Neurite outgrowths of neurons with neurotrophin-coated carbon nanotubes.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with neurotrophin were used to regulate the differentiation and survival of neurons. Neurotrophin (nerve growth factor [NGF] or brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]) was covalently bound to CNTs modified by amino groups using a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) reagent. The CNTs coated with NGF or BDNF promoted the neurite outgrowths of neurons in the same manner as soluble NGF and soluble BDNF. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we demonstrated that neurotrophin-coated CNTs carry neurotrophin. These results suggest that neurotrophin-coated CNTs have biological activity and stimulate the neurite outgrowths of neurons.


Improvements of deep vein reflux following radiofrequency ablation for saphenous vein incompetence.
Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the changes of deep vein reflux after radiofrequency ablation for great saphenous vein incompetence. Method The data on 139 limbs which were treated with radiofrequency ablation for great saphenous vein incompetence were prospectively collected and reviewed. Results Deep vein reflux was present in 43 of 139 limbs (30.9%). There were no significant differences in the rate of successful closure, the incidence of procedure-related complications, and the improvements of symptoms and quality of life between the limbs with or without deep vein reflux. With a mean follow-up of 5.9 months, the peak reflux velocity and duration of reflux were improved in all limbs with deep vein reflux and it was completely corrected in 13 limbs (30.2%) after radiofrequency ablation. Conclusions The presence of deep vein reflux does not affect the treatment outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for great saphenous vein incompetence and is improved in all patients. Deep vein reflux is not a barrier to performing radiofrequency ablation.


[Simultaneous phacoemulsification, lens implantation and endothelial keratoplasty (triple procedure)].
Simultaneous Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens implantation are indicated in Fuchs' dystrophy with associated cataract. Compared to the standard method of the triple procedure which includes penetrating keratoplasty, this new method has the advantages of sutureless surgery, small limbal incision, faster recovery, less surface problems, less astigmatism, stronger tensile strength and more predictable calculation of the intraocular lens power. This is the first report of such a combination of procedures in our literature. A 76-year-old woman suffered from a gradual bilateral visual loss. The best corrected visual acuity was 20/60 (right eye) and finger counting at 1m (left eye). Corneal thickness was 590 microm and 603 microm, respectively. A marked cornea guttata and nuclear cataract were present in both eyes. Phacoemulsification, lens implantation, and Descemet stripping were done in the left eye. The posterior lamellar corneal graft, 8.0 mm in diameter and about 150 microm thick, was bent and inserted through the limbal incision. The air was injected into the anterior chamber to attach the graft to the recipient stroma. The cornea remained clear, and the transplant was attached during a two-year follow-up. Visual acuity was 20/40 after two months, and 20/25 after one year. CONCLUSION. The new technique proved itself as a good choice for the treatment of a mild Fuchs' dystrophy associated with cataract.


Tuning the band gap and polarization of BaSnO3/SrSnO3 superlattices for photovoltaic applications.
Band gap and polarization are two important quantities for enhancing the performance of photovoltaic materials. Based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that direct band gap and hybrid improper ferroelectric polarization coexist in BaSnO3/SrSnO3 superlattices. Furthermore, the band gap and polarization can be simultaneously tuned by mechanical strain and pressure. In the presence of tensile strain or negative pressure, the band gap is substantially lowered and the polarization is enhanced by about five times in comparison with that without mechanical loads. The lowered band gap is necessary for increasing the efficiency of light absorption, whereas the enhanced polarization is desirable for the separation of photo-excited carriers in the materials. The present work suggests that the strained BaSnO3/SrSnO3 superlattices are promising ferroelectric semiconducting materials for photovoltaic applications.


[Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis in HIV infection].
We report about a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection who developed acute renal failure after therapy with atazanavir. Renal biopsy showed acute interstitial nephritis. After discontinuing medication with atazanavir serum creatinine level decreased spontaneously without steroids. The different etiologies of acute renal failure in patients with human immunodeficiency infection are discussed.


A Multifactor Quantitative Assessment Model for Safe Mining after Roof Drainage in the Liangshuijing Coal Mine.
To prevent coal mine roof water damage, the water generally needs to be evacuated in advance. It can be mined with the water inrush risk assessed as safe. However, a single index is often employed in the water safety evaluation after the roof drainage, which causes a large gap between the evaluation results and the actual situation. Therefore, the evaluation cannot be effectively used to guide the safety mining in the working face. In this paper, based on the hydrogeological data of the Liangshuijing coal mine, a multifactor water inrush risk assessment model (IAHP-EWM) and multifactor index system are established for assessing the water inrush risk before and after the roof drainage. The improved AHP method and the entropy weight method are adopted in the model to determine the index weight. This combined way avoids the excessive subjectivity and objectivity of the index weight. A″ Fold undulation degree (Fud )″ is innovatively proposed to quantify the impact of the spatial relief of folds on water inrush in the multifactor index system. The IAHP-EWM model is applied to evaluate the risk of roof water inrush in the 42205 working face of the Liangshuijing coal mine. The evaluation results show that the water inrush risk is ″high″ when the water is not dredged, and the water inrush risk is ″low″ after the water is dredged, which are consistent with the actual water inflow data and evaluation results, which verifies the accuracy of the model. The application results of the IAHP-EWM model in the 42202, 42203, and 42204 working faces verify its universal applicability in the Liangshuijing mining area. It can provide a reference for the evaluation of the roof water damage control effect during coal seam mining.


A Hospital-Based and Cross-Sectional Investigation on Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates in Beijing from 2015 to 2021.
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a major pathogen causing death in children. Few studies have evaluated the importance of S. pneumoniae in the identified bacteria in clinical work. This retrospective study aimed to reveal the rank of S. pneumoniae in determined bacteria isolated from children in Beijing, China, as well as the antimicrobial resistance of this pathogen. The number of specimen for bacterial culture and of bacterial species were cumulated and ranked based on the data of the two largest children's hospitals in Beijing from 2015 to 2021. The temporal change of S. pneumoniae culture, as well as the clinical data of S. pneumoniae isolates were collected and analyzed. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents were determined by BD Phoenix 100 automated system or Vitek 2 automated system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The breakpoints recommended by CLSI were adopted. During the 7-year study period, a total of 45,631 bacterial isolates were cultured from 462,144 submitted specimens, in which S. pneumoniae was the third frequent agent following S. aureus and H. influenza, and accounting for 8.79% of the isolates (4011/45,631). In the 4011 S. pneumoniae isolates, 2239 and 997 ones were, respectively, isolated from sputum and bronchial lavage fluid. Most of S. pneumoniae strains were identified in winter (34.7%) and spring (26.1%), and were mainly isolated from patients under 5 years old (77.1%). Low susceptible rate (27.6%) of CSF isolates was determined to penicillin according to the parenteral meningitis breakpoints, while high susceptible rate (56.9%) of non-CSF isolates was obtained according to the parenteral non-meningitis breakpoints. The isolates showed low sensitivity to erythromycin and tetracycline (<5%). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. The present results demonstrated that S. pneumoniae was one of the most commonly detected bacteria in current pediatric clinical tests, especially in young children under 5 years old, which emphasized the importance of prevention. Penicillin could still be the first empiric choice to treat non-meningitis pneumococcal infections, while erythromycin should not be involved in the treatment.


Occupational exposure to petroleum-based and oxygenated solvents and hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer in France: the ICARE study.
To examine associations between occupational exposure to petroleum-based and oxygenated solvents and the risk of hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. ICARE is a large, frequency-matched population-based case-control study conducted in France. Lifetime occupational history, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption were collected. Analyses were restricted to men and included 383 cases of hypopharyngeal cancer, 454 cases of laryngeal cancer, and 2780 controls. Job-exposure matrices were used to assess exposure to five petroleum-based solvents (benzene; gasoline; white spirits; diesel, fuels and kerosene; special petroleum products) and to five oxygenated solvents (alcohols; ketones and esters; ethylene glycol; diethyl ether; tetrahydrofuran). Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for smoking, alcohol drinking and other potential confounders and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated with unconditional logistic models. No significant association was found between hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer risk and exposure to the solvents under study. Non-significantly elevated risks of hypopharyngeal cancer were found in men exposed to high cumulative levels of white spirits (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 0.88-2.43) and tetrahydrofuran (OR = 2.63; 95CI%: 0.55-12.65), with some indication of a dose-response relationship (p for trend: 0.09 and 0.07 respectively). This study provides weak evidence for an association between hypopharyngeal cancer and exposure to white spirits and tetrahydrofuran, and overall does not suggest a substantial role of exposure to petroleum-based or oxygenated solvents in hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer risk.


Salivary and serum interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with leukoplakia and oral cancer.
The aim of study was to compare salivary and serum concentrations of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in patients with oral leukoplakia, oral cancer and healthy controls. Eighty eight patients (28 with oral cancer, 29 leukoplakia, and 31 healthy controls) were included in this study. Cytokine concentrations were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunoassay. Salivary IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in oral cancer patients than in patients with leukoplakia and control group (p<0.05). No differences in concentrations of salivary TNF-α between either of the groups were observed. Serum concentrations of IL-1β were below level of detection in all but two participants. No significant differences between the groups were observed in serum concentrations of IL-6. Serum TNF-α was significantly higher in control subjects than in oral cancer patients. Patients with oral cancer have elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines in their saliva. Whether this elevation can be used for monitoring the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia remains to be answered by further follow up studies.


