Infant formula with protein-energy ratio of 1.7 g/100 kcal is adequate but may not be safe.
An adequate protein-energy ratio of infant formulas has been defined as one that permits growth similar to that of infants fed relatively generous protein-energy ratios, and serum concentrations of albumin and urea nitrogen no less than those observed in breast-fed infants. A safe ratio has been defined as one with no detectable adverse effects. The hypothesis was that a protein-energy ratio of 1.7 g/100 kcal is adequate and safe. Healthy male infants were fed Formula 1.7, a milk-based formula, as the sole source of energy from the 8th to the 112th day of life. Weight, length, and energy intake were measured; serum albumin and urea nitrogen were determined; and the results were compared with data from appropriate reference groups of infants. Energy intake from 8 through 55 days was significantly higher than that of infants in the formula-fed reference group. Gain in weight was significantly more than that of the formula-fed reference group or of a breast-fed reference group, whereas gain in length was similar to that of the formula-fed reference group. Body mass index was significantly higher than that of either reference group, suggesting more fat accumulation in infants fed Formula 1.7. Plasma concentrations of albumin and urea nitrogen were similar to those of the breast-fed reference group. Infants fed Formula 1.7 received adequate intakes of protein. Because of the possibility that ad libitum feeding of diets with moderately inadequate protein-energy ratios is associated with increased food intake leading to excess weight gain, it is not possible to conclude that a protein-energy ratio of 1.7 g/100 kcal is safe.


Analysis of urinary nucleosides as helper tumor markers in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common neoplasm in Taiwan, for which early diagnosis is difficult and the prognosis is usually poor. HCC is usually diagnosed by abdominal sonography and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection. Modified nucleosides, regarded as indicators for the whole-body turnover of RNAs, are excreted in abnormal amounts in the urine of patients with malignancies and can serve as tumor markers. We analyzed the excretion patterns of urinary nucleosides from 25 HCC patients and 20 healthy volunteers by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) under optimized conditions. The HPLC/ESI-MS/MS approach with selective reaction monitoring (SRM) allowed for the sensitive determination of nucleosides in human urine samples. The mean levels of the urinary nucleosides adenosine, cytidine, and inosine were significantly higher in HCC patients than healthy volunteers (average of 1.78-, 2.26-, and 1.47-fold, respectively). However, the mean levels of urinary 1-methyladenosine, 3-methylcytidine, uridine, and 2'-deoxyguanosine were not significantly different. Combined with the determination of serum AFP levels, the higher levels of urinary adenosine, cytidine, and inosine may be additional diagnosis markers for HCC in Taiwanese patients.


Modification of CaCo-2 cell membrane fatty acid composition by eicosapentaenoic acid and palmitic acid: effect on cholesterol metabolism.
Membrane fatty acid composition of CaCo-2 cells was modified by incubating the cells for 8 days in medium containing 100 microM eicosapentaenoic acid or palmitic acid. The effect of membrane fatty acid changes on cholesterol metabolism was then studied. Cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid had significant changes in membrane fatty acid composition with an accumulation of 20:5 and 22:5 and a reduction in monoenoic fatty acids compared to cells grown in palmitic acid. Intracellular cholesteryl esters could not be detected in CaCo-2 cells grown in the presence of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. In contrast, cells incubated with the saturated fatty acid contained 2 micrograms/mg protein of cholesteryl esters. Cells grown in eicosapentaenoic acid, however, accumulated significantly more triglycerides compared to cells modified with palmitic acid. The rate of oleic acid incorporation into triglycerides was significantly increased in cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid. CaCo-2 cells modified by eicosapentaenoic acid had lower rates of HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities compared to cells modified with palmitic acid. The incorporation of the two fatty acids into cellular lipids also differed. Palmitic acid was predominantly incorporated into cellular triglycerides, whereas eicosapentaenoic acid was preferentially incorporated into phospholipids with 60% of it in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. The data indicate that membrane fatty acid composition is significantly altered by growing CaCo-2 cells in eicosapentaenoic acid. These modifications in membrane fatty acid saturation are accompanied by a decrease in the rates of cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol esterification.


New coronary retroinfusion technique in the Rat infarct model: transjugular cardiac vein catheterization.
Cell delivery via the retrograde coronary route boasts less vessel embolism, myocardial injury, and arrhythmogenicity when compared with those via antegrade coronary administration or myocardial injection. However, conventional insertion into the coronary sinus and consequent bleeding complication prevent its application in small animals. To overcome the complication of bleeding, we described a modified coronary retroinfusion technique via the jugular vein route in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). A flexible wire with a bent end was inserted into the left internal jugular vein and advanced slowly along the left superior vena cava. Under direct vision, the wire was run into the left cardiac vein by rotating the wire and changing the position of its tip. A fine tube was then advanced along the wire to the left cardiac vein. This modified technique showed less lethal hemorrhage than the conventional technique. Retroinfusion via transjugular catheter enabled efficient fluid or cell dissemination to the majority areas of the free wall of the left ventricle, covering the infarcted anterior wall. In conclusion, transjugular cardiac vein catheterization may make retrocoronary infusion a more safe and practical route for delivering cell, drug, and gene therapy into the infarcted myocardium of rats.


Analysis of low concentration reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) in air: storage issues and measurement by gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection.
Reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) were measured at low concentrations in small volume air samples using a cryo-trapping inlet system and gas chromatograph outfitted with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD). The relative sensitivity of the system to the RSCs follows the sequence H(2)S<CH(3)SH<OCS∼DMS<CS(2). The analytical system achieves a detection limit of 120ppt in a 100mL air sample, which is suitable for measuring reactive RSCs (e.g., H(2)S and CH(3)SH) at ambient or near ambient atmospheric concentrations. The inlet system allows for replicate sampling from a stored air sample (sub-sampling), thereby improving estimates of instrumental precision and demonstrating the reproducibility of the analytical method. Although the SCD theoretically provides linear responses equivalent to the sulfur mass injected, we found that the response properties for each RSC differed. At concentrations below 2ppb, the compounds H(2)S and CH(3)SH have diminished responses, leading to larger measurement uncertainties. Two generations of commercially available SilcoCan canisters were tested to evaluate the relative RSC loss due to storage in the canister and loss of inertness because of coating age. The older generation canister (>6 years from initial coating) saw significant loss of H(2)S and CH(3)SH within 2 days, while the more recent generation canister (<1 year from initial coating) yielded percent recoveries of RSCs in the range of 85% (H(2)S and CH(3)SH) to 95% (OCS, DMS and CS(2)) after 7 days of storage, suggesting that these canisters may be suitable for the short-term storage of low level RSCs. The development of this low concentration, low sample volume method is well suited for measuring RSC gas fluxes from natural soils in laboratory incubations and in field flux chamber studies.


Intratentorial lipomas with Meckel's cave and cerebellopontine angle extension.
An unusual case of bilateral intratentorial lipomas with extension into Meckel's caves and the cerebellopontine angle is described. Surgical and histopathologic correlation demonstrate that the lipoma encased the trigeminal nerve in Meckel's caves. The origin of the lipoma from the anteromedial margins of the tentorium is discussed and correlated with a recently proposed theory for the development of intracranial lipomas.


Novel rare earth-polyvinyl pyridine complex functionalized hybrid silica microspheres: molecular assembly and photophysical property.
The functional silica microspheres are derived from the three different silane crosslinking reagents, and then the polyvinyl pyridine-based rare earth hybrids are synthesized through free radical copolymerization of rare earth-vinyl pyridine complex monomer with these functionalized silica microspheres (RE = Eu, Tb). The obtained hybrids are characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, Scanning electronic microscope and photoluminescence spectra. The intramolecular energy transfer process between rare earth ions and polymer polyvinyl pyrrolidone matrices took place within these polymer-based hybrids and especially the quantum efficiency of europium hybrids are determined, suggesting that the hybrid material systems derived from different functional silica microspheres present different luminescence efficiencies.


Theophylline in the treatment of the elderly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The authors describe the pharmacological effects of theophylline and elucidate its mechanisms of action according to latest hypothesis. The narrow therapeutic range of the drug and the existence of factors capable of modifying its distribution and clearance in the elderly, are taken into consideration, as well. The behaviour of theophylline concentrations in two groups of elderly subjects affected by chronic bronchitis, treated respectively with intravenous aminophylline and anhydrous theophylline administered orally are assessed. Usefulness of associating the two routes of administration is underlined. In fact, the delay in the achievement of the therapeutic range observed after oral intake can be made up for by the initial peak induced by intravenous injection. Our observations in the elderly are consistent with the necessity of therapeutic monitoring. In addition, a careful dosage of the drug can avoid the occurrence of untoward effects.


Effect of nasal salmon calcitonin on calcium and bone metabolism.
We have investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nasal SCT in the dose range of 50-200 IU. When evaluated by AUC, it appeared that the absorption through the nasal mucosa was dose dependent. The resulting plasma levels of SCT were highly variable between individuals. A hypocalcemic effect accompanied by an increase of s-PTH was seen 2-3 hours after administration of a single dose of 200 IU to healthy male adults, but not after administration to postmenopausal women. When evaluated by changes in biochemical markers of bone remodeling nasal SCT 200 IU decreased bone resorption in the magnitude of 15% after a single dose as well as after a multiple daily dosing regimen. No tachyphylaxis of the antiresorptive effect of nasal SCT was noted. The histomorphometric analysis revealed a decrease of erosion depth as the major antiresorptive action on the bone remodeling system of nasal SCT. We were unable to demonstrate an anabolic effect of nasal SCT on bone formation. There was a tendency towards a dose dependent increase in lumbar BMD, but not even in the group receiving 200 IU daily did the increase reach statistical significance when compared to placebo. BMD in the distal forearm as well as in the hip was unaffected by nasal SCT.


