemia and point to possible relationship between Akt kinase and modulation of MMP-2 activities in rat hearts.


Effects of PCBs and MeSO2-PCBs on adrenocortical steroidogenesis in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells.
Some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment have been shown to exert their biological effects through interference with steroidogenesis. In this study, the potential effects of four selected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (PCB101, PCB110, PCB126 and PCB149) as well as several of their environmentally-relevant methylsulfonyl-(MeSO(2)-) PCB metabolites (3'-MeSO(2)-CB101, 4'-MeSO(2)-CB101, 4'-MeSO(2)-CB110, 3'-MeSO(2)-CB149 and 4'-MeSO(2)-CB149) on adrenocortical steroidogenesis were evaluated by in vitro bioassay based on the human adrenocortical carcinoma H295R cell line. The PCBs included in the study represented different structures and potential mechanisms of action. Cells were exposed for 48 h to 10 microM of each PCB congener in the presence or absence of 20% (w/w) of their corresponding MeSO(2)-PCB metabolite(s). After the chemical treatments, changes in mRNA expression of 11 steroidogenic genes (CYP11A, CYP11B1, CYP11B2, CYP17, CYP19, CYP21, 3beta-HSD1, 3beta-HSD2, 17beta-HSD1, StAR and HMGR) were quantified using molecular beacon-based real-time RT-PCR. Genes coding for enzymes involved in the later or final steps of steroid production (CYP11B1, CYP11B2, CYP19, 3beta-HSD1, 3beta-HSD2 and 17beta-HSD1) were up-regulated to various extents by most PCBs. The greatest transcriptional activations (2.8-29.9-fold) were elicited by PCB110 on CYP11B1, CYP11B2, 3beta-HSD2 and CYP19, and PCB149 on CYP11B1, 3beta-HSD1 and 17beta-HSD1. Increased expression of these steroidogenic genes might ultimately lead to a change in hormonal balance through excessive production of steroid hormones including aldosterone, cortisol and estradiol. In addition, co-treatment with 3'- and 4'-MeSO(2)-PCB149 resulted in a significant decrease in PCB149-induced 3beta-HSD1 and 17beta-HSD1 expression. This result indicates that some PCB congeners and their MeSO(2)-metabolites may affect steroidogenesis via different mechanisms. Overall, these findings suggest that PCBs and PCB metabolites can affect regulation of adrenocortical steroidogenesis.


Monitoring electronic structure changes of TiO2(110) via sign reversal of adsorbate vibrational bands.
The adsorption of NO on single crystalline rutile TiO(2)(110) surfaces at 100 K and the subsequent formation of N(2)O via NO dimer intermediates was studied by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy using a UHV-FTIR system. Analysis of the IR data reveals that the occurrence of s-polarized adsorbate vibrational bands always increases the reflectivity, giving negative bands, whereas p-polarized bands are either positive or negative, depending on the reduction state of the substrate. This sign reversal of optical bands is caused by vacancy doping, which also affects the optical constants governing the complex interplay between reflection and transmission of p-polarized light on a dielectric substrate.


Characterization of endonuclease activities in Moloney murine leukemia virus and its replication-defective mutants.
To study Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MulV) proteins associated with the integration of proviral DNA into the host chromosome, we isolated endonuclease activities from purified virion preparations of the wild type and two of its replication mutants. A major endonuclease activity was identified in virions of M-MuLV; the enzyme catalyzed nicks in double-stranded DNA in the presence of either Mn2+ or Mg2+ and was stimulated by ATP. The endonuclease nicked DNA adjacent to all four nucleotides with some preference for G and C. The same enzyme, and in comparable amounts, was isolated from two virus replication mutants: dl2905, deficient in the processing of Pr65gag and Pr200gag-pol, and dl50401, deficient for the virus integration function. In the process of these experiments, the residual reverse transcriptase in mutant dl2905 was shown to be the mature size, implying that the uncleaved precursor lacks enzymatic activity. It appears that the major endonuclease activity found in virions of M-MuLV is not encoded by either the gag or pol genes.


Routine follow-up after surgical treatment of lung cancer: is chest CT useful?
To report the experience of a routine follow-up program based on medical visits and chest CT. This was a retrospective study involving patients followed after complete surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer between April of 2007 and December of 2015. The follow-up program consisted of clinical examination and chest CT. Each follow-up visit was classified as a routine or non-routine consultation, and patients were considered symptomatic or asymptomatic. The outcomes of the follow-up program were no evidence of cancer, recurrence, or second primary lung cancer. The sample comprised 148 patients. The median time of follow-up was 40.1 months, and 74.3% of the patients underwent fewer chest CTs than those recommended in our follow-up program. Recurrence and second primary lung cancer were found in 17.6% and 11.5% of the patients, respectively. Recurrence was diagnosed in a routine medical consultation in 69.2% of the cases, 57.7% of the patients being asymptomatic. Second primary lung cancer was diagnosed in a routine medical appointment in 94.1% of the cases, 88.2% of the patients being asymptomatic. Of the 53 patients who presented with abnormalities on chest CT, 41 (77.3%) were diagnosed with cancer. Most of the cases of recurrence, especially those of second primary lung cancer, were confirmed by chest CT in asymptomatic patients, indicating the importance of a strict follow-up program that includes chest CTs after surgical resection of lung cancer.


Phenothiazines Enhance the Hypothermic Preservation of Liver Grafts: A Pilot in Vitro Study.
In vitro liver conservation is an issue of ongoing critical importance in graft transplantation. In this study, we investigated the possibility of augmenting the standard pre-transplant liver conservation protocol (University of Wisconsin (UW) cold solution) with the phenothiazines chlorpromazine and promethazine. Livers from male Sprague-Dawley rats were preserved either in UW solution alone, or in UW solution plus either 2.4, 3.6, or 4.8 mg chlorpromazine and promethazine (C+P, 1:1). The extent of liver injury following preservation was determined by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, the ratio of AST/ALT, morphological changes as assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, apoptotic cell death as determined by ELISA, and by expression of the apoptotic regulatory proteins BAX and Bcl-2. Levels of glucose (GLU) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the preservation liquid were determined at 3, 12, and 24 h after incubation to assess glucose metabolism. Oxidative stress was assessed by levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and inflammatory cytokine expression was evaluated with Western blotting. C+P augmentation induced significant reductions in ALT and AST activities; the AST/ALT ratio; as well as in cellular swelling, vacuolar degeneration, apoptosis, and BAX expression. These changes were associated with lowered levels of GLU and LDH; decreased expression of SOD, MDA, ROS, TNF-α, and IL-1β; and increased expression of Bcl-2. We conclude that C+P augments hypothermic preservation of liver tissue by protecting hepatocytes from ischemia-induced oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction. This result provides a basis for improvement of the current preservation strategy, and thus for the development of a more effective graft conservation method.


