Stigma and the Intersection of Ethnicity, Gender, Romantic Relationships, and Serious Mental Illness: Perspectives from Latinxs with Schizophrenia and Their Family Members.
Romantic relationships are a fundamental part of the human experience and contribute to quality of life and recovery of people with serious mental illness (SMI). However, few psychosocial interventions exist to address this issue among people with schizophrenia, and no existing intervention focuses on Latinxs. The intersectionality of being Latinx and having schizophrenia can create a unique experience regarding stigma, romantic relationships, and gender. Guided by intersectionality theory, this study used qualitative content analysis and an intersectionality template analysis to examine data from interviews with 22 participants-11 people with diagnosed schizophrenia and their identified primary family member. Overall, findings illustrate perspectives about romantic relationships in a sample of Latinxs with schizophrenia and highlight the stigma that people with schizophrenia and their families can experience. Five key themes emerged from the data: obstacles to romantic relationships, advantages of romantic relationships, disadvantages of romantic relationships, gender-role issues and satisfaction with life, and hope for the future. Participants reported that stigma related to schizophrenia and the lack of employment were the main obstacles to establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. These findings provide an insider perspective on romantic relationships in a sample of Latinxs with schizophrenia and elucidate the importance of using an intersectionality lens to guide culturally responsive approaches.


Nesfatin-1 stimulates fatty-acid oxidation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase in STZ-induced type 2 diabetic mice.
Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide involved in energy homeostasis. Recently, nesfatin-1 was reported to decrease blood glucose level and improve insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed rats. However, little information is known about the influence of nesfatin-1 on lipid metabolism either in physiological or diabetic condition. This study undertook whether nesfatin-1 was involved in the pathophysiology in Streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic mice (T2DM), which was induced by a combination of high-calorie diet and two low-doses Streptozotocin. We observed that plasma nesfatin-1 was significantly increased while expression of nesfatin-1 neurons were decreased in hypothalamus in diabetes group compared to only high-calorie diet control group; intravenous injection of nesfatin-1 decreased 0-1h, 0-2h, 0-3h cumulative food intake in T2DM, but 0-24h total food intake had no difference between groups. Body weight and plasma FFA were normalized after nesfatin-1(10 µg/Kg) administration for 6 days. These results suggested that nesfatin-1 improved lipid disorder in T2DM. It was found that blood glucose and insulin resistance coefficient decreased with treatment of nesfatin-1 (both in 1 µg/Kg and 10 µg/Kg doses) in diabetes mice. For further understanding the role of nesfatin-1 on lipid metabolism, we detected p-AMPK and p-ACC of skeletal muscle in T2DM using western blotting. The expression of p-AMPK and p-ACC increased when nesfatin-1 was given with doses 1 µg/Kg but not in doses 10 µg/Kg. Taken together, nesfatin-1 participated in the development of T2DM and stimulated free fatty acid utilization via AMPK-ACC pathway in skeletal muscle in T2DM.


Gastric expression of IL-17A and IFNγ in Helicobacter pylori infected individuals is related to symptoms.
Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori leads to gastritis and in a subpopulation of infected individuals to ulcers and cancer. Bacterial virulence factors and host immune inflammatory responses are risk factors related to disease. CD4+ T cells secrete cytokines that promote inflammation and an anti-bacterial response in the gastric mucosa during infection. The aim of the study was to investigate the pattern of expression of CD4+ T cell derived cytokines, IL-17A and IFNγ in paired antrum and corpus biopsies and correlate it to H. pylori infection outcome. Gene and protein expression of IL-17A and IFNγ was analyzed in gastric biopsies from H. pylori infected subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) or gastric ulcer; and for comparison uninfected individuals. Upregulation of IL-17A and IFNγ gene expression was seen in corpus and antrum biopsies of H. pylori infected individuals with NUD compared to in uninfected controls. The expression of these cytokines correlated significantly with each other. Immunofluorescence staining revealed increased frequencies of IL-17A+ and IFNγ+ cells in antrum biopsies of gastric ulcer patients compared to of H. pylori infected NUD individuals; positive cells were not detected in any of the biopsies of uninfected controls. The frequencies of IFNγ and IL-17A+ cells correlated positively with inflammation in the antrum, but not the corpus, of H. pylori infected individuals. In the antrum, while there was no significant evidence of correlation between IFNγ and bacterial score, a positive correlation between bacterial score and IL-17A+ cells was seen. In H. pylori infected individuals, the frequencies of IFNγ and IL-17A+ cells were increased in the antrum, particularly in patients with H. pylori induced gastric ulcers. Even though H. pylori colonized both the corpus and antrum regions of the stomach, the cytokine responses and subsequent pathology were mainly detected in the antrum.


Biodegradable Mineral Plastics.
Mineral plastics are a promising class of bio-inspired materials that offer exceptional properties, like self-heal ability, stretchability in the hydrogel state, and high hardness, toughness, transparency, and non-flammability in the dry state along with reversible transformation into the hydrogel by addition of water. This enables easy reshape-ability and recycling like the solubility in mild acids to subsequently form mineral plastics again by base addition. However, current mineral plastics rely on petrochemistry, are hardly biodegradable, and thus persistent in nature. This work presents the next generation of mineral plastics, which are bio-based and biodegradable, making them a promising, new class of polymers for the development of environmentally friendly materials. Physically cross-linked (poly)glutamic-acid (PGlu)-based mineral plastics are synthesized using various alcohol-water mixtures, metal ion ratios and molecular weights. The rheological properties are easily adjusted using these parameters. The general procedure involves addition of equimolar solution of CaCl2 to PGlu in equal volumes followed by addition of iPrOH (iPrOH:H2 O = 1:1) under vigorous stirring conditions. The ready biodegradability of PGlu/CaFe mineral plastic is confirmed in this study where the elements N, Ca, and Fe present in it tend to act as additional nutrients, supporting the growth of microorganisms and consequently, promoting the biodegradation process.


The use and future perspective of Artificial Intelligence-A survey among German surgeons.
Clinical abundance of artificial intelligence has increased significantly in the last decade. This survey aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge and acceptance of AI applications among surgeons in Germany. A total of 357 surgeons from German university hospitals, academic teaching hospitals and private practices were contacted by e-mail and asked to participate in the anonymous survey. A total of 147 physicians completed the survey. The majority of respondents (n = 85, 52.8%) stated that they were familiar with AI applications in medicine. Personal knowledge was self-rated as average (n = 67, 41.6%) or rudimentary (n = 60, 37.3%) by the majority of participants. On the basis of various application scenarios, it became apparent that the respondents have different demands on AI applications in the area of "diagnosis confirmation" as compared to the area of "therapy decision." For the latter category, the requirements in terms of the error level are significantly higher and more respondents view their application in medical practice rather critically. Accordingly, most of the participants hope that AI systems will primarily improve diagnosis confirmation, while they see their ethical and legal problems with regard to liability as the main obstacle to extensive clinical application. German surgeons are in principle positively disposed toward AI applications. However, many surgeons see a deficit in their own knowledge and in the implementation of AI applications in their own professional environment. Accordingly, medical education programs targeting both medical students and healthcare professionals should convey basic knowledge about the development and clinical implementation process of AI applications in different medical fields, including surgery.


Interest in global surgery rotations among oral and maxillofacial surgical residents in the United States.
This study sought to assess interest in global surgery rotations among current United States (US)-based oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) residents. An anonymous 23-question survey was distributed to 633 current OMS residents in the US to examine resident interest in global surgery rotations during residency. The primary outcome variable was resident interest in participating in global OMS rotations during residency training, whereas the primary predictor variable was the presence of residency faculty involved in global OMS work. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all study variables and univariate/multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of interest in global OMS rotations. A total of 120 residents with an average age of 30.4 ± 3.2 years responded to the survey. At present, 22 (18.5%) residents stated that their residency programs offer some sort of global OMS rotation and 21 (95.5%) of these claimed they were willing to participate in global OMS rotations at their residency program. Out of the residents who stated their program did not offer a global OMS rotation, 86 (87.8%) respondents stated they would be interested in adding a dedicated global OMS rotation to their residency curriculum. The presence of OMS residency faculty involved in global OMS work (p = 0.030) and a resident's willingness to dedicate vacation time to participate in a global surgery rotation (p = 0.005) were associated with increased interest in a global surgery rotation. The majority of respondents would welcome a dedicated global OMS rotation during their residency training.


Differential reactivity in the pulmonary circulation.
A new method for relating regional intravascular resistance to pulmonary arterial, capillary, and venous pressure and volume was used to evaluate local differences of reactivity in the pulmonary blood vessels in the isolated lung lobe of the dog. Intravascular infusion of isoproterenol caused active dilatation of pulmonary arteries and veins. Capillary conductance (1/resistance) and volume increased, possibly as a result of the opening of previously closed capillaries. Serotonin infusion caused active constriction of both the pulmonary arteries and veins. A low dose of serotonin (1.5 mug/min per kg) caused predominant constriction of whichever vessels were upstream (arteries during forward perfusion, veins during reverse perfusion). A high dose of serotonin (4.5-5.0 mug/min per kg) caused constriction of both upstream and downstream vessels. Metabolic inactivation of serotonin by the lung is suggested as an explanation for these observations. Histamine infusion caused predominant venous constriction whether veins were upstream or downstream. Capillary volume and conductance decreased during forward and reverse perfusion, perhaps as a result of pericapillary edema formation. Large arterial vessels constricted slightly, whereas small arterial vessels appeared to be passively dilated.


