The women made it work: fuzzy transitive closure of the results chain in a dengue prevention trial in Mexico.
A modified theory of planned behaviour (acronym CASCADA) proposes that Conscious knowledge precedes a change in Attitude, which in turn precedes positive deviations from negative Subjective norms, intention to Change, perception of Agency to change, Discussion of possible action, and Action itself. We used this as a results chain to investigate gender-specific behaviour dynamics in chemical-free dengue prevention. Secondary analysis of the Mexican arm of a cluster randomised controlled trial used household survey data on intermediate outcomes of dengue prevention behaviour. We used a matrix of odds ratios between outcomes, transformed to a symmetrical range (-1, 1), to compute fuzzy transitive closure of the results chain for control and intervention clusters, then for male and female respondents separately in each group. Transitive closure of a map computes the influence of each factor on each other factor, taking account of all influences in the system. Cumulative net influence was the sum of influences across the results chain. Responses of 5042 women and 1143 men in 45 intervention clusters contrasted with those of 5025 women and 1179 men in 45 control clusters. Control clusters showed a distal block (negative influence) in the results chain with a cumulative net influence of 0.88; intervention clusters showed no such block and a cumulative net influence of 1.92. Female control respondents, like the overall control picture, showed a distal block, whereas female intervention responses showed no such blocks (cumulative net influence 0.78 and 1.73 respectively). Male control respondents showed weak distal blocks. Male intervention responses showed several new negative influences and a reduction of cumulative net influence (1.38 in control and 1.11 in intervention clusters). The overall influence of the intervention across the results chain fits with the trial findings, but is different for women and men. Among women, the intervention overcame blocks and increased the cumulative net influence of knowledge on action. Among men, the intervention did not reinforce prevention behaviour. This might be related to emphasis, during the intervention, on women's participation and empowerment. The fuzzy transitive closure of the CASCADA map usefully highlights the differences between gender-specific results chains. ISRCTN27581154 .


Helping children cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Numerous societal changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as school closings and event cancellations, have caused anxiety and fear for children and young people. There are ways to help young people cope with the current situation including establishing an open dialogue, creating a structured daily routine with a schedule with assigned roles, and using social media and video conferencing to remain socially connected.


[Ludwig Haberlandt (l885-l932) and the development of hormonal contraception].
Ludwig Haberlandt, physiologist in Innsbruck, tried in the late twenties to develop hormonal contraceptives based on sexhygienic ideas of Sigmund Freud. Although the chemical-physiological knowledge of that time encouraged this plan, after Haberlandt's death in 1932 his tests were dropped and forgotten. It was after World War II, when research in this field was begun in the USA by Gregory Pincus, supported by "Planned Parenthood Federation" under leading of Margret Sanger. Although clinical tests proved to be successful, restrictive social-political conditions in the fifties delayed this project considerably. But in 1958 the first Anti-Baby-Pill reached the US-market.


A comparison of peri-implant strain generated by different types of implant supported prostheses.
To find out and compare peri implant strain developed in four different types of implant supported prostheses i.e., cement retained splinted, cement retained non splinted, screw retained splinted, screw retained non splinted. Four implant analogues were placed in a polyurethane mandibular model at the position of left and right first and second molar. Abutments were fixed to the implant at a torque of 25Ncm. Two such models were made. Four different prostheses were placed on abutment of each model i.e screw retained splinted, screw retained nonsplinted, cement retained splinted, cement retained non splinted. Four strain gauges were attached on the model, two on the buccal and two on the lingual aspect of each implant. Static load of 400N was applied on the prosthesis using universal testing machine. Load application was done ten times for each model and peri implant strain was measured. The mean peri implant strain (±SD) generated was found to be highest in non-splinted screw retained (1397.70 ± 44.47 microstrains and 1265.90 ± 42.76 microstrains) and least in splinted cement retained (630.70 ± 31.98 microstrains and 519.60 ± 32.48 microstrains) in both 1st and 2nd molars respectively. Splinted crowns produce less peri implant strain when compared to non splinted crowns. Cement retained prosthesis produce less peri implant strain when compared to screw retained prosthesis. Least strain was observed in cement retained splinted crowns.


Effect of ghrelin on the motor deficit caused by the ablation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic cells or the inhibition of striatal dopamine receptors.
Ghrelin plays roles in a wide range of central functions by activating the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). This receptor has recently been found in the substantia nigra (SN) to control dopamine (DA)-related physiological functions. The dysregulation of DA neurons in the SN pars compacta (SNc) and the consequent depletion of striatal DA are known to underlie the motor deficits observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we further investigated the role of the SN-ghrelin system in motor function under the stereotaxic injection of AAV-CMV-FLEX-diphtheria toxin A (DTA) into the SN of dopamine transporter (DAT)-Cre (DATSN::DTA) mice to expunge DA neurons of the SNc. First, we confirmed the dominant expression of GHSR1a, which is a functional GHSR, in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive DA neurons in the SNc of control mice. In DATSN::DTA mice, we clearly observed motor dysfunction using several behavioral tests. An immunohistochemical study revealed a dramatic loss of TH-positive DA neurons in the SNc and DAT-labeled axon terminals in the striatum, and an absence of mRNAs for TH and DAT in the SN of DATSN::DTA mice. The mRNA level of GHSR1a was drastically decreased in the SN of these mice. In normal mice, we also found the mRNA expression of GHSR1a within GABAergic neurons in the SN pars reticulata (SNr). Under these conditions, a single injection of ghrelin into the SN failed to improve the motor deficits caused by ablation of the nigrostriatal DA network using DATSN::DTA mice, whereas intra-SN injection of ghrelin suppressed the motor dysfunction caused by the administration of haloperidol, which is associated with the transient inhibition of DA transmission. These findings suggest that phasic activation of the SNc-ghrelin system could improve the dysregulation of nigrostriatal DA transmission related to the initial stage of PD, but not the motor deficits under the depletion of nigrostriatal DA. Although GHSRs are found in non-DA cells of the SNr, GHSRs on DA neurons in the SNc may play a crucial role in motor function.


[Retroperitoneal sarcoma: a multispecialist effort].
A 61-year-old woman presented with a 16 cm retroperitoneal sarcoma, which demanded a multispecialist effort. There was adherence to the left ureter, the iliac vessels, the mesosigmoideum and the small intestine. After angiographic embolization, the tumor, sigmoid colon and left ureter were excised. Histology, immunohistology and electron microscopy gave the diagnosis pleomorphic sarcoma. The microscopic radicality was doubtful, but we abstained from adjuvant radiotherapy due to the large field and risk of toxicity. The patient remains disease-free after 24 months.


Dissociation between inhibition and killing by levofloxacin in human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a potentially fatal tick-borne infection caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Treatment options are limited for this entity, with doxycycline being the drug of choice. Certain fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin are active against A. phagocytophilum in vitro. We report a hospitalized patient with HGA who improved coincident with a 13-day course of levofloxacin therapy, but clinically and microbiologically relapsed 15 days after completion of treatment. Relapse of infection after levofloxacin therapy was reproduced in a severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mouse infection model. Quinolone therapy should not be considered curative of HGA.


Clinical encephalitis following avian encephalomyelitis vaccination in broiler breeder pullets.
Twelve-to-fourteen-week-old broiler breeder pullets and cockerels from two different companies were found to have encephalitis 2 weeks after vaccination with avian encephalomyelitis (AE) vaccine. Histologic examination and virus isolation indicated that affected chickens had AE. All chickens had been vaccinated with either one of two serials of AE vaccine approximately 2 weeks before the onset of clinical signs.


In vitro and in vivo antiallergic effect of the fructus of Evodia rutaecarpa and its constituents.
The unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS) BENTH (ER, Family Rutaceae) has been used frequently as a traditional medicine against inflammatory diseases in Korea, China and Japan. To evaluate antiallergic effect of ER, we isolated its main constituents, evodiamine and rutaecarpine, and evaluated in vivo their inhibitory effects against passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction induced by IgE-antigen complex and scratching behaviors by compound 48/80. ER and its constituents, evodiamine and rutaecarpine, potently inhibited PCA reaction and scratching behaviors in mice, although ER weakly inhibited scratching behaviors. Evodiamine and rutaecarpine inhibited TNF-alpha and IL-4 protein expression in RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antigen complex, although these did not inhibit degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antigen complex and rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80. These findings suggest that ER and its constituents, evodiamine and rutaecarpine, may be effective for IgE-induced allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and rhinitis.


Does psychopathology predict counseling duration?
Many university counseling centers have adopted case management policies in an effort to conserve limited resources. Fearing that students with more severe problems will consume too many clinical resources, many counseling centers have decided to refer such students to external agencies or providers for mental health services. However, this fear might be unwarranted because empirical research has not shown a substantial relationship between psychopathology and counseling duration. This investigation examined whether a new treatment-planning inventory, the Butcher Treatment Planning Inventory, might be useful for better understanding the relationships between various problem areas and counseling duration. Participants were new clients (students and staff members) at a university counseling center in the southeastern USA. Professional staff members and graduate students in counselor education, clinical psychology, and clinical social work provided counseling services to the participants. Lower scores on several scales predicted counseling duration. In other words, clients with lower scores on these scales (representing less psychopathology) attended more counseling sessions than clients with greater psychopathology. Therapists' background also predicted counseling duration; clients who worked with either a professional staff member or graduate student in counselor education attended more sessions than clients who worked with a graduate student in clinical psychology. The results of this study, combined with previous research, suggest that measures of psychopathology are not very useful for identifying which clients will complete long-term counseling. Until better information becomes available, actuarial tables remain the most efficient means for predicting counseling duration.


One-pot Microwave-assisted Conversion of Anomeric Nitrate-esters to Trichloroacetimidates.
The goal of the following procedure is to provide a demonstration of the one-pot conversion of a 2-azido-1-nitrate-ester to a trichloroacetimidate glycosyl donor. Following azido-nitration of a glycal, the product 2-azido-1-nitrate ester can be hydrolyzed under microwave-assisted irradiation. This transformation is usually achieved using strongly nucleophilic reagents and extended reaction times. Microwave irradiation induces hydrolysis, in the absence of reagents, with short reaction times. Following denitration, the intermediate anomeric alcohol is converted, in the same pot, to the corresponding 2-azido-1-trichloroacetimidate.


