Evidence for a highly specific k/h antiporter in membrane vesicles from oil-seed rape hypocotyls.
We present evidence strongly suggesting that a proton gradient (acid inside) is used to drive an electroneutral, substrate-specific, K(+)/H(+) antiport in both tonoplast and plasma membrane-enriched vesicles obtained from oilseed rape (Brassica napus) hypocotyls. Proton fluxes into and out of the vesicles were monitored both by following the quenching and restoration of quinacrine fluorescence (indicating a transmembrane pH gradient) and of oxonol V fluorescence (indicating membrane potential.) Supply of K(+) (with Cl(-) or SCN(-)) after a pH gradient had been established across the vesicle membrane by provision of ATP to the H(+)-ATPase dissipated the transmembrane pH gradient but did not depolarize the positive membrane potential. Evidence that the K(+)/H(+) exchange thus indicated could not be accounted for by mere electric coupling included the findings that, first, no positive potential was generated when KSCN or KCl was supplied, even in the absence of 100 millimolar Cl(-) and, second, efflux of K(+) from K(+)-loaded vesicles drives intravesicular accumulation of H(+) against the electrochemical potential gradient. Neither was the exchange due to competition between K(+) and quinacrine for membrane sites, nor to inhibition of the H(+)-ATPase. Thus, it is likely that it was effected by a membrane component. The exchanger utilized primarily K(+) (at micromolar concentrations); Na(+)/H(+) antiport was detected only at concentrations two orders of magnitude higher. Rb(+), Li(+), or Cs(+) were ineffective. Dependence of tonoplast K(+)/H(+) antiport on K(+) concentration was complex, showing saturation at 10 millimolar K(+) and inhibition by concentrations higher than 25 millimolar. Antiport activity was associated both with tonoplast-enriched membrane vesicles (where the proton pump was inhibited by more than 80% by 50 millimolar NO(3) (-) and showed no sensitivity to vanadate or oligomycin) and with plasma membrane-enriched fractions prepared by phase separation followed by separation on a sucrose gradient (where the proton pump was vanadate and diethylstilbestrol-sensitive but showed no sensitivity to NO(3) (-) or oligomycin). The possible physiological role of such a K(+)/H(+) exchange mechanism is discussed.


Effect of early rehabilitation nursing on neurological function and quality of life of patients with hemiplegia after stroke: A meta-analysis.
Meta-analysis was used to systematically evaluate the effects of early rehabilitation nursing on neurological function and quality of life of patients with hemiplegia after stroke. Literature was searched from PubMed, Web of Science, cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database. Relevant literature up to 2022 was screened, followed by data extraction and quality evaluation. Next, Stata17.0 was employed for meta-analysis. A total of 18 articles, including 1631 subjects, were enrolled in this study. The control group subjects (n = 825) received routine nursing, and the observation group subjects (n = 806) underwent early rehabilitation nursing. The results of meta-analysis showed that early rehabilitation nursing could significantly improve neurological function the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -1.623, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-2.280, -0.967), P < .001], Fugl-Meyer assessment [SMD = 2.688, 95% CI (1.767, 3.608), P < .001], cure rate [relative risk = 1.333, 95% CI (1.138, 1.562), P < .001], quality of life activity of daily living [SMD = 1.784, 95% CI (0.791, 2.777), P < .001], Barthel index [SMD = 1.617, 95% CI (1.138, 2.096), P < .001] and nursing satisfaction [relative risk = 1.191, 95% CI (1.091, 1.300), P < .001] in patients with hemiplegia after stroke. There was no obvious publication bias for the included articles in this research. Compared with the controls, early rehabilitation nursing can effectively improve neurological function and quality of life of patients with hemiplegia after stroke. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of early rehabilitation nursing in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.


Plant-Soil Feedbacks for the Restoration of Degraded Mine Lands: A Review.
Much effort has been made to remediate the degraded mine lands that bring severe impacts to the natural environments. However, it remains unclear what drives the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, making the restoration of these fragile ecosystems a big challenge. The interactions among plant species, soil communities, and abiotic conditions, i.e., plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs), significantly influence vegetation development, plant community structure, and ultimately regulate the recovery of ecosystem multi-functionality. Here, we present a conceptual framework concerning PSFs patterns and potential mechanisms in degraded mine lands. Different from healthy ecosystems, mine lands are generally featured with harsh physical and chemical properties, which may have different PSFs and should be considered during the restoration. Usually, pioneer plants colonized in the mine lands can adapt to the stressful environment by forming tolerant functional traits and gathering specific soil microbial communities. Understanding the mechanisms of PSFs would enhance our ability to predict and alter both the composition of above- and below-ground communities, and improve the recovery of ecosystem functions in degraded mine lands. Finally, we put forward some challenges of the current PSFs study and discuss avenues for further research in the ecological restoration of degraded mine lands.


[Chronology of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid].
In order to study the chronological progress of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, clinical records and histological findings of 62 patients with the tumor were reviewed. Postoperative plasma calcitonin levels were examined in 54 patients. Among the patients with the disease of the hereditary type, those of 30 years of age younger with no lymph node involvement and a tumor weight less than 5 g were most likely to have normal plasma calcitonin levels postoperatively, provided total thyroidectomy were performed. The peak of age distribution of patients of the hereditary type without lymph node involvement was 15 years less than that of those with nodal involvement. In the sporadic type, there was no correlation between teh age and the nodal nodal involvement. Plasma calcitonin levels in the patients with residual tumor showed exponential increase according to the time course. The regression lines, log y = log a + bx (y: plasma calcitonin level, x: years after operation), were calculated in 23 patients followed 6 months or longer. The doubling time of the plasma calcitonin level (T2), given as 1/b log 2, correlated well with the tumor progression rate. T2 for patients of the hereditary type were 0.8 years or longer except for one. Four patients of the sporadic type with T2 of 0.1-0.3 year within 3 years after operation.


Use of chimeric F3-NCAM molecules to explore the properties of VASE exon in modulating polysialylation and neurite outgrowth.
Differential splicing of VASE exon in the fourth immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and attachment to the fifth Ig domain of alpha 2-8 linked sialic acid (PSA) both dramatically change, in opposite manner, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) functional properties. Reciprocal patterns of VASE and PSA expression suggest that they might be mutually exclusive. Here, we tested whether informations conferring polysialylation reside in NCAM-Ig domains 4 and 5 and the influence of the VASE exon encoded sequence on this process. We also examined if the VASE sequence was still able to inhibit neurite outgrowth when presented out of its normal NCAM context. Constructs have been prepared encoding NCAM-Ig domains 4 (with or without the VASE exon) and 5 fused to the F3 molecule. Stable clones expressing the chimeric molecules or wild type F3 were then obtained in the AtT-20 cell line. Although the chimeric molecules were expressed on the cell surface none of them was bearing PSA. Thus, polysialylation cannot be conferred to proteins by addition of the NCAM-Ig domains 4 and 5 modular motif and in this molecular context, the VASE sequence is not influencing the process. These chimeric molecules, either expressed at the surface of RIN or COS cells or presented as soluble forms, were examined for their effect on neurite outgrowth. In all cases, the length of neurites of sensory neurons was significantly reduced when grown in presence of the VASE containing chimera by comparison with the chimera without VASE or wild type F3. When neurons from NCAM knock-out mice were used for the assay, the VASE inhibition could not be detected. Thus VASE is able to act as a modular motif and NCAM expressed on neurons participates in transducing its effect.


Bone metastases from bronchial carcinoid tumors. Two case-reports.
Two case-reports of metastatic bone disease in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors illustrate the diagnostic challenges raised by these slowly-growing malignancies of which the primary frequently escapes early identification. The first patient had the typical picture of a primary with a single bone metastasis. Unusual features in the second patient were the large number of bone metastases, involvement of distal skeletal sites, and elevation of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels.


Radioprotective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (green-tea tannin) in mice.
Long-term administration of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG) to mice through drinking water prevented radiation-induced increase of lipid peroxides in liver and significantly prolonged life span after lethal whole-body X-irradiation. The result indicates validity of this green-tea component as an orally active radio-protector of very low toxicity.


Trapping and stabilization of integral membrane proteins by hydrophobically grafted glucose-based telomers.
Amphipols (APols) are short amphipathic polymers designed to adsorb onto the transmembrane surface of membrane proteins, keeping them water-soluble in the absence of detergent. Current APols carry charged groups, which is a limitation for certain types of applications. This has prompted the development of totally nonionic amphiphols (NAPols). In a previous work, glucose-based NAPols synthesized by free-radical cotelomerization of hydrophilic and amphiphilic monomers proved to be able to keep membrane proteins soluble (Sharma et al. Langmuir 2008, 24, 13581-13590). This provided a proof of principle, but the cumbersome synthesis prevented large-scale production and any detailed biochemical studies. In the present work, we describe a new synthesis route for NAPols based on grafting alkyl chains onto a glucosylated homotelomer. The NAPols thus prepared are highly water soluble. In aqueous solutions, they assemble into small, homogeneous particles similar to those formed by ionic APols. Two model membrane proteins, bacteriorhodopsin and the transmembrane domain of OmpA, form with NAPols small, well-defined water-soluble complexes whose size is comparable to that observed with ionic APols. Complexation by NAPols strongly stabilizes bacteriorhodopsin against denaturation. Glucosylated NAPols thus appear as a promising alternative to ionic APols for such applications as ion-exchange chromatography, isoelectrofocusing, and, possibly, structural approaches such as NMR and crystallography.


