Discovering Putative Peptides Encoded from Noncoding RNAs in Ribosome Profiling Data of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Most noncoding RNAs are considered by their expression at low levels and as having a limited phylogenetic distribution in the cytoplasm, indicating that they may be only involved in specific biological processes. However, recent studies showed the protein-coding potential of ncRNAs, indicating that they might be a source of some special proteins. Although there are increasing noncoding RNAs identified to be able to code proteins, it is challenging to distinguish coding RNAs from previously annotated ncRNAs, and to detect the proteins from their translation. In this article, we designed a pipeline to identify these noncoding RNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana from three NCBI GEO data sets with coding potential and predict their translation products. 31 311 noncoding RNAs were predicted to be translated into peptides, and they showed lower conservation rate than common proteins. In addition, we built an interaction network between these peptides and annotated Arabidopsis proteins using BIPS, which included 69 peptides from noncoding RNAs. Peptides in the interaction network showed different characteristics from other noncoding RNA-derived peptides, and they participated in several crucial biological processes, such as photorespiration and stress-responses. All the information of putative ncPEPs and their interaction with proteins predicted above are finally integrated in a database, PncPEPDB ( http://bis.zju.edu.cn/PncPEPDB ). These results showed that peptides derived from noncoding RNAs may play important roles in noncoding RNA regulation, which provided another hypothesis that noncoding RNA may regulate the metabolism via their translation products.


Endophthalmitis due to Microbacterium species: case report and review of microbacterium infections.
Microbacterium species (formerly CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] coryneform group A-4 and A-5 bacteria) are widely distributed in the environment and rarely cause infections in humans. We present a case of endophthalmitis due to Microbacterium species that occurred after accidental trauma and review the literature on microbacterium infections. If the infected tissue or medical device is removed and antimicrobial therapy (preferably with beta-lactams or glycopeptides) is instituted, the prognosis is usually favorable for patients with microbacterium infections.


Rapid oxime and hydrazone ligations with aromatic aldehydes for biomolecular labeling.
A high-yielding and rapid chemoselective ligation approach is presented that uses aniline catalysis to activate aromatic aldehydes toward two amine nucleophiles, namely, 6-hydrazinopyridyl and aminooxyacetyl groups. The rates of these ligations are resolved for model reactions with unprotected peptides. The resulting hydrazone and oxime conjugates are attained under ambient conditions with rate constants of 10(1)-10(3) M(-1) s(-1). These rate constants exceed those of current chemoselective ligation chemistries and enable efficient labeling of peptides and proteins at low muM concentrations, at neutral pH, without using a large excess of one of the components. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by the p-fluorobenzylation of human serum albumin and by the fluorescent labeling of an unprotected peptide with Alexa Fluor 488.


Intraguild predation reduces redundancy of predator species in multiple predator assemblage.
1. Interference between predator species frequently decreases predation rates, lowering the risk of predation for shared prey. However, such interference can also occur between conspecific predators. 2. Therefore, to understand the importance of predator biodiversity and the degree that predator species can be considered functionally interchangeable, we determined the degree of additivity and redundancy of predators in multiple- and single-species combinations. 3. We show that interference between two invasive species of predatory crabs, Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus, reduced the risk of predation for shared amphipod prey, and had redundant per capita effects in most multiple- and single-species predator combinations. 4. However, when predator combinations with the potential for intraguild predation were examined, predator interference increased and predator redundancy decreased. 5. Our study indicates that trophic structure is important in determining how the effects of predator species combine and demonstrates the utility of determining the redundancy, as well as the additivity, of multiple predator species.


Cytokine-based gene therapy of human tumors. An overview.
This review first summarizes the different strategies of gene therapy of cancer and then focuses on the immunological approach. Several studies in animal models with cytokine gene-transduced tumor cells indicate that local cytokine release usually results in tumor growth inhibition. Moreover, in a number of cases vaccination with such cells can reduce growth of established tumors or even cure the tumor-bearing animals. Translation of such a principle in human clinical setting is reported. We have transduced human melanoma cells with genes coding for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 or B7-1 and characterized such lines. The phenotype did not change after gene insertion but the functional, immunostimulatory activity of IL-2 or B7-1 gene-transduced melanoma cells was significantly increased compared to that of parental lines. These-lines were then used to vaccinate melanoma patients. Preliminary results of trials with IL-2 gene-transduced cells are presented which indicate a weak clinical response and the activation of a melanoma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in a low percentage of patients.


Indications and contraindications for different types of implant therapy.
Indications and contraindications for subperiosteal, transosteal, and endosseous type implants are described. Both the mechanical aspects of implant placement, as well as the systemic conditions that militate against a successful result are reviewed.


Lipid disorders in transitional societies with particular reference to triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol.
Like Western populations, affluent urban populations in developing countries are facing the problem of dyslipidemia, an important risk factor of coronary heart disease. Our study of 453 affluent, urban Thai women revealed that the prevalences of type IIa, IIb, IV and V hyperlipoproteinemias were 32.5, 2.2, 2.4, and 0.4%, respectively. Based on a waist-over-hip circumference ratio (WHR) of > 0.8 and body mass index (BMI) of > 25.0 kg/m2 to indicate abdominal and overall obesity, respectively, the prevalences of abdominal obesity, overall obesity, and combined abdominal and overall obesity in these women were 32.9, 5.7, and 21.2%, respectively. Both BMI and WHR in these women had significantly positive influences on their serum triglyceride (TG) and apo B levels, and significantly negative influences on their serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Only BMI had a significantly positive influence on their serum total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol levels but a significantly negative influence on their serum apo A-I levels. A lipid-lowering effect of linoleic acid was shown in 101 dyslipidemic women receiving dietary intervention for 8 weeks, evidenced by significantly negative relationships between their serum 18:2 n-6 levels and serum TC, LDL-C, TG, and apo B levels.


The path to a paradigm shift in hemodialysis.
About 1 out of 4 American conventional dialysis patients die in the first year and 3 out of 5 die within 5 years with no favorable trend in sight. Largely ignored in practice is the evidence accumulated over decades that longer, more frequent dialysis can immediately slash this grim result in half or more. Pierratos has called for a paradigm shift--a disruptive change--in dialysis practice from conventional treatment to daily nocturnal dialysis, performed at home, to realize this dramatic improvement. We examine here how such a paradigm shift might be brought about and suggest that changes in 3 perspectives must occur. First, new dialysis guidelines must be recast from the old goal of minimally adequate to a new goal of best possible. Second, the body of dialysis research must be interpreted through the lens of best possible patient survival and well being, and the near-impossibility of demonstrating dialysis survival advantage through randomized clinical trials must be acknowledged. Finally, dialysis modality must be seen as, most importantly, a survival and well-being choice, not merely a "Lifestyle" choice; hence, it must be the nondelegatable responsibility of the physician, not dialysis center personnel, to advise and prescribe. Many old perspectives, which might stand in the way of this sorely needed paradigm shift are also examined. These old perspectives make up a fabric of excuses that has delayed--and, if not discarded, will continue to delay--progress toward a survival and well-being outlook for dialysis patients just as favorable as might be achieved through kidney transplant.


Combination of lamivudine and adefovir without hepatitis B immune globulin is safe and effective prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus recurrence in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive liver transplant candidates.
Without effective prophylaxis, liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease is frequently complicated by severe and rapidly progressive HBV recurrence. Combination prophylaxis with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and lamivudine (LAM) reduces long-term recurrence rates below 10%; however, HBIG is costly and inconvenient to administer. We, therefore, conducted a multicenter, prospective study of outcomes with an HBIG-sparing regimen of LAM plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) initiated at the time of listing for liver transplantation and continued after transplantation. Twenty-six patients were recruited into this study at the time of listing for transplantation, and 20 subsequently underwent transplantation. Twelve of the 26 patients had LAM exposure before the study baseline, but none had LAM resistance. The median HBV viral load before the institution of antiviral therapy was approximately 4.0 log(10) IU/mL (range=2.3-7.5 log(10) IU/mL). To the 20 patients who underwent transplantation, 800 IU of intramuscular HBIG was given immediately after transplantation and daily for 7 days only (total HBIG dose=6400 IU). All transplant patients remained alive without HBV recurrence (they were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen, and HBV DNA was undetectable) after a median follow-up of 57 months after transplantation (range=27-83 months). The median serum creatinine level in these patients rose from 81 to 119 μmol/L over the course of the study. No patient required dose reduction or cessation. After the completion of this prospective study, the regimen was modified so that no perioperative HBIG was administered if the pretransplant serum HBV DNA level was suppressed below 3 log(10) IU/mL. Another 28 patients with HBV-related liver disease underwent transplantation (18 without HBIG). All remained alive and well without HBV recurrence after a median follow-up of 22 months after transplantation (range=10-58 months). In conclusion, a combination of LAM and ADV initiated at the time of wait listing provides safe and effective protection against recurrent HBV infection without the high costs and inconvenience associated with long-term HBIG therapy.