Oestradiol reduces liver receptor homolog-1 mRNA transcript stability in breast cancer cell lines.
The expression of orphan nuclear receptor Liver Receptor Homolog-1 (LRH-1) is elevated in breast cancer and promotes proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. LRH-1 expression is regulated by oestrogen (E2), with LRH-1 mRNA transcript levels higher in oestrogen receptor α (ERα) positive (ER+) breast cancer cells compared to ER- cells. However, the presence of LRH-1 protein in ER- cells suggests discordance between mRNA transcript levels and protein expression. To understand this, we investigated the impact of mRNA and protein stability in determining LRH-1 protein levels in breast cancer cells. LRH-1 transcript levels were significantly higher in ER+ versus ER- breast cancer cells lines; however LRH-1 protein was expressed at similar levels. We found LRH-1 mRNA and protein was more stable in ER- compared to ER+ cell lines. The tumor-specific LRH-1 variant isoform, LRH-1v4, which is highly responsive to E2, showed increased mRNA stability in ER- versus ER+ cells. In addition, in MCF-7 and T47-D cell lines, LRH-1 total mRNA stability was reduced with E2 treatment, this effect mediated by ERα. Our data demonstrates that in ER- cells, increased mRNA and protein stability contribute to the abundant protein expression levels. Expression and immunolocalisation of LRH-1 in ER- cells as well as ER- tumors suggests a possible role in the development of ER- tumors. The modulation of LRH-1 bioactivity may therefore be beneficial as a treatment option in both ER- and ER+ breast cancer.


Factors associated with women's desire for control of healthcare during childbirth: Psychometric analysis and construct validation.
The desire for control of healthcare is a significant moderator of outcomes related to childbirth. Researchers have shown that a sense of control of healthcare during childbirth is strongly correlated with postpartum maternal well-being. The aims of this study were to examine (a) the psychometric characteristics of an instrument to assess women's desire for control of healthcare during childbirth, and (b) examine desire for control in relation to parity, medical complications of pregnancy, and women's choices of childbirth providers and setting. The study design was cross-sectional using two different samples totaling 385 pregnant women. In Sample 1, (n = 193) we conducted an exploratory factor analysis to reduce the initial item pool. In Sample 2, (n = 192) we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the final 12-item instrument and examined factors related to the desire for control. Results of the analysis in Sample 1 were supportive of a single-factor structure reflecting women's desire to influence the childbirth healthcare environment and decision-making. The final 12-item instrument had high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). CFA in Sample 2 was supportive of the single-factor structure with good model fit. The desire for control was directly correlated with an internal locus of control. Nulliparous women reported a lower desire for control compared with multiparous women. The desire for control among women with self-reported medical complications of pregnancy was comparable to that among women without pregnancy complications. The desire for control was a predictor of choosing midwives (vs. obstetricians), home or birth center (vs. hospitals), and professional labor support (e.g., doulas). Implications for future research on the impact of desire for control on maternal health outcomes are discussed.


Rapid Production and Purification of Dye-Loaded Liposomes by Electrodialysis-Driven Depletion.
Liposomes are spherical-shaped vesicles that enclose an aqueous milieu surrounded by bilayer or multilayer membranes formed by self-assembly of lipid molecules. They are intensively exploited as either model membranes for fundamental studies or as vehicles for delivery of active substances in vivo and in vitro. Irrespective of the method adopted for production of loaded liposomes, obtaining the final purified product is often achieved by employing multiple, time consuming steps. To alleviate this problem, we propose a simplified approach for concomitant production and purification of loaded liposomes by exploiting the Electrodialysis-Driven Depletion of charged molecules from solutions. Our investigations show that electrically-driven migration of charged detergent and dye molecules from solutions that include natural or synthetic lipid mixtures leads to rapid self-assembly of loaded, purified liposomes, as inferred from microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy assessments. In addition, the same procedure was successfully applied for incorporating PEGylated lipids into the membranes for the purpose of enabling long-circulation times needed for potential in vivo applications. Dynamic Light Scattering analyses and comparison of electrically-formed liposomes with liposomes produced by sonication or extrusion suggest potential use for numerous in vitro and in vivo applications.


Chromosomal Heteromorphisms and Cancer Susceptibility Revisited.
Chromosomal heteromorphisms (CHs) are a part of genetic variation in man. The past literature largely posited whether CHs could be correlated with the development of malignancies. While this possibility seemed closed by end of the 1990s, recent data have raised the question again on the potential influences of repetitive DNA elements, the main components of CHs, in cancer susceptibility. Such new evidence for a potential role of CHs in cancer can be found in the following observations: (i) amplification and/or epigenetic alterations of CHs are routinely reported in tumors; (ii) the expression of CH-derived RNA in embryonal and other cells under stress, including cancer cells; (iii) the expression of parts of CH-DNA as long noncoding RNAs; plus (iv) theories that suggest a possible application of the "two-hit model" for euchromatic copy number variants (CNVs). Herein, these points are discussed in detail, which leads to the conclusion that CHs are by far not given sufficient consideration in routine cytogenetic analysis, e.g., leukemias and lymphomas, and need more attention in future research settings including solid tumors. This heightened focus may only be achieved by approaches other than standard sequencing or chromosomal microarrays, as these techniques are at a minimum impaired in their ability to detect, if not blind to, (highly) repetitive DNA sequences.


The Value of SIRT1/FOXO1 Signaling Pathway in Early Detection of Cardiovascular Risk in Children with β-Thalassemia Major.
Background: Atherosclerosis represents one of the major causes of morbidity in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Aim: This study was designed to investigate SIRT1-FOXO1 signaling in β-TM children and their role in early detection of premature atherosclerosis. Methods: We equally subdivided 100 Egyptian children aged 6−14 years with β-TM according to carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) into 50 with CIMT < 0.5 mm and 50 with CIMT ≥ 0.5 mm, and 50 healthy children of matched age were included. They were subjected to evaluation of SIRT1, heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), and hepcidin levels via ELISA and forkhead box protein 1 (FOXO1) mRNA expression using real-time PCR in PBMCs; meanwhile, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Results: Our results show significantly high values for CIMT, β-stiffness, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), MDA, HSP72 and FOXO1, ferritin with significantly low hepcidin, SOD, catalase, and SIRT1 in β-TM as compared to controls with a more significant difference in β-TM with CIMT ≥ 0.5 mm than those with CIMT < 0.5 mm. A significant positive correlation between CIMT and MDA, HSP72, and FOXO1 gene expression was found, while a significant negative correlation with hepcidin, SOD, catalase, and SIRT1 was found. FOXO1 gene expression and HSP72 levels were the strongest independent determinants of CIMT. Conclusion: In β-TM, FOXO1 signaling is activated with low levels of SIRT1, and this is attributed to accelerated atherosclerosis in β-TM, which would be crucial in prediction of atherosclerosis.


Failure of pentoxifylline to enhance skin flap survival in the rat.
The effect of pentoxifylline, a hemorheological agent that increases erythrocyte flexibility and augments capillary blood flow, on the survival of the dorsal skin flap of the rat was studied. An experimental group received intraperitoneal injections of pentoxifylline twice daily, 50 mg/kg/day, and a control group was given identical volumes of saline. Standard McFarlane flaps sized 4 x 9 cm (n = 22) and narrower 2 x 6-cm flaps (n = 18) were constructed 14 days later. After a postoperative observation period of 7 days, no significant difference in tissue survival between the pentoxifylline-treated animals and the controls was found in either flap model. Fourteen days preoperative treatment with pentoxifylline appeared to have no effect on flap survival.


Congenital protein C deficiency causing major arterial thrombosis in a neonate.
A 9-day-old female baby presented with complaints of progressively worsening respiratory distress and lethargy. The parents were first cousins with history of multiple fetal losses in previous pregnancies. On examination, the baby was noted to be tachypnoeic, tachycardic with poor peripheral perfusion of the lower extremities. Femoral pulses on both sides were barely palpable. Echocardiography was normal. But cardiac catheterisation revealed the presence of an intraluminal obstruction of the distal aorta by a large thrombus. An attempt to dissolve the thrombus with urokinase infusion was unsuccessful. The affected vessels were then surgically explored and a large thrombus from the common iliac artery and distal abdominal aorta was removed. Following this, the child recovered uneventfully with return of lower limb pulsation. A thrombotic profile revealed the underlying diagnosis of congenital protein C deficiency responsible for the arterial thrombosis. This is an extremely unusual presentation, hardly ever been reported before.


Adenoviral disease in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.
Adenoviral disease in pediatric SOT recipients is emerging as an important viral pathogen, with serious consequences impacting morbidity, mortality and graft survival. The optimal diagnostic techniques, as well as therapy have yet to be established. This article reviews the current epidemiology of AdV in orthotopic liver, intestinal, cardiothoracic and renal transplant recipients. Issues related to diagnosis, notably the use of newer non-culture based viral detection methods and therapy, including anti-adenoviral agents and adoptive immunotherapy are discussed.


Soil Organic Matter Persistence as a Stochastic Process: Age and Transit Time Distributions of Carbon in Soils.
The question of why some types of organic matter are more persistent while others decompose quickly in soils has motivated a large amount of research in recent years. Persistence is commonly characterized as turnover or mean residence time of soil organic matter (SOM). However, turnover and residence times are ambiguous measures of persistence, because they could represent the concept of either age or transit time. To disambiguate these concepts and propose a metric to assess SOM persistence, we calculated age and transit time distributions for a wide range of soil organic carbon models. Furthermore, we show how age and transit time distributions can be obtained from a stochastic approach that takes a deterministic model of mass transfers among different pools and creates an equivalent stochastic model at the level of atoms. Using this approach we show the following: (1) Age distributions have relatively old mean values and long tails in relation to transit time distributions, suggesting that carbon stored in soils is on average much older than carbon in the release flux. (2) The difference between mean ages and mean transit times is large, with estimates of soil organic carbon persistence on the order of centuries or millennia when assessed using ages and on the order of decades when using transit or turnover times. (3) The age distribution is an appropriate metric to characterize persistence of SOM. An important implication of our analysis is that random chance is a factor that helps to explain why some organic matter persists for millennia in soil.


