ICF Core Sets for obstructive pulmonary diseases.
To report on the results of the consensus process integrating evidence from preliminary studies to develop the first version of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and a Brief ICF Core Set for obstructive pulmonary diseases. A formal decision-making and consensus process integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies was followed. Preliminary studies included a Delphi exercise, a systematic review and an empirical data collection. After training in the ICF and based on these preliminary studies relevant ICF categories were identified in a formal consensus process by international experts from different backgrounds. The preliminary studies identified a set of 287 ICF categories at the second, third and fourth ICF levels with 97 categories on body functions, 33 on body structures, 104 on activities and participation, and 53 on environmental factors. Seventeen experts from 8 different countries attended the consensus conference on obstructive pulmonary diseases. Altogether 67 second-level and 4 third-level categories were included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set with 19 categories from the component "body functions", 5 from "body structures", 24 from "activities and participation" and 23 from "environmental factors". The Brief ICF Core Set included a total of 17 second-level categories with 5 on "body functions", 3 on "body structures", 5 on "activities and participation" and 4 on "environmental factors". A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for obstructive pulmonary diseases. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were defined.


Creating supportive eating places: a systematic review of food service initiatives.
Obesity and diet-related health problems are complex, multi-factorial issues. Individual food choices are shaped by the wider context, and food environment level change is needed to support individual behaviour change. The food service sector can play an integral role, changing aspects of the food environment and contributing to improved consumer health. This systematic review aimed to analyse food service schemes that aimed to improve consumer health. Ten electronic databases were systematically searched to identify articles, supplemented with checking of reference lists from similar reviews and forward and backward searches to identify articles describing food service sector schemes. Sixteen schemes were identified, documented in 36 articles/reports. The schemes aimed to improve consumer health through one of three approaches-informing, enabling or engineering. In this order, these approaches involved increasing levels of effort from food services, corresponding with decreasing levels of effort for consumers. Half the schemes were informing, relying on an informed consumer to make a healthy choice. Most informing schemes had been evaluated to determine their impact on consumer choice and/or health, the evidence showed these schemes were generally ineffective. The effect of the enabling or engineering schemes on consumer choice and health had not been measured. Instead, evaluations focussed on process or business engagement rather than behavioural change assessments. This review indicates the food sector has the potential to contribute to consumer health through enabling and engineering; however, detailed outcome assessments are needed to draw definitive conclusions.


Density values of the corpus callosum in schizophrenic brains.
Density values of the corpus callosum and ventricular brain ratio (VBR) were obtained by coronal computerized tomography (CT) in 16 chronic schizophrenic patients and 16 normal controls. The corpus callosum of schizophrenic brains showed no apparent density loss which could indicate a dysfunctional brain. A significant ventricular dilatation was found in the patient group compared with age-matched controls. This finding was compatible with several former observations with transverse scanning.


Increased gelsolin expression and retarded collagen lattice contraction with smooth muscle cells from Crohn's diseased intestine.
Intestinal smooth muscle cells (SMC) produce the fibrotic tissue, strictures, that characterize Crohn's disease. These SMC change their phenotype from a contractile muscle form to an inflammation-responsive form that migrates and synthesizes a collagen matrix. It is postulated that the inflammatory responsive SMC form associates differently with its surrounding collagen matrix compared to the normal SMC form. SMC derived from Crohn's diseased and uninvolved bowel were sustained in cell culture. Cultured SMC incorporated in collagen lattices have the capacity to reduce the size of that lattice, referred to as lattice contraction. At day 2, Crohn's SMC-populated collagen lattices were reduced to 21% of their initial area, while non-Crohn's SMC collagen lattices were reduced to 8%. Crohn's SMC demonstrate retarded lattice contraction compared to non-Crohn's SMC. When grown in monolayer culture, Crohn's-derived SMC cover 30% more area than non-Crohn's SMC. By Western blot analysis Crohn's SMC express more gelsolin, an actin-binding protein found elevated in cells exhibiting increased cell motility. Was the increased expression of gelsolin related to retarded collagen lattice contraction? Intracellular levels of gelsolin were elevated by the electroporation of plasma gelsolin protein into suspended non-Crohn's SMC. When incorporated in collagen lattices, gelsolin loaded cells showed retarded lattice contraction compared to SMC loaded with albumin. Crohn's SMC show increased expression of gelsolin, which may be associated with a diminished capacity to reorganize collagen fiber bundles. It is suggested that increased concentrations of gelsolin in Crohn's SMC is consistent with enhanced cell migration as a consequence of the inflammatory state of Crohn's diseased intestine.


The NC domain of HIV-1 Gag contributes to the interaction of Gag with TSG101.
HIV-1 Gag polyprotein orchestrates the assembly of viral particles. Its C-terminus consists of the nucleocapsid (NC) domain that interacts with RNA, and the p6 domain containing the PTAP motif that binds the cellular ESCRT factor TSG101 and ALIX. Deletion of the NC domain of Gag (GagNC) results in defective Gag assembly, a decrease in virus production and, thus probably affects recruitment of the ESCRT machinery. To investigate the role of GagNC in this recruitment, we analysed its impact on TSG101 and ALIX localisations and interactions in cells expressing Gag. Cells expressing mCherry-Gag or derivatives, alone or together with eGFP-TSG101 or eGFP-ALIX, were analysed by confocal microscopy and FLIM-FRET. Chemical shift mapping between TSG101-UEV motif and Gag C-terminus was performed by NMR. We show that deletion of NC or of its two zinc fingers decreases the amount of Gag-TSG101 interacting complexes in cells. These findings are supported by NMR data showing chemical shift perturbations in the NC domain in- and outside - of the zinc finger elements upon TSG101 binding. The NMR data further identify a large stretch of amino acids within the p6 domain directly interacting with TSG101. The NC zinc fingers and p6 domain of Gag participate in the formation of the Gag-TSG101 complex and in its cellular localisation. This study illustrates that the NC and p6 domains cooperate in the interaction with TSG101 during HIV-1 budding. In addition, details on the Gag-TSG101 complex were obtained by combining two high resolution biophysical techniques.


Growth and optoelectronic application of CsPbBr3 thin films deposited by pulsed-laser deposition.
All-inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3 thin films have been prepared on Si (100) substrate by a pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) technique, and the morphology, structure, absorbance, and photoluminescence properties of CsPbBr3 thin films are investigated. A photodetector based on CsPbBr3/n-Si heterojunction has been fabricated, and the performances of the device are characterized. The heterojunction photodetector exhibits diode-like rectifying behavior, and the photocurrent-to-dark-current ratio and peak responsivity of the heterojunction are approximately 168.5 and 0.6 A/W (-5 V, 520 nm), respectively. Furthermore, the CsPbBr3/n-Si heterojunction photodetector exhibits fast response and recovery times. With good optoelectronic properties, CsPbBr3 thin films prepared by PLD should be widely applicable to high-performance photodetectors and other optoelectronic devices.


Nutritional status of rural women in relation to their participation in mixed farming in the Tafresh area of Iran.
This study was conducted in the Tafresh area of Iran to assess the dietary patterns, time allocation, and nutritional status of rural women in relation to their participation in mixed farming activities. We selected 75 women from 40 villages by applying a stratified random-sampling technique. Cereals and grains were the major source of energy intake. According to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) tables of India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the respondents seemed to have no micronutrient and energy deficiencies during the spring season. They spent most of their time and energy on household, animal husbandry, and crop farming activities. According to measurements of body mass index (BMI), the respondents were well nourished. However, despite the high level of BMI, analysis suggested a negative energy balance. Nevertheless, analysis indicated that rural women with negative energy balance spent more time and energy in mixed farming and had a higher level of participation in related activities. Hence, it is evident from the results that the physical contribution of rural women in mixed farming activities has a detrimental effect on their nutritional status, at least during some parts of the year (e.g., spring or summer). Therefore, there is a need to adjust nutritional interventions to improve the sustainability of their food intake and to develop appropriate technologies in mixed farming to alleviate their work burdens.


Ovarian serous carcinogenesis from tubal secretory cells.
Due to a poor understanding of tumorigenesis, ovarian cancers remain the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and cause horrific deaths. In the last decade, a new dualistic model for ovarian cancer was proposed, wherein ovarian serous cancers are classified as either high-grade or low-grade, with each having different tumorigenic processes, and pathologic and clinical features. Surprisingly, both high- and low-grade ovarian serous cancers were recently found to originate not in the ovaries, but rather from the secretory cells of the fallopian tube, mostly from the tubal fimbriated ends. In this article, we review the evidentiary basis for the aforementioned paradigm shift in the cell origin of ovarian serous cancers, as well as its potential clinical implications.


A new locus for hemiplegic migraine maps to chromosome 1q31.
A single familial hemiplegic migraine locus has been previously mapped to 19p13.1 and associated with mutations in a calcium channel gene (CACNL1A4). We describe a new 39-member four-generation family from Wyoming of German-Native American descent with autosomal dominant familial hemiplegic migraine that is not linked to the chromosome 19p locus. Affected individuals showed a stereotypic pattern of migrainous headache associated with hemisensory and hemiparetic attacks, without other headache types. Eighty-three percent reported minor head trauma as a trigger for individual attacks. Seventy-two percent reported other typical migraine triggers for the attacks. Attack frequency decreased with age and the overall course was benign. Genetic linkage studies of this family found strong evidence for the disease gene in this family being located at chromosome 1q31. Multipoint analysis showed lod scores > 3 in a 44-cm region flanked by D1S158 and D1S2781, using 80% penetrance and a phenocopy rate of 1/50. Haplotype and multipoint analysis, including flanking markers, suggested incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity of the disease. A single affected patient who reports atypical symptoms including daily headaches likely represents a phenocopy. This new locus for hemiplegic migraine suggests that mutations of additional calcium channels in the region may cause the disease.


