Political affiliation and employment screening decisions: The role of similarity and identification processes.
Recent research in political science, along with theory in applied psychology, has suggested that political affiliation may be associated with substantial levels of affect and, thus, might influence employment decision-makers. We designed 2 experiments using social media screening tasks to examine the effects of political affiliation similarity on ratings of hireability. Our findings in both studies suggest that the identification (capturing positive affect) and disidentification (capturing negative affect) of a decision-maker with a job applicant's political affiliation were important variables that influenced perceived similarity. Consistent with the similarity-attraction paradigm, perceived similarity was related to liking and, in turn, liking was related to expected levels of applicant task and organizational citizenship behavior performance. Further, in both studies, political affiliation related variables influenced hireability decisions over and above job-relevant individuating information. Future research should continue to examine political affiliation similarity, particularly in light of its frequent availability to decision-makers (e.g., via social media websites). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Psychometric evaluation of the Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale with Korean Americans.
This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a Korean version of the Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE-K). The sample included 145 Korean American caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted to examine the factor structure of the CSE-K. We tested convergent validity of the CSE-K by examining its relationships with caregiver depression and burden. Internal consistency reliability of the CSE-K was also tested. The initial model of CFA based upon the structure of the original CSE revealed the poor model fit; however, the revised model produced the excellent model fit. Convergent validity was established, and excellent internal consistency reliability was found in the CSE-K. The results of this study show that the CSE-K is a reliable and valid measurement to assess caregiver self-efficacy for Korean American caregivers.


Clinical, Neurophysiological, Radiological, Pathological, and Genetic Features of Dysferlinopathy in Saudi Arabia.
To characterize the phenotypic, neurophysiological, radiological, pathological, and genetic profile of 33 Saudi Arabian families with dysferlinopathy. A descriptive observational study was done on a cohort of 112 Saudi Arabian families with LGMD. Screening for the Dysferlin (DYSF) gene was done in a tertiary care referral hospital in Saudi Arabia. Clinical, Neurophysiological, Radiological, Pathological, and Genetic findings in subjects with dysferlin mutation were the primary outcome variables. Statistical analysis was done by Epi-info. 33 out of 112 families (29.46%) registered in the LGMD cohort had Dysferlinopathy. 53 subjects (28 males, 52.83%) from 33 families were followed up for various periods ranging from 1 to 28 years. The mean age of onset was 17.79 ± 3.48 years (Range 10 to 25 years). Miyoshi Myopathy phenotype was observed in 50.94% (27 out of 53), LGMDR2 phenotype in 30.19% (16 out of 53), and proximodistal phenotype in 15.09% (8 out of 53) of the subjects. Loss of ambulation was observed in 39.62% (21 out of 53 subjects). Electrophysiological, Radiological, and histopathological changes were compatible with the diagnosis. Mean serum Creatinine Kinase was 6,464.45 ± 4,149.24 with a range from 302 to 21,483 IU/L. In addition, 13 dysferlin mutations were identified two of them were compound heterozygous. One founder mutation was observed c.164_165insA in 19 unrelated families. The prevalence of Dysferlinopathy was 29.46% in the native Saudi LGMD cohort. It is the most prevalent subtype seconded by calpainopathy. The clinical course varied among the study subjects and was consistent with those reported from different ethnic groups. One founder mutation was identified. Initial screening of the founder mutations in new families is highly recommended.


Expression of a Streptomyces 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase gene in oilseeds for converting phytosterols to phytostanols.
Plant sterols and their hydrogenated forms, stanols, have attracted much attention because of their benefits to human health in reducing serum and LDL cholesterol levels, with vegetable oil processing being their major source in several food products currently sold. The predominant forms of plant sterol end products are sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and brassicasterol (in brassica). In this study, 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus was utilized to engineer oilseeds from rapeseed (Brassica napus) and soybean (Glycine max), respectively, to modify the relative amounts of specific sterols to stanols. Each of the major phytosterols had its C-5 double bond selectively reduced to the corresponding phytostanol without affecting other functionalities, such as the C-22 double bond of stigmasterol in soybean seed and of brassicasterol in rapeseed. Additionally, several novel phytostanols were obtained that are not produced by chemical hydrogenation of phytosterols normally present in plants.


[Case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis associated with IgA monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance].
We report the case of a 72-year-old man with nephritic syndrome and rapidly progressive renal failure due to Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). He was successfully treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, followed by oral prednisolone at the dose of 30 mg per day. He was also diagnosed by immunoelectrophoresis as IgA-lambda monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgA-MGUS). Renal biopsy revealed the diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with mesangial deposition of IgA and C3. Since an immunofluorescence examination failed to show the deposition of lambda, the significance of IgA paraproteinemia on the HSPN was obscure in the present case. However, we must bear in mind the latent presence of IgA-MGUS in cases of HSPN.


Photodissociation Dynamics and Stereodynamics of Methyl Mercaptan and Dimethyl Sulfide from the Second Absorption Band at 201 and 210 nm.
The role of promoting and spectator modes vs energy randomization in nonadiabatic dynamics is interrogated in the photodissociation of methyl mercaptan, CH3SH, and dimethyl sulfide, CH3SCH3 or DMS, in the second absorption band. The primary CH3(ν) radicals produced in the dissociation of both systems at 210 nm have been resonantly detected in slice-imaging experiments, and the corresponding translational energy and angular distributions have been obtained. The stereodynamical information provided by Dixon's bipolar moments in conjunction with the energy partitioning among the different degrees of freedom of the primary CH3(ν) products offers a panoramic picture of the photodissociation process of both systems. The remarkable similitude found between the two systems related to both vector correlations and internal energy content of the corresponding counterparts-SH for methyl mercaptan and SCH3 for DMS-indicates that despite the diabaticity of the process, no efficient energy randomization of the available energy takes place. More specifically, only the parent vibrational modes whose participation in the initial absorption step is imposed by the conical intersection-i.e., the promoting modes-are adiabatically preserved during the process, while the rest of the vibrational modes play the spectator role. The results for both molecules at 210 nm are complemented with experiments carried out for DMS at 201 nm to explore the internal mechanism of the conical intersection in different zones of the absorption region.


A guide to health economic evaluations.
Economic evaluations are important in healthcare because they help to inform decisions on allocating resources within cash-limited systems. Such evaluations are increasingly carried out in appraisals of new treatments, such as those by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium, and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group. Healthcare professionals and others need a working knowledge of health economic evaluations to assess or reach decisions informed by results from such calculations. Here we discuss different types of health economic evaluations and how the calculations from these analyses are used in decision-making.


Parent factors and adolescent sickle cell disease: associations with patterns of health service use.
To examine relationships among parent characteristics (parent-adolescent relationship, parents' illness knowledge, and parents' perceptions of illness-related burden) and use of routine and urgent health services among adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Seventy adolescents, ages 12-18, and their parents completed questionnaires assessing illness knowledge, perceptions of illness burden, parent-adolescent relationships, and adolescents' psychological functioning. Information about pain, routine services (i.e., care at home, clinic visits) and urgent service use (i.e., emergency department visits, hospitalizations) was obtained from parents and medical records. After we controlled for disease severity and life events, parents' perception of more illness-related stress was the strongest predictor of both types of service use. Greater parental knowledge about SCD also related to higher frequency of routine service use. Disease severity was strongly associated with frequency of urgent service use. Both parent characteristics and disease severity were associated with patterns of service use. Enhancing aspects of parental functioning may help families make adaptive decisions regarding health care services for SCD pain management.


Concurrent photolytic degradation of aqueous methylmercury and dissolved organic matter.
Monomethyl mercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that threatens ecosystem viability and human health. In aquatic systems, the photolytic degradation of MeHg (photodemethylation) is an important component of the MeHg cycle. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is also affected by exposure to solar radiation (light exposure) leading to changes in DOM composition that can affect its role in overall mercury (Hg) cycling. This study investigated changes in MeHg concentration, DOM concentration, and the optical signature of DOM caused by light exposure in a controlled field-based experiment using water samples collected from wetlands and rice fields. Filtered water from all sites showed a marked loss in MeHg concentration after light exposure. The rate of photodemethylation was 7.5×10(-3)m(2)mol(-1) (s.d. 3.5×10(-3)) across all sites despite marked differences in DOM concentration and composition. Light exposure also caused changes in the optical signature of the DOM despite there being no change in DOM concentration, indicating specific structures within the DOM were affected by light exposure at different rates. MeHg concentrations were related to optical signatures of labile DOM whereas the percent loss of MeHg was related to optical signatures of less labile, humic DOM. Relationships between the loss of MeHg and specific areas of the DOM optical signature indicated that aromatic and quinoid structures within the DOM were the likely contributors to MeHg degradation, perhaps within the sphere of the Hg-DOM bond. Because MeHg photodegradation rates are relatively constant across freshwater habitats with natural Hg-DOM ratios, physical characteristics such as shading and hydrologic residence time largely determine the relative importance of photolytic processes on the MeHg budget in these mixed vegetated and open-water systems.


DNA methylation: the pivotal interaction between early-life nutrition and glucose metabolism in later life.
Traditionally, it has been widely acknowledged that genes together with adult lifestyle factors determine the risk of developing some metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes mellitus in later life. However, there is now substantial evidence that prenatal and early-postnatal nutrition play a critical role in determining susceptibility to these diseases in later life. Maternal nutrition has historically been a key determinant for offspring health, and gestation is the critical time window that can affect the growth and development of offspring. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis proposes that exposures during early life play a critical role in determining the risk of developing metabolic diseases in adulthood. Currently, there are substantial epidemiological studies and experimental animal models that have demonstrated that nutritional disturbances during the critical periods of early-life development can significantly have an impact on the predisposition to developing some metabolic diseases in later life. The hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms may link imbalanced early-life nutrition with altered disease risk has been widely accepted in recent years. Epigenetics can be defined as the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic processes play a significant role in regulating tissue-specific gene expression, and hence alterations in these processes may induce long-term changes in gene function and metabolism that persist throughout the life course. The present review focuses on how nutrition in early life can alter the epigenome, produce different phenotypes and alter disease susceptibilities, especially for impaired glucose metabolism.


Individual differences and subgroups within populations: the shopping bag approach.
The aerospace medical research community needs to consider the individual as something other than a statistical entity. The cumulative effects of performance enhancers that are collectively ignored, secondary to statistical analysis of populations, can be significant for individuals. By considering the individual, all aspects of whatever makes humans unique need to be integrated into research. One suggested remedy to the problem of subordination of the individual to the population mean/standard deviation is the use of a "shopping bag" approach. In this approach, each individual may select those performance enhancers that work best for him or her (based on controlled studies). Acceleration protection devices are used as an example. The impact of this philosophy can be readily seen in human factor design strategy as well as in the interpretation of human research data.


Energy functions that discriminate X-ray and near native folds from well-constructed decoys.
This study generates ensembles of decoy or test structures for eight small proteins with a variety of different folds. Between 35,000 and 200,000 decoys were generated for each protein using our four-state off-lattice model together with a novel relaxation method. These give compact self-avoiding conformations each constrained to have native secondary structure. Ensembles of these decoy conformations were used to test the ability of several types of empirical contact, surface area and distance-dependent energy functions to distinguish between correct and incorrect conformations. These tests have shown that none of the functions is able to distinguish consistently either the X-ray conformation or the near-native conformations from others which are incorrect. Certain combinations of two of these energy functions were able, however, consistently to identify X-ray structures from amongst the decoy conformations. These same combinations are better also at identifying near-native conformations, consistently finding them with a hundred-fold higher frequency than chance. The fact that these combination energy functions perform better than generally accepted energy functions suggests their future use in folding simulations and perhaps threading predictions.


A technique that may improve the reliability of endobronchial blocker positioning during adult one-lung anaesthesia.
We describe a novel technique, previously applied to small children, for adult one-lung anaesthesia in which a single-lumen endotracheal tube is used with an endobronchial balloon blocker The main aims of the technique are to reduce the likelihood of cephalad displacement of the balloon into the trachea and to facilitate directional placement of the endobronchial balloon. We present five illustrative cases of one-lung anaesthesia in patients of adult size, in which the endotracheal tube-endobronchial balloon technique was considered preferable to the use of a double-lumen tube technique. The situations included difficult intubation, need for postoperative ventilation, a tortuous trachea and an unexpected need to perform one-lung anaesthesia. The technique involved deliberate placement of the endotracheal tube tip near the carina to block cephalad dislodgement of the blocker The chance of the balloon blocking the endotracheal tube tip could be further reduced by having the intraluminal endobronchial balloon blocker emerge through the Murphy eye.


Foundations of Erobotics.
Technology is giving rise to artificial erotic agents, which we call erobots (erôs + bot). Erobots, such as virtual or augmented partners, erotic chatbots, and sex robots, increasingly expose humans to the possibility of intimacy and sexuality with artificial agents. Their advent has sparked academic and public debates: some denounce their risks (e.g., promotion of harmful sociosexual norms), while others defend their potential benefits (e.g., health, education, and research applications). Yet, the scientific study of human-machine erotic interaction is limited; no comprehensive theoretical models have been proposed and the empirical literature remains scarce. The current research programs investigating erotic technologies tend to focus on the risks and benefits of erobots, rather than providing solutions to resolve the former and enhance the latter. Moreover, we feel that these programs underestimate how humans and machines unpredictably interact and co-evolve, as well as the influence of sociocultural processes on technological development and meaning attribution. To comprehensively explore human-machine erotic interaction and co-evolution, we argue that we need a new unified transdisciplinary field of research-grounded in sexuality and technology positive frameworks-focusing on human-erobot interaction and co-evolution as well as guiding the development of beneficial erotic machines. We call this field Erobotics. As a first contribution to this new discipline, this article defines Erobotics and its related concepts; proposes a model of human-erobot interaction and co-evolution; and suggests a path to design beneficial erotic machines that could mitigate risks and enhance human well-being.


A Non-Shedding Fruit Elaeis oleifera Palm Reveals Perturbations to Hormone Signaling, ROS Homeostasis, and Hemicellulose Metabolism.
The developmentally programmed loss of a plant organ is called abscission. This process is characterized by the ultimate separation of adjacent cells in the abscission zone (AZ). The discovery of an American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) variant that does not shed its has allowed for the study of the mechanisms of ripe fruit abscission in this species. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to compare the fruit AZs of the non-shedding E. oleifera variant to an individual of the same progeny that sheds its ripe fruit normally. The study provides evidence for widespread perturbation to gene expression in the AZ of the non-shedding variant, compared to the normal fruit-shedding control, and offers insight into abscission-related functions. Beyond the genes with known or suspected roles during organ abscission or indehiscence that were identified, a list of genes with hormone-related functions, including ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin and salicylic acid, in addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, transcriptional responses and signaling pathways, was compiled. The results also allowed a comparison between the ripe fruit abscission processes of the African and American oil palm species at the molecular level and revealed commonalities with environmental stress pathways.


Rearrangements of Cycloalkenyl Aryl Ethers.
Rearrangement reactions of cycloalkenyl phenol and naphthyl ethers and the acid-catalyzed cyclization of the resulting product were investigated. Claisen rearrangement afforded 2-substituted phenol and naphthol derivatives. Combined Claisen and Cope rearrangement resulted in the formation of 4-substituted phenol and naphthol derivatives. In the case of cycloocthylphenyl ether the consecutive Claisen and Cope rearrangements were followed by an alkyl migration. The mechanism of this novel rearrangement reaction is also discussed.


De novo adolescent gastric carcinoma: a first case report in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Adolescent gastric cancers are extremely rare with a reported incidence of 0.05-0.10% in North America. We present a de novo case of gastric carcinoma in a 17-year-old teenager with no concomitant family history or risk factors. His main clinical presentation included anaemia and melaena stools. Despite an extensive clinical workup that included a diagnostic laparoscopy, the tumour was deemed surgically irresectable, and he was started on a palliative chemotherapy protocol at the local paediatric oncology centre. He demised 7 months later. This is the first recorded case of an adolescent gastric cancer in Saskatchewan, Canada. This case highlights the need for an international tumour registry to document and investigate rare adolescent gastric malignancies and thereby potentiate a possible cure through the pooling of limited resources.


Patient-Reported Use of Personalized Video Recordings to Improve Neurosurgical Patient-Provider Communication.
Providing patients with a video recording of their visit with a medical professional is a common-sense method for improving patient-provider communication. To describe the patient and provider experiences to video recording clinical medical encounters and providing the patient with a copy of the video for informational purposes. Since 2009, over 2,800 patients of eight different neurosurgeons chose to be video recorded during their encounter with the doctor and were provided access to the recording to watch over again as a way to recall what the doctor had said. The video system was set up as a handheld video camera, and video files were downloaded and made accessible to patients via a secure Internet patient portal. Between 2012 and 2014, patients who participated were surveyed regarding their use of the video and what was recorded on the video. The experience of the providers from a clinical and medico-legal standpoint was also reviewed. Three hundred and thirty-three responses to the survey were received (39.2% response rate). More than half of patients (N=333; 56.2%) watched their video more than once, and over two-thirds (N=333; 68.6%) shared their video with a family member, friend, or another physician. Patients self-reported improved memory after watching their videos (N=299; 73.6% could remember more) and 50.2% responded that having the video made them feel more "at ease" with their medical problem (N=299). Overall, 88.0% of respondents indicated that their video had been helpful to them, and 98.5% would recommend having future visits video recorded. No patient made a comment that the video was intrusive or had prevented them from being open with their doctor. Finally, in the high-risk specialty of neurosurgery, none of the 2,807 patients who have been recorded since 2009 have used a video in a medico-legal action. Patient responses to the recording system and having a copy of their video were very positive. Most respondents indicated that they had improved memory as well as decreased anxiety about their neurosurgical problem. There have been no legal challenges to date from giving patients access to the video recording. Our results indicate that the benefits to patients for expanding the use of video in medicine may outweigh perceived risks to providers.


Digital amputation, replantation, and cold intolerance.
In a controlled, retrospective, clinical study, the relationships between traumatic digital amputation, digital replantation, and cold intolerance were investigated. The results of the investigation indicate that cold intolerance is a major reason for disability after digital amputation. They also indicate that the cold intolerance experienced after digital replantation is due to the original injury, and that it is not aggravated by the reconstructive surgery. Cold intolerance, in and of itself, is not a contraindication to digital replantation, regardless of whether the patient lives or works in high- or low-temperature environments.


[Value of CAD systems].
Early detection of breast cancer enables for the reduction of mortality. The purpose of this article is to describe commercially available systems for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for mammograms and to analyze their diagnostic potential and utility. Up to now, there are three CAD-systems available, the Image Checker M 1000 (R2-Technology, USA), the Second Look-system (CADx Medical Systems) and the Mammex TR (Scanis Inc., USA). Most of the present studies are done with the R2-system. The mammographies have been digitalized secondarily. Different algorithms recognized microcalcifications and masses. The connection between full field digital mammography systems and DICOM-networks is possible. In retrospective and one large prospective study with 12.860 patients it could be shown that sensitivity of the investigator with CAD could be improved up to 19%, microcalcifications are yielded with CAD in 100%, masses in up to 80%. Double-reading with CAD-systems can increase early breast cancer detection effectively. Regarding the development of full field digital mammography we are looking forward to further innovations.