Identification of Candidate Genes Regulating the Seed Coat Color Trait in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Using an Integrated Approach of QTL Mapping and Transcriptome Analysis.
Seed coat color is an important seed quality trait in sesame. However, the genetic mechanism of seed coat color variation remains elusive in sesame. We conducted a QTL mapping of the seed coat color trait in sesame using an F2 mapping population. With the aid of the newly constructed superdense genetic linkage map comprised of 22,375 bins distributed in 13 linkage groups (LGs), 17 QTLs of the three indices (i.e., L, a, and b values) of seed coat color were detected in seven intervals on four LGs, with a phenotype variance explanation rate of 4.46-41.53%. A new QTL qSCa6.1 on LG 6 and a QTL hotspot containing at least four QTLs on LG 9 were further identified. Variants screening of the target intervals showed that there were 84 genes which possessed the variants that were high-impact and co-segregating with the seed coat color trait. Meanwhile, we performed the transcriptome comparison of the developing seeds of a white- and a black-seeded variety, and found that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in 37 pathways, including three pigment biosynthesis related pathways. Integration of variants screening and transcriptome comparison results suggested that 28 candidate genes probably participated in the regulation of the seed coat color in sesame; of which, 10 genes had been proved or suggested to be involved in pigments biosynthesis or accumulation during seed formation. The findings gave the basis for the mechanism of seed coat color regulation in sesame, and exhibited the effects of the integrated approach of genome resequencing and transcriptome analysis on the genetics analysis of the complex traits.


[Bleomycin exanthema].
Four patients were observed which developed cutaneous side effects during treatment with bleomycin. The bleomycin rashes appeared after 10 to 14 days of therapy and a cumulative dose of 120 to 150 mg.


Genetic changes in nonepithelial ovarian cancer.
Nonepithelial ovarian cancers (OCs), including sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) and germ cell tumors (GCTs), are an uncommon subset of OC, together accounting for 10% of all OCs. The etiology of these tumors remains largely unresolved. It is well established that tumorigenesis is the result of multiple genetic alterations driving a normal cell toward a malignant state. Much effort has been made into researching the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial OC, but far less is known about the genetic changes in SCSTs and GCTs. Recently, a single point missense mutation (C134W) was found in the FOXL2 gene in approximately 95% of adult-type granulosa cell tumors, suggesting a key role for FOXL2 in these tumors. By contrast, the FOXL2 mutation was not found in the juvenile type. DICER1 somatic missense mutations were found in approximately 60% of Sertoli-Leydig tumors. Ovarian GCTs share many morphological features and a similar pattern of chromosomal alterations with testicular GCTs. In the latter, recent genome-wide association studies have identified seven susceptibility loci near KITLG, SPRY4, UKC2, BAK1, DMRT1, TERT and ATF7IP. All of the susceptibility loci detected thus far are all involved in primordial germ cell function or sex determination. TGF-β/BMP and Wnt/β-catenin signaling was absent in dysgerminomas, but present in yolk sac tumors, suggesting intertumoral heterogeneity. In this article, the authors aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the possible molecular changes in SCSTs and GCTs of the ovary.


Stimulatory effect of dihydroxyphenyl compounds on the aerotolerance of Spirillum volutans and Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni.
The aerotolerance of the microaerophilic bacterium Spirillum volutans was greatly stimulated in a defined medium by the presence of dihydroxyphenyl ferric iron-binding compounds such as nor-epinephrine at 10(-5) to 10(-6) M. Dihydroxyphenyl compounds at 2 X 10(-4) M, or iron salts (ferrous or ferric) at high concentration, greatly increased the aerotolerance of a strain of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni when grown on streak plates of Brucella agar. The results suggest that the microaerophilism of these organisms might in part be caused by a failure to synthesize microbial ferric iron-binding compounds at sufficient levels to support aerobic growth.


Structural and signaling proteins in the Z-disk and their role in cardiomyopathies.
The sarcomere is the smallest functional unit of muscle contraction. It is delineated by a protein-rich structure known as the Z-disk, alternating with M-bands. The Z-disk anchors the actin-rich thin filaments and plays a crucial role in maintaining the mechanical stability of the cardiac muscle. A multitude of proteins interact with each other at the Z-disk and they regulate the mechanical properties of the thin filaments. Over the past 2 decades, the role of the Z-disk in cardiac muscle contraction has been assessed widely, however, the impact of genetic variants in Z-disk proteins has still not been fully elucidated. This review discusses the various Z-disk proteins (alpha-actinin, filamin C, titin, muscle LIM protein, telethonin, myopalladin, nebulette, and nexilin) and Z-disk-associated proteins (desmin, and obscurin) and their role in cardiac structural stability and intracellular signaling. This review further explores how genetic variants of Z-disk proteins are linked to inherited cardiac conditions termed cardiomyopathies.


[A new look at adult chronic heart failure in Africa in the age of the Doppler echocardiography: experience of the medicine department at Yaounde General Hospital].
Heart failure is a frequent and severe condition in Africa, yet few African data are available that take into account modern advances like echocardiography in diagnosis. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological, clinical, etiologic and therapeutic features of heart failure at Yaounde General Hospital. A descriptive study was carried from October 1998 to November 2001. One hundred and sixty-seven patients presenting with clinical and echocardiographic signs of heart failure were included, among which 99 men and 68 women, mean aged 57 years. Heart failure was the reason for 5,77% of all hospital admissions. Rehospitalisation rate was 8,33%, the prevalence 30% and overall mortality was 9,03%. 44% of patients were in class III of the NYHA and 7% in class IV. Dyspnoea was a constant symptom (95,20%); hepatomegaly was the most frequent physical finding (41,92%). Cardiac cavities were dilated and left ventricular ejection fraction was low in patients with systolic (70%) and combined (20%) dysfunction. Isolated diastolic heart failure accounted for 10% of cases. Main aetiologies were: Hypertension (54,49%), cardiomyopathies (26,34%) and valvular heart diseases (24,55%). Ischaemic heart disease was the fifth aetiology (2,39%). Medical treatment consisted of loop diuretics (90%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (64,7%), digoxin (30,5%) and beta blockers (19,8%). The clinical syndrome of heart failure constitutes a major public health problem in Cameroon. Echocardiography is of paramount importance in confirming the diagnosis and precising its aetiology. Preventive and public health strategies need to be defined according to the local characteristics.


Usefulness of dynamic risk stratification in pediatric patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Recently, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) dynamic risk stratification (DRS) has been verified to be more valuable than the static anatomical staging system for predicting prognosis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical usefulness of DRS, which is based on the response to initial treatment, with that of ATA initial risk stratification in pediatric patients. A total of 144 pediatric patients underwent thyroid operation from August 1982 to December 2013 at Yonsei University Hospital (Seoul, Korea). Among them, 128 patients with complete clinical data were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed by medical chart review. The mean follow-up duration was 11.5 years. The mean tumor size was 2.1 cm; 80.4% of patients were diagnosed with conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma, and 7.0% of patients were diagnosed with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Low-risk patients had the highest probability of an excellent response to initial treatment (66.6%). High-risk patients had the highest probability of a structural incomplete response (100%) and the lowest probability of an excellent response (11.1%). The ATA risk stratification and the DRS system were independent risk factors for disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.041 and P < 0.001, respectively). The DRS system, which is based on the response to initial treatment, can offer more useful prognostic information compared with ATA risk stratification in pediatric patients with DTC.


The role of soil bacterial community during winter fallow period in the incidence of tobacco bacterial wilt disease.
Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, occurs occasionally during tobacco planting and potentially brings huge economic losses in affected areas. Soil microbes in different management stages play important roles in influencing bacterial wilt incidence. Studies have focused on the impacts of species diversity and composition during cropping periods on disease morbidity; however, the effects of the soil bacterial biomass, species diversity, species succession, and population interactions on morbidity remain unclear during non-cropping periods. In this study, we explored the soil bacterial communities in the non-cropping winter fallow (WF) and cropping late growing (LG) periods under consecutive monoculture systems using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and qPCR and further analyzed their effects on tobacco bacterial wilt incidence. We found that the bacterial communities in the WF period were significantly different from those in the LG period based on detrended correspondence analysis and dissimilarity tests. Crop morbidity was significantly related to bacterial community structure and to the presence of some genera during WF and LG periods. These genera, such as Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Acidobacteria GP6, and Pasteuria, may be potential biological control agents for bacterial wilt. Further analysis indicated that low soil bacterial diversity during the WF period, decrease of bacterial interactions from the WF to LG periods, and low soil biomass during the LG period all have the potential to increase morbidity. In conclusion, an increase of soil bacterial diversity and control of some bacterial abundances in the WF period might be an effective approach in controlling bacterial wilt incidence.


Effect of incorporation of silane-treated silver and aluminum microparticles on strength and thermal conductivity of PMMA.
The purpose of this study was to study the effect of addition of metal filler particles on different strengths of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and to evaluate the thermal perception in vivo. The study was carried out in two parts. Part 1 of the study was an in vitro investigation regarding the effect of addition of metal fillers (aluminum and silver) in concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30%, by volume on the tensile, compressive, and flexural strength of PMMA. Part 2 of the study comprised the clinical evaluation of the thermal perception by 10 edentulous patients provided with two sets of complete dentures, one fabricated with unfilled PMMA and another with 20% aluminum particle filled PMMA on the palatal portion of the maxillary denture. Recorded data were subjected to Student's t-test and ANOVA test. The mean tensile and flexural strength values among control and other groups were found to have statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) except for Al1 and Al2 groups. Mean compressive strength values among control and other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the clinical study, all 10 participants reported higher perception of hot and cold sensations in dentures with a metalized palatal portion. Compressive strength increased progressively on increasing the filler concentration for both silver- and aluminum-filled PMMA. Silane-treated metalized PMMA showed reduction in tensile and flexural strength at 30% concentration. Metalized dentures led to an appreciable increase in thermal perception by the participants of this study.