Improvement of the platinum nanoparticles-carbon substrate interaction by insertion of a thiophenol molecular bridge.
The effect of thiophenol layer grafted on carbon for platinum catalyst stabilization was studied. The grafted layer was prepared by reduction of 4-thiophenoldiazonium ions in the presence of Vulcan XC72 substrate. The grafted layer was characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Platinum nanoparticles prepared by the "water in oil" microemulsion method were then deposited on modified substrates and bare Vulcan XC72. The platinum stability improvement was characterized by in situ X-ray diffraction and electrochemical aging. These experiments enabled to evidence a lower crystallite growth during heat treatment under hydrogen atmosphere and a lower active surface area loss for platinum particles deposited on modified substrates compared to those deposited on bare Vulcan XC72. This stability improvement can be attributed to a better interaction between platinum particles and carbon substrate due to the thiophenol molecular bridge.


Coordination and extraction of mercury(II) with an ionic liquid-based thione extractant.
A neutral thione extractant, 1,3-diethylimidazole-2-thione (C2C2ImT), was prepared from an ionic liquid (IL), 1,3-diethylimidazolium acetate, and used within a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide ([C2mim][NTf2]), to extract Hg(II) from aqueous solutions of HgCl2 or Hg(OAc)2. Investigations of the extraction mechanism, spectroscopic analyses of the extracted species, and crystallographic studies of the interactions of C2C2ImT with Hg(II) are reported, including the first structurally characterized Hg-NTf2 coordination compound, Hg(C2C2ImT)2(NTf2)2. Coordination complexes of the thione ligand with Hg(II) show variability in coordination numbers and geometries with stoichiometry, suggesting that the extraction mechanism is dependent on the speciation of mercury in aqueous solution. HgCl2 can form neutral, extractable complexes with the thione in aqueous solution. Hg(OAc)2 dissociates on dissolution in water and Hg(II) is extracted through a cation exchange mechanism involving [Hg(C2C2ImT)2](2+) ions. The precipitation of neutral mercury complexes from the IL following the extraction of excess mercury suggests a simple and unusual way to recycle the IL.


Evaluation of the effectiveness of Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) in the alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in the rat.
The effect of oral administration of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) on CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury was investigated. Rats were daily treated with the plant extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg corresponding to 6.04 mg/kg of carnosol as determined by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The treatment was initiated 1 h after CCl(4) administration and Rosmarinus officinalis fully prevented CCl(4) effect on hepatic lipid peroxidation after 24 h of CCl(4) administration. The increase in bilirubin level and alanine aminotransferase activity in plasma induced by CCl(4) was completely normalized by Rosmarinus officinalis. The treatment also produced a significant recovery of CCl(4)-induced decrease in liver glycogen content. CCl(4) did not modify the activity of liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) compared with that of control groups. However, Rosmarinus officinalis increased liver cytosolic GST activity and produced an additional increment in plasma GST activity in rats treated with CCl(4). Histological evaluation showed that Rosmarinus officinalis partially prevented CCl(4)-induced inflammation, necrosis and vacuolation. Rosmarinus officinalis might exert a dual effect on CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury, acting as an antioxidant and improving GST-dependent detoxification systems.


Structural Implications of Mutations Conferring Rifampin Resistance in Mycobacterium leprae.
The rpoB gene encodes the β subunit of RNA polymerase holoenzyme in Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). Missense mutations in the rpoB gene were identified as etiological factors for rifampin resistance in leprosy. In the present study, we identified mutations corresponding to rifampin resistance in relapsed leprosy cases from three hospitals in southern India which treat leprosy patients. DNA was extracted from skin biopsies of 35 relapse/multidrug therapy non-respondent leprosy cases, and PCR was performed to amplify the 276 bp rifampin resistance-determining region of the rpoB gene. PCR products were sequenced, and mutations were identified in four out of the 35 cases at codon positions D441Y, D441V, S437L and H476R. The structural and functional effects of these mutations were assessed in the context of three-dimensional comparative models of wild-type and mutant M. leprae RNA polymerase holoenzyme (RNAP), based on the recently solved crystal structures of RNAP of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, containing a synthetic nucleic acid scaffold and rifampin. The resistance mutations were observed to alter the hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions of rifampin and the 5' ribonucleotide of the growing RNA transcript. This study demonstrates that rifampin-resistant strains of M. leprae among leprosy patients in southern India are likely to arise from mutations that affect the drug-binding site and stability of RNAP.


Alexithymia in patients with conversion disorder.
In the recent years, it has been observed that alexithymia is not specified for the psychosomatic disorders. It is known that alexithymia is observed frequently in various psychiatric disorders especially in the somatoform disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate alexithymia in the patients with the conversion disorder. The study was performed in the Psychiatry Outpatients Clinics of the Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital and Erenköy Psychiatry Education and Research Hospital. A total of 93 cases-47 outpatients who were diagnosed with conversion disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria and 46 age, gender and educational level matched healthy controls-were included in the study. All the cases were assessed by a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and were evaluated with a questionnaire (which included demographics and clinical data), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale. When the two groups were compared, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale scores (except "externally oriented thinking" subscale) and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale score of the conversion disorder group were statistically significantly higher than the control group. The number of the alexithymic cases of the patient group was significantly higher than the control group's. The level of alexithymia in conversion disorder patients, without any other psychiatric disorder, is higher than that of the healthy controls. During the evaluation of the psychological state of patients with conversion disorder, it could be useful to keep in mind the probability of them having alexithymia to determine the type of suitable therapy.


Hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor-2 down-regulates hepcidin expression in mice through an erythropoietin-mediated increase in erythropoiesis.
Iron metabolism, regulated by the iron hormone hepcidin, and oxygen homeostasis, dependent on hypoxia-inducible factors, are strongly interconnected. We previously reported that in mice in which both liver hypoxia-inducible factors-1 and -2 are stabilized (the hepatocyte von Hippel-Lindau knockout mouse model), hepcidin expression was strongly repressed and we hypothesized that hypoxia-inducible factor-2 could be the major regulatory component contributing to the hepcidin down-regulation. We generated and analyzed hepatocyte-specific knockout mice harboring either hypoxia-inducible factor-2α deficiency (Hif2a knockout) or constitutive hypoxia-inducible factor-2α stabilization (Vhlh/Hif1a knockout) and ex vivo systems (primary hepatocyte cultures). Hif2a knockout mice were fed an iron-deficient diet for 2 months and Vhlh/Hif1a knockout mice were treated with neutralizing erythropoietin antibody. We demonstrated that hypoxia-inducible factor-2 is dispensable in hepcidin gene regulation in the context of an adaptive response to iron-deficiency anemia. However, its overexpression in the double Vhlh/Hif1a hepatocyte-specific knockout mice indirectly down-regulates hepcidin expression through increased erythropoiesis and erythropoietin production. Experiments in primary hepatocytes confirmed the non-autonomous role of hypoxia-inducible factor-2 in hepcidin regulation. While our results indicate that hypoxia-inducible factor-2 is not directly involved in hepcidin repression, they highlight the contribution of hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor-2 to the repression of hepcidin through erythropoietin-mediated increased erythropoiesis, a result of potential clinical interest.


[Molecular genetics of Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy].
The X-linked gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)/Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) encodes dystrophin, a high-molecular-weight cytoskeletal protein. The identification of the dystrophin gene through positional cloning, and the subsequent description of its protein product have opened several new fields of research and genetic diagnosis. Studies in our laboratory revealed that 26 out of 47 (55%) cases of DMD and nine out of 12 (75%) cases of BMD exhibited genomic deletion. The DMD phenotype is associated with mutations that shift the reading frame of the message, whereas the BMD phenotype is associated with mutations that maintain the reading frame. Immunofluorescence microscopy has established dystrophin's distribution on the plasma membrane of muscles. DMD patients demonstrate a lack of dystrophin on their muscle cell membrane, whereas BMD patients produce a limited amount of protein or abnormally sized protein. Extensive studies on dystrophin and the gene may lead to an understanding of the cause for this and may allow development of a rational treatment for DMD to be developed.


Identification of methotrexate transport deficiency in mammalian cells using fluoresceinated methotrexate and flow cytometry.
We have studied the frequency of transport mutations in methotrexate-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells using a rapid-flow cytometric technique. After saturating cells with fluoresceinated methotrexate, we examined the ability of hydrophilic and lipophilic antifolates to displace fluoresceinated methotrexate binding to dihydrofolate reductase. Cells with methotrexate transport deficiency are unable to take up methotrexate and thus retain the fluorescence, whereas the lipophilic antifolates displace fluoresceinated methotrexate equally well in sensitive and resistant cell lines. These resistant clones fail to take up methotrexate and occur with high frequencies upon single-step selections at methotrexate concentrations approximately equal to 7-fold the 50% killing concentration. The majority of such first-step resistant clones appear to derive their resistance solely from transport deficiency; they exhibit no overproduction of dihydrofolate reductase and no increase in either steady-state mRNA levels or gene copy number. Possible applications of the use of fluoresceinated methotrexate to the characterization of various mechanisms of methotrexate resistance in mixed cell populations are discussed.


