Physicochemical and Antibacterial Characterization of a Novel Fluorapatite Coating.
Peri-implantitis remains the major impediment to the long-term use of dental implants. With increasing concern over the growth in antibiotic resistance, there is considerable interest in the preparation of antimicrobial dental implant coatings that also induce osseointegration. One such potential coating material is fluorapatite (FA). The aim of this study was to relate the antibacterial effectiveness of FA coatings against pathogens implicated in peri-implantitis to the physicochemical properties of the coating. Ordered and disordered FA coatings were produced on the under and upper surfaces of stainless steel (SS) discs, respectively, using a hydrothermal method. Surface charge, surface roughness, wettability, and fluoride release were measured for each coating. Surface chemistry was assessed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FA crystallinity using X-ray diffraction. Antibacterial activity against periodontopathogens was assessed in vitro using viable counts, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM showed that the hydrothermal method produced FA coatings that were predominately aligned perpendicular to the SS substrate or disordered FA coatings consisting of randomly aligned rodlike crystals. Both FA coatings significantly reduced the growth of all examined bacterial strains in comparison to the control. The FA coatings, especially the disordered ones, presented significantly lower charge, greater roughness, and higher area when compared to the control, enhancing bacteria-material interactions and therefore bacterial deactivation by fluoride ions. The ordered FA layer reduced not only bacterial viability but adhesion too. The ordered FA crystals produced as a potential novel implant coating showed significant antibacterial activity against bacteria implicated in peri-implantitis, which could be explained by a detailed understanding of their physicochemical properties.


Reoperation for mitral paravalvular leak: a single-centre experience with 200 patients.
Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after mitral valve replacement. Risk factors and data on long-term surgical outcomes are lacking. Between January 1995 and December 2012, 206 [118 males (57%)] patients underwent reoperation due to mitral PVL. Mean age was 64 ± 11 years. Haemolytic anaemia was present in 85 (41%) patients, while 137 (67%) patients were in New York Heart Association Class III or IV. Baseline creatinine was above 1.5 in 91 (44%) patients, while chronic steroids were used in 14 (7%) patients. Active endocarditis was present in 8 (4%) patients. Device occlusion was attempted in 21 (10%) patients. PVL was most common at the aortomitral curtain (82 patients, 40%). Repair was possible in 105 (51%) patients. Early mortality occurred in 11 (5%) patients. Mean follow-up was 5 (maximum 19) years. Overall survival at 1, 5 and 15 years was 83%, 62% and 16%, respectively. Death due to heart failure or cardiogenic shock occurred in 39 patients. Recurrence occurred in 43 (21%) patients and reoperation was required in 19 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed advanced New York Heart Association class (P < 0.0001), active endocarditis (P = 0.013), chronic steroids (P = 0.022), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.026), baseline creatinine above 1.5 (P = 0.001), postoperative need for dialysis (P = 0.036) and residual PVL (P < 0.0001) to be predictors of late mortality. Active endocarditis (P = 0.0004) and chronic steroids (P = 0.002) were significant predictors for PVL recurrence. Freedom from reoperation due to PVL recurrence was 89% and 84%, while freedom from late intervention was 94% and 61% at 5 and 15 years, respectively. PVL after mitral valve replacement is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Re-repair is possible, but recurrent PVL is a risk factor for late mortality, and reoperation should be performed prior to the onset of advanced heart failure.


Studying Individual Differences in Language Comprehension: The Challenges of Item-Level Variability and Well-Matched Control Conditions.
Translating experimental tasks that were designed to investigate differences between conditions at the group-level into valid and reliable instruments to measure individual differences in cognitive skills is challenging (Hedge et al., 2018; Rouder et al., 2019; Rouder & Haaf, 2019). For psycholinguists, the additional complexities associated with selecting or constructing language stimuli, and the need for appropriate well-matched baseline conditions make this endeavour particularly complex. In a typical experiment, a process-of-interest (e.g. ambiguity resolution) is targeted by contrasting performance in an experimental condition with performance in a well-matched control condition. In many cases, careful between-condition matching precludes the same participant from encountering all stimulus items. Unfortunately, solutions that work for group-level research (e.g. constructing counterbalanced experiment versions) are inappropriate for individual-differences designs. As a case study, we report an ambiguity resolution experiment that illustrates the steps that researchers can take to address this issue and assess whether their measurement instrument is both valid and reliable. On the basis of our findings, we caution against the widespread approach of using datasets from group-level studies to also answer important questions about individual differences.


[A simple method for measuring the surface areas of membranes in histology demonstrated on the calf hypophysis].
The work carried out with the hypophysis of three calves to demonstrate that a sharp border line does not exist between Adeno- and Neurohypophysis. The result of these experiments show that on the average 57,1% of border line is of connective tissure and the remaining area lacks this type of membrane. In the border area lacking connective tissue, basophil Adeno-Hypophysis cells play an important role in transporting the secretion from Adeno- to Neurohypophysis. The basophil infiltration in the pars posterior are in the form of spread branches which could distinctly be seen; The infiltrating cells are in group or in the form of solid line rather than the isolated form, while the single cells could be noticed around the formers. These cells penetrate only a short distance in Neurohypophysis. The basophil Adenohypophysis cells lose their shape and original charakteristic gradually as they farther infiltrate in, and finally dissolved and considered as a holocrine secretion.


Association between expression of transcription factor Sp1 and increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression, advanced stage, and poor survival in patients with resected gastric cancer.
The biological and clinical behaviors of cancer are affected by multiple molecular pathways that are under the control of transcription factors. Improved understanding of how transcription factors affect cancer biology may lead to improved ability to predict clinical outcome and discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the relationship between Sp1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, as well as their effect on survival in 86 cases of resected human gastric cancer. The degree of VEGF expression correlated highly with Sp1 expression (P < 0.01). Patients with high Sp1 expression were 98 times more likely to have high VEGF expression compared with those with negative Sp1 expression. Clinically, negative or weak Sp1 expression was associated with early stage (IA) in gastric cancer. Strong Sp1 expression was more frequently observed among patients with stage IB-IV disease (P = 0.035). Similarly, whereas strong Sp1 expression was uncommonly observed among patients with N0 or N1 disease (19 and 16%), N2/N3 gastric cancer was associated with strong Sp1 expression (48%; P = 0.034). Strong Sp1 expression was also associated with inferior survival. The median survival duration in patients who had a tumor with a negative, weak, and strong Sp1 expression was 44, 38, and 8 months (P = 0.0075), respectively, whereas patients with strong VEGF expression had a shorter survival duration; the difference was not statistically significant. When Sp1 and VEGF expression, stage, completeness of resection, histology, and patient age were entered in a Cox proportional hazards model, strong Sp1 expression (P = 0.021) and an advanced disease stage (P < 0.001) were independently prognostic of poor survival. Given the importance of Sp1 in the expression of VEGF, our data suggest that dysregulated Sp1 expression and activation play important roles in VEGF overexpression and, thus, gastric cancer development and progression.


Healing of bone defects in the goat mandible, using COLLOSS E and beta-tricalciumphosphate.
COLLOSS E, an equine extracellular matrix product containing native transforming growth factor beta1 and several bone morphogenetic proteins, has shown osteoinductive properties in ectopic sites. This study was set up to examine its properties in an orthotoptic site in conjunction with a beta-tricalciumphosphate (beta-TCP) scaffolding material. Thirty-two 17-mm circular defects in goat mandibles were filled with COLLOSS E, beta-TCP, COLLOSS E + beta-TCP, or left empty. After 9 weeks the results were quantified by micro-computed tomography and histology. The empty defects contained the highest percentage of new bone (62%). The beta-TCP scaffold resulted in 38% (p = 0.0029), the mixture of beta-TCP/COLLOSS E resulted in 36% (p = 0.0057), while the use of COLLOSS E alone resulted in 55% (not significant p = 0.34). These results show that addition of TCP did not result in the expected synergy with regard to the healing of the defect and seemed even to inhibit the healing process. On the other hand, the addition of COLLOSS E induced the formation of small islands of new bone, not connected to the defect edges. This was not observed in the specimens not containing COLLOSS E (4.61% of bone formation centrally in the defect vs. 0.56%; p = 0.042). In conclusion, the results of the present study are somewhat unexpected in that the empty defects showed the most bone ingrowth; however, this ingrowth was always connected to the defect edges. In contrast, the application of COLLOSS E with or without beta-TCP induced bone formation in the center of the defects also.


Expression of adenovirus type 12 E1A gene in monkey cells, using a simian virus 40 vector.
Simian virus 40 (SV40) recombinants carrying the adenovirus type 12 E1A gene were constructed. The SV40 expression vector was constructed by removing most of the VP1 gene and an internal part of the intervening sequence for late 16S RNA and by joining the 5' and 3' splice sites into a small segment. The adenovirus type 12 E1A gene with or without its own promoter was inserted downstream from the SV40 late promoter and the splicing junctions. The recombinant DNA was propagated and packaged in monkey cells by cotransfection with an early temperature-sensitive mutant (tsA58) DNA as helper. Immunofluorescent staining of the monkey cells infected with the resulting virus stocks showed that up to 20% of the cells overproduced the E1A gene products in the nuclei. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the products indicated that the products were very similar or identical to the authentic polypeptides synthesized in adenovirus type 12-infected human embryo kidney cells. The E1A mRNA was initiated at the SV40 late promoter irrespective of the presence of the E1A promoter and terminated at either the E1A or the SV40 polyadenylation signal. These hybrid mRNAs were correctly spliced in the E1A coding region.


