Emerging neuroprotective interventions in periventricular leukomalacia - A systematic review of preclinical studies.
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a result of various antenatal, intrapartum, or postnatal insults to the developing brain and is an important harbinger of cerebral palsy in preterm neonates. There is no proven therapy for PVL. This calls for appraisal of targeted therapies that have been investigated in animal models to evaluate their relevance in a clinical research context. This systematic review identifies interventions that were evaluated in preclinical studies for neuroprotective efficacy against PVL. We identified 142 studies evaluating various interventions in PVL animal models (search method is detailed in section 2). Interventions that have yielded significant results in preclinical research, and that have been evaluated in a limited number of clinical trials include stem cells, erythropoietin, and melatonin. Many other therapeutic modalities evaluated in preclinical studies have been identified, but more data on their neuroprotective potential in PVL must be garnered before they can be considered for clinical trials. Because most of the tested interventions had only a partial efficacy, a combination of interventions that could be synergistic should be investigated in future preclinical studies. Furthermore, since the nature and pattern of perinatal insults to preterm brain predisposing it to PVL are substantially variable, individualized approaches for the choice of appropriate neuroprotective interventions tailored to different subgroups of preterm neonates should be explored.


Psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on dental students: A nationwide study.
Public mental health concerns have been raised during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological impact of the pandemic on dental students in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among dental students from different universities in Saudi Arabia selected using 2-stage cluster sampling. The psychological impact was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate. A chi-squared test was used to compare the proportions between the sociodemographic data and logistic regression analysis to identify variables associated with the student's responses. The internal consistency of the scale was excellent (0.954). A total of 697 dental students participated voluntarily in the study; their mean age was 21.76 ± 1.859 years, and 54.7% were female. The majority (96.1%) were single, and 69.4% lived in a household of > 5 persons. Significant differences in mental health outcomes were evident for gender, university, and survey time. Elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were recorded among 60.64%, 37.02%, and 34.92%, respectively, of the students. Females, students who lived alone, and junior students were more likely to experience psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The presence of elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress among dental students highlights the need for psychological empowerment strategies involving institutional counseling services.


Implementation of discharge plans for chronically ill elders discharged home.
Although discharge plans are viewed as the primary means to ensure that patients' needs will be met in the posthospital environment, little is known about the implementation of arranged care. This study addressed the extent to which discharge plans for elderly patients with congestive heart failure were implemented as planned, tested the consequences of implementation problems, and identified factors associated with implementation problems. For 40 percent of patients, one or more components of the discharge plan were not implemented as planned, with discrepancies more likely among low-income patients. Implementation discrepancies had negative consequences in terms of unmet needs, deficient quantity of help, and less than adequate care. Implications for hospital discharge planners and home health care are discussed.


Effect of local tranexamic acid gel in the treatment of epistaxis.
In patients with nosebleedings, the hemostatic effect of local application of tranexamic acid gel or placebo was compared in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial with parallel groups. The times needed to arrest the initial bleeding were recorded, as well as any rebleedings within 10 days. The results showed no significant differences in any of the efficacy variables. Tranexamic acid was no better than placebo in the early treatment of nose bleedings, but the gel itself seemed to have a beneficial effect. The gel preparations were easy to insert into the nasal cavity and caused no discomfort to the patients.


The cation and anion bonding modes make a difference: an unprecedented layered structure and a tri(hetero)nuclear moiety in thioantimonates(V).
Mixing solutions of M2+ (M = Cu2+ or Zn2+) salts containing cyclam (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) as the ligand and an aqueous solution of Na3SbS4·9H2O at room temperature led to the crystallization of two new compounds within minutes: {[Cu(cyclam)]3[SbS4]2}n·20nH2O (I) and {[Zn(cyclam)]3[SbS4]2}·8H2O (II). In the structure of I [SbS4]3- anions acting as a tridentate ligand join CuN4S2 octahedra generating twelve-membered rings by corner-sharing of SbS4 and CuN4S2 units. The rings are condensed into layers, which are stacked onto each other in a 6R polytype manner. The layers contain large pores with the water molecules located between the layers above and below the pores. In contrast, the structure of II comprises a discrete molecular tri(hetero)nuclear moiety with a bidentate [SbS4]3- anion connecting two rectangular pyramidal ZnN4S polyhedra. The crystal water molecules of I and II can be thermally removed, and I and II are recovered by treatment under a humid atmosphere. The EPR spectrum of I indicates the presence of Cu2+ cations, which is unusual in the environment of S2- anions. The different bonding situations and the preferences for the coordination geometries of Cu2+ and Zn2+ cations are rationalized by DFT based calculations, demonstrating that Cu2+ prefers an octahedral environment while Zn2+ adopts the square-pyramidal coordination. The pronounced differences in the vibrational spectra are also analyzed with DFT, showing how the different modes are influenced by the differing bond strengths.


Pea leaf glutamine synthetase: regulatory properties.
Of a variety of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides tested, only ADP and 5'AMP significantly inhibited the Mg(2+)-dependent activity of pea leaf glutamine synthetase. They were less effective inhibitors where Mn(2+) replaced Mg(2+). They were competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP, with inhibition constant (Ki) values of 1.2 and 1.8 mm, respectively. The energy charge significantly affects the activity of glutamine synthetase, especially with Mg(2+). Of a variety of amino acids tested, l-histidine and l-ornithine were the most inhibitory, but significant inhibition was seen only where Mn(2+) was present. Both amino acids appeared to compete with l-glutamate, and the Ki values were 1.9 mm for l-histidine (pH 6.2) and 7.8 mm for l-ornithine (pH 6.2). l-Alanine, glycine, and l-serine caused slight inhibition (Mn(2+)-dependent activity) and were not competitive with ATP or l-glutamate.Carbamyl phosphate was an effective inhibitor only when Mn(2+) was present, and did not compete with substrates. Inorganic phosphate and pyrophosphate caused significant inhibition of the Mg(2+)-dependent activity.


Basic transcription factor 3 is involved in gastric cancer development and progression.
To further analyse cancer involvement of basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3) after detection of its upregulation in gastric tumor samples. BTF3 transcription rates in human gastric tumor tissue samples (n = 20) and adjacent normal tissue (n = 18) specimens as well as in the gastric cancer cell lines AGS, SGC-7901, MKN-28, MKN-45 and MGC803 were analyzed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effect of stable BTF3 silencing via infection with a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-BTF3 expressing lentivirus on SGC-7901 cells was measured via Western blotting analysis, proliferation assays, cell cycle and apoptosis profiling by flow cytometry as well as colony forming assays with a Cellomic Assay System. A significant higher expression of BTF3 mRNA was detected in tumors compared to normal gastric tissues (P < 0.01), especially in section tissues from female patients compared to male patients, and all tested gastric cancer cell lines expressed high levels of BTF3. From days 1 to 5, the relative proliferation rates of stable BTF3-siRNA transfected SGC7901 cells were 82%, 70%, 57%, 49% and 44% compared to the control, while the percentage of cells arrested in the G1 phase was significantly decreased (P = 0.000) and the percentages of cells in the S (P = 0.031) and G2/M (P = 0.027) phases were significantly increased. In addition, the colony forming tendency was significantly decreased (P = 0.014) and the apoptosis rate increased from 5.73% to 8.59% (P = 0.014) after BTF3 was silenced in SGC7901 cells. BTF3 expression is associated with enhanced cell proliferation, reduced cell cycle regulation and apoptosis and its silencing decreased colony forming and proliferation of gastric cancer cells.


Ultimate vortex confinement studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy.
We report a detailed scanning tunneling microscopy study of a superconductor in a strong vortex confinement regime. This is achieved in a thin nanoisland of Pb having a size d about 3 times the coherence length, and a thickness h such that h<<d<<lambda, where lambda is the London penetration depth. In this geometry the magnetic field evolution of local tunneling spectra reveals only two superconducting configurations to exist: zero and single vorticity. The normal state is reached at mu(0)H(c)=0.46 T, about 6 times the critical field of bulk Pb, with no higher order vorticity observed. Basing on our STS data, we discuss the role of local supercurrents in both configurations.


Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in a 5-month-old boxer dog.
A 5-month-old intact male boxer dog was presented to the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia after being hit by a car. Radiography identified a diaphragmatic hernia with the stomach herniated into the thoracic cavity. Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy and splenectomy were performed without complication. The patient returned to his regular active lifestyle.


[Drug consumption rooms in Spain (2000-2013)].
The aim of this review is to provide a new interpretation of the results found in the scientific literature on drug consumption rooms (DCR) in Spain published from 2000-2013. A search was carried out using several data bases - PubMed, Índice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS), Índice Médico Español (IME), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and SIIS Centro de Documentación y Estudios - as well as other secondary sources and information solicited from professionals of DCR. A total of 21 articles or research reports, 17 presentations or speeches in specialized conferences, 5 journalistic reports and 2 institutional records were included in a meta-synthesis divided into different thematic areas. The opening of DCR is a public health strategy with positive effects for drug consumers and society as a whole, but this review demonstrates that technical, strategic and functional improvements are necessary to increase their effectiveness.


Unlocking Streptomyces spp. for use as sustainable industrial production platforms by morphological engineering.
Filamentous actinomycetes are commercially widely used as producers of natural products (in particular antibiotics) and of industrial enzymes. However, the mycelial lifestyle of actinomycetes, resulting in highly viscous broths and unfavorable pellet formation, has been a major bottleneck in their commercialization. Here we describe the successful morphological engineering of industrially important streptomycetes through controlled expression of the morphogene ssgA. This led to improved growth of many industrial and reference streptomycetes, with fragmentation of the mycelial clumps resulting in significantly enhanced growth rates in batch fermentations of Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces lividans. Product formation was also stimulated, with a twofold increase in yield of enzyme production by S. lividans. We anticipate that the use of the presented methodology will make actinomycetes significantly more attractive as industrial and sustainable production hosts.


