The cost of compensable upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders.
There is little information available of the costs of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders. Cost data were collected from computerized records of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorder workers' compensation claims (N = 6,067) and for all claims (N = 731,087) initiated from 45 states during 1989. The data were not analyzed until July 1992, allowing more accurate "closing cost" data to be used in the analysis. Upper extremity cumulative trauma disorder cases represented 0.83% of all claims and 1.64% of all claims costs. The mean cost per case for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders was $8070; median cost per case was $824. Medical costs represented 32.9% of the total costs; indemnity costs were 65.1%. The total compensable cost for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders in the United States was estimated to be $563 million.


Mitochondrial toxicity in the era of HAART: evaluating venous lactate and peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA in HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy.
Nucleoside analogs can induce mitochondrial toxicity by inhibiting the human DNA polymerase gamma. This can lead to a wide range of clinical toxicities, from asymptomatic hyperlactatemia to death. Despite their technical and physiological variability, we propose that random venous lactate measurements can be useful to monitor the development of nucleoside-related mitochondrial toxicity. Recently, we have developed an assay that can measure changes in mitochondrial DNA levels in peripheral blood cells. Using this assay we have characterized changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) relative to nuclear DNA (nDNA) in peripheral blood cells of patients with symptomatic nucleoside-induced hyperlactatemia. Our results demonstrate that symptomatic hyperlactatemia was associated with markedly low mtDNA/nDNA ratios, which were on average 69% lower than HIV-uninfected controls and 45% lower than HIV-infected asymptomatic/antiretroviral naive controls. A statistically significant (p = .016) increase in mtDNA/nDNA ratio was observed following discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy. The mtDNA/nDNA ratio remained stable among selected patients who reintroduced antiretroviral therapy with stavudine (d4T)-sparing regimens. Of note, the decline in mtDNA preceded the increase in venous lactate levels. More recently we have evaluated changes in the mtDNA/nDNA ratio in relation to selected antiretroviral drug regimens in a cross-sectional study on a non-random sample of participants within the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program. Eligible patients had continuously received saquinavir plus ritonavir with either nevirapine (n = 20), lamivudine (n = 15), d4T (n = 53) or lamivudine + d4T (n = 69), for 4 to 30 months. d4T-sparing regimens were associated with a higher median mtDNA/nDNA ratio than d4T-containing regimens (p = .016), despite the fact that study patients had received d4T-containing regimens for a shorter median time than patients taking d4T-sparing regimens (13 versus 25 months, p = .002). In summary, mtDNA levels are significantly decreased among patients who develop symptomatic, nucleoside-related hyperlactatemia, an effect reversed upon therapy discontinuation. Furthermore, mtDNA/nDNA ratios were statistically significantly lower in patients taking d4T-containing regimens than in those taking selected d4T-sparing regimens in a population setting. These results suggest that measurement of this parameter should be investigated as a potential clinical management tool.


Phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase-3 controls c-myc proteolysis and subnuclear localization.
The c-Myc protein is a transcription factor that is a central regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Thr-58 is a major phosphorylation site in c-Myc and is a mutational hotspot in Burkitt's and other aggressive human lymphomas, indicating that Thr-58 phosphorylation restricts the oncogenic potential of c-Myc. Mutation of Thr-58 is also associated with increased c-Myc protein stability. Here we show that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity with lithium increases c-Myc stability and inhibits phosphorylation of c-Myc specifically at Thr-58 in vivo. Conversely, overexpression of GSK-3 alpha or GSK-3 beta enhances Thr-58 phosphorylation and ubiquitination of c-Myc. Together, these observations suggest that phosphorylation of Thr-58 mediated by GSK-3 facilitates c-Myc rapid proteolysis by the ubiquitin pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GSK-3 binds c-Myc in vivo and in vitro and that GSK-3 colocalizes with c-Myc in the nucleus, strongly arguing that GSK-3 is the c-Myc Thr-58 kinase. We found that c-MycS, which lacks the N-terminal 100 amino acids of c-Myc, is unable to bind GSK-3; however, mutation of Ser-62, the priming phosphorylation site necessary for Thr-58 phosphorylation, does not disrupt GSK-3 binding. Finally, we show that Thr-58 phosphorylation alters the subnuclear localization of c-Myc, enhancing its localization to discrete nuclear bodies together with GSK-3.


[Principal complications in radiographic studies].
After an introductory review of ion radiation sickness and the problem of accidents with contrast media, the main complications in urography, cholecystocholangiography, bronchography, lymphography and computerised axial tomography are listed. The comparative frequency of such complications is deduced from a study of the literature.


Dynamics of exhaled breath temperature after smoking a cigarette and its association with lung function changes predictive of COPD risk in smokers: a cross-sectional study.
Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) is a biomarker of inflammation and vascularity of the airways already shown to predict incident COPD. This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the potential of EBT in identifying "healthy" smokers susceptible to cigarette smoke toxicity of the airways and to the risk of developing COPD by analysing the dynamics of EBT after smoking a cigarette and its associations with their demographics (age, smoking burden) and lung function. The study included 55 current smokers of both sexes, 29-62 years of age, with median smoking exposure of 15 (10-71.8) pack-years. EBT was measured at baseline and 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after smoking a single cigarette. Lung function was measured with spirometry followed by a bronchodilator test. To compare changes in EBT between repeated measurements we used the analysis of variance and the area under the curve (EBTAUC) as a dependent variable. Multivariate regression analysis was used to look for associations with patient characteristics and lung function in particular. The average (±SD) baseline EBT was 33.42±1.50 °C. The highest significant increase to 33.84 (1.25) °C was recorded 5 min after the cigarette was smoked (p=0.003), and it took one hour for it to return to the baseline. EBTAUC showed significant repeatability (ICC=0.85, p<0.001) and was significantly associated with age, body mass index, number of cigarettes smoked a day, baseline EBT, and baseline FEF75 (R2=0.39, p<0.001 for the model). Our results suggest that EBT after smoking a single cigarette could be used as early risk predictor of changes associated with chronic cigarette smoke exposure.


Pro-inflammatory CD11c+CD206+ adipose tissue macrophages are associated with insulin resistance in human obesity.
Insulin resistance and other features of the metabolic syndrome have been causally linked to adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in mice with diet-induced obesity. We aimed to characterize macrophage phenotype and function in human subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue in relation to insulin resistance in obesity. Adipose tissue was obtained from lean and obese women undergoing bariatric surgery. Metabolic markers were measured in fasting serum and ATMs characterized by immunohistology, flow cytometry, and tissue culture studies. RESULTS ATMs comprised CD11c(+)CD206(+) cells in "crown" aggregates and solitary CD11c(-)CD206(+) cells at adipocyte junctions. In obese women, CD11c(+) ATM density was greater in subcutaneous than omental adipose tissue and correlated with markers of insulin resistance. CD11c(+) ATMs were distinguished by high expression of integrins and antigen presentation molecules; interleukin (IL)-1beta, -6, -8, and -10; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; and CC chemokine ligand-3, indicative of an activated, proinflammatory state. In addition, CD11c(+) ATMs were enriched for mitochondria and for RNA transcripts encoding mitochondrial, proteasomal, and lysosomal proteins, fatty acid metabolism enzymes, and T-cell chemoattractants, whereas CD11c(-) ATMs were enriched for transcripts involved in tissue maintenance and repair. Tissue culture medium conditioned by CD11c(+) ATMs, but not CD11c(-) ATMs or other stromovascular cells, impaired insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by human adipocytes. These findings identify proinflammatory CD11c(+) ATMs as markers of insulin resistance in human obesity. In addition, the machinery of CD11c(+) ATMs indicates they metabolize lipid and may initiate adaptive immune responses.