Reflections on psychoanalytic technique with adolescents today: pseudo-pseudomaturity.
The starting point for this paper is current observation of adolescents who seem unable to break the latency structure, making it difficult for the adolescence process to become established. These youngsters present with a specific set of characteristics which the author proposes to call 'pseudo-pseudomaturity': they seem for the most part well adapted, with an absence of unconscious conflicts. However, they differ from Meltzer's description of pseudomaturity in that the omnipotent attitude of dependence-denying is not seen. On the contrary, they seem eager to take the opportunity to have the infantile true self accepted and contained before they can safely enter the process of adolescence, with all its turbulence. Some aspects of our culture are discussed in relation to the psychic configuration described. Using fragments from the analysis of a 19 year-old patient, the paper looks at technical issues raised by these cases. There is an emphasis on the analyst's own mental processes and the importance of being able to contain the emotional turbulence that cannot be sensed by the patient. The author sets out the different modalities suggested/tested/proposed in the analytic relationship in support of the transferential work. Some questions regarding how and when to make interpretations are also discussed. In these types of cases, the psychoanalytic process carries a two-fold responsibility - to the patient and to society as a whole, in view of the creative potential that adolescents represent, essential for social change and growth.


Non-parametric estimation of the odds ratios for continuous exposures using generalized additive models with an unknown link function.
The generalized additive, model (GAM) is a powerful and widely used tool that allows researchers to fit, non-parametrically, the effect of continuous predictors on a transformation of the mean response variable. Such a transformation is given by a so-called link function, and in GAMs this link function is assumed to be known. Nevertheless, if an incorrect choice is made for the link, the resulting GAM is misspecified and the results obtained may be misleading. In this paper, we propose a modified version of the local scoring algorithm that allows for the non-parametric estimation of the link function, by using local linear kernel smoothers. To better understand the effect that each covariate produces on the outcome, results are expressed in terms of the non-parametric odds ratio (OR) curves. Bootstrap techniques were used to correct the bias in the OR estimation and to construct point-wise confidence intervals. A simulation study was carried out to assess the behaviour of the resulting estimates. The proposed methodology was illustrated using data from the AIDS Register of Galicia (NW Spain), with a view to assessing the effect of the CD4 lymphocyte count on the probability of being AIDS-diagnosed via Tuberculosis (TB). This application shows how the link's flexibility makes it possible to obtain OR curve estimates that are less sensitive to the presence of outliers and unusual values that are often present in the extremes of the covariate distributions.


Prenatal diagnosis of Pallister-Killian syndrome and literature review.
Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a rare sporadic genetic disorder usually caused by mosaicism of an extra isochromosome of 12p (i(12p)). This retrospective study analysed the prenatal ultrasound manifestations and molecular and cytogenetic results of five PKS foetuses. Samples of amniotic fluid and/or cord blood, skin biopsy and placenta were collected. Conventional karyotyping and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) were performed on all the amniotic fluid or cord blood samples. Copy number variants sequencing (CNV-seq) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were also used for the validation for one foetus. All the five foetuses were from pregnancies with advanced parental age. Two foetuses involved structural abnormalities and one foetus had only soft markers, all of which included increased nuchal translucency. The rest two foetuses had normal ultrasounds in the second trimester, which has rarely been reported before. The karyotype revealed typical i(12p) in four cases and a small supernumerary marker chromosome consisting of 12p and 20p in the remaining one case. The proportion of cells with i(12p) ranged from 0 to 100% in cultural cells, while SNP array results suggested 2-4 copies of 12p. For one foetus, metaphase FISH showed normal results, but the interphase FISH suggested cell lines with two, three and four copies of 12p in the amniotic fluid. Advanced parental age may be an important risk factor for PKS, and there were no typical ultrasound manifestations related to PKS. A combination of karyotype analysis and molecular diagnosis is an effective method for the diagnosis of PKS.


Alpha-adrenoceptor blocking action of aaptamine, a novel marine natural product, in vascular smooth muscle.
In the rabbit isolated aorta and renal artery, aaptamine (3 X 10(-5)M), a novel heteroaromatic substance isolated from a sea sponge Aaptos aaptos produced a parallel, rightward shift of the dose-response curve for noradrenaline, whereas that for histamine or KCl was not affected. But, the derivatives of aaptamine, demethylaaptamine, demethyloxyaaptamine, dihydroaaptamine and dihydrodemethylaaptamine at concentrations of 10(-5) to 10(-4)M had no effect on the dose-response curve for noradrenaline. These results suggest that aaptamine is a competitive antagonist of alpha-adrenoceptors in vascular smooth muscles.


What can Doppler wave forms of the left internal thoracic artery teach us? -The efficacy of apical transthoracic approach of Doppler echocardiography-.
The Doppler wave form along the proximal left internal thoracic artery (LITA), which is detected by the parasternal or suplaclavicular view, shows a different pattern from that of the distal side of the LITA due to the effect of blood pulsatility from the subclavian artery. We evaluated postoperative LITA function immediately after surgery with an apical approach of transthoracic pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 124 patients and compared its results with that of one month postoperative Doppler findings and graft angiogram. The LITA was effectively detected and good quality Doppler waveforms obtained in 120 (96.8%) patients. The LITA diameter was significantly enlarged in the first month after surgery compared with that of the postoperative early phase (1.99 0.31 vs. 1.71 0.72 mm, p<0.05). The diastolic peak velocity and diastolic/systolic velocity ratio (D/S) in the postoperative early phase were 0.26 0.08 m/sec. and 1.54 0.04, respectively. These results were unchanged one month postoperatively. In graft angiography, all LITAs were patent, but three types of abnormal findings around the anastomosis such as string sign, anastomotic stenosis, and distal native coronary stenosis were indicated in 6 (5.5%) patients. The Doppler study in these patients showed decreasing diastolic peak velocity and D/S of less than 1.0. LITA Doppler wave with D/S of more than 1.0 was associated with a good angiographic finding. This technique was considered not only noninvasive but also noninfective method for postoperative early graft assessment.