Toward drugs for protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2).
PAR2 has a distinctive functional phenotype among an unusual group of GPCRs called protease activated receptors, which self-activate after cleavage of their N-termini by mainly serine proteases. PAR2 is the most highly expressed PAR on certain immune cells, and it is activated by multiple proteases (but not thrombin) in inflammation. PAR2 is expressed on many types of primary human cells and cancer cells. PAR2 knockout mice and PAR2 agonists and antagonists have implicated PAR2 as a promising target in inflammatory conditions; respiratory, gastrointestinal, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological dysfunction; and cancers. This article summarizes salient features of PAR2 structure, activation, and function; opportunities for disease intervention via PAR2; pharmacological properties of published or patented PAR2 modulators (small molecule agonists and antagonists, pepducins, antibodies); and some personal perspectives on limitations of assessing their properties and on promising new directions for PAR2 modulation.


Clinical benefits of a combined physician associate and senior specialist-led emergency surgery ambulatory emergency care clinic introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A well-designed ambulatory emergency care (AEC) can alleviate demand for inpatient beds by reducing admissions or supporting early discharges. Increasing service demands and workforce gaps present major challenges to surgical departments. Physician's associates (PAs) have been suggested as one way to address this, but previous barriers include lack of job role clarity, and inability to prescribe or request ionising radiation. An AEC clinic using PAs supported by senior decision-makers could improve patient care and provide workforce stability alongside a new capacity for successful PA positions. An emergency surgery AEC pathway was introduced to a single centre in anticipation of a second COVID-19 wave. All emergency surgical referrals were prospectively collected over 3 months (November 2020 to February 2021) with minimum 30-day follow-up. The primary aims were to evaluate clinical outcomes and success of a new AEC PA role. A total of 175 patients were entered into the study. The median time from request for senior review to treatment decision was 26 min (IQR 9-62 min). The primary discharge rate was 38.3% (n=67), while the overall discharge rate without needing admission was 84% (n=147). Of the total 28 (16.0%) patients requiring admission, 18 (10.3%) were clinically appropriate. Four patients represented with Clavien-Dindo Grade II complications and above: two grade II (1.1%) and two grade IIIb respectively (1.1%). The role of the PA was well defined with no team discord. No patient complaints were received. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an emergency surgery AEC pathway was implemented by combining a PA with a senior decision-maker, enabling fewer emergency admissions and significantly reduced time-to-reach-treatment decisions. This in turn facilitates bed-flow and minimises delays in patient treatment. The use of a well-defined PA role in this setting shows initial success and should be considered as a long-term role.


A novel 3D in vitro culture model to study stromal-epithelial interactions in the mammary gland.
Stromal-epithelial interactions mediate mammary gland development and the formation and progression of breast cancer. To study these interactions in vitro, the development of defined three-dimensional (3D) models is essential. In the present study, we have successfully developed novel 3D in vitro models that allow the formation of mammary gland structures closely resembling those found in vivo. Cocultures of a human mammary epithelial cell line MCF10A and human mammary fibroblasts obtained from reduction mammoplasties embedded in either a type I collagen or a mixed Matrigel-collagen matrix were carried out for up to 6 weeks. Histological and ultrastructural analysis confirmed the formation of ductal and alveolar structures. The importance of the stromal cells was apparent in both matrices; in the collagen gels the presence of reduction mammoplasty fibroblasts accelerated the initial formation of epithelial structures, and in the mixed Matrigel-collagen gels the presence of those fibroblasts was necessary for the formation of ductal structures. These models provide an excellent system to study tissue organization, epithelial morphogenesis, and breast carcinogenesis.


Tibial lengthening.
Tibial lengthening as a means of correcting certain discrepancies in lower limb length has become a well-accepted, though rarely indicated, procedure. Success depends upon knowledgable evaluation of all factors involved in the problem, upon adherence to the indications and prerequisites, and upon strict attention to all details of the operation. Nearly all cases of tibial lengthening are accompanied or followed by problems and/or complications. Problems such as delayed union, inadequate union and failure of union must be anticipated and appropriately coped with. Complications such as fracture through the lengthened area, compartment syndromes, infection, and foot and ankle deformities must be prevented if at all possible, and aggressively treated when they occur. Utilizing the appropriate indications and meticulous technique, one can expect to achieve lengthening of 4--5 cm in nearly all cases. Bone grafting and internal fixation will be required in a significant number of tibial lengthenings in order to achieve strong, solid union. The technique currently employed by the authors utilizes the Anderson percutaneous osteotomy, accompanied by the Wagner apparatus. In critically analyzing the results of 73 personal cases of tibial lengthening, the authors conclude that the procedure is justified in carefully selected patients.


Integration of the nasal complex: Implications for developmental and evolutionary change in modern humans.
Assessing the strength of integration among different regions of the modern human nasal complex is important for developing a more thorough understanding of the determinants of nasal morphology. Given the morphogenetic influence of cartilage on adjacent intramembranous growth sites, the interaction between chondrocranial- versus intramembranous-derived nasal structures may have a significant influence on patterns of nasal variation. The purpose of this study is to examine integration between the chondrocranial- and intramembranous-derived regions of the nasal complex. Using computed tomograph (CT) scans, we collected three-dimensional coordinate landmark data from a static adult sample (n = 62). First, using centroid size, and the symmetric and asymmetric components of shape variation, we examined the strength of integration between landmarks representing chondrocranial-derived structures (e.g., ethmoid, external nasal cartilages) and landmarks representing intramembranous-derived structures (nasal floor, anterior nasal aperture, etc.). Second, given that the strength of integration is a relative measure, we compared integration between chondrocranial- and intramembranous-derived structures to the more modularized external and internal regions of the nasal complex. There was significant moderate morphological integration between chondrocranial- versus intramembranous-derived regions of the nasal complex. Moreover, integration between chondrocranial- versus intramembranous-derived structures was consistently stronger when compared to external versus internal regions for both the symmetric and asymmetric components of variation. Thus, more covariation within the nasal complex could be explained by the relationship between chondrocranial- and intramembranous-derived structures. Our results suggest that the interaction between chondrocranial- and intramembranous-derived structures may be an important determinant in the patterning of nasal complex variation.


Is the Perceived Fruit Accessibility Related to Fruit Intakes and Prevalence of Overweight in Disadvantaged Youth: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Few investigations have studied the relationship between home and school food environments, fruit intakes, and prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds. This study aimed to determine whether food environments for fruit intake at household and school levels affect fruit intakes and risk of overweight among children and adolescents with low household income. Students (n = 3148) in Seoul, Korea completed questionnaires pertaining to select aspects of their food environments, frequency of fruit intakes, and weight status. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions evaluated associations between the aforementioned variables. Participants consumed fruit an average of 0.77 times per day, though its frequency increased when fruit accessibility was perceived positively. The percentage of overweight participants was 23.5% for boys and 22.8% for girls. Generally, fruit intake frequency was linked to a lower prevalence of overweight. Regular provision of fruit in school lunches was associated with a reduced risk of overweight among elementary school girls (odds ratio (OR): 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30-0.92), and having someone at home to prepare fruit was associated with a reduced risk of overweight in elementary school boys (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.94) and girls (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43-0.93). The frequency of fruit intake was low among disadvantaged youth. Increasing access to fruit in their food environments appears to enhance consumption and lower the risk of overweight, especially for elementary school girls.


Coronal computerized angiotomography for the diagnosis of isodense chronic subdural hematoma.
The authors demonstrate the value of coronal computerized angiotomography for the diagnosis of and screening for isodense chronic subdural hematoma. Specific features of coronal computerized angiotomograms include 1) thick lines of high density with slight convexity; 2) lines of high density parallel with the inner table of the skull; or 3) high-density dotted lines away from the inner table. These high-density lines or dots represent the superficial cerebral veins and cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery, which have been displaced by the hematoma. When these characteristic features are revealed on noninvasive coronal computerized angiotomography, cerebral angiography may be unnecessary.


A DNA helicase from Xenopus laevis ovaries.
A DNA helicase was extensively purified from Xenopus laevis ovaries. The most purified fraction was free of DNA topoisomerase, DNA polymerase, and nuclease activities. The enzyme had a Stokes radius of 54 A and a sedimentation coefficient of 6-7.3 S, from which a native molecular weight of 140,000-170,000 was calculated. DNA helicase activity required Mg2+ or Mn2+ and was dependent on hydrolysis of ATP or dATP. Monovalent cations, K+ and Na+, stimulated DNA unwinding with an optimum at 130 mM. DNA-dependent ATPase activity copurified with the X. laevis DNA helicase. Double-stranded and single-stranded DNA were both cofactors for the ATPase activity, but single-stranded DNA was more efficient. The molecular weight, monovalent cation dependence, cofactor requirements, and elution from single-stranded DNA-cellulose suggest that the X. laevis DNA helicase is different from previously described eukaryotic DNA helicases.


A modified Continuous Quality Improvement approach to improve culturally and socially inclusive care within rural health services.
The sickest Australians are often those belonging to non-privileged groups, including Indigenous Australians, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, intersex and queer people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and people with disabilities and low English literacy. These consumers are not always engaged by, or included within, mainstream health services, particularly in rural Australia where health services are limited in number and tend to be generalist in nature. The aim of this study was to present a new approach for improving the sociocultural inclusivity of mainstream, generalist, rural, health care organisations. This approach combines a modified Continuous Quality Improvement framework with Participatory Action Research principles and Foucault's concepts of power, discourse and resistance to develop a change process that deconstructs the power relations that currently exclude marginalised rural health consumers from mainstream health services. It sets up processes for continuous learning and consumer responsiveness. The approach proposed could provide a Continuous Quality Improvement process for creating more inclusive mainstream health institutions and fostering better engagement with many marginalised groups in rural communities to improve their access to health care. The approach to improving cultural inclusion in mainstream rural health services presented in this article builds on existing initiatives. This approach focuses on engaging on-the-ground staff in the need for change and preparing the service for genuine community consultation and responsive change. It is currently being trialled and evaluated.


