A platelet biomarker for assessing phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition during cancer chemotherapy.
Thrombin cleavages of selective proteinase-activated receptors (PAR) as well as PAR-activating peptide ligands can initiate the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade in platelets. Downstream to this event, fibrinogen receptors on platelets undergo conformational changes that enhance fibrinogen binding. In our study, we used this phenomenon as a surrogate biomarker for assessing effects on PI3K activity. Our method, using flow cytometric measurement of fluorescent ligand and antibody binding, uncovered a 16- to 45-fold signal window after PAR-induced platelet activation. Pretreatment (in vitro) with the PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 resulted in concentration-dependent inhibition at predicted potencies. In addition, platelets taken from mice treated with wortmannin were blocked from PAR-induced ex vivo activation concomitantly with a decrease in phosphorylation of AKT from excised tumor xenografts. This surrogate biomarker assay was successfully tested (in vitro) on blood specimens received from volunteer cancer patients. Our results indicate that measurement of platelet activation could serve as an effective drug activity biomarker during clinical evaluation of putative PI3K inhibitors.


The road to my (self) psychology.
This chapter describes how I developed my self-psychological perspective. It provides the reader with a short summary of my personal history--how I grew up in New York City and now live and work as a psychoanalyst in Munich, Germany. Included is a description of important mentors in my life who have provided me with invaluable support. At the end of the chapter there are two cases presented. The first describes the case of Mrs. A. She entered analysis with a great difficulty in her ability to speak (i.e., a deficit in her narrative self). The second case of Mr. B provides the reader with two complete analytic sessions. I do not comment on the content and intent of my interventions or interpretations but leave it open to the readers to develop their own thoughts, and, if they like, they can send me personal feedback to my e-mail address.


Size-selective self-assembly of magnetic Mn nanoclusters on Si(111).
We show by first-principles calculations two types of magnetic magic Mn clusters on the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface. The first is a small triangular Mn7 cluster stabilized by the solid-centered Mn-Si3 bonds on the top layer, and the second is a large hexagonal Mn13 cluster favored by the confining potential wells of the faulted half unit cells on the Si(111) surface. These two structural models are distinct from that of the planar group-III clusters on Si(111) and produce simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images in reasonable agreement with recent experimental observations. These results offer key insights for understanding the complex energetic landscape on the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface, which is critical to precisely controlled growth of Mn nanocluster arrays with specific size, magnetic moment, and good uniformity.


[Dynamics of antigen-antibody interaction--an introduction].
Dynamic or thermodynamic theory for antigen-antibody interaction was discussed in this chapter. The reaction between antibody and antigen may be simplistically described by the law of mass action. The strength of a reaction between monovalent antigen and monovalent antibody is referred to as affinity. Antibody affinity is influenced by many factors, which include the degree of the stereochemical fit between the combing site and the epitope and the size of the region. In this paper, I would like to discuss how to detect and quantitatively express about antigen-antibody interaction using by several theories.


Molecular targets for neuroprotection.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal paralytic neurodegenerative disorder. Experimental models of ALS such as the transgenic rodents expressing mutant superoxide dimutase-1 are playing a pivotal role in our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, and in our testing of new therapeutic interventions aimed at protecting against neurodegeneration. Apoptosis has emerged as a significant pathogenic factor in several neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Constructed of multiple interacting molecules, the apoptosis machinery offers a host of attractive targets for pharmacological and genetic interventions to be tested in experimental models of ALS. Information generated by these pre-clinical studies holds the promise to provide sound scientific basis for the development of effective neuroprotective therapies for ALS.


Nucleosome positioning and nucleosome stacking: two faces of the same coin.
Nucleosomes are regularly spaced along eukaryotic genomes. In the emerging model, known as "statistical positioning", this spacing is due to steric repulsion between nucleosomes and to the presence of nucleosome excluding barriers on the genome. However, new experimental evidence recently challenged the "statistical positioning" model (Z. Zhang et al., Science, 2011, 332(6032), 977-980). We propose here that the regular spacing can be better explained by adding attractive interactions between nucleosomes. In our model those attractions are due to the fact that nucleosomes are stacked in regular chromatin fibers. In a self-reinforcing mechanism, regular nucleosome spacing promotes in turn nucleosome stacking. We first show that this model can precisely account for the nucleosome spacing observed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We then use a simple toy model to show that attraction between nucleosomes can fasten the formation of the chromatin fiber.


Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Hematolymphoid System.
The INHAND Project (International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria for Lesions in Rats and Mice) is a joint initiative of the Societies of Toxicologic Pathology from Europe (ESTP), Great Britain (BSTP), Japan (JSTP), and North America (STP) to develop an internationally accepted nomenclature for proliferative and nonproliferative changes in rats and mice. The purpose of this publication is to provide a standardized nomenclature for classifying changes observed in the hematolymphoid organs, including the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues, and other lymphoid tissues (serosa-associated lymphoid clusters and tertiary lymphoid structures) with color photomicrographs illustrating examples of the lesions. Sources of material included histopathology databases from government, academia, and industrial laboratories throughout the world. Content includes spontaneous lesions as well as lesions induced by exposure to test materials. The nomenclature for these organs is divided into 3 terminologies: descriptive, conventional, and enhanced. Three terms are listed for each diagnosis. The rationale for this approach and guidance for its application to toxicologic pathology are described in detail below.


How children understand parental mental illness: "you don't get life insurance. What's life insurance?".
To understand how children living with parental mental illness (PMI) understand mental illness (MI) and what they want to tell other children. The study design was a secondary analysis of a grounded theory study exploring Canadian children's perceptions of living with PMI. Interviews from 22 children, ages 6 - 16, living with a parent with depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia receiving treatment for the MI, were re-read, coded and analyzed along with data categories, their properties, field notes and memos from the original data. Children revealed that they had limited understanding of MI and received few factual explanations of what was happening. Limited information on MI caused undue hardship. Younger children worried about their parent dying, while older children also were concerned about developing MI. Children offered suggestions for other children in similar circumstances. This study raises awareness of children living with PMI and identifies them as a population requiring services. It incorporates children's perceptions of what they know and need to know. Children require assistance to understand and to respond to PMI. Mental health and primary health care clinicians have opportunities to assist these children within collaborative care models developed in conjunction with school services.


Profiling the indole alkaloids in yohimbe bark with ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/IM-QTOF-MS) method was developed for profiling the indole alkaloids in yohimbe bark. Many indole alkaloids with the yohimbine or ajmalicine core structure, plus methylated, oxidized and reduced species, were characterized. Common fragments and mass differences are described. It was shown that the use of IMS could provide another molecular descriptor, i.e. molecular shape by rotationally averaged collision cross-section; this is of great value for identification of constituents when reference materials are usually not available. Using the combination of high resolution (~40000) accurate mass measurement with time-aligned parallel (TAP) fragmentation, MS(E) (where E represents collision energy), ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS) and UPLC chromatography, a total 55 indole alkaloids were characterized and a few new indole alkaloids are reported for the first time.


Clinical outcome and tumour microenvironmental effects of accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide.
Experimental studies have shown an almost 2-fold increase in effectiveness if accelerated radiotherapy combined with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) was compared with standard radiotherapy. This combination was chosen in order to overcome repopulation of clonogens during radiotherapy and to minimize tumour hypoxia. Analysis of microenvironmental parameters is required to identify tumours that can benefit from these new treatment approaches. In this study 124 patients with stage III or IV head and neck squamous cell carcinomas received ARCON treatment. Vascular architecture, perfusion, proliferation and oxygenation were studied in two human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma xenograft lines and the effects of carbogen and nicotinamide were analysed. Loco-regional control for stage III-IV larynx carcinomas was 85%, for hypopharynx carcinomas 50% and for oral cavity and oropharynx carcinomas 65%. In the experimental studies, carbogen treatment resulted in one tumour line in a decrease of blood perfusion, which was reversed if nicotinamide was added. The other tumour line showed no perfusion changes after carbogen or nicotinamide treatment. Both tumour lines showed a drastic reduction of hypoxia after carbogen breathing only or carbogen breathing plus nicotinamide. The ARCON schedule results in high loco-regional tumour control rates. Analysis of tumour microenvironmental parameters showed differences in response to carbogen and nicotinamide between different tumour lines of similar histology and site of origin. This indicates that it may be advantageous to base the selection of patients for oxygenation modifying treatment on microenvironmental tumour characteristics.


Diabetes Care During COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore Using a Telehealth Strategy.
Singapore currently has one of highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia. To curb the further spread of COVID-19, Singapore government announced a temporary nationwide lockdown (circuit breaker). In view of restrictions of patients' mobility and the enforcement of safe distancing measures, usual in-person visits were discouraged. Here we describe how diabetes care delivery was ad hoc redesigned applying a telehealth strategy. We describe a retrospective assessment of subjects with diabetes, with and without COVID-19 infection, during the circuit breaker period of 7th April to 1st June 2020 managed through Tan Tock Seng Hospital's telehealth platform. The virtual health applications consisted of telephone consultations, video telehealth visits via smartphones, and remote patient monitoring. The TTSH team intensively managed 298 diabetes patients using a telehealth strategy. The group comprised of (1) 84 inpatient COVID-19 patients with diabetes who received virtual diabetes education and blood glucose management during their hospitalisation and follow-up via phone calls after discharge and (2) 214 (n=192 non-COVID; n=22 COVID-positive) outpatient subjects with suboptimal glycaemic control who received intensive diabetes care through telehealth approaches. Remote continuous glucose monitoring was applied in 80 patients to facilitate treatment adjustment and hypoglycaemia prevention. The COVID-19 pandemic situation mooted an immediate disruptive transformation of healthcare processes. Virtual health applications were found to be safe, effective and efficient to replace current in-person visits.


