Topography of the Protein Complexes of the Chloroplast Thylakoid Membrane : Studies of Photosystem II using Pronase Digestion and Chemical Labeling.
The accessibility of various Photosystem II (PSII)-associated polypeptides to the protease pronase and the chemical modifier trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS) has been investigated. Three polypeptides with apparent molecular weight of 32, 21, and 16 kilodaltons, known to be associated with O(2) evolution, are all resistant to pronase digestion and TNBS labeling in intact thylakoids. All the polypeptides in the isolated PSII preparation were labeled with TNBS while a different pattern of labeling was observed when the PSII complex was isolated from TNBS-modified thylakoids. Attempts to prepare PSII particles from pronase-treated thylakoids using the Triton X-100 solubilization method were unsuccessful. Pronase-treated thylakoids were probed with antisera against the chlorophyll proteins of PSII using immunoblotting techniques. This allowed for a positive identification of proteolytic fragments from the respective proteins. The results are discussed in relation to the transmembrane organization of PSII in spinach thylakoids.


Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in obese children.
Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) metabolism may be disturbed in obese children. We investigated serum GH, IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in 42 obese and 40 non-obese healthy children aged 6-14 years. GH stimulation tests with L-dopa and insulin were performed. Serum IGF-I levels were studied by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and IGFBP-3 levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IGF-I levels were significantly higher in the obese group (p < 0.05), but IGFBP-3 levels were not different from the control group. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in the obese pubertal children than in the obese prepubertal ones (p < 0.05). A positive linear correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and IGF-I levels (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). These results suggest that obesity may have a considerable effect on IGF-I.


Diagnostic and clinical benefit of combined coronary calcium and perfusion assessment in patients undergoing PET/CT myocardial perfusion stress imaging.
A limitation of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is the inability to detect non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). One advantage of MPI with a hybrid CT device is the ability to obtain same-setting measurement of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). Utilizing our single-center nuclear database, we identified 760 consecutive patients with: (1) no CAD history; (2) a normal clinically indicated Rb-82 PET/CT stress perfusion study; and (3) a same-setting CAC scan. 487 of 760 patients (64.1%) had subclinical CAD based on an abnormal CACS. Of those with CAC, the CACS was > or =100, > or =400, and > or =1000 in 47.0%, 22.4%, and 8.4% of patients, respectively. Less than half of the patients with CAC were receiving aspirin or statin medications prior to PET/CT imaging. Patients with CAC were more likely to be initiated or optimized on proven medical therapy for CAD immediately following PET/CT MPI compared to those without CAC. Subclinical CAD is common in patients without known CAD and normal myocardial perfusion assessed by hybrid PET/CT imaging. Identification of CAC influences subsequent physician prescribing patterns such that those with CAC are more likely to be treated with proven medical therapy for the treatment of CAD.


Study of hepatitis B virus gene mutations with enzymatic colorimetry-based DNA microarray.
To establish a modified microarray method for detecting HBV gene mutations in the clinic. Site-specific oligonucleotide probes were immobilized to microarray slides and hybridized to biotin-labeled HBV gene fragments amplified from two-step PCR. Hybridized targets were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, followed by intensity measurement using BCIP/NBT colorimetry. HBV genes from 99 Hepatitis B patients and 40 healthy blood donors were analyzed. Mutation frequencies of HBV pre-core/core and basic core promoter (BCP) regions were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (42%, 40% versus 2.5%, 5%, P < 0.01). Compared with a traditional fluorescence method, the colorimetry method exhibited the same level of sensitivity and reproducibility. An enzymatic colorimetry-based DNA microarray assay was successfully established to monitor HBV mutations. Pre-core/core and BCP mutations of HBV genes could be major causes of HBV infection in HBeAg-negative patients and could also be relevant to chronicity and aggravation of hepatitis B.


The iron- and temperature-regulated cjrBC genes of Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli strains code for colicin Js uptake.
A cosmid library of DNA from colicin Js-sensitive enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) strain O164 was made in colicin Js-resistant strain E. coli VCS257, and colicin Js-sensitive clones were identified. Sensitivity to colicin Js was associated with the carriage of a three-gene operon upstream of and partially overlapping senB. The open reading frames were designated cjrABC (for colicin Js receptor), coding for proteins of 291, 258, and 753 amino acids, respectively. Tn7 insertions in any of them led to complete resistance to colicin Js. A near-consensus Fur box was found upstream of cjrA, suggesting regulation of the cjr operon by iron levels. CjrA protein was homologous to iron-regulated Pseudomonas aeruginosa protein PhuW, whose function is unknown; CjrB was homologous to the TonB protein from Pseudomonas putida; and CjrC was homologous to a putative outer membrane siderophore receptor from Campylobacter jejuni. Cloning experiments showed that the cjrB and cjrC genes are sufficient for colicin Js sensitivity. Uptake of colicin Js into sensitive bacteria was dependent on the ExbB protein but not on the E. coli K-12 TonB and TolA, -B, and -Q proteins. Sensitivity to colicin Js is positively regulated by temperature via the VirB protein and negatively controlled by the iron source through the Fur protein. Among EIEC strains, two types of colicin Js-sensitive phenotypes were identified that differed in sensitivity to colicin Js by 1 order of magnitude. The difference in sensitivity to colicin Js is not due to differences between the sequences of the CjrB and CjrC proteins.


[Clinical significance of detecting human leukocyte antigen class I allele-lacking leukocytes in aplastic anemia].
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I allele-lacking [HLA (-)] leukocytes provide compelling evidence that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are involved in the development of aplastic anemia (AA). However, the clinical significance and precise mechanisms underlying clonal hematopoiesis by HLA (-) hematopoietic stem progenitor cells remain unknown. In HLA (-) cells from patients with AA, we discovered a common nonsense mutation at codon19 (c.19C>T, p.R7X) in exon1 (Exon1mut) of different HLA-A and HLA-B alleles. Exon1 mutation detection using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is a powerful tool for diagnosing immune pathophysiology in patients with bone marrow failure. We also looked at the prognosis of 633 patients with AA, including 127 with HLA (-) leukocytes who had been followed up for a long time. In Japanese patients with AA, HLA (-) leukocytes and concomitant aberrant clones were not associated with clonal evolution to MDS/AML. In patients with AA and both marker (-) leukocytes, HLA (-) leukocytes may indicate a lower risk of developing secondary paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Detecting HLA (-) leukocytes is critical for managing patients with AA and assisting physicians in selecting appropriate therapy.


An improved loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for the detection of Mycoplasma bovis.
We improved a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay permitting sensitive and rapid Mycoplasma bovis detection. A total of 55 bacterial strains were examined in this study, including 33 M. bovis strains, 14 non-M. bovis mycoplasmas and eight non-mycoplasma bacterial strains. M. bovis was successfully detected by the LAMP assay within 60 min without cross-reaction to any other bacteria. Furthermore, a total of 135 nasal swab samples were tested directly using our LAMP assays, the previously reported LAMP assay, conventional PCR assay without pre-culture and comparing standard culture methods. The improved LAMP assay showed sensitivity and specificity of 97.2% and 90.9%, respectively (with a kappa coefficient of 0.8231), and the sensitivity of our revised LAMP assay was increased compared to existing methods.


Bacterial vaginosis: an overview for 2009.
Bacterial vaginosis has been appreciated as a unique clinical entity for well over 50 years. Its essential manifestations are well established: a loss of the normal bacterial population of the vagina and their replacement by other species. Investigations into this condition have led to a better understanding of its prevalence and epidemiology. Microbiologic and biochemical studies have exposed the remarkably complex pathophysiologic events that occur with bacterial vaginosis. Several major morbidities accompany this condition. Advances have been made in treatment, including the recent availability of a new therapeutic agent, tinidazole. However, the root cause of the condition is elusive, and as a result managing bacterial vaginosis and its complications is unsatisfactory; moreover, data suggest that therapy now is less successful than in the past. This article brings together the current fund of knowledge about bacterial vaginosis in a way that offers clinicians a realistic view of our capabilities and concerns.


Mutant EF-Tu species reveal novel features of the enacyloxin IIa inhibition mechanism on the ribosome.
For clarification of the action of a new antibiotic, the analysis of resistant mutants is often indispensable. For enacyloxin IIa we discovered four resistant elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) species in Escherichia coli with the mutations Q124K, G316D, Q329H, and A375T, respectively. They revealed that enacyloxin IIa sensitivity is dominant in a mixed population of resistant and wild-type EF-Tus. This points to an inhibition mechanism in which EF-Tu is the dominant target of enacyloxin IIa and in which a ribosome with a sensitive EF-Tu blocks mRNA translation for upstream ribosomes with resistant EF-Tus, a mechanism similar to that of the unrelated antibiotic kirromycin. Remarkably, the same mutations are also linked to kirromycin resistance, though the order of their levels of resistance is different from that for enacyloxin IIa. Among the mutant EF-Tus, three different resistance mechanisms can be distinguished: (i) by obstructing enacyloxin IIa binding to EF-Tu. GTP; (ii) by enabling the release of enacyloxin IIa after GTP hydrolysis; and (iii) by reducing the affinity of EF-Tu.GDP. enacyloxin IIa for aminoacyl-tRNA at the ribosomal A-site, which then allows the release of EF-Tu.GDP.enacyloxin IIa. Ala375 seems to contribute directly to enacyloxin IIa binding at the domain 1-3 interface of EF-Tu.GTP, a location that would easily explain the pleiotropic effects of enacyloxin IIa on the functioning of EF-Tu.