Lifespan development of stimulus-response conflict cost: similarities and differences between maturation and senescence.
Age gradient of the mechanism of stimulus-response conflict cost was investigated in a population-based representative sample of 291 individuals, covering the age range from 6 to 89 years. Stimulus-response conflict cost, indicated by the amount of additional processing time required when there is a conflict between stimulus and response options, follows a U-shaped function across the lifespan. Lifespan age gradient of conflict cost parallels closely those of processing fluctuation and fluid intelligence. Individuals at both ends of the lifespan displayed a greater amount of processing fluctuation and at the same time a larger amount of conflict cost and a lower level of fluid intelligence. After controlling for chronological age and baseline processing speed, conflict cost continues to correlate significantly with fluid intelligence in adulthood and old age and with processing fluctuation in old age. The relation between processing fluctuation and conflict cost in old age lends further support for the neuromodulation of neuronal noise theory of cognitive aging as well as for theories of dopaminergic modulation of conflict monitoring.


[A case of primary hyperparathyroidism associated with marked hypercalcemic crisis].
A 41-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with complaints of general fatigue, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting. Blood examination revealed high serum calcium level (21.6 mg/dl) and high serum parathyroid hormone level. Although enlarged parathyroid glands could not be clearly detected via ultrasonography, computed tomography and scintigraphy, we diagnosed her with hypercalcemic crisis due to primary hyperparathyroidism and performed parathyroidectomy after conservative therapy. A parathyroid tumor measuring 1.9 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm, and weighing 1,100 mg was found at the upper right pole of the thyroid gland, and three thyroid tumors were found in the bilateral lobes of the thyroid gland. Histological diagnosis was adenoma of the parathyroid gland and follicular adenomas of the thyroid gland. Following removal of the parathyroid tumor, the serum calcium level rapidly dropped and the symptoms rapidly improved. Hypercalcemic crisis has a high mortality, and the only treatment is surgical removal. Therefore, in patients with hypercalcemic crisis due to primary hyperparathyroidism, surgical removal should be done immediately, unless the serum calcium level has dropped and symptoms of crisis have disappeared after conservative treatment.


Epidemiology of aortic aneurysm repair in the United States from 1993 to 2003.
The epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease has been well described over the preceding 50 years. This disease primarily affects elderly males with smoking, hypertension, and a positive family history contributing to an increased risk of aneurysm formation. The aging population as well as increased screening in high-risk populations has led some to suggest that the incidence of AAAs is increasing. The National Inpatient Sample (1993-2003), a national representative database, was used in this study to determine trends in mortality following AAA repair in the United States. In addition, the impact of the introduction of less invasive endovascular AAA repair was assessed. Overall rates of treated unruptured and ruptured AAAs remained stable (unruptured 12 to 15/100,000; ruptured 1 to 3/100,000). In 2003, 42.7% of unruptured and 8.8% of ruptured AAAs were repaired through an endovascular approach. Inhospital mortality following unruptured AAA repair continues to decline for open repair (5.3% to 4.7%, P = 0.007). Mortality after elective endovascular AAA repair also has statistically decreased (2.1% to 1.0%, P = 0.024) and remains lower than open repair. Mortality rates for ruptured AAAs following repair remain high (open: 46.5% to 40.7%, P = 0.01; endovascular: 40.0% to 35.3%, P = 0.823). These data suggest that the numbers of patients undergoing elective AAA repair have remained relatively stable despite the introduction of less invasive technology. A shift in the treatment paradigm is occurring with a higher percentage of patients subjected to elective endovascular AAA repair compared to open repair. This shift, at least in the short term, appears justified as the mortality in patients undergoing elective endovascular AAA repair is significantly reduced compared to patients undergoing open AAA repair.


A novel diversion protocol dramatically reduces diversion hours.
Ambulance diversion is a problem in many communities. When patients are diverted prompt and appropriate medical care may be delayed. Compare diversion hours and drop-off times before and after a dramatic change in diversion policy restricting each hospital to 1 hour out of every 8. This study was a retrospective study in a county of 600,000 people and 10 hospitals from September 2004 to February 2006. A countywide diversion protocol was implemented in March 2005 that limited diversion hours to 1 hour out of every 8 (maximum of 90 h/mo). No other changes were implemented during the study period. Pretrial (9/04-2/05), interim (3/05-8/05), and posttrial (9/05-2/06) periods were compared. The main outcome measures were ambulance diversion hours and emergency medical service (EMS) drop-off times. Results were compared using analysis of variance and a Tukey post hoc analysis. P < .05 was considered significant. There was no significant difference in the number of monthly transports comparing the posttrial vs pretrial periods; however, a significant decrease in monthly ambulance diversion hours (difference, 251 hours; 95% CI, 136-368) and significant increase in additional time that EMS crews required to transport patients (drop-off times) (difference, 178 hours; 95% CI, 74-283) were observed. Posttrial diversion hours decreased to 18% of the pretrial values (from 305 to 54). This novel ambulance diversion protocol dramatically reduced diversion hours at the cost of increasing EMS drop-off times in a large community.


Associations Between Physical Activity and the Risk of Hip Fracture Depending on Glycemic Status: A Nationwide Cohort Study.
Although physical activity (PA) is recognized to reduce fracture risk, whether its benefits differ according to the glycemic status remains unknown. We investigated the effect of PA on incident hip fracture (HF) according to the glycemic status. We studied 3,723,097 patients over 50 without type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) or past fractures. Hip fracture risks were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Participants were categorized by glycemic status into five groups: normal glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, new-onset type 2 DM, type 2 DM <5 years, and type 2 DM ≥5 years. PA was evaluated using the Korean adaptation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. The highest HF risk were associated with the lowest PA level (<500 metabolic equivalent task (MET)-min/week). While similar risks emerged across MET 500-1000, 1000-1500, and >1500 categories, the relationship showed variations in different glycemic status groups. Exceptions were particularly noted in women with normoglycemia. However, a consistent inverse pattern, with few exceptions, was observed in both men and women with type 2 DM ≥5 years. Furthermore, the benefit of physical activity in the prevention of hip fractures was most evident in participants with type 2 DM ≥5 years. Compared to the reference group (lowest physical activity level <500 MET-min/week within type 2 DM ≥5 years), the adjusted hazard ratios were 0.74 [0.62-0.88] in men and 0.74 [0.62-0.89] in women, suggesting a significant reduction in risk. Higher PA levels are associated with a lower risk of HF. This protective effect of PA on fracture risk is greatest in patients with DM, particularly in those with DM ≥5 years.


Modern brachytherapy for localized prostate cancers: the northwest hospital (Seattle) experience.
Modern ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy is rapidly changing the way localized prostate cancer is managed. With routine use of prostate-specific antigen screening, prostate cancer is being diagnosed in younger men, who are understandably concerned about the morbidity of radical treatments that may significantly decrease their quality of life. Numerous studies of prostate brachytherapy have shown the excellent disease control rates achieved while maintaining low levels of urinary and erectile difficulties. This report examines a modern implant method of brachytherapy; describes patient selection for brachytherapy, alone and in combination with external beam therapy; and presents results from a series of men followed for 12 years.


The Mismeasurement of Mind: Life-Span Changes in Paired-Associate-Learning Scores Reflect the "Cost" of Learning, Not Cognitive Decline.
The age-related declines observed in scores on paired-associate-learning (PAL) tests are widely taken as support for the idea that human cognitive capacities decline across the life span. In a computational simulation, we showed that the patterns of change in PAL scores are actually predicted by the models that formalize the associative learning process in other areas of behavioral and neuroscientific research. These models also predict that manipulating language exposure can reproduce the experience-related performance differences erroneously attributed to age-related decline in age-matched adults. Consistent with this, results showed that older bilinguals outperformed native speakers in a German PAL test, an advantage that increased with age. These analyses and results show that age-related PAL performance changes reflect the predictable effects of learning on the associability of test items, and indicate that failing to control for these effects is distorting the understanding of cognitive and brain development in adulthood.


Multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pulmonary insufficiency. 3. The effect of physical training on cardiopulmonary performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
We examined the effect of physical training on cardiopulmonary function in 21 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and compared the results with similar observations in eight untrained patients. The training consisted of daily walking on a treadmill at increasing speeds and grades and other graded physical exercises. Evaluation of pulmonary function, including spirometric studies, lung volumes, and arterial blood gas levels, showed no significant change after training. Hemodynamic functions, including heart rate, cardiac index, stroke index, pulmonary vascular resistance, and arteriovenous oxygen content difference, were similarly unchanged at comparable submaximal loads. Pulmonary arterial wedge pressure increased after training in the treated group at rest and during exercise, but this may be related to changes in respiratory mechanics. Consumption of oxygen and minute ventilation decreased in the treated group during treadmill exercise, suggesting improved neuromuscular coordination and efficiency of walking on the treadmill. Total work performed on the treadmill increased significantly in the trained group. This increase was unexplained by physiologic observations but was thought to be due in part to increased efficiency of walking and increased motivation. We conclude that improvement in the capacity for exercise following physical training for four weeks is not associated with improvement in cardiopulmonary function at submaximal exercise.


Managing chromoblastomycosis with acitretin plus imiquimod: A case report on the improvement of cutaneous lesions and reduction of the treatment time.
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is an infectious disease caused by fungi that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries. Besides few therapeutic options, the classical treatment of CBM needs to be administrated for a long period of time, and unfortunately some patients do not show improvement of the lesions. Thus, it becomes urgent to develop new strategies for the treatment of CBM. This work reports a successful treatment, performed with the combination of oral acitretin (50 mg/kg, once a day) plus topical imiquimod (50 mg/g, five times per week) for 5 months in a patient with CBM. A significant improvement of the lesions was observed in the 1st month, and in the 5th a complete regression of lesions was recorded. Changes in the biochemical parameters were not observed. These data suggest that the combination of acitretin and imiquimod may be effective at treating CBM.