Cerebrospinal fluid neutrophilic pleocytosis in hospitalized West Nile virus patients.
A description of 7 consecutive patients admitted for various forms of neurological impairment. All these patients were found to have cerebrospinal fluid positive for West Nile virus IgM, and routine bacterial cultures were negative. Six of these patients did not present with the typical lymphocytic pleocytosis often quoted when discussing a viral meningitis/encephalitis; rather most presented with a cerebrospinal fluid neutrophilia.


Tumor endothelial marker 8 expression in triple-negative breast cancer.
Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) is a tumor endothelial-associated antigen that is having an increasingly recognized role in tumor biology. The expression of TEM8 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has not yet been characterized. We hypothesize that TEM8 is overexpressed in TNBC and in metastatic TNBC in lymph nodes (LN) compared to normal breast tissue and normal lymphatic tissue, respectively. We studied expression of TEM8 in cases of primary (n=17) and metastatic (n=2) TNBC using immunohistochemical analyses. All cases demonstrated increased expression of TEM8 in tumor tissue compared to non-cancerous breast tissue. TEM8 was expressed at a higher level in the stroma adjacent to the TNBC in all cases, with focal immunoreactive areas within the tumor. TEM8 was not expressed in normal lymphoid tissue, but showed expression at sites of LN metastases. TEM8 would appear to represent a new biologic target for designing novel diagnostic or therapeutic approaches for TNBC.


Characterization of a new phosphatase from Plasmodium.
Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the most important parasitic disease worldwide, responsible for an estimated 1 million deaths annually. Two P. falciparum genes code for putative phosphoglycerate mutases (PGMases), a widespread protein group characterized by the involvement of histidine residues in their catalytic mechanism. PGMases are responsible for the interconversion between 2 and 3-phosphoglycerate, an intermediate step in the glycolysis pathway. We have determined the crystal structures of one of the P. falciparum's PGMases (PfPGM2) and a functionally distinct phosphoglycerate mutase from Cryptosporidium parvum, a related apicomplexan parasite. We performed sequence and structural comparisons between the two structures, another P. falciparum enzyme (PfPGM1) and several other PGM family members from other organisms. The comparisons revealed a distinct conformation of the catalytically active residues not seen in previously determined phosphoglycerate mutase structures. Furthermore, characterization of their enzymatic activities revealed contrasting behaviors between the PfPGM2 and the classical cofactor-dependent PGMase from C. parvum, clearly establishing PfPGM2 as a phosphatase with a residual level of mutase activity. Further support for this function attribution was provided by our structural comparison with previously characterized PGM family members. Genetic characterization of PGM2 in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei indicated that the protein might be essential to blood stage asexual growth, and a GFP tagged allele is expressed in both blood and zygote ookinete development and located in the cytoplasm. The P. falciparum PGM2 is either an enzyme implicated in the phosphate metabolism of the parasite or a regulator of its life cycle.


Impaired hemostasis and platelet function in rats fed low zinc diets based on egg white protein.
Zinc-deficient rats exhibit impaired hemostasis, a pathological sign related to defective platelet function. The original observation was made in rats fed a low zinc diet based on soy protein. The present study was designed to test the effect of feeding a low zinc, egg white-based diet on bleeding time and platelet aggregation. The reversibility of the defect and the response of washed platelets from rats fed low zinc (less than 1 mg/kg) and control (100 mg/kg) diets were also assessed. Immature male rats were fed the respective diets for 11 d, the controls being both ad libitum- and pair-fed. To test reversibility, rats depleted for 11 d were then fed the control diet for an additional 7 d. Saline bleeding time was increased, and aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from rats of low zinc status was impaired. The rate of the secondary phase of aggregation was significantly less than that of controls, but it was not different from that of controls after 7 d of zinc repletion. Aggregation of washed platelets was also impaired by low zinc status, showing that the defect is associated with the platelet, not the plasma. Egg white as a source of protein in the low zinc diet resulted in abnormal hemostasis and platelet aggregation, including a defective response of washed platelets.


Abortion rights in the crosshairs: a transnational perspective on resistance strategies.
Soon after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision asserting a constitutional right to abortion, activists in Argentina organized a protest in front of the U.S. embassy. The demonstration conveyed the need for a transnational defense of reproductive rights, particularly in light of the outsized role of the U.S. in global politics. The June 24, 2022 decision that voided Roe v. Wade (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization) raises grave concerns about resurgent forms of authoritarianism even in democracies. Activists in Argentina have paid attention to these developments and have been ready to defend the relatively recent legalization of abortion in the country. In fact, Argentina presents an interesting example of a country that has been moving in a different direction than the United States. This experience can provide important insights about resistance strategies in contexts of abortion rights restriction.


The characterization and management of Castleman's disease.
Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by lymph node enlargement. This study evaluated the clinical features, diagnosis and outcomes of surgical treatment in patients with CD. The medical records of 10 patients with histologically confirmed CD who underwent surgery between 2003 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Study endpoints were survival and recurrence. The age of disease onset ranged from 11 to 63 years (median 38 years). Of the 10 patients included in the study, eight were diagnosed with localized (unicentric) CD and two with multicentric CD. All eight patients with localized (unicentric) CD were asymptomatic. Histological evidence indicated the hyaline vascular form of CD in eight patients and the plasmacytic form in the remaining two patients. The primary treatment was complete surgical resection in nine cases, and these patients were alive with no evidence of recurrence or exacerbation at the time of writing (June 2011). Localized (unicentric) CD is usually of the hyaline vascular form and complete surgical excision of the tumour allows full recovery in most cases.


Orthodontic Treatment Based on Wearable Mirror-Type Oral Prosthetic Tongue Flap without Bracket Correction.
White teeth can make people full of confidence and satisfy the concept of modern life from the love of beauty. Due to the fusion of computer-aided design and teeth, invisible orthodontics has become the focus of research. Invisible orthodontic treatment technology can predict the results of orthodontics. How to automatically calculate the position and posture of the teeth in the middle stage of orthodontics is the key point of the treatment technology. In order to solve this problem, this article is divided into two parts to start research. Aiming at the problem of tooth orthodontic path planning, quaternion is used to define the tooth posture, combined with the initial posture and target posture of the tooth. A two-stage method is given to plan a collision-free path for the orthodontic tooth. In the first stage, the quaternion spherical linear interpolation and position linear interpolation are used to obtain the intermediate posture of the tooth during orthodontics, and the initial value of the orthodontic stage is obtained, and the obtained intermediate posture is used as a sampling node to apply to the next stage. In the second phase, considering the problem of orthodontic collision and interference, a scheme for calculating the priority of orthodontics is proposed, and the random node expansion part in the RRT (Rapid-exploration Random Tree) algorithm is improved. The initial value of the orthodontic phase is used to calculate the initial value of the iteration. Finally, a path with no collision and the least number of orthodontic stages is searched from the random tree of each tooth node. The experimental results and analysis show that this method can quickly and effectively solve the orthodontic path of teeth, and it is used clinically. The clasp-free invisible correction technology pushes the molars far away to leave gaps for treating patients with mild to moderate overcrowding. The treatment time should be reduced by at least 30%; the stability of the gaps and the long-term healing effect of the treatment provide a reference.


Metabotropic glutamate receptors activate phospholipase D in astrocytes through a protein kinase C-dependent and Rho-independent pathway.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G protein-coupled receptors that mediate phospholipase D (PLD) activation in brain, but the mechanism underlying this response remains unclear. Here we used primary cultures of astrocytes as a cell model to explore the mechanism that links mGluRs to PLD. Glutamate activated both phospholipase C (PLC) and PLD with equal potency and this effect was mimicked by L-cysteinesulfinic acid, a putative neurotransmitter previously shown to activate mGluRs coupled to PLD, but not PLC, in adult brain. PLD activation by glutamate was dependent on Ca(2+) mobilization and fully blocked by both protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and PKC down-regulation, suggesting that PLD activation is secondary to PLC stimulation. Furthermore, brefeldin A, an inhibitor of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) activation, partially inhibited the activation of PLD by glutamate. By contrast, pretreatment of astrocytes with Clostridium difficile toxin B, which inactivates small G proteins of the Rho family (Rho, Rac, and Cdc42), had no effect on PLD stimulation by glutamate. Taken together, these results indicate that PLD activation by mGluRs in astrocytes is dependent on PKC and small G proteins of the ARF family, but does not require Rho proteins.


