Effects of multigenerational exposures of D. magna to environmentally relevant concentrations of pentachlorophenol.
The re-emergence of schistosomiasis has given rise to ubiquitous concentrations of the primary control agent pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the environment, especially in the surface waters of China. In this study, the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of PCP, namely, 0.0002, 0.002, 0.02, 0.2, and 2 μmol/L on survival, age at first reproduction, fecundity, length of mothers, and number of molts of Daphnia magna were studied over three generations. The survival of D. magna exposed to 2 μmol/L was significantly affected in the three generations. Toxic effects were enhanced in later generations. Age at first reproduction of F1 and F2 D. magna was significantly slower than that of the controls. The total number of offspring per female exposed to concentrations of 0.002 μmol/L or greater was less (23.5 to 67.6, 9.4 to 73.7, and 3.6 to 83.7%) than that of the controls in the F0, F1, and F2 generations, respectively. The body length of mothers significantly decreased (4.7 to 6.8, 9.6 to 15.1, and 13.3 to 23.2%) after exposure to 0.002 μmol/L or greater than those of unexposed individuals in the F0, F1, and F2 generations, respectively. Dose-response relationships between concentrations of PCP and length and number of molts of D. magna were observed in the F0 to F2 generations. PCP concentrations on the surface waters of China caused adverse effects to D. magna, which increased over successive generations. Significant effects were observed in the third generation. The multigenerational studies were more sensitive than the single-generation experiments. Thus, multigenerational exposure may be more predictive of chronic exposure under field conditions.


Cell-cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase of growth factor-induced endothelial cell proliferation by various calcium channel blockers.
Calcium channel blockers cause antiproliferative effects on various cells in culture. Since angioneogenesis is a crucial step in the development of tumor growth, we examined the influence of different calcium channel blockers on human umbilical arterial endothelial cell (HUAEC) growth. Cell growth was measured by cell count, by [3H]thymidine incorporation, and by a 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU-incorporation immunofluorescence assay. Cell-cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometric analysis. Nifedipine, isradipine, diltiazem, and verapamil dose-dependently inhibited the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation. Fifty micromolars of nifedipine, isradipine, diltiazem, and verapamil completely inhibited bFGF-induced proliferation of HUAEC. Ten micromolars of each calcium channel blocker abolished the bFGF-induced increase in cell count. Five micromolars of isradipine completely blocked the bFGF-induced BrdU incorporation. Stimulation of HUAEC with bFGF (50 ng/ml) for 24 h caused a 2-fold increase in cells that entered S and G2+M phase in comparison with control cells. Five micromolars of isradipine abolished this effect completely. We conclude that calcium channel blockers are able to inhibit cell proliferation by a cell-cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase.


Radiotherapy in prostate cancer treatment.
Prostate cancer is a complex disease, with many controversial aspects of management in almost all stages of disease. The natural history of this tumor is variable and is influenced by multiple prognostic factors. Radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy are standard treatment options for disease limited to the prostate. The data in literature does not provide clear- cut evidence for the superiority of any treatment. Neo- adjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy improves local control and survival in locally advanced disease. The patients treated with radiotherapy would have a relatively long life expectancy, not great risk factors for radiation toxicity and a preference for radiotherapy. The advantages of radiotherapy are that it has a significant potential for cure, it is well tolerated in the majority of men especially when the modern techniques of conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated therapy are used and it is non-invasive therapeutic options with no anesthesia risk. Expected complications like radiation cystitis, impotence and proctitis are registered in about 1% of patients.


The potential of cryofixation and freeze substitution: observations and theoretical considerations.
The theoretical and experimental evidence in favour of cryofixation and freeze-substitution are critically reviewed. The solubility of macromolecules in water is due to the hydration shells. Their behaviour at different temperatures and the consequences of their removal during the processing for embedding are explained. Gelation prior to the transfer into solvents prevents macromolecules aggregating. During substitution at low temperatures, DNA is gelled, justifying the use of the term cryofixation. It is proposed that the preservation of hydration shells at the lowest temperature, and their transformation into minute gaps after a rise of temperature, facilitates the exhibition of epitopes.


[Craniofacial surgery].
Craniofacial surgery is the term given to surgical techniques which allow combined access to the neurocranium and the facial skeleton. These techniques are applied primarily for treatment of fractures of the frontal/nasal/orbital regions, tumours of the orbits and the anterior cranial base, and congenital malformations, including simple or complex craniofacial synostoses, e.g. Crouzon and Apert syndromes. Indications for surgical treatment and the timing of the surgery are discussed. In addition, the most common surgical techniques are described and some clinical cases are presented.


Assay of photosynthetic oxygen evolution from single protoplasts.
A semiquantitative assay for light-dependent O(2) evolution by a single mesophyll protoplast is described. The assay indicator is the density of aerotactic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ATCC 10145; ;Engelmann experiment') attracted to the protoplast. Quantification is by dark field microphotometry. The sensitivity is about 50 femtomoles O(2) per protoplast per minute. The results demonstrate the biphasic nature of O(2) evolution of a single protoplast during photosynthetic induction. Computerized data acquisition yields traces which, until a steady state of photosynthetic O(2) evolution is reached, are identical to ordinary O(2) electrode traces.


Ipsilateral cortical connections of granular frontal cortex in the strepsirhine primate Galago, with comparative comments on anthropoid primates.
Modern studies of granular frontal cortex (GFC) in large-brained, anthropoid primates, such as Macaca, indicate that this region is comprised of many areal subdivisions. These areas vary in their architectonic appearance and each has a distinctive, diverse set of corticocortical connections. The great extent of the GFC region in anthropoids, and its high degree of areal parcellation, suggest that some GFC areas may be specializations of anthropoids, not found in other mammals. To investigate this possibility, we studied the corticocortical connections of GFC in the relatively small-brained, strepsirhine primate Galago, with a series of eight tracer injections in the frontal cortex, and an additional eight injections of parietal and temporal cortex. Tracers used were wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and tritiated amino acids. Our results indicate that Galago GFC has strong, reciprocal connections with the parietal area-7 complex and with higher-order temporal areas; there are additional connections with extrastriate visual cortex, parahippocampal, and cingulate areas, and frontal cortex. Thus GFC has an extremely diverse array of cortical connections in Galago, as in Macaca. However, we also found that the pattern of parietofrontal connections is simpler in Galago than in Macaca. Specifically, parietal areas project to fewer discrete zones within the GFC of Galago, consistent with the view that these animals have fewer GFC areas than Macaca. In addition, Galago GFC possesses connections that specifically resemble those of Macaca arcuate cortex, but lacks connectional patterns that are characteristic of principalis cortex. These results are in accord with our previous architectonic studies, which indicated that Galago does not possess homologues of principalis areas. We conclude that the arcuate areas are common elements of primate GFC organization, while the areas located within and adjacent to the principal sulcus are anthropoid specializations.


[Neuroendocrine mechanisms of puberty onset].
An increase in pulsatile release of GnRH is essential for the onset of puberty. However, the mechanism controlling the pubertal increase in GnRH release is still unclear. The GnRH neurosecretory system is already active during the neonatal period but subsequently enters a dormant state by central inhibition in the juvenile period. When this central inhibition is removed or diminished, an increase in GnRH release occurs with increase in synthesis and release of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids, followed by the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. Recent studies suggest that disinhibition of GnRH neurons from GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) appears to be a critical factor in female rhesus monkey. After central inhibition is removed, increases in stimulatory input from glutamatergic neurons as well as new stimulatory input from norepinephrine and NPY neurons and inhibitory input from beta endorphin neurons appear to control pulsatile GnRH release as well as gonadal steroids. Nonetheless, the most important question still remains: what determines the timing to remove central inhibition? Because many genes are turned on or turned off to establish a complex series of events occurring during puberty, the timing of puberty must be regulated by a master gene or genes, as a part of developmental events.


Vestibular ataxia following shuttle flights: effects of microgravity on otolith-mediated sensorimotor control of posture.
Orbital spaceflight exposes astronauts to an environment in which gravity is reduced to negligible magnitudes of 10(-3) to 10(-6) G. Upon insertion into earth orbit, the abrupt loss of the constant linear acceleration provided by gravity removes the otolith stimulus for vestibular sensation of vertical orientation constantly present on Earth. Since the central nervous system (CNS) assesses spatial orientation by simultaneously interpreting sensory inputs from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems, loss of the otolith-mediated vertical reference input results in an incorrect estimation of spatial orientation, which, in turn, causes a degradation in movement control. Over time, however, the CNS adapts to the loss of gravitational signals. Upon return to Earth, the vertical reference provided by gravitational stimulation of the otolith organ reappears. As a result, a period of CNS readaptation must occur upon return to terrestrial environment. Among the physiological changes observed during the postflight CNS readaptation period is a disruption of postural equilibrium control. Using a dynamic posturography system (modified NeuroCom EquiTest), 16 astronauts were tested at 60, 30, and 10 days preflight and retested at 1 to 5 hours, and 8 days postflight. All astronauts tested demonstrated decreased postural stability immediately upon return to Earth. The most dramatic increases in postural sway occurred during those sensory conditions in which both the visual and proprioceptive feedback information used for postural control were altered by the dynamic posturography system, requiring reliance primarily upon vestibular function for control of upright stance. Less marked but statistically significant increases in sway were observed under those conditions in which visual and foot support surface inputs alone were altered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Treatment of severe tibial fractures with extensive soft tissue damage and/or contamination. Quality of life after use of the Ilizarov external fixator].
The Ilizarov external fixator (IF) is an immediate and definitive treatment option for severe tibial fractures compromised by extensive soft tissue damage. The aim of this study was to assess the general performance of the IF and especially the impact on patient quality of life. A postal questionnaire including an SF-12 health survey and questions about various other aspects of quality of life was sent to all patients who received an IF for primary fracture treatment at a level 1 trauma centre between January 2000 and June 2009. A total of 48 completed questionnaires were received from patients treated with IF for severe tibial fractures. The median time to removal of the IF was 154 days (range 70-614 days). The mean SF-12 mental component score (MCS) was 52 (SD±12) and the mean physical component score (PCS) was 38 (SD±11). Of the patients 100 % answered that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment and 91 % would choose the same method of treatment under similar circumstances. This study demonstrates a high performance of IF in the treatment of severe tibial fractures with compromised soft tissue where more standard forms of treatment are contraindicated.