The complete chloroplast genome sequences of Aster souliei Franch and Aster tongolensis Franch (Asteraceae).
The complete chloroplast genomes of Aster souliei Franch and Aster tongolensis Franch were reported in this study. The complete chlorogenic genomes of A. souliei and A. tongolensis were 152,587 bp and 152,571 bp, respectively. The A. souliei genome contained two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,005 bp), a large single-copy (LSC, 84,409 bp) region, and a small single-copy (SSC, 18,168 bp) region, whereas A. tongolensis contained two IRs (25,002 bp), one LSC (84,371 bp), and one SSC (18,196 bp). There were 111 genes in the chloroplast genome of A. souliei, consisting of 82 mRNA, 26 tRNA, and three rRNA genes. However, there were 112 genes in the chloroplast genome of A. tongolensis, consisting of 83 mRNA, 26 tRNA, and three rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. souliei is in a clade with A. tongolensis. This study provides a basis for further phylogenetic studies of A. souliei and A. tongolensis.


Social costs of road crashes: An international analysis.
This paper provides an international overview of the most recent estimates of the social costs of road crashes: total costs, value per casualty and breakdown in cost components. The analysis is based on publications about the national costs of road crashes of 17 countries, of which ten high income countries (HICs) and seven low and middle income countries (LMICs). Costs are expressed as a proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP). Differences between countries are described and explained. These are partly a consequence of differences in the road safety level, but there are also methodological explanations. Countries may or may not correct for underreporting of road crashes, they may or may not use the internationally recommended willingness to pay (WTP)-method for estimating human costs, and there are methodological differences regarding the calculation of some other cost components. The analysis shows that the social costs of road crashes in HICs range from 0.5% to 6.0% of the GDP with an average of 2.7%. Excluding countries that do not use a WTP- method for estimating human costs and countries that do not correct for underreporting, results in average costs of 3.3% of GDP. For LMICs that do correct for underreporting the share in GDP ranges from 1.1% to 2.9%. However, none of the LMICs included has performed a WTP study of the human costs. A major part of the costs is related to injuries: an average share of 50% for both HICs and LMICs. The average share of fatalities in the costs is 23% and 30% respectively. Prevention of injuries is thus important to bring down the socio-economic burden of road crashes. The paper shows that there are methodological differences between countries regarding cost components that are taken into account and regarding the methods used to estimate specific cost components. In order to be able to make sound comparisons of the costs of road crashes across countries, (further) harmonization of cost studies is recommended. This can be achieved by updating and improving international guidelines and applying them in future cost studies. The information regarding some cost components, particularly human costs and property damage, is poor and more research into these cost components is recommended.


Antioxidant phenolic compounds from the rhizomes of Astilbe rivularis.
The rhizomes of Astilbe rivularis, commonly known as 'Thulo Okhati' are widely used in Nepal as tonic for uterine and menstrual disorders. In our preliminary study, the 70% MeOH extract of the rhizomes showed potent antioxidant activity. Hence, present study was aimed for the isolation of potent antioxidant constituents. Bergenin (1), 11-O-galloylbergenin (2), (+)-catechin (3), (-)-catechin (4), (-)-afzelechin (5), (-)-epiafzelechin (6) and 2-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-hydroxylbenzenacetonitrile (7) were isolated from the rhizomes. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. All these isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. 11-O-Galloylbergenin (2), (+)-catechin (3), (-)-catechin (4), (-)-afzelechin (5) and (-)-epiafzelechin (6) showed potent antioxidant activity.


Randomized trial of the efficacy of bright-light exposure and aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms and serum lipids.
Season-related subsyndromal depressive symptoms during winter are common among populations at high latitudes. Both physical exercise and exposure to bright light can relieve the fatigue and downturn of mood associated with the shortening length of day. Serum cholesterol level may be related to changes in mood, but the evidence is contradictory. Our objective was to compare the effect of aerobic exercise with or without bright-light exposure on health-related quality of life, mood, and serum lipids in a sample of relatively healthy adult subjects. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with subjects allocated to group aerobics training in a gym with bright light (2500-4000 lux) (N = 40) or normal illumination (N = 42) or to relaxation/stretching sessions in bright light as a control group (N = 42) twice a week for a period of 8 weeks. Changes in mood were recorded using questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at weeks 4 and 8. and at follow-up 4 months after the study. A blood sample was drawn before and after the 8-week intervention to measure the concentrations of serum lipids. Ninety-eight subjects completed the 8-week study. Both exercise and bright light effectively relieved depressive symptoms. Bright light reduced atypical depressive symptoms more than exercise (p = .03), based on the atypical symptoms subscore of the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorders Version Self-Rating Format. There were no significant differences between the study groups in the changes in serum lipid levels. Bright light administered twice a week, alone or combined with physical exercise, seems to be a useful intervention for relieving seasonal mood slumps.


Pharmacological properties of AR-C239, 2-[2-[4(o-methoxyphenyl)-piperazine-1-Yl]-ethyl]4,4-dimethyl-1,3(2H-4H) isoquinolinedione, a new alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drug.
In pentobarbital-treated dogs and rats, AR-C239, a new and potent alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drug, competitively antagonized pressor responses to adrenaline and inhibited pressor responses to noradrenaline, phenylephrine, tyramine, and dimethylphenylpiperazinium. Injected intravenously into closed-chest dogs, AR-C239 (3-50 micrograms/kg) induced a progressive fall in blood pressure, heart rate, and sympathetic nerve activity. The drug appears to be devoid of direct vasodilator action, and the fall in blood pressure results from the peripheral alpha-blockade. AR-C239 did not change the tachycardia induced by stimulation of the cardiac nerve in dogs and, at least in this preparation, seems to be a specific alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking drug. When administered into the cisterna magna of dogs, AR-C239 did not have any centrally mediated cardiovascular actions and heart rate. AR-C239 did not modify the functioning of the baroreflex arc. Due to its specificity for alpha 1-Adrenoceptors, AR-C239 may be useful for characterizing alpha-adrenoceptors.


Modelling guided waves in acoustoelastic and complex waveguides: From SAFE theory to an open-source tool.
Guided wave (GW)-based techniques have been extensively investigated and applied in material characterization, damage detection, and structural health monitoring. A comprehensive understanding of GW is the cornerstone for the development of such techniques. Based on the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method, an open-source dispersion calculator of GW propagating in acoustoelastic and complex waveguides with both isotropic and anisotropic material properties is developed. First, by assuming the simple harmonic motion along the propagation direction and discretizing along the thickness direction, 1D-GLL-SAFE (one-dimensional Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre SAFE) is adopted for the solution of GW in plate waveguide, which is attributed to its superior performance in terms of computational accuracy and efficiency. Different theories on acoustoelasticity are adopted to calculate GWs under loading. Then 2D-Gauss-SAFE (two-dimensional Gauss SAFE) with triangular meshes filling the cross section is adopted for GW in general waveguides considering the ease of convenience in meshing. Finally, based on the 1D-GLL-SAFE and 2D-Gauss-SAFE algorithms, an open-source tool SAFEDC (SAFE-based dispersion calculator) is developed, which not only provides the solution of GW in pre-stressed isotropic waveguide and general cross section, but also extends to GW in laminates with arbitrary layer stacking configurations and hybrid stacking including multiple materials. Most of the GW features, including phase velocity, group velocity, wave number, wave structure in terms of displacement, stress, and strain, and animation of wave propagation are all offered in SAFEDC, which helps the researchers and engineers to understand and utilize GW.