Ni loaded SnS2 hexagonal nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen generation via water splitting.
Herein we have prepared the Ni-decorated SnS2 nanosheets with varying concentrations of Ni from 1 to 10 mol% (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mol%) and studied their various physicochemical and photocatalytic properties. The chemical reduction technique was utilized to load the Ni nanoparticles on SnS2 nanosheets. The synthesized Ni decorated SnS2 (denoted as Ni-SnS2) was characterized using different spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM). XRD revealed the formation of the highly crystalline hexagonal phase of SnS2 but for nickel loading there is no additional peak observed. Further, the as-prepared Ni-SnS2 nano-photocatalyst shows absorption behaviour in the visible region, and photoluminescence spectra of the Ni-SnS2 nanostructures show band edge emission centred at 524 nm, and the peak intensity decreases with Ni loading. The FE-SEM and FE-TEM confirm the formation of hexagonal sheets having evenly distributed Ni nanoparticles of size ∼5-10 nm. BET surface area analysis was observed to be enhanced with Ni loading. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared Ni-SnS2 nanosheets was evaluated for hydrogen generation via water splitting under a 400 W mercury vapour lamp. Among the prepared Ni-SnS2 nanostructures, the Ni loaded with 2.5 mol% provided the highest hydrogen production i.e., 1429.2 μmol 0.1 g-1 (% AQE 2.32) in four hours, almost 1.6 times that of pristine SnS2 i.e., 846 μmol 0.1 g-1. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of the catalyst is also correlated with the photoconductivity by measuring the photocurrent. The photoconductivity of the samples is revealed to be stable and the conductivity of 2.5 mol% Ni-SnS2 is higher i.e. 20 times that of other Ni-SnS2 and pristine SnS2 catalysts.


Baseline Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters That May Influence 6 Months Treatment Outcome of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Eyes with Combination Therapy: A Short-Term Pilot Study.
Although optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters have assisted in the diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), its potential to evaluate treatment outcomes has not been established. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate baseline OCT parameters that may influence treatment outcome in PCV eyes with combination therapy. In this single-centered, prospective study, patients were recruited with at least one treatment-naïve PCV eye and treated with combination therapy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and photodynamic therapy. Best-corrected distance and near visual acuity (DVA and NVA), and contrast sensitivity (CS) were recorded at baseline and six months after treatment. OCT parameters were determined. Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients aged between 51 to 83 years were evaluated. In eyes that had disrupted external limiting membrane (ELM), photoreceptors inner and outer segment (IS-OS) junction at 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed low mean visual functions after 6 months of treatment. Eyes with foveal sub-retinal fluid (SRF) and polyp at central 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed significantly worse DVA and CS after six months. Thus, the presence of foveal SRF, foveal polyp, disrupted ELM, and IS-OS junction at baseline significantly influenced the six months' visual outcome in PCV eyes treated with combination therapy.


[Outlines of K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease].
Recently "K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease" was published. It consists of sixteen precise guidelines which cover the wide range of this field. It is expected that these guidelines contribute ESRD treatment in Japan in spite of some differences in medical practice for dialysis therapy between Japan and the United States. This article briefly summarizes the outlines of these guidelines.


Human pegivirus-1 replication influences NK cell reconstitution after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) is a so-called commensal virus for which no known associated organ disease has been found to date. Yet, it affects immune-reconstitution as previously studied in the HIV population, in whom active co-infection with HPgV-1 can modulate T and NK cell activation and differentiation leading to a protective effect against the evolution of the disease. Little is known on the effect of HPgV-1 on immune-reconstitution in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients, a patient population in which we and others have previously reported high prevalence of HPgV-1 replication. The aim of this study was to compare the immune reconstitution after allo-HSCT among HPgV-1-viremic and HPgV-1-non-viremic patients. Within a cohort study of 40 allo-HSCT patients, 20 allo-HSCT recipients positive in plasma sample for HPgV-1 by rRT-PCR during the first year (1, 3, 6, 12 months) after transplantation were matched with 20 allo-HSCT recipients negative for HPgV-1. T and NK cell reconstitution was monitored by flow cytometry in peripheral blood samples from allo-HSCT recipients at the same time points. We observed no significant difference in the absolute number and subsets proportions of CD4 and CD8 T cells between patient groups at any analysed timepoint. We observed a significantly higher absolute number of NK cells at 3 months among HPgV-1-viremic patients. Immunophenotypic analysis showed a significantly higher proportion of CD56bright NK cells mirrored by a reduced percentage of CD56dim NK cells in HPgV-1-positive patients during the first 6 months after allo-HSCT. At 6 months post-allo-HSCT, NK cell phenotype significantly differed depending on HPgV-1, HPgV-1-viremic patients displaying NK cells with lower CD16 and CD57 expression compared with HPgV-1-negative patients. In accordance with their less differentiated phenotype, we detected a significantly reduced expression of granzyme B in NK cells in HPgV-1-viremic patients at 6 months. Our study shows that HPgV-1-viremic allo-HSCT recipients displayed an impaired NK cell, but not T cell, immune-reconstitution compared with HPgV-1-non-viremic patients, revealing for the first time a potential association between replication of the non-pathogenic HPgV-1 virus and immunomodulation after allo-HSCT.


Posttraumatic stress disorder after a first-ever intracerebral hemorrhage in the Chinese population: A pilot study.
The objective of this study was to reveal the prevalence, associated risk factors, and long-term outcomes of Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Consecutive patients admitted to our institute from January 2016 to September 2016 for a first-ever ICH were asked to participate in our study. PTSD was determined with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition; DSM-5), and questionnaires on mental and physical status were used. Patients were followed at 3 and 12 months after ICH. Sixty-four patients were eventually included for analysis. Compared with patients without PTSD, patients with PTSD were more likely to be female (67% vs. 29%, p = 0.01), and had higher rates of receiving minimally invasive surgery (MIS; 47% vs. 18%, p = 0.04). Patients with PTSD achieved higher IES-R scores, had more intense anxiety and depression, were more habitually use maladaptive coping strategies, and had poorer quality of life and worse stroke-related disability than those without PTSD. At 12-months follow-up, 6 of the 14 (43%) patients initially diagnosed with PTSD had self-recovered. ICH leads to increased PTSD risk in the Chinese population, especially those who are female, more severely disabled, or received MIS.


Gastrointestinal microbiota alteration induced by Mucor circinelloides in a murine model.
Mucor circinelloides is a pathogenic fungus and etiologic agent of mucormycosis. In 2013, cases of gastrointestinal illness after yogurt consumption were reported to the US FDA, and the producer found that its products were contaminated with Mucor. A previous study found that the Mucor strain isolated from an open contaminated yogurt exhibited virulence in a murine systemic infection model and showed that this strain is capable of surviving passage through the gastrointestinal tract of mice. In this study, we isolated another Mucor strain from an unopened yogurt that is closely related but distinct from the first Mucor strain and subsequently examined if Mucor alters the gut microbiota in a murine host model. DNA extracted from a ten-day course of stool samples was used to analyze the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tracts of mice exposed via ingestion of Mucor spores. The bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS1 sequences obtained were used to identify taxa of each kingdom. Linear regressions revealed that there are changes in bacterial and fungal abundance in the gastrointestinal tracts of mice which ingested Mucor. Furthermore, we found an increased abundance of the bacterial genus Bacteroides and a decreased abundance of the bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila in the gastrointestinal tracts of exposed mice. Measurements of abundances show shifts in relative levels of multiple bacterial and fungal taxa between mouse groups. These findings suggest that exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to Mucor can alter the microbiota and, more importantly, illustrate an interaction between the intestinal mycobiota and bacteriota. In addition, Mucor was able to induce increased permeability in epithelial cell monolayers in vitro, which might be indicative of unstable intestinal barriers. Understanding how the gut microbiota is shaped is important to understand the basis of potential methods of treatment for gastrointestinal illness. How the gut microbiota changes in response to exposure, even by pathogens not considered to be causative agents of food-borne illness, may be important to how commercial food producers prevent and respond to contamination of products aimed at the public. This study provides evidence that the fungal microbiota, though understudied, may play an important role in diseases of the human gut.


Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas: a 19-Year Multicenter Experience in China.
The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological features, surgical management, and prognosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 97 patients who underwent surgery for a pathologically confirmed SPN in five hospitals between January 1996 and December 2014. The 97 cases included 93 female and 4 male patients, and the average age was 31.2 years. The tumor was located in the body or tail (70.1%), the head (20.6%), and the neck (9.3%). All patients underwent surgical exploration, including distal pancreatectomy (63.9%), pancreaticoduodenectomy (20.6%) (partial portal vein or superior mesenteric vein resection and artificial vascular graft reconstruction performed in 4.1% of the patients), central pancreatectomy (10.3%), enucleation (5.2%), and liver resection (1.0%). 16.5% of the patients had malignant tumors. The positive rate of Ki-67 was 66.7% in patients diagnosed with a malignant neoplasm and was comparable to 8.4% of the patients diagnosed to have a benign neoplasm (p < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 70.1 months, three patients had recurrence and one patient died of liver metastasis. SPN is a rare neoplasm with low malignant potential. Surgical resection is warranted even in the presence of local invasion or metastases as patients demonstrate excellent long-term survival. Positive immunoreactivity for Ki-67 may predict the malignant potential and poor outcome of SPNs.


Molecular mechanism for analgesia involving specific antagonism of alpha9alpha10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
alpha9alpha10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been identified in a variety of tissues including lymphocytes and dorsal root ganglia; except in the case of the auditory system, the function of alpha9alpha10 nAChRs is not known. Here we show that selective block (rather than stimulation) of alpha9alpha10 nAChRs is analgesic in an animal model of nerve injury pain. In addition, blockade of this nAChR subtype reduces the number of choline acetyltransferase-positive cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes at the site of injury. Chronic neuropathic pain is estimated to affect up to 8% of the world's population; the numerous analgesic compounds currently available are largely ineffective and act through a small number of pharmacological mechanisms. Our findings not only suggest a molecular mechanism for the treatment of neuropathic pain but also demonstrate the involvement of alpha9alpha10 nAChRs in the pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury.