Reliability of the Fukuda stepping test to determine the side of vestibular dysfunction.
The Fukuda stepping test (FST) is widely used in neurology and for the diagnosis of vertigo-associated disease, but its reliability is disputed. This study assessed the accuracy of the FST in determining the side of vestibular dysfunction in 126 patients with unilateral vestibular lesion. Abnormal deviation towards the side of the lesion occurred in 50.0% of cases and towards the intact side in 24.6% of cases, with 25.4% of patients within the normal range (< 45° deviation). An equal percentage of patients with acute stage vertigo (0-3 days after onset) deviated towards the intact and lesion sides, however the percentage of patients deviating to the intact side decreased over time. A subset of patients who originally deviated towards the intact side gradually began to deviate towards the lesion side. Care should be taken when using the FST to determine the side of the lesion, particularly in acute stage vertigo.


[Species determination of mammals based on the hair cuticle pattern--a comparison of domestic mammals and their wild ancestors from the forensic viewpoint].
Based on a computer-assisted method, mammalian species were determined according to the cuticula pattern of guard hairs, comparing domesticated mammals and their wild parent species. The results obtained demonstrate that relevant species identification can only be done for the wild species, whereas this is prevented in the domesticated animals by the variety of breeds and the domestication defects included. The consequences related for a forensic use of hairs are discussed. With regard to this purpose it is not reasonable to use mammalian hairs for species determination, because of the high variations of most of the structural parameters of the hairs of domesticated mammals normally found in human habitants.


Theory of statistics of ties, loops, and tails in semicrystalline polymers.
Polymer crystals grown from melts consist of alternating lamellar crystalline regions and amorphous regions. We study the statistics of ties: chains which bridge the adjacent lamellae, loops: chains which come out of one lamella and enter back into the same lamella before reaching the other lamellae, and tails: chains which end in an amorphous region. We develop a theory to calculate the probabilities of formation of ties, loops, and tails with consideration of finite chain length and cooperative incorporation of a chain into multiple lamellae. The results of our numerical calculations based on a field-theoretic formalism show that the fraction of ties increases with increasing chain length, and it decreases with increasing interlamellar separation. In the limiting case of an infinite chain confined between only two walls, we recover the classical results of the gambler's ruin model. We show that the density anomaly encountered in previous theories is avoided naturally in the present theory without forcing the majority of stems to form tight loops. The derived results on the probability of tie chains in the amorphous regions are pertinent to the mechanical properties of semicrystalline polymers.


Tumors of the Acromion Process-A Pictorial Review.
Introduction Acromion is essential for stabilizing the shoulder complex. Tumors of the acromion are rare. We report the largest series of acromion tumor and tumor-like lesion. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of the oncology and radiology database within our tertiary center for orthopaedic oncology was performed to identify all tumors of the acromion over the past 30 years and imaging was reviewed. Results We identified a total of 31 lesions arising in the acromion and chondrosarcoma was the commonest. Conclusion One needs to be aware of tumor and tumor-like lesions of acromion.


Antimicrobial, Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Liposomal Thymoquinone: Implications in the Treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Mice.
Acinetobacter baumannii has recently been increasing as an aggressive pathogen in immunocompromised persons. In the present study, we determined the in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of thymoquinone (TQ) against A. baumannii. A liposomal formulation of TQ (Lip-TQ) was prepared and its therapeutic potential was investigated in the treatment of A. baumannii infection in immunocompromised mice. Leukopenia was induced in mice by injecting cyclophosphamide (CYP) at a dose of 200 mg/kg and the leukopenic mice were infected with 1 × 106 CFUs of A. baumannii. The effectiveness of free TQ or Lip-TQ against A. baumannii infection was assessed by analyzing the survival rate and bacterial burden. Moreover, the efficacy of Lip-TQ was also studied by examining the systemic inflammatory markers and the histological changes in the lung tissues. The results showed that the mice in the group treated with Lip-TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg exhibited a 60% survival rate on day 40 post-infection, whereas all the mice treated with free TQ at the same dose died within this duration. Likewise, the lowest bacterial burden was found in the lung tissue of mice treated with Lip-TQ (10 mg/kg). Besides, Lip-TQ treatment remarkably alleviated the infection-associated inflammation, oxidative stress, and histological changes in the lung tissues. Based on the findings of the present study, we recommend considering Lip-TQ as a valuable therapeutic formulation in the treatment of A. baumannii-associated pneumonia in immunocompromised subjects.


The effects of fenoldopam on renal function in patients undergoing elective aortic surgery.
Postoperative renal impairment is a recognized complication of infrarenal aortic cross-clamping. Our hypothesis was that the renal vasodilating and natriuretic effects of fenoldopam mesylate, a selective dopamine (DA1) agonist, would preserve renal function in patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic cross-clamping. A prospective, randomized, double blind controlled clinical trial was performed. Twenty-eight ASA II-III patients undergoing elective aortic surgery requiring infrarenal aortic cross-clamping were studied. According to random allocation, patients received either fenoldopam (0.1 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) or placebo intravenously prior to surgical skin incision until release of the aortic clamp. Plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, urinary output, fractional excretion of sodium, and free water clearance were measured: (a) prior to admission to hospital; (b) during the period from insertion of the urinary catheter until application of the aortic cross-clamp; (c) during the period of aortic cross-clamping; (d) 0-4 h, and (e) 4-8 h after release of the clamp and on days 1, 2, 3, and 5 postoperatively. Fenoldopam (0.1 microg kg(-1)min(-1)) administration was not associated with haemodynamic instability. On application of the aortic cross-clamp creatinine clearance decreased significantly in the placebo (83 +/- 20 to 42 +/- 29 mL min(-1) (mean +/- SD)) (P < 0.01) but not in the fenoldopam group, and this decrease persisted for at least 8 h after release of the cross-clamp (83 +/- 20 to 54 +/- 33 mL min(-1) (mean +/- SD)) (P < 0.05). Plasma creatinine concentration increased significantly from baseline on the first postoperative day in the placebo group (87 +/- 12 to 103 +/- 28 micromolL(-1) (mean +/- SD)) (P < 0.01) but not in the fenoldopam group. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that fenoldopam possesses a renoprotective effect during and after infrarenal aortic cross-clamping.


Facet arthrography of a cervical synovial cyst.
A rare case is presented of a synovial cyst located at the level of C3-C4 that caused cervical myelopathy and that was preoperatively diagnosed by facet arthrography. A woman in her late seventies experienced muscle weakness and numbness in her right upper extremity and gait disturbance. MRI revealed an extradural lesion located dorsolaterally on the right side of the spinal cord at the level of C3-C4. CT facet arthrography revealed continuity of the extradural lesion with the right C3-C4 facet joint and infiltration of contrast medium into the lesion. Postoperatively, histological examination of the cyst showed fibrous tissue with calcium deposits and the presence of synovial lining. Preoperatively, cervical synovial cysts are often difficult to distinguish from other extradural lesions. In this case, facet arthrography allowed the preoperative determination of communication between the extradural lesion and the facet joint, leading to the diagnosis of a synovial cyst.


Cordycepin induces M1/M2 macrophage polarization to attenuate the liver and lung damage and immunodeficiency in immature mice with sepsis via NF-κB/p65 inhibition.
To explore the impacts of cordycepin and underlying mechanism on the sepsis. The sepsis mice model was built and treated with different concentrations of cordycepin. Then the liver and lung injury caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was assessed using H&E staining and TUNEL assay. The expression of relevant genes was detected using qRT-PCR analysis and ELISA assays. Besides, the macrophage polarization was checked by flow cytometry. Cordycepin could significantly improve the liver and lung injury. Moreover, cordycepin increased the distribution of F4/80+ CD206+ M2-like macrophages and F4/80+ iNOS+ M1-like macrophages through down-regulating the expression of relevant genes. More importantly, cordycepin could monitor the protein expression of iNOS, Arg-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-4 and IL-10 in CLP mice. Meanwhile, the elevated level of p65 induced by CLP was also repressed by the increase of the cordycepin. Moreover, cordycepin played a crucial part in CLP mice through modulating the NF-κB/p65 signalling pathway. Cordycepin played an important role in mice with sepsis via reducing the M1/M2 macrophage polarization and modulating the NF-κB/p65 signalling pathway.


Medical thoracoscopy.
The technique and clinical applications of medical thoracoscopy have substantially evolved in the last few decades. The recent development of a semirigid thoracoscope, which is handled similarly to a bronchoscope, has made this procedure more attractive to pulmonologists. We will review the latest data on clinical applications, recently developed techniques, and safety of medical thoracoscopy, focusing mainly on its role in thoracic malignancies. Recent data confirm the high diagnostic yield of medical thoracoscopy - both with rigid and semirigid instruments - in detecting pleural metastases and determining the origin of pleural effusions. The degree of pleural adhesions found during thoracoscopy has been proposed by some authors as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion. A large prospective multicenter study has established the safety of talc poudrage with large-particle talc, showing no cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Medical thoracoscopy is an excellent tool to establish diagnosis in patients with exudative pleural effusion of unclear origin. It is highly valuable in clarifying the origin of pleural effusions in patients with lung cancer, as the presence of a malignant pleural effusion is associated with poor survival and precludes the possibility of treatment with curative intention. Pleurodesis with talc poudrage is efficacious and well tolerated, especially with the use of large-particle talc.