Physiological Responses to Acute Cycling With Blood Flow Restriction.
Aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) can improve muscular function and aerobic capacity. However, the extent to which cuff pressure influences acute physiological responses to aerobic exercise with BFR is not well documented. We compared blood flow, tissue oxygenation, and neuromuscular responses to acute cycling with and without BFR. Ten participants completed four intermittent cycling (6 × 2 min) conditions: low-load cycling (LL), low-load cycling with BFR at 60% of limb occlusion pressure (BFR60), low-load cycling with BFR at 80% of limb occlusion pressure (BFR80), and high-load cycling (HL). Tissue oxygenation, cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses were assessed during cycling and blood flow was measured during recovery periods. Pre- to post-exercise changes in knee extensor function were also assessed. BFR60 and BFR80 reduced blood flow (~33 and ~ 50%, respectively) and tissue saturation index (~5 and ~15%, respectively) when compared to LL (all p < 0.05). BFR60 resulted in lower VO2, heart rate, ventilation, and perceived exertion compared to HL (all p < 0.05), whereas BFR80 resulted in similar heart rates and exertion to HL (both p > 0.05). BFR60 and BFR80 elicited greater pain compared to LL and HL (all p < 0.05). After exercise, knee extensor torque decreased by ~18 and 40% for BFR60 and BFR80, respectively (both p < 0.05), and was compromised mostly through peripheral mechanisms. Cycling with BFR increased metabolic stress, decreased blood flow, and impaired neuromuscular function. However, only BFR60 did so without causing very severe pain (>8 on pain intensity scale). Cycling with BFR at moderate pressure may serve as a potential alternative to traditional high-intensity aerobic exercise.


Clinical validation of two equations in antenatal prediction of Chinese fetal weight by ultrasonography.
The purpose of this series is to prospectively validate the Chinese equations for predicting fetal weight developed in a previous study. A total of 640 Chinese fetuses were examined antenatally for biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) by real-time ultrasonography within two days of delivery. The results showed the actual birth weight (BW) to be highly correlated with the estimated body weight for both the equation using BPD and AC (EBW1) (r = 0.888, p less than 0.0001) and the equation using BPD, AC and FL (EBW2) (r = 0.890, p less than 0.0001). Our results demonstrate that the Chinese equations developed by Hsieh et al are a better fit for Chinese fetuses than the foreign equations are. Also, the two Chinese equations predict fetal weight well between 2,000 g and 4,000 g, but further modification is needed in cases where the BW is less than 2,000 g or greater than 4,000 g.


[Comparison of C-arm CT and standard imaging in osteosyntheses of fractured distal radius specimens].
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of C-arm CT imaging of the distal radius with standard patient positioning in intraoperative assessment of plate osteosynthesis. Four complete distal radius specimens from human cadavers were fractured (type C), and internal fixation with palmar plates (stainless steel) was then carried out in each. On the basis of C-arm fluoroscopy, radiography and C-arm CT (Siremobil Iso-C3D, scans with forearm bones positioned parallel to the z-axis), 19 observers subsequently evaluated the positions of screws near the joint and any steps within the joint, after which the bones were surgically exposed and the imaging results checked against direct visual observations. No statistically significant differences were detected either between the modalities or between the evaluator groups. With standard patient positioning, the performance of C-arm CT was equivalent to and not better than that of current standard procedures, i.e. intraoperative fluoroscopy and postoperative radiography. Further studies should examine whether this holds true in clinical practice with representative patient collectives when titanium implants are used and/or optimized patient positioning is practised.


Photodissociation and photoisomerization dynamics of CH2=CHCHO in solution.
By means of time-resolved Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, we have investigated the 193 nm photodissociation and photoisomerization dynamics of the prototype molecule of alpha,beta-enones, acrolein (CH(2)=CHCHO) in CH(3)CN solution. The primary photolysis channels and absolute branching ratios are determined. The most probable reaction mechanisms are clarified by control experiments monitoring the product yields varied with the triplet quencher addition. The predominant channel is the 1,3-H migration yielding the rearrangement product CH(3)CH=C=O with a branching ratio of 0.78 and the less important channel is the alpha cleavage of C-H bond yielding radical fragments CH(2)=CHCO+H with a branching ratio of only 0.12. The 1,3-H migration is strongly suggested to correlate with the triplet (3)(pipi*) state rather than the ground S(0) state and the alpha cleavage of C-H bond is more likely to proceed in the singlet S(1) (1)(npi*) state. From the solution experiments we have not only acquired clues clarifying the previous controversial mechanisms, but also explored different photochemistry in solution. Compared to the gas phase photolysis which is dominated by photodissociation channels, the most important channel in solution is the photoisomerization of 1,3-H migration. The reason leading to the different photochemistry in solution is further ascribed to the solvent cage effect.


Long noncoding RNA RP11-838N2.4 enhances the cytotoxic effects of temozolomide by inhibiting the functions of miR-10a in glioblastoma cell lines.
Resistance to temolozomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapy agent for treating glioblastomas (GBM), is a major clinical problem for patients with GBM. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in chemotherapy resistance in various cancers. In this study, we found that the level of the lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 was lower in TMZ-resistant GBM cells (U87TR, U251TR) compared to the parental, non-resistant GBM cells (U87, U251). In GBM patients, the decreased level of lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 correlated with higher risk of GBM relapse, as well as shorter postoperative survival times. We further found that lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 could enhances the cytotoxic effects of temozolomide to GBM cells both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 acts as an endogenous sponge, suppressing the function of miR-10a through conserved sequences and increasing the expression of EphA8 that enhanced the rate of cell apoptosis, thereby intensified sensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ. Additionally, lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 inhibited the activity of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) independent of miR-10a. Finally, Characterization of lncRNA RP11-838N2.4 could contribute to strategies for enhancing the efficacy of TMZ.


Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in DAA-treated hepatitis C virus patients: Correlated or incidental? A brief review.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection induces liver fibrosis and cirrhosis but is also responsible for a significant portion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence. Since it was recognized as a causative factor of chronic hepatitis, there have been multiple efforts towards viral eradication, leading to the first-generation HCV treatment that was based on interferon (IFN)-α and its analogs, mainly PEGylated interferon-α (PEG IFNα). Sustained virological response (SVR), defined as the absence of detectable RNA of HCV in blood serum for at least 24 wk after discontinuing the treatment, was accepted as a marker of viral clearance and was achieved in approximately one-half of patients treated with PEG IFNα regimens. Further research on the molecular biology of HCV gave rise to a new generation of drugs, the so-called direct antiviral agents (DAAs). DAA regimens, as implied by their name, interfere with the HCV genome or its products and have high SVR rates, over 90%, after just 12 wk of per os treatment. Although there are no questions about their efficacy or their universality, as they lack the contraindication for advanced liver disease that marks PEG IFNα, some reports of undesired oncologic outcomes after DAA treatment raised suspicions about possible interference of this treatment in HCC development. The purpose of the present review is to investigate the validity of these concerns based on recent clinical studies, summarize the mechanisms of action of DAAs and survey the updated data on HCV-induced liver carcinogenesis.


Erythrocyte folate, serum vitamin B12, and hearing loss in the 2003-2004 National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Studies based on food frequency questionnaires suggest that folate and vitamin B12 intake could protect against hearing loss. We investigated whether erythrocyte folate and serum vitamin B12 levels are independently associated with hearing loss in humans. Participants in the 2003-2004 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had data on hearing, folate, and vitamin B12 levels were included. Pure-tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz was computed for each ear. We used weighted logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the relation between quartiles of folate and vitamin B12, and hearing loss (present if PTA > 25 dB in either ear and absent if PTA ≤ 25 dB in both ears). Participants (n = 1149) were 20-69 (mean 42) years old and 16.4% had hearing loss in at least one ear. Our data suggest a U-shaped relationship between folate and hearing loss. Compared to the 1st quartile, the ORs (95% CIs) for hearing loss were 0.87 (0.49-1.53), 0.70 (0.49-1.00), and 1.08 (0.61-1.94) for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartile of erythrocyte folate in analyses adjusted for age, sex, vitamin B12, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, race/ethnicity, exposure to noise, income, and education. Although we observed inverse associations between vitamin B12 and hearing loss, the associations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Our data show a U-shaped relationship between erythrocyte folate levels and hearing loss, suggesting a need to evaluate whether optimizing blood folate levels could prevent hearing loss.


A Fatal Case of Klebsiella pneumoniae Mycotic Aneurysm.
Mycotic aneurysm is a serious clinical condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species are the most common causative pathogens. Klebsiella pneumoniae was rarely reported as a possible pathogen causing mycotic aneurysm; therefore, we describe a K. pneumoniae-related fatal bacteremia mycotic aneurysm in a patient in spite of appropriate antimicrobial agents and surgical management.


Solamargine inhibits the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells by blocking epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Solamargine (SM), a steroidal alkaloid glycoside purified from the Chinese traditional herb Solanum incanum, is known to possess various biological activities. However, only a few previous studies have reported the anti-metastatic activity of SM. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of SM on metastatic action were investigated in human HepG2 cells. The proliferation effects of SM on the HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT and colony formation assays. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to examine the migration and invasion effects on SM-treated HepG2 cells. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin) were detected by western blotting analysis. In the present study, MTT and colony formation assays indicated that SM suppressed HepG2 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The wound-healing and Transwell assays revealed that the migration and invasion activities were significantly inhibited following exposure to SM. EMT has been demonstrated to be essential for promoting migration and invasion in tumor cells and has often been characterized with a loss of epithelial markers (E-cadherin) and an increase of mesenchymal markers (Vimentin and N-cadherin). In the western blotting analysis, the expression level of E-cadherin was significantly upregulated compared with that in the control group, whereas the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin were downregulated. Thus, it was suggested that the underlying mechanism of SM inhibits migration and invasion in HepG2 cells and is associated with suppression of EMT.


Coding for stable transmission of W-band radio-over-fiber system using direct-beating of two independent lasers.
We demonstrate experimentally Manchester (MC) coding based W-band (75 - 110 GHz) radio-over-fiber (ROF) system to reduce the low-frequency-components (LFCs) signal distortion generated by two independent low-cost lasers using spectral shaping. Hence, a low-cost and higher performance W-band ROF system is achieved. In this system, direct-beating of two independent low-cost CW lasers without frequency tracking circuit (FTC) is used to generate the millimeter-wave. Approaches, such as delayed self-heterodyne interferometer and heterodyne beating are performed to characterize the optical-beating-interference sub-terahertz signal (OBIS). Furthermore, W-band ROF systems using MC coding and NRZ-OOK are compared and discussed.


Screening of colorectal cancer.
Cost-effectiveness analyses have shown that the cost per year of life saved by screening with any of the tests recommended is reasonable by US standards. Although the specific results vary among analyses, in general the marginal cost-effectiveness of this screening is less than $25,000 per year of life saved. Screening for CRC was among the highest ranked services in an analysis of the value of preventive services based on the burden of disease prevented and cost-effectiveness. Although the up-front costs vary by screening modality, the long-term cost-effectiveness is similar across screening tests, so that decisions about which options to include--in the long run and from the perspective of society--do not need to be affected heavily by costs. Costs increase out of proportion to benefits with shorter intervals between screening examinations. Screening has provided great opportunities. Screening can prevent CRC by polypectomy and find early-stage cancers for treatment with less morbidity. Screening can reduce the burden of treating advanced cancers and can identify families at increased risk. Screening also has provided a better understanding of the biology of CRC. Screening for CRC should be part of a complete prevention program that includes a healthy lifestyle and familial risk assessment. Individuals with increased familial risk require special screening approaches, whereas individuals with average risk can have more standard screening. The average-risk individuals can be stratified further into persons who require intensive follow-up and persons who require less intensive or no follow-up at all. We are beginning to learn how to apply screening and surveillance approaches based on risk stratification for a more cost-effective approach to conserve resources and reduce complications and costs. Chemoprevention can be added to the program when substantial benefit of agents has been demonstrated. We have a better understanding of the biology of CRC and the technology to intervene in that biology to make a difference in the lives of many people. We have the concepts and technology to reduce substantially the mortality for CRC and even prevent it entirely. Newer screening tests or others yet to be developed may, with time, replace the modern options. Screening should take place with the tests currently available and not wait until something better comes along. In this way, needless suffering and loss of life can be avoided for this leading cause of cancer death. Screening may become even more successful if the promise of new technologies is confirmed and they enter clinical practice. In the last analysis, the best test is the one that gets done and gets done immediately.