Synthesis and electronic structure of bis(imino)pyridine iron metallacyclic intermediates in iron-catalyzed cyclization reactions.
The bis(imino)pyridine iron dinitrogen compound, ((iPr(TB))PDI)Fe(N2)2 ((iPr(TB))PDI = 2,6-(2,6-(i)Pr2-C6H3-N═C-(CH2)3)2(C5H1N)) is an effective precatalyst for the [2π + 2π] cycloaddition of diallyl amines as well as the hydrogenative cyclization of N-tosylated enynes and diynes. Addition of stoichiometric quantities of amino-substituted enyne and diyne substrates to ((iPr(TB))PDI)Fe(N2)2 resulted in isolation of catalytically competent bis(imino)pyridine iron metallacycle intermediates. A combination of magnetochemistry, X-ray diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopic and computational studies established S = 1 iron compounds that are best described as intermediate-spin iron(III) (SFe = 3/2) antiferromagnetically coupled to a chelate radical anion (SPDI = 1/2). Catalytically competent bis(imino)pyridine iron diene and metallacycles relevant to the [2π + 2π] cycloaddition were also isolated and structurally characterized. The combined magnetic, structural, spectroscopic, and computational data support an Fe(I)-Fe(III) catalytic cycle where the bis(imino)pyridine chelate remains in its one-electron reduced radical anion form. These studies revise a previous mechanistic proposal involving exclusively ferrous intermediates and highlight the importance of the redox-active bis(imino)pyridine chelate for enabling catalytic cyclization chemistry with iron.


Aquimarina algicola sp. nov., isolated from the surface of a marine red alga.
A bacterial strain, designated M625T, was isolated from the surface of a marine red alga. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on the 16S rRNA gene and RpoB protein sequences, which indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Aquimarina within the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain M625T showed high sequence similarities to A. aggregata RZW4-3-2 T (95.7%), A. seongsanensis CBA3208T (95.3%) and A. versatilis CBA3207T (95.0%). The AAI and POCP values between strain M625T and A. muelleri DSM 19832 T were 71.8% and 57.9% respectively. The dDDH and ANI values between strain M625T and A. aggregata were 19.5% and 74.6% respectively. The strain was Gram-stain negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile and long rod-shaped, and positive for hydrolysis of starch, cellulose, alginate, DNA and Tween 20. The dominant respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, and iso-C15:1 G, and the polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids, and seven unidentified lipids. Based on the polyphasic comparisons, strain M625T is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Aquimarina, for which the name Aquimarina algicola sp. nov. (type strain M625T = MCCC 1H00399T = KCTC 72685 T) was proposed.


5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists in Neurologic and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: The Iceberg Still Lies beneath the Surface.
5-HT3 receptor antagonists, first introduced to the market in the mid-1980s, are proven efficient agents to counteract chemotherapy-induced emesis. Nonetheless, recent investigations have shed light on unappreciated dimensions of this class of compounds in conditions with an immunoinflammatory component as well as in neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The promising findings from multiple studies have unveiled several beneficial effects of these compounds in multiple sclerosis, stroke, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. Reports continue to uncover important roles for 5-HT3 receptors in the physiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, drug abuse, and schizophrenia. This review addresses the potential of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in neurology- and neuropsychiatry-related disorders. The broad therapeutic window and high compliance observed with these agents position them as suitable prototypes for the development of novel pharmacotherapeutics with higher efficacy and fewer adverse effects.


Efficacy of the ProTaper retreatment system in removing Thermafil, GuttaCore or vertically compacted gutta-percha from curved root canals assessed by micro-CT.
To evaluate ex vivo the efficacy of ProTaper Universal Retreatment files (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland) in removing Thermafil, GuttaCore (both Dentsply Sirona) or vertically compacted gutta-percha from curved root canals using micro-CT. Sixty curved molar roots with the same mean canal curvatures and radii in two directions were prepared using ProFile instruments (Dentsply Sirona) to size 30 with .04 taper and obturated with either Thermafil, GuttaCore or vertically compacted gutta-percha and AH Plus (n = 20). Specimens were retreated using the ProTaper Universal Retreatment files D1, D2 and D3 to working length, and root canal preparation was completed with ProTaper Next (Dentsply Sirona) to size ×4. Percentages of residual filling material and dentine removal were assessed using micro-CT imaging. Working time and procedural errors were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. No significant differences between carrier-based and warm vertical compaction regarding residual filling material (14.2-19.3%) and dentine removal (2.7-3.2 mm3 ) were detected (P > 0.05). Time to reach working length was significantly faster for canals filled with GuttaCore than that observed for Thermafil and warm vertical compaction (P < 0.05). Five lateral perforations with the D3 file occurred during retreatment, one in the Thermafil and four in the vertical compaction group. Remaining filling material and dentine removal were similar for all canal filling techniques. Regaining working length was significantly faster for GuttaCore compared with Thermafil and vertically compacted gutta-percha. Procedural errors occurred during retreatment of severely curved root canals with the ProTaper Universal Retreatment files in 5 of 60 canals (8%).


Radiosurgical management of intracranial vascular malformations.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important treatment option for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and hemorrhagic cavernous malformations. Radiosurgery is effective in obliterating AVMs and preventing rebleeding of cavernous malformations with two or more hemorrhagic episodes. Outcome analyses of radiosurgery for these vascular malformations have provided important information to improve the safety and effectiveness of radiosurgical treatment.


Dietary squid paste supplementation promotes feed intake via brain-gut dynamic response in Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis.
As the primary source of protein for aquaculture, fishmeal has reached the extremity of sustainable development, our previous studies have proven that rice protein concentrate and squid paste are outstanding protein source and stimulant for Pelodiscus sinensis. However, little attention has been given to the molecular mechanism of the appetite modulated by the dietary nutrient factor, especially for a reptile. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate feed intake and brain-gut dynamic responses to dietary rice protein concentrate and squid paste in Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic practical diets were formulated including 60% fishmeal (CT), 42% fishmeal + 18% rice protein concentrate (RP) and 42% fishmeal + 18% rice protein concentrate + 1% squid paste (RPS), respectively. Microcapsule lysine was supplemented in RP and RPS diets to balance the amino acid profile. Turtles (initial weight 30.65 ± 0.97 g) were fed three times daily to apparent satiation. After the 8-week feeding trial, the turtles were exposed to 48h food deprivation, then the dynamic expression of the orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides were measured. The results showed that no significant effect was observed on feed intake when fishmeal was replaced by rice protein concentrate (P = 0.421), while significantly improved feed intake was found by squid paste supplemented (P = 0.02). The mRNA expression of anorexigenic peptides, such as leptin receptor, insulin receptor, pro-opiomelanocortin, cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript, cholecystokinin (and its receptor) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor in the brain increased significantly at 3 h past feeding (P < 0.05), and then decreased. Nevertheless, neuropeptide Y and peptide YY mRNA expression showed the valley at 3h and peak at 12h past feeding. Intestinal cholecystokinin receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor mRNA expression showed no difference during the postprandial time (P > 0.05). The results suggested that squid paste is an outstanding stimulant for Pelodiscus sinensis. Furthermore, the orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides evaluated here might play an essential role in short-term fasting to this species, of which the dynamic expression levels were regulated by squid paste.