Human ehrlichiosis in central Europe.
Ehrlichioses are tick-transmitted diseases associated with illnesses of animals for decades, but recently recognised to be emerging human diseases. In the last ten years increasing number of cases of human infections caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and granulo-cytic ehrlichia were described in the United States. Several reports also indicate the presence of infection with the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent in Europe. The first confirmed acute human disease caused by HGE agent was reported from Slovenia. Until 1997, five patients have been discovered in a prospective study on the etiology of febrile illnesses occurring within six weeks following a tick bite, conducted at the Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The diagnosis of acute HGE was established by seroconversion to the HGE agent and/or molecular identification of ehrlichial organisms. None of the patients had detectable morulae on blood smear examination. Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were similar to those reported from the United States, although the disease course was relatively mild in the Slovenian cases. All patients recovered rapidly and without sequelae, although only three patients received antibiotic therapy (of whom only two were treated with doxycycline). Many ehrlichiosis cases could go undetected due to a lack of physician awareness, lack of public knowledge, or limited investigation. HGE should now be also included in the differential diagnosis of febrile illnesses occurring after a tick bite in Europe.


Perception of American sign language in dynamic point-light displays.
Perception of dynamic events of American Sign Language (ASL) was studied by isolating information about motion in the language from information about form. Four experiments utilized Johansson's technique for presenting biological motion as moving points of light. In the first, deaf signers were highly accurate in matching movements of lexical signs presented in point-light displays to those normally presented. Both discrimination accuracy and the pattern of errors were similar in this matching task to that obtained in a control condition in which the same signs were always represented normally. The second experiment showed that these results held for discrimination of morphological operations presented in point-light displays as well. In the third experiment, signers were able to accurately identify signs of a constant handshape and morphological operations acting on signs presented in point-light displays. Finally, in Experiment 4, we evaluated what aspects of the motion patterns carried most of the information for sign identifiability. We presented signs in point-light displays with certain lights removed and found that the movement of the fingertips, but not of any other pair of points, is necessary for sign identification and that, in general, the more distal the joint, the more information its movement carries.


Temporary unilateral neurogenic blepharoptosis after orbital medial wall reconstruction: 3 cases.
We report 3 cases of unilateral blepharoptosis after orbital medial wall reconstruction and describe the cause and clinical outcome. Observational case series. Three previously healthy patients underwent reconstruction for orbital medial wall fracture. All 3 patients had complete unilateral upper eyelid ptosis with no levator palpebrae superioris muscle function immediately after their recovery from anesthesia. Additional findings included minimal eyelid ecchymosis, eyelid edema and subconjunctival hemorrhage, which all presented preoperatively. All 3 patients had full conjugated ocular motility in the entire field of gaze and no anisocoria. With oral steroid therapy, all 3 patients recovered completely with normal symmetric lid height and levator function within 1 month. Isolated neurogenic blepharoptosis after medial orbital wall reconstruction is a rare but favorable disease that may result from ischemic damage at the end portion of the superior branch of the oculomotor nerve in the orbit. High-dose steroid therapy early in the course of the disease was effective, and complete resolution was achieved within 1 month.


A novel cell-processing method 'AgarCytos' in conjunction with OCT3/4 and PLAP to detect intratubular germ cell neoplasia in non-obstructive azoospermia using remnants of testicular sperm extraction specimens.
Can we diagnose intratubular germ cell neoplasia (IGCN) using the immunohistochemical markers placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and OCT3/4 using a novel cell-processing method 'AgarCytos', applied to the remnants of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) specimens and what is the prevalence of a testicular germ cell (pre)malignancy in men with a non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing TESE for fertility treatment? IGCN can be successfully detected by immunohistochemical evaluation of AgarCytos, made of the remnants of TESE biopsies. The observed prevalence of a germ cell (pre)malignancy in this specific population was found to be 4.4%. Infertile men are at higher risk for testicular cancer than the general population. IGCN can be detected by immunohistochemistry using PLAP and OCT3/4 in standard testicular biopsies and, with less accuracy, in semen. Between January 2011 and April 2012 a prospective cohort study was conducted at a Dutch tertiary care academic training hospital. All males with NOA (n = 182) undergoing a urological work-up followed by a diagnostic TESE for fertility treatment (n = 251) were included. After cryopreservation of sperm, if present, an AgarCyto was made of the remnants of the TESE biopsies. Sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin for pathological examination as well as PLAP and OCT3/4 for immunohistochemistry to detect IGCN. Eight men (4.4%) were diagnosed with a germ cell (pre)malignancy: six of them had seminoma, two without and four with concomitant IGCN, and two of them had IGCN only. Microscopic evaluation including immunohistochemical analysis of the AgarCytos diagnosed three (1.6%) more cases of a germ cell (pre)malignancy compared with scrotal ultrasound alone (one case of bilateral seminoma with concomitant IGCN and two cases of IGCN alone). No false-positive cytology results were found upon conventional histological evaluation. The main limitation of this study is lack of a simultaneously taken standard testicular biopsy, to compare the results of our novel diagnostic method with. Nevertheless, in all but one of our cases orchidectomy followed and the diagnosis was confirmed by histology. In the remaining case repeat TESE showed similar results. Simultaneous screening for IGCN is highly recommended to men with NOA undergoing TESE, because of the increased incidence of germ cell (pre)malignancies in this specific population. The principal advantage of our new method is that all available testicular tissue can be used for both sperm recovery and pathological evaluation, increasing the yield of spermatozoa as well as the chance to find (pre)malignant cells. In those cases where the disease is still in a premalignant stage, early diagnosis will allow for timely treatment and reduction of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. This study was (partially) funded by Merck Serono (the Netherlands). There are no conflicting interests to disclose. N/A.


Anticoagulation in hemodialysis: A narrative review.
Systemic anticoagulation in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) has historically been considered necessary to maintain the extracorporeal circuit (ECC) and preserve dialysis efficiency. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the most commonly used anticoagulant due to low cost and staff familiarity. Despite widespread use, there is little standardization of heparin dosing protocols in the United States. Although the complication rates with UFH are low for the general population, certain contraindications have led to exploration in alternative anticoagulants in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Here we review the current evidence regarding heparin dosing protocols, complications associated with heparin use, and discuss alternatives to UFH including anticoagulant-free routine HD.


[Effects of TNF on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and their modification by hyperthermia].
Firstly, using HCC cell lines, the effects of r-h TNF were investigated. The authors had already confirmed that these cell lines were derived from human HCC. Each cell line showed a different growth curve on addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-4 exhibited enhancement of growth under the optimum concentration of TNF. On the other hand, growth of JHH-5 and JHH-7 was inhibited by TNF. JHH-7 were more sensitive to TNF than JHH-5, however, the direct effect of TNF on JHH-7 was not potent, as 10(4) u/ml TNF could not prevent proliferation of JHH-7. Morphological examinations were also performed. Phase-contrast microscopy showed that the JHH-4 cells were enlarged and tended to pile up after the addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-7 cells became detached from the culture dish due to cell death. Electron microscopy showed irregular proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of JHH-4 cells and increased number of lysosomes in JHH-7 cells. Furthermore, hyperthermia exhibited an interesting reciprocal action. Proliferation of JHH-4 was inhibited by low concentrations of TNF together with 41.4 degrees C hyperthermia in contrast to the effects of TNF alone. JHH-7 became more sensitive to TNF under hyperthermia at 41.4 degrees C. On the other hand, normal human fibroblast 'HAIN-55' were not affected by TNF at 37.0 degrees C, 41.4 degrees C or 42.5 degrees C. In this paper, the authors tried to study the effects of TNF and hyperthermia on human HCC cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Echocardiographic measurements alone do not provide accurate non-invasive selection of annuloplasty band size for robotic mitral valve repair.
Successful mitral valve repair (MVP) is dependent on accurate annuloplasty band sizing. This is difficult and time-consuming when performed via port-access, or through a 4-cm minithoracotomy used in robotically assisted MVP. With the goal of moving toward a less-invasive approach and minimizing cross-clamp time, an attempt was made to determine annuloplasty band size using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) alone. The intertrigonal distance (ITD) was determined by dividing the left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOT: measured on standard midesophageal aortic valve long-axis view) by 0.8. The ITD was compared to a nomogram developed to select the best Cosgrove-Edwards annuloplasty band size. Between July and October, 2004, 11 patients (mean age 52.6 +/- 17.9 years; four Barlow's valves with bileaflet prolapse, four posterior leaflet prolapses, one anterior leaflet prolapse, one rheumatic, one dilated annulus) undergoing robotically assisted MVP had the annuloplasty band chosen using TEE alone. Seven patients (63.6%) had no or mild mitral regurgitation (MR) on postoperative TEE. Three patients (27.2%) had some systolic anterior motion (SAM), with one (Barlow's valve) requiring a second repair (same operation). One patient (9.1%, rheumatic) had grade 2+ MR on postoperative TEE. In this small case series, a substantial proportion of patients had suboptimal immediate postoperative results. This suggests that selection of the annuloplasty band should not be based on a single echocardiographic variable as it depends on the etiology of the MR, and other dimensions of the mitral valve. Further studies are ongoing to develop a non-invasive method for the selection of annuloplasty band size.


School personnel training for the prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use: issues and outcomes.
The training of inservice school personnel in the prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use among youth is the focus of this article. The training emphasizes an interdisciplinary, youth development, school team training model, entitled "Enhancing Student Well-Being." The model includes both content and process components. The manuscript describes the model, evaluation procedures, and training issues. Particular attention is given to follow-up assessment and outcome of school-based prevention projects developed during the training and implemented during the school year. Results support the training model as having a positive impact on prevention initiatives in schools.


Radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging: agreement between self-report and medical records.
Data on diagnostic imaging procedures from a highly structured interview were compared to medical records in a case-control study of radiography and acute myelogenous leukemia. Three hundred and twenty-eight cases and 315 controls (78% of participants) had medical records available from an average of 71% of providers. Proxies were used for 49% of cases because of rapid fatality. Mean agreement (number of procedures in medical records subtracted from number in interview) showed similar levels of overreporting in cases [0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0, 1.1] and controls (0.7; CI: 0.2, 1.3) with few procedures (<= 10). Most participants with more procedures underreported exposure, and underreporting increased with increasing exposure, especially among cases [mean (CI) agreement = -2.1 (-4.3, 0.0) for 11-20 procedures, -6.4 (-13.6, 0.7) for >20 procedures] and case proxies. High-dose, fluoroscopic, and non-routine procedures were self-reported more accurately than low-dose, non-fluoroscopic, and routine procedures, respectively (p < 0.01 for each comparison), and tended to be underreported. Case-control differences in agreement were non-significant for these categories of procedures. We conclude that diagnostic imaging procedures of most interest to the AML-radiography hypothesis are self-reported accurately but that underreporting does occur and might lead to attenuated risk estimates.


Nitrite reduction by copper complexes.
A series of copper complexes have been synthesised as potential agents for the catalytic reduction of nitrite anions. The ligands and corresponding copper complexes have been characterised by using a range of techniques including X-ray crystallography, NMR, microanalysis, mass spectrometry, infra-red spectroscopy, electrochemical studies and density functional theory calculations. For complexes with simple aliphatic substituents bonded to the equatorial donor nitrogen atoms, catalytic studies on the conversion of NO(2)(-) anions into NO and N(2)O gases revealed an excellent correlation between the initial rate of conversion and the experimental reduction potential as measured by cyclic voltammetry. Initial catalytic investigations reveal that these simple model complexes display a wide range of catalytic turnover rates, conversion yields and product gas compositions. Overall the results suggest that further investigations into the design and use of copper complexes as nitrite reduction catalysts are warranted.


Increase in the frequency of gamma-ray induced chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells by post-treatment with novobiocin.
The effect of novobiocin (an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase and polymerase) on the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was examined in Chinese hamster V79 cells irradiated with gamma-rays in the plateau phase of growth and subcultured in the presence of novobiocin until the first mitosis after irradiation. Novobiocin alone affected cell survival, DNA synthesis and the mitotic frequency of unirradiated cells in a dose-dependent manner, without causing any significant increase in the frequency of chromosome- or chromatid-type aberrations. The frequency of chromosome-type aberrations induced by gamma-radiation was not influenced by novobiocin at 200 microM, but the frequency of chromosome deletions (but not rings and dicentrics) showed a two-fold increase when 300 microM novobiocin was present. Irradiation produced a low level of chromatid-type aberrations and post-treatment with novobiocin at concentrations greater than 100 microM significantly increased the frequency of chromatid gaps and breaks. The results support the idea that different radiation-induced lesions lead to chromosome- as opposed to chromatid-type aberrations.


Evaluating Mortality Response Associated with Two Different Nordic Heat Warning Systems in Riga, Latvia.
Background and objectives: Progressing climate change is accompanied by a worldwide increase in the intensity, frequency, and duration of heat wave events. Research has shown that heat waves are an emerging public health problem, as they have a significant impact on mortality. As studies exploring this relationship are scarce for Latvia, this study aims to investigate the short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause mortality as well as cause-specific mortality, during the summer months (May-September) in Riga. Materials and Methods: An ecological time series study using daily reported mortality and temperature data from Riga between 2009 and 2015 was employed. Heat waves were defined based on the categories of the Latvian and Swedish heat warning system. Using a Quasi-Poisson regression, the relationships between heat waves and all-cause as well as cause-specific mortality were investigated. Results: Heat waves in Riga were associated with a 10% to 20% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality, depending on the applied heat wave definition, compared to days with normal temperature. In addition, heat-related mortality was found to increase significantly in the ≥65 age group between 12% and 22% during heat waves. In terms of cause-specific mortality, a significant increase of approximately 15% to 26% was observed for cardiovascular mortality. No significant associations were found between heat waves and respiratory or external causes of mortality. Conclusion: These results indicate that there are short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause as well as cardiovascular mortality in Riga and that heat waves therefore represent a public health problem in this Baltic city.


Biological and biochemical activities of a chimeric epidermal growth factor-Elk receptor tyrosine kinase.
Eph, Elk, and Eck are prototypes of a large family of transmembrane protein-tyrosine kinases, which are characterized by a highly conserved cysteine-rich domain and two fibronectin type III repeats in their extracellular regions. Despite the extent of the Eph family, no extracellular ligands for any family member have been identified, and hence, little is known about the biological and biochemical properties of these receptor-like tyrosine kinases. In the absence of a physiological ligand for the Elk receptor, we constructed chimeric receptor molecules, in which the extracellular region of the Elk receptor is replaced by the extracellular, ligand-binding domain of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. These chimeric receptors were expressed in NIH 3T3 cells that lack endogenous EGF receptors to analyze their signaling properties. The chimeric EGF-Elk receptors became glycosylated, were correctly localized to the plasma membrane, and bound EGF with high affinity. The chimeric receptors underwent autophosphorylation and induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of a specific set of cellular proteins in response to EGF. EGF stimulation also induced DNA synthesis in fibroblasts stably expressing the EGF-Elk receptors. In contrast, EGF stimulation of these cells did not lead to visible changes in cellular morphology, nor did it induce loss of contact inhibition in confluent monolayers or growth in semisolid media. The Elk cytoplasmic domain is therefore able to induce tyrosine phosphorylation and DNA synthesis in response to an extracellular ligand, suggesting that Elk and related polypeptides function as ligand-dependent receptor tyrosine kinases.


Evaluation of rapid SYS system as screen for Yersinia enterocolitica in the United States.
Clinical isolates (n = 150) from stool specimens were selected for evaluation of the Rapid SYS system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) as a screening test for Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, and Salmonella spp. The Gram-Negative Identification Card (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) was used for identification. Although acceptable performance of the Rapid SYS system was described, the interpretative criteria provided by the vendor for previous studies led to inappropriate screening for Y. enterocolitica, particularly biotype 1. When corrected screening criteria were used for the present study, the sensitivity for the detection of 76 enteric pathogens was 98.7%. Of the 76 pathogens, 1 of 21 Shigella spp. was not detected. However, specificity was only 16.6% when 72 selected nonpathogens frequently encountered in stools were eliminated. Although the Rapid SYS system can identify Shigella spp., Y. enterocolitica, and Salmonella spp., only phenylalanine deaminase-producing and cytochrome oxidase-producing organisms can be eliminated from additional testing. Therefore, the Rapid SYS system cannot be used as a three-pathogen screen in the United States or in other geographic locales where Y. enterocolitica biotype 1 may be encountered.


Unraveling genetic variation among white spruce families generated through different breeding strategies: Heritability, growth, physiology, hormones and gene expression.
Tree improvement programs select genotypes for faster growth, at both early and late stages, to increase yields over unimproved material, and the improvement is frequently attributed to genetic control in growth parameters among genotypes. Underutilized genetic variability among genotypes also has the potential to ensure future gains are possible. However, the genetic variation in growth, physiology and hormone control among genotypes generated from different breeding strategies has not been well characterized in conifers. We assessed growth, biomass, gas exchange, gene expression and hormone levels in white spruce seedlings obtained from three different breeding strategies (controlled crosses, polymix pollination, open pollination) using parents grafted into a clonal seed orchard in Alberta, Canada. A pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (ABLUP) mixed model was implemented to quantify variability and narrow-sense heritability for target traits. The levels of several hormones and expression of gibberellin-related genes in apical internodes were also determined. Over the first two years of development, the estimated heritabilities for height, volume, total dry biomass, above ground dry biomass, root:shoot ratio and root length, varied between 0.10 and 0.21, with height having the highest value. The ABLUP values showed large genetic variability in growth and physiology traits both between families from different breeding strategies, and within families. The principal component analysis showed that developmental and hormonal traits explained 44.2% and 29.4% of the total phenotypic variation between the three different breeding strategies and two growth groups. In general, controlled crosses from the fast growth group showed the best apical growth, with more accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, phaseic acid, and a 4-fold greater gene expression of PgGA3ox1 in genotypes from controlled crosses versus those from open pollination. However, in some cases, open pollination from the fast and slow growth groups showed the best root development, higher water use efficiency (iWUE and δ13C) and more accumulation of zeatin and isopentenyladenosine. In conclusion, tree domestication can lead to trade-offs between growth, carbon allocation, photosynthesis, hormone levels and gene expression, and we encourage the use of this phenotypic variation identified in improved and unimproved trees to advance white spruce tree improvement programs.


Intensification of nickel recovery from water using an electrically driven hybrid process: continuous electropermutation.
Process intensification through the combined use of electrodialysis (ED) and ion-exchange resin (IER) hybrid process, called continuous electropermutation (CEP), was employed to remove Ni(II) cations from water. To carry out this process, Amberjet 1200 H cation-exchange resin was introduced into the feed compartment of the ED cell. The applied electrical field improves the mobility of species and ensures a continuous resin activation which is a main drawback in IER process. Furthermore, the IER incorporated in the ED cell enhances the conductivity of the feed water, therefore it extends the range of ED which could be applied for the recovery of ions from very low concentration wastewaters. The effects of some factors such as the type of regenerating electrolyte, current density, quantity of resin incorporated in the conducting space and concentration of Ni(II) at the inlet were investigated. The efficiency of CEP and ED for Ni(II) removal was expressed in terms of recovery rate and concentration factor. In CEP process, recovery rates of 99% were found with a 40 ppm Ni(II) concentration and an applied current density of 2 mA.cm-2 resulting in an outlet Ni(II) concentration lower than 1 ppm, against 73.69% in conventional ED. Moreover, in CEP Ni(II) cation was recovered in receiver compartment more than the feed solution with concentration factor more than 10 against 0.39 in ED. On the other hand, the voltage of ED cell was found to increase due to the lower conductivity in the feed compartment compared with that of CEP. In CEP, the highest concentration factor was found at an applied current density of 2.7 mA.cm-2 which reached 41.26. Finally, with increasing Ni(II) feed inlet concentration, there was a trade-off between obtaining a high Ni(II) concentration in the receiver compartment and a low Ni(II) concentration at the outlet of feed compartment.