Adenosine and active hyperemia in dog skeletal muscle.
Adenosine as a possible mediator of active hyperemia in skeletal muscle was studied in hindlimbs of dogs. Sciatic nerve stimulation decreased vascular resistance to 55 +/- 5% (mean +/- SE) of the control value in hindlimbs perfused at a constant flow rate (61 +/- 6 ml/min). Venous plasma K+ concentrations were elevated after 2 min (from 4.0 +/- 0.2 to 4.8 +/- 0.2 meq/liter; P is less than 0.005) and 20 min (4.7 +/- 0.2 meq/liter; P is less than 0.001) of contraction, but the arteriovenous difference in plasma osmolality was changed only after 2 min of contraction (from -3.0 +/- 0.6 to -7.2 +/- 0.8 mosmol/kg H2O; P is less than 0.001). The muscle adenosine contents were not significantly elevated after 5 min of contraction, but were increased after 10 min (from 1.97 +/- 0.33 to 8.35 +/- 0.97 nmol/g; P is less than 0.05) and 25 min (from 1.64 +/- 0.22 to 7.57 +/- 2.20 nmol/g; P is less than 0.05) of contraction. Thirty minutes after contraction had ceased, the adenosine contents were significantly below control values (from 2.22 +/- 0.59 to 1.51 +/- 0.40 nmol/g; P is less than 0.005). Venous plasma adenosine concentrations did not increase during muscle contraction. No relationship was found between the increase in the plasma inorganic phosphate level and the activity of the muscles. These data indicate that the adenosine content of skeletal muscle is increased by contraction, and support the concept that adenosine may be a mediator of sustained active hyperemia.


Peptide growth factors can provoke "fetal" contractile protein gene expression in rat cardiac myocytes.
Cardiac-specific gene expression is intricately regulated in response to developmental, hormonal, and hemodynamic stimuli. To test whether cardiac muscle might be a target for regulation by peptide growth factors, the effect of three growth factors on the actin and myosin gene families was investigated by Northern blot analysis in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1, 1 ng/ml) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF, 25 ng/ml) elicited changes corresponding to those induced by hemodynamic load. The "fetal" beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC) was up-regulated about four-fold, whereas the "adult" alpha MHC was inhibited greater than 50-60%; expression of alpha-skeletal actin increased approximately two-fold, with little or no change in alpha-cardiac actin. Thus, peptide growth factors alter the program of differentiated gene expression in cardiac myocytes, and are sufficient to provoke fetal contractile protein gene expression, characteristic of pressure-overload hypertrophy. Acidic FGF (25 ng/ml) produced seven- to eightfold reciprocal changes in MHC expression but, unlike either TGF-beta 1 or basic FGF, inhibited both striated alpha-actin genes by 70-90%. Expression of vascular smooth muscle alpha-actin, the earliest alpha-actin induced during cardiac myogenesis, was increased by all three growth factors. Thus, three alpha-actin genes demonstrate distinct responses to acidic vs. basic FGF.


Phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of the Polypedates leucomystax complex in Thailand.
Taxonomic uncertainty of the Asian tree frog Polypedates leucomystax complex presents the challenging task of inferring its biogeographical history. Here, we describe its dispersion and the genetic relationships among different populations in Thailand, where we connect the population of the P. leucomystax complex of the Sunda Islands to the Indochina (mainland) population based on analyses of 266 sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Our maternal genealogy implies that there are four well-supported lineages in Thailand, consisting of Northern A (clade A: Polypedates sp.), Nan (clade B: P. cf. impresus), Southern (clade C: P. cf. leucomystax) and Northern D (clade D: P. cf. megacephalus), with Bayesian posterior probability >0.9. Phylogeny and haplotype networks indicate that clades A, B and D are sympatric. In contrast, clade C (P. cf. leucomystax) and clade D (P. cf. megacephalus) are genetically divergent due to the geographical barrier of the Isthmus of Kra, resulting in an allopatric distribution. Climatic conditions, in particular differences in rainfall on each side of the Isthmus of Kra, may play an important role in limiting the immigration of both clades. For the within-populations of either clades C or D, there was no significant correlation between geographic and genetic distance by the isolation-by-distance test, indicating intraspecific-dispersal of each clade. Population expansion occurred in clade C, whereas clade D showed a constant population. Taken together, the P. leucomystax complex in South East Asia may have diversified under climatic pressure, leading to allopatric and/or sympatric speciation.


Improving the electrical properties of transparent ZnO-based thin- film transistors using MgO gate dielectric with various oxygen concentrations.
Zinc oxide (ZnO)-based thin-film transistors (TFTs) have attracted increasing attention towards flat-panel displays as alternatives to silicon-based TFTs due to their transparency to visible light. Magnesium oxide (MgO) has a wide bandgap (7.8 eV) and high dielectric constant (k). This leads to the development of TFTs using MgO as a gate oxide layer, which can significantly reduce the operating voltage. However, the electrical properties and dielectric constant of MgO are determined from the percentage of oxygen in MgO. In this study, a MgO gate-oxide was deposited on ZnO by magnetron sputtering at various oxygen concentrations (0%, 66%, and 100%) to fabricate TFTs. With an increase in the oxygen concentration, the oxygen vacancies of MgO were compensated, thereby improving the crystallinity and enhancing the dielectric constant from 6.53 to 12.9 for the oxygen concentrations of 0% and 100%. No pinch-off (saturation) behavior was observed in the TFTs with 0% oxygen; however, the pinch-off voltages were significantly reduced to 17 and 2 V in the TFTs with 66% and 100% oxygen, respectively; hence, the TFT-100 could be operated at a low operating voltage (2 V). With an increase in oxygen from 0% to 100%, the threshold voltage and trap-state density significantly decreased from -159 V and 1.6 × 1018cm-3to -31.4 V and 6.5 × 1016cm-3, respectively. The TFTs with 0% oxygen exhibited a higher field-effect mobility of 12 cm2V-1s-1due to the uncompensated oxygen vacancy in ZnO, which had a higher electron concentration. After introducing oxygen atoms, the field-effect mobility decreased to 0.16 cm2V-1s-1in the TFTs with 66% oxygen, which can be attributed to the compensated oxygen vacancy and lower electron concentration. In contrast, the field-effect mobility increased to 1.88 cm2V-1s-1for the TFTs with 100% oxygen due to the enhanced dielectric constant and crystallinity of MgO.


Demonstration of ribosomes in mesosomes associated with Bacillus subtilis protoplasts.
The physiological differences between Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) cells derived from a glucose-salts-yeast extract (GSY) medium and those of cells from tryptose broth permitted the identification of variables in protoplasting environments which noticeably affected the clarity of mesosomal ribosomes. They were the sucrose and magnesium ion concentrations and the type of buffer used. The environment suitable for conversion of GSY cells to the protoplast state was a 0.02 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.6 M sucrose and 0.03 M MgCl(2). Branched mesosomal tubules and a unique organization of vesicles were detected in thin sections and in negative stains of the specimens. Ribosomes were demonstrable in the extruded structures associated with protoplasts that had been prepared according to four fixation schedules and embedded in either of two epoxy plastics. Adjustments in the fixation schedules improved the clarity of the large bodies of protoplast cytoplasm to a degree equivalent to that of their dangling appendages.


Detection of two rare beta-thalassemia alleles found in the Tunisian population: codon 47 (+A) and codons 106/107 (+G).
We here present the first report of the detection of two rare beta0-thalassemia (thal) mutations in the Tunisian population: codon 47 (+A) and codons 106/107 (+G). To the best of our knowledge this is the second report of the codon 47 (+A) mutation, the first being identified in a Surinamese subject. The codons 106/107 (+G) mutation was first described in American Blacks, subsequently in Egyptians and Palestinians, and now in Tunisians. These mutations were detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) screening followed by automated nucleotide sequencing. The former was found in two related beta-thal major patients in the homozygous state, while the latter was identified in a homozygous state in a transfusion-dependent beta-thal subject and in a sickle cell beta-thal patient. Both mutations are in linkage disequilibrium with haplotype V and sequence framework 2. Given the known wide spectrum of beta-thal alleles in the Tunisian population, the present report further confirms such heterogeneity. The knowledge of an updated spectrum of beta-thal alleles in Tunisia must allow the implementation of a more efficient screening strategy for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.


Different effects of five depigmentary compounds, rhododendrol, raspberry ketone, monobenzone, rucinol and AP736 on melanogenesis and viability of human epidermal melanocytes.
Numerous medications are used to treat hyperpigmentation. However, several reports have indicated that repeated application of some agents, such as rhododendrol (RD), raspberry ketone (RK) and monobenzone (MB), can be toxic to melanocytes. Although these agents had severe side effects in human trials, no current in vitro methods can predict the safety of such drugs. This study assessed the in vitro effects of five depigmentary compounds including leukoderma-inducing agents. In particular, we determined the effects of different concentrations and exposure times of different depigmentary agents on cell viability and melanogenesis in the presence and absence of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Concentrations of RD, RK and MB that inhibit melanogenesis are similar to concentrations that are cytotoxic; however, concentrations of rucinol (RC) and AP736 that inhibit melanogenesis are much lower than concentrations that are cytotoxic. Furthermore, the concentrations that cause toxic effects depend on exposure duration, and prolonged exposure to RD, RK and MB had more cytotoxic effects than prolonged exposure to RC and AP736. The cytotoxic effects of RD and RK appear to be mediated by apoptosis due to increased expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8; UVB radiation increased the cytotoxicity of these agents and also increased caspase activity. Our results indicate that different leukoderma-inducing compounds have different effects on the viability of normal epidermal melanocytes and suggest that the in vitro assay used here can be used to predict whether an investigational compound that induces leukoderma may lead to adverse effects in human trials.