Equivalence randomized controlled trial of bioresorbable versus titanium miniplates in treatment of mandibular fracture: a pilot study.
The present study was undertaken to test bioresorbable fixation versus titanium for equivalence in terms of clinical union and complications using the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons parameters of care. The study design was a randomized, controlled, equivalence trial. A total of 40 patients were enrolled and allocated to the titanium group and bioresorbable group using a computerized randomization table. All were plated using standard plating principles. In the bioresorbable group, 2 weeks of maxillomandibular fixation was also used. Evaluation of the study endpoint was done at 8 weeks postoperatively. For statistical analysis, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval was calculated for failure to achieve the primary outcome variable and compared with the maximal clinically acceptable difference between the standard and test modalities in the failure to achieve clinical union (delta). Delta was predetermined as 2%. The other complications were tested for significance using Fisher's exact test. Of the 40 patients, 21 were in the titanium group and 19 were in the bioresorbable group, with 20 men and 1 woman in the titanium group and 18 men and 1 woman in the bioresorbable group. The mean age was 28.7 years in the titanium group and 26.6 years in the bioresorbable group. In the titanium group, the complications noted were nonunion in 0%, malocclusion in 7.7%, continued postoperative swelling in 0%, chronic pain in 2%, infection in 5.2%, an inability to chew hard food after 8 weeks in 7.7%, the need for alternative treatment in 0%, and the need for reoperation in 31%. In the bioresorbable group, the complications were nonunion in 4.17%, malocclusion in 11.1%, swelling in 8.3%, chronic pain in 37.5%, infection in 0%, an inability to chew hard food in 11.1%, the need for alternative treatment in 11.1%, and need for reoperation for plate removal in 0%. The small sample size did not allow any meaningful conclusion to be drawn from the present study in terms of the primary question of achieving union. Both groups matched in outcomes when evaluated only on a clinical basis. The avoidance of repeat surgery for plate removal is a definite advantage of using resorbable plates. However, the results are inconclusive in favor of any particular plating system.


The effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the cellular function of intestinal epithelial cells.
Previously, using in vivo models, we have demonstrated that ischemia/reperfusion can increase intestinal mucosal permeability, promote bacterial translocation, and induce gut cytokine production. Because of the cellular heterogeneity of the gut, however, studies investigating the direct effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation on intestinal epithelial cells are confounded in in vivo model systems. Consequently, this study examines oxidant-mediated enterocyte injury using an in vitro intestinal enterocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation model system. Two intestinal epithelial cell lines, IEC-6 and Caco-2, were seeded onto 3-microm filters in a Transwell bicameral system and grown until tight junction integrity was established. Cells were subjected to hypoxia in a sealed chamber with 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide and incubated at 37 degrees C for 60 or 90 minutes. Reoxygenation was initiated by replacing the media and putting the cells in an environment of room air plus 5% carbon dioxide. Permeability and bacterial translocation were assayed by measuring the phenol red concentration and culturing the bacteria that crossed the cell monolayer and reached the basal chamber of the bicameral system. Monolayer tight junction integrity was monitored by serial measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and cell viability was assessed by trypan blue dye. IEC-6 cell monolayers subjected to 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia showed significantly higher permeability to phenol red, with 54+/-5% and 57+/-5% of the dye crossing the monolayers, respectively, compared with normoxic control (38+/-2%; p < 0.01). Caco-2 cell monolayers also had increased permeability to phenol red, with 24+/-6% and 20+/-4% of the phenol red crossing the monolayer after 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia, respectively, compared with 8+/-3% in the normoxic controls (p < 0.01). At 3 hours after challenge with Escherichia coli, the monolayers subjected to 60 or 90 minutes of hypoxia had significantly increased bacterial translocation (IEC-6 cells, p < 0.05; Caco-2 cells, p < 0.01) compared with controls. The increased permeability of the hypoxic Caco-2 and IEC-6 monolayers was associated with a decrease in TEER beginning as early as 1 hour after reoxygenation (p < 0.01). Cell viability, however, was not decreased. These results indicate that hypoxia/reoxygenation can directly impair cellular function as manifested by increased monolayer permeability to phenol red, increased E. coli bacterial translocation, and a decrease in TEER values.


EXPLORING THE USE OF THE ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE AS AN INFLAMMATORY MARKER FOR FREE-RANGING WILDLIFE: A CASE STUDY IN AFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER).
Measuring inflammatory markers is critical to evaluating both recent infection status and overall human and animal health; however, there are relatively few techniques that do not require specialized equipment or personnel for detecting inflammation among wildlife. Such techniques are useful in that they help determine individual and population-level inflammatory status without the infrastructure and reagents that many more-specific assays require. One such technique, known as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a measure of how quickly erythrocytes (red blood cells) settle in serum, with a faster rate indicating a general, underlying inflammatory process is occurring. The technique is simple, inexpensive, and can be performed in the field without specialized equipment. We took advantage of a population of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), well studied from June 2014 to May 2017, to understand the utility of ESR in an important wildlife species. When ESR was compared with other markers of immunity in African buffalo, it correlated to known measures of inflammation. We found that a faster ESR was significantly positively correlated with increased total globulin levels and significantly negatively correlated with increased red blood cell count and albumin levels. We then evaluated if ESR correlated to the incidence of five respiratory pathogens and infection with two tick-borne pathogens in African buffalo. Our results suggest that elevated ESR is associated with the incidence of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection, parainfluenza virus, and Mannheimia haemolytica infections as well as concurrent Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale coinfection. These findings suggest that ESR is a useful field test as an inflammatory marker in individuals and herds, helping us better monitor overall health status in wild populations.


Laser therapy and surgical treatment in transfusion-dependent patients with upper-gastrointestinal vascular ectasia.
We report the results of endoscopic laser therapy on 59 patients with upper gastrointestinal vascular ectasia. After 300 sessions, complications were two nonbleeding and three bleeding ulcers, treated successfully with endoscopic therapy. After treatment, blood transfusions were abolished in 61% and reduced in 22% of the patients, whereas 17% of the patients were nonresponders and 5% died for bleeding. Treatment outcome correlated with endoscopic healing, number of yearly transfusions, and lesions' localization. Patients, who did not respond to laser therapy by the sixth session, showed no improvement afterwards. Four patients with persistence of bleeding despite laser therapy underwent surgery and in three of them, a long-term control of bleeding was obtained. In conclusion, laser therapy was safe and effective; nonetheless, surgical treatment should be considered, after adequate staging, for those patients receiving more than 10 blood units per year or who have undergone more than six laser sessions without improvement.


Monoclonal Antibodies Specific to the Extracellular Domain of Histidine Kinase YycG of Staphylococcus epidermidis Inhibit Biofilm Formation.
Staphylococcus epidermidis is frequently associated with biofilm-related infections. Biofilms drastically reduce the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and the host immune system. In S. epidermidis biofilm formation, a major role is played by the YycG/YycF two-component system, and previous findings have indicated that inhibitors targeting the cytoplasmic HATPase_c domain of YycG kinase in S. epidermidis exhibit bactericidal and biofilm-killing activities. Therefore, we hypothesized that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against YycG extracellular (YycGex) domain would block the signal transduction and influence the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. In this study, we screened out two YycGex-specific mAbs showing the highest affinity for the target, mAbs 2F3 and 1H1. These mAbs inhibited S. epidermidis biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner, and at a concentration of 160 μg/mL, mAbs 2F3 and 1H1 caused 78.3 and 93.1% biofilm reduction, respectively, relative to normal mouse IgG control. When co-cultivated with YycGex mAbs, S. epidermidis cells showed diminished initial-adherence capacity, and the antibody treatment further led to a marked decrease in the synthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin and in the transcriptional level of genes encoding proteins involved in biofilm formation. Lastly, we determined that the epitopes recognized by the two YycGex mAbs are located within aa 59-70 of the YycGex domain. It indicates that the YycGex domain may be a potential candidate as a vaccine for the prevention of S. epidermidis biofilm infections.


Effects of a health examination programme on quality of life and subjective well-being.
The effects on quality of life and psychological well-being of a health examination programme in a branch of Swedish industry were studied by means of questionnaires in 124 white-collar workers. They were asked to answer two questionnaires, one before and the other one month after the examination (the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the Psychological General Well-being Schedule (PGWB)). Both are well-known and well-documented standard questionnaires used for estimating quality of life and degree of subjective well-being. The answers were compared with those of a control group comprising other white-collar workers in the same industry, of the same sex and age but who did not participate in the health examination and who were asked to complete the same questionnaires twice. The group that had participated in the health examination did not differ generally from the control group with respect to intra-individual differences as studied in the questionnaires on the two occasions. This indicates that no deterioration of quality of life or of psychological well-being was experienced by the participants in the health examination.


Thalidomide Embryopathy as Possible Cause of Anterior Sacral Meningocele: A Case Report.
A 54-year-old male presented with a sudden burning sensation during urination and left flank pain. Apart from having congenital facial palsy and malformation of the inner right ear that was linked to thalidomide embryopathy, the patient has always been in good health. Urine examination showed the presence of a urinary tract infection. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a large cyst in the lower abdomen, which on MRI corresponded to a large anterior sacral meningocele (ASM) with sacral agenesis at S1/S2. After antibiotic treatment and the spontaneous passage of a kidney stone, the symptoms resolved. This suggests that the patient's acute symptoms were caused by the urolithiasis and not the ASM. Thalidomide is teratogenic between days 17 and 30 after conception. The neural tube closes between days 20 and 36, therefore, thalidomide embryopathy was the possible cause of ASM in this patient. Birth Defects Research 109:1390-1392, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


[Role of androgen in the elderly. Dementia and androgen].
It has been shown that age-related decline in androgen secretion is associated with cognitive impairment and the risk of dementia. Epidemiological studies using community-dwelling older people and observational studies enrolling subjects with cognitive impairment have demonstrated that older men with lower androgen levels have lower cognitive function and are likely to develop dementia. In contrast, the efficacy of androgen replacement therapy on cognitive function or dementia remains to be addressed, although some preliminary studies have reported positive effects on cognitive function. Randomized controlled trials and mechanistic clarification are required in the future.