[The view of biotypology in Southern Brazil: discourse and practice in the 1930s and 1950s].
This research report aims to demonstrate how the state of Paraná, Brazil, featured in the transnational context of different schools of biotypological thought present in Brazil as of the 1930s. The city of Curitiba is taken as a case study, where we can identify, in an academic lecture from 1938 and two mental health reports from 1950 and 1951, the observance of Ernst Kretschmer's German constitutional medicine, despite the prevalence of the Italian school of thought in the bibliography on the subject. With this, we seek to identify through what channels and forums the precepts of the German school were legitimized.


Levels of free granulocyte elastase in bronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis: effect of antimicrobial treatment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Large amounts of free granulocyte elastase (GE), an enzyme capable of mediating airway damage, have been found in bronchial secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This finding indicates an imbalance between GE and its antiproteases, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) and bronchial mucosal inhibitor (BMI), in the airways of these individuals. The effect of intravenous antimicrobial treatment against P. aeruginosa on activity and concentration of GE, BMI, and alpha 1-PI was evaluated in 30 treatment courses of 20 patients with cystic fibrosis. Although sputum volume and level of immunoreactive GE decreased and concentrations of alpha 1-PI and BMI increased significantly (P less than .05), a high level of free GE persisted. No active alpha 1-PI and BMI were detectable after treatment. High levels of GE correlated with a poor pulmonary condition (rs = .98, P less than .001). In vitro, elastolytic activity of bronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis was significantly inhibited by eglin C and an oxidation-resistant variant of alpha 1-PI, both compounds currently produced by recombinant DNA technology.


Prostate cancers scored as Gleason 6 on prostate biopsy are frequently Gleason 7 tumors at radical prostatectomy: implication on outcome.
Differentiation between Gleason score 6 and 7 in prostate biopsy is important for treatment decision making. Nevertheless, under grading errors compared with the actual pathological grade at radical prostatectomy are common. We compared the characteristics and outcomes of tumors that were scored 6 on prostate biopsy but were 7 on subsequent radical prostatectomy pathological evaluation to those in tumors with a consistent rating of Gleason score 6 or 7 at biopsy and surgery. We performed a retrospective database analysis from our referral center (1989 to 2004). We compared pre-prostatectomy characteristics, radical prostatectomy pathological features and the post-radical prostatectomy prostate specific antigen failure rate, defined as any 2 consecutive detectable prostate specific antigen measurements, in 3 subgroups of patients, including 156 with matched Gleason score 6 in the prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy, 205 with upgraded Gleason score 6/7, that is prostate biopsy Gleason score 6 and radical prostatectomy Gleason score 7, and 412 with matched Gleason score 7 in the prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy Gleason score matched the prostate biopsy score in 38.2% of biopsy Gleason score 6 and 81.4% of biopsy Gleason score 7 cases. Higher prostate specific antigen was associated and an increased percent of cancer in the prostate biopsy was predictive of discordance between the prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy Gleason scores (p <0.001). Margin (p = 0.0075) or seminal vesicle involvement (p = 0.0002), cancer volume (p <0.001) and the prostate specific antigen failures rate (p = 0.014) were significantly higher in under graded Gleason score 7 cancer compared to those in matched Gleason score 6 cases. However, they were comparable to those with a matched Gleason score 7 tumor grade (p = 0.66). Almost half of tumors graded Gleason score 6 at biopsy are Gleason score 7 at surgery. Upgraded Gleason score 6 to 7 tumors have outcomes similar to those of genuine Gleason score 7 cancer. For prostate biopsy Gleason score 6 tumors clinicians should consider the overall likelihood of tumor upgrading as well as specific patient characteristics, such as prostate specific antigen and the percent of tumor in the prostate biopsy, when contemplating treatments that are optimized for low grade tumors, including watchful waiting or brachytherapy.


The accuracy of placental thickness in estimation of gestational age during late third trimester - A single centre cross sectional study.
To determine the validity of the placental thickness for calculating the gestational age during the third trimester. A cross-section prospective study was carried out from March 2019 to January 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in Al Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq on 90 women with low risk pregnancy and gestational age between 34 to 37 completed weeks, recruited from the antenatal clinic. The foetal gestational age was estimated by the accurate date of the last menstrual period and early ultrasound at 11-14 weeks of gestation. Placental thickness was determined at the umbilical cord implantion site. The association between placental thickness and gestational age was established. There was no meaningful association amongst placental thickness and age, gravida, para, and placental location. The mean placental thickness in this analysis was 34.17mm at 34th week of gestation to 34+6 days, and its steadily (and significantly) increased through 35th to 35+6 days, and from 36week to 36+6days ,and 37th weeks of gestation, (35.06, 36.11, and 36.81 millimeters; respectively).Placental thickness in millimeters had a linear relationship and a statistically significant positive correlation with gestational age (in weeks) in the third trimester. A cut off placental thickness more than 36.3 mm can be used to differentiate between term and preterm pregnancy. Mean placental thickness was steadily and significantly increased through third trimester of pregnancy, and can be used as a parameter for accurate estimation of gestational age during third trimester of pregnancy. A more than 36.3 mm placental thickness can be used as cut off point between term and preterm pregnancy.


[Effect of fluvastain and its combination with aspirin and trental on hemostasis and microcirculation in atherosclerosis].
To assess effects of fluvastatin monotherapy and combined therapy with aspirin and trental on hemostasis and microcirculation in atherosclerosis. Hemostasis and microcirculation were studied in 68 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and aortic atherosclerosis on fluvastatin monotherapy and on combined therapy fluvastatin + aspirin + trental. Hypolipidemic treatment with fluvastatin reduced thrombogenic blood potential due to enhancement of plasmic fibrinolytic activity [the time of XII-a dependent fibrinolysis decreased by 33% (p < 0.05)], decreased thrombinemia [blood level of soluble fibrin-monomeric complexes fell by 44% (p < 0.05)] and reduced stimulated platelet aggregation: by 18.2% in response to ADP (p < 0.05) and by 11% in response to adrenalin (p < 0.05). Correction of lipid metabolism and blood hypercoagulation improved microrheology. Combination of fluvastatin with aspirin made platelet aggregation reduction in response to both inductors faster and more stable, while combination of fluvastatin with trental contributed to better results in microcirculation improvement.


[Burnout Prevention and Mobile Mindfulness: Evaluation of an App-Based Health Training Program for Employees].
Mindfulness recently attracted growing interest beyond classical therapeutic contexts and has been adopted in preventive labor contexts and occupational health. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a mobile mindfulness training app regarding work and health indicators. Participants were employees and assigned randomly to the intervention and control groups. 146 employed participants in the intervention group used the mobile application '7mind' for 14 days. Comparisons were made with 160 employed participants from the control group, who were given access to the app after finishing the study (wait-list control). After two weeks of use, significant effects of the training were indicated by better results for the intervention group as compared to the control group. Some of the effect sizes can be considered as large: participants in the intervention group improved in measures of mindfulness, work engagement, job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, emotional intelligence, innovation and creativity, and self-efficacy. Conventional mindfulness training programs are organized in groups. Our study demonstrates for the first time the effectiveness of a mobile mindfulness training app in the work context. The mobile app offers an easy and flexible access to training mindfulness and improving work and health-related indicators.


Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of the floury endosperm gene, FLO(a), in rice.
In addition to its role as an energy source for plants, animals and humans, starch is also an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. In rice, the eating and cooking quality of the grain is determined by its starch properties. The floury endosperm of rice has been explored as an agronomical trait in breeding and genetics studies. In the present study, we characterized a floury endosperm mutant, flo(a), derived from treatment of Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cultivar Hwacheong with MNU. The innermost endosperm of the flo(a) mutant exhibited floury characteristics while the outer layer of the endosperm appeared normal. Starch granules in the flo(a) mutant formed a loosely-packed crystalline structure and X-ray diffraction revealed that the overall crystallinity of the starch was decreased compared to wild-type. The FLO(a) gene was isolated via a map-based cloning approach and predicted to encode the tetratricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein, OsTPR. Three mutant alleles contain a nucleotide substitution that generated one stop codon or one splice site, respectively, which presumably disrupts the interaction of the functionally conserved TPR motifs. Taken together, our map-based cloning approach pinpointed an OsTPR as a strong candidate of FLO(a), and the proteins that contain TPR motifs might play a significant role in rice starch biosynthetic pathways.


Hair transplantation: standard guidelines of care.
Hair transplantation is a surgical method of hair restoration. The physician performing hair transplantation should have completed post graduation training in dermatology; he should have adequate background training in dermatosurgery at a centre that provides education training in cutaneous surgery. In addition, he should obtain specific hair transplantation training or experience at the surgical table(hands on) under the supervision of an appropriately trained and experienced hair transplant surgeon. In addition to the surgical technique, training should include instruction in local anesthesia and emergency resuscitation and care. Hair transplantation can be performed safely in an outpatient day case dermatosurgical facility. The day case theatre should be equipped with facilities for monitoring and handling emergencies. A plan for handling emergencies should be in place and all nursing staff should be familiar with the emergency plan. It is preferable, but not mandatory to have a standby anesthetist. Indication for hair transplantation is pattern hair loss in males and also in females. In female pattern hair loss, investigations to rule out any underlying cause for hair loss such as anemia and thyroid deficiency should be carried out. Hair transplantation can also be performed in selected cases of scarring alopecia, eyebrows and eye lashes, by experienced surgeons. Detailed consent form listing details about the procedure and possible complications should be signed by the patient. The consent form should specifically state the limitations of the procedure and if more procedures are needed for proper results, it should be clearly mentioned. Patient should be provided with adequate opportunity to seek information through brochures, computer presentations, and personal discussions. Need for concomitant medical therapy should be emphasized. Patients should understand that proper hair growth can be expected after about 9 months after transplantation. Preoperative laboratory studies to be performed include Hb%, blood counts including platelet count, bleeding and clotting time (or prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time), blood chemistry profile including sugar. Follicular unit hair transplantation is the gold standard method of hair transplantation; it preserves the natural architecture of the hair units and gives natural results. Mini-micro-grafting is a method hair transplantation involving randomly assorted groups of hairs, with out consideration of their natural configuration of follicular units, under loupe or naked eye examination. Mini-grafts consist of 4-5-6 hairs while micro-grafts consist of 1-3 hairs. Punch gives ugly cosmetically unacceptable results and should no longer be used. Hair transplantation can be performed in any person with pattern hair loss, with good donor area, in good general health and reasonable expectations. Caution should be exercised in, very young patients whose early alopecia is still evolving, patients with Norwood grade VI or VII with poor density, patients with unrealistic expectations, and patients with significant systemic health problems. Most patients will need concurrent medical treatment since the process of pattern hair loss is progressive and may affect the remaining hairs. Hair transplantation is a team effort. Particularly, performing large sessions, needs a well trained team of trained assistants. 2% lignocaine with adrenaline is generally used for anesthesia; tumescent technique is preferred. Bupivacaine has been used by some authors in view of its prolonged duration of action. Strip dissection by single blade is recommended for donor area. Steromicroscopic dissection is recommended for dissection of hair units in follicular unit transplantation; mini-micro-grafting does not need microscopic dissection. Different techniques and different instruments have been used for recipient site creation ;these depend on the choice of the operating surgeon and have been described in the guidelines. Graft preservation is important to ensure survival. Minimum density of 35-45 units per sq cm is recommended. Results depend on donor characteristics, technique used and individual skills of the surgeon.