Antiprostasome antibodies: possible serum markers for prostate cancer metastasizing liability.
Prostasomes are secretory granules synthesized, stored, and secreted by normal and neoplastic human prostate epithelial cells. In prostate cancer, they are anticipated to be released into the blood circulation where they may be immunogenic. The aim of our study was to examine whether prostasome antibody presence in serum bears any prognostic significance for men with prostate cancer. We developed a sensitive and specific immunoassay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to establish the presence of antiprostasome antibodies in serum. The antiprostasome antibody titer in serum, sampled before any kind of therapy for prostate cancer, was examined together with clinicopathologic variables and outcome over a median follow-up of 350 days in 218 patients with verified prostate cancer. We detected these antibodies in 191 (88%) of these patients. This antibody titer did not correlate to serum values of prostate-specific antigen. Significant, inverse relationships were registered for antiprostasome antibody titer, and metastases to bone and/or lymph nodes (P = 0.035) and pT (P = 0.025). These results indicate that the antiprostasome antibody titer in serum may be a novel marker for prostate cancer liability to metastasize.


[Pharmacologic measures for the prevention of mechanical ventilation-associated pneumonia].
Ventilator associated pneumonia is the principal infectious complication in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and represents the main infectious cause of morbidity and mortality. Its diagnosis and management is complex. Consequently, its prevention becomes a cornerstone in daily clinical practice. Daily interruption of sedation, oral and digestive decontamination, prophylactic administration of systemic and/or inhaled antibiotics, glycemic control, stress ulcer prophylaxis, transfusion policy and timing and adequacy of antibiotic treatment are the main suggested pharmacologic interventions. The aim of this review is to critically describe the principal pharmacologic interventions for the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia, focusing on the degree of the evidence and the appropriateness for daily clinical practice.


Purification and properties of Acid phosphatase-1 from a nematode resistant tomato cultivar.
In tomato the acid phosphatase-1 isozyme (Apase-1) is inherited as a single locus linked to the nematode resistance gene (Mi). The Apase-1(1) electrophoretic variant has been purified from a tomato cell suspension culture using ion exchange and concanavalin A sepharose affinity chromatography. A cellulose acetate electrophoresis method was used to distinguish Apase-1(1) rapidly from other Apase isozymes in tomato. The subunit molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 31,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native size of the enzyme, which is reported to be a dimer, was determined to be approximately 51,000 by high performance liquid chromatography gel filtration. Apase-1(1) has a lower pH optimum and a distinct substrate specificity as compared to Apases extracted from tomato fruit or from other plant species. The amino acid composition of Apase-1(1) is similar to that of a potato Apase.


Unilateral Silver-Loaded Silk Fibroin Difunctional Membranes as Antibacterial Wound Dressings.
Silk fibroin (SF) has been widely used as wound dressings due to its good biocompatibility. To enhance the antibacterial properties of the dressings, silver (Ag) is often added. However, an overdose of Ag may cause cytotoxicity and inhibit wound healing. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a two-layered membrane to reduce cytotoxicity while maintaining the antibacterial properties of Ag through a simplified layer-by-layer technique. The membranes comprised an Ag-rich SF layer (Ag-SF) and a pure SF layer. The unilateral Ag-loaded membranes showed efficient antibacterial properties at doses above 0.06 mg/mL Ag, and the antibacterial properties were comparable on both sides. In contrast, the SF sides of the membranes showed lower cytotoxicity than the Ag-SF sides of the membranes. Further studies on the thickness ratio of Ag-SF/SF layers revealed that Ag0.12-SF/SF membranes with a ratio of 1:3 had high cytocompatibility on the SF sides while holding a strong antibacterial property. Besides, the SF sides of the Ag0.12-SF/SF1:3 membranes promoted the expression levels of collagen I and transforming growth factor-β mRNA in human foreskin fibroblasts. The SF sides of the Ag0.12-SF/SF1:3 membranes significantly promoted the healing of infected wounds in vivo. Therefore, unilateral loading with the simplified layer-by-layer preparation technique provided an effective method to balance the cytotoxicity and the antibacterial property of Ag-loaded materials and thus form a broader therapeutic window for Ag applications. The unilateral Ag-loaded silk fibroin difunctional membranes have the potential to be further preclinically explored as wound dressings.


Social capital and cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN): A retrospective longitudinal cohort study using the Health and Retirement Study data, 2006-2016.
Prescription drug spending and other financial factors (e.g., out-of-pocket costs) partially explain variation in cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN). Indicators of social capital such as neighborhood factors and social support may influence the health and well-being of older adults as they may rely on community resources and support from family and peers to manage conditions. Previous research on the relationship of social capital and CRN has limited evidence and contradictory findings. Hence, our objective is to assess the relationship of social capital indicators (neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood physical disorder, positive social support, and negative social support) and CRN using a longitudinal design, 2006 to 2016, in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States (US). The Health and Retirement Study is a prospective panel study of US adults aged ≥ 50 years evaluated every two years. Data was pooled to create three waves and fitted using Generalized Estimating Equation modelling adjusting for both baseline and timevarying covariates (age, sex, education, race, total household income, and perceived health status). The three waves consisted of 11,791, 12,336, and 9,491 participants. Higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion and positive social support were related with lower CRN (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.95 and OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.70-0.84, p<0.01). In contrast, higher levels of neighborhood physical disorder and negative social support were related to higher CRN (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11 and OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.32-1.62, p<0.01). Interventions targeting social capital are needed, reinforcing positive social support and neighborhood social cohesion and diminishing neighborhood physical disorder and negative social support for older adults.


Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Enhances the Antitumor Activity of a MEK Inhibitor in Lung Cancer Cells Harboring RAS Mutations.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be identified by precise molecular subsets based on genomic alterations that drive tumorigenesis and include mutations in EGFR, KRAS, and various ALK fusions. However, despite effective treatments for EGFR and ALK, promising therapeutics have not been developed for patients with KRAS mutations. It has been reported that one way the RAS-ERK pathway contributes to tumorigenesis is by affecting stability and localization of FOXO3a protein, an important regulator of cell death and the cell cycle. This is through regulation of apoptotic proteins BIM and FASL and cell-cycle regulators p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 We now show that an HDAC inhibitor affects the expression and localization of FOXO proteins and wanted to determine whether the combination of a MEK inhibitor with an HDAC inhibitor would increase the sensitivity of NSCLC with KRAS mutation. Combined treatment with a MEK inhibitor and an HDAC inhibitor showed synergistic effects on cell metabolic activity of RAS-mutated lung cancer cells through activation of FOXOs, with a subsequent increase in BIM and cell-cycle inhibitors. Moreover, in a mouse xenograft model, the combination of belinostat and trametinib significantly decreases tumor formation through FOXOs by increasing BIM and the cell-cycle inhibitors p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 These results demonstrate that control of FOXOs localization and expression is critical in RAS-driven lung cancer cells, suggesting that the dual molecular-targeted therapy for MEK and HDACs may be promising as novel therapeutic strategy in NSCLC with specific populations of RAS mutations. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 17-25. ©2017 AACR.


Gemtuzumab ozogamicin-induced sinusoidal obstructive syndrome treated with defibrotide: a case report.
New treatments for relapse of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), include gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), an anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody. We describe a second case of GO-induced sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) effectively treated with defibrotide (DF). No stem-cell transplantation was involved. On day 23 after the first GO dose, a patient presented with ascites, weight gain, liver enlargement and pain in the right upper quadrant. Sudden hepatic cytolysis (transaminases at six times the normal range: grade 3) and cholestasis [alkaline phosphatase ALP and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) respectively at four and eight times the normal range: grade 2] were observed but there was no evidence of increase serum bilirubin. Treatment with DF (Prociclide), Crinos; 10 mg/kg/day, or 200 mg, q.i.d.) improved the hepatic abnormality within a few days (serum transaminases decreased from 312 to 103 IU/L for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and from 141 to 80 IU/L for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) within 3 days ALP increased from 253 to 383 IU/L and gamma-GT from 238 to 417 IU/L 4 days after administration of DF. The clinical and biological features of our case suggest a direct involvement of GO in causing SOS, even when used as monotherapy, without allogenic stem-cell transplantation. Low dose DF (10 mg/kg/day) given early during the development of SOS associated with GO was effective. Unfortunately, in our case the patient eventually died of multi-organ failure probably because of failure of GO.


[Pathology of small intestine transplantation].
Small bowel transplantation is being increasingly performed to treat patients with irreversible intestinal failure or short bowel syndrome. Worldwide approximately 100 transplantations are currently performed per year. Technical advances and new immunosuppressive strategies adopted during the last 10 years have significantly improved the quality of live and survival rate of the patients. The 5-year survival rate is currently around 60%. However, the procedure still bears significant live threatening risks. Mayor problems include surgical complications like anastomotic leakage or peritonitis, acute allograft rejection, systemic infection and in later stages loss of graft function due to chronic rejection. Acute rejection is common after intestinal transplantation. It may occur any time after transplantation and is seen in 50%-80% of the patients. The characteristic changes are enterocyte apoptosis in the crypts, cryptitis and mononuclear cell infiltration with activated lymphocytes. Severe cases may reveal ulcerations or even sloughing and widespread exfoliation of the epithelium and are almost invariably associated with graft loss. The histopathological abnormalities may be patchy and occur in grossly normal mucosa. Therefore, multiple biopsies should be generally sampled for histology. Acute rejection must be distinguished from infections in particular opportunistic viral infections caused by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Adenovirus as well as from Epstein-Barr virus-related B-lymphocyte proliferations. Differential diagnosis also includes preservation injury and ischemia resulting in damage of the mucosal surface epithelium. Long-term graft function and survival are now increasingly determined by chronic rejection. The hallmarks of chronic rejection are obliterative arteriopathy of mesenterial vessels and progressive fibrosis of the transplant including its mesentery.


