Effects of chelating agents on distribution and excretion of terbium in mice.
When terbium chloride (TbCl(3)) was intravenously injected into mice, terbium (Tb) was mainly distributed into the spleen, lung, and liver. Thus, the effects of five chelating agents on the distribution of Tb to the spleen, lung, and liver of mice were examined. The treatments with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), N-p-methoxybenzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MeOBGD) and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) reduced the content of Tb in the spleen. The treatments with D-penicillamine (D-PEN), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and MeOBGD reduced the content of Tb in the lung. However, BAL treatment enhanced the content of Tb in the lung, indicating the redistribution of Tb to the tissue. Although the biliary excretion of Tb was significantly increased in mice treated with EDTA and MeOBGD, these increases were negligibly small, and the metal was not detected in the urine. These results indicate that well-known chelating agents such as D-PEN, EDTA, DDTC, MeOBGD, and BAL have little ability to excrete Tb into the bile and urine. Further studies are necessary to develop a new type of chelating agent to remove Tb effectively from the body.


Rat brain thioltransferase: regional distribution, immunological characterization, and localization by fluorescent in situ hybridization.
Thioltransferase (TTase) is a member of the family of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases that are involved in the maintenance of sulfhydryl homeostasis in cells by catalyzing thiol-disulfide interchange reactions. One of the major consequences of oxidative stress in brain is the formation of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides (through oxidation of protein thiols), which can be reversed by TTase during the recovery of brain from oxidative stress. We therefore examined the presence of TTase in brain regions from rat. In the rat, TTase activity in the whole brain was comparable with the corresponding activity in liver, but significantly higher in hippocampus. The enzyme activity was significantly lower in striatum and cerebellum compared with activity in whole brain. Rat brain TTase shared immunological similarity with the human red blood cell enzyme, but not with the pig liver enzyme. The constitutive expression of the mRNA to TTase was demonstrable by northern blotting. Localization of the TTase mRNA in rat brain by fluorescent in situ hybridization showed the presence of high amounts of mRNA in the olfactory bulb, cortex, and hippocampus and its predominant localization in the neurons. TTase mRNA was also present in Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, in giant reticular neurons in the midbrain, and in the striatal and thalamic neurons. This study demonstrates the constitutive presence of a functional TTase system in brain and delineates the regional and cellular localization of the enzyme in rat brain.


Low Temperature Fabrication for High Performance Flexible CsPbI2Br Perovskite Solar Cells.
All-inorganic CsPbX3-based perovskites, such as CsPbI2Br, show much better thermal and illumination stability than their organic-inorganic hybrid counterparts. However, fabrication of high-quality CsPbI2Br perovskite film normally requires annealing at a high temperature (>250 °C) that is not compatible with the plastic substrate. In this work, a Lewis base adduct-promoted growth process that makes it possible to fabricate high quality CsPbI2Br perovskite films at low temperature is promoted. The mechanism is attributed to synthesized dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) adducts which allow a low activation energy route to form CsPbI2Br perovskite films during the thermal annealing treatment. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.54% is achieved. As far as it is known, this is the highest efficiency for the CsPbI2Br solar cells fabricated at low temperature (120 °C). In addition, the method enables fabrication of flexible CsPbI2Br PSCs with PCE as high as 11.73%. Surprisingly, the bare devices without any encapsulation maintain 70% of their original PCEs after being stored in ambient air for 700 h. This work provides an approach for preparing other high performance CsPbX3-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) at low temperature, particularly for flexible ones.


Sydney's ethnic underclass.
"Sydney is Australia's richest metropolis. But it is also attracting a disproportionate share of lower-skilled, NESB-origin [non-English speaking background] migrants. These migrants earn low incomes and are concentrating in a group of suburbs to the city's south-west. A case study of the experience of Korean migrants indicates some of the factors shaping the process."


Evaluation of a 2-question screening tool for detecting depression in adolescents in primary care.
Eighty-five adolescents (ages 13 to 17), recruited from various metropolitan pediatric outpatient clinics, were administered the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2, a two-item depression screener, along with two other well-established measures of depression, the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results indicated a significant relationship between the second question of the PHQ-2 and the two established measures of depression. Discriminant function analysis revealed that classification of adolescents as depressed or not depressed on the basis of their responses to this second question resulted in correct classification of 73% of adolescents with a sensitivity of 0.48 and specificity of 0.60. The use of both questions resulted in lower classification accuracy (67%) but a higher sensitivity of 0.85 and a slightly lower specificity of 0.51 than either question alone. These results support the use of this measure as a brief screener for adolescent depression in primary care.


The finely defined shift work schedule of dung beetles and their eye morphology.
In nature, nothing is wasted, not even waste. Dung, composed of metabolic trash and leftovers of food, is a high-quality resource and the object of fierce competition. Over 800 dung beetle species (Scarabaeinae) compete in the South African dung habitat and more than 100 species can colonize a single dung pat. To coexist in the same space, using the same food, beetles divide the day between them. However, detailed diel activity periods and associated morphological adaptations have been largely overlooked in these dung-loving insects. To address this, we used a high-frequency trapping design to establish the diel activity period of 44 dung beetle species in their South Africa communities. This allowed us to conclude that the dung beetles show a highly refined temporal partitioning strategy, with differences in peak of activity even within the diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal guilds, independent of nesting behavior and taxonomic classification. We further analyzed differences in eye and body size of our 44 model species and describe their variability in external eye morphology. In general, nocturnal species are bigger than crepuscular and diurnal species, and as expected, the absolute and relative eye size is greatest in nocturnal species, followed by crepuscular and then diurnal species. A more surprising finding was that corneal structure (smooth or facetted) is influenced by the activity period of the species, appearing flat in the nocturnal species and highly curved in the diurnal species. The role of the canthus-a cuticular structure that partially or completely divides the dung beetle eye into dorsal and ventral parts-remains a mystery, but the large number of species investigated in this study nevertheless allowed us to reject any correlation between its presence and the nesting behavior or time of activity of the beetles.


Rapid one-pot synthesis of riboflavin isotopomers.
Flavocoenzymes labeled with stable isotopes are important reagents for the study of flavoproteins using isotope-sensitive methods such as NMR, ENDOR, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. We describe highly versatile one-pot methods for the preparation of riboflavin isotopomers labeled with (13)C in every desired position of the xylene moiety. The starting materials are commercially available (13)C-labeled glucose samples, which are converted into riboflavin using enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in combination with recombinant enzymes of the riboflavin biosynthetic pathway. The overall reaction comprises six enzyme-catalyzed reaction steps for the synthesis of the vitamin and two auxiliary enzymes for in situ recycling of cofactors. The overall yields of riboflavin based on isotope-labeled glucose are 35-50%.


Effect of calcium carbonate particle size on calcium absorption and retention in adolescent girls.
Increasing calcium bioavailability by decreasing calcium salt particle size in the supplement may be one way to increase calcium absorption. The aim of the study was to compare (1) large versus small particle size CaCO(3) supplements and (2) small particle size CaCO(3) supplement versus placebo on calcium absorption and retention in adolescent girls. Thirty-one adolescent girls, aged 11 to 14 years, participated in two 3-week calcium balance periods separated by a 1-week washout period. During both balance periods, the subjects consumed a controlled diet containing 804 mg/d calcium. Using a crossover design, one group (n = 19) received an additional ∼600 mg/d calcium of two ∼300-mg calcium doses as either large particle (18 μm; i.e., standard commercial form) or small particle (13.5 μm) CaCO(3). A second group (n = 12) received ∼600 mg/d calcium from small-particle CaCO(3) or placebo. The parathyroid hormone suppression curve, following a challenge, from the first arm of the study indicated that calcium absorption from the small particle size CaCO(3) was less than that from the large particle size CaCO(3). The parathyroid hormone suppression curve from the small particle versus placebo arm indicated that calcium absorption from small particle size CaCO(3) was greater than placebo. Calcium balance (Ca intake - [urine Ca + fecal Ca]) demonstrated that the small particle size CaCO(3) supplement increased Ca retention nearly 2-fold compared with placebo (p < 0.05; 496 ± 213 and 256 ± 94 mg/d, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in Ca retention due to small versus large particle size of CaCO(3) (p > 0.05; 349.1 ± 131.6 and 322.0 ± 194.2 mg/d, respectively). Dietary supplementation with CaCO(3) is effective in increasing calcium absorption and retention compared with placebo. But there is no advantage of small compared with large particle size CaCO(3) on calcium absorption and retention.


Effects of food presence on microplastic ingestion and egestion in Mytilus galloprovincialis.
Plastic wastes are widespread pollutants in marine environments and several studies have focused on their impacts on different ecosystems. Microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm) have been the focus of a particularly extensive investigation because of their ubiquity, large surface area, interactions with organisms, and the challenges they present in terms of disposal and management. However, studies regarding their fates and life cycle in ecosystems are still limited. This study examined the effects of presence of food (the green microalga Dunaliella salina) on egestion rate of polyethylene MPs in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Ingestion and egestion rates were calculated after 6, 12, 18, and 24 h of depuration. The results suggest that MPs exposed to algal food persisted in the mussels. A single exposure of MPs without food induced relatively rapid excretion by the mussels compared to MPs exposure with food. This could be attributed to the ability of mussels to distinguish between nutritive foods and unusable suspended particles. Thus, environmental factors, such as food abundance, can affect the cycle or fate of MPs in marine environments.