[Antibodies to the rhamnose determinants of the polysaccharide of streptococci group A in the sera of rheumatism patients and donors].
In the sera of patients with recurrent rheumocarditis, and especially in cases of primary rheumatism, the level of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) has been found, according to the results of the enzyme immunoassay, to be considerably higher than in the sera of healthy donors. The level of antibodies to rhamnose determinants (RD) of A-PS has been determined by the inhibition of the immunoenzyme reaction with A-PS under the influence of a variant of group A streptococcus and rhamnose disaccharides with the bonds alpha 1-2 and alpha 1-3. In patients with recurrent rheumocarditis the level of antibodies to A-PS has been shown to be considerably higher than in healthy donors having these antibodies. In acute primary rheumatism a high level of antibodies to A-PS has been detected only in a few cases, and at the same time the prevalence of antibodies to the specific RD of A-PS, bound with beta-N-acetylglucosamine, is observed. In the sera of patients with recurrent rheumocarditis and donors having a high content of antibodies to the rhamnose site of A-PS antibodies, seemingly active against at least two RD, have been detected. In acute primary rheumatism an insignificant amount of antibodies to the rhamnose site of A-PS may probably cause the autoimmune process accompanying rheumatism. This suggestion is substantiated by the previously established capacity of these antibodies for inducing the suppression of cytotoxic cell reactions to microbial antigens.


[Responsibilities and goals of a rehabilitation clinical in the present and future].
Rehabilitation its an important part of the management of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases and it aims to improve or supervene physical or psycho-social disability and handicap. With regard to the fluctuating course of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, a universal concept of rehabilitation always includes the curative aspect of treatment. Based on the legal and organizational premises for rehabilitation, the problems of access, usage, management and of continuous treatment are critically reviewed. The important tasks in rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases by rehabilitation clinics are education and informing of patients about their disease, including the outcome, possible treatments, self management and coping strategies as well as functional therapy of disorders of the locomotor system. In addition, the adaptation of medical and physical treatment, advice and help with regard to work and occupation, and planning of continuing rehabilitative interventions are important activities of rehabilitation clinics. In the future, an improved integration of rehabilitation within concepts of medical and social support, progress in quality of structuring and processing activities in rehabilitation clinics, and the expansion of ambulant rehabilitation to facilitate continuous support has to promoted.


Binding of colicins A and El to purified TolA domains.
Colicins are divided into two groups according to the proteins required for their import into sensitive bacteria. The Tol and TonB pathways are involved in import of group A and group B colicins respectively. Because previous analyses have shown that colicin El and colicin A (two group A colicins) interact in vitro with the C-terminal domain of TolA (TolAlll) while colicin B (group B colicin)does not, attention was focused on these interactions with purified proteins.TolA has been described as a three-domain protein with an N-terminal inner-membrane anchor and a long periplasmic region formed by two domains(TolAII and TolAlll). TolAIII, TolAll and TolAII-Ill soluble domains with an N-terminal hexa-histidine extension were purified. The interactions of colicins with the purified TolA domains were analysed by overlay Western blotting,which indicated that both N-terminal domains of colicins A and E l interacted with TolAIII, while a gel shift procedure detected no interaction with colicin El.The binding kinetic values of the N-terminal domains of colicins A and E l to TolAlll were estimated by surface plasmon resonance and were shown to be similar.


Teniposide (VM-26) and continuous infusion cytosine arabinoside for initial induction failure in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A Pediatric Oncology Group pilot study.
Twenty-six evaluable children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who failed to achieve initial remission after receiving two to seven drugs for at least a 4-week period were given teniposide (VM-26) and continuous infusion cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). Twenty-two received 150 mg/m2 of VM-26 on days 1 and 2 with 100 mg/2 of Ara-C as a continuous infusion on days 1 through 5; a second shortened course was given on day 14 to eight patients who had evidence of some antileukemic effect or were clinically judged able to tolerate a second course. The last four patients received three daily doses of VM-26 and a 7-day infusion of Ara-C at the same daily dosages. Twelve (48%) achieved complete remission (CR) of ALL. There was a trend toward decreasing response rates with an increasing number of drugs used in the initial induction regimen, i.e., five CR among seven patients with a prior two-drug induction attempt, six CR among 14 patients with a prior three- to four-drug induction attempt, and one CR among four patients with a prior five- to seven-drug induction attempt (P = 0.14). Ten of 17 non-T-cell patients and two of nine T-cell patients achieved remission (P = 0.10). The median time required to achieve a complete remission from the initiation of treatment was 26 days (range, 14-72 days). This period was shorter in those who required one course compared with those who required two induction courses, i.e., 25 days median vs. 44 days median. Toxicity was significant and due mainly to marrow aplasia and infection; one patient had severe prolonged VM-26-induced hypotension. Of the 12 patients entering remission, two were removed for marrow transplant and one was removed due to parental request. In the remaining nine patients, median remission duration was only 2 months (range, 1-18 months). All nine patients relapsed in the marrow. Among the entire group of 26 patients, only one patient is alive and a long-term event-free survivor (after allogeneic marrow transplant). Due to the current use of more aggressive initial induction regimens and the extremely poor prognosis in children who fail to achieve initial remission, more intensive regimens of continuation therapy or alternative therapies, such as bone marrow transplant, should be considered.


Parental race, birth weight, gestational age, and fetal growth among twin infants in the United States.
No previous study has examined the association between paternal race and birth weight among twins. To examine the association of parents' race and birth weight among twins. Population-based retrospective cohort study to examine the association between parents' race and birth weight, and its two components, gestation duration and fetal growth among four group of infants: both parents blacks (FB-MB), father white and mother black (FW-MB), father black and mother white (FB-MW), and both parents whites (FW-MW), with "risk-free" analysis to control confounding factors. Twin births (304,466 twins) registered in the United States in 1995-1997. The means of birth weight, gestational age, and birth-weight-for-gestational age z score, and rates of very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g), very preterm birth (VPTB, <32 weeks of gestation), and fetal growth restriction (FGR, <10th percentile of z score). Means of birth weight, gestational age, and z score were 2234.0, 2301.9, 2361.1, and 2433.8, and 35.02, 35.24, 35.65, and 35.78, and -0.136, -0.070, -0.039, and 0.063, respectively, and the rates of VLBW, VPTB, and FGR were 14.5, 12.3, 10.5, and 8.1, and 16.0, 13.0, 11.6, and 9.2, and 12.6, 11.1, 10.8, and 8.7, respectively, in the FB-MB, FW-MB, FB-MW, and FW-MW groups. Excluding subjects with various risk factors by risk-free analysis did not change the results. Both parents' races are important determinants of birth weight, gestational age, and fetal growth among twin pregnancies, with higher effect on gestational age and greater maternal influence than paternal influence.


Constructing Hierarchical Polymer Nanocomposites with Strongly Enhanced Thermal Conductivity.
The rapid advancement of communication technology has substantially increased the demand for advanced electronic packaging materials with high thermal conductivity and outstanding electrical insulation properties. In this study, we design polyvinyl alcohol/polydopamine-modified boron nitride nanosheet (PVA/BNNS@PDA) nanocomposites with hierarchical structures by combining electrospinning, vacuum filtration deposition, and hot pressing. The modified BNNS@PDA improves the interaction between the filler and the polymer matrix while reducing the interfacial thermal resistance, resulting in superior thermal conductivity, excellent insulation, and perfect flexibility. The PVA/BNNS@PDA nanocomposites possess an ultrahigh in-plane thermal conductivity of 16.6 W/(m·K) at 35.54 wt % BNNS@PDA content. Even after 2000 folds, the nanocomposites do not undergo any crack, showing their ultrahigh thermal conductivity behavior. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibit a volume resistivity above 1014 Ω·cm, which is well above the standard for insulating materials. Based on these results, this work provides a novel method to produce nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity, offering a new perspective to design advanced thermal management materials.


Respiratory responses of Scots pine stems to 5 years of exposure to elevated CO2 concentration and temperature.
Stem respiration in 20-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was examined following 5 years of exposure to ambient conditions (CON), elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) (ambient + 350 micromol mol(-1), (EC)), elevated temperature (ambient + 2-6 degrees C, (ET)) or a combination of elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature (ECT). Stem respiration varied seasonally regardless of the treatment and displayed a similar trend to temperature, with maximum rates occurring around Day 190 in summer and minimum rates in winter. Respiration normalized to 15 degrees C (R15) was higher in the growing season than in the non-growing season, whereas the temperature coefficient (Q10) was lower in the growing season. Annually averaged R15 was 0.36, 0.43, 0.40 and 0.44 micromol m(-2) s(-1) under CON, EC, ET and ECT conditions, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for total stem respiration were 6.55, 7.69, 7.50 and 7.90 mol m(-2) year(-1). The EC, ET and ECT treatments increased R15 by 18, 11 and 22%, respectively, relative to CON, and increased the modeled annual total stem respiration by 18, 15 and 21%. The increase in modeled annual stem respiration under EC and ECT conditions was caused mainly by higher maintenance respiration (22 and 25%, respectively, whereas the increase in growth respiration was 9 and 12%). Growth respiration was unaltered by ET. The treatments did not significantly affect the respiratory response to stem temperature; the mean Q10 value was 2.04, 2.10, 1.99 and 2.12 in the CON, EC, ET and ECT treatments, respectively. It is suggested that the increase in stem respiration was partly a result of the increased growth rate. We conclude that elevated [CO2] increased the maintenance component of respiration more than the growth component.