Protein-tyrosine phosphatase-mediated decrease of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in high cell density cultures.
Contact-induced growth inhibition is a characteristic feature of normal cells grown in monolayer. The importance of reversible tyrosine phosphorylation in mitogenic signaling, together with earlier reports of increased levels of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in densely cultured cells, has led to the proposal that PTPs may be involved in mediating contact inhibition of cell growth. We have compared net levels of ligand-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in mink lung epithelial cells cultured under sparse or dense conditions. The levels of net tyrosine phosphorylation of the stimulated EGF receptor was found to be more than 4-fold higher in sparse cultures. This difference was greatly reduced when cells were pretreated with the PTP inhibitor phenyl arsine oxide. Monitoring of dephosphorylation rates in vivo of the stimulated EGF receptors revealed increased EGF receptor-directed PTP activity in dense cultures. The platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor, expressed in stably transfected porcine aortic endothelial cells, also displayed lower levels of ligand induced net tyrosine phosphorylation in cells from dense cultures. This density-dependent difference in tyrosine phosphorylation was reduced by pretreatment of cultures with the PTP inhibitor orthovanadate. A PTP-mediated decrease of the in vivo net levels of ligand induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF and platelet-derived growth factor receptors in cells at high density have thus been demonstrated. Loss of this previously unnoticed regulatory pathway may be involved in cellular transformation.


Patterns of ehtylene production in senescing leaves.
Changes in the patterns of ethylene production, chlorophyll content, and respiration were studied in relation to the senescence of intact leaves and leaf discs. The primary leaves of pinto bean, which abscise readily during natural senescence, and tobacco and sugar beet leaves, which do not abscise, were used. A decrease in the rate of ethylene production and respiration, during the slow phase of chlorophyll degradation, was observed in leaf-blade discs cut from mature leaves and aged in the dark. During rapid chlorophyll loss both ethylene production and respiration increased and then decreased. These climacteric-like patterns were shown by leaf discs of all three species. Discs taken from leaves that had been senescing on the plant also showed a climacteric-like rise in ethylene production but not in respiration, which decreased continuously with leaf age. Climacteric-like patterns in the rise of ethylene and respiration for leaf discs were also shown by the petioles of both bean and tobacco leaves. This indicates that the rise of ethylene and respiration is characteristic of the general process of senescence in leaves and is not restricted to the abscission process. In contrast to the ethylene-forming systems in climacteric fruits and many flowers, the one in leaves declines sharply in the early stages of senescence. The subsequent rise of ethylene production appears to be associated with the rapid phase of chlorophyll breakdown, and may indicate the final stage of the senescence process during which ethylene could be actively involved in inducing leaf abscission.


Practical considerations in the pharmacologic treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and deadly disease. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved two medications for the treatment of IPF - pirfenidone and nintedanib. Given the limited clinical experience with these agents, a number of questions remain regarding their use. Both pirfenidone and nintedanib were demonstrated to reduce the rate of decline in forced vital capacity in independent large, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trials.The successful implementation of both agents in clinical practice is dependent on many factors, including which patients to prescribe them in and managing patient expectations regarding efficacy and side effects. Pirfenidone is frequently associated with gastrointestinal upset, malaise, and rash. Nintedanib often causes diarrhea. Both drugs may cause elevations in liver-associated enzymes and require serial monitoring. Despite the side effects mentioned, these drugs are generally well tolerated in the long term. It should be emphasized to patients that these drugs do not represent a 'cure' for IPF and that the goal of therapy is stabilization of their disease. Currently many questions remain regarding the use of pirfenidone and nintedanib in IPF, including which drug to prescribe, the optimal patient population to treat, the duration of therapy, and how to define treatment success or failure. It also remains to be seen whether combination therapy with both agents will result in improved outcomes. Hopefully, future randomized controlled trials will address these issues.


Expression of hematopoietic progenitor cell associated antigen CD34 in chronic myeloid leukemia.
The expression of progenitor cell associated antigen CD34 was investigated in cells from 28 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The CD34 positivity varied from 0-26% in patients with chronic phases CML (n = 17); from 6-64% in patients with accelerated phase CML (n = 4); and from 27-97% in the patients with blastic crisis of CML (n = 8). The difference in CD34 positivity between chronic (mean 10.1 +/- 2.3%), accelerated (37.7 +/- 13.3%) and blastic (58.0 +/- 7.3%) phases of CML is statistically significant (p less than 0.05), however, the number of patients studied, especially in accelerated and blastic phases is very small. There was no difference in the CD34 positivity of the cells in the peripheral blood and in the bone marrow. CD34 positivity was higher in patients with chronic phase CML at diagnosis (untreated patients) than in those who were studied during treatment. The possible importance of serially studying CD34 positivity in patients with CML is discussed in the paper.


Secular trends of age at menarche and the effect of famine exposure on age at menarche in rural Chinese women.
Over the past few decades, more studies have suggested that the age at menarche (AAM) has continued to decline. However, the AAM for women in resource-constrained areas is not clear. Moreover, the association between the Chinese famine and AAM is still unclear in rural regions. The study aimed to investigate the secular trends of AAM for women born between 1935 and 2000 and to further explore the effect of famine on AAM in rural China. The study included 23,444 women participants from the baseline study of the Henan Rural Cohort study. Changing AAM over time was analysed using linear regressions. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to analyse the association between famine exposure and AAM subgroups. The age-standardised mean AAM was 14.74 years. The average AAM declined from 16.98 years for those born in 1935 to 13.87 years for those born in 2000, a decline of 0.077 years per 1 year and 0.729 years per decade. Compared to the reference group, women exposed to famine during foetal, early childhood, middle childhood, and late childhood were 1.376 (95% CI = 1.071-1.769), 1.848 (95% CI = 1.512-2.259), 2.084 (95% CI = 1.725-2.518), and 2.146 (95% CI = 1.788-2.576) times more likely to be ≥18 years AAM than women unexposed to famine, respectively. AAM showed a decreasing trend in rural China. Furthermore, both foetal and childhood famine exposure, especially in late childhood, were positively associated with increased AAM compared to unexposed famine.


Experimental FIA Methodology Using Clock and Control Signal Modifications under Power Supply and Temperature Variations.
The security of cryptocircuits is determined not only for their mathematical formulation, but for their physical implementation. The so-called fault injection attacks, where an attacker inserts faults during the operation of the cipher to obtain a malfunction to reveal secret information, pose a serious threat for security. These attacks are also used by designers as a vehicle to detect security flaws and then protect the circuits against these kinds of attacks. In this paper, two different attack methodologies are presented based on inserting faults through the clock signal or the control signal. The optimization of the attacks is evaluated under supply voltage and temperature variation, experimentally determining the feasibility through the evaluation of different Trivium versions in 90 nm ASIC technology implementations, also considering different routing alternatives. The results show that it is possible to inject effective faults with both methodologies, improving fault efficiency if the power supply voltage decreases, which requires only half the frequency of the short pulse inserted into the clock signal to obtain a fault. The clock signal modification methodology can be extended to other NLFSR-based cryptocircuits and the control signal-based methodology can be applied to both block and stream ciphers.


Induction of freezing tolerance in spinach is associated with the synthesis of cold acclimation induced proteins.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv Bloomsdale) seedlings cultured in vitro were used to study changes in protein synthesis during cold acclimation. Seedlings grown for 3 weeks postsowing on an inorganic-nutrient-agar medium were able to increase their freezing tolerance when grown at 5 degrees C. During cold acclimation at 5 degrees C and deacclimation at 25 degrees C, the kinetics of freezing tolerance induction and loss were similar to that of soil-grown plants. Freezing tolerance increased after 1 day of cold acclimation and reached a maximum within 7 days. Upon deacclimation at 25 degrees C, freezing tolerance declined within 1 day and was largely lost by the 7th day. Leaf proteins of intact plants grown at 5 and 25 degrees C were in vivo radiolabeled, without wounding or injury, to high specific activities with [(35)S]methionine. Leaf proteins were radiolabeled at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 days of cold acclimation and at 1, 3, and 7 days of deacclimation. Up to 500 labeled proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography. A rapid and stable change in the protein synthesis pattern was observed when seedlings were transferred to the low temperature environment. Cold-acclimated leaves contained 22 polypeptides not found in nonacclimated leaves. Exposure to 5 degrees C induced the synthesis of three high molecular weight cold acclimation proteins (CAPs) (M(r) of about 160,000, 117,000, and 85,000) and greatly increased the synthesis of a fourth high molecular weight protein (M(r) 79,000). These proteins were synthesized during day 1 and throughout the 14 day exposure to 5 degrees C. During deacclimation, the synthesis of CAPs 160, 117, and 85 was greatly reduced by the first day of exposure to 25 degrees C. However, CAP 79 was synthesized throughout the 7 day deacclimation treatment. Thus, the induction at low temperature and termination at warm temperature of the synthesis of CAPs 160, 117, and 85 was highly correlated with the induction and loss of freezing tolerance. Cold acclimation did not result in a general posttranslational modification of leaf proteins. Most of the observed changes in the two-dimensional gel patterns could be attributed to the de novo synthesis of proteins induced by low temperature. In spinach leaf tissue, heat shock altered the pattern of protein synthesis and induced the synthesis of several heat shock proteins (HSPs). One polypeptide synthesized in cold-acclimated leaves had a molecular weight and net charge (M(r) 79,000, pI 4.8) similar to that of a HSP (M(r) 83,000, pI 4.8). However, heat shock did not increase the freezing tolerance, and cold acclimation did not increase heat tolerance over that of nonacclimated plants, but heat-shocked leaf tissue was more tolerant to high temperatures than nonacclimated or cold-acclimated leaf tissue. When protein extracts from heat-shocked and cold-acclimated leaves were mixed and separated in the same two-dimensional gel, the CAP and HSP were shown to be two separate polypeptides with slightly different isoelectric points and molecular weights.


Temperature-dependent nanostructure of an end-tethered octadecane brush in tetradecane and nanoparticle phase behavior.
The phase behavior of a molecular brush-C(18) grafted to the surface of both a silicon wafer and SiO(2) nanoparticles was investigated as a function of temperature using neutron reflectometry (NR) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), respectively. The experiments demonstrate a phase change in the brush layer characterized by a straightening of the molecular configuration, increase in shell thickness, and increase in solvent concentration with decreasing temperature that corresponds to gelation in the nanoparticle dispersion.