9-H-9-Borafluorene dimethyl sulfide adduct: a product of a unique ring-contraction reaction and a useful hydroboration reagent.
The dimethyl sulfide adduct 2(DMS) is a crystalline storage form of the unstable hydroboration reagent 9-H-9-borafluorene (2); 2(DMS) is available by the addition of DMS to either in situ generated [2](2) or 1,2-(2,2'-biphenylylene)diborane(6) (7).


Age group differences in response to treatment for problematic alcohol use.
That structural characteristics act as markers of modified treatment outcome is a long standing idea in the alcohol treatment field. In order to test whether patient age is a factor to be considered in making treatment assignments, we examined data collected under a clinical trial. Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: extended cognitive behavioral treatment (CB), relationship enhancement (RE), or relationship and vocational enhancement (VE). This paper reports on outcome (alcohol use) 3-6 months after treatment assignment. Our question was, would different age groups assigned to the treatment conditions exhibit different outcomes? There were no significant main effects by either treatment condition or age group. There was a significant treatment condition by age group interaction. With increasing age, the differences in treatment seemed to increase. For the younger aged group (18-29 years old) no statistically significant treatment differences were detected. Middle aged patients (30-49 years old) did best in the RE condition. Older aged patients (50 + years old) did best when assigned to the CB condition. These findings lead us to conclude that patient age is a variable which should be considered when testing patient-treatment matching hypotheses.


Biological and biochemical relationships between the nucleopolyhedroviruses of Mamestra brassicae and Heliothis armigera.
The multiply embedded nucleopolyhedroviruses (MNPV) originally isolated from Mamestra brassicae (German and Dutch isolates) and Heliothis armigera have been studied comparatively to establish their relatedness, both in terms of biological activity and genomic homology. All three viral isolates replicated in M. brassicae, H. armigera, Heliothis zea, and Heliothis virescens, resulting in each case in progeny virus that was essentially similar to the inoculum. Dose-mortality studies carried out on M. brassicae and H. armigera indicate that these viruses do not differ significantly with respect to their virulence to these insects. The same studies also clearly indicate that the susceptibility of M. brassicae and H. armigera larvae to viral infection differs significantly with increasing larval age. The increase in LD(50) values from L1 to L4 is, in fact, over 40,000-fold for M. brassicae, while it is only 1300-fold for H. armigera. The results of the present study also confirm that all three isolates are genetically closely related. Due to their high degree of homology and almost identical biological activity, it is suggested that these isolates should be considered variants of a single virus species.


Information needed to support knowing the patient.
"Knowing the patient" is an essential element of nursing practice. Despite a key finding in prior studies, few scholars have directly inquired about the meaning of knowing the patient with nurses. We aimed to describe the meaning of knowing the patient and investigate how nurses obtain the information needed to support knowing the patient. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 12 nurses caring for pediatric patients on intensive care units. Nurses described knowing the patient as knowing clinical and personal information for individualized care. Verbal, paper-based, and electronic information sources were used to gather information needed to know the patient. The use of a paper-based supportive tool was the most valuable information source for nurses to know their patients. Future studies must further investigate the use of these paper-based tools and offer electronic solutions to support nurses in knowing their patients.


Trichomonad invasion of the mucous layer requires adhesins, mucinases, and motility.
Trichomonas vaginalis, the causal agent of trichomonosis, is a flagellated parasitic protozoan that colonises the epithelial cells of the human urogenital tract. The ability of T vaginalis to colonise this site is in part a function of its ability to circumvent a series of non-specific host defences including the mucous layer covering epithelial cells at the site of infection. Mucin, the framework molecule of mucus, forms a lattice structure that serves as a formidable physical barrier to microbial invasion. The mechanism by which trichomonads traverse the mucous covering is unknown. Proteolytic degradation of mucin, however, may provide for a mechanism to penetrate this layer. The goal, therefore, was to determine how trichomonads cross through a mucous layer. Secreted trichomonad proteinases were analysed for mucinase activity by mucin substrate-sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The importance of trichomonad mucinases for traversing the mucous layer was examined on an artificial mucin layer in invasion chambers. Adherence to mucin and tissue culture cells was measured using a microtitre plate assay. Trichomonad isolate 24402 secreted five proteinases when incubated in PBS. All five proteinases were shown to possess mucinase activity. These mucinases were able to degrade bovine submaxillary mucin and to a lesser extent porcine stomach mucin. These enzymes were active over a pH range of 4.5-7.0 and were inhibited with cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Furthermore, T vaginalis was shown to bind to mucin possibly via a lectin-like adhesin. Adherence to mucin was increased threefold when parasites were grown in iron deficient medium. Adherence to soluble mucin prevented attachment to HeLa cells. Proteinase activity, adherence, and motility were required for trichomonads to traverse a mucin layer in vitro. These results show that trichomonads can traverse the mucous barrier first by binding mucin followed by its proteolytic degradation. The data further underscore the importance of trichomonad proteinases in the pathogenesis of trichomonosis. Finally, this study suggests that interference with trichomonad mucin receptors and proteinases may be a strategy to prevent colonisation by this parasite.


[Dosimetric analysis on the region of perpendicular electron-photon matching fields].
Hot spots and cold spots always appear in the matched region of electron-photon fields. The degree of this kind of dose heterogeneity depends on the physical characteristic of a treatment unit and the energy of electrons. In this paper, a set of dosimetric parameters have been measured on electron rays and x rays for the Elekta Precise treatment unit and the Elekta Synergy treatment unit, respectively. The hot spots and cold spots in the region of perpendicular electron-photon matching fields have been analysed quantitatively. The method to extend penumbra for photon beam profiles was proposed for improving the dose uniformity in the matched regions. And the dose profiles in the matched regions for different treatment units were compared. The results showed that there were stronger hot spots and cold spots for treatment unit with smaller penumbra for photon beams either under the condition of unmodified photon beam profile or the condition of modified photon beam profile.


Hybrid density-functional theory and the insulating gap of UO2.
We report the first calculations carried out with a periodic boundary condition code capable of examining hybrid density-functional theory (DFT) for f-element solids. We apply it to the electronic structure of the traditional Mott insulator UO2, and find that it correctly yields an antiferromagnetic insulator as opposed to the ferromagnetic metal predicted by the local spin density and generalized gradient approximations. The gap, density of states, and optimum lattice constant are all in good agreement with experiment. We stress that this results from the functional and the variational principle alone. We compare our results with the more traditional approximations.


Driver Behaviour Questionnaire: a follow-up study.
The aim of the present study was to investigate time-across stability of different factor solutions (two to six factors) of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) and to examine the changes on self-reported driving pattern in a follow-up sample (n=622) after three years of the first responses. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that there was a significant change between Time 1 and Time 2 scores in six items of the DBQ. Drivers reported less competitiveness while driving at Time 2 but more speeding, drinking and driving, driving to wrong destinations and having no recollection of the road just travelled. Significant Time x Sex x Age interactions were found in change scores of four items. Young males and middle-aged female drivers emerged as a group of drivers who changed their self-reported driving pattern over three years. Additionally, sex, age or both had main effects on scores of 21 items. Males and young drivers reported more violations than females and older drivers, whereas female drivers reported more errors and lapses. After running possible factor solutions with Tucker's Phi agreement coefficients, the results indicated that the four- and two-factor solutions were the most stable and interpretable ones. The two-factor solution showed better time-across stability than the four-factor structure did, although the factor solutions found at Time 1 and Time 2 were not as identical as expected. Separate analysis revealed that drivers who had high annual mileage at Time 1 and Time 2 showed the strongest two-factor time-across stability. The test-retest reliability was 0.50 for errors, 0.76 for violations and 0.61 for the whole scale.


Mitoxosome: a mitochondrial platform for cross-talk between cellular stress and antiviral signaling.
Evidence is accumulating that the mitochondria form an integral platform from which innate signaling takes place. Recent studies revealed that the mitochondria are shaping the innate response to intracellular pathogens, and mitochondrial function is modulating and being modulated by innate immune signaling. Further, cell biologic analyses have uncovered the dynamic relocalization of key components involved in cytosolic viral recognition and signaling to the mitochondria, as well as the mobilization of mitochondria to the sites of viral replication. In this review, we provide an integrated view of how cellular stress and signals following cytosolic viral recognition are intimately linked and coordinated at the mitochondria. We incorporate recent findings into our current understanding of the role of mitochondrial function in antiviral immunity and suggest the existence of a 'mitoxosome', a mitochondrial oxidative signalosome where multiple pathways of viral recognition and cellular stress converge on the surface of the mitochondria to facilitate a coordinated antiviral response.


Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy in oral cavity at unusual age.
The melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is an extremely rare, fast-growing but benign lesion, commonly occurring in the maxilla of children within the first year of life. Only about 380 cases of this particular tumor have been documented in the medical literature and very few of them have been reported to have occurred in late childhood. We describe here a relatively uncommon presentation of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy of maxilla arising from palatal gingiva of a 10 year-old female, its course and management by surgical excision with safe margins.


A Novel Dissection Gesture Classification to Characterize Robotic Dissection Technique for Renal Hilar Dissection.
Deconstruction of robotic surgical gestures into semantic vocabulary yields an effective tool for surgical education. In this study we disassembled tissue dissection into basic gestures, created a classification system, and showed its ability to distinguish between experts and novices. Videos of renal hilum preparation during robotic assisted partial nephrectomies were manually reviewed to identify all discrete surgical movements. Identified dissection movements were classified into distinct gestures based on the consensus of 6 expert surgeons. This classification system was then employed to compare expert and novice dissection patterns during the renal hilum preparation. A total of 40 robotic renal hilum preparation videos were reviewed, representing 16 from 6 expert surgeons (100 or more robotic cases) and 24 from 13 novice surgeons (fewer than 100 robotic cases). Overall 9,819 surgical movements were identified, including 5,667 dissection movements and 4,152 supporting movements. Nine distinct dissection gestures were identified and classified into the 3 categories of single blunt dissection (spread, peel/push, hook), single sharp dissection (cold cut, hot cut and burn dissect) and combination gestures (pedicalize, 2-hand spread, and coagulate then cut). Experts completed 5 of 9 dissection gestures more efficiently than novices (p ≤0.033). In consideration of specific anatomical locations, experts used more peel/push and less hot cut while dissecting the renal vein (p <0.001), and used more pedicalize while dissecting the renal artery (p <0.001). Using this novel dissection gesture classification system, key differences in dissection patterns can be found between experts/novices. This comprehensive classification of dissection gestures may be broadly applied to streamline surgical education.


Detection of high density lipoprotein binding proteins with a new method using apolipoprotein AI-DNP as a ligand.
To detect high density lipoprotein binding proteins, a new ligand blotting method that uses apolipoprotein AI-dinitrophenol as a ligand was established. Apolipoprotein AI-dinitrophenol was prepared by incubating the mixture of apolipoprotein AI and 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid sodium salt at pH 8.5. Four to six dinitrophenol groups were found to be conjugated with an apolipoprotein AI molecule without any obvious impairment of its binding activity to the binding proteins. By this detection procedure, we detected two apolipoprotein AI binding proteins in plasma membrane fractions from bovine liver and adrenal cortex with molecular masses of 120 kDa and 95 kDa. Since this new ligand blotting method is simple and time-saving, it is expected to become a useful tool in the studies on high density lipoprotein binding proteins.


Consensus on Indications for Medial Cuneiform Opening Wedge (Cotton) Osteotomy in the Treatment of Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity.
Forefoot varus is a physical and radiographic examination finding associated with the Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity (PCFD). Varus position of the forefoot relative to the hindfoot is caused by medial midfoot collapse with apex plantar angulation of the medial column. Some surgeons use the term forefoot supination to describe this same deformity (see Introduction section with nomenclature). Correction of this deformity is important to restore the weightbearing tripod of the foot and help resist a recurrence of foot collapse. When the forefoot varus deformity is isolated to the medial metatarsal and medial cuneiform, correction is indicated with an opening wedge medial cuneiform (Cotton) osteotomy, typically with interposition of an allograft bone wedge from 5 to 11 mm in width at the base. When the forefoot varus is global, involving varus angulation of the entire forefoot and midfoot relative to the hindfoot, other procedures are needed to adequately correct the deformity. Level V, consensus, expert opinion.


Conjugative plasmid transfer is limited by prophages but can be overcome by high conjugation rates.
Antibiotic resistance spread via plasmids is a serious threat to successfully fight infections and makes understanding plasmid transfer in nature crucial to prevent the rise of antibiotic resistance. Studies addressing the dynamics of plasmid conjugation have yet neglected one omnipresent factor: prophages (viruses integrated into bacterial genomes), whose activation can kill host and surrounding bacterial cells. To investigate the impact of prophages on conjugation, we combined experiments and mathematical modelling. Using Escherichia coli, prophage λ and the multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 we find that prophages can substantially limit the spread of conjugative plasmids. This inhibitory effect was strongly dependent on environmental conditions and bacterial genetic background. Our empirically parameterized model reproduced experimental dynamics of cells acquiring either the prophage or the plasmid well but could only reproduce the number of cells acquiring both elements by assuming complex interactions between conjugative plasmids and prophages in sequential infections. Varying phage and plasmid infection parameters over empirically realistic ranges revealed that plasmids can overcome the negative impact of prophages through high conjugation rates. Overall, the presence of prophages introduces an additional death rate for plasmid carriers, the magnitude of which is determined in non-trivial ways by the environment, the phage and the plasmid. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.


Development of a New Ion Mobility (Quadrupole) Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer.
A new ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) platform was developed to improve upon the sensitivity and reproducibility of our previous platforms, and further enhance IMS-MS utility for broad 'pan-omics' measurements. The new platform incorporated an improved electrospray ionization source and interface for enhanced sensitivity, and providing the basis for further benefits based upon implementation of multiplexed IMS. The ion optics included electrodynamic ion funnels at both the entrance and exit of the IMS, an ion funnel trap for ion injection, and a design in which nearly all ion optics (e.g. drift rings, ion funnels) were fabricated using printed circuit board technology. The IMS resolving power achieved was ~73 for singly-charged ions, very close to the predicted diffusion-limited resolving power (~75). The platform's performance evaluation (e.g. for proteomics measurements) include LC-IMS-TOF MS datasets for 30 technical replicates for a trypsin digested human serum, and included platform performance in each dimension (LC, IMS and MS) separately.


Pinus thunbergii bark extract rich in flavonoids promotes hair growth in dorsal skin by regulating inflammatory cytokines and increasing growth factors in mice.
Korean maritime pine bark (Pinus thunbergii) has been used as an alternative medicine due to its beneficial properties, including anti‑inflammatory effects. To date, the anti‑inflammatory and hair growth‑promoting effects of Pinus densiflora bark extract have remained elusive. Therefore, in the present study, Pinus thunbergii bark was extracted with pure water (100˚C) and the extract was examined to determine its polyphenol and flavonoid content. C57BL/6 mice were used to assess the effects of the extract to promote hair growth. The extract (1, 2 and 4%) was topically applied onto shaved dorsal skin and hair growth was observed for 17 days. A significant increase in hair growth was observed with 2 and 4% extract. Based on this finding, the optimal dose of the extract for effective hair growth promotion was determined to be 2%. The mechanisms of hair growth promotion were investigated via immunohistochemical analysis of changes in inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the hair follicles following treatment with 2% extract. The treatment reduced the levels of TNF‑α and IL‑1β, which are pro‑inflammatory cytokines, while it enhanced the levels of IL‑4 and IL‑13, which are anti‑inflammatory cytokines, in the hair follicles. In addition, elevated insulin‑like growth factor I and vascular epidermal growth factor were detected in hair follicles following treatment. Based on these findings, it was suggested that the extract of Pinus thunbergii bark may be utilized for hair loss prevention and/or hair growth promotion.


Evaluation of a Care Management Program for Pediatric Epilepsy Patients.
To evaluate the impact of a pediatric epilepsy care management intervention on emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and seizure freedom. We conducted a prospective observational study at a single academic medical center. Children with epilepsy with high risk of frequent emergency department use were enrolled in the intervention from January through May 2015, which included a baseline visit and follow-up support from a care management team. Controls selected from the same institution received standard of care. Baseline and follow-up information were collected from electronic health records and surveys (Family Impact Scale, Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-Management Questionnaire). Propensity score-weighted logistic regression compared emergency department visits, unplanned hospitalizations, and 3-month seizure freedom after 1 year in the intervention vs control groups. A total of 56 children were enrolled in the intervention and 359 received standard of care. The intervention group was younger and had greater use of health services at baseline. When comparing the intervention to standard of care after 1 year, we found no significant difference in the risk of any emergency department visit (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-8.5) or seizure freedom (adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.3-21.5). However, the risk of unplanned hospital admissions remained higher in the intervention group (adjusted OR 23.1, 95% CI 5.1-104). We did not find that children with epilepsy who received a care management intervention had less use of health services or better clinical outcomes after a year compared with controls. The study is limited by small sample size and nonrandomized study design.


Reduced Cytosolic Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase Activity Leads to Loss of O(2) Sensitivity in a Flaveria linearis Mutant.
The mutant plant of Flaveria linearis characterized by Brown et al. (Plant Physiol. 81: 212-215) was studied to determine the cause of the reduced sensitivity to O(2). Analysis of CO(2) assimilation metabolites of freeze clamped leaves revealed that both 3-phosphoglycerate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate were high in the mutant plant relative to F. linearis with normal O(2) sensitivity. The k(cat) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) was equal in all plant material tested (range 18-22 s(-1)) indicating that no tight binding inhibitor was present. The degree of RuBPCase carbamylation was reduced in the mutant plant relative to the wild-type plant. Since 3-phosphoglycerate was high in the mutant plant and photosynthesis did not exhibit properties associated with RuBPCase limitations, we believe that the decarbamylation of RuBPCase was a consequence of another lesion in photosynthesis. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and its precursors, such as the triose phosphates, were in high concentration in the mutant plant relative to the wild type. The concentrations of the product of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase reaction, fructose 6-phosphate, and its isomer, glucose 6-phosphate, were the same in both plants. We found that the mutant plant had up to 75% less cytosolic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activity than the wild type but comparable levels of stromal fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. We conclude that the reduced fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity restricts the mutant plant's capacity for sucrose synthesis and this leads to reduced or reversed O(2) sensitivity.


Human-Robot Interaction: Status and Challenges.
The current status of human-robot interaction (HRI) is reviewed, and key current research challenges for the human factors community are described. Robots have evolved from continuous human-controlled master-slave servomechanisms for handling nuclear waste to a broad range of robots incorporating artificial intelligence for many applications and under human supervisory control. This mini-review describes HRI developments in four application areas and what are the challenges for human factors research. In addition to a plethora of research papers, evidence of success is manifest in live demonstrations of robot capability under various forms of human control. HRI is a rapidly evolving field. Specialized robots under human teleoperation have proven successful in hazardous environments and medical application, as have specialized telerobots under human supervisory control for space and repetitive industrial tasks. Research in areas of self-driving cars, intimate collaboration with humans in manipulation tasks, human control of humanoid robots for hazardous environments, and social interaction with robots is at initial stages. The efficacy of humanoid general-purpose robots has yet to be proven. HRI is now applied in almost all robot tasks, including manufacturing, space, aviation, undersea, surgery, rehabilitation, agriculture, education, package fetch and delivery, policing, and military operations.


Integrated computational approach for in silico design of new purinyl pyridine derivatives as B-Raf kinase inhibitors.
B-Raf is one among the most frequently mutating proto-oncogene which is associated with the serine/threonine Raf kinase family involved in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, which is the most deregulated pathway in human cancers. Mutant B-Raf V600E got an excellent scope for investigation in cancer as a potential therapeutic target. Formerly B-RafV600E is considered the molecular target for numerous antitumor compounds like purinyl pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives. In the current research work using molecular docking approach of Schrodinger Glide 5.6 version, ligand docking, pharmacophore-based virtual screening, binding free energy calculations of a series of 2-amino purinyl pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives were modeled, their docking values were predicted, that were considered to be potent against B-Raf V600E. A five-point hypothesis accompanied by a hydrogen bond acceptor(A), two hydrogen bond donors(D), and two aromatic rings (R) was built with a justifiable R2 value of 0.91 and a Q2 value of 0.64. Then by using Asinex Elite Synergy database, virtual screening was performed, and identified several potential hits. Subsequently, the molecules which had interactions with the target B-Raf kinase were determined by subjecting the obtained hits for SP and XP docking processes. Finally, for the top leads obtained, binding free energies were accomplished. About 16 new purinyl pyridine molecules were also designed. Almost nine molecules manifested crucial ligand interactions and binding free energies. At the outset, this research paved the way for us in spotting new molecules with B-Raf inhibitory activity, which can further be explored to design molecules with enhanced pharmacokinetic profiles.


Arthropod visual predators in the early pelagic ecosystem: evidence from the Burgess Shale and Chengjiang biotas.
Exceptional fossil specimens with preserved soft parts from the Maotianshan Shale (ca 520 Myr ago) and the Burgess Shale (505 Myr ago) biotas indicate that the worldwide distributed bivalved arthropod Isoxys was probably a non-benthic visual predator. New lines of evidence come from the functional morphology of its powerful prehensile frontal appendages that, combined with large spherical eyes, are thought to have played a key role in the recognition and capture of swimming or epibenthic prey. The swimming and steering of this arthropod was achieved by the beating of multiple setose exopods and a flap-like telson. The appendage morphology of Isoxys indicates possible phylogenetical relationships with the megacheirans, a widespread group of assumed predator arthropods characterized by a pre-oral 'great appendage'. Evidence from functional morphology and taphonomy suggests that Isoxys was able to migrate through the water column and was possibly exploiting hyperbenthic niches for food. Although certainly not unique, the case of Isoxys supports the idea that off-bottom animal interactions such as predation, associated with complex feeding strategies and behaviours (e.g. vertical migration and hunting) were established by the Early Cambrian. It also suggests that a prototype of a pelagic food chain had already started to build-up at least in the lower levels of the water column.


Local-structure effects on 31P NMR chemical shift tensors in solid state.
The effect of the local structure on the 31P NMR chemical shift tensor (CST) has been studied experimentally and simulated theoretically using the density functional theory gauge-independent-atomic-orbital approach. It has been shown that the dominating impact comes from a small number of noncovalent interactions between the phosphorus-containing group under question and the atoms of adjacent molecules. These interactions can be unambiguously identified using the Bader analysis of the electronic density. A robust and computationally effective approach designed to attribute a given experimental 31P CST to a certain local morphology has been elaborated. This approach can be useful in studies of surfaces, complex molecular systems, and amorphous materials.


Possible Gender Influence in the Mechanisms Underlying the Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response, and the Metabolic Alterations in Patients with Obesity and/or Type 2 Diabetes.
The number of patients afflicted by type 2 diabetes and its morbidities has increased alarmingly, becoming the cause of many deaths. Normally, during nutrient intake, insulin secretion is increased and glucagon secretion is repressed, but when plasma glucose concentration increases, a state of prediabetes occurs. High concentration of plasma glucose breaks the redox balance, inducing an oxidative stress that promotes chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and impaired insulin secretion. In the same context, obesity is one of the most crucial factors inducing insulin resistance, inflammation, and contributing to the onset of type 2 diabetes. Measurements of metabolites like glucose, fructose, amino acids, and lipids exhibit significant predictive associations with type 2 diabetes or a prediabetes state and lead to changes in plasma metabolites that could be selectively affected by gender and age. In terms of gender, women and men have biological dissimilarities that might have an important role for the development, diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and relevant hazards in both genders, for type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the present review attempts to analyze the influence of gender on the relationships among inflammatory events, oxidative stress, and metabolic alterations in patients undergoing obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.


Takayasu arteritis. A study of 32 North American patients.
Thirty-two patients (26 female, 6 male) with angiographically diagnosed Takayasu arteritis were seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1971 and 1982. Racial composition of this group was 23 North American Caucasians, 4 Mexicans, 3 Orientals, 1 Native American, and 1 patient of Middle Eastern origin. Incidence of the disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota, was 2.6/million/year. Diagnosis was often delayed for long periods of time, with a median delay of 18 months. Patients had both non-vascular symptoms (arthralgias in 56%, fever in 44%, weight loss in 38%) and symptoms of vascular stenosis such as arm claudication (47%) and hypertension due to renal artery stenosis (41%). All patients had either multiple vascular bruits (94%) or absent pulses (50%). Laboratory findings included anemia (44%) and elevations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (78%). Almost all patients had multiple sites of arterial involvement documented by angiogram with various combinations of stenosis, luminal irregularity and aneurysm formation. Response to corticosteroid treatment was usually very good, with dramatic improvement in non-vascular symptoms and return of pulses in 8 of the 16 patients with absent pulses prior to treatment. Five-year survival rate from time of diagnosis was 94%. Twelve patients underwent surgical procedures involving the carotid arteries (5 cases), subclavian artery (4 cases) and renal arteries (3 cases). Three aneurysms were resected, one had aortic valve replacement for severe aortic regurgitation, and two patients underwent transluminal angioplasty. Pathologic changes were restricted to the media and adventitial layers of the vessel wall and were indistinguishable from those of giant-cell or temporal arteritis. Takayasu arteritis is more common than previously suspected in North America, is not restricted to any one racial group, and is readily treatable with corticosteroids and surgical vascular reconstruction.


Rapid analysis of procyanidins and anthocyanins in plasma by microelution SPE and ultra-HPLC.
In the analysis of biological samples, such as plasma or serum, the quantity of sample available is a critical parameter in most cases. A good approach is the use of the microelution SPE (μSPE) plates as sample pre-treatment technique in which the loaded sample volume is low. An off-line μSPE and ultra-performance LC-ESI-MS/MS (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine procyanidins and anthocyanins in spiked plasma samples. The sample pre-treatment μSPE allowed the simultaneous determination of procyanidins and anthocyanins from plasma by using a small sample volume (350 μL) and without an evaporation step previous to the chromatographic analysis. Moreover, the use of UPLC technique allowed to determine the studied compounds at low concentration levels in a short analysis time (12.5 min approximately). Then, the developed method was applied to determine the studied compounds, procyanidins and anthocyanins, and their metabolites in rat plasma samples. Previously, the rats had consumed 5000 mg/kg of a grape pomace extract and the plasma was extracted 4 h after administration. The procyanidins catechin and epicatechin glucuronide, methyl catechin and epicatechin glucuronide, and methyl catechin and epicatechin sulphate were detected at μM concentration level, and the parent anthocyanins at nM.


Copper Electroless Metallization of Cellulose Paper via Polydopamine Coating and Silver Catalyst.
The paper presents the results of copper electroless metallization of cellulose paper with the use of a polydopamine coating and silver catalyst. The polydopamine coating was deposited via a simple dip method using a dopamine hydrochloride solution in 10 mM TRIS-HCl buffer with a pH of 8.5. The research showed that as a result of this process, cellulose fibers were covered with a homogeneous layer of polydopamine. The unique properties of the polydopamine coating allowed the reduction of silver ions from silver nitrate solution and the deposition of silver atoms on the paper surface. Deposited silver served as a catalyst in the autocatalytic electroless copper-plating process. The copper layer covered the entire surface of the paper sheet after 5 min of metallization, favorably affecting the electrical properties of this material by lowering the surface resistivity. The deposited copper layer was further characterized by good adhesive strength and high susceptibility to deformation.


Rubber production in guayule: determination of rubber producing potential.
Optimum conditions for the rapid, efficient, nondestructive determination of rubber producing potential in guayule (Parthenium argentatum) were established. The rubber producing potential may be defined as the ability of the plant material to synthesize rubber from a precursor under specified conditions. To achieve this, stem slices taken from the first 5 centimeters of branches were incubated with [(14)C]acetate as precursor in 0.1 molar phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) at 26 degrees C for 16 hours in the light. The (14)C from labeled acetate and acetyl coenzymeA were efficiently incorporated into rubber whereas the (14)C from both mevalonic acid (MVA) and isopentenylpyrophosphate (IPP) were poorly incorporated. Incorporation of 68.6% of the (14)C from labeled IPP into the acetone extractable material suggests that most of the IPP was channeled down the lower terpenoid branch of the polyisoprene biosynthetic pathway. The incorporation of (14)C from labeled acetate into rubber was most efficient at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees C. The rubber producing potential was also found to be dependent on light intensity. The roots which represent about one-third of the plant biomass not only had the highest rubber producing potential but also contained the highest amount of rubber (7.6%), indicating that the root system could be a major source of rubber. The mature stem bark also had a high rubber content and rubber producing potential, whereas the young stem had a low rubber content and a lower potential for producing rubber. The leaves showed little potential to incorporate labeled acetate into rubber and no more than 0.5% rubber was found in guayule leaves.


Interactions between plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and C-peptide with risk of colorectal cancer.
Vitamin D status and levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and C-peptide have been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, in contrast to vitamin D IGF-1 is not an easily modifiable risk factor. Combining data from the Health Professionals Follow up Study (HPFS) and the Nurses' Health Study cohort (NHS) additive and multiplicative interactions were examined between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and IGF-1, IGFBP-3 as well as C-peptide levels in 499 cases and 992 matched controls. For the various analytes, being high or low was based on being either above (or equal) or below the medians, respectively. Compared to participants with high 25(OH)D and low IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (reference group), participants with a high IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were at elevated risk of colorectal cancer when 25(OH)D was low (odds ratio (OR): 2.05 (95% CI: 1.43 to 2.92), but not when 25(OH)D was high (OR:1.20 (95% CI: 0.84 to 1.71, p(interaction): additive =0.06, multiplicative =0.25). Similarly, compared to participants with high 25(OH)D and low molar IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio and low C-peptide levels (reference group), participants with a combination of either high IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio or high C-peptide were at elevated risk for colorectal cancer when 25(OH)D was low (OR =1.90, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.94) but not when 25(OH)D was high (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.77, p(interaction): additive=0.004; multiplicative=0.04). The results from this study suggest that improving vitamin D status may help lower risk of colorectal cancer associated with higher IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio or C-peptide levels.


Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of acetato- and diphenolato-bridged 3d-4f binuclear complexes [M(3-MeOsaltn)(MeOH)x(ac)Ln(hfac)2] (M = Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II); Ln = La(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III); 3-MeOsaltn = N,N'-bis(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato; ac = acetato; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonato; x = 0 or 1).
A series of 3d-4f binuclear complexes, [M(3-MeOsaltn)(MeOH)x(ac)Ln(hfac)2] (x = 0 for M = Cu(II), Zn(II); x = 1 for M = Co(II), Ni(II); Ln = Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), La(III)), have been synthesized and characterized, where 3-MeOsaltn, ac, and hfac denote N,N'-bis(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato, acetato, and hexafluoroacetylacetonato, respectively. The X-ray analyses demonstrated that all the complexes have an acetato- and diphenolato-bridged M(II)-Ln(III) binuclear structure. The Cu(II)-Ln(III) and Zn(II)-Ln(III) complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous triclinic space group P1, where the Cu(II) or Zn(II) ion has square pyramidal coordination geometry with N2O2 donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial coordination sites and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion at the axial site. The Co(II)-Ln(III) and Ni(II)-Ln(III) complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, where the Co(II) or Ni(II) ion at the high-spin state has an octahedral coordination environment with N2O2 donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial sites, and one oxygen atom of the bridged acetato and a methanol oxygen atom at the two axial sites. Each Ln(III) ion for all the complexes is coordinated by four oxygen atoms of two phenolato and two methoxy oxygen atoms of "ligand-complex" M(3-MeOsaltn), four oxygen atoms of two hfac(-), and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion; thus, the coordination number is nine. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities from 1.9 to 300 K and the field-dependent magnetization up to 5 T at 1.9 K were measured. Due to the important orbital contributions of the Ln(III) (Tb(III), Dy(III)) and to a lesser extent the M(II) (Ni(II), Co(II)) components, the magnetic interaction between M(II) and Ln(III) ions were investigated by an empirical approach based on a comparison of the magnetic properties of the M(II)-Ln(III), Zn(II)-Ln(III), and M(II)-La(III) complexes. The differences of χ(M)T and M(H) values for the M(II)-Ln(III), Zn(II)-Ln(III) and those for the M(II)-La(III) complexes, that is, Δ(T) = (χ(M)T)(MLn) - (χ(M)T)(ZnLn) - (χ(M)T)(MLa) = J(MLn)(T) and Δ(H) = M(MLn)(H) - M(ZnLn)(H) - M(MLa)(H) = J(MLn)(H), give the information of 3d-4f magnetic interaction. The magnetic interactions are ferromagnetic if M(II) = (Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II)) and Ln = (Gd(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III)). The magnitudes of the ferromagnetic interaction, J(MLn)(T) and J(MLn)(H), are in the order Cu(II)-Gd(III) > Cu(II)-Dy(III) > Cu(II)-Tb(III), while those are in the order of M(II)-Gd(III) ≈ M(II)-Tb(III) > M(II)-Dy(III) for M(II) = Ni(II) and Co(II). Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements demonstrated that the Ni(II)-Tb(III) and Co(II)-Tb(III) complexes showed out-of-phase signal with frequency-dependence and the Ni(II)-Dy(III) and Co(II)-Dy(III) complexes showed small frequency-dependence. The energy barrier for the spin flipping was estimated from the Arrhenius plot to be 14.9(6) and 17.0(4) K for the Ni(II)-Tb(III) and Co(II)-Tb(III) complexes, respectively, under a dc bias field of 1000 Oe.


Risk factors for assaults on nursing staff: childhood abuse and education level.
This study examined risk factors for nursing staff associated with being assaulted in the workplace and described the prevalence of staff assaults on patients. Most studies examining assaults in the workplace examine patient variables. Scant empirical investigation has occurred of staff variables. A random mailed survey measuring physical and psychological assaults, sexual assault, and trauma history was employed. Childhood abuse and education were unique predictors of physical and sexual assault by patients. The results also revealed that staff members sometimes abuse patients. These results can help inform the training and supervision of nursing staff. Strategies to decrease staff vulnerability of being assaulted may reduce the risk. The finding that education also may be a protective factor has important implications for trends in managed care to downsize nursing. Protecting patients and staff are important administrative priorities in the workplace.


Quantitative annular dark field electron microscopy using single electron signals.
One of the difficulties in analyzing atomic resolution electron microscope images is that the sample thickness is usually unknown or has to be fitted from parameters that are not precisely known. An accurate measure of thickness, ideally on a column-by-column basis, parameter free, and with single atom accuracy, would be of great value for many applications, such as matching to simulations. Here we propose such a quantification method for annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy by using the single electron intensity level of the detector. This method has the advantage that we can routinely quantify annular dark field images operating at both low and high beam currents, and under high dynamic range conditions, which is useful for the quantification of ultra-thin or light-element materials. To facilitate atom counting at the atomic scale we use the mean intensity in an annular dark field image averaged over a primitive cell, with no free parameters to be fitted. To illustrate the potential of our method, we demonstrate counting the number of Al (or N) atoms in a wurtzite-type aluminum nitride single crystal at each primitive cell over the range of 3-99 atoms.


A novel CLCN1 mutation (G1652A) causing a mild phenotype of thomsen disease.
We investigated a 62-year-old man who had mild clinical features of myotonia congenita. He was found to have a novel heterozygous G-to-A nucleotide substitution at position 1652 in exon 15 of the CLCN1 gene. Clinicogenetic studies performed on his family revealed that his asymptomatic son also shared the mutation. We conclude that a novel chloride channel mutation (G1652A) has caused a mild form of autosomal-dominant myotonia congenita (Thomsen disease) in this family.


Simultaneous serum nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine quantitation with minimal sample volume for tobacco exposure status of solid organ transplant patients.
Concentrations of nicotine and its metabolites in blood are indicative of patients' current tobacco exposure, and their quantifications have been clinically applied to multiple assessments including demonstration of abstinence prior to heart-lung transplantation. For the purpose of transplant evaluation, the laboratory work up is extensive; thereby an assay with minimal sample volume is preferred. We developed and validated a rapid LC-MS/MS assay to simultaneously quantitate nicotine and its major metabolites, Cotinine and trans-3'-OH-cotinine (3-OH-Cot), in serum. 100μL of serum was spiked with deuterated internal standards and extracted by Oasis HLB solid phase extraction cartridge. Nicotine and metabolites in the reconstituted serum extract were separated by Agilent Eclipse XDB-C8 3.5μm 2.1mm×50mm HPLC column within 4.7min, and quantified by MS/MS with positive mode electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. Ion suppression was insignificant, and extraction efficiency was 79-110% at 50ng/mL for all compounds. Limit of detection was 1.0ng/mL for nicotine and 3-OH-Cot, and <0.5ng/mL for Cotinine. Linearity ranges for nicotine, cotinine and 3-OH-Cot were 2-100, 2-1000, and 5-1000ng/mL with recoveries of 86-115%. Within-day and twenty-day imprecision at nicotine/cotinine/3-OH-Cot levels of 22/150/90, 37/250/150, and 50/800/500ng/mL were all 1.1-6.5%. The reconstituted serum extracts were stable for at least 7 days stored in the HPLC autosampler at 5°C. Our method correlates well with alternative LC-MS/MS methods. We successfully developed and validated an LC-MS/MS assay to quantitate concentrations of nicotine and its metabolites in serum with minimal sample volume to assess tobacco exposure of heart-lung transplant patients.


Exploring sports nutritionists' and players' perspectives of nutrition practice within English professional football during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent suspension of all football-related activity, caused significant disruption to the daily habits of professional football players and support staff. Even when the most severe restrictions were lifted, strict control measures remained in place which likely continued to impact upon nutrition support and intake of players. Thus, this study aimed to understand how restrictions impacted upon nutrition support within professional football, as well as identify how these experiences could inform future practice. Interviews were conducted with twelve sports nutritionists and twelve male professional football players to explore their perspectives of nutrition provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis indicated three common outcomes: (a) Sub-optimal Nutrition Provision; (b) Reduction in Time with or Access to Players, and; (c) Adaption of Nutrition Practice and/or Dietary Habits. In sum, football clubs should consider the immediate and short-term impact of COVID-19 restrictive measures as players' transition back to normality. Specifically, clubs should provide sports nutritionists with greater capacity to control the nutrition provision, including portion size and food quality. Looking ahead, sports nutritionists are encouraged to reflect upon the novel opportunities that have emerged and consider how these may enhance long-term practice.


The extensins.
The plant cell was includes a matrix which is species specific and which chages in composition during growth and development. Characterization of the protein component of the wall matrix has resulted in the purification of extensin and the genes which encode it. Analysis of the protein sequences for the extensins has provided clues about the types of interactions which may occur as the chemistry and architecture of the cell wall accommodate growth and development.


The concept of an 'Integrated Survival System' for protection against the responses associated with immersion in cold water.
In this paper the concept of an 'Integrated Survival System' (ISS) is introduced and discussed in relation to the helicopter passenger/crew member, although the principles are equally applicable to many other types of user and circumstance requiring specialized protective clothing. The fundamental principles behind this concept are first, that the wearer should be given protection against all of the hazardous responses associated with immersion in cold water and secondly, that the individual components which make up the ISS must be compatible and complementary; they may also be interdependent.


[Analysis of glaucoma therapy costs in Poland. I--population of the Mazovian District].
The purpose of this study was to estimate and evaluate costs of glaucoma therapy in Poland in 1998-2000 years. 315 patients (591 eyes) including 364 POAG eyes and 227 PACG eyes were evaluated. Progression of the disease was measured in two modes: by changes in the optical nerve disc (c/d) and by IOP level. Duration of the study was 12 months. Total costs (e.g. number of visits, amount of medications used, surgical and laser procedures performed) were calculated on 100 eyes/12 months. Pharmacological therapy constitutes 40-50% of the total costs in both glaucoma types. Timolol was the mostly prescribed drug in POAG, while pilocarpine led in PACG group. Dorzolamide was on the third place, but it generated the biggest part of total costs. Patients with advanced forms of the disease more frequently saw doctor on visits (average 6 visits per year); patients with elevated IOP (> 21 mm Hg) underwent surgical procedures more commonly than these with optical nerve disc changes (c/d > 0.6). The total costs of the therapy of non-advanced cases amounted 70.243 PLN on the average, while in advanced cases it reached the average of 155.230 PLN. 1. The total cost of glaucoma therapy depends on progression of the disease. 2. The most cost-generating part is the pharmacological therapy of glaucoma.


Cdk phosphorylation of a nucleoporin controls localization of active genes through the cell cycle.
Many inducible genes in yeast are targeted to the nuclear pore complex when active. We find that the peripheral localization of the INO1 and GAL1 genes is regulated through the cell cycle. Active INO1 and GAL1 localized at the nuclear periphery during G1, became nucleoplasmic during S-phase, and then returned to the nuclear periphery during G2/M. Loss of peripheral targeting followed the initiation of DNA replication and was lost in cells lacking a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor. Furthermore, the Cdk1 kinase and two Cdk phosphorylation sites in the nucleoporin Nup1 were required for peripheral targeting of INO1 and GAL1. Introduction of aspartic acid residues in place of either of these two sites in Nup1 bypassed the requirement for Cdk1 and resulted in targeting of INO1 and GAL1 to the nuclear periphery during S-phase. Thus, phosphorylation of a nuclear pore component by cyclin dependent kinase controls the localization of active genes to the nuclear periphery through the cell cycle.


Base-promoted rearrangement of sugar epoxides to unsaturated sugars.
[chemical reaction: see text]. A simple and efficient method for rearranging 2,3-anhydro carbohydrates to unsaturated sugars has been developed. The exceptionally mild reaction conditions and high stereoselectivity should make this an attractive method for the preparation of unsaturated carbohydrate derivatives.


A cost-effectiveness assessment of dual-mobility bearings in revision hip arthroplasty.
The rate of dislocation when traditional single bearing implants are used in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been reported to be between 8% and 10%. The use of dual mobility bearings can reduce this risk to between 0.5% and 2%. Dual mobility bearings are more expensive, and it is not clear if the additional clinical benefits constitute value for money for the payers. We aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of dual mobility compared with single bearings for patients undergoing revision THA. We developed a Markov model to estimate the expected cost and benefits of dual mobility compared with single bearing implants in patients undergoing revision THA. The rates of revision and further revision were calculated from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, while rates of transition from one health state to another were estimated from the literature, and the data were stratified by sex and age. Implant and healthcare costs were estimated from local procurement prices and national tariffs. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated using published utility estimates for patients undergoing THA. At a minimum five-year follow-up, the use of dual mobility was cost-effective with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of between £3,006 and £18,745/QALY for patients aged < 55 years and between 64 and 75 years, respectively. For those aged > 75 years dual mobility was only cost-effective if the timeline was beyond seven years. The use of dual mobility bearings was cost-saving for patients aged < 75 years and cost-effective for those aged > 75 years if the time horizon was beyond ten years. The use of dual mobility bearings is cost-effective compared with single bearings in patients undergoing revision THA. The younger the patient is, the more likely it is that a dual mobility bearing can be more cost-effective and even cost-saving. The results are affected by the time horizon and cost of bearings for those aged > 75 years. For patients aged > 75 years, the surgeon must decide whether the use of a dual mobility bearing is a viable economic and clinical option. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(9):1128-1135.


[Aldo-keto reductase family 1 B10 participates in the regulation of hepatoma cell cycle through p27/p-Rb signaling pathway].
Objective: Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) pathogenesis, early diagnosis and prognosis are closely related with hepatoma. Therefore, this study explores the effect and mechanism of AKR1B10 on cell cycle in hepatoma cells. Methods: HepG2 cells were infected with lentivirus LV-AKR1B10-shRNA or treated with epalrestat, an AKR1B10 inhibitor. The expression level of AKR1B10 was detected by Western blot assay and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Decreased AKR1B10 activity was detected by reduced coenzyme II (NADPH) absorbance at 340 nm. The low expression of AKR1B10 and the effect of different concentrations of epalrestat on cell proliferation and cell cycle were detected by CCK-8 method and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of p-rb, cyclin D1, E1, p27 in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blot. The mean of the two samples was tested using independent sample t-test. Results: AKR1B10 expression level in hepatoma cells was significantly increased compared to normal liver cells, and the relative expression level of AKR1B10 protein in HepG2 cells was 6.71 ± 1.11 (P = 0.012). Epalrestat was significantly inhibited with the enzymatic activity of AKR1B10 in a dose-dependent manner. AKR1B10 gene in HepG2 cells was effectively silenced. HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of epalrestat (AKR1B10 inhibitor) for 24, 48 and 72 h had inhibited cell proliferation, promoted G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, reduced the expression of p-Rb, cyclin D1, and cyclin E1 and increased the expression of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27 expression. Conclusion: AKR1B10 inhibitory expression and activity can promote G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells through the p27 / p-Rb pathway.


[Factors affecting the estimation of pollen limitation in Sagittaria trifolia].
This study explored whether the degree of pollen limitation was affected by the experimental level (a single flower or inflorescence) and pollen quality (self-pollen or outcross-pollen) of supplemental pollination in Sagittaria trifolia. The results showed that the experimental level caused varying degree of pollen limitation. Compared with the inflorescence level, pollination at the single flower level led to a redistribution of resources among flowers, therefore affecting seed numbers. Pollen quality also played a vital role in the estimation of pollen limitation. Compared with self-pollen, supplemental pollination with outcross-pollen resulted in significantly more seeds and a higher germination rate. This proved that in the research system the reproduction was limited by pollen quality rather than quantity. Our study revealed that both experimental level and pollen quality had effects on the estimation of pollen limitation. It was suggested that in future studies we should evaluate pollen limitation at the inflorescence or whole plant level, and also consider comparing self- and outcross-pollen when applicable.


Sodium stibogluconate-associated acute interstitial nephritis in a patient treated for visceral leishmaniasis.
The spectrum of side-effects of sodium stibogluconate is well described. Patients treated with sodium stibogluconate can develop varied manifestations of renal toxicity, ranging from renal cell casts, proteinuria, renal tubular acidosis and acute tubular necrosis, resulting in acute kidney injury (AKI). We describe a 32-year-old male patient who was treated for visceral leishmaniasis with sodium stibogluconate. The patient was readmitted two weeks after completion of the treatment for evaluation of AKI. Kidney biopsy revealed marked acute interstitial nephritis. The renal dysfunction reversed totally after a course of corticosteroids. Antimonials should be recognized as a new class of agents as a possible cause of drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis.


Utility of RAPD markers in identifying genetic linkages to genes of economic interest in peach.
The identification of molecular markers linked to economically important traits for use in crop improvement is very important in long-lived perennial species. Three-hundred-and-sixty RAPD primers were used with bulked segregant analysis to identify markers linked to loci of specific interest in peach [(Prunus persica) L. Batch] and peach x almond [(Prunus dulcis) Batch] crosses. The traits analyzed included flesh color, adhesion, and texture; pollen fertility; plant stature; and three isozyme loci. The Mendelian behavior of the RAPD loci was established, and RAPD markers were mapped relative to the loci controlling flesh color, adhesion, and texture, and the isozyme loci Mdh-1, 6Pgd-2 and Aat-1, as well as the existing RFLP genetic linkage map constructed previously using a peach x almond F2 population. This technique has facilitated rapid identification of RAPD and RFLP markers that are linked to the traits under study. Loci controlling these traits mapped predominantly to linkage groups 2 and 3 of the peach genetic linkage map. Linkages to genes with both dominant and co-dominant alleles were identified, but linkages to dominant genes were more difficult to find. In several crosses, RAPD marker bands proved to be allelic. One co-dominant RAPD formed a heteroduplex band in heterozygous individuals and in mixtures of alternate homozygotes. The Mendelian behavior of the RAPD loci studied was established and the results suggest that RAPD markers will be useful for plant improvement in peach.