Quantifying gene expression.
Identifying those genes that are expressed and at what levels is an essential part of almost any biological inquiry at the cellular level. Techniques such as Northern blot have been in existence for decades to perform this task, but advances in molecular biology and bioinstrumentation have led to the development of a variety of new techniques with a range of sensitivities, throughputs and quantitative capabilities. This review focuses on the latter issue. For several commonly used gene expression techniques, the extent and range of quantitative applicability are reviewed, and approaches for maximizing the accuracy and precision of these measurements are discussed.


Role of neurogenic genes in establishment of follicle cell fate and oocyte polarity during oogenesis in Drosophila.
Oogenesis in Drosophila involves specification of both germ cells and the surrounding somatic follicle cells, as well as the determination of oocyte polarity. We found that two neurogenic genes, Notch and Delta, are required in oogenesis. These genes encode membrane proteins with epidermal growth factor repeats and are essential in the decision of an embryonic ectodermal cell to take on the fate of neuroblast or epidermoblast. In oogenesis, mutation in either gene leads to an excess of posterior follicle cells, a cell fate change reminiscent of the hyperplasia of neuroblasts seen in neurogenic mutant embryos. Furthermore, the Notch mutation in somatic cells causes mislocalization of bicoid in the oocyte. These results suggest that the neurogenic genes Notch and Delta are involved in both follicle cell development and the establishment of anterior-posterior polarity in the oocyte.


[Personalised hepatology - current concepts, developments and expectations in the post-genome era].
Promoted by the decoding of the human genome as part of the human genome project, individualised therapy approaches have become a realistic perspective for therapies that are more effective, less prone to side effects and economically reasonable. This also applies to chronic liver disease. With the aim not only to expand the current knowledge base through basic research on the underlying disease processes and treatment options but also to identify and characterise biomarkers, the creation of genetic fingerprints for individualised diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients takes its place in the centre of translational hepatology. For certain liver diseases personalised therapy approaches are already existent. Examples are the determination of viral genotypes, viral kinetics and genotyping of the IL28B polymorphism to optimise the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The challenges of the next few years relate to the broadening of the knowledge base, the establishment of reliable and standardised technologies, and the development of intelligent bioinformatics strategies for data analysis and data integration. The following review not only summarises the current state of progress and possibilities of personalised medicine in hepatological diseases, but also explains the technical background of the limitations that currently hinder a consistent clinical implementation.


Follow-up of children and adolescents treated in psychiatric facilities: a methodology review.
A methodology review synthesizes 32 outcome studies of child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric treatment published since 1975. The principal finding is that conceptual and methodological shortcomings plague the majority of studies, suggesting that findings are less clear than typically believed. Recurring problems include sketchy, if any, data on diagnostic criteria for subject inclusion, lack of control groups, limited information on prior treatment, inadequate description of the hospital setting and active treatment ingredients, infrequent blind analysis, sparse outcome data, and a nonstandardized approach to collecting information. Eight recommendations are offered to assist researchers in conceiving and designing future investigations.


Salt stress reduces root water uptake in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through modification of the transcellular transport path.
The aim of the study was to understand the hydraulic response to salt stress of the root system of the comparatively salt-tolerant crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). We focused on the transcellular path of water movement across the root cylinder that involves the crossing of membranes. This path allows for selective water uptake, while excluding salt ions. Hydroponically grown plants were exposed to 100 mM NaCl for 5-7 days and analysed when 15-17 days old. A range of complementary and novel approaches was used to determine hydraulic conductivity (Lp). This included analyses at cell, root and plant level and modelling of water flow. Apoplastic barrier formation and gene expression level of aquaporins (AQPs) was analysed. Salt stress reduced the Lp of root system through reducing water flow along the transcellular path. This involved changes in the activity and gene expression level of AQPs. Modelling of root-Lp showed that the reduction in root-Lp did not require added hydraulic resistances through apoplastic barriers at the endodermis. The bulk of data points to a near-perfect semi-permeability of roots of control plants (solute reflection coefficient σ ~1.0). Roots of salt-stressed plants are almost as semi-permeable (σ > 0.8).


Previous Rotator Cuff Repair Is Associated With Inferior Clinical Outcomes After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Although recent evidence suggests that any prior shoulder surgery may cause inferior shoulder arthroplasty outcomes, there is no consensus on whether previous rotator cuff repair (RCR) is associated with inferior outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). To retrospectively compare outcomes in patients who underwent RTSA with and without previous RCR. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Patients with prior RCR and those without previous shoulder surgery (control) who underwent RTSA for cuff tear arthropathy or irreparable cuff tear were retrospectively identified from a prospective database. Exclusion criteria included revision arthroplasty, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, dislocations, infection, prior non-RCR procedures, less than 12 months of follow-up, and latissimus dorsi tendon transfer. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, ASES Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and range of motion (ROM) were compared between groups. Patients with previous RCR (n = 83 shoulders) were younger (mean ± SD, 67 ± 10 vs 72 ± 8 years; P < .001) and more likely to be male (46% vs 32%, P = .033) than controls (n = 189 shoulders). No differences were found in follow-up duration (25 ± 13 vs 26 ± 13 months, P = .734), body mass index, or any preoperative outcome variable or ROM measure. At final follow-up, patients with previous RCR had significantly lower ASES (76.5 [95% CI, 71.2-81.7] vs 85.0 [82.6-87.5], P = .015), lower SSV (76 [72-81] vs 86 [83-88], P < .001), worse pain (2.0 [1.4-2.6] vs 0.9 [0.6-1.1], P < .001), and less improvement in the ASES, ASES ADL, VAS, SSV, and forward elevation measures than controls. Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that previous RCR was significantly associated with lower postoperative ASES score (B = -9.5, P < .001), lower ASES improvement (B = -7.9, P = .012), worse postoperative pain (B = 0.9, P = .001), worse improvement in pain (B = -1.0, P = .011), lower postoperative SSV (B = -9.2, P < .001), lower SSV improvement (B = -11.1, P = .003), and lower forward elevation ROM improvement (B = -12.7, P = .008). Patients with previous RCR attempts may experience fewer short-term gains in functional and subjective outcome scores after RTSA compared with patients with no history of shoulder surgery who undergo RTSA. However, the differences between groups were small and below the minimal clinically important differences for the outcome measures analyzed.


2018 ACC/HRS/NASCI/SCAI/SCCT Expert Consensus Document on Optimal Use of Ionizing Radiation in Cardiovascular Imaging: Best Practices for Safety and Effectiveness-A Review for the Cardiac Anesthesiologist.
The American College of Cardiology, in collaboration with the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, Mended Hearts, North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, recently published a consensus document recommending best practices for the use of ionizing radiation in cardiovascular medicine. With the increase in number and complexity of catheter-based cardiovascular interventions, cardiothoracic anesthesiologists are being requested to consult and provide care for these patients. This review summarizes the salient portions of the consensus document as it pertains to the anesthesiologist. Radiation exposure for both patients and providers should be minimized to be as low as reasonably achievable. For the anesthesiologist involved in the procedure, the authors recommend wearing protective garments including apron, vest, neck collar, and glasses of at least 0.25-mm lead or lead equivalent. The addition of a portable shield also is strongly recommended. The anesthesiologist should maintain the maximum distance allowable from the x-ray source, remembering that radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the x-ray source. Monitoring radiation exposure is done best by both collar and under-apron film badge. A 0.5-mm lead-equivalent apron is expected to shield approximately 95% of the radiation. By using these recommendations, the anesthesiologist should be able to keep radiation exposure under 20 mSv per year as recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection.


Activation of 80S Maize Ribosomes by Red Light Treatment of Dark-grown Seedlings.
The in vitro protein synthetic activity of 80S ribosomes from leaves of dark-grown corn seedlings was enhanced (at low Mg(2+) levels) by a 5-minute red light treatment applied 2 hours prior to tissue harvest. The effect was completely reversed by an immediate brief far red treatment, suggesting that ribosome activation is controlled by the phytochrome system. Experiments in which the interval between light treatment and tissue harvest was shortened indicate that the response was quite rapid. The initial increase in activity was detected within 30 minutes, followed by a rapid increase during the next 1.5 hours. No further increase occurred after 2 to 3 hours.The change in ribosome activity relates, at least in part, to an increase in the level of peptidyl-tRNA associated with ribosomes. Removal of peptidyl-tRNA from light-treated ribosomes also completely reversed the red light effect. Activation of ribosomes by 2 to 3 hours continuous white light (as previously reported) differs from red light activation in that reversal of this response requires salt washing of the ribosomes in addition to removal of peptidyl-tRNA.


Duodenal volvulus: a rare cause of small bowel obstruction.
Small bowel volvulus is a rare but life-threatening emergency. Volvulus of the duodenum is even rarer without the presence of predisposing factors. The clinical presentation is vague, including abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, prompt diagnosis of volvulus therefore relies heavily on radiographs. The treatment options lie between conservative or surgical management, where the decision is influenced by the patient and their presentation. This case is of a 100-year-old female with an extensive surgical and medical background presenting with signs of small bowel obstruction. With the help of imaging, a rare case of duodenal volvulus was diagnosed but managed conservatively due to the patient's background, age and personal wishes.