[Repair of stricture in Crohn's disease: treatment of choice?].
Strictureplasty has become one of the surgical options available for skip-lesions and for duodenal, multiple small bowel or anastomotic strictures caused by Crohn's disease. Over a sixteen-year period, 44 patients underwent strictureplasty for 269 symptomatic strictures associated with Crohn's disease. After a median follow-up of 50 months (range 18-89) a second additional operation for symptomatic recurrence was performed in 10 patients, two of whom developed new symptomatic strictures after 3 and 36 months, requiring a third operation. Of all the strictures present at surgery, 174 were treated performing strictureplasties (156 were closed transversely using Heineke-Mickulicz, 16 in a side-to-side Finney fashion and 2 in the manner of Jabolay) and 88 with synchronous resection. Furthermore, 7 other strictures were treated with a side-to-side ileocolic (5 strictures in 3 patients) or ileoileal (2 strictures in one patient) anastomosis. No operative mortality was recorded and there were no septic complications due to anastomotic leak. The mean follow-up period was 47.8 +/- 42.4 months (range 3-132). Symptomatic restrictures of previous strictureplasty sites requiring surgery occurred in 8.8% of cases. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference (Kaplan-Meier) was observed in the reoperation rate among patients affected respectively by skip lesions or multiple strictures or among patients treated only by strictureplasty or with an associated resection. We concluded that strictureplasty is a valuable adjunct to resection in the treatment of Crohn's strictures.


Factors affecting the concentrations of lead in British wheat and barley grain.
The entry of Pb into the food chain is of concern as it can cause chronic health problems. The concentration of Pb was determined in cereal grain samples collected representatively from British Cereal Quality Surveys in 1982 and 1998 (n = 176, 250 and 233 for wheat collected in 1982 and 1998, and barley in 1998, respectively). In addition, paired soil and grain samples were collected from 377 sites harvested across Britain in 1998-2000. Wheat grain Pb ranged from below the analytical detection limit (0.02 mg kg(-1) dry weight, DW) to 1.63 mg kg(-1) DW, and barley grain Pb from <0.02 to 0.48 mg kg(-1) DW. The vast majority of samples (>99% for both wheat and barley, excluding Scottish barley samples collected in 2000) were well below the newly introduced EU limit for the maximum permissible concentration of Pb in cereals (0.2 mg kg(-1) fresh weight, equivalent to 0.235 mg kg(-1) DW). There was a significant reduction in wheat grain Pb in the 1998 survey compared with the 1982 survey. However, 40 barley samples collected from Scotland in 2000 in the paired soil and crop survey showed anomalously high concentrations of Pb, with 10 samples exceeding the EU limit. Washing experiments demonstrated that surface contamination, introduced during grain harvest and/or storage, was the main reason for the high concentrations in these samples. In the paired soil and crop surveys, there were no significant correlations between grain Pb concentrations with total soil Pb and other soil properties, indicating low bioavailability of Pb in the soils and limited uptake and transport of Pb to grain. The Pb in cereal grain is likely to originate mainly from atmospheric deposition and other routes of surface contamination during harvest and storage.


MRI brain volume changes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta-1a.
The aim of this study was to investigate changes of brain volume as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients under treatment with interferon beta-1a. Moreover, the relationship between brain volume changes and standard MR or clinical outcome variables was determined. After a 6-month pretreatment period, 52 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were assigned to receive interferon beta-1a (Rebif-Serono) during a 24-month treatment period MRI scans were performed monthly during the 6-month pretreatment period and for the first 9 months of the treatment period. A final MRI scan was also performed at the end of the 12- and 24-month treatment period. Over 24 months of IFNbeta-1a treatment, a significant decrease of hyperintense lesion volume was found (-18.0%; p<0.0001) compared to the last pretreatment scan, while T1 hypointense volume showed a slight nonsignificant increase (+2.2%), and brain volume showed a significant decrease (-2.2%; p<0.0001). The mean volume of enhancing lesions over the 6-month pretreatment period was significantly related to absolute (p=0.02; r=-0.32) and per cent change (p=0.03; r=-0.30) of brain volume during 24-month treatment period. No correlations between changes in brain volume and changes in T2 hyperintense volume or T1 hypointense volume were observed. Neither was there a relationship between brain volume and changes of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or frequency in clinical relapses. Of the group in whom was detected a significant decrease of brain volume, 13 out of 26 (50%) had a sustained change in EDSS while in the group that did not have a significant decrease of brain volume, only 3 out of 26 (11.5%) had a sustained EDSS change (p=0.02). In this study a decrease of brain volume was found in relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with IFNbeta-1a over 2 years. The only parameter that predicted brain volume decrease by 2 years of IFNbeta-1a treatment was the mean volume of enhancing lesions over the 6-month pretreatment period.


Preparation and biological characteristics of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2-loaded dextran-co-gelatin hydrogel microspheres, in vitro and in vivo studies.
Hydrogels are based on hydrophilic polymers which are cross-linked to prevent dissolution in water. Because hydrogels can contain large amounts of water, they are interesting devices for the delivery of protein drugs. In this contribution, biodegradable dextran-co-gelatin hydrogel microspheres (DG-MPs) are described which are based on physical interactions and are particularly suitable for the controlled delivery of pharmaceutically active proteins. The unique feature of this preparation system is that the hydrogel microsphere formation takes place in an all-aqueous solution, by which the use of organic solvents is avoided. We investigated the preparation and biological activities of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP2)-loaded dextran-co-gelatin hydrogel microspheres (rhBMP2-DG-MPs), which aimed to keep rhBMP2's biological activity and to achieve a long-term sustained release of rhBMP2. The microspheres' average diameter was about 20-40 microm and rhBMP2 release in vitro could be maintained for >10 days. Cytology studies showed that using rhBMP2-DG-MPs could promote the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells better than using rhBMP2 aqueous solution. By a freeze-drying method, rhBMP2-DG-MPs could be adhered in chitosan membranes for guided tissue regeneration use, namely functionalized membranes. To evaluate bone regeneration induced by rhBMP2-DG-MPs, an animal experiment with canine class III furcation defects was adopted and the results indicated that using rhBMP2-DG-MPs incorporating scaffolds and functionalized membranes could gain more periodontal tissue regeneration than using scaffolds and general membranes soaked with concentrated rhBMP2 aqueous solution. Therefore, those studies demonstrate the potential of DG-MPs in the sustained delivery of low dosages of rhBMP2 to periodontal defects.


Induction of interleukin-2 receptor-alpha gene expression is regulated by post-translational activation of kappa B specific DNA binding proteins.
T cell mitogens induce the expression of specific trans-acting DNA binding proteins that in turn regulate the expression of the interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (IL-2R alpha) gene. To investigate whether de novo protein synthesis is required for the activation of these transacting factors and the induced expression of this receptor gene, Jurkat T cells were incubated with various inhibitors of protein synthesis prior to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Despite the presence of cycloheximide or anisomycin at concentrations sufficient to block greater than 97% of cellular protein synthesis, phytohemagglutinin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate effectively induced the expression of the IL-2R alpha gene as measured at the mRNA level. Similarly, gel retardation, DNA footprinting, and DNA-protein cross-linking studies revealed that these mitogens induced the activation of two predominant DNA binding proteins (50-55 and 80-90 kDa) in the presence or absence of cycloheximide and anisomycin. Both of these proteins specifically interacted with a kappa B-like binding site present in the IL-2R alpha promoter (-267 to -256) that is requisite for mitogen-induced expression of this receptor gene. These findings support a post-translational mechanism of induction of pre-existing, but inactive, DNA binding proteins which in turn bind to and activate the IL-2R alpha gene.


Crossmodal association between visual and acoustic cues in a tortoise (Testudo hermanni).
Humans spontaneously match information coming from different senses, in what we call crossmodal associations. For instance, high-pitched sounds are preferentially associated with small objects, and low-pitched sounds with larger ones. Although previous studies reported crossmodal associations in mammalian species, evidence for other taxa is scarce, hindering an evolutionary understanding of this phenomenon. Here, we provide evidence of pitch-size correspondence in a reptile, the tortoise Testudo hermanni. Tortoises showed a spontaneous preference to associate a small disc (i.e. visual information about size) with a high-pitch sound (i.e. auditory information) and a larger disc to a low-pitched sound. These results suggest that crossmodal associations may be an evolutionary ancient phenomenon, potentially an organizing principle of the vertebrate brain.


Quality measurement and improvement in liver transplantation.
There is growing interest in the quality of health care delivery in liver transplantation. Multiple stakeholders, including patients, transplant providers and their hospitals, payers, and regulatory bodies have an interest in measuring and monitoring quality in the liver transplant process, and understanding differences in quality across centres. This article aims to provide an overview of quality measurement and regulatory issues in liver transplantation performed within the United States. We review how broader definitions of health care quality should be applied to liver transplant care models. We outline the status quo including the current regulatory agencies, public reporting mechanisms, and requirements around quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) activities. Additionally, we further discuss unintended consequences and opportunities for growth in quality measurement. Quality measurement and the integration of quality improvement strategies into liver transplant programmes hold significant promise, but multiple challenges to successful implementation must be addressed to optimise value.


Deep Hashing for Scalable Image Search.
In this paper, we propose a new deep hashing (DH) approach to learn compact binary codes for scalable image search. Unlike most existing binary codes learning methods, which usually seek a single linear projection to map each sample into a binary feature vector, we develop a deep neural network to seek multiple hierarchical non-linear transformations to learn these binary codes, so that the non-linear relationship of samples can be well exploited. Our model is learned under three constraints at the top layer of the developed deep network: 1) the loss between the compact real-valued code and the learned binary vector is minimized, 2) the binary codes distribute evenly on each bit, and 3) different bits are as independent as possible. To further improve the discriminative power of the learned binary codes, we extend DH into supervised DH (SDH) and multi-label SDH by including a discriminative term into the objective function of DH, which simultaneously maximizes the inter-class variations and minimizes the intra-class variations of the learned binary codes with the single-label and multi-label settings, respectively. Extensive experimental results on eight widely used image search data sets show that our proposed methods achieve very competitive results with the state-of-the-arts.