Renal autoregulation: perspectives from whole kidney and single nephron studies.
The phenomenon of renal autoregulation is often thought to relate only to the manner in which the kidney responds to changes in arterial pressure. This review presents a more comprehensive description of the process based on the intrinsic renal vascular responses to changes in arterial pressure, venous pressure, ureteral pressure, and plasma colloid osmotic pressure. Regulation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or some function thereof, is the feature most consistently observed. More specifically, in response to external manipulations that change GFR, autonomous changes in renal vascular resistance tend to return GFR back towards normal. The bulk of the evidence suggests that the requisite renal vascular resistance alterations occur predominately at preglomerular segments. Most of the whole kidney autoregulatory responses can be explained on the basis of the distal tubule-glomerular feedback hypothesis, thought to be mediated by the macula densa-juxtaglomerular complex, which states that increases in distal volume delivery lead to increases in afferent arteriolar resistance while reduced distal delivery leads to afferent arteriolar dilation. Micropuncture data have demonstrated that interruption of distal volume delivery prevents single nephrons from autoregulating GFR and glomerular pressure. Also, single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) based on proximal collections is higher than SNGFR measured by distal collections or with an indicator-dilution technique. Studies utilized direct microperfusion of the distal nephron from a late proximal tubule site have demonstrated that SNGFR and glomerular pressure decrease in response to increases in distal nephron perfusion rate. Although experiments in rats have been interpreted as indicating that distal chloride concentration and/or reabsorption most likely mediate the feedback responses, recent studies in dogs have demonstrated that feedback responses can be consistently obtained with nonelectrolyte perfusion solutions. These latter studies suggest that the feedback response may be sensitive to some function of total solute delivery or concentration. At present, there is no clear understanding of the intracellular events that link the compositional alterations occurring within the early distal tubule to the final effector system.


Relationship between gait kinematics and walking energy expenditure during pregnancy in South African women.
Various musculoskeletal changes occurring during pregnancy may lead to the change in gait and contribute to the increase in walking energy expenditure. Previous research indicates that changes in gait mechanics may lead to the increase in mechanical work required during walking. However, there is little information to indicate if changes in gait mechanics during pregnancy have impact on active or total energy expenditure. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between changes in gait kinematics and walking energy expenditure in pregnant women. Thirty-five women (mean age = 27.5 ± 6.1 years) volunteered for the study during various stages of pregnancy (1st trimester average = 12.1 ± 2.2 weeks; 2nd trimester = 22.3 ± 2.6 weeks; 3rd trimester = 31.4 ± 2.6 weeks). 3D motion analysis was used to assess changes in kinematic parameters during walking at self-selected pace. Resting metabolic rate, and walking energy expenditure expressed in terms of rate and cost of O2 were analysed with portable metabolic analyser. Only medio-lateral deviation of centre of gravity (COGML) increased 13.6% between the 1st and 2nd, and 39.3% between 2nd and 3rd trimester (p ≤ 0.001). However, self-selected walking speed depicted strong significant positive linear relationship with net O2 rate (r = 0.70; p ≤ 0.001), and was strongly associated with the vertical excursion of the COG (r = 0.75, p ≤ 0.001). Changes in gait mechanics during pregnancy may lead to an increase in walking energy expenditure. However, the consequent increase in walking energy cost may not be sufficient to offset the natural energy sparing mechanism.


Study of Rheology and Polymer Adsorption Onto Drug Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Suspensions Produced by Nanomilling.
Nanosuspensions provide a drug delivery approach to cope with erratic absorption of poorly water-soluble compounds. Despite extensive research over the last years, there are still open pharmaceutical challenges so it is often unclear how quality attributes such as viscosity and physical stability are generated, which requires a more thorough study of the colloidal structures and interactions in nanosuspensions. In this study, diffusing wave spectroscopy and microfluidics-based rheology were used for the first time to assess pharmaceutical nanosuspensions that were obtained by wet milling. Further sample characterization following centrifugation was based on optical rotatory dispersion and conductivity experiments. Ketoconazole was selected as model drug in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and hydroxypropyl cellulose as anionic and steric stabilizer, respectively. The results unexpectedly showed that the investigated nanosuspensions did not behave as Einstein-like suspensions because a viscosity decrease was evidenced for increased drug load. This effect was attributed to the polymer that formed a dominating network in the bulk solution from where adsorption occurred onto particle surfaces. This depletion of bulk polymer caused the observed rheological finding. Further colloidal research should be invested into different pharmaceutical nanosuspensions to gain a more complete structural understanding and to harness their full technological potential.


Ultrastructral effects of in virto experimentation on right ventricular papillary muscle from cats in hypovolemic shock (38487).
The present data demonstrate for the first time that repeated stimulation (2-3 hr in an oxygenated perfusate) of right ventricular papillary muscles from cats subjected to hypovolemic shock does not alter the ultrastructure of the shock lesions. Neither does the in vitro experimentation cause functional impairment as determined by the measured isometric twitch tension. The data also indicate that electron microscopy is important to the evaluation of papillary muscles from cats subjected to shock.


Spinal motor outputs during step-to-step transitions of diverse human gaits.
Aspects of human motor control can be inferred from the coordination of muscles during movement. For instance, by combining multimuscle electromyographic (EMG) recordings with human neuroanatomy, it is possible to estimate alpha-motoneuron (MN) pool activations along the spinal cord. It has previously been shown that the spinal motor output fluctuates with the body's center-of-mass motion, with bursts of activity around foot-strike and foot lift-off during walking. However, it is not known whether these MN bursts are generalizable to other ambulation tasks, nor is it clear if the spatial locus of the activity (along the rostrocaudal axis of the spinal cord) is fixed or variable. Here we sought to address these questions by investigating the spatiotemporal characteristics of the spinal motor output during various tasks: walking forward, backward, tiptoe and uphill. We reconstructed spinal maps from 26 leg muscle EMGs, including some intrinsic foot muscles. We discovered that the various walking tasks shared qualitative similarities in their temporal spinal activation profiles, exhibiting peaks around foot-strike and foot-lift. However, we also observed differences in the segmental level and intensity of spinal activations, particularly following foot-strike. For example, forward level-ground walking exhibited a mean motor output roughly 2 times lower than the other gaits. Finally, we found that the reconstruction of the spinal motor output from multimuscle EMG recordings was relatively insensitive to the subset of muscles analyzed. In summary, our results suggested temporal similarities, but spatial differences in the segmental spinal motor outputs during the step-to-step transitions of disparate walking behaviors.


The highest affinity DNA element bound by Pbx complexes in t(1;19) leukemic cells fails to mediate cooperative DNA-binding or cooperative transactivation by E2a-Pbx1 and class I Hox proteins - evidence for selective targetting of E2a-Pbx1 to a subset of Pbx-recognition elements.
Oncoprotein E2a-Pbx1 contains the N-terminal transactivation domains of E2a and the majority of the homeodomain protein, Pbx1. Using recombinant proteins, both Pbx1 and E2a-Pbx1 heterodimerize with Hox proteins on bipartite elements, Pbx1 binding a 5' TGAT core and Class I Hox proteins binding adjacent 3' TAAT, TTAT, or TGAT cores. In contrast to these in vitro results, nuclear extracts from E2a-Pbx1-transformed cells assemble an abundant Pbx-containing complex on TGATTGAT that excludes E2a-Pbx1, suggesting that an uncharacterized in vivo partner discriminates between E2a-Pbx1 and Pbx proteins, distinguishing it from Hox proteins. Here, we describe the DNA-binding properties of this complex, and identify TGATTGAC (PCE; Pbx Consensus Element) as its optimal recognition motif. In vitro, the PCE fails to bind heterodimers of Class I Hox proteins plus either Pbx1 or E2a-Pbx1. Likewise, in vivo, the PCE fails to mediate cooperative transactivation by E2a-Pbx1 plus Class I Hox proteins. Thus, the PCE binds a Pbx dimer partner that behaves unlike Class I Hox proteins. Competition analysis indicates that the Pbx-containing complex that binds the PCE also binds the TGATTGAT Pbx-Hox element and binds promoter elements required for tissue-specific expression of a number of cellular genes. Thus, different Pbx partners dictate targetting of Pbx heterodimers to related DNA motifs that differ in the sequence of their 3' half-sites, and E2a-Pbx1 heterodimerizes with only a subset of Pbx partners, restricting its potential DNA targets.


Forming supramolecular networks from nanoscale rods in binary, phase-separating mixtures
Simulations show that when low-volume fractions of nanoscale rods are immersed in a binary, phase-separating blend, the rods self-assemble into needle-like, percolating networks. The interconnected network arises through the dynamic interplay of phase-separation between the fluids, through preferential adsorption of the minority component onto the mobile rods, and through rod-rod repulsion. Such cooperative effects provide a means of manipulating the motion of nanoscopic objects and directing their association into supramolecular structures. Increasing the rod concentration beyond the effective percolation threshold drives the system to self-assemble into a lamellar morphology, with layers of wetted rods alternating with layers of the majority-component fluid. This approach can potentially yield organic/inorganic composites that are ordered on nanometer scales and exhibit electrical or structural integrity.


[Detection of cyanide resistant respiration among Candida lipolytics yeasts].
Conditions causing cyanide-resistant respiration were studied in the yeast Candida lipolytica. This type of respiration was found when the culture growing on glucose, glycerol, hexadecane, or acetate exhuasted the substrate and passed from the logarithmic to stationary growth phase; the same phenomenon can be induced by exhaustion of phosphorus or nitrogen in the glucose medium. The yeast culture growing on lactate, ethanol, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, malate, or succinate is characterized by cyanide-resistant respiration even at the beginning of the logarithmic growth phase. The values of pH in the incubation medium have no effect on the time of manifestation of cyanide-resistant respiration.