Inhibition of ras-induced germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocytes by rap-1B.
A cDNA clone (Krev-1) has recently been identified that possesses the ability to reverse the transformed phenotype when introduced into a K-ras-transformed NIH/3T3 cell line. The Krev-1 protein, also known as rap-1A, was found to share 50% homology with the ras proteins. The rap-1A protein has also been shown to block the interaction of ras with its GTPase activating protein in vitro, leading to speculation regarding its role in vivo. A closely related protein, rap-1B, has also been identified in platelets, human erythroleukemia cells, neutrophils, and aortic smooth muscle cells. Unlike rap-1A, rap-1B has been shown to be phosphorylated in platelets. Given the high degree of similarity between the amino acid sequences of rap-1A and rap-1B, we sought to investigate the effect of microinjected rap-1B on H-ras(Val12)-induced germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus laevis oocytes. In this assay system, equimolar concentrations of rap-1B were found to block germinal vesicle breakdown triggered by the oncogenic ras protein. However, in the presence of IGF-1, this inhibition was not observed. Moreover, rap-1B is readily phosphorylated in the oocytes.


[Periodontal conditions and diabetes mellitus in the Japanese-Brazilian population].
To evaluate the relationship between diabetic status and periodontal conditions in the Japanese-Brazilian population. The sample consisted of 1,315 subjects, of both sexes, first (Issei) and second (Nisei) generations, aged 30 to 92 years, living in Bauru, Brazil. Edentulism and presence of 6 null sextants were the exclusion criteria for the sample. The Community Periodontal Index and Periodontal Attachment Loss Index were determined using the probing of 10 teeth in a sample of 831 subjects. The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was based on fasting blood sugar and blood sugar 2 hours after 75 mg of glucose overload. Statistical analysis was conducted using Kappa test and Chi-square test. Regarding periodontal conditions, 25.5% of the sample were healthy people, 12.5% showed bleeding on probing, 49.4% calculus, 10.4% pockets of 4-5 mm deep, and 2.2% pockets deeper than 6 mm. The percentage of subjects with an attachment loss of 0-3 mm was 24.2%; 4-5 mm, 36.7%; 6-8 mm, 23.7%; 9-11 mm, 11.3%; and up to 12 mm or more, 4.1%. The association between the periodontal condition and diabetes mellitus showed no statistical significance (p<0.05), although diabetic subjects have a higher percentage of deeper pockets and attachment loss >6 mm than non-diabetics, as tested by Chi-square test. Epidemiological studies relating oral health and systemic disease, such as diabetes mellitus, can provide important contributions for preventing the worsening of such diseases.


Distribution of the P2X2 receptor and chemical coding in ileal enteric neurons of obese male mice (ob/ob).
To investigate the colocalization, density and profile of neuronal areas of enteric neurons in the ileum of male obese mice. The small intestinal samples of male mice in an obese group (OG) (C57BL/6J ob/ob) and a control group (CG) (+/+) were used. The tissues were analyzed using a double immunostaining technique for immunoreactivity (ir) of the P2X2 receptor, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) and calretinin (Calr). Also, we investigated the density and profile of neuronal areas of the NOS-, ChAT- and Calr-ir neurons in the myenteric plexus. Myenteric neurons were labeled using an NADH-diaphorase histochemical staining method. The analysis demonstrated that the P2X2 receptor was expressed in the cytoplasm and in the nuclear and cytoplasmic membranes only in the CG. Neuronal density values (neuron/cm(2)) decreased 31% (CG: 6579 ± 837; OG: 4556 ± 407) and 16.5% (CG: 7796 ± 528; OG: 6513 ± 610) in the NOS-ir and calretinin-ir neurons in the OG, respectively (P < 0.05). Density of ChAT-ir (CG: 6200 ± 310; OG: 8125 ± 749) neurons significantly increased 31% in the OG (P < 0.05). Neuron size studies demonstrated that NOS, ChAT, and Calr-ir neurons did not differ significantly between the CG and OG groups. The examination of NADH-diaphorase-positive myenteric neurons revealed an overall similarity between the OG and CG. Obesity may exert its effects by promoting a decrease in P2X2 receptor expression and modifications in the density of the NOS-ir, ChAT-ir and CalR-ir myenteric neurons.


Management of cervical dysplasia.
Since the 1982 Revised Task Force Report on Cervical Cancer Screening, controversy has developed over the management of mild dysplasia. Recent developments have led some investigators to recommend colposcopy for any degree of cervical dysplasia because of significant false-negative factors in Pap smear reporting and the observation that some patients have lesions more severe than suggested by the cytology. Over a four-year period, all patients with dysplastic smears in the practice were evaluated by colposcopic examination and biopsy. In 20 cases of mild dysplasia, five cases of cancer in situ were found. Considerable variation from the Task Force's report was noted in cytopathologists' recommendations for cytological smears. Judging from the results of this audit, colposcopic evaluation of all dysplastic smears should be considered.


Subjective sleep duration and quality influence diet composition and circulating adipocytokines and ghrelin levels in teen-age girls.
Understanding the interplay between sleep duration and quality, diet and hormones of obesity may help design effective lifestyle intervention strategies. Here we studied such associations in lean and obese teen-aged Saudi girls. In this cross-sectional observational study, 126 girls (62 lean and 64 obese) aged 14 -18 years (16.5 ± 1.5) were evaluated. A general questionnaire, which included sleep and diet questions, was obtained and anthropometric measurements and overnight fasting blood samples for determination of glucose, lipid profile and serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin were collected. Subjects that slept < 5 hours/day had a higher percent of carbohydrate intake (p = 0.04) than those who slept > 7 hours/day. Adiponectin levels were higher in the lean than the obese group and increased in proportion to hours of sleep. Ghrelin had an inverse association with subjective sleep duration (p = 0.04), while resistin levels were directly proportional to it. Thus, the duration and quality of sleep influenced diet composition and the circulating levels of adipocytokines and ghrelin in adolescent girls. Long and uninterrupted sleep was associated with a better diet and a more favorable hormonal profile.


Dietary fat and breast cancer.
Good reasons exist to reduce intake of animal and partially hydrogenated fat. Existing data, however, provide little support for the hypothesis that reduction in dietary fat composition, even to 20% of energy during adulthood, will lead to a substantial reduction in breast cancer in Western cultures. Some evidence suggests that substituting monounsaturated fat for other sources of energy may even reduce risk of breast cancer; this deserves further examination. Also, the avoidance of weight gain during adulthood has many benefits, which are likely to include an important reduction in risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.


Identifying Aarskog Syndrome.
Aarskog syndrome also known as Aarskog-Scott Syndrome, Facio-digito-genital Syndrome or Faciogenital Dysplasia is a rare, X-linked disorder predominantly affecting males, characterized by facial, skeletal and genital anomalies. This is a case report of a 15-year-old male patient who visited our college complaining of poor facial aesthetics. History revealed consanguinity and his sibling to be suffering from the same. A diagnosis of Aarskog syndrome was made based upon the detailed patient history, thorough clinical evaluation and identification of characteristic findings in radiographs. Professional counselling explained him the nature of his condition and treatment options to correct dental anomalies and congenital malformations were advised.


Personally Tailored Survival Prediction of Patients With Follicular Lymphoma Using Machine Learning Transcriptome-Based Models.
Follicular Lymphoma (FL) has a 10-year mortality rate of 20%, and this is mostly related to lymphoma progression and transformation to higher grades. In the era of personalized medicine it has become increasingly important to provide patients with an optimal prediction about their expected outcomes. The objective of this work was to apply machine learning (ML) tools on gene expression data in order to create individualized predictions about survival in patients with FL. Using data from two different studies, we were able to create a model which achieved good prediction accuracies in both cohorts (c-indexes of 0.793 and 0.662 in the training and test sets). Integration of this model with m7-FLIPI and age rendered high prediction accuracies in the test set (cox c-index 0.79), and a simplified approach identified 4 groups with remarkably different outcomes in terms of survival. Importantly, one of the groups comprised 27.35% of patients and had a median survival of 4.64 years. In summary, we have created a gene expression-based individualized predictor of overall survival in FL that can improve the predictions of the m7-FLIPI score.


Engineered nanopore of Phi29 DNA-packaging motor for real-time detection of single colon cancer specific antibody in serum.
The ingenious design of the bacterial virus phi29 DNA packaging nanomotor with an elegant and elaborate channel has inspired its application for single molecule detection of antigen/antibody interactions. The hub of this bacterial virus nanomotor is a truncated cone-shaped connector consisting of 12 protein subunits. These subunits form a ring with a central 3.6-nm channel acting as a path for dsDNA to enter during packaging and to exit during infection. The connector has been inserted into a lipid bilayer. Herein, we reengineered an Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) peptide into the C-terminal of nanopore as a probe to specifically detect EpCAM antibody (Ab) in nanomolar concentration at the single molecule level. The binding of Abs sequentially to each peptide probe induced stepwise blocks in current. The distinctive current signatures enabled us to analyze the docking and undocking kinetics of Ab-probe interactions and determine the Kd. The signal of EpCAM antibody can be discriminated from the background events in the presence of nonspecific antibody or serum. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of generating a highly sensitive platform for detecting antibodies at extremely low concentrations in the presence of contaminants.


Electrophilicities of trans-β-nitrostyrenes.
The kinetics of the reactions of the trans-β-nitrostyrenes 1a-f with the acceptor-substituted carbanions 2a-h have been determined in dimethyl sulfoxide solution at 20 °C. The resulting second-order rate constants were employed to determine the electrophile-specific reactivity parameters E of the trans-β-nitrostyrenes according to the correlation equation log k(2)(20 °C) = s(N)(N + E). The E parameters range from -12 to -15 on our empirical electrophilicity scale (www.cup.lmu.de/oc/mayr/DBintro.html). The second-order rate constants for the reactions of trans-β-nitrostyrenes with some enamines were measured and found to agree with those calculated from the electrophilicity parameters E determined in this work and the previously published N and s(N) parameters for enamines.


