[Clinical diagnostic problems of the female coronary heart disease evaluated by coronary artery angiography].
The clinical data of 100 female cases with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) undergoing coronary artery angiography (CAA) were analysed. CHD was defined as an estimated diameter stenosis of 75% and more in the main coronary arteries or coronary stenosis of 50%-75% with evidence of cardiac ischemia. Forty-eight case were confirmed as having CHD by CAA. The remaining 52 cases were confirmed as non-CHD and served as the control group, including 49 cases with normal coronary arteries and 3 cases with stenosis of less than 50% in the right coronary artery or left anterior descending artery. The risk factors of CHD and clinical characteristics of chest pain were compared for the two groups. The data demonstrated that menopause was a special risk factor for females and the incidence of CHD was increasing with aging after menopause. However, the clinical characteristics of chest pain in female CHD were usually atypical. When chest pain, whether clinically typical or atypical, were present after menopause and accompanied by evident risk factors, the probability of CHD would be high. If there was only chest pain without any risk factor after menopause, the diagnosis of CHD would be less likely.


Natural fertility and associated intermediate variables in some Arab countries.
"This paper will discuss the factors which affect natural fertility in the Middle East and North Africa based on data collected recently in selected countries of the region. First, however, it will consider conceptual approaches to the study of the intermediate fertility variables and problems in applying the concept of natural fertility to contemporary populations."


Spontaneous pneumarthrosis of the atlantoaxial joint.
The authors describe the case of a 29-year-old man presenting with left retrooccipital and cervical pain associated with left ear fullness and rhythmic tinnitus. Head rotation movements on the right side and the Valsalva maneuver increased symptoms. A CT scan identified hyperpneumatization of the left temporal bone extending to the occipital bone as well as pneumarthrosis of the atlantoaxial joint. Surgical treatment involving obliteration of the fistula with bone and fat grafts via a computer-aided transmastoid approach was proposed. The surgery resolved all of the patient's symptoms except for the ear fullness. In this case the authors described an original treatment for spontaneous atlantoaxial pneumarthrosis. Long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate the risk of the recurrence of abnormal occipital bone pneumatization and to assess joint function.


Words, thoughts, and brains.
Knowledge of the world is fundamental to human thought and ability to navigate the world, and a large literature has accumulated on the neuroscience of semantic memory. Because language serves as one of the most important interfaces between the private world of thought and other people, researchers often tap into semantic memory through word-based tasks. But this approach fails to acknowledge crucial distinctions between word meaning and general-purpose, non-linguistic knowledge. This article will discuss the relation between words and non-linguistic representations, drawing in part on evidence about cross-linguistic lexical diversity. It will argue that a more nuanced consideration of the language-thought interface is needed in the neuroscience of concepts.


Liver involvement in the drug reaction, eosinophilia, and systemic symptoms syndrome.
First described in 1996, the drug reaction, eosinophilia, and systemic symptoms syndrome (DReSS) is considered, along with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, a severe cutaneous drug reaction. It is characterized by the presence of a maculopapular erythematous skin eruption, fever, lymphadenopathy, influenza-like symptoms, eosinophilia, and visceral involvement such as hepatitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, pericarditis, nephritis, and colitis. The prognosis of patients with DReSS is related to the severity of visceral involvement. The mortality ranges from approximately 5% to 10%, and death is mainly due to liver failure, which is also the organ most commonly involved in this syndrome. Although it was previously hypothesized in 1994, DReSS syndrome can lead to reactivation of one or more human herpesvirus family members. Now being included as diagnostic criteria in a proposed diagnostic score system, this reactivation can be detected up to 2-3 wk after DReSS syndrome onset. Other causes of mortality in DReSS syndrome include myocardial or pulmonary lesions and hemophagocytosis. We reviewed the literature of previously reported case-series of DReSS and liver involvement, highlighting the pattern of liver damage, the treatment used, and the outcome.


Identification of a Five-Gene Prognostic Model and Its Potential Drug Repurposing in Colorectal Cancer Based on TCGA, GTEx and GEO Databases.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Unfortunately, many CRC patients are still being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the cancer, and the 5-year survival rate is only ~30%. Effective prognostic markers of CRC are therefore urgently needed. To address this issue, we performed a detailed bioinformatics analysis based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to identify prognostic biomarkers for CRC, which in turn help in exploring potential drug-repurposing. We identified five hub genes (PGM2, PODXL, RHNO1, SCD, and SEPHS1), which had good performance in survival prediction and might be involved in CRC through three key pathways ("Cell cycle," "Purine metabolism," and "Spliceosome" KEGG pathways) identified by a KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. What is more, we performed a co-expression analysis between five hub genes and transcription factors to explore the upstream regulatory region. Furthermore, we screened the potential drug-repurposing for the five hub genes in CRC according to the Binding DB and ZINC15 databases. Taking together, we constructed a five-gene signature to predict overall survival of CRC and found the potential drug-repurposing, which may improve the outcome of CRC in the future.


Comparing Transcervical Intrauterine Lidocaine Instillation with Rectal Diclofenac for Pain Relief During Outpatient Hysteroscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
There are a number of potential advantages to performing hysteroscopy in an outpatient setting. However, the ideal approach, using local uterine anesthesia or rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, has not been determined. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of intrauterine lidocaine instillation with rectal diclofenac for pain relief during diagnostic hysteroscopy. We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial on 70 nulliparous women with primary infertility undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy. Subjects were assigned into one of two groups to receive either 100mg of rectal diclofenac or 5mL of 2% intrauterine lidocaine. The intensity of pain was measured by a numeric rating scale 0-10. Pain scoring was performed during insertion of the hysteroscope, during visualization of the intrauterine cavity, and during extrusion of the hysteroscope. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to the mean pain score during intrauterine visualization (p=0.500). The mean pain score was significantly lower during insertion and extrusion of the hysteroscope in the diclofenac group (p=0.001 and p=0.030, respectively). Nine patients in the lidocaine group and five patients in diclofenac group needed supplementary intravenous propofol injection for sedation (p=0.060). Rectal diclofenac appears to be more effective than intrauterine lidocaine in reducing pain during insertion and extrusion of hysteroscope, but there are no significant statistical and clinical differences between the two methods with regard to the mean pain score during intrauterine inspection.


A photochromic and scintillation Eu-MOF with visual X-ray detection in bright and dark environments.
The detection of X-rays has always been a frontier of scientific research. An Eu-MOF with both X-ray-induced photochromic and scintillation properties has been synthesized through the combination of a photochromism-active viologen ligand and rare earth Eu element with high-efficiency absorption of X-rays. In a bright environment, Eu-MOF exhibits different color changes under high-energy X-rays and low-energy X-rays, which can effectively distinguish X-rays. Eu-MOF can also be used for X-ray detection by scintillation properties in dark environments. This work provides a new perspective on the design of multifunctional materials that can perform simple X-ray detection in different environments.


Designing and Characterization of a Novel Delivery System for Improved Cellular Uptake by Brain Using Dendronised Apo-E-Derived Peptide.
Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are characterized by the progressive loss of neuronal structure or function mostly associated with neuronal death. The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered the main obstacle that prevents the penetration of almost all drugs rendering the diseases untreatable. Currently, one of the most promising approaches for drug delivery to the brain is by employing endogenous transcytosis to improve endothelial cell uptake. This study aimed to exploit this potential route of enhanced drug uptake through the design and characterization of low generations lysine dendrons with further functionalization of dendron with ApoE-derived peptide (AEP) ligand to improve cellular uptake and targeting of delivery to the brain. Dendrons and peptide were synthesized using solid phase peptide chemistry and the products were characterized by mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography which confirmed the successful synthesis of dendrons and functionalization with the AEP. Cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase release were conducted to study the cytotoxicity of the materials against an immortalized brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) which demonstrated that no toxicity was seen at the concentration range used (up to 400 μM) for up to 48 h incubation. Cellular uptake of the synthesized molecules was examined using confocal microscopy and flow cytometer which clearly showed the cellular uptake of the dendronised carrier systems and that the highest percentage of cellular uptake was achieved with the AEP-functionalized dendron. This study has therefore demonstrated the successful synthesis of dendronised carrier systems with the potential to act as carriers for improved delivery and targeting the brain.


[Comparison of the diagnostic efficiency between digital breast tomosynthesis and full-field digital mammography].
To explore the effect of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) on the classification of breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) and its significance. Methods: A total of 832 patients with breast diseases, who came from Second Clinical College of Fujian Medical University from May 2013 to November 2013, were collected. The patients were examined by double position radiography (including craniocaudol and mediolateral oblique) and COMBO mode [including DBT and full-field digital mammography (FFDM)]. Meanwhile, the results of FFDM and DBT were classified. The number of glands, the characteristics of mass and other indirect signs were compared by COMBO and FFDM modes. Paired Wilcoxon rank sum text was adopted to investigate the differences between COMBO mode and FFDM mode in the 832 patients, and receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was applied to analyze the 79 patients with the pathological results. Results: The patients with large amount of glands (including Class c and Class d) accounted for 87.6% in the 832 patients, while the patients with small amounts of glands (including Class a and Class b) accounted for 11.7%. In estimating the content of glands, more details about the distribution of glands were found in the COMBO mode compared with those in the FFDM mode. According to the results of paired Wilcoxon rank sum test, there was significant statistical difference in BI-RADS classcification in breast masses between the COMBO mode and the FFDM mode (P<0.05), though the overall classification of the COMBO mode is higher than that of the FFDM mode. The pathology was served as a standard to estimate the diagnostic efficiency. The area under ROC curve was 0.805 in the FFDM mode, while that in the COMBO mode was 0.941. The optimal sensibility in the COMBO mode was 82.9%, which was higher than that in the FFDM mode. However, the specificity was 93.2% in both COMBO mode and the FFDM mode. Conclusion: DBT has a high clinical significance in BI-RADS classification for breast X-ray examination.


[Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for malignant tumors (report of 1,024 cases)].
To evaluate the clinical effect of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment of malignant tumors. Between May 1998 and Dec. 2001, 874 patients underwent 3D-CRT (median total dose of 50 Gy, ranging from 30 to 84 Gy in 3 to 41 fractions completed within 7 to 41 d) for malignant tumors. The clinical tumor volume (CTV) was totally encompassed within the exposure by 90 % of the prescribed irradiation dose. 6 MV X ray was used and CT image studies before and one year after 3D-CRT were performed to assess the therapeutic effect. Complete remission of the tumor occurred in 38.1 % (390/1 024) of the cases, partial remission in 55.5 % (568/1 024) and no remission in 5.8 % (59/1 024), with 0.68 % (7/1 024) of the cases showing signs of tumor progression. CT image studies demonstrated obviously weakened enhancement of the tumor residual after treatment, and Doppler ultrasound revealed decreased blood supply of the tumors. The high alpha-fetoprotein levels in patients with hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC) was significantly reduced (P=0.003). In terms of the adverse effect, 85 patients complained of inertia after radiotherapy, 90 of loss of appetite. 3D-CRT is an effective method of treatment in patients with malignant tumors.


Impedance imaging of lung ventilation: do we need to account for chest expansion?
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) uses surface electrical measurements to image changes in the conductivity distribution within a medium. When used to measure lung ventilation, however, measurements depend both on conductivity changes in the thorax and on rib cage movement. Given that currently available reconstruction techniques assume that only conductivity changes are present, certain errors are introduced. A finite element model (FEM) is used to calculate the effect of chest expansion on the reconstructed conductivity images. Results indicate that thorax expansion accounts for up to 20% of the reconstructed image amplitude and introduces an artifact in the center of the image tending to "move" the reconstructed lungs closer together. Although this contribution varies depending on anatomical factors, it is relatively independent of inspiration depth. For certain applications in which one is only interested in changes in the level of physiological activity, the effect of the expansion can be neglected because it varies linearly with impedance changes. We conclude that chest expansion can contribute significantly to the conductivity images of lung ventilation and should be taken into account in the interpretation of these images.


Simultaneous effects of noise exposure and smoking on OAEs.
Noise is one of the most pervasive hazardous factors in the workplace. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common disorder related to noise exposure. Smoking is probably associated with hearing loss. The simultaneous effect of noise and smoking on hearing is a recent concern. In this study, we assessed the simultaneous effect of noise and smoking on standard pure tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DP-OAEs). This was an historical cohort study on 224 workers exposed to noise who were divided into two groups: Smokers and nonsmokers. DP-OAE response amplitudes were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 19) using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. One hundred and five subjects were smokers (case group) and 119 individuals were nonsmokers (control group). All the subjects were exposed to 91.08 + 2.29 dBA [time-weighted average (TWA) for an 8 h work shift]. Mean DP-OAE response amplitude at frequencies higher than 1,000 Hz was significantly higher in the smokers than the nonsmokers. This study showed that smoking can aggravate the effect of noise on hearing in DP-OAEs.


A pilot, open-label safety study of quetiapine for treatment of moderate psychotic agitation in the emergency setting.
The goal of this pilot study was primarily to explore the safety and, secondarily, the efficacy of the use of "prn" quetiapine for treatment of moderate agitation accompanied by psychosis in an emergency department setting. This was an open-label study in which 20 patients with psychotic agitation were treated in the emergency department with 100, 150, or 200 mg of quetiapine. Physicians who were unaffiliated with the study established the diagnoses and selected the doses to be used for each patient. A rater who was blinded to the dose performed the assessments. The primary safety measure was the onset of orthostatic hypotension. The primary efficacy measure was a 40% reduction in scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Excited Component (PANSS-EC) over 120 minutes. The secondary efficacy measure was a reduction of 2 points or more on the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale (BARS) at 120 minutes post-dose. All subjects provided written informed consent. With regard to safety outcomes, 40% of subjects exhibited orthostasis by 120 minutes, although only 25% of these patients described clinically significant symptoms. In terms of efficacy, 50% of subjects experienced at least a 40% reduction in PANSS-EC scores at 2 hours, while 68.8% showed reductions of 2 points or more in scores on the BARS over the same time period. Quetiapine demonstrated some efficacy as a sedative agent in the emergency setting, although no clear dose-response pattern emerged over the narrow dose range tested. Orthostasis was common and did not correlate with dosing. This small study did not support the use of quetiapine to treat acute agitation in potentially volume-depleted patients.


Curcumin Mitigates AFB1-Induced Hepatic Toxicity by Triggering Cattle Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Pathways: A Whole Transcriptomic In Vitro Study.
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in livestock and human beings is a major economic and health concern. Natural polyphenolic substances with antioxidant properties have proven to be effective in ameliorating AFB1-induced toxicity. Here we assessed the potential anti-AFB1 activity of curcumin (pure curcumin, C, and curcumin from Curcuma longa, CL) in a bovine fetal hepatocyte-derived cell line (BFH12). First, we measured viability of cells exposed to AFB1 in presence or absence of curcumin treatment. Then, we explored all the transcriptional changes occurring in AFB1-exposed cells cotreated with curcumin. Results demonstrated that curcumin is effective in reducing AFB1-induced toxicity, decreasing cells mortality by approximately 30%. C and CL induced similar transcriptional changes in BFH12 exposed to AFB1, yet C treatment resulted in a larger number of significant genes compared to CL. The mitigating effects of curcuminoids towards AFB1 toxicity were mainly related to molecular pathways associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory response, cancer, and drug metabolism. Investigating mRNA changes induced by curcumin in cattle BFH12 cells exposed to AFB1 will help us to better characterize possible tools to reduce its consequences in this susceptible and economically important food-producing species.


Structural Changes in Thylakoid Proteins during Cold Acclimation and Freezing of Winter Rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Puma).
Thylakoids were isolated from nonhardened and cold-hardened winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Puma), and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of sulfhydryl reagents. Electrophoresis of cold-hardened rye thylakoid proteins revealed the presence of a 35 kilodalton polypeptide and the absence of a 51 kilodalton polypeptide found in nonhardened rye thylakoid proteins. The 35 kilodalton band could be induced by adding beta-mercaptoethanol to nonhardened rye thylakoid proteins, whereas the 51 kilodalton band could be formed by adding cupric phenanthroline to these same proteins. Sulfhydryl group titration showed that cold-hardened rye thylakoid proteins contained more free sulfhydryls than nonhardened rye proteins. Although amino acid analysis of thylakoid proteins revealed quantitative differences in several amino acid residues, the polarity of thylakoid proteins did not change during cold acclimation. No significant changes in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels of thylakoid proteins appeared when either nonhardened or cold-hardened plants were frozen in vivo or in vitro. However, thylakoid proteins did aggregate when frozen in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol. Although thylakoid proteins isolated from cold-hardened rye contained more reduced thiols, a general state of reduction did not act as a cryoprotectant. It is hypothesized that conformational changes of specific proteins may be important for low temperature growth of rye.


Neurohypophysial Hormones Associated with Osmotic Challenges in the Brain and Pituitary of the Euryhaline Black Porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegelii.
Our study showed differential expression of the arginine vasotocin (avt)/isotocin (it) in the brain and pituitary gland of the euryhaline black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) during osmotic stress. A decrease in serum osmolality and increased cortisol levels were observed after acute transfer from seawater (SW) to freshwater (FW). The increased expressions of avt, avt receptor (avtr: v1a), and isotocin receptor (itr: itr1) transcripts on day 1 and it and itr transcripts on days 7 and 30 were found in the brains and pituitary glands of FW fish. Increased levels of avt mRNA in the diencephalon and avtr mRNA in the pituitary together with serum cortisol on day 1 of FW exposure indicated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis. The expression levels of avtr and itr after FW transfer were increased in the pituitary on days 7 and 30. Furthermore, in situ hybridization demonstrated spatially differential expression of avt and itr transcripts in nucleus preopticus parvocellularis of pars gigantocellularis (PMgc), magnocellularis (PMmc), and parvocellularis (PMpc) of the preoptic area (POA). Positive signals for avt and it were highly abundant in PMpc after FW exposure. The data suggest involvement of neurohypophysial hormones in the brain (telencephalon and diencephalon) and pituitary for osmotic stress.


SR-targeted CaMKII inhibition improves SR Ca²+ handling, but accelerates cardiac remodeling in mice overexpressing CaMKIIδC.
Cardiac myocyte overexpression of CaMKIIδ(C) leads to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF) possibly caused by altered myocyte Ca(2+) handling. A central defect might be the marked CaMKII-induced increase in diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) leak which decreases SR Ca(2+) load and Ca(2+) transient amplitude. We hypothesized that inhibition of CaMKII near the SR membrane would decrease the leak, improve Ca(2+) handling and prevent the development of contractile dysfunction and HF. To test this hypothesis we crossbred CaMKIIδ(C) overexpressing mice (CaMK) with mice expressing the CaMKII-inhibitor AIP targeted to the SR via a modified phospholamban (PLB)-transmembrane-domain (SR-AIP). There was a selective decrease in the amount of activated CaMKII in the microsomal (SR/membrane) fraction prepared from these double-transgenic mice (CaMK/SR-AIP) mice. In ventricular cardiomyocytes from CaMK/SR-AIP mice, SR Ca(2+) leak, assessed both as diastolic Ca(2+) shift into SR upon tetracaine in intact myocytes or integrated Ca(2+) spark release in permeabilized myocytes, was significantly reduced. The reduced leak was accompanied by enhanced SR Ca(2+) load and twitch amplitude in double-transgenic mice (vs. CaMK), without changes in SERCA expression or NCX function. However, despite the improved myocyte Ca(2+) handling, cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling was accelerated in CaMK/SR-AIP and cardiac function worsened. We conclude that while inhibition of SR localized CaMKII in CaMK mice improves Ca(2+) handling, it does not necessarily rescue the HF phenotype. This implies that a non-SR CaMKIIδ(C) exerts SR-independent effects that contribute to hypertrophy and HF, and this CaMKII pathway may be exacerbated by the global enhancement of Ca transients.