Glucose activation of the glucagon receptor gene: functional dissimilarity with several other glucose response elements.
The glucagon receptor (GLR) expression is positively regulated by glucose. This regulation is allowed by the presence, in the promotor of the rat GLR gene, of a sequence feature similar to the two E-boxes motifs constituting the carbohydrate response elements (ChoRE) described for several glycolytic and lipogenic enzyme genes. Using reporter gene assays, we demonstrated here that, despite structural homologies with these ChoREs, the GLR gene glucose response element presents various functional dissimilarities. Testing glucose analogs, we demonstrated that, as for other genes, the glucose must be first phosphorylated. However, at variance with others homologue genes, our data showed the implication of the nonoxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway in the transmission of the glucose signal and lack of inhibition by adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-kinase. Furthermore, the activity of our reporter gene was strongly stimulated by butyrate, propionate, and acetate. This observation contrasts with fatty-acid-induced inhibition of the glucose activation, observed for all other genes containing homolog ChoREs. We also showed that glucose and butyrate influence the reporter gene expression via different features.


Overexpression of type IV collagen in chorionic villi in hydatidiform mole.
To investigate the characteristic structure of hydatidiform mole, type IV collagen expression was determined in human villous tissues obtained from normal pregnancies (n = 17) and complete hydatidiform moles (n = 10). Indirect immunofluorescent staining was performed to detect type IV collagen with specific monoclonal antibody, and Northern blot analysis was performed to assess expression of messenger ribonucleic acid for the alpha1(IV) chain. In addition, serum levels of type I, III, and IV collagen were measured by RIA. Immunohistochemical staining for type IV collagen revealed stronger staining of the trophoblastic basement membrane in hydatidiform mole than in normal pregnancy. Northern blot analysis revealed that the villous expression of messenger ribonucleic acid for the alpha1(IV) chain was significantly increased in hydatidiform moles compared with normal pregnancy (P < 0.01). Although there were no differences in the serum type I and III collagen levels between hydatidiform mole and normal pregnancy, the type IV collagen level was significantly higher in patients with hydatidiform mole than in normal pregnancy (P < 0.05). These results suggest that type IV collagen might play an important role in determining the pathophysiology and structure of hydatidiform mole.


The Functional and Regulatory Mechanisms of the Thellungiella salsuginea Ascorbate Peroxidase 6 (TsAPX6) in Response to Salinity and Water Deficit Stresses.
Soil salinization is a resource and ecological problem in the world. Thellungiella salsuginea is becoming a new model plant because it resembles its relative species, Arabidopsis thaliana, in small genome and short life cycle. It is highly tolerant to salinity and drought stresses. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is an enzyme that clears H2O2 in plants. The function and molecular and regulation mechanisms of APX in T. salsuginea have rarely been reported. In this study, an APX gene, TsApx6, was cloned from T. salsuginea and its responses to abiotic stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis were studied. Under high salinity treatment, the expression of TsApx6 was significantly induced. Under drought treatment, overexpression of TsApx6 increased the survival rate and reduced leaf water loss rate in Arabidopsis. Compared to the wild type plants, high salinity treatment reduced the concentrations of MDA, H2O2 and proline but elevated the activities of APX, GPX, CAT and SOD in the TsApx6-overexpressing plants. Meanwhile, germination rate, cotyledon greening, and root length were improved in the transgenic plants compared to the wild type plants under salt and water deficit conditions. Based on these findings, TsApx6 has an important function in the resistance of plants to certain abiotic stresses. The TsApx6 promoter sequence was obtained using Genome Walking technology. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that it contains some cis-acting elements related to stress response. The treatments of salt, dehydration, and ABA induced the expression of Gus gene under the regulation of the TsApx6 promoter. Mutation analysis showed that the MBS motif present in the TsApx6 promoter might be a key negative regulatory element which has an important effect on the growth and developmental process of plants.


Orthotopic kidney transplantation in mice: technique using cuff for renal vein anastomosis.
Mouse renal transplantation is a technically challenging procedure. Although the first kidney transplants in mice were performed over 34 years ago and refined some years later, the classical techniques of mouse renal transplantation required clamping both vena cava and aorta simultaneously and carry out suture anastomoses of the renal artery and vein in a heterotopic position. In our laboratory, we have successfully developed mouse orthotopic kidney transplantation for the first time, using a rapid "cuffed" renal vein technique for vessel anastomosis, wherein the donor's renal vein was inserted through an intravenous catheter, folded back and tied. During grafting, the cuffed renal vein was directly inserted into the recipient's renal vein without the need for the clamping vena cava and suturing of renal vein. This technique allowed for the exact transplantation of the kidney into the original position, compared to the classical technique, and has significantly shortened the clamping time due to a quicker and precise anastomosis of renal vein as described. This also allowed for a quicker recovery of the lower extremity activity, reduction in myoglobinuria with resultant kidney graft survival of 88.9%. Thus we believe that the cuffed renal vein technique simplifies microvascular anastomoses and affords important additional benefits.


[Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia: comparative study of cases in HIV-infected patients and immunocompromised non-HIV-infected patients].
Although P. jiroveci pneumonia affects immunocompromised (IC) patients of any etiology, clinical features and prognostic outcomes are different depending if they are patients with HIV infection or other causes of IC. To compare clinical and laboratory features as well as outcomes of P. jiroveci pneumonia in HIV versus non-HIV patients. Retrospective review of clinical records of HIV and non-HIV patients with P. jiroveci pneumonia managed at the Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile, between 2005 and 2007. We included 28 HIV and 45 non-HIV patients with confirmed P. jiroveci pneumonia. The non-HIV population was older (65 vs 36,2 years, p < 0,01), had shorter duration of symptoms (7 [1-21] vs 14 [2-45] days, p < 0,01), required more invasive techniques (60 vs 21%, p < 0,01) and RT-PCR to confirm the diagnosis (93 vs 68%, p < 0,01), were more frequently treated at intensive care units (58 vs. 25%, p < 0,01) requiring artificial ventilation (56 vs 11%, p < 0,01), and had a higher attributable mortality (33% vs 0%, p < 0,01). Our study confirmed that P. jiroveci pneumonia in non-HIV IC patients is more severe, more difficult to diagnose and has higher mortality that in HIV patients. Therefore, it is mandatory to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this patients group.


Autosomal recessive truncating MAB21L1 mutation associated with a syndromic scrotal agenesis.
We report on a boy with a rare malformative association of scrotum agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, cerebellar malformation, facial dysmorphism and global development delay. The reported patient was carrying a homozygous frameshift in MAB21L1 detected by whole-exome sequencing, considered as the most likely disease-causing variant. Mab21l1 knockout mice present a strikingly similar malformative association of ophthalmological malformations of the anterior chamber and preputial glands hypoplasia. We hypothesize that MAB21L1 haploinsufficiency cause a previously undescribed syndrome with scrotal agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, facial dysmorphism and gross psychomotor delay as remarkable hallmarks. Four cases from the literature were reported with features suggestive of a similar and recognizable clinical entity. We hypothesize that MAB21L1 should be the culprit gene in these patients.


Efficient FIR Filter Implementations for Multichannel BCIs Using Xilinx System Generator.
Background. Brain computer interface (BCI) is a combination of software and hardware communication protocols that allow brain to control external devices. Main purpose of BCI controlled external devices is to provide communication medium for disabled persons. Now these devices are considered as a new way to rehabilitate patients with impunities. There are certain potentials present in electroencephalogram (EEG) that correspond to specific event. Main issue is to detect such event related potentials online in such a low signal to noise ratio (SNR). In this paper we propose a method that will facilitate the concept of online processing by providing an efficient filtering implementation in a hardware friendly environment by switching to finite impulse response (FIR). Main focus of this research is to minimize latency and computational delay of preprocessing related to any BCI application. Four different finite impulse response (FIR) implementations along with large Laplacian filter are implemented in Xilinx System Generator. Efficiency of 25% is achieved in terms of reduced number of coefficients and multiplications which in turn reduce computational delays accordingly.


Clinical Manifestations and Overall Management Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder that causes progressive weakness and wasting of skeletal muscular and myocardium in boys due to mutation of dystrophin. The structural integrity of each individual skeletal and cardiac myocyte is significantly compromised upon physical stress due to the absence of dystrophin. The progressive destruction of systemic musculature and myocardium causes affected patients to develop multiple organ disabilities, including loss of ambulation, physical immobility, neuromuscular scoliosis, joint contracture, restrictive lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiomyopathy. There are some central nervous system-related medical problems, as dystrophin is also expressed in the neuronal tissues. Although principal management is to mainly delay the pathological process, an enhanced understanding of underlying pathological processes has significantly improved quality of life and longevity for DMD patients. Future research in novel molecular approach is warranted to answer unanswered questions.