Signals of speciation within Arabidopsis thaliana in comparison with its relatives.
The species within the now well-defined Arabidopsis genus provide biological materials suitable to investigate speciation and the development of reproductive isolation barriers between related species. Even within the model species A. thaliana, genetic differentiation between populations due to environmental adaptation or demographic history can lead to cases where hybrids between accessions are non-viable. Experimental evidence supports the importance of genome duplications and genetic epistatic interactions in the occurrence of reproductive isolation. Other examples of adaptation to specific environments can be found in Arabidopsis relatives where hybridization and chromosome doubling lead to new amphidiploid species. Molecular signals of speciation found in the Arabidopsis genus should provide a better understanding of speciation processes in plants from a genetic, molecular and evolutionary perspective.


Score Prediction of Sports Events Based on Parallel Self-Organizing Nonlinear Neural Network.
This paper introduces the basic concepts and main characteristics of parallel self-organizing networks and analyzes and predicts parallel self-organizing networks through neural networks and their hybrid models. First, we train and describe the law and development trend of the parallel self-organizing network through historical data of the parallel self-organizing network and then use the discovered law to predict the performance of the new data and compare it with its true value. Second, this paper takes the prediction and application of chaotic parallel self-organizing networks as the main research line and neural networks as the main research method. Based on the summary and analysis of traditional neural networks, it jumps out of inertial thinking and first proposes phase space. Reconstruction parameters and neural network structure parameters are unified and optimized, and then, the idea of dividing the phase space into multiple subspaces is proposed. The multi-neural network method is adopted to track and predict the local trajectory of the chaotic attractor in the subspace with high precision to improve overall forecasting performance. During the experiment, short-term and longer-term prediction experiments were performed on the chaotic parallel self-organizing network. The results show that not only the accuracy of the simulation results is greatly improved but also the prediction performance of the real data observed in reality is also greatly improved. When predicting the parallel self-organizing network, the minimum error of the self-organizing difference model is 0.3691, and the minimum error of the self-organizing autoregressive neural network is 0.008, and neural network minimum error is 0.0081. In the parallel self-organizing network prediction of sports event scores, the errors of the above models are 0.0174, 0.0081, 0.0135, and 0.0381, respectively.


Decreased RNA m6A methylation enhances the process of the epithelial mesenchymal transition and vasculogenic mimicry in glioblastoma.
RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is gradually thought to be an active participant in the considerable biological processes of glioblastoma (GB), providing us with a novel insight for exploring this disease. However, the role of RNA m6A modification during the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) or vasculogenic mimicry (VM) progression has not been investigated in GB. Here we performed a research to validate the impact exerted by AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), one of "erasers" for RNA m6A and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) which adds m6A modification to the RNAs on the progression of EMT and VM in GB. In this study, we demonstrate that the m6A levels of RNAs were reduced in GB cells and glioma tissues. Patients with high mRNA expression of ALKBH5 acquired relatively shorter median overall survival (OS) time, while patients with relatively high expression of MEETL3 prolonged their disease free survival. ALKBH5 enhanced GB cell proliferation and influenced cell cycle in vitro. Decreased RNA m6A methylation enhanced the progression of the EMT and VM in glioblastoma cells. ALKBH5 strengthened glioblastoma growth and enhanced the EMT and VM process of glioblastoma in vivo. Our study uncovers that RNA m6A methylation suppresses the process of EMT and VM in glioblastoma, providing a new perspective to seek for a potential therapeutic target for GB.


[A case of advanced gastric cancer with liver abscesses].
A man visited to our hospital because of high grade fever. Computed tomography revealed multilocular space occupying lesion which were suspected liver abscess. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an advanced gastric cancer with an ulcer on antrum. Antibiotics decreased the level of CRP, concurrently with the reduction of liver space occupying lesion. While he underwent distal gastrectomy, pathological examination demonstrated the existence of bacterial foci and microabscesses on the surface of the gastric cancer. We speculate in this case that liver abscesses were formed by the infection of resident bacteria through portal vein.


[Specific IgE in the cord blood of infants from allergic parents].
We evaluated the cord blood level of specific IgE in newborn having first grade relatives affected by allergic disease. We aimed: a) to look for a significant threshold (if any) of sp. IgE predictive of atopy; b) to verify the clinical reliability of the CAP System by Pharmacia. 9 out of 60 patients with positive family history had sp. IgE > 0.35 KU/L; 7 out of these 9 children were symptomatic to a clinical follow-up at 18 months. Moreover 65% of children with positive history but no sp. IgE and 100% of patients with both a negative history and no sp. IgE were completely free of allergic symptoms in the same period. We conclude that a careful history and cord blood sp. IgE measurement might be of value in early diagnosis of atopy.


Gallbladder sludge and stone formation in relation to contractile function after gastrectomy. A prospective study.
In a prospective trial to determine whether gastric surgery induces gallbladder sludge and stone formation, 48 patients with gastric cancer were ultrasonographically examined with simultaneous observation on changes in gallbladder contractile function before and serially for 5 years after gastrectomy. Gallbladder sludge formation was induced with a high frequency of 42% 1 month after gastrectomy, with corresponding significant lowering of gallbladder contractile function. Most of gallbladder sludges, however, disappeared within 12 months in relation to the gradual recovery of gallbladder contractile function. Conversely, gallstone developed in nine patients (18.8%), mostly more than 6 months after gastrectomy. Interestingly, gallstone formation was induced in seven patients who were sludge negative. An evolvement of gallbladder sludge into stone was observed in only two patients, who were, however, treated with intravenous hyperalimentation. This study first provides evidence for the relationship between gastrectomy and a considerably high frequency of incidence of gallbladder sludge and stone in relation to changes in gallbladder kinetics after gastrectomy.


Identification of limiting factors for the optimum growth of fusarium oxysporum in liquid medium.
Fusarium oxysporum is a highly ubiquitous species that infects a wide range of hosts causing various diseases such as vascular wilts, yellows, rots, and damping-off. Despite the immense economic significance of this phytopathogen, few workers have reported growth studies in this genus in submerged culture. In the present study, several parameters such as change in media pH, biomass, pattern of substrate utilization, viability of the fungal cells, and protein content were observed over a period of time. The fungal biomass increased at a slow rate for the initial 48 h and thereafter increased at an exponential rate. However, after about 8 days the rapid growth stabilized and the trend became more toward stationary phase. The concentration of glucose in the liquid media decreased rapidly up to the initial 4 days, followed by a slow decrease. The pH of the medium gradually decreased as the fungal growth progressed, the reduction being more pronounced in the initial 48 h. This study would be of immense importance for utilization of F. oxysporum for diverse applications because we can predict the growth pattern in the fungus and modulate its growth for human benefit.


Surgical approaches to the superior mesenteric artery during minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy: A systematic review.
Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) has recently been safely performed by experts, and various methods for resection have been reported. This review summarizes the literature describing surgical approaches for MIPD. A systematic literature search of PubMed (MEDLINE) was conducted for studies reporting robotic and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy; the reference lists of review articles were searched. Of 444 articles yielded, 23 manuscripts describing the surgical approach to dissect around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), including hand-searched articles, were assessed. Various approaches to dissect around the SMA have been reported. These approaches were categorized according to the direction toward the SMA when initiating dissection around the SMA: anterior approach (two articles), posterior approach (four articles), right approach (16 articles), and left approach (three articles). Thus, many reports used the right approach. Most articles provided a technical description. Some articles showed the advantage of their method in a comparison study. However, these were single-center retrospective studies with a small sample size. Various approaches for MIPD have been reported; however, few authors have reported the advantage of their methods compared to other methods. Further discussion is needed to clarify the appropriate surgical approach to the SMA during MIPD.


Preparation of Nanosized Metallic Particles in Polyaniline.
The preparation of nanosized gold and palladium particles in polyaniline has been carried out via the reduction of AuCl(3) or Pd(NO(3))(2) by polyaniline in either aqueous media or N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP). When the reduction of AuCl(3) was carried out in NMP solutions of polyaniline, the Au particles were on the order of 20 nm. The reduction of AuCl(3) or Pd(NO(3))(2) by polyaniline in the powder form in aqueous media resulted in the accumulation of the elemental Au or Pd on the surface of the polyaniline particles. Subsequent dissolution of the polyaniline in NMP resulted in metal particles of about 50 to 200 nm being dispersed in the NMP solution of polyaniline. The rate of metal salt reduction and the size of the metal particles were found to be strongly dependent on the medium used, the initial ratio of metal ions to polyaniline, and the reaction time. The polyaniline-metal particle systems were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy and laser light scattering were used to determine the size of the metal particles in polyaniline. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.


