Qualitative Characterization of Unrefined Durum Wheat Air-Classified Fractions.
Durum wheat milling is a key process step to improve the quality and safety of final products. The aim of this study was to characterize three bran-enriched milling fractions (i.e., F250, G230 and G250), obtained from three durum wheat grain samples, by using an innovative micronization and air-classification technology. Milling fractions were characterized for main standard quality parameters and for alveographic properties, starch composition and content, phenolic acids, antioxidant activity and ATIs. Results showed that yield recovery, ash content and particle size distributions were influenced either by the operating conditions (230 or 250) or by the grain samples. While total starch content was lower in the micronized sample and air-classified fractions, the P/L ratio increased in air-classified fractions as compared to semolina. Six main individual phenolic acids were identified through HPLC-DAD analysis (i.e., ferulic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, syringic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids). Compared to semolina, higher contents of all individual phenolic components were found in all bran-enriched fractions. The highest rise of TPAs occurred in the F250 fraction, which was maintained in the derived pasta. Moreover, bran-enriched fractions showed significant reductions of ATIs content versus semolina. Overall, our data suggest the potential health benefits of F250, G230 and G250 and support their use to make durum-based foods.


Sex differences in work-related injury rates among electric utility workers.
Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated sex differences in work-related injury rates. In this study, the authors examined injury trends by type of injury, severity of injury, and how the injury occurred among a cohort of 9,582 female and 26,898 male electric utility workers employed during 1980-1992 by the Southern California Edison Company. Sex-specific unadjusted injury rates were higher throughout the period for male workers. However, after adjustment for occupation, job experience, and age, elevated rate ratios indicate that female workers have higher injury rates. Mantel-Haenszel summary rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.49 (1.43-1.54) for all types of injuries, 1.27 (1.16-1.39) for head and neck injuries, 1.48 (1.38-1.58) for upper extremity injuries, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for back injuries, and 2.11 (1.97-2.25) for lower extremity injuries. The rate ratios were slightly higher for more severe injuries, which suggests that potential reporting bias was not a likely explanation for these findings. The authors conclude that differences between male and female workers in training, physical capacity, task assignments, and other factors could explain these injury trends.


Conversion of CO2 to Heterocyclohexenol Carboxylic Acids through a Metal-Organic Framework Sponge.
The conversion of CO2 into high value-added chemical products is the focus of current scientific research. We make use of the specific porous structure of nanosized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) loading the highly active yet metastable nano Cu2O to catalyze the conversion of CO2 into a series of high value-added bioactive pyridone/pyrone-3-carboxylic acid products via heterocyclic 4-hydroxy-2-pyridones/pyrones, which exhibit high activity, selectivity, and reusability. Nano MOF sponge-covered metastable nanoparticles (NPs) converting CO2 into high value-added bioproducts provide a facile "dual-side surfactant" strategy, a highly efficient composite catalyst, and a practicable pathway not only for the sustainable use of CO2 but also for environment-friendly production of bioproducts.


Commercial availability of alcohol to young people: results of alcohol purchase attempts.
Commercial availability is an important contributor to alcohol use by young people. The purpose of this study was to test the purchasability of alcohol by youth who appeared to be under the legal age of sale in all types of businesses licensed to sell alcohol in upper Midwest communities. Female buyers who were age 21 but whose apparent age as rated by a panel averaged 19 years attempted to purchase beer without age identification at all off-sale outlets (n = 395) and a random sample of on-sale outlets (n = 492) in 24 communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Two purchase attempts were made at each outlet, with the buyer randomly assigned to outlet and community. Characteristics of the outlets, clientele, signs, interaction with the sellers or servers, and purchase success were recorded. The buyers were successful in purchasing beer without age identification in 50% of attempts in on-sale outlets and 52% of off-sale attempts. Almost 75% of the outlets sold beer to the buyers at least once in two attempts. In off-sale businesses buyers were more successful if the salespersons were male and if the businesses were located in residential areas or malls. On-sale purchase attempts were more likely to be successful if the server appeared to be younger than 30 years, if the business was a restaurant as opposed to a bar alone, and if signs warning against sales to minors were located at the checkouts. The results of this study confirm and extend previous reports of the ability of youth to purchase alcohol and support the conclusion that commercial availability of alcohol to youth is widespread.


Cytoskeletal proteins talin and vinculin in integrin-mediated adhesion.
The cytoskeletal proteins talin and vinculin form part of a macromolecular complex on the cytoplasmic face of integrin-mediated cellular junctions with the extracellular matrix. Recent genetic, biochemical and structural data show that talin is essential for the assembly of such junctions, whereas vinculin appears to be important in regulating adhesion dynamics and cell migration.


Tryptophan requirement of first-cycle commercial laying hens in peak egg production.
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the digestible tryptophan (Trp) requirement of laying hens from 22 to 34 wk of age. A total of 252 Hy-line W-36 laying hens were selected at 16 wk of age and allocated by weight (P = 0.90) to 7 dietary treatments resulting in 12 replicate cages of 3 birds for each treatment. A Trp-deficient basal diet was formulated using corn, corn gluten meal, and soybean meal for each of the 3 dietary phases and supplemented with synthetic L-Trp to provide 105, 119, 133, 147, 162, 176, and 190 mg digestible Trp on a daily basis over the experimental period. To adapt the hens to experimental diets, pullets were fed complete diets that contained increasing amounts of corn gluten meal. Hens received a controlled amount of feed daily based on feed intake expected under commercial conditions. Linear and quadratic broken-line, and quadratic polynomial models were used to estimate digestible Trp requirements based on hen-housed egg production (HHEP), egg mass (EM), and feed efficiency (FE). FE was calculated using EM and feed intake. Digestible Trp requirements were estimated to be 137, 183, and 192 mg/d for HHEP; 133, 180, and 183 for EM and 133, 177, and 173 for FE using linear broken-line, quadratic broken-line, and quadratic polynomial analysis, respectively. The quadratic broken line model in this experiment resulted in the best fit (R2) for all parameters measured. Linear broken line estimates resulted in lower estimates that the other models, and HHEP resulted in higher estimated digestible Trp requirement than EM and FE.


An approach to identify optic disc in human retinal images using ant colony optimization method.
In this work, an attempt has been made to identify optic disc in retinal images using digital image processing and optimization based edge detection algorithm. The edge detection was carried out using Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) technique with and without pre-processing and was correlated with morphological operations based method. The performance of the pre-processed ACO algorithm was analysed based on visual quality, computation time and its ability to preserve useful edges. The results demonstrate that the ACO method with pre-processing provides high visual quality output with better optic disc identification. Computation time taken for the process was also found to be less. This method preserves nearly 50% more edge pixel distribution when compared to morphological operations based method. In addition to improve optic disc identification, the proposed algorithm also distinctly differentiates between blood vessels and macula in the image. These studies appear to be clinically relevant because automated analyses of retinal images are important for ophthalmological interventions.


Use of the critical decision method in nursing research: an integrative review.
The focus of this article is the background and use of the critical decision method in nursing research. The purpose is to present a synthesis of the body of work whose authors used the critical decision method to explore nurses' cognitive work. For this integrative review of literature, I used the 5-step process: problem formulation, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and presentation. Synthesis of the 7 studies uncovered evidence of nurses' cognitive processes and demands of their practice environments and affirmed the method as a valuable tool for eliciting experienced nurses' practice knowledge making nursing expertise explicit.


Working times of elastomeric impression materials determined by dimensional accuracy.
The working times of five poly(vinyl siloxane) impression materials were estimated by evaluating the dimensional accuracy of stone dies of impressions of a standard model made at successive time intervals. The stainless steel standard model was represented by two abutments having known distances between landmarks in three dimensions. Three dimensions in the x-, y-, and z-axes of the stone dies were measured with a traveling microscope. A time interval was rejected as being within the working time if the percentage change of the resultant dies, in any dimension, was statistically different from those measured from stone dies from previous time intervals. The absolute dimensions of those dies from the rejected time interval also must have exceeded all those from previous time intervals. Results showed that the working times estimated with this method generally were about 30 seconds longer than those recommended by the manufacturers.


Researcher perspectives on ethics considerations in epigenetics: an international survey.
Over the past decade, bioethicists, legal scholars and social scientists have started to investigate the potential implications of epigenetic research and technologies on medicine and society. There is growing literature discussing the most promising opportunities, as well as arising ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI). This paper explores the views of epigenetic researchers about some of these discussions. From January to March 2020, we conducted an online survey of 189 epigenetic researchers working in 31 countries. We questioned them about the scope of their field, opportunities in different areas of specialization, and ELSI in the conduct of research and knowledge translation. We also assessed their level of concern regarding four emerging non-medical applications of epigenetic testing-i.e., in life insurance, forensics, immigration and direct-to-consumer testing. Although there was strong agreement on DNA methylation, histone modifications, 3D structure of chromatin and nucleosomes being integral elements of the field, there was considerable disagreement on transcription factors, RNA interference, RNA splicing and prions. The most prevalent ELSI experienced or witnessed by respondents were in obtaining timely access to epigenetic data in existing databases, and in the communication of epigenetic findings by the media. They expressed high levels of concern regarding non-medical applications of epigenetics, echoing cautionary appraisals in the social sciences and humanities literature.


Development of T cells redirected to glypican-3 for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The aim of our study is to elucidate whether T cells expressing GPC3-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) can efficiently eliminate GPC3-positive HCC cells and their potential in the treatment of HCC. T cells expressing a first-generation and third-generation GPC3-targeted CAR were prepared using lentiviral vector transduction. The in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activities of the genetically engineered CAR T cells were evaluated against various HCC cell lines. GPC3-targeted CAR T cells could efficiently kill GPC3-positive HCC cells but not GPC3-negative cells in vitro. These cytotoxic activities seemed to be positively correlated with GPC3 expression levels in the target cells. In addition, T cells expressing the third-generation GPC3-targeted CAR could eradicate HCC xenografts with high level of GPC3 expression and efficiently suppress the growth of HCC xenografts with low GPC3 expression level in vivo. The survival of the mice bearing established orthotopic Huh-7 xenografts was significantly prolonged by the treatment with the third-generation GPC3-targeted CAR T cells. GPC3-targeted CAR T cells could potently eliminate GPC3-positive HCC cells, thereby providing a promising therapeutic intervention for GPC3-positive HCC.