[Painful tumour at the knee joint: case report and review of the literature].
Glomangiomas are perivascular tumours which, on the whole, are rare. They are most frequently located subungually on the fingers and toes. Diagnosis is difficult when they are atypically located at the knee joint. This may frequently result in a course of disease extending over many years. The case of a 75-year-old male patient with a tumour which had existed for two years, located at the knee joint, is reported. Symptomatology, diagnostics, histology and therapy are presented and discussed in the context of the currently available literature relevant to this disease. In the case presented here, following removal of the tumour, the patient remained free of complaints and did not suffer a relapse. Glomangiomas exhibit local, invasive growth, metastases have not been reported. The clinical picture is characterised by the classical trilogy of sensitivity to pain, pressure and temperature. In cases associated with the knee joint, misdiagnoses such as meniscus lesions or degenerative changes, are frequently made. Diagnostic procedures include sonography and magnetic resonance investigations. A resection of the tumour should be carried out well into the healthy tissue, as local relapse is a frequent occurrence in this disease.


Effect of S-diclofenac, a novel hydrogen sulfide releasing derivative inhibit rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.
S-diclofenac (2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl) amino] benzene acetic acid 4-(3H-1,2,dithiol-3-thione-5-yl) phenyl ester) is a novel molecule comprising a hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-releasing dithiol-thione moiety attached by an ester linkage to diclofenac. Effect of S-diclofenac (H2S donor) on cell proliferation was investigated on the primary and immortalized rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Smooth muscle cell proliferation has been considered as a key event in vascular injury in diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after invasive intervention. Clonogenic cell survival assay showed a dose dependent (10-100 microM) decrease in cell survival. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the asynchronized cells are more sensitive than the cells that are synchronized and revealed that the cells in G1 phase are not affected by the treatment of the S-diclofenac. Asynchronized smooth muscle cells treated with the S-diclofenac showed an increase in apoptotic cell death. S-diclofenac treatment also resulted in stabilization of p53 coupled with the induction of downstream proteins such as p21, p53AIP1 and Bax. S-diclofenac did not up-regulate cell levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. However, when the cells are synchronized a stimulatory effect of cell growth with the decrease in apoptosis, p53 and p21 was evident. S-diclofenac inhibits smooth muscle cell growth and may play a role in the lesion formation at sites of the vascular injury. The present results suggest that S-diclofenac may be useful for the prevention of smooth muscle cell proliferation in diseases such as vascular obstructive and restenosis.


Entrapment of H1N1 Influenza Virus Derived Conserved Peptides in PLGA Nanoparticles Enhances T Cell Response and Vaccine Efficacy in Pigs.
Pigs are believed to be one of the important sources of emerging human and swine influenza viruses (SwIV). Influenza virus conserved peptides have the potential to elicit cross-protective immune response, but without the help of potent adjuvant and delivery system they are poorly immunogenic. Biodegradable polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticle (PLGA-NP) based vaccine delivery system enhances cross-presentation of antigens by the professional antigen presenting cells. In this study, Norovirus P particle containing SwIV M2e (extracellular domain of the matrix protein 2) chimera and highly conserved two each of H1N1 peptides of pandemic 2009 and classical human influenza viruses were entrapped in PLGA-NPs. Influenza antibody-free pigs were vaccinated with PLGA-NPs peptides cocktail vaccine twice with or without an adjuvant, Mycobacterium vaccae whole cell lysate, intranasally as mist. Vaccinated pigs were challenged with a virulent heterologous zoonotic SwIV H1N1, and one week later euthanized and the lung samples were analyzed for the specific immune response and viral load. Clinically, pigs vaccinated with PLGA-NP peptides vaccine had no fever and flu symptoms, and the replicating challenged SwIV was undetectable in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Immunologically, PLGA-NP peptides vaccination (without adjuvant) significantly increased the frequency of antigen-specific IFNγ secreting CD4 and CD8 T cells response in the lung lymphocytes, despite not boosting the antibody response both at pre- and post-challenge. In summary, our data indicated that nanoparticle-mediated delivery of conserved H1N1 influenza peptides induced the virus specific T cell response in the lungs and reduced the challenged heterologous virus load in the airways of pigs.


Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, part VIII: International efforts to develop risk-based safety evaluations for nanomaterials.
The use of nanotechnology in consumer and industrial applications will likely have a profound impact on a number of products from a variety of industrial sectors. Nanomaterials exhibit unique physical/chemical properties and impart enhancements to engineered materials, including better magnetic properties, improved electrical activity, and increased optical properties. The United States, Europe, and Japan have each initiated comprehensive programs to promote and expand the utility of nanotechnology for commercial applications. An important component of these programs is the development of reliable risk and safety evaluations for these materials to ensure their safety for human health and the environment. The scope of each of these programs includes efforts to assess the hazards posed by nanomaterials in realistic exposure conditions.


Zinc, biochemical markers of nutrition, and type I osteoporosis.
Having observed previously that the reduction of levels of biological markers of nutrition in postmenopausal osteoporosis may be related to zinc deficiency, we measured plasma and urinary zinc concentrations in 30 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and in 30 healthy postmenopausal women who served as controls. Plasma zinc levels did not differ between groups, but urinary zinc excretion was significantly higher in the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (p = 0.002). The relation between total body bone mineral content corrected for body weight (TBBMC/W) and markers of nutrition was significant (multiple regression analysis: p < 0.0001) in the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis but not in the healthy postmenopausal controls. Likewise, the relation between TBBMC/W and plasma and urinary zinc levels also was significant in the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis but not in the controls (multiple regression analysis: p = 0.0022). Neither group showed any correlation between plasma or urinary zinc concentrations and levels of biological markers of nutrition. Urinary zinc concentration correlated significantly with serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase level (simple linear regression analysis: r = 0.583, p < 0.001) in the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis but not in controls. TBBMC correlated with urinary zinc concentration significantly in the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (simple linear regression: r = 0.567, p = 0.0015), but the correlation was nonsignificant in healthy postmenopausal controls. These findings indicate that the elevation of urinary zinc elimination in osteoporosis is dependent on bone resorption.


Complete DNA sequence of a ColBM plasmid from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli suggests that it evolved from closely related ColV virulence plasmids.
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli causing colibacillosis in birds, is responsible for significant economic losses for the poultry industry. Recently, we reported that the APEC pathotype was characterized by possession of a set of genes contained within a 94-kb cluster linked to a ColV plasmid, pAPEC-O2-ColV. These included sitABCD, genes of the aerobactin operon, hlyF, iss, genes of the salmochelin operon, and the 5' end of cvaB of the ColV operon. However, the results of gene prevalence studies performed among APEC isolates revealed that these traits were not always linked to ColV plasmids. Here, we present the complete sequence of a 174-kb plasmid, pAPEC-O1-ColBM, which contains a putative virulence cluster similar to that of pAPEC-O2-ColV. These two F-type plasmids share remarkable similarity, except that they encode the production of different colicins; pAPEC-O2-ColV contains an intact ColV operon, and pAPEC-O1-ColBM encodes the colicins B and M. Interestingly, remnants of the ColV operon exist in pAPEC-O1-ColBM, hinting that ColBM-type plasmids may have evolved from ColV plasmids. Among APEC isolates, the prevalence of ColBM sequences helps account for the previously observed differences in prevalence between genes of the "conserved" portion of the putative virulence cluster of pAPEC-O2-ColV and those genes within its "variable" portion. These results, in conjunction with Southern blotting and probing of representative ColBM-positive strains, indicate that this "conserved" cluster of putative virulence genes is primarily linked to F-type virulence plasmids among the APEC isolates studied.


In vitro digestibility and amino acid composition of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and other cereals.
The purpose of this study was to compare in vitro digestibility, protein distribution patterns, and amino acid composition of pearl millet with other major cereals. Digestibility values for the pearl millet varieties were higher than that of sorghum and comparable to that of maize. In contrast to sorghum, digestibility of pearl millet and maize did not decrease significantly upon cooking. Protein distribution patterns of uncooked pearl millet and shifts in the different fractions as a result of cooking also resembled that of maize and not sorghum. The amino acid profile of pearl millet is more favorable than that of normal sorghum and normal maize and is comparable to the small grains, wheat, barley, and rice. On the basis of these findings, it appears that pearl millet is a nutritious and well-digested source of calories and proteins for humans.