Application of Psychological Contract Theory in Mental Health and Professional Development of University Teachers.
Mental health is an important element of human public health. To investigate the respective causes of and the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and psychological anxiety of university teachers, the author, after making a targeted survey of more than 2000 questionnaires and conducting statistics and analysis of the survey data, discovers that the effort-reward imbalance has a significant effect on the anxiety of university teachers and meanwhile, effort-reward imbalance will indirectly affect the anxiety of university teachers through the breach of psychological contracts and thus directly affect the mental health of university teachers. To solve this problem, the author takes advantage of the psychological contract theory and designs a mental health improvement system for university teachers, that is, to pay more attention to the feeling of effort-reward balance of young university teachers, to give more care and help to teachers who have imbalance feelings, to take the maintenance of psychological contracts as an important starting point of the ideological work of young teachers in universities, and so on. Through the implementation of relevant systems, colleges and universities have effectively strengthened their ability to fulfill contracts, established convenient and unobstructed communication channels, prevented breach of psychological contracts of teachers, and prevented teachers from working at high exhaustion at the cost of their physical and mental health, which can finally improve the job satisfaction and professional development of university teachers and enable them to be devoted to higher education in better health.


Implementing Routine HIV Screening in an Urban Adolescent Population at a General Pediatric Clinic.
To increase the rate of routine HIV screening during preventative visits for adolescent patients aged 15 to 21 in a pediatric and adolescent clinic in accordance with national recommendations, which are poorly implemented nationwide. This was a quality improvement initiative. Four plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were conducted from May 2016 to February 2020. Interventions included education of and reminders for the multidisciplinary team on guidelines and testing, creation of a standardized workflow, introduction of a rapid point-of-care HIV antibody test (POCT), and implementation of an opt-out, medical assistant/nursing-driven protocol for HIV rapid point-of-care testing. The primary outcome measure was the monthly percentage of adolescents screened for HIV during preventative visits. Data is presented in a p-control chart and means were adjusted for special cause variation according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement guidelines. Rates of routine HIV screening at preventative visits for youth ages 15 to 21 increased from the pre-intervention rate of 5.16% to a final rate of 41.5% over four PDSA cycles. Mean screening rates were adjusted after introducing the HIV POCT (+18.5%) and after implementing the medical assistant/nursing-driven protocol (+17.9%). We successfully increased routine HIV screening rates at preventative visits for adolescents at an urban pediatric and adolescent clinic. This was in large part due to testing with a rapid HIV POCT and a clinic protocol allowing medical assistants and nurses to order the test under a physician's name as part of the intake process. Ours can be a model for other clinics.


Comparative Performance of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Reared on Various Cereal-Based Artificial Diets.
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a polyphagous and highly destructive agricultural pest that invaded mainland China in 2019. To facilitate research on this pest, it is important to formulate and formalize a suitable artificial diet based on local ingredients. In this study, the life histories of fall armyworm reared on corn leaves and four artificial diets were recorded. The four artificial diets used were: soybean and sucrose-based (SS), soybean and wheat germ-based (SW), chickpea and wheat germ-based (CPW), and corn and soybean-based (CNS). The intrinsic rates of increase were 0.1957, 0.1981, 0.1816, 0.1748, and 0.1464 per day in the fall armyworm populations fed corn leaves, CNS, SW, CPW, and SS, respectively. The highest fecundity (F = 1225.4 eggs per female) and net reproduction rate (R0 = 544.7 offspring per individual) were observed for the fall armyworm reared on the CNS diet. Moreover, the developmental rate, survival rate, and fecundity were used to calculate the projection of the population growth. Projection results showed that the fall armyworm populations can increase considerably faster when fed the CNS diet compared with the other diets. In addition, the mass-rearing system showed that the most efficient and economical strategy would be to rear the fall armyworm on the CNS diet. The results indicated that the CNS diet was the most suitable diet for the fall armyworm mass rearing.


Heliox in the treatment of status asthmaticus: case reports.
Helium was discovered in 1868 by the French astronomer Pierre-Jules-César Janssen and was first used as a therapeutic treatment for airway obstruction by Barach almost 70 years later, in 1934. Heliox is characterized by its low density, which makes it more fluid under conditions of turbulence, thus minimizing airway pressure and facilitating the occurrence of laminar flow. The present article describes two clinical cases of patients with status asthmaticus subjected to mechanical ventilation and refractory to treatment in whom heliox was used, which allowed optimization of the efficacy of conventional pharmacological treatments. Although heliox is still used sporadically and its true efficacy has not been well demonstrated, the unique physical properties of helium and the theoretical improvement of the airflow in obstructed airways have produced scientific interest and stimulated research. Heliox can be used simultaneously with conventional therapies in cases of serious and refractory exacerbations of severe obstructive disease.


Pancreatic metastasectomy of renal cell carcinoma: a single institution experience.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common primary neoplasia that metastasizes to the pancreas. Pancreatic metastasis (PM) occur in asymptomatic older patients and are identified during follow up. If resectable, surgery is the treatment of choice for long term survival. Our goal is to analyze outcomes of patients with RCC-PM. We reviewed all patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) who underwent resection, from known primary RCC and RCC-PM. There were 16 patients (mean age of 67 ± 8 years, male 8 (50%), mean BMI 29 ± 5.36 kg/m2). Half of them were asymptomatic. Diagnosis was incidental in 56.25% with a median lesion size of 25 mm (12-80). Pancreatic resections performed were: pancreatoduodenectomy (31.25%), distal pancreatectomy (56.25%) and total pancreatectomy (12.5%). Median estimated blood loss was 225 mL (15-2,200), median operative time was 242 min (63-420). Median length of stay was 6 days (2-30). New-onset diabetes was 6.25%. The minor complication and reoperation rates, were 37.5% and 6.25%, respectively. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 17 (4-31), all were negative. All had a R0 resection. Recurrence of disease was 18.75% with a median time after surgery of 3 years (2-6). The median follow up was 9 years (0-15). Thirteen (81.25%) patients are still alive, eight are disease free. Three (18.75%) died. Long term survival can be achieved with surgical resection of PM from RCC in selected patients in whom complete resection is possible.


Haplessly hoping: macaque major histocompatibility complex made easy.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products control the repertoire of T cell responses that an individual may create against pathogens and foreign tissues. This text will review the current understanding of MHC genetics in nonhuman primates, with a focus on Mauritian-origin cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and Indian-origin rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). These closely related macaque species provide important experimental models for studies of infectious disease pathogenesis, vaccine development, and transplantation research. Recent advances resulting from the application of several cost effective, high-throughput approaches, with deep sequencing technologies have revolutionized our ability to perform MHC genotyping of large macaque cohorts. Pyrosequencing of cDNA amplicons with a Roche/454 GS Junior instrument, provides excellent resolution of MHC class I allelic variants with semi-quantitative estimates of relative levels of transcript abundance. Introduction of the Illumina MiSeq platform significantly increased the sample throughput, since the sample loading workflow is considerably less labor intensive, and each instrument run yields approximately 100-fold more sequence data. Extension of these sequencing methods from cDNA to genomic DNA amplicons further streamlines the experimental workflow and opened opportunities for retrospective MHC genotyping of banked DNA samples. To facilitate the reporting of MHC genotypes, and comparisons between groups of macaques, this text also introduces an intuitive series of abbreviated rhesus MHC haplotype designations based on a major Mamu-A or Mamu-B transcript characteristic for ancestral allele combinations. The authors believe that the use of MHC-defined macaques promises to improve the reproducibility, and predictability of results from pre-clinical studies for translation to humans.


Opioid-sparing effects of a low-dose infusion of naloxone in patient-administered morphine sulfate.
A naloxone infusion is effective in reducing epidural and intrathecal opioid-related side effects. The use of naloxone infusion concomitant with intravenous morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has not been evaluated, probably because of an expected direct antagonism of the systemic opioid effect. The authors compared the incidence of morphine-related side effects and the quality of analgesia from two small doses of naloxone infusion. Sixty patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, 2, or 3 who were scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomies were enrolled in the study. Patients received a standardized general anesthetic. In the postanesthetic care unit, patients received morphine as a PCA. They were randomized to receive either 0.25 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) naloxone (low dose), 1 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) (high dose), or saline (placebo) as a continuous infusion. Verbal rating scores for pain, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus; sedation scores; requests for antiemetic; and morphine use were recorded for 24 h. Blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxyhemoglobin saturation were also monitored. Sixty patients completed the study. Both naloxone doses were equally effective in reducing the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and pruritus compared with placebo (P < 0.05 by the chi-squared test). There was no difference in the verbal rating scores for pain between the groups. The cumulative morphine use was the lowest in the low-dose group (42.3 +/- 24.1 mg; means +/- SD) compared with the placebo (59.1 +/- 27.4 mg) and high-dose groups (64.7 +/- 33.0 mg) at 24 h (P < 0.05 by analysis of variance). There was no incidence of respiratory depression (<8 breaths/min) and no difference in sedation scores, antiemetic use, respiratory rate, and hemodynamic parameters among the groups. Naloxone is effective in preventing PCA opioid-related side effects. Naloxone infusion at 0.25 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) not only attenuates these side effects but appears to reduce postoperative (beyond 4-8 h) opioid requirements. This dosing regimen can be prepared with 400 microg naloxone in 1,000 ml crystalloid given in 24 h to a patient weighing 70 kg.