Perspective: Advanced particle imaging.
Since the first ion imaging experiment [D. W. Chandler and P. L. Houston, J. Chem. Phys. 87, 1445-1447 (1987)], demonstrating the capability of collecting an image of the photofragments from a unimolecular dissociation event and analyzing that image to obtain the three-dimensional velocity distribution of the fragments, the efficacy and breadth of application of the ion imaging technique have continued to improve and grow. With the addition of velocity mapping, ion/electron centroiding, and slice imaging techniques, the versatility and velocity resolution have been unmatched. Recent improvements in molecular beam, laser, sensor, and computer technology are allowing even more advanced particle imaging experiments, and eventually we can expect multi-mass imaging with co-variance and full coincidence capability on a single shot basis with repetition rates in the kilohertz range. This progress should further enable "complete" experiments-the holy grail of molecular dynamics-where all quantum numbers of reactants and products of a bimolecular scattering event are fully determined and even under our control.


Medication safety practices in healthcare facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria: a study protocol.
In recent years, there has been growing concern about patient safety and this is becoming a global problem. Medication safety can be used to describe systematic assessments of healthcare professionals' practices as related to safe use of medicines. Identification and prevention of medication errors is the key component of medication safety. This includes multiple aspects of medication practice and other factors that affect it, such as organisational structure, communication, technologies such as those used for dispensing, and strategies pursued by leadership in cultivating and promoting a culture of safety. The study adopted a mixed method approach divided into three phases. Phase I is a quantitative phase and involves an assessment of core medication safety practices in the study sites together with an assessment of patient safety culture through the use of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) developed by US Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). Phase II will involve semi-structured interviews with health care providers and focus group discussions with patients to explore their perspectives on medication safety and to explore their experiences concerning medication safety respectively. Phase III will be an intervention study and will utilise the World Health Organisation (WHO) Patient Safety Curriculum Guide: Multi professional edition as the intervention tool. The study findings will offer substantial opportunity for improvements. The study will also open up an area of patient safety culture, where not much research has been conducted in Nigeria.


Pacific plate motion change caused the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend.
A conspicuous 60° bend of the Hawaiian-Emperor Chain in the north-western Pacific Ocean has variously been interpreted as the result of an abrupt Pacific plate motion change in the Eocene (∼47 Ma), a rapid southward drift of the Hawaiian hotspot before the formation of the bend, or a combination of these two causes. Palaeomagnetic data from the Emperor Seamounts prove ambiguous for constraining the Hawaiian hotspot drift, but mantle flow modelling suggests that the hotspot drifted 4-9° south between 80 and 47 Ma. Here we demonstrate that southward hotspot drift cannot be a sole or dominant mechanism for formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend (HEB). While southward hotspot drift has resulted in more northerly positions of the Emperor Seamounts as they are observed today, formation of the HEB cannot be explained without invoking a prominent change in the direction of Pacific plate motion around 47 Ma.


Mechanisms of Overcoming Intrinsic Resistance to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through the Redox Modulation.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) frequently develops therapeutic resistances, which can be divided into extrinsic and intrinsic resistance. The extrinsic resistance that arises from the surrounding dense tumor stroma is much better understood. However, the mechanisms of intrinsic resistance are not well understood. Here, we report that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by gemcitabine treatment, a newly discovered cytotoxic activity, served as a probe in our study to reveal the mechanisms of the intrinsic therapeutic resistance. Our results showed that gemcitabine-induced ROS is generated by NOX and through the increase of p22(-phox) expression via NF-κB activation. As a feedback mechanism, nuclear translocation of Nrf2 stimulated the transcription of cytoprotective antioxidant genes, especially genes encoding enzymes that catalyze glutathione (GSH) production to reduce elevated ROS as an intrinsic resistance countermeasure. RNAi-mediated depletion of Nrf2 or addition of β-phenylethyl isothiocyanate inhibited the ROS detoxification process by reducing GSH levels, which, in turn, increased the efficacy of gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our study suggests that a redox-mediated pathway contributes to the intrinsic resistance of PDAC to gemcitabine and provides a basis for developing strategies to preferentially kill PDAC cells through ROS-mediated mechanism. The combination of gemcitabine and PEITC has a selective cytotoxic effect against pancreatic cancer cells in vivo and could thus prove valuable as a cancer treatment.


Novel role for endogenous hepatocyte growth factor in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms.
Inflammation plays a key role in formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Because hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) protects against vascular inflammation, we sought to assess the role of endogenous HGF in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms. Circulating HGF concentrations in blood samples drawn from the lumen of human intracranial aneurysms or femoral arteries were compared in 16 patients. Tissue from superficial temporal arteries and ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms collected from patients undergoing clipping (n=10) were immunostained with antibodies to HGF and its receptor c-Met. Intracranial aneurysms were induced in mice treated with PF-04217903 (a c-Met antagonist) or vehicle. Expression of inflammatory molecules was also measured in cultured human endothelial, smooth muscle cells and monocytes treated with lipopolysaccharides in presence or absence of HGF and PF-04217903. We found that HGF concentrations were significantly higher in blood collected from human intracranial aneurysms (1076±656 pg/mL) than in femoral arteries (196±436 pg/mL; P<0.001). HGF and c-Met were detected by immunostaining in superficial temporal arteries and in both ruptured and unruptured human intracranial aneurysms. A c-Met antagonist did not alter the formation of intracranial aneurysms (P>0.05), but significantly increased the prevalence of subarachnoid hemorrhage and decreased survival in mice (P<0.05). HGF attenuated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (P<0.05) and E-Selectin (P<0.05) in human aortic endothelial cells. In conclusion, plasma HGF concentrations are elevated in intracranial aneurysms. HGF and c-Met are expressed in superficial temporal arteries and in intracranial aneurysms. HGF signaling through c-Met may decrease inflammation in endothelial cells and protect against intracranial aneurysm rupture.


Symptoms of psychological distress among older adults in Canadian long-term care centres.
Psychological distress can lead to negative consequences affecting the quality of life of older adults living in long-term care centres. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms of psychological distress and their associated factors among these residents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 1999 long-term care residents aged 65 and over. Nine hundred and eleven persons (45.6%) displayed at least one symptom of psychological distress either at one time or more in the week preceding data collection, and 22.4% were identified as psychologically distressed. Multivariate analysis indicated that psychological distress was associated with disruptive behaviours and benzodiazepine use among women residents, and with insomnia in men residents. In conclusion, when clinicians screen for mental health disorders, they should take into consideration that symptoms of insomnia or disruptive behaviours may mask psychological distress.


Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.
The treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has changed with the approval of several new agents. In 2011, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of metastatic CRPC; however abiraterone is known to cause mineralocorticoid excess syndrome characterized by hypokalemia, fluid retention, and hypertension. We experienced two cases of grade 4 hypokalemia associated with abiraterone treatment. Case 1: a 71-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with convulsive seizures two weeks after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 2.1mEq/l. We determined that convulsive seizure was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. Case 2: a 68-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with severe lethargy one month after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 1.7mEq/l and we concluded that severe lethargy was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. They were treated with potassium supplementation and increased prednisone following withdrawal of abiraterone. The two patients had been on glucocorticoid therapy before abiraterone therapy. Prolonged administration of exogenous glucocorticoid can lead adrenocortical insufficiency and consequently reduce endogenous glucocorticoid production. This situation may increase the risk of abiraterone-induced mineralocorticoid excess. To reduce the risk of abiraterone-induced hypokalemia, evaluation of adrenocortical insufficiency is required.


Estrogen priming in advanced breast cancer.
The successful treatment of advanced breast cancer has reached a plateau in recent years. Estrogen priming is a new combination therapy involving estrogens, antiestrogens, and chemotherapy that may result in the improvement of treatment responses. This investigational therapy is designed to synchronize cell cycles with estrogens and antiestrogens in order to enhance the activity of cell cycle-specific anticancer drugs. The pharmacological manipulation of cell growth coupled with appropriate antineoplastic agents could result in a new treatment approach for advanced breast cancer. The rationale and current status of estrogen priming are reviewed.


Wave propagation in a viscous fluid contained in an orthotropic elastic tube.
The problem of pressure wave propagation through a viscous fluid contained in an orthotropic elastic tube is considered in connection with arterial blood flow. Solutions to the fluid flow and elasticity equations are obtained for the presence of a reflected wave. Numerical results are presented for both isotropic and orthotropic elastic tubes. In particular, the pressure pulse, flow rate, axial fluid velocity, and wall displacements are plotted vs. time at various stations along the ascending aorta of man. The results indicate an increase in the peak value of the pressure pulse and a decrease in the flow rate as the pulse propagates away from the heart. Finally, the velocity of wave propagation depends mainly on the tangential modulus of elasticity of the arterial wall, and anisotropy of the wall accounts in part for the reduction of longitudinal movements and an increase in the hydraulic resistance.


Relationship of C5L2 receptor to skeletal muscle substrate utilization.
To investigate the role of Acylation Stimulating Protein (ASP) receptor C5L2 in skeletal muscle fatty acid accumulation and metabolism as well as insulin sensitivity in both mice and human models of diet-induced insulin resistance. Male wildtype (WT) and C5L2 knockout (KO) mice were fed a low (LFD) or a high (HFD) fat diet for 10 weeks. Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation (by oil red O staining) and beta-oxidation HADH enzyme activity were determined in skeletal muscle. Mitochondria were isolated from hindleg muscles for high-resolution respirometry. Muscle C5L2 protein content was also determined in obese type 2 diabetics and age- and BMI matched men. IMCL levels were increased by six-fold in C5L2KO-HFD compared to WT-HFD mice (p<0.05) and plasma insulin levels were markedly increased in C5L2KO-HFD mice (twofold, p<0.05). Muscle HADH activity was elevated in C5L2KO-LFD mice (+75%, p<0.001 vs. WT-LFD) and C5L2KO-HFD displayed increased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidative capacity compared to WT-HFD mice (+23%, p<0.05). In human subjects, C5L2 protein content was reduced (-48%, p<0.01) in type 2 diabetic patients when compared to obese controls. Further, exercise training increased C5L2 (+45%, p = 0.0019) and ASP (+80%, p<0.001) in obese insulin-resistant men. The results suggest that insulin sensitivity may be permissive for coupling of C5L2 levels to lipid storage and utilization.