[Changes in family and cohabitation conditions in 14 industrialized countries].
"The purpose of the study is to review some of the demographic trends which have substantial influence on social security budgets. Thus the authors deal with nuptiality and...[divorce] with changes in family and household structures...[and] especially with one-person households and one-parent families." Data are from 12 selected countries of Europe plus Canada and the USSR. The general trends observed include a decline in nuptiality, increasing age at marriage, high and increasing divorce rates, and an increase in consensual unions. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND RUS)


[Immune Modulatory Effect of Outer Membrane Vesicles Derived from Salmonella on Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells].
To study the effect of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Salmonella typhimurium (ST) on the ultrastructural features and immune function of dendritic cells (DC). Mice bone marrow cells were collected aseptically, and myeloid DC were generated by the combined induction and amplification with recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and recombinant mouse interleukin-4 (rm IL-4). Cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope and the phenotype was identified with flow cytometry. ST-OMVs were isolated through ultracentrifugation. The survival rate of DC was assessed with CCK-8 assay, and the stimulus concentration of OMVs was henceforth determined. The ultrastructural characteristics of DC loaded with OMVs were observed with transmission electron microscopy. The cytokine secretion, surface molecule expression and phagocytic capacity of DC were examined with flow cytometry. The DC induced and amplified in vitro displayed typical DC phenotype in morphological analysis and the purity of DC exceeded 85%. Transmission electron microscopy showed that there were large numbers of protrusions on the cell surface. After stimulation with ST-OMVs, it was observed that the dendritic structures on the surface of DC were reduced and a large number of phagolysosomes were found in the cytoplasm. In addition, increased numbers of mitochondria, swelling and typical apoptosis were observed. After treatment with ST-OMVs at 5 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) of DC increased significantly ( P<0.05). Furthermore, the immature DC could differentiate into mature DCs after stimulation with ST-OMVs, which were characterized by a decrease in phagocytic capacity ( P<0.05) and an upregulation of phenotypic markers ( P<0.05). ST-OMVs can stimulate DC to produce TNF-α and IL-1β and promote DC maturation and antigen presentation.


Engineering Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Its Virus-Like-Particles for Synthesis of Biotemplated Nanomaterials.
Biomolecules are increasingly attractive templates for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. Chief among them is the plant tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) due to its high aspect ratio, narrow size distribution, diverse biochemical functionalities presented on the surface, and compatibility with a number of chemical conjugations. These properties are also easily manipulated by genetic modification to enable the synthesis of a range of metallic and non-metallic nanomaterials for diverse applications. This article reviews the characteristics of TMV and related viruses, and their virus-like particle (VLP) derivatives, and how these may be manipulated to extend their use and function. A focus of recent efforts has been on greater understanding and control of the self-assembly processes that drive biotemplate formation. How these features have been exploited in engineering applications such as, sensing, catalysis, and energy storage are briefly outlined. While control of VLP surface features is well-established, fewer tools exist to control VLP self-assembly, which limits efforts to control template uniformity and synthesis of certain templated nanomaterials. However, emerging advances in synthetic biology, machine learning, and other fields promise to accelerate efforts to control template uniformity and nanomaterial synthesis enabling more widescale industrial use of VLP-based biotemplates.


Preclinical left ventricular abnormalities in alcoholics are independent of nutritional status, cirrhosis, and cigarette smoking.
M mode echo recordings of the left ventricle (LV) were performed in 33 patients with alcoholic liver disease, 26 patients with various non-alcoholic liver diseases, and in 18 non-alcoholic controls. Groups were well matched for age and overall nutritional status (as assessed by anthropometry) and none of the subjects studied had cardiorespiratory symptoms. Alcoholics had significantly increased LV free wall thickness and LV cavity dimension at end diastole (EDD). Multiple regression analysis of the data identified alcohol abuse as the most important variable affecting EDD, and this relation could not be explained by differences in age, sex, overall nutrition, cigarette smoking, thiamine status (total blood thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate concentration), presence of liver disease, or severity of liver disease (cirrhotic vs non-cirrhotic). The increase in LV free wall thickness was not significantly related to alcohol abuse. These results suggest that chronic alcohol abuse is an important independent risk factor for cardiac dilatation, and that increase in EDD may be an early marker of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.


High aspect ratio constructive nanolithography with a photo-dimerizable molecule.
A major challenge in constructive nanolithography is the preservation of the lateral resolution of a monolayer-thick template pattern while amplifying it to a structure with a thickness above 10 nm. So far, the most successful approach to achieve this is surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) from e-beam structured monolayer templates in a multistep process. However, spreading of the polymer on the substrate leads to a rapid line-widening. Therefore, structures with lateral resolutions well below 100 nm and thicknesses above 10 nm (aspect ratio: 0.1) were not reported yet. Our approach of photoinduced, constructive, reversible nanolithography, is based on nanografting within a coumarin-derivative thiol (CDT) solution using the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). By photodimerization and the formation of disulfide bonds, the CDT polymerizes in a single-step process. We demonstrate the highest lateral resolution in constructive nanolithography at thicknesses above 10 nm (40 nm lateral resolution at 12 nm thickness, aspect ratio: 0.3).


Prevalence of Malocclusion among Schoolchildren in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The prevalence of malocclusion varies from one region to another and among different age groups and ethnicities. According to the World Health Organization, malocclusion is the third most common abnormal dental condition. This study aims to establish the prevalence of malocclusion among schoolchildren in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 Saudi schoolchildren, 12-15 years of age, of both genders, randomly selected from 15 schools in different regions of Makkah. Molar and canine relationships were examined, in addition to traits such as crowding, spacing, overjet, overbite, cross-bite, scissor bite, and maxillary diastema. The most prevalent molar relationship was Class I (52.3%), followed by Class II (25%), and Class III (20.5%). Crowding was the most prevalent malocclusion trait (74%), and scissor bite was the least common (2.5%). A statistically significant difference was found between males and females in most of the recorded criteria (P < 0.005). Among schoolchildren in Makkah, Class I molar relationship was the most prevalent type of occlusion, and the most prevalent malocclusion trait was crowding.


Penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration drift in identical sequential Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from colonized healthy infants.
We monitored the timing of acquisition of nasopharyngeal colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 125 healthy infants during their first 2 years of life. S. pneumoniae was isolated at least once from 59 (47%) of 125 infants aged between 2 and 18 months. Twenty-four infants (19%) were colonized with penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae at some time during the study. During the course of this investigation, we identified sequential pneumococcal isolates of the same serotype from 5 infants, in which the penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) increased over time. For 4 of the 5 infants, sequential isolates were identical, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Sequential S. pneumoniae nasopharyngeal isolates from some healthy infants demonstrated drift in penicillin MIC values over time, from penicillin-susceptible to penicillin-resistant.


Clinical importance of tensor fasciae suralis arising from linea aspera along with short head of biceps femoris: a rare anomaly.
Tensor fasciae suralis, also known as ischioaponeuroticus is a clinically relevant muscle variant located in the popliteal fossa. Though rare, when present the muscle may arise from any of the hamstrings and gets inserted to the crural fascia of leg or tendocalcaneus and is innervated by the tibial component of sciatic nerve. Here we report a variant of tensor fasciae suralis originated from the lowermost part of linea aspera along with the fibers of short head of biceps femoris in the left lower limb of a male cadaver aged approximately 58 years. The muscle was 16 cm in length and 1 cm breadth in its widest part. It was found inserted to the crural fascia over the lateral head of gastrocnemius and was found innervated by common peroneal nerve. To the best of our knowledge, the tensor fascia suralis muscle originated from linea aspera along with short head of biceps femoris and innervated by common peroneal nerve has not been reported in either cadaveric or imaging studies.


Anthocyanin-rich red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) extract attenuates cardiac and hepatic oxidative stress in rats fed an atherogenic diet.
Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species plays an important role in the aetiology of several diseases including atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Anthocyanin-rich extracts have been shown to possess a variety of therapeutic roles, including antioxidant, cardioprotective and hepatoprotective properties. The present inventory was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of anthocyanin-rich red cabbage extract (ARCE) on an atherogenic (ATH) diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia and related cardiac and, hepatic oxidative stress in rats. ARCE (100 mg kg(-1) body weight) treatment of rats fed the ATH diet significantly prevented elevation in serum and tissue lipids, circulating levels of cardiac and hepatic damage markers, and resulted in excretion of lipids through faeces. Also, the ARCE extract significantly attenuated alterations in the cardiac and hepatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation, and histopathological changes in cardiac and hepatic tissue. Thus, the present study provides the first scientific evidence for a protective role of ARCE against ATH diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia and cardiac and hepatic oxidative stress.


Joining Bits and Pieces of Reionization History.
Cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropies from Planck have estimated a lower value of the optical depth to reionization (τ) compared to WMAP. A significant period in the reionization history would then fall within 6<redshift(z)<10, where detection of galaxies with Hubble frontier fields program and independent estimation of neutral hydrogen in the inter galactic medium by Lyman-α observations are also available. This overlap allows an analysis of cosmic reionization which utilizes a direct combination of CMB and these astrophysical measurements and potentially breaks degeneracies in parameters describing the physics of reionization. For the first time we reconstruct reionization histories by assuming photoionization and recombination rates to be free-form and by allowing underlying cosmological parameters to vary with CMB (temperature and polarization anisotropies and lensing) data from Planck 2018 release and a compilation of astrophysical data. We find an excellent agreement between the low-ℓ Planck 2018 High Frequency Instrument polarization likelihood and astrophysical data in determining the integrated optical depth. By combining both data, we report for a minimal reconstruction τ=0.051_{-0.0012-0.002}^{+0.001+0.002} at 68% and 95% C.L., which, for the errors in the current astrophysical measurements quoted in the literature, is nearly twice better than the projected cosmic variance limited CMB measurements. For the duration of reionization, redshift interval between 10%, and complete ionization, we get 2.9_{-0.16-0.26}^{+0.12+0.29} at 68% and 95% C.L., which improves significantly on the corresponding result obtained by using Planck 2015 data. By a Bayesian analysis of the combined results we do not find evidence beyond monotonic reionization histories, therefore a multiphase reionization scenario such as a first burst of reionization followed by recombination plateau and thereafter complete reionization is disfavored compared to minimal alternatives.