Should a school honor a student's DNR order? A physician/ethicist responds: a student's rights are not so simple.
...S.A. has a right to refuse treatment, but the school has a responsibility to others as well as S.A. By insisting on activating 911, the school risks violating her rights. But by agreeing to a rigid demand not to call 911, the school risks harming S.A., her schoolmates, and teachers. S.A. could be harmed in two ways: by having to endure a prolonged and painful death or by not being treated for an acute, reversible event that further compromises her life without ending it. Her fellow schoolmates and teachers could be harmed by being put in a position to exercise judgments and accept responsibilities for which they are neither professionally nor emotionally equipped....


Evaluating the necessity of post-processing techniques on d4PDF data for extreme climate assessment.
The occurrence and severity of extreme precipitation events have been increasing globally. Although numerous projections have been proposed and developed for evaluating the climate change impacts, most models suffer from significant bias error due to the coarse resolution of the climate datasets, which affects the accuracy of the climate change assessment. Therefore, in this study, post-processing techniques (interpolation and bias correction methods) were adopted on the database for Policy Decision Making for Future Climate Change (d4PDF) model for extreme climatic flood events simulation in the Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand, under + 4-K future climate simulation. Due to the limited number of the rain gages, the gradient plus inverse distance squared interpolation method (combination of multiple linear regression and distance weighting methods) was applied in this study. In the bias correction methods, the additional setting of monthly and seasonal periods was adjusted. The proposed bias correction approach deployed gamma distribution combined with generalized Pareto distribution setting with the seasonal period for the rainy season datasets, whereas only the gamma setting was applied with the monthly period during the dry season. The outcomes revealed that the proposed method could react to extreme rainfall events, expand dry days during dry season, and intensify rainfall amount during rainy season. The post-processing d4PDF trends of six sea surface temperature (SST) patterns (consists of 90 ensemble members) of two periods (near future: 2051-2070 and far future: 2091-2110) recorded the highest and lowest amounts of annual rainfalls of 4,450 mm/year in mid-stream of Nan River and 710 mm/year in the lower CPRB, respectively. Notably, the significant variances noted in the rainfall patterns among ensembles, demanding further investigation in future climate change, impact studies. The findings of the study provided novel insights on the importance of proper post-processing techniques for improving the robustness of d4PDF in climate change impacts assessment.


The Effect of Varying Atmospheric Pressure upon Habitability and Biosignatures of Earth-like Planets.
Understanding the possible climatic conditions on rocky extrasolar planets, and thereby their potential habitability, is one of the major subjects of exoplanet research. Determining how the climate, as well as potential atmospheric biosignatures, changes under different conditions is a key aspect when studying Earth-like exoplanets. One important property is the atmospheric mass, hence pressure and its influence on the climatic conditions. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to understand the influence of atmospheric mass on climate, hence habitability, and the spectral appearance of planets with Earth-like, that is, N2-O2 dominated, atmospheres orbiting the Sun at 1 AU. This work utilizes a 1D coupled, cloud-free, climate-photochemical atmospheric column model; varies atmospheric surface pressure from 0.5 to 30 bar; and investigates temperature and key species profiles, as well as emission and brightness temperature spectra in a range between 2 and 20 μm. Increasing the surface pressure up to 4 bar leads to an increase in the surface temperature due to increased greenhouse warming. Above this point, Rayleigh scattering dominates, and the surface temperature decreases, reaching surface temperatures below 273 K (approximately at ∼34 bar surface pressure). For ozone, nitrous oxide, water, methane, and carbon dioxide, the spectral response either increases with surface temperature or pressure depending on the species. Masking effects occur, for example, for the bands of the biosignatures ozone and nitrous oxide by carbon dioxide, which could be visible in low carbon dioxide atmospheres. Key Words: Planetary habitability and biosignatures-Atmospheres-Radiative transfer. Astrobiology 18, 116-132.


A General Protocol for Synthesizing Thiolated Folate Derivatives.
Folic acid (FA) has shown great potential in the fields of targeted drug delivery and disease diagnosis due to its highly tumor-targeting nature, biocompatibility, and low cost. However, FA is generally introduced in targeted drug delivery systems through macromolecular linkage via complex synthetic processes, resulting in lower yields and high costs. In this work, we report a general protocol for synthesizing thiolated folate derivatives. The small molecule thiolated folate (TFa) was first synthesized with a purity higher than 98.20%. First, S-S-containing diol was synthesized with a purity higher than 99.44 through a newly developed green oxidation protocol, which was carried out in water with no catalyst. Then, folic acid was modified using the diol through esterification, and TFa was finally synthesized by breaking the disulfide bond. Further, the synthesized TFa was utilized to modify silver nanoparticles. The results showed that TFa could be easily bonded to metal particles. The protocol could be extended to the synthesis of a series of thiolated derivatives of folate, such as mercaptohexyl folate, mercaptoundecyl folate, etc., which would greatly benefit the biological applications of FA.


[Endocrine rhythms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: possible neurohormonal influence on immunological reactions].
Recent studies are reporting on an influence of ACTH and prolactin in physiological dosages on the intensity of the immune response in the animal model of adjuvant arthritis. Therefore, we studied the circadian secretion patterns of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin by measurements throughout a 24-hour cycle in two-hour intervals in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with different inflammatory activity of the disease. We only investigated patients who never before were treated with corticosteroids and drugs like gold, d-penicillamine or immunosuppressive drugs. The circadian secretion patterns of cortisol and ACTH were disturbed in most patients. High inflammatory activity was accompanied by severe disturbance of the circadian rhythm, whereas patients with low inflammatory activity showed a nearly normal secretion pattern. Also the measurements of prolactin showed a tendency of loss of circadian rhythm in relation to the inflammatory activity of the disease. According to the found changes of endocrine regulation of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin, an influence of mediators of inflammation on hypothalamic centers, analogous to endogenous pyrogen in fever should be discussed.


New insights into the structural organization of the plant polymer lignin.
The organizational features of lignin structure and the mechanism of its synthesis have significant implications for the response of the plant to stress. It was unknown whether the enzymic formation of lignin in the cell wall is an uncontrolled process or finely regulated in time and space. In vitro scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopies (AFM), near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). and the novel environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) imaging studies of the lignin model compounds have directly shown its highly ordered structure and elucidated its modular and fractal organization. Direct evidence was presented for the existence of strong intermolecular forces responsible for holding lignin globules together in highly ordered structures. Fractal analysis was applied as a theoretical approach, to show regularity and modular organization of lignin. Surface chemistry studies of the lignin monolayer reveal intrinsic properties that may be a key to osmotic pressure and cell size control mechanism in the higher plant cells. The obtained data contribute to the explanation of the mechanisms of cell wall synthesis in vivo.