Antibodies specific for the human retinoblastoma protein identify a family of related polypeptides.
Even though the retinoblastoma gene is one of the best-studied tumor suppressor genes, little is known about its functional role. Like all tumor suppressor gene products, the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is thought to inhibit some aspect of cell proliferation. It also appears to be a cellular target of several DNA tumor virus-transforming proteins, such as adenovirus E1A, human papillomavirus E7, or simian virus 40 large T antigen. To help in the analysis of pRB, we have prepared a new set of anti-human pRB monoclonal antibodies. In addition to being useful reagents for the study of human pRB, these antibodies display several unexpected properties. They can be used to distinguish different subsets of the pRBs on the basis of their phosphorylation states. Some are able to recognize pRB homologs in other species, including mice, chickens, and members of the genus Xenopus. In addition, some of these antibodies can bind directly to other cellular proteins that, like pRB, were originally identified through their association with adenovirus E1A. These immunologically cross-reactive proteins include the p107 and p300 proteins, and their recognition by antibodies raised against pRB suggests that several members of the E1A-targeted cellular proteins form a structurally and functionally related family.


Diffusion tensor imaging and its application to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a new technique that can be used to visualize and measure the diffusion of water in brain tissue; it is particularly useful for evaluating white matter abnormalities. In this paper, we review research studies that have applied DTI for the purpose of understanding neuropsychiatric disorders. We begin with a discussion of the principles involved in DTI, followed by a historical overview of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and DTI and a brief description of several different methods of image acquisition and quantitative analysis. We then review the application of this technique to clinical populations. We include all studies published in English from January 1996 through March 2002 on this topic, located by searching PubMed and Medline on the key words "diffusion tensor imaging" and "MRI." Finally, we consider potential future uses of DTI, including fiber tracking and surgical planning and follow-up.


[Isolation and uses of human stem cells].
This review summarizes recent results on the totipotency of differentiated mammalian cells, as demonstrated by nuclear transfer into enucleated egg cells, as well as very recent breakthroughs in establishing human embryonic stem cell lines. In the light of basic questions in developmental biology, these and other results on the identification and isolation of pluripotent mammalian brain stem cells are discussed with respect to their therapeutic applications and ethical implications.


Biochemical basis of partial nephrogenic diabetes insipidus phenotypes.
Biochemical properties of mutant type 2 vasopressin receptors (V2Rs) causing a partial phenotype of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus were investigated in transiently transfected HEK 293 cells. Cell surface expression of the V2R was not altered by substituting Asp85 in the second transmembrane region by Asn as determined by saturation binding assays. Although the affinity of the mutant V2R for arginine vasopressin (AVP) was reduced only 6-fold, the response of adenylyl cyclase activity to AVP revealed a 50-fold right shift in EC50 and a decreased maximum response for the mutant V2R. These data indicated that replacement of Asp85 by Asn affected coupling of the receptor to Gs, a conclusion substantiated by a 20-fold decrease in the calculated coupling efficiency of this receptor. The Gly201Asp mutation in the second extracellular loop, also found associated with an NDI partial phenotype, decreased cell surface expression of the V2R with minor reduction in ligand-binding affinity and coupling efficiency to Gs. A pronounced difference was observed for this mutant V2R between the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity promoted by AVP and the V2 vasopressin receptor agonist deamino[Cys1,D-Arg8]-vasopressin, suggesting an involvement of Gly201 in the selectivity of the receptor for different ligands. These data demonstrated that while decreased ligand-binding affinity and decreased coupling to Gs are responsible for the attenuation of response to ligand in the Asp85Asn mutant V2R, cell surface expression of the V2R is the major factor reducing cellular responses to ligand for the Gly201Asp mutant V2R.


Parachloromercuribenzenesulfonic Acid : a potential tool for differential labeling of the sucrose transporter.
Vicia faba leaf discs without epidermis were pretreated with parachloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS), rinsed and incubated on [(14)C]sucrose (1 or 40 millimolar). Those sucrose concentrations were chosen as representative of the apparent uptake system 1 (1 millimolar) and system 2 (40 millimolar) previously characterized. Pretreatment with 0.5 millimolar PCMBS for 20 minutes inhibited system 1 and system 2 by about 70%.Addition of unlabeled sucrose during PCMBS-pretreatment protected the carrier(s) from the inhibition, whereas glucose, fructose, and sucrose analogs were unable to afford protection. At 1 millimolar [(14)C]sucrose, the protection resulted in a small but consistent reduction of normal inhibition (from 63 to 45%) for sucrose concentrations of 50 millimolar and more during pretreatment. Contrarily, at 40 millimolar [(14)C]sucrose, the protection increased linearly with the sucrose concentration in the pretreatment medium, and complete prevention of inhibition was reached for 250 millimolar sucrose.The protection was not due to exchange diffusion and was located in the veins. Michaelian kinetics indicated that PCMBS and sucrose compete with each other at the active site of the carrier.Among 14 compounds tested (sugars, amino-acids, hormones, (32)P), sucrose uptake was by far the most sensitive to PCMBS. Sucrose preferentially protected its carrier(s) from inhibition. Treatment with 20 millimolar cysteine or 20 millimolar dithioerythreitol reversed inhibition by PCMBS pretreatment.


Relative stabilities of weakly coordinating anions: a computational study.
This article describes BP86/SV(P) (DFT) calculations on a representative set of weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) of type [M(L)n]-, their parent neutral Lewis acids M(L)(n-1) and their ate complexes with fluoride, that is, [FM(L)(n)](n-1) (M=B, L=F, OTeF5, C6H5, C6F5, C6H3(CF3)2, CF3; M=P, As, Sb, L=F, OTeF5; M=Al, L=OC(CF3)3). Compounds with fluoride bridges, that is, Sb(n)F(5n) and [Sb(n)F(5n+1)]- (n=2, 3, 4), Al2(L)5F and [(L)3Al-F-Al(L)3]- (L=OC(CF3)3), (F4C6[1,2-B(L)2]2, [F4C6[1,2-B(L)2]2F]-, [F4C6[1,2-B(L)2]2OMe]- (L=C6F5) were also calculated. Based on these BP86/SV(P) and auxiliary MP2/TZVPP, G2, and CBS-Q calculations the relative stabilities and coordinating abilities of these WCAs were established with regard to the fluoride ion affinities (FIA) of the parent Lewis acids, the ligand affinity (LA) of the WCAs, the decomposition of a given WCA in the presence of a hard (H+, proton decomposition PD) and a soft electrophile (Cu+, copper decomposition CuD), the position of the HOMO, the HOMO-LUMO gap, and population analyses of the anions providing partial charges for all atoms. To obtain data that is more reliable, the assessed quantities were calculated through isodesmic reactions. If parts of the calculations could not be done isodesmically, higher levels such as MP2/TZVPP, G2, and CBS-Q were used to obtain reliable values for these reactions. Although the obtained results can not be taken as absolute, the relative ordering of the stabilities of all WCAs will undoubtedly be correct, since a single methodology was chosen for the investigation. To include media effects the decomposition reactions of a subset of 14 WCAs with the SiMe3+ and [Cp2ZrMe]+ ions were also calculated in PhCl and 1,2-F2C6H4 (COSMO solvation model). We found that in most cases gas-phase calculations and solution calculations give comparable results for the stability of the anion. Applications of the LA and FIA that allow one to decide, on thermodynamic grounds, which WCA or Lewis acid is the most suitable for a given problem are sketched.


Initiating thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: whose job is it anyway?
Although thrombolytic therapy has clearly become the standard of care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its delivery in Canada continues to be extremely variable. Significant unnecessary delays in the initiation of this treatment still occur in many hospitals and constitute the most common avoidable cause of death in patients with AMI. The authors agree with the statement by representatives of the member organizations of the Emergency Cardiac Care Coalition (see pages 483 to 487 of this issue) that emergency service providers must get patients to hospital sooner and that all eligible patients should receive thrombolytic therapy within 30 minutes of their arrival at hospital. This objective requires that thrombolytic therapy be initiated by emergency physicians and be supported by well-established guidelines for its use.


A model for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus in early pregnancy: a prospective study in Thailand.
To develop a predictive model using the risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and construct a predictive nomogram for GDM risk in women during early pregnancy. A prospective study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals among pregnant women with gestational age ≤14 weeks. Early GDM was diagnosed if an abnormal 100 g oral glucose tolerance test was detected using the Carpenter and Coustan criteria after an abnormal 50 g glucose challenge test. The factors included in the model were ACOG risk factors; maternal age; family history of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy; family history of dyslipidemia; gravida; parity; histories of preterm birth, early fetal death, abortion, stillbirth, and low birth weight; and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The predictive models for early GDM were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analyses. The nomograms were constructed, and their discrimination ability and predictive accuracy were tested. Of the 553 pregnant women, 54 (9.8%) were diagnosed with early GDM. In the integrated model, there was a history of GDM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-14.63; P=0.004), HbA1c threshold ≥5.3% (aOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.44-4.74; P=0.002), and family history of dyslipidemia (aOR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.37-5.21; P=0.005). The integrated nomogram model showed that a history of GDM had a high impact on the risk of early GDM. Its discrimination and mean absolute error were 0.76 and 0.009, respectively. Application of the predictive model and nomogram will help healthcare providers investigate the probability of early GDM, especially in resource-limited countries.


The role of functional magnetic resonance imaging in the study of brain development, injury, and recovery in the newborn.
Development of brain functions and the structural-functional correlates of brain injury remain difficult to evaluate in the young infant. Thus, new noninvasive methods capable of early functional diagnosis are needed. This review describes the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for studying localization of brain function in the developing brain when standard clinical investigations are not available or conclusive. This promising neuroimaging technique has been successfully used in healthy newborns and in newborns with brain injury using different paradigms, including passive visual, somato-sensorial, and auditory stimulation. We summarize the major findings of previous fMRI studies in young infants, describe ongoing methodological challenges, and propose exciting future developments in using resting-state protocols and functional connectivity techniques to assist in evaluating early life brain function and its recovery from injury.