Pharmacokinetics, effect on clotting tests and assessment of the immunogenic potential of hirudin after a single subcutaneous or intravenous bolus administration in man.
The pharmacokinetics and the anticoagulant effects of hirudin were investigated in 12 healthy volunteers after single subcutaneous or intravenous bolus administrations. Hirudin concentrations in citrated plasma and urine were determined with a radioimmunobioassay, which detects the inhibitor by its thrombin-binding capacity. Plasma profiles could be adequately described by the equation for an open two-compartment model (intravenous route) and by the Bateman equation (subcutaneous route), respectively. Within 24 h half of the administered hirudin dose was recovered in the urine in biologically active form. The prolongation of clotting times (activated partial thromboplastin and thrombin time) was dependent on the hirudin plasma concentration. All test subjects tolerated the hirudin injection without visible or measurable side effects. No hirudin-specific antibodies were found after single parenteral administrations.


Addressing the repressed needs of the Arabic client.
In comparison to families in Western society, the traditional Arabic family plays a relatively greater role in providing support for adult progeny. This serves to condition adult offspring to continue to comply with the will and values of the family. Therefore, in exchange for familial support, Arabic individuals learn to repress authentic needs and emotions, and within that process they relinquish the need for self-actualization. Arabic society discourages individualism and opposes self-actualization by means of simultaneous punishment and moralization. Thus, there is a relatively greater development of the social value system (or superego) and comparatively less development of the self (or ego). In comparison to Western society, Arabic individuals continue to experience greater oppression during adulthood. Given these cultural differences, the processes of reliving and activating repressed needs and emotions, which ultimately serves to promote self-actualization, will transform intrapsychic conflicts into interpersonal and social ones. Thus, personal actions typically encouraged during Western psychotherapy are likely to produce significant social oppression. Indeed, promoting awareness of repressed needs and emotions often leads the Arabic client to become more helpless, because such wishes will rarely be socially sanctioned or satisfactorily fulfilled. Therefore, when addressing repressed needs and emotions in psychotherapy, ego strength, cultural identity, and degree of strictness of the client's family of origin must be considered.


[Gaucher's and Fabry's diseases: biochemical and genetic aspects].
Gaucher and Fabry's diseases are lysosomal storage disorders. They are due to glucocerebrosidase or alpha galactosidase deficiency, respectively. Gaucher disease, transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait, is frequent among Ashkenazi Jews. Cloning of the gene has allowed the characterization of few common mutations. Some of them have a prognosis value, in favour of either a non neurological form (type 1) or more severe forms (types 2 and 3). There mutations were found in 70% of the alleles, the other alleles carrying private mutations. Fabry disease is transmitted as an X-linked recessive trait. Genetic counselling in at-risk families relies on the detection of carrier females. As the alpha galactosidase gene shows various mutations, the establishment of phenotype-genotype correlations is limited. These two diseases, well defined at the biochemical and genetic level, are good models of inherited diseases for the development of specific therapies.


Evaluation of transport media for Pasteurella multocida isolates from rabbit nasal specimens.
A suitable medium for the transport of Pasteurella multocida in nasal specimens from rabbits was investigated by using pure cultures of the organism and nasal swabs from infected rabbits. First, the ability of eight transport media to preserve the viabilities of P. multocida strains isolated from rabbits was studied. Cary-Blair medium and Leibovitz medium no. 15 (L-15) were found to be superior to the other six media tested, enabling survival of the organism for more than 14 days at room temperature. Second, the survival of P. multocida in nasal specimens was evaluated on both Cary-Blair medium and L-15. The recovery rate of the organism from these two media was more than 80 to 90% during 4 days of storage and decreased gradually with increasing preservation time. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in recovery rates of the organism between Cary-Blair medium and L-15. On the basis of these results, we recommend the use of Cary-Blair medium for the transport of P. multocida in rabbit nasal specimens because of the ease of transport of nasal swabs by mail.


Unusual quantum interference in the S1 state of DABCO and observation of intramolecular vibrational redistribution.
In this paper we report an experimental study of the time-resolved response of the molecule 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) to 266.3 nm electronic excitation of the S(1) state with a femtosecond laser. Rotational decoherence and vibrational oscillation within the S(1) state are observed. We performed state-of-the-art ab initio calculations on the ground and low electronic states of the neutral molecule and the cation, which assist in the assignment of the observed photoelectron signals. Using our theoretical and spectroscopic data, the experimental findings are interpreted in terms of an unusual quantum interference between two different vibrational modes, with only the nu = 1 level of each mode being populated.


[Surgical treatment of "silent" ulcers of the stomach and duodenum complicated by perforation].
Patients with perforating "silent" ulcers and patients with continuous ulcer histories must be subjected to similar surgical treatment. In most cases it may be truncal vagotomy with draining operation on the stomach. Operation of suturing the perforating ulcer is thought to be expedient in patients with acute ulcers (they make up not more than 25%), with severe concomitant diseases, in the terminal phase of diffuse peritonitis and when performed by surgeons with insufficient experience.


Complete HLA-A DNA typing using the PCR-RFLP method combined with allele group- and sequence-specific amplification.
We have established a practical method of complete high-resolution typing for all HLA-A alleles using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) technique combined with allele group- and sequence-specific amplification. The second and third exons of the HLA-A gene, in which most allelic variations are observed, were separately amplified by PCRs with 3 and 4 group-specific primer pairs, respectively. Each PCR-amplified product was digested by allele-specific restriction endonucleases and then subjected to electrophoresis on a 10% polyacrylamide gel. In this way, 62 out of 79 HLA-A alleles could be discriminated by the RFLP patterns derived from the genetic polymorphism in the exon 2 and 3 domains. The remaining 17 alleles could be defined unequivocally by either PCR-RFLP analysis after exon 4 amplification or PCR analysis with sequence-specific primers (SSP). By this method, complete HELA-A genotyping for all homozygous and heterozygous combinations can be accomplished, establishing technically simple, economical and practical routine typing of the HLA-A gene, especially for small samples.


[Stapler hemorrhoidectomy. A new alternative to conventional methods].
Conventional, generally accepted methods of hemorrhoidectomy as the methods of choice in the therapy of IIIrd and IVth degree hemorrhoids often involve problems of attaining sufficient mucosa preservation or are technically highly complex. A new surgical procedure, stapler hemorrhoidectomy, is less risky, permits the preservation of more mucosa, and takes significantly less time (only 5 to 15 minutes) than conventional procedures. Especially important is the high degree of acceptance on the part of patients and operators. The operation is based on the principle of a mucosectomy at least 2 cm above the dentate line. A purse-string suture placed 3-4 cm above the dentate line is tied around the stapler shaft (Ethicon Endosurgery SDH 33). Then the resection and stapling of the mucosa are carried out. This procedure effectively reduces mucosa and blocks the end branches of the upper rectal artery, thus stopping venous and arterial blood flow of the hemorrhoidal plexus. During the period April-September 1998 we treated 42 patients with an average age of 55.5 years using stapler hemorrhoidectomy. We treated IIIrd-IVth degree hemorrhoids (in 29% of cases), partial (in 22% of cases) and circular mucosa prolapse (in 49% of cases). The complication rate was 14%; we observed one case of bleeding, two submucosal hematomas, one partially interrupted suture, one short incontinence (I degree after Parks), and one partial recurrence. All complications occurred at the start of application of the new method and could be brought under control with no difficulties; after a short time the patients were without any discomforts whatsoever. In particular, post-operative pain was generally slight, measuring by means of the visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0-100. From the day of the operation until the 21st postoperative day the pain score ranged from 0 to 35. The use of analgetics was significantly less, with 50% of the patients not using analgetics on and following the 1st postoperative day. First experiences with stapler hemorrhoidectomy have shown that patients with distinct hemorrhoids and/or mucosa prolapse benefit greatly by this procedure, when indications and operative techniques are correctly used.


Changes of the membrane lipid organization characterized by means of a new cholesterol-pyrene probe.
We synthesized 3beta-hydroxy-pregn-5-ene-21-(1-methylpyrenyl)-20-methylidene (Py-met-chol), consisting of cholesterol steroid rings connected to a pyrene group via a linker without polar atoms. This compound has interesting spectroscopic properties when probing membranes: 1), The pyrene has hypochromic properties resulting from probe self-association processes in membranes. Using liposomes of various lipid compositions, we determined the association constants of the probe (K): K(DOPC) >> K(POPC) >> K(DMPC) > K(DMPC/15 mol % Chol) > K(DMPC/30 mol % Chol). This indicates a better probe solvation in saturated than in unsaturated lipids, and this effect is enhanced as the cholesterol concentration increases. 2), The pyrene fluorophore is characterized by monomer (I(1)-I(5)) and excimer (I(E)) emission bands. In model membranes, I(1)/I(3) and I(E)/I(3) ratios revealed a correlation between the polarity of the lipid core of the membrane and the amount of cholesterol. 3), Using this probe, we monitored the first steps of the signaling pathway of the mouse delta-opioid receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor. The thickness of the membrane around this receptor is known to change after agonist binding. Fluorescence spectra of living Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing mouse delta-opioid receptor specifically revealed the agonist binding. These results indicate that Py-met-chol may be useful for screening ligands of this family of receptors.