[Acromegaly associated with McCune-Albright syndrome].
McCune-Albright syndrome is characterized by polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, cafe au lait pigmentation of the skin, and multiple endocrinopathies. The authors report a history of a 30-years-old man who had a pathologic humerus fracture at the age of 14 years. The diagnosis of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia was established by radiologic examinations and bone biopsy. Fourteen years thereafter, active acromegaly due to a pituitary microadenoma was diagnosed using hormone measurements and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging. Pituitary surgery was refused because of an extensive skull involvement caused by the fibrous dysplasia. After an unsuccessful therapy with bromocriptine lasting three months, long-acting octreotide (Sandostatin LAR, Novartis) treatment was started. After a 12-months course of treatment, serum growth hormone levels markedly decreased, clinical symptoms improved, but serum insulin-like growth factor I levels remained unchanged. These observations that serum insulin-like growth factor I levels failed to reflect the decrease of serum growth hormone concentrations after long-acting octreotide treatment suggest that the increased production of insulin-like growth factor I in patients with acromegaly due to McCune-Albright syndrome may involve mechanism(s) other than increased growth hormone levels.


Accuracy and repeatability of different intraoral instruments on shade determination compared to visual shade selection.
To evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of intraoral instruments used for shade determination compared to visual shade selection (VSS). A total of 20 subjects and 10 observers, balanced by gender, participated in the study. Observers performed VSS of the upper right central incisor from each subject. Instrumental shade determination of the same teeth was performed using a spectrophotometer (Easyshade V) and intraoral scanners (CEREC Omnicam, Primescan, Trios 3 and Trios 4). Vita Classical shade nomenclature was used to record the shade designation for all instruments and VSS. The accuracy of the instruments was determined by comparing the instrument readings with the most frequent visual shade selected. The percentage of accuracy was obtained by comparing the number of agreements with the number of comparisons. The percentage of repeatability was obtained by comparing the number of repeated shades with the number of shade measurements in each group. Accuracy was compared using Cochran Q test followed by pairwise comparisons using multiple McNemar's tests with Bonferroni correction. Repeatability of the instruments was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Omnicam showed a significant lower accuracy than the other instruments (p < 0.05). No statistical difference on repeatability was found among the different instruments (p > 0.05). It was not found any statistical differences for VSS accuracy among the observers (p = 0.437) and between genders (p = 0.867). Instrumental repeatability (≥75%) and similar accuracy between the best performed instruments (69%-77.5%) and the observers performance (65%-90%) supports the use of high-performance instruments for dental shade determination. Most instruments (Easyshade V, Primescan, Trios 3, and Trios 4) showed similar accuracy performance to observers in the VSS.


Seroreactivity against streptococcal DRS (distantly related to SIC) protein is a predictor for end-stage renal failure.
We hypothesized that immunoreactivity against antigens from nephritic strains of Streptococcus pyogenes may be elevated in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Additionally, we investigated whether a difference in seroreactivity exists between nonindigenous and indigenous (Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander) patients. To examine these possibilities, antibodies against potentially nephritogenic proteins, streptokinase (Ska1) (from M1), streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B (SpeB) (from M1), the streptococcal inhibitor of complement-mediated cell lysis (SIC) (from M1) and its two variants, closely related to SIC (CRS) (from M57) and distantly related to SIC (DRS) (from M12) were determined in 66 patients and 31 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A significantly higher proportion of patients compared to controls were seropositive to Ska1 (P = 0.004), DRS (P = 0.0003), CRS (P = 0.001), and SIC (P = 0.018). Regression analysis showed that seroreactivity to DRS (r(2) = 0.85, P = 0.001) predicted the development of ESRF and that being diabetic was positively associated with being an ESRF patient (r(2) = 0.37, P < 0.0001) and being indigenous (r(2) = 0.47, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that these ESRF patients were exposed to strains of S. pyogenes that secrete Ska1, DRS, CRS, and SIC and may have pathological significance. No significant difference was observed between the indigenous patients and nonindigenous patients.


Sequential transformation of mesenchymal stem cells is associated with increased radiosensitivity and reduced DNA repair capacity.
We used sequentially transformed mesenchymal stem cells to investigate how the events that lead to tumorigenicity influence the cellular response to radiation. Bone marrow derived SH2(+), SH4(+), Stro-1(+) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were transformed stepwise by retroviral transfection of hTERT, HPV-16 E6 and E7, SV40 small T antigen and oncogenic H-ras. Cells at three different stages of transformation were irradiated and compared using assays for cytotoxicity, apoptosis, DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and checkpoint signaling. The effects of inhibition of cell cycle checkpoint signaling on radiosensitivity were investigated using RNA interference. During stepwise transformation, specifically after HPV-16 E6 and E7 transduction, MSCs became more sensitive to radiation. This was associated with increased residual DNA DSB at 24 h and increased apoptosis. Enhanced checkpoint signaling occurred during transformation and there was a differential effect of checkpoint targeting in cells at different stages; Chk1 knockdown enhanced radiosensitivity in all cells while Chk2 knockdown only affected non-transformed cells. These data show that transformation of MSC is associated with a reduction in DNA DSB repair capacity and increased radiosensitivity. Up-regulation of checkpoint signaling does not overcome this and the effect of checkpoint inhibition may change with transformation status.


Evolution of placenta-specific gene expression: comparison of the equine and human gonadotropin alpha-subunit genes.
Primate and equine species are thought to be unique among mammals in synthesizing placental gonadotropin glycoprotein hormones. Human chorionic gonadotropin (CG) and equine pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) are produced in placenta by the specific activation of a glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene and a corresponding beta-subunit gene. The evolutionary mechanisms for the apparently independent acquisition of tissue specificity were investigated by cloning the 5' flanking region of the equine alpha-subunit gene and comparing the DNA elements and trans-acting factors involved in placental expression. We find that though the equine gene is expressed and induced by cAMP, it does not contain the elements known to confer tissue-specific expression to the human gene, the cAMP response element (CRE) and the trophoblast-specific element (TSE), nor does it bind to the trans-acting factors CREB and TSEB. Instead, an additional factor (alpha-ACT) is found which binds to the equine and human, but not the murine, alpha-subunit genes in a region between the positions of the CRE and TSE and confers cAMP responsiveness.


From HER2/Neu signal cascade to androgen receptor and its coactivators: a novel pathway by induction of androgen target genes through MAP kinase in prostate cancer cells.
Overexpression of the HER2/Neu protooncogene has been linked to the progression of breast cancer. Here we demonstrate that the growth of prostate cancer LNCaP cells can also be increased by the stable transfection of HER2/Neu. Using AG879, a HER2/Neu inhibitor, and PD98059, a MAP kinase inhibitor, as well as MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MPK-1), in the transfection assay, we found that HER2/Neu could induce prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker for the progression of prostate cancer, through the MAP kinase pathway at a low androgen level. Reporter assays and mammalian two-hybrid assays further suggest this HER2/Neu-induced androgen receptor (AR) transactivation may function through the promotion of interaction between AR and AR coactivators, such as ARA70. Furthermore, we found this HER2/Neu --> MAP kinase --> AR-ARAs --> PSA pathway could not be blocked completely by hydroxyflutamide, an antiandrogen used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Together, these data provide a novel pathway from HER2/Neu to AR transactivation, and they may represent one of the reasons for the PSA re-elevation and hormone resistance during androgen ablation therapy in prostate cancer patients.


Specific immunoregulation of the induction and effector stages of relapsing EAE via neuroantigen-specific tolerance induction.
The effects of neuroantigen-specific tolerance on the induction and effector stages of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) were examined. The incidence of clinical and histologic signs of active MSCH-induced R-EAE, and accompanying neuroantigen-specific DTH responses, were dramatically reduced in SJL/J mice tolerized via the i.v. injection of syngeneic splenocytes coupled with MSCH, PLP, or encephalitogenic PLP peptides 7-14 days before priming. MBP-specific tolerance was not effective in preventing active R-EAE. In contrast to MSCH-induced active R-EAE, treatment of recipient mice with splenocytes coupled with MBP and the encephalitogenic MBP 84-104 peptide, but not with PLP, suppressed of clinical signs of adoptive R-EAE mediated by MBP-specific effector T cells in a dose-dependent manner. Neuroantigen-coupled splenocytes were also efficient in treating established disease as tolerization of SJL/J mice after the first incidence of clinical disease significantly reduced the incidence and severity of subsequent paralytic relapses. Antigen-specific tolerance thus provides a powerful approach for the prevention and/or treatment of autoimmune disease.


Complexome Profiling-Exploring Mitochondrial Protein Complexes in Health and Disease.
Complexome profiling (CP) is a state-of-the-art approach that combines separation of native proteins by electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography or density gradient centrifugation with tandem mass spectrometry identification and quantification. Resulting data are computationally clustered to visualize the inventory, abundance and arrangement of multiprotein complexes in a biological sample. Since its formal introduction a decade ago, this method has been mostly applied to explore not only the composition and abundance of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes in several species but also to identify novel protein interactors involved in their assembly, maintenance and functions. Besides, complexome profiling has been utilized to study the dynamics of OXPHOS complexes, as well as the impact of an increasing number of mutations leading to mitochondrial disorders or rearrangements of the whole mitochondrial complexome. Here, we summarize the major findings obtained by this approach; emphasize its advantages and current limitations; discuss multiple examples on how this tool could be applied to further investigate pathophysiological mechanisms and comment on the latest advances and opportunity areas to keep developing this methodology.


trans-Carbonyliodotris(triphenylstibine-kappaSb)rhodium(I).
The crystal structure of the title compound, [RhI(C(18)H(15)Sb)(3)(CO)], represents a rare example of a crystallographically characterized five-coordinate Rh(I)-SbPh(3) complex. The compound crystallizes with the I-Rh-CO core on a threefold rotation axis, with three crystallographically equivalent triphenylstibine ligands. Selected geometric parameters are: Rh-I = 2.7159 (8), Rh-Sb = 2.5962 (4), Rh-C(CO) = 1.825 (6) and C(CO)-O 1.153 (6) A, and Sb-Rh-I = 89.374 (10) and Sb-Rh-C(CO) = 90.626 (10) degrees. The cone angle of the SbPh(3) ligand was determined as 137 degrees, according to the Tolman model.


