Detrimental effects of duplicate reads and low complexity regions on RNA- and ChIP-seq data.
Adapter trimming and removal of duplicate reads are common practices in next-generation sequencing pipelines. Sequencing reads ambiguously mapped to repetitive and low complexity regions can also be problematic for accurate assessment of the biological signal, yet their impact on sequencing data has not received much attention. We investigate how trimming the adapters, removing duplicates, and filtering out reads overlapping low complexity regions influence the significance of biological signal in RNA- and ChIP-seq experiments. We assessed the effect of data processing steps on the alignment statistics and the functional enrichment analysis results of RNA- and ChIP-seq data. We compared differentially processed RNA-seq data with matching microarray data on the same patient samples to determine whether changes in pre-processing improved correlation between the two. We have developed a simple tool to remove low complexity regions, RepeatSoaker, available at https://github.com/mdozmorov/RepeatSoaker, and tested its effect on the alignment statistics and the results of the enrichment analyses. Both adapter trimming and duplicate removal moderately improved the strength of biological signals in RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data. Aggressive filtering of reads overlapping with low complexity regions, as defined by RepeatMasker, further improved the strength of biological signals, and the correlation between RNA-seq and microarray gene expression data. Adapter trimming and duplicates removal, coupled with filtering out reads overlapping low complexity regions, is shown to increase the quality and reliability of detecting biological signals in RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data.


Entanglement constrained by superselection rules.
Bipartite entanglement may be reduced if there are restrictions on allowed local operations. We introduce the concept of a generalized superselection rule to describe such restrictions, and quantify the entanglement constrained by it. We show that ensemble quantum information processing, where elements in the ensemble are not individually addressable, is subject to the superselection rule associated with the symmetric group (the group of permutations of elements). We prove that even for an ensemble comprising many pairs of qubits, each pair described by a pure Bell state, the entanglement per element constrained by this superselection rule goes to zero for a large number of elements.


Detection of coxsackie B4 virus RNA in infected mouse kidneys by in situ hybridization.
We describe a method for detecting virus-specific RNA sequences using a nonradioactive enzyme system, and analyze coxsackie B4 virus (cox.B4) RNA sequences in infected mouse kidney with pathological changes. Diffuse mesangial proliferation was observed transiently 24 h after inoculation of cox.B4 virus in glomeruli. OCT-treated thin sections of the same tissue were hybridized in situ using a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe. The strongest signal was observed in the mesangial sample. These findings suggest that the transient proliferative mesangial changes were caused by direct injury following virus infection without immune complex.


Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in Basrah, Iraq.
This study aimed to measure the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among patients with diabetes mellitus aged 20 to 82 years attending the Faiha Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Basrah. A cross-sectional study was conducted at FDEMC, including 1542 participants aged 20 to 82 from January 2019 to December 2019. Both eyes were examined for evidence of DR by a mobile nonmydriatic camera, and statistical analysis was performed to measure the prevalence rates (95% CI) for patients with different characteristics. The mean age of participants was 35.9, with 689 males (44.7%; 95% CI: 42.2-47.2%) and 853 females (55.3%; 95% CI: 52.8-57.8%). The prevalence rate of DR was 30.5% (95% CI: 28.1-32.8%), and 11.27% of cases were proliferative retinopathy. DR significantly increased with age (p-value=0.000), it was higher in females (p-value=0.005), and significantly increased with a longer duration of diabetes (p-value<0.001), hyperglycemia (p-value<0.001), hypertension (p-value=0.004), dyslipidemia (p-value<0.001), nephropathy (p-value<0.001) and smoking (p-value<0.001). There was no statistical association between DR and the type of diabetes or obesity. One-third of the participants in this study had DR. Screening and early detection of DR using a simple tool such as a digital camera should be a priority to improve a person's health status.


Primary greater omental GIST presenting with acute intra-abdominal haemorrhage.
Primary omental gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are classified as extra-GISTs with a reported incidence of <1% of all GISTs. There are only a few cases in the English literature reporting omental GIST with none reporting acute intra-abdominal haemorrhage as a presenting feature. We report a case of a 67-year-old man who presented with haemorrhage from a primary omental GIST requiring emergency laparotomy.


[Experiences with continuous infusions of etomidate in cardiac surgery (author's transl)].
The hypnotic agent etomidate was added by infusion to a fentanyl-N2O-O2-anaesthesia for patients (n=15) requiring open heart surgery. The purpose of this procedure was to avoid awareness during operation (mean duration 187 min). The average amount of etomidate infused was 2.55 mg/kg, which seemed to be an overdose. The fentanyl consumption was slightly reduced as compared with a control group. No patients complained of awareness. The anaesthetic method studied is not thought to be superior to a high-dose fentanyl anaesthesia.


Credentials committee--"get involved".
The purpose of this information is to make a plea to physicians to get involved with your Credentials Committee. Your active interest and participation will help physicians maintain control of this important process. If you are not able to be an active member of the committee, be sure that there is someone on the committee who is looking our for your interests.


Liquid marbles from soot films.
Soot films are the most easily available superhydrophobic surfaces. However, their cohesive forces are very weak such that they have been considered not suitable for direct use. Here we show that the seemingly undesirable mechanical weakness is actually an important property which allows a soot film to work as a superhydrophobic platform and tool, producing liquid marbles with fascinating properties and performances. A soot film is weak enough to lose component carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on contact with water, but can adhere to a substrate stably on overturning or shaking the substrate. On this basis, we demonstrate that a liquid marble consisting of a liquid core and a CNP shell can be obtained by either rolling or an imprinting process. In addition, it is found that large-volume liquid puddles are easy to produce and manipulate with soot films by arbitrary shaking and pouring operations, without worrying about particles flying off that would occur in conventional powder-based liquid puddle production. The multifunctionality of CNPs endows soot liquid marbles/puddles with great potential in light shielding, electrical conduction, etc. This study reveals a direct application of soot films' superhydrophobicity, provides an alternative route for liquid marble production, and highlights the concept of disadvantage reversion.


An Anodic Phase Can Facilitate Rather Than Weaken a Cathodic Phase to Activate Neurons in Biphasic-Pulse Axonal Stimulations.
Electrical pulses have been promisingly utilized in neural stimulations to treat various diseases. Usually, charge-balanced biphasic pulses are applied in the clinic to eliminate the possible side effects caused by charge accumulations. Because of its reversal action to the preceding cathodic phase, the subsequent anodic phase has been commonly considered to lower the activation efficiency of biphasic pulses. However, an anodic pulse itself can also activate axons with its "virtual cathode" effect. Therefore, we hypothesized that the anodic phase of a biphasic pulse could facilitate neuronal activation in some circumstances. To verify the hypothesis, we compared the activation efficiencies of cathodic pulse, biphasic pulse, and anodic pulse applied in both monopolar and bipolar modes in the axonal stimulation of alveus in rat hippocampal CA1 region in vivo. The antidromically evoked population spikes (APS) were recorded and used to evaluate the amount of integrated firing of pyramidal neurons induced by pulse stimulations. We also used a computational model to investigate the pulse effects on axons at various distances from the stimulation electrode. The experimental results showed that, with a small pulse intensity, a cathodic pulse recruited more neurons to fire than a biphasic pulse. However, the situation was reversed with an increased pulse intensity. In addition, setting an inter-phase gap of 100 μs was able to increase the activation efficiency of a biphasic pulse to exceed a cathodic pulse even with a relatively small pulse intensity. Furthermore, the latency of APS evoked by a cathodic pulse was always longer than that of APS evoked by a biphasic pulse, indicating different initial sites of the neuronal firing evoked by the different types of pulses. The computational results of axon modeling showed that the subsequent anodic phase was able to relieve the hyperpolarization block in the flanking regions generated by the preceding cathodic phase, thereby increasing rather than decreasing the activation efficiency of a biphasic pulse with a relatively great intensity. These results of both rat experiments and computational modeling firstly reveal a facilitation rather than an attenuation effect of the anodic phase on biphasic-pulse stimulations, which provides important information for designing electrical stimulations for neural therapies.


Inorganic and metal nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity in food packaging applications.
Nanotechnology has revolutionized almost all the fields of science and technology, particularly the food packaging industry. Accordingly, some nanoparticles can be used in food contact materials to preserve food products for longer periods. To date, many inorganic and metal nanoparticles have been implemented to synthesize active food packaging materials and to extend the shelf-life of foods. Packaging with nanocomposites containing these nanoparticles offers advantages, such as reduction in the usage of preservatives and higher rate of reactions to inhibit the microbial growth. Nevertheless, the safety issues of employing the metal and inorganic nanoparticles in food packaging are still a major concern and more studies along with clinical trials need to be carried out prior to the mass production of these promising food containers. In this review, we have evaluated recent studies plus the applications of inorganic and metal nanoparticles mostly in food packaging applications along with their antimicrobial properties and reaction mechanisms. Many examples have been provided with the aim of opening new horizons for researchers to implement inorganic and metal nanoparticles in active food packaging field.


Quantitation of the immune rejection of allotransplanted AKR leukemic cells.
AKR leukemic cells were transferred into both CD2F1 and C3H/He mice and the growth and rejection of the cells followed by a quantitative cellular assay. While the leukemic cells initially grew at the same rate in both strains of mice, the CD2F1 mice eventually rejected the cells. The time to rejection was found to be dependent upon the initial inoculum size.