Successful bone marrow transplantation for IPEX syndrome after reduced-intensity conditioning.
Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a rare, fatal autoimmune disorder caused by mutations in the FOXP3 gene leading to the disruption of signaling pathways involved in regulatory T-lymphocyte function. Lifelong multiagent immunosuppression is necessary to control debilitating autoimmune manifestations such as colitis and food allergies. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can restore T-cell regulatory function but has been previously associated with poor outcome. We describe successful HSCT in 4 patients with IPEX syndrome using a novel reduced-intensity conditioning regimen that resulted in stable donor engraftment, reconstitution of FOXP3+ T regulatory CD4+ cells, and amelioration of gastrointestinal symptoms.


Troponin-tropomyosin interactions. Fluorescence studies of the binding of troponin, troponin T, and chymotryptic troponin T fragments to specifically labeled tropomyosin.
We have studied the interaction between troponin and tropomyosin by means of a fluorescent probe, N-(1- anilinonaphth -4-yl)maleimide (ANM), attached to the cysteine-190 residues of tropomyosin. The binding of troponin and troponin T to ANM-tropomyosin produces substantial increases in the label fluorescence. Analysis of the binding profiles indicates that both troponin and troponin T bind with a 1:1 stoichiometry. We have obtained and characterized several chymotryptic fragments of troponin T by digestion of isolated troponin T or whole troponin. An N-terminal fragment from troponin T which is slightly less than two-thirds of the whole molecule binds to tropomyosin without affecting the label fluorescence; a C-terminal fragment composed of the rest of the troponin T molecule causes a substantial enhancement of the label fluorescence. We have also isolated a complex containing the C-terminal troponin T fragment together with troponin I and troponin C from whole troponin, which also enhanced the label fluorescence. These observations indicate an elongated region of attachment between troponin T and tropomyosin.


Histological diagnosis of prostate cancer in Korean men aged 70-79 years.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in elderly Korean men, aged 70-79 years. Patients with an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or a serum PSA level greater than 2.0 ng/ml underwent a biopsy. A total of 344 men (median age 73 years) constituted the study cohort. Of 344 men, 163 (47.4%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer upon initial biopsy. The positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer was 48.4% for a PSA cutoff of 4 ng/ml, 65.3% for a cutoff of 10 ng/ml, and 87.0% for a cutoff of 20 ng/ml. When combined with an abnormal DRE, the predictive values for these PSA cutoffs increased to 79.3, 87.3 and 100%, respectively. When 10 ng/ml was chosen as a PSA cutoff level, about 50% of patients were found to have a Gleason score of 7 or higher. When 4 ng/ml was chosen as a PSA cutoff level, more than 50% of patients with an abnormal DRE were found to have a Gleason score of 7 or higher. In elderly men, more than 50% of patients are found to have cancers with a Gleason score of 7 or higher when their PSA level is greater than 10 ng/ml. This threshold may be lowered to 4 ng/ml in the presence of an abnormal DRE. Our findings provide a rationale for recommending a prostate biopsy in elderly patients with an abnormal DRE and/or an elevated serum PSA level. However, at present, it is not clear whether elderly men have better outcomes when they undergo cancer screening.


Maximum proportion of masks worn: Collaborative efforts in Japanese professional football.
Mass gathering events in Japan have gradually mitigated their novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) control regulations, along with a minimum infection risk. The Japan Professional Football League (J.League) conducted pilot surveys on holding events with chant cheers. In this commentary, we introduce the collaborative efforts based on scientific knowledge among experts, J.League, and their fans. We performed risk assessment in advance, by updating a previously developed model. We further observed the average proportion of masks worn, chant cheering time of participants, and CO2 levels in the stand. The number of new COVID-19 cases in an event with 5,000 chant cheering participants and 35,000 non-chant cheering participants was estimated to be 1.02 times of an event, with 40,000 non-chant cheering participants. The average proportion of masks worn during the game was 98.9 %, for chant cheer participants. The chant cheering participants spent 50.0-51.1 % of their time chant cheering. Monitored average CO2 levels were ≤ 540 ppm, suggesting high ventilation rates in the stand. The high proportion of masks worn represents the willingness of norm-conscious fans to cooperate in regular recovery of the sport. This has proved to be one of the successful models for future mass gathering events.


Denervation increases turnover rate of junctional acetylcholine receptors.
The turnover rates of junctional acetylcholine receptors were measured in innervated and denervated mouse sternomastoid neuromuscular junctions by 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin binding. First, we determined that the density of labeled toxin initially bound to the neuromuscular junction was essentially unchanged up to 16 days after denervation. Innervated muscles and muscles that had been denervated 8 days previously were then saturated with labeled toxin, and the specific label at the endplate regions was compared by gamma counting 7 days later. At that time, the residual junctional label seen in innervated muscle was 3.2 times greater than in denervated muscle. Electron microscope autoradiography further showed that, after saturation with unlabeled toxin, new binding sites appeared rapidly at the specialized receptive region of the postsynaptic membrane with an apparent half-time of turnover of 2-3 days. At innervated junctions, the half-time of turnover was about 10 days. These data show that the mechanisms that control receptor turnover rates are different from those that control high-density receptor clustering. The slow turnover rate of junctional receptors appears to be more directly dependent on the presence of the nerve than is the clustering of junctional receptors.


Uterus infantilis: a novel phenotype associated with AARS2 new genetic variants. A case report.
To report the first Mexican case with two novel AARS2 mutations causing primary ovarian failure, uterus infantilis, and early-onset dementia secondary to leukoencephalopathy. Detailed clinical, clinimetric, neuroimaging features, muscle biopsy with biochemical assays of the main oxidative phosphorylation complexes activities, and molecular studies were performed on samples from a Mexican female. We present a 41-year-old female patient with learning difficulties since childhood and primary amenorrhea who developed severe cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairment in early adulthood. Neuroimaging studies revealed frontal leukoencephalopathy with hypometabolism at the fronto-cerebellar cortex and caudate nucleus. Uterus infantilis was detected on ultrasound study. Clinical exome sequencing identified two novel variants, NM_020745:c.2864G>A (p.W955*) and NM_020745:c.1036C>A (p.P346T, p.P346Wfs*18), in AARS2. Histopathological and biochemical studies on muscle biopsy revealed mitochondrial disorder with cytochrome C oxidase (COX) deficiency. Several adult-onset cases of leukoencephalopathy and ovarian failure associated with AARS2 variants have been reported. To our best knowledge, none of them showed uterus infantilis. Here we enlarge the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of AARS2-related dementia with leukoencephalopathy and ovarian failure and contribute with detailed clinical, clinometric, neuroimaging, and molecular studies to disease and novel molecular variants characterization.


Monitoring leachables from single-use bioreactor bags for mammalian cell culture by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry.
A method for the identification of leachables in chemically defined media for CHO cell culture using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and UHPLC-MS is described. A Box-Behnken design of experiments (DoE) approach was applied to obtain the optimum extraction conditions of the target analytes. Performance of DLLME as extraction technique was studied by comparison of two commercial chemically defined media for CHO cell culture. General extraction conditions for any group of leachables, regardless of their specific chemical functionalities can be applied and similar optimum conditions were obtained with the two media. Extraction efficiency and matrix effects were determined. The method was validated using matrix-matched standard calibration followed by recovery assays with spiked samples. Finally, cell culture media was incubated in 7 single use bioreactors (SUBs) from different vendors and analysed. TBPP was not detected in any of the samples, whereas DtBP and TBPP-ox were found in all samples, with bDtBPP detected in six SUBs. This method can be used for early identification of non-satisfactory SUB films for cultivation of CHO cell lines for biopharmaceutical production.


Molecular recognition of sialic acid by lanthanide(III) complexes through cooperative two-site binding.
Herein we report two new ligands, 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-10-[2-(dihydroxyboranyl)benzyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(1)) and 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-10-[3-(dihydroxyboranyl)benzyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(2)), which contain a phenylboronic acid (PBA) function and a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetate cage for complexation of lanthanide ions in an aqueous solution. The pK(a) of the PBA function amounts to 4.6 in [Gd(L(1))] and 8.9 in [Gd(L(2))], with the value of the L(2) analogue being very similar to that of PBA (8.8). These results are explained by the coordination of the PBA function of L(1) to the Gd(III) ion, which results in a dramatic lowering of its pK(a). As a consequence, [Gd(L(1))] does not bind to saccharides at physiological pH. The nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles recorded for [Gd(L(1))] and [Gd(L(2))] confirm that the phenylboronate function is coordinated to the metal ion in the L(1) derivative, which results in a q = 0 complex. The interaction of the [Gd(L(2))] complex with 5-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and 2-alpha-O-methyl-5-acetylneuraminic acid (MeNeu5Ac) has been investigated by means of spectrophotometric titrations in an aqueous solution (pH 7.4, 0.1 M 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer). Furthermore, we have also investigated the binding of these receptors with competing monosaccharides such as D-(+)-glucose, D-fructose, D-mannose, D-galactose, methyl alpha-D-galactoside, and methyl alpha-D-mannoside. The binding constants obtained indicate an important selectivity of [Gd(L(2))] for Neu5Ac (K(eq) = 151) over D-(+)-glucose (K(eq) = 12.3), D-mannose (K(eq) = 21.9), and D-galactose (K(eq) = 24.5). Furthermore, a very weak binding affinity was observed in the case of methyl alpha-D-galactoside and methyl alpha-D-mannoside. An 8-fold increase of the binding constant of [Gd(L(2))] with Neu5Ac is observed when compared to that of PBA determined under the same conditions (K(eq) = 19). (13)C NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level show that this is due to a cooperative two-site binding of Neu5Ac through (1) ester formation by interaction on the PBA function of the receptor and (2) coordination of the carboxylate group of Neu5Ac to the Gd(III) ion. The emission lifetime of the (5)D(4) level of Tb(III) in [Tb(L(2))] increases upon Neu5Ac binding, in line with the displacement of inner-sphere water molecules due to coordination of Neu5Ac to the metal ion.