"I'm not sure I'm a nurse": A hermeneutic phenomenological study of nursing home nurses' work identity.
To explore nursing home nurses' experiences and views of work identity. Nursing home nurses are in a unique position as they work at the interface of health and social care. Little is known about nursing home nurses' perceptions and experiences of working within this context. Evidence suggests that using the concept of work identity can support understanding of how workers make sense of their work. Hermeneutic phenomenological study. The study was carried out in seven nursing homes in North East England. Findings are based upon literary analysis of multiple episodic interviews with 13 nursing home nurses. Participants' responses suggested that nursing "residents" is different to nursing "patients," and nursing home nurses are required to modify their care activities to account for these differences. Participants also proposed that they are isolated and excluded from the rest of the healthcare workforce group. These issues led participants to feel uncertain about work identity. Many participants attempted to strengthen their work identity by aligning their role with what they perceived the "nurse identity" to be. Nurses' work activities and professional group identity influence their work identity. When work activities and professional group identity do not align with role expectations, as can be the case for nursing home nurses, work identity may be compromised. These nurses may attempt to change work practices to strengthen their work identity. Health- and social care providers need to account for work identity factors in the organisation of care, and planning and implementation of integrated health- and social care initiatives.


Serum sclerostin and cytokine responses to prolonged sculling exercise in highly-trained male rowers.
This study examined sclerostin and cytokine responses to an endurance training session in male single sculling rowers. Sixteen highly trained rowers performed a 2-h rowing exercise (distance: 23.8 ± 0.9 km; heart rate: 138 ± 8 beats.min-1; intensity: 79.8 ± 2.1% of the anaerobic threshold). Rowing resulted significant increment (p < 0.05) in sclerostin (36%), interleukin (IL)-6 (345%), IL-10 (129%) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (132%), while increases in irisin (6%) and tumour necrosis factor-α (3%) were not significant (p > 0.05). There was a correlation between the pre-to-post-exercise increase in sclerostin and the distance covered (r = 0.67; p = 0.005) as a marker of energy expenditure, and weekly training volume (r = 0.66; p = 0.005) as a marker of training stress. Post-exercise gain in MCP-1 was the most important predictor of post-exercise gain in sclerostin (β = 0.543; p = 0.040). In conclusion, acute non-impact rowing training session with a total body mode induced increases in sclerostin and also in IL-6, IL-10 and MCP-1 concentrations, while post-exercise gain in MCP-1 was the main determinant of post-exercise gain in sclerostin. Exercise-induced increase in sclerostin could be regarded as a signal for metabolic reaction to the energy cost of acute exercise in rowers.


Women's views of a fertility awareness and hormonal support approach to subfertility.
The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction among subfertile women of a fertility awareness-based approach, including hormonal therapy to achieve a pregnancy by natural conception. Eighty four women attending a natural fertility service completed a postal questionnaire exploring (1) the acceptability of the sympto-thermal method and (2) the acceptability of using hormone support. Acceptability rates for the fertility charting, clinical service and clinical care were 64.9-91.6%. Acceptability rates were higher in women who did conceive or had experienced past recurrent miscarriages. Taking hormonal luteal support, by any method, was more acceptable for women over 35 years compared to those under 35 years (100% vs. 69.4%, p = 0.014). Vaginal pessaries were the preferred route of administration. The use of a fertility awareness-based method appears to be acceptable amongst subfertile women intending to conceive naturally. Most women using such a method for conception would be open to the use of hormonal support during the fertility cycle or early pregnancy.


Large Deformation and Energy Absorption Behaviour of Perforated Hollow Sphere Structures under Quasi-Static Compression.
Hollow sphere structures with perforations (PHSSs) in three different arrangements (simple cubic (SC), body-centred cubic (BCC), and face-centred cubic (FCC)) were fabricated through three-dimensional (3D) printing, and the mechanical behaviours of these PHSSs under quasi-static compression were investigated experimentally and numerically. The results indicated that under uniaxial compression, the PHSSs mainly undergo three stages, i.e., a linear elastic stage, a large deformation or plateau stage, and a densification stage. During the stage of large deformation, the SC and BCC PHSSs experience a preliminary compaction sub-stage after layer-by-layer buckling, while for the FCC PHSS, layer-by-layer collapse and compaction are the dominant deformation behaviours. A numerical simulation was employed to study the mechanical properties of PHSSs with different geometric parameters under quasi-static compression and to explore the effect of the wall thickness, hole diameter, and sphere arrangement on the first peak stress, plateau stress, and specific energy absorption (SEA) of the PHSSs. The results reveal that the geometric parameters have a significant impact on the large deformation behaviour and energy absorption capacity of PHSSs. The presented PHSS is also proven to be much lighter than traditional metallic hollow sphere structure (MHSS) and has higher specific strength and SEA.


Stress, hope, and loneliness in young adolescents.
A sample of 134 young adolescents attending a middle school responded to the Perceived Stress Scale, the Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents, and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Correlational analyses indicated that higher scores on stress were significantly associated with lower scores on hope (r = -.55) and higher scores on loneliness (r = .52). Unlike an earlier study with predominately ethnic minority adolescents, the present findings with predominately Euro-American adolescents supported the relationship proposed between stress and hope; the relationship proposed between stress and loneliness was supported.


Bifidobacteria and human health: regulatory effect of indigenous bifidobacteria on Escherichia coli intestinal colonization.
Bifidobacteria are assumed to exert colonization resistance to enteric pathogens. We associated C3H germfree mice with either Bifidobacterium longum or Escherichia coli or both strains and studied how they settled in the gut and the lymphoid organs as well as their effect on mucus composition. Within 24 hE. coli colonized the gut of germfree or B. longum ex-germfree mice. In contrast,B. longum was established in the intestine of E. coli ex-germfree mice only 1 month after inoculation whereas it colonized the germfree gut within 24 h. Although B. longum did not exert colonization resistance to E. coli, the establishing of bifidobacteria in the gut partly prevented changes in the E. coli cell wall. After colonization of the germfree or B. longum mono-associated mice, E. coli lipopolysaccharide exhibited a higher concentration of Kdo and the O-antigen side chain disappeared. A reduction in Kdo content was observed within 1 month in E. coli-B. longum diassociated mice whereas it remained at a high level in E. coli mono-associated mice. Association in a second step with B. longum led to Kdo reduction. Changes in E. coli LPS might be related to mucus modification. Inoculation of either bacterium led to a slow increase in mucus protein content which was however twice as high after E. coli implantation. Inoculation of B. longum in a second step led to a reduction in protein content before B. longum colonized the intestine at a high level suggesting that the protein concentration in the mucus was controlled by the host itself. A new glycoprotein of 200-230 kDa detected during the period preceeding colonization seemed to be broken down by B. longum. The resulting end product might participate in the restoration of E. coli LPS. Finally,B. longum inoculation led to the disappearance of E. coli from kidneys, liver, spleen and lung. The organs were cleared of E. coli before B. longum highly colonized the intestine suggesting that high intestinal colonization by B. longum was not required. Regulation of E. coli invasion seemed to depend on the ability of B. longum to stimulate the immune system.


Combined Analysis of SNP Array Data Identifies Novel CNV Candidates and Pathways in Ependymoma and Mesothelioma.
Copy number variation is a class of structural genomic modifications that includes the gain and loss of a specific genomic region, which may include an entire gene. Many studies have used low-resolution techniques to identify regions that are frequently lost or amplified in cancer. Usually, researchers choose to use proprietary or non-open-source software to detect these regions because the graphical interface tends to be easier to use. In this study, we combined two different open-source packages into an innovative strategy to identify novel copy number variations and pathways associated with cancer. We used a mesothelioma and ependymoma published datasets to assess our tool. We detected previously described and novel copy number variations that are associated with cancer chemotherapy resistance. We also identified altered pathways associated with these diseases, like cell adhesion in patients with mesothelioma and negative regulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in ependymoma patients. In conclusion, we present a novel strategy using open-source software to identify copy number variations and altered pathways associated with cancer.


Trends in Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Vascular Neurology Fellowships From 2006 to 2018: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
Workforce diversity in vascular neurology is a crucial component of reducing disparities in stroke care and outcomes. The objective of this study is to describe trends in the racial and ethnic diversity of neurology residents pursuing vascular neurology fellowship and propose an actionable plan for improvement. This was a cross-sectional study of race/ethnicity of neurology residents and vascular neurology fellows using published Graduate Medical Education census reports from 2006, when race/ethnicity data were first included, to 2018. Percentage of trainees underrepresented in medicine are reported for 3-year epochs and were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test (χ2 test for trend). Across the study period, underrepresented in medicine representation has not changed significantly among all neurology residents and subspecialty fellows (11.9% in 2006-2009; 12.5% in 2015-2018, P=0.82) nor among neurology residents alone (12.0% in 2006-2009; 12.6% in 2015-2018, P=0.81). Among vascular neurology fellows, however, there was a significant downtrend of underrepresented in medicine representation from 16.9% in 2006 to 2009 to 9.3% in 2015 to 2018 (P=0.013). Racial/ethnic underrepresentation among all neurology residents as well as those pursuing vascular neurology fellowship has persisted across the study period. Concerted efforts should be pursued to increase diversity in neurology residents and vascular neurology fellowship training.