Effect of glucocorticoid hormones on fatty acid mobilization and re-esterification in rat adipose tissue.
1. The effect of dexamethasone and cortisol on fatty acid mobilization and re-esterification has been studied in intact adipose tissue and isolated fat cells of the rat. 2. Dexamethasone added in vitro inhibited both the re-esterification of mobilized free fatty acids and the esterification of palmitate in the medium. 3. Under several conditions (low concentrations of dexamethasone, cortisol at a high concentration, with tissue from starved animals), steroid-induced release of free fatty acids could be accounted for by decreased re-esterification only, overall lipolytic activity remaining unmodified. At higher concentrations of dexamethasone, however, stimulation of lipolytic activity also occurred. 4. Decreased re-esterification produced by dexamethasone was observed in the total absence of glucose from the incubation medium. Further, dexamethasone stimulated the disappearance of prelabelled [(14)C]glycogen from the tissue. 5. The evidence presented suggests that mobilization of free fatty acids induced by glucocorticoid hormones under physiological conditions is primarily due to a decrease of the re-esterification rate rather than to lipase activation.


[Utility of epidural catheterization by the caudal route in pediatric anesthesia].
To compare analgesic effect of bupivacaine during and after surgery when delivered through a lumbar epidural catheter entering by the caudal route with either caudal or lumbar administration of anesthetic through the needle. One hundred forty ASA I patients under 110 months undergoing infraumbilical surgery were studied. The children were distributed randomly into 3 groups: group 1, caudal puncture and anesthesia with 2.5 mg/kg bupivacaine 1:200,000; group 2, lumbar puncture at L4-L5 and 1.25 mg/kg of the same local anesthetic; and group 3, epidural catheter in the caudal space up to L4-L5 and 1.25 mg/kg of the same local anesthetic administered through the catheter (Minipack: SYSTEM 2-Portex). The patients were anesthetized with endovenous or inhalational anesthetics. Variables recorded were analgesia during surgery (hemodynamic constants) and afterwards (CHEOPS scale), level of cutaneous sensory blockade immediately after the operation and its relationship to age, complementary analgesia used and complications. X-rays of the distal end of the catheter were taken in group 3. Analgesia during and after surgery was sufficient for all patients in group 1. Two patients, 1 from group 2 and 1 from group 3, were eliminated due to lack of analgesia during surgery. The level of cutaneous sensory blockade attained was significantly lower in group 3 than in group 1, and only in group 1 were we able to establish a linear correlation between level of sensory blockade and age (R = 0.51; p < 0.01). In group 3, 85.5% of the catheters reached L4-L5. Complementary analgesia was similar in the three groups. Complications included 5 cases of blood loss at the point of puncture in groups 1 and 2, and 1 case of catheter penetration of the juncture in group 3. Epidural anesthesia by way of a catheter entering by the caudal space allows us to achieve intra- and postoperative analgesia of comparable quality to that afforded by a lumbar approach or a single direct caudal puncture.


[Application of posterior spinal canal reconstruction in surgery of intraspinal tumor].
To apply H-shaped allogeneic bone graft combined with spinous process replantation for posterior spinal canal reconstruction after removal of intraspinal tumors, and observe its effectiveness. A total of 48 cases of thoracic and lumbar intraspinal tumors were recruited between February 2006 and May 2012, including 35 males and 13 females with a mean age of 29.5 years (range, 17-48 years). The disease duration was 3-16 months (mean, 10.5 months). Intraspinal tumors located at T5,6 in 3 cases, at T10 in 7 cases, at T12, L1 in 13 cases, at L3 in 10 cases, and at L4-S1 in 15 cases. There were 18 cases of epidural meningioma, 2 cases of epidural lipoma, 3 cases of extramedullary neurological tumors, 10 cases of extramedullary meningioma, 6 cases of extramedullary schwannoma, 6 cases of intramedullary ependymoma, and 3 cases of intramedullary astrocytoma. All patients underwent H-shaped allogeneic bone graft combined with spinous process replantation for posterior spinal canal reconstruction after removal of intraspinal tumor by posterior laminectomy. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to assess postoperative symptom improvement, and the Frankel grade of spinal cord injury to evaluate the extent of nerve damage and recovery. After operation, 8 cases had cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and 4 cases had yellowish exudate, and they were all cured after appropriate treatment; primary healing of wound was obtained in the other cases, without postoperative complication. Forty-eight patients were followed up 18-72 months (mean, 38 months). CT showed all the graft bones healed and posterior spinal canal was well reconstructed without iatrogenic spinal stenosis formation. X-ray film showed no vertebral instability or spondylolisthesis, and no shifting of reconstructed vertebrae. MRI showed no recurrence except 1 case. The symptoms were improved significantly after operation; the ODI score at last follow-up (16.69 ± 2.53) was significantly lower (t = 0.89, P = 0.00) than that at preoperation (47.83 ± 7.25). The results of symptom improvement were excellent in 36 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 95.83%. At last follow-up, Frankel grade was improved significantly (Z = 13.32, P = 0.00) when compared with preoperative grade except 1 recurrent patient. The application of the H-shaped allogeneic bone graft combined with spinous process replantation can well reconstruct the posterior spinal canal, and also can effectively avoid iatrogenic spinal stenosis, so it is worthy of promoting in the clinical treatment of intraspinal tumor surgery.


Sense and Sensibilities of Organ Perfusion as a Kidney and Liver Viability Assessment Platform.
Predicting organ viability before transplantation remains one of the most challenging and ambitious objectives in transplant surgery. Waitlist mortality is high while transplantable organs are discarded. Currently, around 20% of deceased donor kidneys and livers are discarded because of "poor organ quality", Decisions to discard are still mainly a subjective judgement since there are only limited reliable tools predictive of outcome available. Organ perfusion technology has been posed as a platform for pre-transplant organ viability assessment. Markers of graft injury and function as well as perfusion parameters have been investigated as possible viability markers during ex-situ hypothermic and normothermic perfusion. We provide an overview of the available evidence for the use of kidney and liver perfusion as a tool to predict posttransplant outcomes. Although evidence shows post-transplant outcomes can be predicted by both injury markers and perfusion parameters during hypothermic kidney perfusion, the predictive accuracy is too low to warrant clinical decision making based upon these parameters alone. In liver, further evidence on the usefulness of hypothermic perfusion as a predictive tool is needed. Normothermic perfusion, during which the organ remains fully metabolically active, seems a more promising platform for true viability assessment. Although we do not yet fully understand "on-pump" organ behaviour at normothermia, initial data in kidney and liver are promising. Besides the need for well-designed (registry) studies to advance the field, the catch-22 of selection bias in clinical studies needs addressing.


Medical students' awareness of the role of physiotherapists in multidisciplinary healthcare.
Successful implementation of multidisciplinary healthcare approach may among other things depend on students' education and knowledge of the roles of healthcare professions other than their own. This study investigated medical students' awareness of the role of physiotherapists in multidisciplinary healthcare teams. One hundred and ninety-eight medical students of the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, participated in this study. Each student completed a self-administered questionnaire that obtained information on demographics, awareness of role of physiotherapists and educational sources of information as well as suggestions about other sources of information about physiotherapy. Chi-square test was used to analyze differences in awareness by gender and year of study. Although rates of awareness regarding some physiotherapy roles were high, many of the medical students were unaware that physiotherapists can practice on first-contact basis and autonomously. About 60% of the students also viewed the role of physiotherapists in the health team as one of providing assistance for medical work. Clinical ward round was the most common source of information on physiotherapy although many of the students suggested classroom lecture as a preferred means of obtaining information. Year of study resulted in significantly different level of awareness (p < 0.05) with a higher proportion of final year students exhibiting awareness of physiotherapists' roles. Clinical ward rounds facilitated the students' awareness of the role of physiotherapists. Interprofessional education involving lectures and clinical ward rounds may assist in building medical students' level of awareness and appreciation of the physiotherapy profession.


Does biomedicine entail the successful reduction of pathology to biology?
The idea of reducing pathology to biology has an extensive history, and the initial forms of the enterprise were unsuccessful. This article discusses the philosophical literature surrounding the notion of reduction in the sciences in general and of biology in particular; reviews several 19th-century programs that promoted the reduction of medicine to other biological disciplines; and examines the post-war origins of the notion of biomedicine. It shows how biology and medicine tend to interact in the constitution of new biomedical knowledge and how the notion of a pathological process resulting in a lesion remains central to the understanding of disease. The article proposes that while strict reduction has yet to be realized, one can speak of a continuing and successful realignment of biology and pathology since the Second World War.


Interspecies communication among commensal and pathogenic streptococci.
Quorum sensing (QS) regulates diverse and coordinated behaviors in bacteria, including the production of virulence factors, biofilm formation, sporulation, and competence development. It is now established that some streptococci utilize Rgg-type proteins in concert with short hydrophobic peptides (SHPs) to mediate QS, and sequence analysis reveals that several streptococcal species contain highly homologous Rgg/SHP pairs. In group A streptococcus (GAS), two SHPs (SHP2 and SHP3 [SHP2/3]) were previously identified to be important in GAS biofilm formation. SHP2/3 are detected by two antagonistic regulators, Rgg2 and Rgg3, which control expression of the shp genes. In group B streptococcus (GBS), RovS is a known virulence gene regulator and ortholog of Rgg2, whereas no apparent Rgg3 homolog exists. Adjacent to rovS is a gene (shp1520) encoding a peptide nearly identical to SHP2. Using isogenic mutant strains and transcriptional reporters, we confirmed that RovS/SHP1520 comprise a QS circuit in GBS. More important, we performed experiments demonstrating that production and secretion of SHP1520 by GBS can modulate Rgg2/3-regulated gene expression in GAS in trans; likewise, SHP2/3 production by GAS can stimulate RovS-mediated gene regulation in GBS. An isolate of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis also produced a secreted factor capable of simulating the QS circuits of both GAS and GBS, and sequencing confirms the presence of an orthologous Rgg2/SHP2 pair in this species as well. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of bidirectional signaling between streptococcal species in coculture and suggests a role for orthologous Rgg/SHP systems in interspecies communication between important human pathogens. Pathogenic streptococci, such as group A (GAS) and group B (GBS) streptococcus, are able to persist in the human body without causing disease but become pathogenic under certain conditions that are not fully characterized. Environmental cues and interspecies signaling between members of the human flora likely play an important role in the transition to a disease state. Since quorum-sensing (QS) peptides have been consistently shown to regulate virulence factor production in pathogenic species, the ability of bacteria to signal via these peptides may prove to be an important link between the carrier and pathogenic states. Here we provide evidence of a bidirectional QS system between GAS, GBS, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, demonstrating the possibility of evolved communication systems between human pathogens.