The effectiveness of digital health technologies for reducing substance use among young people: a systematic review & meta-analysis.
Substance use amongst young people poses developmental and clinical challenges, necessitating early detection and treatment. Considering the widespread use of technology in young people, delivering interventions digitally may help to reduce and monitor their substance use. We conducted a systematic review and two meta-analyses to assess the effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing substance use (alcohol, smoking, and other substances) among young people aged 10 to 24 years old. Embase, Global Health, Medline, PsychINFO, Web of Science and reference lists of relevant papers were searched in November 2020. Studies were included if they quantitatively evaluated the effectiveness of digital health technologies for treating substance use. A narrative synthesis and meta-analysis were conducted. Forty-two studies were included in the systematic review and 18 in the meta-analyses. Digital interventions showed small, but statistically significant reductions in weekly alcohol consumption compared to controls (SMD= -0.12, 95% CI= -0.17 to -0.06, I2=0%), but no overall effect was seen on 30-day smoking abstinence (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.80, I2=81%). The effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing substance use is generally weak, however, promising results such as reducing alcohol use were seen. Large-scale studies should investigate the viability of digital interventions, collect user feedback, and determine cost-effectiveness. This systematic review was conducted following Cochrane methodology PRISMA guidelines. The review was registered with PROSPERO in November 2020 (CRD42020218442).


Antitumor Effect of Burchellin Derivatives Against Neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is one of the most commonly encountered malignant solid tumors in the pediatric age group. We examined the antitumor effects of five burchellin derivatives against human neuroblastoma cell lines. We evaluated cytotoxicity by the MTT assay for four human neuroblastoma and two normal cell lines. We also performed analysis of the apoptotic induction effect by flow cytometry, and examined the expression levels of apoptosis- and cell growth-related proteins by western blot analysis. We found that one of the burchellin derivatives (compound 4) exerted cytotoxicity against the neuroblastoma cell lines. Compound 4 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway. The apoptosis mechanisms induced by compound 4 involved caspase-3, -7 and -9 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. In addition, compound 4 induced cell death through inhibition of the cell growth pathway (via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2, AKT8 virus oncogene cellular homolog, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Compound 4 exerted cellular cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma cells via induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis, and may offer promise for further development as a useful drug for the treatment of advanced neuroblastoma.


Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions to intravenous anesthetic agents.
A brief review of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions to some i.v. anaesthetic agents is presented. Etiology, mechanisms, preventive aspects and treatment are discussed.


Molecular identification of hybrids between the two largest whale species, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and the fin whale (B. physalus).
Three anomalous balaenopterid whales, one pregnant female and two sterile males, were investigated by applying molecular approaches in order to establish their identity. The analysis showed that the whales were species hybrids between the blue and the fin whales. The female and one of the males had a blue whale mother and a fin whale father. The other male had a fin whale mother and a blue whale father. The difference between the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the two species suggests that they separated greater than or equal to 3.5 million years ago. The sequences of the mitochondrial control region of the blue and the fin whales differ by 7%. The difference in the mtDNA control region between three blue whale mtDNA haplotypes was less than or equal to 1%, about one tenth of the difference between the two species.


Ginzburg-Landau equation for dynamical four-wave mixing in gain nonlinear media with relaxation.
We consider the dynamical degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) model in a cubic nonlinear medium including both the time relaxation of the induced nonlinearity and the nonlocal coupling. The initial ten-dimensional FWM system can be rewritten as a three-variable intrinsic system (namely, the intensity pattern, the amplitude of the nonlinearity, and the total net gain) which is very close to the pumped Maxwell-Bloch system. In the case of a purely nonlocal response the initial system reduces to a real damped sine-Gordon (SG) equation. We obtain a solution of this equation in the form of a sech function with a time-dependent coefficient. By applying the reductive perturbation method to this damped SG equation, we obtain exactly the cubic complex Ginzburg Landau equation (CGL3) but with a time dependence in the loss or gain coefficient. The CGL3 describes the properties of the spatially localized interference pattern formed by the FWM.


Hydroboration Reaction and Mechanism of Carboxylic Acids using NaNH2(BH3)2, a Hydroboration Reagent with Reducing Capability between NaBH4 and LiAlH4.
Hydroboration reactions of carboxylic acids using sodium aminodiboranate (NaNH2[BH3]2, NaADBH) to form primary alcohols were systematically investigated, and the reduction mechanism was elucidated experimentally and computationally. The transfer of hydride ions from B atoms to C atoms, the key step in the mechanism, was theoretically illustrated and supported by experimental results. The intermediates of NH2B2H5, PhCH═CHCOOBH2NH2BH3-, PhCH═CHCH2OBO, and the byproducts of BH4-, NH2BH2, and NH2BH3- were identified and characterized by 11B and 1H NMR. The reducing capacity of NaADBH was found between that of NaBH4 and LiAlH4. We have thus found that NaADBH is a promising reducing agent for hydroboration because of its stability and easy handling. These reactions exhibit excellent yields and good selectivity, therefore providing alternative synthetic approaches for the conversion of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols with a wide range of functional group tolerance.


RNA Granules and Diseases: A Case Study of Stress Granules in ALS and FTLD.
RNA granules are microscopically visible cellular structures that aggregate by protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Using stress granules as an example, we discuss the principles of RNA granule formation, which rely on the multivalency of RNA and multi-domain proteins as well as low-affinity interactions between proteins with prion-like/low-complexity domains (e.g. FUS and TDP-43). We then explore how dysregulation of RNA granule formation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and discuss possible strategies for therapeutic intervention.


Enhanced nitrate reductase activity offers Arabidopsis ecotype Landsberg erecta better salt stress resistance than Col-0.
The nitrogen utilization efficiency of plants varies depending on the plant species. In modern agriculture, nitrogen fertilizer is used to increase crop production, with the amount of fertilizer addition increasing steadily worldwide. This study included the two most used ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Landsberg erecta (Ler) and Col-0, which were used to identify differences at the molecular level. We found that the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and salt stress resistance differed between these two ecotypes of the same species. We demonstrated distinct salt stress resistance between Ler and Col-0 depending on the differences in nitrate level, which was explained by different regulation of the NIA2 gene expression in these two ecotypes. Our results demonstrate that the genes and promoters regulate expression of these genes and contribute to trait differences. Further studies are required on genes and promoter elements for an improved understanding of the salinity stress resistance mechanism in plants.


Flavonoids of Alcea rosea L. and their immune stimulant, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG-2 cell line.
Alcea rosea L. is widely cultivated in gardens of Egypt as an ornamental plant and it has a great history of folkloric medicinal uses. In the present work, phytochemical investigation of the alcoholic extract of the flowers of A. rosea L. led to the isolation of six flavonoids (1-6). Dihydrokaempferol-4'-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), dihydrokaempferol (2), kaempferol-3-O-[6″-(E-coumaroyl)]-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), Apigenin (5) and kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1'″→6″)-β-d-glucopyranoside (6). Four of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, immunostimulant and cytotoxic activities against HepG-2 cell line. Compound (3) showed potent cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 cell line with high selectivity towards hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro (with IC50 = 3.8 μg/mL). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant antioxidant activity and compound 4 showed a significant immune stimulant activity. Compound 1 is isolated for the first time from genus Alcea and this is the first report for its biological investigation.