Constrained resonance in magnetic self-organization.
In a linear driven problem with integral constraints, resonant phenomena can still persist but occur away from the fundamental frequencies of the unconstrained linear system. The frequency and the mode structure of the constrained resonances are found to be the intrinsic properties of the undriven and unconstrained linear systems. This is shown with a Taylor-relaxed magnetized plasma in a torus that conserves the net toroidal flux. The constrained resonance leads to a number of modifications to the standard paradigm of Taylor relaxation in a toroidal plasma.


[The determination of the content of immunoglobulin isotypes in the tissues in suppurative-destructive diseases].
Low amounts of immunoglobulins of different classes may be measured by the red cell agglutination inhibition test with the red cells conjugated with the respective blood serum IgG and IgM and colostrum IgA isotypes. A feedback between IgM and IgG levels was detected in extracts of the tissues adjacent to the focus of inflammation during the necrotic phase of the process, whereas during the exudative phase the IgG/IgM ratio grows, probably at the expense of the IgM-IgG change over during lymphocyte maturation.


Peak oxygen uptake during arm cranking for men and women.
To determine upper body peak O2 uptake (VO2) in a group of young females and to obtain information on possible sex differences, 40 subjects, 20 females and 20 males, mean age 26 +/- 4 (SD) and 31 +/- 6 yr, respectively, were studied during maximal arm-cranking exercise. Peak values for power output, VO2, minute ventilation (VE), and heart rate (HR) were determined for each subject. In addition, arm-shoulder volume (A-SV) was measured before exercise. Significant differences between males and females (P less than 0.05) were found for peak power output (134 +/- 18 vs. 86 +/- 13 W), peak VO2 expressed in liters per minute (2.55 +/- 0.45 vs. 1.81 +/- 0.36) and milliliters per kilogram per minute (34.2 +/- 5.3 vs. 29.2 +/- 4.9), peak VE (95.4 +/- 14.5 vs. 70.1 +/- 19.2 1 X min-1), and A-SV (3,126 +/- 550 vs. 2,234 +/- 349 ml), whereas peak HR was not significantly different between the two groups (174 +/- 14 vs. 174 +/- 36 beats X min-1). However, when peak VO2 was corrected for arm and shoulder size there was no significant difference between the groups (0.82 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.13 ml X ml A-SV-1 X min-1). These results suggest that the observed differences between men and women for peak VO2 elicited during arm cranking when expressed in traditional terms (1 X min-1 and ml X kg-1 X min-1) are a function of the size of the contracting muscle mass and are not due to sex-related differences in either O2 delivery or the O2 utilization capacity of the muscle itself.


Systematic review of Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase evidence for pharmacogenomic links to the dopamine reward pathway for heroin dependence.
Genetics play an important role in opioid use disorder (OUD); however, few specific gene variants have been identified. Therefore, there is a need to further understand the pharmacogenomics influences on the pharmacodynamics of opioids. The Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB), a database that links genetic variation and drug interaction in the body, was queried to identify polymorphisms associated with heroin dependence in the context of opioid related disorders/OUD. Eight genes with 22 variants were identified as linked to increased risk of heroin dependence, with three genes and variants linked to decreased risk, although the level of evidence was moderate to low. Therefore, continued exploration of biomarker influences on OUD, reward pathways and other contributing circuitries is necessary to understand the true impact of genetics on OUD before integration into clinical guidelines.


Directional positive selection on an allele of arbitrary dominance.
Most models of positive directional selection assume codominance of the beneficial allele. We examine the importance of this assumption by implementing a coalescent model of positive directional selection with arbitrary dominance. We find that, for a given mean fixation time, a beneficial allele has a much weaker effect on diversity at linked neutral sites when the allele is recessive.


Mixture analysis on associations between semen quality and sperm DNA integrity and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
The objective of this study was to assess relationships between exposure to PAHs at occupational levels and outcomes of human semen quality and sperm DNA integrity. Personal breathing zone air samples were collected to quantify exposure of 16 targeted PAHs to coke-oven workers at a steel company in southern Taiwan. Semen quality, including concentration, motility, morphology, and viability, were assessed. Sperm DNA fragmentation, 8-oxodGuo, bulky PAH adducts, and benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adducts served as biomarkers for assessment of sperm DNA integrity. The Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression modeling was employed to estimate mixture effects of the PAH mixture on the outcomes of semen quality and sperm DNA integrity and to identify individual compounds of PAH mixtures associated with the mixture effects. Exposure to the PAH mixture was inversely associated with sperm viability, while benzo(b)fluoranthene (B[b]F) was identified as the main predictor for sperm viability. Exposure to the PAH mixture also exhibited a positive trend with sperm DNA fragmentation. B[b]F and benzo(a)anthracene (B[a]A) were identified as individual PAH compounds associated with increased sperm DNA fragmentation.


A thematic review on livestock manure treatment strategies focusing on thermochemical conversion.
Livestock manure (LSM) management is emerging as a challenge due to increasing livestock consumption. Owing to the decreased agricultural land area, it is necessary to ensure LSM utilization in non-agricultural fields. LSM can be a valuable resource if managed as a circulating resource. This study discusses research trends based on a literature review and classifies LSM treatments. The analysis of each treatment is presented according to research trends, and implications for the future LSM processing are discussed. "Biological treatment" accounted for the largest portion at 48%, "manure management," which suggests improvement in manure treatment through systematic thinking or LSM management practices, accounted for 16%, and "thermochemical conversion" accounted for 11%. In addition, "life cycle assessment (LCA) research," "solid-liquid separation approach," and "nutrient-recovery/losses" were derived. Studies on biological treatments are increasing. Although anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most used method, it has the disadvantages of long processing time and waste generation after processing. As a key supplement, thermochemical conversion (TCC) technology, which could overcome the disadvantages of AD, was reviewed.


Rumour propagation and the eco-evolutionary dynamics of social information use.
Information is a crucial currency for living organisms as it allows them to adjust their behaviour to environmental fluctuations. Thus, natural selection should have favoured the capacity of collecting information from different sources, including social interactions whereby individuals could quickly gain reliable information. However, such conditions may also favour the gathering of potentially detrimental information, such as false or misinterpreted accounts of environmental and social phenomena such as rumours, which may spread via informational cascades. We applied ecological and evolutionary principles to investigate how the propagation of social information at a populational level affects the propensity to assimilate it, here defined as the gullibilty. Our results show that the evolution of an individual's susceptibility to assimilate information strongly depends on eco-evolutionary feedbacks, in particular when both useful and detrimental information circulate. We discuss our results regarding the different information transmission mechanisms involved with particular attention to specific cases of social learning.