Type-specific inhibition of preopsonization versus immunoprecipitation by Streptococcal M proteins.
Purified M protein of group A streptococci inhibits in vitro phagocytosis of bacteria nonspecifically when it is mixed directly with the test blood. We devised a method of preopsonization inhibition that avoids direct contact between the test blood and the opsonic inhibitory agent. Each of the M proteins tested by this method inhibited opsonization and phagocytosis of only homologous-type streptococci. Titration of the M antigen in various purified preparations demonstrated a clear dissociation between titers of type-specific precipitating M antigen and type-specific opsonic inhibitory M antigen. Since opsonization reflects protective antibody, assays of M protein based on reaction with opsonic antibody should reflect more accurately the presence of the type-specific M determinant involved in protective immunity against streptococcal infections.


[Treatment via laser of airway obstructions].
The Nd-YAG laser is widely used in endoscopy. Laser therapy either by contact or non-contact method, can be considered the best palliative option for patients affected by airway obstruction due to endoluminal malignant tumours. It aims at the improvement of breathing conditions and symptomatology. In patients affected by benign obstructions, it often allows to obtain curative results avoiding the use of traditional surgery. From 1988 to 1993 at the First Department of Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", 163 treatments out of 111 clinical cases affected by airway obstruction, caused by malignant tumours considered inoperable or relapsed after operation, or by vegetating benign tumours, or granulomas or fibrous diaphragms were performed. The symptomatological improvement and beneficial changes in functional breathing tests, haemogasanalysis, and X-ray findings were registered 24-48 hours after each treatment. The results showed an improvement in functional breathing values especially after treatment of the main airways such as trachea and main bronchi. The therapy offered an acceptable quality of life. A fairly good number of patients may also return to radio and chemotherapy, if previously interrupted.


Isoflavone and protein constituents of lactic acid-fermented soy milk combine to prevent dyslipidemia in rats fed a high cholesterol diet.
A high cholesterol diet induces dyslipidemia. This study investigated whether isoflavone aglycones in lactic acid-fermented soy milk (LFS) improve lipid metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged seven weeks were fed an AIN-93G diet, a 1% cholesterol diet (a high cholesterol diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 4% isoflavone extract of LFS (LFS extract diet), a high-cholesterol diet containing 19.4% ethanol-washed LFS (ethanol-washed LFS diet, isoflavone-poor diet), or a high cholesterol diet containing 23.2% intact LFS (intact LFS diet) for five weeks. The plasma total cholesterol (TC) level was increased in the rats fed the LFS extract diet compared with those fed the high cholesterol diet. The TC level was decreased by the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. The cholesterol-lowering effect was stronger in the rats fed the intact LFS diet than those fed the ethanol-washed LFS diet. The plasma triglyceride (TG) level was unchanged in the rats fed the LFS extract diet, but it decreased in rats fed the intact LFS and ethanol-washed LFS diets. Although, compared with the high cholesterol diet, the LFS extract and ethanol-washed LFS diets did not reduce hepatic cholesterol and TG, both levels were remarkably lowered by the intact LFS diet. These results suggest that the improvement in lipid metabolism of rats fed a high-cholesterol diet containing LFS isoflavone aglycones is not due to an independent effect but due to a cooperative effect with soy protein.


Vegetable Grafting as a Tool to Improve Drought Resistance and Water Use Efficiency.
Drought is one of the most prevalent limiting factors causing considerable losses in crop productivity, inflicting economic as well as nutritional insecurity. One of the greatest challenges faced by the scientific community in the next few years is to minimize the yield losses caused by drought. Drought resistance is a complex quantitative trait controlled by many genes. Thus, introgression of drought resistance traits into high yielding genotypes has been a challenge to plant breeders. Vegetable grafting using rootstocks has emerged as a rapid tool in tailoring plants to better adapt to suboptimal growing conditions. This has induced changes in shoot physiology. Grafting applications have expanded mainly in Solanaceous crops and cucurbits, which are commonly grown in arid and semi-arid areas characterized by long drought periods. The current review gives an overview of the recent scientific literature on root-shoot interaction and rootstock-driven alteration of growth, yield, and fruit quality in grafted vegetable plants under drought stress. Further, we elucidate the drought resistance mechanisms of grafted vegetables at the morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels.


Human discrimination of the implicit orientation of simple symmetrical patterns.
Thresholds for detecting the angle of rotation of vertical symmetrical patterns containing few or no explicit vertical or horizontal contours were found to be almost as low as those for an actual vertical line extending approximately the same range. This hyperacuity performance, which we refer to as implicit orientation discrimination, shares most of its properties with the orientation discrimination of explicit lines, suggesting a category of orientation processing whose neural mechanisms are related to those involved in the processing of straight contours and those underlying the detection of axes of symmetry. Strong binding effects between the components of the figures were demonstrated and their temporal interactions were also investigated. Our results have implications for possible neural interactions early in the cortical visual stream.


Evaluating the risk of death via the hematopoietic syndrome mode for prolonged exposure of nuclear workers to radiation delivered at very low rates.
During a Phase-I effort, studies were planned to evaluate deterministic (nonstochastic) effects of chronic exposure of nuclear workers at the Mayak atomic complex in the former Soviet Union to relatively high levels (> 0.25 Gy) of ionizing radiation. The Mayak complex has been used, since the late 1940's, to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Workers at Site A of the complex were involved in plutonium breeding using nuclear reactors, and some were exposed to relatively large doses of gamma rays plus relatively small neutron doses. The Weibull normalized-dose model, which has been set up to evaluate the risk of specific deterministic effects of combined, continuous exposure of humans to alpha, beta, and gamma radiations, is here adapted for chronic exposure to gamma rays and neutrons during repeated 6-h work shifts--as occurred for some nuclear workers at Site A. Using the adapted model, key conclusions were reached that will facilitate a Phase-II study of deterministic effects among Mayak workers. These conclusions include the following: (1) neutron doses may be more important for Mayak workers than for Japanese A-bomb victims in Hiroshima and can be accounted for using an adjusted dose (which accounts for neutron relative biological effectiveness); (2) to account for dose-rate effects, normalized dose X (a dimensionless fraction of an LD50 or ED50) can be evaluated in terms of an adjusted dose; (3) nonlinear dose-response curves for the risk of death via the hematopoietic mode can be converted to linear dose-response curves (for low levels of risk) using a newly proposed dimensionless dose, D = X(V), in units of Oklad (where D is pronounced "deh"), and V is the shape parameter in the Weibull model; (4) for X < or = Xo, where Xo is the threshold normalized dose, D = 0; (5) unlike absorbed dose, the dose D can be averaged over different Mayak workers in order to calculate the average risk of death via the hematopoietic mode for the population exposed at Site A; and (6) the expected cases of death via the hematopoietic syndrome mode for Mayak workers chronically exposed during work shifts at Site A to gamma rays and neutrons can be predicted using ln(2)B M[D]; where B (pronounced "beh") is the number of workers at risk (criticality accident victims excluded); and M[D] is the average (mean) value of D (averaged over the worker population at risk, for Site A, for the time period considered). These results can be used to facilitate a Phase II study of deterministic radiation effects among Mayak workers chronically exposed to gamma rays and neutrons.


Membrane progesterone receptors: evidence for neuroprotective, neurosteroid signaling and neuroendocrine functions in neuronal cells.
Membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) are novel G protein-coupled receptors belonging to the progestin and adipoQ receptor family (PAQR) that mediate a variety of rapid cell surface-initiated progesterone actions in the reproductive system involving activation of intracellular signaling pathways (i.e. nonclassical actions). The mPRs are highly expressed in the brain, but research on their neural functions has only been conducted in a single neuronal cell line, GT1-7 cells, which have negligible nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) expression. GT1-7 cells express mPRα and mPRβ on their plasma membranes which is associated with the presence of high-affinity, specific [(3)H]-progesterone receptor binding. The neurosteroid, allopregnanolone, is an effective ligand for recombinant mPRα with a relative binding affinity of 7.6% that of progesterone. Allopregnanolone acts as a potent mPR agonist on GT1-7 cells, mimicking the progesterone-induced decrease in cAMP accumulation and its antiapoptotic actions at low nanomolar concentrations. The decrease in cAMP levels is associated with rapid progesterone-induced downregulation of GnRH pulsatile secretion from perifused GT1-7 cells. The recent suggestion that mPRs are alkaline ceramidases and mediate sphingolipid signaling is not supported by empirical evidence that TNFα does not bind to mPRs overexpressed in human cells and that exogenous sphingomyelinase is ineffective in mimicking progestin actions through mPRs to induce meiotic maturation of fish oocytes. Taken together, these recent studies indicate that mPRs mediate neuroprotective effects of progesterone and allopregnanolone and are also the likely intermediaries in progesterone-induced inhibition of pulsatile GnRH secretion in GT1-7 cells.


Synthesis of Inert Homo- and Heterodinuclear Rare-Earth Cryptates.
A new ditopic cryptand based on two tris(biaryl)-based binding pockets bridged by a 2,2'-bipyrimidine unit enables the selective synthesis of homo- and heterodinuclear rare-earth cryptates, which are kinetically inert under challenging conditions and can even be purified by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography.