Stigma, Intrusiveness, and Distress in Parents of Children with a Disorder/Difference of Sex Development.
The impact of parent-reported stigma due to their child's disorder/difference of sex development (DSD) on parent psychosocial adjustment is poorly understood. In other pediatric populations, perceived interference of medical conditions into daily activities (i.e., illness intrusiveness ) mediates the relationship of stigma to adjustment. This study assessed relationships between parent-focused and child-focused stigma → illness intrusiveness → depressive and anxious symptoms . Exploratory analyses sought to identify patient characteristics associated with stigma. Caregivers (59 women and 43 men) of 63 children diagnosed with a DSD up to age 4 years completed measures of demographics, parent-focused and child-focused stigma, illness intrusiveness, and depressive and anxious symptoms. Increased parent-focused and child-focused stigma were associated with increased illness intrusiveness, which, in turn, was associated with increased depressive and anxious symptoms for parents nested within dyads. Among children with DSD family histories, parents reported greater child-focused stigma. Parents who experience DSD-related stigma report greater interference of their child's DSD into their daily activities, which is associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment. Findings support developing clinical interventions related to parents' perceptions of stigma and illness intrusiveness to improve parent adjustment.


Functional treatment in rotator cuff tears: is it safe and effective? A retrospective comparison with surgical treatment.
The aim of this study was to compare rehabilitation protocol and operative treatment in a population of patients with a diagnosis of small to medium rotator cuff tears (≤3 cm), the null hypothesis being that there would been no difference in terms of clinical outcomes and patient's satisfaction between the rehabilitation protocol and the surgical treatment. Patients with small to medium supraspinatus tears were retrospectively enrolled in this study and divided in 2 groups: arthroscopic repair (group A, 20 patients) and reinstated (group B, 18 patients). At a mean follow-up of 18 months, both groups underwent clinical (Constant, QuickDash, VAS), dynamometric and ultrasonographic evaluation. In both groups a significant clinical improvement was registered compared to baseline. However, surgical treatment yielded better results in Constant (p=0.004), Quick-Dash (p=0.0012), VAS (p=0.048) and strength evaluation (p=0.0014). In group A the re-tear rate was 10%, while in group B only 11% of increased tear size was registered. At a short term follow-up, the surgical treatment of small to medium supraspinatus tears yielded better clinical outcomes compared to the rehabilitation protocol, with better strength outcomes and 10% re-tear rate. Nevertheless, physiotherapy still offers acceptable results and could be a valuable option in patients not undergoing surgery. III.


Capillary electrophoretic determination of apoptosis of rat cerebellar granule cells induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridium ion.
A capillary electrophoresis method for the direct detection of whole cell apoptosis is described. We successfully used this method to detect the apoptosis of rat cerebellar granule cells, induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridium ion (MPP(+)). The conditions for the detection were optimized: including the effects of running buffer pH, the voltage, and the ID of the capillaries. The effects of MPP(+) concentration and apoptosis time on the relative content of the apoptotic cells were studied. The relative standard deviations of the migration time and the absorbance of the apoptotic cells were found to be 10.8 and 8.6%, respectively. The results correlated well with those obtained by using the methyl green-pironin stained experiment and DNA agarose electrophoresis.


Vocational Psychology: Agency, Equity, and Well-Being.
The present review organizes the vocational psychology literature published between 2007 and 2014 into three overarching themes: Promoting (a) agency in career development, (b) equity in the work force, and (c) well-being in work and educational settings. Research on career adaptability, self-efficacy beliefs, and work volition is reviewed in the agency section, with the goal of delineating variables that promote or constrain the exercise of personal agency in academic and occupational pursuits. The equity theme covers research on social class and race/ethnicity in career development; entry and retention of women and people of color in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields; and the career service needs of survivors of domestic violence and of criminal offenders. The goal was to explore how greater equity in the work force could be promoted for these groups. In the well-being section, we review research on hedonic (work, educational, and life satisfaction) and eudaimonic (career calling, meaning, engagement, and commitment) variables, with the goal of understanding how well-being might be promoted at school and at work. Future research needs related to each theme are also discussed.


[Genome sequence analysis of two SARS-CoV-2 virus infections in Inner Mongolia, 2022].
The target gene sequences of the novel coronaviruses obtained by sequencing were compared with the reference sequences to analyze the genetic variation of the two cases of the novel coronaviruses from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2022 and to explore the sources of infection. The results showed that the two sequences belonged to different evolutionary branches, Delta (AY.122) and Omicron (BA.1.1), respectively. hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-591/2022 had 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the genome sequences, sharing 40 nucleotide mutation sites with a Mongolian strain; hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-592/2022 genome shared 57 nucleotide mutation sites with a UK strain, and the nucleotide mutation site identity was 100% (57/57). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the target gene sequences were not directly related to domestic novel coronavirus sequences during the same period, but were related to isolates from Europe and Mongolia.


Slow potentials in taste cells induced by frog glossopharyngeal nerve stimulation.
Intracellular recordings were made from the taste cells of atropinized bullfrogs while the glossopharyngeal (GP) nerve fibres were electrically stimulated. Two types of slow potential, slow hyperpolarizing potentials (HPs) and slow depolarizing potentials (DPs), were induced in the taste cells. The slow HPs appeared when the lingual capillary blood flow was kept above 0.7 mm/s, whereas the slow DPs appeared when the blood flow was slowed down below 0.7 mm/s. The membrane resistance of a taste cell increased during the generation of a slow HP, but decreased during the generation of a slow DP. The reversal potentials for the slow HPs and the slow DPs were recorded at the same membrane potential (-11 to approximately -13 mV). Activation of non-selective cation channels possibly induced the slow DP and inactivation of those channels possibly induced the slow HP in the taste cell membrane. Electrical stimulation of the GP nerve activated a population of C fibres in the nerve and possibly released neurotransmitters from the nerve terminals. Released neurotransmitters might cause modulation of the membrane conductance in taste cells that leads to generation of the slow potentials. The present data suggest that slow HPs and slow DPs evoked in the taste cells of atropinized frogs by GP nerve stimulation are induced by putative neurotransmitters in the taste disc.


1-Chloro-3,6-dimethoxy-2,5-dimethylbenzene and 1-chloro-3,6-dimethoxy-2,4-dimethylbenzene.
The title compounds, 1-chloro-3,6-dimethoxy-2,5-dimethylbenzene, (IIIa), and 1-chloro-3,6-dimethoxy-2,4-dimethylbenzene, (IIIb), both C10H13ClO2, were obtained from 2,5- and 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, respectively, and are intermediates in the synthesis of ammonium quinone derivatives. The isomers have different substituents around the methoxy groups and crystallize in different space groups. In both molecules, the methoxy groups each have different orientations with respect to the benzene ring. In both cases, one methoxy group lies in the plane of the ring and can participate in conjugation with the aromatic system, while the second is almost perpendicular to the plane of the aromatic ring. The C-O-C bond angles around these substituents are also different: 117.5 (4) and 118.2 (3) degrees in (IIIa) and (IIIb), respectively, when the methoxy groups lie in the plane of the ring, and 114.7 (3) and 113.6 (3) degrees in (IIIa) and (IIIb), respectively, when they are out of the plane of the ring.


Renal function as a marker of human fetal maturation.
Sixty clinically well infants of various gestational ages (27 to 40 weeks) were studied from 24-40 hours after birth to evaluate glomerular filtration rate and renal excretion rate of sodium at various stages of fetal maturation. Creatinine clearance was directly related to gestational as (r = 0.643). Fractional sodium excretion was inversely related to gestational age (r = -0.755). The renal functions of small for gestational age infants were similar to those of full-term infants whose birth weights were appropriate for gestational age. The data showed that the glomerular functions of an infant below 32 weeks of gestation were more predominant than the tubular function resulting in a greater fractional sodium excretion rate and higher urinary Na loss in infants of this gestational age, when compared with the more mature infants.


An Adaptive Time-Varying Impedance Controller for Manipulators.
Aiming at the situation that the structural parameters of the general manipulators are uncertain, a time-varying impedance controller based on model reference adaptive control (MRAC) is proposed in this article. The proposed controller does not need to use acceleration-based feedback or to measure external loads and can tolerate considerable structure parameter errors. The global uniform asymptotic stability of the time-varying closed-loop system is analyzed, and a selection approach for control parameters is presented. It is demonstrated that, by using the proposed control parameter selection approach, the closed-loop system under the adaptive controller is equivalent to an existing result. The feasibility of the presented controller for the general manipulators is demonstrated by some numerical simulations.