[Progress of sample preparation techniques in gas chromatographic analysis].
Gas chromatography (GC) is a widely used analytical technique in many fields. Sample preparation is very important in GC analysis due to its time consumed and deviations produced. In the present paper, the progress of some typical sample preparation techniques in gas chromatography, including purge and trap, solid phase extraction, solid phase microextraction, liquid phase microextraction, microwave assisted extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, etc., are reviewed.


Pipothiazine palmitate in the management of aggressive mentally handicapped patients.
The efficacy of intramuscular pipothiazine palmitate (PP) in the management of aggressive mentally handicapped patients was examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, in which 30 patients received each treatment for 13 weeks. A target symptom scale of aggressiveness (TSA) and a clinical global impression scale of efficacy were rated at monthly intervals, and an extra-pyramidal side-effects scale weekly. The patients showed marked improvement during treatment with PP, which was assessed as superior to placebo. Individual and total TSA scores were also reduced compared to placebo.


Photoinduced electron transfer in thin films of porphyrin-fullerene dyad and perylenetetracarboxidiimide.
Photoinduced intra- and intermolecular electron transfer (ET) in thin films of porphyrin-fullerene dyad (P-F) and perylenetetracarboxidiimide (PTCDI) was studied by means of photoelectrical and spectroscopic methods. Films consisting of smooth 100 mol% layers of P-F and PTCDI were prepared by the Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) technique and thermal evaporation, respectively. The time-resolved Maxwell displacement charge (TRMDC) and laser flash-photolysis methods were utilized to demonstrate photoinduced ET from P-F to PTCDI regardless of which chromophore is photoexcited. Finally, the information about the electron movement in the respective thin films was used to build a layered organic solar cell, whose internal quantum yield (Φ(I)) of collected charges was 13%.


Common patient concerns about the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in diabetes mellitus management.
The authors present a case of a 46-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus who has been on a treatment regimen involving diet, exercise, and metformin. After 2 years of treatment, she has a body mass index of 35 and a glycosylated hemoglobin level of 8.0%, and this level is increasing. Her physician recommends adding a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist to her treatment regimen, prompting her to ask several questions. The authors present these questions along with proposed answers, highlighting the practical application of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the context of common patient concerns.


Prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease and seroconversion after biological therapy.
Estimates of detectable antinuclear antibodies (ANA) prevalence vary widely, from 6% in healthy populations to 50-80% in patients with autoimmune disease. However, there is a lack of evidence about the overall prevalence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ANA seroconversion after the beginning of biological therapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the overall prevalence of ANA in IBD patients, their relationship with different treatments, clinical outcomes and the seroconversion rate of ANA in patients treated with biological therapy. Ambispective observational study including all consecutive IBD patients was carried out. Information about the presence of ANA, disease phenotype, duration, activity, complications, and past and current treatments were transversally collected. Retrospectively, in patients with detectable ANA, data regarding previous ANA detection and the diagnosis of lupus-like syndrome (LLS) was gathered. A total of 879 IBD patients were included. We observed a detectable ANA prevalence of 13.6%. The presence of ANA was frequently associated with biological therapy (36/118) and decreased when immunomodulators were combined to this therapy (7/32). Of 78 patients with ANA prior to the beginning of biological therapy, a seroconversion rate of 28.8% was observed after a mean of 3.14 years. Only 1 patient suffered LLS. Our study showed a prevalence of detectable ANA higher than the expected in healthy population. The presence of ANA was lower when immunomodulator therapy is associated. The ANA seroconversion rate is relevant after the initiation of biological treatment nevertheless, the risk of LLS appeared to be marginal.


Multiphoton laser microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging for the evaluation of the skin.
Multiphoton laser microscopy is a new, non-invasive technique providing access to the skin at a cellular and subcellular level, which is based both on autofluorescence and fluorescence lifetime imaging. Whereas the former considers fluorescence intensity emitted by epidermal and dermal fluorophores and by the extra-cellular matrix, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), is generated by the fluorescence decay rate. This innovative technique can be applied to the study of living skin, cell cultures and ex vivo samples. Although still limited to the clinical research field, the development of multiphoton laser microscopy is thought to become suitable for a practical application in the next few years: in this paper, we performed an accurate review of the studies published so far, considering the possible fields of application of this imaging method and providing high quality images acquired in the Department of Dermatology of the University of Modena.


Increased unsaturated fatty acid production associated with a suppressor of the fabA6(Ts) mutation in Escherichia coli.
Plasmids that corrected the temperature-sensitive unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophy of strain M6 [fabA6 (Ts)] were isolated from an Escherichia coli genomic library. Subcloning and physical mapping localized the new gene (called sfa for suppressor of fabA) at 1,070 kb on the E. coli chromosome. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of a 227-bp open reading frame which directed the synthesis of a peptide of approximately 8 kDa, which correlated with the correction of the fabA6(Ts) phenotype. However, the sfa gene was an allele-specific suppressor since plasmids harboring the sfa gene corrected the growth phenotype of fabA6(Ts) mutants but did not correct the growth of fabA2(Ts) or fabB15(Ts) unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophs. Overexpression of the sfa gene in fabA6(Ts) mutants restored unsaturated fatty acid content at 42 degrees C, and overexpression in wild-type cells resulted in a substantial increase in the unsaturated fatty acid content of the membrane. Thus, the suppression of the fabA6(Ts) mutation by sfa was attributed to its ability to increase the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.


[Growth and differentiation of epi- and perineural structures under graded stretching].
Light and electron microscopic and ultrastructural studies of the epi- and perineurium of sciatic and tibial nerves were performed in 63 adult mongrel dogs during lengthening the femur and leg at rates of 0.5 and 1 mm a day (no more than 0.25 mm per dose) by the Il-izarov procedure. Hypertrophy of the biosynthetic apparatus, complication of intercellular and cytostromal contacts were observed in the fibroblasts of the epineurium, in the cell elements of vascular walls and perineurium during distraction. There was growth and associated changes in the volume ratios of the wall components of epineural structures, as well as new formation of structures of the intrinsic innervation apparatus of epi- and perineural sheaths. At all levels (organ, tissue, cellular, and subcellular) the new formed structures incorporated into the preexisting ones without disintegrating them, which is a characteristic feature for intercalar growth.


Highly diastereoselective oxidative addition of methyl iodide to a chiral square-planar complex.
Oxidative addition of methyl iodide to the chiral square-planar complex IrI(CO)(duphos) shows a high level of diastereoselectivity. The basis for the diastereoselectivity of the reaction is best explained based on the crystal structure of IrI(CO)(duphos) in which methyl iodide approach across the two faces is differentiated by the chiral ligand.


BRCA1-mediated signaling pathways in ovarian carcinogenesis.
The link between loss or defect in functional BRCA1 and predisposition for development of ovarian and breast cancer is well established. Germ-line mutations in BRCA1 are responsible for both hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, which is around 5-10% for all breast and 10-15% of all ovarian cancer cases. However, majority of cases of ovarian cancer are sporadic in nature. The inactivation of cellular BRCA1 due to mutations or loss of heterozygosity is one of the most commonly observed events in such cases. Complement-resistant retroviral BRCA1 vector, MFG-BRCA1, is the only approved gene therapy for ovarian cancer patients by the Federal and Drug Administration. Given the limited available information, there is a need to evaluate the effects of BRCA1 on the global gene expression pattern for better understanding the etiology of the disease. Here, we use Ingenuity Pathway Knowledge Base to examine the differential pattern of global gene expression due to stable expression of BRCA1 in the ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV3. The functional analysis detected at least five major pathways that were significantly (p < 0.05) altered. These include: cell to cell signaling and interaction, cellular function and maintenance, cellular growth and proliferation, cell cycle and DNA replication, and recombination repair. In addition, we were able to detect several biologically relevant genes that are central for various signaling networks involved in cellular homeostasis; TGF-β1, TP53, c-MYC, NF-κB and TNF-α. This report provides a comprehensive rationale for tumor suppressor function(s) of BRCA1 in ovarian carcinogenesis.


VX Penetration Following Percutaneous Poisoning: A Dermal Microdialysis Study in the Guinea Pig.
ABSTRACT VX, a potent organophosphorus compound, acts primarily by irreversibly inhibiting acetylcholinesterase resulting in an accumulation of acetylcholine, which produces the characteristic signs of nerve agent poisoning. VX is a low-volatility agent, and therefore the most likely route of absorption into the body is via the skin. This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to follow the time course of percutaneous VX penetration using the technique of dermal microdialysis and that VX is absorbed through the skin of the anesthetized guinea pig in a concentration-dependent manner. A linear microdialysis probe (5-kDa cut-off) was implanted in the dermis of the back of the guinea pig and perfused (5 muL/min) with physiological Ringer's solution. VX (296 or 592 mug/kg) was applied (33 muL/kg) over the site of the microdialysis probe and dialysate samples collected for up to 6 h. The VX dialysate concentration was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Quantitation was performed over the range 0.1 to 100 ng/mL and the calibration was linear. VX was detected within 15 min, reaching a peak at 30 min following both VX doses. After this time the VX concentration decreased. There was a clear dose-dependent recovery of VX in the dialysate and the total amount recovered was statistically significant between the two doses. This study has clearly shown that microdialysis can be used to follow the time course of the percutaneous absorption of VX in the anesthetized guinea pig and will be used in future studies to develop improved medical countermeasures. Crown Copyright (c) 2007 Dstl.


DOA Tracking Based on Unscented Transform Multi-Bernoulli Filter in Impulse Noise Environment.
Aiming at the problem of multiple-source direction of arrival (DOA) tracking in impulse noise, this paper models the impulse noise by using the symmetric α stable (SαS) distribution, and proposes a DOA tracking algorithm based on the Unscented Transform Multi-target Multi-Bernoulli (UT-MeMBer) filter framework. In order to overcome the problem of particle decay in particle filtering, UT is adopted to select a group of sigma points with different weights to make them close to the posterior probability density of the state. Since the α stable distribution does not have finite covariance, the Fractional Lower Order Moment (FLOM) matrix of the received array data is employed to replace the covariance matrix to formulate a MUSIC spatial spectra in the MeMBer filter. Further exponential weighting is used to enhance the weight of particles at high likelihood area and obtain a better resampling. Compared with the PASTD algorithm and the MeMBer DOA filter algorithm, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can more effectively solve the issue that the DOA and number of target are time-varying. In addition, we present the Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) implementation of the UT-MeMBer algorithm.