The efficacy of remote screening for dental caries by mid-level dental providers using a mobile teledentistry model.
This study aimed to determine whether intraoral photographic assessment by mid-level dental providers (MLDPs) offers a valid and reliable means of dental caries screening. A mobile teledentistry model was developed to facilitate the acquisition of dental images, and transmission and reviewing of data. One hundred regularly attending patients at a dental clinic participated in the study. Following an on-site clinical examination by a senior dentist, photographs of participants' teeth were taken by a teledental assistant, using a smartphone camera. These intraoral photographs were directly uploaded from an Android App to a cloud-based server, 'Remote-i', using an encrypted store-and-forward telemedicine technology. The photographic assessment carried out by two independent screeners (MLDPs), was compared to the visual oral examination scores of a benchmark examiner. The sensitivity and specificity values for the photographic assessment method (assessed by screeners) as compared to the direct visual examination ranged from 60% to 68%, and 97% to 98%, respectively. The intra-rater reliability for the photographic assessment was almost perfect, with a kappa score of 0.89. The inter-rater reliability between the photographic and visual oral assessments ranged from moderate to substantial agreement, with kappa scores ranging from 0.57 to 0.61. A new smartphone-based mobile teledentistry model used by mid-level dental providers shows potential for remote screening of dental caries.


[Kimura's disease of the lymph node. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and differential diagnosis].
Kimura's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown cause, occurs predominantly in young Asian adult men. The disease involves subcutaneous tissues and lymph nodes in the head and neck region. We report a new case occurring in a young woman. The diagnosis was made late on a retroauricular lymph node examination. Immunohistochemical study showed that B lymphoid area remained, located in the germinal center showing some fibrosis involvement, and in the subcortex. T lymphoid zones were observed in the paracortex. Strong IgE positivity was noted in germinal centers. Vessels were positive with CD31, CD34, factor VIII and smooth muscle actin antibodies. Warthin-Finkeldey cells were negative for lymphoid and macrophagic markers used in this study. Differential diagnosis is discussed.


Deciphering the Backbone Noncovalent Interactions that Stabilize Polyproline II Conformation and Reduce cis Proline Abundance in Polyproline Tracts.
Proline (Pro) has a higher propensity to adopt cis amide geometry than the other natural amino acids, and a poly-Pro (poly-P) tract can adopt either a polyproline I (PPI, all cis amide) or a polyproline II (PPII, all trans amide) helical conformation. Recent studies have revealed a reduced abundance of cis amide geometry among the inner Pro residues of a poly-P tract. However, the forces that stabilize the polyproline helices and the reason for the higher trans amide propensity of the inner Pro residues of a poly-P tract are poorly understood. Herein, we have studied both Pro and non-Pro PPII helical sequences and identified the backbone noncovalent interactions that are crucial to the higher stability of the trans Pro-amide geometry and the preference for a PPII helical conformation. We show the presence of reciprocal CO···CO interactions that extend over the whole PPII helical region. Interestingly, the CO···CO interactions strengthen with the increase in the PPII helical chain length and the inner CO groups possess stronger CO···CO interactions, which could explain the reduced cis abundance of the inner Pro residues of a poly-P tract. We also identified a much stronger (∼0.9 kcal·mol-1) nO → σ*Cα-Cβ interaction between the N-terminal CO oxygen lone pair and the antibonding orbital (σ*) of their Cα-Cβ bonds. As the nO → σ*Cα-Cβ interaction is possible only in the trans isomers of Pro, this interaction should be crucial for the stabilization of a PPII helix. Finally, an unusual nN(amide) → σ*C-N interaction (∼0.3 kcal·mol-1) was observed between the peptidic nitrogen lone pair (nN) and the antibonding orbital (σ*C-N) of the subsequent C-terminal peptide C-N bond. We propose a cumulative effect of these interactions in the stabilization of a PPII helix.


Comprehensive long-term follow-up programs for pediatric cancer survivors.
The objective of this study was to provide a detailed description of comprehensive long-term follow-up (LTFU) programs for pediatric cancer survivors. Program directors from 24 comprehensive LTFU programs in the U.S. and Canada completed a 6-page survey that provided details in 5 categories: description of the program, perceived benefits and strengths of the program, barriers to the development and use of the program, methods to improve the program, and an ideal model of care for pediatric cancer survivors. Participants identified the following primary benefits to health care delivered to survivors through LTFU programs: health care delivered by clinicians familiar with long-term risks of survivors, provision of risk-based screening and surveillance for late effects, and targeted education for risk reduction and healthy lifestyles. Key barriers to the functioning of LTFU programs included system-driven and patient/survivor-driven factors. System-driven factors included inadequate resources and finances to sustain programs, low institutional commitment toward the provision of survivorship care, lack of capacity to care for the growing population of survivors, and difficulties with ongoing communication with community physicians. Survivor-driven barriers included lack of interest and lack of awareness of cancer-related risks. This report describes the frequency, content, and setting of follow-up care delivered by pediatric comprehensive LTFU programs. Critical challenges as survivorship care evolves will include integrating a structured process of program evaluation and building capacity for care.


Rabovirus: a proposed new picornavirus genus that is phylogenetically basal to enteroviruses and sapeloviruses.
We have sequenced the genome of a novel picornavirus, rabovirus A (rat-borne virus, RaBoV-A, NC_026314), which was present in the feces of a Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) from Berlin, Germany. This virus is related to members of the genera Enterovirus and Sapelovirus. RaboV-A contains a type II IRES that is unlike the type I IRES elements of enteroviruses and the type IV elements of sapeloviruses. Its genome is marked by an L protein and a chymotrypsin-like 2A protease. Our analysis of genome organization, pairwise identities, motif, phylogenic and UTR (GIMPU) indicates that RaBoV-A potentially represents a new picornavirus genus, for which we propose the name "Rabovirus". Spread by their rodent hosts and detected in New York and Berlin rats, these viruses may have a wide geographic distribution.


Temporal sequencing of nicotine dependence and major depressive disorder: A U.S. national study.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Nicotine dependence (ND) often co-occur. However, little attention has been given to the temporal order between the two disorders. We compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals whose onset of ND preceded (ND-prior) or followed the onset of MDD (MDD-prior). Binary logistic regression models were computed to compare ND-prior (n=546) and MDD-prior (n=801) individuals from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, n=43,093). We found that MDD-prior were more likely to have a history of suicide attempts and a family history of both depression and antisocial behavior, to have had psychiatric hospitalization, and to have an earlier age of onset of the first depressive episode; but a later age of onset for both daily smoking and ND. On average, MDD-prior individuals showed a significantly longer transition time from daily smoking to ND (15.6±0.6 vs. 6.9±0.4 years, P<0.001). In contrast, ND-prior subjects had a significantly greater proportion of withdrawal symptoms, and of lifetime alcohol use or alcohol use disorder. We conclude that the phenomenology and course of ND and MDD vary significantly, depending on which disorder had earlier onset.


Dietary fat quality and circulating cholesterol levels in humans: a review of actions and mechanisms.
Consumption of saturated fats contributes to elevated circulating cholesterol levels, whilst either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats are linked to depressed levels. Since elevated serum cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, it is of interest to understand the factors responsible for the responses elicited by dietary fat quality. Changes in faecal sterol excretion, exogenous cholesterol absorption, lipoprotein composition, and lipoprotein catabolism can coincide with changes in fat intake but may not necessary cause them. Whether or not rates of whole-body cholesterol synthesis respond to dietary fat quality is not known. To date, animal studies suggest that shifts in LDL receptor-mediated cholesterol transport are to blame for responses of circulating cholesterol levels to dietary fat.


Assaying locomotor activity to study circadian rhythms and sleep parameters in Drosophila.
Most life forms exhibit daily rhythms in cellular, physiological and behavioral phenomena that are driven by endogenous circadian (≡24 hr) pacemakers or clocks. Malfunctions in the human circadian system are associated with numerous diseases or disorders. Much progress towards our understanding of the mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms has emerged from genetic screens whereby an easily measured behavioral rhythm is used as a read-out of clock function. Studies using Drosophila have made seminal contributions to our understanding of the cellular and biochemical bases underlying circadian rhythms. The standard circadian behavioral read-out measured in Drosophila is locomotor activity. In general, the monitoring system involves specially designed devices that can measure the locomotor movement of Drosophila. These devices are housed in environmentally controlled incubators located in a darkroom and are based on using the interruption of a beam of infrared light to record the locomotor activity of individual flies contained inside small tubes. When measured over many days, Drosophila exhibit daily cycles of activity and inactivity, a behavioral rhythm that is governed by the animal's endogenous circadian system. The overall procedure has been simplified with the advent of commercially available locomotor activity monitoring devices and the development of software programs for data analysis. We use the system from Trikinetics Inc., which is the procedure described here and is currently the most popular system used worldwide. More recently, the same monitoring devices have been used to study sleep behavior in Drosophila. Because the daily wake-sleep cycles of many flies can be measured simultaneously and only 1 to 2 weeks worth of continuous locomotor activity data is usually sufficient, this system is ideal for large-scale screens to identify Drosophila manifesting altered circadian or sleep properties.