Effects of diacylglycerol oil on adiposity in obese children: initial communication.
Several studies have shown that diacylglycerol (DAG) oil may suppress accumulation of body fat in adults compared to triacylglycerol (TAG) oil. In this study, we investigated the effect of DAG oil as part of dietetic therapy in obese children. The participants were 11 male and female obese children who were under treatment at the outpatient clinic (four boys, seven girls, age: 7-17 years old). Daily-use cooking oil was changed to DAG oil, and the effects on abdominal fat areas, adipocytokines, and serum lipids were investigated. The total and subcutaneous fat areas significantly decreased in the 5th month after ingestion of DAG oil. Leptin was significantly lower than the initial level after ingestion of DAG oil. The ingestion of DAG oil decreased both the abdominal fat area and leptin in obese children, suggesting that DAG oil prevents obesity in children as well as in adults.


Response expectancies in placebo analgesia and their clinical relevance.
Response expectancies have been proposed as the major determinant of placebo effects. Here we report that different expectations produce different analgesic effects which in turn can be harnessed in clinical practice. Thoracotomized patients were treated with buprenorphine on request for 3 consecutive days, together with a basal intravenous infusion of saline solution. However, the symbolic meaning of this basal infusion was changed in three different groups of patients. The first group was told nothing about any analgesic effect (natural history). The second group was told that the basal infusion was either a powerful painkiller or a placebo (classic double-blind administration). The third group was told that the basal infusion was a potent painkiller (deceptive administration). Therefore, whereas the analgesic treatment was exactly the same in the three groups, the verbal instructions about the basal infusion differed. The placebo effect of the saline basal infusion was measured by recording the doses of buprenorphine requested over the three-days treatment. We found that the double-blind group showed a reduction of buprenorphine requests compared to the natural history group. However, this reduction was even larger in the deceptive administration group. Overall, after 3 days of placebo infusion, the first group received 11.55 mg of buprenorphine, the second group 9.15 mg, and the third group 7.65 mg. Despite these dose differences, analgesia was the same in the three groups. These results indicate that different verbal instructions about certain and uncertain expectations of analgesia produce different placebo analgesic effects, which in turn trigger a dramatic change of behaviour leading to a significant reduction of opioid intake.


Outsourcing Microbiology Services in Medical Centers: Is It Worth It?
Outsourcing of microbiology laboratory services is a growing trend in US medical centers. Data on the actual impact of outsourcing on patient care, safety, and medical education, including costs, are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the published literature on the potential benefits and harms when medical centers outsource common microbiology services. We conducted a 16-step literature search of PubMed and Embase. Articles were selected for full-text review if their content matched our key questions: (1) What are the potential benefits of outsourcing core microbiology laboratory testing? (2) What are the potential harms to patient care and medical education when medical centers outsource essential microbiology services? The initial search yielded 6111 unique published articles; 36 were selected for full-text review, which resulted in the identification of 8 articles that addressed our key questions (2 editorials, 3 editorials with observational data, 1 survey, 1 case series, and 1 study of blood culture transport). These articles described a variety of issues, including longer turnaround times for blood cultures that resulted in delays in diagnosis and treatment, errors that resulted in patient morbidity, limited cost savings, and communication barriers. In this study, with the exception of the blood culture transport study, we found no published prospective studies that quantified the effects of outsourcing microbiology services on patient care, patient safety, or medical education. However, these largely anecdotal reports suggest that outsourcing microbiology services may have a detrimental impact on medical education, especially infectious disease training programs.


Age at first birth and alcohol use.
Two theoretical perspectives, role incompatibility and stress proliferation, suggest that age at first birth is associated with alcohol use, but each theory offers distinct predictions about the effect of relatively early parenthood on alcohol use. This study examines the applicability of these perspectives using data spanning over twenty years (1982 to 2002) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Results from fixed effects and multilevel models indicate that people decrease binge drinking surrounding the transition into parenthood regardless of age at first birth. However, relatively young parents increase binge drinking as they age from early to later adulthood, while others decrease drinking. Findings support an integration of the two theoretical perspectives. Role incompatibility best describes the initial effect of parenthood, but predictions drawn from stress proliferation more accurately describe the association between early parenthood and binge drinking into later adulthood.


Predictors of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Middle-Aged Iranians.
The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. Therefore, we sought to determine the most important predictors of NAFLD among middle-aged men and women in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 413 individuals (163 men and 250 women) aged 30-60 years were selected by stratified random sampling. The participants had safe alcohol consumption habits (<2 drinks/day) and no symptoms of hepatitis B and C. NAFLD was diagnosed through ultrasound. Blood pressure, anthropometric, and body composition measurements were made and liver function tests were conducted. Biochemical assessments, including the measurement of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and ferritin levels, as well as lipid profile tests were also performed. Metabolic syndrome was evaluated according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The overall prevalence of ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD was 39.3%. The results indicated a significantly higher prevalence of NAFLD in men than in women (42.3% vs 30.4%; P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant variables as NAFLD predictors. Overall, male gender, high body mass index (BMI), high alanine aminotransferase (ALT), high FBS, and high ferritin were identified as the predictors of NAFLD. The only significant predictors of NAFLD among men were high BMI and high FBS. These predictors were high BMI, high FBS, and high ferritin in women (P < 0.05 for all variables). The metabolic profile can be used for predicting NAFLD among men and women. BMI, FBS, ALT, and ferritin are the efficient predictors of NAFLD and can be used for NAFLD screening before liver biopsy.


Cancer survivors and infertility: a review of a new problem and novel answers.
Improvements in cancer treatment have changed the way in which cancer is viewed and experienced. However, these same treatments have led to numerous early and late effects, including the loss of fertility. Infertility can influence the biologic and psychologic health of both male and female survivors. Reproductive science can now offer methods to address this concern and provide promising new approaches that may eliminate or mitigate this treatment-related outcome. For current and future reproductive options to serve the needs of survivors more fully, health providers must understand the complexities of infertility as well as their role in delivering answers their patients require. This review will discuss what is known about the causes and experience of infertility among cancer survivors as well as the forms of fertility preservation available.


Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Reduces Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Development on Glass Ionomer Cement and Disrupts Established Biofilms.
Glass ionomer cements (GIC) are dental restorative materials that are suitable for modification to help prevent dental plaque (biofilm) formation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of incorporating casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) into a GIC on the colonisation and establishment of Streptococcus mutans biofilms and the effects of aqueous CPP-ACP on established S mutans biofilms. S. mutans biofilms were either established in flow cells before a single ten min exposure to 1% w/v CPP-ACP treatment or cultured in static wells or flow cells with either GIC or GIC containing 3% w/w CPP-ACP as the substratum. The biofilms were then visualised using confocal laser scanning microscopy after BacLight LIVE/DEAD staining. A significant decrease in biovolume and average thickness of S. mutans biofilms was observed in both static and flow cell assays when 3% CPP-ACP was incorporated into the GIC substratum. A single ten min treatment with aqueous 1% CPP-ACP resulted in a 58% decrease in biofilm biomass and thickness of established S. mutans biofilms grown in a flow cell. The treatment also significantly altered the structure of these biofilms compared with controls. The incorporation of 3% CPP-ACP into GIC significantly reduced S. mutans biofilm development indicating another potential anticariogenic mechanism of this material. Additionally aqueous CPP-ACP disrupted established S. mutans biofilms. The use of CPP-ACP containing GIC combined with regular CPP-ACP treatment may lower S. mutans challenge.


Glioblastoma of pineal region: report of four cases and literature review.
We report four cases of glioblastoma in the pineal region. The patients presented a severe headache and vomiting. Brain imaging showed a heterogeneously enhanced tumor in the pineal region with obstructive hydrocephalus. Case 3 developed a subependymal dissemination. The patient went to ventricular-peritoneal shunt and subtotal or total resection and radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy. Cases 1 and 2 received radiation and died 8 and 11 later months. Cases 3 and 4 completed radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and survived 28 and 31 months after the initial diagnosis. Glioblastoma in the pineal region carry a poor prognosis and require neurooncology teams.


Correlation between asthenopic symptoms and different measurements of convergence and reading comprehension and saccadic fixation eye movements.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between asthenopic symptoms, convergence amplitude, reading comprehension, and saccadic eye movements in children 8 to 10 years of age. Sixty-six children age 8 to 10 years were examined. Convergence was evaluated using (1) nonaccommodative target at near and distance, (2) a near computerized stereogram, and (3) measurement of the near point of convergence (NPC). Reading ability was examined by (1) a reading comprehension test in which children had to answer questions regarding a paragraph they read and (2) the Developmental Eye Movement Test (DEM), which evaluates saccadic speed and accuracy. Asthenopic symptoms were scored by an Asthenopic Symptoms Questionnaire. Asthenopic symptoms score was correlated with the near point of convergence (r = -0.4; P = 0.003), convergence on a near stereogram (r = 0.38; P = 0.01) and distant light (r = 0.27; P = 0.04), but not with convergence on a near nonaccommodative target (r = 0.07; P = 0.6). The DEM ratio score was correlated with the asthenopic symptoms score (r = -0.32; P = 0.01), but the reading comprehension test score was not (r = 0.12; P = 0.4). There was correlation, however, between the time for completion of the reading comprehension test and the asthenopic symptoms score (r = 0.39; P = 0.006). Asthenopic symptoms score was correlated with convergence amplitude as measured, whereas accommodation is controlled and the ratio score calculated based upon DEM results. Further study is needed to evaluate the usefulness of the integration between symptom survey and objective reading examinations as screening tool for the diagnosis of convergence insufficiency.