Weight loss endoscopy: Development, applications, and current status.
Obesity and its comorbidities - including diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea - have taken a large and increasing toll on the United States and the rest of the world. The availability of commercial, clinical, and operative therapies for weight management have not been effective at a societal level. Endoscopic bariatric therapy is gaining acceptance as more effective than diet and lifestyle measures, and less invasive than bariatric surgery. Various endoscopic therapies are analogues of the restrictive or bypass components of bariatric surgery, utilizing gastric remodeling or intestinal anastomosis to achieve proven weight loss and metabolic benefits. Others, such as aspiration therapy, employ novel mechanisms of action. Intragastric balloons have recently been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and a number of other technologies have completed large multicenter trials (such as AspireAssist aspiration therapy and Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal). Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and transoral outlet reduction for endoscopic revision of gastric bypass have proven safe and effective in a number of studies. As devices are approved for use, data will continue to accumulate for safety, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. Bariatric endoscopists should be prepared to appropriately target and apply various endoscopic bariatric therapies in the context of a comprehensive long-term weight management program.


Is the school food environment conducive to healthy eating in poorly resourced South African schools?
To assess the school food environment in terms of breakfast consumption, school meals, learners' lunch box, school vending and classroom activities related to nutrition. Cross-sectional survey. Ninety purposively selected poorly resourced schools in South Africa. Questionnaires were completed by school principals (n 85), school feeding coordinators (n 77), food handlers (n 84), educators (n 687), randomly selected grade 5 to 7 learners (n 2547) and a convenience sample of parents (n 731). The school menu (n 75), meal served on the survey day, and foods at tuck shops and food vendors (n 74) were recorded. Twenty-two per cent of learners had not eaten breakfast; 24 % brought a lunch box, mostly with bread. Vegetables (61 %) were more often on the school menu than fruit (28 %) and were served in 41 % of schools on the survey day compared with 4 % serving fruit. Fifty-seven per cent of learners brought money to school. Parents advised learners to buy fruit (37 %) and healthy foods (23 %). Tuck shops and vendors sold mostly unhealthy foods. Lack of money/poverty (74 %) and high food prices (68 %) were major challenges for healthy eating. Most (83 %) educators showed interest in nutrition, but only 15 % had received training in nutrition. Eighty-one per cent of educators taught nutrition as part of school subjects. The school food environment has large scope for improvement towards promoting healthy eating. This includes increasing access to vegetables and fruit, encouraging learners to carry a healthy lunch box, and regulating foods sold through tuck shops and food vendors.


Knockout of insulin receptors in cardiomyocytes attenuates coronary arterial dysfunction induced by pressure overload.
Ablating insulin receptors in cardiomyocytes causes subendocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after 4 wk of transverse aortic constriction (TAC). To determine whether these maladaptive responses are precipitated by coronary vascular dysfunction, we studied mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted knock out of insulin receptors (CIRKO) and wild-type (WT) TAC mice before the onset of overt LV dysfunction. Two weeks of TAC produced comparable increases (P < 0.05 vs. respective sham) in heart weight/body weight (mg/g) in WT-TAC (8.03 ± 1.14, P < 0.05 vs. respective sham) and CIRKO-TAC (7.76 ± 1.25, P < 0.05 vs. respective sham) vs. WT-sham (5.64 ± 0.11) and CIRKO-sham (4.64 ± 0.10) mice. In addition, 2 wk of TAC were associated with similar LV geometry and function (echocardiography) and interstitial fibrosis (picrosirius red staining) in CIRKO and WT mice. Responses to acetylcholine (ACh), N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (l-NMMA), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were measured in coronary arteries that were precontracted to achieve ∼70% of maximal tension development using the thromboxane A(2) receptor mimetic U-46619 (∼3 × 10(-6) M). ACh-evoked vasorelaxation was absent in WT-TAC but was present in CIRKO-TAC albeit reduced relative to sham-operated animals. l-NMMA-evoked tension development was similar in vessels from CIRKO-TAC mice but was lower (P < 0.05) in WT-TAC animals vs. the respective sham-operated groups, and SNP-evoked vasorelaxation was similar among all mice. Thus estimates of stimulated and basal endothelial nitric oxide release were better preserved in CIRKO vs. WT mice in response to 2 wk of TAC. These findings indicate that maladaptive LV remodeling previously observed in CIRKO-TAC mice is not precipitated by coronary artery dysfunction, because CIRKO mice exhibit compensatory mechanisms (e.g., increased eNOS transcript and protein) to maintain coronary endothelial function in the setting of pressure overload.


Incidence and underreporting of leptospirosis comparing three diagnostic methods in the endemic region of Urabá, Colombia
Introduction: Leptospirosis represents a public health problem and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the region of Urabá. However, its notification reveals diagnostic limitations. Objective: To establish the incidence of leptospirosis in the municipalities of the so-called eje bananero in the Urabá region, to describe the magnitude of underreporting, and to propose guidelines for laboratory diagnosis by the public health network. Materials and methods: Two leptospirosis information sources were used: The national official surveillance system and a cross-sectional study of 479 acute-phase patients from April, 2010, to May, 2012. The diagnosis was made using three different tests: Indirect immunofluorescence, microagglutination test, and blood cultures. The exhaustiveness percentage of each information source was calculatedusing the capture and recapture test. Results: From the total number of cases, 58% (278/479) were positive for leptospirosis at least by a test and 10.43% (29/278) of cases were positive by all three methods. The inclusion of a native strain in the microagglutination test panel increased the percentage of positivity by 15%. The cumulative incidence rate was 66.5/100,000 inhabitants and the case fatality ratio was 2.15%. The underreporting rates of leptospirosis in the Urabá region were 27.8% in morbidity and 66.6% in mortality. Conclusion: Under-registration of leptospirosis in the region highlights the necessity to use more than one diagnostic test to identify Leptospira in patients from endemic areas. Underregistration could be a common situation throughout the country.


Carotid pseudoaneurysm in a kitten after accidental puncture with a needle.
A 3-month-old intact male domestic shorthair kitten's cervical region was inadvertently punctured during routine subcutaneous fluid administration. A swelling rapidly developed on the left lateral neck and continued to grow, despite compression. An emergency facility evaluated the kitten 48 h later and the swelling was determined to be blood. Fine-needle aspiration of the swelling resulted in further swelling of the mass on the neck. The kitten began showing signs of systemic shock, necessitating a blood transfusion. The kitten was referred to a tertiary facility 24 h later for further diagnostics and treatment. CT of the head and neck revealed a large fluid-filled mass with progressive contrast enhancement noted during the filling phase, consistent with active hemorrhage. A carotid pseudoaneurysm was suspected and surgery was recommended. The left carotid artery was ligated proximal to the pseudoaneurysm; hemorrhage continued and the swelling was further explored. A small connection to the carotid artery within the medial aspect of the swelling was identified and ligated. The kitten required autotransfusion and massive allotransfusion during surgery due to blood loss. Recovery was uneventful. A head tilt and Horner's syndrome were noted postoperatively and improved over the following months. Histopathology was consistent with pseudoaneurysm. This is the first reported case of pseudoaneurysm in a kitten that was treated surgically, with massive blood transfusion and minimal complications. Early surgical intervention can result in excellent prognosis. The need for blood product administration should be anticipated.


Depression. Nursing implications of a clinical and social problem.
Depression is a phenomenon with concurrent personal, social, and clinical dimensions. Each person is affected by depression differently and expresses depressive symptomatology in a unique manner. Socially, the incidence of depressive illness in the general population is three times that of schizophrenia. The cost of depression in terms of lost days at work and treatment is estimated to be $29 billion in 1991. Diagnosing and treating depressive illnesses depend on the clinical manifestations of the illness and the assessment skills of the practitioner. Different treatment modalities such as psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and electroconvulsive treatments can be effective singularly or in combination to assist the patient in regaining his or her functionality in daily life.


Multilevel modeling and model averaging.
Multilevel modeling, also known as hierarchical regression, generalizes ordinary regression modeling to allow explicit and flexible compromises between simple and complex models. This article provides an elementary introduction to multilevel modeling as a model-averaging technique. Model averaging provides an alternative to model selection, and it emphasizes the role of prior information in finding good models.


Synthetic gene design with a large number of hidden stops.
Hidden stops are nucleotide triples TAA, TAG and TGA that appear on the second and third reading frames of a protein coding gene. Recent studies suggested the important role of hidden stops in preventing misread of mRNA. We study the problem of designing protein-encoding genes with large number of hidden stops under several biological constraints. With simple constraints, redesigned genes have provable maximal number of hidden stops. With more complex constraints, redesigned genes still have many more hidden stops than wild-type genes. We showed that redesigned genes have a distinct positional advantage in assisting early termination of frame-shifts.


Simultaneous Determination of Three Flavonoids in Rat Plasma of Masson Pinus Needles (Pinus massoniana L.) Extracts by UHPLC-MS/MS and Application to Pharmacokinetics Studies after Oral and Transdermal Administration.
Pinus massoniana needles, a traditional herb, were applied to prevent hair loss in China. Studies available mainly focused on pine needle flavonoids with various biological activities. However, there has been no pharmacokinetics study of the flavonoids from Pinus needles extract. A selective and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously quantify taxifolin, quercetin and catechin in rat plasma. To separate the three constituents, an Agilent Extend-C18 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm) was used with a mobile phrase of (A) 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile. The analytes were measured by multiple reaction monitoring in the negative ionization mode. There was good linearity in the established UHPLC-MS/MS method, with a coefficient of determination (r2) of >0.99. The accuracy, intra-day and inter-day precision and recovery were all satisfactory and these 3 compounds were stable under the tested conditions. The validated method in this study was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study in healthy rats after oral and transdermal administration of Pinus needles extract. The results could provide further research foundation for pine needle extract as external preparations.