Long-Term Risk of Breast Cancer after Diagnosis of Benign Breast Disease by Screening Mammography.
Assessing the long-term risk of breast cancer after diagnosis of benign breast disease by mammography is of utmost importance to design personalised screening strategies. We analysed individual-level data from 778,306 women aged 50-69 years with at least one mammographic screening participation in any of ten breast cancer screening centers in Spain from 1996 to 2015, and followed-up until 2017. We used Poisson regression to compare the rates of incident breast cancer among women with and without benign breast disease. During a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 11,708 (1.5%) women had an incident of breast cancer and 17,827 (2.3%) had a benign breast disease. The risk of breast cancer was 1.77 times higher among women with benign breast disease than among those without (95% CI: 1.61 to 1.95). The relative risk increased to 1.99 among women followed for less than four years, and remained elevated for two decades, with relative risk 1.96 (95% CI: 1.32 to 2.92) for those followed from 12 to 20 years. Benign breast disease is a long-term risk factor for breast cancer. Women with benign breast disease could benefit from closer surveillance and personalized screening strategies.


Medicaid program; eligibility of aliens for Medicaid--HCFA. Proposed rule.
This proposed rule would revise Medicaid regulations applicable to aliens who meet eligibility requirements as categorically needy or medically needy. It would establish in the regulations that aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or permanently residing in the United States under color of law may be eligible for all Medicaid services. It also would identify those aliens who may be eligible only for limited services, as a result of recent legislation. These changes would conform our regulations to section 1903(v) of the Social Security Act, which was added by section 9406 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-509), and sections 245A, 249, 210 and 210A of the Immigration and Nationality Act which were added or amended by sections 201, 203, 302, and 303 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 99-603). These changes also clarify and identify certain categories for persons permanently residing in the United States under color of law.


Antimicrobial resistance, presence of integrons and biofilm formation of Salmonella Pullorum isolates from Eastern China (1962-2010).
Three hundred and thirty-seven isolates of Salmonella Pullorum from eastern China between 1962 and 2010 were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility (disk diffusion method), the presence of integrons (polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing) and the ability to form biofilms (semi-quantitative adherence assay). Two hundred and fifty-eight isolates (76.6%) exhibited multiple drug resistance (MDR; resistant to at least three different classes of antimicrobials), and the level of drug resistance is increasing with time. There were three isolates (9.4%) exhibiting MDR from 1962 to 1968. MDR rates began to increase for isolates between 1970 to 1979 and 1980 to 1987 (64.6 to 78.7%). The MDR rates reached 96.6% for isolates between 1990 and 2010. Polymerase chain reaction screening for integrons showed that 75 isolates (22.3%) were positive for class 1 integrons while none were positive for class 2 integrons. All of the class 1 integron-positive isolates exhibited MDR and were more frequently resistant than the negative isolates. Two hundred and twenty isolates (65.3%) had the ability to form biofilms, and bacterial resistance levels to cefamandole, trimethoprim and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were significantly higher for biofilm-positive groups than the biofilm-negative groups. Our data show that multidrug resistance is common among S. Pullorum isolated from eastern China, being more frequent after 1990 than before 1990, and the presence of class 1 integrons is associated with multidrug resistance.


A hundred years of the Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift.
Some reports of veterinary societies were issued in the second half of the 19th century in Germany. Dr. med LYDTIN in Karlsruhe (Baden) tried to unify two local reports to found a new journal with a widespread distribution. The first issue of the "Deutsche Thierärztliche Wochenschrift" was published on 7th January 1893 in Karlsruhe. To increase the area of distribution some years later a professor from the School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover was invited to work as an editor of this journal. After 1897 the DTW was issued in Hannover in close cooperation with the School of Veterinary Medicine. So the DTW is the oldest German veterinary journal which was issued continuously with an unchanged name since 100 years.


Molecular cloning and characterization of the cDNA coding for the biotin-containing subunit of the chloroplastic acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase.
We report the molecular cloning and sequence of the cDNA coding for the biotin-containing subunit of the chloroplastic acetylcoenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase (ACCase) of Arabidopsis thaliana (CAC1). The 3' end of the CAC1 sequence, coding for a peptide of 94 amino acids, which includes a putative biotinylation motif, was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The resulting GST-CAC1 fusion protein was biotinylated in vivo, indicating that CAC1 codes for a biotin-containing protein. Antibodies generated to the GST-CAC1 protein reacted solely with the 38-kD biotin-containing polypeptide of Arabidopsis. Furthermore, these antibodies inhibited ACCase activity in extracts from Arabidopsis leaves. The deduced amino acid sequence of CAC1 has an apparent N-terminal chloroplast-targeting transit peptide. The CAC1 protein is coded by a single Arabidopsis gene, and its mRNA accumulates to the highest levels in organs that are undergoing rapid growth. The amino acid sequence of the CAC1 protein is most similar to the biotin carboxyl-carrier protein component of eubacterial ACCases. These characterizations identify CAC1 as the biotin-containing subunit of the plastidic, heteromeric ACCase of Arabidopsis. The results support the ancient origin of the two structurally distinct ACCases of plants.


A Novel Approach to Supervision of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP): Examining the First Three Minutes of the TFP Session.
Transference focused psychotherapy (TFP), an empirically validated, manualized treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), is arguably the most challenging to learn of the evidence-based treatments for BPD. Following an introduction to the TFP manual and the treatment's central tenets, ongoing individual, group, or peer supervision of case material, ideally with recorded video sessions, would be expected when the clinician's goal is fidelity to the prescribed approach. Our proposal for a novel supervision intervention emerges directly from the basic theoretical foundations of TFP, the process of research investigation, which has evolved over the years, with its goal of assessing both measurable patient outcomes and research clinician adherence to the model, and collective clinical experience. A deliberate assessment of the initial minutes of TFP as a supervision or self-assessment method is not meant as a substitute for more comprehensive supervision, nor is it offered as an exclusive path to mastering TFP. This approach to TFP supervision aims to distill and focus in a common-sense, accessible way the process of practicing TFP, thereby facilitating therapist consistency. Our proposed, more limited and concise tactic for TFP training can be used as an instruction building block, incrementally extending the access for practicing and mastering this intervention to a broader group of motivated providers.


Dependency of Nitrate Reduction on Soluble Carbohydrates in Primary Leaves of Barley under Aerobic Conditions.
Nitrate reduction was studied as a function of carbohydrate concentration in detached primary leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Numar) seedlings under aerobic conditions in light and darkness. Seedlings were grown either in continuous light for 8 days or under a regimen of 16-hour light and 8-hour dark for 8 to 15 days. Leaves of 8-day-old seedlings grown in continuous light accumulated 4 times more carbohydrates than leaves of plants grown under a light and dark regimen. When detached leaves from these seedlings were supplied with NO(3) (-) in darkness, those with the higher levels of carbohydrates reduced a greater proportion of the NO(3) (-) that was taken up. In darkness, added glucose increased the percentage of NO(3) (-) reduced up to 2.6-fold depending on the endogenous carbohydrate status of the leaves. Both NO(3) (-) reduction and carbohydrate content of the leaves increased with age. Fructose and sucrose also increased NO(3) (-) reduction in darkness to the same extent as glucose. Krebs cycle intermediates, citrate and succinate, did not increase NO(3) (-) reduction, whereas malate slightly stimulated it in darkness.In light, 73 to 90% of the NO(3) (-) taken up was reduced by the detached leaves; therefore, an exogenous supply of glucose had little additional effect on NO(3) (-) reduction. The results indicate that in darkness the rate of NO(3) (-) reduction in primary leaves of barley depends upon the availability of carbohydrates.


Anthropogenic factors and the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1: prospects from a spatial-based model.
Beginning in 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus spread across Southeast Asia, causing unprecedented epidemics. Thailand was massively infected in 2004 and 2005 and continues today to experience sporadic outbreaks. While research findings suggest that the spread of HPAI H5N1 is influenced primarily by trade patterns, identifying the anthropogenic risk factors involved remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated which anthropogenic factors played a role in the risk of HPAI in Thailand using outbreak data from the "second wave" of the epidemic (3 July 2004 to 5 May 2005) in the country. We first performed a spatial analysis of the relative risk of HPAI H5N1 at the subdistrict level based on a hierarchical Bayesian model. We observed a strong spatial heterogeneity of the relative risk. We then tested a set of potential risk factors in a multivariable linear model. The results confirmed the role of free-grazing ducks and rice-cropping intensity but showed a weak association with fighting cock density. The results also revealed a set of anthropogenic factors significantly linked with the risk of HPAI. High risk was associated strongly with densely populated areas, short distances to a highway junction, and short distances to large cities. These findings highlight a new explanatory pattern for the risk of HPAI and indicate that, in addition to agro-environmental factors, anthropogenic factors play an important role in the spread of H5N1. To limit the spread of future outbreaks, efforts to control the movement of poultry products must be sustained.