Predictors of incompletion of immunization among children residing in the slums of Kathmandu valley, Nepal: a case-control study.
Immunization is one of the most effective health interventions averting an estimated 2-3 million deaths every year. In Nepal, as in most low-income countries, infants are immunized with standard WHO recommended vaccines. However, 16.4 % of children did not receive complete immunization by 12 months of age in Nepal in 2011. Studies from different parts of the world showed that incomplete immunization is even higher in slums. The objective of this study was to identify the predictors of incompletion of immunization among children aged 12-23 months living in the slums of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The unmatched case-control study was conducted in 22 randomly selected slums of Kathmandu Valley. The sampling frame was first identified by complete enumeration of entire households of the study area from which 59 incompletely immunized children as cases and 177 completely immunized children as controls were chosen randomly in 1:3 ratio. Data were collected from the primary caretakers of the children. Backward logistic regression with 95 % confidence interval and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) were applied to assess the factors independently associated with incomplete immunization. Twenty-six percent of the children were incompletely vaccinated. The coverage of BCG vaccine was 95.0 % while it was 80.5 % for measles vaccine. The significant predictors of incomplete immunization were the home delivery of a child, the family residing on rent, a primary caretaker with poor knowledge about the schedule of vaccination and negative perception towards vaccinating a sick child, conflicting priorities, and development of abscess following immunization. Reduction of abscess formation rate can be a potential way to improve immunization rates. Community health volunteers should increase their follow-up on children born at home and those living in rent. Health institutions and volunteers should be influential in creating awareness about immunization, its schedule, and post-vaccination side effects.


Clock-dependent and system-driven oscillators interact in the suprachiasmatic nuclei to pace mammalian circadian rhythms.
Circadian clocks drive biological rhythms with a period of approximately 24 hours and keep in time with the outside world through daily resetting by environmental cues. While this external entrainment has been extensively investigated in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the role of internal systemic rhythms, including daily fluctuations in core temperature or circulating hormones remains debated. Here, we show that lactating mice, which exhibit dampened systemic rhythms, possess normal molecular clockwork but impaired rhythms in both heat shock response gene expression and electrophysiological output in their SCN. This suggests that body rhythms regulate SCN activity downstream of the clock. Mathematical modeling predicts that systemic feedback upon the SCN functions as an internal oscillator that accounts for in vivo and ex vivo observations. Thus we are able to propose a new bottom-up hierarchical organization of circadian timekeeping in mammals, based on the interaction in the SCN between clock-dependent and system-driven oscillators.


Calcium phosphate nanoparticles for transcutaneous vaccine delivery.
The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential of calcium phosphate (CAP) nanoparticles for transcutaneous vaccine delivery. CAP nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation method followed by sequential adsorption of sugars and ovalbumin. Nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, XRD, ATR-FTIR, and microscopy methods. In-vitro release of ovalbumin from nanoparticles was studied in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). In-vivo immunization studies were carried out in Balb/C mice. The size and zeta potential of ovalbumin-sugar adsorbed CAP nanoparticles was 350 +/- 22.5 nm and -12.93 +/- 1.02 mV respectively. Around 60% ovalbumin was released from nanoparticles within 24 hrs. To test the feasibility for transcutaneous vaccine delivery, the nanoparticles were applied in mice after removing the stratum corneum by tape-stripping. In the positive control group, the nanoparticles were administered by intradermal injection. Ovalbumin-sugar coated CAP nanoparticles showed significantly higher antibody titers (Total IgG and IgG1) compared to ovalbumin alone. IgG2a antibodies were only seen with intradermal injection. Both topical and intradermal treatment groups showed splenocyte proliferation when re-stimulated with ovalbumin. The results from this study demonstrate the potential of using CAP nanoparticles for transcutaneous vaccine delivery.


Electrostatic field-exposed water in nanotube at constant axial pressure.
Water confined within nanoscale geometries under external field has many interesting properties which is very important for its application in biological processes and engineering. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the effect of external fields on polarization and structure as well as phase transformations of water confined within carbon nanotubes. We find that dipoles of water molecules tend to align along external field in nanoscale cylindrical confinement. Such alignment directly leads to the longitudinal electrostriction and cross-sectional dilation of water in nanotube. It also influences the stability of ice structures. As the electrostatic field strengthens, the confined water undergoes phase transitions from a prism structure to a helical one to a single chain as the electrostatic field strengthens. These results imply a rich phase diagram of the confined water due to the presence of external electriostatic field, which can be of importance for the industrial applications in nanopores.


Lead Poisoning in France around 1840: Managing Proofs and Uncertainties in Laboratories, Courtrooms, and Workplaces.
This article reviews one of the most famous cases of lead poisoning in France, the Ponchon affair, which occurred in 1843 during a crucial period for French toxicology. The trial attracted public attention and inflamed controversy among medical and legal experts. The debate involved toxicological methods and their reliability, and gave rise to more general questions about the value of expert evidence, the way it was presented in court, and its relationship to other forms of legal evidence. I begin with a general overview of lead poisoning and toxicological research on lead compounds around 1840. I then discuss different toxicological proofs employed for detecting or preventing lead poisoning and examine as well growing uncertainties about them. A review of several trials related to lead poisoning in workplaces around 1840 introduces the Ponchon affair. Here I present the experts involved in the trial and describe their strategies for presenting and managing proofs and uncertainties. Finally, I summarise the controversy aroused by the trial in medical and legal communities as it relates to the value of jury trials in cases of poisoning, the risks of using too much chemistry in judicial inquiries, and the different proposals for managing uncertainties and disagreements among experts.


Use of Anticoagulant Warfarin in Patients Presenting With Atrial Fibrillation in a Tertiary Level Hospital.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the World, occurring in approximately 0.4% of the general population. The purpose of the present study was to see the trend of use of warfarin in hospital admitted patients with atrial fibrillation. It was conducted in the department of cardiology, University Cardiac Centre, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2008 to January 2009. A total of 150 patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled in this study. Out of them, male were 60(40%) and female 90(60%); age range 22-79 years. Most common presenting symptoms were palpitation (80%) & dyspnoea (70%). Chronic rheumatic heart disease (Mitral stenosis) (33%) was found in most cases followed by IHD (22%), hypertension (21%). According to CHADS₂ score, most of the patients belonged to moderate risk group (47%) and 32% in low risk group. Anticoagulation with warfarin was used in 40% cases of valvular AF & 25% patients with non valvular AF. Among non valvular AF, it was prescribed for 38% in high risk group, 34% in moderate risk & 3% in low risk group. The study states that warfarin is underused in both valvular & non valvular AF.


Female genital mutilation and cutting: An anatomical review and alternative rites.
The World Health Organization reports that more than 200 million women currently alive have been subjected to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) worldwide, and three million girls continue to be at risk each year. FGM/C today is women's business. The vulva is formed by the labia majora and the vestibule, with its erectile apparatus. These structures are located under the urogenital diaphragm, behind the pubic symphysis in the anterior perineal region. The clitoris is entirely an external genital organ: the glans and body covered by the prepuce are visible/free while the roots are hidden. FGM/C procedures are classified into four types. Infibulation is the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning of the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without removal of the clitoris. Deinfibulation is necessary to improve health and well-being and to allow intercourse or facilitate childbirth. Clitoral reconstruction is feasible for genitally mutilated patients. Female genital cosmetic surgery should be classed as FGM/C type IV. Both immediate and long-term complications are associated with FGM/C. It remains primarily a cultural rather than a religious practice. Different interventions have been used to persuade communities to abandon it. Alternative rites of passage are seen as an important strategy for eliminating this harmful practice. Such alternative rituals avoid genital cutting and involve educating girls about family life and women's roles, exchange of gifts, celebration, and a public declaration for community recognition. FGM/C is a violation of human rights and must be abandoned. Clin. Anat. 30:81-88, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Effective and Accurate Diagnosis of Subjective Cognitive Decline Based on Functional Connection and Graph Theory View.
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is considered the earliest preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that precedes mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Effective and accurate diagnosis of SCD is crucial for early detection of and timely intervention in AD. In this study, brain functional connectome (i.e., functional connections and graph theory metrics) based on the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) provided multiple information about brain networks and has been used to distinguish individuals with SCD from normal controls (NCs). The consensus connections and the discriminative nodal graph metrics selected by group least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) mainly distributed in the prefrontal and frontal cortices and the subcortical regions corresponded to default mode network (DMN) and frontoparietal task control network. Nodal efficiency and nodal shortest path showed the most significant discriminative ability among the selected nodal graph metrics. Furthermore, the comparison results of topological attributes suggested that the brain network integration function was weakened and network segregation function was enhanced in SCD patients. Moreover, the combination of brain connectome information based on multiple kernel-support vector machine (MK-SVM) achieved the best classification performance with 83.33% accuracy, 90.00% sensitivity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.927. The findings of this study provided a new perspective to combine machine learning methods with exploration of brain pathophysiological mechanisms in SCD and offered potential neuroimaging biomarkers for diagnosis of early-stage AD.


Evaluating the role of surgical sterilisation in canine rabies control: A systematic review of impact and outcomes.
Current recommendations for the elimination of canine-mediated human rabies focus on mass dog vaccination as the most feasible and cost-effective strategy. However, attempts to control rabies are often combined with canine surgical sterilisation programmes. The added value of sterilisation is widely debated. A systematic review was undertaken to compare the outcomes and impact of vaccination and sterilisation programmes with vaccination only programmes. A systematic search of three electronic databases (CAB Abstracts, Medline and Global Health) and grey literature was performed. From 8696 abstracts found, 5554 unique studies were identified, and 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eight described vaccination only programmes and eight described vaccination and sterilisation programmes. Indicators of impact measured were dog bites and/or doses of post-exposure prophylaxis administered; numbers of dog and/or human rabies cases; dog population demographic changes; changes in health and welfare of dogs, and indicators related to human behaviour change. The studies were contextually very diverse, programmes being implemented were complex, and there was variation in measurement and reporting of key indicators. Therefore, it was difficult to compare the two types of intervention, and impossible to make an evaluation of the role of sterilisation, using this evidence. Given the large number of vaccination and sterilisation programmes conducted globally, the lack of studies available for review highlights a gap in data collection or reporting, essential for impact assessment. There are several knowledge gaps concerning the impact of the sterilisation component alone, as well as subsequent effects on rabies transmission and control. Prospective studies comparing the outcomes and impact of the two interventions would be required in order to establish any additional contribution of sterilisation, as well as the underlying mechanisms driving any changes. In the absence of such evidence, the priority for rabies control objectives should be implementation of mass vaccination, as currently recommended by the World Health Organisation.