Stimulation of myelin gene expression in vitro and of sciatic nerve remyelination by interleukin-6 receptor-interleukin-6 chimera.
Induction of myelin gene expression denotes the last stage of differentiation of myelinating glial cells. Following peripheral nerve transection, Schwann cells (SC) lose myelin gene expression and proliferate, resembling premyelinating embryonic SC (eSC). We show that a fusion protein of the soluble interleukin-6 receptor to interleukin-6 (IL6RIL6), a potent activator of the gp130 signaling receptor, is an inducer of MBP and Po gene products in rat E18 embryonic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) 3 day cultures. Cells whose growth is dependent on the IL6RIL6 chimera were isolated from DRG. These cells (designated CH cells) express Krox-20, as do promyelinating and myelinating SC (mSC). IL6RIL6 induces Po and MBP in CH cells and their cocultures with neurons. In addition, IL6RIL6 leads to a disappearance of Pax-3, a marker of eSC and nonmyelinating Schwann cells (nmSC). Glial fibrillary acidic protein, present in nmSC, is not significantly induced by IL6RIL6. The CH cells acquire glial morphology when exposed to IL6RIL6 and cover axons in cocultures. In a sciatic nerve-derived SC line, IL6RIL6 also induces Po and triggers a rapid attachment along axons. In vivo administration of IL6RIL6 intraperitoneally to rats after sciatic nerve transection and resuture increases 4-fold the number of myelinated nerve fibers (MF) measured on day 12, 2.5-5 mm distal to the suture. The stimulation by IL6RIL6 treatment is highest (7.1-fold) at the more distant 5 mm site, and the thickness of myelin sheaths is increased. Compared to known SC growth factors, the gp130 activator IL6RIL6 appears to combine both in vitro mitogenic effects and promotion of myelin gene expression.


Nanosensor-Based Flexible Electronic Assisted with Light Fidelity Communicating Technology for Volatolomics-Based Telemedicine.
Telemedicine provides an attractive vision for tele-monitoring human health conditions and, thus, offers the opportunity for timely preventing chronic disease. A key limitation of promoting telemedicine in clinic application is the lack of a noninvasive med-tech and effective monitoring platform, which should be wearable and capable of high-performance tele-monitoring of health risk. Here we proposed a volatolomics-based telemedicine for continuously and noninvasively assessing human health status through continuously tracking the variation of volatile markers derived from human breath or skin. Particularly, a nanosensor-based flexible electronic was specifically designed to serve as a powerful platform for implementing the proposed cost-effective healthcare. An all-flexible and highly packed makeup (all functional units were integrated in a 2*2*0.19 cm3 plate) enables an electronic, compact configuration and the capability of resisting negative impact derived from customers' daily movement. Notably, the nanosensor-based electronic demonstrates high specificity, quick response rate (t90% = 4.5 s), and desirable low detection limit (down to 0.117 ppm) in continuous tele-monitoring chronic-disease-related volatile marker (e.g., acetone). Assisted by the power saved light fidelity (Li-Fi) communicating technology, a clinic proof on the specifically designed electronic for noninvasively and uninterrupted assessing potential health risk (e.g., diabetics) is successfully implemented, with the accuracy of around 81%. A further increase in the accuracy of prewarning is predicted by excluding the impact of individual differences such as the gender, age, and smoking status of the customer. These promising pilot results indicate a bright future for the tailor-made nanosensing-device-supported volatolomics-based telemedicine in preventing chronic diseases and increasing patients' survival rate.


Admixture studies in Latin America: from the 20th to the 21st century.
The present study is a review of admixture studies in Latin America, an interesting subject because of the unique history of the area, in which populations from 3 different origins had contact and intercrossed. The most often used methods of analysis of admixture in Latin America and some problems related to them, such as the determination of the parental populations and selection of genetic markers, are briefly reviewed. Several sources of data for admixture studies (surnames, quantitative traits, proteins, and molecular information) are summarized. The results obtained using protein systems and blood groups, the most often used markers in Latin America, are considered. They are classified according to their application in 3 groups of populations: urban centers, native Americans, and African-descended subjects. The data show that almost every population is dihybrid or trihybrid, and when African influence is not detected, it is probably due more to the method than to an absence of that contribution. A special section is dedicated to the direction of gene flow, and results about directional mating based on mtDNA, Y-chromosome, and nuclear DNA or proteins are also given. From these studies it is possible to conclude that Amerindian admixture came mainly from female lineages, but it is difficult to establish what happened with the African contribution. A last subject considered is the relation between interethnic crosses and diseases; it is easy to analyze that relation when the pathological condition is related to a unique allele, but when complex diseases are considered, the results are not as clear because of the influence of nongenetic factors. Finally, the perspectives for admixture studies in the 21st century are considered, and some attempts to predict their future in Latin America are made.


Orientation-Dependent Propulsion of Triangular Nano- and Microparticles by a Traveling Ultrasound Wave.
Previous studies on ultrasound-propelled nano- and microparticles have considered only systems in which the particle orientation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the ultrasound. However, in future applications of these particles, they will typically be able to attain other orientations. Therefore, using direct acoustofluidic simulations, here we study how the propulsion of triangular nano- and microparticles, which are known to have a particularly efficient acoustic propulsion and are therefore promising candidates for future applications, depends on their orientation relative to the propagation direction of a traveling ultrasound wave. Our results reveal that the propulsion of the particles depends strongly on their orientation relative to the direction of wave propagation and that the particles tend to orient perpendicularly to the wave direction. We also address the orientation-averaged translational and angular velocities of the particles, which correspond to the particles' effective propulsion for an isotropic exposure to ultrasound. Our results allow assessment of how free ultrasound-propelled colloidal particles move in three spatial dimensions and thus constitute an important step toward the realization of envisaged future applications of such particles.


How does arthropod segment number evolve?--Some clues from centipedes.
Studies of intraspecific variation in the number of trunk segments of geophilomorph centipedes provide clues as to how different species of arthropods, and whole clades in some cases, come to be characterized by different segment numbers. However, although previous work in this area has revealed an interesting geographical pattern-a latitudinal cline in which segment number decreases with increasing latitude-the causality of the cline remains obscure. Is it because of selection on genetically based variation, or is it a result of a form of phenotypic plasticity in which the segmentation process is directly affected by a latitude-correlated factor such as temperature? Here, we provide some indirect evidence for plasticity. If the cline is indeed a plastic one, a paradox arises, because the cline mirrors interspecific variation-geophilomorph species with more northern ranges typically have fewer segments than those from further south-but interspecific differences cannot arise from nonheritable variation. We propose a resolution of this apparent paradox via a model in which genetic and environmental factors interact through selection acting on developmental reaction norms.


Small bowel injuries: mechanisms, patterns, and outcome.
To determine the relationship between mechanism of injury (MI), operative management (OM), and outcome for traumatic jejunal and ileal wounds using an aggressive diagnostic, therapeutic, and support protocol. Medical records for patients discharged with small bowel injuries from the Trauma Service between 1988 and 1992 were reviewed. The MI, presence of shock, method of diagnosis, OM, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed. Seventy patients had jejunal and/or ileal injuries. Blunt mechanisms caused injury in 33%, whereas the rest were penetrating wounds. Twenty-one diagnostic peritoneal lavages facilitated diagnosis (71% positive by tap). Ninety-six percent of the patients were explored within 3 hours of admission. Multiple perforations of jejunum were the most common injury of the small bowel. Using the Organ Injury Scale, grade III and IV wounds were statistically more common with penetrating injuries. Most of the injuries were managed with resection and stapled anastomosis, even in the presence of shock. There is a significant difference in MI and OM for small bowel wounds. Resection and stapled anastomosis is safe even in the presence of shock. Mortality and morbidity are related to associated injuries.


Methylene blue analogues: In vitro antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations and in silico pharmacophore modelling.
It has been shown that methylene blue has antimicrobial properties although few studies have determined its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which is the gold standard used to measure antimicrobial activity. The exact antimicrobial mode of action of methylene blue is still unclear and to our knowledge no pharmacophore model has yet been created to investigate methylene blue's mode of action. The aim of this study was to determine the MIC of methylene blue and a number of its analogous against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica and Candida albicans, and to use these data to develop and validate a common feature pharmacophore model. Three statistical metrics, i.e. the enrichment factor (EF), hit rate (HR) and the area under the curve of a receiver operator characteristic (ROC-AUC), were used to determine the pharmacophore model's ability to differentiate between active/decoy compounds. The validated pharmacophore model was used to map similar antibacterial compounds in an attempt to elucidate methylene blue's antimicrobial mode of action. Most test compounds only had activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and K. pneumoniae. Dimethyl methylene blue, new methylene blue and acriflavine proved to be the most active compounds against S. aureus [1 µg/ml (dimethyl methylene blue); 4 µg/ml (new methylene blue); 8 µg/ml (acriflavine)], S. epidermidis [1 µg/ml (dimethyl methylene blue); 4 µg/ml (new methylene blue); 2 µg/ml (acriflavine)] and K. pneumoniae [8 µg/ml (dimethyl methylene blue); 0.5 µg/ml (new methylene blue); 2 µg/ml (acriflavine)]. A common feature pharmacophore model was created (rank score: 26.664, max. fit value: 4), which was able to accurately identify active methylene blue analogous out of the test set (EF2%: 51, HR2%: 100%, ROC-AUC: 1.00 ± 0.00). Six phenothiazine derivatives with known antibacterial activity had high fit values when mapped with the validated pharmacophore model, i.e. >3.4. Dimethyl methylene blue, new methylene blue and acriflavine had potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and K. pneumoniae. The MIC data will allow other researchers to compare the activity across different laboratories. The common feature pharmacophore model was able to identify methylene blue analogous with known in vitro antibacterial activity out of a database containing active/decoy compounds and highlighted the importance of two hydrophobic features, an aromatic feature and a hydrogen bond acceptor. The validated pharmacophore model also correctly mapped six phenothiazine derivatives with known antibacterial activity suggesting that they may share a common antibacterial mechanism of action.