Scedosporium apiospermum sinusitis after bone marrow transplantation: report of a case.
A forty-year-old man underwent an allogeneic BMT from his HLA identical sister. GvHD prophylaxis was done with cyclosporine (CyA), methotrexate and prednisone (PDN). On day +90 extensive GvHD was noted and higher doses of immunosuppressive drugs alternating CyA with PDN were initiated. Patient's follow-up was complicated by intermittent episodes of leukopenia and monthly episodes of sinusitis or pneumonia. One year after BMT, the patient developed hoarseness and nasal voice. No etiologic agent could be identified on a biopsy sample of the vocal chord. Upon tapering the doses of immunosuppressive drugs, the patient had worsening of chronic GvHD and was reintroduced on high doses of cyclosporine alternating with prednisone on day +550. Three months later, GvHD remained out of control and the patient was started on azathioprine. On day +700, hoarseness and nasal voice recurred. Another biopsy of the left vocal chord failed to demonstrate infection. Episodes of sinusitis became more frequent and azathioprine was withheld 3 months after it was started. One month later, the patient had bloody nasal discharge and surgical drainage of maxillary sinuses was performed. Histopathology showed hyphae and cultures grew Scedosporium apiospermum. Itraconazole 800 mg/day was initiated. The patient developed progressive respiratory failure and died 15 days later.


Interactive effects of salinity and phosphorus availability on growth, water relations, nutritional status and photosynthetic activity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).
The interactive effects of salinity and phosphorus availability on growth, water relations, nutritional status and photosynthetic activity were investigated in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Manel). Seedlings were grown hydroponically under low or sufficient phosphorus (P) supply (5 or 180 μmol KH(2) PO(4) plant(-1) week(-1) , respectively), with or without 100 mm NaCl. Phosphorus deficiency or salinity significantly decreased whole plant growth, leaf water content, leaf osmotic potential and gas exchange parameters, with a more marked impact of P stress. The effect of both stresses was not additive since the response of plants to combined salinity and P deficiency was similar to that of plants grown under P deficiency alone. In addition, salt-treated plants exposed to P deficiency showed higher salt tolerance compared to plants grown with sufficient P supply. This was related to plant ability to significantly increase root:shoot DW ratio, root length, K(+)/Na(+) ratio, leaf proline and soluble sugar concentrations and total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, together with restricting Na(+) accumulation in the upper leaves. As a whole, our results indicate that under concomitant exposure to both salt and P deficiency, the impact of the latter constraint is pre-dominant.


Duplicated longitudinal bracketed epiphysis 'kissing delta phalanx' in the hand.
The duplicated longitudinal bracketed epiphysis ("kissing delta") phalanx has been described rarely. These delta bones have a bizarre appearance and are often associated with other developmental abnormalities such as central polydactyly. We have seen a total of 13 kissing delta phalanges in the hands. We discuss their natural history, look at the associated anomalies and consider the treatment options for this very rare congenital anomaly.


A successful surgical case of an 80-year-old patient with type A acute aortic dissection complicated by preoperative multiple organ failure.
An 80-year-old woman was hospitalized in a state of shock accompanied by blood acidosis due to type A acute aortic dissection complicated by respiratory, liver, and kidney failure. A warning was given to her family that lack of intervention may possibly lead to an early death, and permission for the intervention was obtained. After undergoing a "less invasive quick replacement (LIQR)," a newly modified procedure that we had developed, the patient improved gradually, went home without any complications, and continues to be well. Emergency surgery for octogenarians remains controversial, particularly for patients with a preoperative, compassionate indication. Here, we report a survival case for an emergency operation using LIQR to treat an octogenarian diagnosed with type A acute aortic dissection complicated by multiple organs failure.


Calcium Silicate Whiskers-Enforced Poly(Ether-Ether-Ketone) Composites with Improved Mechanical Properties and Biological Activities for Bearing Bone Reconstruction.
Poly (ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) displays promising potential application in bone tissue repair and orthopedic surgery due to its good biocompatibility and chemical stability. However, the bio-inertness and poor mechanical strength of PEEK greatly limit its application in load-bearing bones. In this study, calcium silicate whiskers (CSws) are synthesized and then compounded with PEEK to fabricate the PEEK/CSw composites with excellent mechanical properties, biological activity. Compared with PEEK, the PEEK/CSw composites exhibited higher hydrophilicity and ability to deposit hydroxyapatite on the surface. CSws are evenly dispersed in the PEEK matrix at 10 wt% content and the mechanical strength of the PEEK/CSw composite is ≈96.9 ± 2.4 MPa, 136.3 ± 2.4 MPa, and 266.0 ± 3.2 MPa, corresponding to tensile strength, compressive strength, and bending strength, respectively, which is 20%, 18%, and 52% higher than that of pure PEEK. The composites improve the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Furthermore, PEEK/CSw composite remarkably improves bone formation and osteointegration, which has higher bone repair capacity than PEEK. These results demonstrate that the PEEK/CSw scaffolds display superior abilities to integrate with the host bone and promising potential in the field of load bearing bone repair.


Neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with esophageal atresia: risk factors in the first year of life.
Data on neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born with esophageal atresia (EA) are still scarce and controversial. The aims of our study were to evaluate motor and cognitive development during the first year of life, in patients operated on of EA and to investigate potential risk factors for motor and cognitive development both at 6 and 12 months. This is an observational prospective longitudinal study in a selected cohort of type C and D EA infants enrolled in our follow-up program from 2009 to 2017. In order to exclude possible confounding factors, the following exclusion criteria were applied: (i) gestational age ≤ 32 weeks and/or birth weight ≤ 1500 g; (ii) genetic syndrome or chromosomal anomaly known to be associated with neurodevelopmental delay; (iii) neurologic disease; (iv) esophageal gap ≥three vertebral bodies. Patients were evaluated at 6 and 12 months of life (corrected age for infants with a gestational age of 32-37 weeks) with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd Edition. In our selected cohort of EA infants, 82 were evaluated at 6 months and 59 were reevaluated at 12 months. Both Motor and Cognitive average scores were within the norm at both time points. However, we report increased number of infants with motor delay with time: 14% at 6 months and 24% at 12 months. Multiple regression analysis for Motor scores at 6 [F(4,74) = 4.363, P = 0.003] and 12 months [F(6,50) = 2.634, P = 0.027] identified (i) low birth weight, (ii) longer hospital stay and (iii) weight < fifth percentile at 1 year as risk factors. Interestingly, average Cognitive scores also increased with time from 85.2% at 6 months and 96.6% at 12 months. Multiple regression models explaining variance of Cognitive scores at 6 [F(4, 73) = 2.458, P = 0.053] and 12 months [F(6, 49) = 1.232, P = 0.306] were nonsignificant. Our selected cohort of EA patients shows, on the average, Motor and Cognitive scores within the norm both at 6 and 12 months. Nevertheless, the percentage of infants with Motor scores below the average increases regardless gestational age. None of clinical and sociodemographic variables taken into consideration was able to predict cognitive development both at 6 and 12 months whereas risk factors for Motor development change during the first year of life. Healthcare providers should pay particular attention to patients with low birth weight, longer hospital stays and weight under fifth percentile at 1 year. Future studies should include long-term outcomes to reveal possible catch up in motor development and/or possible findings in Cognitive scores.


Bed utilization performances of Slovenian and Croatian acute hospitals systems.
With Barber-Johnson-Yates scattergrams (BJYS), the performances of Slovenian and Croatian acute hospital system were explored by taking turnover interval as a predictor variable, length of stay as a dependent variable, and by looking at the variables of bed throughput and percentage of bed emptiness on installed network. The growing influences on the Slovenian hospital system of a cost-containment policy and of the past war on the Croatian hospital system are the best illustrations of the informatics potential inherent in BJYS presentations for the exploratory data analysis (EDA) used to identify systematic relations between variables in a setting of not complete a priori expectations of these relations.