Sterol-activated amyloid beta fibril formation.
The metabolic processes that link Alzheimer's disease (AD) to elevated cholesterol levels in the brain are not fully defined. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque accumulation is believed to begin decades prior to symptoms and to contribute significantly to the disease. Cholesterol and its metabolites accelerate plaque formation through as-yet-undefined mechanisms. Here, the mechanism of cholesterol (CH) and cholesterol 3-sulfate (CS) induced acceleration of Aβ42 fibril formation is examined in quantitative ligand binding, Aβ42 fibril polymerization, and molecular dynamics studies. Equilibrium and pre-steady-state binding studies reveal that monomeric Aβ42•ligand complexes form and dissociate rapidly relative to oligomerization, that the ligand/peptide stoichiometry is 1-to-1, and that the peptide is likely saturated in vivo. Analysis of Aβ42 polymerization progress curves demonstrates that ligands accelerate polymer synthesis by catalyzing the conversion of peptide monomers into dimers that nucleate the polymerization reaction. Nucleation is accelerated ∼49-fold by CH, and ∼13,000-fold by CS - a minor CH metabolite. Polymerization kinetic models predict that at presumed disease-relevant CS and CH concentrations, approximately half of the polymerization nuclei will contain CS, small oligomers of neurotoxic dimensions (∼12-mers) will contain substantial CS, and fibril-formation lag times will decrease 13-fold relative to unliganded Aβ42. Molecular dynamics models, which quantitatively predict all experimental findings, indicate that the acceleration mechanism is rooted in ligand-induced stabilization of the peptide in non-helical conformations that readily form polymerization nuclei.


Phase distribution including a bubblelike region in supercritical fluid.
Pseudoboiling in supercritical fluid (SF) has been paid great attention in recent years. Available works mainly focus on thermodynamics analysis. Fewer studies were reported on the spatial time phase distribution. Here, SF is investigated in a multiphase fluid framework using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A simulation box contains 10 976 argon atoms, with periodic boundary conditions applied on all the box surfaces. Pressure and temperature are well controlled. Based on MD simulation results, an onset pseudoboiling temperature T^{-} and a termination pseudoboiling temperature T^{+} are defined using the neighboring molecules method, the radial distribution function method, and the two-body excess entropy method. The two transition temperatures divide the whole phase diagram into three regimes of liquidlike, two-phase-like (TPL), and gaslike, and the MD determined T^{-} and T^{+} well matched the thermodynamics-determined values. In the TPL regime, nanovoids are observed to have two distinct characteristics: (1) Particles are sparsely distributed to have gas density inside the void, but are densely populated to have liquid density outside the void. (2) Voids have a curved interface. These characteristics are very similar to bubble characteristics in subcritical pressure. Hence, voids in the supercritical state are called "bubblelike" in this paper. Nonlinear dynamics demonstrates chaotic behavior in the TPL regime, similar to the two-phase regime in the subcritical domain. The above findings give strong evidence that SF in the TPL regime consists of a mixture of bubblelike voids and surrounding liquids. Our work highlights the multiphase feature of a SF, hence, the well-established multiphase theory in subcritical pressures can be introduced to handle the complex SF.


Effects of caffeine in non-withdrawn volunteers.
Evidence for the behavioural effects of caffeine is prevalent in the literature. It is associated with increased subjective alertness, improved reaction time and enhanced encoding of new information. However, there is an on-going debate as to whether such changes are in fact improvements or merely a reversal of the negative effects of caffeine withdrawal. Using participants who had consumed their normal daily quota of caffeine this study alleviated this potential confound as all participants were not withdrawn at the time of testing. To determine whether caffeine influenced the mood and performance of non-withdrawn volunteers. Sixty eight volunteers, all of whom were regular caffeine consumers, consumed their normal amount of caffeine over the course of the day. Baseline measures of mood and performance were then carried out followed by double-blind administration of caffeine (2 mg/kg) or placebo. The test battery was repeated again 30 min after ingestion of the drink. Our findings showed improvements comparable to previous research. Mood was improved and performance on a number of cognitive measures was improved. The findings are discussed in relation to both noradrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems. This study provided evidence against the argument that behavioural changes due to caffeine are merely the reversal of negative withdrawal effects.


Full-length transcriptome and microRNA sequencing reveal the specific gene-regulation network of velvet antler in sika deer with extremely different velvet antler weight.
Velvet antler displays the fastest and most robust tissue proliferation in the animal world, it is a model for a complete organ development/regeneration, and alternative medicine, tonic made from velvet antler, was beneficial for human. The weight of velvet antler had high biomedical and economic value, but the related regulation mechanisms controlling velvet antler weight remain unclear. In this study, extremely heavy and light velvet antler groups were selected from a sika deer population of 100 individuals with extreme velvet antler weight. A combination of full-length transcriptome sequencing and microRNA sequencing to the proliferation zone in the tip of velvet antler was applied. A total of 55306 transcripts and 1082 microRNAs were identified. Some highly expressed genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, FN1, and ATP6) and microRNAs (miR-21, let-7i, and miR-27b) were highly correlated with the physiological and growth characteristics of velvet antlers. Among the 334 differentially expressed genes, we found that most of the genes were located in the developmental process, especially animal organ development process. It is exciting to see that more blood vessels were found in the growing tip of heavy velvet antler through histological observation, and GO term of blood vessel development was also significant different between two groups. The combination analysis with mRNA and microRNA data in velvet antler showed a specific regulation network involved in the development of bone, mesenchyme, cartilage, and blood vessel, and helped us clearly find out the candidate 14 genes and 6 microRNAs, which could be used for selecting significant DNA markers of velvet antler weight.


Validity of two questions on alcohol use in a health survey questionnaire.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumers of high and low levels of alcohol could be identified by two questions about alcohol use in a postal questionnaire survey. A sample of 2,300 persons aged 18 64 years from Stockholm county were sent a masked postal questionnaire comprising 30 questions about their health and functioning. Two questions concerned their alcohol consumption. One year later the subjects underwent a psychiatric health examination, which included an assessment of their alcohol use. The two questions about alcohol consumption identified high alcohol consumers with a relatively high sensitivity and specificity, of 64% and 87%, respectively, and thus are useful for identifying high alcohol consumers in health surveys using questionnaires.


Laparotomic myomectomy for a huge cervical myoma in a young nulligravida woman: A case report and review of the literature.
A huge cervical myoma (rare) in a young woman is a nightmare of every gynecologist owing to the associated technical challenges in performing a myomectomy. Moreover, the 2014 US Food and Drug Administration prohibited power morcellation during laparoscopic myomectomy due to the inadvertent spread of occult malignancy and an increased risk of iatrogenic parasitic leiomyoma negatively affected the overall rate of a minimally invasive surgery. This report described our experience with a case of a huge anterior cervical myoma (473 gr) in a young nulligravida woman who successfully underwent laparotomic myomectomy. After an initial diagnosis by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we performed preoperative ureteric catheterization. The myoma was enucleated following the footsteps of Victor Bonney, the pioneer of myomectomy, combined with simple additional steps. We did not use preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog, intraoperative vasopressin injection, or uterine artery ligation. A 6-month follow-up MRI revealed an intact cervical canal in midline position with no evidence of residual fibroid. Based on our experience, the review of the relevant literature, and the US Food and Drug Administration's prohibition of power morcellation during laparoscopic myomectomy, a laparotomic myomectomy for a huge cervical myoma still plays a vital role in fertility preservation. We propose the mnemonic "MUSIC" as a helpful guide for a consistent strategy: M (preoperative MRI), U (prophylactic ureteric catheterization), S (shell out the myoma following Bonney's principles i.e. start-up and stay intracapsular), I (immediate suction to clarify dead space) and C (close the cavity by spiraling stitch).


A High-Fat Diet Increases the Characteristics of Gut Microbial Composition and the Intestinal Damage Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing annually, and emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a causative role in the development of NAFLD. However, the role of gut microbiota in the development of NAFLD remains unclear and warrants further investigation. Thus, C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and we found that the HFD significantly induced obesity and increased the accumulation of intrahepatic lipids, along with alterations in serum biochemical parameters. Moreover, it was observed that the HFD also impaired gut barrier integrity. It was revealed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing that the HFD increased gut microbial diversity, which enriched Colidextribacter, Lachnospiraceae-NK4A136-group, Acetatifactor, and Erysipelatoclostridium. Meanwhile, it reduced the abundance of Faecalibaculum, Muribaculaceae, and Coriobacteriaceae-UCG-002. The predicted metabolic pathways suggest that HFD enhances the chemotaxis and functional activity of gut microbiota pathways associated with flagellar assembly, while also increasing the risk of intestinal pathogen colonization and inflammation. And the phosphotransferase system, streptomycin biosynthesis, and starch/sucrose metabolism exhibited decreases. These findings reveal the composition and predictive functions of the intestinal microbiome in NAFLD, further corroborating the association between gut microbiota and NAFLD while providing novel insights into its potential application in gut microbiome research for NAFLD patients.


Harnessing Peptide Binding to Capture and Reclaim Phosphate.
With rising consumer demands, society is tapping into wastewater as an innovative source to recycle depleting resources. Novel reclamation technologies have been recently explored for this purpose, including several that optimize natural biological processes for targeted reclamation. However, this emerging field has a noticeable dearth of synthetic material technologies that are programmed to capture, release, and recycle specified targets; and of the novel materials that do exist, synthetic platforms incorporating biologically inspired mechanisms are rare. We present here a prototype of a materials platform utilizing peptide amphiphiles that has been molecularly engineered to sequester, release, and reclaim phosphate through a stimuli-responsive pH trigger, exploiting a protein-inspired binding mechanism that is incorporated directly into the self-assembled material network. This material is able to harvest and controllably release phosphate for multiple cycles of reuse, and it is selective over nitrate and nitrite. We have determined by simulations that the binding conformation of the peptide becomes constrained in the dense micelle corona at high pH such that phosphate is expelled when it otherwise would be preferentially bound. However, at neutral pH, this dense structure conversely employs multichain binding to further stabilize phosphate when it would otherwise be unbound, opening opportunities for higher-order conformational binding design to be engineered into this controllably packed corona. With this work, we are pioneering a new platform to be readily altered to capture other valuable targets, presenting a new class of capture and release materials for recycling resources on the nanoscale.