Postoperative complications are predictive of poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
A retrospective study was performed at some high-volume institutions to clarify the prognostic significance of postoperative complications in patients who had undergone hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). No published studies have investigated the relationship between postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade III or more and prognosis in patients who have undergone hepatic resection. Patient data were retrospectively collected for 966 consecutive patients who had undergone hepatectomy for HCC with curative intent between January 2004 and December 2012. The patients were assigned to two groups according to the presence of postoperative complications. Clinicopathologic, surgical outcome, and long-term survival data were analyzed. Hospital deaths occurred in nine patients (0.9%). Postoperative complications were identified in 165 patients (17.1%). Compared with patients without complications, patients with complications had significantly larger tumors, more advanced-stage tumors, more poorly differentiated tumors, more intrahepatic metastasis, longer operation time, greater blood loss, more blood transfusion, and more anatomic resection and combined resection. The overall 5-y survival rates were 48.6% in patients with postoperative complications and 73.2% in patients without them. The 5-y recurrence-free survival rates were 23.7% in patients with postoperative complications and 36.7% in patients without them. Multivariate analysis revealed that longer operation time and lower serum albumin level of albumin were independent predictive factors for occurrence of postoperative complications. In patients with HCC, posthepatectomy complications are predictive of a worse overall survival, even when adjustments have been made for other known predictors.


Understanding the Anatomy of the Upper Face When Providing Aesthetic Injection Treatments.
Advanced rejuvenation procedures for the upper face are becoming increasingly popular for aesthetic providers but are considered a high-risk treatment area for dermal filler/contouring products. Risks may range from bruising, which is manageable, to blindness, most often irreversible. Detailed comprehension of the facial anatomy is imperative when performing aesthetic injections including neuromodulators and dermal filler/contouring products. Understanding the location and function of the muscles, as well as landmarking the blood vessels and nerves, will assist the aesthetic provider to perform safe, confident injection procedures. This article focuses on the upper face anatomy as identified by the author's cadaveric dissections and includes the treatment areas of the frontalis, temporalis, and glabellar complex. The author's next article for the Plastic Surgical Nursing journal will focus on the periorbital area.


Particle-size determination by low-angle light scattering: effect of refractive index.
The intensity of scattering I(theta) by transparent and absorbing spheres has been calculated from exact Mie theory for values of radius from 0.1 microm to 100 ,microm, wavelength 5461 A, and the following values of refractive index m - im': (1) m = 1.01, 1.05, 1.1 (0.1) 2.0, m' = 0; (2) m = 2, m' = 0.002, 0.02, 0.2, and 2. The calculations have been made for a range of scattering angle theta large enough to indicate the first maximum in I(theta)theta(2). According to the Sloan method for determining particle radius, the location of this maximum is inversely proportional to radius, independent of refractive index. The exact calculations show that this is accurate for radii above 10 microm, but for smaller particles the value of the refractive index affects the location to some extent.


Internal fixation of the distal humerus: a comprehensive biomechanical study evaluating current fixation techniques.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate current fixation techniques in the operative fixation of distal humerus fractures, both with conventional and locked plating in both parallel and orthogonal orientation. Twenty-eight upper extremities from 14 cadavers were prepared to create 4 implant testing constructs: Synthes locking plates (IMP1) (medial and posterolateral with lateral flange), Acumed parallel locking plates (IMP2), Smith & Nephew orthogonal locking plates (IMP3), and Synthes orthogonal 3.5-reconstruction plating (IMP4) (1 posterolateral and 1 medial). A 5-mm supracondylar osteotomy was made to simulate the fracture. Stiffness in axial and sagittal plane loading, fatigue properties (over 5000 cycles), and ultimate strength were determined for each construct by biomechanical testing. The parallel locking plates (IMP2) exhibited the highest stiffness in axial load and the highest ultimate strength (P < 0.05). No significant differences in sagittal plane stiffness and in the fatigue properties were seen across the locking plate groups, regardless of orientation. Locked plating constructs performed significantly better in all categories when compared with conventional nonlocked plating. Plastic deformation and implant loosening were the main modes of failure after ultimate strength test. Parallel locking plate configuration showed significantly higher stiffness to axial load and ultimate failure strength when compared with orthogonal locked and nonlocked plating. Locked plating configurations performed significantly better than nonlocked plating configurations, regardless of orientation. Although parallel orientation seems biomechanically superior, translation to the clinical setting may prove difficult when taking surrounding soft tissue and exposure into consideration.


Recent advances in the syntheses, transformations and applications of 1,1-dihalocyclopropanes.
gem-Dihalocyclopropanes have wide-spread applications in organic synthesis due to their versatile chemistry. They can serve as substrates for a large range of useful materials such as natural products, alkaloids, cyclopropanes, heterocycles, aromatic ring systems etc. Normally the dihalocyclopropanes are prepared by the addition of dihalocarbene to alkene, but due to the great synthetic efficacy of gem-dihalocyclopropanes a number of methods have been developed for their synthesis. Generally gem-dihalocyclopropanes exist as strained cyclic systems with astonishing kinetic stability. They are capable of undergoing transformations leading to a variety of products which have potential applications in various synthetic organic chemistry fields.


Self-reported dietary intake following endurance, resistance and concurrent endurance and resistance training.
With regards to obesity-related disease the impact of exercise training on health depends on the ability of exercise to promote a negative energy balance. Exercise's effect on promoting a negative energy balance is more likely to occur if exercise can induce a favourable dietary intake such as a reduced relative fat content in the diet. As such, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of aerobic training, weight training and concurrent aerobic and weight training on self-reported dietary intake. The effects of 16 weeks of aerobic (n = 12), weight (n = 13) and concurrent aerobic and weight training (n = 13) on self-reported dietary intakes were compared in previously sedentary males using the computer-based Dietary Manager(®) software programme. Only the concurrent aerobic and weight training group showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) reductions in total kilocalories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats consumed while the aerobic training group showed significant reductions in fat intake at the completion of the experimental period (before: 91.0 ± 42.1g versus after: 77.1 ± 62.1g). However, no changes were observed in self-reported dietary intake in the weight training or non-exercising control groups. It is concluded that concurrent aerobic and weight training is the most effective mode of exercise at promoting a favourable improvement in self-reported dietary intake in the short term. This finding provides support for efforts to promote increases in overall physical activity in an attempt to modify the patterns of dietary intake. Key pointsConcurrent aerobic and weight training can significantly reduce the amount of total kilocalories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats consumed.Aerobic training can significantly reduce fat intake.Weight training resulted in no changes in dietary intake.Concurrent aerobic and weight training is the most effective mode of exercise at promoting a favourable improvement in self-reported dietary intake.


Explicit and implicit anosognosia or upper limb motor impairment.
If asked directly, anosognosic patients deny or seriously underestimate their motor difficulties. However explicit denial of hemiplegia does not necessarily imply a lack of insight of the deficit. In this study we explored explicit and implicit awareness for upper limb motor impairment in a group of 30 right-brain damaged patients. Explicit awareness was assessed using a questionnaire (the VATAm) in which patients are asked to rate their motor abilities, whereas implicit awareness was assessed by means of a newly developed test (BMT - bimanual task). This test requires the performance of a series of bimanual tasks that can be better performed using two hands, but could also be performed using one hand only. With the BMT, patients' performance rather than their verbal reports is evaluated and scored as an index of awareness. Paretic patients with anosognosia tend to approach these tasks as if they could use both hands. Our findings showed that explicit and implicit awareness for motor deficits can be dissociated, and they may be differently affected by feedback suggesting that different underlying mechanisms may account for the multi-factorial phenomenon of anosognosia.


Some risk factors for hypertension in the United Arab Emirates.
A case-control study evaluated the relationship between hypertension and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in Al-Ain city. The survey included 426 hypertensive adults aged 20-65 years attending urban and semi-urban clinics and a randomly selected sample of 436 normotensive controls. Hypertension among cases was higher for men, age 40-49 years, non-UAE nationals, urban living, currently married, having children, illiterate, administrative/professional job, living in traditional house and low income. There were significant differences between cases and controls with regard to obesity, raised cholesterol level, low physical activity and family history of heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that obesity, medium/high income, history of diabetes, low physical activity and having 3+ children were significantly associated with hypertension.