Chronic cerebrovascular dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often involve vascular dysfunction that leads to long-term alterations in physiological and cognitive functions of the brain. Indeed, all the cells that form blood vessels and that are involved in maintaining their proper function can be altered by TBI. This Review focuses on the different types of cerebrovascular dysfunction that occur after TBI, including cerebral blood flow alterations, autoregulation impairments, subarachnoid hemorrhage, vasospasms, blood-brain barrier disruption, and edema formation. We also discuss the mechanisms that mediate these dysfunctions, focusing on the cellular components of cerebral blood vessels (endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, astrocytes, pericytes, perivascular nerves) and their known and potential roles in the secondary injury cascade. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Clinical measurement of normal maximum mouth opening in children.
This study was designed to find a method of assessing maximum mouth opening (MMO), using a tool that is proportional to the body size. One hundred two (102) children were selected to participate in the study. MMO, the width of three fingers (index, middle and ring fingers), four fingers (index, middle, ring and little fingers), body height, weight and age of each child were recorded, and the ability of each subject to position the fingers, vertically aligned between the upper and lower central incisors with the mouth maximally open, was documented. All subjects were able to position three fingers between the upper and lower central incisors, while only 37 (36.3%) were able to position four fingers. MMO was significantly different from the width of three and four fingers and was positively correlated with both weight and height and with age. Height, weight, and age showed a moderate to strong correlation with all finger measurements; no gender significant difference was observed for MMO. The findings of this study suggest that the ability to position three fingers between the upper and lower incisors with the mouth wide open can be considered a simple method to quickly evaluate MMO, but that it is not highly reliable.


Area disease estimation based on sentinel hospital records.
Population health attributes (such as disease incidence and prevalence) are often estimated using sentinel hospital records, which are subject to multiple sources of uncertainty. When applied to these health attributes, commonly used biased estimation techniques can lead to false conclusions and ineffective disease intervention and control. Although some estimators can account for measurement error (in the form of white noise, usually after de-trending), most mainstream health statistics techniques cannot generate unbiased and minimum error variance estimates when the available data are biased. A new technique, called the Biased Sample Hospital-based Area Disease Estimation (B-SHADE), is introduced that generates space-time population disease estimates using biased hospital records. The effectiveness of the technique is empirically evaluated in terms of hospital records of disease incidence (for hand-foot-mouth disease and fever syndrome cases) in Shanghai (China) during a two-year period. The B-SHADE technique uses a weighted summation of sentinel hospital records to derive unbiased and minimum error variance estimates of area incidence. The calculation of these weights is the outcome of a process that combines: the available space-time information; a rigorous assessment of both, the horizontal relationships between hospital records and the vertical links between each hospital's records and the overall disease situation in the region. In this way, the representativeness of the sentinel hospital records was improved, the possible biases of these records were corrected, and the generated area incidence estimates were best linear unbiased estimates (BLUE). Using the same hospital records, the performance of the B-SHADE technique was compared against two mainstream estimators. The B-SHADE technique involves a hospital network-based model that blends the optimal estimation features of the Block Kriging method and the sample bias correction efficiency of the ratio estimator method. In this way, B-SHADE can overcome the limitations of both methods: Block Kriging's inadequacy concerning the correction of sample bias and spatial clustering; and the ratio estimator's limitation as regards error minimization. The generality of the B-SHADE technique is further demonstrated by the fact that it reduces to Block Kriging in the case of unbiased samples; to ratio estimator if there is no correlation between hospitals; and to simple statistic if the hospital records are neither biased nor space-time correlated. In addition to the theoretical advantages of the B-SHADE technique over the two other methods above, two real world case studies (hand-foot-mouth disease and fever syndrome cases) demonstrated its empirical superiority, as well.


The prognosis of childhood headache: a 20-year follow-up.
Headaches affect most children and rank third among illness-related causes of school absenteeism. Although the short-term outcome for most children appears favorable, few studies have reported long-term outcome. To evaluate the long-term prognosis of childhood headaches 20 years after initial diagnosis in a cohort of Atlantic Canadian children who had headaches diagnosed in 1983. Ninety-five patients with headaches who consulted 1 of the authors in 1983 were previously studied in 1993. The 77 patients contacted in 1993 were followed up in 2003. A standardized interview protocol was used. Sixty (78%) of 77 patients responded (60 of the 95 of the original cohort). At 20-year follow-up, 16 (27%) were headache free, 20 (33%) had tension-type headaches, 10 (17%) had migraine, and 14 (23%) had migraine and tension-type headaches. Having more than 1 headache type was more prevalent than at diagnosis or initial follow-up (P<.001), and headache type varied across time. Of those with headaches at follow-up, 80% (35/44) described their headaches as moderate or severe, although an improvement in headaches was reported by 29 (66%). Tension-type headaches were more likely than migraine to remit (P<.04). Headache severity at diagnosis was predictive of headache outcome at 20 years. During the month before follow-up, nonprescription medications were used by 31 (70%) of those with ongoing headaches, and prescription medications were used by 6 (14%). However, 20 (45%) believed that nonpharmacological methods were most effective. Medication use increased during the 10 years since last follow-up. No patient used selective serotonin receptor agonists (triptans). Twenty years after diagnosis of pediatric headache, most patients continue to have headache, although the headache classification often changes across time. Most patients report moderate or severe headache and increasingly choose to care for their headaches pharmacologically.


Urine stimulation activates BK channels in mouse vomeronasal neurons.
Most odor responses in mouse vomeronasal neurons are mediated by the phospholipase C (PLC) pathway, activation of which elevates diacylglycerol (DAG). Lucas et al. showed that DAG activates transient receptor potential channels, subfamily C, member 2 (TRPC2), resulting in a depolarizing Ca2+ influx. DAG can be subsequently converted to arachidonic acid (AA) by a DAG lipase, the role of which remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that urine stimulation of vomeronasal neurons activated large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels via AA production. Using isolated neurons, we demonstrated that repetitive applications of AA potentiated a K+ current that required a Ca2+ influx and was sensitive to specific BK blockers. Using immunocytochemistry, we found that BK channels are present in vomeronasal neurons with labeling on the soma and heavy labeling on the dendrite with a BK channel antibody. We examined the role of these BK channels in regulating neuronal firing when the neuron was activated by membrane depolarization or urine. Contrary to a recent report, our data suggest that BK channels contribute to adaptation of urine/odor responses because the inhibition of BK channels during urine stimulation promoted repetitive firing. These data strongly support the hypothesis that AA mediates an inhibitory pathway through BK channels, a possible mechanism for odor adaptation in vomeronasal neurons.


Technical improvement using ultra-slim gastroscopes for direct peroral cholangioscopy: analysis of the initial learning phase.
Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) is an emerging technique complementing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Only few data about the learning process of this technique exist. The objective of this study is to investigate the learning process of POCS in a tertiary center. The study was a single center observational trial. All patients were investigated with standard ERCP directly prior to cholangioscopy. The bile ducts were intubated using the balloon anchor technique. The learning process was analyzed using linear regression and cumulative sum analysis. A total of 42 POCS were performed. Intubation was successful in 38/42 (90%). Reasons for failed intubation were small caliber bile ducts, duodenal diverticulum and papillary adenoma. Failed intubation occurred three times in the first half and only one time in the second half of investigations. The mean intubation time was 8.4 ± 4.9 min (1.6-23 min). The average intubation time changed over time (R(2) = -0.7) from 9.5 min in the first half investigations to 7.3 min in the second half procedures. Cumulative sum analysis revealed an initial learning process of nine investigations with significant variations in results followed by a steady improvement in the following investigations. Direct POCS is a useful tool for the investigation of biliary disease, which demands a short but recognizable initial learning phase even for experienced endoscopists.


Enhancing majority members' pro-diversity beliefs in small teams: the facilitating effect of self-anchoring.
Majority members often react negatively to efforts to stimulate diversity. An important reason for this is that in diverse groups, majority members' own group bond is typically based on perceived prototypicality, which serves to disregard those who are different. In the present research we investigate how majority members' pro-diversity beliefs may be enhanced, by experimentally manipulating how the self is cognitively defined in relation to a diverse group. Specifically, we hypothesize that majority members' focus on the personal self (i.e., self-anchoring) rather than the social self (i.e., self-stereotyping) when creating a group bond may facilitate their pro-diversity beliefs and positive attitudes toward minority members. In two experiments we manipulated self-anchoring and self-stereotyping via mindset priming among ethnic majority members in diverse teams. As expected, results showed that relative to self-stereotyping, majority members' self-anchoring enhanced pro-diversity beliefs and positive attitudes toward minority members.


Tumor metastasis and nm23: current concepts.
Reduced expression and/or somatic allelic deletion of nm23 is associated with high metastatic potential in several types of rodent tumors and human breast and colorectal carcinomas. Transfection of murine nm23-1 cDNA into highly metastatic murine K-1735 TK melanoma cells results in a reduced incidence of primary tumor formation, significant reduction in tumor metastatic potential, and altered responsiveness to the cytokine, transforming growth factor beta. Here we discuss emerging concepts concerning nm23, such as its varied pattern of alteration/expression in tumor metastasis, its effect on tumorigenesis, and its possible biochemical functions.