Novel organic cation transporter 2-mediated carnitine uptake in placental choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells.
The placental transport of carnitine is significant because the fetus cannot supply itself with adequate amounts of this nutrient. Carnitine deficiencies in infants can lead to symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to sudden infant death. Objectives of this study include the characterization of novel organic cation transporter 2 (OCTN2) function in the BeWo cell line and the inhibition of placental carnitine uptake by amphetamine derivatives. BeWo cells were seeded in 12- or 24-well tissue culture plates and incubated at 37 degrees C until monolayers were confluent. Uptake studies with radiolabeled L-carnitine and inhibitors in Hanks' balanced salt solution were carried out in the plates at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Uptake of L-carnitine in BeWo cells was Na(+)-dependent and saturable (K(m) = 9.8 +/- 2.4 microM, V(max) = 800 +/- 70 pmol/mg of protein/30 min) with a nonsaturable constant of 2.8 +/- 0.3 microl/mg of protein/30 min. Among the amphetamine analogs studied, IC(50) values ranged from 2.3 to 9.2 mM, and the inhibition of carnitine uptake was stronger for compounds having a methyl-substituted nitrogen atom. Lineweaver-Burk plots show that inhibition by tetraethylammonium and valproate was competitive; inhibition by ephedrine was not completely competitive. The observed kinetics, Western blot, and inhibition profiles indicate that high-affinity carnitine uptake in the BeWo cell line is mediated by OCTN2. Inhibition of carnitine transport by amphetamines potentially poses serious consequences for fetal development.


Methamphetamine increases Prion Protein and induces dopamine-dependent expression of protease resistant PrPsc.
The cellular prion protein (PrPc) is physiologically expressed within selective brain areas of mammals. Alterations in the secondary structure of this protein lead to scrapie-like prion protein (PrPsc), which precipitates in the cell. PrPsc has been detected in infectious, inherited or sporadic neurodegenerative disorders. Prion protein metabolism is dependent on autophagy and ubiquitin proteasome. Despite not being fully elucidated, the physiological role of prion protein relates to chaperones which rescue cells under stressful conditions.Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused drug which produces oxidative stress in various brain areas causing mitochondrial alterations and protein misfolding. These effects produce a compensatory increase of chaperones while clogging cell clearing pathways. In the present study, we explored whether METH administration modifies the amount of PrPc. Since high levels of PrPc when the clearing systems are clogged may lead to its misfolding into PrPsc, we further tested whether METH exposure triggers the appearance of PrPsc. We analysed the effects of METH and dopamine administration in PC12 and striatal cells by using SDS-PAGE Coomassie blue, immune- histochemistry and immune-gold electron microscopy. To analyze whether METH administration produces PrPsc aggregates we used antibodies directed against PrP following exposure to proteinase K or sarkosyl which digest folded PrPc but misfolded PrPsc. We fond that METH triggers PrPsc aggregates in DA-containing cells while METH is not effective in primary striatal neurons which do not produce DA. In the latter cells exogenous DA is needed to trigger PrPsc accumulation similarly to what happens in DA containing cells under the effects of METH. The present findings, while fostering novel molecular mechanisms involving prion proteins, indicate that, cell pathology similar to prion disorders can be mimicked via a DA-dependent mechanism by a drug of abuse.


Amphirosellinia gen. nov. and a new species of Entoleuca.
The new genus Amphirosellinia is erected to include five xylariaceous fungi with erumpent or immersed perithecioid stromata. Amphirosellinia fushanensis, A. nigrospora and A. tennesseensis are newly described, whereas A. evansii and A. quercina are new combinations. Synnematous, geniculosporium-like anamorphs are known for A. fushanensis, A. nigrospora, A. tennesseensis and A. evansii; the anamorph of the latter species was produced on natural substratum, whereas those of the former three species were produced in culture. Dichotomous keys are presented for the Amphirosellinia species and for some genera that might be confused with Amphirosellinia. Entoleuca ellisii also is described as new. It readily can be separated from the known species in the genus by its smaller ascospore size range and short ascospore germ slit.


Early timing of endovascular treatment for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage achieves improved outcomes.
Timing of treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been controversial. This retrospective study was designed to access the safety and efficacy among cohorts of different timing of endovascular treatment patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. A database of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was analyzed who were confirmed by CT, and underwent endovascular treatment between January 2005 and January 2012,. The patients were grouped into four cohorts according to the timing of treatment: ultra-early cohort (within 24 hours of onset which was confirmed by CT), early cohort (between 24 and 72 hours of onset which was confirmed by CT), intermediate cohort (between 4 and 10 days of onset which was confirmed by CT) and delayed cohort (after 11 days of onset which was confirmed by CT). Patient demographics, aneurysms features and clinical outcomes were analyzed to evaluate safety and efficacy for timing of endovascular treatment among four cohorts. In our series of 664 patients, 269 patients were grouped into ultra-early cohort, 62 patients in early cohort, 218 patients in intermediate cohort, and 115 patients in delayed cohort. The patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics and neurological conditions on admission among groups showed no statistical significance. As a result of the 9-month follow-up with 513 patients, good outcome (mRS<2) was achieved in 78% patients in "ultra-early" cohort compared with that of 57% in the "intermediate" group(p=0.000), whereas other comparisons showed no statistical significance(p<0.05) among the four groups. Dividing the patients with dichotomized mRS into "good outcome" group and "poor outcome" group (mRS<2) at the 9-month follow-up, the results showed lower Hunt-Hess scores (p=0.000) and smaller size of aneurysms (p=.001) which were correlated with the good outcome. Hypertension (p=0.776), age (p=0.327), sex (p=0.551) and location (p=0.901) showed no statistical significance between groups. Endovascular treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage which was confirmed by CT within 72 hours achieved better outcomes than that confirmed after 72 hours, especially in those patients treated within 24 hours of onset in comparison with patients treated between 4 and 10 days.


A monoclonal antibody that recognizes the receptor binding region of human urokinase plasminogen activator.
An anti-urokinase monoclonal antibody 5B4 (MAB 5B4) was obtained by fusing the murine myeloma cell line X63-Ag8.653 with the spleen cells from a female BALB/c mouse immunized with high-molecular-weight urokinase (HMW-uPA). MAB 5B4 is an IgG1 that binds selectively to the single-chain form of uPA (sc-uPA), to HMW-uPA and to the 17,000 Mr aminoterminal fragment of the A-chain (ATF) but not to the low-molecular-weight urokinase (LMW-uPA) nor to the reduced form of HMW-uPA. This strongly suggests that MAB 5B4 recognizes a conformational determinant on the A-chain. The antibody has an affinity constant for uPA-Sepharose of 1.42 X 10(7) M-1, calculated from equilibrium binding data, and can be used for one step purification of HMW-uPA by immunoaffinity chromatography. MAB 5B4 and the previously obtained antibody 105IF10 recognize the A-chain: the epitopes, however, are distinct as shown by double-antibody-sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Finally MAB 5B4 inhibits the binding of ATF to the uPA receptor of different human cells, whereas 105IF10 does not. Thus this antibody represents a potentially, useful tool for the study of uPA receptor physiology.


Persistent impairment of platelet aggregation following cessation of a short-course dietary supplementation of moderate amounts of N-3 fatty acid ethyl esters.
The duration of the effect of a short-course (1-mo twice-daily) supplementation of moderate amounts (2.28 g) of n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters (FA) on platelet lipid composition and aggregation was compared with that of olive oil (3 g/d) supplementation in 14 healthy volunteers. The FA preparation employed contained eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in a ratio of 1:1.4. A marked rise (p <0.05) in the plasma and platelet content of EPA and DHA, and minimal changes in the content of arachidonic acid (AA) were documented at withdrawal of the n-3 FA supplementation. EPA/AA and DHA/AA ratios in platelet phospholipids showed that the FA accumulation persisted 8-12 wks after stopping the supplementation (p <0.05). The aggregation of platelets in response to collagen or ADP, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) formation were impaired at withdrawal. The impaired aggregation lasted 8-12 weeks (p always <0.05), whereas TXB2 formation returned to basal values 4 weeks after stopping the n-3 supplementation. No correlation was found between impaired aggregation and TXB2 formation. In contrast, the impaired sensitivity to ADP (p = 0.036) and, to a lesser extent, to collagen (p = 0.068) were related to changes in the intracellular pH (pHi) of the Na+/H+ reverse transport. No changes in platelet composition or function were observed either during or following olive oil supplementation. These results document a long-lasting impairment of platelet sensitivity to ADP and collagen; changes in the pHi values of the Na+/H+ reverse transport, and a simultaneous persistent accumulation of EPA and DHA in platelet phospholipids, after stopping a short-course dietary supplementation of moderate amounts of n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters.


A nonradioactive restriction enzyme-mediated assay to detect DNA repair by Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase.
The Escherichia coli DNA repair enzyme AlkB belongs to the Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase family. It removes methyl groups from 1-methyl adenine (1-meA) and 3-methyl cytosine (3-meC) lesions present in single-stranded DNA by oxidative decarboxylation. In the current article, we describe an in vitro assay that permits rapid detection of AlkB activity. To achieve this, we generated methylated oligonucleotide using methyl methanesulfonate and then monitored DNA repair using a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme and novel agarose gel electrophoresis system capable of resolving small oligonucleotides. Our approach overcomes several drawbacks of NAD(+)-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase-coupled assay and radioisotope-based assay for determining AlkB DNA repair activity.


Novel thrombosis risk index as predictor of left ventricular assist device thrombosis.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an effective therapy for patients with advanced heart failure, increasing patient survival and quality of life. Left ventricular assist devices are associated with the risks of bleeding and thrombosis. We used lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) as biomarkers for developing a thrombosis risk index. Data from a single center was retrospectively queried between January 1, 2008, and 10/15, 2011, to identify LVAD patients and related complications. Of 75 consecutive patients implanted with an LVAD, nine had device thrombosis. Analysis of the relationship among international normalized ratio (INR), BNP, LDH, and device thrombosis was performed. Of nine patients with thrombosis, seven had at least 30% of INR readings below 1.5 and two had at least 22% below the therapeutic range from the time of LVAD implant to date of thrombosis. Timeline variability in INR, BNP, and LDH were used to calculate thrombosis risk index (TRI). The TRI retrospectively was able to accurately predict patients with impending device thrombosis. Indexed rise in BNP and LDH in LVAD patients may be useful to identify early device dysfunction and possible future thrombosis. Fibrinogen and D-dimer assays are currently being evaluated in these patients for their possible inclusion and added value to the TRI.