Revised children's version of the alternative impairment index.
The Revised Children's Version of the Alternative Impairment Index, a measure composed of scores derived from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery for Older Children, has been proposed as a new measure of neuropsychological impairment in children aged 9-14. This study investigated the feasibility of a Children's Version of the Alternative Impairment Index. Test records for 16 normal and brain-damaged children, between the ages of 9 and 14, who have been administered the complete Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery for Older Children, were obtained. The Revised Children's Version of the Alternative Impairment Index and the Children's Total Neuropsychological Deficit Score were compared for agreement on level of severity. The resulting hit rate (i.e., 50% or 8/16 correct agreement) was worse than the hit rate obtained in the initial study (56%) and inadequate for clinical use.


Role of water in the transmission of cyclosporiarsis in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.
Water samples were collected form five residential areas in El-Ekhewa Village where the human populations use this water for daily activity and for consumption. These water sources were Bahr El-Baker drain, low running irrigation canal, underground water at shallow depth (3-8 m), finished piped water and underground water >35 m deep. The samples were concentrated by flocculation method and the concentrated pellets were examined by ultraviolet (UV) epifluorescence microscopy for Cyclospora oocysts. The densities of water contamination by 8-10 microm oocysts/liter in the five sources were respectively: 2400, 1900, 700, 200 and zero. This indicated that finished water was sewage contaminated. Stool samples from 109 diarrheal patients and 231 non-diarrheal ones from these areas were examined by the acid fast-trichrome stain, Saline Haemo De single slide trichrome stain and by standard bacteriologic techniques. Those with Cyclospora as single pathogen were considered (5.6%) of diarrheal and (2.3%) of the non-diarrheal individuals. The correlation between the density of water contamination and the prevalence of cyclosporiasis among the individuals of each area was significant. No doubt, water was the main vehicle of transmission in the present community. Soil contact and poultry were significant risk factors.


Voltage-gated calcium currents in isolated retinal ganglion cells of the cat.
Voltage-gated calcium current (ICa) was recorded from retinal ganglion cells dissociated from the adult cat under the voltage-clamp condition using a patch pipette in the whole cell configuration. ICa was isolated from the voltage-dependent potassium and sodium currents by ion substitution and selective blockers. ICa was activated by depolarization of the cell from a holding potential (Vh) of -97 mV to more positive voltages than -57 mV. All recorded cells showed similar voltage dependence of ICa activation: 50% activation at about -23 mV. Current-voltage (I-V) relationship of ICa showed a symmetrical bell-shape with a single peak at around -7 mV. The I-V curve recorded with Vh of -57 mV was nearly identical to that obtained with Vh of -97 mV. During a depolarizing command, the amplitude of ICa gradually decreased. Inactivation of ICa depended on Ca influx into the cell. ICa became more sustained either when the extracellular Ca was replaced by Ba, or when the cell was loaded with 30 mM EGTA. Nifedipine (10(-4) M) inhibited ICa reversibly. Effects of Bay K 8644 were bimodal: augmentation at a low concentration (10(-8) M) and suppression at a high concentration (10(-4) M). All these characteristics are identical to the previous findings for the high-threshold (L-type) ICa. The type of ICa recorded from the retinal ganglion cells in the adult cat is different from those in newborn rats.


Aymmetric Aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction of Isatin-Derived Ketimines with Indoles Catalyzed by a Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalyst.
A highly enantioselective aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of 1H-indoles with isatin-derived N-Cbz-ketimines catalyzed by quinine-derived phase-transfer catalysts was developed. A series of chiral 3-aminobisindole compounds containing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter were constructed by this protocol in high yields (82-91%) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (46-94% ee).


Total body irradiation and acute graft-versus-host disease: the role of gastrointestinal damage and inflammatory cytokines.
The influence of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) conditioning regimens on the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been suggested in clinical BMT. Using murine BMT models, we show here an increase in GVHD severity in several donor-recipient strain combinations after intensification of the conditioning regimen by increasing the total body irradiation (TBI) dose from 900 cGy to 1,300 cGy. Increased GVHD was mediated by systemic increases in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Histologic analysis of gastrointestinal tracts showed synergistic damage by increased TBI and allogeneic donor cells that permitted increased translocation of lipopolysacharide (LPS) into the systemic circulation. In vitro, LPS triggered excess TNF alpha from macrophages primed by the GVH reaction. In addition, macrophages isolated within 4 hours of conditioning were primed in proportion to the TBI dose itself to secrete TNF alpha. Thus, the higher TBI dose increased macrophage priming and increased gut damage after allogeneic BMT, causing higher systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines and subsequent severe GVHD. These data highlight the importance of conditioning in GVHD pathophysiology and suggest that interventions to prevent LPS stimulation of primed macrophages may limit the severity of GVHD after intensive conditioning for allogeneic BMT.


Long-term survival of T1 and T2 lymph node-negative breast cancer patients according to Mitotic Activity Index: a population-based study.
Node-negative breast cancer patients have a relatively good prognosis, but eventually one-third will die of the disease. Thus, prognostic factors to identify the high-risk group among these patients are needed. We retrospectively determined the Mitotic Activity Index (MAI) for a large series of node-negative breast cancer patients (n = 468) with tumours smaller than 5 cm, who only received locoregional treatment. Patients were followed for up to 29 years; crude and relative survival were calculated, both univariate and multivariate. Relative survival differed significantly according to MAI (p = 0.05), the difference occurred in the first 5 years after diagnosis and remained constant thereafter. After adjustment, MAI still significantly affected relative survival (RER, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5). Tumour size also increased the risk, but this was not statistically significant (RER, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.8-2.7). Survival of patients with a T1 tumour and MAI < 10 was similar to that for the general population in the first 5 years after diagnosis. In conclusion, MAI significantly predicted long-term survival for T1/T2N0 breast cancer. Adjuvant systemic therapy appears to have little benefit for node-negative breast cancer patients with a T1 tumour, regardless of the MAI. For those with a T2 tumour and a MAI > or = 10 systemic therapy might have reduced mortality. The need for close surveillance of node-negative breast cancer patients with a T1 tumour and MAI < 10 seems limited.


An Adolescent Female With Acute Abdominal Pain: A Rare Case in Pediatrics.
We present the case of a 13-year-old female with a 48-hour history of diffuse abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting, with worsening in the last few hours. On examination, she had signs of acute abdomen, and laboratory tests showed elevated acute phase reactants (APR). Abdominal ultrasound excluded acute appendicitis. A history of risky sexual behavior was reported, so pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was considered. Although appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdomen in adolescents, PID should be suspected in adolescents with risk factors. Prompt treatment is necessary to avoid possible complications and sequelae.


Determinants of screening methods utilization among Iraq/Sulaimani women.
This study aims to find out the participation rate of women in the utilization of screening methods to determine the relationship of sociodemographic health characteristics and breast cancer (BC) awareness with the utilization of screening methods. The authors' study aims to examine the relationship between women's belief and the utilization of screening methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three health centers from December 13, 2016 to June 12, 2017. A questionnaire was constructed for data collection about sociodemographic characteristics, screening awareness and medical and health background variables. Additionally, BC awareness measure and champion health belief model scales were used to measure women's perceptiveness about BC. Despite the awareness among 78.9% of women regarding clinical breast examination (CBE) as a screening method, only 9.5% women utilized it for screening. Due to prescription by physicians for diagnosis of BC, 23.6% women had done mammography at least once in their life. Having jobs and a good education significantly influenced the utilization of CBE as a screening method. The logistic regression analysis found that old age, family history of BC, good knowledge about BC, perceived susceptibility, low rate of perceived barriers to mammography and CBE predicted participation in screening. Enhancing knowledge about BC and screening, emphasizing the susceptibility to BC and the benefits of screening will help in better participation. Importance should be given to illiterate and unemployed women.


Blunt chest trauma with tracheobronchial rupture.
The unusual complex of physiological problems associated with rupture of the tracheobronchial tree complicating blunt chest trauma is discussed. The mechanics of injury leading to rupture are abrupt compression of the chest with consequent fixation of the cervical trachea where it enters the mediastinum, separation of the lungs, and fracture of the bronchus over the vertebral bodies. Treatment by aspiration thoracentesis, tracheotomy, and thoracotomy with primary repair as well as expectant therapy are discussed. Two cases, one treated expectantly and one treated by thoracotomy, both with complete recovery, are presented.


Electroporation-Based Treatments in Small Animal Veterinary Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology.
Electroporation is a method of inducing an increase in permeability of the cell membrane through the application of an electric field and can be used as a delivery method for introducing molecules of interest (e.g., chemotherapeutics or plasmid DNA) into cells. Electroporation-based treatments (i.e., electrochemotherapy, gene electrotransfer, and their combinations) have been shown to be safe and effective in veterinary oncology, but they are currently mostly recommended for the treatment of those solid tumors for which clients have declined surgery and/or radiotherapy. Published data show that electroporation-based treatments are also safe, simple, fast and cost-effective treatment alternatives for selected oral and maxillofacial tumors, especially small squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma tumors not involving the bone in dogs. In these patients, a good local response to treatment is expected to result in increased survival time with good quality of life. Despite emerging evidence of the clinical efficacy of electroporation-based treatments for oral and maxillofacial tumors, further investigation is needed to optimize treatment protocols, improve clinical data reporting and better understand the mechanisms of patients' response to the treatment.