Childhood poverty and abdominal obesity in adulthood: a systematic review.
Adverse socioeconomic conditions in childhood can have lasting effects on health, but evidence is lacking from prospective studies concerning the effects of early poverty on abdominal obesity in adulthood. Cross-sectional studies in adults from middle and high-income countries show that current socioeconomic status is inversely related to obesity in women, but the pattern in men is not consistent. A systematic review was undertaken to assess the influence of early socioeconomic status on waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-hip ratio in adulthood. Thirteen relevant articles were located (five cross-sectional and eight cohort), including only one from a middle-income country and the remainder from high-income settings. In all the studies, childhood poverty was associated with higher levels of abdominal obesity in women. In men, the associations were weaker, and no clear pattern emerged.


Symbionts shape host innate immunity in honeybees.
The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the health of many animals. Honeybees are no exception, as they host a core microbiome that affects their nutrition and immune function. However, the relationship between the honeybee immune system and its gut symbionts is poorly understood. Here, we explore how the beneficial symbiont Snodgrassella alvi affects honeybee immune gene expression. We show that both live and heat-killed S. alvi protect honeybees from the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens and lead to the expression of host antimicrobial peptides. Honeybee immune genes respond differently to live S. alvi compared to heat-killed S. alvi, the latter causing a more extensive immune expression response. We show a preference for Toll pathway upregulation over the Imd pathway in the presence of both live and heat-killed S. alvi. Finally, we find that live S. alvi aids in clearance of S. marcescens from the honeybee gut, supporting a potential role for the symbiont in colonization resistance. Our results show that colonization by the beneficial symbiont S. alvi triggers a replicable honeybee immune response. These responses may benefit the host and the symbiont, by helping to regulate gut microbial members and preventing overgrowth or invasion by opportunists.


Transient Postural Vestibulo-Cerebellar Syndrome in Three Dogs With Presumed Cerebellar Hypoplasia.
This case study presents a unique transient postural vestibular syndrome in three dogs. The transient postural symptoms present as pronounced vestibulo-cerebellar signs after altering the position of the head. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of the brain suggest caudal cerebellar hypoplasia, affecting vermis, and floccular lobes bilaterally in case 1, and hypoplasia of the nodulus vermis in cases 2 and 3. No progression of clinical signs was reported in minimum of 4 months period.


Aberrant integration of Hepatitis B virus DNA promotes major restructuring of human hepatocellular carcinoma genome architecture.
Most cancers are characterized by the somatic acquisition of genomic rearrangements during tumour evolution that eventually drive the oncogenesis. Here, using multiplatform sequencing technologies, we identify and characterize a remarkable mutational mechanism in human hepatocellular carcinoma caused by Hepatitis B virus, by which DNA molecules from the virus are inserted into the tumour genome causing dramatic changes in its configuration, including non-homologous chromosomal fusions, dicentric chromosomes and megabase-size telomeric deletions. This aberrant mutational mechanism, present in at least 8% of all HCC tumours, can provide the driver rearrangements that a cancer clone requires to survive and grow, including loss of relevant tumour suppressor genes. Most of these events are clonal and occur early during liver cancer evolution. Real-time timing estimation reveals some HBV-mediated rearrangements occur as early as two decades before cancer diagnosis. Overall, these data underscore the importance of characterising liver cancer genomes for patterns of HBV integration.


[Potential molecular mechanisms of QiZhenYuanDan in treatment of atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology].
Objective: By means of network pharmacology, potential targets and molecular pathways of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) were studied. Methods: TCMSP database was used to obtain the main active components and target information of Astragali Radix, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Corydalis Rhizoma and Salvia Miltiorrhiza in QiZhenYuanDan. Disease targets were retrieved by OMIM and other databases. Molecular networks were constructed using Cytoscape. STRING database was searched and PPI network diagram was drawn to obtain the key targets of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of AS; and the targets were uploaded to Metascape data platform for GO and KEGG analysis. Results: There were 118 targets of intersection between QiZhenYuanDan and AS, which were used as the predicted targets of QiZhenYuanDan on AS. GO analysis showed that the biological functions of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of AS targets mainly involved biological processes, such as the cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, cytokine receptor binding. KEGG pathway was mainly enriched in 155 signaling pathways, including PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, NF-κB signal pathway and inflammatory bowel disease pathway. Conclusion: Based on the result of network pharmacology study, the mechanisms of Qizhenyuandan for AS treatment was preliminarily revealed. The active ingredients such as quercetin and kaempferol act on targets such as IL-6 and PI3K-Akt, and exert anti-AS effects by inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, as well as inflammatory responses. Our result indicates that QiZhenYuanDan exhibits anti-AS effect via a multi-component, multi-target and multi-route synergistic process.


Local Muscle Fatigue and 3D Kinematics of the Cervical Spine in Healthy Subjects.
The authors aimed to further explore the effects of local muscle fatigue on cervical 3D kinematics and the interrelationship between these kinematic characteristics and local muscle endurance capacity in the unimpaired cervical spine. Twenty healthy subjects (38 ± 10 years; 5 women) performed 2 × 10 maximal cervical flexion-extension movements. Isometric muscle endurance tests (prone/supine lying) were applied between sets to induce local muscle fatigue quantified by Borg scale rates of perceived exertion (RPE) and slope in mean power frequency (MPF; surface electromyography; m. sternocleidomastoideus, m. splenius capitis). Cervical motion characteristics (maximal range of motion [ROM], coefficient of variation of the 10 repetitive movements, mean angular velocity, conjunct movements in transversal and frontal plane) were calculated from raw 3D ultrasonic movement data. Average isometric strength testing duration for flexion and extension correlated to the cervical ROM (r = .49/r = .48; p < .05). However, Student's t test demonstrated no significant alterations in any kinematic parameter following local muscle fatigue (p > .05). Although subjects' cervical muscle endurance capacity and motor output seems to be conjugated, no impact of local cervical muscle fatigue on motor function was shown. These findings underline the importance of complementary measures to address muscular performance and kinematic characteristics in outcome assessment and functional rehabilitation of the cervical spine.


A comparison of diclofenac with ketorolac for pain relief after knee arthroscopy.
We performed a double-blind controlled trial to compare the analgesic effect of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We compared rectal diclofenac 100 mg given 1 h before induction of anaesthesia with intravenous ketorolac 10 mg given immediately before anaesthesia in 40 patients undergoing arthroscopy of the knee as day cases. A visual analogue scale was used to assess pain prior to discharge. Pain, analgesic consumption, sleep disturbance and restriction of activities were recorded by telephone enquiry 24 h after surgery. There was no difference in the pain parameters, sleep disturbance, or restriction of activity between groups. We suggest that ketorolac 10 mg intravenously and diclofenac 100 mg rectally provide comparable postoperative analgesia in the first 24 h after arthroscopy of the knee.


Family bequests and the derived demand for health inputs.
A family investment model whereby parents allocate resources among their own consumption, health investments and financial bequests to children is specified and used to develop hypotheses which are tested on cross section data. As predicted by the model, the demand for physician visits for young children is found to 1) depend on family income only up to some level ($10,000 in 1969 $ in this case), 2) increase with maternal education, and 3) vary with price measures and family size, There is also evidence that greater health investments in young children pay off in fewer severe illnesses in young adulthood.


Classical RS1 and environmental RS1 elements in Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strains harbouring a tandem repeat of CTX prophage: revisiting Mozambique in 2005.
Currently, Vibrio cholerae O1 serogroup biotype El Tor strains producing classical type cholera toxin (altered strains or El Tor variants) are prevalent in Asia and in Mozambique. Mozambican strains collected in 2004 contained a tandem repeat of CTX prophage on the small chromosome and each CTX prophage harboured the classical rstR and classical ctxB. We found that the majority of the strains collected in 2005 in Mozambique contained extra elements on the large chromosome in addition to the tandem repeat of CTX prophage on the small chromosome. New type RS1 elements RS1(cla) and RS1(env), and a CTX(env) with rstR(env) and the classical ctxB were identified on the large chromosome of the Mozambican isolates collected in 2005.


Duplication and adaptive evolution of the chalcone synthase genes of Dendranthema (Asteraceae).
Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of flavonoids, which are important for the pigmentation of flowers and act as attractants to the pollinators. Genes encoding CHS constitute a multigene family in which the copy number varies among plant species and functional divergence appears to have occurred repeatedly. Plants of the Dendranthema genus have white, yellow, and pink flowers, exhibiting considerable variation in flower color. In this article, 18 CHS genes from six Dendranthema species were sequenced. Two of them were found to be pseudogenes. The functional Dendranthema CHS genes formed three well-supported subfamilies: SF1, SF2, and SF3. The inferred phylogeny of the CHS genes of Dendranthema and Gerbera suggests that those genes originated as a result of duplications before divergence of these two genera, and the function of Dendranthema CHS genes have diverged in a similar fashion to the Gerbera CHS genes; i.e., the genes of SF1 and SF3 code for typical CHS enzymes expressed during different stages of development, whereas the genes of SF2 code for another enzyme that is different from CHS in substrate specificity and reaction. Relative rate tests revealed that the Dendranthema CHS genes significantly deviated from clocklike evolution at nonsynonymous sites. Maximum likelihood analysis showed that the nonsynonymous-synonymous (omega = d(N)/d(S)) rate ratio for the lineage ancestral to SF2 was much higher than for other lineages, with some sites having a ratio well above one. Positive selective pressure appears to have driven the divergence of SF2 from SF1 and SF3.