Genotype X environment interaction and stability analysis of cotton yield in Aegean region of Turkey.
The objective of this study was to determine genotype X environment (GE) interaction and stability of cotton genotypes, and effect of different environments on seed cotton yield to understand its adaptation to varying environments. Fourteen cotton genotypes were evaluated at four locations across Aegean region of Turkey in 1997 and 1998. Genotypes were tested by two stability parameters as linear regression coefficient (b) and deviations from regression (S2d). Significant differences were observed for the mean yields in the 8 environments. Mean seed cotton yield ranged from 4.58 to 5.80 t ha(-1). Genotypes showed significant interaction with environments. Regression coefficients ranged from 0.23 to 1.46, and deviations from regression were significant for only four genotypes. It was concluded that three high yielding cotton genotypes SG-1001, SG-125 and DLP-5409 were found to be stable genotypes.


The short-term effects of COVID-19 outbreak on dietary diversity and food security status of Iranian households (A case study in Tehran province).
Currently, the COVID-19 outbreak is spreading fast in 185 countries and has engaged most people around the world. COVID-19 imposes severe and tragic consequences on people's health due to the high rate of spread and potentially fatal impacts. In this study, the association of socio-economic factors with food security and dietary diversity is assessed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 299 respondents were collected by an online standard questionnaire. Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were calculated. A multinomial regression model was applied to determine factors associated with HDDS and HFIAS before and during COVID-19 outbreak. Food security of Iranian households improved during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period (P < 0.001). Households reduced consumption of some food groups during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Key socio-economic factors associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic included personal savings, household income, employment status of head of household, and nutrition knowledge of head of household. During the COVID-19 outbreak, household size, head of household's occupation, personal savings, and number of male children were significantly associated with dietary diversity. Distributing free food baskets to poor households, extending e-marketing, providing nutrition consultations, and organizing donations to support infected households may increase household dietary diversity and improve food security status during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Vulnerable populations in countries experiencing food insecurity, such as Iran, should be supported - not just by providing medical care and personal protective equipment, but also with flexible safety nets and food-based intervention programs to respond to population needs.


[Prevalence and significance of anaemia in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and significance of anaemia in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), as well as the prevalence of impaired renal function. We did a retrospective study of 50 women and 113 men with systolic CHF. Data were collected by reviewing clinical records. Age at inclusion was 70 +/- 8 years. The follow-up period was 30 +/- 7.5 months. Patients in NYHA class IV were not included in this study. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin (Hb) count of < or = 8 mmol/l for both sexes. At inclusion 23% and at follow-up 35% were anemic. Forty-nine patients' Hb was measured at both inclusion and follow-up; their Hb was 8.8 +/- 1.1 mmol/l at inclusion and 8.3 +/- 1.1 mmol/l at follow-up (p < 0.001). Of these 49 patients, 10 were anemic at both inclusion and follow-up (group A), 10 developed anemia in the follow-up period (group B), 26 did not have anemia at either inclusion or follow-up (group C) and 3 had anemia at inclusion but not at follow-up (group D). A decrease in Hb in group A, B and C and an elevation in S-creatinine in all four groups was observed. In group B and C the decrease in Hb and S-creatinine was significant. Ninety-six patients' S-creatinine was measured at both inclusion and follow-up, and a significant decrease was observed. 18% of the patients died in the intervening period, and 7% were lost to follow-up. This study showed that both anaemia and impaired renal function are found in CHF patients (23-32% and 20-27%, respectively) and that these may influence patients' quality of life and functional level. In the future, there should be a greater focus on both anaemia and impaired renal function in CHF patients.


Age Effects on Neural Discriminability and Monitoring Process During Memory Retrieval for Auditory Words.
After hearing a list of words (e.g., dream, awake, and bed), older adults tended to have more difficulty than younger adults in distinguishing targets (e.g., dream) from lures (e.g., sleep) and foils (e.g., pen) in a visual recognition test. Age-related reduction in neural discriminability in the visual cortex has been linked to deficits in memory discriminability of pictures. However, no study has examined age differences in auditory discrimination and prefrontal monitoring during true and false memory retrieval after hearing words. The current study used a visual recognition test following an auditory study of words and showed that older adults had lower true recognition and higher propensity for high-confidence false recognition compared to young adults. Using classification-based multivariate pattern analysis for functional neuroimaging data during memory retrieval, we found that neural activation patterns in the primary auditory cortex could be used to distinguish between auditorily-studied targets and unstudied lures in young adults, but not in older adults. Moreover, prefrontal monitoring for lures was weaker in older adults as compared to young adults. Individual differences analysis showed that neural discriminability in the primary auditory cortex was positively related to true recognition, whereas prefrontal activation for lures was negatively related to the propensity for high-confidence false recognition in young adults but not in older adults. Together, age differences in true and false memories following auditory study are associated with reduced neural discriminability in the primary auditory cortex and reduced prefrontal monitoring during retrieval.


Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (rosai-dorfman disease): a case report and literature review.
Introduction Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare histiocytic proliferative disorder of unknown etiology. Usually it presents with massive painless cervical lymph node enlargement. Histologically, it shows proliferation of distinctive histiocytic cells that demonstrate emperipolesis in the background of a mixed inflammatory infiltrates. Immunohistochemically, the cells are positive for markers such as CD68 and S100. Objective To report a case of a 12-year-old patient with multiple sites of cervical lymphadenitis, which was diagnosed as RDD histopathologically as well as immunohistologically. Resumed Report A 12-year-old girl presented with multiple painless sites of cervical lymphadenitis without any systemic and other ear, nose, and throat manifestations. The biopsy report of the lymph node showed dilatation of the sinuses, filled with histiocytes having foamy cytoplasm. Many of the histiocytes were engulfing mature lymphocytes. The sinus histiocytes were strongly positive for S-100 protein. Conclusion RDD must be considered in the differential diagnosis of massive or multiple lymphadenopathies.


Constitutive phosphorylation of the FOXO1 transcription factor in gastric cancer cells correlates with microvessel area and the expressions of angiogenesis-related molecules.
Although FOXO transcription factors may have an anti-angiogenic role, little is known about their role in tumor angiogenesis. The present study was performed to investigate the correlation between the constitutive expression of phosphorylated FOXO1 (pFOXO1) and angiogenesis in gastric cancer. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue array slides containing 272 gastric carcinoma specimens, and the correlations between the cytoplasmic pFOXO1 expression in gastric cancer cells and CD34-immunopositive microvessel area (MVA) or the expressions of angiogenesis-related molecules were analyzed. In vitro analyses with Western blotting and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed using the stable SNU-638 gastric cancer cell line transfected with lentivirus-delivered FOXO1 short hairpin RNA. The cytoplasmic expression of pFOXO1 in tumor cells was observed in 85% of gastric carcinoma cases, and was found to be positively associated with higher MVA (P = 0.048). Moreover, pFOXO1 expression was positively correlated with the expressions of several angiogenesis-related proteins, including hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α, P = 0.003), vessel endothelial growth factor (P = 0.004), phosphorylated protein kinase B (P < 0.001), and nuclear factor-κB (P = 0.040). In contrast, the expression of pFOXO1 was not correlated with that of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 or β-catenin. In addition, cell culture experiments showed that FOXO1 suppression increased the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α. Our results suggest that pFOXO1 expression in cancer cells plays a role in gastric cancer angiogenesis via mechanisms involving various angiogenesis-related molecules. Animal experiments are needed to confirm the anti-angiogenic role of FOXO1 in human gastric cancer.


Acute, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Acute, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common medical emergency encountered worldwide. Despite medical and technological advances, it remains associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Rapid patient assessment and management are paramount. When indicated, upper endoscopy in patients presenting with acute UGIB is effective for both diagnosis of the bleeding site and provision of endoscopic hemostasis. Endoscopic hemostasis significantly reduces rebleeding rates, blood transfusion requirements, length of hospital stay, surgery, and mortality. Furthermore, early upper endoscopy, defined as being performed within 24 h of patient presentation, improves patient outcomes. A structured approach to the patient with acute UGIB that includes early hemodynamic resuscitation and stabilization, preendoscopic risk stratification using validated instruments, pharmacologic and endoscopic intervention, and postendoscopy therapy is important to optimize patient outcome and assure efficient use of medical resources.


In vitro positive controls for histochemical stains of bacteria and fungi.
Positive in vitro controls for histochemical stains of bacteria and fungi in tissue were developed from fibrin substrates of cultured microorganisms. These substrates show excellent and reproducible stain control characteristics. They are easily prepared, highly specific preparations which display greater uniformity and consistency as stain controls than do most infected tissues. These preparations may also be suitable control substrates for immunohistochemical procedures that identify microorganisms in tissue or fluid.


Testicular Sonographic Color Doppler Dynamic Tissue Perfusion Measurements in Adolescents with Varicocele.
The aim of the study was an assessment of the effects of varicocele on testis parenchyma and microcirculation with the use of the dynamic tissue perfusion measurements. Color Doppler sonographic dynamic testis parenchyma perfusion measurements were performed with Pixel-Flux software in 30 children with left testis varicocele. The right testes without varicocele comprised the control group. Testicular parenchymal perfusion in testes with varicocele was reduced when compared to the control testes. The differences were found in all measured perfusion parameters. Statistical significance was found in the case of mean velocity and resistance index parameters. According to the grade of varicocele, the perfusion was the most reduced in patients with grade III of varicocele. Testicular parenchymal perfusion decreases in patients with varicocele, mostly in higher grades of varicocele. In case of validation, the method can be used in determining the damage of the testis with varicocele and the need for surgery.


Collaborative Governance the Key to Improving Community Health.
A new model of "collaborative governance" may be the key to improving community health. A report form the Center for Healthcare Governance shows how it might work.