Impact of insecticide residue exposure on the invasive pest, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): analysis of adult mobility.
Twenty eight insecticides were evaluated in the laboratory to characterize the impact of specific compounds on locomotory behavior and mobility of adult Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Horizontal distance and angular velocity were measured for individuals exposed to dry insecticide residue for 4.5 h to evaluate how quickly and intensely a given insecticide induced changes in motor activities in no-choice glass arenas. Eight out of nine pyrethroid insecticides induced uncoordinated and irregular movement within 10 min after exposure to insecticides. After 1.5 h, most adults were incapacitated. By contrast, there was no immediate stimulation when H. halys were exposed to organophosphate residues. After 1.5 h, four out of seven organophosphates resulted in increased horizontal distance moved and angular velocity indicating irregular walking paths by exposed adults. Carbamate and neonicotinoid insecticides produced fairly similar patterns with virtually no stimulation in horizontal distance moved or angular velocity, except for imidacloprid and thiacloprid. Neither endosulfan (organochlorine) nor indoxacarb (oxadiazine) affected the horizontal movement of H. halys. Vertical distance climbed by adult H. halys was measured immediately after the 4.5-h insecticide exposure period and at 7 d. In general, adults that survived until day 7 were able to climb vertical distances similar to those in the control. In particular, this result was observed for seven out of nine pyrethroid materials that incapacitated all adults after the 4.5-h exposure period. Mobility changes of adult H. halys are discussed in the context of enhancing integrated pest management programs.


Primary aberration contribution to incoherent backscatter heterodyne lidar returns.
The optics of a coherent lidar system using incoherent backscatter is modeled in a way that allows results of the wave theory of aberrations to be applied directly. Parametric plots are obtained showing the aberration and range dependence of the effective antenna area using truncated Gaussian beams. The Rayleigh criterion is an adequate guide to the optical tolerances required for the far-field return, and in the near field returns are not necessarily degraded by aberrations. Examples are given for the range weighting of returns for various primary mirror configurations.


[Detection of chromosomal abnormalities in soft tissue sarcomas: which sarcomas? Which abnormalities? How? Why?].
During the last 10 years, molecular testing of soft tissue tumors has become increasingly important, not only in the diagnostic approach of these lesions, but also regarding their prognosis and pathogenesis. A subset of soft tissue sarcomas bear chromosomal abnormalities including reciprocal translocations, deletions, mutations and amplifications, which turned out to be histotype specific. Beside their diagnostic value in sarcoma typing and subtyping (always in an appropriate clinical and histologic context), some of these abnormalities may also impact on treatment response and/or on prognosis. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the most informative soft tissue sarcoma chromosomal abnormalities, and to give some clues about why and how we should detect them. Some sarcoma types (Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcomas, synovial sarcoma, well-differentiated/dedifferentiated and myxoid liposarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors--GIST, malignant rhabdoid tumor) will be studied in more detail and the potential implication of these abnormalities in tumor genesis, growth, and maintenance will be briefly discussed.


Expression of the iorAB genes from Brevundimonas diminuta 7 encoding the molybdenum hydroxylase isoquinoline 1-oxidoreductase in Pseudomonas putida.
Isoquinoline 1-oxidoreductase (Ior) from Brevundimonas diminuta 7, encoded by iorAB, is a molybdenum hydroxylase containing a molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide molybdenum cofactor (Mo-MCD) and two distinct [2Fe2S] clusters. The iorAB genes were inserted into pJB653, generating pIL1. Pseudomonas putida KT2440, and P. putida 86 which produces a Mo-MCD-containing quinoline 2-oxidoreductase when grown on quinoline, were used as recipients for pIL1. Upon induction of gene expression, both clones produced Ior protein, but Ior activity was not detectable in P. putida KT2440 pIL1. In P. putida 86 pIL1, formation of catalytically active Ior required the presence of quinoline, suggesting that accessory gene(s) encoding product(s) essential for the assembly of catalytically competent Ior is (are) part of the quinoline regulon in P. putida 86.


Microcomputer simulation as an aid in analyzing data and teaching the principles of glomerular dynamics.
This report describes a simple program, written in BASIC language, that closely emulates a previously published network thermodynamic model of glomerular dynamics. While the latter requires the SPICE 2 simulation program and a mainframe computer for its execution, the present program operates on any IBM-compatible microcomputer. It has equal utility as an aid in the interpretation of laboratory studies of glomerular dynamics and as a tool for teaching the intricacies of the control of glomerular function. The program is available in 'user friendly' format that obviates the need for any expertise in the use of computers.


Antioxidant therapy counteracts the disturbing effects of diamide and maternal ageing on meiotic division and chromosomal segregation in mouse oocytes.
This study aims (i) to ascertain whether oxidative-stress-induced disturbances in chromosomal distribution in the metaphase-II spindle of mouse oocytes can be counteracted by supplementing culture medium with antioxidants; and (ii) to determine whether supplemental intake of antioxidants neutralizes the disturbing effects of maternal ageing on segregation of chromosomes during the first meiotic division and distribution of chromosomes in the metaphase-II spindle. (i): Germinal vesicle oocytes from unstimulated 10-12 week old mice were matured in vitro in the presence or absence of diamide and/or dithiothreitol. Metaphase-II oocytes were fixed and stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) to detect abnormalities in chromosomal distribution. The percentage of oocytes arrested in metaphase I (12.9% vs 28.4%; P < or = 0.05) or with a telophase-I chromosome configuration (0.0% vs 8.2%; P < or = 0.0005) was decreased in diamide-DTT-treated oocytes when compared to diamide-treated oocytes. (ii): Mice were fed, from the first day of weaning until their death, a diet supplemented or not with an antioxidant mixture of vitamin C and vitamin E. Ovulated oocytes were fixed and stained with DAPI or C-banded for chromosome analysis. The percentage of abnormal (chromosome scattering and nulloploidy) or asynchronous (anaphase I or telophase I) oocytes was 2.7-fold higher in controls than in females fed an antioxidant diet (24.4% vs 8.9%, P < or = 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of aneuploidy (2.2% vs 0.0%; P < or = 0.01) and diploidy (5.8% vs 1.7%; P < or = 0.05) was significantly higher in controls than in females fed an antioxidant diet. These findings support Tarin's oxidative stress hypothesis of aneuploidy and have clinical implications for preventing both laboratory-induced and maternal-age-associated aneuploidy in human beings.


[Evaluation method with radiographic image quality indicator for internal defects of dental casting metallic restoration].
To develop a new kind of dental radiographic image quality indicator (IQI) for internal quality of casting metallic restoration to influence on its usage life. Radiographic image quality indicator method was used to evaluate the depth of the defects region and internal quality of 127 casting metallic restoration and the accuracy was compared with that of conventional callipers method. In the 127 cases of casting metallic restoration, 9 were found the thickness less than 0.7 mm and the thinnest thickness only 0.2 mm in 26 casting metallic crowns or bridges' occlusal defects region. The data measured by image quality indicator were consistent with those measured by conventional gauging. Two metal inner crowns were found the thickness less than 0.3 mm in 56 porcelain crowns or bridges. The thickness of casting removable partial denture was more than 1.0 mm, but thinner regions were not found. It was found that in a titanium partial denture, the X-ray image of clasp was not uniform and there were internal porosity defects in the clasp. Special dental image quality indicator can solve the visual error problems caused by different observing backgrounds and estimate the depth of the defects region in the casting.