Neuroimaging predictors for depressive symptoms in cerebral small vessel disease.
Although cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is closely associated with late life depression, patients with even severe SVD may have no depressive symptoms. We postulate that concurrent brain atrophy may also involve in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms in SVD. We aimed to investigate the relevance of brain atrophy in predicting depressive symptoms among patients with severe SVD. We recruited 45 lacunar stroke patients who had diffuse white matter lesion (WML) and varying severity levels of depressive symptoms. We used a quantitative hybrid warping method to determine the volume of 99 brain regions for each patient. We assessed severity of depressive symptoms using the depression score of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-D). We first performed correlation analysis of each brain variable with the depression score. Significant variables were then entered separately into linear regression analysis to explore predictors of HADS-D, with adjustment of relevant clinical variables. The mean age (SD) of the 45 participants was 74.6 (8.3) years. The mean HADS-D score was 3.5, with score ranging from 0 to 15. Variables that had a significant correlation coefficient with HADS-D were gender, hypertension, Oxford handicap scale, left inferior frontal gyrus, right subthalamic nucleus, left posterior limb of internal capsule, and right cerebellum. Regression analyses showed that only left inferior frontal gyrus atrophy (β = -0.354, p = 0.017) predicted HADS-D score after adjusted for other relevant clinical variables. Concurrent atrophy of left inferior frontal gyrus is associated with depressive symptoms in elderly patients with severe SVD.


[Functional outcome after decompressive craniectomy: a retrospective and prospective clinical study].
Decompressive craniectomy has been revived as a radical surgical treatment in increased ICP. While the life saving effect is undisputable, reports about the functional outcome are controversial. Furthermore, there are no data comparing the outcome of craniectomised patients with different aetiologies. In a retrospective and prospective study we assessed the functional outcome of craniectomised patients (41 stroke and 24 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients). The majority of patients considerably benefits from the rehabilitation process. Nevertheless, most of them remained dependent upon caregivers. In stroke patients there was a significant negative correlation between age and outcome. Even though TBI were younger than stroke patients there were no outcome differences between these groups. We found no correlation between the side of the hemisphere injured and outcome.


Sleep disturbances and their correlates in elderly Japanese American men residing in Hawaii.
Elderly people frequently report the presence of chronically disturbed sleep. However, most data are derived from predominantly Caucasian populations. The current study is an investigation of the prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbances in a cohort of elderly Japanese American men residing in Hawaii. The importance of this population lies in its representation of an ethnic group living in a culture different from their ancestry. This study is a cross-sectional cohort analysis of data pertaining to sleep disturbances and their potential correlates from 3,845 elderly Japanese American men residing in Hawaii (mean age. 78 years; range, 71-93 years) who participated in the fourth survey of the Honolulu Heart Program (1991-1994), which is the baseline exam for the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. Information collected included an extensive survey of medication use, medical history, and assessments of physical and mental function, quality of life, and sleep. The prevalence of insomnia (DIMS) was 32.6%, a rate similar to that reported in predominantly Caucasian populations. Depression, benzodiazepine use, and several chronic health problems were the most important factors associated with DIMS. In contrast, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) had a prevalence of 8.9%, a rate lower than that found in elderly Caucasian populations but close to that reported among native Japanese. Important factors related to EDS were symptoms of nocturnal respiratory disturbance, depression, perception of adverse quality of life, Parkinson's disease, and digitalis use. Elderly Japanese men are less likely than elderly Caucasian men to report excessive daytime sleepiness. However, their insomnia rates are similar.


"We Just Never Have Enough Time": Clinician Views of Lung Cancer Screening Processes and Implementation.
Despite a known mortality benefit, lung cancer screening (LCS) implementation has been unexpectedly slow. New programs face barriers to implementation, which may include lack of clinician engagement or beliefs that the intervention is not beneficial. To evaluate diverse clinician perspectives on their views of LCS and their experience with LCS implementation and processes. We performed a qualitative study of clinicians participating in LCS. Clinicians were drawn from three medical centers, representing diverse specialties and practice settings. All participants practiced at sites with formal lung cancer screening programs. We performed semi-structured interviews with probes designed to elicit opinions of LCS, perceived evidence gaps, and recommendations for improvements. Transcribed interviews were iteratively reviewed and coded using directed content analysis. Participants (n=24) included LCS coordinators, pulmonologists, physician and non-physician primary care providers (PCPs), a surgeon, and a radiologist. Most clinicians expressed that the evidence supporting LCS was adequate to support clinical adoption, though most PCPs had little direct knowledge and based decisions on local recommendations or endorsement by the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). Many PCPs endorsed lack of knowledge of eligibility requirements and screening strategy (e.g. annual while eligible). Clinicians with more lung cancer screening knowledge, including several PCPs, identified a number of gaps in the current evidence that tempered enthusiasm, including: unclear ideal screening interval, populations with high cancer risk that do not qualify under USPSTF, indications to stop screening, and the role of serious comorbidities. Support for centralized programs and LCS coordinators was strong, but not uniform. Clinicians were frustrated by time limitations during a patient encounter, costs to the patient, and issues with insurance coverage. Many gaps in informatics support were identified. Clinicians recommended working to improve informatics support, continuing to clarify clinician responsibilities, and working on increasing public awareness of LCS. Despite working within programs that have adopted many recommended care processes to support LCS, clinicians identified a number of issues in providing high-quality LCS. Many of these issues are best addressed by improved support of LCS within the electronic health record and continued education of staff and patients.


Validation of a Score to Determine Time to Postconcussive Recovery.
A reliable, developmentally appropriate and standardized method for assessing postconcussive symptoms (PCS) is essential to accurately determine recovery postconcussion and to effectively manage return to normal activities. The aim of this study was to develop an evidence-based, psychometrically validated approach to determining clinically useful cutoff scores by using a commonly administered PCS measure. The current study was a prospective, longitudinal observational study conducted between July 2013 and November of 2015 at a statewide tertiary pediatric hospital. Participants were 120 children (5-18 years of age) presenting to the emergency department with a concussion within 48 hours of injury. PCS were assessed by using the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI), acutely, 1 to 4 days postinjury and 2 weeks postinjury. Using comprehensive clinical assessment as gold standard, we assessed the clinical cutoff discrimination ability of PCSI at 2 weeks postinjury by using published approaches, and then varying each approach to optimize their discrimination ability. Existing and potential clinical cutoff scores were explored in predicting delayed recovery. Receiver operating characteristic curve results returned acceptable discrimination and sensitivity when PCSI items increased in severity from preinjury by 1 or more. Compared with a published cutoff score being 3+ items with increased severity, the current study suggests a more stringent cutoff requirement of 2+ is better able to accurately classify symptomatic children. This study provides the first validated index (2+ items, 1+ severity) of concussion recovery for children and youth. Further studies in more varied samples are needed to establish the effectiveness of this method.


Digestible and metabolizable energy concentrations in copra meal, palm kernel meal, and cassava root fed to growing pigs.
An experiment was conducted to measure DE and ME in copra (Cocos nucifera) meal (CM), palm kernel meal (PKM), and cassava (Manihot esculenta) root (CR) in growing pigs. Eight boars with an initial BW of 67.3 ± 5.8 kg were individually housed in metabolism crates that were equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was used with 4 dietary treatments, 4 periods, and 8 animals. A basal diet mainly contained corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) meal. Three additional diets were formulated to contain 30% of CM, PKM, and CR. All diets contained the same proportion of corn:soybean meal ratio at 4.14:1. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy was 89.5, 84.1, 82.4, and 87.9% (P < 0.001) in the basal, CM, PKM, and CR diets, respectively. The DE in CM and PKM were greater (P < 0.05) than in CR (3440 and 3238 vs. 2966 kcal/kg as-fed). The ME in CM was greater (P < 0.05) than in CR (3340 vs. 2935 kcal/kg as-fed) but not different from the ME in PKM (3168 kcal/kg as-fed). In conclusion, CM and PKM have a higher DE value than CR, and CM has a higher ME value than CR.


Farmers' Heterogeneous Willingness to Pay for Farmland Non-Market Goods and Services on the Basis of a Mixed Logit Model-A Case Study of Wuhan, China.
The exploration of different stakeholders' heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland ecological value is a fundamental part of understanding the total value of farmland protection and designing a scientific farmland protection policy. Unlike the homogenous assumption used in the previous studies, the mixed logit model of choice experiment method was applied to estimate respondents' heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland non-market value (represented by farmland area, farmland fertility, water quality, air quality, species richness, and recreational value) in this study. Data came from a sample of 289 farmers in Wuhan, China who were face-to-face interviewed. Results showed that: (1) Farmers were unsatisfied with the status quo of the present farmland ecological environment and were willing to pay to preserve all the attributes of farmland non-market value. (2) Farmers had a heterogeneous preference for the status quo and recreational value-the error variances of these two attributes were both significant at the 1% level, and their willingness to pay for the farmland non-market value in Wuhan was 1141.88 Yuan/hm2. (3) Farmers' cognition degree of farmland importance and whether respondents bought medical insurance or not had significant impacts on their willingness to pay. The results can provide the basic foundation for accurate valuation of farmland non-market services, help farmland regulators make the right farmland conversion decisions, and improve the resource allocation efficiency of local financial expenditure during farmland protection in Wuhan.