Comparative studies on aetiology and epidemiology of viral conjunctivitis in three countries of East Asia--Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
A total number of 1105 cases with viral conjunctivitis, mainly epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis (EKC) consisting of 354 cases from Sapporo, Japan, of 628 from Kaohsiung, Taiwan and of 123 from Busan, Korea, encountered during the periods, 1980-81 and/or 1983, were studied aetiologically and epidemiologically. Patients were aged from 27 days to 88 years with a peak in the 20-29 year age group. Aetiological diagnoses were established in 610 cases (55%), consisting of 536 cases (49%) caused by adenoviruses and of 74 (7%) by EV 70. The most frequently detected agent was Ad 8 (57%), followed by EV 70 (12%), Ad 3 (9%) and Ad 19 (7%). The aetiological profiles of viral conjunctivitis were generally similar in three cities of East Asia. EKC (70%) was mainly caused by Ad 8, Ad 19 and Ad 37, but AHC (13%) by EV 70 and PCF (5%) by Ad 3 and Ad 11. Ad 19 and Ad 37 isolates in three cities were compared with the cleavage patterns with restriction endonucleases, BamHl, Smal, Sall and Hindlll. All of the Ad 19 isolates tested were identical to Ad 19a reported by Wadell et al, and all but three isolates of Ad 37 were identical to the Ad 37 prototype prevalent in Europe and the US. The three isolates of Ad 37, different from the prototype in cleavage pattern with Hindlll, designated as Ad 37A, were detected in Sapporo and Kaohsiung in 1980. From the cleavage patterns with four restriction endonucleases, Hindlll, BamHl, Sa1l and Sstl, the Ad 8 isolates in 1983 were divided into three subtypes, which were associated with the cities isolated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Management of pediatric papillary thyroid cancer.
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) originates from the follicular cell of the thyroid gland. PTC is a rare cancer and usually develops in pre-existing thyroid nodules, which are not common in children. PTC is often multifocal and bilateral. Low-risk subtypes such as classic PTC and follicular variant account for the majority of PTC, while high-risk histologic subtypes such as tall cell variant, diffuse sclerosing variant and poorly differentiated thyroid cancer occur more rarely in children. It is worth noting that the size of the thyroid in children is smaller compared to that of adults. Therefore, the size criteria used for tumor staging as well as the diagnosis of papillary microcarcinoma in adults, do not apply to children. Family history of thyroid cancer, exposure to external radiation, iodine deficiency, and autoimmune thyroid diseases as well as some genetic syndromes increase the risk of its occurrence.


INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AND EYE HYDRODYNAMICS DURING BRIEF HEAD-DOWN TILT.
Intraocular pressure (IOP) and eye hydrodynamics (aqueous outflow easiness rate (C) and moisture chamber production (F)) were studied in 9 adult volunteers subjected to the hypogravity effects of head-down tilt (HDT) at -15⁰ to the horizontal plane. The volunteers stayed in the horizontal and tilted positions for 10 minutes. IOP was measured according to Maklakov (tonometer 5 g), C and F - according to Nesterov (simplified tonography). In parallel, heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were measured in the sitting, lying and tilted positions. In HDT IOP rose 10.3 % (p < 0.05) and C reduced 60 % (p < 0.05); F showed an uncertain trend down by 59 % (p > 0.05). Increase of the Bekker coefficient by 168 % (p < 0.05) could testify interconnection of the increased IOP and impaired moisture outflow. Moreover, in HDT DBP showed a rise while HR decreased. These results suggest that during brief tilt- down IOP increases not only because of a greater filling of the choroid vessels, but also because of retarded outflow of the intraocular fluid. The downward trend in fluid production can be a compensatory reaction to increased'IOP.


Generation of Peptides That Promote Positive Selection in the Thymus.
To establish an immunocompetent TCR repertoire that is useful yet harmless to the body, a de novo thymocyte repertoire generated through the rearrangement of genes that encode TCR is shaped in the thymus through positive and negative selection. The affinity between TCRs and self-peptides associated with MHC molecules determines the fate of developing thymocytes. Low-affinity TCR engagement with self-peptide-MHC complexes mediates positive selection, a process that primarily occurs in the thymic cortex. Massive efforts exerted by many laboratories have led to the characterization of peptides that can induce positive selection. Moreover, it is now evident that protein degradation machineries unique to cortical thymic epithelial cells play a crucial role in the production of MHC-associated self-peptides for inducing positive selection. This review summarizes current knowledge on positive selection-inducing self-peptides and Ag processing machineries in cortical thymic epithelial cells. Recent studies on the role of positive selection in the functional tuning of T cells are also discussed.


[Causality and hospital perinatal mortality trend at the Mexican Institute of Social Security, 1998-2002].
To analyze levels, trend and causes of hospital perinatal mortality at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) during the 5 years from 1998 to 2002 to identify magnitude and related factors in our population and discuss some technical bases and epidemiologic aspects for planning strategies to contribute to its reduction. Descriptive study on the death certificates of 39,994 cases of perinatal deaths distributed among 19,108 fetal deaths of 28 weeks and more of gestation and 20,886 neonatal deaths 7 to days of life that occurred in IMSS hospitals during the reference period. With this information and the data on total births, dead or live from the official information system of our Institution, we established annual rates for the entire IMSS, including administrative regions and zones of medical services. We also generated 5-year cumulated numbers for frequencies and rates of perinatal death causes in the IMSS, using the codes of Tenth Revision of the International Diseases Classification. Hospital perinatal mortality at the IMSS showed a reduction from 1998 (13 per 1,000 births) to 2002 (11.4 per 1,000 births). That trend was observed in the four administrative regions and in the majority of number of medical services zones, but with many differences in levels. It was similar in proportions of fetal (47.8%) and neonatal deaths (52.2%). Two thirds of fetal mortality was linked to maternal complications during pregnancy and labor. A similar proportion of neonatal deaths was due to premature birth and its complications.


Antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis: special reference to normal white blood cell count agranulocytosis.
This retrospective study was aimed at revealing the incidence of normal white blood cell (WBC) count agranulocytosis in patients treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs). From January 1975 to December 2001, 109 patients (0.35%) presented with ATD-induced agranulocytosis at our clinic. In 18 patients (16.5%), the WBC count exceeded 3.0 x 10(9)/L at the onset of agranulocytosis. Ten showed a downward trend in WBC count (3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L) after the initiation of ATDs. Four had symptoms of infection. In the remaining 4 patients, routine WBC and granulocyte count monitoring detected an agranulocytosis. During the first 3 months of ATD treatment, 3347 patients (10.9%) had WBC count 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L even once with no symptom and normal granulocyte count and 26672 patients had WBC count >or= 4.0 x 10(9)/L with no symptom and normal granulocyte count. When agranulocytosis was found, twelve patients with normal WBC count agranulocytosis (0.36%) had WBC count 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L with no symptom, whereas only 2 patients with agranulocytosis (0.008%) had WBC count >or= 4.0 x 10(9)/L with no symptom. In conclusion, clinicians should take normal WBC count agranulocytosis into consideration at least during the first 3 months of antithyroid drug therapy, especially when WBC count is 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L.


Pharmacology of functional endogenous IP prostanoid receptors in NCB-20 cells: comparison with binding data from human platelets.
The objective of these studies was to characterize the effects of a broad range of prostanoid agonists upon the stimulation of cAMP production in National Cancer Bank (NCB-20; mouse neuroblastoma/hamster brain hybridoma) cells. The pharmacology of these functional responses in NCB-20 cells was compared with that of the classic endogenous IP receptor present on human platelets using [3H]-iloprost binding techniques. In both assay systems, agonists from the IP prostanoid class exhibited the highest affinities and functional potencies. Specific prostanoids exhibited the following rank order of potency (EC50 +/- SEM) in stimulating cAMP production in the NCB-20 cells: carbaprostacyclin (4.3 +/- 0.9 nM) = PGI2 (6.6 +/-1.5 nM) > iloprost (75+/-13 nM) > 11-deoxy PGE, (378+/-138 nM) > misoprostol (1,243+/-48) > PGE2 (3020+/-700 nM) > ZK-118182 (7265+/-455 nM). Iloprost wasthe most potent compound in the human platelet binding assay while prostanoidsfromthe DPand EP receptor classes showed modest affinity. These studies provide functional and binding information for a broad range of both natural and synthetic prostanoid receptor ligands at the endogenous IP receptor in two different cell types.


Long-term consequences of under-nutrition during suckling on glucose tolerance and lipoprotein profile in female and male rats.
To determine the effect of under-nutrition during suckling in adults, at delivery female Sprague Dawley rats were allowed to lactate litters of either eight (controls) or sixteen pups each (large litter, LL). The amount of milk taken by LL pups was less than the controls and the concentration of triacylglycerols (TG) in the milk of the former was lower. The increase of both body weight and length in LL was lower than in the controls during suckling. At weaning, pups were allowed to eat ad libitum a standard diet and whereas at 20 months female body weight did not differ between LL and control rats, LL males weighed less than controls. Plasma NEFA were lower in male LL than in controls at 10 months, leptin at 10 and 16 months and TG and VLDL-TG at 20 months, with no differences in females. When 20 months old, lumbar and epididymal adipose tissue weights were lower in male LL than in controls, but not in females. The increase in plasma insulin after oral glucose load was lower in LL than in controls, both in males and females at 4 and 16 months, and only in males at 10 months, whereas the change in plasma glucose remained constant between the groups. Results indicate that both the pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity and adipose tissue metabolism are independently programmed as a consequence of under-nutrition during suckling, the effect being more manifest for males than for females.