New species and new records of gelechiid moths (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from southern Siberia.
Noteworthy records of 23 species of the family Gelechiidae from southern Siberia are reported. The following seven new species are described: Metzneria transbaikalica Bidzilya, sp. nov., Istrianis jaskai Bidzilya, sp. nov., Teleiopsis kyraensis Bidzilya, sp. nov., Athrips nigrilineella Bidzilya K. Nupponen, sp. nov., Filatima multicornuta Bidzilya K. Nupponen, sp. nov., Lutilabria pallidella K. Nupponen Bidzilya sp. nov. and Caryocolum unicolorellum Bidzilya, sp. nov. Two new synonyms are established: Filatima bidentella Bidzilya, 1998 syn. nov. of Filatima asiatica Sattler, 1961; Filatima autocrossa Meyrick, 1937 syn. nov. of Filatima pallipalpella Snellen, 1884. Lutilabria kaszabi Povolný, 1978 is re-described based on additional material. The hitherto unknown females of Filatima asiatica, F. karsholti Ivinskis Piskunov, 1989, F. sciocrypta (Meyrick, 1936) and Athrips kerzhneri Piskunov, 1990 are described. Dirhinosia interposita Bidzilya Budashkin, 2015, Scrobipalpa flavinerva Bidzilya Li, 2010, Scrobipalpa sinica Bidzilya Li, 2010 and Filatima karsholti are recorded from Russia for the first time. Nine species are recorded for the first time from different regions of Siberia. Female brachyptery in Filatima Busck, 1939 and Lutilabria Povolný, 1965 is reported for the first time.


Role of Redox Metals in Color Formation in a Hair Colorant.
The objective of this work was to identify if low levels of redox metals such as copper would accelerate color formation on hair and to understand the consequent impact on initial color formation and color fade. Kinetics of color formation with oxidative dyes in solution in the presence of varying concentrations of copper ions were assessed via imaging and color measurements. Color uptake on hair and color fade were measured with a spectrophotometer, and copper levels in hair were measured with inductively coupled plasma atomic spectroscopy after hair digestion. In this work, the role of redox metal ions such as copper and iron on accelerating rates of oxidative dye formation was demonstrated. Kinetics of dye formation were measured in solution for three dye couples-p-phenylene diamine (PPD) plus resorcinol, PPD plus 5-amino-2-methylphenol (AHT), and 4,5-diamino-1-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrazole sulfate (HDAP) plus AHT- in a solution that also contained ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide at pH 10. Low levels of copper were added at a concentration range from 0.01 μg/g to 0.1 μg/g and the rate of color formation measured over 2 h. All th ree dye couples showed signifi cant color acceleration that increased with increasing levels of copper. A mechanism where initial oxidation of primary intermediate PPD or HDAP is accelerated is proposed. This mechanism is demonstrated to become important when trace levels of copper are in hair and a hair colorant added. Color formation is accelerated outside versus inside hair, and ultimately, color uptake is reduced after the colorant is rinsed off hair. Noticeable color fade versus the starting hair color is also increased. This work provides evidence for the role of copper ions in color formation in hair and strategies to reduce copper levels in hair using a chelant such as histidine in a shampoo or conditioner before coloring.


Tuberculosis in renal transplant patients: the experience of a single center in Medellín-Colombia, 2005-2013.
Tuberculosis is a common opportunistic infection in renal transplant patients. To obtain a clinical and laboratory description of transplant patients diagnosed with tuberculosis and their response to treatment during a period ranging from 2005 to 2013 at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital. Retrospective and descriptive study. In 641 renal transplants, tuberculosis was confirmed in 12 cases. Of these, 25% had a history of acute rejection, and 50% had creatinine levels greater than 1.5 mg/dl prior to infection. The disease typically presented as pulmonary (50%) and disseminated (33.3%). The first phase of treatment consisted of 3 months of HZRE (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, rifampicin and ethambutol) in 75% of the cases and HZME (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin and ethambutol) in 25% of the cases. During the second phase of the treatment, 75% of the cases received isoniazid and rifampicin, and 25% of the cases received isoniazid and ethambutol. The length of treatment varied between 6 and 18 months. In 41.7% of patients, hepatotoxicity was associated with the beginning of anti-tuberculosis therapy. During a year-long follow-up, renal function remained stable, and the mortality rate was 16.7%. Tuberculosis in the renal transplant population studied caused diverse nonspecific symptoms. Pulmonary and disseminated tuberculosis were the most frequent forms and required prolonged treatment. Antituberculosis medications had a high toxicity and mortality. This infection must be considered when patients present with a febrile syndrome of unknown origin, especially during the first year after renal transplant.


Biochemical and ultrastructural studies on estrogen-induced pituitary tumors in F344 rats.
The hormone function, the metabolism of nucleic acids, and the ultrastructure of estrogen-induced pituitary tumors and of normal glands were examined in male F344 rats. The tumors had a high capacity for prolactin (PRL) synthesis, and the plasma levels of PRL were elevated 65-fold to 100-fold in the tumor-bearing animals. Uridine uptake and phosphorylation to nucleotides, as well as uridine incorporation into total RNA, were similar in tumors and normal glands, whereas [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was double in the former group as compared to the latter. After a [3H]uridine pulse, labeled RNA turnover was different in tumors and normal glands. Electron microscopy of the tumors revealed hypertrophy, degranulation, and hyperplasia of cells producing PRL with proliferation of their ergastoplasm in whorls. Other pituitary cell types were reduced in number. It is suggested that the whorl configuration caused the high rate of protein and PRL synthesis as well as the changes in RNA metabolism displayed by the tumors.


Ultrasound assessment of the suspected scaphoid fracture.
A prospective study of 111 patients thought to have sustained a recent scaphoid fracture on clinical grounds but who were radiologically negative was undertaken over a period of 7 months. All such patients were subjected to ultrasound scanning within a week of their injury under double blind conditions. All patients were re-X-rayed 2-3 weeks after their injury. The authors' results suggest that ultrasonic diagnosis of the possibly fractured scaphoid is unreliable.


Evaluation of the glycemic indices of three commonly eaten mixed meals in Okada, Edo State.
People do not generally eat single or individual meals; rather they eat mixed meals, consisting of two or more individual meals. These mixed meals usually have glycemic indices which differ from that of the individual food type. This study was aimed at evaluating the glycemic indices of three commonly consumed mixed meals eaten in Okada; rice and beans (test food 1), rice and plantain (test food 2), beans and plantain (test food 3). Two hundred and forty healthy subjects aged between 18 and 30 participated in this study. They were randomized into three groups of eighty persons each, and fed with the standard food (50 g glucose) on day one and one of the test foods on day two, after an overnight fast. Blood samples were taken at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after the food had been eaten. The results showed that the Glycemic Index (GI) values for the test foods were high: 86.60 (test food 1), 89.74 (test food 2), 86.93(test food 3). The incremental increase in blood glucose was monitored and calculated for each food and when compared with that of the standard food (glucose), there was significant differences (p < .036) for test food 1 and (p < .068) for test food 3; both at 30 min. At 120 min, no significant differences in blood glucose levels were observed (p > .05). The results from this study indicated that the GI of the mixed meals was affected by the constituent nutrient and the response is also affected by the proportion of each nutrient. Our findings show that the selected test foods (mixed meals) consumed in Okada have high GI values.