Using administrative claims to identify children with chronic conditions in a statewide immunization registry.
To demonstrate the feasibility and utility of using administrative claims data from commercial health plans to establish a high-risk indicator in a statewide immunization registry for enrollees with chronic conditions. Retrospective cohort analysis. Administrative data were used to identify children with 1 or more chronic conditions enrolled in 2 commercial health plans during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 influenza seasons and matched with a statewide immunization registry. The proportion of cases that successfully matched and historical health services utilization, including influenza vaccinations and missed opportunities, were assessed. A total of 93% of children with chronic conditions identified through administrative claims were successfully matched with the statewide registry. Less than one-third of children received the seasonal influenza vaccine in either the 2008-2009 (29%) or 2009-2010 (32%) seasons; 30% of children received the H1N1 vaccination in 2009-2010. Most children in the 2008-2009 (63%) and 2009-2010 (63%) seasons had at least 1 missed opportunity for seasonal influenza vaccination. Younger children had the highest percentage of missed opportunities while adolescents had the lowest rate of missed opportunities for vaccination. Conclusions It is feasible to identify children with chronic conditions using administrative data and to link them with a statewide immunization registry. Low influenza vaccination rates and high occurrences of missed opportunities among children with chronic conditions suggest the utility of integrating administrative claims data with statewide registries to support various outreach mechanisms, including physician-focused and parent-targeted reminder/recall, based on target age to improve vaccination rates.


A distinct complex of PRP19-related and trypanosomatid-specific proteins is required for pre-mRNA splicing in trypanosomes.
The pre-mRNA splicing factor PRP19 is recruited into the spliceosome after forming the PRP19/CDC5L complex in humans and the Nineteen complex in yeast. Additionally, 'PRP19-related' proteins enter the spliceosome individually or in pre-assemblies that differ in these systems. The protistan family Trypanosomatidae, which harbors parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei, diverged early during evolution from opisthokonts. While introns are rare in these organisms, spliced leader trans splicing is an obligatory step in mRNA maturation. So far, ∼70 proteins have been identified as homologs of human and yeast splicing factors. Moreover, few proteins of unknown function have recurrently co-purified with splicing proteins. Here we silenced the gene of one of these proteins, termed PRC5, and found it to be essential for cell viability and pre-mRNA splicing. Purification of PRC5 combined with sucrose gradient sedimentation revealed a complex of PRC5 with a second trypanosomatid-specific protein, PRC3, and PRP19-related proteins SYF1, SYF3 and ISY1, which we named PRP19-related complex (PRC). Importantly, PRC and the previously described PRP19 complex are distinct from each other because PRC, unlike PRP19, co-precipitates U4 snRNA, which indicates that PRC enters the spliceosome prior to PRP19 and uncovers a unique pre-organization of these proteins in trypanosomes.


Bone marrow features improve prognostic efficiency in multivariate risk classification of chronic-phase Ph(1+) chronic myelogenous leukemia: a multicenter trial.
Multivariate risk classifications for chronic (stable)-phase Ph(1+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) are generally focused on hematologic variables, and the putative prognostic property of bone morphology has been neglected or even contested so far. A total of 510 consecutively recruited patients in first chronic phase Ph(1+) CML and pretreatment bone marrow biopsy specimens were entered onto this multicenter observational trial to evaluate the effect of bone marrow histopathology. According to generally accepted criteria, patients with any signs of accelerated disease were excluded. Treatment modalities included administration of interferon alfa-2b (IFN) and chemotherapy with hydroxyurea (HU) or busulfan. Immunohistochemical and morphometric techniques were applied to identify marrow cells and to quantify fiber density. Patients were separated into learning and validation samples, and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was performed to establish a prognostic decision tree. CART analysis of the validation sample (123 patients with HU therapy) revealed the amount of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow, myelofibrosis, and splenomegaly as the most important prognostic features. Three risk profiles with significantly different survival patterns were established, with median survival times ranging from 33 to 108 months (two-sided log-rank test, P =.0001). The new score was confirmed by application to the learning sample with IFN therapy (two-sided log-rank test, P =.0002). Furthermore, risk status defined by the new score was significantly correlated with the occurrence of blast transformation. Our data strongly implicate that prognostic classification of chronic-phase Ph(1+) CML can be significantly improved by the inclusion of morphologic parameters. The variables of the presented scoring system may be easily assessed by routinely processed aspirates and bone marrow trephines.


Single-nucleotide polymorphism-array improves detection rate of genomic alterations in core-binding factor leukemia.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a group of clonal diseases, resulting from two classes of mutation. Investigation for additional abnormalities associated with a well-recognized subtype, core-binding factor AML (CBF-AML) can provide further understanding and discrimination to this special group of leukemia. In order to better define genetic alterations in CBF-AML and identify possible cooperating lesions, a single-nucleotide polymorphism-array (SNP-array) analysis was performed, combined to KIT mutation screening, in a set of cases. Validation of SNP-array results was done by array comparative genomic hybridization and FISH. Fifteen cases were analyzed. Three cases had microscopic lesions better delineated by arrays. One case had +22 not identified by arrays. Submicroscopic abnormalities were mostly non-recurrent between samples. Of relevance, four regions were more frequently affected: 4q28, 9p11, 16q22.1, and 16q23. One case had an uncovered unbalanced inv(16) due to submicroscopic deletion of 5´MYH11 and 3´CBFB. Telomeric and large copy number neutral loss of heterozygosity (CNN-LOH) regions (>25 Mb), likely representing uniparental disomy, were detected in four out of fifteen cases. Only three cases had mutation on KIT gene, enhancing the role of abnormalities by SNP-array as presumptive cooperating alterations. Molecular karyotyping can add valuable information to metaphase karyotype analysis, emerging as an important tool to uncover and characterize microscopic, submicroscopic genomic alterations, and CNN-LOH events in the search for cooperating lesions.


Streptavidin-biotin immunotoxins: a new approach to purging bone marrow.
Immunotoxins have been used both experimentally and clinically to purge bone marrow of tumor cells or T cells before transplantation. We describe the synthesis of a streptavidin-biotin-toxin conjugate using whole ricin. Streptavidin-biotin-ricin (SA-BR) conjugates were synthesized by biotinylation of whole ricin, which was then complexed with streptavidin. Hybrid molecules consisting of a single biotinylated ricin moiety linked to a streptavidin molecule were separated by gel filtration. This SA-BR conjugate was used in an indirect cytotoxicity assay. The assay involved sensitizing of target cells with biotinylated monoclonal antibody (B-MCAB) followed by treatment with dilutions of SA-BR conjugate. The assay demonstrated a specific antibody-directed cytotoxicity. The strength of this SA-BR system is that a single conjugate was able to be used in conjunction with a library of B-MCABs to selectively target phenotypically different cell types. The application of the SA-BR conjugate is thus only restricted by the availability of B-MCABs specific for the desired target cells. The high affinity of avidin for biotin (Kd approximately 10(-15)) and the ability of a single conjugate to target phenotypically different cells through utilization of a library of B-MCABs gives SA-BR conjugates great potential in the selective targeting of individual cell types.


The Effect of Calcium Nutrition of Ethylene-induced Abscission.
The influence of calcium nutrition on ethylene-induced abscission was studied by growing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Stoneville 213) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Resistant Black Valentine) plants for several weeks in nutrient solutions containing 2, 10 (normal level), 15, or 20 meq/l of calcium, and then treating the plants with ethylene. Increasing the calcium level of cotton from 2 to 20 meq/l resulted in a 9-fold increase in the calcium content of the abscission zone and a maximum reduction of 25% in the amount of leaf abscission induced by ethylene (9 mul/l). Bean plants grown on 10, 15, or 20 meq/l calcium solutions showed corresponding increases in the calcium content of the abscission zone but showed no significant differences in the rate of ethyleneinduced abscission. Only at the lowest calcium level of 2 meq/l, where deficiency symptoms became apparent, was a significant effect observed. These results suggest that under normal cultural practices calcium nutrition has little influence on the rate of ethylene-induced abscission.


Time Release of Encapsulated Additives for Enhanced Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries.
Time release of encapsulated vinylene carbonate (VC) from microcapsules in Li-ion batteries is demonstrated to enhance the rate performance without sacrificing capacity retention. VC-filled microcapsules are successfully prepared by the solvent exchange method that allows VC to diffuse through the microcapsule shell wall at an elevated temperature. The concentration of VC added directly to the electrolyte in a pouch cell (2 wt %) significantly decreases after the first cycle at C/10-rate. In pouch cells that contain 5 wt % VC-filled microcapsules, the concentration of VC increases from 0 to 3 wt % over the first cycle because of the diffusion of microencapsulated VC in the electrolyte. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, rate capability, and long-term cycling tests are conducted for pouch cells with VC additives (0, 2, and 5 wt %) and VC microcapsules (5 wt %). Pouch cells with both 5 wt % VC additive and microencapsulated VC show improved capacity retention over 400 cycles at 1 C-rate compared to the cells without VC additive. When VC is added directly, the high initial concentration leads to increased interfacial resistance and decreased rate capability. By contrast, time release of microencapsulated VC by diffusion through microcapsules increases the discharge capacity 2.5 times at 5 C-rate compared to the direct VC addition to the electrolyte.


Are we getting closer to understanding intratumor heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogenous disease and intratumor heterogeneity is a well-known fact within each individual tumor, and may involve morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular heterogeneities. Understanding of intratumor heterogeneity of HCC should provide critical knowledge about prognosis of the disease and response to therapy. In a recent article by Friemel and colleagues, the investigators utilized a comprehensive approach in linking immunohistochemical markers and molecular changes to morphological intratumor heterogeneity in HCC. The study found that intratumor heterogeneity was detectable in 87% of HCC cases. Combined heterogeneities with respect to morphologic, immunohistochemical, and mutational status of the two most important driver mutations CTNNB1 and TP53 were seen in 22% of HCC cases. The study demonstrates the challenges facing therapeutic strategies targeting single molecules and may explain the limited success so far in developing molecular targeted therapy for HCC.