Melanoma in the Chinese of Hong Kong. Emphasis on volar and subungual sites.
In the 19-year period from 1964 to 1982, a total of 65 primary melanomas at all sites were recorded. Of the 43 primary cutaneous melanomas in Chinese patients, 32 (74%) occurred at volar or subungual sites. The foot contributed 56% of all cutaneous melanomas with the majority (83%) occurring on the plantar surface. Subungual melanomas, with one exception, presented in the nailbed of the great toe or thumb. The following is the distribution of volar or subungual melanomas by histologic type: acral lentiginous 51.7%, superficial spreading 20.7%, nodular 6.9%, and unclassifiable 20.7%. Thickness was greater than 3 mm in 81.5% of cases, and in 37% it was greater than 9 mm. A prior pigmented lesion was noted in 15 of the volar or subungual cases. The Chinese, like other racial groups with intermediate pigmentation, appear to have a preponderance of melanomas on the feet with a frequency between that of whites and the very high one seen in blacks.


[Retrograde ejaculation: a treatable fertility problem].
Retrograde ejaculation was diagnosed in a 32-year-old man. This condition is an uncommon cause of male infertility. In most cases the only possible treatment is recovery of spermatozoa from the urine followed by artificial insemination; the couple underwent this treatment; the women received intrauterine insemination. In order to ensure the best possible survival of the sperm cells the pH (7.2-8.2) and the osmolality (300-380 mosmol/kg) of the urine were adjusted beforehand by administering bicarbonate and water to the man a few hours before ejaculation. A successful pregnancy ensued. When the couple desired another child the semen quality had deteriorated and in-vitro fertilisation with spermatozoa collected from urine was chosen as a treatment. A second successful pregnancy developed.


Facile synthesis of folate-conjugated magnetic/fluorescent bifunctional microspheres.
In this paper, we investigated the functional imaging properties of magnetic microspheres composed of magnetic core and CdTe quantum dots in the silica shell functionalized with folic acid (FA). The preparation procedure included the preparation of chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (CS-coated Fe3O4 NPs) prepared by a one-pot solvothermal method, the reaction between carboxylic and amino groups under activation of NHS and EDC in order to obtain the CdTe-CS-coated Fe3O4 NPs, and finally the growth of SiO2 shell vent the photoluminescence (PL) quenching via a Stöber method (Fe3O4-CdTe@SiO2). Moreover, in order to have a specific targeting capacity, the magnetic and fluorescent bifunctional microspheres were synthesized by bonding of SiO2 shell with FA molecules via amide reaction (Fe3O4-CdTe@SiO2-FA). The morphology, size, chemical components, and magnetic property of as-prepared composite nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The results show that the magnetic and fluorescent bifunctional microspheres have strong luminescent which will be employed for immuno-labeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells.


miR‑494‑BAG‑1 axis is involved in cinobufacini‑induced cell proliferation and apoptosis in gastric cancer.
Cinobufacini is widely used in the treatment of advanced cancers. It has been previously reported that microRNA (miR)‑494 was upregulated in cinobufacini‑treated gastric cancer cells; however, the detailed role of miR‑494 in the anti‑tumor activity of cinobufacini is unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the function of miR‑494 in cinobufacini‑induced cell behavior changes. Cell viability and proliferation ability were investigated using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate the apoptosis rate of gastric cancer (GC) cells. The mRNA expression levels of microRNA (miR)‑494 and BCL2 associated athanogene 1 (BAG‑1) were investigated using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the protein expression level of BAG‑1 was investigated using western blot assays. The results demonstrated that treatment with cinobufacini suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. miR‑494 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer. In cinobufacini‑treated cells, miR‑494 and BAG‑1 exhibited opposing expression trends. Furthermore, knockdown of miR‑494 in cinobufacini‑treated cells upregulated the protein expression level of BAG‑1, promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. In addition, inhibition of BAG‑1 using small interfering RNA in cinobufacini‑treated cells partially abrogated the effects of miR‑494 inhibitor on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Thus, these results suggest that cinobufacini suppresses GC cells proliferation and promotes apoptosis partially through the regulation of miR‑494‑BAG‑1 axis, which may provide a novel insight into the functional mechanism of cinobufacini.


Dynamic calcium metal-organic framework acts as a selective organic solvent sponge.
Herein, we present a Ca-based metal-organic framework named AEPF-1, which is an active and selective catalyst in olefin hydrogenation reactions. AEPF-1 exhibits a phase transition upon desorption of guest molecules. This structural transformation takes place by a crystal to crystal transformation accompanied by the loss of single-crystal integrity. Powder diffraction methods and computational studies were applied to determine the structure of the guest-free phase. This work also presents data on the exceptional adsorption behavior of this material, which is shown to be capable of separating polar from nonpolar organic solvents, and is a good candidate for selective solvent adsorption under mild conditions.


Parotid sialolithiasis in a child.
The occurrence of sialolithiasis in children is uncommon, while parotid sialolithiasis in children is rare. A case of parotid sialolithiasis arising in a 4-year-old girl is presented.


Reliability of MEMS in Shock Environments: 2000-2020.
The reliability of MEMS in shock environments is a complex area which involves structural dynamics, fracture mechanics, and system reliability theory etc. With growth in the use of MEMS in automotive, IoT, aerospace and other harsh environments, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of the reliability of MEMS in shock environments. Despite the contributions of many articles that have overviewed the reliability of MEMS panoramically, a review paper that specifically focuses on the reliability research of MEMS in shock environments is, to date, absent. This paper reviews studies which examine the reliability of MEMS in shock environments from 2000 to 2020 in six sub-areas, which are: (i) response model of microstructure, (ii) shock experimental progresses, (iii) shock resistant microstructures, (iv) reliability quantification models of microstructure, (v) electronics-system-level reliability, and (vi) the coupling phenomenon of shock with other factors. This paper fills the gap around overviews of MEMS reliability in shock environments. Through the framework of these six sub-areas, we propose some directions potentially worthy of attention for future research.


SN1-Type Alkylation of N-Heteroaromatics with Alcohols.
The organocatalytic alkylation of 2-methyl-N-heteroaromatics with alcohols has been achieved via SN1-type C(sp3)-H functionalization, providing a green and efficient synthesis of indole and ferrocene-functionalized N-heteroaromatics in high yields.


Phase shift of subthreshold theta oscillation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell membrane by excitatory synaptic inputs.
Hippocampal CA1 neurons receive multiple rhythmical inputs with relatively independent phases during theta activity. It, however, remains to be determined how these multiple rhythmical inputs affect oscillation properties in membrane potential of the CA1 pyramidal cell. In order to investigate oscillation properties in the subthreshold membrane potential, we generated oscillations in the membrane potential of the CA1 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampal slices in vitro with a sinusoidal current injection into the pyramidal soma at theta band frequencies (4-7 Hz), and analyzed effect of rhythmically excitatory synaptic inputs. The Schaffer collaterals were stimulated with a cyclic Gaussian stimulation method, whose pulse intervals were distributed at 10 pulses/cycle (5 cycles/s). We found that the cyclic Gaussian stimulations induced membrane potential oscillations and their phase delays from the mean of the pulse distribution were dependent on membrane potential oscillation amplitude. We applied four pairs of cyclic Gaussian stimulations and somatic sinusoidal current stimulations at the same frequency (5 Hz) with varying phase differences (-pi/2, 0, pi/2, pi rad). The paired stimulations induced phase distributions of the oscillation in the membrane potential, which showed a dependency on an increasing membrane potential oscillation amplitude response to cyclic Gaussian stimulation. This membrane potential dynamic was exhibited by the mixture of the membrane potential oscillation-amplitude-dependent phase delay and the linear summation of the two sinusoidal waves. These suggest that phases of the membrane potential oscillation are modulated by excitatory synaptic inputs. This phase-modulation by excitatory synaptic inputs may play a crucial role for memory operation in the hippocampus.


Efficacy and Tolerability of a Novel Topical Treatment for Neck: A Randomized, Double-blind, Regimen-Controlled Study.
The neck plays a telling role as an age indicator. Due to its anatomy and function, neck skin ages differently than facial skin and special considerations need to be taken when providing treatment. A randomized, double-blind, regimen-controlled study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a novel topical cosmetic cream (NCC) specifically tailored to address the signs of skin aging of the neck and décolletage. Twice daily application of NCC significantly improved skin sagging/laxity of the neck as well as the appearance of fine and coarse lines/wrinkles, crepiness, tactile roughness, overall skin texture, hyperpigmentation, skin tone evenness, and radiance. NCC also significantly improved the appearance of fine and coarse lines/wrinkles, tactile roughness, hyperpigmentation, skin tone evenness, and radiance of the décolletage. Investigator assessments were corroborated by objective cutometer measurements that demonstrated improved skin firmness and elasticity. In vitro analysis in human 3D skin models show that stimulation of neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis as well as support of cellular proteostasis through proteasome and autophagy activation are potential mechanisms of action for the observed clinical outcomes. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(2):184-191. doi:10.36849/JDD.5819 THIS ARTICLE HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT LOGGING IN. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PLEASE CONTACT THE PUBLISHER WITH ANY QUESTIONS.