Controlling binding site densities on glass surfaces.
The density of surface-immobilized ligands or binding sites is an important issue for the development of sensors, array- or chip-based assays, and single-molecule detection methods. The goal of this research is to control the binding site density of reactive ligands on surfaces by diluting surface amine groups in self-assembled and cross-linked monolayers on glass prepared from solutions containing very low concentrations of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and much higher concentrations of (2-cyanoethyl)triethoxysilane. The surface amine sites are suitable for attaching labels and ligands by reaction with succinimidyl ester reagents. Labeling the amine sites with fluorescent molecules and imaging the single molecules with fluorescence microscopy provides a means of determining the density of amine sites on the surface, which were incorporated into the self-assembled monolayer with micrometer spacings in proportion to the concentration of APTES in the synthesis. Biotin ligands were also bound to these surface amine sites using a succinimidyl ester linker, and the immobilized biotin was then reacted with either streptavidin-conjugated gold colloid particles or fluorescently labeled neutravidin. Imaging of these samples yields consistent amine and biotin site coverages, indicating that quantitative control and chemical conversion of binding sites can be achieved at very low (<10(-7)) fractions of a monolayer.


Synthesis of eugenol derivative by the ring opening of epoxide eugenol and its analysis through chemical reactivity: a DFT approach.
Eugenol, a plant bioactive component, is frequently found in a variety of medicinal plants with well-defined functional attributes. Essential oils containing eugenol were extracted from buds of Eugenia caryophyllata commonly named clove using hydrodistillation. Afterwards, the analysis of the essential oils using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) shows that eugenol is the major constituent with 70.14% of it. The alkene group in eugenol was epoxidised using m-chloroperbenzoic acid leading to the synthesis of epoxide eugenol. The epoxide ring was cleaved to vanillyl glycol by mixed the epoxide eugenol with aluminum chloride hydrate in an ethanolic medium. A Density Functional Theory (DFT) study was investigated to understand the reactivity of the epoxide eugenol with the aluminum chloride hydrate. The results obtained from DFT based reactivity descriptors were in good agreement with the experiment results.


Optic axons ignore foreign denervated sites in goldfish tectum even after removal of some of their normal termination sites.
Previous experiments have shown that optic axons ignore foreign denervated territory in the goldfish tectum and preferentially reinnervate their normal layers of termination. In the present experiments ultrastructural morphometry was used to test whether this was still the case if optic axons were deprived of some of their normal termination sites. The stratum fibrosum marginale (SFM) of the tectum was partially denervated to provide foreign synaptic sites and the caudal half of the tectum was ablated at the same time. This removed approximately half the normal sites of optic termination. In the majority of cases optic axons grew into the SFM but there was no evidence of any significant formation of synapses by them in the SFM. Instead they synapsed in their normal layers. Myelinated optic axons in the SFM were present in significantly higher numbers in fish operated on in spring than in fish operated on in autumn after similar survival times. Although removal of some of the normal sites of termination promoted growth of optic axons into foreign denervated territory, the axons did not synapse there. Instead they passed through the foreign region and reinnervated their normal layers even though this meant reorganizing the optic projection within the reduced tectal space.


Philadelphia chromosome-negative chronic myeloproliferative disease.
Session 2 of the 2007 Workshop of the Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology was focused on Philadelphia chromosome-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases (Ph- MPDs), recently termed chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms. The presented and submitted cases highlighted some important issues and also impending problems associated with the diagnosis and classification. Cases included predominantly rare entities like chronic eosinophilic leukemia and related disorders, chronic neutrophilic leukemia, and others with specific genetic abnormalities that allowed molecularly targeted therapy. In this context, the distinctive role of a positive JAK2(V617F) mutation for the diagnosis of Ph- MPD was underscored, including entities with a low allele burden and the discrimination from reactive disorders (autoimmune myelofibrosis, reactive thrombocytosis). Although novel genetic and molecular approaches have significantly improved the way we classify Ph- MPD, a combined clinicopathologic approach, including representative bone marrow specimens, still remains the yardstick for diagnosis.


Studies of patient doses in interventional radiological examinations.
In Russia, especially in big cities like St. Petersburg, the annual number of interventional radiological (IR) examinations for both diagnostic and treatment purposes is increasing continuously. However, IR examinations might involve high patient doses and even the risk of skin injures that should be prevented. In this study, the exposure of patients caused by these examinations was analysed. Methods for the estimation of the effective dose (risk reduction of stochastic effects) were proposed. Thresholds for kerma-area product values that correspond to the occurrence of skin injury are also given.


Characterization of Feruloyl Esterase from Bacillus pumilus SK52.001 and Its Application in Ferulic Acid Production from De-Starched Wheat Bran.
Feruloyl esterase (FAE; EC 188.8.131.52) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl group in an esterified sugar to assist in waste biomass degradation or to release ferulic acid (FA). An FAE-producing strain was isolated from humus soil samples and identified as Bacillus pumilus SK52.001. The BpFAE gene from B. pumilus SK52.001 was speculated and heterogeneously expressed in Bacillus subtilis WB800 for the first time. The enzyme exists as a monomer with 303 amino acids and a molecular mass of 33.6 kDa. Its specific activity was 377.9 ± 10.3 U/ (mg protein), using methyl ferulate as a substrate. It displays an optimal alkaline pH of 9.0, an optimal temperature of 50 °C, and half-lives of 1434, 327, 235, and 68 min at 50, 55, 60, and 65 °C, respectively. Moreover, the purified BpFAE released 4.98% FA of the alkali-acidic extractable FA from de-starched wheat bran (DSWB). When the DSWB was enzymatically degraded by the synergistic effect of the BpFAE and commercial xylanase, the FA amount reached 49.47%. It suggested that the alkaline BpFAE from B. pumilus SK52.001, which was heterologously expressed in B. subtilis WB800, possesses great potential for biomass degradation and achieving high-added value FA production from food by-products.


Medication Errors and Type 2 Diabetes Management: A Qualitative Exploration of Physicians' Perceptions, Experiences and Expectations From Quetta City, Pakistan.
Type 2 Diabetes-related medication errors are frequently reported from the hospitals and consequently are of major concern. However, such reports are insufficient when developing healthcare settings are pursued in literature. Keeping this inadequacy in mind, we therefore aimed to explore physicians' perceptions, experiences and expectations of medication errors when managing patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. A qualitative design was adopted. By using a semi-structured interview guide through the phenomenology-based approach, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted. Physicians practicing at the medicine ward of Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, were purposively approached for the study. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and were then analyzed for thematic contents by the standard content analysis framework. Although the saturation was reached at the 13th interview, we conducted additional two interviews to ensure the saturation. Fifteen physicians were interviewed, and thematic content analysis revealed six themes and nine subthemes. Mixed conceptualization and characterization of medication errors were identified. Medication errors were encountered by all physicians however poor understanding of the system, deficiency of logistics and materials were rated as barriers in reporting medication errors. Among contributors of medication errors, physicians themselves as well as dispensing and patient-related factors were identified. Physicians suggested targeted training sessions on medication error-related guidelines and reporting system. Parallel, establishment of an independent unit, involving the pharmacists, and strict supervision of paramedics to minimize medication errors was also acknowledged during data analysis. With a longer life expectancy and a trend of growing population, the incidences of medication errors are also expected to increase. Our study highlighted prescribing, dispensing and administration phases as contributing factors of medication errors. Although, physicians had poor understanding of medication errors and reporting system, they believed getting insights on guidelines and reporting system is essential. A review of admission and discharge reconciliation must be prioritized and a culture of teamwork, communication and learning from mistakes is needed.


Mammalian GPI-anchored proteins require p24 proteins for their efficient transport from the ER to the plasma membrane.
The GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) moiety is attached to newly synthesized proteins in the lumen of the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). The modified proteins are then directed to the PM (plasma membrane). Less well understood is how nascent mammalian GPI-anchored proteins are targeted from the ER to the PM. In the present study, we investigated mechanisms underlying membrane trafficking of the GPI-anchored proteins, focusing on the early secretory pathway. We first established a cell line that stably expresses inducible temperature-sensitive GPI-fused proteins as a reporter and examined roles of transport-vesicle constituents called p24 proteins in the traffic of the GPI-anchored proteins. We selectively suppressed one of the p24 proteins, namely p23, employing RNAi (RNA interference) techniques. The suppression resulted in pronounced delays of PM expression of the GPI-fused reporter proteins. Furthermore, maturation of DAF (decay-accelerating factor), one of the GPI-anchored proteins in mammals, was slowed by the suppression of p23, indicating delayed trafficking of DAF from the ER to the Golgi. Trafficking of non-GPI-linked cargo proteins was barely affected by p23 knockdown. This is the first to demonstrate direct evidence for the transport of mammalian GPI-anchored proteins being mediated by p24 proteins.


[The expression of tPA directed by the bovine BLG regulatory elements in the mammary gland of transgenic mice].
In order to get the regulatory elements which are essential for generating mammary gland bioreactors, the whole 8.4 kb bovine BLG gene was obtained by PCR amplification. The 1.6 kb chicken lysozyme matrix attachment region (MAR) was used to overcome position effects. The bovine BLG-tPA expression vector was constructed and the BLG-tPA fusion gene was introduced into fertilized eggs of mice by microinjection to generate transgenic mouse. 170 offsprings were obtained, of which 9 were proved to be transgenic mice based on PCR and Southern-blot analysis. The tPA expression level amounted to 12 micrograms/mL in the milk of mice. The bovine BLG-tPA fusion gene integrated in the founders was inheritable.


Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Pakistani Adults.
Obesity is a serious public health problem that is growing alarmingly worldwide. The main objective of this study is to examine the current prevalence of overweight and obesity among Pakistani adults and to identify the sociodemographic factors that are associated with overweight and obesity. Secondary data from a population-based household survey (the Pakistan Panel Household Survey) were used for this study. A total of 10,063 participants (3,916 men and 6,147 women) were included. Overweight and obese individuals were identified using the World Health Organization-recommended cutoffs for body mass index (kg/m2). Along with descriptive statistics, the Pearson chi-square test was used to investigate the association among categorical variables. Odds ratios (ORs) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using univariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the most significantly associated risk factors for overweight/obesity. The mean age and body mass index of the participants were 38.2 years and 22.9 kg/m2, respectively. Overall, 22.8% of the participants (23.9% of the women and 21.1% of the men) were overweight, and 5.1% (6.3% of the women and 3.2% of the men) were obese. Sociodemographic factors, such as sex, marital status, and residential area, were significantly associated with body mass index categories. Women (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.23-1.47; P<0.01), ever-married individuals (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.70-2.16; P<0.01), and individuals living in urban areas (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12-1.35; P<0.01) were more likely to become overweight/obese than their counterparts. We have found the excess weight problem to be quite high in the Pakistani adult population. The government and other health agencies should take initiatives in launching programs about nutritional awareness for adults to prevent obesity.


Genome Sequences of Ilzat and Eleri, Two Phages Isolated Using Microbacterium foliorum NRRL B-24224.
Bacteriophages Ilzat and Eleri are newly isolated Siphoviridae infecting Microbacterium foliorum NRRL B-24224. The phage genomes are similar in length, G+C content, and architecture and share 62.9% nucleotide sequence identity.


Gene profiling of clinical routine biopsies and prediction of survival in non-small cell lung cancer.
Global gene expression analysis provides a comprehensive molecular characterization of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To evaluate the feasibility of integrating expression profiling into routine clinical work-up by including both surgical and minute bronchoscopic biopsies and to develop a robust prognostic gene expression signature. Tissue samples from 41 chemotherapy-naive patients with NSCLC and 15 control patients with inflammatory lung diseases were obtained during routine clinical work-up and gene expression profiles were gained using an oligonucleotide array platform (NovaChip; 34'207 transcripts). Gene expression signatures were analyzed for correlation with histological and clinical parameters and validated on independent published data sets and immunohistochemistry. Diagnostic signatures for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma reached a sensitivity of 80%/80% and a specificity of 83%/94%, respectively, dependent on the proportion of tumor cells. Sixty-seven of the 100 most discriminating genes were validated with independent observations from the literature. A 13-gene metagene refined on four external data sets was built and validated on an independent data set. The metagene was a strong predictor of survival in our data set (hazard ratio = 7.7, 95% CI [2.8-21.2]) and in the independent data set (hazard ratio = 1.6, 95% CI [1.2-2.2]) and in both cases independent of the International Union against Cancer staging. Vascular endothelial growth factor-beta, one of the key prognostic genes, was further validated by immunohistochemistry on 508 independent tumor samples. Integration of functional genomics from small bronchoscopic biopsies allows molecular tumor classification and prediction of survival in NSCLC and might become a powerful adjunct for the daily clinical practice.


Paradigms of health and disease: a framework for classifying and understanding complementary and alternative medicine.
The number of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) being utilized by North America health care consumers is growing at an astounding rate. There is a need by both health care providers and consumers to categorize CAM in order to make meaningful comparisons and informed decisions on their use. Four paradigms of health and illness are proposed that classify medicines according to the basic assumptions of health and disease associated with each medicine. CAMs classified in the body paradigm are those that work through biologic mechanisms, or in other words, target biologic factors as the primary determinants of health. The mind-body paradigm extends the body paradigm to include factors such as stress, psychologic coping styles, and social supports as primary determinants of health and disease. The body-energy paradigm assumes health and disease are functions of the flow and balances of life energies. The body-spirit paradigm assumes that one or more transcendental aspects or personalities existing outside the limitations of the material universe can influence health and disease. It is postulated that there is a hierarchical relation among the four paradigms, such that each paradigm essentially subsumes the assumptions of the previous ones, but adds additional assumptions that qualify the previous ones. Implications of this framework for clarifying many contemporary issues in health care are discussed.


Timing Evidence for Symbolic Phonological Representations and Phonology-Extrinsic Timing in Speech Production.
The goals of this paper are (1) to discuss the key features of existing articulatory models of speech production that govern their approaches to timing, along with advantages and disadvantages of each, and (2) to evaluate these features in terms of several pieces of evidence from both the speech and nonspeech motor control literature. This evidence includes greater timing precision at movement endpoints compared to other parts of movements, suggesting the separate control of the timing of movement endpoints compared to other parts of movement. This endpoint timing precision challenges models in which all parts of a movement trajectory are controlled by the same equation of motion, but supports models in which (a) abstract, symbolic phonological representations map onto spatial and temporal characteristics of the part(s) of movement most closely related to the goal of producing a planned set of acoustic cues to signal the phonological contrast (often the endpoint), (b) movements are coordinated primarily based on the goal-related part of movement, and (c) speakers give priority to the accurate implementation of the part(s) of movement most closely related to the phonological goals. In addition, this paper presents three types of evidence for phonology-extrinsic timing, suggesting that surface duration requirements are represented during speech production. Phonology-extrinsic timing is also supported by greater timing variability for repetitions of longer intervals, assumed to be due to noise in a general-purpose (and phonology-extrinsic) timekeeping process. The evidence appears to be incompatible with models that have a unified Phonology/Phonetics Component, that do not represent the surface timing of phonetic events, and do not represent, specify and track timing by general-purpose timekeeping mechanisms. Taken together, this evidence supports an alternative approach to modeling speech production that is based on symbolic phonological representations and general-purpose, phonology-extrinsic, timekeeping mechanisms, rather than on spatio-temporal phonological representations and phonology-specific timing mechanisms. Thus, the evidence suggests that models in that alternative framework should be developed, so they can be tested with the same rigor as have models based on spatio-temporal phonological representations with phonology-intrinsic timing.


Escherichia coli O157:H7 genetic diversity in bovine fecal samples.
Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes foodborne illness in humans; cattle are considered a primary reservoir for the organism, and transmission is often through contaminated food products or water. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of E. coli O157:H7 within a single individual bovine fecal sample based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. Fecal samples (n=601) were collected from dairy and beef cattle at three separate facilities, and E. coli O157:H7 was isolated by enrichment, immunomagnetic separation, and plating on selective medium. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was 46 (7.7%) of 601. From each positive fecal sample, up to 10 putative colonies were tested, and isolates from samples with at least seven positive colonies were subtyped using PFGE and tested for six major virulence genes by multiplex PCR. A total of 254 E. coli O157:H7 isolates from 27 samples met these criteria and were included in PFGE analysis. Fifteen PFGE subtypes (<100% Dice similarity) were detected among the 254 isolates, and there were no common subtypes between the three locations. Seven (26%) of 27 fecal samples had E. coli O157:H7 isolates with different PFGE subtypes (mean=2.1) within the same sample. The virulence gene profiles of different isolates from the same sample were always identical, regardless of the number of PFGE types. The results of this study suggest that determining the PFGE pattern of a single isolate from a bovine sample may not be sufficient when comparing isolates from feces, hides, or carcasses, because multiple PFGE subtypes are present.


Regional differences in the effect of haloperidol and atypical neuroleptics on interstitial levels of DOPAC in the rat forebrain: an in vivo microdialysis study.
The effect of 'typical' and 'atypical' neuroleptics on interstitial levels of the dopamine metabolite 3,4- dihydroxyphenylacetic acid ([DOPAC]e) in the dorsolateral striatum (DLSt), the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) was investigated in awake rats by use of the microdialysis technique. All neuroleptics increased [DOPAC]e in the DLSt, NAc and in PFC. However, the 'atypical' neuroleptics clozapine, risperidone, sertindole and NNC 22-0031 showed an apparent cortical selectivity by preferentially elevating [DOPAC]e in the PFC compared with the DLSt and NAc, a feature which was not observed with the 'typical' neuroleptic haloperidol. Our data suggest that 'atypical' neuroleptics can be differentiated from the 'typical' neuroleptic, haloperidol, with respect to their ability to increase [DOPAC]e in PFC relative to DLSt and NAc.


Do Employee Stock Ownership Plans Affect Corporate Social Responsibility? Evidence from China.
Few studies have discussed the relationship between employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using a sample of 895 A-share public firms in China, this research examines the effects of ESOPs on CSR, and the moderating effects of wedge structure and firm size on this relationship. This research mainly used the OLS model to test the research hypotheses, and all regressions were performed in Stata15. The results show that the ESOPs of Chinese public firms provide external economic incentives and internal psychological incentives for employees, increase their motivation to engage in CSR activities, and ultimately contribute to CSR. At the same time, this research finds that this relationship is stronger for firms without wedge structure and small firms. This research provides insights for understanding the relationship between ESOPs and CSR and has important managerial implications for firms to pay attention to the interests of employees to achieve sustainable development.


Monitoring tumour burden and therapeutic response through analysis of circulating tumour DNA and extracellular RNA in multiple myeloma patients.
Monitoring tumour burden and therapeutic response through analyses of circulating cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) and extracellular RNA (exRNA) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients were performed in a Phase Ib trial of 24 relapsed/refractory patients receiving oral azacitidine in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Mutational characterisation of paired BM and PL samples at study entry identified that patients with a higher number of mutations or a higher mutational fractional abundance in PL had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.018, respectively). A decrease in ctDNA levels at day 5 of cycle 1 of treatment (C1D5) correlated with superior progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.017). Evaluation of exRNA transcripts of candidate biomarkers indicated that high CRBN levels coupled with low levels of SPARC at baseline were associated with shorter OS (p = 0.000003). IKZF1 fold-change <0.05 at C1D5 was associated with shorter PFS (p = 0.0051) and OS (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, patients with high baseline CRBN coupled with low fold-change at C1D5 were at the highest risk of progression (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, this exploratory analysis has provided the first demonstration in MM of ctDNA for predicting disease outcome and of the utility of exRNA as a biomarker of therapeutic response.