Recanalization of Occluded Central Veins in a Parenteral Nutrition-Dependent Child With No Access.
Central venous thromboses are common and pose challenges in the care of chronically ill pediatric patients. Among patients with intestinal failure (most commonly because of short bowel syndrome) who depend on parenteral nutrition, progressive loss of central venous access sites is a potentially fatal complication. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl with parenteral nutrition-dependent short bowel syndrome and no remaining standard central venous access sites despite medical anticoagulation, in whom angioplasty and stent implantations were used to reconstruct chronically occluded central veins. The patient presented with a bloodstream infection necessitating tunneled central venous line removal from the left internal jugular vein. All other standard access sites had known occlusions. The right iliofemoral vein (RIFV) and infrarenal inferior vena cava were recanalized and dilated with high-pressure balloons. The left internal jugular line was removed and a line was placed in the now-patent RIFV for antimicrobial therapy. After treatment, the RIFV line was removed and the vessels were stented open for future access. The occluded left innominate vein was recanalized and dilated to allow a new tunneled line to be placed. At 10 months, the line was functional and uninfected and the RIFV and inferior vena cava stents were patent without in-stent restenosis. We propose a new paradigm that uses these techniques to prevent access site exhaustion in patients who do not respond to anticoagulation therapy. This approach may reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic access needs and the need for intestinal transplantation in patients with intestinal failure.


Procedures and Uterine-Sparing Surgeries for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The aim of this study was to systematically review literature on procedures (eg, uterine artery embolization) and uterine-sparing surgeries for PPH. We searched MEDLINE and other databases from 1990 to November 2014. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies against predetermined criteria, extracted data, and assessed study quality and strength of the evidence (confidence in the effect). Twenty-eight small studies addressed 1 or more procedures (19 studies of embolization, 5 of uterine tamponade) or surgeries (5 studies of arterial ligation, 5 of uterine compression sutures). Studies primarily evaluated bleeding control and adverse effects. Rates of hemostasis were typically greater than 60% in studies reporting such data after failure of conservative management. Postprocedure infertility occurred in 0% to 43% of women in a small number of studies that reported these data. Uterine tamponade successfully controlled bleeding in more than 50% of women, with few harms reported. Success rates for ligation and sutures ranged from 36% to 96%; harms included surgical injury, infection, and fertility-associated effects. A limited body of evidence addresses these interventions for PPH. Median rates of hemostasis ranged from 36% to 98%; however, these data come from few studies with less than 2100 total participants. Harms were not well characterized. Some studies with longer-term follow-up reported infertility in women undergoing embolization. Few adverse events with tamponade, ligation, or sutures were reported. Given the insufficient evidence, clinicians must continue to make individual care decisions based on each woman's clinical situation and available management options.


Secondary chemotherapy for high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
To determine the efficacy of secondary chemotherapy after failure of initial treatment for high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Twenty-six patients with high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia based on WHO criteria who failed primary treatment or relapsed from remission and received secondary chemotherapy were identified from the records of the Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center. Initial chemotherapy consisted of etoposide, high-dose methotrexate with folinic acid, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO) in 10 patients and methotrexate/actinomycin D-based chemotherapy without etoposide in 16 patients. Secondary chemotherapy consisted mainly of platinum-etoposide combinations with methotrexate and actinomycin D (EMA-EP), bleomycin (BEP), or ifosfamide (VIP, ICE). Adjuvant surgery and radiotherapy were used in selected patients. Clinical response and survival as well as factors affecting survival were analyzed retrospectively. The overall survival has 61.5% (16/26). Of the 10 patients who failed primary treatment with EMA-CO, 9 (90%) had complete clinical responses to secondary chemotherapy with EMA-EP (3) or BEP (6), and 6 (60%) were placed into lasting remission. Of the 16 patients who failed primary treatment with methotrexate/actinomycin D-based chemotherapy without etoposide, 10 (63%) had complete clinical responses to BEP (8), VIP (1) and ICE (1), and 10 (63%) achieved long-term remission. Adjuvant surgical procedures were performed on 15 patients as a component of their therapy; eight (73%) of 11 patients who underwent hysterectomy, five (62%) of eight patients who had pulmonary resections, and one patient who had wedge resection of resistant choriocarcinoma from the uterus survived. Survival was significantly influenced by both hCG level at the start of secondary therapy and sites of metastases. Patients with persistent or recurrent high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia who develop resistance to methotrexate-containing treatment protocols should be treated with drug combinations employing a platinum agent and etoposide with or without bleomycin or ifosfamide.


[Expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal toxin gene in the chloroplast of tobacco].
The 3.5 kb wild-type Bt Cry I A(c) gene and its 3' truncated forms (2.1 kb, 1.8 kb) were placed under the control of plastid expression signals consisting of the strong light-induced psbA promoter and its 3' untranslated region with the aadA cassette (Prrn, aadA and psbA3') as a selectable marker. The resulting vectors pBT3, pBT8 and pBT22 also contain flanking tobacco plastid DNA homology regions to direct insertion of the Bt transgene into the tobacco plastid genome between psbA and trnK by homologous recombination. Transformed plastid genomes were selectively amplified by growing the cells on spectinomycin medium. Several independently transformed lines were obtained at last. The results of Southern and Western blot demonstrated that these three kinds of Bt genes had been introduced into tobacco plants, and their filial generations are resistant to spectinomycin. Insecticidal activity assay with transgenic tobacco leaves indicate that some plants have strong toxicity to cotton bollworm. This is the first report in China that Bt gene has been introduced and successfully expressed in the chloroplast of higher plants.


Informing the design of clinical decision support services for evaluation of children with minor blunt head trauma in the emergency department: a sociotechnical analysis.
Integration of clinical decision support services (CDSS) into electronic health records (EHRs) may be integral to widespread dissemination and use of clinical prediction rules in the emergency department (ED). However, the best way to design such services to maximize their usefulness in such a complex setting is poorly understood. We conducted a multi-site cross-sectional qualitative study whose aim was to describe the sociotechnical environment in the ED to inform the design of a CDSS intervention to implement the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) clinical prediction rules for children with minor blunt head trauma. Informed by a sociotechnical model consisting of eight dimensions, we conducted focus groups, individual interviews and workflow observations in 11 EDs, of which 5 were located in academic medical centers and 6 were in community hospitals. A total of 126 ED clinicians, information technology specialists, and administrators participated. We clustered data into 19 categories of sociotechnical factors through a process of thematic analysis and subsequently organized the categories into a sociotechnical matrix consisting of three high-level sociotechnical dimensions (workflow and communication, organizational factors, human factors) and three themes (interdisciplinary assessment processes, clinical practices related to prediction rules, EHR as a decision support tool). Design challenges that emerged from the analysis included the need to use structured data fields to support data capture and re-use while maintaining efficient care processes, supporting interdisciplinary communication, and facilitating family-clinician interaction for decision-making.


Krabbe disease: neurophysiologic studies and MRI correlations.
Krabbe disease (KD) is a rare hereditary leukodystrophy affecting children mostly in the first 6 months of life; later onset has been reported as well. To review abnormalities in neurophysiologic studies in children with KD and determine if there is a correlation between these studies and disease severity as measured by MRI scans. KD patients with at least one neurophysiologic study and one MRI scan at the authors' institution were reviewed. Relationships between KD type, neurophysiologic studies, and severity of disease as measured by MRI were explored. Data were available for 26 children: 20 with early infantile KD (EIKD) and 6 with late-onset KD (LOKD). Flash visual evoked potentials were abnormal in 53% of EIKD children, whereas none of the LOKD children had an abnormal study. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials were abnormal in 88% of EIKD and 40% of LOKD children. EEGs were abnormal in 65% of EIKD and 33% of LOKD children. Nerve conduction studies were abnormal in all children with EIKD and in 20% of LOKD children. Abnormal neurophysiologic studies correlated with more extensive disease as measured by MRI scans. Children with early infantile Krabbe disease and late-onset Krabbe disease have different patterns of abnormalities in neurophysiologic studies. These studies offer an objective means of assessing KD and correlate well with disease severity measured by MRI scans.


Core stability exercise principles.
Core stability is essential for proper load balance within the spine, pelvis, and kinetic chain. The so-called core is the group of trunk muscles that surround the spine and abdominal viscera. Abdominal, gluteal, hip girdle, paraspinal, and other muscles work in concert to provide spinal stability. Core stability and its motor control have been shown to be imperative for initiation of functional limb movements, as needed in athletics. Sports medicine practitioners use core strengthening techniques to improve performance and prevent injury. Core strengthening, often called lumbar stabilization, also has been used as a therapeutic exercise treatment regimen for low back pain conditions. This article summarizes the anatomy of the core, the progression of core strengthening, the available evidence for its theoretical construct, and its efficacy in musculoskeletal conditions.


[Swine tuberculosis and public health].
Tuberculous lesions in pigs are caused by M. avium in the majority of cases. It was shown that compost may be a source of infection in pigs. Birds rarely are sources of infection by M. avium in pigs. Although infected pigs were believed to be capable of infecting man, it was rendered plausible that pigs and man are infected by similar sources of infection. Therefore, M. avium infections in pigs do not constitute a hazard to public health.


Respiratory failure as a first presentation of myasthenia gravis.
Although respiratory failure commonly occurs during the course of myasthenia gravis (MG), it is rarely described at presentation in patients with previously unrecognized MG. We determined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with respiratory failure associated with undiagnosed MG by review of the medical records of all patients who were diagnosed with MG related respiratory failure at four University hospitals. Respiratory failure was defined on the basis of a forced vital capacity < or =1 liter, negative inspiratory force < or =20 cm H2O, or requirement of mechanical ventilation. Out of 51 MG patients with respiratory failure, 7(14%) patients had no previous diagnosis of MG. Another patient was identified after the review. The mean age of these 8 patients was 56 years (range 23-76 years); six were women. Five had previous episodes of unexplained respiratory failure. On initial evaluation, ocular or bulbar signs were present in 7 patients. The diagnosis of MG was made by edrophonium test (n=3), edrophonium test with positive acetylcholine antibody levels or repetitive nerve stimulation (n=2), repetitive nerve stimulation with positive acetylcholine antibody levels (n=2), and positive acetylcholine antibody levels alone (n=1). Seven patients required mechanical ventilation. Plasma exchange (n=7) or intravenous immunoglobulins (n=1) resulted in successful extubation or resolution of symptoms in all patients. Respiratory failure can occur at presentation in MG. A high index of suspicion should be maintained in patients with previous history of unexplained respiratory failures.