Results of a prospective trial of strategies for improving oxygen utilization.
We prospectively investigated strategies for assuring that oxygen was provided to patients hospitalized in our institution, according to standard indications (Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medical Necessity Guidelines). After a baseline observation period (Phase I) during which no specific interventions were made, therapists were informed that appropriate oxygen utilization was an administrative goal and a department priority, and intensive instruction and case review were provided by the Technical and Medical Directors (Phase II). In Phase III, therapists were encouraged to continue to assure that guidelines were met, but instruction, discussion, and review ceased, and the Technical Director assumed responsibility for all oxygen therapy decisions. Finally, all concerted policing activity by the Technical Director ceased (Phase IV). The total number of patients and percentage of patients with no indications for therapy fell progressively through Phases II and III and returned almost to baseline after policing activities were discontinued in Phase IV. We believe that it is unlikely that any department can sustain the educational and supervisory input necessary to assure optimal conformance to published standards for oxygen therapy when all members are involved. Therefore, assigning one qualified person to manage oxygen therapy may be more successful than other approaches. Requiring all therapists to monitor conformance to standards for low-flow oxygen therapy is time consuming and less effective and limits the time that can be spent caring for patients with problems that respond favorably to other forms of respiratory therapy.


Additive Manufactured Sandwich Composite/ABS Parts for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Applications.
Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is one of most popular 3D printing techniques of thermoplastic polymers. Nonetheless, the poor mechanical strength of FDM parts restricts the use of this technology in functional parts of many applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) where lightweight, high strength, and stiffness are required. In the present paper, the fabrication process of low-density acrylonitrile butadiene styrenecarbon (ABS) with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sandwich layers for UAV structure is proposed to improve the poor mechanical strength and elastic modulus of printed ABS. The composite sandwich structures retains FDM advantages for rapid making of complex geometries, while only requires simple post-processing steps to improve the mechanical properties. Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to investigate the influence of the core density and number of CFRP layers on the mechanical properties. The results showed an improvement of specific strength and elastic modulus with increasing the number of CFRP. The specific strength of the samples improved from 20 to 145 KN·m/kg while the Young's modulus increased from 0.63 to 10.1 GPa when laminating the samples with CFRP layers. On the other hand, the core density had no significant effect on both specific strength and elastic modulus. A case study was undertaken by applying the CFRP/ABS/CFRP sandwich structure using the proposed method to manufacture improved dual-tilting clamps of a quadcopter UAV.


Bulimia nervosa in obese patients qualified for bariatric surgery - clinical picture, background and treatment.
Eating is a basic human physiological need which is necessary to keep the body alive. Eating disorders are diagnosed when eating (or not eating) and associated body weight gain anxiety become the main interest of an individual and all other spheres of life depend on it. Bulimia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder which is more and more commonly diagnosed in patients suffering from obesity and in patients after surgical treatment of obesity. In patients eligible for bariatric surgery this disorder should be diagnosed appropriately early and treated successfully before the procedure, because bulimia nervosa does not regress spontaneously. When untreated, it may last for years, reducing the efficacy of a surgical treatment of obesity, or even lead to complications that are health- and life-threatening for patients.


Changing patterns of migration and regional economic growth in the U.S.: a demographic perspective.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the South and West census regions accounted for over 90% of incremental national population, which was easily the highest percentage accounted for by these regions in the nation's history. This paper stresses the importance of powerful demographic forces that contributed to the regional shift, but it does not ignore important economic factors. A major theme of the paper is that because the baby boom has now largely matured out of the most mobile age classes, population and employment growth differentials that strongly favored the South and West will moderate in the future.


Development challenges associated with rAAV-based gene therapies.
The number of gene therapies in development continues to increase, as they represent a novel method to treat, and potentially cure, many diseases. Gene therapies can be conducted with an in vivo or ex vivo approach, to cause gene augmentation, gene suppression, or genomic editing. Adeno-associated viruses are commonly used to deliver gene therapies, but their use is associated with several manufacturing, nonclinical and clinical challenges. As these challenges emerge, regulatory agency expectations continue to evolve. Following administration of rAAV-based gene therapies, nonclinical toxicities may occur, which includes immunogenicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and the potential risks for insertional mutagenesis and subsequent tumorgenicity. The mechanism for these findings and translation into the clinical setting are unclear at this time but have influenced the nonclinical studies that regulatory agencies are increasingly requesting to support clinical trials and marketing authorizations. These evolving regulatory expectations and toxicities, as well as future nonclinical considerations, are discussed herein.


DNA damage in women with cervical neoplasia evaluated by DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization.
To evaluate the association between the progressive stages of cervical dysplasia and DNA damage. A hospital-based, unmatched case-control study was performed. DNA damage levels in the cervical epithelial cells of 30 women (10 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [LSIL], 10 with high-grade SIL [HSILI, and 10 with no cervical lesions) were evaluated using the DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD-FISH) technique. DNA damage levels were measured quantitatively using image analysis after whole-genomic DNA hybridization. LSIL patients presented a hybridization signal 20 times greater than the signal in control individuals, which reflected the basal level of DNA damage detected, and HSIL patients showed 100 times the basal control signal. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed differences between both patient groups and the control and between the patients with LSIL and HSIL. The DBD-FISH technique is easy to apply to cervical scrapings and provides prompt results. Our findings confirm that the grade of a cervical lesion correlates with the degree of genomic instability.


Occupational performance, pain, and global quality of life in women with upper extremity fractures.
To examine pain, occupational performance problems, and quality of life (QoL) and possible associations between these variables, 41 elderly women with acute pain due to a fracture of the upper extremity were assessed with COPM, DASH, validated questions on pain, and a global question on QoL. The participants reported 802 performance problems: 38% within self-care, 52% within productivity, and 10% within leisure. Strength demanding bilateral activities in cleaning, hygiene, and cooking were most frequently reported. The median COPM performance and satisfaction scores were 2.8 and 3.4; the mean DASH score was 44.27. Pain frequency and intensity as well as QoL correlated moderately with the number of performance problems on the COPM. QoL was in general not very reduced and correlated only negligibly with pain. The DASH score correlated moderately with the total number of performance problems on the COPM and with the COPM satisfaction score, and it can be argued that a finding of a low DASH score in elderly women with upper extremity fractures should be followed up by a referral to occupational therapy. Future studies, preferably follow-up studies, are called for to further explore the multiple factors leading to performance problems in women with fractures of the upper extremity and to explore possible associations between activity performance and QoL.


[Myoclonus of focal action and localized hemispheric lesion. A polygraphic and pharmacological study].
Authors report a case of focal action myoclonus due to a localized hemispheric lesion. The woman had cardiac arrest complicated by ischemic stroke involving the left parietal region. Action myoclonus of the inferior right limb was the sole residual complaint, provoked by movement and maintenance of posture. Patient noted that myoclonus was worsened by carbamazepine and vigabatrin. EEG-EMG polygraphic study demonstrated action myoclonus and showed a particular EEG activity consisting in a volley of spikes on the vertex region during the right inferior limb movements. Contralateral movements did not elicit this activity. Pharmacological response to clonazepam, piracetam and alcohol was studied. A marked improvement of myoclonus was obtained with alcohol. Pathophysiology of this exceptional form of cortical action myoclonus is discussed.


Preoperative Fasting and General Anaesthesia Alter the Plasma Proteome.
Blood plasma collected at time of surgery is an excellent source of patient material for investigations into disease aetiology and for the discovery of novel biomarkers. Previous studies on limited sets of proteins and patients have indicated that pre-operative fasting and anaesthesia can affect protein levels, but this has not been investigated on a larger scale. These effects could produce erroneous results in case-control studies if samples are not carefully matched. The proximity extension assay (PEA) was used to characterize 983 unique proteins in a total of 327 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 50 age-matched healthy women. The samples were collected either at time of initial diagnosis or before surgery under general anaesthesia. 421 of the investigated proteins (42.8%) showed statistically significant differences in plasma abundance levels comparing samples collected at time of diagnosis or just before surgery under anaesthesia. The abundance levels of the plasma proteome in samples collected before incision, i.e., after short-time fasting and under general anaesthesia differs greatly from levels in samples from awake patients. This emphasizes the need for careful matching of the pre-analytical conditions of samples collected from controls to cases at time of surgery in the discovery as well as clinical use of protein biomarkers.


Stable carbon isotope fractionation by acetotrophic sulfur-reducing bacteria.
Acetate is the most important intermediate in anaerobic degradation of organic matter. The carbon isotope effects associated with the oxidation of acetate (epsilon(ac)) were examined for four acetotrophic sulfur reducers, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, Desulfuromonas thiophila, Desulfurella acetivorans, and Hippea maritima. During the consumption of acetate and sulfur, acetate was enriched in (13)C by 11.5 and 11.2 per thousand in Desulfuromonas acetoxidans and Desulfuromonas thiophila, respectively. By contrast, isotope fractionation in D. acetivorans and H. maritima resulted in isotope enrichment factors of epsilon(ac)=-6.3 per thousand and -8.4 per thousand, respectively. These sulfur-reducing bacteria all metabolize acetate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle, but have different mechanisms for the initial activation of acetate. In Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, acetyl-CoA is formed by succinyl-CoA : acetate-CoA-transferase, and in D. acetivorans by acetate kinase and phosphate acetyltransferase. Hence, values of epsilon(ac) seem to be characteristic for the type of activation of acetate to acetyl-CoA in acetotrophic sulfur reducers. Summarizing epsilon(ac)-values in anaerobic acetotrophic microorganisms, it appears that isotope fractionation depends on the mechanism of acetate activation to acetyl-CoA, on the key enzyme of the acetate dissimilation pathway, and on the bioavailability of acetate, which all have to be considered when using delta(13)C of acetate in environmental samples for diagnosis of the involved microbial populations.