Effect of phorbol ester treatment on drug-induced, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage in human leukemia cells.
Tumor-promoting phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induce the monocytoid differentiation of HL-60 human leukemia cells. The cellular receptor for PMA is protein kinase C. However, cellular events distal to protein kinase C phosphorylation are also critical steps toward differentiation. These events may include specific programs of oncogene transcription that have been associated with phorbol ester-induced leukemic cell differentiation. Recently, it has been found that topoisomerase II could be activated by protein kinase C-mediated serine phosphorylation and that PMA treatment of HL-60 cells enhanced extractable topoisomerase II from these cells. Additionally, topoisomerase II-reactive antineoplastic drugs could block PMA-induced differentiation of HL-60. This enzyme has been implicated in gene regulation, and drug-induced, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage sites have been identified within cellular oncogenes. Thus, topoisomerase II could play a critical role in the signal transduction cascade leading from PMA-protein kinase interaction to monocytoid differentiation. We have examined this relationship between topoisomerase II and PMA-induced differentiation through measurements of drug-induced, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage (via alkaline elution) in PMA-treated HL-60 cells. Etoposide-induced DNA cleavage was reduced 10-fold in HL-60 cells treated with 10 nM PMA for 24 h. Neither dimethyl sulfoxide (which produces granulocytoid differentiation) nor non-differentiation-inducing phorbol esters could produce this effect. The decreased cleavage was not due to a PMA-induced inhibition of cell-associated etoposide and was demonstrable in nuclei isolated from PMA-treated cells. The decrease was not simply related to decreased cellular proliferation rate as reflected in the inhibition of DNA synthesis because conditions leading to marked inhibition of DNA synthesis did not necessarily inhibit etoposide-induced DNA cleavage. By contrast, lower concentrations of PMA inhibited etoposide-mediated DNA cleavage disproportionately compared with PMA effects on DNA synthesis. Interestingly, PMA reduced cleavage induced by the topoisomerase II-reactive DNA intercalator 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide by 2-fold, suggesting that specific drug-DNA interactions could partially overcome the PMA-induced effect that resulted in decreased etoposide-induced, topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage. Nuclear proteins in 0.35 M NaCl extracts from untreated or PMA-treated HL-60 cells were virtually identical in topoisomerase II activity and in topoisomerase II-associated drug sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Exploring new roles for the rpoS gene in the survival and virulence of the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora.
Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight in economically important plants of the family Rosaceae. This bacterial pathogen spends part of its life cycle coping with starvation and other fluctuating environmental conditions. In many Gram-negative bacteria, starvation and other stress responses are regulated by the sigma factor RpoS. We obtained an E. amylovora rpoS mutant to explore the role of this gene in starvation responses and its potential implication in other processes not yet studied in this pathogen. Results showed that E. amylovora needs rpoS to develop normal starvation survival and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) responses. Furthermore, this gene contributed to stationary phase cross-protection against oxidative, osmotic, and acid stresses and was essential for cross-protection against heat shock, but nonessential against acid shock. RpoS also mediated regulation of motility, exopolysaccharide synthesis, and virulence in immature loquats, but not in pear plantlets, and contributed to E. amylovora survival in nonhost tissues during incompatible interactions. Our results reveal some unique roles for the rpoS gene in E. amylovora and provide new knowledge on the regulation of different processes related to its ecology, including survival in different environments and virulence in immature fruits.


Neovascular glaucoma in a patient with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis.
A patient with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis was followed from age 5 years. At age 15 he developed rubeosis iridis and neovascular glaucoma in one eye, resulting in no light perception. A review of the literature revealed this case to be the first reported association of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis and neovascular glaucoma.


Cryptosporidium parvum in brown brocket (Mazama gouazoubira) from Brazil: First report of the subtype IIaA16G3R1 in cervids.
This research had as objective to evaluate the occurrence and to characterize genetically the infections by Cryptosporidium in Mazama gouazoubira. By a non-invasive harvest methodology using trained sniffer dogs to locate fecal samples of cervids, 642 fecal samples were obtained from six Brazilian localities. The cervids species responsible for the excretion of each fecal sample were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), using the mitochondrial cytochrome b target gene (cyst b) and the restriction enzymes Sspl, AflIII and BstN. From this identification, 437 fecal samples of M. gouazoubira were selected for research of Cryptosporidium spp. performed through negative staining with malachite green and polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), with the subunit of 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing the amplified products. In the samples that were diagnosed the presence of parasite species with zoonotic potential, genotyping was also performed using nPCR with the subunit of GP60 gene. Statistical analysis consisted of the Fisher exact test to verify the association of the presence of the enteroparasite in relation to the presence of cattle in each locality, and the McNemar tests and Kappa correlation coefficient used to compare the results obtained between the two diagnostic techniques. In the fecal samples of M. gouazoubira the occurrences of Cryptosporidium were diagnosed in 1.6% (7/437) and 1.1% (5/437), respectively, through nPCR and microscopy. Cryptosporidium. parvum was diagnosed in 100% (7/7) of the samples submitted to sequencing (18S gene). The IIaA16G3R1 subtype was diagnosed in five of the C. parvum samples submitted to genotyping (GP60 gene). This is the first world report of C. parvum in M. gouazoubira and subtype IIaA16G3R1 in cervids.


Bleomycin-iron complexes and DNA radiation damage.
Radiation in the form of high-energy electrons dose-dependently activates bleomycin-Fe3+ in oxygen-containing DNA solutions. This activation causes a DNA fragmentation and a release of oxidative degradation products from the DNA. During irradiation, bleomycin-chelated Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+. The kinetics of DNA base propenal-formation (measured by reaction with thiobarbituric acid) and iron-reduction (measured by bathophenanthroline chelation) are similar, with a yield of 1 mol base propenal/6 mol Fe3+ reduced. The activation of bleomycin-Fe3+ by irradiation could be instrumental in the synergistic action of radiotherapy and bleomycin observed on simultaneous administration in vivo.


Secondary-task effects on sequence learning.
With a repeated sequence of stimuli, performance in a serial reaction-time task improves more than with a random sequence. The difference has been taken as a measure of implicit sequence learning. Implicit sequence learning is impaired when a secondary task is added to the serial RT task. In the first experiment, secondary-task effects on different types of sequences were studied to test the hypothesis that the learning of unique sequences (where each sequence element has a unique relation to the following one) is not impaired by the secondary task, while the learning of ambiguous sequences is. The sequences were random up to a certain order of sequential dependencies, where they became deterministic. Contrary to the hypothesis, secondary-task effects on the learning of unique sequences were as strong or stronger than such effects on the learning of ambiguous sequences. In the second experiment a hybrid sequence (with unique as well as ambiguous transitions) was used with different secondary tasks. A visuo-spatial and a verbal memory task did not interfere with the learning of the sequence, but interference was observed with an auditory go/no-go task in which high- and low-pitched tones were presented after each manual response and a foot pedal had to be pressed in response to high-pitched tones. Thus, interference seems to be specific to certain secondary tasks and may be related to memory processes (but most likely not to visuo-spatial and verbal memory) or to the organizations of sequences, consistent with previous suggestions.


Predictors of Hypertension in a Population of Undergraduate Students in Sierra Leone.
We report on the first survey of hypertension in undergraduates in Sierra Leone. Levels of hypertension (12%) and obesity (4%) appear low compared to the general population but given the rapid increase of both and the expectation that many graduates will enter the formal employment sector and a sedentary lifestyle, there is still cause for concern. We measured their BMI (body mass index) and used a questionnaire to investigate demographic and lifestyle choices. In agreement with most authorities, we found that BMI and age were statistically significant predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure but that the explanatory power was low (r = 0.21 to 0.27). Men may be more sensitive than women to an increase in BMI on blood pressure (p < 0.1). We failed to find statistically significant relationships with ethnicity, religion, stress, course of study, levels of physical activity, diet, smoking, or consumption of caffeine and alcohol. Family history of hypertension, consumption of red palm oil, and self-diagnosed attacks of typhoid fever were close to conventional levels of significance (p < 0.1). We intend to use this as a baseline for longitudinal studies to assess risks and suggest appropriate public health action.


Markov models from data by simple nonlinear time series predictors in delay embedding spaces.
We analyze prediction schemes for stochastic time series data. We propose that under certain conditions, a scalar time series, obtained from a vector-valued Markov process can be modeled as a finite memory Markov process in the observable. The transition rules of the process are easily computed using simple nonlinear time series predictors originally proposed for deterministic chaotic signals. The optimal time lag entering the embedding procedure is shown to be significantly smaller than the deterministic case. The concept is illustrated for simulated data and for surface wind velocity data, for which the deterministic part of the dynamics is shown to be nonlinear.


In-silico modeling studies of G-quadruplex with soy isoflavones having anticancerous activity.
Telomere forms t-loop and G-quadruplex as the protective structure and the formation of these structures hinder the telomerase enzyme action. The binding affinities of ligand which stabilize the G-quadruplex represent good correlation with telomerase inhibition depicted in the anti-cancerous action. Most of the potent G-quadruplex stabilizing compounds suffer from the poor drug like properties. Herein, natural dietary compounds isoflavones were taken for the theoretical study to examine their stabilizing effect on G-quadruplex structure. The experimental G-quadruplex complexes were reproduced to obtain and validate the theoretical parameters. The obtained theoretical binding energies are in significant correlation with the experimental data. Analysis of binding shows isoflavones to be groove binders, and differential nature of quadruplex grooves might be beneficial in the selectivity aspects. Among all, derrubone was found to have better selectivity as well as affinity for the G-quadruplex comparable to well known ligand TMPyP4. The GBSA rescoring result enlightens the various interaction terms involved in the binding process. Cumulative stabilizing effects coming from VDW, ES, and GB energy terms attest to optimal binding of derrubone molecule which can be considered as a lead for the higher phases of drug designing. These findings are of great value in terms of unexplored groove binding modes and the studied natural compounds might be helpful to direct the focus of synthetic chemists in designing of new generation of antitumor agents.


Opposite motor responses elicited by ethanol in the posterior VTA: the role of acetaldehyde and the non-metabolized fraction of ethanol.
Recent electrophysiological evidence suggests that ethanol simultaneously exerts opposite effects on the activity of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) through two parallel mechanisms, one promoting and the other reducing the GABA release onto VTA DA neurons. Here we explore the possible behavioural implications of these findings by investigating the role displayed by acetaldehyde (the main metabolite of ethanol) and the non-metabolized fraction of ethanol in motor activity of rats. We analyse the appearance of motor activation or depression after intra-VTA administration of ethanol in rats subjected to different pharmacological pre-treatments designed to preferentially test either the effects of acetaldehyde or the non-metabolized ethanol. Motor activity was evaluated after intra-VTA administration of 35 nmol of ethanol, an apparently ineffective dose that does not modify the motor activity of animals. Pharmacological pre-treatments were used in order to either increase (cyanamide, 10 mg/kg, ip) or decrease (D-penicillamine, 50 mg/kg, ip and sodium azide, 7 mg/kg, ip) acetaldehyde levels in the VTA. Pre-treatments aimed to augment acetaldehyde, increased motor activity of rats. Otherwise, pre-treatments intended to decrease local acetaldehyde levels evoked significant reductions in motor activity that were prevented by the local blockade (bicuculline, 17.5 pmol) of the GABAA receptors. Our findings suggest that the brain-generated acetaldehyde is involved in the stimulant effects of ethanol, whereas the non-biotransformed fraction of ethanol, acting through the GABAA receptors, would account for the depressant effects. The present behavioural findings suggest that ethanol dually modulates the activity of DA neurons.