Mapping-by-sequencing using NGS-based 3'-MACE-Seq reveals a new mutant allele of the essential nodulation gene Sym33 (IPD3) in pea (Pisum sativum L.).
Large collections of pea symbiotic mutants were accumulated in the 1990s, but the causal genes for a large portion of the mutations are still not identified due to the complexity of the task. We applied a Mapping-by-Sequencing approach including Bulk Segregant Analysis and Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE-Seq) sequencing technology for genetic mapping the Sym11 gene of pea which controls the formation of symbioses with both nodule bacteria and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. For mapping we developed an F 2-population from the cross between pea line N24 carrying the mutant allele of sym11 and the wild type NGB1238 (=JI0073) line. Sequencing libraries were prepared from bulks of 20 plants with mutant and 12 with wild-type phenotype. MACE-Seq differential gene expression analysis between mutant-phenotype and wild-type-phenotype bulks revealed 2,235 genes, of which 514 (23%) were up-regulated and 1,721 (77%) were down-regulated in plant roots inoculated with rhizobia as a consequence of sym11 mutation. MACE-Seq also detected single nucleotide variants between bulks in 217 pea genes. Using a novel mathematical model we calculated the recombination frequency (RF) between the Sym11 gene and these 217 polymorphic genes. Six genes with the lowest RF were converted into CAPS or dCAPS markers and genetically mapped on the complete mapping population of 108 F 2-plants which confirmed their tight linkage to Sym11 and to each other. The Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (Mt) homologs of these genes are located in a distinct region of Mt chromosome 5, which corresponds to linkage group I of pea. Among 94 candidate genes from this region only one was down-regulated-the pea Sym33 homolog of the Mt IPD3 gene which is essential for nodulation. Sequencing of the Sym33 allele of the N24 (sym11) mutant revealed a single nucleotide deletion (c.C319del) in its third exon resulting in a codon shift in the open reading frame and premature translation termination. Thus, we identified a novel mutant allele sym33-4 most probably responsible for the mutant phenotype of the N24 (sym11) line, thereby demonstrating that mapping by MACE-Seq can be successfully used for genetic mapping of mutations and identification of candidate genes in pea.


[Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen in lung cancer using an immunoenzyme assay].
Elevation of the carcinoembryonal antigen concentration in patients with pulmonary carcinoma is directly dependent on the tumor process dissemination. Measurements of mucinous cancer-associated antigen, neurospecific enolase, CA-125 improve the reliability of enzyme immunoassays of tumor markers of lung cancer. Measurements of carcinoembryonic antigen over the course of treatment may become a valuable test permitting an objective assessment of the treatment efficacy.


Influence of clinical and psychological variables upon the oral health-related quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders.
To analyze the association between the OHIP-14 and the different subtypes making up the clinical and psychological axis obtained using the RDC/TMD. 407 patients treated at the TMD unit of the Andalusian Healthcare Service were administered the Spanish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders questionnaire (RDC/TMD), together with the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). The degree of association between the patients' score in the OHIP-14 and the clinical and biopsychosocial variables was analyzed through bivariate and multivariate analyses, specifically through linear regression. 89.4% of the treated patients were women, while 10.6% were men, with an average age of 42.08 ± 14.9 years. The mean score and standard deviation for the OHIP-14 was 20.57 ± 10.73. A significant association (p < 0.05) was observed with the following variables: Axis I, jaw disability checklist, depression, somatization, perceived pain duration, and pain interference with activities of daily living. The analysis of the relation between self-perceived health in patients with TMD, as measured by the OHIP-14, showed a R2 of 0.3979, with a higher Beta value for the association between the OHIP and patients with both myofascial pain and arthopathy, jaw disability, depression, a higher pain duration and a higher pain interference with activities of daily living.


Redundancy and overactuation in cephalopod-inspired soft robot arms.
Current soft robotic arms commonly follow traditional-i.e. hard-robot design conventions. Omnidirectional soft arms most commonly consist of segments that contain three parallel longitudinal actuators, or actuator groups, of which one or two are activated to induce bending. This design uses the minimum number of actuators required for omnidirectional bending, which is consistent with traditional robot design but unnecessarily constrains the soft arm design space. The cephalopods that frequently inspire soft robot arms have tens of bundles of longitudinal muscle fibers, and these bundles are distributed around the limb circumference rather than grouped. This article analyzes fluid-driven soft arm architectures with up to 12 actuators, which mimics the redundant and distributed nature of cephalopod arms and tentacles, in order to investigate the performance implications of an arm morphology closer to nature. Overactuation (i.e. activating more than two actuators) was considered, which is possible because soft robots-unlike traditional robots-can tolerate misaligned or partially opposed actuation without jamming. A previously-developed generalizable model was used to simulate design performance, and a subset of the examined architectures were constructed and tested. Many-actuator soft arms achieve high strokes under equivalent load and equivalent actuation pressures, without sacrificing no-load reach. These arms are also able to achieve quasi-omnidirectionality, as well as to execute near constant-curvature turns using a simple actuation pattern and a single pressure signal. The introduced framework also enables non-circular cross sections that are not possible with minimalist arm designs, allowing the load capacity and reach to be tuned in multiple directions. Several elliptical cross section arms were analyzed to explore the potential of non-circular cross sections. Overactuated, many-actuator arms significantly expand the design space of soft arms, improving performance in some cases and introducing options to tailor behavior that are infeasible in structurally minimal arms.


A food-grade expression system for d-psicose 3-epimerase production in Bacillus subtilis using an alanine racemase-encoding selection marker.
Food-grade expression systems require that the resultant strains should only contain materials from food-safe microorganisms, and no antibiotic resistance marker can be utilized. To develop a food-grade expression system for d-psicose 3-epimerase production, we use an alanine racemase-encoding gene as selection marker in Bacillus subtilis. In this study, the d-alanine racemase-encoding gene dal was deleted from the chromosome of B. subtilis 1A751 using Cre/lox system to generate the food-grade host. Subsequently, the plasmid-coded selection marker dal was complemented in the food-grade host, and RDPE was thus successfully expressed in dal deletion strain without addition of d-alanine. The selection appeared highly stringent, and the plasmid was stably maintained during culturing. The highest RDPE activity in medium reached 46 U/ml at 72 h which was comparable to RDPE production in kanamycin-based system. Finally, the capacity of the food-grade B. subtilis 1A751D2R was evaluated in a 7.5 l fermentor with a fed-batch fermentation. The alanine racemase-encoding gene can be used as a selection marker, and the food-grade expression system was suitable for heterologous proteins production in B. subtilis.


Study on The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Callicarpa nudiflora Based on The Spectrum-Effect Relationship.
Callicarpa nudiflora (C. nudiflora) is widely used to treat inflammation-related diseases in China. C. nudiflora mainly contains phenylethanol glycosides, flavonoids, triterpenes, diterpenes, iridoid glycosides, volatile oils, and other small molecules. Therefore, it is necessary to screen out anti-inflammatory active substances from C. nudiflora. In this paper, high-performance liquid chromatography was used to establish the fingerprint of C. nudiflora extracts. The anti-inflammation of C. nudiflora extracts were evaluated by the experiment of toes swelling in inflammatory rats. Then, the spectrum-effect relationship between the fingerprints and anti-inflammatory activities was researched by Pearson analysis and orthogonal partial least squares analysis to identify a group of anti-inflammatory compounds of C. nudiflora extracts. The differences of extracts are illustrated by principal component analysis and cluster analysis in pharmacological effects. Finally, 12 compounds, including catalpol (P1), caffeic acid (P2), protocatechuic acid (P9), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (P10), forsythiaside E (P12), protocatechualdehyde isomers (P14), forsythiaside B (P15), rutin (P16), alyssonoside (P21), verbascoside (P22), 2'-acetyl forsythoside B (P24), and isorhamnetin (P32) by HPLC-DAD and UPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS, were determined as potential compounds for anti-inflammatory activity in C. nudiflora. In particular, six compounds were identified as active substances with the greatest anti-inflammatory potential. Moreover, all compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory experiments or anti-inflammatory literature retrieval. In this study, a method for rapid screening of potential anti-inflammatory active ingredients of C. nudiflora was established, which can provide a reference for the future study of active compounds of C. nudiflora.


Hazard Analyses of Foods Prepared by Inhabitants Near Lake Titicaca in the Peruvian Sierra.
Hazard analyses of food preparation practices were conducted in two households in an Andean Indian Pueblo near Puno, Peru and in a house on the outskirts of this city. These analyses consisted of watching all steps of preparation, recording temperatures throughout all these steps, and collecting samples of food and testing them for common foodborne pathogens and indicator organisms. Only cereal-potato soup (a very popular and inexpensive food in the region), kidney stew, and parched cereal were prepared during the survey. The soups boiled during cooking and most of them were eaten during the first serving. Vegetative forms of pathogenic bacteria would have been killed during cooking, but heat-resistant spores would have survived. Leftovers in the pueblo homes, when there were any, remained without heat on the clay stoves on which they had been cooked until eaten or reheated. In the other household, cooked foods were moved from the stove to an earthen floor and kept there until reheating. Under this condition, cooling was more rapid than when left on stoves. The interval of time that cooked foods were between 49°C (120°F) and 21°C (70°F) during holding was less than 4 h, thereby limiting spore germination and bacterial multiplication. In the only household in which foods were reheated, they boiled. Critical control points for food preparation in homes are cooking, holding between cooking and serving, and reheating.


Distribution and dynamics of rural population in Central Eastern Europe in the 20th century.
This is an analysis of rural population trends in Central Eastern Europe during the twentieth century. The region is defined as including "Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Kaliningrad District, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Moldavia, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia....For each of them the size of rural population and its density have been evaluated, and then, the dynamics of demographic evolution described. An important part of the analysis has been the comparison of rural population to total population. On the basis of this comparison, structural changes and demographic trends have been defined. Particular attention has been paid to the processes of depopulation as well as their range and intensity in rural areas of Central Eastern Europe."