Geo-Epidemiology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: New Clues Into the Pathogenesis.
To evaluate the demographic, geographic, and race-related variables that account for geographic variability in prevalence rates of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Systematic review, meta-regression, and decision-tree analysis. A systematic literature review of PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases identified population-based studies on the prevalence of AMD published before May 2014. Only population-based studies that took place in a spatially explicit geographic area that could be geolocalized, and used retinal photographs and standardized grading classifications, were included. Latitude and longitude data (geolocalization) and the mean annual insolation for the area where survey took place were obtained. Age-standardized prevalence rates across studies were estimated using the direct standardization method. Correlations between the prevalence of AMD and longitude and latitude were obtained by regression analysis. A hierarchical Bayesian meta-regression approach was used to assess the association between the prevalence of AMD and other relevant factors. We further investigated the interplay between location and these factors on the prevalence of AMD using regression based on conditional-inference decision trees. We observed significant inverse correlations between latitude or longitude, and crude or age-standardized prevalence rates, of early and late AMD (P < .001). Metaregression analysis showed that insolation, latitude, longitude, age, and race have a significant effect on the prevalence rates of early and late AMD (P < .001). Decision-tree analysis identified that the most important predictive variable was race for early AMD (P = .002) and insolation for late AMD (P = .001). Geographic position and insolation are key factors in the prevalence of AMD.


Nerve Growth Factor in Alcohol Use Disorders.
The nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs to the family of neurotrophic factors. Initially discovered as a signaling molecule involved in the survival, protection, differentiation, and proliferation of sympathetic and peripheral sensory neurons, it also participates in the regulation of the immune system and endocrine system. NGF biological activity is due to the binding of two classes of receptors: the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and the low-affinity NGF pan-neurotrophin receptor p75. Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) are one of the most frequent mental disorders in developed countries, characterized by heavy drinking, despite the negative effects of alcohol on brain development and cognitive functions that cause individual's work, medical, legal, educational, and social life problems. In addition, alcohol consumption during pregnancy disrupts the development of the fetal brain causing a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The rationale of this review is to describe crucial findings on the role of NGF in humans and animals, when exposed to prenatal, chronic alcohol consumption, and on binge drinking.


CD30+ lymphomatoid drug reactions.
We report 5 cases of cutaneous CD30+ lymphomatoid drug reactions that occurred shortly after the onset of drug exposure and resolved promptly upon withdrawal of the offending agents. The cases showed protean dermatologic manifestations ranging from diffuse erythema with desquamation to macules, papules, and annular plaques. The suspect drugs were amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) for 2 cases, sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) for 1 case, gabapentin for 1 case, and levofloxacin (a fluoroquinolone) versus cefepime (a fourth generation cephalosporin), and metoprolol (a beta blocker), in the fifth case. The histopathologic findings included varying combinations of spongiotic dermatitis, lichenoid infiltrates, and interface dermatitis with a dermal infiltrate of large atypical lymphocytes. Three of the 5 cases contained as much as 30% CD30+ staining of all lymphocytes, whereas the remaining 2 showed 5%-15% positivity. Three patients had a history of allergy or immune dysregulation. Increased knowledge of CD30 positivity in lymphomatoid drug reactions may be relevant in an era of targeted drug therapies. Recognition of these findings may help clinicians to tailor appropriate clinical evaluation and treatment including a review of medications and the removal of possible offending agents.


Leucocyte migration inhibition with human heart valve glycoproteins and group A streptococcal ribonucleic acid proteins in rheumatic heart disease and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) tests have been performed with leucocytes obtained from patients with acute rheumatic carditis, established rheumatic valvular disease with and without rheumatic reactivation, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and healthy volunteers, using human heart valve glycoprotein (HVGP) antigens and ribonucleic acid protein antigens (P-RNA) from Group A streptococci, types 5, 6 and 12 and a Group C streptococcus. Significantly increased LMI was observed with HVGP and P-RNA antigens of Group A streptococci in patients with clinical evidence of rheumatic valvular damage. Healthy volunteers and patients with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis did not show any increase in LMI to these antigens. This suggests that cell-mediated immune mechanisms may be involved in the production of tissue lesions in rheumatic fever.


The effect of surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer filler eluate on dental pulp cells and mineral deposition on dentin: In vitro study.
The effects of surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler on pulpal cells and on the composition of dentinal deposits were investigated. Proliferation (CCK-8), cytotoxicity (LDH), and differentiation activity (ALP) tests, along with cell morphology observations, were conducted at 6 and 24 h after treatment of pulpal cells with different S-PRG filler eluate concentrations. Dentinal surfaces were immersed in deionized water or S-PRG filler eluate followed by immersion in deionized water or simulated body fluid and observed under scanning electron microscope and elemental analysis using energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. At 24 h, there were significant differences in CCK-8 and ALP activity values between the groups in a concentration-dependent manner. LDH test data were not significantly different among the groups. Cell morphology was not altered at either exposure time. However, decreased cellular density was observed with the highest eluate concentration. Crystalline deposits and occluded dentinal tubules were observed in samples immersed in S-PRG filler with a later immersion in simulated body fluid, which also showed higher concentrations of certain ions compared to surfaces that were not initially treated with S-PRG filler. The lowest two eluate concentrations did not show significant toxicity. S-PRG enhanced the effect of simulated body fluid in the formation of mineral deposits.


[Almitrine in therapy of chronic obstructive respiratory tract diseases with hypoxemia--a clinical multicenter study comparing 2 dosages].
In an 8-month prospective, placebo-controlled multi-centre trial involving 64 hypoxaemic COPD patients (mean +/- SD age, 64 +/- 8 years, paO2, 57 +/- 7 mmHg, paCO2, 41 +/- 6 mmHg), we compared the efficacy and acceptability of two different dosages of almitrine, 75 and 100 mg. 21 patients received continuous treatment with almitrine (75 mg), 23 sequential treatment (100 mg, one month of placebo after three months treatment), and 20 were in the placebo group. As defined by the inclusion criteria, none of the patients had clinical or subclinical signs of peripheral neuropathy. Clinical examinations, blood gas analyses and determinations of plasma almitrine levels were performed monthly. Patients underwent spirometry and detailed neurological examination upon entry and at the end of the trial. The percentage of drop-outs was considerably higher among patients under medication (59%) as compared to placebo (10%, p < 0.001) which was particularly due to impaired compliance in the almitrine groups. Comparing arterial paO2 or paCO2 over time by analysis of variance, there was no significant effect of medication on blood gases. However, in patients receiving 100 mg almitrine daily, paO2 was significantly increased vs. placebo after four and six months of treatment, and in patients receiving 75 mg almitrine, mean paCO2 was significantly lowered vs. placebo after four months of medication (t-test, p < 0.05). Neurological findings did not differ between treatments and over time. In conclusion, only certain individual patients may benefit from a treatment with 100 mg almitrine whereas the effect of the 75 mg dosage on paO2 did not differ from placebo.


Evidence of multiple colonizations as a driver of black fly diversification in an oceanic island.
True oceanic islands typically host reduced species diversity together with high levels of endemism, which make these environmental set-ups ideal for the exploration of species diversification drivers. In the present study, we used black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Reunion Island as a model to highlight the main drivers of insect species diversification in this young and remote volcanic island located in the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Using local and regional (Comoros and Seychelles archipelagos) samples as well as specimens from continental Africa, we tested the likelihood of two distinct scenarios, i.e. multiple colonizations vs. in-situ diversification. For this, posterior odds were used to test whether species from Reunion did form a monophyletic group and we estimated divergence times between species. Three out of the four previously described Reunion black fly species could be sampled, namely Simulium ruficorne, Simulium borbonense and Simulium triplex. The phylogenies based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers showed that S. ruficorne and S. borbonense are the most closely related species. Interestingly, we report a probable mitochondrial introgression between these two species although they diverged almost six million years ago. Finally, we showed that the three Reunion species did not form a monophyletic group, and, combined with the molecular datation, the results indicated that Reunion black fly diversity resulted from multiple colonization events. Thus, multiple colonizations, rather than in-situ diversification, are likely responsible for an important part of black fly diversity found on this young Darwinian island.


The spectrum of COVID-19-associated dermatologic manifestations: An international registry of 716 patients from 31 countries.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has associated cutaneous manifestations. To characterize the diversity of cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 and facilitate understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Case series from an international registry from the American Academy of Dermatology and International League of Dermatological Societies. The registry collected 716 cases of new-onset dermatologic symptoms in patients with confirmed/suspected COVID-19. Of the 171 patients in the registry with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, the most common morphologies were morbilliform (22%), pernio-like (18%), urticarial (16%), macular erythema (13%), vesicular (11%), papulosquamous (9.9%), and retiform purpura (6.4%). Pernio-like lesions were common in patients with mild disease, whereas retiform purpura presented exclusively in ill, hospitalized patients. We cannot estimate incidence or prevalence. Confirmation bias is possible. This study highlights the array of cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. Many morphologies were nonspecific, whereas others may provide insight into potential immune or inflammatory pathways in COVID-19 pathophysiology.


Optimized electroacupuncture treatment for female stress urinary incontinence: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial.
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common condition that can severely affect women's life quality. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proved to be an optional treatment for SUI, but the tolerance of EA becomes a factor affecting efficiency, which should not be ignored and needs to be solved urgently. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of alternating acupoints combination can solve this problem or not and provide an optimization of EA treatment for female SUI. This multi-center randomized controlled trial will enroll 360 patients with SUI. They will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups-sacral acupoints group (sacral group), abdominal acupoints group (abdominal group), or alternating acupoints group (alternating group)-at a 1:1:1 ratio. The patients will receive 18 sessions of EA treatment and will be followed up for 48 weeks after the treatment. The primary outcome measure of the study is the change of urine leakage at week 6. The secondary outcomes include the incontinence episode frequency (IEF), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), severity of SUI, patient self-evaluation of therapeutic effects, weekly usage of urine pads, ultrasonography of pelvic floor, specialty therapies for SUI, evaluation of discomfort during EA treatment, patient acceptability evaluation and adverse events related to intervention. This trial is specifically designed to offer an optimized EA treatment for female SUI, aiming to enhance their quality of life.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ID:NCT05635669.