A modular X-pinch device for versatile X-pinch experiments at Seoul National University.
This paper describes an X-pinch device recently developed at Seoul National University (SNU). The SNU X-pinch device is designed and fabricated to accommodate various diagnostics as well as conduct versatile experiments. It is easy to change the capacitance of the pulse generator because the capacitor bank has a modular design without insulation oil or gas. This allows us to perform a variety of experiments with a wide capacitance range from 80 to 800 nF. The operating voltage of the SNU X-pinch device is controlled from 20 to 100 kV by adjusting the gas pressure inside a triggered spark-gap switch. Triggering of the spark-gap switch is synchronized with the operation of a pulsed laser to diagnose the X-pinch plasma at the proper time. A large vacuum chamber precisely machined from an aluminum mono-block is attached to the top of the pulse generator. It is designed to accommodate not only various X-pinch loads but also various diagnostic apparatus such as optical components. Initial experiments with the SNU X-pinch device have successfully generated x rays with wires of various materials and sizes. The device will be used not only to explore the dynamics of X-pinch plasmas but also as a test stand for diagnostics of high-energy-density plasmas.


[Regulation of nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway on cochlear sensitivity].
To investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway on cochlear sensitivity. Methods Ten groups of guinea pigs were treated with the following solutions by whole cochlear perfusion for 2 hours: (1) Artificial perilymph; (2) L-arginine; 93) Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor; (4) Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor + L-arginine; (5) Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor + cGMP; (6) Ca 2+ ATPase inhibitor + L-arginine + Non-selective NOS inhibitor; (7) eNOS inhibitor; (8) eNOS inhibitor + Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor; (9) eNOS inhibitor + Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor + L-arginine; (10) eNOS inhibitor + Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor + L-arginine + nNOS inhibitor. The compound action potential (CAP) and cochlea microphonics (CM) were measured to assess the changes of cochlear sensitivity. After the perfusion, the cochleae were harvested and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. The average threshold shift of CAP after perfusion Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor was 28.5 dB, and it was improved in group 4 with 9 dB by L-arginine, similar with group 5. The threshold shift of CAP in group 8 was 42.5 dB, and it decreased in group 9 by L-arginine, on this foundation nNOS inhibitor was added, increased threshold shift of CAP was 6.5 dB, similar with group 8. The results indicated that L-arginine could rivalry the role of Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor through the path of NO-cGMP. Transmission electron microscopy showed that Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor + L-arginine combined administration resulted in less vacuolization in out hair cell than that treated with Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor only. The NO-cGMP pathway could regulate cochlear sensitivity; L-arginine may improve the function of Corti's organ via nNOS, and they indicate an important role of supporting cells in the modulation of cochlear function.


A GFP-based assay for rapid screening of compounds affecting ARE-dependent mRNA turnover.
A reporter transcript containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene upstream of the destabilizing 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the murine IL-3 gene was inserted in mouse PB-3c-15 mast cells. The GFP-IL-3 transcript was inherently unstable due to the presence of an adenosine-uridine (AU)-rich element (ARE) in the 3'-UTR and was subject to rapid decay giving a low baseline of GFP fluorescence. Transcript stabilization with ionomycin resulted in an increase of fluorescence that is quantitated by FACS analysis of responding cells. Using this system we have identified okadaic acid as a novel stabilizing compound, and investigated the upstream signaling pathways leading to stabilization. This reporter system has the advantage of speed and simplicity over standard methods currently in use and in addition to serving as a research tool it can be easily automated to increase throughput for drug discovery.


[Soft tissue repairing and functional reconstruction in limb salvage operation on extremity bone malignant tumors].
To investigate the effect and the significance of soft tissue repairing and functional reconstruction in limb salvage operation on extremity malignant bone tumors by individualized prosthesis replacement after malignant tumor resection with the help of Neo-adjuvant chemo-therapy. A total of 78 patients with malignant bone tumor were recruited, including 42 males and 36 females. Aged 19~61, with an average of (29.12+/-9.47).Tumor in 14 patients was in the proximal humerus, 11 in the proximal femur, 27 in the distal femur, 3 in femoral middle part, and 23 in the proximal tibial. There were 29 cases of osteogenic sarcoma, 18 chondroma sarcomatosum, 7 malignant enchondroma with pathological fracture, 20 malignant giant cell tumor,and 4 malignant inflammatory myofibroblastoma of the bone. Soft tissue repairing and functional reconstruction were carried out together with individualized prosthesis replacement. The type of the prostheses was as follows: 14 patients had long stem humerus head prosthesis, 50 made hinged knee prostheses with femoral or tibial component, 3 whole femur replacements, 7 long stem femoral head prostheses, 4 long stem hip prostheses. All patients were followed up for an average of (26.80+/-8.06) months (4~37 months) and postoperative functions were estimated according to Enneking system. Among the 78 patients, results in 48 (61.5%) were excellent, 17 (21.8%) were good, 10 (12.8%) were fair, and 3(4.9%) were poor. The satisfactory rate was 83.3%. Soft tissue repairing and functional reconstruction in limb salvage operation on extremity bone malignant tumors by individualized prosthesis replacement not only spare the limbs, but also keep their function.It can remove the psychologic obstacles caused by extremity absence, and is effective for bone malignant tumor.


Effect of a rapid e-learning module and brief interprofessional simulation event on medical and nursing student collaborative attitudes and behaviors.
Objectives Undergraduate nursing and first-year medical students participated in a brief, scenario-based, interprofessional event. The experimental group only was provided an innovative, rapid e-learning instructional module focused on interprofessional roles/responsibilities and communication prior to the event. Methods Pre-post attitudes toward physician-nurse collaboration were surveyed, and collaborative behaviors were observed during the event. Results For the experimental group, a statistically significant (p<0.05) attitude improvement was found between pre-post e-learning module scores as well as pre-e-learning module and post-simulation event scores. For the control group, a statistically significant (p=0.001) attitude improvement was found between pre-post simulation event scores. No statistically significant differences in team collaborative behaviors were observed between experimental and control. Conclusions The combination of module and simulation event was not a more effective option than the event alone. As both interventions present unique challenges in regards to technology and facility requirements, having multiple effective intervention options will be of benefit to educational institutions.


Polymorphisms of C242T and A640G in CYBA gene and the risk of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality in many countries. Considerable studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between the C242T and A640G polymorphisms of CYBA gene and CAD, but the results were still inconsistent. Hence we conducted a meta-analysis to clarify the association. A total of 21 eligible literatures were included in the meta-analysis. We observed a significant decreased risk of CAD for C242T polymorphism in Asian population under an allelic model (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.67-0.84) and a dominant model (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.61-0.79), however, in overall population and other population no significant association was revealed. We also found A640G polymorphism may contribute to reducing CAD risk under an allelic model (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.75-0.93), dominant model (OR0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.92) and recessive model (OR0.82; 95% CI 0.69-0.97). No publication bias was found. Our meta-analysis confirmed a protective effect of C242T polymorphism on CAD in Asian population and indicated that A640G polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased risk of CAD.


Giffonins A-I, antioxidant cyclized diarylheptanoids from the leaves of the hazelnut tree (Corylus avellana), source of the Italian PGI product "Nocciola di Giffoni".
Eight new diaryl ether heptanoids, giffonins A-H (1-8), and one diaryl heptanoid, giffonin I (9), were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Corylus avellana. Its hazelnut is the PGI product of the Campania region (Italy) known as "Nocciola di Giffoni". The MeOH extract of C. avellana leaves and giffonins A-I (1-9) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on human plasma lipid peroxidation induced by H2O2 and H2O2/Fe(2+), by measuring the concentration of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Compounds 4 and 8 at 10 μM reduced both H2O2- and H2O2/Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation by more than 60% and 50%, respectively, indicating higher activity than curcumin used as reference compound.


Lack of expression of adhesion molecules on leukemic cells: possible pathogenetic factor in blood malignancies.
In 68 patients with different leukemias the expression of the following adhesion molecules was examined: CD11a, CD18, CD54, CD44, CD58, and CD59. While in normal individuals all these molecules are broadly expressed on leukocytes, in patients with leukemias the following deviations were observed: (a) at least one of the examined molecules was missing in 64/68 cases (94%); in 12/68 cases (18%) both molecules LFA-1 and ICAM-1 were missing, in 37/68 (54%) either LFA-1 or ICAM-1, and in 15/68 cases (22%) adhesion molecules other than LFA-1 or ICAM-1 were missing; (b) the expression of CD11a/CE18, CD58, CD59 on leukemic cells was heterogeneous, without any clear correlation to the subclass of leukemia; (c) in the majority of cases, CD54 (45/68; 66%) and CD44 (36/68; 53%) were missing, however showing a tendency of expression on leukemic cells with more mature immunophenotype.


Relationships between heavy metal concentrations in roadside topsoil and distance to road edge based on field observations in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.
This study investigated the spatial distribution of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) in roadside topsoil in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and evaluated the potential environmental risks of these roadside heavy metals due to traffic emissions. A total of 120 topsoil samples were collected along five road segments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The nonlinear regression method was used to formulize the relationship between the metal concentrations in roadside soils and roadside distance. The Hakanson potential ecological risk index method was applied to assess the degrees of heavy metal contaminations. The regression results showed that both of the heavy metals' concentrations and their ecological risk indices decreased exponentially with the increase of roadside distance. The large R square values of the regression models indicate that the exponential regression method can suitably describe the relationship between heavy metal accumulation and roadside distance. For the entire study region, there was a moderate level of potential ecological risk within a 10 m roadside distance. However, Cd was the only prominent heavy metal which posed potential hazard to the local soil ecosystem. Overall, the rank of risk contribution to the local environments among the eight heavy metals was Cd > As > Ni > Pb > Cu > Co > Zn > Cr. Considering that Cd is a more hazardous heavy metal than other elements for public health, the local government should pay special attention to this traffic-related environmental issue.


Imaging transparent intact cardiac tissue with single-cell resolution.
We developed a new method, SUT (Scheme Update on tissue Transparency), to view cardiac microstructures and unveil the molecular changes underlying cardiac diseases. SUT is an effective method to clear whole-hearts from different species. Over the course of 4 - 6 days we obtained transparent whole-layer left ventricular tissues from mice with only an approximate 1% protein loss. In addition, EAL (Electrophoretic Antibody Labeling) was used to achieve fast antibody labeling by electric force, which significantly reduced antibody incubation time from days to hours. SUT, together with EAL and modern imaging techniques, were successfully used to visualize three-dimensional spatial distribution of various molecules in cardiac tissue. We also observed changes in the number and phenotypes of fibroblasts during post-myocardial infarction in a stereoscopic pattern. We believe that our technique opens a new avenue to explore the mechanisms underlying cardiac diseases.


Computational studies of the extraction of visual spatial information from binocular and motion cues.
This paper reviews some of the contributions that work in computational vision has made to the study of biological vision systems. We concentrate on two areas where there has been strong interaction between computational and experimental studies: the use of binocular stereo to recover the distances to surfaces in space, and the recovery of the three-dimensional shape of objects from relative motion in the image. With regard to stereo, we consider models proposed for solving the stereo correspondence problem, focussing on the way in which physical properties of the world constrain possible methods of solution. We also show how critical observations regarding human stereo vision have helped to shape these models. With regard to the recovery of structure from motion, we focus on how the constraint of object rigidity has been used in computational models of this process.


Overexpression of SCLIP promotes growth and motility in glioblastoma cells.
SCLIP, a microtubule-destabilizing phosphoprotein, is known to be involved in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). It has been well established that there are notable parallels between normal development and tumorigenesis, especially in glioma. However, no studies have examined the significance of SCLIP in gliomagenesis. To address this, we investigated the expression of SCLIP and its roles in the development of gliomas. Notably, we found that SCLIP was highly expressed in various grades of glioma samples, as compared with normal brain tissues. Overexpression of SCLIP dramatically stimulated tumor cell migration and invasion as well as proliferation and downregulation of SCLIP showed opposite effects, establishing an important oncogenic role for this gene. Furthermore, we revealed that STAT3 was required to maintain SCLIP stability, suggesting that overexpression of STAT3 may be a critical step to facilitate microtubule dynamics and subsequently promotes migration and invasion of glioma cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that SCLIP plays an important role in glioma pathology, and may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against human glioma.


Improved Tandem Affinity Purification Tag and Methods for Isolation of Proteins and Protein Complexes from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
The tandem affinity purification (TAP) method uses an epitope that contains two different affinity purification tags separated by a site-specific protease site to isolate a protein rapidly and easily. Proteins purified via the TAP tag are eluted under mild conditions, allowing them to be used for structural and biochemical analyses. The original TAP tag contains a calmodulin-binding peptide and the IgG-binding domain from protein A separated by a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site. After capturing the Protein A epitope on an IgG resin, bound proteins are released by incubation with the TEV protease and then isolated on a calmodulin matrix in the presence of calcium; elution from this resin is achieved by chelating calcium with EGTA. However, because the robustness of the calmodulin-binding step in this procedure is highly variable, we replaced the calmodulin-binding peptide with three copies of the FLAG epitope, (3× FLAG)-TEV-Protein A, which can be isolated using an anti-FLAG resin. Elution from this matrix is achieved in the presence of an excess of a 3× FLAG peptide. In addition to allowing proteins to be released under mild conditions, elution by the 3× FLAG peptide adds an extra layer of specificity to the TAP procedure, because it liberates only FLAG-tagged proteins.


[Autoimmunity and Prognosis of Patients With Morphologically Documented Myocarditis].
to assess clinical and prognostic value of circulating cardiospecific autoantibodies (AAB) and CD4+ T-regulatory cells in patients with myocarditis. We included into this study 47 patients with lymphocytic myocarditis verified by analysis of histological and immunohistochemical data. Comparison group consisted of 30 practically healthy persons. Content of marker cardiotropic AAT were measured with the help of standardized immune enzyme test-systems. Number of circulating CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T-lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry. Among factors determining prognosis of patients with lymphocytic myocarditis factors of key significance were the presence of clinically overt heart failure at the disease debut, and degree of reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction. Distinctive feature of active myocarditis was elevation of titer of AABs to sarcomeric, cytoskeleton, and cytoplasmic proteins of cardiomyocytes, as well as elevated level of AABs to various epitopes of adenine nucleotide translocator. Elevated level of AAB to 1-adrenoreceptors was an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome in patients with lymphocytic myocarditis. Increased population of circulating CD4+CD25+ T-regulatory cells was as sociated with elevated concentration of of natriuretic peptide. Abnormalities in the system of autoimmunity play key role not only in pathogenesis but also in prognosis of inflammatory myocardial diseases. Changes of profile of circulating cardiospecific AABs and T-regulatory cells can bear a protective function.


Redescription of the hispidoberycid, Hispidoberyxambagiosus Kotlyar, 1981 from Taiwan, with comments on its morphology (Beryciformes, Stephanoberycoidei, Hispidoberycidae).
A rare spiny-scale pricklefish, Hispidoberyxambagiosus Kotlyar, 1981, is redescribed based on four specimens collected from Taiwan. Their sampling locality represents the northernmost record of the family, which extends the family's distribution from the eastern Indian Ocean and the South China Sea to northeastern Taiwan in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. A detailed description of these specimens and the first description of its sagittal otoliths are provided. In addition, the specimens are compared with other known specimens. Intraspecific variation of some morphological characters are discussed.


Functional changes during nutritional repletion in patients with lung disease.
In conclusion, the weight loss in COPD is associated with hypermetabolism. Under these circumstances, caloric intake may be insufficient to meet increased metabolic demands, thereby contributing to progressive weight loss. This is in contrast to depleted surgical patients who have energy expenditures 5% below predicted. There is an increased VE in patients receiving a high-carbohydrate diet, secondary to an increased VCO2 that is similar to that seen in patients with neither COPD nor weight loss. Neither diet composition, whether high-carbohydrate or high-fat, nor refeeding have any effect on PaCO2. However, ventilatory drive does appear to be influenced by nutritional repletion. There was an increased sensitivity to PaCO2, independent of diet composition, during a high caloric intake. Respiratory and skeletal muscle function increased, particularly strength, endurance, and work efficiency, indicating that the increased metabolic demand can be well tolerated. It should be noted, however, that refeeding the COPD patient must be done as a preventive measure at the start of weight loss. Patients with long-term weight loss and end-stage COPD appear unable to tolerate any increase in metabolic demand; consequently, they cannot improve respiratory and skeletal muscle function through refeeding.


Interactions of a Tetrazine Derivative with Biomembrane Constituents: A Langmuir Monolayer Study.
Tetrazine (Tz) is expected to be used for bioimaging and as an analytical reagent. It is known to react very fast with trans-cyclooctene under water in organic chemistry. Here, to understand the interaction between Tz and biomembrane constituents, we first investigated the interfacial behavior of a newly synthesized Tz derivative comprising a C18-saturated hydrocarbon chain (rTz-C18) using a Langmuir monolayer spread at the air-water interface. Surface pressure (π)-molecular area (A) and surface potential (ΔV)-A isotherms were measured for monolayers of rTz-C18 and biomembrane constituents such as dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE), palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM), and cholesterol (Ch). The lateral interaction between rTz-C18 and the lipids was thermodynamically elucidated from the excess Gibbs free energy of mixing and two-dimensional phase diagram. The binary monolayers except for the Ch system indicated high miscibility or affinity. In particular, rTz-C18 was found to interact more strongly with DPPE, which is a major constituent of the inner surface of cell membranes. The phase behavior and morphology upon monolayer compression were investigated by using Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), fluorescence microscopy (FM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The BAM and FM images of the DPPC/rTz-C18, DPPG/rTz-C18, and PSM/rTz-C18 systems exhibited a coexistence state of two different liquid-condensed domains derived mainly from monolayers of phospholipids and phospholipids-rTz-C18. From these morphological observations, it is worthy to note that rTz-C18 is possible to interact with a limited amount of the lipids except for DPPE.


Diplopia due to systemic lupus erythematosus in a child: a rare clinical presenting sign of the disease.
We present the case of a 14-year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital with the complaint of horizontal diplopia for 48 hours. Initially, she was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. During hospitalization she developed fever, macular facial rash, and chest pain, and because of abnormal laboratory findings the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was established. She received immunomodulatory therapy, a combination of corticosteroids, and intravenous infusions of the monoclonal antibody rituximab, which augmented her clinical improvement. Intracranial hypertension secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare manifestation, especially as a presenting symptom. In addition, the fact that the patient developed an aggressive form of systemic lupus erythematosus during the initial period of hospitalization for idiopathic intracranial hypertension is also uncommon. Moreover, to our knowledge, we are not aware of any published case reports of intracranial hypertension secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus that was treated with rituximab.


Japanese encephalitis vaccines: Immunogenicity, protective efficacy, effectiveness, and impact on the burden of disease.
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious public health concern in most of Asia. The disease is caused by JE virus (JEV), a flavivirus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. Several vaccines have been developed to control JE in endemic areas as well as to protect travelers and military personnel who visit or are commissioned from non-endemic to endemic areas. The vaccines include inactivated vaccines produced in mouse brain or cell cultures, live attenuated vaccines, and a chimeric vaccine based on the live attenuated yellow fever virus 17D vaccine strain. All the marketed vaccines belong to the JEV genotype III, but have been shown to be efficacious against other genotypes and strains, with varying degrees of cross-neutralization, albeit at levels deemed to be protective. The protective responses have been shown to last three or more years, depending on the type of vaccine and the number of doses. This review presents a brief account of the different JE vaccines, their immunogenicity and protective ability, and the impact of JE vaccines in reducing the burden of disease in endemic countries.


The extreme radiosensitivity of the squamous cell carcinoma SKX is due to a defect in double-strand break repair.
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are characterized by moderate radiosensitivity. We have established the human head & neck SCC cell line SKX, which shows an exceptionally high radiosensitivity. It was the aim of this study to understand the underlying mechanisms. Experiments were performed with SKX and FaDu, the latter taken as a control of moderate radiosensitivity. Cell lines were grown as xenografts as well as cell cultures. For xenografts, radiosensitivity was determined via local tumour control assay, and for cell cultures using colony assay. For cell cultures, apoptosis was determined by Annexin V staining and G1-arrest by BrdU labelling. Double-strand breaks (DSBs) were detected by both constant-field gel electrophoresis (CFGE) and gammaH2AX-foci technique; DSB rejoining was also assessed by in vitro rejoining assay; chromosomal damage was determined by G01-assay. Compared to FaDu, SKX cells are extremely radiosensitive as found for both xenografts (TCD(50) for 10 fractions 46.0Gy [95% C.I.: 39; 54 Gy] vs. 18.9 Gy [95% C.I.: 13; 25Gy]) and cell cultures (D(0.01); 7.1 vs. 3.5Gy). Both cell lines showed neither radiation-induced apoptosis nor radiation-induced permanent G1-arrest. For DSBs, there was no difference in the induction but for repair with SKX cells showing a higher level of both, slowly repaired DSBs and residual DSBs. The in vitro DSB repair assay revealed that SKX cells are defective in nonhomologous endjoining (NHEJ), and that more than 40% of DSBs are rejoined by single-strand annealing (SSA). SKX cells also depicted a two-fold higher number of lethal chromosomal aberrations when compared to FaDu cells. The extreme radiosensitivity of the SCC SKX seen both in vivo and in vitro can be ascribed to a reduced DNA double-strand break repair, resulting from a defect in NHEJ. This defect might be due to preferred usage of other pathways, such as SSA, which prevents efficient endjoining.


Proximate personhood as a standard for making difficult treatment decisions: imperiled newborns as a case study.
... The standard of personhood is gaining increased attention and prominence. The essential claim is that only individuals with capacities for significant cerebral functioning possess a morally unique claim to existence. Persons are defined as individuals who are self-aware and capable of self-direction (Engelhardt), able to enter meaningful relationships (McCormick), capable of minimal independent existence (Shelp), and in possession of a minimal 20-40 I.Q. (Joseph Fletcher). These are "high standard" personhood positions (those holding higher-brain related criteria). It is a commonplace with most such positions that newborns -- all newborns -- are not, strictly speaking, persons. That is, newborns are not self-aware, intentionally choosing individuals.... The thesis of this essay is that a developing individual's right to life increases as he or she approaches the threshold of personal life. That is, the more a newborn approximates -- or is proximate to -- undisputed personhood (e.g. the status of readers of this essay), the greater his or her claim to life. The two pivotal criteria for determining personhood are the potentiality for and development toward becoming an undisputed personal being. I am presupposing, for purposes of argument, that the handicapped infant would not be an excessive familial burden or an inordinate financial load for society, one an ancient and the other a modern criterion. That condition granted, this essay contends that if an imperiled newborn is reasonably projected to reach at least minimal personal capacity, treatment should be given.


Revision of the Afrotropical genus Susua Lugo-Ortiz McCafferty 1998 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae: Protopatellata).
The species originally described as Cheleocloeon sigiensis Gillies 2001 is moved to the genus Susua Lugo-Ortiz McCafferty 1998. Additional descriptions of Susua sigiensis (Gillies 2001) are given based on male and female imagoes reared from larvae from several localities in Tanzania (including the type locality in the Upper Sigi Basin). Susua niandanensis (Wuillot in Wuillot Gillies 1993) is redescribed based on larvae and male imagoes from Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Zambia. The genus Susua belongs to the plesiomorphon Protopatellata Kluge Novikova 2011 and has an Afrotropical distribution; Susua is closely related to Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz McCafferty 1996. General characteristics of Susua are given based on the two known species.


[Cross-cultural adaptation of the community-acquired pneumonia score questionnaire in patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia in Colombia].
One of the strategies for the rational use of antibiotics is the use of the score for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP Score). This instrument clinically evaluates patients with community-acquired pneumonia, thereby facilitating decision making regarding the early and safe withdrawal of antibiotics. To generate a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire in Spanish. Authorization for cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire was obtained; the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were carried out through the following stages: forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, harmonization, obtaining a provisional questionnaire, and applying the questionnaire in a pilot test. The pilot test was conducted at a second-level public hospital in Bogotá after the study was approved by the ethics and research institutional boards. The changes suggested by the forward translators were applied. There were no discrepancies between the backward and forward translations, consequently, no revisions were necessary. Five items had modifications based on suggestions made by eleven patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia during the pilot test. A Spanish version of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score was crossculturally adapted and is now available.


Rat infestation associated with environmental deficiencies in an urban slum community with high risk of leptospirosis transmission.
We analyzed environmental factors that provide food, water and harborage to rodents and the risk of household rodent infestation in a slum community with a high risk of leptospirosis transmission. Detailed environmental surveys were performed in 221 households. Multivariate regression models evaluated the association between rodent infestation and socioeconomic status and environmental attributes obtained from Geographical Information System surveys. The general household infestation rate was 45.9%. Rattus norvegicus signs were the most prevalent, present in 74% of the infested households. The risk for rodent infestation was associated with environmental factors supporting harborage for rats, such as dilapidated fences/walls (OR: 8.95; 95%CI: 2.42-33.12) and households built on an earthen slope (OR: 4.68; 95%CI: 2.23-9.81). An increase of 1 meter from the nearest sewer was associated with a 3% (95%CI: 1%-5%) decrease in the risk of rodent infestation. A lack of sanitation where poor people live provides factors for rat infestation and could the target of educational interventions.


Quantitative trait locus for reading disability on chromosome 6.
Interval mapping of data from two independent samples of sib pairs, at least one member of whom was reading disabled, revealed evidence for a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 6. Results obtained from analyses of reading performance from 114 sib pairs genotyped for DNA markers localized the QTL to 6p21.3. Analyses of corresponding data from an independent sample of 50 dizygotic twin pairs provided evidence for linkage to the same region. In combination, the replicate samples yielded a chi 2 value of 16.73 (P = 0.0002). Examination of twin and kindred siblings with more extreme deficits in reading performance yielded even stronger evidence for a QTL (chi 2 = 27.35, P < 0.00001). The position of the QTL was narrowly defined with a 100:1 confidence interval to a 2-centimorgan region within the human leukocyte antigen complex.


Common diarrhea pathogens and the risk of dehydration in young children with acute watery diarrhea: a case-control study.
The role of common diarrheal pathogens in dehydration was examined in children with acute watery diarrhea who attended the treatment center of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, in Dhaka. Two hundred sixty-nine children with moderate or severe dehydration were matched with 700 children with no dehydration. Vibrio cholerae O1 infections were 5.5 times more likely to be associated with dehydration than in cases without this agent. No significant association could be found between the presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Campylobacter jejuni, or rotavirus infection and dehydration. These results were obtained after simultaneously controlling for age, lack of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) at home, protein energy malnutrition, withdrawal of breast-feeding during diarrhea at home, poor housing, longer duration of diarrhea at home, and delay in reaching the treatment center. The cholera isolation rate was only 4.5% and thus explains only a small proportion of the cases of dehydration. In cholera-endemic areas, a strategy to prevent dehydration in small children is needed to ensure correct use of ORT at home, prompt referral, and the use of a suitable antibiotic when cholera is clinically suspected.


Effects of peripheral electromagnetic stimulation after an eccentric exercise-induced delayed-onset muscle soreness protocol in professional soccer players: a randomized controlled trial.
Introduction: To examine the effects of peripheral electromagnetic stimulation in male professional soccer players on markers of Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness (DOMS), induced by a protocol of exercise (60 min of eccentric and plyometric). Methods: A randomized controlled trial with fourty-five professional soccer players aged 22.33 ± 4.82 years participated in the study. Twenty-three participants were assigned to the experimental group with peripheral electromagnetic stimulation (5 stimulations of 5 s at 100 HZ with 55 s of rest for a total of 5 min of treatment) and the remaining 22 participants were assigned to the control group. Pain pressure threshold (PPT) of the vastus medialis, the Visual Analogue Scale-Fatigue (VAS-F), half squat (HS) test and the maximum voluntary contraction of the quadriceps were assessed. All evaluations were performed before and after 1 h of the eccentric exercise induced DOMS, as well as at post 24-48, and 72 h. Results: Group-by-time interaction was observed in PPT of the vastus medialis (p = 0.040) with a medium effect size (η2 p = 0.069). From 48 to 72 h the experimental group showed an increase of PPT compared to control group (p = 0.015). There was no group-by-time interaction for HS, quadriceps strength and VAS-F (p > 0.05). Discussion: Peripheral electromagnetic stimulation in male professional soccer players did not produce significant improvements in the power and strength of the lower limbs but decreased the peripheral sensitization of the vastus medialis after eccentric exercise protocol. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=384050&isReview=true, Identifier: ACTRN12622000841774.


Antimicrobial effect of triclosan and triclosan with Gantrez on five common endodontic pathogens.
Microbial control of the root canal system is one of the key objectives of root canal therapy. Triclosan is a widely accepted broad spectrum antimicrobial agent proven to be effective against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Triclosan acts by blocking bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis. The addition of Gantrez copolymer has been shown to enhance the antimicrobial activity of triclosan. The purpose of this study was to determine the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of triclosan and triclosan with Gantrez against Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces naeslundii, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Enterococcus faecalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both test solutions was determined for each of the 5 microorganisms by using microtiter serial dilutions. Samples were streaked on 5% sheep blood agar plates and placed in an anaerobic incubator to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The MBC of triclosan ranged from 12-94 microg/mL. The MBC of triclosan with Gantrez ranged from <0.3-10.4 microg/mL. The addition of Gantrez enhanced the bactericidal activity of triclosan. Both triclosan and triclosan with Gantrez demonstrated bactericidal activity against the 5 specific endodontic pathogens.


Changes in the intragastric distribution of Helicobacter pylori during treatment with omeprazole.
Omeprazole is a powerful inhibitor of gastric acid and may suppress Helicobacter pylori by effecting the pKa of H pylori urease, by altering the pattern of infection, or by promoting overgrowth of other bacteria. At routine endoscopy H pylori was detected by histology and culture before and after four weeks' treatment with omeprazole, 40 mg each morning. A 13C-urea breath test was also done at t = 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Thirty nine patients with duodenal ulcer (n = 25) or reflux oesophagitis (n = 14) were studied, of whom 29 of 39 had H pylori infection. During omeprazole treatment, 13C-urea breath test values fell significantly--mean (SEM) values before treatment and at four weeks were 23.0 (2.1) and 15.5 (2.7) per mil respectively, p < 0.001. Before treatment H pylori was seen in 28 of 29 antral, 29 of 29 corpus, and 28 of 29 fundic biopsy specimens. After four weeks of omeprazole treatment, the histological density of H pylori in the antrum and corpus was reduced (p < 0.001), while that in the fundus was increased. The migration of H pylori from the antrum to the fundus was associated with a corresponding decrease in the activity of antral gastritis. H pylori was not seen in antral biopsy specimens from 12 of 29 patients whose median excess delta 13CO2 excretion fell from 23.0 to 9.9 per mil. In the body mucosa, 26 of 29 specimens were still positive for H pylori and there was no significant change in the gastritis type. Two weeks after finishing treatment, the mean (SEM) excess delta 13CO2 excretion returned to levels before treatment. Omeprazole decreases antral H pylori colonisation but increases that in the fundus. The changes in the intragastric distribution of the organism are associated with concomitant changes in the activity of gastritis and are matched by a progressive fall in the excretion of delta 13CO2.


Return to duty following combat-related multi-ligamentous knee injury.
This retrospective cohort study characterized injury patterns, treatment practices, and identified the return to duty (RTD) rate following combat-related multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKI). We evaluated injury characteristics and treatment methods of 46 military service members who had sustained a MLKI during combat activity. The primary clinical outcome measure was ability to return to active military duty. Secondary outcomes included subjective pain score, knee motion, knee instability, and use of ambulatory assistive device. The RTD rate was 41% (19/46). High-energy mechanism, neurovascular injury, compartment syndrome, traumatic knee arthrotomy, and intra-articular femur fracture (Orthopedic Trauma Association Classification (OTA) 33-B/C) were all more prevalent in subjects who were unable to return to duty (p<0.05). Acute external fixator application and poor knee range of motion (ROM) were also associated with military separation (p=0.041 and p=0.016, respectively). The most common ligament injury pattern (n=9; 20%) was combined disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), posterolateral corner (PLC), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). However, number of ligaments injured was not associated with RTD status. MLKIs sustained in a combat setting have a high incidence of associated lower extremity injuries. Certain associated injuries, such as intra-articular femur fracture, knee arthrotomy, neurovascular injury, and compartment syndrome may be more important than the severity of the knee ligamentous injury in determining RTD outcome.


Non-union of the clavicle in a child. A case report.
A case of symptomatic non-union of the clavicle occurred in a 12-year-old boy. Differential diagnosis roentgenographic and histologic observations, including the results of resection of the non-union site and stablization of the proximal clavicle using the coraco-acromial ligament demonstrated that this rare condition can be restored to full asymptomatic function without any internal metallic fixation devices.


[Simultaneous determination of seven compounds in Lonicera japonica by high performance liquid chromatography].
A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to determine the contents of seven compounds in Lonicera japonica and Folium Lonicerae with maximum wavelength conversion program, and analyze the content differences between them. The separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) operated at normal temperature with the gradient elution by two mobile phases of water (including 0.3% (v/v) formic acid) (A) and acetonitrile (B) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The maximum detection wavelength was set at 330 nm and 350 nm by conversion. The contents of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in Lonicera new leaves were 2.572% and 1.498 per thousand respectively, both higher than those cited in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, indicating that Lonicera new leaves have the necessity to be further studied and developed. This method is simple, rapid and highly sensitive. It is suitable for the simultaneous determination of the seven compounds and the quality control of Lonicera japonica.


Viral hepatitis.
Knowledge of the etiologies and pathogenesis of viral hepatitis has exploded in the last two decades. Accurate serologic methods for identification of the causative agents have lead to an understanding of the importance of viral hepatitis in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although treatment of infection remains a challenge, accurate methods of diagnosis and prevention of infection are now at the physician's disposal. Successful control of these debilitating infections will depend upon the proper utilization of existing methods of prophylaxis.


The ontogeny of Limulus polyphemus (Xiphosura s. str., Euchelicerata) revised: looking "under the skin".
In recent years, methods for investigating the exo-morphology of zoological specimens have seen large improvements. Among new approaches, auto-fluorescence imaging offers possibilities to document specimens under high resolution without introducing additional artifacts as, for example, seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. Additionally, while SEM imaging is restricted to the outer morphology of the current instar, auto-fluorescence imaging can be used to document changes of the outer morphology of the next instar underneath the cuticle of the current instar. Thus, reinvestigating seemingly well known species with these methods may lead to interesting new insights. Here we reinvestigate the late embryonic development of the xiphosuran ("sword tail") Limulus polyphemus, which is often treated as a proxy for early eucheliceratan evolution. In addition to entire specimens, the appendages of the embryos were dissected off and documented separately with composite-autofluorescence microscopy. Based on these data, we can distinguish six developmental stages. These stages do not match exactly the formerly described stages, as these were largely based on SEM investigation. Our stages appear to represent earlier or later phases within what has in other studies been identified as one stage. This finer subdivision is visible as we can see the developing cuticle under the outer cuticle. In comparison to data from fossil xiphosurans, our results and those of other studies on the ontogeny of L. polyphemus point to a derived mode of development in this species, which argues against the idea of L. polyphemus as a "living fossil."


[Experiences in the assessment of the subpartal cardiotocogram (author's transl)].
750 cardiotocographic curves of the last 30 minutes prior to vaginal delivery were assessed retrospectively according to the CTG score after Hammacher et al. (6). The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of the CTG score with regard to the foetal acid-base stains. The results obtained showed a distinct interdependence between the CTG score and the risk of foetal acidosis. Correct interpretation of the CTG can be ensured only if all three different CTG parameters are considered. The most frequent and reliable pointers to the existence of foetal acidosis are the occurrence of severe variable or late decelerations which can be detected from an examination of the floating-line pattern.


Ethics in medical research: General principles with special reference to psychiatry research.
Ethics is an understanding of the nature of conflicts arising from moral imperatives and how best we may deal with them. Ethics in medical research deals with the conflicts of interest across various levels. Guidelines have been proposed for standardized ethical practice throughout the globe. The four fundamental principles of ethics which are being underscored are autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. Some special ethical issues have particular relevance to psychiatric research arising primarily from the specific vulnerabilities of those with mental illness and the risks posed by some research methodologies. Accordingly, sensitivity is required in the design of psychiatric research. It is suggested that though the value of published guidelines and the help that may be available from research ethics committees is quite great, the primary responsibility for maintaining high standards of practice in research rests with research workers themselves.


Clinical impact of sarcopenia for overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer.
Sarcopenia, overweight and obesity are all dynamic changes in body composition, which may have a negative effect on the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive role of sarcopenia on overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer. We conducted an observative study on the population of overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative surgeries in two centers between 2015 and 2021. They were grouped by the presence of sarcopenia. Propensity score match analysis was used to balance the baseline of clinicopathologic characteristics of the two groups. Then, the postoperative outcomes between the two groups were compared. Independent risk factors were evaluated for complications using univariate and multivariate analysis. Of 827 patients enrolled, 126 patients were matched for analysis. Patients with sarcopenia had a higher incidence of total complication and medical complications, a higher rate of laparoscopic surgery performed and higher hospitalization costs. Old age (≥65 years, P = 0.012), ASA grade (III, P = 0.008) and sarcopenia (P = 0.036) were independent risk factors for total complications. ASA grade (III, P = 0.002) and sarcopenia (P = 0.017) were independent risk factors for medical complications. Sarcopenia was prevalent among overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer and was associated with negative postoperative outcomes. Early recognition of changes in body composition could help surgeons be well prepared for surgical treatment for overweight or obese patients.


Advertising of medical devices: foreign experience and Ukrainian practice.
Chosen European foreign policy vector for Ukraine establishes its obligation to enforce the process of adaptation of the EU law regulations in the internal legal policy. The approximation of Ukrainian law to the European Union (EU) "acquis communautaire" is not only the instrument for deepening our economic cooperation with the European Union, but also the important measure to enhance further development of Ukraine in general. National legislation, which regulate advertising and promotion of medical devices (MD), is not an exception. Some key points on legal regulation of abovementioned sphere is a base of this study. Ukrainian legislation, European Union`s Law Acts, EU's member-states law, WHO Acts and Recommendations, European Medical Technology Industry Association (EUCOMED) Acts. Article is based on dialectical, comparative, analytic, synthetic and comprehensive research methods. In accordance with Ukrainian legislation, there is no special law that concerns advertising on MD in Ukraine, this sphere is regulated by general law that named ≪About advertisement≫, but it doesn't take into account even main characteristics of such a special object as medical devices (MD). Moreover, the law ≪About advertisement≫ contain discrepancies in terms that are used, these contradictions, in our opinion, must be eliminated by appropriate law reforms. The advertising and promotion of MD in EU is regulated by a combination of EU and national legislation of EU Member States, national advertising and promotion of MD are not harmonized with the EU MDD for now, resulting in a fragmented legal landscape that differs from one EU Member State to the other. Practice of adopting different codes and guides that regulate advertising, including advertising of MD, is widespread in EU and EU Member States and thus must be used in Ukraine with appropriate reformation of national law.


Social influence protects collective decision making from equality bias.
A basic tenet of research on wisdom of the crowds-and key assumption of Condercet's (1785) Jury Theorem-is the independence of voters' opinions before votes are aggregated. However, we often look for others' opinions before casting our vote. Such social influence can push groups toward herding, leading to "madness of the crowds." To investigate the role of social influence in joint decision making, in Experiment 1 we had dyads of participants perform a visual oddball search task together. In the Independent (IND) condition participants initially made a private decision. If they disagreed, discussion and collective decision ensued. In the Influence (INF) condition no private decisions were made and collective decision was immediately negotiated. Dyads that did not accrue collective benefit under the IND condition improved with added social influence under the INF condition. In Experiment 2, covertly, we added noise to 1 of the dyad members' visual search display. The resulting increased heterogeneity in dyad members' performances impaired the dyadic performance under the IND condition (Bahrami et al., 2010). Importantly, dyadic performance improved with social influence under the INF condition, replicating results in Experiment 1. Further analyses revealed that under the IND condition, dyads exercised equality bias (Mahmoodi et al., 2015) by granting undue credit to the less-reliable partner. Under the INF condition, however, the more-reliable partner (correctly) dominated the joint decisions. Although social influence may impede collective success under ideal conditions, our results demonstrate how it can help the group members overcome factors such as equality bias, which could potentially lead to catastrophic failure. (PsycINFO Database Record


Rational design of lower-temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathodes via nanotailoring of co-assembled composite structures.
A novel in situ co-assembled nanocomposite LSM-Bi1.6 Er0.4 O3 (ESB) (icn-LSMESB) was obtained by conjugated wet-chemical synthesis. It showed an enhancement of the cathode polarization at 600 °C by >140 times relative to conventional LSM-Y0.08 Zr0.84 O1.92 (YSZ) cathodes and exceptional solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) performance of >2 W cm(-2) below 750 °C. This demonstrates that this novel cost-effective and broadly applicable process provides new opportunities for performance enhancement of energy storage and conversion devices by nanotailoring of composite electrodes.


Cognitive Predictors of Everyday Problem Solving across the Lifespan.
An important aspect of successful aging is maintaining the ability to solve everyday problems encountered in daily life. The limited evidence today suggests that everyday problem solving ability increases from young adulthood to middle age, but decreases in older age. The present study examined age differences in the relative contributions of fluid and crystallized abilities to solving problems on the Everyday Problems Test (EPT). We hypothesized that due to diminishing fluid resources available with advanced age, crystallized knowledge would become increasingly important in predicting everyday problem solving with greater age. Two hundred and twenty-one healthy adults from the Dallas Lifespan Brain Study, aged 24-93 years, completed a cognitive battery that included measures of fluid ability (i.e., processing speed, working memory, inductive reasoning) and crystallized ability (i.e., multiple measures of vocabulary). These measures were used to predict performance on EPT. Everyday problem solving showed an increase in performance from young to early middle age, with performance beginning to decrease at about age of 50 years. As hypothesized, fluid ability was the primary predictor of performance on everyday problem solving for young adults, but with increasing age, crystallized ability became the dominant predictor. This study provides evidence that everyday problem solving ability differs with age, and, more importantly, that the processes underlying it differ with age as well. The findings indicate that older adults increasingly rely on knowledge to support everyday problem solving, whereas young adults rely almost exclusively on fluid intelligence.


Mapping protease inhibitor resistance to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 sequence polymorphisms within patients.
Resistance genotyping provides an important resource for the clinical management of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). However, resistance to protease (PR) inhibitors (PIs) is a complex phenotype shaped by interactions among nearly half of the residues in HIV-1 PR. Previous studies of the genetic basis of PI resistance focused on fixed substitutions among populations of HIV-1, i.e., host-specific adaptations. Consequently, they are susceptible to a high false discovery rate due to founder effects. Here, we employ sequencing "mixtures" (i.e., ambiguous base calls) as a site-specific marker of genetic variation within patients that is independent of the phylogeny. We demonstrate that the transient response to selection by PIs is manifested as an excess of nonsynonymous mixtures. Using a sample of 5,651 PR sequences isolated from both PI-naive and -treated patients, we analyze the joint distribution of mixtures and eight PIs as a Bayesian network, which distinguishes residue-residue interactions from direct associations with PIs. We find that selection for resistance is associated with the emergence of nonsynonymous mixtures in two distinct groups of codon sites clustered along the substrate cleft and distal regions of PR, respectively. Within-patient evolution at several positions is independent of PIs, including those formerly postulated to be involved in resistance. These positions are under strong positive selection in the PI-naive patient population, implying that other factors can produce spurious associations with resistance, e.g., mutational escape from the immune response.


Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to TDRD7 protein.
TDRD7 is a scaffold protein whose specific function is unknown. It has been identified in complexes with proteins that regulate cytoskeleton dynamics and centrosomal movements, mRNA transport, and protein translation apparatus. Here we report the generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against TDRD7 protein. Bacterially expressed His-tagged fragments of TDRD7 were used as antigens. Spleen cells from immunized mice were collected and fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells using PEG 2000. High titer anti-TDRD7 antibody-producing hybridoma cell lines were identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then subcloned by limiting dilution. Antibodies produced by E6 clone were further tested for their reactivity with the TDRD7 recombinant proteins. The results obtained clearly indicate that E6 anti-TDRD7 antibodies recognize specifically recombinant 6His-tagged TDRD7 proteins and endogenous TDRD7 in Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunocytochemistry. In summary, these antibodies will be useful for researchers investigating TDRD7 and molecular complexes involving this protein.


Household levels of nitrogen dioxide and pediatric asthma severity.
Adverse respiratory effects in children with asthma are associated with exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Levels indoors can be much higher than outdoors. Primary indoor sources of NO2 are gas stoves, which are used for cooking by one-third of U.S. households. We investigated the effects of indoor NO2 exposure on asthma severity among an ethnically and economically diverse sample of children, controlling for season and indoor allergen exposure. Children 5-10 years of age with active asthma (n = 1,342) were recruited through schools in urban and suburban Connecticut and Massachusetts (2006-2009) for a prospective, year-long study with seasonal measurements of NO2 and asthma severity. Exposure to NO2 was measured passively for four, month-long, periods with Palmes tubes. Asthma morbidity was concurrently measured by a severity score and frequency of wheeze, night symptoms, and use of rescue medication. We used adjusted, hierarchical ordered logistic regression models to examine associations between household NO2 exposure and health outcomes. Every 5-fold increase in NO2 exposure above a threshold of 6 ppb was associated with a dose-dependent increase in risk of higher asthma severity score (odds ratio = 1.37 [95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.89]), wheeze (1.49 [1.09-2.03]), night symptoms (1.52 [1.16-2.00]), and rescue medication use (1.78 [1.33-2.38]). Asthmatic children exposed to NO2 indoors, at levels well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outdoor standard (53 ppb), are at risk for increased asthma morbidity. Risks are not confined to inner city children, but occur at NO2 concentrations common in urban and suburban homes.


Severity of clinical dry eye manifestations influences protein expression in tear fluid of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Ocular dryness is a characteristic feature of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). This may result in dry eye disease (DED), leading to damage of the ocular surface. Additional, non-invasive diagnostic techniques are needed when evaluating pSS patients. Hence, screening for disease-specific biomarkers in biological fluid could be promising. We have previously examined the proteome of tear fluid from pSS patients through Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and conducted a thorough ocular evaluation of patients with pSS. In this study we further explored the association between dry eye manifestations and protein expression in tear fluid of pSS patients. Medical history of 27 patients and 32 healthy controls was gathered. Subjective complaints were registered through questionnaires. Objective findings including tear osmolarity, tear film break up time (TFBUT), Schirmer's test, and ocular and corneal surface staining were also recorded. LC-MS was conducted formerly on tear fluid from all subjects in order to generate proteomic biomarker profiles. Scaffold was employed to analyse the LC-MS data for quantitative differences between patient and control groups, and the mean spectral counts were calculated for the five most upregulated proteins in relation to DED manifestations. Dysregulated cellular processes were identified in pSS patients using FunRichv3 enrichment analysis. The five most upregulated proteins previously identified in pSS patients were DNA (apurinic or apyrimidinic site) lyase (APEX1), thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase reductase (PRDX3), copine (CPNE1), aconitate hydratase (ACO2), and LIM domain only protein 7 (LMO7), in descending order. A significant increase in mean spectral counts for these proteins were observed in pSS patients with pathological DED manifestations compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001). Consequently, dysregulated cellular pathways involving innate and adaptive immunity were also detected. In conclusion, our observations suggest a relationship between presence of dry eye signs and upregulated proteins in tear fluid from patients with pSS. Further studies are needed in order to replicate the concepts explored and analyses performed in a greater cohort of pSS patients, where sensitivity and specificity of the methods conducted can also be verified further.


The madness of Dionysus: a neurosurgical perspective on Friedrich Nietzsche.
To examine the possibility that an intracranial mass may have been the etiology of the headaches and neurological findings of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and the cause of his ultimate mental collapse in 1889. The authors conducted a comprehensive English and German language literature search on the topic of Nietzsche's health and illness, examining Nietzsche's own writings, medical notes from his physicians, contemporary medical literature, biographical texts, and past attempts at pathography. We also examined archived portraits and engravings of the philosopher from 1864 onward. An English language search in the modern literature on the topic of psychiatric presentations of intracranial mass lesions was also conducted. From his late 20s onward, Nietzsche experienced severe, generally right-sided headaches. He concurrently suffered a progressive loss of vision in his right eye and developed cranial nerve findings that were documented on neurological examinations in addition to a disconjugate gaze evident in photographs. His neurological findings are consistent with a right-sided frontotemporal mass. In 1889, Nietzsche also developed a new-onset mania which was followed by a dense abulia, also consistent with a large frontal tumor. A close examination of Nietzsche's symptomatic progression and neurological signs reveals a clinical course consistent with a large, slow growing, right-sided cranial base lesion, such as a medial sphenoid wing meningioma. Aspects of his presentation seem to directly contradict the diagnosis of syphilis, which has been the standard explanation of Nietzsche's madness. The meningioma hypothesis is difficult, though not impossible, to prove; imaging studies of Nietzsche's remains could reveal the bony sequelae of such a lesion.


Coping styles moderate the relationships between exposure to community violence and work-related outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to identify coping strategies used by employees exposed to community violence and their relationships to work-related outcomes. In study 1, Mexican Maquiladora employees who experienced community violence reported their coping strategies. Results identified 3 strategies: social, solitary, and maladaptive coping. In study 2, another sample completed measures of violence exposure, strain, coping, and turnover intention. Supervisors provided performance evaluations. Community violence predicted the use of all 3 strategies. Social coping lessened the effects of community violence on turnover while maladaptive strategies predicted increased psychological strain. Results indicate that workers use a variety of coping strategies in response to community violence that both lessen and magnify the effects of violence exposure and impact their psychological strain, turnover intention, and job performance. (PsycINFO Database Record


Adjuncts to thrombolysis for myocardial reperfusion.
To discuss adjunctive pharmacologic agents for acute myocardial infarction, to critique their initial effects in clinical trials, and to review their potential for improving the clinical conditions of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Relevant studies reported from January 1985 to December 1990 were identified through a MEDLINE search of the English-language literature and through a manual search of the bibliographies of all identified articles. Peer-reviewed experimental and clinical studies evaluating the role of pharmacologic adjuncts to thrombolytic therapy in experimental models of coronary occlusion and clinical trials of patients with acute myocardial infarction were selected for review. The data presented were abstracted by the investigators. Differences with a univariate P value of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Current clinical data suggest that adjunctive pharmacologic therapy to thrombolytic agents should include aspirin, at least 160 mg administered as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms; intravenous heparin; and, in selected patients without contraindications, intravenous beta-blockading agents.


c-Abl tyrosine kinase regulates cytokinesis of human airway smooth muscle cells.
Cytokinesis is a critical step of airway smooth muscle cell division that plays an essential role in the development and homeostasis of the respiratory system, as well as the progression of airway remodeling. The mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cytokinesis are not fully understood. c-Abl (c-Abelson tyrosine kinase) is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase that has a role in regulating actin dynamics and smooth muscle contraction. The role of c-Abl in cytokinesis has not been investigated. Here, c-Abl was found in the contractile ring, as evidenced by immunofluorescent microscopy. In addition, cortactin is a phosphorylatable protein that has been implicated in actin filament assembly. In this report, phosphorylated cortactin was also found in the contractile ring. Knockdown of c-Abl by RNA interference attenuated cortactin phosphorylation in the midzone and contractile ring formation. c-Abl knockdown decreased the number of cells undergoing cytokinesis, but increased the quantity of cells in metaphase/anaphase and the number of multinucleate cells. Treatment with the c-Abl pharmacological inhibitors, imatinib and GNF-5, had similar effects. Furthermore, the expression of a nonphosphorylatable cortactin mutant diminished cytokinesis. Finally, inhibition of actin filament assembly by latrunculin A attenuated c-Abl recruitment to the midzone. Thus, we propose a novel mechanism that regulates smooth muscle cell cytokinesis. c-Abl is recruited to the equator during cytokinesis, which may mediate cortactin phosphorylation. Phosphorylated cortactin may promote actin filament assembly, which facilitates contractile ring formation and cytokinesis. In addition, actin filament polymerization may facilitate the positioning of c-Abl to the contractile ring.


Phylogenetic group and virulence profile classification in Escherichia coli from distinct isolation sources in Mexico.
Escherichia coli is a leading cause of human enteric diseases worldwide. The rapid and accurate causal agent identification to a particular source represents a crucial step in the establishment of safety and health measures in the affected human populations and would thus provide insights into the relationship of traits that may contribute for pathogen persistence in a particular reservoir. The objective of the present study was to characterize over two hundred E. coli strains from different isolation sources in Mexico by conducting a correspondence analysis to explore associations with the detected phylogenetic groups. The results indicated that E. coli strains, recovered from distinct sources in Mexico, were classified into phylogroups B1 (35.8%), A (27.8%), and D (12.3%) and were clustered to particular clades according to the predicted phylogroups. The results from correspondence analysis showed that E. coli populations from distinct sources in Mexico, belonging to different phylogroups, were not dispersed randomly and were associated with a particular isolation source. Phylogroup A was strongly associated with human sources, and the phylogroup B1 showed a significant relationship with food sources. Additionally, phylogroup D was also related to human sources. Phylogroup B2 was associated with herbivorous and omnivorous mammals. Moreover, common virulence genes in the examined E. coli strains, assigned to all phylogroups, were identified as essential markers for survival and invasion in the host. Although virulence profiles varied among the detected phylogroups, E. coli strains belonging to phylogroup D, associated with humans, were found to contain the largest virulence gene repertoire conferring for persistence and survival in the host. In summary, these findings provide fundamental information for a better characterization of pathogenic E. coli, recovered from distinct isolation sources in Mexico and would assist in the development of better tools for identifying potential transmission routes of contamination.


[The structure of a repetitive unit of the glycerolphosphate- containing O-specific polysaccharide chain from Yersinia kristensenii strain 103 (0:12,26) lipopolysaccharide].
Mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia kristensenii strain 103 (0:12.26) afforded teichoic acid-like polysaccharide. From the results of methylation, dephosphorylation, partial Smyth degradation, and 13C and 31P NMR data the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was deduced as follows: [formula: see text] The structure was confirmed by complete interpretation of polysaccharide 13C NMR spectrum.


Peer victimization in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome: a link to depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology and suicidal ideation.
The present exploratory study examined the level of peer victimization, depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology, and level of suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). This cross-sectional study used a self-administrated mail questionnaire and a Web-based questionnaire. The study included two samples. The first sample used snowball sampling, beginning with parents of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS who participated in a qualitative study conducted in 2002. The second sample consisted of a volunteer sample of parents who accessed Web sites for parents and individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A total sample of 10 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with AS was obtained. The high proportion of respondents with scores above the cutoff point on the overt victimization and relational victimization scales suggests that these adolescents and young adults experienced high levels of victimization. Of the sample, 20 percent met criteria for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, 30 percent met criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and 50 percent had clinically significant level of suicidal ideation.


Topical drug treatment in acne.
The main part of acne treatment uses the topical route. More than 50% of acne patients belong to the group presenting with acne comedonica and papulopustulosa. Whenever small nodes or scarring occur, systemic comedication is indicated, however. Topical treatment affects at least three of the four main pathogenetic factors responsible for the development of acne, i.e. hyperseborrhea, hyperkeratosis, microbial colonization and inflammation. The agents currently available influence at least one of these factors but often have additional properties. Those which act in a comedolytic and anticomedogenic manner are the retinoids tretinoin, isotretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene and azelaic acid as well, some of the retinoids having additional anti-inflammatory potency. Azelaic acid has strong antibacterial potency without inducing bacterial resistance similar to benzoyl peroxide. Unfortunately, bacterial resistances are beginning to emerge as a significant problem. Propionibacterium acnes resistance to the commonly used erythromycin can also be transferred to clindamycin, whereas no resistance has been reported to nadifloxacin so far. Today, more and more evidence comes up that topical antiandrogenic agents will soon be available to treat the important factor seborrhea, because patients with marked hyperseborrhea frequently relapse. Finally, liposome encapsulation of agents including phospholipids can enhance penetration and efficacy but, particularly with regard to retinoids, can lead to higher absorption and adverse drug reactions.


Frequency noise properties of lasers for interferometry in nanometrology.
In this contribution we focus on laser frequency noise properties and their influence on the interferometric displacement measurements. A setup for measurement of laser frequency noise is proposed and tested together with simultaneous measurement of fluctuations in displacement in the Michelson interferometer. Several laser sources, including traditional He-Ne and solid-state lasers, and their noise properties are evaluated and compared. The contribution of the laser frequency noise to the displacement measurement is discussed in the context of other sources of uncertainty associated with the interferometric setup, such as, mechanics, resolution of analog-to-digital conversion, frequency bandwidth of the detection chain, and variations of the refractive index of air.