Isolation of Mesophyll Cells from Sedum telephium Leaves.
A technique is described for mechanically isolating metabolically active individual spongy mesophyll cells from the Crassulacean acid metabolism plant, Sedum telephium. Mature leaves are selected at about 2 PM when acidity is low, and three different media are used to reduce the problem of leaf acidity and to maintain isotonic conditions. The upper and lower epidermis is peeled from chilled leaves and the leaves are suspended in a buffered "soaking medium," then gently ground with a mortar and pestle. Cells and debris are separated using a "washing medium," with cells being filtered through a 136 micron net and collected on an 80 micron net. Cells then are suspended in a "cell suspension medium" and concentrated by centrifugation. Approximately 2 hours are required for the isolation procedure, and activity in CO(2) fixation is constant for up to 4 hours after isolation. Microscopic examination shows about 65% of the isolated cells appear intact and unplasmolyzed and are similar to leaf msophyll cells. The yield of cells on a leaf chlorophyll basis is about 1%. A light micrograph of the isolated cells is given.The isolated cells upon addition of phosphoenolpyruvate, 2-phosphoglycerate, and ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate fix CO(2) as rapidly as intact leaves; however, without exogenous substrate the cells only fix CO(2) between 10 and 20% of intact leaves. The temperature and pH optima for cellular CO(2) fixation in the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate is 35 to 45 C and 7.5 to 9.0, respectively. The light and dark portions of CO(2) fixation with the isolated cells are considered in relation to a scheme for net CO(2) fixation by Crassulacean acid metabolism plants.


Efficient cloning system for construction of gene silencing vectors in Aspergillus niger.
An approach based on Gateway recombination technology to efficiently construct silencing vectors was developed for use in the biotechnologically important fungus Aspergillus niger. The transcription activator of xylanolytic and cellulolytic genes XlnR of A. niger was chosen as target for gene silencing. Silencing was based on the expression vector pXLNRir that was constructed and used in co-transformation. From all the strains isolated (N = 77), nine showed poor xylan-degrading activities in two semi-quantitative plate assays testing different activities for xylan degradation. Upon induction on D-xylose, transcript levels of xlnR were decreased in the xlnR-silenced strains, compared to a wild-type background. Under these conditions, the transcript levels of xyrA and xynB (two genes regulated by XlnR) were also decreased for these xlnR-silenced strains. These results indicate that the newly developed system for rapid generation of silencing vectors is an effective tool for A. niger, and this can be used to generate strains with a tailored spectrum of enzyme activities or product formation by silencing specific genes encoding, e.g., regulators such as XlnR.


Emerging technologies and ethics-exogenic chimeric humanized organs.
Organ transplantation is limited due to the scarcity of donor organs. In order to expand the supply of organs for transplantation, interspecies chimeras have been examined as a potential future source of humanized organs. Recent studies using gene editing technologies in combination with somatic cell nuclear transfer technology and hiPSCs successfully engineered humanized skeletal muscle in the porcine embryo. As these technologies progress, there are ethical issues that warrant consideration and dialogue.


Ocular motor measures in migraine with and without aura.
The purpose of this study was to examine basic ocular motor function in individuals with migraine. We used an infrared eye-tracking system to measure horizontal smooth pursuit to a sinusoidal target, saccades to horizontal target displacements of 5-20 degrees , and the stability of fixation in 19 migraine without aura (MoA), 19 migraine with aura (MA) and 19 headache-free control (C) subjects. Eye movement measurements were made at two target displacement rates and against both homogeneous grey and patterned backgrounds. We found no statistically significant differences between migraine and control subjects in any of the eye movement parameters measured, but did find highly significant effects of both target speed and background pattern in all groups. Our results do not provide support for subclinical cerebellar impairment in migraineurs, and do provide evidence that previously described visual abnormalities in migraine are not artefacts of abnormal fixation or eye movements.


Efficacy of enhanced Escherichia coli phytase on growth performance, bone quality, nutrient digestibility, and metabolism in nursery pigs fed corn-soybean meal diet low in calcium and digestible phosphorous.
Efficacy of Escherichia coli phytase (ASP) was evaluated in nursery pigs fed low Ca and digestible P corn and soybean meal diet. Piglets were weaned on day 21, fed a common commercial starter diet for 7 d, and assigned to pens (4 pigs/pen: 2 ♀ and 2 ♂) based on day 7 BW. Positive control (PC) and negative (NC) diets were formulated with similar energy and nutrients with exception of total Ca, total P, and digestible P concentrations being 79%, 67%, and 55% that of PC diet, respectively. Two other diets were formulated by adding ASP in NC at 500 and 1,000 FTU/kg. All diets had 0.2% TiO2 indigestible marker. The diets were allocated to pens to give 6 replicates per diet and fed for 42 d. Feed intake and body weight were monitored at 14-d intervals. On day 42, 1 pig/pen was bled and euthanized to access blood and tissue samples. Analyzed total Ca and P in NC diet was 71% and 69% of concentration in PC diet. Recovery of phytase in pelleted diets was 66.2% and 73.5% for NC+500 FTU/kg and NC+1,000 FTU/kg diets, respectively. Between days 15 and 42, pigs fed NC diet grew slower and ate less feed than pigs fed the other diets. Overall (days 0-42), phytase in NC increased (P ≤ 0.05) ADG linearly and quadratically. On day 42, pigs fed PC, NC+500 FTU/kg, and NC+1,000 FTU/kg were +6.1, +5.9, and +7.1 kg heavier (P < 0.05) than pigs fed NC, respectively. Pigs fed PC and NC plus phytase exhibited higher (P = 0.003) G:F relative to NC pigs between days 15 and 28. Pigs fed NC diet had lower (P < 0.001) plasma P concentration, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca and P, and metacarpal and metatarsal bone attributes than pigs fed any other diets. Supplementation of phytase in NC linearly increased (P < 0.05) plasma P concentration, ATTD of Ca and P, and bone attributes. Specifically, phytase increased (P ≤ 0.025) dry weight, length, and ash weight in metacarpals and metatarsals. In conclusion, low total Ca and digestible P diet depressed growth and P utilization in piglets. Supplemental phytase improved performance in pigs fed NC linked to enhanced nutrients uptake and metabolism commensurate to pigs fed adequate total Ca and digestible P from inorganic source.


Ethics and lactation consultants: developing knowledge, skills, and tools.
This article studies the role of ethics in the context of the work of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. It provides an overview of some of the main ethical approaches with the goal of contributing to the knowledge, skills, and tools required by lactation consultants. Five main sections structure the article: background, current literature, ethical theory and principles, implications for lactation consultants, and decision-making frameworks. Background about the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and the significance of applied ethics in their work are described. Current literature regarding ethics and lactation consultants is reviewed. Because a computer-based literature search yielded a lack of articles, ethics in nursing literature is also presented. Three main ethical theories and 5 key ethical principles are explored with a view to their implications for lactation consultants. Finally, decision-making frameworks are considered as systematic tools for making ethical decisions.


Prognostic factors in patients with squamous oesophageal cancer associated with solitary lymph node metastasis after oesophagectomy and extended lymphadenectomy.
It is not fully understood whether oesophageal cancer, associated with solitary lymph node metastasis, is still a local disease or already a systemic one. Among 283 patients with squamous oesophageal cancer who underwent oesophagectomy and 3-field lymphadenectomy, 37 patients had single metastasized nodes. Clinicopathologic factors, following Japanese Guideline for the Clinical and Pathological studies on Carcinoma of the Esophagus, related to survival and pre-operative predictability of nodal involvement was studied. Five-year survival was 48%. Initial pattern of recurrence was mostly haematogenous. Among the factors related to survival, grade of lymph node metastasis (pN1 vs. pN2, pN3, p=0.006) was more closely related than depth of invasion (pT1, pT2 vs. pT3, pT4, p=0.037). Five-year survival was 71.7% for pN1 patients, whereas it was 22% for pN2 or pN3 patients. Of the metastasized nodes 65% were <10 mm, and 27% was <5 mm in the maximum diameter. Oesophageal cancer is still a local disease in half of the patients with a solitary metastasized node. For these patients, dissection along the recurrent laryngeal nerve is necessary to retrieve the node possibly metastasized.


Intestinal Fluid and Glucose Transport in Wistar Rats following Chronic Consumption of Fresh or Oxidised Palm Oil Diet.
Chronic ingestion of thermoxidized palm oil causes functional derangement of various tissues. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of chronic ingestion of thermoxidized and fresh palm oil diets on intestinal fluid and glucose absorption in rats using the everted sac technique. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats per group. The first group was the control and was fed on normal rat chow while the second (FPO) and third groups (TPO) were fed diet containing either fresh or thermoxidized palm oil (15% wt/wt) for 14 weeks. Villus height and crypt depth were measured. The gut fluid uptake and gut glucose uptake were significantly (P < .001) lower in the TPO group than those in the FPO and control groups, respectively. The villus height in the TPO was significantly (P < .01) lower than that in FPO and control. The villus depth in TPO was significantly (P < .05) higher than that in FPO and control groups, respectively. These results suggest that ingestion of thermoxidized palm oil and not fresh palm oil may lead to distortion in villus morphology with a concomitant malabsorption of fluid and glucose in rats due to its harmful free radicals.