Pharmacology of the ATM Inhibitor AZD0156: Potentiation of Irradiation and Olaparib Responses Preclinically.
AZD0156 is a potent and selective, bioavailable inhibitor of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein, a signaling kinase involved in the DNA damage response. We present preclinical data demonstrating abrogation of irradiation-induced ATM signaling by low doses of AZD0156, as measured by phosphorylation of ATM substrates. AZD0156 is a strong radiosensitizer in vitro, and using a lung xenograft model, we show that systemic delivery of AZD0156 enhances the tumor growth inhibitory effects of radiation treatment in vivo Because ATM deficiency contributes to PARP inhibitor sensitivity, preclinically, we evaluated the effect of combining AZD0156 with the PARP inhibitor olaparib. Using ATM isogenic FaDu cells, we demonstrate that AZD0156 impedes the repair of olaparib-induced DNA damage, resulting in elevated DNA double-strand break signaling, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Preclinically, AZD0156 potentiated the effects of olaparib across a panel of lung, gastric, and breast cancer cell lines in vitro, and improved the efficacy of olaparib in two patient-derived triple-negative breast cancer xenograft models. AZD0156 is currently being evaluated in phase I studies (NCT02588105).


Facile Fabrication of Oxidation-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Effective Anticancer Drug Delivery.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly overproduced in cancerous tissues, and thus oxidation-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising drug carrier for cancer-targeted drug delivery. In this study, we successfully synthesized poly(vanillyl alcohol- co-oxalate) (PVAX) polymer with an excellent ROS-responsive capacity. A well-established emulsion-solvent evaporation method was used to fabricate PVAX-based curcumin (CUR)-loaded NPs (PVAX-NPs) and their counterparts (poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid)-based CUR-loaded NPs, PLGA-NPs). It was found that these NPs had a hydrodynamic particle size of approximately 245 nm, narrow size distribution (polydispersity index less than 0.1), negative zeta potential (around -18 mV), smooth surface appearance, and high drug encapsulation efficiency. Moreover, we found that the CUR release rate of PVAX-NPs was greatly increased in the presence of a hydrogen peroxide-rich environment due to the cleavage of polyoxalate ester bonds in PVAX polymer, resulting in the evenly distribution of CUR within the whole cancer cells. More importantly, PVAX-NPs exhibited much stronger anticancer activities and pro-apoptotic capacities than PLGA-NPs both in vitro and in vivo. These results clearly demonstrate that these ROS-responsive PVAX-NPs can be exploited as a robust anticancer drug delivery platform in chemotherapy.


[The lack of information on genetically modified organisms in Brazil].
This article presents a review about the labeling of products that have Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), also called transgenic elements in their composition. It addresses the conventions, laws and regulations relating to such products currently governing the market, the adequacy of these existing standards and their acceptance by society. It also examines the importance of the cautionary principle when assessing the application of new technologies or technologies where little is known or where there is no relevant scientific knowledge about the potential risks to the environment, human health and society.


NAD+ enhances ribitol and ribose rescue of α-dystroglycan functional glycosylation in human FKRP-mutant myotubes.
Mutations in the fukutin-related protein (FKRP) cause Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS), a severe form of congenital muscular dystrophy. Here, we established a WWS human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myogenic model that recapitulates hallmarks of WWS pathology. We used this model to investigate the therapeutic effect of metabolites of the pentose phosphate pathway in human WWS. We show that functional recovery of WWS myotubes is promoted not only by ribitol but also by its precursor ribose. Moreover, we found that the combination of each of these metabolites with NAD+ results in a synergistic effect, as demonstrated by rescue of α-dystroglycan glycosylation and laminin binding capacity. Mechanistically, we found that FKRP residual enzymatic capacity, characteristic of many recessive FKRP mutations, is required for rescue as supported by functional and structural mutational analyses. These findings provide the rationale for testing ribose/ribitol in combination with NAD+ to treat WWS and other diseases associated with FKRP mutations.


Handling the influence of chemical shift in amplitude-modulated heteronuclear dipolar recoupling solid-state NMR.
We present a theoretical analysis of the influence of chemical shifts on amplitude-modulated heteronuclear dipolar recoupling experiments in solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The method is demonstrated using the Rotor Echo Short Pulse IRrAdiaTION mediated Cross-Polarization ((RESPIRATION)CP) experiment as an example. By going into the pulse sequence rf interaction frame and employing a quintuple-mode operator-based Floquet approach, we describe how chemical shift offset and anisotropic chemical shift affect the efficiency of heteronuclear polarization transfer. In this description, it becomes transparent that the main attribute leading to non-ideal performance is a fictitious field along the rf field axis, which is generated from second-order cross terms arising mainly between chemical shift tensors and themselves. This insight is useful for the development of improved recoupling experiments. We discuss the validity of this approach and present quaternion calculations to determine the effective resonance conditions in a combined rf field and chemical shift offset interaction frame transformation. Based on this, we derive a broad-banded version of the (RESPIRATION)CP experiment. The new sequence is experimentally verified using SNNFGAILSS amyloid fibrils where simultaneous (15)N → (13)CO and (15)N → (13)Cα coherence transfer is demonstrated on high-field NMR instrumentation, requiring great offset stability.


[3D-technologies in planning and navigation for laparoscopic interventions in patients with renal and ureteric stones].
to evaluate the possibilities and efficiency of using 3D technologies for the laparoscopic interventions in patients with renal and ureteric stones. A retrospective analysis of the results of surgical treatment of patients with renal and ureteric stones performed in the urology clinic of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of Minzdrav of Russia for the period from January 2012 to December 2017 was carried out. During this period a total of 4958 interventions were done. Among them, 98 laparoscopic (1.97%) surgeries were performed, including nephron-sparing interventions (n=47; 48%), pyelolithotomy (n=15; 15.3%), ureterolithotomy (n=32; 32.65%) and partial nephrectomy (n=4; 4.05 %). The average patients age was 55.76+/-10.5 (29-80) years. There were 51 men (52%) and 47 women (48%). The mean stone density was 1237.6+/-354.6 HU (from 500 to 1913 HU). In 14 (22.9%) cases, nephrostomy tube or ureteric stent had been put before surgery. In addition, 40 (40.8%) patients previously underwent one surgical intervention on the kidneys and 17 patients with urinary stone disease (17.3%) underwent surgery more or equal 2 times. 88 (89.8%) patients had severe concomitant diseases and the most common pathology in 51 (52.0%) patients with urinary stone disease was arterial hypertension. In 11 (11.2%) cases, the interventions were performed in patients with abnormal kidneys, including horseshoe kidney (n=6; 6.1%), duplicated collecting system (n=3; 3.1%) and pelvic kidney (n=2; 2%). In addition to standard preoperative diagnostic methods in 22 cases (22.4%) the 3D-planning and multivariate virtual performing of intervention based on the multidetector computer tomography scan was done using Amira 3D-modeling program. Among these patients, virtual interventions were performed prior to all pyelolithotomy and partial nephrectomy. Intraoperative data of virtual constructions were used by surgeons as navigation. The interventions were performed by seven urologists at the clinic with various experience in laparoscopic surgery. The mean duration of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic ureterolithotomy and laparoscopic nephrectomy was 183.2+/-69.6, 201.3+/-35.2 min, 97.6+/-43.7 and 165.4+/-92.3 min, respectively. The minimal blood loss was observed during laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (53.33+/-31.2 ml). During these interventions, in 8 cases (8.16%) a flexible endoscope was used for inspection and complete removal of stones. Intraoperative complications were noted in 6 patients (6.1%). There were 4 conversions to open surgery (4.1%). Postoperative surgical complications were observed in 1 (1%) patient, while non-surgical complications developed in 4 patients (4.1%). There was no mortality. Laparoscopic access for the treatment of patients with urinary stone disease should be used for the treatment of patients with large, long-standing ureteral calculi and patients with kidney stones who have concomitant pathology of kidney or upper urinary tract (UPJ obstruction, kidney tumors) requiring surgical intervention. Laparoscopic access should be considered primarily for the planning of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with urinary stone disease. The use of 3D computer-assisted technologies is advisable for patients with urinary stone disease and abnormal kidneys if laparoscopic pyelolithotomy, partial nephrectomy or ureterolithotomy is planned.


Eosinophilic cellulitis: histologic features in a cutaneous mastocytoma.
A cutaneous mastocytoma with associated histologic features of eosinophilic cellulitis is reported. The tumor occurred as a small, asymptomatic lesion on the left thigh of a 4-year-old boy. Microscopically, an accumulation of mast cells, microgranulomas, eosinophils and 'flame figures' was present. A pathogenesis involving mast cell degranulation, eosinophil chemotactic factors and eosinophil major basic protein is discussed.


Glycosyl transferases in family 61 mediate arabinofuranosyl transfer onto xylan in grasses.
Xylan, a hemicellulosic component of the plant cell wall, is one of the most abundant polysaccharides in nature. In contrast to dicots, xylan in grasses is extensively modified by α-(1,2)- and α-(1,3)-linked arabinofuranose. Despite the importance of grass arabinoxylan in human and animal nutrition and for bioenergy, the enzymes adding the arabinosyl substitutions are unknown. Here we demonstrate that knocking-down glycosyltransferase (GT) 61 expression in wheat endosperm strongly decreases α-(1,3)-linked arabinosyl substitution of xylan. Moreover, heterologous expression of wheat and rice GT61s in Arabidopsis leads to arabinosylation of the xylan, and therefore provides gain-of-function evidence for α-(1,3)-arabinosyltransferase activity. Thus, GT61 proteins play a key role in arabinoxylan biosynthesis and therefore in the evolutionary divergence of grass cell walls.