Effects of perceptual variables on numerosity comparison in 5-6-year-olds and adults.
Although a critical issue in the debate over the existence of abstract numerical representation, it remains unclear whether and how perceptual variables affect numerosity judgment and how they change across development stages. In this research, we examine the effects of perceptual variables on approximate numerosity comparison in 5-6-year-olds and adults using the identical experimental procedure. In the assessment of the effect of the perceptual variables, we measured precision (i.e., Weber fraction) and accuracy (i.e., point of subjective equality; PSE) of the numerosity comparison. In Study 1, we tested how the manipulation of the cumulative element area would affect approximate numerosity comparison. The results showed that Weber fractions increased and the size of bias enlarged in the large element condition in both adults and 5-6-year-olds. In study 2, we tested how the manipulation of the array area would affect the precision and accuracy of approximate numerosity comparison. The results demonstrated that Weber fractions increased and the size of bias enlarged in the large array condition in both adults and 5-6-year-olds. Overall, our results suggest that the effect of perceptual variables on 5-6-year-olds is qualitatively similar to that on adults. In addition, we also tested whether the performance of approximate comparison correlated with the initial numerical skill in 5-6-year-olds to reveal least relationship between them.


Finite Element Analysis of Silver Nanorods, Spheres, Ellipsoids and Core-Shell Structures for Hyperthermia Treatment of Cancer.
The finite element analysis technique was used to investigate the suitability of silver nanorods, spheres, ellipsoids and core−shell structures for the hyperthermia treatment of cancer. The temperature of the silver nanostructures was raised from 42 to 46 °C, in order to kill the cancerous cells. The time taken by the nanostructures to attain this temperature, with external source heating, was also estimated. The heat transfer module in COMSOL Multiphysics was used for the finite element analysis of hyperthermia, based on silver nanostructures. The thermal response of different shapes of silver nanostructures was evaluated by placing them inside the spherical domain of the tumor tissue. The proposed geometries were heated at different time intervals. Optimization of the geometries was performed to achieve the best treatment temperature. It was observed that silver nanorods quickly attain the desired temperature, as compared to other shapes. The silver nanorods achieved the highest temperature of 44.3 °C among all the analyzed geometries. Moreover, the central volume, used to identify the thermal response, was the maximum for the silver nano-ellipsoids. Thermal equilibrium in the treatment region was attained after 0.5 μs of heating, which made these structures suitable for hyperthermia treatment.


[Instruments for quality assurance in centers for medical rehabilitation].
In 1994, the German statutory pension insurance scheme started to develop a quality assurance programme in rehabilitation clinics, involving scientists giving support to the project. Established as a routine in 1998, the programme is based on the integrated use of different instruments relating to structural, procedural as well as outcome quality. Analysis and evaluation of data follow a concept of clinic comparisons, assessing particular groups of clinics of similar structure. The specific instruments used are described, their development is outlined and their application explained.


Inhibition of the enzymatic activity of prostate-specific antigen by boric acid and 3-nitrophenyl boronic acid.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a well-established marker of prostate cancer, but it can also degrade extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin and could be involved in tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, we have addressed the use of boric acid and 3-nitrophenyl boronic acid (NPBA) as PSA inhibitors in vitro. The inhibition of PSA by boric acid was studied by using specific fluorogenic substrates. Fibronectin, a biologically relevant substrate for PSA, was used as a substrate in a zymographic assay, and the degradation of fibronectin by PSA in the presence of boric acid and NPBA was followed by Western Blot. Low concentrations of boric acid partially inhibited the proteolytic activity of PSA toward a synthetic fluorogenic substrate. Also, by Western blot, we have found significant inhibition in the proteolysis of fibronectin by PSA in the presence of boric acid as well as NPBA. Results indicate that the boronated compounds used in this study can be used for the modulation of PSA activity. PSA activity is inhibited in vitro by boric acid and NPBA. If degradation of fibronectin by PSA were, in fact, an important step in the progression of prostate cancer, then borate-induced inhibition of PSA activity should help reduce the development and proliferation of prostate carcinomas.


Dissociating the functions of three left posterior superior temporal regions that contribute to speech perception and production.
Prior studies have shown that the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) both contribute to phonological short-term memory, speech perception and speech production. Here, by conducting a within-subjects multi-factorial fMRI study, we dissociate the response profiles of these regions and a third region - the anterior ascending terminal branch of the left superior temporal sulcus (atSTS), which lies dorsal to pSTS and ventral to TPJ. First, we show that each region was more activated by (i) 1-back matching on visually presented verbal stimuli (words or pseudowords) compared to 1-back matching on visually presented non-verbal stimuli (pictures of objects or non-objects), and (ii) overt speech production than 1-back matching, across 8 types of stimuli (visually presented words, pseudowords, objects and non-objects and aurally presented words, pseudowords, object sounds and meaningless hums). The response properties of the three regions dissociated within the auditory modality. In left TPJ, activation was higher for auditory stimuli that were non-verbal (sounds of objects or meaningless hums) compared to verbal (words and pseudowords), irrespective of task (speech production or 1-back matching). In left pSTS, activation was higher for non-semantic stimuli (pseudowords and hums) than semantic stimuli (words and object sounds) on the dorsal pSTS surface (dpSTS), irrespective of task. In left atSTS, activation was not sensitive to either semantic or verbal content. The contrasting response properties of left TPJ, dpSTS and atSTS was cross-validated in an independent sample of 59 participants, using region-by-condition interactions. We also show that each region participates in non-overlapping networks of frontal, parietal and cerebellar regions. Our results challenge previous claims about functional specialisation in the left posterior superior temporal lobe and motivate future studies to determine the timing and directionality of information flow in the brain networks involved in speech perception and production.


Resistance Analysis of Nocturnal Carbon Dioxide Uptake by a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Succulent, Agave deserti.
Nocturnal CO(2) uptake by a Crassulacean acid metabolism succulent, Agave deserti Engelm. (Agavaceae), was measured so that the resistance properties of the mesophyll chlorenchyma cells and their CO(2) concentrations could be determined. Two equivalents of acidity were produced at night per mole of CO(2) taken up. The nocturnal CO(2) uptake became light-saturated at 3.5 mEinsteins cm(-2) of photosynthetically active radiation (400-700 nm) incident during the preceding day; at least 46 Einsteins were required per mole of CO(2) fixed. Variations in the daytime leaf temperature between 20 and 37 C had little effect on nocturnal CO(2) uptake. After the first few hours in the dark, the leaf liquid phase CO(2) resistance (r(liq) (CO(2) )) and the CO(2) concentration in the chlorenchyma cells (c(i) (CO(2) )) both increased, the latter usually reaching the ambient external CO(2) level at the end of the dark period. Increasing the leaf surface temperature above 15 C at night markedly increased the stomatal resistance, r(liq) (CO(2) ), and c(i) (CO(2) ).The minimum r(liq) (CO(2) ) at night was about 1.6 seconds cm(-1). Based on the ratio of chlorenchyma surface area to total leaf surface area of 82, this r(liq) (CO(2) ) corresponded to a minimum cellular resistance of approximately 130 seconds cm(-1), comparable to values for mesophyll cells of C(3) plants. The contribution of the carboxylation reaction and/or other biochemical steps to r(liq) (CO(2) ) may increase appreciably as the nighttime temperature shifts a few degrees from the optimum or after a few hours in the dark, both of which caused large increases in r(liq) (CO(2) ). This necessitates a large internal leaf area for CO(2) diffusion into the chlorenchyma to support moderate nocturnal CO(2) uptake rates by these succulent leaves.


Collagen I, laminin, and tenascin: ultrastructure and correlation with avian neural crest formation.
We have investigated the distribution of type I collagen, tenascin, and laminin in younger chick embryos than have previously been studied in detail. The initial appearance of type I collagen, but not tenascin and laminin, is exactly correlated with the beginning of neural crest migration, suggesting a role for collagen I in the migration. Light microscopy of whole mounts of 2-day-old chick embryos reveals that type I collagen is expressed in a rostral to caudal gradient; it localizes to the notochord sheath before accumulating around the neural tube and somites. Collagen I and tenascin also associate with central somite cells. Surprisingly, no extracellular matrix can be detected among the early sclerotomal cells, which suggests that little or no cell migration is involved in this epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. Electron microscopy using peroxidase antiperoxidase reveals that tenascin is present in nonstriated, 10 nm wide fibrils and in interstitial bodies, both of which have previously been reported to contain fibronectin. However, collagen I only occurs in the 10 nm fibrils and larger striated fibrils. This is the first ultrastructural study to assign tenascin to fibrils and interstitial bodies and to describe its appearance and disappearance from embryonic basement membranes. The discussion emphasizes the possible importance of type I collagen in neural crest cell migration and compares the ultrastructural associations of the ECM molecules present at this early embryonic stage.


[Experimental selection of best physical and application parameters of ultrasound in the treatment of venous crural ulceration].
Venous crural ulceration typically affects elderly people, frequently burdened with other diseases which provide counter-indications for surgery. With those patients in mind, search for new efficient methods to treat the disease is under way. The goal of the paper was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound at two power densities from the range commonly used, 0.5 W/cm2 and 1 W/cm2, on the healing of crural ulceration. The patients admitted to the experiment were divided onto two groups. In group A the density of 1 W/cm2 was used; in group B--0.5 W/cm2; in group C traditional methods were used. Progress was evaluated in all the groups once in a week and after treatment, in terms of the change of the area, volume, suppurate area and granulation. The rate of area change was highest in group B, although it was only statistically significant in comparison with group A. Along with the area change, the volume of the ulceration also changed; it was most pronounced in group B and statistically significant in comparison with group A. Although statistically significant difference in the results of groups B and C was found, there is a clear tendency towards faster healing of ulceration under the influence of ultrasound at 0.5 W/cm2. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups A, B and C in terms of granulation development rate and debridement of the wounds.