Gamma aminobutyric acid transporter subtype 1 gene knockout mice: a new model for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by hyperactivity, impaired sustained attention, impulsivity, and is usually accompanied by varying degrees of learning difficulties and lack of motor coordination. However, the pathophysiology and etiology of ADHD remain inconclusive so far. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the gamma aminobutyric acid transporter subtype 1 (GAT1) gene knockout (ko) mouse (gat1-/-) is hyperactive and exhibited impaired memory performance in the Morris water maze. In the current study, we found that the gat1-/- mice showed low levels of attentional focusing and increased impulsivity. In addition, the gat1-/- mice displayed ataxia characterized by defects in motor coordination and balance skills. The hyperactivity in the ko mice was reduced by both methylphenidate and amphetamine. Collectively, these results suggest that GAT1 ko mouse is a new animal model for ADHD studying and GAT1 may be a new target to treat ADHD.


Thoughts on the Future Medical Care Pattern of Pediatrics in China Based on the Outbreak of COVID-19.
The outbreak of pneumonia known as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has occurred in China since December 2019 and spread rapidly across the world. Pediatric medical workers have a serious imbalance doctor-patient ratio in China; they have accumulated experience during the fight against COVID-19; however, some flaws were revealed in their current medical system. Meanwhile, these problems were also reported in other countries. Thus far, the outbreak of COVID-19 is still rampant across the world. The experience from anti-COVID-19 could be useful and teach us to provide better medical services for Chinese children and prepare for similar public emergencies in the future. Furthermore, it also provides guidance for pediatric medical staff in managing COVID-19 in other developing countries.


Chicken IgY-Fc antibody elicited in a rabbit as first coat on frosted glass beads in immunoassays.
The observation of Esteves and Binaghi that the Fc moieties of mammalian IgG are antigenically similar but antigenically unrelated to the Fc fraction of chicken IgG (IgY) was usefully applied in enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). In this communication its use in ELISA of two plant viruses viz. tobacco mosaic virus (common strain) and grape vine A virus is illustrated. Frosted glass beads were used as reagent carriers and the reactions were conducted in the wells of multi-titre plates.


Hypermasculinity and academic goal-setting: an exploratory study.
The relation between gender-role percepts and academic goal-setting was explored. An inventory examining the aspects of masculinity that would facilitate or inhibit academic goal-setting was developed based on a literature review of how masculinity relates to academic behaviors. A diverse sample of students (120 male, 147 female, 14 not indicating sex) was measured on three aspects of sex and academic goal-setting behavior. Factor analysis confirmed the content validity of masculine factors having facilitative (Mastery Competitiveness) and inhibitory (Antisocial Competitiveness) academic properties. Regression analyses indicated that sex-role orientations (Competitiveness and Hypermasculinity) significantly predicted academic goal-setting behaviors (R2 = .136). Finally, men scored higher than women on the subscales measuring Hypermasculinity and Antisocial or Competitiveness, while there were no sex differences on the Mastery Competitiveness subscale. The implications of these findings and suggestions for research are discussed.


Nanocomposite Membranes for Liquid and Gas Separations from the Perspective of Nanostructure Dimensions.
One of the critical aspects in the design of nanocomposite membrane is the selection of a well-matched pair of nanomaterials and a polymer matrix that suits their intended application. By making use of the fascinating flexibility of nanoscale materials, the functionalities of the resultant nanocomposite membranes can be tailored. The unique features demonstrated by nanomaterials are closely related to their dimensions, hence a greater attention is deserved for this critical aspect. Recognizing the impressive research efforts devoted to fine-tuning the nanocomposite membranes for a broad range of applications including gas and liquid separation, this review intends to discuss the selection criteria of nanostructured materials from the perspective of their dimensions for the production of high-performing nanocomposite membranes. Based on their dimension classifications, an overview of the characteristics of nanomaterials used for the development of nanocomposite membranes is presented. The advantages and roles of these nanomaterials in advancing the performance of the resultant nanocomposite membranes for gas and liquid separation are reviewed. By highlighting the importance of dimensions of nanomaterials that account for their intriguing structural and physical properties, the potential of these nanomaterials in the development of nanocomposite membranes can be fully harnessed.


[Recent trends in studies of the etiology of hypertension: Renal mechanism of blood pressure regulation].
The kidney plays an important role in the control of systemic blood pressure by regulating the composition of body fluid and electrolyte and by producing and releasing various vasoactive substances such as renin-angiotensin and prostaglandins(PGs). The kidney possesses an intrinsic mechanism called 'pressure-natriuresis' in which an increase in perfusion pressure promotes natriuresis. According to this mechanism, hypertension can be classified as salt-sensitive or non-salt-sensitive based on the response to dietary sodium loading. Thus, a shift of the curve to the right and a decrease in the slope are the two basic abnormalities seen in the pressure-natriuresis relationship in hypertension, with each representing a different pathophysiology. In non-salt-sensitive essential hypertension, glomerular capillary pressure is within the normal range due to elevated preglomerular resistance, while it is elevated in salt-sensitive hypertension. Such differences may be reflected in the rate of progression of renal dysfunction as well as renal pathology. Finally, the mechanism responsible for the altered renal microcirculation involves dysregulation of intrinsic mechanisms(myogenic responses and tubuloglomerular feedback) as well as various local factors, in particular, angiotensin II, nitric oxide, and oxidative stress.


Dioxins and polyvinylchloride in combustion and fires.
This review on polyvinylchloride (PVC) and dioxins collects, collates, and compares data from selected sources on the formation of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), or in brief dioxins, in combustion and fires. In professional spheres, the incineration of PVC as part of municipal solid waste is seldom seen as a problem, since deep flue gas cleaning is required anyhow. Conversely, with its high content of chlorine, PVC is frequently branded as a major chlorine donor and spitefully leads to substantial formation of dioxins during poorly controlled or uncontrolled combustion and open fires. Numerous still ill-documented and diverse factors of influence may affect the formation of dioxins during combustion: on the one hand PVC-compounds represent an array of materials with widely different formulations; on the other hand these may all be exposed to fires of different nature and consequences. Hence, attention should be paid to PVC with respect to the ignition and development of fires, as well as attenuating the emission of objectionable compounds, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. This review summarises available dioxin emissions data, gathers experimental and simulation studies of fires and combustion tests involving PVC, and identifies and analyses the effects of several local factors of influence, affecting the formation of dioxins during PVC combustion.


Low-density lipoprotein triglycerides associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, adhesion molecules, and angiographic coronary artery disease: the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health study.
Markers of systemic inflammation and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) have been considered independent risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined whether alterations of LDL metabolism not reflected by LDL-C were associated with low-grade inflammation, vascular injury, and CAD. We studied 739 subjects with stable angiographic CAD and 570 matched control subjects in which CAD had been ruled out by angiography. The association of LDL triglycerides (LDL-TGs) (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.43; P<0.001) with CAD was stronger than that of LDL-C (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.21; P=0.047). The predictive value of LDL-TG for CAD was independent of LDL-C. "Sensitive" C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, interleukin 6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) increased in parallel to LDL-TG. CRP, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were inversely related to LDL-C. To examine whether LDL-TGs were associated with the distribution of LDL subfractions, we studied 114 individuals with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. In subjects with high LDL-TG, LDLs were depleted of cholesteryl esters (CEs), and VLDLs, IDLs, and dense LDLs were significantly elevated. Alterations of LDL metabolism characterized by high LDL-TG are related to CAD, systemic low-grade inflammation, and vascular damage. High LDL-TGs are indicative of CE-depleted LDL, elevated IDL, and dense LDL. LDL-TG may better reflect the atherogenic potential of LDL than LDL-C.


Application of Demirjian's and Cameriere's Method in Dental Age Estimation of 8-16 Year Old Adolescents from Hunan Han Nationality.
Objective To apply Demirjian's and Cameriere's method for dental age estimation of adolescents from Hunan Han nationality, and compare the accuracy of the two methods. Methods A total of 480 orthopantomograms of?8-16 year?old adolescents from Hunan Han nationality?with no special diseases and good nutritional status were collected?by Xiangya Stomatological Hospital of Central South University from January, 2016 to July, 2017, among them 236 males and 244 females. The dental age of each adolescent was determined by Demirjian's method and Cameriere's method, respectively, and the paired t-test of the estimated dental age and the chronological age determined by the two methods was conducted by SPSS 20.0 software to compare the difference between estimated dental age and chronological age. Results Mean chronological age of males and females was 11.91 and 11.88 years, respectively. The estimated dental age determined by Demirjian's method showed an underestimate of chronological age by an average of 0.11 years (males) and 0.15 years (females), while the estimated dental age determined by Cameriere's method showed an underestimate of chronological age by an average of 0.83 years (males) and 0.72 years (females). Conclusion Demirjian's method is more accurate than Cameriere's method in dental age estimation of adolescents from Hunan Han nationality, therefore more suitable for dental age estimation of adolescents in this region.


Production of superoxide from hemoglobin-bound oxygen under hypoxic conditions.
By low temperature electron paramagnetic resonance we have detected the formation of a free radical signal during incubation of partially oxygenated hemoglobin at 235 K. The observed signal has g parallel = 2.0565 and g perpendicular = 2.0043, consistent with the previously reported values for superoxide. The presence of additional EPR signals for oxygen-17 bound hemoglobin, with (017-017)A perpendicular = 63 G and (017-016)A perpendicular = 94 G under identical conditions, confirms the presence of a radical containing two nonequivalent oxygens as required for a superoxide in magnetically inequivalent environments. The superoxide radical has not previously been directly detected during hemoglobin autoxidation because of its rapid dismutation. Our ability to follow the formation of superoxide for more than 15 min is attributed to its production in the hydrophobic heme pocket where dismutation is slow. The enhanced production of this free radical at intermediate oxygen pressures is shown to coincide with enhanced rates of hemoglobin autoxidation for partially oxygenated intermediates. The formation of superoxide in the heme pocket under these conditions is attributed to enhanced heme pocket flexibility. Greater flexibility facilitates distal histidine interactions which destabilize the iron-oxygen bond resulting in the release of superoxide radical into the heme pocket.