Metabolic adjustments of small passerine birds for migration and cold.
Passerines (members of the order Passeriformes such as finches, chickadees, jays, and warblers) are predominantly small birds characterized by relatively intense metabolic rates. Members of this group breeding at middle or high latitudes may either evade winter cold by migration or enhance their resistance to it by acclimatization. We review the energetic consequences associated with these two modes of response. Despite their apparent dissimilarity, migration and winter acclimatization both depend on substantial aerobic endurance, and both involve extensive power outputs by the flight muscles in locomotion or shivering. Such power outputs entail extensive deposition and catabolism of fat. Information available on these processes and their control in passerine birds is discussed. Knowledge of them is still in a formative stage, but it is already clear that aerobic capacity of passerines is stable at a high level throughout the year. However, changes are observed in the activity of certain enzymes involved in the catabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Full interpretation of these findings must await additional research. Nevertheless it is evident that the complex processes of migration and winter acclimatization are intimately linked with the metabolic properties of the highly aerobic skeletal muscle contained within the flight apparatus of passerines.


Conversation between a clinical biologist and an artificial intelligence on prostate cancer biomarkers: a critical reading.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in the field of medicine as a diagnostic aid, particularly for image analysis and more generally for data processing. Many artificial intelligence-based tools have been specifically developed for clinical biology, but some more general ones can help to improve the dissemination of medical knowledge. To test whether and to what extent an automated conversation tool could answer questions on a clinical biology topic (i.e. prostate cancer biomarkers), we questioned ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-powered model dedicated to optimize language models for dialogue. Then we analyzed its responses.


Collision and violation involvement of drivers who use cellular telephones.
The study sample consisted of 3,869 drivers, split approximately 50/50 between observed cell phone users and those observed not using cell phones (labeled "nonusers"). Cell phone use was determined by a snapshot observation made on city streets. The sample represented 54% of those originally observed, for whom a match was obtained for both vehicle license plate and for gender and estimated age group of the observed driver and that of the driver named in the vehicle policy. Data were obtained from records of insurance claims, police-reported collisions and violations, following a strict protocol to protect individual privacy. The dependent measures were at-fault crash claims and "inattention" violations. A logistic regression model controlled for age, gender, exposure (represented by not-at-fault crash claims), alcohol-related offenses, and aggressive driving offenses. The study also involved a comparison of the contributing factors and collision configurations of police-reported collisions involving the users and "nonusers" in the sample. Drivers observed using cell phones had a higher risk of an at-fault crash than did the "nonusers," although the difference was not significant for males. There was no apparent effect on "inattention" violations. The cell phone users also had a higher proportion of rear-end collisions. The violation pattern of cell phone users suggests that they are, in general, riskier drivers. These differences likely reflect lifestyle, attitude and personality factors. It is essential to control for these factors in assessing the direct risk attributable to cellular telephone use.


Multistructural partition function truncation and its effect on the thermal rate constants.
Thermal rate constants for the hydrogen abstraction reaction of methyl pentanoate were calculated using the multistructural canonical variational theory with small-curvature tunneling (MS-CVT/SCT). The conformational search for the stationary points generated by these reactions was performed with an algorithm that combines systematic and stochastic searches at dual-level. At the high-level (MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p)), 244 geometries for methyl pentanoate and transition states were found. A systematic estimative of the efficiency of the truncation of multistructural rovibrational partition functions and its effects on thermal rate constants was carried out. In this analysis, we observed that rotation about -OCH3 group (ϕ4) of the ester generates unstable structures with little contribution to the magnitude of the partition function. We also estimate that the truncation of the partition functions in a small set of conformations can produce deviations up to 75% compared to converged theoretical results.


Developing a Decision-making Tool for Agricultural Surface Water Decontamination Using Ultraviolet-C Light.
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light-assisted water treatment systems are an increasingly investigated alternative to chemical sanitizers for agricultural surface water decontamination. However, the relatively high concentration of particulate matter in surface water is a major challenge to expanding its application in the production of fresh produce. The objective of this project was to test the efficacy of two commercial UV-C devices to reduce the microbial risk of agricultural water in order to develop a web application to assist growers in decision-making related to the on-farm implementation of UV-C technologies for agricultural water treatment. An on-farm study using three agricultural water sources was performed to determine the microbial reduction efficacy of a low power, low flow (LP/LF; 1-9 gallons per minute (GPM), 1.34-gallon capacity) and a high powered, high flow (HP/HF; 1-110 GPM, 4.75-gallon capacity) device at flow rates of 6, 7, and 9 GPM. A threshold of 30% UVT for the HP/HF device was observed, wherein lower water transmissibility significantly impacted microbial inactivation. Although less effective at lower %UVT, the LP/LF device costs less to install, maintain, and operate. The observations were used to design an online tool for growers to calculate the predicted reduction of generic Escherichia coli using either device based on the %UVT of their water source. However, because this study utilized an exploratory and proof-of-concept approach, the experimental flow rates were limited to reflect the capacities of the smaller unit (9 GPM) for direct comparison to the larger unit. Thus, the preliminary model and tool are largely limited to the experimental conditions. Yet, these results of this study demonstrate the utility of UV-C light in reducing the microbial risk of agricultural water, and future studies using different UV-C devices and higher flow rates will expand the use of the decision-making tool.


New insights into the maternal to zygotic transition.
The initial phases of embryonic development occur in the absence of de novo transcription and are instead controlled by maternally inherited mRNAs and proteins. During this initial period, cell cycles are synchronous and lack gap phases. Following this period of transcriptional silence, zygotic transcription begins, the maternal influence on development starts to decrease, and dramatic changes to the cell cycle take place. Here, we discuss recent work that is shedding light on the maternal to zygotic transition and the interrelated but distinct mechanisms regulating the onset of zygotic transcription and changes to the cell cycle during early embryonic development.


Is Too Much Enough?
When the Elwood boys advanced beyond the toddler stage and acquired a prolific ability to wreak havoc on their domestic surroundings, this Journal's editor would try in vain to reduce the amount of destruction by offering the following sage parental advice, "Too much is enough boys, too much is enough." Although the words produced little effect, they have remained with this editor over the decades, particularly in the context of the exponential growth in the number of periodicals and the manuscripts contained in them. It is estimated that there are more than 34,000 scientific, medical, and technical peer-reviewed scholarly journals that publish nearly 2.5 million articles a year, the equivalent of a manuscript every 13 seconds. Moreover, according to the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers, the number of journals and articles published in those fields has grown by between 3 and 3.5% a year for the past two centuries. A question that may be worth pondering is whether this growth is good or bad.


The level of elements and antioxidant activity of commercial dietary supplement formulations based on edible mushrooms.
Commercial preparations of Cordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum and Coprinus comatus mushroom marketed as healthy food supplements in Serbia were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace (GFAAS) for their element content. Antioxidant activity potential and total phenolics of the same mushrooms were determined. The element content of mushroom samples was in the range of 0.130-0.360 mg kg(-1) for lead (Pb), <0.03-0.46 mg kg(-1) for arsenic (As), 0.09-0.39 mg kg(-1) for cadmium (Cd), 98.14-989.18 mg kg(-1) for iron (Fe), 0.10-101.32 mg kg(-1) for nickel (Ni), 5.06-26.50 mg kg(-1) for copper (Cu), 0.20-0.70 mg kg(-1) for cobalt (Co), 1.74-136.33 mg kg(-1) for chromium (Cr) and 2.19-21.54 mg kg(-1) for manganese (Mn). In the tests for measuring the antioxidant activity, the methanolic extract of C. sinensis showed the best properties. The same was seen for the analysis of selected phenolic compounds; C. sinensis was found to have the highest content. Commercial preparations of C. sinensis and C. comatus can be considered to be safe and suitable food supplements included in well-balanced diets.


Design of a Multi Dimensional Database for the Archimed DataWarehouse.
The Archimed data warehouse project started in 1993 at the Geneva University Hospital. It has progressively integrated seven data marts (or domains of activity) archiving medical data such as Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) data, laboratory results, radiology exams, diagnoses, and procedure codes. The objective of the Archimed data warehouse is to facilitate the access to an integrated and coherent view of patient medical in order to support analytical activities such as medical statistics, clinical studies, retrieval of similar cases and data mining processes. This paper discusses three principal design aspects relative to the conception of the database of the data warehouse: 1) the granularity of the database, which refers to the level of detail or summarization of data, 2) the database model and architecture, describing how data will be presented to end users and how new data is integrated, 3) the life cycle of the database, in order to ensure long term scalability of the environment. Both, the organization of patient medical data using a standardized elementary fact representation and the use of the multi dimensional model have proved to be powerful design tools to integrate data coming from the multiple heterogeneous database systems part of the transactional Hospital Information System (HIS). Concurrently, the building of the data warehouse in an incremental way has helped to control the evolution of the data content. These three design aspects bring clarity and performance regarding data access. They also provide long term scalability to the system and resilience to further changes that may occur in source systems feeding the data warehouse.