Spectroscopic and mechanistic studies of heterodimetallic forms of metallo-β-lactamase NDM-1.
In an effort to characterize the roles of each metal ion in metallo-β-lactamase NDM-1, heterodimetallic analogues (CoCo-, ZnCo-, and CoCd-) of the enzyme were generated and characterized. UV-vis, (1)H NMR, EPR, and EXAFS spectroscopies were used to confirm the fidelity of the metal substitutions, including the presence of a homogeneous, heterodimetallic cluster, with a single-atom bridge. This marks the first preparation of a metallo-β-lactamase selectively substituted with a paramagnetic metal ion, Co(II), either in the Zn1 (CoCd-NDM-1) or in the Zn2 site (ZnCo-NDM-1), as well as both (CoCo-NDM-1). We then used these metal-substituted forms of the enzyme to probe the reaction mechanism, using steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics, stopped-flow fluorescence, and rapid-freeze-quench EPR. Both metal sites show significant effects on the kinetic constants, and both paramagnetic variants (CoCd- and ZnCo-NDM-1) showed significant structural changes on reaction with substrate. These changes are discussed in terms of a minimal kinetic mechanism that incorporates all of the data.


Effective communication for the safe care of patients with ventricular assist device implantation.
To report the role of multiprofessional teams in the effective communication and safe care of patients with left ventricular assist device. This is an experience report about the use of effective communication for patients with ventricular assist device in a university hospital in southern Brazil. Care based on individualized action and centered on the patients started in 2017. At the institution, the multiprofessional teams attended training sessions and care protocols were established. The patients and caregivers attended systematic educational sessions and home visits were made to arrange patient discharge and urgency plans. Also, the hospital teams located near the patients' homes received basic training. Effective communication between multiprofessional teams, patients, and their families when planning care plays a pivotal role in the early identification of possible complications and their prevention, resulting in a greater survival rate and a better quality of life.


Independent evolution of the core domain and its flanking sequences in small heat shock proteins.
Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are molecular chaperones involved in maintaining protein homeostasis; they have also been implicated in protein folding diseases and in cancer. In this protein family, a conserved core domain, the so-called α-crystallin or Hsp20 domain, is flanked by highly variable, nonconserved sequences that are essential for chaperone function. Analysis of 8714 sHsps revealed a broad variation of primary sequences within the superfamily as well as phyla-dependent differences. Significant variations were found in the number of sHsps per genome, their amino acid composition, and the length distribution of the different sequence parts. Reconstruction of the evolutionary tree for the sHsp superfamily shows that the flanking regions fall into several subgroups, indicating that they were remodeled several times in parallel but independent of the evolution of the α-crystallin domain. The evolutionary history of sHsps is thus set apart from that of other protein families in that two exon boundary-independent strategies are combined: the evolution of the conserved α-crystallin domain and the independent evolution of the N- and C-terminal sequences. This scenario allows for increased variability in specific small parts of the protein and thus promotes functional and structural differentiation of sHsps, which is not reflected in the general evolutionary tree of species.


Take a Stand!-a multi-component intervention aimed at reducing sitting time among office workers-a cluster randomized trial.
Prolonged sitting time has been associated with adverse health outcomes. Interventions at work may contribute to reduced sitting. The objective was to test if a multicomponent work-based intervention can reduce sitting time and the number of prolonged sitting periods (> 30 min), increase the number of sit-to-stand transitions and decrease waist circumference and body fat percentage among office workers. Primary outcomes were: change in sitting time, prolonged sitting periods and sit-to-stand transitions at follow-up 1 month later. At four workplaces, 19 offices (317 workers in total) were cluster randomized for intervention or control. The intervention included the appointment of local ambassadors, management support, environmental changes, a lecture and a workshop. Sitting time was measured using an ActiGraph GT3X+ fixed on the thigh. Data were processed using Acti4 software providing data on time spent sitting, standing and doing other activities. Control participants were instructed to behave as usual. Follow-up measurements were obtained after 1 and 3 months. At 1 and 3 months, total sitting time was 71 ( P < 0.001) and 48 min ( P < 0.001) lower per 8-h workday in the intervention group compared with the control group. At 1 month, the number of prolonged sitting periods was lower (-0.79/8-h workday, P < 0.001) and sit-to-stand transitions were higher (+14%/sitting hour, P = 0.001) in the intervention compared with the control group. After 3 months, trends persisted. The body fat percentage was lower by 0.61 percentage points ( P = 0.011) in the intervention group compared with the control group after 3 months. The multicomponent workplace-based intervention was effective in reducing sitting time, prolonged sitting periods and body fat percentage, and in increasing the number of sit-to-stand transitions.


Regulome-wide association study identifies genetically driven accessible regions associated with pancreatic cancer risk.
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified two dozen genetic variants that are associated with the risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a deadly malignancy. However, a majority of these variants are located in noncoding regions of the genome, which limits the translation of GWAS findings into clinical applications. The regulome-wide association study (RWAS) is a recently developed method for identifying TF binding-induced accessibility regions for diseases. However, their potential connection to PDAC has yet to be fully explored. We evaluated the associations between genetically predicted levels of chromatin accessibility and risk of PDAC by using pan-cancer chromatin accessibility genetic prediction models. Our analysis included 8275 cases and 6723 controls from the PanScan (I, II, and III) and PanC4 consortia. To further refine our results, we also integrated genes associated to allele-specific accessibility quantitative trait loci (as-aQTL) and TF motifs located in the as-aQTL. We found that 50 chromatin accessibility features were associated with PDAC risk at a false discovery rate (FDR) of less than 0.05. A total of 28 RWAS peaks were identified as conditionally significant. By integrating the results from as-aQTL, motif analysis, and RWAS, we identified candidate causal regulatory elements for two potential chromatin accessibility regions (THCA_89956 and ESCA_89167) that are associated with PDAC risk. Our study identified chromatin accessibility features in noncoding genomic regions that are associated with PDAC risk. We also predicted the associated genes and disrupt motifs. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of noncoding regions for pancreatic tumorigenesis.


An anatomic study of the rat larynx: establishing the rat model for neuromuscular function.
The gross and microscopic anatomy of the rat larynx was studied with particular attention to myology and neuromuscular structures to further validate it as a model to evaluate morphologic and functional changes induced by botulinum injection. A laryngeal alar cartilage (LAIC), alar cricoarytenoid (ACA) muscle, and a superior cricoarytenoid muscle (SCA) were identified as anatomic structures not previously described. Two portions (medial and lateral) of the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) were distinguished. The function of the ACA was suggested to be similar to the aryepiglottis muscle in humans and the function of the SCA was suggested to be similar to the human interarytenoid muscle. The predominant pattern of motor endplate (MEP) distribution in rat laryngeal muscles (posterior cricoarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, cricothyroid, and SCA) was to have MEPs concentrated mostly at the midbelly of muscle where they were distributed throughout the cross-sectional area of the midbelly. The TA and ACA differed from this pattern. The lateral TA had MEPs concentrated at the anterior third of its belly and those of the medial TA were located at the midbelly. Motor endplates in the ACA were located mostly at the posterior portion of muscle. Muscle fiber-typing showed subtle differences between the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Fast fibers were predominant in the rat laryngeal muscles. This study supports the expanded use of rats in studies of laryngeal neuromuscular function and disease in humans.


Ethical considerations: care of the critically ill and injured during pandemics and disasters: CHEST consensus statement.
Mass critical care entails time-sensitive decisions and changes in the standard of care that it is possible to deliver. These circumstances increase provider uncertainty as well as patients' vulnerability and may, therefore, jeopardize disciplined, ethical decision-making. Planning for pandemics and disasters should incorporate ethics guidance to support providers who may otherwise make ad hoc patient care decisions that overstep ethical boundaries. This article provides consensus-developed suggestions about ethical challenges in caring for the critically ill or injured during pandemics or disasters. The suggestions in this article are important for all of those involved in any pandemic or disaster with multiple critically ill or injured patients, including front-line clinicians, hospital administrators, and public health or government officials. We adapted the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guidelines Oversight Committee's methodology to develop suggestions. Twenty-four key questions were developed, and literature searches were conducted to identify evidence for suggestions. The detailed literature reviews produced 144 articles. Based on their expertise within this domain, panel members also supplemented the literature search with governmental publications, interdisciplinary workgroup consensus documents, and other information not retrieved through PubMed. The literature in this field is not suitable to support evidence-based recommendations. Therefore, the panel developed expert opinion-based suggestions using a modified Delphi process. We report the suggestions that focus on five essential domains: triage and allocation, ethical concerns of patients and families, ethical responsibilities to providers, conduct of research, and international concerns. Ethics issues permeate virtually all aspects of pandemic and disaster response. We have addressed some of the most pressing issues, focusing on five essential domains: triage and allocation, ethical concerns of patients and families, ethical responsibilities to providers, conduct of research, and international concerns. Our suggestions reflect the consensus of the Task Force. We recognize, however, that some suggestions, including those related to end-of-life care, may be controversial. We highlight the need for additional research and dialogue in articulating values to guide health-care decisions during disasters.


[Specific binding of human bone morphogenetic protein (2A) with mouse osteoblastic cells].
Human bone morphogenetic protein 2A (hBMP2A) cDNA terminal S67 nucleotides were cloned and expressed in a phage display vector pCSM21. Human BMP2A C-terminal peptide displayed on the surface of the phage can bind specifically to the surface of mouse osteoblastic cell (MC3T3) membrane. ELISA assay showed a positive signal of the binding by using antibody against M13 phage gene 8 protein. After labeling with 3HTdR, the counts of the binding groups were 3 to 10 times higher than the control groups. It suggests that the surface of MC3T3 cells exist the receptor for hBMP2A.