Late fiber deterioration in Dacron arterial grafts.
The occurrence of late fiber deterioration was examined in 493 Dacron arterial prostheses. Grafts implanted were of four types: 137 Meadox Wesolowski Weavenit (WN), 71 Golaski Microknit (MK), 70 USCI Sauvage(Tm) external velour non-crimped (EVNC), and 215 USCI Sauvage external velour random-crimped (EVRC). Prostheses had been implanted for three to 15.3 years; no defects were detected prior to three years. Deterioration occurred in 15 of 493 grafts (mean incidence: 3%). Between 4.9% and 5.8% of patients had graft deterioration-nearly the same incidence in all four types of grafts. Deterioration consisted of thinning and breakage of yarn filaments, causing development of holes and, in some cases, graft dilatation. Dilatation did not always precede filament breakage. Broken filament ends were either tapered or square-ended, suggesting that modes of breakage. Tensile strength tests howed that fibers sometimes weakened nonuniformly within a specimen. Fiber breakage was associated with crimp ridges. The findings suggest that manufacturing variations probably reduce fiber resistance to mechanical fatigue. Other contributing factors may include storage conditions, sterilization methods, handling, and the degradative effects of tissue fluids and enzymes.


Protein partition between the different phases comprising poly(ethylene glycol)-salt aqueous two-phase systems, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and precipitation: a generic description in terms of salting-out effects.
The solution behaviour of selected proteins has been studied under conditions promoting precipitation, binding to mildly hydrophobic adsorbents or partition. Solvophobic theory may be used to describe these forms of protein partition. The tendency of a protein to partition therein is dependent upon surface properties of the protein solute mediated by the concentration and nature of added salts. As applied to partitioning in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-salt systems this implies that linear (Brönsted) relationships apply only to proteins partitioned close to the critical point. At longer tie-line lengths protein partitioning is increasingly influenced by salting-out forces. This is confirmed by the observed behaviour of the proteins. The point at which this behaviour changes has been unambiguously defined enabling the direct comparison of phase transition of proteins during partition in all systems. The results obtained show that phase transition during adsorption and partition occur at similar concentrations of salt. This is less than that required to promote precipitation. It appears, from these limited studies, that top-phase preferring proteins are partitioned at salt concentrations above those required to cause adsorption. Proteins preferring the lower phase are partitioned at salt concentrations close to or below those required for adsorption. This raises questions regarding the solvated molecular form of the partitioned proteins and the definition of the partition coefficient.


[Lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome with plasmacytosis in the bone marrow and hypergammaglobulinemia].
A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, anemia and thrombocytopenia in March 1997. Laboratory findings showed elevated serum LDH levels and polyclonal gammopathy. Bone marrow aspiration samples revealed hemophagocytosis and plasmacytosis. Although serum interleukin-6 was elevated, serum interferon-lambda and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were below detectable limits. Magnetic resonance images disclosed a tumor in the patient's pelvic cavity. The tumor was resected and diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy and has remained in complete remission. Also, histiocyte and plasma cell counts in the bone marrow fell significantly and the serum interleukin-6 level returned to the normal range. We reasoned that lymphoma cells may have induced plasmacytosis in the bone marrow and polyclonal gammopathy accompanied by hemophagocytic syndrome.


Improving care for delusional infestation patients: What can dermatologists learn from an entomologist?
Delusional Infestation (DI), represents one of the most difficult patient encounters that dermatology practitioners may experience. It is common for DI patients to doctor shop. Thus, dermatologists are one of several disciplines that may encounter DI patients in their practices. Others include veterinarians, epidemiologists, emergency departments, mental health practitioners, and entomologists. In this article, entomologist, Dr. Gale E. Ridge, with extensive DI experience, was interviewed to find out what an entomologist's perspective has been and what we, the dermatology providers, can learn from that. This is followed by a discussion by the dermatology experts on how the experience of entomologists compares to our experience and what we can learn from them.


Growth of 2D black phosphorus film from chemical vapor deposition.
Phosphorene, a novel 2D material isolated from bulk black phosphorus (BP), is an intrinsic p-type material with a variable bandgap for a variety of applications. However, these applications are limited by the inability to isolate large films of phosphorene. Here we present an in situ chemical vapor deposition type approach that demonstrates progress towards growth of large area 2D BP with average areas >3 μm2 and thicknesses representing samples around four layers and thicker samples with average areas >100 μm2. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy have confirmed successful growth of 2D BP from red phosphorus.


Unpredictable behavior of breast phyllodes tumors.
Phyllodes Tumor is a rare fibroepithelial breast tumor with variable malignant potential. These tumors that currently accepted nomenclature are benign, borderline and malignant according to the World Health Organization. It tends to behave in a benign way but it may undergo a malignant transformation. The purpose of this study was to present our Case load of phyllodes tumor, and evaluate the management and follow-up the behavior of these tumors. 36 patients with phyllodes tumor were treated in Bezmialem Vakif University and Okmeydani Training and Research Hospitals analyzed retrospectively. Demographics, presenting symptoms, history, local examination, preoperative clinical diagnosis, treatment, postoperative histopatology, follow-up period were evaluated retrospectively and studied. A total of 36 patients treated for phyllodes tumor were analyzed. Mean age of the patients was 38 (14-79) and all were females. The presentation of the patients was breast lump in all cases, either as a primary or recurrent lump presentation. The right and left breast were affected 58% and 42% respectively. 34 of these 36 cases are briefly mentioned in this paper but the two cases, one with sarcomatous malignant transformation and the other with fatal metastatic phyllodes tumor in an adolescent female are discussed in detail. The mean duration of the symptomatic mass was 9.8 ± 7.3 months (range 0.5 to 24). Phyllodes tumor is a type of tumor that may be benign or malignant. The type with malignant features may be fatal. The tumors diagnosed as benign may transform and become malignant because of unknown reasons and may be an aggressive tumor.


Conservation of the lateral electron momentum at a metal-semiconductor interface studied by ballistic electron emission microscopy.
We report on ballistic electron emission microscopy and spectroscopy studies on epitaxial (3-5 nm thick) Bi(111) films, grown on n-type Si substrates. The effective barrier heights of the Schottky barrier observed are 0.58 eV for the Bi/Si(100)-(2x1) and 0.68 eV for the Bi/Si(111)-(7x7). At the step edges of the epitaxial films a strong increase of the ballistic electron emission microscopy current is observed for Bi/Si(111)-(7x7), while no increase occurs for Bi/Si(100)-(2x1). These observations can be explained by the conservation of the lateral momentum of the electron at the metal-semiconductor interface.


Salmonella effector SopD2 interferes with Rab34 function.
Many intracellular pathogens have evolved highly specialized mechanisms to isolate themselves from the host cell's innate immune response while still obtaining the necessary nutrients to survive. Salmonella utilizes type 3 secretion systems (T3SSs) to deliver bacterial proteins called effectors, across the encompassing Salmonella Containing vacuole (SCV) membrane, to subvert the host's membrane trafficking pathways and alter other cellular processes. The Salmonella Pathogenicity Island (SPI)-2 effector SopD2 has recently been demonstrated to modulate multiple members of the Rab GTPase family such as Rab7, Rab8, Rab10, and Rab32 (D'Costa et al., , Cell Reports, 12:1508-18; Spano et al., , Cell Host & Microbe, 19:216-26). Here, we demonstrate the additional capacity of SopD2 to bind Rab34 and modulate its function. Our data indicate that depletion of Rab34 delays maturation of the SCV, and consequently, inhibits intracellular Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium (S. typhimurium) growth. Interestingly, intracellular growth of the S. typhimurium lacking SopD2 was severely impaired in Rab34-depleted cells, suggesting a compounding virulence effect. Overall this study reveals an additional member of the Rab GTPase family, Rab34, that is modulated by SopD2 and provides insight into its role in Salmonella biology.


Reconstruction of the distal ulnar epiphysis with vascularized proximal fibula including epiphysis in children after osteochondroma resection: report of two cases.
Osteochondromas, especially multiple hereditary osteochondromas, usually cause various deformities of the joints. The authors sometimes find ulnar shortening and acquired wrist varus deformity in distal ulnar osteochondromas and even radial head dislocation resulting in ulnar shortening. In this study, the authors present the clinical outcomes of distal ulnar epiphysis reconstruction in two children using vascularized proximal fibula including the epiphysis after osteochondroma resection. The authors used vascularized proximal fibula including the epiphysis as a substitute to reconstruct the distal ulnar epiphysis after osteochondroma resection and investigated the clinical outcome in two patients (aged 4 and 9 years). The wrist deformity was corrected successfully for both cases. Bone union between fibular grafts and hosts was found 2 months postoperatively. The reconstructed distal ulna and contralateral limbs were growing almost simultaneously. The morphology and function were also satisfactory at 1- and 8-year follow-up, respectively. It is possible to reconstruct the distal ulna after osteochondroma resection and simultaneously keep the ulna in longitudinal growth by using vascularized proximal fibula including the epiphysis in children. However, the growth plate in the reconstructed distal ulnar epiphysis might be prematurely closed approximately 8 years after reconstruction. Therapeutic, V.


Synthesis and self-assembly of RGD-functionalized PEO-PB amphiphiles.
Amphiphilic block copolymer self-assembly provides a versatile means to prepare nanoscale micelles in solution. The utilization of these structures as targeted drug delivery vehicles has motivated efforts to prepare bioactive ligand-functionalized polymer micelles. The impact of ligand conjugation on micelle morphology was examined through use of well-characterized poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butadiene) (OB) block copolymers functionalized to varying extents with a biologically relevant RGD-containing peptide sequence. Micelle morphology and dilute solution behavior of RGD-functionalized OB (RGD-OB) copolymers were examined using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis. The direct dispersion of RGD-OB copolymers into deionized water yielded a variety of structures; the observed morphologies deviated from the canonical series predicted by the overall change in amphiphile composition due to peptide conjugation. RGD functionalized spherical micelles, cylindrical micelle networks, and annular multilayer vesicles were prepared. The morphological behavior was attributed to interactions between peptide moieties conjugated to the termini of coronal chains and has implications in the design of targeting micelles for drug delivery applications.