Tracheal colonization factor: a Bordetella pertussis secreted virulence determinant.
We report here the identification of a virulence-associated factor, Tcf, (tracheal colonization factor), produced by strains of Bordetella pertussis but not Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica. This protein is encoded by the tcfA gene. When a strain of B. pertussis 18323 lacking this protein is used to infect mice with an aerosol challenge, the number of bacteria isolated from the tracheas is decreased 10-fold when compared with the parent 18323. The derived amino acid sequence of tcfA predicts a 68 kDa RGD-containing, proline-rich protein, which after cleavage of a typical prokaryotic signal sequence would be 64 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis demonstrates that the C-terminal 30 kDa of this protein shows 50% identity to the 30 kDa C-terminus of another Bordetella protein, the pertactin precursor. The N-terminal 34 kDa region contains the three amino-acid motif RGD and is 16.5% proline. Coupled in vitro transcription and translation analysis indicates that the tcfA gene product migrates as two bands of approximately 90 kDa. A fusion protein of the N-terminal, 34 kDa portion of Tcf to maltose-binding protein migrates, on SDS-PAGE, 30 kDa higher than expected from the combined molecular weights. Polyclonal antisera raised against the unique N-terminal portion of Tcf recognizes 90 kDa and 60 kDa bands in immunoblots of whole-cell lysates of strains of B. pertussis; it does not recognize any protein in whole-cell lysates of B. bronchiseptica or B. parapertussis. Supernatants of cultures of B. pertussis 18323 contain the 60 kDa form of the protein. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA from strains of B. bronchiseptica and B. parapertussis, using a probe derived from tcfA, shows strong hybridization only to B. pertussis DNA. Thus, Tcf appears to be a unique virulence factor of B. pertussis.


Genotoxic risk and oxidative DNA damage in workers exposed to antimony trioxide.
The growing use of antimony (Sb) compounds in industry and the consequent increase in the number of exposed workers make it important to carry out a health risk assessment. The main goal of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of Sb(2)O(3) in occupationally exposed workers. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus tests, and the enzyme (Fpg)-modified comet assay. In addition, antimony exposure levels were established by environmental monitoring with personal air samplers. We studied 23 male workers assigned to different fire retardant treatment tasks in the car upholstery industry and a control group of 23 healthy nonexposed males. The exposed workers were divided into two groups on the basis of their tasks and the work cycle: Group A comprised finishing and intermediate inspection operators who directly handled a mixture containing Sb(2)O(3); Group B were jet operators, not directly exposed to the compound. Environmental monitoring detected low Sb exposure levels but significant differences between the two groups, with Group A having the higher exposure level. Cytogenetic analyses showed no difference between exposed workers and controls for micronuclei and SCE. The enzyme-modified comet assay showed a probable relation between moderate levels of oxidative DNA damage and exposure to antimony, with a significantly higher proportion of workers in Group A having oxidative DNA damage compared to controls. The results support the theory that oxidative DNA damage is involved in the genotoxicity of antimony and indicate the need for further research in this field.


Serum α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone may act as a protective biomarker for non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
Background The α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an endogenous neuropeptide derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC), has been identified to suppress inflammation and prevent osteoblast damage. Objective The present study was aimed to investigate the role of serum α-MSH in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with non-traumatic ONFH and 79 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum α-MSH concentrations were examined with a double antibody radioimmunoassay. The radiographic progression of ONFH was assessed by X-ray plain film according to the FICAT grading system. The symptomatic severity was evaluated by visual analogue scale scores, Harris hip scores and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. The serum concentrations of protective marker adiponectin and bone necrosis inflammation factor IL-33 concentrations were also examined. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis curve was performed to explore the diagnostic value of α-MSH, adiponectin and IL-33 for radiographic progression. Results Serum α-MSH concentrations were significantly lower in ONFH patients than in healthy controls. The case group included 29 non-traumatic ONFH patients with FICAT grade I/II, 27 with grade III and 23 with grade IV. ONFH patients with grade I/II had significantly higher α-MSH concentrations in serum compared with those with FICAT grades III and IV. ONFH patients with FICAT grade III showed significantly elevated concentrations of α-MSH in serum compared with those with FICAT grade IV. Serum α-MSH concentrations were negatively associated with radiographic progression by FICAT grading system, and symptomatic severity defined by visual analogue scale scores, Harris hip scores and WOMAC scores. In addition, serum α-MSH concentrations were positively related to the expression of adiponectin and negatively associated with IL-33. ROC analysis curve demonstrated that α-MSH exhibited the equal value for the diagnosis of ONFH radiographic progression compared with IL-33. Conclusions Serum α-MSH may act as a protective biomarker for non-traumatic ONFH. Systematic application of α-MSH serving as an adjunctive therapy for treating non-traumatic ONFH deserves further investigation.


From iron pentacarbonyl to the iron ion by imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence.
The dissociation dynamics of internal energy selected iron pentacarbonyl cations, Fe(CO)5(+), have been investigated using the imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (iPEPICO) spectrometer at the Swiss Light Source. The molecular ion loses all five carbonyl ligands in sequential dissociations in the 8.5-20 eV photon energy range. The Fe(CO)5(+) parent ion is metastable at the onset of the first dissociation reaction on the time scale of the experiment. The slightly asymmetric and broad daughter ion time-of-flight distributions indicate parent ion lifetimes in the microsecond range, and are used to obtain an experimental dissociation rate curve. Further carbonyl losses were found to be fast at threshold. The fractional parent and daughter ion abundances as a function of the photon energy, that is, breakdown diagram, as well as the dissociation rates for the first CO loss were modeled using the statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) and statistical adiabatic channel model (SSACM) theories. The excess energy redistribution in the products was also taken into account in a statistical framework. The 0 K dissociative photoionization thresholds for the five carbonyl-loss channels were found to be 9.015 ± 0.024 eV, 10.199 ± 0.027 eV, 10.949 ± 0.033 eV, 12.282 ± 0.39 eV, and 13.821 ± 0.045 eV for the processes leading to Fe(CO)4(+), Fe(CO)3(+), Fe(CO)2(+), Fe(CO)(+), and Fe(+), respectively. The iron cation thermochemistry is well-known, and these onsets connect the bare metal ion to the other fragment ions as well as to the gas phase neutral Fe(CO)5.


Hodgkin's disease in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency.
A 61 year old man with long standing common variable immunodeficiency presented with pyrexia, anaemia and leucopenia. A diagnoses of Hodgkin's disease of the bone marrow was made. The typical histopathological and immunophenotypic appearances were clearly distinct from those of T cell lymphoma with Reed-Sternberg-like cells which, in contrast to Hodgkin's disease, is a known complication of common variable immunodeficiency. Complete clinical and histological remission was achieved with combination chemotherapy. The latter was complicated by severe myelosuppression, unusually severe erosive mucositis and viral retinitis.


Women's reproductive span: a systematic scoping review.
What is the scope of literature regarding women's reproductive span in terms of definitions, trends and determinants? The scoping review found a wide variation in definitions, trends and determinants of biological, social and effective women's reproductive span. A woman's reproductive span refers to her childbearing years. Its span influences a woman's reproductive decisions. A systematic scoping review was conducted. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, JSTOR, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus electronic databases from inception to January 2021 without imposing language or date restrictions. We searched unpublished sources including the Global Burden of Disease, Demographic and Health Surveys, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The list of relevant references was searched by hand. Sixty-seven reports on women's reproductive span were included in this review. This scoping systematic review followed an established framework. The reporting of this scoping review followed the reporting requirements provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Extension for Scoping Reviews. Identified records were independently screened and data were extracted. We performed conceptual synthesis by grouping the studies by available concepts of reproductive span and then summarized definitions, measures used, temporal trends, determinants, and broad findings of implications on population demographics and assisted reproduction. Structured tabulation and graphical synthesis were used to show patterns in the data and convey detailed information efficiently, along with a narrative commentary. A total of 67 relevant reports on women's reproductive span were published between 1980 and 2020 from 74 countries. Most reports (42/67) were cross-sectional in design. Literature on reproductive span was conceptually grouped as biological (the interval between age at menarche and age at menopause), effective (when a woman is both fertile and engaging in sexual activity) and social (period of exposure to sexual activity). We summarized the working definitions, trends and determinants of each concept. Few articles addressed implications on demographics and assisted reproduction. A formal assessment of methodological quality of the included studies was not performed because the aim of this review was to provide an overview of the existing evidence base regardless of quality. The review produced a comprehensive set of possible definitions of women's reproductive span, trends, and potential determinants. Further advancement of these findings will involve collaboration with relevant stakeholders to rate the importance of each definition in relation to demography and fertility care, outline a set of core definitions, identify implications for policy, practice or research and define future research opportunities to explore linkages between reproductive spans, their determinants, and the need for assisted reproduction. This work received funding from the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), a cosponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The authors had no competing interests. N/A.


Sex differences in the postural sway characteristics of young and elderly subjects during quiet natural standing.
It has been reported that the fall incidence in women is much higher than men and that fallers have worse postural balance performance than non-fallers. However, it is controversial whether any sex difference in postural balance performance exists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and age and their interactions in balance performance during quiet standing with natural stance width. Sixty-three elderly subjects (aged 65-86 years) and 66 young subjects (aged 18-26 years) performed quiet standing with self-selected natural feet distance on a force plate. Four analysis variables - mean distance, mean velocity, 95% power frequency and total power - were derived from the center of pressure (COP) and they were evaluated both in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. In anteroposterior direction, no sex effect and interaction existed, however, all variables except mean distance showed significant age effects (P < 0.01). In contrast, mediolateral direction variables showed significant sex effect where women had greater but less frequent COP movement than men (P < 0.01). Interactions of age and sex were also significant in mediolateral direction, where age-related changes were significant only in women so that sex differences (faster COP movement with more total power in women than men) existed only in the elderly (P < 0.01) but not in the young. The sex difference in balance performance (some of which are significant only in the elderly) and the sex difference in age-related change of balance performance were demonstrated in mediolateral direction. These sex differences may contribute to the sex difference in balance-related problems, such as falls.