Success of Cyclosporin and Tofacitinib Combination Therapy in a Patient With Severe Steroid-refractory Ulcerative Colitis.
At present, the conventional therapies for acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) mainly include corticosteroids, cyclosporin, and biological agents. However, the treatment of patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis remains a serious challenge to clinicians. This study reports a case of steroid-refractory ASUC treated with cyclosporin combined with tofacitinib after treatment failure with infliximab.


Peripheral T cell lymphoma presenting as dermatomyositis-like eruption.
There are several conditions reported to mimic the cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis, including lymphoproliferative disorders. This case report presents an unusual case of peripheral T cell lymphoma mimicking dermatomyositis and discusses the clinical and pathologic features that distinguish it from dermatomyositis. A 62-year-old woman presented with a two-month history of a progressive painful cutaneous eruption and interstitial infiltrates on chest x-ray. Skin biopsy revealed peripheral T cell lymphoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by lung biopsy. Although rare, a lymphoproliferative disorder must be included in the differential diagnosis of a cutaneous dermatomyositis-like eruption.


Influence of dialysis on post-transplant events.
We examined the effect of haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) on acute rejection, delayed graft function (DGF), graft and patient survival after cadaveric renal transplantation. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 325 patients (cyclosporin [CyA]-based therapy) who had their first cadaver renal transplant between January 1991 and December 1996 and followed up for a mean of 61 +/- 26 months. They were divided into three groups: HD, PD and CD (where both PD and HD was used for at least 3 months). Delayed graft function was diagnosed if the patient needed dialysis in the first week post-transplant while primary non-function (PNF) was diagnosed if the kidney never achieved function. Graft rejection was confirmed by biopsy; early acute rejection (EAR) was defined as acute rejection occurring before 90 days and late acute rejection (LAR) as one after 90 d. A total of 183 patients had PD, 117 HD and 25 CD. The mean time period in which the patients were on dialysis for PD was 24 months, HD 34.5 months and CD 50.6 months (p < 0.01). The recipients were matched for age and gender. The donor variables (age, gender and cold ischaemia time) did not differ between the groups. The mean time for the development of first acute rejection following renal transplant in each group was as follows: PD group: 68.8 d, HD group: 81.3 d and CD group: 105 d (p = 0.08). The number of patients who developed EAR was 90 (49.2%) in PD group, 51 (43.6%) in HD group and 11 (56%) in CD group (p = 0.6); the number who developed LAR was nine in PD group (4.9%), six in HD group (5.1%) and one in CD group (4%) (p = 0.9). Fifty-six patients with PD had DGF compared with 58 with HD (p = 0.01). There was no difference in the number and severity of rejection episodes or DGF based on the duration of dialysis. The 5-yr survival of patients was 79% for PD, 81% HD and 78% CD groups (p = n.s), while the graft survival for PD group was 61%, HD group 63% and CD group 74% (p = n.s). We could find no difference in the patient or graft survival between patients who had pre-transplant HD, PD or CD. There was no difference in the incidence of acute rejection episodes between the three groups of patients as well. However, we found a significantly higher rate of DGF in the HD versus PD patients.


Molecular similarity based on atomic electrostatic potential.
We propose a new similarity measure operating in the space spanned by the potential values, evaluated at atoms constituting the benzene ring and the COOH group in para-substituted benzoic acids and at benzene ring atoms in monosubstituted benzenes. The similarity measures are equivalent to the Euclidean distance between points in that space. Only the distances between the potentials at corresponding atoms in different molecules are included. The distances for benzene rings were very similar, regardless of whether they were calculated in para-substituted acids or in monosubstituted benzenes. As reference reactions, dissociation of benzoic acids and nitration of monosubstituted benzenes have been used. The effects of reduction of dimensionality of the potential space on the comparison of similarity measures with the free energies of the reference reactions have been investigated. It became obvious that the potentials at individual atoms in molecules of the acids and monosubstituted benzenes are mutually correlated to a high degree.


Eradication and Sensitization of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to Methicillin with Bioactive Extracts of Berry Pomace.
The therapeutic roles of phenolic blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) pomace (commercial byproduct) extracts (BPE) and their mechanism of actions were evaluated against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Five major phenolic acids of BPE, e.g., protocatechuic, p. coumaric, vanillic, caffeic, and gallic acids, as well as crude BPE completely inhibited the growth of vegetative MRSA in vitro while BPE+methicillin significantly reduced MRSA biofilm formation on plastic surface. In addition, BPE restored the effectiveness of methicillin against MRSA by down-regulating the expression of methicillin resistance (mecA) and efflux pump (norA, norB, norC, mdeA, sdrM, and sepA) genes. Antibiogram with broth microdilution method showed that MIC of methicillin reduced from 512 μg/mL to 4 μg/mL when combined with only 200 μg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/mL of BPE. Significant reduction in MRSA adherence to and invasion into human skin keratinocyte Hek001 cells were also noticed in the presence of BPE. BPE induced anti-apoptosis and anti-autophagy pathways through overexpression of Bcl-2 gene and down-regulation of TRADD and Bax genes (inducers of apoptosis pathway) in Hek001 cells. In summary, novel and sustainable prophylactic therapy can be developed with BPE in combination with currently available antibiotics, especially methicillin, against skin and soft tissue infections with MRSA.


Cardiac arrhythmias following acute myocardial infarction: associations with the serum potassium level and prior diuretic therapy.
The relationship between the initial serum potassium level and the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias following myocardial infarction has been reviewed in a coronary care unit setting. The incidence of arrhythmias in general, and ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and frequent ventricular ectopic beats in particular, were inversely related to the initial serum potassium level. Hyperkalaemia was also significantly associated with ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Hypokalaemia was significantly more common in patients previously treated with diuretics, though most patients with hypokalaemia had not been so treated. The occurrence of an acute hypokalaemic syndrome, independent of, but exacerbated by, diuretic therapy, is further supported by these results.


Molecular dynamics simulation of premelting and melting phase transitions in stoichiometric uranium dioxide.
Results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of UO2 in a wide temperature range are presented and discussed. A new approach to the calibration of a partly ionic Busing-Ida-type model is proposed. A potential parameter set is obtained reproducing the experimental density of solid UO2 in a wide range of temperatures. A conventional simulation of the high-temperature stoichiometric UO2 on large MD cells, based on a novel fast method of computation of Coulomb forces, reveals characteristic features of a premelting lambda transition at a temperature near to that experimentally observed (T(lambda)=2670 K). A strong deviation from the Arrhenius behavior of the oxygen self-diffusion coefficient was found in the vicinity of the transition point. Predictions for liquid UO2, based on the same potential parameter set, are in good agreement with existing experimental data and theoretical calculations.