Edwardsiella tarda induces plasma membrane ruffles on infection of HEp-2 cells.
Interaction of two clinical Edwardsiella tarda isolates with HEp-2 cells was investigated. By electron microscopy we observed at 1 h post infection that E. tarda induced formation of extensive plasma membrane projections resembling membrane ruffles. The ruffles did not coincide with adhering bacteria. Only few invading bacteria were seen. Vacuolated nuclear membrane was occasionally observed. Three hours post infection, E. tarda induced a contact-dependent cell lysis, revealing the host cell cytoskeleton and nucleus. Only one of the E. tarda strains was seen residing within the host cell remains. The results indicate that E. tarda-induced membrane ruffles may involve a distinct mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis.


Functional lateralization of the medial temporal lobe in novel associative processing during creativity evaluation.
Although hemispheric lateralization of creativity has been a longstanding topic of debate, the underlying neurocognitive mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we designed 2 types of novel stimuli-"novel useful and novel useless," adapted from "familiar useful" designs taken from daily life-to demonstrate how the left and right medial temporal lobe (MTL) respond to novel designs of different usefulness. Taking the "familiar useful" design as a baseline, we found that the right MTL showed increased activation in response to "novel useful" designs, followed by "novel useless" ones, while the left MTL only showed increased activation in response to "novel useful" designs. Calculating an asymmetry index suggests that usefulness processing is predominant in the left MTL, whereas the right MTL is predominantly involved in novelty processing. Moreover, the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) showed stronger functional connectivity with the anterior cingulate cortex when responding to "novel useless" designs. In contrast, the right PHG showed stronger connectivity with the amygdala, midbrain, and hippocampus. Critically, multivoxel representational similarity analyses revealed that the left MTL was more effective than the right MTL at distinguishing the usefulness differences in novel stimuli, while representational patterns in the left PHG positively predicted the post-behavior evaluation of "truly creative" products. These findings suggest an apparent dissociation of the left and right MTL in integrating the novelty and usefulness information and novel associative processing during creativity evaluation, respectively. Our results provide novel insights into a longstanding and controversial question in creativity research by demonstrating functional lateralization of the MTL in processing novel associations.


Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Cushing's Syndrome after Resolution of Hypercortisolism: Case Reports and Literature Review.
Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a clinical condition characterized by excessive cortisol production, associated with metabolic complications, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, the occurrence of autoimmune diseases in CS have not been completely evaluated in the previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of autoimmune diseases in CS patients after successfully treated. From January 2001 to December 2017, in our Secondary Hypertension Unit, we evaluated 147 CS patients (91 with ACTH-independent disease, 54 with ACTH-dependent disease, and 2 patients with ectopic ACTH production. 109 CS patients (74.1%) were surgically treated (67 ACTH-independent CS patients (61.5%) undergone adrenalectomy and 42 ACTH-dependent CS (38.5%) undergone transsphenoidal surgery) and evaluated after 6, 12, and 24 months after clinical and biochemical remission of disease. In 9 (8.3%) of overall treated CS patients (8.3%), during follow-up, we observed the onset of some manifestations of autoimmune diseases. In particular, one patient had a systemic lupus erythematosus, one patient had rheumatoid arthritis, 4 patients reported autoimmune thyroiditis (Basedow-Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), one patient had clinical features of psoriasis, one patient showed myasthenia gravis, and one patient had giant cell arteritis. Our results demonstrate that patients successfully treated for CS could develop autoimmune diseases. Therefore, after treatment, CS patients need to be strictly monitored in order to evaluate the possible onset of autoimmune diseases.


Processes that constrain and facilitate the evolution of sexual dimorphism.
Sexual dimorphism, or differences between the sexes, is pervasive in both plants and animals despite genetic and developmental constraints on its evolution. This special issue of the American Naturalist, which is based on the annual Vice Presidential Symposium, documents how the underlying processes responsible for the presence and extent of sexual dimorphism can be qualified and quantified by a variety of approaches. These include estimates of the G matrix and phenotypic selection, artificial selection, phenotypic manipulation of hormones, estimates of sex-differential sensitivity to maternal effects, among-population and phenotypic plasticity studies, and the mapping of sexual dimorphism onto a phylogeny. The questions addressed in the articles in this issue vary depending on the motivation for the studies and the taxa being investigated, but taken together, they show how the integration of genetic, developmental, physiological, ecological, and phylogenetic approaches can illuminate the processes underlying the evolution of sexual dimorphism.


Physiology and complications of bed rest.
Prolonged bed rest causes major cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuropsychological changes. Complications often result from these effects of bed rest, especially when aging has already decreased the reserves in these systems. These problems can be limited by judicious prescription of modified bed rest.


The Role of Musk in Relieving the Neurodegenerative Changes Induced After Exposure to Chronic Stress.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect induced by musk on Alzheimer's disease-such as neurodegenerative changes in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Forty male Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups (n = 10); control, CUMS, CUMS + fluoxetine, CUMS + musk. At the end of the experiment, behavior of the mice was assessed. Serum corticosterone level, hippocampal protein level of the glucocorticoid receptors, and brain-derived neurotropic factor were also assessed. Hippocampus was histopathologically examined. Musk improved depressive status induced after exposure to CUMS as evidenced by the forced swimming and open field tests and improved the short-term memory as evidenced by the elevated plus maze test. Musk reduced both corticosterone levels and the hippocampal neurodegenerative changes observed after exposure to CUMS. These improvements were comparable to those induced by fluoxetine. Musk alleviated the memory impairment and neurodegenerative changes induced after exposure to the chronic stress.


[Drugs for relief of pain].
Currently, the pharmacology of analgesics can be sum up to three main compounds: morphine, paracetamol and aspirin. The use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants will also be mentioned. Morphine remains the reference compound among centrally acting analgesics both for acute and chronic pain. Its mechanism of action is relatively well known as well as the role of opiate receptors. Paracetamol is largely used as analgesic for relief of slight to moderate pain. Its mechanism of action still remains unclear. Usually the tolerability of this compound is considered as being excellent. However overdosage can induce severe and possible lethal liver necrosis. Aspirin is also a very old and a largely used compound. Its inhibiting effect on cyclooxygenase acts mainly peripherally but it could also act centrally. According to the current knowledge of its mechanism of action, it seems that the main pharmacological properties as well as adverse events of aspirin are all related to its enzyme inhibiting effect. Slight to moderate pain, related or not to inflammatory disease responds well to aspirin and other NSAIDs.


Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients.
This paper reports a microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with an embedded polycarbonate (PC) thin film to study cell migration under combinations of chemical and oxygen gradients. Both chemical and oxygen gradients can greatly affect cell migration in vivo; however, due to technical limitations, very little research has been performed to investigate their effects in vitro. The device developed in this research takes advantage of a series of serpentine-shaped channels to generate the desired chemical gradients and exploits a spatially confined chemical reaction method for oxygen gradient generation. The directions of the chemical and oxygen gradients are perpendicular to each other to enable straightforward migration result interpretation. In order to efficiently generate the oxygen gradients with minimal chemical consumption, the embedded PC thin film is utilized as a gas diffusion barrier. The developed microfluidic device can be actuated by syringe pumps and placed into a conventional cell incubator during cell migration experiments to allow for setup simplification and optimized cell culture conditions. In cell experiments, we used the device to study migrations of adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells, A549, under combinations of chemokine (stromal cell-derived factor, SDF-1α) and oxygen gradients. The experimental results show that the device can stably generate perpendicular chemokine and oxygen gradients and is compatible with cells. The migration study results indicate that oxygen gradients may play an essential role in guiding cell migration, and cellular behavior under combinations of gradients cannot be predicted from those under single gradients. The device provides a powerful and practical tool for researchers to study interactions between chemical and oxygen gradients in cell culture, which can promote better cell migration studies in more in vivo-like microenvironments.


The relationship between oxidized serum albumin and blood pressure in hypoalbuminemic peritoneal dialysis patients.
Oxidative stress produces molecular modifications of serum albumin that disturb its biological functions and interfere with its detection by the bromocresol green assay (BCG). Oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypoalbuminemia are common peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum albumin, oxidized serum albumin (OSA), oncotic pressure, and blood pressure in hypoalbuminemic PD patients. Twenty-four PD patients with serum albumin levels <3.5 g/dl enrolled in the study. Data were compared between participants with the mean arterial pressure (MAP) <105 mmHg (n = 12) and MAP ≥ 105 mmHg (n = 12). Serum albumin levels were ≤3.0 g/dl and similar in both groups (p = 0.298). The calculated OSA and oncotic pressure were significantly higher in patients with MAP ≥ 105 mmHg than in those with MAP < 105 mmHg. MAP was positively and marginally correlated with serum albumin levels (measured by BCG) (r = 0.34, p = 0.05), and positively and significantly correlated with the calculated OSA and oncotic pressure (r = 0.44, p = 0.015, r = 0.58, p = 0.002; respectively). The oncotic pressure was positively correlated with the calculated OSA (r = 0.47, p = 0.011). OSA, undetectable by the commonly used BCG, may contribute to higher blood pressure in hypoalbuminemic PD patients.


Variational theory for thermodynamics of thermal waves.
We discuss description of macroscopic representations of thermal fields with finite signal speed by composite variational principles involving suitably constructed potentials along with original physical variables. A variational formulation for a given vector field treats all field equations as constraints that are linked by Lagrange multipliers to the given kinetic potential. We focus on the example of simple hyperbolic heat transfer, but also stress that the approach can be easily extended to the coupled transfer of heat, mass, and electric charge. With our approach, various representations may be obtained for physical fields in terms of potentials (gradient or non-gradient representations). Corresponding Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism can be developed. Symmetry principles yield components of the energy-momentum tensor for the given kinetic potential. The limiting reversible case appears as a special yet suitable reference frame to describe irreversible phenomena. With the conservation laws resulting from the least action principle and the Gibbs equation, the variational scheme of nonequilibrium thermodynamics follows. Its main property is abandoning the assumption of local thermal equilibrium.


A molecular dynamics simulation study of oriented DNA with polyamine and sodium counterions: diffusion and averaged binding of water and cations.
Four different molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed for ordered DNA decamers, d(5'-ATGCAGTCAG)*d(5'-TGACTGCATC). The counterions were the two natural polyamines spermidine3+ (Spd3+) and putrescine2+ (Put2+), the synthetic polyamine diaminopropane2+ (DAP2+) and Na+. The simulation set-up corresponds to an infinite array of parallel DNA mimicking the state in oriented DNA fibers or crystals. This work describes general properties of polyamine and Na+ binding to DNA. Simulated diffusion coefficients show satisfactory agreement with experimental NMR diffusion data of comparable systems. The interaction of the polyamines with DNA is dynamic in character and the cations mostly form short-lived contacts with the electronegative binding sites of DNA. Polyamines, Na+ and water interact most frequently with the charged phosphate atoms with preference for association from the minor groove side with O1P over O2P. There is a strong anti-correlation in the cation binding to the electronegative groups of DNA, i.e. the presence of a cation near one of the DNA sites repels other cations from binding to this and to the other sites separated by <7.5 A from each other. In contrast to the other polyamines, DAP2+ is able to form 'bridges' connecting neighboring phosphate groups along the DNA strand. A small fraction of DAP2+ and Put2+ can be found in the major grooves, while Spd3+ is absent there. The results of the MD simulations reveal principal differences in the polyamine-DNA interactions between the natural (Spd3+, Put2+ and spermine4+) and synthetic (DAP2+) polyamines.


No-reflow phenomenon and lesion morphology in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
The no-reflow phenomenon is associated with poor functional and clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the era of primary intervention, accurately identifying lesions at high risk of no reflow is of crucial importance. At present, no study into the relationship between lesion morphology and no reflow has been performed. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between preintervention intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) lesion morphology and the no-reflow phenomenon. This study comprised 100 consecutive patients with AMI who underwent preintervention IVUS and were successfully recanalized with primary balloon angioplasty or stenting. IVUS was again performed to identify and exclude any mechanical vessel obstruction in cases of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 0, 1, or 2 after intervention in the absence of angiographic stenosis. Angiographic no reflow was seen in 13 patients (13%). Univariate analysis indicated that hypercholesterolemia, fissure and dissection, lipid pool-like image, lesion, and reference external elastic membrane cross-sectional area correlate with the no-reflow phenomenon. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lipid pool-like image (P<0.05; odds ratio 118; 95% CI, 1.28 to 11 008) and lesion elastic membrane cross-sectional area (P<0.05; odds ratio 1.55; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.38) are independent predictive factors of no-reflow phenomenon after reperfusion for AMI. Large vessels with lipid pool-like image are at high risk for no reflow after primary intervention for AMI. Also, plaque content may play a role in damage to the microcirculation after primary intervention for AMI.


Applying Monte Carlo Simulation to Biomedical Literature to Approximate Genetic Network.
Biologists often need to know the set of genes associated with a given set of genes or a given disease. We propose in this paper a classifier system called Monte Carlo for Genetic Network (MCforGN) that can construct genetic networks, identify functionally related genes, and predict gene-disease associations. MCforGN identifies functionally related genes based on their co-occurrences in the abstracts of biomedical literature. For a given gene g , the system first extracts the set of genes found within the abstracts of biomedical literature associated with g. It then ranks these genes to determine the ones with high co-occurrences with g . It overcomes the limitations of current approaches that employ analytical deterministic algorithms by applying Monte Carlo Simulation to approximate genetic networks. It does so by conducting repeated random sampling to obtain numerical results and to optimize these results. Moreover, it analyzes results to obtain the probabilities of different genes' co-occurrences using series of statistical tests. MCforGN can detect gene-disease associations by employing a combination of centrality measures (to identify the central genes in disease-specific genetic networks) and Monte Carlo Simulation. MCforGN aims at enhancing state-of-the-art biological text mining by applying novel extraction techniques. We evaluated MCforGN by comparing it experimentally with nine approaches. Results showed marked improvement.


Visualization and analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data by kernel-based similarity learning.
We present single-cell interpretation via multikernel learning (SIMLR), an analytic framework and software which learns a similarity measure from single-cell RNA-seq data in order to perform dimension reduction, clustering and visualization. On seven published data sets, we benchmark SIMLR against state-of-the-art methods. We show that SIMLR is scalable and greatly enhances clustering performance while improving the visualization and interpretability of single-cell sequencing data.


pRb, Myc and p53 are critically involved in SV40 large T antigen repression of PDGF beta-receptor transcription.
The expression of the PDGF beta-receptor is tightly regulated during a normal cell cycle. c-Myc and p73alpha repress transcription of the receptor through interaction with NF-Y. In ST15A cells which stably express the temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen (LT) the receptor expression and ligand binding decreased under the permissive condition. Transient expression of the LT, but not small t, decreased the endogenous receptor expression at mRNA and protein levels in NIH3T3 cells but not in the myc-null HO15.19 cells. The wild-type LT, but not the various pRb or p53 binding defective LT mutants, represses the PDGF beta-receptor promoter activity. Moreover, the inability of the LT-mediated repression in the myc-null cells, the Rb-null 3T3 cells, and the Saos-2 cells lacking pRb and p53, indicates that Myc, pRb and p53 are all necessary elements. PDGF beta-receptor promoter-luciferase assays revealed that the CCAAT motif is important for the repression. Furthermore, p53 was found to increase the promoter activity mainly via the upstream Sp1 binding sites together with the CCAAT motif in the NIH 3T3 cells. This was confirmed by Schneider's Drosophila line (SL2) cells deficient in both endogenous NF-Y and Sp1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation using ST15A cells revealed that both LT and p53 bound the PDGF beta-receptor promoter and the binding of p53 diminished when LT was expressed in the permissive condition. However, LT binds the promoter in the absence of pRb and p53 in Saos-2 cells stably expressing LT. These results suggest that LT binds the promoter and interferes with NF-Y and Sp1 to repress it in the presence of Myc, pRb and p53.


Hot-Air Balloon Tour Accidents in the Cappadocia Region.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of hot-air balloon tour accidents in Turkey is not clear, as published data are scarce. This study aimed to determine the rate of such accidents, including passenger fatalities and injuries, across all flight hours and to also compare these types of accidents to those of other commercial air tour crashes.METHODS: Hot-air balloon tour accident reports in the Cappadocia region were analyzed for 1,415,943 passengers during 81,112 flight hours undertaken between August 2013 and July 2017. The flight and accident data were obtained from the Accident Investigation Board and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.RESULTS: There were 12 accidents which occurred during the flight hours examined (a rate of 14.8 accidents per 100,000 h). There were 33 individuals seriously injured, 3 fatally in all passengers (3.7 fatalities per 100,000 h in these flights). The majority of accidents that produced serious and fatal injuries occurred during the last year of the study. The most common cause of accidents was a hard landing (58.3%). All accidents occurred during the landing phase of the flight. Seven patients experienced multiple traumas and lower extremity injuries constituted the majority of cases (N = 21).DISCUSSION: The fatality rate of commercial balloon rides was lower than that for lighter-than-air craft, which include balloons and blimps (sports aviation flights), and the crash rate of hot-air balloons was higher than those of aircraft (airplanes and helicopters) tour flights. However, there is still insufficient information in the literature to properly compare this activity with commercial motorized aircraft tours and other hot-air balloon flights.Aslaner MA. Hot-air balloon tour accidents in the Cappadocia region. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019; 90(2):123-127.


Does health education prevent childhood accidents?
In an attempt to test the assumption that health education directed at parents and children can reduce childhood accidents, a controlled study was carried out in Ely , one area of Cardiff. Using conventional health education techniques, the campaign was carried out in June and July 1981 and monitored by the numbers of injured children attending the local Accident and Emergency Department. Comparison of accident numbers in Ely between 1980 and 1981 and between Ely and the whole of Cardiff in 1981 showed no significant change. A slight increase in trivial injuries suggested an increased willingness to attend hospital. There was no change in the age distribution of victims. The benefits of health education and alternative methods of accident prevention are discussed and the need for further research is emphasized.


Interaction of Heat Shock Protein Cpn10 with the Cyclin E/Cdk2 Substrate Nuclear Protein Ataxia-Telangiectasia (NPAT) Is Involved in Regulating Histone Transcription.
Precise modulation of histone gene transcription is critical for cell cycle progression. As a direct substrate of Cyclin E/CDK2, nuclear protein ataxia-telangiectasia (NPAT) is a crucial factor in regulating histone transcription and cell cycle progression. Here we identified that Cpn10/HSPE, a 10-kDa heat shock protein, is a novel interacting partner of NPAT. A pool of Cpn10 is colocalized with NPAT foci during G1 and S phases in nuclei. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments unraveled an essential role of Cpn10 in histone transcription. A conserved DLFD motif within Cpn10 was critical for targeting NPAT and modulating histone transcription. More importantly, knockdown of Cpn10 disrupted the focus formation of both NPAT and FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme-associated huge protein without affecting Coilin-positive Cajal bodies. Finally, Cpn10 is important for S phase progression and cell proliferation. Taken together, our finding revealed a novel role of Cpn10 in the spatial regulation of NPAT signaling and disclosed a previously unappreciated link between the heat shock protein and histone transcription regulation.


Characterization of an on-line commercial fluorescence probe: modeling of the probe signal.
A biosensor model was developed for a commercial NADH fluorescence probe to describe the single-frequency excitation and emission fluorescence behavior of an aqueous mixture of fluorophores. This model is essential in correlating the measured signals to the concentrations of fluorescent compounds in a bioreactor. In addition to the concentrations of fluorescent components, the relevant parameters of the model are the absorbance at both the excitation and the emission frequencies by the solvent and other absorbing species, the background signals, the light path length of the bioreactor vessel, the fluorescence yield, and the lampdetector configuration. Due to inner-filter effects and other interferences, the probe signal is intrinsically nonlinear in both the fluorophore concentration and the path length. An important parameter in the model is the geometric constant, S, which accounts for variations in the monitoring efficiency throughout the sample because fluorescent light is emitted in all directions. Previous models, derived from an unrealistic assumption that fluorescent light is emitted only in one direction parallel to the probe axis, are shown to be seriously deficient. The validity of the model was verified experimentally for a single-component solution in which both the fluorophore concentration and path length were varied.


Divergent enantioselective synthesis of (-)-galanthamine and (-)-morphine.
An efficient divergent synthetic strategy for the synthesis of the opiate and amaryllidaceae alkaloids emerges by employing a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) to set the stereochemistry. Three generations of syntheses of galanthamine are discussed in detail with particular focus on the scope of the palladium-catalyzed AAA reactions and intramolecular Heck reactions. The pivotal tricyclic intermediate is available in six steps from 2-bromovanillin and the monoester of methyl 6-hydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylate. This intermediate requires only two steps to convert to (-)-galanthamine. Using a Heck vinylation, we found that the fourth ring of codeine/morphine could be formed. The final ring formation involves a novel visible light-promoted hydroamination. Thus, six steps are required to convert the pivotal tricyclic intermediate into codeine, which has been demethylated in high yield to morphine.


Seasonal changes in avian song control circuits do not cause seasonal changes in song discrimination in song sparrows.
In seasonally breeding songbirds, brain nuclei of the song control system that act in song perception change in size between seasons. It has been hypothesized that seasonal regression of song nuclei may impair song discrimination. We tested this hypothesis in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), a species in which males share song types with neighbors and must discriminate between similar songs in territorial interactions. We predicted that song sparrows with regressed song systems would have greater difficulty in discriminating between similar songs. Sparrows were housed either on short days (SD) and had regressed song circuits, or were exposed to long days and implanted with testosterone (LD+T) to induce full growth of the song circuits. We conducted two experiments using a GO/NO-GO operant conditioning paradigm to measure song discrimination ability of each group. Birds learned four (experiment 1) or three (experiment 2) pairs of song types sequentially, with each pair more similar in the number of shared song elements and thus more difficult to discriminate. Circulating T levels differed between the SD and LD+T groups. The telencephalic song nuclei HVc, RA, and area X were larger in the LD+T birds. The two groups of sparrows did not differ, however, in their ability to learn to discriminate between shared song types, regardless of the songs' similarity. These results suggest that seasonal changes in the song control system do not affect birds' ability to make difficult song discriminations.


The Pavonia xanthogloea (Ekman, Malvaceae): Phenolic compounds quantification, anti-oxidant and cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes cells.
Pavonia xanthogloea is traditionally used as an antimicrobial and anti-tumour medicine in Southern Brazilian region. However, investigations about this species are still incipient. The study postulated that P. xanthologea specie present some phenolic compound and present some biological properties as anti-oxidant and cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress. The content of eight phenolic molecules in the crude ethanolic extract of the aerial part of P. xanthogloea and its five fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl-acetate, n-butanol, and water) was determined by heterotrophic plate count method. The anti-oxidant capacity of the extract and the fractions was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay. The potential anti-oxidant and cytoprotective effect was also analyzed in human lymphocyte culture treated with extract/fractions at different concentrations with and without oxidative stress generated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) exposition. Tiliroside was the molecule detected in all extract. Water and ethyl-acetate fractions showed the highest radical-scavenging activity. The crude extract, hexane, water, and n-butanol reversed the higher reactive oxygen specie levels generated by H2O2 and SNP to levels similar to those observed in the control group. In addition, crude extract, hexane, ethyl-acetate and n-butanol did not caused cytotoxicity, whereas water fraction was cytotoxic at higher concentration tested here (300 μg/mL). The cytotoxicity reversion caused by SNP exposition was concentration-dependent of the extract and fractions. However, dichloromethane fraction increased cell mortality in all concentrations investigated and was not able to decrease cell death in the lymphocytes exposed to SNP. The results suggest potential medicine use of this species.


[The nursing experience of a patient with parkinsonian type of multiple system atrophy].
This article describes the nursing experience of a patient with multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type (MSA-P). The writer collected subjective and objective information using observation, interviews, and nursing care during the time period May 22 to June 3, 2006. A holistic nursing assessment and nursing problems were established as body image disturbance, risk for aspiration, constipation and family support, self-care deficit and risk for fall. Through individual nursing intervention and family support, the patient accommodated himself to the physical activities and mental situation. We hope that this complete nursing experience can in future serve as a reference for other nurses in the MSA-P field as they assist similar patients.


Catalytic Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Using a Phase-Transitional Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is utilized as one of the most popular consumer plastics worldwide, but difficulties associated with recycling PET have generated a severe environmental crisis with most PET ending its lifecycle in landfills. We report that zirconium-based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) UiO-66 deconstructs waste PET into the building blocks terephthalic acid (TA) and mono-methyl terephthalate (MMT) within 24 hours at 260 °C (total yield of 98 % under 1 atm H2 and 81 % under 1 atm Ar). Extensive structural characterization studies reveal that during the degradation process, UiO-66 undergoes an intriguing transformation into MIL-140A, which is another Zr-MOF that shows good catalytic activity toward PET degradation under similar reaction conditions. These results illustrate the diversity of applications for Zr-MOFs and establish MOFs as a new class of polymer degradation catalysts with the potential to address long-standing challenges associated with plastic waste.


Neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying rhythmical discharge in trigeminal interneurons during fictive mastication.
1. We have examined the effects of iontophoretic application of antagonists to excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors, as well as glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), on rhythmically active (RA) brain stem neurons during cortically induced masticatory activity (RMA) in the anesthetized guinea pig. Ten of these neurons were antidromically activated at latencies of 0.3-0.9 ms by stimulation of the trigeminal motor nucleus (MoV). 2. RA neurons were divided into closer and opener type according to the phase of activation during RMA. Iontophoretic application of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a specific non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, suppressed discharge of both closer and opener type RA neurons during RMA. In contrast, iontophoretic application of 3-((1)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), a specific NMDA receptor antagonist, was not effective in suppressing discharge of most opener type RA neurons but did reduce activity of closer type RA neurons. 3. Spike discharge of most RA neurons was time locked to each cortical stimulus during RMA. Some of the RA neurons were activated at a short latency to short pulse train stimulation of the cortex in the absence of RMA. In most cases CNQX reduced such time-locked responses during RMA and greatly reduced discharge evoked by short pulse stimulation of the cortex in all cases. In contrast, CPP was not as effective in suppressing either the time-locked responses during RMA or the discharge evoked by short pulse train stimulation of the cortex. 4. D,L-Homocysteic acid (HCA) application produced low level maintained discharge in RA neurons before RMA induction. When RMA was evoked in combination with HCA, rhythmical burst discharges with distinct interburst periods during the opening phase of RMA were observed in most closer type RA neurons. In contrast, during RMA in combination with HCA application, opener type RA neurons showed burst discharges that were modulated during the RMA cycle but lacked distinct interburst periods during the closer phase of the cycle. 5. During application of strychnine (STR), a glycine antagonist, discharge of closer type RA neurons increased in the opener phase of RMA during continuous HCA application. In contrast, bicuculline methiodide (BIC), a GABA antagonist, did not increase unit discharge of closer type RA neurons in the opener phase of RMA. 6. It is concluded that closer type RA neurons receive, alternatively, EAA-mediated excitatory and glycine-mediated inhibitory masticatory synaptic drive signals during RMA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


[Clinical and pathological characteristics and pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis].
To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics and pathogenesis of autoimmunohepatitis (AIH). The serum and liver biopsy specimens and clinical data of 26 cases with patients with AIH were analyzed and scored according to the criteria of International autoimmune hepatitis (IAIHG, 1999). The changes of dendritic cells (DC) in the liver tissues were observed with a panel of DC markers (CD-80/B7-1, CD-86/B7-2, CD-1a and HLA-DR) and immunohistochemistry, and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the expression of TGF-alpha were also detected. Liver tissue specimens from 10 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C respectively and 5 normal liver specimens were chosen as controls. Mean aggregate scores of 26 AIH cases, including 21 cases of type B (80.8%) and 5 cases of type C (19.2%), which were 18.6 +/- 1.4 and 19.1 +/- 2.1 respectively. There were significant differences between the type B and type C in the average age levels of serum ALT and AST, and alpha-Glo (P <0.001 or P< 0.01 or P <0.05). Histological features of all the AIH liver tissues showed the lesions of chronic active hepatitis such as interface hepatitis/piecemeal necrosis (100%), obvious lobular inflammation (type B 95.2%, type C 100%), bridging necrosis (57.1% type B, 80.0% type C, P<0.05), rosetting of liver cells (71.4% type B, 100% type C, P<0.01), central lobular confluent necrosis (33.3% type B, 80.0% type C, P<0.001), predominant plasmacytic infiltration (type B 95.2%, type C 20.0%, P<0.001). The rates of increased and concentrated DC in the portal and lobular areas, especially in the active lesions in type B and type C AIH were 85.7% (18/21) and 5/5 respectively. It was found that DC and lymphocytes surrounded the hepatocytes which partly expressed HLA-DR antigen, while there were no or a few HLA-DR positive hepatocytes in controls. Meanwhile, the number of alpha-SMA positive HSC and the expression of TGF- were obviously increased in AIH liver tissues. Several clinical and pathological features of AIH were identified in this study. As an antigen-presenting cell, DC might play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIH. In China, sub-type B of AIH might be more frequent than sub-type C and there were differences in clinical aspects, serology and pathology between the two types.