Role of friction and tangential force variation in the subjective scaling of tactile roughness.
The present study examined the contribution of normal (Fz) and tangential (Fx) forces, and their ratio, kinetic friction (Fx/Fz), to the subjective magnitude estimations of roughness. The results suggested that the rate of variation in tangential stroking force is a significant determinant of roughness perception. In the first experiment, six volunteer subjects scaled the roughness of eight surfaces explored with a single, active scan of the middle finger. The surfaces were 7.5x2.4-cm polymer strips embossed with truncated cones 1.8 mm high with a spatial period of 2.0 mm in the transverse direction and 1.5-8.5 mm in the longitudinal, scanning direction. The surfaces were mounted on a six-axis force and torque sensor that measured the perpendicular, contact force (normal to the skin surface) and the tangential force along the axis of stroking. The results confirmed the findings of an earlier study that magnitude estimates of perceived roughness increase approximately linearly up to a longitudinal spatial period of 8.5 mm. Across subjects, no consistent correlations were found between perceived roughness and either the mean normal or tangential force alone. Although significant positive correlations were found between roughness and mean kinetic friction for all subjects, they were not as consistently robust as one might have expected. Furthermore, instantaneous kinetic friction varied widely over the course of a single stroke because of within trial oscillations in the tangential force. The amplitude of these oscillations increased with the longitudinal spatial period and their frequency was determined by a combination of the spatial period and the stroking velocity. These oscillations were even more conspicuous in the first derivative or rate of change of the tangential force (dFx/d t), which was quantified as the root mean square (RMS) of the tangential force rate. The mean normalized RMS proved to be strongly correlated with subjective roughness, averaging 0.88 for all subjects. In order to dissociate the fluctuations in tangential force from both the surface structure and the mean kinetic friction, a second experiment was performed on six additional subjects who estimated the roughness of identical lubricated and unlubricated (dry) surfaces. Lubrication with liquid soap reduced the mean kinetic friction by approximately 40%, the RMS of the tangential force rate by slightly more than 21% and the subjective estimates of roughness by 16.4%. Taken together, the results suggest that in tactile exploration, the RMS of the tangential force rate may be an important determinant of subjective roughness.


Evaluation of Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time in Native and Citrated Whole Blood in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis) With a Handheld Point-of-Care Analyzer.
Objective assessment of coagulation in birds is difficult, and traditional methods of measuring prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) with the use of mammalian reagents have not been validated in birds. Avian-specific reagents must be prepared from brain extract and are not practical for clinical use. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether the InSight qLabs point-of-care analyzer (Micropoint Biotechnologies Inc, Guangdong, China) could measure PT and aPTT in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) in native and citrated whole blood, and whether the values obtained correlated with clinical appearance and basic hematologic and biochemical parameters from the bird. The qLabs analyzer was able to measure aPTT reliably, but not PT. Activated partial thromboplastin time of citrated blood was significantly different from the aPTT measured from native whole blood (P < 0.001). On the basis of this study, the qLabs machine may be used to measure aPTT, but clinical application between avian species requires further research.


d4TMP delivery from 7-substituted cycloSal-d4TMPs.
Benzyl-substituted cycloSal-d4T monophosphates were prepared and evaluated for their ability to release d4TMP selectively. In contrast to previously reported derivatives, two of the new compounds release d4TMP as the sole product while two others gave the expected benzyl phosphate diesters. However, these diesters were surprisingly stable against degradation to release d4TMP.


The effects of nitrate, nitrite, and N-nitroso compounds on animal health.
The clinical signs of acute nitrate toxicity vary according to species. In general, ruminant animals develop methemoglobinemia while monogastric animals exhibit severe gastritis. Nitrate ingestion has also been linked to impairment of thyroid function, decreased feed consumption, and interference with vitamin A and E metabolism. Hematologic changes seen with chronic high nitrate exposure include both compensatory increases in red blood cells and anemia, along with increased neutrophils and eosinophils. Unlike nitrate, nitrite is capable of inducing methemoglobinemia in a wide range of species, ie cattle, sheep, swine, dogs, guinea pigs, rats, chickens and turkeys. In rats, chronic nitrite exposure causes pathologic changes in a variety of tissues, alterations in motor activity and brain electrical activity, and alters gastric mucosal absorption. Nitrite affects the metabolism of sulfonamide drugs in animals such as the pig, guinea pig, and rat. The N-nitroso compound dimethylnitrosamine causes toxic hepatosis in cattle, sheep, mink, and fox. Nitrosamines have been reported in cows milk and been found to pass into the milk of goats under experimental conditions.


[Locomotive syndrome and metabolic syndrome].
The Japanese Orthopedic Association coined the term locomotive syndrome (LS) to designate a condition of elderly people in high risk groups of requiring nursing care because of problems with their musculoskeletal diseases. LS is a socioeconomic concept, and closely associated with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia. Recent studies have revealed that metabolic syndrome (MS), a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, has been related with LS. For example, individuals with MS have a greater risk of osteoarthritis and sarcopenia. Secreted factors from adipose tissue and skeletal muscles, namely, adipokines and myokines, are involved in the association of LS and MS.


Muscle damage and inflammatory status biomarkers after a 3-stage trail running race.
Participants in ultramarathon and multi-stage races are continuously increasing. A detailed knowledge of the time-course of the restoration in muscular, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers after a multi-stage race may help the design of training schedules focused to avoid adverse outcomes of repetitive high-intensity endurance exercise and athlete exhaustion. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate blood parameters and serum biomarkers associated to muscle damage and inflammation in athletes participating in a 3-stage competition. Ten runners concluded the race "Magraid" consisting of 3 stages of 22, 48 and 20 km. Before (PRE), immediately after the end of the third stage (POST) and five days after the last stage (R5d), we collected blood samples. Among others, at POST mean white blood cell (+57±42%; P=0.006), blood urea nitrogen (+68±39%; P<0.001), creatinine (+17±12%, P=0.005), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, +104±69%; P=0.002), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, +116±64%; P<0.001), creatine kinase (CK, +2044±1433%; P=0.011), CK-MBm (+1544±1007%; P=0.004), cardiac troponin I (cTnI, +85±129%; P=0.015), C-reactive protein (hsCRP, +2137±1660%; P=0.015) were higher than PRE. At R5d, ALT (+72±53%; P=0.010), LDH (+32±25%; P=0.006) and hsCRP (+252±234%; P=0.021) were still different compared with PRE. A 3-stage trail running race induces an inflammatory status and muscle damage and functional consequences on some physiological systems that may not be completely recovered within a short period.


Interactive effects of UV radiation and water availability on seedlings of six woody Mediterranean species.
To assess the effects of UV radiation and its interaction with water availability on Mediterranean plants, we performed an experiment with seedlings of six Mediterranean species (three mesophytes vs three xerophytes) grown in a glasshouse from May to October under three UV conditions (without UV, with UVA and with UVA+UVB) and two irrigation levels (watered to saturation and low watered). Morphological, physiological and biochemical measures were taken. Exposure to UVA+UVB increased the overall leaf mass per area (LMA) and the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants in relation to plants grown without UV or with UVA, respectively. In contrast, we did not find a general effect of UV on the leaf content of phenols or UVB-absorbing compounds of the studied species. Regarding plant growth, UV inhibited the above-ground biomass production of well-watered plants of Pistacia lentiscus. Conversely, under low irrigation, UVA tended to abolish the reduction in growth experienced by P. lentiscus plants growing in a UV-free environment, in accordance with UVA-enhanced apparent electron transport rate (ETR) values under drought in this species. UVA also induced an overall increase in root biomass when plants of the studied species were grown under a low water supply. In conclusion, while plant exposition to UVA favored root growth under water shortage, UVB addition only gave rise to photoprotective responses, such as the increase in LMA or in the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants. Species-specific responses to UV were not related with the xerophytic or mesophytic character of the studied species.


Machupo virus glycoprotein determinants for human transferrin receptor 1 binding and cell entry.
Machupo virus (MACV) is a highly pathogenic New World arenavirus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans. MACV, as well as other pathogenic New World arenaviruses, enter cells after their GP1 attachment glycoprotein binds to their cellular receptor, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). TfR1 residues essential for this interaction have been described, and a co-crystal of MACV GP1 bound to TfR1 suggests GP1 residues important for this association. We created MACV GP1 variants and tested their effect on TfR1 binding and virus entry to evaluate the functional significance of some of these and additional residues in human and simian cells. We found residues R111, D123, Y122, and F226 to be essential, D155, and P160 important, and D114, S116, D140, and K169 expendable for the GP1-TfR1 interaction and MACV entry. Several MACV GP1 residues that are critical for the interaction with TfR1 are conserved among other New World arenaviruses, indicating a common basis of receptor interaction. Our findings also open avenues for the rational development of viral entry inhibitors.


Common morality as an alternative to principlism.
Unlike the principles of Kant, Mill, and Rawls, those of principlism are not action guides that stem from an underlying, integrated moral theory. Hence problems arise in reconciling the principles with each other and, indeed, in interpreting them as action guides at all, since they have no content in and of themselves. Another approach to "theory and method in bioethics" is presented as an alternative to principlism, though actually the "alternative" predates principlism by about 10 years. The alternative's account of morality stays close to ordinary, common morality with its rules and ideals, which in turn are grounded in aspects of human nature. As such, morality must be understood to be a rational, impartial, and public system that is incumbent on everyone. Morality is a unified and integrated system. The moral rules and ideals are also "culture-" and "profession-sensitive" in that they are interpreted more specifically within these various contexts.


Molecular insights into blood groups and implications for blood transfusion.
In recent years technologic advances have led to the understanding of the molecular genetics of many blood group antigens. This review highlights the molecular basis of selected antigens and describes implications for transfusion medicine. The knowledge can be used in the following clinical settings to genotype a patient: 1) to identify a fetus at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn 2) to genotype patients who have been recently transfused or whose erythrocytes have a positive direct antiglobulin test 3) to determine which phenotypically Fy(b-) patients have the FY*B gene, 4) to genotype when an antigen has a depressed expression on erythrocytes, 5) to mass screen for anitgen-negative donors, 6) to resolve blood group A, B, and D typing discrepancies, 7) to determine the zygosity of RhD, 8) to determine the origin of engrafted leukocytes in a stem cell recipient, 9) to determine the origin of lymphocytes in a patient with graft-versus-disease, 10) for tissue typing, 11) for paternity testing, and 12) for forensic testing.


THE FRICTIONAL COEFFICIENTS OF THE FLOWS OF NON-ELECTROLYTES THROUGH ARTIFICIAL MEMBRANES.
The phenomenological permeation coefficients were determined for two artificial cellulose membranes of known thickness and water content. Transport of non-electrolytes was studied with tagged water, urea, glucose, and sucrose. The effect of the unstirred layers on the experimental determination of the coefficients is discussed. Frictional coefficients between membrane matrix and solutes, and between solvent and solutes in the membrane are calculated. It was shown that the geometrical tortuosity does not correspond to a physical tortuosity.