Clozapine serum concentrations are lower in smoking than in non-smoking schizophrenic patients.
Serum concentrations of clozapine and its main metabolite demethylclozapine were measured in 44 schizophrenic inpatients, of whom ten were non-smokers and 34 smokers. When comparing their clozapine dose and body weight-related serum drug levels, we found that clozapine and demethylclozapine concentrations were about 40% lower in the smoking than in the non-smoking group, probably due to an inducing effect of smoking on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, which is involved in the metabolism of clozapine. We conclude that dosage adjustment may be necessary in clozapine-treated smokers.


EVALUATION OF VITRECTOMY AND REIMPLANTATION FOLLOWING LATE DISLOCATION OF THE INTRAOCULAR LENS-CAPSULAR BAG COMPLEX: A 3-Year Follow-up Study.
To study the predisposition factors for dislocation of the intraocular lens (IOL)-capsular bag complex and analyze the results of subsequent reimplantation surgery. The exclusion criteria were complicated cataract surgery and minor dislocations that appeared in the first year after cataract surgery. Thirty-six months of monitoring of the reimplantation surgery was required. The primary measurements of results were factors concerning dislocation, the interval between cataract surgery and dislocation, and postoperative complications. Thirty-six patients with dislocation of the capsular bag and lens were identified. Pseudoexfoliation was mentioned in 17 cases (47.2%) and was the main predisposition factor. The average interval between cataract surgery and dislocation was 11.5 years. The dislocated IOL was replaced by a posterior chamber implant in 38% of cases and an anterior chamber implant in 62%. The average best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after the reposition surgery (P < 0.01). The average monitoring period after secondary reimplantation was 5.95 years (min. 3.03-max. 8.46). Three patients developed bullous keratopathy, all of them with an anterior chamber IOL implantation. According to our knowledge, this article is the one with the longest monitoring time to date. Pseudoexfoliation was the main risk factor for the dislocation of the IOL. Surgery significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity, and the reimplantation of the IOL in the posterior chamber was associated with less serious complications.


Transfusion-related acute lung injury in the Canadian paediatric population.
The incidence of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) in adults is approximately one per 5000 transfusions. The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program undertook the present study to determine the incidence of TRALI in the paediatric population and to describe the characteristics and outcomes of children with TRALI. The present surveillance study was conducted over a three-year period. Four TRALI cases were reported, yielding an incidence rate of 1.8 per 100,000 transfusions. The degree of severity varied: in two patients, only supplemental oxygen was necessary, while the other two required mechanical ventilation. TRALI was reported much less often in the present study compared with adult studies; therefore, it needs to be determined whether TRALI occurs less frequently in children, or alternatively, whether TRALI is recognized less often in children. The possibility that neonates who undergo cardiac surgery are at greater risk of TRALI than other patients should be addressed in future studies.


Epigenomic drivers of immune dysfunction in aging.
Aging inevitably leads to reduced immune function, leaving the elderly more susceptible to infections, less able to respond to pathogen challenges, and less responsive to preventative vaccinations. No cell type is exempt from the ravages of age, and extensive studies have found age-related alterations in the frequencies and functions of both stem and progenitor cells, as well as effector cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The intrinsic functional reduction in immune competence is also associated with low-grade chronic inflammation, termed "inflamm-aging," which further perpetuates immune dysfunction. While many of these age-related cellular changes are well characterized, understanding the molecular changes that underpin the functional decline has proven more difficult. Changes in chromatin are increasingly appreciated as a causative mechanism of cellular and organismal aging across species. These changes include increased genomic instability through loss of heterochromatin and increased DNA damage, telomere attrition, and epigenetic alterations. In this review, we discuss the connections between chromatin, immunocompetence, and the loss of function associated with mammalian immune aging. Through understanding the molecular events which underpin the phenotypic changes observed in the aged immune system, it is hoped that the aged immune system can be restored to provide youthful immunity once more.


[Initial results of the evaluation study of ultrasound hip screening in Germany].
To assess the effectiveness of a universal sonographic screening of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) established in Germany since 1996. Currently a national survey is being performed in Germany to identify infants and young children who receive inpatient treatment for DDH. Between May, 1997 and October, 1997 monthly questionnaires were sent to all pediatric orthopaedic surgeons (active surveillance) and they were asked to report all inpatient cases between 10 weeks of age and 5 years with current closed or open reduction and/or osteotomies due to DDH. Information on time and results of previous ultrasound screening as well as treatment modalities was obtained in reported cases. 129 children (mean age at hospital admission 15.9 months, range 1.1 to 57.1 months) underwent closed reduction (n = 51), open reduction (n = 40) and osteotomies of the hip (n = 38) in the 6-month study period. Ultrasound screening has been performed too late and not at all in 45 children (35.1%). While in 18 cases (13.7%) no information could be obtained on screening results, the majority of children (n = 66, 51.2%) had completed DDH screening prior to the sixth week of life as recommended. Preliminary calculation of the unadjusted incidence of inpatient treatment for DDH in Germany was 0.33 per 1000 livebirths. DDH cases are still identified after introduction of an universal ultrasound hip screening in Germany. Continued evaluation must show, whether the incidence will decrease throughout the next few years.


Improving the process of developing technical reports for health care decision makers: using the theory of constraints in the evidence-based practice centers.
To apply the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) process. Participants in the EPC process were interviewed, and the technical contracting literature was reviewed. Undesirable effects (UDEs) that might occur in the EPC process were identified and, in a TOC Current Reality Tree (CRT), a fundamental UDE was selected and tracked back to potential root causes, focusing on the core "constraint". The resulting draft CRT was presented at an EPC directors' meeting and finalized. From possible solutions obtained from interviews and literature, a Future Reality Tree (FRT) was constructed. Three UDEs were identified and that a report is not used was deemed fundamentally undesirable. Nine root causes were identified, and using the CRT, a core constraint emerged: EPC partner does not know how to conceptualize and articulate needs, objectives, and specifications. Two change strategies ("injections") appeared to address the core constraint: establish an ongoing relationship between partners, EPC, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality early in the process, and use a changes clause; in a FRT the injections lead to the positive outcome-the production of a successful EPC report that meets partner needs and, therefore, will be used. As with any complex enterprise, the EPC needs to engage in self-reflection and active improvement to maximize its value. The development of technical reports intended to inform decision making represents a complicated area, involving a network of interrelated processes. Using the TOC permitted us to understand process failures; results serve as a guide to improvement.


The complete structure of an activated open sodium channel.
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) play essential roles in excitable tissues, with their activation and opening resulting in the initial phase of the action potential. The cycling of Navs through open, closed and inactivated states, and their closely choreographed relationships with the activities of other ion channels lead to exquisite control of intracellular ion concentrations in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here we present the 2.45 Å resolution crystal structure of the complete NavMs prokaryotic sodium channel in a fully open conformation. A canonical activated conformation of the voltage sensor S4 helix, an open selectivity filter leading to an open activation gate at the intracellular membrane surface and the intracellular C-terminal domain are visible in the structure. It includes a heretofore unseen interaction motif between W77 of S3, the S4-S5 interdomain linker, and the C-terminus, which is associated with regulation of opening and closing of the intracellular gate.


Neighborhood income and physical and social disorder in Canada: associations with young children's competencies.
This study examined the association of census level, observational, and parent-reported neighborhood characteristics on the verbal and behavioral competencies of a national sample of Canadian preschoolers (N = 3,350). Children's verbal ability scores were positively associated with residing in neighborhoods with affluent residents and negatively associated with residing in neighborhoods with poor residents and in neighborhoods with low cohesion, even after controlling for family socioeconomic factors. Behavior problem scores were higher when children lived in neighborhoods that had fewer affluent residents, high unemployment rates, and neighborhoods with low cohesion, after controlling for family socioeconomic factors. These findings are discussed in light of neighborhood studies of children in the United States in the mid-1990s.


How do men and women help? Validation of a multidimensional measure of prosocial behavior.
The current study sought to address gender differences in prosocial behavior by creating and validating a multidimensional measure of prosocial behavior that more fully captures the ways that men help others. The new measure is directed toward family, friend, and strangers, and has five factors: defending, emotional support, inclusion, physical helping, and sharing. In Study 1, CFA analyses performed on a sample of 463 emerging adults online (mean age 23.42) revealed good model fit and divergent validity for each of the five factors. Study 2 replicated the analyses on a sample of 453 urban adolescents in the Northwest (mean age 18.37). Results established that all factors had good model fit, construct validity, and convergent validity. The discussion focuses on implications of this measure for future prosocial research including an increased diversity in how people (particularly men) help others and developmental differences toward different targets of prosocial behavior.


E-cadherin and caveolin-1 alterations in the heart of rats having undergone chlorpromazine-induced toxicity.
Heart damage induced by chlorpromazine (CPZ) toxicity is associated with changes in the expression of various enzymes and proteins. This study aimed to investigate CPZ‑induced alterations in cardiac E-cadherin and caveolin-1 (cav-1) after CPZ administration. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a CPZ group. The CPZ group was administered CPZ intraperitoneally at a single dose of 10 mg/kg for 21 days; the controls were given the same amount of saline via the same route. On Day 22, the rats were anesthetized, and a thoracotomy was performed in all animals. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate protein expression of E-cadherin and cav-1. Sections were analyzed by digital image analysis. Results of the present study revealed that cardiac protein expression of E-cadherin and cav-1 was altered after CPZ-induced toxicity in the rat. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly reduced, while expression of cav-1 was significantly increased after CPZ treatment, as supported by integrated optical density analysis, compared with the control (P<0.05). The current findings indicate that such changes in the expression of E-cadherin and cav-1 may be reflected in abnormal cardiac function, and these proteins may be useful in revealing the mechanisms underlying CPZ-induced toxicity and may also provide additional insight for further research.