Using voluntary cough to detect penetration and aspiration during oropharyngeal swallowing in patients with Parkinson disease.
Identification of people with Parkinson disease (PD) who are at risk for aspiration is important, especially because of the high prevalence of aspiration pneumonia. Fifty-eight consecutive patients (Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III; average age 72.3) were enrolled in the study. Measures of airflow during voluntary cough production and the degree of penetration/aspiration on a 3-oz oropharyngeal swallow task, derived from videofluorographic images, were examined. To detect at-risk people (those with penetration and/or aspiration on the 3-oz swallow task), four objective measures of voluntary cough (compression phase duration [CPD], expiratory phase rise time [EPRT], expiratory phase peak flow [EPPF], and cough volume acceleration [CVA)]) were collected. CPD, EPRT, EPPF, and CVA measurements produced significant area under the curve (AUC) analyses and likelihood ratios equal to 0.83:2.72, 0.71:2.68, 0.69:1.75, and 0.78:18.42, respectively. CPD, EPRT, EPPF, and CVA measurements demonstrated sensitivities of 95.83%, 70.83%, 87.50%, and 84.53%, and specificities of 64.71%, 73.53%, 50.01%, and 97.06%, respectively. For detection of aspiration, EPPF was significantly associated with an AUC = 0.88 and with an EPPF < 5.24, which had a sensitivity of 57.15% and a specificity of 100%. The data from this pilot study suggest that in patients with PD, objective airflow measures from voluntary cough production may identify at-risk penetrator/aspirators. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the discriminative ability of voluntary cough airflow characteristics to model airway compromise in people with PD.


Medical research productivity of Lebanon: a bibliometric study of papers indexed in Medline, 1985-2004.
Analysis of biomedical publications of a country is used to monitor research trends which leads to a better formulation of health policy planning and management. We sought to describe the Lebanese medical publications productivity over a 20 years period from 1985 to 2004. Medline's database was consulted and the query contained the name of the country, the medical universities, the main teaching hospitals, and cities, both in French and in English. The articles with a Lebanese health affiliation were included and the articles of dentistry, veterinary, nursing and pharmacy were excluded. We counted 1964 medical articles over a two-decade period. The productivity was 2,9 articles/100000 capita/year and 9,2 articles/billion US dollars GDP/year. The growth rate of publication drew a decline passing from 202% (1990-1994) to 55,3% (2000- 2004). The four most productive specialties (Anesthesiology, Internal medicine, Gynecology, Pediatrics) published 611 articles (31,1%). The governorate of Beirut, the American University of Beirut and its teaching hospital published the most with respectively 1926 (98%), 568 (28,9%), and 601 articles (30,6%). The Lebanese medical productivity was weak and unstable mainly due to the lack of financial resources and the instability of the region. Increasing research funding, improving the physicians' research methodology and writing capacities are likely needed to improve the Lebanese medical output.


Non-syndromic deafness associated with a mutation and a polymorphism in the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene in a large Zairean pedigree.
Hereditary non-syndromic deafness has been associated with a point mutation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. We present data from deaf individuals in 12 nuclear families originating from a small village in Zaire. The patients have a sudden-onset and profound, bilateral sensorineural deafness with a highly variable age of onset. Inheritance is compatible with a mitochondrial DNA defect. Sequencing of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene revealed the presence of a homoplasmic 1555 A to G mutation in the patients and their normal siblings. The mutation is invariably associated with a T to C transition at 1420 in the same gene. Additional (mitochondrial or autosomal) genetic defect(s) or an environmental factor must be implicated in the expression of the defect. In Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed lymphocytes harbouring the normal or mutant mitochondrial DNA, no differential effect of aminoglycosides on protein translation was observed.


Reversible choreoathetosis after the administration of ceftriaxone sodium in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Neurologic manifestations, such as myoclonus, asterixis, seizures and altered level of consciousness, may be induced in patients with impaired renal function receiving β-lactam antibiotics, which stem in part from drug accumulation because of altered pharmacokinetics. Because of its long half-life and easy penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid, the third generation cephalosporin, ceftriaxone (CTRX), is often chosen to treat patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Here, the authors describe 4 patients with ESRD complicated with bacterial infection and choreoathetosis after the administration of CTRX. Choreoathetosis disappeared without leaving sequelae after CTRX therapy was withdrawn, although the severity and symptom duration varied. To our knowledge, there are few reports on choreoathetosis associated with β-lactam antibiotic administration in patients with kidney diseases. To prevent delayed diagnosis, one should bear in mind that choreoathetosis might occur in patients with ESRD treated with CTRX, when it is given in high or even regular doses.


Intracellular expression of BPTI fusion proteins and single column cleavage/affinity purification by chymotrypsin.
The novel and efficient expression system described here produces formerly poorly expressed, proteolytically unstable mutants of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). A new, single column method for the cleavage of a recombinant fusion to BPTI and affinity purification of the BPTI moiety by immobilized chymotrypsin is an integral part of the system. Wild-type and mutant BPTI molecules are expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins forming intracellular inclusion bodies. Transcription initiation is under the control of the E. coli trp promoter. The expressed protein is tripartite fusion comprising (i) a portion of the TrpLE leader peptide, (ii) a synthetic IgG binding domain derived from protein A and (iii) the BPTI variant. Solubilization of the inclusion bodies and refolding of the fusion proteins in a thiol-disulfide shuffling system yields correctly folded inhibitor molecules. In the single column purification and cleavage procedure, immobilized chymotrypsin cleaves the refolded fusion protein and releases affinity purified active BPTI mutants with correct N-termini. Mutant BPTI molecules which do not fold into active inhibitors are also stably expressed in inclusion bodies but cannot be purified by this method. Unlike previously described secretion systems for the production of BPTI, expression levels in this system appear to be independent of both the mutation in the BPTI gene and the activity of the expressed protein. Mutants poorly expressed in secretion systems can now be produced in sufficient quantities for protein folding studies and structural analysis using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.


Quantitative cone-beam computed tomography evaluation of hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the midpalatal suture region to facilitate orthodontic mini-implant placement.
To identify the most favorable sites that optimize the initial stability and survival rate of orthodontic mini-implants, this study measured hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the median and paramedian regions of the palate using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and determined possible sexand age-related differences in these thicknesses. The study sample comprised CBCT images of 189 healthy subjects. The sample was divided into four groups according to age. A grid area was set for the measurement of hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the palate. Vertical lines were marked at intervals of 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mm lateral to the midpalatal suture, while horizontal lines were marked at 2-mm intervals up to 24 mm from the posterior margin of the incisive foramen. Measurements were made at 65 points of intersection between the horizontal and vertical lines. The palatal hard tissue thickness decreased from the anterior to the posterior region, with a decrease in the medial-to-lateral direction in the middle and posterior regions. While the soft tissue was rather thick around the lateral aspects of the palatal arch, it formed a constant layer that was only 1-2-mm thick throughout the palate. Statistically significant differences were observed according to sex and age. The anterolateral palate as well as the midpalatal suture seem to be the most favorable sites for insertion of orthodontic mini-implants. The thickness of the palate differed by age and sex; these differences should be considered while planning the placement of orthodontic mini-implants.


Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Dimensions of Quality of Life and Blood Indicators in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major.
Thalassemia is considered as a group of genetic blood disorders, characterized by anemia. The present research aimed at evaluating the effects of aquatic exercise on quality of life and blood indices in patients with beta-thalassemia major. A clinical trial study involving 40 patients with thalassemia major, divided into two groups: experimental and control. The tools used to collect the data included demographic information questionnaire, blood indicators questionnaire, and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. The experimental group performed exercise in water three times per week for 8 weeks in the pool after obtaining the consent. In this research, the quality of life questionnaire was filled out 24 h before the intervention, 24 h after the last session of the exercise program, and 2 months after the end of the exercise program. The current research revealed that exercise in water affected the quality of life, hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin of serum such that the mean score of quality of life and blood indicators in the study showed a significant difference in the experimental group. The use of a regular exercise program combined with drug therapy and blood transfusion can be useful in the treatment of beta-thalassemia patients.


Characterization of sulfated beta-cyclodextrins and determination of enantiomeric purity of (1 R,2S)-ephedrine by capillary zone electrophoresis.
Matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize two different sulfated beta-cyclodextrins (HS-beta-CD). It was found that the HS-beta-CDs have broad heterogeneity in terms of sulfation degree. The average sulfate contents were in the range of 6 to 8 per CD molecule. Furthermore the sugar moieties of both HS-beta-CDs were sulfated either at position 6 or at positions 2 and 6, but not at position 3. Enantiomeric separation by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using the HS-beta-CDs as chiral selectors showed that these CDs exhibited similar chiral selectivity and resolution of the ephedrine enantiomers. One of the CDs was employed for the enantiomeric purity evaluation of (1R,2S)-ephedrine (or (-)-ephedrine) by capillary zone electrophoresis. Quantification was done by comparison between the corrected peak areas of the minor enantiomer and (-)-ephedrine.


11H-Pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-c]cinnoline and pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,2,3]benzotriazine: two new ring systems with antitumor activity.
Derivatives of new ring systems 11H-pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-c]cinnoline and pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,2,3]benzotriazine have been prepared from the key intermediates 2-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-2-yl)anilines in excellent yields (94-99%) and screened by the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD) on about 60 human tumor cell lines derived from nine cancer cell types. The tested compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity against all the human cell lines, showing comparable MG_MID (mean graph midpoint) values in the range of 0.74-1.15 μM. A particular efficacy was observed against the leukemia subpanel (GI50 = 0.73-0.0090 μM). Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle demonstrated an increase in the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase. The compounds caused apoptosis of the cells, mitochondrial depolarization, generation of reactive oxygen species, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, they acted as topoisomerase I inhibitors.