Secondary prevention of coronary events after myocardial infarction. Beta-blockers and/or anti-platelets: to whom, when and for how long. A review.
The institution of a "Cardioprophylactic" drug regimen after myocardial infarction should take into consideration the concept of high or low risk patients for secondary coronary events and the concept of a decremential mortality rate as time elapses after myocardial infarction. Thus, the efficacy of a particular drug in preventing secondary coronary events may vary with the time elapsed from infarction and thus with the underlying patho-physiologic mechanism. Furthermore, the administration of a possible effective or proven effective "Cardioprophylactic" drug or drug regimen at a specific time from infarction must take into account the balance between expected benefit and untoward side effects.


Arterial Cannulation and Cerebral Perfusion Strategies for Aortic Arch Operations.
Neurologic injuries following aortic arch operations can be devastating, with stroke occurring in up to 12% of elective operations and significant cerebral dysfunction occurring in up to 25% of cases. The primary challenge unique to aortic arch operations involves interruption of direct perfusion of the brachiocephalic vessels during arch reconstruction. For this reason, neuroprotection is paramount. The 2 main modes of protection are (1) reducing metabolic demand through hypothermia and (2) limiting, or even eliminating, the ischemic period. Preoperative selection of the cerebral perfusion plan for each operation is imperative to maintain maximal diffuse cerebral protection and prevent focal neurologic events.


Comparing Machine Learning and Binary Thresholding Methods for Quantification of Callose Deposits in the Citrus Phloem.
Callose is a polysaccharide that can be fluorescently stained to study many developmental and immune functions in plants. High-throughput methods to accurately gather quantitative measurements of callose from confocal images are useful for many applications in plant biology. Previous callose quantification methods relied upon binary local thresholding, which had the disadvantage of not being able to differentiate callose in conditions with low contrast from background material. Here, a measurement approach that utilizes the Ilastik supervised machine learning imagery data collection software is described. The Ilastik software method provided superior efficiency for acquiring counts of callose deposits. We also determined the accuracy of these methods as compared to manual counts. We demonstrate that the automated software methods are both good predictors of manual counts, but that the Ilastik counts are significantly closer. Researchers can use this information to guide their choice of method to quantify callose in their work.


Neutrophil behavior during hemodialysis. Role of membrane contact.
The neutrophil dysfunctions observed transiently during dialysis have been attributed to systemic down-regulation of the cells by activated complement. The in vivo effect of membrane contact on oxygen radical production and chemotaxis of dialyzed neutrophils isolated simultaneously from the arterial and venous sites during dialysis with cuprophane, polycarbonate, polysulfone, and polyacrilonitrile membranes was studied. Cells remaining in circulation after 15 min of dialysis showed defective responses only when collected at the venous site of the cuprophane dialyzer, in spite of a similar leukopenia at the venous and arterial sites. With the other membranes tested, no defects in neutrophil functions were evidenced. These results suggest that down-regulation occurs within the dialyzer and that, besides complement activation, the membrane plays an additional role.


Cooperation of oncogenes in the multistep transformation of established fibroblasts in culture.
The multistage nature of carcinogenesis observed in a variety of systems has been linked experimentally to the sequential activation and subsequent cooperation of oncogene proteins. Cellular transformation resulting from cooperative interactions between activated oncogenes has been described previously for cultured primary cells and certain established cell lines. Our laboratory is using the mouse embryonic cell line C3H10T1/2 to investigate cooperative transformation mediated by the activated human H-ras gene and several nuclear oncogenes from both viral and cellular sources. Oncogene cooperation in C3H10T1/2 is marked by an increase in focus number and an alteration in focus morphology. Although ras cooperates with myc and fos oncogenes to transform C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts, cooperative transformation is not observed in cells similarly co-transfected with the H-ras and E1A oncogenes. This result appears to be due to a growth inhibitory effect of the EIA gene product on C3H10T1/2 cells. The observed cooperation between the H-ras and MC29 viral gag-myc oncogenes has been used along with site-directed mutagenesis of the gag-myc gene to identify two structural regions within the gag-myc protein that mediate ras/myc cooperativity. In addition, the gag-myc mutants generated for these cooperation studies have been used to map the nuclear localization signal of the gag-myc protein and relate the proper cellular location of the protein to its activity in several transformation assays.


Impact of attenuation on guided mode wavenumber measurement in axial transmission on bone mimicking plates.
Robust signal processing methods adapted to clinical measurements of guided modes are required to assess bone properties such as cortical thickness and porosity. Recently, an approach based on the singular value decomposition (SVD) of multidimensional signals recorded with an axial transmission array of emitters and receivers has been proposed for materials with negligible absorption, see Minonzio et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 2913-2919 (2010)]. In presence of absorption, the ability to extract guided mode degrades. The objective of the present study is to extend the method to the case of absorbing media, considering attenuated plane waves (complex wavenumber). The guided mode wavenumber extraction is enhanced and the order of magnitude of the attenuation of the guided mode is estimated. Experiments have been carried out on 2 mm thick plates in the 0.2-2 MHz bandwidth. Two materials are inspected: polymethylacrylate (PMMA) (isotropic with absorption) and artificial composite bones (Sawbones, Pacific Research Laboratory Inc, Vashon, WA) which is a transverse isotropic absorbing medium. Bulk wave velocities and bulk attenuation have been evaluated from transmission measurements. These values were used to compute theoretical Lamb mode wavenumbers which are consistent with the experimental ones obtained with the SVD-based approach.


[Aberrant expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen in inflammatory myopathies].
Although major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules have been consistently demonstrated on muscle fibers of patients with inflammatory myopathies (IM), results concerning the expression of MHC class II molecules have been conflicting and mechanism of the expression remains to be elucidated. Expression of MHC and neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM) was analyzed in 38 cases of IM and in 13 cases of normal and disease controls by the immunocytochemical method. The sarcolemmaL HLA-ABC molecules were seen in all IM cases, and were visualized on the every muscle fiber in 68% of the cases. In contrast, the HLA-DR, -DP, or -DQ expression was seen on scattered fibers in 37%, 11%, 5% of IM cases, respectively. The HLA-DR reactivity was often seen on muscle fibers in the vicinity of infiltrating cells or on the perifascicular fibers. The HLA-DR positive fibers did not express N-CAM, suggesting a degenerating/regenerating process of muscle fibers was not contributory to the aberrant expression of MHC class II molecules. The perifascicular HLA-DR expression was related to the perifascicular atrophy and was more frequent in polymyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonitis. Those results suggest that increased expression of MHC class I molecules precede the aberrant expression of MHC class II molecules, and the perifascicular atrophy might reflect immunopathological processes.


[Economical consequences of intestinal nematodes infection in pigs].
The studies wers carried out in ZZD Kolbacz on 14 sows. The experimental groups control and treated consisted of 7 sows each. The sows were treated with Dectomax - 1 ml/33 kg of body weight. The efficacy of sows treatment's was verified with the Wllis-Schlaaf and McMaster method. The studies indicate, that subclinical infection of intestinal nematodes could influence the swine production. The piglets from treated with Dectomax sows were infected in 8% only; when all piglets from non treated sows were infected with nematodes. From treated sows 0.8 more piglet were obtained and the weight gain of litter was after 6 weeks 24.4 kg higher comparing with the control group.


Three-dimensional quantitative analysis of hemispheric asymmetry in the human superior temporal region.
The recent observations of overall symmetry of the caudal infrasylvian region by Steinmetz et al. (1990) and Witelson and Kigar (1991, 1992) diverge from earlier findings of leftward asymmetry in this region (Geschwind and Levitsky, 1968; Galaburda et al., 1987; Larsen et al., 1989). To address this inconsistency, we measured the entire infrasylvian surface posterior to Heschl's gyrus from coronal magnetic resonance images of 10 young, normal, right-handed subjects. Computer models were constructed by tracing contours of this region and then interpolating a 3D triangle mesh between each pair of adjacent contours. Measurements of these models showed no significant directional asymmetry. The same contour set was used to obtain measurements with a conventional algorithm that does not interpolate a surface between contours. The results obtained with the second method showed significant leftward asymmetry. These results suggest that in some cases, unbalanced distortions due to folding differences of the hemispheres are sufficient to obtain spurious findings of left-right asymmetry. This supports the claim of Steinmetz and Witelson that leftward asymmetry is restricted to the temporal bank of the caudal infrasylvian surface, and is balanced by rightward asymmetry of the parietal bank.


Anatomical variations of the deltoid artery: relevance to the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder.
Despite the expansion of arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, the open deltopectoral approach to the shoulder is still frequently used, for example in fracture fixation and shoulder replacement. However, it is sometimes accompanied by unexpected bleeding. The cephalic vein is the landmark for the deltopectoral interval, yet its intimate relationship with the deltoid artery, and the anatomical variations in that structure, have not previously been documented. In this study the vascular anatomy encountered during 100 consecutive elective deltopectoral approaches was recorded and the common variants described. Two common variants of the deltoid artery were encountered. In type I (71%) it crosses the interval and tunnels into the deltoid muscle without encountering the cephalic vein. However, in type II (21%) it crosses the interval, reaches the cephalic vein and then runs down, medial to and behind it, giving off several small arterial branches that return back across the interval to the pectoralis major. Several minor variations were also seen (8%). These variations in the deltoid artery have not previously been described and may lead to confusion and unexpected bleeding during this standard anterior surgical approach to the shoulder.