Orexin/hypocretin receptor signalling cascades.
Orexin (hypocretin) peptides and their two known G-protein-coupled receptors play essential roles in sleep-wake control and powerfully influence other systems regulating appetite/metabolism, stress and reward. Consequently, drugs that influence signalling by these receptors may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for treating sleep disorders, obesity and addiction. It is therefore critical to understand how these receptors operate, the nature of the signalling cascades they engage and their physiological targets. In this review, we evaluate what is currently known about orexin receptor signalling cascades, while a sister review (Leonard & Kukkonen, this issue) focuses on tissue-specific responses. The evidence suggests that orexin receptor signalling is multifaceted and is substantially more diverse than originally thought. Indeed, orexin receptors are able to couple to members of at least three G-protein families and possibly other proteins, through which they regulate non-selective cation channels, phospholipases, adenylyl cyclase, and protein and lipid kinases. In the central nervous system, orexin receptors produce neuroexcitation by postsynaptic depolarization via activation of non-selective cation channels, inhibition of K⁺ channels and activation of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange, but they also can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters by presynaptic actions and modulate synaptic plasticity. Ca²⁺ signalling is also prominently influenced by these receptors, both via the classical phospholipase C-Ca²⁺ release pathway and via Ca²⁺ influx, mediated by several pathways. Upon longer-lasting stimulation, plastic effects are observed in some cell types, while others, especially cancer cells, are stimulated to die. Thus, orexin receptor signals appear highly tunable, depending on the milieu in which they are operating.


Vitamin E inhibits lysophosphatidylcholine-induced endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation.
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a lysolipid contained in oxidized low-density lipoprotein, is an atherogenic molecule that induces endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation and inhibits angiogenesis. Although studies showed that vitamin E has antiatherogenic properties, the effects of vitamin E on LPC-induced endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation are little known. We examined whether vitamin E has protecting actions against LPC-induced alterations of endothelial and platelet functions. Incubation of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with LPC (10 microM) significantly inhibited bradykinin (1 microM)-stimulated nitric oxide release, which was prevented by cotreatment with vitamin E (50, 100, and 500 microg/ml) in a concentration-dependent manner. In isolated human platelets, LPC stimulated P-selectin expression and induced leukocyte-platelet interaction, which functionally depends on P-selectin expressed on the platelet surface. Vitamin E treatment significantly prevented the LPC-induced platelet P-selectin expression and leukocyte-platelet interaction. As LPC-induced endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation have been shown to involve the protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent signal transduction pathway, we examined the effects of vitamin E on LPC-induced PKC activation in human platelets and BAECs. Vitamin E significantly inhibited LPC (10 microM)-stimulated PKC activation in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that (a) Vitamin E prevented LPC-induced endothelial dysfunction and preserved endothelial nitric oxide release, (b) vitamin E inhibited LPC-induced platelet activation (P-selectin expression) and leukocyte-platelet interaction, and (c) these mechanisms appeared to be at least partly mediated by suppression of the PKC in endothelial cells and platelets. The present findings may provide new insights into antiatherogenic mechanisms of vitamin E.


Women and children last: the poverty and marginalization of one-parent families.
The spatial distribution and socioeconomic status of one-parent families in Great Britain and Australia are described, and reasons for the increase in this type of family are analyzed. The author finds that "one-parent families, largely composed of women and children, constitute one of the most rapidly-growing family types. Evidence from Britain and Australia reveals their extreme marginalization in the labour market, and their concentration into public housing. These problems are related to patriarchal structures within society, particularly the expectations of traditional gender roles and the segregation of women's job opportunities."


Dialects of the DNA uptake sequence in Neisseriaceae.
In all sexual organisms, adaptations exist that secure the safe reassortment of homologous alleles and prevent the intrusion of potentially hazardous alien DNA. Some bacteria engage in a simple form of sex known as transformation. In the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis and in related bacterial species, transformation by exogenous DNA is regulated by the presence of a specific DNA Uptake Sequence (DUS), which is present in thousands of copies in the respective genomes. DUS affects transformation by limiting DNA uptake and recombination in favour of homologous DNA. The specific mechanisms of DUS-dependent genetic transformation have remained elusive. Bioinformatic analyses of family Neisseriaceae genomes reveal eight distinct variants of DUS. These variants are here termed DUS dialects, and their effect on interspecies commutation is demonstrated. Each of the DUS dialects is remarkably conserved within each species and is distributed consistent with a robust Neisseriaceae phylogeny based on core genome sequences. The impact of individual single nucleotide transversions in DUS on meningococcal transformation and on DNA binding and uptake is analysed. The results show that a DUS core 5'-CTG-3' is required for transformation and that transversions in this core reduce DNA uptake more than two orders of magnitude although the level of DNA binding remains less affected. Distinct DUS dialects are efficient barriers to interspecies recombination in N. meningitidis, N. elongata, Kingella denitrificans, and Eikenella corrodens, despite the presence of the core sequence. The degree of similarity between the DUS dialect of the recipient species and the donor DNA directly correlates with the level of transformation and DNA binding and uptake. Finally, DUS-dependent transformation is documented in the genera Eikenella and Kingella for the first time. The results presented here advance our understanding of the function and evolution of DUS and genetic transformation in bacteria, and define the phylogenetic relationships within the Neisseriaceae family.


Fascial plane blocks in children-Scientifically supported or not?
Since the introduction of Fascial Plane Blocks in 2007 there has been an enormous interest and application of Fascial Plane Blocks, evidenced by substantially more than 1000 PubMed items. Despite this gigantic number of publications, also including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses in children, there is still no clear-cut insight into how much of the purported effect is in fact due to the blockade of nerve structures and how much is merely adding the well-known analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the plasma levels of local anesthetics that are achieved with these techniques. Furthermore, Fascial Plane Blocks appear useful only if compared to conventional multi-modal analgesia (no block or placebo) and Fascial Plane Blocks lack the potency to provide surgical anesthesia on their own and appear only to be of value when used for minor-moderate surgery. Despite the huge literature, there has so far not emerged any clinical situations where Fascial Plane Blocks have definitively been shown to be the block of choice, being decisively more effective than other established regional blocks. Lastly, Fascial Plane Blocks may appear as virtually free of complications, but case reports are emerging that point to a real risk for causing local anesthetic systemic toxicity when using Fascial Plane Blocks. This text aims to synthesize the current knowledge base regarding the Fascial Plane Blocks that are relevant to use in the pediatric context. In summary, there does currently not exist any convincing scientific evidence for the continued support for the use of Fascial Plane Blocks in children, except for the rectus sheath block and possibly also the transmuscular quadratus lumborum block.


Soil carbon sequestration potential of planting hedgerows in agricultural landscapes.
Realising the carbon (C) sequestration capacity of agricultural soils is needed to reach Paris Climate Agreement goals; thus, quantifying hedgerow planting potential to offset anthropogenic CO2 emissions is crucial for accurate climate mitigation modelling. Although being a widespread habitat in England and throughout Europe, the potential of hedgerows to contribute to net-zero targets is unclear. This is the first study to quantify the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rate associated with planting hedgerows. We derived SOC stocks beneath hedgerows based on two estimation methods to assess differences from adjacent intensively managed grassland fields and how these may be affected by sampling depth and hedgerow age, as well as the SOC estimation method used. Twenty-six hedgerows on five dairy farms in Cumbria, England, were classified based on the time since their planting. We measured SOC stocks in 10 cm depth intervals in the top 50 cm of soil beneath hedgerows and in adjacent grassland fields. SOC beneath hedgerows was on average 31.3% higher than in the fields, 3.3% for 2-4 year old hedgerows, 14.4% for 10 year old, 45.2% for 37 year old, and 57.2% for older ones. We show that SOC sequestration rate beneath 37 year old hedgerows was 1.48 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 in the top 50 cm of soil. If England reaches its goal of a 40% increase in hedgerow length, 6.3 Tg CO2 will be stored in the soil over 40 years, annually offsetting 4.7%-6.4% of present-day agricultural CO2 emissions. However, the current rate of planting funded by agri-environment schemes, which today reaches only 0.02% of emissions, is too slow. Private-sector payments for ecosystem services initiatives (e.g., 'Milk Plan') show much higher rates of planting and are needed alongside agri-environment schemes to ensure hedgerow planting contributes to net-zero targets.


Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum and other nonsurgical causes of intraperitoneal free gas.
Intraperitoneal free gas seen radiologically as air under the diaphragm nearly always indicates a perforated abdominal viscus that requires surgical intervention. Rarely, however, the presence of a pneumoperitoneum may not indicate an intra-abdominal perforation and thus may not require laparotomy. Such a situation is termed spontaneous or nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum. In this review, we explore the aetiological mechanisms and the pathophysiology of the appearance of intra-abdominal free gas. An appreciation of the condition and its likely aetiological factors should improve awareness and possibly reduce the imperative to perform an emergency laparotomy on an otherwise well patient with an unexplained pneumoperitoneum.