Changing medical students' attitudes toward older adults.
Given the growth in the number of older adults and the ageist attitudes many in the health care profession hold, interventions aimed at improving health professionals' attitudes toward older adults are imperative. Vital Visionaries is an intergenerational art program designed to improve medical students' attitudes toward older adults. Participants met for four 2-hour sessions at local art museums to create and discuss art. Three hundred and twenty-eight individuals (112 treatment group, 96 comparison, 120 older adults) in eight cities participated in the program and evaluation. Participants completed pre-and postsurveys that captured their attitude toward older adults, perception of commonality with older adults, and career plans. Findings suggest that medical students' attitudes toward old adults were positive at pretest. However, Vital Visionary students became more positive in their attitudes toward older adults at posttest (p < .001), with a moderate effect size, G = .60, and they felt they had more in common with older adults at posttest (p < .001), with a moderate effect size, G = .64. The program did not influence their career plans (p = .35). Findings from this demonstration project suggest that socializing medical students with healthy older adults through art programs can foster positive attitudes and enhance their sense of commonality with older adults.


Sentence comprehension affects the dynamics of bimanual coordination: implications for embodied cognition.
Recent work in embodied cognition has demonstrated that language comprehension involves the motor system (e.g., Glenberg & Kaschak, 2002). Such findings are often attributed to mechanisms involving simulations of linguistically described events (Barsalou, 1999; Fischer & Zwaan, 2008). We propose that research paradigms in which simulation is the central focus need to be augmented with paradigms that probe the organization of the motor system during language comprehension. The use of well-studied motor tasks may be appropriate to this endeavour. To this end, we present a study in which participants perform a bimanual rhythmic task (Kugler & Turvey, 1987) while judging the plausibility of sentences. We show that the dynamics of the bimanual task differ when participants judge sentences describing performable actions as opposed to sentences describing events that are not performable. We discuss the general implications of our results for accounts of embodied cognition.


[Changes in the characteristics and incidence of multiple-injury accidents in the Navarre community over a 10-year period].
To compare morbidity and mortality rates, the epidemiologic profile, and survival of patients with multiple injuries attended by the emergency services in the Navarre autonomous community in Spain in the periods of 2002-2003 and 2010-2012. Observational analysis of 2 cohorts of accident patients with Injury Severity Scores of 15 points or more. Logistic regression was used to identify variables related to mortality. A total of 651 patients were attended in the first period; 626 were attended in the second. The annual multiple-injury incidence rate decreased from 58.1 per 100 000 population in the first period to 33.5 per 100 000 population in the second; mortality decreased from 30.3 to 15.3 per 100 000 population. The mean (SD) age was 45 (22) years in the first cohort and 52 (23) years in the second. The gender distribution (75% male) did not change. The percentage injured in traffic accidents decreased from 44% to 24%; the percentage of elderly patients hurt in falls increased from 9% to 26%. The problem of the number of young people injured in accidents in our community has been brought under control, but the proportion of older patients injured in falls has risen. This change may slow the effort to improve mortality rates in patients with multiple injuries and it obliges us to introduce measures to prevent falls in the elderly.


Tirucallic acids are novel pleckstrin homology domain-dependent Akt inhibitors inducing apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.
Activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt is associated with aggressive clinical behavior of prostate cancer. We found that the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 express predominantly Akt1 and Akt2. Selective down-regulation of Akt1, but not Akt2, by short-hairpin RNA reduced the viability of prostate cancer cells. In addition, structurally different Akt inhibitors were cytotoxic for the prostate cancer cells, confirming that the Akt pathway is indispensable for their viability. We have purified the tetracyclic triterpenoids 3-oxo-tirucallic acid, 3-alpha-acetoxy-tirucallic acid, and 3-beta-acetoxy-tirucallic acid from the oleogum resin of Boswellia carterii to chemical homogeneity. The acetoxy-derivatives in particular potently inhibited the activities of human recombinant Akt1 and Akt2 and of constitutively active Akt immunoprecipitated from PC-3 cells, whereas inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB kinases remained unaffected. Docking data indicated that these tetracyclic triterpenoids form hydrogen bonds within the phosphatidylinositol binding pocket of the Akt pleckstrin homology domain. Accordingly, 3-beta-acetoxy-tirucallic acid did not inhibit the activity of Akt1 lacking the pleckstrin homology domain. In the prostate cancer cell lines investigated, these compounds inhibited the phosphorylation of cellular Akt and the Akt signaling pathways, including glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and BAD phosphorylation, nuclear accumulation of p65, the androgen receptor, beta-catenin, and c-Myc. These events culminated in the induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer, but not in nontumorigenic cells. The tirucallic acid derivatives inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in tumors xenografted onto chick chorioallantoic membranes and decreased the growth of pre-established prostate tumors in nude mice without overt systemic toxicity. Thus, tirucallic acid derivatives represent a new class of Akt inhibitors with antitumor properties.


Collective behavior in animal groups: theoretical models and empirical studies.
Collective phenomena in animal groups have attracted much attention in the last years, becoming one of the hottest topics in ethology. There are various reasons for this. On the one hand, animal grouping provides a paradigmatic example of self-organization, where collective behavior emerges in absence of centralized control. The mechanism of group formation, where local rules for the individuals lead to a coherent global state, is very general and transcends the detailed nature of its components. In this respect, collective animal behavior is a subject of great interdisciplinary interest. On the other hand, there are several important issues related to the biological function of grouping and its evolutionary success. Research in this field boasts a number of theoretical models, but much less empirical results to compare with. For this reason, even if the general mechanisms through which self-organization is achieved are qualitatively well understood, a quantitative test of the models assumptions is still lacking. New analysis on large groups, which require sophisticated technological procedures, can provide the necessary empirical data.


Effort variation regularization in sound field reproduction.
In this paper, active control is used in order to reproduce a given sound field in an extended spatial region. A method is proposed which minimizes the reproduction error at a number of control positions with the reproduction sources holding a certain relation within their complex strengths. Specifically, it is suggested that the phase differential of the source driving signals should be in agreement with the phase differential of the desired sound pressure field. The performance of the suggested method is compared with that of conventional effort regularization, wave field synthesis (WFS), and adaptive wave field synthesis (AWFS), both under free-field conditions and in reverberant rooms. It is shown that effort variation regularization overcomes the problems associated with small spaces and with a low ratio of direct to reverberant energy, improving thus the reproduction accuracy in the listening room.


[Current status of folic acid supplementation in women at child-bearing age in suburban area of Beijing].
Objective: To access the current status of folic acid supplementation in women at childbearing age in suburban area of Beijing, 2016. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 722 women aged 17-41 years from six hospitals in suburban areas of Beijing were selected through cluster sampling. A questionnaire survey was conducted. Results: The rates of folic acid intake and regular folic acid intake among women under survey were 63.9% (456/714) and 83.3% (380/456). In women who remembered the duration of folic acid supplementation, the overall rate of preconceptional folic acid supplementation was 35.5% (159/450), in whom 27.3% (123/450) began to take folic acid 0-3 months before pregnancy; 8.0% (36/450) began to take folic acid 3 months before pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that household registering type, preparation for pregnancy or pregnancy, parity, smoking and alcohol use were the influencing factors for folic acid supplementation. Conclusions: The rate of folic acid supplementation remained low in childbearing aged women in suburban area of Beijing. It is necessary to further strengthen the health education about the importance of folic acid supplementation to improve the intake rate and the regular intake rate of folic acid in pregnant women and to promote maternal infant health and reduce the related complications.


Experimental investigations in prolonged myocardial ischaemia. Note II. Biology of the myocardial fiber during permanent ischaemia.
The dynamics of morphologic and biochemical lesions of the myocardial fiber during the first ten days after an experimental myocardial infarction showed an unequal evolution of the lesional picture in the ischaemic area, the intervention of lysosomal hydrolases and the reactions of inflammatory fibrocollagen substitution. Morphologic aspects in the areas neighbouring the infarction and other myocardial areas are discussed.


Metabolic and transcriptomic adaptation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Biovar diacetylactis in response to autoacidification and temperature downshift in skim milk.
For the first time, a combined genome-wide transcriptome and metabolic analysis was performed with a dairy Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis strain under dynamic conditions similar to the conditions encountered during the cheese-making process. A culture was grown in skim milk in an anaerobic environment without pH regulation and with a controlled temperature downshift. Fermentation kinetics, as well as central metabolism enzyme activities, were determined throughout the culture. Based on the enzymatic analysis, a type of glycolytic control was postulated, which was shared by most of the enzymes during the growth phase; in particular, the phosphofructokinase and some enzymes of the phosphoglycerate pathway during the postacidification phase were implicated. These conclusions were reinforced by whole-genome transcriptomic data. First, limited enzyme activities relative to the carbon flux were measured for most of the glycolytic enzymes; second, transcripts and enzyme activities exhibited similar changes during the culture; and third, genes involved in alternative metabolic pathways derived from some glycolytic metabolites were induced just upstream of the postulated glycolytic bottlenecks, as a consequence of accumulation of these metabolites. Other transcriptional responses to autoacidification and a decrease in temperature were induced at the end of the growth phase and were partially maintained during the stationary phase. If specific responses to acid and cold stresses were identified, this exhaustive analysis also enabled induction of unexpected pathways to be shown.


Using network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism of Wuyao-Danshen to treat endometriosis.
This study sought to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Wuyao (radix linderae)-Danshen (salviae miltiorrhiza) in endometriosis (EMS) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active constituents of Wuyao-Danshen were collected and identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database, and used to predict and identify the protein targets. The EMS targets and anti-inflammatory targets were obtained from Genecards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and Drugbank. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was used to analyze the protein interactions (PPIs) and core targets, and a target PPI network was constructed by importing the software of Cytoscape. The Metascape database was used to conduct enrichment analyses of the Gene Ontology (GO) functions and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways for the key anti-inflammatory targets of EMS. Finally, Autodock Vina software was used to verify the results of the active ingredients and key anti-inflammatory targets. There were 8 active components in Wuyao, 65 in Danshen, and 591 corresponding protein targets in Danshen, and 375 in Wuyao, including luteolin, quercetin, vancomyl alcohol, and salvianol. One thousand and six hundred eighty-nine disease targets, 1,216 anti-inflammatory targets, and 144 key anti-inflammatory targets were identified, including the (signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3) STAT3, phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase regulates subunit 1 (PIK3R1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) protein kinase B. Three hundred and fifty-three biological processes (BPs), 21 cellular components, and 25 molecular functions (MFs) were enriched with GO functions, and 108 KEGG pathways were enriched and analyzed, including the MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed that luteolin, coumarin, and quercetin could bind to the key target proteins (i.e., STAT3, PIK3R1, and MAPK1). Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, Wuyao-Danshen was found to act on EMS through anti-inflammatory targets and related signaling pathways. Our findings provide a basis for further research.