Malaria and nutritional status among pre-school children: results from cross-sectional surveys in western Kenya.
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) affects millions of children in the developing world. The relationship between malaria and PEM is controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether undernutrition is associated with increased or decreased malaria attributable morbidity. Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted using insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) among children aged 0-36 months living in an area with intense malaria transmission. Data were collected on nutritional status, recent history of clinical illness, socioeconomic status, current malaria infection status, and hemoglobin. In multivariate models, stunted children had more malaria parasitemia (odds ratio [OR] 1.98, P < 0.0001), high-density parasitemia (OR 1.84; P < 0.0001), clinical malaria (OR 1.77; P < 0.06), and severe malarial anemia (OR 2.65; P < 0.0001) than nonstunted children. The association was evident in children with mild-to-moderate (-3 < height-for-age Z-score [HAZ] < -2) and severe stunting (HAZ < -3). The cross-sectional nature of the study limits the interpretation of causality, but the data provide further observational support that the presence of undernutrition, in particular chronic undernutrition, places children at higher, not lower risk of malaria-related morbidity.


Nocardia thailandica Brain Abscess in an Immunocompromised Patient.
Successful treatment for Nocardia thailandica is not well elucidated in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, N. thailandica has not yet been described in the medical literature to cause central nervous system (CNS) infection from brain abscess. We report the case of an immunocompromised patient who underwent successful treatment to treat his brain abscess caused by N. thailandica. After failing medical therapy, the patient underwent a craniotomy, and tissue was sent for culture. Upon identification by 16S rDNA sequencing, the organism causing infection was identified to be N. thailandica. Based on susceptibilities, the patient was treated with IV ceftriaxone 2 grams daily for five months. The patient demonstrated clinical and radiological improvement which persisted to 7 months after initiation of therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a brain abscess due to N. thailandica which was successfully treated. Due to the location of the infection, ceftriaxone was chosen because of optimal CNS penetration. Ceftriaxone monotherapy demonstrated clinical and radiographic treatment success resulting in the successful treatment of this infection.


[C-reactive protein potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease].
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced mainly in the liver upon stimulation by interleukin-6. CRP is part of the acute phase response to inflammation and plasma concentrations rise 100-1000 times in patients with for example bacterial infections. High sensitive methods have made it possible to measure and compare low CRP levels in plasma. Prospective studies have shown that increased but comparatively low plasma CRP concentrations are associated with future coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy individuals and in patients with known CHD. Further support for an important role for CRP comes from in vitro studies that have suggested that the CRP protein is intimately and actively involved in the atherosclerotic process. This has stimulated the interest for clinical evaluation and treatment of increased plasma CRP levels.


Eating disorders in adolescence: what is the role of hormone replacement therapy?
To review the diagnostic criteria and clinical presentation of eating disorders in adolescence, to outline an approach to treatment, and examine evidence for prescribing hormone replacement therapy to increase bone mineral density in anorexia nervosa. Eating disorders are prevalent in adolescents and can present with amenorrhea and menstrual disturbances. Reduced bone mineral density leading to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk is a frequent, severe, and potentially irreversible complication of anorexia nervosa. The degree of bone mineral density reduction depends on the duration of amenorrhea and degree of malnutrition. Limited evidence supports the use of hormone replacement therapy to increase bone mineral density in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. In adolescents with amenorrhea or menstrual disturbances, the gynecologist should consider the possibility of an eating disorder. The diagnosis can be made on history and physical examination. If an eating disorder is suspected, the patient should be referred for evaluation and treatment. Support for the use of hormone replacement therapy to increase bone mineral density in adolescents with anorexia nervosa is limited, and its routine use should be discouraged. Weight restoration, calcium and vitamin D supplementation and the resumption of spontaneous menses is the mainstay of treatment.


[DNA polymorphism in the Mongolian population. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of DNA at seven loci of the nuclear genome].
Seven DNA markers from five genes and one chromosomal region were analysed in Mongolian population using the polymerase chain reaction. The frequencies of alleles of the polymorphisms detected with HindIII in the HBG-2, AvaII in the HBB, MspI and XbaI in the Apo-B, PstI in the D7S8, HincII in the LDLR and allele frequency of the minisatellite fragment in the AT-3 have been determined. The results of the RELP for Apo-B(MspI), LDLR, D7S8 and AT-3 are obtained for the first time among Mongoloids. DNA markers studied demonstrated high level of polymorphisms in the population of Mongolia, except for XbaI and MspI restriction sites at the Apo-B locus. The data obtained for Mongolian population and the literature data were compared.


Novel two-step derivation method for the synchronous analysis of inherited metabolic disorders using urine.
The aim of the present study was to conduct preliminary clinical screening and monitoring using a novel two-step derivatization process of urine in five categories of inherited metabolic disease (IMD). Urine samples (100 µl, containing 2.5 mmol/l creatinine) were taken from patients with IMDs. The collected urine was then treated using a two-step derivatization method (with oximation and silylation at room temperature), where urea and protein were removed. In the first step of the derivatization, α-ketoacids and α-aldehyde acids were prepared by oximation using novel oximation reagents. The second-step of the derivatization was that residues were silylated for analysis. Urine samples were examined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and a retention time-locking technique. The simultaneous analysis and identification of >400 metabolites in >130 types of IMD was possible from the GC/MS results, where the IMDs included phenylketonuria, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency, β-ureidopropionase deficiency and mitochondrial metabolic disorders. This method was demonstrated to have good repeatability. Considering α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) as an example, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the α-KG retention time and peak area were 0.8 and 3.9%, respectively, the blank spiked recovery rate was between 89.6 and 99.8%, and the RSD was ≤7.5% (n=5). The method facilitates the analysis of thermally non-stable and semi-volatile metabolites in urine, and greatly expands the range of materials that can be synchronously screened by GC/MS. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive, effective and reliable biochemical analysis platform for the pathological research of IMDs.


TUBERCULOUS CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY AND THE ROLE OF SURGICAL TREATMENT.
The relationship between the size of a lymph node in tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy (TCL) cases and the role of surgery is unclear. We examined the outcomes in patients with TCL treated between October 2011 and November 2013 at the ENT Department, Hatyai Hospital. Ninety-seven patients were included in the study. The subjects were divided into five groups based on clinical presentation and anatomical site of the involved lymph nodes: 1) solitary lymph node (n = 36), 2) multiple lymph nodes at one anatomical site (n = 31), 3) lymph nodes at multiple anatomical sites (n = 16), 4) patients with lymph node abscesses (n = 12), and 5) patients with fistulas (n = 2). Of the 36 solitary lymph node cases, 14 had a lymph node ≥ 3 cm in diameter. Eight of the 14 had complete surgical excision of the node before receiving a full course of medication and all did well. Six of the 14 who were treated with drug therapy alone had problems: 2 progressed to abscess formation and 4 had residual enlargement of their lymph nodes that required surgery. The cure rates differed significantly by type of treatment (p < 0.001). Of the 47 cases with multiple cervical lymph nodes ≥ 3 cm in diameter, 13 were treated with medication alone; 9 (69%) did well and 4 developed an abscess and had residual lymphadenopathy. All 34 cases treated with modified neck dissection before a full course of medication were cured. The cure rates differed significantly by type of treatment (p = 0.004). These results suggest surgical treatment for all accessible lymph nodes ≥ 3 cm in diameter in patients with TCL prior to a full course of drug therapy significantly increases the cure rate compared to medication alone.


Morphology-controlled ZnO nanowire arrays for tailored hybrid composites with high damping.
Hybrid fiber reinforced composites using a nanoscale reinforcement of the interface have not reached their optimal performance in practical applications due to their complex design and the challenging assembly of their multiscale components. One promising approach to the fabrication of hybrid composites is the growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire arrays on the surface of carbon fibers to provide improved interfacial strength and out of plane reinforcement. However, this approach has been demonstrated mainly on fibers and thus still requires complex processing conditions. Here we demonstrate a simple approach to the fabrication of such composites through the growth of the nanowires on the fabric. The fabricated composites with nanostructured graded interphase not only exhibit remarkable damping enhancement but also stiffness improvement. It is demonstrated that these two extremely important properties of the composite can be controlled by tuning the morphology of the ZnO nanowires at the interface. Higher damping and flexural rigidity of these composites over traditional ones offer practical high-performance composites.


Antigen specificity of squamous cancers of the head and neck based on tumor site using the slide leukocyte adherence inhibition assay.
Patients with a diagnosis of squamous cancer of the upper aerodigestive (UAD) system were tested with extracts of squamous cancer arising from several regions of the UAD tract and compared to various control populations, using the slide leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay. Seven tumor extracts were tested. Twenty-five of 77 tests (32%) were positive in unselected UAD squamous cancer patients. However, matching patients with tumor extract by the site of origin within the UAD tract, 19 of 22 tests (86%) were positive when the site of origin was identical for leukocyte donor and extract. Two of four patients tested with an extract prepared from a different site with in the same region of the UAD system were positive; whereas only 4 of 51 tests (8%) were positive in patients tested with an extract from a cancer arising from a different region within the UAD tract (P less than 0.001). One of 33 tests using patients with either not cancer (11 tests), squamous cancer of other regions (15), or adenocarcinoma (7) reacted to the extracts of UAD tract cancers. We conclude that patients with squamous cancer of the UAD tract can recognize distinct tumor-associated antigens that are site-specific and are non-cross-reactive using the LAI technique.