Predictors of steroid non-response and new approaches in severe alcoholic hepatitis.
Severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) remains a disease with high mortality. Steroid is the main stay and has been shown to give modest 28-day survival benefit in carefully selected patients, but no 90-day survival benefit. Since non-responders have high incidence of infections and increased mortality, it would be worthwhile to identify them before starting steroid therapy. A high and rising bilirubin, urinary acetyl carnitine >2,500 ng/mL, high asiloglycoprotein positive microparticles, and specific features in liver biopsy could predict steroid non-response at baseline. There is an ever-growing need to find new and effective therapies for SAH patients. Besides aggressive nutrition, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, fecal microbiota transplantation, and plasma exchange appear promising therapies and provide a hope for steroid ineligible or steroid non-responsive patients. Suppression of hepatic inflammation, preventing new bacterial or fungal infections, and enhancing liver regeneration will remain the key targets for next generation therapies.


Application of intra-aortic balloon pump in resection and anastomosis of trachea.
The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical device used to assist cardiac circulatory function in patients suffering from cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, refractory angina and complications of myocardial infarction. While using IABP in cardiac surgery is well established, there are few studies on the utility of IABP support in high-risk cardiac patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Major non-cardiac surgeries are associated with high rates of cardiac complications in patients with advanced coronary disease. Recent case studies have reported favorable outcomes with the use of IABP support in non-cardiac surgery in patients with severe cardiac compromise. Using IABP may reduce cardiac complications by providing hemodynamic stability. Here, we present five cases of IABP use in high-risk cardiac patients undergoing resection and anastomosis of the trachea. IABP was inserted prior to induction of anesthesia in four of the cases, while IABP insertion was withheld in one case. In the four cases where IABP support was utilized, the IABP was removed between 6-48 hours postoperatively with no complications. The patient who did not undergo IABP insertion died on the 8th postoperative day due to uncontrollable pulmonary edema and progressive myocardial infarction. We also review the literature and discuss the role of IABP use in non-cardiac surgery.


Excellent humidity sensor based on ultrathin HKUST-1 nanosheets.
The copper-based MOF, HKUST-1 has been applied for humidity sensing owing to hydrophilic ligands and open metal sites which are suitable for sensitively detecting moisture. However, most of the research on the sensor HKUST-1 focuses on the role of the central metal. There are few reports on the morphology-activity relationship of HKUST-1. In this work, we synthesized two kinds of HKUST-1 including octahedral structures and ultrathin nanosheets, and systematically studied the performance of moisture sensing. Compared to HKUST-1 octahedra, HKUST-1 nanosheets showed lower and wider detectable humidity range, achieving a fast response. Starting from the exposed hydrophilic functional groups of HKUST-1 nanosheets, we have revealed that hydrophilic ligands play an important role in improving the adsorption capacity during the adsorption process. In addition, ultra-thin HKUST-1 nanosheets act as an excellent mass transfer medium, accelerating proton transfer and water molecule movement. To further improve the performance of the HKUST-1 humidity sensor, black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) with a high surface reactivity were used to build a composite sensing platform. The excellent proton transfer capability of BPQDs leads to one order of magnitude improvement in the sensitivity of the BPQDs/HKUST-1 systems compared to HKUST-1 only.


Interstitial nephritis associated with 5-aminosalicylic acid.
A patient with severe Crohn's disease was treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Following initiation of treatment, serum creatinine increased slowly from 105 to 530 mumol/l (creatinine clearance 16 ml/min). The diagnosis of an interstitial nephritis was made based on normal urinary findings and the renal biopsy histology of interstitial mononuclear infiltrates and normal glomeruli, 5-ASA was discontinued and serum creatinine decreased to 245 mumol/l (creatinine clearance 40 ml/min) during the following 3 months. Partial reversibility of renal failure following discontinuation of 5-ASA and the absence of other drugs possibly causing interstitial nephritis suggest a causal relationship between 5-ASA and interstitial nephritis.


The nucleosomal acidic patch relieves auto-inhibition by the ISWI remodeler SNF2h.
ISWI family chromatin remodeling motors use sophisticated autoinhibition mechanisms to control nucleosome sliding. Yet how the different autoinhibitory domains are regulated is not well understood. Here we show that an acidic patch formed by histones H2A and H2B of the nucleosome relieves the autoinhibition imposed by the AutoN and the NegC regions of the human ISWI remodeler SNF2h. Further, by single molecule FRET we show that the acidic patch helps control the distance travelled per translocation event. We propose a model in which the acidic patch activates SNF2h by providing a landing pad for the NegC and AutoN auto-inhibitory domains. Interestingly, the INO80 complex is also strongly dependent on the acidic patch for nucleosome sliding, indicating that this substrate feature can regulate remodeling enzymes with substantially different mechanisms. We therefore hypothesize that regulating access to the acidic patch of the nucleosome plays a key role in coordinating the activities of different remodelers in the cell.


Circulating miR-10a as Predictor of Therapy Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Methotrexate.
Anti-inflammatory drugs and DMARDs, especially methotrexate, have dramatically improved the outlook of RA patient. However, in some patients the treatment effect is still not satisfactory and needs to change therapeutic regimen in time. So, timely prediction of patient treatment effect is particularly important. miRNAs are a large family of highly conserved noncoding genes and some of them become potential biomarker of disease diagnosis. Circulating miR-10a was detected by qRT-PCR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve analyses were performed for circulating miR-10a in RA diagnosis and predictor of therapy effectiveness in RA patients treated with methotrexate. In the present study, we found that the circulating miR-10a was significantly decreased in RA patients compared to osteoarthritic patients and healthy people. Importantly, circulating miR-10a was up-regulated in RA patients treated with MTX. Moreover, we identified circulating miR-10a that may serve as a biomarker of RA diagnosis and predictor of therapy effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate.


Oral health and frailty in the medieval English cemetery of St Mary Graces.
The analysis of oral pathologies is routinely a part of bioarcheological and paleopathological investigations. Oral health, while certainly interesting by itself, is also potentially informative about general or systemic health. Numerous studies within modern populations have shown associations between oral pathologies and other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and pulmonary infections. This article addresses the question of how oral health was associated with general health in past populations by examining the relationship between two oral pathologies (periodontal disease and dental caries) and the risk of mortality in a cemetery sample from medieval England. The effects of periodontitis and dental caries on risk of death were assessed using a sample of 190 individuals from the St Mary Graces cemetery, London, dating to approximately AD 1350-1538. The results suggest that the oral pathologies are associated with elevated risks of mortality in the St Mary Graces cemetery such that individuals with periodontitis and dental caries were more likely to die than their peers without such pathologies. The results shown here suggest that these oral pathologies can be used as informative indicators of general health in past populations.


LytM proteins play a crucial role in cell separation, outer membrane composition, and pathogenesis in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.
LytM proteins belong to a family of bacterial metalloproteases. In Gram-negative bacteria, LytM factors are mainly reported to have a direct effect on cell division by influencing cleavage and remodeling of peptidoglycan. In this study, mining nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) genomes, three highly conserved open reading frames (ORFs) containing a LytM domain were identified, and the proteins encoded by the ORFs were named YebA, EnvC, and NlpD on the basis of their homology with the Escherichia coli proteins. Immunoblotting and confocal analysis showed that while NTHI NlpD is exposed on the bacterial surface, YebA and EnvC reside in the periplasm. NTHI ΔyebA and ΔnlpD deletion mutants revealed an aberrant division phenotype characterized by an altered cell architecture and extensive membrane blebbing. The morphology of the ΔenvC deletion mutant was identical to that of the wild-type strain, but it showed a drastic reduction of periplasmic proteins, including the chaperones HtrA, SurA, and Skp, and an accumulation of β-barrel-containing outer membrane proteins comprising the autotransporters Hap, IgA serine protease, and HMW2A, as observed by proteomic analysis. These data suggest that EnvC may influence the bacterial surface protein repertoire by facilitating the passage of the periplasmic chaperones through the peptidoglycan layer to the close vicinity of the inner face of the outer membrane. This hypothesis was further corroborated by the fact that an NTHI envC defective strain had an impaired capacity to adhere to epithelial cells and to form biofilm. Notably, this strain also showed a reduced serum resistance. These results suggest that LytM factors are not only important components of cell division but they may also influence NTHI physiology and pathogenesis by affecting membrane composition. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the human nasopharynx and can cause serious infections in children (acute otitis media) and adults (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Several virulence factors are well studied, but the complete scenario of NTHI pathogenesis is still unclear. We identified and characterized three NTHI LytM factors homologous to the Escherichia coli LytM proteins. Although LytM factors are reported to play a crucial role in the cell division process, in NTHI they are also involved in other bacterial functions. In particular, YebA and NlpD are fundamental for membrane stability: indeed, their absence causes an increased release of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). On the other hand, our data suggest that EnvC could directly or indirectly affect peptidoglycan permeability and consequently, bacterial periplasmic and outer membrane protein distribution. Interestingly, by modulating the surface composition of virulence determinants, EnvC also has an impact on NTHI pathogenesis.