[Dextranomer beads in stabilized non-animal sodium hyaluronate gel (NASHA/Dx gel) for vesicoureteral reflux: multi-center study in Japanease patients].
To investigate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment with the injectable gel of dextranomer beads in stabilized non-animal sodium hyaluronate (NASHA/Dx gel) administered submucosally close to the proximity of ureteral orifice, we performed the multi-center open study of Japanese patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). We herein report the results of the study. Patients aged > or = 1 year with grade II-IV VUR underwent endoscopic injection with NASHA/Dx gel. Post-treatment assessment was done by voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) at 3 and 12 months. Patients with VUR grade II-IV at 3 months underwent re-treatment, with VCUG assessment 3 and 12 months after retreatment. Positive response to treatment was defined as reflux grade 0 or 1. The initial treatment was conducted to 116 ureters in 73 patients. The per-protocol efficacy population included 97 ureters in 71 patients. On a per-ureter basis, the positive response rate at 12 months after the last endoscopic treatment was 69.1%, compared with 62.0% on a per-patient basis. Improvement in reflux grade was shown to be statistically significant at both 3 months post initial treatment and 12 months post last treatment. Positive response rate decreased with increasing baseline reflux grade. There were only two mild adverse events (AEs) and one moderate laboratory fluctuation which were potentially relating to NASHA/Dx gel. This study has shown that endoscopic injection of NASHA/Dx gel is effective and well tolerated in Japanese patients with VUR. First-line use of this treatment for VUR could potentially be considered for Japan also.


Prevalence of dental myths, oral hygiene methods and tobacco habits in an ageing North Indian rural population.
Though increased emphasis is being given to expanding dental care facilities and awareness in Indian villages, the target population is unfortunately less literate and financially-equipped compared to their urban counterparts. This study attempted to evaluate dental myths, oral hygiene methods and beliefs, and tobacco habits present in a rural ageing population. The study area consisted of a group of 10 villages, situated in the district of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The sample comprised 681 people aged 50 years or above. The subjects were questioned about dental myths, tobacco habits and oral hygiene methods and then divided into groups on the basis of age, gender, and educational status. Mean values, standard deviation, chi-square test, t-test and p values were used to obtain inter-group comparisons. Forty percent of the subjects considered oral hygiene unnecessary, with 61% relying on simple mouth rinsing for maintaining oral hygiene, 48% either smoked and chewed tobacco or both and 81% had one or more dental myth. The results showed that the rural ageing population is deprived and a targeted programme to spread scientific dental practices to them is necessary.


[Crystalline modifications and polymorphism changes during drug manufacture].
More than half of the pharmaceutical compounds exhibit polymorphism or pseudopolymorphism, e.g., they exist as more than one crystalline structure (true polymorphs, hydrates, solvates) or as more or less amorphous products. As such, they show at the solid state different physicochemical properties (melting point, transition point, plasticity, solubility, hygroscopicity, chemical reactivity), which in turn may affect the technological and biopharmaceutical properties of active ingredients or excipients (compactibility, dissolution rate, bioavailability, pharmacological activity, stability). When considering a chemically well-defined compound, one may find one or another crystalline state or polymorphic form according to the source or batch considered. One may also observe changes in technological or biopharmaceutical properties that are due to polymorphic transformations arising from the mechanical or heat treatment or from the environmental conditions (solvent-mediated reactions, desolvation) undergone by the product or the dosage form. The present article presents the fundamental aspects related to the above-mentioned phenomena and reviews both classical and recent examples from the literature reporting transformations during milling or grinding, tabletting, preparation of drug suspensions, granulation, dissolution or release tests, stability trials, spray drying, freeze-drying or preparation of adsorbates or complexes.


Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES): what's in a name?
The presence of transient lesions involving the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) has been described in patients with encephalitis or encephalopathy of varied etiology. We have termed it RESLES (reversible splenial lesion syndrome). To describe 3 additional patients (2 encephalitis, 1 hypoglycemia) and review the literature to define this syndrome, its etiology, presentation, prognosis, and possible pathophysiological mechanisms. Search of the MEDLINE database from 1966 through 2007. English language article titles and abstracts were screened and the appropriate articles reviewed. Additional articles cited by original references were also reviewed. RESLES is caused by antiepileptic drug withdrawal, infection, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), or metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia and hypernatremia). Complete resolution after a variable lapse is the rule. Clinical presentation is nonspecific, without evidence of callosal disconnection syndromes. Neuroimaging shows a nonenhancing, round-shaped lesion centered in the SCC that disappears after a variable lapse. Diffusion studies reveal DW hypersignal with low ADC values, suggestive of cytotoxic edema. Only HACE-related cases and 1 patient with pregabalin withdrawal showed high ADC values, consistent with vasogenic edema. RESLES is a distinct clinicoradiological syndrome of varied etiology and benign course except in those patients with an underlying severe disorder.


Influence of general anaesthesia on circulating biomarkers of glucose metabolism in pigs.
Pigs are widely used in metabolic research with procedures often requiring general anaesthesia. The aim was to investigate the effect of four different anaesthetic protocols: 1) isoflurane inhalation, 2) propofol infusion, 3) a mixture of tiletamine, zolazepam, medetomidine, ketamine and butorphanol (TZMKB)) and 4) ketamine combined with midazolam and xylazine (KMX)) on selected biomarkers during basal and glucose stimulated conditions. Eight domestic pigs were included in a cross-over design. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, cortisol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase, creatinine, urea, fructosamine, albumin, free fatty acids (FFAs) and glycerol were measured at baseline, during 2 h of anaesthesia and during 1 h of recovery. Intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT, 0.5 g glucose/kg) was performed after 1 h of anaesthesia. Glucose disappearance rate and areas under the insulin, C-peptide and glucagon curves from the IVGTT were calculated. All four anaesthetic protocols affected glucose metabolism parameters significantly compared with un-anaesthetised pigs, which was particularly evident during IVGTT and for TZMKB and KMX anaesthesia. Propofol additionally influenced the plasma concentrations of triglycerides, FFAs and glycerol significantly. The remaining circulating biomarkers were largely unaffected by anaesthesia. These data underline the importance of considering the anaesthetic protocol in porcine studies of circulating metabolic biomarkers.


Induced circular dichroism in solid-state inclusion compounds.
In order to measure the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum in the solid state of a chiral compound which has no chromophore, an induced CD spectral method was developed by measuring the spectrum of the inclusion crystal of the chiral compound with a simple achiral aromatic host compound in the Nujol mulls.


[Regulatory mechanism of long noncoding RNA in the occurrence and development of leukemia: a review].
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that are greater than 200 nt in length and do not have protein-coding capabilities or encode micropeptides only. LncRNAs are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and other biological processes, and are closely associated with the occurrence, recurrence and metastasis of a variety of malignant hematologic diseases. This article summarizes the function, regulatory mechanism and potential clinical application of lncRNAs in leukemia. In general, lncRNAs regulate the occurrence and development of leukemia and the multi-drug resistance in chemotherapy through epigenetic modification, ribosomal RNA transcription, competitive binding with miRNA, modulating glucose metabolic pathway, and activating tumor-related signaling pathway. Studies on lncRNAs provide new references for understanding the pathogenesis of leukemia, uncovering new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets, and addressing the problems of drug resistance and post-treatment recurrence in patients in clinical treatment of leukemia.


The production of diaspora: Algerian emigration from colonialism to neo-colonialism (1840-1970).
"This paper is part of a larger project investigating the production and regulation of North African immigrants in the greater Paris automobile industry. Its aims are twofold. First, to reverse the emphasis placed on immigrants in the receiving countries and to (re-)explore the historical production of Algerian emigration into metropolitan industry, more specifically within the automobile industry....Second, in adopting an ¿articulation of modes of production' (AMOP) narrative as an alternative to other Eurocentric approaches, the first part of this paper emphasizes the contradictory layering of various modes which have produced an Algerian colonial diaspora. The latter half of the paper argues that the history of post-independence Algeria confirms that emigration was reinforced through a complex neocolonial relationship during a period of rapid acceleration of Algerian migration to France."


Using geographic information systems to identify prospective marketing areas for a special library.
The Center for Disability Resources (CDR) Library is the largest collection of its kind in the Southeastern United States, consisting of over 5,200 books, videos/DVDs, brochures, and audiotapes covering a variety of disability-related topics, from autism to transition resources. The purpose of the library is to support the information needs of families, faculty, students, staff, and other professionals in South Carolina working with individuals with disabilities. The CDR Library is funded on a yearly basis; therefore, maintaining high usage is crucial. A variety of promotional efforts have been used to attract new patrons to the library. Anyone in South Carolina can check out materials from the library, and most of the patrons use the library remotely by requesting materials, which are then mailed to them. The goal of this project was to identify areas of low geographic usage as a means of identifying locations for future library marketing efforts. Nearly four years worth of library statistics were compiled in a spreadsheet that provided information per county on the number of checkouts, the number of renewals, and the population. Five maps were created using ArcView GIS software to create visual representations of patron checkout and renewal behavior per county. Out of the 46 counties in South Carolina, eight counties never checked out materials from the library. As expected urban areas and counties near the library's physical location have high usage totals. The visual representation of the data made identification of low usage regions easier than using a standalone database with no visual-spatial component. The low usage counties will be the focus of future Center for Disability Resources Library marketing efforts. Due to the impressive visual-spatial representations created with Geographic Information Systems, which more efficiently communicate information than stand-alone database information can, librarians may benefit from the software's use as a supplemental tool for tracking library usage and planning promotional efforts.