CGNet: A graph-knowledge embedded convolutional neural network for detection of pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a global disease that causes high children mortality. The situation has even been worsening by the outbreak of the new coronavirus named COVID-19, which has killed more than 983,907 so far. People infected by the virus would show symptoms like fever and coughing as well as pneumonia as the infection progresses. Timely detection is a public consensus achieved that would benefit possible treatments and therefore contain the spread of COVID-19. X-ray, an expedient imaging technique, has been widely used for the detection of pneumonia caused by COVID-19 and some other virus. To facilitate the process of diagnosis of pneumonia, we developed a deep learning framework for a binary classification task that classifies chest X-ray images into normal and pneumonia based on our proposed CGNet. In our CGNet, there are three components including feature extraction, graph-based feature reconstruction and classification. We first use the transfer learning technique to train the state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for binary classification while the trained CNNs are used to produce features for the following two components. Then, by deploying graph-based feature reconstruction, we, therefore, combine features through the graph to reconstruct features. Finally, a shallow neural network named GNet, a one layer graph neural network, which takes the combined features as the input, classifies chest X-ray images into normal and pneumonia. Our model achieved the best accuracy at 0.9872, sensitivity at 1 and specificity at 0.9795 on a public pneumonia dataset that includes 5,856 chest X-ray images. To evaluate the performance of our proposed method on detection of pneumonia caused by COVID-19, we also tested the proposed method on a public COVID-19 CT dataset, where we achieved the highest performance at the accuracy of 0.99, specificity at 1 and sensitivity at 0.98, respectively.


Antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents.
The potential for modulating gene expression by the use of antisense oligonucleotides has become increasingly interesting in recent years. Antisense oligonucleotides are complementary nucleic acid fragments that hybridize to target sequences within RNA to form a DNA-RNA duplex, resulting in the block of translation of messenger RNA into the protein. Advances in chemistry and molecular biology have provided the basis to develop antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and improve their selectivity, stability and specificity of action. The antisense technology has been extensively used in vitro and in vivo as a tool to study the regulatory mechanisms in biologic processes and as potential therapeutic agents in cancer, viral infections and genetic disorders. In the present review, the various approaches for the use of antisense molecules in oncology, virology, genetic and inflammatory diseases are described; several studies, supporting the in vitro and in vivo applications of this technology, are also presented. Moreover, the potential clinical use of antisense therapies is discussed.


The left human speech-processing cortex is thinner but longer than the right.
We present histological data from 21 post-mortem, adult human cases that indicate the neocortex on the left planum temporale (secondary auditory cortex) is thinner but longer than that on the right side. The volumes of the left and right regions are approximately equal. Thus, the left planum temporale cortex is long and thin and the right short and thick. The present data fit excellently with previous studies of the volume, surface area, cytoarchitectonics, and neuronal structures of these areas. From these studies we suggest that the hemispheric differences arise from a so-called "balloon model" of cortical development. In this the cortex is extended and stretched by white matter growth. The stretching is greater on the left side, leaving greater distances between neuronal columns and more tangentially (to the pial surface) oriented dendrites on that side. This difference in fine structure can result in more independent activity of individual columns on the left, and could be an anatomical factor in the usual dominance of the left hemisphere for speech perception (Seldon, 1982, 1985).


Icariin-Functionalized Nanodiamonds to Enhance Osteogenic Capacity In Vitro.
Nanodiamonds (NDs) have been used as drug delivery vehicles due to their low toxicity and biocompatibility. Recently, it has been reported that NDs have also osteogenic differentiation capacity. However, their capacity using NDs alone is not enough. To significantly improve their osteogenic activity, we developed icariin (ICA)-functionalized NDs (ICA-NDs) and evaluated whether ICA-NDs enhance their in vitro osteogenic capacity. Unmodified NDs and ICA-NDs showed nanosized particles that were spherical in shape. The ICA-NDs achieved a prolonged ICA release for up to 4 weeks. The osteogenic capacities of NDs, ICA (10 μg)-NDs, and ICA (50 μg)-NDs were demonstrated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; calcium content; and mRNA gene levels of osteogenic-related markers, including ALP, runt-related transcript factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and osteopontin (OPN). In vitro cell studies revealed that ICA (50 μg)-ND-treated MC3T3-E1 cells greatly increased osteogenic markers, including ALP, calcium content, and mRNA gene levels of osteogenic-related markers, including ALP, RUNX2, COL1A1, and OPN compared to ICA (10 μg)-NDs or ND-treated cells. These our data suggest that ICA-NDs can promote osteogenic capacity.


[Effect of intermittent ventilation on pulmonary hypertension in chronic respiratory failure].
Intermittent non-invasive (or nocturnal mechanical ventilation) eliminates symptoms of hypoventilation and improves gas exchange in patients with chronic respiratory failure. Performing right heart catheterisation we studied the influence of nocturnal mechanical ventilation on pulmonary hemodynamics. We investigated 20 patients with restrictive thoracic diseases (Post-TBC: n = 9, scoliosis: n = 11, PaCO2: 59.8 +/- 7.6 mmHg) and 13 patients with COPD (n = 13, PaCO2: 58.5 +/- 7.8 mmHg). All patients were mechanically ventilated in controlled mode. During the study the medication was not changed; COPD patients with long-term oxygen maintained this therapy. Right-heart catheterisation was performed immediately before and after 1 year nocturnal mechanical ventilation. In patients with thoracic restriction NMV induced a marked reduction of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) from 33.2 +/- 10.0 mmHg before to 24.8 +/- 6.2 mmHg after 1 year nocturnal mechanical ventilation. In the COPD group PAP increased from 25.3 +/- 6.0 mmHg before to 27.5 +/- 6.0 mmHg after 1 year nocturnal mechanical ventilation. In contrast to the COPD group in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to thoracic restriction nocturnal mechanical ventilation causes substantial reduction in pulmonary artery pressure after a one year application.


FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha alone or with other genetic abnormalities reveals disease progression in chronic eosinophilic leukemia but good response to imatinib.
The FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha fusion gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) and is a direct therapeutic target of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. In 24 hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) patients, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nested PCR and sequence analysis, we investigated the frequency of FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha and other abnormalities of tyrosine kinase family genes like PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, C-KIT, FGFR1, ABL and FLT3 as well as gene mutation "hotspots", like MPL515 and JAK2V617F, frequently involved in myeloproliferative diseases. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to confirm the 4q12 deletion. The FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha fusion transcript was found in 8 (33%) of 24 patients with HES, corresponding to the chromosome 4q12 deletion identified by FISH. The FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha-associated patients diagnosed with CEL, frequently had hepatosplenomegaly, eosinophil-related tissue damage, anemia, thrombocytopenia, myelofibrosis and a short overall survival time. Nevertheless, imatinib mesylate induced rapid and complete hematological responses in treated FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha cases, followed by molecular remission and reversal of myelofibrosis. FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha fusion could co-exist with other mutations of tyrosine kinase family genes, like FLT3 or PDGFRbeta. We also demonstrated that the SNPs of PDGFRbeta were associated with selective splicing of exon 19 in case 20. Correlating the CEL genotype with phenotype, FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha emerges as a relatively homogeneous clinicobiological entity that co-exists with other abnormalities of tyrosine kinase family genes. It reflects the disease progression and there is a good response to imatinib. Detection of the FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha fusion gene is valid for both CEL diagnosis and therapy surveillance.


First report of bacterial leaf spot disease on Pueraria montana var. thomsonii caused by Robbsia andropogonis in China.
Pueraria montana var. thomsonii (Hereinafter referred to as Pmt) belongs to the Leguminosae and is widely distributed in China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and other Asian countries. The plant is called "Fenge" in China, and its root is widely used in medicine and food. In recent years, an unknown leaf spot disease of Pmt has occurred in Gaoming, Zhaoqing and Yunfu districts of Guangdong Province in China, where 1,600 hectares of Pmt plants were affected. The incidence rate of plants were more than 80% and led to 10-15% death of Pmt plants in Gaoming district. . In the early stage of the disease, radiating and water-soaking lesions appeared between the main veins and side veins of Pmt leaves. After the spread of the lesions, they formed brown and short strips with yellow haloes around them, which led to leaf shedding, plant death and decline of production. To isolate bacteria, diseased leaves were surface sterilized with 0.6% sodium hypochlorite solution for 30 s, followed by three consecutive rinses in distilled water. The leaves were aseptically macerated, and the macerate streaked on PDA medium. Whitish to dull white, mucoid, raised, round, and translucent colonies were obtained. All isolates were gram-negative and had a single, polar, sheathed flagellum. Sequences (approx. 1,458 bp each) of the 16S rRNA gene amplified from five isolates (FG2, FG3, FG9, FG12 and FG17) using primer pair 27F/1492R (Lane et al,1991) (GenBank Accession Nos. OL677034, OL677351, OL677352, OL677353 and OL677354 respectively) shared 99.93% sequence identity with that of Robbsia andropogonis (Synonyms: Burkholderia andropogonis) (Lopes-Santos et al,2017) type strain LMG2129 (NR104960.1). The specific 410-bp and 704-bp target fragments were also amplified from isolates using R. andropogonis-specific primers Pf/Pr (Bagsic et al,1995) and LJ23f/LJ24R (Duan et al,2009). The four housekeeping genes atpD, lepA, gyrB and rpoD were partially sequenced for FG9 isolates using primers atpD-F3/atpD-R3, lepA-F2/lepA-R, LJ23f/LJ24R and LJ25f/LJ26r (Duan et al,2009; Estrada-De et al,2013) respectively. Multilocus sequence analyses confirmed the isolates from Pmt as R. andropogonis. Physiological and biochemical tests revealed the isolates are negative for oxidase, arginine dihydrolase, saccharose and betaine, and positive for sorbitol, lactose and galactose (Gillis et al,1995; Lopes-Santos et al,2017). In addition, all isolates caused a hypersensitive reaction on leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and were pathogenic to some crops, including maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), carnation (Dianthus caryophilus), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), tomato. Five isolates (FG2, FG3, FG9, FG12 and FG17) pathogenicity were tested twice with a total of three replications per isolate. Two young leaves each of 3-month-old Pmt plants grow in greenhouse were sprayed a bacterial suspension at 108 CFU/ml, then covered the inoculated leaves individually with plastic bags for 24 h, and incubated at 100% relative humidity with 16 h of daylight at 30°C and 8 h of darkness at 22°C in a greenhouse. Radiating and water-soaked lesions with yellow haloes were observed between the main veins and side veins of Pmt leaves 5 days after inoculation and were similar to those caused by R. andropogonis in the field. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolating bacteria from typical lesions on inoculated plants. And the reisolated bacteria were identical to the inoculated ones. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. andropogonis on Pueraria montana var. thomsonii in China.