Myasthenia gravis: protective effect of ipratropiumbromide (Atrovent) on airways obstruction caused by edrophonium chloride (Tensilon).
The preventive effect of Atrovent Dosier-Aerosol on the airway flow resistance (Raw) caused by Tensilon was studied on 10 patients suffering from myasthenia gravis. Atrovent completely prevented the increase of Raw in 8 cases and considerably decreased it in 2 cases. The measure of the reaction observed may be influenced by the intensity of the cholinergic symptoms occurring on administration of Tensilon as well as by the magnitude of the initial Raw value. No side-effect which may be attributed to the administration of Atrovent could be observed, the substance did not increase the myasthenic symptoms. According to the study, Atrovent is a suitable medicine for the prevention of airway obstruction caused by Tensilon.


HIV, BCG and TB in children: a case control study in Lusaka, Zambia.
Even before the onset of the HIV epidemic, studies reported large variations in the protective effect of BCG against TB. The current HIV/AIDS epidemic has increased the incidence of tuberculosis in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, local estimates of the effectiveness of BCG are needed which take prevalence of HIV into account for planning strategies for vaccination and TB control programmes. A case control study was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia. The study included 116 TB cases and 154 hospital controls. Eighty-eight per cent of controls had BCG scars compared to 77 per cent of the cases. BCG was not associated with TB in HIV positive children (OR 1.0, 95 per cent CI 0.2, 4.6). However, there was 59 per cent protective effect (OR 0.41, 95 per cent CI 0.18, 0.92) in HIV negative children. The results also suggest an eight times higher risk of TB in HIV positive children.


Vestibular rehabilitation following mild traumatic brain injury.
Vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance are a symptom complex that is commonly found following concussion. Early metabolic changes following concussion may lead to worsening of the injury and symptoms in individuals not properly managed from the outset. When symptoms do not recover spontaneously, skilled vestibular rehabilitation can be an effective modality in an attempt to normalize the individual's vestibular responses. The purpose of this review is to appraise the current and accepted methods available to the skilled clinician in quantifying and treating vestibular dysfunction following concussion. Incidence and prognostic indicators will be reviewed along with common barriers to recovery. Vestibular Rehabilitation following concussion utilizes similar tools and techniques employed when treating those solely with peripheral pathology. The clinician must not only have a solid understanding of when and why certain exercises are required, but also be willing to accept that less exercise may be indicated in this population. As injury to the system following mild traumatic brain injury can include both peripheral and central structures, the duration of therapy and the time to recovery may be prolonged. Co-morbidities including cognitive and behavioral issues, visual-perceptual dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction, and autonomic dysfunction may hamper the effectiveness of the traditional Vestibular Rehabilitation approach. As successful treatment does not occur in a vacuum, working closely with other disciplines well versed in treating these co-morbid issues will help the individual to obtain optimal recovery. Vestibular Rehabilitation is an effective modality for managing dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance following concussion. Careful consideration of the acuity of the injury, along with effective management of co-morbid conditions will optimize the result.


Radiofrequency ultrasound data acquisition with a 640-element array transducer for strain imaging: Experimental results with phantoms and biological tissue samples.
This paper presents ultrasound elastography results obtained with a 640-element array transducer we have recently developed. This probe allows the acquisition of series of three adjacent imaging planes over time and therefore makes possible the computation of 2-D elastograms, with consideration of out-of-plane motion. In this study, elastography experiments were conducted on phantoms and bovine tissue samples, and compression was manually applied to the media via the hand-held ultrasound transducer. The results obtained with the proposed data acquisition and 3-D processing are presented and compared to those from a classical 2-D approach.


Sedation of children in the emergency department for short painful procedures compared with theatre, how much does it save? Economic evaluation.
Sedation of children for short painful procedures is increasingly performed in emergency departments as an alternative to hospital admission and theatre. In this study, the savings of this are sought to be quantified. A matched-cohort economic evaluation was conducted. Detailed case note reviews were performed on children who were sedated in the emergency department and children who were admitted to theatre. The costs of these were compared. 17 children underwent sedation in our emergency department and were compared with 20 children admitted to theatre. Each emergency department sedation saved £614 (95% CI £441 to £787), and this result was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Emergency department sedation offers considerable savings, compared with theatre-based management for children who require short painful procedures.


[Famous physicians from the past--Oribasisus from Pergamum].
Greek physician Oribasius from Pergamum (today's Bergama in western Turkey) (c. 320-400) was one of the most important physicians and personalities of his time. Oribasisus studied medicine at Alexandria. Although he was the personal physician and friend of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, and a very important political figure of that period, he has been remembered as a most important medical writer and historian of medicine. His major work, written in 70 books (only 25 of these survived), was the "Collectiones Medicae" which contains massive compilation of excerpts (epitomai) from the writings of older medical writers of the ancient world. Later on, he produced the "Synopsis for Eustathius" (Synopseos ad Eustathium) for his son Eustathius, who was also a physician. Oribasius dedicated a large work to his friend, the philosopher Eunapius: "Libri ad Eunapium", a kind of medical encyclopaedia in four volumes with a collection of easily procured medicines compiled for laymen. Several more of his writings are known to have been entirely lost. The works of Oribasius were translated in Latin as early as the fifth century, and later, in the medieval times his books were published in Europe (the "Synopsis for Eustathius" was published in 1554), while the critical edition of his works translated from Greek texts was published in Germany in 1926-1933. The special importance of the Oribasius' works is that they have preserved a number of excerpts from many medical authors of antiquity whose writings would otherwise have been lost. Besides, these extracts (epitomai) were not entirely verbatim, they were looked upon critically and sorted out in an encyclopaedic manner. Because of that Oribasius is rightly considered to be the first writer of a medical encyclopaedia in the history of medicine.


Cerebral infarction in Hemophilus influenzae type B meningitis.
Over a 5-year period, 8 (4.7%) of the 170 children diagnosed at Milwaukee Children's Hospital as having Hemophilus influenzae type b (HITB) meningitis developed cerebral infarction. Compared with children who did not develop infarcts or with children who developed other neurologic complications, such as subdural effusion, empyema, or meningoencephalitis, these children had significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte counts on initial lumbar puncture and had a greater likelihood of seizure activity. In seven of eight patients with cerebral infarction, a focal or generalized seizure heralded neurologic findings associated with abnormal radiographic studies. Two of the eight patients died, and two were permanently severely damaged. In the other four patients, there was eventual recovery from gross neurologic deficits. The mortality in patients with HITB meningitis complicated by cerebral infarction (25%) was significantly greater than that in other patients with HITB meningitis (0.6%). The pathophysiology of infarction in patients with bacterial meningitis is uncertain but may in part relate to arteriospasm. Cerebral infarction is a serious, and in the present experience, not uncommon complication of H. influenzae meningitis.


Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modeling studies on 1H-benzimidazole derivatives as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
A series of N-{2-[4-(1H-benzimidazole-2-yl)phenoxy]ethyl}substituted amine derivatives were designed to assess cholinesterase inhibitor activities. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitor activities were evaluated in vitro by using Ellman's method. It was discovered that most of the compounds displayed AChE and/or BuChE inhibitor activity and few compounds were selective against AChE/BuChE. Compound 3c and 3e were the most active compounds in the series against eeAChE and hAChE, respectively. Molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations were also carried out.


A Preliminary Study of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Fingolimod in Dogs.
Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator that prevents lymphocytes egress from lymphoid organs. It has been used as a disease-modifying drug for human multiple sclerosis and has shown better therapeutic effects than other conventional therapies. Therefore, this study was performed to obtain preclinical data of fingolimod in dogs. Nine laboratory Beagle dogs were used and randomized into three groups for pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). The dogs were administered once with a low-dose (0.01 mg/kg, n=3), medium-dose (0.05 mg/kg, n=3), and high-dose (0.1 mg/kg, n=3) of fingolimod, orally. Samples were collected serially at predetermined time points, and whole blood fingolimod concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Differential counts of leukocytes over time were determined to identify immune cells' response to fingolimod. Regarding PK, the concentration of fingolimod in the blood increased in a dose-dependent manner, but it was not proportional. Regarding PD, the number of lymphocytes significantly decreased compared to baseline in all dose groups (low-dose, p=0.0002; medium-dose, p<0.0001; high-dose, p=0.0012). Eosinophils were significantly reduced in low- (p=0.0006) and medium- (p=0.0006) doses, and neutrophils were also significantly reduced in medium-(p=0.0345) and high- (p=0.0016) doses. This study provides the basis for future clinical applications of fingolimod in dogs with immune-mediated diseases, such as meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology.