On the Intentionality of Cultural Products: Representations of Black History As Psychological Affordances.
A cultural-psychological analysis emphasizes the intentionality of everyday worlds: the idea that material products not only bear psychological traces of culturally constituted beliefs and desires, but also subsequently afford and promote culturally consistent understandings and actions. We applied this conceptual framework of mutual constitution in a research project using quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand the dynamic resonance between sociocultural variance in Black History Month (BHM) representations and the reproduction of racial inequality in the U.S. In studies 1 and 2, we considered whether mainstream BHM artifacts reflect the preferences and understandings of White Americans (i.e., psychological constitution of cultural worlds). Consistent with the psychological constitution hypothesis, White American participants reported more positive affect, better recognition, and greater liking for BHM representations from the schools where White Americans were the majority than BHM representations from the schools where Black students and other students of color were the majority. Moreover, as an indication of the identity relevance of BHM representations, White identification was more positively associated with judgments of positive affect and preference in response to BHM representations from White schools than BHM representations from the schools where Black students were in the majority. In studies 3 and 4, we considered whether BHM representations from different settings differentially afford support or opposition to anti-racism policies (i.e., cultural constitution of psychological experience). In support of the cultural constitution hypothesis, BHM representations typical of schools where Black students were in the majority were more effective at promoting support for anti-racism policies compared to BHM representations typical of predominately White schools and a control condition. This effect was mediated by the effect of (different) BHM representations on perception of racism. Together, these studies suggest that representations of Black History constitute cultural affordances that, depending on their source, can promote (or impede) perception of racism and anti-racism efforts. This research contributes to an emerging body of work examining the bidirectional, psychological importance of cultural products. We discuss implications for theorizing collective manifestations of mind.


Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1): the key protein of the vitamin K cycle.
Vitamin K epoxide, a by-product of the carboxylation of blood coagulation factors, is reduced to vitamin K by an enzymatic system possessing vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) activity. This system is the target of coumarin-derived drugs widely used in thrombosis therapy and prophylaxis. Recently, the key protein of the VKOR system has been identified. The human VKORC1 gene maps to chromosome 16 and consists of 3 exons encoding a 163-amino acid integral ER membrane protein with three or four predicted transmembrane alpha- helices. Expression of human VKORC1 in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells and in Pichia pastoris results in enhanced VKOR activity over low endogenous constitutive levels. Sequence based search methods reveal that human VKORC1 belongs to a large family of homologous genes found in vertebrates, insects, plants, protists, archea, and bacteria. All orthologs share five completely conserved amino acids, including two cysteines found in a tetrapeptide motif presumably required for redox function. The recent discovery of the VKORC1 gene has initiated renewed interest in understanding VKOR activity. Analysis of VKORC1 protein structure and function will be crucial in understanding the VKOR catalytic mechanism, how anticoagulant drugs modulate VKOR activity, and the role of VKORC1 in downstream physiological and pathological pathways.


Cell-adhesion molecules and their soluble forms: Promising predictors of "tumor progression" and relapse in leukemia.
Some surface markers are used to discriminate certain leukemic subpopulations that retain a greater oncogenic potential than others, and, for this reason, they were termed as leukemic stem cells, similar to the concept of cancer stem cells in carcinoma. Among these surface markers are proteins involved in cell-cell adhesion or cell-matrix adhesion, and they may play a role in the relapse of leukemia, similar to metastasis in carcinomas. The most important are epithelial cadherin, neural cadherin, epithelial cell-adhesion molecule, and CD44, which can be cleaved and released, and their soluble forms were found increased in serum levels of cancer patients, being implicated, in some cases, with progression, metastases, and relapse. In this review, we highlighted the role of these four adhesion molecules in carcinomas and hematological malignancies, mainly leukemia, and discuss if the serum levels of soluble forms can be correlated with the surface protein status on the leukemic cells. Accession of the soluble forms looks attractive, but their use as markers in cancer must be studied in association with other parameters, as there are significant changes in levels in other pathological conditions besides cancer. Studies correlating the levels of the forms with the status of the membrane-bound proteins in leukemic (stem) cells and correlating those parameters with relapse in leukemia may afford important knowledge and applicability of those serum markers in clinical practice. For instance, the expression of the membrane-bound forms of these adhesion proteins may have promising clinical use in leukemia and other hematological malignancies.


[Clinical and economic repercussions of the use of tunneled haemodialysis catheters in a health area].
Tunneled catheters in hemodialysis are associated with poor prognosis, however, few prospective studies have been designed to specifically evaluate this aspect. The objective has been evaluate the impact of tunneled catheter in patient mortality and costs attributable to this procedure. A seven years prospective cohort study was performed in all patients starting hemodialysis in our health care area adjusting for comorbidity and albumin. The study comprised 260 patients with Charlson index 7.05 +/- 2.8 (age 65.5 years, 62.3% males, 25% with diabetes mellitus and 37.7% with a previous cardiovascular event. The first vascular access was a catheter in 47.3%, PTFE in 11.2% and native arteriovenous fistula in 41.5%. Minimum follow-up was one year, with an average of 2.31 years/patient. The mortality risk adjusted for comorbidity was greater among the patients that started with catheterization, HR: 1.86 [1.11-3.05]. This negative effect was observed in 57.30% of those subjected to catheterization at any stage (HR: 1.68 [1.00-2.84] and proved to be time dependent, i.e., the longer catheterization, the greater the risk: HR: 7.66 [3.34-17.54] third versus first tertil. The cost directly attributable to catheter use was 563.31 euros/month. All poor prognosis groups showed lower albumin and hemoglobin levels, without differences in efficacy. Tunneled catheter use at any time is associated with an increased risk of death. This effect increases with the duration of catheterization, both circumstances are independent of patient comorbidity at time start of hemodialysis and implies a higher net cost.


Giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm with parent artery occlusion--case report.
A 54-year-old female was admitted with consciousness disturbance and right hemiparesis. Computed tomographic (CT) scans and angiograms revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage, a partially thrombosed, giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm (5 x 5 x 4 cm), and occlusion of the parent artery at the aneurysm site. Despite conservative treatment, a generalized convulsion occurred. Emergency CT scans revealed irregular enlargement of the left temporal high-density mass and severe mass effect due to cerebral infarction. Barbiturate coma therapy was administered, but she did not recover and died 9 days after admission. Only two cases of ruptured aneurysm with simultaneous occlusion of the major cerebral vessels have been reported, both with poor outcome. In this case, the mechanism of parent artery occlusion is unclear, but thrombus protrusion from the giant aneurysm into the parent artery may have been involved.


Stability of {111}Pd/{0002}ZnO polar interface formed by internal oxidation of Pd-Zn alloys.
We investigated the stability of Pd/ZnO polar interfaces formed by internal oxidation of Pd-Zn alloys by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy and convergent-beam electron diffraction. At 1273 K, a [Formula: see text] polar interface defaceted and transformed into a curved interface, while another (111)Pd/(0002)ZnO polar interface retained its flatness. The [Formula: see text] polar interface lost some stability over non-polar interfaces at 1273 K, while the (111)Pd/(0002)ZnO polar interface remained stable.


Computed tomography angiography.
Cardiovascular disease kills more adults in the United States each year than any other medical condition. Although these diseases are largely preventable, the number of newly diagnosed patients continues to climb. Angiography traditionally involves invasive catheter examinations, but recent advances have allowed computed tomography angiography (CTA) to supplant traditional angiography as a first-line diagnostic imaging modality to assess cardiovascular disease. Often used to diagnose vascular pathologies in symptomatic patients, CTA also is useful in early detection of coronary and peripheral artery diseases. CTA will play an increasingly important role in cardiovascular medicine as technological advances improve image data acquisition, processing speeds, and image reconstruction.


Utility of adsorbents in the purification of drinking water: a review of characterization, efficiency and safety evaluation of various adsorbents.
Clean drinking water is one of the implicit requisites fora healthy human population. However the growing industrialization and extensive use of chemicals for various concerns, has increased the burden of unwanted pollutants in the drinking water of developing countries like India. The entry of potentially hazardous substances into the biota has been magnifying day by day. In the absence of a possible stoppage of these, otherwise, useful chemicals, the only way to maintain safer water bodies is to develop efficient purifying technologies. One such immensely beneficial procedure that has been in use is that of purification of water using 'adsorbents'. Indigenous minerals and natural plants products have potential for removing many pollutants viz. fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, heavy metals, pesticides as well as trihalomethanes. Adsorbents which are derived from carbon, alumina, zeolite, clay minerals, iron ores, industrial by products, and natural products viz. parts of the plants, herbs and algal biomass offer promising potential of removal. In the recent years attention has been paid to develop process involving screening/pretreatment/activation/impregnation using alkalies, acids, alum, lime, manganese dioxide, ferric chloride and other chemicals which are found to enhance their adsorbing efficiency. Chemical characterization of these adsorbents recapitulates the mechanism of the process. It is imperative to observe that capacities of the adsorbents may vary depending on the characteristics, chemical modifications and concentration of the individual adsorbent. Removal kinetics is found to be based on the experimental conditions viz. pH, concentration of the adsorbate, quantity of the adsorbent and temperature. It is suggested that isotherm model is suitable tool to assess the adsorption capacities in batch and column modes. Safety evaluation and risk assessment of the process/products may be useful to provide guidelines for its sustainable disposal.