The Coupling of Electron Flow to ATP Synthesis in Pea and Maize Mesophyll Chloroplasts : I. INTERACTION OF ADENINE NUCLEOTIDES AND ENERGY TRANSFER INHIBITORS WITH THE COUPLING FACTOR COMPLEX.
The rate of nonphosphorylating electron transport (in the absence of ADP and inorganic phosphate) in well-coupled (ATP/2e(-) = 0.9-1.1) maize mesophyll chloroplasts is not modulated by external pH (6.5-8.5), low levels of ADP or ATP, or energy transfer inhibitors, e.g. triphenyltin and Hg(2+) ions. In contrast nonphosphorylating electron flow in pea chloroplasts is sensitive to alterations in medium pH, and to the presence of adenine nucleotides and energy transfer inhibitors in the assay medium. Although ATP is without effect on the rate of basal electron transport in maize chloroplasts, steady-state proton uptake is stimulated 3- to 5-fold by low levels of ATP. These results suggest that differences may exist in the manner in which the coupling factor complex controls proton efflux from the intrathylakoid space in C(3) and C(4) mesophyll chloroplasts.


mHealth tools for monitoring Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients at home: Proof-of-concept.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that affects mainly the adult and elderly population. Due to the high percentage of patients who remain undiagnosed and untreated because of limitations of current diagnosis methods, the management of OSA is an important social, scientific and economic problem that will be difficult to be assumed by health systems. On the other hand, smartphone platforms (mHealth systems) are being considered as an innovative solution, thanks to the integration of the essential sensors to obtain clinically relevant parameters in the same device or in combination with wireless wearable devices.


Risks of parenteral deferoxamine for acute iron poisoning.
To review the adverse effects and risks of deferoxamine for the treatment of iron poisoning. A literature search of deferoxamine induced adverse effects was used to identify pertinent articles. The references of these articles served as the source of other references not previously identified. Deferoxamine is a relatively safe antidote for iron intoxication, but adverse effects have been recognized with increased usage, particularly with prolonged intravenous dosing. This paper focuses on deferoxamine induced cardiovascular, pulmonary, ocular and auditory toxicity as well as its potential to increase the risk of infection. Information on iron's toxicology and toxicokinetics and deferoxamine's pharmacology and pharmacokinetics are reviewed. With this background information a hypothesis is generated to maximize deferoxamine benefit while minimizing deferoxamine induced pulmonary toxicity. The hypothesis is based upon a stoichiometric approach to maximal chelation during the first 24 h following iron ingestion. Deferoxamine is a relatively safe antidote for iron poisoning but the potential for pulmonary and cardiovascular toxicity should be respected. Studies defining maximum regimens over defined periods of time will allow a more logical utilization of deferoxamine, optimizing benefit and minimizing risk.


Molecular basis of tetracycline action: identification of analogs whose primary target is not the bacterial ribosome.
Tetracycline analogs fell into two classes on the basis of their mode of action. Tetracycline, chlortetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, and 6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline inhibited cell-free translation directed by either Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis extracts. A second class of analogs tested, including chelocardin, anhydrotetracycline, 6-thiatetracycline, anhydrochlortetracycline, and 4-epi-anhydrochlortetracycline, failed to inhibit protein synthesis in vitro or were very poor inhibitors. Tetracyclines of the second class, however, rapidly inhibited the in vivo incorporation of precursors into DNA and RNA as well as protein. The class 2 compounds therefore have a mode of action that is entirely distinct from the class 1 compounds, such as tetracycline that are used clinically. Although tetracyclines of the second class entered the cytoplasm, the ability of these analogs to inhibit macromolecular synthesis suggests that the cytoplasmic membrane is their primary site of action. The interaction of class 1 and class 2 tetracyclines with ribosomes was studied by examining their effects on the chemical reactivity of bases in 16S rRNA to dimethyl sulfate. Class 1 analogs affected the reactivity of bases to dimethyl sulfate. The response with class 2 tetracyclines varied, with some analogs affecting reactivity and others (chelocardin and 4-epi-anhydrotetracycline) not.


miR-338-3p inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
Down-regulation of the miRNA miR-338-3p correlates with the invasive ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, it is currently unclear whether down-regulation of miR-338-3p induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which may be the underlying mechanism governing HCC invasion. Here, we demonstrate that restoration of miR-338-3p expression via transfection of a miR-338-3p mimic reversed EMT and inhibited the motility and invasiveness of HCC cells. Conversely, silencing of endogenous miR-338-3p expression with a miR-338-3p-specific inhibitor induced EMT and enhanced HCC cell motility. Additionally, Snail1 (an upstream regulatory protein of EMT) and Gli1 (a key transcription factor in the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway) expression was up-regulated in cells treated with the miR-338-3p inhibitor and down-regulated by the miR-338-3p mimic. Further analyses demonstrated that miR-338-3p inhibitor-induced EMT in HCC cells was blocked by treatment with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Snail1, that the SHH signaling pathway was required for both miR-338-3p inhibitor-induced EMT and up-regulation of Snail1, and that miR-338-3p targeted a sequence within the 3'-untranslated region of N-cadherin mRNA. Notably, miR-338-3p expression was significantly down-regulated in HCC samples from patients with metastases and was associated with poor metastasis-free survival rates. Lastly, correlations between the expression levels of miR-338-3p and E-cadherin, Smoothened (SMO), Gli1, Snail1, N-cadherin, and vimentin were confirmed in HCC xenograft tumors and HCC patient specimens. Our findings suggest that miR-338-3p suppresses EMT and metastasis via both inhibition of the SHH/Gli1 pathway and direct binding of N-cadherin. miR-338-3p is a potential therapeutic target for metastatic HCC.


Purification and Molecular and Immunological Characterization of a Unique Phosphoribulokinase from the Green Alga Selenastrum minutum.
A unique phosphoribulokinase (ADP:D-ribulose 5-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 126.96.36.199) has been purified to homogeneity from the green alga Selenastrum minutum. The enzyme has a native molecular mass of about 83 kilodaltons and a native isoelectric point of 5.1. The enzyme consists of two different-sized subunits of 41 and 40 kilodaltons, implying that it is a heterodimer. This is the first report of a eukaryotic heterodimeric phosphoribulokinase. The in vivo existence of two nonidentical subunits of S. minutum phosphoribulokinase was confirmed by western blot analysis of crude protein extracts from trichloroacetic acid-killed cells. These two subunits were immunologically similar, as rabbit immunoglobulin G affinity purified against the 41 kilodalton subunit of S. minutum phosphoribulokinase (PRK) cross-reacts with the 40 kilodalton subunit and vice versa. Antibodies against S. minutum phosphoribulokinase also cross-react with the spinach enzyme. NH(2)-terminal sequencing revealed that the two S. minutum PRK subunits shared a considerable degree of structure homology with each other and with the enzymes from spinach and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, but not with PRK from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. There are, however, differences between the NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequences of the two S. minutum PRK subunits, that imply that they are the products of separate genes or products of two different mRNAs spliced from a single gene.


Spreading it around: money for researcher and research participants.
There is a consensus that inducements for participants in research studies are ethically permitted as long as they are not "undue." The subject of inducements for investigators has not been ethically analyzed. This essay outlines the three models for compensation suggested by Dickert and Grady--market model, reimbursement model and wage-payment model--and argues that this analysis can be fruitfully applied to remuneration for investigators. Currently, investigators are compensated according to the market model, resulting in undue inducement. Investigators should be compensated according to the wage-payment model, as skilled workers, at the rate an internist earns per hour. The wage-payment model avoids undue inducement, but compensates investigators, particularly non-academic investigators who are not salaried, for their time and effort. However, additional safeguards must be erected: investigators must demonstrate research competency for the studies they are to manage; they must understand research ethics; all investigators must be routinely audited; and subjects must be informed of all remuneration that investigators receive.


Relation between physical activity and myopia progression in student population.
To determine the relation between physical activity and myopia progression in student population. Causes of myopia occurrence are not sufficiently explained. This retrospective-prospective, descriptive research included 100 students with verified myopia up to -3 Dsph. The research was conducted in the Institute for Occupational and Sports Medicine of Zenica-Doboj Canton and at the University of Zenica in the period from January 2011 until January 2012. Ophthalmological examination and Multistage Fitness Test were done twice. A significant correlation was recorded only according to assessment of physical competence during the second measurement with a negative sign, indicating that an increase of physical activity had an impact on the decrease of differences in values of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia of measurements (right eye Rho: -0.260, p less than 0.01; left eye Rho: - 0.255, p less than 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis of impact on the difference of distance visual acuity without correction as well as the impact on difference of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia indicated that assessment of physical competence during the measurements had statistically significant impact on the decrease of distance visual acuity between measurements (right eye OR: I measurement -0.748, II measurement -0.660, p less than 0.05; left eye OR: I measurement -0.613, II measurement -0.515, p less than 0.05) and on decreased difference of automatic computer refractometry in cycloplegia (right eye OR: I measurement -0.822, II measurement -0.831, p less than 0.05; left eye OR: I measurement -0.641, II measurement -0.706, p less than 0.05). Physical activity did not cause the increase of myopia. This research opened a perspective for other researches on the impact of physical activity on myopia.


A method for rapid preparation of single-cell suspensions from rat hepatocyte primary cultures on collagen substratum and the mechanism of cell dissociation.
A method has been developed for the rapid preparation of single-cell suspensions from rat hepatocyte primary cultures on collagen substratum. Hepatocytes were adequately dissociated into single cells when the cultures were first treated with a combination of trypsin and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and then with collagenase. However, when the order was reversed, hepatocytes were inadequately dispersed. The possible mechanism of cell dissociation is discussed on the basis of the experimental data obtained.