Typologies of Intergenerational Relations in Urban and Rural China: A Latent Class Analysis.
Understanding intergenerational relations in China has become increasingly important against a backdrop of rapid social and demographic transitions and an ongoing urban-rural divide. From the parental perspective, this research investigates patterns and determinants of intergenerational relations between middle-aged and older parents and their non-coresident children in urban and rural China using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2018) (N = 14,616). Latent class analysis revealed three typologies of intergenerational relations found across both urban and rural China - Tight-knit, Support-at-distance and Material-oriented-detached, and one typology particularly for urban China - Staying-in-touch-but-independent. The observed patterns suggest intergenerational bonds remain solid alongside the emergence of new trends, reflecting the modernization process. Multivariate multinomial regression analysis identified determinants for membership of each relationship typology. The findings will inform policy-makers and care professionals, supporting the identification of the vulnerable groups and the design of targeted policies for older parents with different family resources.


[Spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine HCl for cesarean section].
We performed this prospective study to determine the proper amount of hyperbaric bupivacaine hydrochloride as a spinal anesthetic agent for cesarean section. The parturients were randomly allocated to receive one of four spinal agents in a blind manner; tetracaine 10 mg (control), bupivacaine 10, 12.5 and 15 mg. Morphine HCl 0.1 mg was added to each agent and the total volume was adjusted to 3.1 ml with 10% glucose solution. All the four spinal agents provided an adequate analgesic level (T 5) without serious complications. Among the three dosages of bupivacaine, the time interval requiring for anesthetic level to reach T 5 tended to be shorter with a larger amount of bupivacaine. The incidence of intraoperative supplemental analgesic and hypotension and the dosage of ephedrine used to treat hypotension were greater in the patients anesthetized with tetracaine 10 mg than in those anesthetized with bupivacaine 10 mg, which is equipotent to tetracaine 10 mg. 1. As a spinal anesthetic agent for cesarean section, hyperbaric bupivacaine is superior to tetracaine. 2. Hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg, 12.5 mg or 15 mg can be used safely and effectively as a spinal agent for cesarean section. 3. High dose bupivacaine is recommended in an urgent case, and low dose bupivacaine is recommended when maternal hypotension must be strictly avoided.


Depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among older Canadians with peptic ulcer disease: Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures have exacerbated many known risk factors for depression that may be particularly concerning for individuals with chronic health conditions, such as peptic ulcer disease (PUD). In a large longitudinal sample of older adults with PUD, the current study examined the incidence of depression during the pandemic among those without a pre-pandemic history of depression (n = 689) and the recurrence of depression among those with a history of depression (n = 451). Data came from four waves of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with incident and recurrent depression. Among older adults with PUD and without a history of depression, approximately 1 in 8 (13.0%) developed depression for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those with a history of depression, approximately 1 in 2 (46.6%) experienced depression during the pandemic. The risk of incident depression and recurrent depression was higher among those who were lonely, those with functional limitations, and those who experienced an increase in family conflict during the pandemic. The risk of incident depression only was higher among women, individuals whose income did not satisfy their basic needs, those who were themselves ill and/or those whose loved ones were ill or died during the pandemic, and those who had disruptions to healthcare access during the pandemic. The risk of recurrent depression only was higher among those with chronic pain and those who had difficulty accessing medication during the pandemic. Implications for interventions are discussed.


Dual-contrast micro-CT enables cartilage lesion detection and tissue condition evaluation ex vivo.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a frequent joint disease in the horse. Currently, equine medicine lacks effective methods to diagnose the severity of chondral defects after an injury. To investigate the capability of dual-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (dual-CECT) for detection of chondral lesions and evaluation of the severity of articular cartilage degeneration in the equine carpus ex vivo. Pre-clinical experimental study. In nine Shetland ponies, blunt and sharp grooves were randomly created (in vivo) in the cartilage of radiocarpal and middle carpal joints. The contralateral joint served as control. The ponies were subjected to an 8-week exercise protocol and euthanised 39 weeks after surgery. CECT scanning (ex vivo) of the joints was performed using a micro-CT scanner 1 hour after an intra-articular injection of a dual-contrast agent. The dual-contrast agent consisted of ioxaglate (negatively charged, q = -1) and bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs, q = 0, diameter ≈ 0.2 µm). CECT results were compared to histological cartilage proteoglycan content maps acquired using digital densitometry. BiNPs enabled prolonged visual detection of both groove types as they are too large to diffuse into the cartilage. Furthermore, proportional ioxaglate diffusion inside the tissue allowed differentiation between the lesion and ungrooved articular cartilage (3 mm from the lesion and contralateral joint). The mean ioxaglate partition in the lesion was 19 percentage points higher (P < 0.001) when compared with the contralateral joint. The digital densitometry and the dual-contrast CECT findings showed good subjective visual agreement. Ex vivo study protocol and a low number of investigated joints. The dual-CECT methodology, used in this study for the first time to image whole equine joints, is capable of effective lesion detection and simultaneous evaluation of the condition of the articular cartilage.


Joint action aesthetics.
Synchronized movement is a ubiquitous feature of dance and music performance. Much research into the evolutionary origins of these cultural practices has focused on why humans perform rather than watch or listen to dance and music. In this study, we show that movement synchrony among a group of performers predicts the aesthetic appreciation of live dance performances. We developed a choreography that continuously manipulated group synchronization using a defined movement vocabulary based on arm swinging, walking and running. The choreography was performed live to four audiences, as we continuously tracked the performers' movements, and the spectators' affective responses. We computed dynamic synchrony among performers using cross recurrence analysis of data from wrist accelerometers, and implicit measures of arousal from spectators' heart rates. Additionally, a subset of spectators provided continuous ratings of enjoyment and perceived synchrony using tablet computers. Granger causality analyses demonstrate predictive relationships between synchrony, enjoyment ratings and spectator arousal, if audiences form a collectively consistent positive or negative aesthetic evaluation. Controlling for the influence of overall movement acceleration and visual change, we show that dance communicates group coordination via coupled movement dynamics among a group of performers. Our findings are in line with an evolutionary function of dance-and perhaps all performing arts-in transmitting social signals between groups of people. Human movement is the common denominator of dance, music and theatre. Acknowledging the time-sensitive and immediate nature of the performer-spectator relationship, our study makes a significant step towards an aesthetics of joint actions in the performing arts.


Description and first clinical application of AirWay Scope for tracheal intubation.
We have developed a novel airway apparatus, AirWay Scope, which we have used in the orotracheal intubation of 10 consecutive patients requiring general anesthesia before neurosurgical procedures. The characteristic shape of the introducer (INTLOCK), the tube guiding function and the sighting device of the AirWay Scope has possibility to facilitate tracheal intubation. Here, we report the first clinical application of this system and describe potential advantages of the apparatus.