Use of non-HIV medication among people living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral treatment in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa: A cross-sectional study.
In Côte d'Ivoire, people living with HIV (PLHIV) have free access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and cotrimoxazole. Yet, they may use other medications to treat non-HIV diseases. Scarce data are available regarding the use of non-HIV medications in Africa. This study describes the use of non-HIV medications and identifies the factors associated with their use by PLHIV on ART in Côte d'Ivoire. A cross-sectional study was conducted in six HIV clinics in 2016. HIV-1-infected adults receiving ART for at least one year were eligible. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographics, HIV characteristics and medication use data. Associated factors were identified using a multivariate adjusted Poisson regression. A total of 1,458 participants (74% women) were enrolled. The median age was 44 years, and the median duration of ART was 81 months. A total of 696 (48%) participants reported having used at least one non-HIV medication. Among the 1,519 non-HIV medications used, 550 (36%) had not been prescribed and 397 (26%) were from the nervous system class. Individuals who were more likely to report the use of at least one non-HIV medication included those who had been treated in an Abidjan HIV clinic, had a high school education level, had a monthly income between 152 and 304 euros, had a poor perceived health status, had WHO advanced clinical stage, had used traditional medicine products and had not used cotrimoxazole. Almost half PLHIV on ART reported using non-HIV medication. Further research is needed to assess whether the use of non-HIV medication is appropriate given about a third of those medications are not being prescribed.


Early-Transition-Metal Complexes of Functionalized Nonagermanide Clusters: Synthesis and Characterization of [Cp2(MeCN)Ti(η1-Ge9{Si(TMS)3}3)] and K3[Cp2Ti(η1-Ge9{Si(TMS)3}2)2].
Anionic clusters with a homoatomic [Ge9] core are species with Ge atoms in low oxidation states. In this study their reaction with early-transition-metal complexes was investigated. We report the syntheses of Ti(III) complexes of silylated [Ge9] Zintl clusters, which are rare examples of molecular complexes with Ge-Ti interactions. The neutral species [Cp2(MeCN)Ti(η1-Ge9{Si(TMS)3}3)] (1) was obtained by the reaction of K[Ge9{Si(TMS)3}3] with [Cp2TiCl]2 in toluene as dark orange crystals, whereas the reaction of K2[Ge9{Si(TMS)3}2] with [Cp2TiCl]2 in thf and subsequent recrystallization from toluene resulted in dark green crystals of K3[Cp2Ti(η1-Ge9{Si(TMS)3}2)2] (2). Compound 2 contains the trianion [Cp2Ti(η1-Ge9{Si(TMS)3}2)2]3- (2a), which can be described either as a [Cp2Ti]+-bridged [Ge9{Si(TMS)3}2]2- dimer or as a heavily distorted tetrahedral Ti(III) complex bearing two germanide cluster ligands. Both compounds display donor-acceptor interactions between single Ge vertex atoms of the [Ge9] clusters and Ti(III). Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.


Implementation Strategies to Improve Blood Pressure Control in the United States: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and American Medical Association.
Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors that contribute to incident cardiovascular events. A multitude of US and international hypertension guidelines, scientific statements, and policy statements have recommended evidence-based approaches for hypertension management and improved blood pressure (BP) control. These recommendations are based largely on high-quality observational and randomized controlled trial data. However, recent published data demonstrate troubling temporal trends with declining BP control in the United States after decades of steady improvements. Therefore, there is a widening disconnect between what hypertension experts recommend and actual BP control in practice. This scientific statement provides information on the implementation strategies to optimize hypertension management and to improve BP control among adults in the United States. Key approaches include antiracism efforts, accurate BP measurement and increased use of self-measured BP monitoring, team-based care, implementation of policies and programs to facilitate lifestyle change, standardized treatment protocols using team-based care, improvement of medication acceptance and adherence, continuous quality improvement, financial strategies, and large-scale dissemination and implementation. Closing the gap between scientific evidence, expert recommendations, and achieving BP control, particularly among disproportionately affected populations, is urgently needed to improve cardiovascular health.


An emotional discrete controller PSO tuned and designed for a real industrial pumping system.
The application of automation techniques to water pump systems, combined with modern control techniques, has been increasing the hydraulic and energy efficiency of such systems. In this context, the objective of this work is to present an intelligent method of flow control based on Brain Emotional Learning Basic Intelligent Control (BELBIC), which will be applied to an experimental workbench of a pumping system, located in the Energy Efficiency and Energy Quality Laboratory (LEEQE) at Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). The parameters of this controller are optimized with a particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique with minimization of Integral Absolute Error (IAE). Initial tests were performed in a computational environment so that the system's performance could be pre-tested, thereby the dynamics of the system was modeled from real data generated in the process. The experimental results were obtained through the implementation of this control system in a programmable logic controller (PLC), which was the device responsible for all the automation of the workbench previously mentioned. The data of this workbench were collected using a supervisory system exclusively developed for this work. These data were then used to analyze the performance of the proposed control system, which demonstrated that its behavior was efficient.


[Clinical studies in the effect of operative strategies on the hemodynamics in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting].
To study the influence of anastomoses sequence on the hemodynamics in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to investigate the strategy to stabilize the hemodynamics. From March 2005 to March 2007, 67 patients with serious triple-vessel coronary artery lesions (male 45, female 22) with a age range from 44 to 81-years-old were enrolled for off-pump CABG. All the patients underwent left internal mammary artery-left anterior descending branch (LIMA-LAD) anastomose firstly, followed by the foreword anastomose of the other two vessels. According to the anastomose sequence of posterior descending branch (PDA) and obtuse marginal branch (OM), the patients were divided into three groups. Group I (n = 22) did the sequence of PDA-OM-aortic root (Ao). Group II (n = 14) did the sequence of Ao-PDA-OM. Group III (n = 31) did the sequence of Ao-OM-PDA. The hemodynamics markers, including heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP), mean artery pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), left ventricular-stroke work index (LVSWI) and right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI), were analyzed before LIMA-LAD anastomose to serve as baseline. And these markers were re-measured at LIMA-LAD anastomose, immediately after LIMA-LAD anastomose, at PDA anastomose and at OM anastomose. All the patients survived after off-pump CABG. Compared with the baseline, there were no significant hemodynamic changes when doing LIMA-LAD anastomose. When the anastomose finished, the hemodynamic indices improved significantly. When performing OM anastomose, HR and CVP increased significantly, and MAP, CI, LVSWI and RVSWI decreased remarkably in group I and group III, while there were no significant changes of MAP, CI and RVSWI in group II . When performing PDA anastomose, HR and CVP increased significantly, and MAP, CI, LVSWI and RVSWI decreased remarkably in group I and group II, while there were no significant hemodynamic changes in group III except HR. Proximal anastomose first when performing off-pump CABG, followed by distal anastomoses of target vessels is beneficial to those who have hard exposure and difficult anastomose of OM and PDA.


The diverse functions of GAPDH: views from different subcellular compartments.
Multiple roles for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) have been recently appreciated. In addition to the cytoplasm where the majority of GAPDH is located under the basal condition, GAPDH is also found in the particulate fractions, such as the nucleus, the mitochondria, and the small vesicular fractions. When cells are exposed to various stressors, dynamic subcellular re-distribution of GAPDH occurs. Here we review these multifunctional properties of GAPDH, especially linking them to its oligomerization, posttranslational modification, and subcellular localization. This includes mechanistic descriptions of how S-nitrosylation of GAPDH under oxidative stress may lead to cell death/dysfunction via nuclear translocation of GAPDH, which is counteracted by a cytosolic GOSPEL. GAPDH is also involved in various diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders and cancers. Therapeutic strategies to these conditions based on molecular understanding of GAPDH are discussed.


Risk of coronary artery disease in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
Current treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has improved survival and allowed infected patients to develop atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). Specific strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in the infected population have not been developed. It is necessary to know the magnitude of cardiovascular risk in this population. This study aimed to assess cardiovascular risk using a well-known clinical score and to investigate coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) in this population. This was a cross-sectional study. Adults with HIV infection were studied. Demographic, clinical and anthropometric data, serum glucose and lipids were obtained. Cardiovascular risk was calculated through Framingham risk score (FRS) and CACS. Categorical variables were compared by Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and continuous variables were analyzed by Student t test or Mann-Whitney test. An analysis of concordance between FRS and CACS was performed using kappa statistic. Forty patients, aged 45.9 ± 8.1 years, were studied. Age of risk for CAD were found in 30.0%, hypertension in 55.0%, diabetes in 10.0%, smoking in 35.0%, dyslipidemia in 67.5% and family history of CAD in 57.5%. Altered levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were found in 30.0%, 25.0% and 82.5%, respectively. HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were altered more frequently among protease inhibitors users. The FRS classified the risk as low for 72.5%, moderate for 25.0%, and high for 2.5%. CACS > 0 was found in 32.5% of the patients, in 67.5% the score was low, in 17.5% moderate, and in 15.0% high. Concordance between FRS and CACS showed a kappa = 0.435. There is a high prevalence of risk factors for CAD in the studied population, with dyslipidemia being the most frequent. HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were the most frequently altered factors and were associated with the use of protease inhibitors. Risk assessed by the FRS was low in most cases. CACS > 0 was found in 32.5%, demonstrating the need to re-evaluate the strategies for assessing cardiovascular risk in the HIV-infected population.