[Positive surgical margin status after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy: a multicenter study].
UNLABELLED: The aim of our study is to evaluate the status of positive margins (PSMs) comparing their incidence between aparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in centers with medium case-load (50-150 cases/year). We also analyzed the correlations between surgical technique, nerve-sparing approach (NS), and incidence of PSMs, stratifying our results by pathological stage. We analyzed 1992 patients who underwent RP in various urologic centers. We evaluated the incidence of PSMs, and then we compared the stage-related incidence of PSMs, for both the techniques. We did not find a statistically significant difference between the two surgical modalities in the study regarding the overall incidence of PSMs. In our retrospective study, we did not find any difference in terms of PSMs in RARP versus LRP. Our PSMs were not negligible, particularly in pT3 stages, compared with high-volume centers; surgical experience and patients' selection can be a possible explanation.


Numerical simulation of distribution of neutrophils in a lattice alveolar capillary network.
Neutrophils are known to be retained in narrow pulmonary capillaries, even in normal lungs, due to their low deformability, resulting in a higher concentration than that in systemic circulation. In this study, to obtain a fundamental understanding of the behavior of neutrophils, we simplified an alveolar capillary network to a rectangular grid of short capillary segments and numerically investigated the flow of a suspension of neutrophils and plasma through the capillary network for various concentrations of the suspension, Csus, injected into the network. The cells traveled limited preferential paths in the network while Csus was low. Retention of a cell or cells induced plugging of the segment with a cessation of blood flow, and as the result of the changed plasma flow field caused by such plugging, the cells took various routes differing from the preferential paths. A low incidence of plugging helped to accelerate the cells flowing in the network with tight segments, resulting in a decrease in their mean transit time through the network as compared with the case of a single-cell transit. On the contrary, however, an increasing incidence of plugging induced backward motion of the cells and a resultant increase in the mean transit time. The time-averaged number of cells in the network increased with the increase in Csus, and the fractional residence time of cells in individual segments approached a constant. This means that a high concentration of neutrophils facilitates their uniform distribution in the network. However, the ratio between the time-averaged concentration of the cells in the network and Csus decreased and our numerical simulation did not reach the experimentally obtained value. This implies that, in a real alveolar capillary bed, plasma leaks through the plugged segments or that the capillary network has bypasses through which the plasma can flow.


High-resolution chalcogenide fiber bundles for infrared imaging.
An ordered chalcogenide fiber bundle with a high resolution for infrared imaging was fabricated using a stack-and-draw approach. The fiber bundle consisted of about 810,000 single fibers with an As2S3 glass core of 9 μm in diameter and a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer cladding of 10 μm in diameter. The As2S3/PEI fibers showed good transparency in the 1.5-6.5 μm spectral region. It presented a resolution of ∼45 lp/mm and a crosstalk of ∼2.5%. Fine thermal images of a hot soldering iron tip were delivered through the fiber bundle.


Dietary diversity scores and nutritional status of women change during the seasonal food shortage in rural Burkina Faso.
In developing countries, dietary diversity is usually assessed during a single yearly period and the effects of seasonal variations remain unknown. We studied these variations in women living in a Sahelian rural area (Burkina Faso). A representative sample of 550 women was surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the seasonal cereal shortage in April and September 2003, respectively. For each season, a dietary diversity score (DDS) representing the number of food groups consumed over a 24-h period, was computed and nutritional status was assessed by the BMI. The DDS increased from 3.4 +/- 1.1 to 3.8 +/- 1.5 food groups between the beginning and the end of the shortage season (P < 0.0001), and the proportion of women exhibiting low DDS decreased from 31.6 to 8.1%. This was due to the consumption of foods available during the cereal shortage season and despite the decrease in the consumption of some purchased foods. The increase in DDS was lower in women for whom DDS was already high in April and vice versa. Over the same period, the percentage of underweight women (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) increased from 11.1 to 17.1%. The relation between DDS and the women's socioeconomic characteristics or nutritional status was weakened in September. Thus, in April, fewer women were underweight when their DDS was high than when it was medium or low [odds ratio = 0.3 (0.2; 0.6)], but not in September [odds ratio = 0.6 (0.3; 1.0)]. In such a context, it would be useful to measure dietary diversity at the beginning of the cereal shortage season, when many women exhibit low DDS.


VirA+EmiC project: Evaluating real-world effectiveness and sustainability of integrated routine opportunistic hepatitis B and C testing in a large urban emergency department.
Innovative testing approaches and care pathways are required to meet global hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals. Routine blood-borne virus (BBV) testing in emergency departments (EDs) in high-prevalence areas is suggested by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) but there is limited evidence for this. Universal HIV testing in our ED according to UK guidance has been operational since 2015. We conducted a real-world service evaluation of a modified electronic patient record (EPR) system to include opportunistic opt-out HBV/reflex-HCV tests for any routine blood test orders for ED attendees aged ≥16 years. Reactive laboratory results were communicated directly to specialist clinical teams. Our model for contacting patients requiring linkage to care (new diagnoses/known but disengaged) evolved from initially primarily hospital-led to collaborating with regional health and community service networks. Over 11 months, 81,088 patients attended the ED; 36,865 (45.5%) had a blood test. Overall uptake for both HBV and HCV testing was 75%. Seroprevalence was 0.9% for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 0.9% for HCV antigen (HCV-Ag). 79% of 140 successfully contacted HBsAg+patients required linkage to care, of which 87% engaged. 76% of 130 contactable HCV-Ag+patients required linkage, 52% engaged. Our results demonstrate effectiveness and sustainability of universal ED EPR opt-out HBV/HCV testing combined with comprehensive linkage to care pathways, allowing care provision particularly for marginalized at-risk groups with limited healthcare access. The findings support the ECDC BBV testing guidance and may inform future UK hepatitis testing guidance.


Evidence for the in vivo production and release into the serum of a T-cell lymphokine, persisting-cell stimulating factor (PSF), during graft-versus-host reactions.
The T-cell lymphokine, persisting-cell stimulating factor (PSF or interleukin-3), was detected in the serum of mice undergoing graft-versus-host reactions (GVHR). Gel filtration under non-dissociating conditions indicated that the PSF in the serum had an apparent molecular weight of 34,000, a figure identical with that of PSF generated from activated T cells in vitro, indicating that PSF was not bound by serum proteins. The GVHR was accompanied by increases in the numbers in the bone marrow and spleen of precursors of PSF-dependent mast cells, and increases in the numbers of mast cells, megakaryocytes and immature and mature neutrophils in the spleen. These effects of GVHR on haemopoietic cells paralleled those seen when haemopoietic tissues were stimulated with pure PSF in vitro and closely resembled those induced in previous studies by the presence of a tumour that secreted PSF alone. These studies are the first to show that PSF can enter the circulation during immune reactions in vivo and suggest that much of the stimulation of haemopoietic cells seen in GVHR, can be accounted for by the release of PSF from activated T cells.


Differential localization of autolyzed calpains 1 and 2 in slow and fast skeletal muscles in the early phase of atrophy.
Calpains have been proposed to be involved in the cytoskeletal remodeling and wasting of skeletal muscle. However, limited data are available about the specific involvement of each calpain in the early stages of muscle atrophy. The aims of this study were to determine whether calpains 1 and 2 are autolyzed after a short period of muscle disuse, and, if so, where in the myofibers the autolyzed products are localized. In the rat soleus muscle, 5 days of immobilization increased autolyzed calpain 1 in the particulate and not the soluble fraction. Conversely, autolyzed calpain 2 was not found in the particulate fraction, whereas it was increased in the soluble fraction after immobilization. In the less atrophied plantaris muscle, no difference was noted between the control and immobilized groups whatever the fraction or calpain. Other proteolytic pathways were also investigated. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway was activated in both skeletal muscles, and caspase 3 was activated only in the soleus muscle. Taken together, our data suggest that calpains 1 and 2 are involved in atrophy development in slow type muscle exclusively and that they have different regulation and protein targets. Moreover, the activation of proteolytic pathways appears to differ in slow and fast muscles, and the proteolytic mechanisms involved in fast-type muscle atrophy remain unclear.