Runs of homozygosity, copy number variation, and risk for depression and suicidal behavior in an Arab Bedouin kindred.
Inbreeding increases the probability of homozygosity of deleterious alleles. Inbreeding and runs of homozygosity (ROH) are associated with an increased risk for disease phenotypes, including schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. The effects of inbreeding, ROH, homozygous deletions, and other copy number variations (CNVs) on risk for depression and suicide attempt (SA) were quantified in an Arab Bedouin Kindred. We carried out genetic analyses of 439 individuals from an Arab kindred with high rates of depression and suicidal behavior. We obtained complete ascertainment of SAs and first-degree relatives of individuals who have attempted or died by suicide. We found extensive regions of ROH. On average, 5% of the genome is covered by ROH for these individuals, two-fold higher than ROH rates for individuals from populations of European ancestry. Inbreeding and total length of ROH were not associated with risk for depression or attempt. For CNVs, an increased number of duplications more than 500 kb was associated with an increased risk for attempt (odds ratio: 2.9; P=0.01; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-6.6). Although not significant after correction for multiple testing, the risk for SA appears to increase with copy number for a CNV on chromosome 9p24.1. This possibility is intriguing because the CNV covers GLDC, which encodes glycine dehydrogenase that binds to glycine, a co-agonist at N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors, and is involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Our findings add to the growing evidence of genetic risk factors that act pleiotropically to increase the risk for several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and SA, irrespective of ancestry.


Structure and dynamics of mica-confined films of [C10C1Pyrr][NTf2] ionic liquid.
The structure of the ionic liquid 1-decyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl]imide, [C10C1Pyrr][NTf2], has been probed using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. The simulations endeavour to model the behaviour of the ionic liquid in bulk isotropic conditions and also at interfaces and in confinement. The MD results have been confronted and validated with scattering and surface force experiments reported in the literature. The calculated structure factors, distribution functions, and density profiles were able to provide molecular and mechanistic insights into the properties of these long chain ionic liquids under different conditions, in particular those that lead to the formation of multi-layered ionic liquid films in confinement. Other properties inaccessible to experiment such as in-plane structures and relaxation rates within the films have also been analysed. Overall the work contributes structural and dynamic information relevant to many applications of ionic liquids with long alkyl chains, ranging from nanoparticle synthesis to lubrication.


Amniotic fluid induces rapid epithelialization in the experimentally ruptured fetal mouse palate--implications for fetal wound healing.
Cleft of the secondary palate is one of the most common congenital birth defects in humans. The primary cause of cleft palate formation is a failure of fusion of bilateral palatal shelves, but rupture of the once fused palate has also been suggested to take place in utero. The possibility of post-fusion rupture of the palate in humans has hardly been accepted, mainly because in all the cleft palate cases, the cleft palatal edge is always covered with intact epithelium. To verify whether the intrauterine environment of the fetus plays roles in wound healing when the once fused palate is torn apart, we artificially tore apart fetal mouse palates after fusion and cultivated them in culture medium with or without mouse or human amniotic fluid. We thereby found that the wounded palatal edge became completely covered with flattened epithelium after 36 hours in culture with amniotic fluid, but not in culture without amniotic fluid. Using histological and scanning electron microscopic analyses of the healing process, it was revealed that the epithelium covering the wound was almost exclusively derived from the adjacent nasal epithelium, but not from the oral epithelium. Such actions of amniotic fluid on the fetal wound were never simulated by exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF), albumin, or both. In addition, the rapid epithelialization induced by amniotic fluid was not prevented by either PD168393 (an inhibitor of the EGF receptor-specific tyrosine kinase) or SB431542 (a specific inhibitor of TGFbeta receptor type I/ALK5). The present study provides new insights into the unique biological actions of amniotic fluid in the repair of injured fetal palate.


Challenges to cervical cancer treatment in Bangladesh: The development of a women's cancer ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of female cancer mortality worldwide. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy represents the standard of care for patients with stages IB2 to IVa cervical cancer. Unfortunately radiation therapy capacity is severely limited to non-existent in many Low and Middle-Income Countries. One solution has been to use chemotherapy to reduce tumor size to allow for radical surgery or in the case of inoperable cancers, as a placeholder until radiation is available. In Bangladesh, there has been the progressive development of resources for the treatment of women with gynecologic cancers. However, radiation therapy resources are limited with a six-month waiting period to receive radiation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains the main primary treatment intervention for women with advanced cervical cancer in Bangladesh. This implementation study summarizes of the experience and challenges to caring for women in a new gynae-oncology ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, a 2600 bed government hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh.


Optical emission study of radio-frequency excited toluene plasma.
UV-visible emission spectra of radio-frequency (rf) excited toluene plasma were studied. Benzyl radicals as well as toluene monomer and excimer were observed in toluene plasma. It was found that the intensities, peak positions, and linewidths of monomer and excimer emission bands exhibit strong dependence on rf power and plasma processing time. This can be ascribed to photochemical reactions in plasma. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the deposition products from toluene plasma indicated that the main component was bibenzyl. Spectroscopic evidence has shown that the bibenzyl molecule was formed by the coupling reaction between two benzyl radicals in plasma. The spectroscopic characteristics of toluene monomer and excimer are correlated with a kinetic model in plasma.


Measured instantaneous viscous boundary layer in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection.
We report measurements of the instantaneous viscous boundary layer (BL) thickness delta(v)(t) in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. It is found that delta(v)(t) obtained from the measured instantaneous two-dimensional velocity field exhibits intermittent fluctuations. For small values, delta(v)(t) obeys a lognormal distribution, whereas for large values, the distribution of delta(v)(t) exhibits an exponential tail. The variation of delta(v)(t) with time is found to be driven by the fluctuations of the large-scale mean-flow velocity, and the local horizontal velocities close to the plate can be used as an instant measure of this variation. It is further found that in the present parameter range of the experiment, the mean velocity profile measured in the laboratory frame can be brought into coincidence with the theoretical Prandtl-Blasius laminar BL profile, if it is resampled relative to the time-dependent frame of delta(v)(t).


Chemical studies on the cell walls of Leptorspira biflexa strain Urawa and Treponema pallidum strain Reiter.
The preparation and chemical properties of the cell walls of Leptospira biflexa Urawa and Treponema pallidum Reiter are described. Both cell walls are composed mainly of polysaccharides and peptidoglycans. The data of chemical analysis indicate that the cell wall of L. biflexa Urawa contains rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose and unidentified sugars as neutral sugars, and alanine, glutamic acid, alpha, epsilon-diaminopimelic acid, glucosamine and muramic acid as major amino acids and amino sugars. As major chemical constituents of the cell wall of T. pallidum Reiter, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose, alanine, glutamic acid, ornithine, glycine, glucosamine and muramic acid have been detected. The chemical properties of protein and polysaccharide fractions prepared from the cells of T. pallidum Reiter were also partially examined.


[Epidemiological characteristics of falls in the elderly in Jiangsu from 2006 to 2021].
Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of elderly unintentional fall-related injuries (EUFI) in Jiangsu from 2006 to 2021 and provide a scientific basis for the prevention of falls in the elderly and the formulation of related policies. Methods: Data on EUFI was collected from the first diagnosed cases in the injury surveillance hospitals in Jiangsu from 2006 to 2021, and epidemiological characteristics of injuries were analyzed. logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for EUFI. Results: The number of EUFI increased from 2006 to 2021, ranked as the first cause of elderly unintentional injuries during these years. The proportion of EUFI among elderly unintentional injuries increased in the same period. The male-to-female ratio is 1∶1.4. Falls mainly occurred during 8:00-10:00 am (32.7%). The most common place where falls occurred was at home (63.6%). From 2006 to 2014, leisure activities (62.1%), housework/study (23.1%), and work (5.2%) were the top three activities when injuries occurred. During 2015-2021, leisure activities (41.7%), housework/study (22.6%) and walking (20.5%) were the top three activities when injuries occurred. The major fall-related injuries were fractures (39.9%), with the injured parts at low limbs (32.5%), of which most were mild injuries (60.3%), and the primary outcome was hospitalization after treatment (74.1%). logistic regression showed that the risk factors of EUFI were female, old age, immigrants, winter, public residence, housework/study, and leisure activities. Higher education, occupation of household and production and transportation equipment operators were protective factors (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Fall is the leading cause of unintentional injuries in the elderly in Jiangsu, especially the elderly female population. Corresponding measures should be taken to prevent and intervene in falls in the elderly in the community according to the distribution characteristics.


Decreased osteoblast activity in spontaneously diabetic rats. In vivo studies on the pathogenesis.
Diabetes in both humans and rats is accompanied by low bone formation, which is presumably caused by serum-borne factors. To explore its pathogenesis, we carried out experiments in diabetic and nondiabetic BB rats, using plasma osteocalcin concentrations (OC) as a marker for osteoblast activity. In nondiabetic rats, the i.v. infusion of glucose (30%, 4 d) did not change OC; s.c. insulin infusion (4 U/d, 14 d) reduced OC by 27% (p < 0.01). In diabetic rats, OC were decreased from the first day of glycosuria (71 +/- 5% of paired controls), declining exponentially to 24 +/- 3% after 5 wk. Insulin infusion (1, 2, and 3 U/d, 14 d) produced gradual restoration of OC. OC were better correlated with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) than with insulin levels in these experiments. OC were dramatically increased 4 d after adrenalectomy (ADX) in all diabetic rats (73 +/- 8 vs 22 +/- 4 micrograms/L before ADX; p < 0.001), but not if corticosterone was administered. Ligand blotting of IGF binding proteins showed a marked decrease in two bands (44-49 and 32-35 kDa) 10-14 d after diabetes onset; the density of these bands was increased, but not normalized after ADX. Thus, decreased osteoblast activity is present from the onset of diabetes, is dependent on endogenous corticosterone, and cannot be reproduced by hyperglycemia in nondiabetic rats.