Perioperative fluid balance in patients with heart failure.
Careful assessment of fluid balance is required in the perioperative period since appropriate fluid therapy is essential for successful patient outcomes. Volume status is frequently assessed by different hemodynamic variables that could be targeted as endpoints for fluid therapy and resuscitation. Goal directed fluid therapy is a method for correction of fluid status in individual patients that includes invasive hemodynamic monitoring and aggressive perioperative correction of hemodynamics. Heart failure is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction. It is associated with a variety of patophysiological disturbances, hydro-electrolyte balance disorders and compensatory mechanisms. Heart failure indicates careful assessment of fluid balance in perioperative period. The aim of this article is to describe actual techniques of hemodynamic measurements as well as main principles of fluid therapy to maintain hydro-electrolyte balance in patients with heart failure.


Serial correlations in single-subject fMRI with sub-second TR.
When performing statistical analysis of single-subject fMRI data, serial correlations need to be taken into account to allow for valid inference. Otherwise, the variability in the parameter estimates might be under-estimated resulting in increased false-positive rates. Serial correlations in fMRI data are commonly characterized in terms of a first-order autoregressive (AR) process and then removed via pre-whitening. The required noise model for the pre-whitening depends on a number of parameters, particularly the repetition time (TR). Here we investigate how the sub-second temporal resolution provided by simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging changes the noise structure in fMRI time series. We fit a higher-order AR model and then estimate the optimal AR model order for a sequence with a TR of less than 600 ms providing whole brain coverage. We show that physiological noise modelling successfully reduces the required AR model order, but remaining serial correlations necessitate an advanced noise model. We conclude that commonly used noise models, such as the AR(1) model, are inadequate for modelling serial correlations in fMRI using sub-second TRs. Rather, physiological noise modelling in combination with advanced pre-whitening schemes enable valid inference in single-subject analysis using fast fMRI sequences.


Conformation of a clathrin triskelion in solution.
A principal component in the protein coats of certain post-golgi and endocytic vesicles is clathrin, which appears as a three-legged heteropolymer (known as a triskelion) that assembles into polyhedral cages principally made up of pentagonal and hexagonal faces. In vitro, this assembly depends upon the pH, with cages forming more readily at low pH and less readily at high pH. We have developed procedures, on the basis of static and dynamic light scattering, to determine the radius of gyration, R(g), and hydrodynamic radius, R(H), of isolated triskelia, under conditions where cage assembly occurs. Calculations based on rigid molecular bead models of a triskelion show that the measured values can be accounted for by bending the legs and a puckering at the vertex. We also show that the values of R(g) and R(H) measured for clathrin triskelia in solution are qualitatively consistent with the conformation of a triskelion in a "D6 barrel" cage assembly measured by cryoelectron microscopy.


Delayed lead perforation: can we ever let the guard down?
Lead perforation is a major complication of cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMD), occurring in about 1%. While most lead perforations occur early, numerous instances of delayed lead perforation (occurring >30 days after implantation) have been reported in the last few years. Only about 40 such cases have been published, with the majority occurring <1 year after implantation. Herein, we describe the case of an 84-year-old female who presented with recurrent syncope and was diagnosed to have delayed pacemaker lead perforation 4.8 years after implantation. Through this report, we intend to highlight the increasing use of CRMD in elderly patients, and the lifelong risk of complications with these devices. Presentation can be atypical and a high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis.


Protection of crocin dyes on the acute hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin B1 and dimethylnitrosamine in rats.
Chemopreventive agents are compounds that inhibit carcinogenesis when administered prior or subsequent to a course of carcinogen administration. The effects of dietary administration of crocin dyes on the hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats were investigated. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with different dosages of AFB1 (0.9 or 4.5 mg/kg) or DMN (8 or 20 mg/kg) by i.p. administration, and the different degrees of hepatic damage were revealed by the elevations of levels of serum marker enzymes such as aspartate amino-transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and lactic dehydrogenase. Pre-treatment of the animals with crocin dyes 50 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days, the enzyme elevations were significantly suppressed. This suggested that the crocin dyes possessed chemopreventive effects on the early acute hepatic damage induced by AFB1 or DMN. Feeding experiments demonstrated that crocin dyes at 0.1% in the diet could suppress partially the chronic hepatic damage induced by multiple dosages of AFB1 or DMN, but at a higher concentration of 1% crocin dye failed to do so because of their host toxicity. Crocin dyes are extracted from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides and consist of carotenoids and geniposides as active principles. The protective mechanisms of crocin dyes may be attributed to their carotenoids which are converted metabolically to retinoids in rats.


Purification and characterization of T7 head-tail connectors expressed from the cloned gene.
Cloned gene 8, which specifies the protein of the head-tail connector of bacteriophage T7, was expressed in Escherichia coli. Extracts prepared in a low-salt buffer gave rise to free monomers, assembled connectors, and various complexes and aggregates. Connectors isolated as single peaks from DEAE-Sepharose and phosphocellulose chromatography gave separate peaks of monomers and stable connectors upon hydroxylapatite chromatography perhaps because of dissociation of monomer-connector complexes or disassembly of unstable connectors. Electron microscopy showed that the connectors readily formed ordered arrays after hydroxylapatite chromatography but not before. Addition of 100 mM NaCl to the buffer used to prepare extracts eliminated most complexes and aggregates and gave rise almost entirely to monomers and stable connectors that formed arrays even before hydroxylapatite chromatography. The distribution of masses determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy would be consistent with a mixed population of stable connectors containing 12 or 13 monomers, and the same preparation gave two bands upon agarose gel electrophoresis. Connectors bound linear, circular and supercoiled DNA, whereas monomers did not, as determined by a gel-shift assay. No ATPase activity was detected in either monomer or connector preparations in the absence or presence of DNA.


Direct inscription of Bragg gratings in coated fibers by an infrared femtosecond laser.
Inscription of fiber Bragg gratings through the coating of a nonphotosensitized standard telecommunication fiber is demonstrated for what is believed to be the first time. Highly reflective gratings were produced by direct point-by-point writing with an infrared femtosecond laser. The length of the gratings presented ranged from 5 to 26 mm. The technique does not require a special coating, as standard coatings are transparent to infrared radiation. Inscription through the coating improves the mechanical strength of the processed segment of fiber.


Percutaneous distraction osteogenesis for treatment of brachymetatarsia.
Brachymetatarsia is not an unusual deformity and is often associated with functional and cosmetic issues that warrant surgical reconstruction. Lengthening of the affected metatarsal can be undertaken on an acute basis in a single operative procedure that involves the use of a bone graft or by means of gradual callus distraction. Because of the risk of metatarsophalangeal joint malalignment, it is important for the surgeon to take steps to stabilize the joint during the lengthening process. In this report, a percutaneous method of callus distraction for repair of brachymetatarsia and maintenance of metatarsophalangeal joint alignment is presented.


Close association between parathyroid hormone and left ventricular function and structure in end-stage renal failure patients under maintenance hemodialysis.
Cardiovascular risk factors are a significant burden in end-stage renal disease patients under hemodialysis. Cardiovascular-related diseases are the leading cause of death among these patients and responsible for almost half of all deaths in dialysis patients. The influence of parathormone (PTH) on myocardial function as a toxin of uremia is attracting more attention and evaluation because of growing evidence that the effects of PTH on cardiac function may be the most serious consequence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in renal failure. In this study we aimed to consider the role of the excess PTH in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and its effects on LV ejection fraction in patients with end-stage renal disease under regular hemodialysis. This cross-sectional study was done on patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment. Calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and intact PTH (iPTH) were measured. Hypertensive patients were stratified into stages one to three. Echocardiography for left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and ejection fraction (percent) were done and LV stratified into normal, mild, moderate and severe hypertrophy. The total number of patients was 73 (F = 28, M = 45), consisting of 58 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (F = 22, M = 36) and 15 diabetic hemodialysis patients (F = 6, M = 9). The age of patients was 46.5 +/- 16 years. The length of time patients had been on hemodialysis was 21.5 +/- 23.5 months. The LV ejection fraction (EF%) was 51 +/- 8 percent. Mean +/- SD of iPTH of total patients was 309 +/- 349 pg/ml. Mean +/- SD of iPTH of diabetic group and non-diabetic group was 234 +/- 265 pg/ml and 329 +/- 368 pg/ml respectively. The value of serum alkaline phosphatase of total patients was also 413 +/- 348 IU/L. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of diabetic group and non-diabetic group was 295 +/- 179 IU/L and 443 +/- 375 IU/L respectively. Serum albumin of total patients was 4 +/- 0.75 g/dl. Serum albumin of diabetic group and non-diabetic group was 3.6 +/- 0.7 g/dl and 4.2 +/- 0.7 g/dl respectively. Significant inverse correlation of serum ALP with percent of LV ejection fraction and marginal significant correlation of serum ALP with LVH were seen and marginal significant correlation of serum iPTH with LVH was also found. Significant inverse correlation between serum iPTH with percent of LV ejection fraction in non-diabetic HD patients was observed. Adverse effects of secondary hyperparathyroidism on LV function and structure in this study shows the role of excess PTH in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy as well as low LV ejection fraction. In patients with end-stage renal disease under hemodialysis, more attention needs to be given to the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients.