Polymer-templated perylene-probe noncovalent self-assembly: a new strategy for label-free ultrasensitive fluorescence turn-on biosensing.
A new label-free fluorescence turn-on strategy for highly sensitive biosensing has been developed. A negatively charged perylene probe was synthesized. Polycations could induce aggregation of the perylene probe through noncovalent interactions and the fluorescence of the probe's monomer was efficiently quenched. Upon addition of a single-stranded nucleic acid, competitive binding of the negatively charged nucleic acid (a polyanion) to the cationic polymer resulted in the release of a monomer and thus a turn-on fluorescence signal was detected. Without the use of any amplification techniques, a detection limit of 2 pM DNA was obtained. Based on these results, an assay strategy for the highly sensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been demonstrated. λ Exonuclease (λ exo) could degrade 5'-phosphorylated single-stranded DNA. However, when the DNA sample was treated with ALP, the phosphate functional group was removed by ALP and it could no longer be degraded by λ exo. Binding of the DNA to the perylene probe-polycation complex resulted in a turn-on fluorescence signal, which could be used for sensing of ALP. The method is highly sensitive, a limit of detection as low as 0.02 mU mL(-1) ALP was obtained. Our method is simple, convenient, highly sensitive, and inexpensive.


Effect of temperature treatment on fruit quality and immunoregulation of Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) during storage.
Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) is rich in high levels of nutrients and popular for its unique flavor, but the consumption of satsuma is limited by some adverse reactions in human body. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of storage temperature on the postharvest quality of satsumas, and little attention has paid to the effect of postharvest satsumas on human body immunoregulation. The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in fruit quality, and the effect of satsuma fruits stored at different temperatures on human health. Satsumas stored at low temperature (5.8°C, LT) and room temperature (23 ± 2°C, RT) for 60 days were sampled every 10 days to measure the fruit quality. Sixty volunteers were recruited for the oral stimulation experiment of satsumas, and then the effect of satsumas on human health was examined through the immunoregulation of RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that compared with RT treatment, LT treatment could delay the degradation of satsuma fruit quality. Both the results of the volunteer experiment and cell experiment indicated that postharvest temperature treatments could reduce the adverse effects of satsuma fruits on human body. These findings indicated that 10-day storage at room temperature plus subsequent storage at low temperature was the optimal treatment to maintain fruit quality and functional components of postharvest satsumas. This study provides useful information on satsuma consumption and research work from the perspective of immunoregulation evaluation.


Prediction of unilateral hyperaldosteronism on adrenal vein sampling using captopril challenge test in patients with primary aldosteronism.
Captopril challenge test (CCT) is a simple and safe confirmatory test for primary aldosteronism (PA). We investigated the effectiveness of the indices after captopril administration for prediction of unilateral hyperaldosteronism (UHA) on adrenal vein sampling (AVS). We studied 238 patients with PA who had CCT and successful AVS between July 2007 and December 2019 in Sapporo City General Hospital. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the diagnostic performance for prediction of UHA on AVS in regard to the reduction rate of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) after captopril administration was inferior to aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) and PAC (area under the ROC curve 0.72 vs. 0.84, 0.72 vs. 0.89, respectively, both p < 0.01). Based on the optimal cut-off values in ARR (897 pg/mL/ng/mL/h, sensitivity 64.6%, specificity 93.0%) and PAC (203 pg/mL, sensitivity 73.9%, specificity 93.0%) after captopril administration, the patients were divided into three groups: (1) both positive, (2) one positive, and (3) both negative. The prevalence of UHA on AVS in the three groups were 90.0%, 52.9%, and 7.3%, respectively. In the first group, 31 of 32 patients with unilateral nodular lesion on CT had an ipsilateral unilateral AVS. In conclusion, the combination of post-captopril ARR and PAC is useful for prediction of laterality diagnosis on AVS. AVS is strongly recommended in patients with both positive or one positive results for the optimal cut-off values of post-captopril ARR and PAC and is weakly recommended in patients with both negative results.


Expanding Access to Fetal Telecardiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Background: This study aims to describe one center's experience in expanding a fetal telecardiology program through collaborative work with maternal fetal medicine (MFM) clinics with the goal of safely reaching mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to define the extent of fetal telehealth conversion at a large fetal cardiac care center and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy for studies performed. Methods: At our center, fetal telemedicine expanded from one MFM site before the pandemic to four additional sites by May 2020. A retrospective review of fetal telecardiology visits between March 15 and July 15, 2020, was performed. The chart was reviewed for confirmation of diagnosis postnatally. Results: With pandemic onset, there was a large increase in the number of telemedicine visits with a total of 122 mothers seen between five MFM clinics. Fourteen mothers (11.5%) had abnormal fetal echocardiograms requiring additional follow-up, and seven mothers (5.8%) had a fetal echocardiogram suspicious for a critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). All the fetal echocardiograms suspicious for CCHD were confirmed on postnatal echocardiogram. To our knowledge, none of the normal fetal echocardiograms were found to have congenital heart disease postnatally. Conclusions: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rapidly transitioned to fetal telecardiology using a variety of formats. This has reduced potential infectious exposure for pregnant mothers and minimized contact between physicians without compromising diagnostic accuracy. In our experience, the expansion of a telemedicine program requires strong initial infrastructure, prior relationships with MFM providers, and appropriate training among obstetric sonographers.


The use of immunohistochemistry to determine oncolytic reovirus distribution and replication in-human tumors.
An oncolytic virus is considered a targeted cancer therapy due to its ability to specifically target, replicate in and lyse cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. Over the last few years several tumor selective oncolytic viruses have been developed. These include certain DNA viruses such as adenovirus that have been genetically manipulated to target specific cancer cells by exerting restrictions on the virus at the level of cell entry, viral gene transcription and viral protein translation. There are a variety of RNA viruses being studied as possible cancer therapies including reovirus. Reovirus is intrinsically oncolytic without the need for any genetic manipulation. The inherent oncolytic properties of this virus are derived from the fact that it specifically targets cells with an activated Ras pathway found in many cancer cells. REOLYSIN® is a proprietary formulation of human reovirus type 3 Dearing developed by Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and is the only therapeutic reovirus in clinical development. This review provides an overview of the development of REOLYSIN as a potential cancer therapeutic and the growing role of in situ based molecular pathology methods in providing clinical proof of concept and in guiding clinical development.


Inhibition of low density lipoprotein oxidation by tetrahydrofurofuran lignans from Forsythia suspensa and Magnolia coco.
Based on the inhibition of Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation as marker, the major antioxidants in the fruits of Forsythia suspensa and the stems of Magnolia coco were identified. Of these bioactive tetrahydrofurofuran lignans, pinoresinol, phillygenin, and syringaresinol were more potent than probucol. Sesamin and fargesin, which do not contain phenol groups, were found much less active.


Resources for infection prevention and control on the World Wide Web.
This review summarizes infection prevention resources on the Internet. Web sites are presented in 8 categories: guidelines, policies, and regulatory bodies; health care-associated infection and multidrug-resistant organisms; surveillance, reporting, and initiatives; antibiotic use; employee health; long-term care facilities; facility and environmental infection control; and professional societies, educational opportunities, and listserves. For example, links to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and National Healthcare Safety Network reports are provided among resources for infection surveillance, reporting, and initiatives. A link to guidelines for infection prevention in health care workers is listed with other information regarding employee health. The Web address for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines for infection control in long-term care facilities is listed with resources for long-term care facilities. Guidelines for construction and environmental services are summarized with other information regarding facility and environmental infection control. This review summarizes the most useful and up-to-date infection prevention resources on the Internet and will simplify the search for pertinent information.


Cancer risk in ATM heterozygotes: a model of phenotypic and mechanistic differences between missense and truncating mutations.
The failure to find an increased frequency of ATM mutations in large cancer cohorts, especially breast cancer, is contrary to what was anticipated based on the increased cancer susceptibility of obligate ATM heterozygotes from families with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). We hypothesize that this paradox might be resolved if two types of ATM heterozygotes exist and the phenotypes differ, i.e., those with truncating types of mutations (ATM(trunc)), that make no protein, and those with missense types of mutations (ATM(mis)), that make reduced amounts of defective protein. The phenotype of ATM(trunc/trunc) mutations is the A-T syndrome; the phenotype of ATM(mis/mis) mutations, judging from the few homozygous patients that have been documented, appears to include some neurological features and cancer susceptibility but not the A-T syndrome. Evidence is reviewed which suggests that ATM(mis/wt) mutations are technically more difficult to detect than ATM(trunc/wt) mutations. Despite this, most large cancer cohort studies have identified mainly missense mutations and few truncating mutations. This model would require a paradigm shift for cancer risk analyses, to recognize the existence of different allele frequencies for the two types of A-T heterozygotes.


[Thrombosis of the right ovarian vein].
Thrombosis of the ovarian vein (TOV) is a rare complication which arises classically in the post-partum. Its main signs are pain in the flanks or the iliac fossa, associated with temperature and hyperleukocytosis. It is a differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis when located on the right side. A 26 year-old, primiparous woman consulted at 38 weeks of amenorrhoea for pain in the right iliac fossa and flank with a temperature of 38.6 degrees C. Three days after delivery, because of heavier pain, a coelioscopy was decided on that led to the diagnosis of thrombosis of the right ovarian vein. Improvement in the diagnosis techniques, notably Doppler ultrasonography and spiral CT should avoid the diagnosis of TOV during surgery. Traditionally a post-partum complication, TOV can occur before delivery, period during which it is very important not to misjudge this diagnosis, notably in case of thrombosis spreading to the inferior vena cava with free-floating thrombus. The treatment of TOV is essentially medical. In the case of extension to the vena cava, the installation of a vena cava filter or a surgical cava thrombectomy may be necessary.


Primary sternal osteomyelitis presenting as a pleural-based mass.
Osteomyelitis in uncommon locations can present unusual diagnostic difficulties. A patient with primary sternal osteomyelitis who presented with pain over the right supraclavicular area and a radiologic picture of a pleural-based right upper lung mass is discussed. A triple-phase bone scan was consistent with the diagnosis, and a needle aspiration of the mass revealed a staphylococcal abscess. Percutaneous drainage of the contiguous abscess and a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy cured the infection.


Bioaccumulation, physiological and ultrastructural effects of glyphosate in the lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.
This study compared bioaccumulation as well as physiological (content of ergosterol as marker of fungal vitality and photosynthetic efficiency as marker of algal vitality) and ultrastructural effects of glyphosate in the lichen Xanthoria parietina, with the herbicide being provided either by soaking or spraying of the samples. The results showed that bioaccumulation of glyphosate is fast and proportional to the dose supplied, and is independent on the way it is supplied. Toxic effects resulting from glyphosate uptake by both soaking and spraying were evident at physiological and ultrastructural level, both in the algal and fungal partner, with negative effects being generally dose- and time-dependent. Since our results showed that the concentration of glyphosate bioaccumulated in X. parietina remains stable (at least up to 90 days), a perspective is open for using lichens in biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution by glyphosate as a side effect of the application of this herbicide.


Acute phlegmonous gastritis: A case report.
Acute phlegmonous gastritis (APG) is an extremely uncommon and potentially rapid fatal systemic infection with very few reported cases in the literature. This case report demonstrates a case of idiopathic APG in an afebrile, otherwise healthy individual that resolved with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and did not require operative management.


Work context, personal control, and burnout amongst nurses.
While situational factors such as high workloads have been found to be predictive of burnout, not all people in the same work context develop burnout. This suggests that individual factors are implicated in susceptibility to burnout. We investigated the relationships between care type (acute/chronic), neuroticism, control (primary/secondary), and symptoms of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy) amongst 21 chronic came nurses and 83 acute care nurses working in a public hospital in regional Australia. Similar levels of burnout symptomatology and neuroticism were found in each group of nurses, and neuroticism was found to be associated with exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy in the total sample of nurses. Our prediction that primary control would protect against burnout symptoms in acute care nurses was supported only for professional efficacy, and the prediction that secondary control would protect against burnout in chronic care nurses was not supported.


A Novel De Novo Dominant Mutation in GJB2 Gene Associated with a Sporadic Case of Nonsyndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
Mutations in the GJB2 gene are the most common known cause of hereditary congenital hearing loss. Rapid genomic DNA extraction (RGDE) method was used for genomic DNA extraction. After amplification of coding region of CX26 gene with specific primers, expected PCR products with 724bp length were subjected to direct sequencing in both directions. We describe here a novel heterozygous -T to -C transition at codon 202 (TGC→CGC) of the GJB2 gene in a patient, 40-year-old Iranian woman, which replaces a cysteine with an arginine residue (C202R). The dominant mutation C202R associated with non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. This mutation has not previously been described in affected or control samples from other populations investigated for GJB2 mutations, indicating that it is a rare substitution. This dominant mutation was recorded in NCBI GenBank with accession number KF 638275.


Laser-generated waves and wakes in rotating ion crystals.
Locally excited plasma waves are generated in a Coulomb crystal by "pushing" with radiation pressure on a rotating cloud of laser-cooled 9Be+ ions. The waves form a stationary wake that is directly imaged through the dependence of the ion fluorescence on Doppler shifts, and theoretical calculations in a slab geometry are shown to accurately reproduce these images. The technique demonstrates a new method of exciting and studying waves in cold ion clouds.


Simple ELISA method for the evaluation of soluble HLA class I antigens in human serum.
A simple sandwich ELISA method has been developed for the quantification of soluble HLA class I antigens (s-HLA) in human serum. The assay utilizes the monoclonal antibody Q6/64, directed to a monomorphic determinant of the HLA alpha-chain, to capture the antigen and the biotinylated NAMB1 monoclonal antibody, directed to beta 2-microglobulin, as the detection antibody. The extract of the LG-2 lymphoid cell line and pooled sera from 100 healthy subjects are utilized as standards. The arbitrary value of 100 s-HLA Relative Units/mL (RU/mL) is given to the 1:20 dilution of pooled human sera whose optical density value corresponds to the one of the extract of 1 x 10(6) LG-2 cells (6.25 micrograms/mL protein concentration). The assay is easy to perform, specific, reproducible (intra- and inter-assay variations ranging from 3.2% to 8.87%), sensitive (detection limit of 6 RU/mL), and needs a small amount of serum (0.1 mL). The mean serum levels of s-HLA found in 100 healthy normal subjects are 41.9 +/- 13.4 RU/mL. The potential uses of the method are discussed.


A new mass spectral library for high-coverage and reproducible analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cell proteome.
Plasmodium falciparum causes the majority of malaria mortality worldwide, and the disease occurs during the asexual red blood cell (RBC) stage of infection. In the absence of an effective and available vaccine, and with increasing drug resistance, asexual RBC stage parasites are an important research focus. In recent years, mass spectrometry-based proteomics using data-dependent acquisition has been extensively used to understand the biochemical processes within the parasite. However, data-dependent acquisition is problematic for the detection of low-abundance proteins and proteome coverage and has poor run-to-run reproducibility. Here, we present a comprehensive P. falciparum-infected RBC (iRBC) spectral library to measure the abundance of 44,449 peptides from 3,113 P. falciparum and 1,617 RBC proteins using a data-independent acquisition mass spectrometric approach. The spectral library includes proteins expressed in the 3 morphologically distinct RBC stages (ring, trophozoite, schizont), the RBC compartment of trophozoite-iRBCs, and the cytosolic fraction from uninfected RBCs. This spectral library contains 87% of all P. falciparum proteins that have previously been reported with protein-level evidence in blood stages, as well as 692 previously unidentified proteins. The P. falciparum spectral library was successfully applied to generate semi-quantitative proteomics datasets that characterize the 3 distinct asexual parasite stages in RBCs, and compared artemisinin-resistant (Cam3.IIR539T) and artemisinin-sensitive (Cam3.IIrev) parasites. A reproducible, high-coverage proteomics spectral library and analysis method has been generated for investigating sets of proteins expressed in the iRBC stage of P. falciparum malaria. This will provide a foundation for an improved understanding of parasite biology, pathogenesis, drug mechanisms, and vaccine candidate discovery for malaria.


Enantioselective syntheses of colletodiol, colletol, and grahamimycin A.
[reaction: see text] The enantioselective synthesis of colletodiol has been achieved in 11 steps from methyl 1,3,5-octatrienoate and 16 total steps from both ethyl sorbate and methyl 1,3,5-octatrienoate. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation and a palladium-catalyzed reduction to form a 5-hydroxy-1-enoate and an 7-hydroxy-1,3-dienoate. These esters were further functionalized, coupled, and macrolactonized to provide colletodiol after deprotection. Grahamimycin A and colletol were synthesized in one and two steps, respectively, from colletodiol.


Energy effects in collisional neutralization with organic molecules.
Neutralization-reionization of CH3OH+., CH3NH2+. and (CH3)2NH+. ions was studied under conditions of exothermic and endothermic electron transfer and distributions of internal energy in the reionized ions were determined. The internal energy deposited on neutralization at kiloelectronvolt collision energies is governed by Franck-Condon effects for the systems under study, whereas the endothermic or exothermic energy balance in electron transfer from molecular targets has only a small effect on the high-energy fraction of the molecules formed. Electron transfer from low-lying molecular orbitals of the organic donor is suggested to occur during random orientations of the ion-molecule collision pair. The internal energy of the precursor ions to be neutralized has a large effect on the relative abundances of survivor ions in the spectra. Vertical recombination energies of CH3OH+. and CH3NH2+. are found by Gaussian-2 level calculations to differ substantially from vertical ionization energies of the corresponding neutral molecules. Franck-Condon effects are analyzed for the vibrational modes that are affected most by vertical electron transfer.


[Dietary, oral hygienic habits, dental surgeon attendance, and social background in police student's population].
The aim of the study was to survey the dietary, oral hygienic habits, dental surgeon attendance and their relations with each other and social background in the Police School of Miskolc, Hungary. In this study, based on a questionnaire, 792 students [(mean age: 20.43 +/- 1.25 ys (mean +/- S.D.)] participated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 10.0 statistical software. The daily consumption of sweets was 30.8%. There was no significant difference between educational level of father and frequency of consumption of sweets. The frequency of consumption of sweets significantly decreased with increasing the number of siblings (p < 0.05). The daily consumption of soft drinks was 28.8%. In the examined population 10% of the students used dental floss, most of them (60.0%) cleaned their teeth twice a day. Frequency of tooth-cleaning was significantly increased parallel to increase the educational level of father (p<0.05). Dental surgeon attendance aimed check up was 28.4% beside the compulsory yearly visit. The "3-times-tooth-cleaning" students visited their dentists within last 12 months in significantly higher percent than those of without daily tooth-cleaning (p < 0.05). There is a need to improve those factors which can affect oral health in the examined population.


DDA-imaging with structural identification of lipid molecules on an Orbitrap Velos Pro mass spectrometer.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a useful technique for visualizing the spatial distribution of lipid molecules in tissues. Nevertheless, the use of MSI to investigate local lipid metabolic hallmarks has until recently been hampered by a lack of adequate technology that supports confident lipid identification. This limitation was recently mitigated by the development of DDA-imaging technology where high-resolution MSI is combined with parallel acquisition of lipid tandem MS2 spectra on a hybrid ion trap-Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer featuring a resolving power of 240,000 and a scan time of 1 s. Here, we report the key tenets related to successful transfer of the DDA-imaging technology onto an Orbitrap Velos Pro instrument featuring a resolving power of 120,000 and a scan time of 2 s. Through meticulous performance assessments and method optimization, we tuned the DDA-imaging method to be able to confidently identify 73 molecular lipid species in mouse brain sections and demonstrate that the performance of the technology is comparable with DDA-imaging on the Orbitrap Elite. Altogether, our work shows that DDA-imaging on the Orbitrap Velos Pro instrument can serve as a robust workhorse for lipid imaging in routine applications.


Attributional retraining: Promoting psychological wellbeing in older adults with compromised health.
Older adults make up the largest portion of the population of physically inactive individuals. Health challenges, and psychological barriers (e.g., maladaptive causal attributions), contribute to reduced activity engagement and low perceived control. This pilot study tested an attributional retraining (AR) intervention designed to increase control-related outcomes in a physical activity context for older adults with compromised health. Using a randomized treatment design, we examined treatment effects on a sample of older adults attending a day hospital (N = 37, M age = 80). We employed ANCOVAs, controlling for age, sex, and morbidity, to assess differences in post-treatment outcomes between AR and No-AR conditions. AR recipients (vs. No-AR) reported lower post-treatment helplessness and more perceived control over their health. Our study offers evidence for AR to increase control-related outcomes and lays the groundwork for further research into supporting older adult populations with compromised health.


Genetic screening of compounds used in drug abuse treatment. III. LAAM.
Several compounds used clinically in drug abuse therapy were evaluated for genetic activity in a series of in vivo and in vitro assays. This third report in the series describes the results for one of these compounds, LAAM (L-alpha-acetyl methadol). Previous reports described results from a three phase testing program for Naltrexone and Methadone. LAAM is related chemically to the narcotic analgesic oxymorphine, and is related chemically to a narcotic antagonist, naloxone. LAAM exhibited genetic activity in the ad-3 forward-mutation test in Neurospora crassa and also was weakly mutagenic in the mouse lymphoma forward-mutation assay. Further analysis of the ad-3 mutants from N. crassa indicated that they were the result of a parasexual phenomenon rather than forward mutation. There was one confirmed translocation carrier in the heritable translocation study, which by conservative interpretation might imply some germ-cell risk associated with exposure to LAAM.


Comparison of optimized methodologies for isolating nuclei from esophageal tissue.
Single-nuclei RNA sequencing allows single cell-based analysis in frozen tissue, ameliorating cell recovery biases associated with enzymatic dissociation methods. The authors present two optimized methods for isolating and sequencing nuclei from esophageal tissue using a commercial EZ and citric acid (CA)-based method. Despite high endogenous RNase activity, these protocols produced libraries of expected fragment length (average length EZ: 745 bp; CA: 1232 bp) with comparable complexity (median Transcript/Gene number, EZ: 496/254; CA: 483/256). CA nuclei showed a higher proportion of ribosomal gene reads, potentially reflecting co-isolation of nuclei and adherent ribosomes. The authors identified 11 cell lineages in the combined datasets, with differences in cell type recovery between the two methods, providing utility dependent on experimental needs.


Epicardial induction of fetal cardiomyocyte proliferation via a retinoic acid-inducible trophic factor.
Mouse embryos lacking the retinoic acid receptor RXRalpha properly undergo the early steps of heart development, but then fail to initiate a proliferative expansion of cardiomyocytes that normally results in the formation of the compact zone of the ventricular chamber wall. RXRalpha(-/-) embryos have a hypoplastic ventricular chamber and die in midgestation from cardiac insufficiency. In this study, we have investigated the underlying mechanistic basis of this phenotype. We find that interference with retinoic acid receptor function in the epicardium of transgenic embryos recapitulates the hypoplastic phenotype of RXRalpha deficient embryos. We further show that wild type primary epicardial cells, and an established epicardial cell line (EMC cells), secrete trophic protein factors into conditioned media that stimulate thymidine incorporation in primary fetal cardiomyocytes, and thymidine incorporation, cell cycle progression, and induction of cyclin D1 and E activity in NIH3T3 cells. In contrast, primary epicardial cells derived from RXRalpha(-/-) embryos and an EMC subline constitutively expressing a dominant negative receptor construct both fail to secrete activity into conditioned media. The production of trophic factors is induced by retinoic acid treatment and is inhibited by a retinoid receptor antagonist. Fetal atrial and ventricular myocytes both respond to epicardial-derived trophic signaling, although postnatal cardiomyocytes are nonresponsive. We therefore propose that the fetal epicardium, in response to retinoic acid and in a manner requiring the activity of RXRalpha, secretes trophic factors which drive fetal cardiomyocyte proliferation and promote ventricular chamber morphogenesis.


Controlling Droplet Marangoni Flows to Improve Microscopy-Based TB Diagnosis.
In developing countries, the most common diagnostic method for tuberculosis (TB) is microscopic examination sputum smears. Current assessment requires time-intensive inspection across the microscope slide area, and this contributes to its poor diagnostic sensitivity of ≈50%. Spatially concentrating TB bacteria in a smaller area is one potential approach to improve visual detection and potentially increase sensitivity. We hypothesized that a combination of magnetic concentration and induced droplet Marangoni flow would spatially concentrate Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the slide surface by preferential deposition of beads and TB-bead complexes in the center of an evaporating droplet. To this end, slide substrate and droplet solvent thermal conductivities and solvent surface tension, variables known to impact microfluidic flow patterns in evaporating droplets, were varied to select the most appropriate slide surface coating. Optimization in a model system used goniometry, optical coherence tomography, and microscope images of the final deposition pattern to observe the droplet flows and maximize central deposition of 1 μm fluorescent polystyrene particles and 200 nm nanoparticles (NPs) in 2 μL droplets. Rain-X® polysiloxane glass coating was identified as the best substrate material, with a PBS-Tween droplet solvent. The use of smaller, 200 nm magnetic NPs instead of larger 1 μm beads allowed for bright field imaging of bacteria. Using these optimized components, we compared standard smear methods to the Marangoni-based spatial concentration system, which was paired with magnetic enrichment using iron oxide NPs, isolating M. bovis BCG (BCG) from samples containing 0 and 103 to 106 bacilli/mL. Compared to standard smear preparation, paired analysis demonstrated a combined volumetric and spatial sample enrichment of 100-fold. With further refinement, this magnetic/Marangoni flow concentration approach is expected to improve whole-pathogen microscopy-based diagnosis of TB and other infectious diseases.


Application of siphon principle to fluid drainage in transurethral surgery.
Transurethral resection is usually performed using an all-in-one drape with a fluid collection pouch, drainage port and hose. Gravity drainage of irrigation fluid through the hose is often hampered, resulting in fluid retention in the pouch. We applied a siphon principle to facilitate fluid drainage by making a U-shaped bend near the distal end of the hose, using an adhesive tape, and hooking the distal end of inverted U shape on the edge of bucket placed on the floor. When the hose is filled with irrigation fluid up to the crest of the siphon, fluid flow driven by atmospheric pressure continues until the pouch is evacuated. Repriming and restarting occur automatically throughout the operation. This simple device has virtually eliminated fluid retention in the pouch and proved to be especially useful in transurethral prostatectomy, which requires a large amount of irrigation fluid.


Immunisation against αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 in a type 1 variant of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia caused by a missense mutation Gly540Asp on β3.
Treatment of bleeding in patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) can be hampered by iso-antibodies against the αIIbβ3 integrin, which cause rapid clearance of transfused donor platelets. Type 1 GT patients with a total absence of αIIbβ3 from the platelet surface are known to be susceptible to form such isoantibodies. In this study, we describe a type 1 GT patient with a missense mutation (Gly540Asn) located in the EGF3 domain of the β3 integrin subunit. Cotransfection analysis in CHO cells demonstrates total absence of αIIbβ3 from the surface, based on inappropriate αIIb maturation. The patient's serum was reactive with αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 integrins in a capture assay, when platelets and endothelial cells were used. Two specificities could be isolated from the patient's serum, anti-αIIbβ3 and anti-αvβ3 isoantibodies. Both specificities did not interfere with platelet aggregation. In contrast, isoantibodies against αvβ3, but not against αIIbβ3, were able to disturb endothelial cell adhesion onto vitronectin, triggered endothelial cell apoptosis and interfered with endothelial tube formation. This intriguing finding may explain more recently observed features of fetal/neonatal iso-immune thrombocytopenia in children from type 1 GT mothers with intracranial haemorrhage, which could be related to anti-endothelial activity of the maternal antibodies. In conclusion, we give evidence that two isoantibody entities exist in type 1 GT patients, which are unequivocally different, both in an immunological and functional sense. Further research on the clinical consequences of immunisation against αvβ3 is required, predominantly in GT patients of childbearing age.


[Identification and analysis of IRF-1 binding protein].
Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 (IRF-1) acts as a transcriptional activator in interferon system and as a tumor suppressor. The loss of functional IRF-1 has been shown in approximately 30% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and overt leukemia from MDS. Here we report an alternative mechanism of inactivation of IRF-1 activity. We identified an IRF-1 binding protein (IRF-BP). Protein sequencing revealed that IRF-BP was identical to nucleophosmin (NPM), a nucleolar phosphoprotein. Functional analysis showed that IRF-BP inhibited DNA-binding and transcriptional activity of IRF-1. Moreover when we examined several leukemia samples, the level of IRF-BP mRNA was increased. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that IRF-BP binds to IRF-1, and that overexpression of IRF-BP in leukemias leads to escape from IRF-1-regulated growth control. This hypothesis was also supported by the fact that overexpression of IRF-BP in NIH 3T3 cells rendered cells transformed.


Multiscale Modification of Populus cathayana by Alkali Lignin Combined with Heat Treatment.
Chemical modification of wood with green modifiers is highly desirable for sustainable development. With the aim of enhancing the water resistance and dimensional stability of fast growing wood, modifications were conducted using renewable and toxicity-free industrial lignin combined with heat treatment. Poplar (Populus cathayana) samples first underwent impregnation with alkali lignin solution and were then subjected to heat treatment at 140⁻180 °C for two hours. The results indicated that the modified wood showed excellent leaching resistance. The alkali lignin treatment improved surface hydrophobicity and compression strength, and decreased moisture and water uptake, thereby reducing the dimensional instability of modified wood. These changes became more pronounced as the heat-treating temperature increased. Scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy evidenced that a multiscale improvement of the alkali lignin occurred in the cell lumen and cell wall of wood fibers and vessels, with small alkali lignin molecules reacting with the wood matrix. This study paves the way for developing an effective modification approach for fast growing wood, as well as promoting the reuse of industrial lignin for high-value applications, and improves the sustainable development of the forestry industry.


[Does the Nucleus Ambiguus-Vague Nerve Mediate Anti-myocardial Ischemic Effect of Electroacupuncture of "Neiguan" (PC 6)-"Jianshi" (PC 7) in Myocardial Ischemia Rats].
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6)-"Jianshi" (PC 7) on ischemic myocardial injury in myocardial ischemic (MI) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of MI. A total of 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, MI model, PC 6-PC 7, Sanyinjiao-Diji (SP 6-SP 8) groups (n=8 in each group for physiological experiments, n=4 in each group for immunoflorescence stain). The MI model was established by occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. Electrocardiogram (ECG) of the neck-thoracic lead was recorded and the heart rate variability (HRV) analyzed by using a physiological signal collecting system (MP 150) and PowerLab software. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 0.5 mA) was applied to bilateral PC 6-PC 7 or SP 6-SP 8 for 30 min every time, on the 1,2,3 day after modeling. Serum creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase-1 (LDH 1) and endothelin (ET) contents were assayed by ELISA. The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and c-fos proteins in the nucleus ambiguus (NA) region of the medulla oblongata was detected by immunofluo-rescence stain. Compared with the normal group, the ECG J-point height (1 h), serum CK-MB, LDH 1 and ET contents (1 d and 3 d), HR (1 h and 1 d) and LF/HF levels of HRV (1 h, 1 d and 3 d) and the number of c-fos positive neurons (3 d) in the NA region were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05), while HF levels (1 h, 1 d and 3 d) and ECG J-point height (1 d and 3 d) were considerably decreased after MI. After EA intervention, the ECG J-point height 3 d after MI was close to zero in both PC 6-PC 7 and SP 6-SP 8 groups, being better than that (negative value) of the model group, and serum CK-MB, LDH 1 and ET contents (1 d, 3 d) of both EA groups, and HR (1 d) and LF/HF (3 d) of the PC 6-PC 7 group were obviously down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the decreased HF 3 d post-MI and the increased number of c-fos positive neurons were significantly up-regulated in the PC 6-PC 7 group (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the two EA groups in raising J-point height and in down-regulating serum CK-MB, LDH 1 and ET contents (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, no significant changes were found in HR 1 d post-MI of the SP 6-SP 8 group, 3 d post-MI of both EA groups, in HF 3 d post-MI of the SP 6-SP 8 group, in LF/HF 1 d post-MI of both EA groups and 3 d post-MI of the SP 6-SP 8 group, in the number of c-fos positive neurons of the SP 6-SP 8 group, and ChAT and VAChT positive neurons of both EA groups (P>0.05). EA intervention may improve ischemic myocardial injury in MI rats, probably by activating neurons in the NA region, and enhancing the cardiac parasympathetic tension, and balancing cardiac sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve activities, but the effect of cholinergic neurons of NA needs being studied further.


Pain coping mechanisms in fibromyalgia: relationship to pain and functional outcomes.
To evaluate the factor structure of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and to compare the factors derived from this measure, along with the active and passive pain coping scales of the Pain Management Inventory (PMI) in predicting pain, depression, quality of well being (QWB), and pain behavior concurrently and over time. One hundred twenty-two patients with FM were recruited from medical clinics, the community, and support groups. Eligible patients completed a battery of self-report measures of pain and psychosocial functioning at baseline assessment before random assignment to a clinical trial. A subset of 69 patients who completed the clinical trial were readministered the same battery 3 mo later. Data were analyzed within the baseline period, and from the baseline period to posttreatment to evaluate the predictive effects of coping strategies on clinical outcomes. Principal components analysis of the CSQ revealed Coping Attempts (CA) and Pain Control and Rational Thinking (PCRT) factors, which have been found in other patient populations with chronic pain. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that high active coping and low PCRT contributed to higher concurrent pain, while low active coping and high passive coping were related to greater concurrent depression and pain behavior, respectively. Controlling for baseline scores on criterion measures, longitudinal multiple regression analyses demonstrated that high active coping and low PCRT scores contributed to greater pain, greater depression, and lower QWB at posttreatment, while low PCRT alone predicted greater pain behavior. The results show the import of the pain coping construct in FM and highlight the negative contribution of low perceived control over pain and high active coping to a range of pain outcomes. The findings on low perceived control converge with data on other chronic pain populations, while the role of active coping appears to be detrimental in FM, in contrast to its positive effects in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


Examination of stent deformation and gap formation after complex stenting of left main coronary artery bifurcations using microfocus computed tomography.
Fluoroscopy and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) lack sufficient resolution for assessing the results of complex stenting in true bifurcation lesions. After diverse bifurcation stenting at the left main coronary artery (LM) bifurcation model, the results were examined using microfocus computed tomography (MFCT). The strut distribution of three kinds of stents deployed on a straight vessel segment was investigated. Classical crush, double kissing (DK)-double crush, and culotte stenting were performed on a three-dimensional (3D) LM model. The results were assessed using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and 3D reconstruction views of MFCT. Nonuniform strut distribution was observed in a corrugated stent design deployed on a straight vessel segment. Following classical crush stenting, a relatively large gap at the nonmyocardial site was observed in the corrugated stents. When the guidewire recrossed outside the ostium of the crushed side branch stent, kissing balloon inflation caused further crushing of the stent at the more distal segment. The dilated strut rose up from the main vessel bed after the first kissing balloon inflation in DK crush stenting; the advantage of DK would be cancelled after main vessel stenting due to recrushing the raised strut. The culotte stenting with closed-cell stents showed the restriction of the expansion at the branch ostium when it was dilated with a 3.5-mm balloon. The culotte stenting with open-cell-based stents showed a good stent apposition except for a tiny gap and small metallic carina at the distal bifurcation. MFCT analysis in the 3D phantom model is useful to assess the structural deformation of the stents and gap on vessel wall coverage after complex stenting at the LM bifurcation.


Perioperative management of a patient with glanzmann's thrombasthenia for mitral valve repair under cardiopulmonary bypass.
A 30-year-old male patient presented with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and mitral valve prolapse. He was in acute decompensated congestive heart failure due to severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. After his cardiac failure had been stabilized, the patient was subjected to mitral and tricuspid valve repair. His transfusion requirements were guided by thrombelastography and his bleeding disorder was managed by infusing single donor plasmapheresed platelet transfusions in the perioperative period. The patient underwent surgery uneventfully.


Nucleation processes of nanobubbles at a solid/water interface.
Experimental investigations of hydrophobic/water interfaces often return controversial results, possibly due to the unknown role of gas accumulation at the interfaces. Here, during advanced atomic force microscopy of the initial evolution of gas-containing structures at a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite/water interface, a fluid phase first appeared as a circular wetting layer ~0.3 nm in thickness and was later transformed into a cap-shaped nanostructure (an interfacial nanobubble). Two-dimensional ordered domains were nucleated and grew over time outside or at the perimeter of the fluid regions, eventually confining growth of the fluid regions to the vertical direction. We determined that interfacial nanobubbles and fluid layers have very similar mechanical properties, suggesting low interfacial tension with water and a liquid-like nature, explaining their high stability and their roles in boundary slip and bubble nucleation. These ordered domains may be the interfacial hydrophilic gas hydrates and/or the long-sought chemical surface heterogeneities responsible for contact line pinning and contact angle hysteresis. The gradual nucleation and growth of hydrophilic ordered domains renders the original homogeneous hydrophobic/water interface more heterogeneous over time, which would have great consequence for interfacial properties that affect diverse phenomena, including interactions in water, chemical reactions, and the self-assembly and function of biological molecules.


Short-Term High-Fat Diet Consumption Reduces Hypothalamic Expression of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α7 Subunit (α7nAChR) and Affects the Anti-inflammatory Response in a Mouse Model of Sepsis.
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in hospitalized patients and the chronic and low-grade inflammation observed in obesity seems to worsen susceptibility and morbidity of infections. However, little is known with respect to a short-term high-fat diet (HFD) and its role in the development of sepsis. Here, we show for the first time, that short-term HFD consumption impairs early nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit (α7nAChR)- mediated signaling, one of the major components of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, with a focus on hypothalamic inflammation and innate immune response. Mice were randomized to a HFD or standard chow (SC) for 3 days, and sepsis was subsequently induced by a lethal intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. In a separate experiment, both groups received LPS (i.p.) or LPS (i.p.) in conjunction with the selective α7nAChR agonist, PNU-282987 (i.p. or intracerebroventricular; i.c.v.), and were sacrificed 2 h after the challenge. Short-term HFD consumption significantly reduced the α7nAChR mRNA and protein levels in the hypothalamus and liver (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated lower cholinergic receptor nicotinic α7 subunit (α7nAChR)+ cells in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) (α7nAChR+ cells in SC = 216 and HFD = 84) and increased F4/80+ cells in the ARC (2.6-fold) and median eminence (ME) (1.6-fold), which can contribute to neuronal damage. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ cells and neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN)+ cells were also increased following consumption of HFD. The HFD-fed mice died quickly after a lethal dose of LPS or following CLP surgery (2-fold compared with SC). The LPS challenge raised most cytokine levels in both groups; however, higher levels of TNF-α (Spleen and liver), IL-1β and IL-6 (in all tissues evaluated) were observed in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, PNU-282987 administration (i.p. or i.c.v.) reduced the levels of inflammatory markers in the hypothalamus following LPS injection. Nevertheless, when the i.c.v. injection of PNU-282987 was performed the anti-inflammatory effect was much smaller in HFD-fed mice than SC-fed mice. Here, we provide evidence that a short-term HFD impairs early α7nAChR expression in central and peripheral tissues, contributing to a higher probability of death in sepsis.


A gene encoding a chloroplast-targeted lipoxygenase in tomato leaves is transiently induced by wounding, systemin, and methyl jasmonate.
We investigated the relationship between the expression of lipoxygenase (LOX) genes and the systemin-dependent wound response in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves. A polymerase chain reaction-based approach was used to isolate two tomato Lox cDNAs, called TomLoxC and TomLoxD. Both TomLOXC and TomLOXD amino acid sequences possess an N-terminal extension of about 60 residues that were shown by in vitro uptake to function as transit peptides, targeting these proteins into the chloroplast. Within 30 to 50 min following wounding or systemin or methyl jasmonate treatments, the TomLoxD mRNA level increased and reached a maximum between 1 and 2 h. TomLoxC mRNA was not detectable in leaves and was not found following wounding, but it was found in ripening fruits, indicating that the two tomato Lox genes are regulated in different tissues by different processes. The results suggest that the TomLoxD gene is up-regulated in leaves in response to wounding and encodes a chloroplast LOX that may play a role as a component of the octadecanoid defense-signaling pathway.


Zonal differences in DNA synthesis activity and cytochrome P450 gene expression in livers of male F344 rats treated with five nongenotoxic carcinogens.
Both increased cell proliferation and "altered" CYP gene expression are prominent phenomena associated with liver tumor promotion by nongenotoxic carcinogen treatment. To further characterize these two responses, groups of rats were kept on powdered rat chow diet containing 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) or 0.025% ciprofibrate (Cip) for 8 days or given 8 daily doses by gavage of pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN, 150 mg/kg/ml corn oil), 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-MC, 3 mg/kg/ml corn oil) or 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-PB, 7.5 mg/kg/ml corn oil). A minipump was implanted in the rat abdominal cavity to release bromodeoxyuridine (BRDU) 5 days after the start of nongenotoxic carcinogen treatment and the experiment was terminated 3 days later. BRDU-labeled parenchymal nuclei were observed primarily in the periportal area independent of nongenotoxic carcinogen treatment. Treatment with each of the 5 nongenotoxic carcinogens resulted in profound alterations in CYP gene expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Expression of CYP1A1, 1A1/2, 3A1, 2B1/2, and 4A immunoproteins demonstrated nongenotoxic carcinogen-specific patterns in both magnitude and zonal distribution. In agreement with the CYP immunoprotein data, treatment with each of the five nongenotoxic carcinogens resulted in a unique composition of mRNAs of CYP2B1, 2B2, 2C6, 2C11, 3A1, 3A2, and 4A1, which were variably increased or decreased relative to the untreated control livers, depending on the treatment. Similarly, the rate and pattern of CYP enzyme-mediated hydroxylation toward testosterone, 17 beta-estradiol, corticosterone, and lauric acid were greatly altered by nongenotoxic carcinogen treatment. According to the zonal distribution patterns of CYP immunoproteins, each hepatocyte in the cell plate from the periportal triad to the central vein has a characteristic and nongenotoxic carcinogen-specific composition of CYP enzymes. Because many endogenous substrates are modulators of DNA and RNA synthesis, intracellular kinetics of endogenous substrates of CYP enzymes in the corresponding hepatocytes could contribute, at least in part, to the differences in gene expression, differentiation, and cell proliferation among the hepatocytes in the cell plate.


Prostate carcinoma: MR imaging findings after cryosurgery.
To determine the morphologic changes in the prostate gland after cryosurgery and to assess the value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in detecting residual tumor. Twenty-seven patients with prostate carcinoma underwent endorectal MR imaging after cryosurgery. Eighteen patients also underwent MR imaging before cryosurgery. MR findings were correlated with posttreatment clinical data, prostate-specific antigen level, and biopsy results. Mean prostate volume had decreased by 52% in patients examined 8 weeks or more after cryosurgery. Zonal differentiation was lost in 22 of 27 patients (81%). Areas of intraprostatic necrosis were identified in 14 of 27 patients (52%). A thick capsule enveloped the gland and neurovascular bundles in 24 of 27 patients (89%). Osteonecrosis of the symphysis pubis was seen in six of 27 patients (22%). Positive and negative predictive values for MR assessment of recurrent tumor were 44% and 73%, respectively. Cryosurgery-induced changes in the prostate gland preclude reliable detection of residual prostate carcinoma at MR imaging.


Formulation and stability evaluation of ketoprofen sustained-release tablets prepared by fluid bed granulation with Carbopol 971P solution.
The objectives of the present study were: (1) to investigate the possibility of using a Carbopol polymeric solution as granulating agent by the fluid bed granulating process; (2) to select a suitable method of tabletting for sustaining the release of ketoprofen for 12 hr; (3) to perform stability studies according to International Committee on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and photostability on ketoprofen SR tablets; (4) to study the influence of the storage conditions on release kinetics and melting endotherm of ketoprofen; and (5) to predict the shelf-life of the ketoprofen SR tablets. Tabletting ingredients were ketoprofen, anhydrous dicalcium phosphate, Carbopol 971P, talc, and magnesium stearate. Carbopol 971P solution (0.8% w/v) was used as a granulating solution in the fluid bed granulator. For comparative evaluation, tablets were also prepared by direct compression and wet granulation, and subjected to dissolution. Tablets prepared by fluid bed granulation technique were stored in incubators maintained at 37, 40, 50, and 60 degrees C, 40 degrees C/75% RH, 30 degrees C/60% RH, and 25 degrees C/60% RH, and in a light chamber with light intensity of 600 ft candle at 25 degrees C. Melting endotherms were obtained for the drug as well as the tablets during stability studies by differential scanning calorimetry. Tablets prepared by fluid bed granulation technique prolonged the release of ketoprofen better than tablets obtained by direct compression and wet granulation. Further, it complied with the requirements of ICH guidelines for stability testing. Higher temperature and humidity (40 +/- 2 degrees C/75% RH, 40 degrees C, 50 degrees C, and 60 degrees C) adversely affected the rate and extent of the dissolution. Ketoprofen SR tablets stored in amber-colored bottles demonstrated a good photostability for 6 months at 600 ft candle. The shelf-life of the formulation was predicted as 32 months.


A Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Model Algorithm for Predicting COVID-19 in Gulf Countries.
Accurate prediction models have become the first goal for aiding pandemic-related decisions. Modeling and predicting the number of new active cases and deaths are important steps for anticipating and controlling COVID-19 outbreaks. The aim of this research was to develop an accurate prediction system for the COVID-19 pandemic that can predict the numbers of active cases and deaths in the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. The novelty of the proposed approach is that it uses an advanced prediction model-the bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) network deep learning model. The datasets were collected from an available repository containing updated registered cases of COVID-19 and showing the global numbers of active COVID-19 cases and deaths. Statistical analyses (e.g., mean square error, root mean square error, mean absolute error, and Spearman's correlation coefficient) were employed to evaluate the results of the adopted Bi-LSTM model. The Bi-LSTM results based on the correlation metric gave predicted confirmed COVID-19 cases of 99.67%, 99.34%, 99.94%, 99.64%, 98.95%, and 99.91% for Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, respectively, while testing the Bi-LSTM model for predicting COVID-19 mortality gave accuracies of 99.87%, 97.09%, 99.53%, 98.71%, 95.62%, and 99%, respectively. The Bi-LSTM model showed significant results using the correlation metric. Overall, the Bi-LSTM model demonstrated significant success in predicting COVID-19. The Bi-LSTM-based deep learning network achieves optimal prediction results and is effective and robust for predicting the numbers of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the studied Gulf countries.


Selinexor, a First in Class, Nuclear Export Inhibitor for the Treatment of Advanced Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a highly malignant neoplasm arising from peripheral nerve or its attendant sheath and is derived from Schwann or pluripotent cells of neural crest origin. Patients with recurrent, unresectable, or advanced stage disease have limited treatment options, and current therapies are associated with little benefit. In this article, we report nine cases of MPNST treated with selinexor, an orally bioavailable, selective inhibitor of nuclear export, accompanied by tumor stabilization or regression.


The impact of a sports vision training program in youth field hockey players.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether a sports vision training program improves the visual performance of youth male field hockey players, ages 12 to 16 years, after an intervention of six weeks compared to a control group with no specific sports vision training. The choice reaction time task at the D2 board (Learning Task I), the functional field of view task (Learning Task II) and the multiple object tracking (MOT) task (Transfer Task) were assessed before and after the intervention and again six weeks after the second test. Analyzes showed significant differences between the two groups for the choice reaction time task at the D2 board and the functional field of view task, with significant improvements for the intervention group and none for the control group. For the transfer task, we could not find statistically significant improvements for either group. The results of this study are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications. Key pointsPerceptual training with youth field hockey playersCan a sports vision training program improve the visual performance of youth male field hockey players, ages 12 to 16 years, after an intervention of six weeks compared to a control group with no specific sports vision training?The intervention was performed in the "VisuLab" as DynamicEye(®) SportsVision Training at the German Sport University Cologne.We ran a series of 3 two-factor univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures on both within subject independent variables (group; measuring point) to examine the effects on central perception, peripheral perception and choice reaction time.The present study shows an improvement of certain visual abilities with the help of the sports vision training program.


Hypothermic prevention of nuclear DNA fragmentation in gerbil hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia.
The protective effect of hypothermia on DNA fragmentation following transient forebrain ischemia in mongolian gerbils was investigated. The DNA fragmentation demonstrated in situ in gerbil hippocampal CA1 was compared between intra- and post-ischemic hypothermia. Intra-ischemic hypothermia prevented the DNA fragmentation in hippocampal CA1 completely, while severe DNA damage was observed in post-ischemic hypothermia group. the degree of DNA fragmentation of hippocampal CA1 in the post-ischemic hypothermia group was equal to that in the ischemic control group. The results suggest that hypothermia during a transient forebrain ischemia exerts a protective effect on the post-ischemic hippocampal damage by preventing the DNA fragmentation in CA1 neurons.


Generation of different fates from multipotent muscle stem cells.
Although neuronal and mesenchymal stem cells exhibit multipotentiality, this property has not previously been demonstrated for muscle stem cells. We now show that muscle satellite cells of adult mice are able to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and myotubes. Undifferentiated muscle progenitor cells derived from a single satellite cell co-expressed multiple determination genes including those for MyoD and Runx2, which are specific for myogenic and osteogenic differentiation, respectively. Determination genes not relevant to the induced differentiation pathway were specifically downregulated in these cells. Similar multipotent progenitor cells were isolated from adult human muscle. Based on these observations, we propose a 'stock options' model for the generation of different fates from multipotent stem cells.


[Role of percutaneous tracheostomy in intensive care: a review].
Performing early tracheostomy is a possible solution during prolonged ventilation in order to decrease late complications. Considering the duration of procedure and the hazards concerning the patient transport the risk of operation is high in the critically ill patients. Therefore bedside percutaneous tracheostomy (PCT) plays an increasing role in intensive therapy. For emphasizing the widening role of PCT in intensive care the procedures were analysed in the mirror of international experiences. After introducing short history of the procedure the improvement of techniques is presented. A description of the experiences with the three main techniques is presented based on early original publications. Analyzing the results of comparative studies the risks and benefits of different methods were investigated in focus of the early and late complications. Comparing the percutaneous and surgical techniques significantly lower number of late complications were observed in PCT groups by several studies but there is a debate concerning the early hemorrhagic complications. Among the percutaneous techniques there was no significant difference between the occurrence of complications. The greatest experience has been gathered with the sequential dilatation technique. The duration of procedure was the only significant difference between the sequential and forceps dilatational technique. According to the international literature the percutaneous tracheostomy is the procedure of choice for prolonged airway management for high-risk intensive care patients. Concerning the elevated risk of operation the percutaneous techniques have significantly shorter duration and lower rate of late complications. Among the different percutaneous techniques the only significant difference was the duration of the procedure. The shortest procedure was the forceps dilatational technique.


A randomized controlled trial in schools aimed at exploring mechanisms of change of a multifaceted implementation strategy for promoting mental health at the workplace.
This study will explore implementation mechanisms through which a single implementation strategy and a multifaceted implementation strategy operate to affect the implementation outcome, which is fidelity to the Guideline For The Prevention of Mental Ill Health within schools. The guideline gives recommendations on how workplaces can prevent mental ill health among their personnel by managing social and organizational risks factors in the work environment. Schools are chosen as the setting for the study due to the high prevalence of mental ill health among teachers and other personnel working in schools. The study builds on our previous research, in which we compared the effectiveness of the two strategies on fidelity to the guideline. Small improvements in guideline adherence were observed for the majority of the indicators in the multifaceted strategy group. This study will focus on exploring the underlying mechanisms of change through which the implementation strategies may operate to affect the implementation outcome. We will conduct a cluster-randomized-controlled trial among public schools (n=55 schools) in Sweden. Schools are randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive a multifaceted strategy (implementation teams, educational meeting, ongoing training, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles) or a single strategy (implementation teams, educational meeting). The implementation outcome is fidelity to the guideline. Hypothesized mediators originate from the COM-B model. A mixed-method design will be employed, entailing a qualitative study of implementation process embedded within the cluster-randomized controlled trail examining implementation mechanisms. The methods will be used in a complementary manner to get a full understanding of the implementation mechanisms. This implementation study will provide valuable knowledge on how implementation strategies work (or fail) to affect implementation outcomes. The knowledge gained will aid the selection of effective implementation strategies that fit specific determinants, which is a priority for the field. Despite recent initiatives to advance the understanding of implementation mechanisms, studies testing these mechanisms are still uncommon. ClinicalTrials.org dr.nr 2020-01214.


Changes in factor VII-activating protease in a bleomycin-induced lung injury rat model and its influence on human pulmonary fibroblasts in vitro.
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, respiratory distress and hypoxemia. Factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) is a plasma-derived protease which inhibits the proliferation and migration of hepatic stellate cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. This study was designed to determine the dynamic expression changes in FSAP in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat model and the influence of FSAP on human pulmonary fibroblasts (HPF). The expression of FSAP was examined in a rat model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by immunohistochemical staining, quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The influence of FSAP on cell proliferation and migration of HPF was investigated by the BrdU incorporation assay and transwell cell culture chambers, respectively. The effect of FSAP on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation on HPF was determined by Western blot analysis. FSAP was observed prominently in alveolar epithelial cells as well as microvascular endothelial cells of the lung parenchyma and was markedly increased at the early phase of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, but decreased at the late stage, particularly during the pulmonary fibrosis. FSAP inhibited PDGF-stimulated proliferation, migration, p42/p44 MAPK phosphorylation and collagen III synthesis of the HPF. We concluded that epithelial cells in lungs represent a source of FSAP at the early stage in acutely injured lung. Moreover, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of FSAP on PDGF-stimulated proliferation and migration of HPF in vitro, suggesting that FSAP may modulate inflammation and exert a beneficial effect on ARDS.


A Thrombomodulin Promoter Gene Polymorphism, rs2239562, Influences Both Susceptibility to and Outcome of Sepsis.
Objective: Disseminated intravascular coagulation plays a key role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Thrombomodulin is essential in the protein C system of coagulation cascade, and functional polymorphisms influence the human thrombomodulin gene (THBD). Therefore, we conducted a multicenter study to evaluate the influence of such polymorphisms on the pathophysiology of sepsis. Methods: A collaborative case-control study in the intensive care unit (ICU) of each of five tertiary emergency centers. The study included 259 patients (of whom 125 displayed severe sepsis), who were admitted to the ICU of Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan between October 2001 and September 2008 (discovery cohort) and 793 patients (of whom 271 patients displayed severe sepsis), who were admitted to the five ICUs between October 2008 and September 2012 (multicenter validation cohort). To assess the susceptibility to severe sepsis, we further selected 222 critically ill patients from the validation cohort matched for age, gender, morbidity, and severity with the patients with severe sepsis, but without any evidence of sepsis. Results: We examined whether the eight THBD single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with susceptibility to and/or mortality of sepsis. Higher mortality on severe sepsis in the discovery and combined cohorts was significantly associated with the CC genotype in a THBD promoter SNP (-1920*C/G; rs2239562) [odds ratio [OR] 2.709 (1.067-6.877), P = 0.033 and OR 1.768 (1.060-2.949), P = 0.028]. Furthermore, rs2239562 SNP was associated with susceptibility to severe sepsis [OR 1.593 (1.086-2.338), P = 0.017]. Conclusions: The data demonstrate that rs2239562, the THBD promoter SNP influences both the outcome and susceptibility to severe sepsis.


[Knee endoprosthesis implantation in hemophiliac arthropathy: results, problems and complications].
In the final stages of haemophilic arthropathy of the knee joint, the preservation of walking ability is only possible by joint replacement. Fibrotic ancylosis and severe deformities, being mostly bilaterally, make the joint reconstruction difficult and impair the results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of total knee replacement (TKR) in haemophilia. From 1990 to 1998, 14 TKR in 7 patients with severe haemophilia were performed. The mean age at operation was 47.3 years (range, 27-62 years). The mean follow-up period was 3.7 years (range, 1-7 years). The TKR was performed bilaterally at the same time in 6 cases. In 1 case, the bilateral TKR was done one after another with 6 months interval. In 10 knee joints, an unconstrained or semi-constrained surface replacement system was used. In 4 joints, a hinged prosthesis was required. The range of motion (extension-flexion) was improved from 0-23-69 degrees preoperatively to 0-4-88 degrees at follow-up. The mean HSS Score increased from 34.5 points preoperatively to 77.9 points at follow-up. Perioperatively, no haemorrhages or early infections were observed. In 1 case, 6 years postoperatively a late infection of the hinged knee prosthesis occurred. A two-stage-exchange of the prosthesis was performed. Aseptic loosenings of prosthetic components were not observed. The TKR in haemophilia is technically demanding and requires a consequent perioperative F-VIII or F-IX substitution. A bilateral simultaneous implantation is useful. The indication for TKR has to be strict because of the higher risks and requires a close cooperation with the haemostaseologist.


Helminth and arthropod parasites of experimentally introduced whooping cranes in Florida.
Nine species of nematodes, unidentified larval nematodes, three species of trematodes, two species of acanthocephalans and a single species of chewing louse were collected from 1993 to 1995 from 25 introduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Florida (USA). In spite of a quarantine procedure involving anthelmintic therapy, three helminth parasites may have been introduced from captive populations. Other parasites acquired were similar to those found in a local congener, the Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis), or only occurred infrequently.


[Sports injuries in children. Epidemiologic study].
Among 49 000 cases of infantile emergencies which were received in the BUCI (Bloc d'urgence chirurgical infantile: surgical infantile emergency unit), 5 546 were sport traumas. At an early age, they were caused by outdoor plays; during adolescence, the main cases were caused by team sports. Males are predominant. The number of cases has been regularly progressing, particularly since 1976. The fashion in sports is influenced by médias (i.e. skate board), and can be opposed to the continuous practice of popular sports (swimming, ball games, bycicle. There are winter, summer, school timed sports (the latter being influenced by the sportive scholar associations). The most frequent sports are cycling, football playing, swimming and horse riding, athleticism skating, Other are occasionnal. Changes in sport fashions, female increasing participation, such as horse riding and skating, democratisation (skiing, riding), the worsening of traumas; the pathology concerning bystanders, are described. Cranial and peripheric pathology are dominant. Trunk traumas are scarce but severe. Each sport has an elective pathologic localisation. Injury mechanisms are found, such as stirrup, saddle, ski baton pathology. There is traumatologic similarities; skate board and roller skating; judo and atheleticism; cycling and horse riding. Sport in children is not a replica of the one among adults. Riding a bike is not cycling. Some sports are dangerous: cycling, horse riding, rugby. A traumatological outline is revealed. Preventive measures should be taken. The socio-economical cost is heavy.


Individual differences impacting skin deformation and tactile discrimination with compliant elastic surfaces.
Individual differences in tactile acuity are observed within and between age cohorts. Such differences in acuity may be attributed to various sources, including aspects of nervous system, skin mechanics, finger size, cognitive and behavioral factors, etc. This work considers individual differences, within a younger cohort of participants, in discriminating compliant surfaces. These participants exhibit a range of finger size and stiffness. Interestingly, both their finger size and stiffness well predict their discriminative performance, where softer/smaller fingers outperform stiffer/larger fingers. Stereo imaging captured biomechanical cues in the skin's deformation, including contact area and penetration depth, and their change rates. In those individuals with stiffer/larger fingers, who perceptually performed worse, we observed less distinguishable contact areas and eccentricities, compared to softer/smaller fingers. These particular cues well predicted individual differences observed in perceptual discrimination. In comparison, with two other cues, curvature and penetration depth, the imaging readily distinguished the compliant surfaces irrespective of finger stiffness/size, not aligned with discrimination. In conclusion, in passive touch, we find that individuals with softer/smaller fingers were better at discriminating compliances, and that certain skin deformation cues predict individual differences in perception.


Passive leg movement-induced vasodilation and exercise-induced sympathetic vasoconstriction.
The role of nitric oxide (NO) as a modulator of functional sympatholysis has been debated in the literature, but the preponderance of evidence suggests that the magnitude of NO-mediated dilation is restrained by sympathetic vasoconstriction. Therefore, we hypothesized that passive leg movement (PLM)-induced vasodilation, which is predominantly NO-mediated, would be attenuated by an exercise-induced increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). To test this hypothesis, MSNA, leg blood flow (LBF), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured and leg vascular conductance (LVC) calculated in 9 healthy subjects (30 ± 3 yr), during PLM with and without sympathoexcitation evoked by arm-cranking exercise (ACE), at 25, 50, and 75% of maximal capacity. During this incremental intensity ACE, MSNA increased significantly (26 ± 2, 34 ± 3, and 41 ± 5 bursts/100 HB, respectively). LVC during PLM fell markedly (~1.2 ml/min/mmHg) with each increase in ACE intensity, and there was a strong relationship (r = 0.92; p < 0.05) between ∆MSNA and ∆Peak LVC induced by the three intensities of ACE. Thus, as anticipated, this study reveals that the, NO-mediated, PLM-induced vasodilation, is significantly and proportionally attenuated by exercise-induced MSNA. This finding highlights the dominant role of MSNA in regulating skeletal muscle vascular conductance.


Hydrogen bonds in human ubiquitin reflected in temperature coefficients of amide protons.
Analysis of amide proton temperature coefficients (deltasigma(HN)/DeltaT) in human ubiquitin shows their usefulness in indicating hydrogen bonds. The availability of a very accurate solution structure of ubiquitin enables the precise determination of hydrogen bonds and increases the reliability of the analysis of chemical shift temperature gradients. Values of deltasigma(HN)/DeltaT more positive than -4.6 ppb/K are very good indicators of hydrogen bonds. Additionally, a weak temperature dependence of non-hydrogen-bonded amides was observed for amide protons that are significantly shifted upfield. We observed that temperature gradients of amide protons involved in short hydrogen bonds are related to donor-acceptor distances.


Anti-glycan antibodies as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.
Glycans (sugars or carbohydrates) are predominant surface components of cells such as erythrocytes, immune cells and microorganisms. As such, they give rise to high levels of anti-glycan antibodies of all classes. Antibodies to certain defined mono, di and oligosaccharides that are common in bacterial, fungal and parasite cells exist in human sera and can be profiled using glycan arrays. The use of glycan arrays for systematic screening of blood samples from multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease (CD) patients in versus to blood samples from control groups, have lead to the discovery of a few anti glycan antibodies biomarkers enabling diagnosis and prognosis in MS and CD patients. Anti-Glc(alpha1,4)Glc(alpha) IgM antibodies were found to be specific for MS patients, enabling differentiation between MS patients and patients with other neurological diseases, with 54% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Anti-Glc(alpha1,4)Glc(alpha) IgM were found to be predictive for the conversion of patients in first acute neurological event to clinically defined MS. Anti-laminaribioside (ALCA), anti-mannobioside (AMCA) and anti-chitobioside (ACCA) antibodies were found to be specific for CD. The combined use of these antibodies enables improved diagnosis of CD versus ulcerative colitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, as well as stratification of CD patients with a more complicated disease and high risk for surgery. Anti-glycan antibodies profiling (AGAP) is a new and promising approach for development of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.


Management of incidental lumboiliac hernia during spinal cord stimulator implant: a case report.
Lumboiliac or lumbar hernia is a rare defect in the posterolateral abdominal wall that may be inadvertently misidentified and interfere with the implantable pulse generator (IPG) portion of spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implants. We report the case of a 54-year-old Caucasian man with an incidental finding of a lumboiliac hernia in the inferior lumbar triangle of Petit with placement of an IPG in a SCS implant. With the assistance of surgical colleagues, the correct diagnosis was made intraoperatively. We describe the operative repair of the lumboiliac hernia with a synthetic mesh. A new IPG pocket was created above the mesh prior to proceeding with IPG placement. No recurrence of the hernia defect was observed on 2-month follow-up. It is important that pain physicians and neurosurgeons who perform SCS implants are aware of lumboiliac hernias to avoid potential diagnostic or management errors. Lumboiliac hernias should be included on the differential diagnosis of lumbar or flank masses. Confirmation with imaging may be necessary and definitive surgical treatment should be pursued.


Current treatments for radiation retinopathy.
to review the currently available therapeutic modalities for radiation retinopathy (RR), including newer investigational interventions directed towards specific aspects of the pathophysiology of this refractory complication. a review of the literature encompassing the pathogenesis of RR and the current therapeutic modalities available was performed. RR is a chronic and progressive condition that results from exposure to any source of radiation. It might be secondary to radiation treatment of intraocular tumors such as choroidal melanomas, retinoblastomas, and choroidal metastasis, or from unavoidable exposure to excessive radiation from the treatment of extraocular tumors like cephalic, nasopharyngeal, orbital, and paranasal malignancies. After the results of the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study, most of the choroidal melanomas are being treated with plaque brachytherapy increasing by that the incidence of this radiation complication. RR has been reported to occur in as many as 60% of eyes treated with plaque radiation, with higher rates associated with larger tumors. Initially, the condition manifests as a radiation vasculopathy clinically seen as microaneurysms and telangiectases, with posterior development of retinal hard exudates and hemorrhages, macular edema, neovascularization and tractional retinal detachment. Regrettably, the management of these eyes remains limited. Photodynamic therapy, laser photocoagulation, oral pentoxyphylline and hyperbaric oxygen have been attempted as treatment modalities with inconclusive results. Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor such as bevacizumab, ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium have been recently used, also with variable results. RR is a common vision threatening complication following radiation therapy. The available therapeutic options are limited and show unsatisfactory results. Further large investigative studies are required for developing better therapeutic as well as preventive treatment strategies.


[Changes in energy metabolism in several brain regions and vegetative responses of white rats during neurotization].
Changes of vegetative reactions and cytochrome oxidase (CChO) activity in various brain structures were studied in rats during neurotization. One week neurotization led to an increase of arterial blood pressure, respiration rate, cardiac stroke volume and heart rate. In three weeks of neurotization there was a decrease of stroke volume accompanied by an increase of heart rate and some decrease or respiration rate leading to a reduction of oxygen consumption. Neurotization during one and especially three weeks elicited an enhancement of CChO activity in various brain areas, more pronounced in the cerebral cortex. A four week "rest" after neurotization during three weeks normalized the CChO activity. CChO activation during neurotization is supposed to be one of the mechanisms of adaptation to hypoxia accompanying neurosis.


The differences of clinical parameters between small multiple ischemic lesions and single lesion detected by diffusion-weighted MRI.
The cause of small infarction is mainly considered to be intracranial small-vessel disease. However, it is difficult to explain the mechanism of multiple, acute infarctions by small-vessel disease. We examined the differences of clinical parameters between patients with multiple small lesions and single lesion detected by Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). We reviewed the clinical records of 86 consecutive stroke patients with lacunar size ischemic lesions on DWI during the acute stage (within 72 h of onset). The subjects were 55 males and 31 females (mean age 72.4 +/- 9.9 years). Small multiple acute ischemic lesions were defined using the following criteria 1): the lesions were detectable by DWI 2), the diameter of each lesion on DWI was less than 1.5 cm, and 3) more than one vascular territory was involved. Included in the analysis were age, sex, lipoprotein (a) levels, hematocrit, atrial fibrillation (Af), stenosis of middle cerebral artery (MCA), internal carotid artery (ICA) or basilar artery stenosis detected by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission, and a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Twenty-one (24.4%) out of 86 patients with small acute infarctions had multiple acute ischemic lesions. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Af and stenosis of ICA or basilar artery were significantly more prevalent in patients with multiple lesions than single lesions. Multiple, small lesions visible in DWI are likely to be caused by emboli from heart or atheroma of the large vessels than single small lesion.


Chitosan⁻Zinc(II) Complexes as a Bio-Sorbent for the Adsorptive Abatement of Phosphate: Mechanism of Complexation and Assessment of Adsorption Performance.
This study examines zinc(II)⁻chitosan complexes as a bio-sorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solutions. The bio-sorbent is prepared and is characterized via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Point of Zero Charge (pHPZC)⁻drift method. The adsorption capacity of zinc(II)⁻chitosan bio-sorbent is compared with those of chitosan and ZnO⁻chitosan and nano-ZnO⁻chitosan composites. The effect of operational parameters including pH, temperature, and competing ions are explored via adsorption batch mode. A rapid phosphate uptake is observed within the first three hours of contact time. Phosphate removal by zinc(II)⁻chitosan is favored when the surface charge of bio-sorbent is positive/or neutral e.g., within the pH range inferior or around its pHPZC, 7. Phosphate abatement is enhanced with decreasing temperature. The study of background ions indicates a minor effect of chloride, whereas nitrate and sulfate show competing effect with phosphate for the adsorptive sites. The adsorption kinetics is best described with the pseudo-second-order model. Sips (R² > 0.96) and Freundlich (R² ≥ 0.95) models suit the adsorption isotherm. The phosphate reaction with zinc(II)⁻chitosan is exothermic, favorable and spontaneous. The complexation of zinc(II) and chitosan along with the corresponding mechanisms of phosphate removal are presented. This study indicates the introduction of zinc(II) ions into chitosan improves its performance towards phosphate uptake from 1.45 to 6.55 mg/g and provides fundamental information for developing bio-based materials for water remediation.


Carbon-Coated Silicon Nanowires on Carbon Fabric as Self-Supported Electrodes for Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries.
A novel self-supported electrode with long cycling life and high mass loading was developed based on carbon-coated Si nanowires grown in situ on highly conductive and flexible carbon fabric substrates through a nickel-catalyzed one-pot atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition. The high-quality carbon coated Si nanowires resulted in high reversible specific capacity (∼3500 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1), while the three-dimensional electrode's unique architecture leads to a significantly improved robustness and a high degree of electrode stability. An exceptionally long cyclability with a capacity retention of ∼66% over 500 cycles at 1.0 A g-1 was achieved. The controllable high mass loading enables an electrode with extremely high areal capacity of ∼5.0 mA h cm-2. Such a scalable electrode fabrication technology and the high-performance electrodes hold great promise in future practical applications in high energy density lithium-ion batteries.


Clinical application of combined detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and nucleic acid.
The global outbreak of human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection represents an urgent need for readily available, accurate and rapid diagnostic tests. Nucleic acid testing of respiratory tract specimens for SARS-CoV-2 is the current gold standard for diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the diagnostic accuracy of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid may be lower than optimal. The detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies should be used as a serological non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To investigate the diagnostic value of SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG and nucleic acid detection in COVID-19. We retrospectively analyzed 652 suspected COVID-19 patients, and 206 non-COVID-19 patients in Wuhan Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital. Data on SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests and serum antibody tests were collected to investigate the diagnostic value of nucleic acid RT-PCR test kits and immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG antibody test kits. The χ2 test was used to compare differences between categorical variables. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was provided by the Wilson score method. All analyses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States). Of the 652 suspected COVID-19 patients, 237 (36.3%) had positive nucleic acid tests, 311 (47.7%) were positive for IgM, and 592 (90.8%) were positive for IgG. There was a significant difference in the positive detection rate between the IgM and IgG test groups (P < 0.001). Using the RT-PCR results as a reference, the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of IgM/IgG combined tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection were 98.5%, 95.8%, and 97.1%, respectively. Of the 415 suspected COVID-19 patients with negative nucleic acid test results, 366 had positive IgM/IgG tests with a positive detection rate of 88.2%. Our data indicate that serological IgM/IgG antibody combined test had high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and can be used in combination with RT-PCR for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Comparison of peripheral neuropathy induced by standard and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in rats.
Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) is delivered to tumors and increases antitumor activity compared with solvent-based paclitaxel. However, in a clinical trial, higher and lower rates of peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia were observed. In this study, we compared the effects of nab-paclitaxel and standard paclitaxel on pain behaviors in rats. Repeated administration of nab-paclitaxel dose-dependently induced both mechanical and cold allodynia, and the effects of nab-paclitaxel on pain behaviors tended to be stronger than that of standard paclitaxel at the doses used clinically. These results suggest that closer attention must be paid to the neuropathy when administering nab-paclitaxel in clinical settings.


Identification of Coronaviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Reoviruses, and Rotaviruses among Bats in Nigeria.
Bats are often consumed by some ethnic groups in Nigeria despite association of bats with many important emerging viruses. More than 300 bats representing eight species were captured during 2010-2011 in eight locations of northern Nigeria. Available fecal swabs (n = 95) were screened for the presence of arenaviruses, CoVs, paramyxoviruses (PMVs), reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, and influenza viruses using generic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. Here, we document the detection of CoVs, PMVs, reoviruses, and rotaviruses (RVs) in Nigerian bats. The Nigerian bat CoVs are grouped within other bat SARS-CoV-like viruses identified from Ghana in a sister clade next to the human SARS-CoV clade. The phylogenetic analysis indicated a broad range of RVs present in Nigerian bats, some cluster with human RVs and some represent novel species. Our study adds that continuing global surveillance for viruses in bats to understand their origin, adaptation, and evolution is important to prevent and control future zoonotic disease outbreaks.


Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation changes velopharyngeal control in Parkinson's disease.
Adequate velopharyngeal control is essential for speech, but may be impaired in Parkinson's disease (PD). Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) improves limb function in PD, but the effects on velopharyngeal control remain unknown. We tested whether STN DBS would change aerodynamic measures of velopharyngeal control, and whether these changes were correlated with limb function and stimulation settings. Seventeen PD participants with bilateral STN DBS were tested within a morning session after a minimum of 12h since their most recent dose of anti-PD medication. Testing occurred when STN DBS was on, and again 1h after STN DBS was turned off, and included aerodynamic measures during syllable production, and standard neurological ratings of limb function. We found that PD participants exhibited changes with STN DBS, primarily consistent with increased intraoral pressure (n=7) and increased velopharyngeal closure (n=5). These changes were modestly correlated with measures of limb function, and were correlated with stimulation frequency. Our findings suggest that STN DBS may change velopharyngeal control during syllable production in PD, with greater benefit associated with low frequency stimulation. However, DBS demonstrates a more subtle influence on speech-related velopharyngeal control than limb motor control. This distinction and its underlying mechanisms are important to consider when assessing the impact of STN DBS on PD. As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to (1) describe the effects of deep brain stimulation on limb and speech function; (2) describe the effects of deep brain stimulation on velopharyngeal control; and (3) discuss the possible reasons for differences in limb outcomes compared with speech function with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus.


Hepatic effects of duloxetine-I: non-clinical and clinical trial data.
Review nonclinical and clinical trial data for hepatic effects of duloxetine. Review studies of toxicology, metabolism, mitochondrial effects, and clinical trials. Nonclinical studies revealed no treatment-related transaminase elevations and no effects of duloxetine on mitochondrial beta-oxidation in rat hepatocytes. In patients with a normal baseline alanine transaminase (ALT), duloxetine was associated with elevated transaminases >3X ULN in about 1% of patients. ALT and aspartate transaminase values peaked at 8 weeks, alkaline phosphatase steadily increased to maximum value at Week 52 and mean total bilirubin values were not increased. Hepatic-related treatment-emergent adverse events were uncommon. Seven of 23,000 duloxetine- and 2/6000 placebo-treated patients met criteria for modified Hy's rule (significant elevation of both ALT and total bilirubin) but were complicated by contributing factors such as excessive alcohol consumption (n=3), gall stones, common bile duct calculus, hepatitis C, and liver adenocarcinoma (n=1 each). Duloxetine has an effect on the liver, manifested by transient, self-limiting transaminase elevations. Rare events characterized as hepatocellular injury, cholestatic injury, or mixed type of hepatic injury have been reported. The pattern of liver effects was different from that in laboratory animals.


Risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials: a review of available data and approaches from a regulatory perspective.
It has been largely recognised that substantial limitations and uncertainties make the conventional risk assessment (RA) of chemicals unfeasible to apply to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) today, which leaves the regulators with little support in the near term. The aim of this paper is to discuss the state of the art in the area of the RA of nanomaterials, focusing on the available data and approaches. There is a paucity of reliable information in the online safety databases and the literature is dominated by (eco)toxicity studies, while the nano-exposure research lags behind. Most of the reviewed nano-RA approaches are designed to serve as preliminary risk screening and/or research prioritisation tools and are not intended to support regulatory decision making. In this context, we recommend to further study the possibilities to apply complementary/alternative tools for near-term RA of ENMs in order to facilitate their timely regulation, using the data that are currently available in the literature.


Effect of glucocorticoid on upregulation of histamine H1 receptor mRNA in nasal mucosa of rats sensitized by exposure to toluene diisocyanate.
Histamine is a major chemical mediator in the development of nasal allergy, which is characterized by nasal hypersensitivity. In this study, we used rats sensitized by exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) as an animal model of nasal hypersensitivity and examined changes in expression of histamine H1 receptor (H1R) in the nasal mucosa. The effect of glucocorticoid on upregulation of H1R in nasal mucosa induced by TDI was also examined. In rats sensitized by exposure to TDI, nasal allergy-like behavior was scored during a 10-min period after TDI provocation. The expression of H1R in the nasal mucosa was determined by means of a real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and a [3H]mepyramine binding assay. In TDI-sensitized rats, nasal allergy-like behavior, such as sneezing and watery rhinorrhea, was induced after intranasal application of TDI and nasal hypersensitivity to histamine was significantly increased. The level of H1R mRNA expression and the specific binding of [3H]mepyramine in the nasal mucosa were significantly increased after intranasal application of TDI in TDI-sensitized rats. Pretreatment with dexamethasone significantly reduced both nasal allergy-like behavior and the upregulation of H1R induced by TDI in the rats. As shown in TDI-sensitized rats, our findings suggest that the upregulation of H1R in the nasal mucosa is one of the mechanisms responsible for nasal hypersensitivity behavior and nasal hypersensitivity to histamine and that the therapeutic effects of dexamethasone are, in part, due to its inhibitory action on the upregulation of H1R.