Prospective evaluation of seropositive occult hepatitis B viral infection in lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE. To serially evaluate the viral kinetics of occult hepatitis B virus infection in lymphoma patients and perform a correlation with clinical outcomes. DESIGN. Case series with 1-year follow-up. SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed to have lymphoma in the hospital between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 were tested for hepatitis B (HB) surface (s) antigen (Ag), anti-HBs antibody (Ab) and anti-HB core (c) Ab. Seropositive occult hepatitis B patients as defined by being negative for HBsAg but positive anti-HBsAb and/or anti-HBcAb without a hepatitis B vaccination history were recruited. Serum HBsAg, anti-HBsAb, anti-HBcAb, hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) level, and liver biochemistry were checked at baseline and every 4 weeks during and after chemotherapy until 12 months after the completion of chemotherapy or death. Entecavir was started if patients developed biochemical flare-up of hepatitis B associated with virological rebound. The prevalence and course of hepatitis B virus-related hepatitis, as well as any temporal relationship to viral kinetics and clinical hepatitis, were assessed. RESULTS. Of 47 patients tested, 10 (21%) with lymphoma were seropositive occult hepatitis carriers. Their median baseline hepatitis B virus DNA level was 89 IU/mL (range, <34-807 IU/mL). Virological rebound (as defined by a 10-fold increase in serum hepatitis B virus DNA level from pre-chemotherapy level persisted for 4 weeks) occurred in one of the 10 patients, followed by biochemical reactivation. Whereupon entecavir treatment was started and no liver failure ensued. Regarding the other seropositive occult patients, their serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels fluctuated, but there was no associated biochemical reactivation. CONCLUSION. Detectable baseline serum hepatitis B virus DNA is not uncommon in patients with occult hepatitis B who receive chemotherapy. Transient elevation in serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels does not predict biochemical reactivation, but antiviral treatment might be considered if virological rebound persists.


Percutaneous Transpedicular Interbody Fusion Technique in Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Stabilization for Pseudoarthrosis Following Pyogenic Spondylitis.
This report introduces a percutaneous transpedicular interbody fusion (PTPIF) technique in posterior stabilization using percutaneous pedicle screws (PPSs). An 81-year-old man presented with pseudoarthrosis following pyogenic spondylitis 15 months before. Although no relapse of infection was found, he complained of obstinate low back pain and mild neurological symptoms. Radiological evaluations showed a pseudoarthrosis following pyogenic spondylitis at T11-12. Posterior stabilization using PPSs from Th9 to L2 and concomitant PTPIF using autologous iliac bone graft at T11-12 were performed. Low back pain and neurological symptoms were immediately improved after surgery. A solid interbody fusion at T11-12 was completed 9 months after surgery. The patient had no restriction of daily activity and could play golf at one year after surgery. PTPIF might be a useful option for perform segmental fusion in posterior stabilization using PPSs.


Antibody-Dependent Dengue Virus Entry Modulates Cell Intrinsic Responses for Enhanced Infection.
Dengue is caused by infection with any one of four dengue viruses (DENV); the risk of severe disease appears to be enhanced by the cross-reactive or subneutralizing levels of antibody from a prior DENV infection. These antibodies opsonize DENV entry through the activating Fc gamma receptors (FcγR), instead of infection through canonical receptor-mediated endocytosis, to result in higher levels of DENV replication. However, whether the enhanced replication is solely due to more efficient FcγR-mediated DENV entry or is also through FcγR-mediated alteration of the host transcriptome response to favor DENV infection remains unclear. Indeed, more efficient viral entry through activation of the FcγR can result in an increased viral antigenic load within target cells and confound direct comparisons of the host transcriptome response under antibody-dependent and antibody-independent conditions. Herein, we show that, despite controlling for the viral antigenic load in primary monocytes, the antibody-dependent and non-antibody-dependent routes of DENV entry induce transcriptome responses that are remarkably different. Notably, antibody-dependent DENV entry upregulated DENV host dependency factors associated with RNA splicing, mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, and vesicle trafficking. Additionally, supporting findings from other studies, antibody-dependent DENV entry impeded the downregulation of ribosomal genes caused by canonical receptor-mediated endocytosis to increase viral translation. Collectively, our findings support the notion that antibody-dependent DENV entry alters host responses that support the viral life cycle and that host responses to DENV need to be defined in the context of its entry pathway.IMPORTANCE Dengue virus is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral infection globally, resulting in variable manifestations ranging from asymptomatic viremia to life-threatening shock and multiorgan failure. Previous studies have indicated that the risk of severe dengue in humans can be increased by a specific range of preexisting anti-dengue virus antibody titers, a phenomenon termed antibody-dependent enhancement. There is hence a need to understand how antibodies augment dengue virus infection compared to the alternative canonical receptor-mediated viral entry route. Herein, we show that, besides facilitating viral uptake, antibody-mediated entry increases the expression of early host dependency factors to promote viral infection; these factors include RNA splicing, mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, vesicle trafficking, and ribosomal genes. These findings will enhance our understanding of how differences in entry pathways can affect host responses and offer opportunities to design therapeutics that can specifically inhibit antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection.


Tailor-Made Stereoblock Copolymers of Poly(lactic acid) by a Truly Living Polymerization Catalyst.
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer prepared by the catalyzed ring opening polymerization of lactide. An ideal catalyst should enable a sequential polymerization of the lactide enantiomers to afford stereoblock copolymers with predetermined number and lengths of blocks. We describe a magnesium based catalyst that combines very high activity with a true-living nature, which gives access to PLA materials of unprecedented microstructures. Full consumption of thousands of equivalents of L-LA within minutes gave PLLA of expected molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Precise PLLA-b-PDLA diblock copolymers having block lengths of up to 500 repeat units were readily prepared within 30 min, and their thermal characterization revealed a stereocomplex phase only with very high melting transitions and melting enthalpies. The one pot sequential polymerization was extended up to precise hexablocks having "dialed-in" block lengths.


Echinocandin treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia in rodent models depletes cysts leaving trophic burdens that cannot transmit the infection.
Fungi in the genus Pneumocystis cause pneumonia (PCP) in hosts with debilitated immune systems and are emerging as co-morbidity factors associated with chronic diseases such as COPD. Limited therapeutic choices and poor understanding of the life cycle are a result of the inability of these fungi to grow outside the mammalian lung. Within the alveolar lumen, Pneumocystis spp., appear to have a bi-phasic life cycle consisting of an asexual phase characterized by binary fission of trophic forms and a sexual cycle resulting in formation of cysts, but the life cycle stage that transmits the infection is not known. The cysts, but not the trophic forms, express beta -1,3-D-glucan synthetase and contain abundant beta -1,3-D-glucan. Here we show that therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of PCP with echinocandins, compounds which inhibit the synthesis of beta -1,3-D-glucan, depleted cysts in rodent models of PCP, while sparing the trophic forms which remained in significant numbers. Survival was enhanced in the echincandin treated mice, likely due to the decreased beta -1,3-D-glucan content in the lungs of treated mice and rats which coincided with reductions of cyst numbers, and dramatic remodeling of organism morphology. Strong evidence for the cyst as the agent of transmission was provided by the failure of anidulafungin-treated mice to transmit the infection. We show for the first time that withdrawal of anidulafungin treatment with continued immunosuppression permitted the repopulation of cyst forms. Treatment of PCP with an echinocandin alone will not likely result in eradication of infection and cessation of echinocandin treatment while the patient remains immunosuppressed could result in relapse. Importantly, the echinocandins provide novel and powerful chemical tools to probe the still poorly understood bi-phasic life cycle of this genus of fungal pathogens.


Genetics of vestibulopathy and migraine.
Our understanding of the genetics of vestibular loss lags far behind advances in the genetics of hearing loss, in large part because a basic awareness of hearing is a universal human experience, in those without congenital deafness, whereas public awareness of vestibular function is virtually nonexistent. This review highlights the challenges brought on by this disparity and recent advances in genetics, which provide hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of vestibular loss. Linkage analysis has resulted in mapping of genetic loci for familial vestibulopathies with normal hearing and migraine. Targeted gene therapy provides hope for those with permanent vestibular loss. Recent discoveries emphasize the need for better ascertainment of vestibular loss in general clinical practice.


'Prison facilities were not built with a woman in mind': an exploratory multi-stakeholder study on women's situation in Malawi prisons.
Sub-Saharan African prisons have seen a substantial increase in women prisoners, including those incarcerated with children. There is very little strategic literature available on the health situation and needs of women prisoners and their circumstantial children in Malawi. The study aims to explore this issue. A qualitative exploratory study using in-depth key informant interviews with senior correctional stakeholders (commissioner of prison farms, senior correctional management staff, senior health officials and senior officers in charge) (n = 5) and focus group discussions (FGD) with women in prison of age between 18 and 45 years (n = 23) and two FGD with correctional staff (n = 21) was conducted in two prisons in Malawi, Chichiri and Zomba. Narratives were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged and are as follows: "hygiene and sanitary situation across multiple prison levels and subsequent health implications for women"; "nutritional provision and diets of women and children in prison"; and "women's access to prison-based and external health services". Divergence or agreement across perspectives around sanitation and disease prevention, adequacy of nutrition for pregnant or breast-feeding women, health status and access to prison-based health care are presented. Garnering a contemporary understanding of women's situation and their health-care needs in Malawian prisons can inform policy and correctional health practice change, the adaptation of technical guidance and improve standards for women and their children incarcerated in Malawi. There is a strong need for continued research to garner insight into the experiences of women prisoners and their children, with a particular emphasis on health situation.