[Efficacy and safety of high dose NK 622 (toremifene citrate) in tamoxifen failed patients with breast cancer].
Efficacy and safety of high dose administration of NK 622 (toremifene citrate) were studied in tamoxifen (TAM)--failed patients with breast cancer. The patients included in the study were the following failure cases in TAM therapy: unresponded cases in TAM therapy (TAM unresponded cases), temporary responded (CR, PR) but progressed cases in TAM therapy (TAM temporary responded cases), and those relapsing during TAM adjuvant therapy or within 6 months after the adjuvant therapy (TAM adjuvant failed cases). NK 622 of a 120 mg/day dose were orally given daily once at least for 8 weeks. The response rates in evaluable cases were 6.3% (1/16) in TAM unresponded cases, 11.1% (1/9) in TAM temporary responded cases, 15.4% (4/26) in TAM adjuvant failed cases, and 11.8% (6/51) in total cases including 1 CR and 5 PR cases. Long NC in which duration of NC maintained for more than 6 months was observed in 18.8% (3/16) of TAM unresponded cases, 22.2% (2/9) of TAM temporary responded cases, 11.5% (3/26) of TAM adjuvant failed cases, and 15.7% (8/51) of total cases. Rates of response and long NC were 14.3 and 19.0% in postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor positive cancer, respectively. A median value of duration to the onset of response was 34 days (15-137). Median duration of response and long NC were 127 days (39-381) and 238.5 days (178-281), respectively. Adverse effects were experienced in 3 (5.1%) of 59 patients: nausea in 1, vertigo in 1 and increase of GOT, GPT, LDH and gamma-GTP in another 1. The side effects were moderate and reversible. From these results, NK 622 seems to become a safe and effective drug for TAM-failed patients with breast cancer by using a 120 mg/day dose.


Mitigation of Mineral Deposition in Carbonate and Sandstone Rocks Using Green Scale Inhibitors.
Waterflooding is potentially a viable approach to enhance oil recovery, though its efficacy can profoundly be compromised due to formation damage as a result of inorganic scale deposition. In this study, a series of high-temperature core flooding experiments were conducted to evaluate two green scale inhibitors (SIs) of folic acid and inulin as alternative inhibitors to mitigate mineral deposition. The co-injection of two incompatible brines (with and without SIs) for two flow rates of 0.5 and 3 mL/min into two core samples of dolomite and sandstone was experimentally investigated. The results showed that folic acid would inhibit scale formation as much as 45-49%, at the lower flow rate, compared to inulin with an efficiency of 29-39%, at the higher flow rate. Moreover, computed tomography imaging technique showed that scale formation and fine migration would be dominant mechanisms for formation damage in dolomite and sandstone rocks, respectively. The theoretical study based on surface energy also confirmed the experimental results in terms of the work of adhesion which showed that folic acid would mitigate the calcite deposition on rock surfaces approximately 55%. Finally, a phosphonate-based commercial SI was compared with the green SIs which reaffirmed their potencies.


Behavioral Interventions in Long-Term Care Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care (LTC) centers have adopted a series of measures that have affected the physical and cognitive health of patients. The routines of the patients, as well as the interventions of professionals, have been altered. In the case presented here, our aim was to explain the effect that the strong confinement due to the spread of the first COVID-19 wave in Spain had on a 75-year-old resident in an LTC center, with cognitive and behavioral symptomatology compatible with a diagnosis of mixed dementia, as well as the measures that the center adopted to manage the lockdown situation in the best possible way, including personalized attention protocols and a video call program. Different nosological hypotheses are also raised using a semiological analysis, including the analysis of the initial and continuation diagnostic protocols, as well as the therapeutic options.


ABCB1 and ABCC11 confer resistance to eribulin in breast cancer cell lines.
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the resistance of breast cancer to eribulin. Seven eribulin-resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF7/E, BT474/E, ZR75-1/E, SKBR3/E, MDA-MB-231/E, Hs578T/E, and MDA-MB-157/E) were established. mRNA and protein expression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) and subfamily C member 11 (ABCC11) increased in all eribulin-resistant cell lines compared to the parental cell lines. When ABCB1 or ABCC11 expression was inhibited by small interfering RNA in MCF7/E, BT474/E, and MDA-MB-231/E cells, eribulin sensitivity was partially restored. Moreover, eribulin resistance was attenuated additively by inhibiting ABCB1 and ABCC11 in MCF7/E cells. Additionally, overexpression of exogenous ABCB1 or ABCC11 in HEK293T cells conferred resistance to eribulin. MCF7/E and MDA-MB-231/E cells showed cross-resistance to paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil. Inhibition of ABCB1 partially restored paclitaxel and doxorubicin sensitivity. Partial restoration of fluorouracil sensitivity was induced by inhibiting ABCC11 in MCF7/E and MDA-MB-231/E cells. Both ABCB1 and ABCC11 are involved in the development of eribulin resistance in breast cancer cells in vitro regardless of the breast cancer subtype. Thus, ABCB1 and ABCC11 expression may be used as a biomarker for predicting the response to eribulin in patients with breast cancer. Concomitant inhibition of ABCB1 and ABCC11 might help enhance the antitumor effects of eribulin.


[Niels Stensen (1638-1686)].
The paper reminds of the great Danish anatomist, geologist, and bishop Niels Stensen (1638-1686) whose 300th anniversary of his death was in 1986. In anatomy his name is linked especially with the parotideous duct (Ductus Stenonianus) which was discovered by him in 1660.


Approaches to promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis on orthopedic implant surface.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play a critical role in the osseointegration of bone and orthopedic implant. However, osseointegration between the Ti-based implants and the surrounding bone tissue must be improved due to titanium's inherent defects. Surface modification stands out as a versatile technique to create instructive biomaterials that can actively direct stem cell fate. Here, we summarize the current approaches to promoting BMSC osteogenesis on the surface of titanium and its alloys. We will highlight the utilization of the unique properties of titanium and its alloys in promoting tissue regeneration, and discuss recent advances in understanding their role in regenerative medicine. We aim to provide a systematic and comprehensive review of approaches to promoting BMSC osteogenesis on the orthopedic implant surface.


Total arterial compliance in ambulatory hypertension during selective beta1-adrenergic receptor blockade and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.
Aortic root flow and pressure estimates were obtained noninvasively with Doppler echocardiography and calibrated subclavian artery pulse tracing in 30 subjects with ambulatory hypertension in a randomized, crossover study with 4 weeks' treatment and washout periods. Total arterial compliance, assessed by use of a three-element Windkessel model of the arterial tree, increased 42% with atenolol (50-100 mg once daily), and 7% (p = NS) with captopril (25-50 mg twice daily). Atenolol reduced mean arterial pressure by 15%, heart rate by 22%, and cardiac output by 14%, and increased acceleration time of aortic root flow by 17% and stroke volume and ejection time each by 11%. Captopril reduced mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance each by 7%. Acceleration time of aortic root flow, ejection time, heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output were not significantly changed by captopril. We conclude that total arterial compliance, at the operational blood pressure, increases during selective beta1-adrenergic receptor blockade in subjects with ambulatory hypertension. Although the main mechanism may be a reduction in mean arterial pressure, it should be considered whether reduced heart rate may play an additional role. The nonsignificant increase in total arterial compliance during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition may primarily be a consequence of a modest reduction of the mean arterial pressure.


End-of-life care in a cardiology department: have we improved?
End-of-life care is not usually a priority in cardiology departments. We sought to evaluate the changes in end-of-life care after the introduction of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order protocol. Retrospective analysis of all deaths in a cardiology department in two periods, before and after the introduction of the protocol. Comparison of demographic characteristics, use of DNR orders, and end-of-life care issues between both periods, according to the presence in the second period of the new DNR sheet (Group A), a conventional DNR order (Group B) or the absence of any DNR order (Group C). The number of deaths was similar in both periods (n = 198 vs. n = 197). The rate of patients dying with a DNR order increased significantly (57.1% vs. 68.5%; P = 0.02). Only 4% of patients in both periods were aware of the decision taken about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Patients in Group A received the DNR order one day earlier, and 24.5% received it within the first 24 h of admission (vs. 2.6% in the first period; P < 0.001). All patients in Group A with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) had shock therapies deactivated (vs. 25.0% in the first period; P = 0.02). The introduction of a DNR order protocol may improve end-of-life care in cardiac patients by increasing the use and shortening the time of registration of DNR orders. It may also contribute to increase ICD deactivation in patients with these orders in place. However, the introduction of the sheet in late stages of the disease failed to improve patient participation.


Relationships of body weight, forage composition, and corn supplementation to feed intake and digestion by Holstein steer calves consuming bermudagrass hay ad libitum.
Holstein steer calves (101 to 350 kg BW) consumed bermudagrass hay ad libitum without or with supplemental ground corn up to 1.0% of BW. As BW increased, total DMI increased quadratically (-2.459 + .05448 [BW]-.000073 [BW2] + .540 [corn DMI]; R2 = .83, sy.x = .655). Each kilogram of corn DM decreased bermudagrass DMI by .46 kg. Total digestible OM intake (kg) increased with BW and corn supplementation (.314 + .0127 [BW] + .441 [corn OM intake]; R2 = .79, sy.x = .444). Feed intake level accounted for approximately 2.5 times more variability in total digestible OM intake than digestion did. Corn supplementation decreased digestion of bermudagrass NDF (62.50 - 8.468 [corn DMI, % BW]; R2 = .13, sy.x = 8.121), with a similar decrease across BW. Increasing bermudagrass DMI (% of BW) decreased bermudagrass NDF digestion slightly, but variation accounted for was only 33% of that attributable to corn DMI (% of BW). Concentrations of common fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, and ADL) in bermudagrass explained very little variation in feed intake and digestion, indicating considerable influence of other factors. Bermudagrass intake and digestion were not related, and no substantial interactions were observed among steer BW, corn level, and bermudagrass composition.