Making the transition to higher education: opportunities for student empowerment.
This article focuses on the transition process for high school students with learning disabilities as they move from secondary to postsecondary settings. The role of the student will be examined as it relates to the transition process, including participating in the transition planning team, selecting high school classes, searching for the best postsecondary option, and enrolling in either a 2- or 4-year college. By being actively involved in the transition process from the beginning, students can become informed consumers about their options and rights under law. Practical suggestions for high school service providers, teachers, and parents are included as they relate to supporting students in this process.


Three-component condensation leading to beta-amino acid diamides: convergent assembly of beta-peptide analogues.
A Passerini condensation of acyl cyanides, carboxylic acids, and isonitriles has been developed that affords efficient access to functionalized diamides as well as beta-peptides of alpha-hydroxy-beta-amino acids. Such compounds are protease-resistant and form stable helical and sheet structures when incorporated into larger peptides. N-Protected alpha-amino acids and isocyanoesters derived from alpha-amino acids participate in the condensation, leading to alpha/beta peptides embodying the heterogeneous alpha/beta/alpha backbone motif, recent examples of which display antibiotic activity.


Percutaneous management of lymphocoeles following pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma.
Eighteen patients with 26 pelvic lymphocoeles following radical hysterectomy underwent percutaneous therapeutic intervention with either needle aspiration, or catheter drainage. In eight patients a percutaneous needle aspiration under sonographic control was performed. Five out of eight patients were successfully managed with needle aspiration, three of them requiring repetitive aspirations. Thirteen patients, with a total of 21 lymphocoeles underwent catheter drainage. Seventeen of the 21 lymphocoeles completely resolved. Redrainage was performed in four cases and it was successful in two of them. The duration of the catheter drainage was 8 to 34 days. Nine of the lymphocoeles were infected at initial drainage. Two patients underwent surgery because of increased volume of output. Percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective method and should be considered as the initial treatment for all patients with postoperative lymphocoeles.


[Analysis of costimulatory molecules (CD28-CTLA-4/B7) expression on chosen mononuclear cells in adolescents with Graves' disease during methimazole therapy].
CD28 and CTLA-4 are glycoprotein molecules providing the potent costimulatory signal for T cells activation and proliferation via interactions with their ligands B7/BB1 molecule, present on the surface of Ag-presenting cells (APC). The present study was performed to elucidate the relationship between CTLA-4/CD28 molecules and stimulating (TSAb) or blocking (TBAb) antibodies to the TSH-receptor in Graves' disease. The aim of the study was to estimate the expression of CTLA-4 (cytolitic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4, CD152), CD28, B7.1 (CD80) and CD7.2 (CD86) molecules on peripheral blood cells in patients with Graves' disease (GD) (n=28, mean age 15.4), in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter (NTNG) (n=28, mean age 15.6 years) in comparison with sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n=28, mean age 15.9 years). The expression of the costimulatory molecules on mononuclear cells was analyzed by the three-color flow cytometry using a Coulter EPICS XL cytometer. Detection of stimulating and blocking antibodies to the TSH-receptor using JPO9 CHO cells in unfractionated serum was measured by a highly sensitive commercial radioimmunoassay. In untreated Graves' patients we observed a significant increase of CD152+ (p<0.004, p<0.004, p<0.001) and CD28+ (p<0.02, p<0.02, p<0.02) T lymphocytes in comparison to the non-toxic nodular goiter patients, healthy control subjects and euthyroid Graves' patients. After 2-6 months of methimazole therapy, the percentages of these cells in the peripheral blood of hyperthyroid patients returned to normal values. The analysis of CD3+ T lymphocytes co-expressing CD152 and CD28 antigens on peripheral blood revealed increased percentages of CTLA-4/CD28 positive cells in patients with Graves' disease (p<0.004, p<0.04) compared to the controls and euthyroid Graves' patients, while B7.1 (CD80) and B7.2 (CD86) molecules were detected only in some hyperthyroid patients on activated monocytes. In addition, 75% of children with untreated hyperthyroidism had positive TSAbs, whereas TBAbs were measured in 3 out of 7 TSAb negative patients with Graves' disease. In untreated Graves' patients a correlation between percentage of CD152+ T cells and serum level of stimulating and blocking antibodies to the TSH-receptor was found, while no such correlation was detected in relation to CD28+ T cells. We conclude that the changes of the expression of costimulatory molecules on peripheral blood mononuclear cells could be an important marker of activity of an autoimmune process in children and adolescents with Graves' disease and that their levels are modulated by thyroestatic treatment.


[Supportive care in oncology: definition, organization, limits].
Supportive care in oncology: Definition, organization, limits. Supportive care have been introduced in France at the start of the 21st century, in the context of first French cancer act. They represent a coordination of health caregivers upon multidisciplinarity. Their organization follows cross disciplinary meetings and specific devoted programs like inpatients bed units or home care. The patient reported outcomes programs are in the next future of the quality of care involvement.


Effect of benzene and xylene on the work of activated sludge.
The effect of benzene and xylene on the work of activated sludge in synthetic wastewater was studied. The sludge was found to adapt with relative ease to increasing concentrations of benzene and xylene (up to 75 and 150 mg/l), respectively. Higher concentrations of both compounds were toxic for the sludge.


Computed Tomography Diagnosis of Nonspecific Acute Chest Pain in the Emergency Department: From Typical Acute Coronary Syndrome to Various Unusual Mimics.
It is a challenging task for emergency department physicians to establish a precise and rapid diagnosis based only on clinical and laboratory findings in patients who present with nonspecific acute chest pain. In this circumstance, CT angiography can provide important clues to the diagnosis. To provide a rapid diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its various mimics, the physician should enumerate each possible cause of acute chest pain on the basis of an objective assessment of pretest probability. On the basis of clinical suspicion, the appropriate CT protocol should then be performed. Moreover, radiologists should be familiar with typical CT findings of ACS and its various mimics to assist the emergency department physician in diagnosing patients with nonspecific acute chest pain. This review article presents an overview on choosing an appropriate CT protocol in patients with nonspecific acute chest pain and provides specific CT findings of ACS and various mimics of ACS.


[Hormone replacement Up-to-date. Adrenopause and DHEA replacement therapy].
It is well known that serum levels of DHEA and its sulfate form DHEA-S decline along with aging. This phenomenon is called adrenopause in contrast to menopause. Experimental studies show that DHEA has many beneficial effects such as anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerosis, and anti-osteoporosis effects. Therefore, DHEA replacement has been performed as anti-aging therapy. Several clinical trials of DHEA replacement demonstrated the improvement of sense of well-being, lipid metabolism, and bone metabolism. We recently reported on the result of short-term administration of DHEA in healthy Japanese volunteer men. It is thought that further accumulation of original data is necessary to promote DHEA replacement therapy in Japan.


Scoping review to assess online information available to new dog owners.
Many dog owners turn to the internet for pet care advice. As internet resources can positively or negatively influence owners' decision making and thus impact dogs' welfare, the identification of trustworthy information online is crucial. A scoping review was conducted in 2014, and repeated in 2021, to assess the availability and quality indicators of information resources generated from Google searches using empirically derived dog owner internet search terms. A total of 121 unique resources were identified from 300 search hits in 2014, compared to 102 in 2021. On both occasions, the resources identified covered most aspects of dog care and related to all ages and breeds of dog. Flesch Kincaid readability scores indicated the majority to be easily understandable. However, many resources did not offer supporting evidence or a reference list, and the minority of resources stated an author. Of the resources identified in 2014, only 10% (n = 12/121) were dated, compared to 45% in 2021 (n = 46/102). This study found that while a great deal of information on caring for a new dog or puppy is available online, reliable indicators of quality were lacking, posing a barrier to owners' identification of trustworthy information.


Excitonic linewidth of organic quantum wires generated in reduced dimensionality matrices.
Luminescent organic quantum wires are generated in diacetylene crystalline ultra-thin films grown on orientation-inducing surfaces obtained by poly-tetrafluoroethylene (teflon) deposition. The films are characterized by atomic force microscopy showing that quasi-two-dimensional surroundings are achieved. In this particular environment, pure dephasing processes still determine the wires' homogeneous emission widths, measured using micro-photoluminescence. Coherence times that are slightly shorter in the films also exhibit a distinctive temperature dependence. A model inspired by semiconductor physics for exciton-phonon coupling accounts for the observed behaviour and evidences the role of matrix dimensionality on the coherence properties.


Anthropometric and Psychomotor Development Factors Linked to Foot Valgus in Children Aged 6 to 9 Years.
Planovalgus foot prevalence estimates vary widely (0.6%-77.9%). Among the many factors that may influence planovalgus foot development, much attention has been given to body mass index, especially that of children's feet; factors related to psychomotor development have been less studied. We sought to determine the presence of planovalgus foot in children and its association with anthropometric parameters and psychomotor development. A case-control study was conducted in Málaga, Spain, 2012-2013, of 104 schoolchildren (mean ± SD age, 7.55 ± 0.89 years; 45.2% were boys). Age, sex, body mass index, presence of valgus (valgus index, by pedigraphy), and personal history related to psychomotor development of the lower limbs (presence/absence of crawling, age at onset of crawling, age at onset of walking, use of mobility aids) were evaluated. Of the children with obesity, 53.7% had valgus deformity in the left hindfoot (odds ratio [OR], 6.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.72-17.70; P < .0001). In the right foot, the corresponding values were 54.5% (OR, 9.08; 95% CI, 3.38-24.36; P < .0001). Multivariate logistic regression showed an increased risk of left planovalgus foot in boys, in children with overweight or obesity, and in those who began walking later. For the right foot, the same risk factors applied except age at onset of walking. These results corroborate data from previous studies, which report an association between overweight and obesity and the onset of planovalgus foot in children. In addition, we identify a new risk factor: age at onset of walking.