The relationship of U.S. aid, trade and investment to migration pressures in major sending countries.
"It has often been suggested that U.S. foreign economic policies, including the areas of aid, trade and investment, could be utilized to influence migration pressures in major sending countries. This study explores the feasibility of this proposition by examining the linkages between these U.S. economic instruments and migration 'push' factors. These linkages are shown to be indirect, are often quite complex, and the final impact on migration, except perhaps in the long run, is probably small in most cases."


Dental health for the pediatrician.
Pediatricians play an important role in promoting oral health care, and their advice regarding dental procedures or therapies may be solicited. This review is intended to provide answers for the more common questions that parents may have regarding the oral health of their children. The controversies surrounding early orthodontic therapy and mercury-containing amalgam fillings continue to be areas of contention. Why does the orthodontist want to initiate orthodontic treatment in a 7-year-old child? Is there justification for the banning of amalgam fillings, as has occurred in some countries? Also explored are the current therapies for two of the more common oral mucosal disorders: aphthous ulcers and recurrent herpes simplex labialis. These subjects have relevance not only for pediatric patients but also for adults (and for many providers) as well.


[Computerized tomography volumetry of the cerebrospinal fluid by semiautomatic contour recognition and gray value histogram analysis].
A program (VAC, Siemens) using self-made, anthropomorphous phantoms to measure semiautomatically the volume of the cerebral liquor in CT scans of the whole skull was tested. Cerebral tissue was simulated by ellipsoid bodies made from Agar and NaI which were placed in a human skull. Volumes of the ventricular and subarachnoidal liquor could be defined arbitrarily. A correlation coefficient of r > = 0.9 using a slice thickness of 1-5 mm was found (thickness 8 mm: r = 0.75). The volume of the cerebral liquor was underestimated by 25-68%. Separate measurements of the ventricular and subarachnoidal liquor spaces showed a high accuracy of the measurements done in the ventricles (r = 0.997, y = 0.996 x -1). The volume of the subarachnoidal liquor was not detected completely due to partial volume effects which were seen especially in the basal and apical scans. The program VAC is useful for the semiautomatic measurement of the volume of the ventricles. The assessment of the subarachnoidal liquor is limited to semiquantitative results which may, however, be useful for follow-up studies.


[Three institutional journals: Journal de l'École Polytechnique, Annales des Mines, Annales des Ponts et Chaussées].
The three journals studied are characterized by their own institutional background, which explains most probably their centenial longevity, and their slow evolution. The Journal de l'École polytechnique is more academic. The two Annales publish scientific, technical and legislative texts. They are a bond between the administration and its engineers. As the bulk of published articles is huge and diversified, it was important to develop an effective system of access to the various articles.


Acute Effects of Dermal Suction on Passive Muscle and Joint Stiffness.
The aim of the present study was to examine the acute effects of dermal suction on the passive mechanical properties of specific muscles and joints. Dermal suction was applied to the calves of 24 subjects. Passive plantar flexion torque was measured with the right knee fully extended and the right ankle positioned at 20°, 10°, 0°, and -10° angles, where 0° represents the ankle neutral position, and positive values correspond to the plantar flexion angle. The shear wave velocity (SWV) (m/s) of the medial gastrocnemius was measured in the same position using ultrasound shear wave elastography. The relationship between the joint angle and passive torque at each 10° angle was defined as passive joint stiffness (Nm/°). Passive muscle and joint stiffness were measured immediately before and after the dermal suction protocol. When the ankle joint was positioned at 20° (r = 0.53, P = 0.006), 10° (r = 0.43, P = 0.030), and -10° (r = 0.60, P = 0.001), the SWV was significantly higher after dermal suction than that before dermal suction. Regarding joint stiffness, we found no significant difference between the pre- and post-dermal suction values (partial η2 = 0.093, P > 0.05). These findings suggest that dermal suction increases passive muscle stiffness and has a limited impact on passive joint stiffness.


Maternal Nanomaterial Inhalation Exposure: Critical Gestational Period in the Uterine Microcirculation is Angiotensin II Dependent.
Maternal inhalation exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has been associated with microvascular dysfunction and adverse cardiovascular responses. Pregnancy requires coordinated vascular adaptation and growth that are imperative for survival. Key events in pregnancy hallmark distinct periods of gestation such as implantation, spiral artery remodeling, placentation, and trophoblast invasion. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical vasoactive mediator responsible for adaptations and is implicated in the pathology of preeclampsia. If perturbations occur during gestation, such as those caused by ENM inhalation exposure, then maternal-fetal health consequences may occur. Our study aimed to identify the period of gestation in which maternal microvascular functional and fetal health are most vulnerable. Additionally, we wanted to determine if Ang II sensitivity and receptor density is altered due to exposure. Dams were exposed to ENM aerosols (nano-titanium dioxide) during three gestational windows: early (EE, gestational day (GD) 2-6), mid (ME, GD 8-12) or late (LE, GD 15-19). Within the EE group dry pup mass decreased by 16.3% and uterine radial artery wall to lumen ratio (WLR) increased by 25.9%. Uterine radial artery response to Ang II sensitivity increased by 40.5% in the EE group. Ang II receptor density was altered in the EE and LE group with decreased levels of AT2R. We conclude that early gestational maternal inhalation exposures resulted in altered vascular anatomy and physiology. Exposure during this time-period results in altered vascular reactivity and changes to uterine radial artery WLR, leading to decreased perfusion to the fetus and resulting in lower pup mass.


[Importance of the Barrett esophagus in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma].
Arising of esophageal carcinoma, particularly adenocarcinoma of esophagus could be prevented. With correct nutrition, avoiding of substances which could lead to carcinogenesis patients could help himself in esophageal carcinoma prevention. Thats for, broad education of population on state level is needed. Duly discovering and treatment of reflux disease is a key factor in preventing of complications, especially Barretts esophagus which is premalignant lesion by itself. Program of long term endoscopic and histology follow up contribute in esophageal adenocarcinoma prevention or its early discovering in a stage of curability.


Lateral subtalar joint dislocation: a case with calcaneal fracture.
Subtalar joint dislocation is a relatively rare injury, with lateral dislocation occurring less frequently than medial dislocation. Associated fractures alter the treatment plan and the prognosis, but they are often missed on plain film radiographs. A brief review of the anatomy, pathomechanics, treatment, prognosis, and complications of subtalar joint dislocation is presented. An interesting case of lateral subtalar joint dislocation with an associated calcaneal fracture not evident on plain film radiographs but delineated with computed tomography is presented.


The clinical phenotype of trachomatous trichiasis in Ethiopia: not all trichiasis is due to entropion.
Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is usually described as a cicatricial entropion of the upper lid; however, other forms of trichiasis have been reported. This variation in clinical phenotype is potentially important for treatment guidelines. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the range of disease type and severity encompassed by TT. Individuals presenting with TT to surgical treatment campaigns were examined by a single ophthalmologist using the Detailed WHO Trachoma Grading System. Additional features were graded, including type of trichiatic lashes (metaplastic, misdirected, and entropic), lower lid trichiasis, entropion severity, and lid margin mucocutaneous junction (MCJ) position. Recruited were 2556 individuals with previously unoperated TT in at least one eye (4310 eyes). The median number of lashes touching the eye was 2 (range, 0 [epilating]-133). Entropion was absent or mild in 2328 (54.0%) eyes, moderate in 1259 (29.2%) eyes, and severe in 723 (16.8%) eyes. Trichiatic lashes were predominantly metaplastic or misdirected (80.2%), rather than secondary to entropion; 4204 (97.7%) had anteroplacement of the MCJ; and lower lid trichiasis was present in 494 (11.5%). Entropion was more severe among those with a low BMI, those who were female, those aged less than 50 years, and those with moderate to severe conjunctival inflammation, central corneal opacity, and severe conjunctival scarring. Many patients with TT have minimal or no entropion. The trichiasis is frequently attributable to metaplastic or misdirected eyelashes. The results of tarsal rotation surgery in TT patients without manifest entropion should be investigated and potentially alternative treatment strategies evaluated.


Limb-salvage surgery offers better five-year survival rate than amputation in patients with limb osteosarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma. Currently, the main treatment option for high-grade osteosarcomas is neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection of the lesion and adjuvant chemotherapy. Limb salvage surgery (LSS) and amputation are the main surgical techniques; however, controversy still exists concerning the best surgical method. Our meta-analysis compared the effectiveness of LSS and amputation combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with limb osteosarcoma, in terms of 5-year overall survival (OS), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence rate. Following the established methodology of PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar from 1975 until January 2020. Two independent reviewers evaluated the study quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of the OS, DFS and local recurrence rate were calculated. Thirteen studies were finally included with a total of 2884 patients; 1986 patients undergone LSS and 898 amputations. Five-year overall survival was almost 2-fold in patients treated with LSS than those treated with amputation (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.35-2.93; I2 = 74%, p < 0.001). No difference was found in 5-year DFS between LSS patients and amputees (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.55-2.79; I2 = 67%, p = 0.01). The odds of local recurrence was numerically higher in LSS compared to amputation but not statistically significant (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 0.95-5.53; I2 = 47%, p = 0.05). However, the included studies did not clearly define differences in the stages of patients of the two groups. Our study demonstrated that in patients with limb osteosarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, LSS is associated with a higher 5-year overall survival and the odds of local recurrence may be increased but these results should be interpreted with caution due to high heterogeneity.