Digital clubbing associated with polymyositis and interstitial lung disease.
Clubbing of the fingers is commonly associated with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Although ILD occurs in as many as 40% of patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), clubbing of the digits has never been reported to occur in patients with PM/DM and ILD. We report the first case of clubbing associated with PM/DM and ILD.


Evaluation of an Alternative Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine Regimen in Pediatric Patients.
Conventionally, intravenous N-acetylcysteine (IV-NAC) administration is a 3-bag regimen administered over the course of 21 hours, which increases the risk of reconstitution and administration errors. To minimize errors, an alternative IV-NAC regimen consists of a loading dose (150 mg/kg) followed by a maintenance infusion (15 mg/kg/hr) until termination criteria are met. The aim was to determine the clinical outcomes of an alternative IV-NAC regimen in pediatric patients. A retrospective review of pharmacy dispensing records and diagnostic codes at a pediatric hospital identified patients who received alternative IV-NAC dosing from March 1, 2008, to September 10, 2012, for acetaminophen overdoses. Exclusion criteria included chronic liver disease, initiation of oral or other IV-NAC regimens, and initiation of standard IV-NAC infusion prior to facility transfer. Clinical and laboratory data were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics were utilized. Clinical outcomes and adverse drug reaction incidences were compared between the alternative and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved IV-NAC regimens. Fifty-nine patients (mean age 13.4 ± 4.3 years; range: 2 months-18 years) with acetaminophen overdoses were identified. Upon IV-NAC discontinuation, 45 patients had normal alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations, while 14 patients' ALT concentrations remained elevated (median 140 units/L) but were trending downward. Two patients (3.4%) developed hepatotoxicity (aspartate transaminase/ALT > 1000 units/L). No patients developed hepatic failure, were listed for a liver transplant, were intubated, underwent hemodialysis, or died. Two patients (3.4%) developed anaphylactoid reactions. No known medication or administration errors occurred. Clinical outcome incidences of the studied endpoints with the alternative IV-NAC regimen are at the lower end of published incidence ranges compared to the FDA IV-NAC regimen for acetaminophen overdoses. This alternative IV-NAC regimen appears to be effective and well tolerated among pediatric patients when compared to the FDA-approved regimen. It may also result in fewer reconstitution and administration errors, leading to improved patient safety.


Coordination chemistry and reactivity of zinc complexes supported by a phosphido pincer ligand.
The preparation and characterization of new Zn(II) complexes of the type [(PPP)ZnR] in which R = Et (1) or N(SiMe(3))(2) (2) and PPP is a tridentate monoanionic phosphido ligand (PPP-H = bis(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine) are reported. Reaction of ZnEt(2) and Zn[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) with one equivalent of proligand PPP-H produced the corresponding tetrahedral zinc ethyl (1) and zinc amido (2) complexes in high yield. Homoleptic (PPP)(2) Zn complex 3 was obtained by reaction of the precursors with two equivalents of the proligand. Structural characterization of 1-3 was achieved by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C, and (31)P) and X-ray crystallography (3). Variable-temperature (1)H and (31)P NMR studies highlighted marked flexibility of the phosphido pincer ligand in coordination at the metal center. A DFT calculation on the compounds provided theoretical support for this behavior. The activities of 1 and 2 toward the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and of L- and rac-lactide were investigated, also in combination with an alcohol as external chain-transfer agent. Polyesters with controlled molecular parameters (M(n), end groups) and low polydispersities were obtained. A DFT study on ring-opening polymerization promoted by these complexes highlighted the importance of the coordinative flexibility of the ancillary ligand to promote monomer coordination at the reactive zinc center. Preliminary investigations showed the ability of these complexes to promote copolymerization of L-lactide and ε-caprolactone to achieve random copolymers whose microstructure reproduces the composition of the monomer feed.


Parental satisfaction and the ability to recall the physician's name.
During urgent care visits, families may not see their regular physician and may not even recall the name of their provider. The authors conducted a cross-sectional parental satisfaction survey at pediatric ambulatory clinics to assess whether parent recall of their treating physician's name is associated with parental satisfaction. For urgent care, ability to recall the physician's name was positively associated with parental satisfaction (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.76-2.60). Factors associated with dissatisfaction were parking difficulty (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.26-0.57) and increasing visit time (OR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.81-0.94). In urgent care clinics, not being able to recall the treating physician's name is associated with dissatisfaction. Although there are many factors associated with satisfaction that are not in the physician's control, there may be simple actions associated with improved satisfaction that physicians can implement, such as clearly introducing themselves and making sure parents remember their name.


Report of a patient with refractory atrial tachycardia whose heart rate was controlled using ivabradine.
Ivabradine is an effective treatment for focal atrial tachycardia. However, it may also be effective for re-entrant atrial arrhythmia. An 85-year-old woman with a history of underlying ischaemic cardiomyopathy complained of worsening symptoms of heart failure because of rapid atrial tachycardia that was resistant to several rate-controlling drugs, but responded well to ivabradine. An electrophysiology study demonstrated a roof-dependent macro-re-entrant tachycardia of the left atrium. Linear ablation of the left atrial roof resulted in termination of the tachycardia. Thus, ivabradine can be an effective treatment for re-entrant atrial tachycardia.


Skin Commensal Fungus Malassezia and Its Lipases.
Malassezia is the most abundant genus in the fungal microflora found on human skin, and it is associated with various skin diseases. Among the 18 different species of Malassezia that have been identified to date, M. restricta and M. globosa are the most predominant fungal species found on human skin. Several studies have suggested a possible link between Malassezia and skin disorders. However, our knowledge on the physiology and pathogenesis of Malassezia in human body is still limited. Malassezia is unable to synthesize fatty acids; hence, it uptakes external fatty acids as a nutrient source for survival, a characteristic compensated by the secretion of lipases and degradation of sebum to produce and uptake external fatty acids. Although it has been reported that the activity of secreted lipases may contribute to pathogenesis of Malassezia, majority of the data were indirect evidences; therefore, enzymes' role in the pathogenesis of Malassezia infections is still largely unknown. This review focuses on the recent advances on Malassezia in the context of an emerging interest for lipases and summarizes the existing knowledge on Malassezia, diseases associated with the fungus, and the role of the reported lipases in its physiology and pathogenesis.


Routine endoscopy using a magnifying endoscope for gastric cancer diagnosis.
It has been reported that the fine mucosal patterns of the gastric pits can be observed with magnification and this may assist in preliminary evaluation prior to histological diagnosis. The aim of this prospective study was to clarify the relationship between the fine mucosal patterns of gastric lesions and histological findings, and also to evaluate the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy during routine endoscopy. A recently developed magnifying video endoscope, which enables magnification up to 80 times, was used for gastrointestinal endoscopy in 318 patients between January 2000 and January 2001, at the National Shikoku Cancer Center. In total, 232 lesions were detected. However, patients diagnosed by conventional endoscopy as having advanced gastric cancer, malignant lymphoma, or submucosal tumor were excluded from the study. The endoscopic findings for 211 lesions included in this study were compared with the histological findings. Coarse and irregular mucosal patterns were observed in elevated-type cancers by magnifying endoscopy, and in depressed-type cancers there was a finer pit pattern than in the surrounding mucosa, destruction or disappearance of the mucosal microstructure, and abnormal capillary vessels. The magnifying endoscopy results were closely related to the mucosal microstructure observed by dissecting microscopy and to the histological features. The rate of presumptive diagnosis of small gastric cancers was significantly higher when a magnifying endoscope was used compared with conventional endoscopy. In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of magnifying endoscopy as a diagnostic method were 96.0% and 95.5%, respectively. The fine mucosal patterns and the features of capillary vessels, which were identified with the magnifying endoscope, correlated well with the pathological diagnosis. Magnifying endoscopy will be very useful in predicting the histological diagnosis during routine endoscopic procedures.


Assembly of colicin A in the outer membrane of producing Escherichia coli cells requires both phospholipase A and one porin, but phospholipase A is sufficient for secretion.
Three oligomeric forms of colicin A with apparent molecular masses of about 95 to 98 kDa were detected on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels loaded with unheated samples from colicin A-producing cells of Escherichia coli. These heat-labile forms, called colicins Au, were visualized both on immunoblots probed with monoclonal antibodies against colicin A and by radiolabeling. Cell fractionation studies show that these forms of colicin A were localized in the outer membrane whether or not the producing cells contained the cal gene, which encodes the colicin A lysis protein responsible for colicin A release in the medium. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that their assembly into the outer membrane, as measured by their heat modifiable migration in SDS gels, was an efficient process. Colicins Au were produced in various null mutant strains, each devoid of one major outer membrane protein, except in a mutant devoid of both OmpC and OmpF porins. In cells devoid of outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA), colicin A was not expressed. Colicins Au were detected on immunoblots of induced cells probed with either polyclonal antibodies to OmpF or monoclonal antibodies to OMPLA, indicating that they were associated with both OmpF and OMPLA. Similar heat-labile forms were obtained with various colicin A derivatives, demonstrating that the C-terminal domain of colicin A, but not the hydrophobic hairpin present in this domain, was involved in their formation.