Are Ischemic Strokes the Same? The Special Case Argument of Atrial Fibrillation.
A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to identify the etiologic factors in order to select optimal stroke-prevention measures. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most important stroke causes. Although anticoagulant therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, it should not be considered uniformly to treat all patients given the high mortality associated with anticoagulant-related hemorrhages. The authors propose a risk-stratified individualized approach for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation by considering nonpharmacologic approaches for patients at high hemorrhage risk or otherwise unsuitable for lifelong anticoagulation.


Biosensors and Point-of-Care Devices for Bacterial Detection: Rapid Diagnostics Informing Antibiotic Therapy.
With an exponential rise in antimicrobial resistance and stagnant antibiotic development pipeline, there is, more than ever, a crucial need to optimize current infection therapy approaches. One of the most important stages in this process requires rapid and effective identification of pathogenic bacteria responsible for diseases. Current gold standard techniques of bacterial detection include culture methods, polymerase chain reactions, and immunoassays. However, their use is fraught with downsides with high turnaround time and low accuracy being the most prominent. This imposes great limitations on their eventual application as point-of-care devices. Over time, innovative detection techniques have been proposed and developed to curb these drawbacks. In this review, a systematic summary of a range of biosensing platforms is provided with a strong focus on technologies conferring high detection sensitivity and specificity. A thorough analysis is performed and the benefits and drawbacks of each type of biosensor are highlighted, the factors influencing their potential as point-of-care devices are discussed, and the authors' insights for their translation from proof-of-concept systems into commercial medical devices are provided.


Preventive Effect of Dynamic Stabilization Against Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Retrospective cohort study. To investigate the effects of dynamic stabilization with sublaminar taping (ST) on the upper segment adjacent to posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Hybrid procedures such as dynamic stabilization for adjacent segment in addition to spinal fusion have been developed for reduction of the mechanical stress and prevention of adjacent segment pathology (ASP). However, a few reports are available on hybrid procedures and their efficacy is still controversial. Of the 116 patients who underwent L4/5 PLIF between August 2006 and September 2012, 76 patients with minimum 2-year follow up were included in this study. Fifty three patients underwent L4/5 PLIF with hybrid procedure using ST on L3 lamina (group U), and 23 patients underwent conventional L4/5 PLIF (group C). The adjacent segment degeneration (ASDeg) was determined by measurements of radiograph, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging; the adjacent segment disease (ASDis) was evaluated on medical records. The incidence of ASDeg at L3/4 segment of group U (3.7%) was significantly less than that of group C (30.4%) (P = 0.003), although there were no significant differences at L2/3 (group U, 7.5%; group C, 13%) or L5/S1 segment (group U, 5.7%; group C, 8.7%). On the other hand, no significant difference was found between two groups in the incidence of ASDis in L2/3 to L5/S1 levels, and no patient underwent reoperation. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses for L3/4 segment ASDeg revealed that the difference of surgical procedure was the only significant factor. The current study showed that L4/5 PLIF with hybrid procedure using ST on L3 lamina significantly reduced the incidence of L3/4 ASDeg as compared with the conventional L4/5 PLIF without compromising L2/3 or L5/S1 segment. Although further studies and longer follow up are necessary, the hybrid procedure is expected to be effective for preventing ASP. 4.


Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for beta-thalassaemia using sequencing of single cell PCR products to detect mutations and polymorphic loci.
In order to carry out preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for beta-thalassaemia, we have applied direct sequencing of single cell PCR products to detect mutations and polymorphic loci within the beta-globin gene. Conventional duplex PCR was used to amplify two regions of the beta-globin gene with an amplification efficiency of 79% for blastomeres. Sequencing data were obtained for 100% of amplified products, with 12% having confirmed allele drop-out (ADO). A double ADO event was observed at least twice, confirming the real risk of such an event during PGD. In one couple, the presence of a polymorphism linked to the female partner's mutation enabled us to eliminate the risk of misdiagnosis due to double ADO without having to amplify both mutations within the same PCR product. We present here the data from eight clinical PGD cycles for three couples resulting in a singleton pregnancy and a twin pregnancy with all babies confirmed to be free from beta-thalassaemia (major).


Knockdown of glucose-regulated protein 78 abrogates chemoresistance of hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells to cisplatin induced by unfolded protein in response to severe hypoxia.
Hypoxia renders tumor cells with reduced sensitivity and increased resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. One of the possible mechanisms underlying this unfavorable status is activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) under hypoxic conditions, due to the upregulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) expression. GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone protein and a key regulator of the UPR, has been reported to be overexpressed in various types of cancer. However, the role of GRP78 in regulating the cell growth and apoptosis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells, with regard to the severity of hypoxia, remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether, and under what circumstances, GRP78 is associated with hypoxia-induced chemoresistance in hypopharyngeal carcinoma. For this purpose, cells from the FaDu human hypopharyngeal carcinoma cell line were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions for different time periods. No significant changes in GRP78 and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) protein expression levels were revealed under moderately hypoxic conditions (oxygen concentration, 1%), but these levels were changed over time under severely hypoxic conditions (oxygen concentration, <0.02%). This indicated that severe hypoxia, rather than moderate hypoxia, leads to UPR activation in hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Knockdown of GRP78 with short hairpin RNA inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis under severely hypoxic conditions, even with cisplatin treatment, indicating that GRP78 confers FaDu cells resistant to chemotherapy in response to severe hypoxia. Furthermore, knockdown of GRP78 resulted in a significant increase in CHOP and Bax expression levels and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression levels with simultaneous increase in the levels of apoptosis under severely hypoxic conditions. It was concluded that severe hypoxia leads to UPR activation and elevation of GRP78 expression, promoting cell survival and inducing chemoresistance. Silencing of GRP78 may block the pro-survival arm of UPR, simultaneously promoting proapoptotic signaling through induction of CHOP. Downregulation of GRP78 may be a promising strategy for overcoming the resistance of hypopharyngeal cancer to chemotherapy.


Normal group-velocity dispersion Kerr frequency comb.
We show via numerical simulation that Kerr frequency combs can be generated in a nonlinear resonator characterized with normal group-velocity dispersion. We find the spectral shape of the comb and temporal envelope of the corresponding optical pulses formed in the resonator.


[Promotional effects of high fat diet on chemical carcinogenesis of the prostate].
The effects of a high fat diet on progression of minimal cancerous lesions to manifest ones were investigated using a chemo-endocrine carcinogenesis model of rat prostate. Male Fischer 344 rats were alternatively given a diet containing 0.75 ppm of ethinyl estradiol (EE) for 3 weeks and the basal diet without EE for the following 2 weeks, and subcutaneously administered with 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) at 50 mg/kg body weight 2 days after the diet with EE was changed to the basal one. This sequential treatment was repeated 10 times in 50 weeks, and the animals were fed with either normal fat diet (NF) or high fat diet (HF) during the following 30 weeks. At week 80, all the rats were sacrificed for histological examination of the prostate. Atypical hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were induced in 15.4% (4/26) and 34.6% (9/26) in the rats fed NF and 44.8% (13/29) and 20.7% (6/29) in those group fed HF, respectively. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was significantly higher in the group fed NF than in the other. However, the number of rats with either atypical hyperplasia or adenocarcinoma was not significantly different between the two groups. These observations provided no supporting evidence that high fat content in diet has enhancing effects on prostatic carcinogenesis. Using different species or strain of rats, C3H/He mice and ACI/Seg rats, additional experiments were also conducted by a slightly modified protocol without changing on fat contents. Although ACI/Seg rats were known to spontaneously develop prostate cancer, the histopathological examinations revealed atypical hyperplasia at 25% (16/64) in mice and microadenocarcinoma at 8.1% (6/74) in rats. Apparently further studies are needed until a more useful and efficient model of prostate carcinogenesis is established.


The homeodomain Pbx2-Prep1 complex modulates hepatocyte nuclear factor 1alpha-mediated activation of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B17 gene.
UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) are expressed in a wide range of tissues in which their levels of expression and distribution are dependent on cell-type specific regulatory mechanisms. The presence of a hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 1 binding site in the proximal promoters of several UGT2B genes has been shown to contribute to their expression in liver cells and possibly other HNF1-containing cell types. In some of these UGT2B genes, a putative pre-B cell homeobox (Pbx) transcription factor binding site is found directly adjacent to the functional HNF1 site. To determine whether this putative Pbx site contributes to the regulation of UGT2B expression, we chose the UGT2B17 gene and investigated the capacity of its Pbx site to bind specific transcription factors and alter promoter activity. The UGT2B17 Pbx site matches a consensus Pbx site known to bind members of the Pbx, Hox, Meis, and Prep1 families of homeodomain-containing proteins and has previously been shown to bind nuclear proteins in DNaseI footprint assays. In this study, we used gel shift and functional assays to show that a Pbx2-Prep1 heterodimer can bind to the UGT2B17 Pbx site and interfere with the binding of HNF1alpha to its site adjacent to the Pbx site. This interaction of Pbx2-Prep1 and HNF1alpha results in down-regulation of HNF1alpha-mediated activation of the UGT2B17 promoter. Modulation of transcription by restricting the binding of transcriptional effectors to their target site is a novel role for Pbx2-Prep1 complexes.