[Surgical therapy options for bleeding gastroduodenal peptic lesions].
Mortality rate of bleeding into the upper GIT has remained relatively unchanged during the past 30 years, i.e. about 30%, even though the development of new technologies brought along substantial changes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This work deals with the surgical solution of bleeding into the upper GIT of peptic etiology. It covers a 5-year period (from January 1, 1999 until October 1, 2003) during which time the Regional Hospital in Pardubice admitted 1,310 patients with bleeding into the upper GIT of peptic etiology. 190 of them were hospitalized at the Surgical Clinic due to the developing hemorrhagic shock; the others were hospitalized at the Clinic of Internal Medicine. If it failed urgent endoscopy to stop the bleeding, the patient was referred to undergo an urgent surgery. If the bleeding was stopped by endoscopy yet it recurred after certain time, a second endoscopic homeostasis was attempted. If it failed, an urgent surgery was indicated. A total number of 24 patients underwent an acute surgery. A frequently used procedure was stomach resection, type BII, which was applied to a total number of 12 patients. However, this type of urgent surgery was accompanied with a relatively high number of complications. Reoperation had to be performed 4 times (33.3%). In one case (8.3%) for recurrent bleeding. In 12 patients one of the other procedures was performed: an injection and a trunkal vagotomy (3x), an injection and the ligation of the gastroduodenal artery (2x), proximal jejunum resection (1x), an injection accompanied with fundoplication according to Nissen-Rosseti (1x). Two of the patients who received this other group of procedures had to be reoperated for recurrent bleeding (16.7%). The decision about a suitable surgical procedure applicable to bleeding into the upper GIT after the failure of endoscopic homeostasis poses a substantial problem. It is necessary to choose from more radical procedures--resection--that stop bleeding reliably, yet their execution in an acute condition (often coinciding with the patient's hemorrhagic shock) results in a relatively large number of complications; and from less radical procedures that feature a smaller number of post-surgical complications yet that can be burdened with a larger percentile number of recurrent bleeding. Nearly the same number of serious recurrent bleeding in this study indicates that the appropriate choice of a procedure (according to the patient's current condition, ulcer localization, and associated diseases) makes both approaches (resection vs. a less radical procedure) similar as to the number of necessary reoperations after bleeding. The development of endoscopic methods introduced significant changes in the diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm of bleeding into the upper GIT. Nevertheless, the choice of an appropriate surgical procedure continues to present a relevant surgical issue.


[Anatomical-functional rating system related to pedobarographic examination of the foot in patients treated operatively for hallux valgus].
Author undertook a trial of elaboration of rating system for evaluation of the operating treatment results of hallux valgus, in relation to pedobarographic examination performed with the use of computed platform PEL-38. 335 feet in 173 patients (females) treated operatively due to hallux valgus in Orthopaedic Department of Wrocław Medical University in years 1975-1990 were examined. Those patients were operated on according to Keller, Dega and McBride method. There was elaborated anatomical-functional rating system for the foot. In this system different variables were incorporated such as: pain within foot, physical activity, walking ability, footwear requirements, hallux valgus angle, callus related to forefoot, bunion and MTP joint's ROM. There were distinguished 4 grades of results: excellent, good, fair and poor, in accordance to number of points achieved. Basing on comparison of pedobarographic examination results with results of the rating system, definite relation between mentioned above evaluating systems was not found.


[The use of neuromidin in patients with minor ischemic stroke].
Efficacy of neuromidin was studied in 62 patients with a small ischemic stroke and cognitive disorders. Patients of the main group received neuromidin as an add-on to basic treatment and patients of the comparison group received only basic treatment (antiaggregant, antihypertensive, cardiac and antidiabetic drugs with the exclusion of nootropic and psychotropic medications). The decrease of subjective complaints, improvement of memory, attention, abstract and practical reasoning assessed by neuropsychological tests were seen in 32 patients of the main group after the end of treatment course. Neuromidin did not cause side-effects and was well tolerated. The long use of this led to the reduction of cognitive impairment, a predictor of vascular dementia.


Does tremor pace repetitive voluntary motor behavior in Parkinson's disease?
In patients with Parkinson's disease and in normal subjects, the influence of tremor on repetitive voluntary movement was investigated in the index finger by comparing frequency of isometric force tremor with frequency of voluntary alternating isometric contractions. Tremor frequency, measured over the range from 0 to 70% maximum voluntary force, usually increased with force. The tremor frequency band was lower and more often overlapped with the upper voluntary frequency range in patients than in normal subjects. Normal subjects could accurately produce voluntary contractions at all cue frequencies from 1 to 5 Hz. Patients could produce auditory-paced frequencies of 1 and 2 Hz, but at higher cue frequencies, their voluntary contractions were often faster or slower than the cue. The faster or "hastened" voluntary frequencies were within the tremor frequency band, whereas the slowed voluntary frequencies were below it. Maximal voluntary frequency was often greater than the lowest but always less than the highest tremor frequency. It is concluded that parkinsonian tremor may pace voluntary repetitive movements to go faster than intended with the highest tremor frequency being an upper limit for voluntary frequency. Similar mechanisms may underlie the hastened repetitive vocal responses that were also observed in the parkinsonian patients.


The Bacillus subtilis DivIVA protein has a sporulation-specific proximity to Spo0J.
The Bacillus subtilis DivIVA protein controls the positioning of the division site and the relocation of the chromosome during sporulation. By performing coimmunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrated that a myc-DivIVA protein is in proximity to FtsZ and MinD during vegetative growth and Spo0J during the first 120 min of sporulation.


Investigation of the FeFe-hydrogenase gene diversity combined with phylogenetic microbial community analysis of an anaerobic domestic sewage sludge.
Biological hydrogen production through the anaerobic digestion is an environmental friendly alternative for satisfying future hydrogen demands. Microorganisms residing into waste water treatment plants are far from being exhaustively characterized and surveys on hydrogen production through FeFe-hydrogenase in such ecosystems are scarce. This study combined the analysis of 16S rRNA and [FeFe]-hydrogenase (hydA) genes with statistical tools to estimate richness and diversity of the microbial community of a domestic sewage treatment plant at the phylogenetic and functional levels. Archaeal groups were represented by 69 % of sequences assigned to Methanosarcinales and the remaining belonged to Methanomicrobiales. Within the bacterial library, 136 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were distributed into 9 phyla, being 86 OTUs related to uncultivated bacteria. From these, 25 OTUs represented potential novel taxa within Synergistetes. Proteobacteria was the most predominant (36 % of the OTUs) and diversified phylogenetic group in the bacterial library, most of them assigned to the class Betaproteobacteria. Twenty-two putative hydA sequences were recovered into four distinct clusters and most of them were more closely related to each other than with sequences retrieved from databases, indicating they are hitherto undetected [Fe-Fe]-hydrogenase gene sequences. The richness estimates revealed that the number of sampled sequences was enough for full coverage of the archaeal diversity but not sufficient to cover both bacterial and hydA gene diversities. The results confirmed a great richness and diversity of bacterial and hydA sequences retrieved from the sewage sludge sample, suggesting such environment as a potential reservoir of new hydrogenase genes for biotechnological exploration.


Ca2+ analysis in arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats by proton-induced X-ray emission.
Numerous investigations have shown that Ca2+ plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements have been carried out with Ca(2+)-selective electrodes and the Quin 2 method. The present study used particle induced X-ray emission to investigate the Ca2+ distribution in arterial smooth muscle. This method correlates Ca2+ distribution with the morphological structure of the tissue. The Ca2+ content of the aortas and renal arteries was measured in 22 spontaneously hypertensive and 11 normotensive rats. The findings demonstrate significant Ca(2+)-elevation in the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with the aortas of normotensive rats (3124.9 +/- 790.0 versus 2031 +/- 478 micrograms Ca2+/g; P < 0.05), whereas there was only a tendency to Ca2+ elevation in the renal arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with normotensive rats (3336.0 +/- 1798.0 versus 1533.2 +/- 1082.0 micrograms Ca2+/g; NS). The Ca2+ was mainly detected in the muscle containing tunica media.


Pharmacologic interaction of furosemide and phenylbutazone in horses.
The effect of premedication with phenylbutazone on systemic hemodynamic and diuretic effects of furosemide was examined in 6 healthy, conscious, mares. Mares were instrumented for measurement of systemic hemodynamics, including cardiac output and pulmonary arterial, systemic arterial, and intracardiac pressures, and urine flow. Each of 3 treatments was administered in a randomized, blinded study; furosemide (1 mg/kg of body weight, IV) only, phenylbutazone (8.8 mg/kg, PO, at 24 hours and 4.4 mg/kg, IV, 30 minutes before furosemide) and furosemide, or 0.9% NaCl. Phenylbutazone administration significantly attenuated, but did not abolish, the diuretic effect of furosemide. Phenylbutazone completely inhibited the immediate effect of furosemide on cardiac output, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance, and right ventricular peak pressure. Premedication with phenylbutazone did not inhibit equally the diuretic and hemodynamic effects of furosemide, indicating that some of furosemide's hemodynamic effects are mediated by an extrarenal activity of furosemide.