Assessing Survival and Grading the Severity of Complications in Octogenarians Undergoing Pulmonary Lobectomy.
Introduction. Octogenarians are at increased risk for complications after lung resection. With alternatives such as radiation, understanding the risks of surgery and associated survival are valuable. Data grading the severity of complications and long-term survival in this population is lacking. We reviewed our experience with lobectomy in octogenarians, grading complications using a validated thoracic morbidity and mortality schema. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients aged ≥80 undergoing lobectomy between 2004 and 2012. Demographics, clinical/pathologic stage, complications, recurrence, and mortality were collected. Complications were graded by the Seely thoracic morbidity and mortality model. Results. 45 patients (mean age 82.2 years) were analyzed. The majority of patients (28/45, 62%) were clinical stage IA/IB. 62% (28/45) of patients experienced a complication. Only 15.6% (7/45) were considered significantly morbid (≥ grade IIIB) per the Seely model. Perioperative mortality was 2% and half of patients were living at a follow-up of 53 months. Overall five-year survival was 52%. Conclusions. In carefully selected octogenarians, lobectomy carries a 15.6% rate of significantly morbid complications with encouraging overall survival. These data provide the basis for a more complete discussion with patients regarding lobectomy for lung cancer.


Targeting hardcore smokers: The effects of an online tailored intervention, based on motivational interviewing techniques.
Hardcore smokers have smoked for many years and do not intend to quit. They also seem unreceptive to information about smoking cessation. We developed a 30-min, tailored web-based intervention that includes motivational interviewing principles. It aims to increase hardcore smokers' intention to quit and their receptivity to information about smoking cessation. In a two-arm experiment, we compared outcome scores of the experimental intervention (n = 346) with those of a control intervention (n = 411). Our main outcomes were receptivity to information about quitting, intention to quit, quitting self-efficacy, and interest in a subsequent online intervention. Our secondary outcomes were cigarettes smoked per day and quit attempts. All outcomes were measured directly post-experiment (t1 ), after 2 weeks (t2 ), and after 2 months (t3 ). At t1 , hardcore smokers in the intervention condition were more receptive to information about quitting than controls. At both t2 and t3 , those in the experimental group had reduced the number of cigarettes more than those in the control group. At t2 , but not t3 , more participants in the experimental group had reduced their cigarette consumption by at least 50% than among controls. We found no significant differences in intention to quit, quitting self-efficacy, interest in a subsequent online quitting intervention, and number of quit attempts. The intervention increased hardcore smokers' receptivity to information about smoking cessation and decreased their cigarette consumption by about 1 cigarette per day. Although the results are positive, the clinical relevance may be limited. We recommend further developing this intervention for practical use in health care settings. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Hardcore smokers have smoked for many years and do not intend to quit. There are currently no online interventions for hardcore smokers. What does this study add? This study tested an online intervention for hardcore smokers. The intervention increased hardcore smokers' receptivity to information about quitting. It also helped to reduce the number of cigarettes per day.


Multiresponsive Vesicles Composed of Amphiphilic Azacalix[4]pyridine Derivatives.
Biomimicry of multiresponsive recognition of cell membrane with artificial membranes is challengeable. In this work, we designed azacalix[4]pyridine-based amphiphilic molecules 1 and 2. The self-assembly behaviors of 1 and 2 were investigated in aqueous medium. As demonstrated by DLS, SEM, TEM, and LSCM measurements, 1 formed stable vesicles (size 322 nm) in a mixture of THF/water, whereas 2 produced giant vesicles with decreased stability (size 928 nm). The vesicles composed of 1, with surface being engineered with the cavities of azacalix[4]pyridines, showed selective responses to a variety of guests including zinc ion, hydroquinone, and proton as monitored by DLS.


Vascular endothelial growth factor--marker for proliferation in thyroid diseases?
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical regulator of angiogenesis and is involved in tumor development. To date, the role of VEGF in benign diseases of the thyroid is not well known. The purpose of the present study is to determine the expression of VEGF and its receptors in primary cultures of human thyrocytes. 50 patients with uninodular (n=11), multinodular (n=15), recurrent goiter (n=14) and Graves' disease (n=10) were enrolled. Nodular and corresponding paranodular tissue was obtained after surgery and investigated. RNA and protein were extracted from primary thyrocyte cultures. PCR, western blot and ELISA were performed to evaluate VEGF isoforms and VEGF receptor 1 and 2. Significantly increased transcription and protein expression of VEGF and its receptors were detected in nodular tissue of uninodular and recurrent goiter compared to the corresponding normal tissue. Active secretion of VEGF by thyrocytes was confirmed by ELISA. In multinodu-lar goiter, no difference could be found between nodular and corresponding paranodular tissue in terms of expression of VEGF or its receptors. Furthermore, we found the highest levels of VEGF and its receptors in tissue obtained from patients with Graves' disease. Increased expression of VEGF and its receptors might be crucial in the proliferation of thyrocytes and therefore may contribute to the development of goiter and goiter recurrence.


The prevalence of gastric heterotopia of the proximal esophagus is underestimated, but preneoplasia is rare - correlation with Barrett's esophagus.
The previously reported prevalence of gastric heterotopia in the cervical esophagus, also termed inlet patch (IP), varies substantially, ranging from 0.18 to 14%. Regarding cases with adenocarcinoma within IP, some experts recommend to routinely obtain biopsies from IP for histopathology. Another concern is the reported relation to Barrett's esophagus. The objectives of the study were to prospectively determine the prevalence of IP and of preneoplasia within IP, and to investigate the association between IP and Barrett's esophagus. 372 consecutive patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy were carefully searched for the presence of IP. Biopsies for histopathology were targeted to the IP, columnar metaplasia of the lower esophagus, gastric corpus and antrum. Different definitions of Barrett's esophagus were tested for an association with IP. At least one IP was endoscopically identified in 53 patients (14.5%). Histopathology, performed in 46 patients, confirmed columnar epithelium in 87% of cases, which essentially presented corpus and/or cardia-type mucosa. Intestinal metaplasia was detected in two cases, but no neoplasia. A previously reported association of IP with Barrett's esophagus was weak, statistically significant only when short segments of cardia-type mucosa of the lower esophagus were included in the definition of Barrett's esophagus. The prevalence of IP seems to be underestimated, but preneoplasia within IP is rare, which does not support the recommendation to regularly obtain biopsies for histopathology. Biopsies should be targeted to any irregularities within the heterotopic mucosa. The correlation of IP with Barrett's esophagus hints to a partly common pathogenesis.


Assessing the Risk of Seasonal Effects of Campylobacter Contaminated Broiler Meat Prepared In-Home in the United States.
Campylobacter has consistently posed a food safety issue in broiler meat. This study aimed to create a quantitative microbial risk assessment model from retail to consumption, designed to evaluate the seasonal risk of campylobacteriosis associated with broiler meat consumption in the United States. To achieve this, data was gathered to build distributions that would enable us to predict the growth of Campylobacter during various stages such as retail storage, transit, and home storage. The model also included potential fluctuations in concentration during food preparation and potential cross-contamination scenarios. A Monte Carlo simulation with 100,000 iterations was used to estimate the risk of infection per serving and the number of infections in the United States by season. In the summer, chicken meat was estimated to have a median risk of infection per serving of 9.22 × 10-7 and cause an average of about 27,058,680 infections. During the winter months, the median risk of infection per serving was estimated to be 4.06 × 10-7 and cause an average of about 12,085,638 infections. The risk assessment model provides information about the risk of broiler meat to public health by season. These results will help understand the most important steps to reduce the food safety risks from contaminated chicken products.


Picture this!: using participatory photo mapping with Hispanic girls.
Hispanic girls are burdened with high levels of obesity and are less active than the general adolescent population, highlighting the need for creative strategies developed with community input to improve physical activity behaviors. Involving girls, parents, and the community in the intervention planning process may improve uptake and maintenance of physical activity. The purpose of this article was to describe how we engaged adolescent girls as partners in community-based intervention planning research. We begin with an overview of the research project and then describe how we used Participatory Photo Mapping to engage girls in critical reflection and problems solving.


Discovery of 1,1'-Biphenyl-4-sulfonamides as a New Class of Potent and Selective Carbonic Anhydrase XIV Inhibitors.
New 1,1'-biphenylsulfonamides were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the ubiquitous human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX, XII, and XIV using acetazolamide (AAZ) as reference compound. The sulfonamides 1-21 inhibited all the isoforms, with Ki values in the nanomolar range of concentration, and were superior to AAZ against all of them. X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling studies on the adducts that compound 20, the most potent hCA XIV inhibitor of the series (Ki = 0.26 nM), formed with the five hCAs, provided insight into the molecular determinants responsible for the high affinity of this molecule toward the target enzymes. The results pave the way to the development of 1.1'-biphenylsulfonamides as a new class of highy potent hCA XIV inhibitors.


Structural Transitions in Ge2Sb2Te5 Phase Change Memory Thin Films Induced by Nanosecond UV Optical Pulses.
Ge-Sb-Te-based phase change memory alloys have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their promising applications in the fields of photonics, non-volatile data storage, and neuromorphic computing. Of particular interest is the understanding of the structural changes and underlying mechanisms induced by short optical pulses. This work reports on structural changes induced by single nanosecond UV laser pulses in amorphous and epitaxial Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) thin films. The phase changes within the thin films are studied by a combined approach using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal different phase transitions such as crystalline-to-amorphous phase changes, interface assisted crystallization of the cubic GST phase and structural transformations within crystalline phases. In particular, it is found that crystalline interfaces serve as crystallization templates for epitaxial formation of metastable cubic GST phase upon phase transitions. By varying the laser fluence, GST thin films consisting of multiple phases and different amorphous to crystalline volume ratios can be achieved in this approach, offering a possibility of multilevel data storage and realization of memory devices with very low resistance drift. In addition, this work demonstrates amorphization and crystallization of GST thin films by using only one UV laser with one single pulse duration and one wavelength. Overall, the presented results offer new perspectives on switching pathways in Ge-Sb-Te-based materials and show the potential of epitaxial Ge-Sb-Te thin films for applications in advanced phase change memory concepts.