Overgeneralizing emotions: Facial width-to-height revisited.
Facial width-to height ratio (fWHR), presumed to be shaped by testosterone during puberty, has been linked with aggressive, dominant, and power-seeking behavioral traits in adult males, although the causal mediation is still being disputed. To investigate the role of mere observer attribution bias in the association, we instructed participants to draw, feature-assemble, or photo-edit faces of fictitious males with aggressive-dominant character (compared with peaceloving-submissive), or powerful social status (compared with powerless). Across three studies involving 1,100 modeled faces in total, we observed little evidence for attribution bias with regards to facial width. Only in the photo-edited faces did character condition seem to affect fWHR; this difference, however, relied on displayed state emotions, not on static facial features. Anger, in particular, was expressed by lowered or V-shaped eyebrows, whereby facial height was reduced so that fWHR increased, relative to the comparison condition where the opposite happened. Using Bayesian analyses and equivalence testing, we confirmed that, in the absence of state emotionality, there was no effect of character condition on facial width. Our results add to a number of recent studies stressing the role of emotion overgeneralization in the association of fWHR with personality traits, an attributional bias that may give rise to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Methodologically, we infer that static images may be of limited use for investigations of fWHR because they cannot sufficiently differentiate between transient muscular activation and identity-related bone structures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).


Attempt to Determine the Cut-Off Value of Serum Ferritin for Iron Deficiency in Male College Student Runners.
For the evaluation of iron nutrition status, the measurement of serum ferritin levels is the most convenient and widely used technique for estimating stored iron. However, the cut-off value of serum ferritin for iron deficiency in athletes has not yet established. This study aimed to determine the cut-off value of serum ferritin to define iron deficiency in male college student runners. This study included 37-43 Japanese male college student runners for each month. Anthropometric measurements and blood collection were conducted from March to December 2018. In all months except May, significant negative correlations were observed between serum ferritin and transferrin levels, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and unsaturated iron binding capacity. Furthermore, a significant association between serum ferritin levels and TIBC was observed by nonlinear regression analysis. The curvature radius and curvature were calculated using the data from 9 mo, and serum ferritin levels with the smallest curvature radius and the highest curvature in each month were identified. The serum ferritin levels were as follows: 35.0 ng/mL in March, 45.0 ng/mL in April, 40.0 ng/mL in June, 35.0 ng/mL in July, 35.0 ng/mL in August, 35.0 ng/mL in September, 35.0 ng/mL in October, 35.0 ng/mL in November, and 40.0 ng/mL in December. The average value was 37.2 ng/mL. In conclusion, the cut-off value of serum ferritin for defining iron deficiency in runners was determined to be 40.0 ng/mL in this study. This value (40.0 ng/mL) may be useful for iron deficiency screening in runners.


Lipophilized Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Derivatives as Novel Antioxidants.
Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) is a natural food antioxidant. Natural proanthocyanidins (PC) in grape seed are usually polyhydroxy derivatives which exhibit hydrophilic character. GSP was modified structurally to improve its lipophilicity, expand its application in lipophilic media, and enhance its cellular absorption in vivo. Esterification of the water-soluble GSP was prepared by immobilized lipase Lipozyme TL IM with lauric acid, and their enhanced lipophilicity was confirmed by the 1-octanol/water partition coefficient. The presence of mono-, di-, and trilauroylated derivatives in GSP derivatives was confirmed by HPLC-MS-MS, and four lauroylated derivatives were identified as 3',5'-2-O-lauroyl epigallocatechin, 3'-O-lauroyl catechin, 3'-O-lauroyl epicatechin, and 3',3″,5″-3-O-lauroyl epicatechin gallate by NMR. GSP derivatives exhibited the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (IC50 of 41 μg/mL) compared to that of GSP, hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ). The results suggest that GSP derivatives may be used as potential lipophilic antioxidants in the food industry.


Association of pulmonary arterial pressure with volume status in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Data on pulmonary hemodynamic parameters in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are scarce. The associations between pulmonary artery catheter parameters for the first 7 days of ECMO, fluid balance, and hospital mortality were investigated in adult patients (aged ≥19 years) who received venovenous ECMO for refractory ARDS between 2015 and 2017. Twenty patients were finally included in the analysis (median age, 56.0 years; interquartile range, 45.5-68.0 years; female, n=10). A total of 140 values were collected for each parameter (i.e., 7 days×20 patients). Net fluid balance was weakly but significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic pulmonary arterial pressures (PAPs; r=0.233 and P=0.011; r=0.376 and P<0.001, respectively). Among the mechanical ventilation parameters, above positive end-expiratory pressure was correlated with systolic PAP (r=0.191 and P=0.025), and static compliance was negatively correlated with diastolic PAP (r=-0.169 and P=0.048). Non-survivors had significantly higher systolic PAPs than in survivors. However, in multivariate analysis, there was no significant association between mean systolic PAP and hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.500; 95% confidence interval, 0.937-2.404; P=0.091). Systolic PAP was weakly but significantly correlated with net fluid balance during the early ECMO period in patients with refractory ARDS receiving ECMO.


Preparation and antitumor effect of macrophage activating factor (MAF) encapsulated in liposomes bearing a monoclonal anti-human melanoma (A375) antibody.
We prepared large unilamellar vesicles containing the cell-free culture supernatant of a human T cell hybridoma rich in macrophage activating factor (MAF) and bearing monoclonal antibodies against human melanoma A375 tumor cells; their antitumor activity against A375 cells was examined in vitro and in vivo. Both MAF-immunoliposomes (bearing antibodies) and MAF liposomes (not bearing antibodies) showed macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro at a high E/T ratio (about 40). But at a low E/T ratio (about 15), only MAF-immunoliposomes showed tumoricidal activity, their activity being more than ten thousand-fold stronger compared with a soluble MAF preparation (MAF solution). MAF-immunoliposomes not only showed tumor neutralization mediated by macrophages in vivo when a mixture of tumor cells, macrophages, and MAF-immunoliposomes was locally injected, but also showed significant inhibition of tumor growth on repeated i.v. systemic administration of them. On the other hand, other samples (MAF-liposomes without the antibody, a MAF solution, and immunoliposomes without MAF) were not significantly effective against tumor growth. These results may constitute evidence that the delivery of lymphokines to the tumor sites is important or even critical when an attempt is made to treat cancer with lymphokines with the expectation of the potentiation of the host's immune system.


Pregnancy-associated breast cancer: nationwide Dutch study confirms a discriminatory aggressive histopathologic profile.
Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy in pregnant women, occurring approximately once in every 3000 pregnancies. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is commonly defined as breast cancer diagnosed during or within one year after pregnancy, and it accounts for up to 6.9% of all breast cancers in women younger than 45 years old. Whether these cancers arise before or during pregnancy, and whether they are stimulated by the high hormonal environment of pregnancy, is currently unknown. This study assesses the histopathological profile of PABC in a large Dutch population-based cohort. We identified 744 patients with PABC (in this cohort defined as breast cancer diagnosed during or within 6 months after pregnancy) diagnosed between 1988 and 2019, in the nationwide Dutch Pathology Registry (PALGA). An age-matched PALGA cohort of unselected breast cancer patients (≤ 45 years), diagnosed between 2013 and 2016, was used as a control. Histopathologic features of both cohorts were compared. The median age of PABC patients was 34.3 years old (range 19-45 years) and most breast cancers were diagnosed during pregnancy (74.2%). As compared to age-matched controls, PABC patients had tumors of higher Bloom-Richardson grade (grade I: 1.5% vs. 12.4%, grade II: 16.9% vs. 31.3%, grade III: 80.3% vs. 39.5%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, estrogen (ER)- and progesterone (PR)-receptor expression was less frequently reported positive (ER: 38.9% vs. 68.2% and PR: 33.9% vs. 59.0%, p < 0.0001), while a higher percentage of PABC tumors overexpressed HER2 (20.0% vs. 10.0%, p < 0.0001). The most observed intrinsic subtype in PABC was triple-negative breast cancer (38.3% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.0001), whereas hormone-driven cancers were significantly less diagnosed (37.9% vs. 67.3%, p < 0.0001). This study, based on a large population-based cohort of 744 PABC Dutch patients, underlines the more aggressive histopathologic profile compared to age-matched breast cancer patients ≤ 45 years. Further in-depth genetic analysis will be performed to unravel the origin of this discriminating phenotype. It definitely calls for timely detection and optimal treatment of this small but delicate subgroup of breast cancer patients.


Fungal and ciliate protozoa are the main rumen microbes associated with methane emissions in dairy cattle.
Mitigating the effects of global warming has become the main challenge for humanity in recent decades. Livestock farming contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, with an important output of methane from enteric fermentation processes, mostly in ruminants. Because ruminal microbiota is directly involved in digestive fermentation processes and methane biosynthesis, understanding the ecological relationships between rumen microorganisms and their active metabolic pathways is essential for reducing emissions. This study analysed whole rumen metagenome using long reads and considering its compositional nature in order to disentangle the role of rumen microbes in methane emissions. The β-diversity analyses suggested a subtle association between methane production and overall microbiota composition (0.01 < R2 < 0.02). Differential abundance analysis identified 36 genera and 279 KEGGs as significantly associated with methane production (Padj < 0.05). Those genera associated with high methane production were Eukaryota from Alveolata and Fungi clades, while Bacteria were associated with low methane emissions. The genus-level association network showed 2 clusters grouping Eukaryota and Bacteria, respectively. Regarding microbial gene functions, 41 KEGGs were found to be differentially abundant between low- and high-emission animals and were mainly involved in metabolic pathways. No KEGGs included in the methane metabolism pathway (ko00680) were detected as associated with high methane emissions. The KEGG network showed 3 clusters grouping KEGGs associated with high emissions, low emissions, and not differentially abundant in either. A deeper analysis of the differentially abundant KEGGs revealed that genes related with anaerobic respiration through nitrate degradation were more abundant in low-emission animals. Methane emissions are largely associated with the relative abundance of ciliates and fungi. The role of nitrate electron acceptors can be particularly important because this respiration mechanism directly competes with methanogenesis. Whole metagenome sequencing is necessary to jointly consider the relative abundance of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota in the statistical analyses. Nutritional and genetic strategies to reduce CH4 emissions should focus on reducing the relative abundance of Alveolata and Fungi in the rumen. This experiment has generated the largest ONT ruminal metagenomic dataset currently available.