Rate/Concentration Kinetic Petals: A Transient Method to Examine the Interplay of Surface Reaction Processes.
Transient pulse response experiments are used to construct rate/concentration kinetic dependencies, RC Petals and provide a new method to distinguish the timing and interplay of adsorption, surface reaction, and product formation on complex (industrial) materials. A petal shape arises as the dynamic "reaction-diffusion" experiment forces the concentration and reaction rate to return to zero. In contrast to the typical steady-state "Langmuir-type" RC dependence, RC petals have two branches, which arise as a result of decoupled gas and surface concentrations in the non-steady-state regime. To demonstrate this approach, the characteristics of petal shapes using ammonia decomposition as a probe reaction are presented. Ammonia, hydrogen, and nitrogen transformation rates are compared on three simple materials: iron, cobalt, and a bimetallic CoFe preparation when ammonia is pulsed at 550 °C in a low-pressure diffusion reactor. All materials demonstrate a two-branch kinetic RC dependence for ammonia adsorption, and rate constants are quantified in the low-coverage regime. We found that H2 and N2 product formation was dependent on the concentration of surface intermediates for all materials with one exception: for cobalt, an additional fast hydrogen generation process was observed; the rate of which coincided with ammonia adsorption. Nitrogen generation was only significant for CoFe and cobalt and on the CoFe catalyst, a self-inhibition property was observed. A method for estimating the number of active sites based on the RC petals is presented and was applied to the iron and CoFe samples. The surface coverage and rate of formation/conversion of surface intermediates are interpreted from the examination of shape characteristics of the RC petals for each material.


Pulmonary arterial pressure in children with allergic rhinitis.
Chronic upper airway obstruction may lead to increased pulmonary arterial pressure in childhood. Allergic rhinitis is one of the frequent causes of upper airway obstruction by nasal blockage. The aims of the study were to evaluate the pulmonary arterial pressures in children with allergic rhinitis and the effect of topical corticosteroid therapy. Forty-nine children composed of 27 subjects with seasonal and 22 subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis were enrolled in this study. The pulmonary arterial pressures were measured by using Doppler echocardiography. The pretreatment pulmonary arterial systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures of study group were significantly higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). The pulmonary arterial systolic and mean pressures of the patient group significantly decreased at the end of study (p < 0.05), whereas the decrease of the diastolic pressure was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) after the treatment of a topical corticosteroid, mometasone furoate (100 microg per day), for 8 weeks. Our results showed that children with allergic rhinitis have higher pulmonary arterial pressure levels compared with healthy controls and that increased pulmonary arterial pressure levels due to allergic rhinitis are reversible by using nasal topical corticosteroids. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical aspect of increased pulmonary arterial pressure.


Exploiting electronic strategies to stabilize a planar tetracoordinate carbon in cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
A new approach to stabilize compounds containing a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), embedded in aromatic hydrocarbons, is presented herein. This is achieved by using ligands that promote the formation of a 3c-2e σ-bond with the ptC under two conditions: without altering the sp2 hybridization of the aromatic carbons; and containing empty orbitals perpendicular to the aromatic ring to participate in the aromatic π-electronic delocalization.


Urinary mutagenicity and oxidative status of wildland firefighters working at prescribed burns in a Midwestern US forest.
Wildland firefighters (WLFFs) experience repeated exposures to wildland fire smoke (WFS). However, studies about WLFFs remain regionally limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of WFS exposure on urinary mutagenicity and cell oxidation among WLFFs who work at prescribed burns in the Midwestern USA. A total of 120 spot urine samples was collected from 19 firefighters right before (pre-shift), immediately after (post-shift), and the morning (next-morning) following work shifts on prescribed burn days (burn days) and regular workdays (non-burn days). The levels of urinary mutagenicity, 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde and oxidised guanine species (Ox-GS) were measured. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine the difference of cross-shift changes in the concentrations of urinary biomarkers. Post-shift levels of creatinine-corrected urinary mutagenicity and 8-isoprostane were non-significantly higher than pre-shift levels (1.16× and 1.64×; p=0.09 and 0.07) on burn days. Creatinine-corrected Ox-GS levels increased significantly in next-morning samples following WFS exposure (1.62×, p=0.03). A significant difference in cross-shift changes between burn and non-burn days was observed in 8-isoprostane (2.64×, p=0.03) and Ox-GS (3.00×, p=0.02). WLFFs who contained the fire (performed holding tasks) had a higher pre-morning to next-morning change in urinary mutagenicity compared with those who were lighting fires during the prescribed burns (1.56×, p=0.03). Compared with the other regions, WLFFs who worked in Midwestern forests had an elevated urinary mutagenicity and systemic oxidative changes associated with WFS exposure at prescribed burns.


Westernization, intuitive eating, and BMI: an exploration of Jordanian adolescents.
The purpose of this study was to validate the Arabic-version of the adapted Marin Bidimensional Acculturation Scale and investigate the relationship between Westernization, intuitive eating, and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of Jordanian female adolescents. A total of 199 subjects between the ages of 11-18 were surveyed. Participants who scored higher on the Arabic domain exhibited higher Intuitive Eating Scale (IES) intrinsic subscale scores (r = 0.147, P = 0.048) suggesting that those who are more orientated toward Arabic culture may respond more naturally to physical hunger cues than their more Westernized counterparts. Reinforcing intuitive eating attitudes and behaviors and emphasizing body ideals resonant with the Arabic culture may propagate the continuation of intuitive eating in this population, potentially reducing the risk of obesity and other nutrition-related non-communicable diseases.


Generation of IL-2 dependent bovine cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones reactive against BHV-1 infected target cells: loss of genetic restriction and virus specificity.
To gain insight into the mechanisms of immunity to bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) in particular the importance of the T-cell response, we attempted to clone bovine cytotoxic T lymphocytes that were specific for BHV-1 infected autologous target cells. A number of bovine T cell clones were generated by limiting dilution in the presence of bovine recombinant IL-2 and BHV-1 infected target cells as feeder layers. These clones were maintained in culture on crude IL-2 containing supernatants. In functional studies, 4 of the 16 T cell clones were shown to have high levels of cytotoxic activity specific for autolgous BHV-1 infected target cells with significantly lower cytotoxic activity against uninfected target cells and heterologous BHV-1 infected target cells. Continuous culturing of these 4 T cell clones, using either the crude IL-2 or high concentrations of recombinant bovine IL-2, resulted in the loss of both MHC restricted and BHV-1 specific cytotoxic activity. These clones now exhibit promiscuous type cytotoxic activity with the ability to lyse a variety of target cells. Using flow cytometric analysis, the phenotype of the T cell clones were shown to have bovine T lymphocyte characteristics including expression of the BoT8 marker. This is the first report of cloned bovine cytotoxic T lymphocytes reactive against BHV-1 and the generation from these clones of promiscuous cytotoxic activity against both virus-infected and non-infected bovine target cells.


Bioactive natural products in COVID-19 therapy.
The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than six million deaths worldwide during the last 2 years. Effective therapeutic agents are greatly needed, yet promising magic bullets still do not exist. Numerous natural products (cordycepin, gallinamide A, plitidepsin, telocinobufagin, and tylophorine) have been widely studied and play a potential function in treating COVID-19. In this paper, we reviewed published studies (from May 2021 to April 2022) relating closely to bioactive natural products (isolated from medicinal plants, animals products, and marine organisms) in COVID-19 therapy in vitro to provide some essential guidance for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug research and development.


Colonoscopy: an evidence-based approach.
Colonoscopy is an invasive, endoscopic procedure undertaken to visualise the inner lumen of the colon and is used for a variety of diagnostic purposes. The procedure is increasingly performed by nurse endoscopists. This article provides an overview of the indications and contraindications for colonoscopy and describes various elements of the procedure, including consent, sedation and bowel preparation within the context of the evidence base. The article also discusses patient care before, during and after the procedure.


Financial Incapacity of Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: What Neurologists Need to Know about Where the Impairment Lies.
Research in the last decade has focused on assessing financial capacity and incapacity mainly in old age, but new research has turned to address the question of how financial incapacity can be predicted by cognitive factors. The aim of this study was to identify which cognitive domains predict financial capacity and the relevant cognitive skills of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) in order to assist neurologists in functional assessment and further patient referral. In this study, 109 patients diagnosed with mild AD were examined with a number of neuropsychological tests: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Functional Rating Scale for Symptoms of Dementia (FRSSD), Functional Cognitive Assessment Scale (FUCAS), Trail Making Test (TMT)-Part B, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT)-copy condition and delayed recall condition, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Boston Naming Test, Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), digit span forward and backward, WAIS-R digit symbol substitution test, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Legal Capacity for Property Law Transactions Assessment Scale (LCPLTAS). LCPLTAS total score and relevant subdomains were best predicted only by the score of one item coming from MMSE: subtraction of serial sevens. This is the only measure of arithmetic testing in use for the Greek geriatric population. Financial capacity is severely impaired in the group of mild AD patients. In order to prevent financial exploitation cases, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and geriatrists should pay close attention to the information from the relevant arithmetic question of MMSE, as it is one of the most widely administered screening tests in clinical settings.


Detection of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radicals by EPR spectroscopy after ischaemia and reperfusion of the rat kidney.
Recent studies suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals are involved in mediating renal reperfusion injury. EPR spectroscopy and spin trapping with the spin traps DMPO and PBN, were used to detect and quantitate the formation of hydroxyl radicals in rat kidney after ischaemia-reperfusion in vivo and in vitro in the isolated rat kidney perfused in the absence of leucocytes. EPR analysis of homogenised kidneys and of venous samples did not detect radical adducts with either spin trap. With PBN, radical adducts were not detected in vitro. When DMPO was used as the spin trap in kidneys perfused without albumin in the perfusate, EPR signals characteristic of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radical adducts were detected during early reperfusion following ischaemia. These studies confirm the generation of hydroxyl radicals during ischaemia-reperfusion in kidney. During reperfusion the total DMPO adduct concentration reached 4.35 +/- 1.05 nmol/g kidney/3 min, p < 0.05. In control kidneys total adduct were present at lower concentration (2.55 +/- 1.1 nmol/g kidney/3 min). Addition of 15 mM dimethylthiourea abolished formation of these adducts following ischaemia-reperfusion but did not prevent a reduction in glomerular filtration rate. These results indicate that significant levels of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radicals are formed in the absence of circulating neutrophils during early renal reperfusion following ischaemia.