Prognostic and therapeutic implications of increased ATP citrate lyase expression in human epithelial ovarian cancer.
Altered metabolism is one of the most significant features of cancer cells. ATP citrate lyase (ACL), a key enzyme in de novo lipid synthesis, has been reported to be overexpressed or activated in several cancer types. To determine the role of ACL in ovarian cancer progression, we detected ACL expression in human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues. qRT-PCR and western blotting showed higher ACL expression in malignant tissues compared to normal ovarian tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that phosphorylated ACL was increased in ovarian cancer tissues and that its expression correlated well with tumor grade, FIGO stage and poorer prognosis. To explore the therapeutic potential of ACL, we assessed the effect of ACL-siRNA on cellular proliferation and cell cycle distribution. ACL knockdown inhibited cellular proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in A2780 cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that ACL may contribute to the pathogenesis of human epithelial ovarian cancer, and may serve as a novel therapeutic target.


Extracellular adenosine induces apoptosis of human arterial smooth muscle cells via A(2b)-purinoceptor.
Apoptosis of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) could play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that extracellular adenosine induces apoptosis in various cell types. Our aim was to delineate the capacity of this nucleoside to induce ASMC apoptosis in arterial diseases. We demonstrate that adenosine dose-dependently triggers apoptosis of cultured human ASMCs. Apoptotic cell death was quantified by analysis of nuclear chromatin morphology and characterized by DNA laddering. The involvement of adenosine receptors was suggested, because neither an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine hydrochloride, nor an inhibitor of cellular nucleoside transport, dipyridamole, was able to inhibit adenosine-induced ASMC apoptosis. In contrast, an A(1)/A(2)-adenosine receptor antagonist, xanthine amine congener, totally inhibited adenosine-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, among more selective inhibitors of P(1) purinoceptor subtypes, only alloxazine, an antagonist of A(1)- and A(2)-adenosine receptors, completely inhibited adenosine-induced ASMC apoptosis, suggesting that adenosine triggers ASMC apoptosis via either 1 or both of these receptors. However, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, 8-(3-chlorostyryl) caffeine, and 3-ethyl-5-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl-6-phenyl-1, 4-(+/-)-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate, which are A(1)-, A(2a)-, and A(3)-adenosine receptor antagonists, did not inhibit adenosine-induced apoptosis, suggesting an involvement of the A(2b)-receptor in this process. Moreover, the cAMP increase followed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation appears essential to mediate adenosine-induced ASMC apoptosis, thus confirming the previous hypothesis. These results indicate that adenosine-induced apoptosis of ASMCs is essentially mediated via A(2b)-adenosine receptor and involves a cAMP-dependent pathway.


Clinical benefit of eplerenone in patients with mild symptoms of systolic heart failure already receiving optimal best practice background drug therapy: analysis of the EMPHASIS-HF study.
In EMPHASIS-HF (Eplerenone in Mild Patients Hospitalization and Survival Study in Heart Failure), eplerenone significantly reduced major cardiovascular events versus placebo in 2737 patients with mild symptoms of heart failure and an ejection fraction of <35%, in addition to recommended therapy. However, it is not known whether such benefits were preserved in patients receiving optimal background drug therapy, that is, high doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi, or angiotensin receptor blocker), β-blocker, or both drug classes. We further analyzed EMPHASIS-HF according to the use and dose of these background drug classes. Patients receiving ≥ 50% of target dose were considered to be receiving high doses; patients on <50% or no drug comprised the low-dose group. The primary end point of the study (cardiovascular death/heart failure hospitalization), as well as all-cause mortality, was evaluated in this way. The beneficial clinical effects of eplerenone (as observed in the main study) were preserved for the EMPHASIS-HF primary end point in patients receiving higher doses of ACEi or angiotensin receptor blocker, β-blocker, or both (hazard ratio for eplerenone versus placebo, ACEi/angiotensin receptor blocker: high dose, 0.67; low dose, 0.65; β-blockers: high dose, 0.55; low dose, 0.72; both ACEi/angiotensin receptor blocker and β-blocker: high dose, 0.59; low dose, 0.68; P value for interaction 0.80, 0.15, and 0.53, respectively), as well as for all-cause mortality. There were no major safety issues, except a borderline increased risk of hypotension with eplerenone in those on high-dose ACEi or ACEi/β-blocker. Eplerenone provides substantial benefit on major events (with an acceptable safety profile) in patients with mild symptoms of systolic heart failure, even in those already receiving high doses of standard background therapies.


Effects of pulmonary hypertension on vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin-1 and sarafotoxin S6C and on inherent tone in rat pulmonary arteries.
Vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin S6c (SXS6c) were investigated in the main pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery branch removed from rats previously exposed to 10% O2 [chronic hypoxic (CH) rats] or room air (control rats) for 2 weeks. The effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition with L-Nomega-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (100 microM) on ET receptor-induced responses in these arteries were also investigated. In control rats, in rings of main pulmonary arteries and pulmonary artery branches. ET-1 induced vasoconstrictor responses. These responses were mediated by the ETA receptor as they were antagonized by the ETA receptor antagonist FR 139317 whereas SXS6c did not vasoconstrict. Chronic hypoxia had no effect on the sensitivity of the main pulmonary arteries to ET-1, whereas small vasoconstrictor responses to SCS6c were evident. ET-1 was more potent in the CH rat pulmonary artery branches than in controls. SXS6c also caused vasoconstriction with a maximum response 30% of that to ET-1 in both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded vessels. L-NAME increased the sensitivity to ET-1 in the CH rat main pulmonary arteries and increased the responses to low concentrations of ET-1 in the control rat main pulmonary arteries but did not affect any ET-1 responses in any other vessels. It did disclose responses to SXS6c in control rat main pulmonary arteries. L-NAME itself increased vascular tone to a greater extent in CH rat pulmonary arteries than in controls. In preconstricted pulmonary arteries, however, relaxations to acetylcholine (ACh) were diminished in the CH rats as compared with their controls. All pulmonary artery branches, denuded of their vascular endothelium, relaxed to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and therefore exhibited endogenous vascular tone. This effect was greatest in the pulmonary artery branches from the CH rats. The results suggest that rat large pulmonary artery responses to ET-1 are normally mediated by ETA receptors. Pulmonary hypertension can potentiate ETA receptor-mediated vasoconstriction and facilitate ETB receptor-mediated vasoconstriction. Endogenous NO may normally suppress ETA receptor-mediated responses in rat main pulmonary arteries. Rat pulmonary arteries exhibit endogenous tone, which is increased by exposure to chronic hypoxia.


Multi-criteria decision analysis to evaluate foot and mouth disease control strategies with the perspectives of Chief Veterinary Officers in the Asia-Oceania region.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of foot and mouth disease (FMD) control strategies using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The FMD control strategies were evaluated for epidemiological, economic and social-environmental criteria, accounting for the preferences of Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from the Asia-Oceania region, with the preferences quantified using a questionnaire study. Previously reported simulation results of an FMD epidemic were used to measure the epidemiological effectiveness of FMD control strategies. The simulated FMD epidemic results, such as the number of infected farms, the duration of the epidemic and the outbreak area, were compared for a number of FMD control strategies. Based on previous simulation and economic modelling results and incorporating a literature search to quantify the social and environmental outcomes of an FMD outbreak, MCDA analysis was conducted to evaluate control strategies. According to the overall score in the MCDA results, an FMD control strategy which consisted of a 3-km radius of pre-emptive slaughter, 100 days of movement restriction and vaccinating all FMD-susceptible animals (baseline strategy) was the preferred strategy, with the highest overall score of 62.99. In contrast, the same duration of movement restriction and vaccination strategy with a 0.5-km radius of pre-emptive slaughter was least preferred, with the lowest overall score of 37.05. The evaluation of the FMD control strategies presented here using MCDA has provided scientific evidence for selecting an appropriate baseline FMD control strategy, based on the preferences of CVOs.


Cenozoic extinctions account for the low diversity of extant gymnosperms compared with angiosperms.
We test the widely held notion that living gymnosperms are 'ancient' and 'living fossils' by comparing them with their sister group, the angiosperms. This perception derives partly from the lack of gross morphological differences between some Mesozoic gymnosperm fossils and their living relatives (e.g. Ginkgo, cycads and dawn redwood), suggesting that the rate of evolution of gymnosperms has been slow. We estimated the ages and diversification rates of gymnosperm lineages using Bayesian relaxed molecular clock dating calibrated with 21 fossils, based on the phylogenetic analysis of alignments of matK chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and 26S nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences, and compared these with published estimates for angiosperms. Gymnosperm crown groups of Cenozoic age are significantly younger than their angiosperm counterparts (median age: 32 Ma vs 50 Ma) and have long unbranched stems, indicating major extinctions in the Cenozoic, in contrast with angiosperms. Surviving gymnosperm genera have diversified more slowly than angiosperms during the Neogene as a result of their higher extinction rate. Compared with angiosperms, living gymnosperm groups are not ancient. The fossil record also indicates that gymnosperms suffered major extinctions when climate changed in the Oligocene and Miocene. Extant gymnosperm groups occupy diverse habitats and some probably survived after making adaptive shifts.


Finite Element Analysis of Femoral-Acetabular Impingement (FAI) Based on Three-Dimensional Reconstruction.
In order to solve the problem that people often have pain in the hip joint, it is more meaningful to study femoral-acetabular impingement syndrome in the future. This article aims to study the finite element analysis of femoral-acetabular impingement based on three-dimensional reconstruction. This paper proposes a selective image matching strategy. In the feature matching stage, all images are not matched in pairs, but the corresponding camera distance between the images is calculated initially, which has little effect on the number of features and greatly reduces the time of feature matching, thereby reducing the time cost of 3D reconstruction. In this experiment, a double-blind experiment was used to check the range of motion of all hip joints. Two senior radiologists read the obtained hip joint orthographic films to screen out the hip joint orthographic films that meet the requirements. Experimental data shows that although the initial matching points of the algorithm in this paper are lower than those of the traditional algorithm, the final number of matching points is higher than that of the traditional algorithm. When the final number of patches is fixed to 10000, the initial patch required by the algorithm in this paper is more than that required by the SAD algorithm, nearly 13%, but the total storage requirement is 56.4% of the SAD algorithm, which is a big improvement.