Functional optoacoustic human angiography with handheld video rate three dimensional scanner.
Optoacoustic imaging provides a unique combination of high optical contrast and excellent spatial resolution, making it ideal for simultaneous imaging of tissue anatomy as well as functional and molecular contrast in deep optically opaque tissues. We report on development of a portable clinical system for three-dimensional optoacoustic visualization of deep human tissues at video rate. Studies in human volunteers have demonstrated powerful performance in delivering high resolution volumetric multispectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) images of tissue morphology and function, such as blood oxygenation parameters, in real time. Whilst most imaging modalities currently in clinical use are not able to deliver volumetric data with comparable time resolution, the presented imaging approach holds promise to attain new diagnostic and treatment monitoring value for multiple indications, such as cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, disorders related to the lymphatic system, breast lesions, arthritis and inflammation.


Quantification of event-related desynchronization/synchronization at low frequencies in a semantic memory task.
Although several techniques have been developed for the visualization of EEG event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) in both time and frequency domains, none of the quantification methods takes advantage of the time and frequency resolution at the same time. Existing techniques for the quantification of the ERD/ERS changes compute the average EEG power increase/decrease relative to certain reference value, over fixed time intervals and/or frequency bands (either fixed or individualized). Inaccuracy in the computation of these frequency bands (where the process is actually measured) in combination with the averaging process over time may lead to errors in the computation of any ERD/ERS quantification parameter. In this paper, we present a novel method for the automatic, individual and exact quantification of the most significant ERD/ERS region within a given window of the time-frequency domain. The method is exemplified by quantifying the ERS at low frequencies of 10 subjects performing a semantic memory task, and compared with existing techniques.


Biomechanical effects of hybrid stabilization on the risk of proximal adjacent-segment degeneration following lumbar spinal fusion using an interspinous device or a pedicle screw-based dynamic fixator.
OBJECTIVE Pedicle screw-rod-based hybrid stabilization (PH) and interspinous device-based hybrid stabilization (IH) have been proposed to prevent adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD) and their effectiveness has been reported. However, a comparative study based on sound biomechanical proof has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical effects of IH and PH on the transition and adjacent segments. METHODS A validated finite element model of the normal lumbosacral spine was used. Based on the normal model, a rigid fusion model was immobilized at the L4-5 level by a rigid fixator. The DIAM or NFlex model was added on the L3-4 segment of the fusion model to construct the IH and PH models, respectively. The developed models simulated 4 different loading directions using the hybrid loading protocol. RESULTS Compared with the intact case, fusion on L4-5 produced 18.8%, 9.3%, 11.7%, and 13.7% increments in motion at L3-4 under flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. Additional instrumentation at L3-4 (transition segment) in hybrid models reduced motion changes at this level. The IH model showed 8.4%, -33.9%, 6.9%, and 2.0% change in motion at the segment, whereas the PH model showed -30.4%, -26.7%, -23.0%, and 12.9%. At L2-3 (adjacent segment), the PH model showed 14.3%, 3.4%, 15.0%, and 0.8% of motion increment compared with the motion in the IH model. Both hybrid models showed decreased intradiscal pressure (IDP) at the transition segment compared with the fusion model, but the pressure at L2-3 (adjacent segment) increased in all loading directions except under extension. CONCLUSIONS Both IH and PH models limited excessive motion and IDP at the transition segment compared with the fusion model. At the segment adjacent to the transition level, PH induced higher stress than IH model. Such differences may eventually influence the likelihood of ASD.


Azotemia during chronic converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril in sodium-depleted rats: role of renal circulatory changes.
Chronic administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril to sodium-restricted rats causes azotemia and elevations in serum creatinine. This study was undertaken to determine the contribution of altered systemic and renal hemodynamics to the reductions in renal function in sodium-restricted rats treated with enalapril. Animals were maintained for 21 days on a sodium-restricted diet (0.04 +/- 0.01 mEq Na+/24 h). Enalapril was administered in the drinking water (300 mg/L) to half the rats. Regional blood flows were measured in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, i.p.) using the radioactive microsphere technique. Converting enzyme inhibition (CEI) reduced mean arterial pressure (130.8 +/- 5.9 vs 60.3 +/- 6.1 mm Hg, p less than 0.001), and increased cardiac index (346 +/- 33 vs. 437 +/- 28 ml/min/kg, p less than 0.05). Total peripheral resistance was significantly lower in enalapril-treated rats [0.406 +/- 0.049 vs. 0.166 +/- 0.013 arbitrary resistance units (RU), p less than 0.001]. Renal blood flow was maintained (control, 2.93 +/- 0.21 vs. enalapril, 2.55 +/- 0.28 ml/min/100 g, p = NS) despite a 54% decrease in perfusion pressure due to decreased renal vascular resistance (42.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 25.2 +/- 2.9 RU, p less than 0.001). CEI reduced coronary blood flow (2.76 +/- 0.22 vs. 1.59 +/- 0.19 ml/min/100 g, p less than 0.001), but did not change coronary vascular resistance (50.2 +/- 4.6 vs. 44.0 +/- 4.3 RU, p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Ergogenic Effects of Caffeine on Ballistic (Throwing) Performance: A Meta-Analytical Review.
Ballistic exercise is characterized by high velocity, force, and muscle activation. Typical examples of ballistic exercise are jumping and throwing activities. While several studies explored caffeine's effects on throwing performance, the between study findings varied. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis exploring caffeine's effects on throwing performance (e.g., shot put, medicine ball throw, bench press throw). Seven databases were searched for eligible research. Ten studies (n = 151) were included. In the main meta-analysis, there was a significant ergogenic effect of caffeine on throwing performance (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.33; p = 0.007). There was a significant ergogenic effect of caffeine in the subgroup analysis for studies that evaluated throwing velocity (SMD: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.37; p = 0.0006) and used caffeine doses ≤3 mg/kg (SMD: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.31; p = 0.006). There was no significant difference between caffeine and placebo in the subgroup analysis for studies that evaluated throwing distance (SMD: 0.15; 95% CI: −0.09, 0.40; p = 0.22) and used caffeine doses >3 mg/kg, (SMD: 0.17; 95% CI: −0.08, 0.41; p = 0.19). However, after one outlier study was excluded as part of a sensitivity analysis, an ergogenic effect was also observed for throwing distance and caffeine doses >3 mg/kg. Based on the results of this review, we conclude that individuals interested in the acute enhancement of throwing performance may consider caffeine supplementation.


Dyadobacter luticola sp. nov., isolated from a sewage sediment sample.
A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterial strain, designated T17T was isolated from a sample of sewage sediment from a Busan park (Republic of Korea). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain T17T had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Dyadobacter soli KCTC 22481T (97.3 %), D.yadobacter fermentans DSM 18053T (97.1 %) and D.yadobacter sediminis CGMCC 1.12895T (97.1 %). The isolate exhibited relatively low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with respect to D. soli KCTC 22481T (28.2±3.6 %). The DNA G+C content was 49.1 mol%. The unique respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified lipids, four aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and one glycophospholipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>5 % of total) were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH; 44.3 %), iso-C15 : 0 (15.7 %), C16 : 1ω5c (9.6 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (9.3 %) and C16 : 0 (5.6 %). Moreover, physiological and biochemical characteristics distinguished strain T17T from its related species, including temperature and pH ranges for growth, being positive for acetate hydrolysis, and being negative for acid produced from melibiose and rhamnose. The genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data revealed that strain T17T represents a novel species of the genus Dyadobacter, for which the name Dyadobacter luticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T17T (=KCTC 52981T=CCTCC AB 2017091T).


Analysis of masticatory muscle coordination during unilateral single-tooth clenching using muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging.
In a previous study, we used muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging to show that the anterior movement of the occlusal point increased the activity of the superior head of the ipsilateral lateral pterygoid muscle (ipsilateral SHLP) during unilateral single-tooth clenching. The purpose of this study was to verify the hypothesis that the increased activity of the ipsilateral SHLP described above serves to antagonise the occlusal force acting on the condyle. In total, 9 healthy volunteers were requested to perform left unilateral clenching at the first molar or first premolar region for 1 minute at 20% or 40% maximum voluntary clenching force. Changes in the mean proton transverse relaxation time (∆T2) were examined from the magnetic resonance images obtained before and after each clenching act as an index of the activity in all masticatory muscles. Correlation analyses of the mean ΔT2 for each volume of interest were performed with the first molar or premolar clenches to analyse the correlation between the activities in each muscle. A statistically significant correlation was exhibited between the ipsilateral temporal and ipsilateral SHLP (r = .651, P = .003) during first premolar clenching. However, no significant correlations were observed in the ipsilateral SHLP during first molar clenching. The results of this study suggest that the ipsilateral SHLP may contribute to the pulling of the mandibular condyle forward against the occlusal force generated by the ipsilateral temporal muscle.


The choice of the objective function in flux balance analysis is crucial for predicting replicative lifespans in yeast.
Flux balance analysis (FBA) is a powerful tool to study genome-scale models of the cellular metabolism, based on finding the optimal flux distributions over the network. While the objective function is crucial for the outcome, its choice, even though motivated by evolutionary arguments, has not been directly connected to related measures. Here, we used an available multi-scale mathematical model of yeast replicative ageing, integrating cellular metabolism, nutrient sensing and damage accumulation, to systematically test the effect of commonly used objective functions on features of replicative ageing in budding yeast, such as the number of cell divisions and the corresponding time between divisions. The simulations confirmed that assuming maximal growth is essential for reaching realistic lifespans. The usage of the parsimonious solution or the additional maximisation of a growth-independent energy cost can improve lifespan predictions, explained by either increased respiratory activity using resources otherwise allocated to cellular growth or by enhancing antioxidative activity, specifically in early life. Our work provides a new perspective on choosing the objective function in FBA by connecting it to replicative ageing.