Epidemiology and Mechanisms of De Novo and Persistent Hypertension in the Postpartum Period.
The pathophysiology of hypertension in the immediate postpartum period is unclear. We studied 988 consecutive women admitted to a tertiary medical center for cesarean section of a singleton pregnancy. The angiogenic factors soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and placental growth factor, both biomarkers associated with preeclampsia, were measured on antepartum blood samples. We then performed multivariable analyses to determine factors associated with the risk of developing postpartum hypertension. Of the 988 women, 184 women (18.6%) developed postpartum hypertension. Of the 184 women, 77 developed de novo hypertension in the postpartum period, and the remainder had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in the antepartum period. A higher body mass index and history of diabetes mellitus were associated with the development of postpartum hypertension. The antepartum ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 to placental growth factor positively correlated with blood pressures in the postpartum period (highest postpartum systolic blood pressure [r=0.29, P<0.001] and diastolic blood pressure [r=0.28, P<0.001]). Moreover, the highest tertile of the antepartum ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 to placental growth factor was independently associated with postpartum hypertension (de novo hypertensive group: odds ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-4.25; P=0.01; in the persistent hypertensive group: odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-6.05; P=0.02) in multivariable analysis. Women developing postpartum hypertension had longer hospitalizations than those who remained normotensive (6.5±3.5 versus 5.7±3.4 days; P<0.001). Hypertension in the postpartum period is relatively common and is associated with prolonged hospitalization. Women with postpartum hypertension have clinical risk factors and an antepartum plasma angiogenic profile similar to those found in women with preeclampsia. These data suggest that women with postpartum hypertension may represent a group of women with subclinical or unresolved preeclampsia.


Intratumoral Anti-PD-1 Nanoformulation Improves Its Biodistribution.
Intratumoral administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death-1 antibodies (aPD-1), is a promising approach toward addressing both the low patients' responses and high off-target toxicity, but good preclinical results have not translated in phase I clinical studies as significant off-target toxicities were observed. We hypothesized that the nanoformulation of aPD-1 could alter both their loco-regional and systemic distribution following intratumoral administration. To test this hypothesis, we developed an aPD-1 nanoformulation (aPD-1 NPs) and investigated its biodistribution following intratumoral injection in an orthotopic mice model of head and neck cancer. Biodistribution analysis demonstrated a significantly lower distribution in off-target organs of the nanoformulated aPD-1 compared to free antibodies. On the other hand, both aPD-1 NPs and free aPD-1 yielded a significantly higher tumor and tumor draining lymph node accumulation than the systemically administrated free aPD-1 used as the current clinical benchmark. In a set of comprehensive in vitro biological studies, aPD-1 NPs effectively inhibited PD-1 expression on T-cells to a similar extent to free aPD-1 and efficiently potentiated the cytotoxicity of T-cells against head and neck cancer cells in vitro. Further studies are warranted to assess the potential of this intratumoral administration of aPD-1 nanoformulation in alleviating the toxicity and enhancing the tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.


Association of cerebrospinal fluid CD4+/CD8+Ratio with 60-day functional outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage.
Background: The immune inflammatory reaction has vital function in pathologic mechanism of critical intracerebral hemorrhage. It recently has been reported that CD4/CD8 ratio may represent a novel composite immune inflammatory marker to predict prognosis of critical intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Nevertheless, as for considering the effects of surgical evacuation upon initiation of immune inflammatory reactions, the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CD4/CD8 ratio and 60-day functional outcome of patients with critical ICH after surgery has not been investigated. Present study aimed to evaluate the predictive value concerning postoperative complement system and immunoglobulin, paired cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, as well as inflammation index before and after the operations upon the 60-day prognosis of patients with ICH.Methods: In total, 69 patients with acute critical ICH admitted in First Central Hospital of Baoding City from January to July in 2022 were prospectively enrolled. We recorded and analyzed the relevant clinical data. Laboratory parameters included postoperative lymphocyte subsets in paired cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood, inflammation index before and after operation. The associations between 60-day outcome and laboratory biomarkers were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Comparisons of predictive value regarding independent predictors was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results: In total, 51 patients with critical ICH exhibited poor outcomes at 60 days, which was associated with fever after surgery, hernia before surgery, SAH and lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission and large hematoma volume, greater CD3T%CSF, greater CD4T%CSF, and greater CD4/CD8 ratioCSF. CD4/CD8ratio CSF showcased significant predictive power by comparing with other laboratorial variables (AUC = 0.6808; cut-off = 1.61; sensitivity = 80.39%; specificity = 61.11%; 95% CI: 0.5232-0.8385; p = .0233), which was found to correlated linearly with postoperative fever, first CSF test time, CD3T% CSF, CD4T% CSF, CD8T% CSF, NKCSF, CD3T%PB, CD8T%PB, CD4/CD8 ratioPB, and glucoseCSF. Poor outcome at 60 days linearly correlated with CD4/CD8ratioCSF after adjustments. In 3-5 days after surgery tested CSF lymphocyte subsets, CD4/CD8ratioCSF ≥1.61 was associated with a higher risk for 60-day poor outcome comparing with corresponding subgroups.Conclusions: In association of critical ICH patient prognosis, CSF CD4/CD8 ratio, especially in 3-5 days after surgery, exhibited potential independent predictive ability for 60-day functional outcomes of patients with critical ICH.


Envelope glycoprotein incorporation, not shedding of surface envelope glycoprotein (gp120/SU), Is the primary determinant of SU content of purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) particles typically contain small amounts of the surface envelope protein (SU), and this is widely believed to be due to shedding of SU from mature virions. We purified proteins from HIV-1 and SIV isolates using procedures which allow quantitative measurements of viral protein content and determination of the ratios of gag- and env-encoded proteins in virions. All of the HIV-1 and most of the SIV isolates examined contained low levels of envelope proteins, with Gag:Env ratios of approximately 60:1. Based on an estimate of 1,200 to 2,500 Gag molecules per virion, this corresponds to an average of between 21 and 42 SU molecules, or between 7 and 14 trimers, per particle. In contrast, some SIV isolates contained levels of SU at least 10-fold greater than SU from HIV-1 isolates. Quantification of relative amounts of SU and transmembrane envelope protein (TM) provides a means to assess the impact of SU shedding on virion SU content, since such shedding would be expected to result in a molar excess of TM over SU on virions that had shed SU. With one exception, viruses with sufficient SU and TM to allow quantification were found to have approximately equivalent molar amounts of SU and TM. The quantity of SU associated with virions and the SU:TM ratios were not significantly changed during multiple freeze-thaw cycles or purification through sucrose gradients. Exposure of purified HIV-1 and SIV to temperatures of 55 degrees C or greater for 1 h resulted in loss of most of the SU from the virus but retention of TM. Incubation of purified virus with soluble CD4 at 37 degrees C resulted in no appreciable loss of SU from either SIV or HIV-1. These results indicate that the association of SU and TM on the purified virions studied is quite stable. These findings suggest that incorporation of SU-TM complexes into the viral membrane may be the primary factor determining the quantity of SU associated with SIV and HIV-1 virions, rather than shedding of SU from mature virions.


Enhancement by theophylline of the butyrate-mediated induction of choriogonadotropin alpha-subunit in HeLa cells. II. Effect of both agents on mRNA turnover.
In the accompanying paper it was demonstrated that among several methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors, only theophylline significantly increased production of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit in HeLa cells, and that this action was synergistic with that of sodium butyrate. A correlation between alpha-subunit induction and cAMP concentrations was not evident. In this report we characterized the effect of these two drugs on the metabolism of alpha-subunit mRNA. Sodium butyrate decreased the apparent half-life of mRNAs encoding alpha-subunit, beta 2-microglobulin, and alpha-tubulin, as well as that of total poly(A)+ RNA and rRNA. Theophylline produced a two- to threefold increase in the apparent half-life of alpha-subunit mRNA but had no effect on the turnover of beta 2-microglobulin, alpha-tubulin, or total poly(A)+ mRNA. An inverse correlation was noted between the apparent half-life of the mRNA and the degree of destabilization elicited by butyrate. It is concluded that alpha-subunit induction by theophylline is in large part due to mRNA stabilization, and that the concerted effect of theophylline and butyrate results from inhibition by theophylline of the butyrate-mediated destabilization of alpha-subunit mRNA combined with the elevation in alpha-subunit gene transcription known to be produced by the fatty acid.


LincRNA-EPS Alleviates Inflammation in TMJ Osteoarthritis by Binding to SRSF3.
Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a common inflammatory disease that can cause pain, cartilage degradation, and subchondral bone loss. However, the key regulatory factors and new targets for the treatment of TMJOA have yet to be determined. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have shown remarkable potential in regulating tissue homeostasis and disease development. The long intergenic RNA-erythroid prosurvival (lincRNA-EPS) is reported to be an effective inhibitor of inflammation, but its role in TMJOA is unexplored. Here, we found that lincRNA-EPS is downregulated and negatively correlated with inflammatory factors in the condyles of TMJOA mice. LincRNA-EPS knockout aggravated inflammation and tissue destruction after TMJOA modeling. The in vitro studies confirmed that loss of lincRNA-EPS facilitated inflammatory factor expression in condylar chondrocytes, while recovered expression of lincRNA-EPS showed anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing revealed that the inflammatory response pathway nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was mostly affected by lincRNA-EPS deficiency. Moreover, lincRNA-EPS was proved to effectively bind to serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) and inhibit its function in pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) formation, thus restraining the PKM2/NF-κB pathway and the expression of inflammatory factors. In addition, local injection of the lincRNA-EPS overexpression lentivirus significantly alleviated inflammation, cartilage degradation, and subchondral bone loss in TMJOA mice. Overall, lincRNA-EPS regulated the inflammatory process of condylar chondrocytes by binding to SRSF3 and showed translational application potential in the treatment of TMJOA.


Qiliqiangxin Enhances Cardiac Glucose Metabolism and Improves Diastolic Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.
Cardiac diastolic dysfunction has emerged as a growing type of heart failure. The present study aims to explore whether Qiliqiangxin (QL) can benefit cardiac diastolic function in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) through enhancement of cardiac glucose metabolism. Fifteen 12-month-old male SHRs were randomly divided into QL-treated, olmesartan-treated, and saline-treated groups. Age-matched WKY rats served as normal controls. Echocardiography and histological analysis were performed. Myocardial glucose uptake was determined by 18F-FDG using small-animal PET imaging. Expressions of several crucial proteins and key enzymes related to glucose metabolism were also evaluated. As a result, QL improved cardiac diastolic function in SHRs, as evidenced by increased E'/A'and decreased E/E' (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, QL alleviated myocardial hypertrophy, collagen deposits, and apoptosis (P < 0.01). An even higher myocardial glucose uptake was illustrated in QL-treated SHR group (P < 0.01). Moreover, an increased CS activity and ATP production was observed in QL-treated SHRs (P < 0.05). QL enhanced cardiac glucose utilization and oxidative phosphorylation in SHRs by upregulating AMPK/PGC-1α axis, promoting GLUT-4 expression, and regulating key enzymes related to glucose aerobic oxidation such as HK2, PDK4, and CS (P < 0.01). Our data suggests that QL improves cardiac diastolic function in SHRs, which may be associated with enhancement of myocardial glucose metabolism.