Variables Associated with Therapy Attendance in Runaway Substance Abusing Youth: Preliminary Findings.
Service providers and researchers note that youth with substance abuse problems are difficult to engage in treatment and, when engaged, often drop out early. Estimates of the alcohol and drug abuse rate of runaway youth range from 70% to 95%. This study evaluated predictors of therapy attendance in a sample of substance abusing youth recruited through two southwestern runaway shelters. Runaway youth and their families (N = 36) were engaged into a 15-session ecologically-based family therapy (EBFT) intervention. Fewer days between the pretreatment assessment and the first therapy session, as well as less perceived parental care, predicted more therapy sessions attended. No relationship was found between level of substance use and treatment attendance. The findings highlight the importance of engaging families in therapy soon after the youth's arrival to the shelter, as treatment motivation may decrease as the crisis lessens.


Immunologic correlates of spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation in human T-lymphotropic virus infection.
Previously we showed that mononuclear cells from about half of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-seropositive persons exhibit spontaneous proliferation in vitro. We sought to determine if proliferation was associated with other immunologic changes characteristic of HTLV infection. The parameters assessed were (1) percentages of lymphocytes expressing CD4 and/or CD25 (interleukin-2 receptor), (2) serum levels of soluble CD25, (3) serostatus for other viruses, (4) anti-HTLV antibody levels, and (5) HTLV type determined by polymerase chain reaction or serologic reactivity with type-specific peptides. The proliferation+ HTLV (PROL+) group, proliferation HTLV (PROL-) group, and control group showed similar percentages of CD4+, CD25+, and CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes; serum levels of soluble CD25 were also similar. Antibodies to cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B core, and hepatitis C were present in similar proportions of PROL+ and PROL+ groups. However, a significant association was found between spontaneous proliferation and anti-HTLV antibody levels; sera from 67% of PROL+ persons, but only 18% of PROL- persons, required dilution to yield absorbance values within the linear range of the anti-HTLV antibody assay. In the PROL+ group, persons whose sera required the most dilution had proliferative responses significantly higher than those whose sera required no dilution. The PROL+ and PROL groups were similar with regard to the relative distribution of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection. These findings indicate that HTLV-related spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation is related to levels of circulating anti-HTLV antibodies, and characterizes both HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection.


Differential Hrd1 Expression and B-Cell Accumulation in Eosinophilic and Non-eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps.
Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of B-cells in autoimmune diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation and their possible roles in CRSwNP. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used to assess gene and protein expression in nasal tissue extracts. Cells isolated from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Local antibody production was measured in tissue extracts with a Bio-Plex assay. Additionally, changes in Hrd1 expression in response to specific inflammatory stimuli were measured in cultured dispersed polyp cells. Nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) had increased levels of Hrd1, B-cells and plasma cells compared with NPs from patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) or other control subjects (P < 0.05). The average Hrd1 levels in B-cells in NPs from ECRS patients were significantly higher than those from non-ECRS patients and control subjects (P < 0.05). NPs also contained significantly increased levels of several antibody isotypes compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Hrd1 expression in cultured polyp cells from ECRS patients, but not non-ECRS patients, was significantly increased by interleukin-1β, lipopolysaccharide and Poly(I:C) stimulation, and inhibited by dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.05). Differential Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation between the ECRS and non-ECRS subsets suggests that they can exhibit distinct pathogenic mechanisms and play important roles in NP.


Rattlesnake Envenomation in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy.
Snakebites in pregnancy can be life-threatening to both the mother and fetus as a result of inflammatory and toxic properties of the venom. Prompt medical treatment is critical to prevent adverse consequences. A 26-year-old woman at 37 6/7 weeks of gestation was bitten by a rattlesnake on the right middle finger, resulting in severe pain radiating up to the upper arm and swelling involving the entire hand. A total of 18 vials of crotalidae polyvalent immune fab was administered over 11 hours. Three days after the incident, the patient delivered a healthy neonate vaginally and without complications. Both mother and newborn were well at 1-month follow-up. Our case supports managing snakebites in pregnancy similar to managing cases in nonpregnant individuals, including using crotalidae polyvalent immune fab antivenom.


Expression of p53 and Ki-67 proteins in patients with increasing severity and duration of pterygium.
Pterygium is a triangular fibrovascular subepithelial ingrowth of degenerative bulbar conjunctival tissue over the cornea. It is now considered to be a result of uncontrolled cellular proliferation as overexpression of p53 protein and Ki-67 nuclear protein was found in the epithelium. This study was done to find the expression of p53 and Ki-67 with the severity and duration of the pterygium to explain the etiopathogenesis. Data were analyzed from 43 Indian participants of all age groups. All patients were divided according to the severity of pterygium (mild, moderate, and severe groups) and according to the duration of pterygium (<4 years and >4 years). The samples were studied by immunohistochemistry by using antibodies against p53 and Ki-67 proteins considering >5% expression as significant. Of 43 cases, p53 and Ki-67 expression were positive in 33 cases. In mild, moderate, and severe cases p53 positivity was 33.3%, 78.4%, 100%, respectively. P53 expression increased with duration, 79.3% positive in <4 years, and 92.9% positive in >4 years. With increasing severity of pterygium, mild, moderate, and severe cases, Ki-67 positivity was 66.7%, 78.37%, 66.7%, respectively. Ki-67 expression with duration, 79.3% positive in <4 years, and 85.7% positive in >4 years of the duration of pterygium with no statistical significance. Our study revealed that with increasing duration and severity of pterygium, p53 expression was observed to be increasing. Ki-67 expression increased with the duration of pterygium but not with the severity.


X-linked scapuloperoneal syndrome.
Observations are presented on a family with muscular weakness and wasting with an onset in childhood, predominantly affecting the proximal muscles in the upper limbs and the distal muscles in the lower. This was accompanied by contractures of the elbows and by pes cavus. Pseudohypertrophy was absent. Progression was slow, but an associated cardiomyopathy developed in adult life. Investigations favoured a myopathic basis. The inheritance was of X-linked recessive pattern and the disorder was linked with deutan colour blindness. The clinical features in this family appear to be distinctive and it is likely that the disorder represents a separate clinical entity.


Regulator of G protein signaling 5 (RGS5) inhibits sonic hedgehog function in mouse cortical neurons.
Regulator of G protein signaling 5 (RGS5) acts as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for the Gαi subunit and negatively regulates G protein-coupled receptor signaling. However, its presence and function in postmitotic differentiated primary neurons remains largely uncharacterized. During neural development, sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is involved in cell signaling pathways via Gαi activity. In particular, Shh signaling is essential for embryonic neural tube patterning, which has been implicated in neuronal polarization involving neurite outgrowth. Here, we examined whether RGS5 regulates Shh signaling in neurons. RGS5 transcripts were found to be expressed in cortical neurons and their expression gradually declined in a time-dependent manner in culture system. When an adenovirus expressing RGS5 was introduced into an in vitro cell culture model of cortical neurons, RGS5 overexpression significantly reduced neurite outgrowth and FM4-64 uptake, while cAMP-PKA signaling was also affected. These findings suggest that RGS5 inhibits Shh function during neurite outgrowth and the presynaptic terminals of primary cortical neurons mature via modulation of cAMP.


On the evolution of Yeti, a Drosophila melanogaster heterochromatin gene.
Constitutive heterochromatin is a ubiquitous and still unveiled component of eukaryotic genomes, within which it comprises large portions. Although constitutive heterochromatin is generally considered to be transcriptionally silent, it contains a significant variety of sequences that are expressed, among which about 300 single-copy coding genes have been identified by genetic and genomic analyses in the last decades. Here, we report the results of the evolutionary analysis of Yeti, an essential gene of Drosophila melanogaster located in the deep pericentromeric region of chromosome 2R. By FISH, we showed that Yeti maintains a heterochromatin location in both D. simulans and D. sechellia species, closely related to D. melanogaster, while in the more distant species e.g., D. pseudoobscura and D. virilis, it is found within euchromatin, in the syntenic chromosome Muller C, that corresponds to the 2R arm of D. melanogaster chromosome 2. Thus, over evolutionary time, Yeti has been resident on the same chromosomal element, but it progressively moved closer to the pericentric regions. Moreover, in silico reconstruction of the Yeti gene structure in 19 Drosophila species and in 5 non-drosophilid dipterans shows a rather stable organization during evolution. Accordingly, by PCR analysis and sequencing, we found that the single intron of Yeti does not undergo major intraspecies or interspecies size changes, unlike the introns of other essential Drosophila heterochromatin genes, such as light and Dbp80. This implicates diverse evolutionary forces in shaping the structural organization of genes found within heterochromatin. Finally, the results of dS - dN tests show that Yeti is under negative selection both in heterochromatin and euchromatin, and indicate that the change in genomic location did not affected significantly the molecular evolution of the gene. Together, the results of this work contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of constitutive heterochromatin in the genomes of higher eukaryotes.


[Detection of transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA in sera among three different population groups in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in 2001].
The aim of this study was to determine the transfusion transmitted Virus (TTV) prevalence in three groups of population from Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The A group contained 39 multitransfused patients, the B group contained 10 blood donors supposed to be healthy persons which have never been transfused and the group C contained 43 patients with chronic liver pathology. In this last group, 33 patients had HBV positive serology and the 10 others, HCV positive serology. We used PCR to investigate TTV in patients serum. Detection rates were comprised between 67% and 82%. This is the first study to provide information about the high portage of TTV in ivorian population.