Impact of SCBA size and fatigue from different firefighting work cycles on firefighter gait.
Risk of slips, trips and falls in firefighters maybe influenced by the firefighter's equipment and duration of firefighting. This study examined the impact of a four self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) three SCBA of increasing size and a prototype design and three work cycles one bout (1B), two bouts with a five-minute break (2B) and two bouts back-to-back (BB) on gait in 30 firefighters. Five gait parameters (double support time, single support time, stride length, step width and stride velocity) were examined pre- and post-firefighting activity. The two largest SCBA resulted in longer double support times relative to the smallest SCBA. Multiple bouts of firefighting activity resulted in increased single and double support time and decreased stride length, step width and stride velocity. These results suggest that with larger SCBA or longer durations of activity, firefighters may adopt more conservative gait patterns to minimise fall risk. Practitioner Summary: The effects of four self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and three work cycles on five gait parameters were examined pre- and post-firefighting activity. Both SCBA size and work cycle affected gait. The two largest SCBA resulted in longer double support times. Multiple bouts of activity resulted in more conservative gait patterns.


Alcohol screening can reduce readmissions.
A pilot program named the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program has shown that it is effective and practical to implement in a hectic ED. Here are some reasons to consider such an alcohol intervention in your ED: You virtually can eliminate return visits due to alcohol-related injuries. Regular use of this intervention can make your staff more adept at discussing this sensitive topic with patients. It generally takes five to seven minutes to conduct the screening, so it will not significantly tie up your staff.


[Prenatal diagnosis of molar pathologies coexisting with a fetus. Review of the recent literature and a case report].
A case of twin pregnancy combining a complete mole and a normal pregnancy is reported. A spontaneously aborted partial triploid mole was found in the past medical history of the patient. Prenatal investigations showed an heterogenous mass suggestive of a trophoblastic disorder coexisting with a normal placenta and a morphologically normal fetus on sonography associated with increased levels of hCG and normal levels of AFP in the maternal serum. High-resolution color Doppler imaging showed no blood flow within the suspect mass, excluding a myoma in necrobiosis or a large placental chorioangioma. The patient did not presented the severe complications classically described in classical mole and a passive conservative attitude was adopted. The pregnancy ended prematurely and the patient delivered at 27 weeks of gestation of a phenotypically normal infant. The mother and the baby had an unremarkable post-partum course. The review of the recent literature showed that partial hydatidiform mole could be separated in four categories: triploid partial moles; twin pregnancies combining a complete mole and a normal pregnancy; diploid partial mole; and pseudo-moles. Detailed sonographic examination and evaluation of maternal serum hCG and AFP should allow prenatal differential diagnosis of these pathological entities.


The DSM diagnostic criteria for sexual sadism.
I reviewed the empirical literature for 1900-2008 on the paraphilia of Sexual Sadism for the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Workgroup for the forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The results of this review were tabulated into a general summary of the criticisms relevant to the DSM diagnosis of Sexual Sadism, the assessment of Sexual Sadism utilizing the DSM in samples drawn from forensic populations, and the assessment of Sexual Sadism using the DSM in non-forensic populations. I conclude that the diagnosis of Sexual Sadism should be retained, that minimal modifications of the wording of this diagnosis are warranted, and that there is a need for the development of dimensional and structured diagnostic instruments.


Exploring the role and mechanism of gut microbiota in methamphetamine addiction using antibiotic treatment followed by fecal microbiota transplantation.
Recently, the role of the gut microbiota in the context of drug addiction has attracted the attention of researchers; however, the specific effects and underlying mechanisms require further exploration. To accomplish this, C57BL/6 mice were firstly treated with methamphetamine (MA). Conditioned place preference (CPP) behavior changes, gut permeability and function, microglial activation, and inflammatory cytokine expression were systematically analyzed in antibiotics-treated mice with microbiota depletion and in fecal microbiota transplantation mice with microbiota reconstitution. MA treatment altered microbiota composition and caused gut dysbiosis. Depletion of gut microbiota with antibiotics inhibited MA-induced CPP formation, and fecal microbiota transplantation reversed this inhibition. Mechanistic analyses indicated that antibiotic treatment decreased gut permeability and neuroinflammation, while fecal microbiota transplantation offset the impact of antibiotic treatment. Additionally, MA-induced microglial activation was suppressed by antibiotics but restored by microbiota transplantation, and this correlated well with the CPP score. Compared to antibiotic treatment, microbiota transplantation significantly increased 5-HT4 receptor expression in both the nucleus accumbens and the hippocampus. Furthermore, when fecal microbiota from healthy mice was transplanted into MA-treated mice, the CPP scores decreased. Our results provide a novel avenue for understanding MA addiction and suggest a potential future intervention strategy.


Bone bonding strength of calcium phosphate ceramic coated strain gauges.
Although strain transfer from bone to gauge has been used as an indication of the extent of bone bonding to calcium phosphate ceramic (CPC) coated strain gauges, interface strength measurements have not been reported. In order to develop bone-bonded gauges that remain attached to bone surfaces for long periods, the strength of the CPC-bone interface must be optimized. A shear test to assess the interface strength of the CPC-bone interface was developed using the femora of 120-day-old male rats. The mean interface strength of a blended CPC coating bonded to the femora of the rats for 6 weeks in vivo was 4.8+/-2.4 MPa, and one specimen achieved a strength of nearly 10 MPa. This mean strength value is higher then the CPC-gauge interface strength reported in early studies, but it is lower than recently developed heat treated CPC-gauge interfaces that have average strengths of approximately 7.0+/-2.0 MPa.


Conditions under which function information attenuates name extension via shape.
Children often extend names to novel artifacts on the basis of overall shape rather than core properties (e.g., function). This bias is claimed to reflect the fact that nonrandom structure is a reliable cue to an object having a specific designed function. In this article, we show that information about an object's design (i.e., about its creator's intentions) is neither necessary nor sufficient for children to override the shape bias. Children extend names on the basis of any information specifying the artifact's function (e.g., information about design, current use, or possible use), especially when this information is made salient when candidate objects for extension are introduced. Possible mechanisms via which children come to rely less on easily observable cues (e.g., shape) and more on core properties (e.g., function) are discussed.


Too Young to Undergo Temporal Artery Biopsy? Calciphylaxis-Related Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.
A 39-year-old male patient with end-stage renal failure presented with unexplained isolated unilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, high sedimentation rate, and high CRP. Despite the relatively young age of the patient, an ipsilateral temporal artery biopsy was performed, disclosing calciphylaxis, a highly morbid condition associated with end-stage renal failure, which requires urgent, specific management.


Clinical value of pretreatment serum Cyfra 21-1, tissue polypeptide antigen, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in patients with cervical cancer.
The clinical value of pretreatment serum concentrations of cytokeratin 19 fragments, measured by Cyfra 21-1, was compared with tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in 78 patients with squamous cell cervical cancer. Serum levels were compared with tumor stage, size, lymph node status, parametrial involvement, and prognostic data. The clinical performance of the different tests was evaluated by their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Serum levels of all markers were related significantly to tumor stage and size. Elevated serum levels of these markers were not found to be predictive for the presence of lymph node metastases. In contrast, a positive relation was found between quantitative serum Cyfra 21-1, TPA, and SCC-Ag levels and the presence of either lymph node metastases or parametrial involvement (i.e., extracervical disease). An elevated, i.e. positive, serum Cyfra 21-1 level was related significantly to the presence of extracervical disease (P = 0.020). The clinical performance of each serum marker in predicting lymph node metastases or parametrial involvement appeared to be similar as expressed by their ROC curves. In the univariate analysis, Cyfra 21-1, TPA, and SCC-Ag showed prognostic value with respect to disease free interval and survival. Elevated serum levels were associated with a poor prognosis. However, after adjusting for tumor stage and size, none of these markers remained statistically significant. Cyfra 21-1 may be of additional value in assessing stage of disease, tumor size, and the presence of extracervical disease in patients with cervical cancer. Determining its value during follow-up warrants further study.


Association of social determinants of health with self-rated health among Australian gay and bisexual men living with HIV.
Despite a vast improvement in the survival of people living with HIV (PLHIV) since the introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), little change in the self-rated health of PLHIV has been observed since the introduction of cART in Australia. Difficulties with attaining employment or achieving financial security have been noted as some of the key challenges still facing PLHIV in the post-cART era. As a result, we investigated the independent association of a number of key social determinants of health with self-rated health among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in Australia. Data from two recent national, cross-sectional surveys of PLHIV (the HIV Futures 5 and 6 surveys) were used. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent association of ethnicity, region of residence, education level, employment status, after-tax income, experience of HIV-related discrimination, level of social support, relationship status and recent sexual activity with reporting good-excellent self-rated health, after adjusting for clinical factors and other social determinants of health. Multiple imputation was used to estimate missing data for variables with >5% missing data. Of the 1713 HIV-positive gay/bisexual men who responded to the HIV Futures 5 and 6 surveys, information on self-rated health was available for 99.3%. Close to three-quarters of these respondents (72.1%) reported their self-rated health as good or excellent; the remainder (27.9%) reported their self-rated health as poor or fair. In multivariable analysis involving 89.3% of respondents, being employed, reporting recent sexual activity, a greater number of sources of social support and a higher weekly after-tax income were found to be independently associated with reporting good-excellent self-rated health. Despite the inability of this study to detect causal associations, addressing barriers to employment and sexual activity, and mechanisms to increase social support, is likely to have positive health effects for PLHIV in Australia.