Data to understand the nature of non-covalent interactions in the thiophene clusters.
We have reported herein the data to understand the nature and number of non-covalent interactions that stabilize the structures of the thiophene clusters. In addition, we have also provided the optimized Cartesian coordinates of all the structures of the investigated thiophene clusters. Initially, the geometries have been generated using the ABCluster code which performs a global optimization to locate local and global minima structures of molecular clusters. The located geometries have been optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory using Gaussian 16 suite of programs. To understand the nature of non-covalent interactions, we have performed a quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis on all the structures of the thiophene dimer. Furthermore, the QTAIM analysis has been performed also on the most stable structure of the thiophene trimer and tetramer. We have used the AIMAll program to perform the QTAIM analysis. The data reported in this paper contains the critical points, the bonds paths and their related properties, for each investigated structures. Besides, the data contains the optimized Cartesian coordinates of all the investigated structures of the thiophene clusters. This can be use for any further investigations involving thiophene clusters. For further information and analysis, the reader is referred to the original related research article (Malloum and Conradie, 2022).


Rotation of skylight polarization during learning walks is necessary to trigger neuronal plasticity in Cataglyphis ants.
Many animals use celestial cues for impressive navigational performances in challenging habitats. Since the position of the sun and associated skylight cues change throughout the day and season, it is crucial to correct for these changes. Cataglyphis desert ants possess a time-compensated skylight compass allowing them to navigate back to their nest using the shortest way possible. The ants have to learn the sun's daily course (solar ephemeris) during initial learning walks (LW) before foraging. This learning phase is associated with substantial structural changes in visual neuronal circuits of the ant's brain. Here, we test whether the rotation of skylight polarization during LWs is the necessary cue to induce learning-dependent rewiring in synaptic circuits in high-order integration centres of the ant brain. Our results show that structural neuronal changes in the central complex and mushroom bodies are triggered only when LWs were performed under a rotating skylight polarization pattern. By contrast, when naive ants did not perform LWs, but were exposed to skylight cues, plasticity was restricted to light spectrum-dependent changes in synaptic complexes of the lateral complex. The results identify sky-compass cues triggering learning-dependent versus -independent neuronal plasticity during the behavioural transition from interior workers to outdoor foragers.


Expectation of life and unexpected death in open spina bifida: a 40-year complete, non-selective, longitudinal cohort study.
The aim of our study was to investigate survival and causes of death in a complete cohort of open spina bifida at the mean age of 40 years. We conducted a community-based, prospective study of 117 consecutive infants (50 males, 67 females) with open spina bifida whose backs were closed non-selectively within 48 hours of birth between 1963 and 1971 at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Of those who survived to age 1 year, 89% (82 out of 92) had a cerebrospinal fluid shunt. In 2007, all survivors were surveyed by postal questionnaire backed up by telephone interview. Details of deaths were obtained from the Office for National Statistics, medical records, and autopsy reports, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. One in three of the cohort (40/117) died before the age of 5 years. A further 26% (31/117) died during the next 35 years, over 10 times the national average. Half the deaths (16/31) after the age of 5 were sudden and unexpected. All occurred in the community and were followed by a coroner's autopsy. The most frequent causes of these unexpected deaths were epilepsy, pulmonary embolus, acute hydrocephalus, and acute renal sepsis. The prognosis for survival was strikingly poor in those with the most extensive neurological deficit. Only 17% (7/42) of those born with a high sensory level (above T11) survived to the mean age of 40 years, compared with 61% (23/38) of those with a low sensory level (below L3; p=0.001). Doctors and care planners need to be aware that, contrary to previous suggestions, there is continuing high mortality throughout adult life in individuals with open spina bifida, and many deaths are unexpected.


A high-energy-density redox flow battery based on zinc/polyhalide chemistry.
Zn and the Art of Battery Development: A zinc/polyhalide redox flow battery employs Br(-) /ClBr(2-) and Zn/Zn(2+) redox couples in its positive and negative half-cells, respectively. The performance of the battery is evaluated by charge-discharge cycling tests and reveals a high energy efficiency of 81%, based on a Coulombic efficiency of 96% and voltage efficiency of 84%. The new battery technology can provide high performance and energy density at an acceptable cost.


Rest myocardial perfusion imaging: a valuable tool in ED.
Acute chest pain is a frequent cause of emergency department (ED) visits. Rest myocardial perfusion imaging (RMPI) during or immediately after an episode of chest pain can provide diagnostic and prognostic information concerning acute coronary syndromes. Our purpose was to evaluate the RMPI score in risk stratification of chest pain suspected to be of cardiac ischemic origin and negative troponin assessment. Ninety-six patients without an ongoing myocardial infarction or a history of coronary artery disease and in whom RMPI was performed in the ED because of chest pain suspected to be related with acute myocardial ischemia were included. Follow-up was performed considering the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization in a 12-month period admission. Fourteen (14.6%) patients had events. According to survival analysis, the variables related with events were a history of angina (hazard ratio [HR], 4.5; P ≤ .01), an ischemic electrocardiogram (HR, 4.0; P ≤ .01), the abnormal RMPI (HR, 11.4; P ≤ .05), and the RMPI score (HR, 1.1; P ≤ .0001). When the variables of interest were forced into a multivariate model, the χ(2) associated with the model that includes clinical and electrocardiogram information was 16.3 (P ≤ .005) and in the model that also includes RMPI score, it was 23.0 (P ≤ .0005). In a low- to intermediate-risk group of patients with suspected acute myocardial ischemia, RMPI gives not only diagnostic information but adds prognostic value to the traditional ED risk stratification tools.


Hypotension associated with advanced hodgkin lymphoma.
Hypotension is an extremely rare manifestation of Hodgkin lymphoma. We report the case of a patient who presented with new onset hypotension and was diagnosed with urosepsis and septic shock requiring pressor support for maintaining his blood pressure. computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen showed liver lesions, which were new on comparison with a CT abdomen done 3 weeks back. Biopsy of the liver lesions and subsequently a bone marrow biopsy showed large atypical Reed-Sternberg cells, positive for CD15 and CD 30 and negative for CD45, CD3 and CD20 on immuno-histochemical staining, hence establishing the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. The mechanism involved in Hodgkin lymphoma causing hypotension remains anecdotal, but since it is mostly seen in patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, it is hypothetically related to a complex interaction between cytokines and mediators of vasodilatation. Here we review relevant literature pertaining to presentation and pathogenesis of this elusive and rare association.


Psychological processes in psychogenic voice disorder.
Using Freud's hysterical conversion model as a basis for reviewing the psychological features in psychogenic voice disorder, this paper describes research findings which show that individuals with this condition are not usually suffering from severe psychopathology but tend to be women who are experiencing high levels of stress (commonly associated with interpersonal relationship conflicts, low self-esteem, the burden of responsibility and feelings of powerlessness), and have above-average musculoskeletal tension as well as difficulties in voicing their feelings or views. The review indicates that the psychoanalytic interpretation of psychogenic voice loss continues to have relevance. However, it is suggested that in most cases Freud's hysterical conversion model should be reformulated, reducing the core focus to unconscious conflicts, repression, denial and secondary gains, in order to emphasise the psychosocial causes and maintenance of intrapsychic conflict and physical dysfunction. It is also suggested that a reformulated psychoanalytic interpretation of psychogenic voice loss has a lot in common with a cognitive-behavioural conceptual model. A psychoanalytic approach may be valuable when focused on early trauma and repressed experiences or feelings, whereas cognitive-behavioural treatment strategies, such as stress management and assertiveness training, appear to be particularly relevant in this condition. The paper concludes by briefly considering some areas of future research.


Some physiological responses associated with reduced wool growth during blowfly strike in Merino sheep.
To examine the effect on wool growth of physiological changes associated with experimental flystrike in superfine Merino wethers. An animal house study comparing experimentally fly struck sheep with non-infected control groups that were pair fed or fed ad libitum. Sheep in the blow fly larval challenge group were each artificially infected with 500 first instar larvae per day for 8 days. Infections were terminated with insecticide on day 10. For all sheep, live weight change, feed intake and body temperature were monitored and blood collected for analysis of haematology, cortisol, serum haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFa, IL-1 b, IL-6 and IL-8. Wool growth and staple strength were examined 4 months after infection. Experimental fly strike included moderate fever, depressed feed intake, and elevated cortisol, IL-6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin. Staple strength was significantly decreased in struck sheep and did not differ between wool from sites adjacent to and remote from strike lesions. The results suggest that depression in feed intake alone is not sufficient to account for the decline in staple strength seen during fly strike. Cortisol, IL-6 and metabolic consequences of the acute phase response are likely to be major contributors to the systemic effects of blowfly strike on wool.


Cholesterol-dependent interaction of syncollin with the membrane of the pancreatic zymogen granule.
Syncollin is a protein of the pancreatic zymogen granule that was isolated through its ability to bind to syntaxin. Despite this in vitro interaction, it is now clear that syncollin is present on the luminal side of the zymogen granule membrane. Here we show that there are two pools of syncollin within the zymogen granule: one free in the lumen and the other tightly associated with the granule membrane. When unheated or cross-linked samples of membrane-derived syncollin are analysed by SDS/PAGE, higher-order forms are seen in addition to the monomer, which has an apparent molecular mass of 16 kDa. Extraction of cholesterol from the granule membrane by treatment with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin causes the detachment of syncollin, and this effect is enhanced at a high salt concentration. Purified syncollin is able to bind to brain liposomes at pH 5.0, but not at pH 11.0, a condition that also causes its extraction from granule membranes. Syncollin binds only poorly to dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes, but binding is dramatically enhanced by the inclusion of cholesterol. Finally, cholesterol can be co-immunoprecipitated with syncollin. We conclude that syncollin is able to interact directly with membrane lipids, and to insert into the granule membrane in a cholesterol-dependent manner. Membrane-associated syncollin apparently exists as a homo-oligomer, possibly consisting of six subunits, and its association with the membrane may be stabilized by electrostatic interactions with either other proteins or phospholipids.