The impact of imaging on management of cervical cystic hygromas. A report of two unusual cases.
Cystic hygromas occur most commonly in the neck, axilla, groin or retroperitoneal space. Occasionally a portion of a cervical cystic hygroma may reside within the mediastinum. It is also extremely rare for cystic hygroma to present in the back of the neck. Hence, we describe our experience of two cases of cystic hygromas in the neck, an extensive cervicomediastinal, and posterior cervical lesion. The different location and extent of each lesion, and different management decisions are discussed.


The Feasibility of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Variant Airway Problems.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is widely used to treat respiratory distress during cardiac or respiratory arrest; moreover, its use is being extended to a wide variety of clinical fields. In this study we assess the utility of ECMO in the management of airway obstruction. 15 patients underwent ECMO for airway obstruction. We retrospectively analyzed and evaluated the feasibility of ECMO in the treatment of airway problems. Seven patients received ECMO to facilitate respiration and promote stability during trachea surgery. In six cases ECMO ceased immediately following the operation; in the remaining case ECMO cessation was delayed due to post-operative ARDS. In three cases emergency ECMO was used in response to respiratory arrest; two patients died. In five cases ECMO was emergently inserted to prevent death, following airway blockade by massive hemoptysis. One patient was not discharged from the intensive care unit. Another patient was transferred to a general ward but died from other causes. ECMO is useful during anesthesia in patients at high risk of airway blockade, for example due to endobronchial bleeding, and during complex thoracic surgery. ECMO confers a safer environment during airway surgery, and its complication rate is acceptable.


Twist-bend nematic phases of bent-shaped biaxial molecules.
How can a change in molecular structure affect the relative stability and structural properties of the twist-bend nematic phase (NTB)? Here we extend the mean-field model(1) (C. Greco, G. R. Luckhurst and A. Ferrarini, Soft Matter, 2014, 10, 9318) for bent-shaped achiral molecules, to study the influence of arm molecular biaxiality and the value of the molecule's bend angle on the relative stability of NTB. In particular we show that by controlling the biaxiality of the molecule's arms, up to four ordered phases can become stable. They involve local uniaxial and biaxial variants of NTB, together with uniaxial and biaxial nematic phases. However, a V-shaped molecule shows a stronger ability to form stable NTB than a biaxial nematic phase, where the latter phase appears in the phase diagram only for bend angles greater than 140° and for large biaxiality of the two arms.


Fast Fourier transform analysis of the masseter muscle EMG during reaction to a warning signal.
Frequency changes of the masseter muscle EMG were examined in eight healthy subjects during the reaction time for unilateral jaw biting paradigm. The subjects were instructed to bite on a small piece of wood after the second of two visual signals two seconds apart. In five subjects, the EMG frequencies shifted to lower significantly in both the first (0-1 sec) and the second (1-2 sec) one-second periods after the first signal. In two subjects, the EMG frequencies shifted to lower significantly after the first signal in either the earlier or the later period. In one subject, the EMG frequencies did not change. This slowing of the EMG after the first signal might be related to recruitment of larger motor units. This phenomenon must be related to motor preparation for jaw biting.


Isolation and characterization of a lipolytic bacterium capable of growing in a low-water-content oil-water emulsion.
A unique lipolytic bacterium was isolated in a selective growth system consisting of 99% triglycerides and a 1% water phase. The bacterium, termed Pseudomonas aeruginosa YS-7, was able to grow in an environment of low water content and could also survive amphipathic, osmotic, and matrical water stress in a triglyceride-rich culture. The isolated strain was identified as P. aeruginosa on the basis of standard physiological, biochemical, and serological assays. The strain is a gram-negative motile rod, aerobic, pigment forming, and capable of growing at 42 degrees C. It is highly tolerant of high concentrations of the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and of the fatty acid salts derived from bacterial hydrolysis of the oil. Growth of the bacterium in a pure culture in a 99% triglyceride medium lasted until most of the water was evaporated or consumed. Growth was accompanied by triglyceride hydrolysis, which continued to occur even after growth saturation until the water was totally depleted. No loss of viability was observed when the culture was maintained under water-depleted conditions for an additional 40 h. A second cycle of bacterial growth and triglyceride hydrolysis was immediately initiated upon the addition of 1% (vol/vol) water to the culture. Lipase activity was stable regardless of changes in culture conditions. The isolated strain is uniquely resistant to severe water stress in a triglyceride-rich medium or under cold acetone precipitation compared with 12 other microbial strains, including bacteria and yeasts. Among these 12, only the lipolytic strains grew in the 99% triglyceride medium, but they reached a cell mass fourfold smaller than that of P. aeruginosa YS-7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Interferon in the treatment of persistent viral warts.
7 patients with a diagnosis of common and/or plantar warts present for at least 1 year and resistant to previous vigorous therapy were studied. All patients entered completed the study and during the trial period the warts of 4 patients receiving intralesional injections were completely cleared. 2 other patients demonstrated partial clearance of their warts.


Word order preferences for direct and indirect objects in children learning Korean.
Pre-school Korean children typically manifest higher comprehension rates on the 'unmarked' SOV sentences of their language than on the 'scrambled' OSV patterns. To date, however, scant attention has been paid to children's ordering preferences with respect to direct and indirect objects. The results of an act-out comprehension experiment involving 40 subjects (aged 4;0 to 7;0) show a strong, statistically significant preference for the accusative-dative order, despite evidence that the reverse order is more common in mother-to-child speech. Two hypotheses are considered, one involving the relationship between word order and grammatical relations and the other involving the relationship between word order and the types of situations denoted by the sentences in question. The results of a follow-up study involving transitive verbs with instrument arguments provide strong evidence in favour of the latter hypothesis.


Evolution of host-microbe cell adherence by receptor domain shuffling.
Stable adherence to epithelial surfaces is required for colonization by diverse host-associated microbes. Successful attachment of pathogenic microbes to host cells via adhesin molecules is also the first step in many devastating infections. Despite the primacy of epithelial adherence in establishing host-microbe associations, the evolutionary processes that shape this crucial interface remain enigmatic. Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) encompass a multifunctional family of vertebrate cell surface proteins which are recurrent targets of bacterial adhesins at epithelial barriers. Here, we show that multiple members of the primate CEACAM family exhibit evidence of repeated natural selection at protein surfaces targeted by bacteria, consistent with pathogen-driven evolution. Divergence of CEACAM proteins between even closely related great apes is sufficient to control molecular interactions with a range of bacterial adhesins. Phylogenetic analyses further reveal that repeated gene conversion of CEACAM extracellular domains during primate divergence plays a key role in limiting bacterial adhesin host tropism. Moreover, we demonstrate that gene conversion has continued to shape CEACAM diversity within human populations, with abundant human CEACAM1 variants mediating evasion of adhesins from pathogenic Neisseria. Together this work reveals a mechanism by which gene conversion shapes first contact between microbes and animal hosts.


[Gallstone ileus: plea for simultaneous treatment of obstruction and gallstone disease].
All patients with gallstone ileus admitted to our institution between 1985 and 1995, were retrospectively analysed, to determine, whether a one stage procedure (removal of impacted gallstone, fistula repair and cholecystectomy) is a more valid option than enterotomy. There were 10 patients (8 women, 2 men) in the study group (age range: 63-86 ans), representing 3.7% of small bowel obstruction and 1.4% of patients who underwent biliary surgery during the same period. Bowel occlusion was present in 8 patients and a correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only 2 cases (20%). Eight patients had a one-stage procedure, with no mortality but complications occurred in 2 cases. Enterotomy was the only surgical treatment in 2 cases, with no morbidity. During follow-up period, one patient died 3 years after enterotomy from a biliary complication. We believe that a one-step procedure, is a valid option and should be undertaken to prevent future recurrence, later biliary complications and reoperations in these elderly patients, who have serious concomitant diseases.


Dynamic changes in gene expression during follicle development and the efficacy of four timed AI protocols in non-suckling female yaks (Bos grunniens).
The objectives of the study were to investigate changes in the mRNA expression levels of five genes during antral follicle development and to assess the efficacy of four timed-artificial insemination (TAI) protocols in female yaks (Bos grunniens). RT-qPCR analysis revealed that expression levels were greater for follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and bone morphogenic protein 15 in the small follicle, luteinizing hormone receptor, and kit ligand in the large follicle, and growth differentiation factor 9 in the medium follicle (p < 0.05). Non-suckling yaks were treated as a 7-d CIDR, and PGF2α + eCG at CIDR withdrawal and TAI with frozen yak semen at 56-58 h after PGF2α (PPe-7d); either a 7-d CIDR (PPG-7d) or a 5-d CIDR (PPG-5d), and PGF2α at CIDR withdrawal and TAI + GnRH at 70-72 h after PGF2α; and GnRH treatment on Day 0, followed by PGF2α on Day 7 and TAI + GnRH on Day 9 (GPG-7d). The results showed that the pregnancy rate (P/AI) was greater in PPG-5d than in GPG-7d (p < 0.05), but the P/AI was not different among the other TAI protocols. In conclusion, the expression levels of these genes in follicles are dynamically changed during antral follicle development in yaks. The PPG-5d protocol achieved a greater P/AI.


Nuclear transplantation of embryonic stem cells in mice.
The developmental ability of enucleated mouse eggs that had received embryonic stem cells was examined. In a preliminary study, none of the reconstituted eggs formed a nucleus using inactivated Sendai virus (HVJ) after activation with ethanol. DC pulses were applied at 100 or 140 V mm-1 in addition to this treatment. After electrofusion, 29-40% of reconstituted eggs formed nuclei and 41-60%, 25-44%, 12-24% and 12-18% developed to two-cell and four-cell and morulae and blastocysts, respectively. The ability of reconstituted eggs to form blastocysts did not depend on the age of recipient eggs, except in cases of very young and very old eggs. Although implantation sites were observed, no live fetuses were obtained after the transfer of reconstituted eggs to the recipients.