Immunocytochemical localization and regulation of connexin43 in the adult rat epididymis.
Connexin43 (Cx43) is one of the most predominant gap junction proteins found in vivo, and although present in the testis, it has not been examined in the epididymis. Immunocytochemistry using an anti-Cx43 antibody revealed a punctate immunoperoxidase reaction at the apical margins between adjacent epithelial cells of the efferent ducts. In the epididymis, punctate reactive sites were observed at the base of the epithelium between basal and principal cells. There was no staining between adjacent principal cells at their apical or lateral margins. Cx43 immunostaining was also seen between myoid cells surrounding the tubules but only in the cauda epididymidis. Using a Cx43 cDNA probe, Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA revealed a single hybridizing band of approximately 3.0 kb in all regions of the epididymis. Throughout the epididymis of bilaterally orchidectomized rats at 7 or 14 days, an immunoperoxidase reaction for Cx43 persisted at the base of the epithelium between principal and basal cells. However, in the initial segment only, immunolocalization of Cx43 was also observed apically between adjacent principal cells. This apical staining was lost in rats that received testosterone replacement. Myoid cells in the cauda epididymidis of control rats expressed Cx43, however, orchidectomized rats did not express Cx43 in this cell layer. Western blots revealed the presence of a major protein band at 43 kDa corresponding to unphosphorylated Cx43 as well as Cx43 species at 44 and 46 kDa, which were more prominent in orchidectomized rats. Together these data represent one of the first examples of Cx43 gap junctions between heterologous cell types (i.e. principal and basal cells). Moreover, Cx43 expression in myoid cells of the cauda epididymidis is androgen-dependent and in the initial segment of the epididymis only, the intracellular targeting of Cx43 towards the principal-principal cell interface under normal conditions is regulated by androgens.


Differential expression of acetylcholinesterase in the brainstem, ventrobasal thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex of perinatal rats, mice, and hamsters.
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is transiently expressed by thalamocortical axons in the rat, and staining for this enzyme has been used extensively to study the development of thalamocortical projections. In the present study, patterns of AChE staining were compared in the trigeminal brainstem, thalami and primary somatosensory cortices of perinatal rats, mice, and hamsters. As previously reported, the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) of rats showed dense AChE staining from P-0 at least through P-8. The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) contained heavy AChE staining at least through P-60. In the cortex, there was also dense AChE staining which was organized somatotopically in patches similar to those observed with other methods such as cytochrome oxidase (CO) staining. However, by adulthood, AChE staining revealed a negative image of the CO staining pattern in lamina IV. In the mouse and hamster, there was dense AChE staining inVPL from P-0 through adulthood, but VPM was much less heavily stained for this enzyme. Moreover, the staining in VPL of mice was markedly reduced after transection of axons that travel to the thalamus in the medial lemniscus, suggesting that much of it was contained in these afferent fibers. In the cortices of both perinatal and adult mice and hamsters, AChE staining yielded a negative image of the somatotopically organized patches demonstrable with CO staining. This negative image was apparent by P-2 in the mouse and P-4 in the hamster. These results document a dramatic species difference with respect to the expression of AChE in the thalami and cortices of developing rodents. The differences between the patterns observed in rats vs mice and hamsters probably reflect the fact that cortical AChE in the latter species is not contained in thalamocortical afferents arising from either VPM or VPL.


Molecular population genetic analysis of Campylobacter jejuni HS:19 associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome and gastroenteritis.
Infection with Campylobacter jejuni serotype HS:19 is associated with the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). To determine whether a particular HS:19 clone is associated with GBS, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) was used to analyze a worldwide collection of isolates. There were 34 electropherotypes (ETs) in 3 phylogenetic clusters among 83 C. jejuni isolates. Cluster I contained all HS:19 strains, and a single ET (ET4) accounted for most HS:19 strains. HS:19 strains did not occur in any of the other clusters. ET4 contained isolates from different geographic locations, indicating global spread of this clone. Furthermore, ET4 contained isolates from patients with uncomplicated enteritis and GBS, as well as isolates from animal sources. The results of this study show that HS:19 strains comprise a clonal, although not monomorphic, population, which is distinct from non-HS:19 strains within C. jejuni. A unique clone associated with GBS was not identified by use of MLEE.


Analytically and empirically consistent characterization of the resistive switching mechanism in a Ag conducting-bridge random-access memory device through a pseudo-liquid interpretation approach.
A new physical analysis of the filament formation in a Ag conducting-bridge random-access memory (CBRAM) device in consideration of the existence of inter-atomic attractions caused by metal bonding is suggested. The movement of Ag atoms inside the switching layer is characterized hydrodynamically using the Young-Laplace equation during set and reset operations. Both meridional and azimuthal curvatures of the Ag filament protruding from the Ag electrode are accurately calculated to track down the exact shape of the Ag filament with change in the applied voltage. The second-order partial differential equation for the Ag filament geometry is derived from the equation of equilibrium between the electrostatic pressure and the Laplace one. The solution to the equation is numerically obtained, and furthermore, the abrupt set operation in the forming process, bipolar resistive-switching, and the threshold switching operation in the reset operations are successfully simulated in accordance with the numerical solutions. Also, it is demonstrated that the currents extracted from the suggested model show good agreement with the I-V characteristics measured from the fabricated Ag CBRAM device.


Osteoid osteoma that occurred in a former fracture site.
Diagnosis of osteoid osteoma often is delayed, despite its high incidence, because of similarities in presenting symptoms with other pathologic entities. The current case report describes a posttraumatic osteoid osteoma. Three years after osteosynthesis of a distal tibial fracture an osteoid osteoma was diagnosed at the former fracture site. After excluding osteomyelitis as a possible diagnosis, the tumor was excised successfully. Based on current knowledge of the pathogenesis of osteoid osteoma, it is unlikely that the lesion observed in the patient was attributable to the previous fracture.


Aquatic taste and odor: a primary signal of drinking-water integrity.
Aquatic taste and odor (T/O) is rarely produced by toxic contaminants or pathogens; nevertheless, it has major negative impacts on the public and the drinking-water industry. Consumers use T/O as a primary measure of drinking water safety, yet this criterion is poorly understood, and its origins and triggers often go untraced. Much surface-water T/O is produced by the increased production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by algae. These chemicals can be symptomatic of short-term problems with source, treatment, or distribution systems. At a broader level, they can signify fundamental changes in aquatic ecosystems induced by human activity. T/O varies in chemistry, intensity, and production patterns among different algal taxa, and is often linked with excessive algal growth and/or the invasion of noxious species. Some VOCs may signal the presence of potentially toxic algae and/or other associated water quality issues. Traditionally, T/O has been linked with the widespread eutrophication of many surface waters; however, there has been a recent growth in the number of T/O events reported in oligo-mesotrophic systems, for example, the Glenmore Reservoir (Calgary AB) and the Laurentian Great Lakes. From a management and public perspective, therefore, it is vitally important to monitor T/O, and to continue to work toward a better understanding of the proximal and the ultimate causes-which VOCs and algae species are involved. In the short term, odor events could be anticipated and water treatment optimized. In the long term, this approach would contribute toward more a robust management of this resource through remedial or preventative measures.


Lenke and King classification systems for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: interobserver agreement and postoperative results.
The aim of this study was to investigate the interobserver agreement of the Lenke and King classifications for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and to compare the results of surgery performed based on classification of the scoliosis according to each of these classification systems. The study was conducted in Shohada Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, between 2009 and 2010. First, a reliability assessment was undertaken to assess interobserver agreement of the Lenke and King classifications for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Second, postoperative efficacy and safety of surgery performed based on the Lenke and King classifications were compared. Kappa coefficients of agreement were calculated to assess the agreement. Outcomes were compared using bivariate tests and repeated measures analysis of variance. A low to moderate interobserver agreement was observed for the King classification; the Lenke classification yielded mostly high agreement coefficients. The outcome of surgery was not found to be substantially different between the two systems. Based on the results, the Lenke classification method seems advantageous. This takes into consideration the Lenke classification's priority in providing details of curvatures in different anatomical surfaces to explain precise intensity of scoliosis, that it has higher interobserver agreement scores, and also that it leads to noninferior postoperative results compared with the King classification method.


Can reproductive characteristics predict bladder cancer in women with haematuria?
Among women with haematuria, defining individuals under high risk for bladder cancer based on reproductive factors prior to cystoscopy would be of great benefit in the management of this condition. The aim of this study was to compare age and reproductive factors such as menopausal status, parity, age at first delivery and age at the last delivery between women who have haematuria with or without bladder cancer. A total of 463 patients underwent diagnostic cystoscopy in Duzce University Faculty of Medicine between 1 June 2008 and 1 June 2013. Female patients who presented with persistent microscopic or macroscopic haematuria and underwent standard evaluation for haematuria including urinalysis, urine culture, urine cytology, urinary tract imaging with excretory urography or computerized tomography with contrast enhancement and endoscopic evaluation of the urethra and bladder were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were tobacco use and high risk occupations for bladder cancer such as textile, dry cleaning, painting and etc. Fourteen women had hematuria due to benign conditions, and 18 due to bladder cancer. Data were retrospectively retrieved from the medical records of Duzce University Hospital. Patients with haematuria due to benign reasons did not significantly differ from patients who were found to have bladder cancer in terms of age (p=0.28), menopausal status (p=0.29), mean parity (p=0.38), being nulliparous (p=0.57), parity ≥ 3 (p=0.22), age ≤ 18 years at first delivery (p=1.00), age ≥ 30 years at last delivery (p=0.26), age ≥ 35 years at last delivery (p=0.23) and percentage of the patients with advanced age (≥ 65 years) (p=0.18). It is difficult to predict a high risk for developing bladder cancer in women with haematuria based solely on reproductive factors.