Efficient Sodium-Ion Intercalation into the Freestanding Prussian Blue/Graphene Aerogel Anode in a Hybrid Capacitive Deionization System.
In this study, we introduced an efficient hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) system for removal of NaCl from brackish water, in which Prussian blue nanocubes embedded in a highly conductive reduced graphene oxide aerogel have been used as a binderfree intercalation anode to remove Na+ ions. The combination of redox-active nanocubes and the three-dimensional porous graphene network yielded a high salt removal capacity of 130 mg g-1 at the current density of 100 mA g-1. Moreover, energy recovery and energy consumption upon different desorption voltages of the HCDI system were investigated and the result showed a notably low energy consumption of 0.23 Wh g-1 and a high energy recovery of 39%. Furthermore, the real-time intercalation process was verified by in situ X-ray powder diffraction measurements, which confirmed the intercalation and deintercalation processes during charging and discharging, respectively. Eventually, a perfect stability of the desalination unit was confirmed through the steady performance of 100 cycles. The improved efficiency as well as ease of fabrication opens a shiny horizon for our HCDI system toward commercialization of such technology for brackish water desalination.


Abnormal anterior pretectal nucleus activity contributes to central pain syndrome.
Central pain syndrome (CPS) is a debilitating condition that affects a large number of patients with a primary lesion or dysfunction in the CNS, most commonly due to spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis lesions. The pathophysiological processes underlying the development and maintenance of CPS are poorly understood. We have recently shown, in an animal model of CPS, that neurons in the posterior thalamic nucleus (PO) have increased spontaneous and evoked activity. We also demonstrated that these changes are due to suppressed inhibitory inputs from the zona incerta (ZI). The anterior pretectal nucleus (APT) is a diencephalic nucleus that projects on both the PO and ZI, suggesting that it might be involved in the pathophysiology of CPS. Here we test the hypothesis that CPS is associated with abnormal APT activity by recording single units from APT in anesthetized rats with CPS resulting from spinal cord lesions. The firing rate of APT neurons was increased in spinal-lesioned animals, compared with sham-operated controls. This increase was due to a selective increase in firing of tonic neurons that project to and inhibit ZI and an increase in bursts in fast bursting and slow rhythmic neurons. We also show that, in normal animals, suppressing APT results in increased PO spontaneous activity and evoked responses in a subpopulation of PO neurons. Taken together, these findings suggest that APT regulates ZI inputs to PO and that enhanced APT activity during CPS contributes to the abnormally high activity of PO neurons in CPS.


Endothelin 1-dependent neurovascular dysfunction in chronic intermittent hypoxia.
Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition resulting in chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), is an independent risk factor for stroke and dementia, but the mechanisms of the effect are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that CIH increases cerebrovascular risk by altering critical mechanisms regulating cerebral blood flow thereby lowering cerebrovascular reserves. Male C57Bl6/J mice were subjected to CIH (10% O(2) for 90 seconds/room air for 90 seconds; during sleep hours) or sham treatment for 35 days. Somatosensory cortex blood flow was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized mice equipped with a cranial window. CIH increased mean arterial pressure (from 74±2 to 83±3 mm Hg; P<0.05) and attenuated the blood flow increase produced by neural activity (whisker stimulation; -39±2%; P<0.05) or neocortical application of endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine response: -41±3%; P<0.05). The cerebrovascular dysfunction was associated with oxidative stress in cerebral resistance arterioles and was abrogated by free radical scavenging or NADPH oxidase inhibition. Furthermore, cerebrovascular dysfunction and free radical increase were not observed in mice lacking the NOX2 subunit of NADPH oxidase. CIH markedly increased endothelin 1 in cerebral blood vessels, whereas cerebrovascular dysfunction and oxidative stress were abrogated by neocortical application of the endothelin type A receptor antagonist BQ123. These data demonstrate for the first time that CIH alters key regulatory mechanisms of the cerebral circulation through endothelin 1 and NADPH oxidase-derived radicals. The ensuing cerebrovascular dysfunction may increase stroke risk in patients with sleep apnea by reducing cerebrovascular reserves and increasing the brain's susceptibility to cerebral ischemia.


A design method for direct vision coaxial linear dispersion spectrometers.
A spectrometer design method based on the prism-prism-grating (PPG) dispersion module is proposed in this paper to correct the serious nonlinear dispersion that prism and grating spectrometers and other dispersive spectrometers suffer from. First, we determine the criteria for selecting the optical materials of the PPG module by analyzing the dispersion characteristics of prisms and gratings. Second, a loop traversal algorithm is used to optimize the system structure parameters after selecting optical materials. Next, the direct vision coaxial condition of the PPG module is derived according to basic optical principles and the geometrical relationship between optical elements. Then, the dispersion equation of the PPG module is used to establish the spectral linearity index of the system. Finally, combined with the design index, the structural parameters of the PPG module to meet the linear dispersion requirements are determined. A direct vision coaxial linear dispersion spectrometer is designed and realized under the condition that the working band is 400-990 nm, the deviation angle and offset of the emitted ray with a central wavelength of 695 nm with respect to the optical axis are 0, and the dispersion angle is not less than 15°. The results simulated by ZEMAX show that the actual simulation results are consistent with the theoretical calculation results, the spectral resolution of the spectrometer is less than 1.5 nm, and the spectral smile and keystone are less than 3.89% pixels. In the discussion section, the influences of the dispersion ability of optical materials and the incident angles of prisms and gratings on the spectral dispersion linearity of the PPG module are analyzed and studied. The universality of the spectrometer design method developed in this paper is discussed, and its universality is simulated and verified in the 1000-1600 nm and 1600-2200 nm bands. In addition, some advantages compared with other dispersion structures are analyzed.


The Role of Emoticons in the Comprehension of Emotional and Non-emotional Messages in Dyslexic Youth - A Preliminary Study.
The study explored how well-dyslexic youth deals with written messages in an environment simulating popular social network communication system. The messaging systems, present more and more in pandemic and post-pandemic online world, are rich in nonverbal aspects of communicating, namely, the emoticons. The pertinent question was whether the presence of emoticons in written messages of emotional and non-emotional content changes the comprehension of the messages. Thirty-two pupils aged 11-15 took part in the study, 16 had a school-approved diagnosis of dyslexia and were included in the experimental group. Sixteen controls had no diagnosed disabilities. Both groups viewed short messages of four types (each including seven communicates): verbal-informative (without emoticons and emotional verbal content), verbal-emotive (without emoticons, with emotional verbal content), emoticon-informative (including emoticon-like small pictures, but without emotional content either verbal or nonverbal), and emoticon-emotive (with standard emoticons and including verbal-emotional content). The participants had to answer short questions after quick presentation of each message that tested their comprehension of the content. RTs and accuracy of the answers were analyzed. Students without dyslexia had shorter response times to the questions regarding all types of messages than the dyslexic participants. The answers of the experimental group to the questions about the emoticon-informative messages were less correct. The study pointed tentatively to the beneficial role of emoticons (especially the nonstandard, i.e., of non-emotional kind) in reading short messages with understanding.


Pelvic fin musculature in skates: Morphological variation, phylogeny, and locomotor implications (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea: Rajiformes).
Skates of the order Rajiformes are known to perform benthic locomotion by using their specialized bilobed pelvic fins and thus walking or punting on the substrate. Several studies have investigated the pelvic fin and girdle skeleton but little is known about the muscles responsible for walking performance. The goals of this study, therefore, are to investigate, describe, and illustrate the morphological variation in pelvic musculature among skate species and to discuss the phylogenetic and locomotor implications of the conditions observed. Specimens belonging to 19 of the 36 skate genera currently valid for the order Rajiformes were manually dissected and specimens of Narcine, Tetronarce, and Zapteryx were also examined as comparative material. The pelvic musculature varies among skates, mainly regarding the extension of ventral and dorsal muscles related to the anterior lobe of pelvic fin. All rafijorms examined and the torpediniforms Narcine and Tetronarce possess a complex pelvic musculature associated to the anterior pelvic lobe, which is herein suggested as a synapomorphy of Batoidea with independent losses in guitarfishes and stingrays. Nevertheless, the examination of additional taxa is required to better understand the evolution of pelvic musculature within batoids. The morphological variation observed could indicate different walking abilities as discussed herein but further studies on the locomotion behavior in skates are needed to confirm these assumptions.


Erythema multiforme major following docetaxel.
The objective was to report a severe skin reaction, erythema multiforme major, following administration of docetaxel. A female patient receiving weekly docetaxel for metastatic breast cancer developed a severe skin reaction characterized by blistering target lesions on her upper and lower extremities as well as painful ulcers of her oropharynx. The diagnosis of erythema multiforme major was made and high-dose hydrocortisone began, with gradual resolution of her symptoms. The semi-synthetic taxoid docetaxel, which is increasingly being used in the treatment of breast cancer, has been associated with several adverse skin reactions, including hypersensitivity, nail pigmentation, nail onycholysis, erythrodysethesia, and scleroderma. We report the first case of erythema multiforme major (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) following docetaxel. Erythema multiforme major is a rare inflammatory skin disease associated with certain drugs (i.e., sulfonamides, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, anticonvulsants). It is characterized by a distinguishing target skin lesion and ulceration of mucosal surfaces. In severe cases, systemic manifestations such as pneumonitis can also occur. Treatment involves use of moderate to high-dose corticosteroids. Clinicians using docetaxel should be aware of the variety of skin reactions that can occur, how they can be avoided and their severity reduced. Severe skin reactions such as occurred with our patient should be recognized and treated promptly in consultation with a dermatologist.