On-Demand Intracellular Delivery of Single Particles in Single Cells by 3D Hollow Nanoelectrodes.
Delivery of molecules into intracellular compartments is one of the fundamental requirements in molecular biology. However, the possibility of delivering a precise number of nano-objects with single-particle resolution is still an open challenge. Here we present an electrophoretic platform based on 3D hollow nanoelectrodes to enable delivery of single nanoparticles into single selected cells and monitoring of the single-particle delivery by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The gold-coated hollow nanoelectrode capable of confinement and enhancement of electromagnetic fields upon laser illumination can distinguish the SERS signals of a single nanoparticle flowing through the nanoelectrode. Tight wrapping of cell membranes around the nanoelectrodes allows effective membrane electroporation such that single gold nanorods are delivered on demand into a living cell by electrophoresis. The capability of the 3D hollow nanoelectrodes to porate cells and reveal single emitters from the background in continuous flow is promising for the analysis of both intracellular delivery and sampling.


Activation of OX40 and CD27 Costimulatory Signalling in Sheep through Recombinant Ovine Ligands.
Members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily OX40L and CD70 and their receptors are costimulating signalling axes critical for adequate T cell activation in humans and mice but characterisation of these molecules in other species including ruminants is lacking. Here we cloned and expressed the predicted ovine orthologues of the receptors OX40 and CD27, as well as soluble recombinant forms of their potential ovine ligands, OaOX40L and OaCD70. Using biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses, we show that both signalling axes are functional in sheep. We show that oligomeric recombinant ligand constructs are able to induce signalling through their receptors on transfected cells. Recombinant defective human adenoviruses were constructed to express the soluble forms of OaOX40L and OaCD70. Both proteins were detected in the supernatant of adenovirus-infected cells and shown to activate NF-κB signalling pathway through their cognate receptor. These adenovirus-secreted OaOX40L and OaCD70 forms could also activate ovine T cell proliferation and enhance IFN-γ production in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Altogether, this study provides the first characterisation of the ovine costimulatory OX40L-OX40 and CD70-CD27 signalling axes, and indicates that their activation in vivo may be useful to enhance vaccination-induced immune responses in sheep and other ruminants.


[Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation].
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is one of the most common disorders of cardiac rhythm. It is often a step toward permanent arhythmia, specially if associated with cardiac disease. The management objectives of intermittent arhythmia may be different, as maintenance of sinus rhythm. However, risks of stroke and thrombo-embolism are similar to those for sustained atrial fibrillation and must be carefully assessed. In this article we review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical aspects and current guidelines for treatment and management of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.


Development of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and Spinal Arachnoid Cysts in a Patient With Intractable Epilepsy.
Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by severe relapsing attacks of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. The current case describes a 29-year-old man with intractable epilepsy and diplegic spastic cerebral palsy who was given the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder after presenting with weakness, incontinence, and decreased visual acuity. His symptoms recurred 21 months after initial presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging of his spine revealed arachnoid cysts with regional mass effects. Differentiation of arachnoid cysts from a demyelinating process may be difficult in the early stages of the disease. Close monitoring of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is important, especially in patients with recurrent or refractory symptoms.


Granular cell tumor of the orbit.
An 18-year-old woman had a 3-month history of increasing proptosis and visual loss secondary to an inferior orbital mass. Surgical exploration revealed an encapsulated mass in the orbit. After this mass was excised good vision was restored. The diagnosis of granular cell tumor was made as a result of various microscopic studies. The location of the tumor within the orbit is unusual and its histologic origin is uncertain. Immunohistochemistry by peroxidase-antiperoxidase method revealed that this tumor had S-100-protein-positive cells and negative results for lysozyme and alpha-1-antitrypsin. This fact suggests that the origin of the granular cell tumor may be due to the Schwann cell.


Electrochemical tuning of the optical properties of nanoporous gold.
Using optical in-situ measurements in an electrochemical environment, we study the electrochemical tuning of the transmission spectrum of films from the nanoporous gold (NPG) based optical metamaterial, including the effect of the ligament size. The long wavelength part of the transmission spectrum around 800 nm can be reversibly tuned via the applied electrode potential. The NPG behaves as diluted metal with its transition from dielectric to metallic response shifted to longer wavelengths. We find that the applied potential alters the charge carrier density to a comparable extent as in experiments on gold nanoparticles. However, compared to nanoparticles, a NPG optical metamaterial, due to its connected structure, shows a much stronger and more broadband change in optical transmission for the same change in charge carrier density. We were able to tune the transmission through an only 200 nm thin sample by 30%. In combination with an electrolyte the tunable NPG based optical metamaterial, which employs a very large surface-to-volume ratio is expected to play an important role in sensor applications, for photoelectrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen and for solar water purification.


A dual-label time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay for the simultaneous determination of cystatin C and β2-microglobulin in urine.
Contrast media is widely used in clinical diagnostic and interventional procedures, but may cause damage to the kidney, that is, contrast-induced nephropathy. This study was to establish a dual-label time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) for the simultaneous determination of renal function markers cystatin-C (Cys-C) and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) for the early diagnosis and follow-up surveillance of contrast-induced nephropathy. A sandwich immunoassay was used to detect the concentration of Cys-C, and the competitive immunoassay was used to detect the concentration of β2-MG in 50 samples of urine. The performance of this dual-label TRFIA was evaluated and compared with commercial assays. The sensitivity for Cys-C detection was 1.26 ng/ml, the average recovery was 99.36%; The sensitivity for β2-MG detection was 2.13 ng/ml, the average recovery was 100.18%. Bland-Altman analysis showed that the dual-label TRFIA method and the commercial kits had a good agreement, suggesting they can be used interchangeably in clinical urine analysis. The present dual-label TRFIA has high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in clinical sample analysis. This method can be used for the early diagnosis and follow-up surveillance of the contrast-induced nephropathy.


Brain Abscess Caused by Enterococcus avium: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Brain abscesses can be highly lethal if appropriate treatment is not administered, and reports of such an abscess caused by Enterococcus avium are very rare. Here,we report a case of a 48-year-old man presenting with chronic otitis media. He initially presented with a headache and right otalgia. An otoscopic evaluation performed on the day of admission showed exudation of fresh pus from the right ear. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a hypodense area in the right temporoparietal lobe, suggestive of a brain abscess. A culturing of the ear discharge and brain abscess aspirate proved of E. avium infection. Following stereotactic aspiration of the brain abscess and proper antimicrobial treatment, the patient recovered completely. In this report, we also review and discuss the available medical literature on previous cases of E. avium infection associated with brain abscess.


The role of vision in auditory distance perception.
In humans, multisensory interaction is an important strategy for improving the detection of stimuli of different nature and reducing the variability of response. It is known that the presence of visual information affects the auditory perception in the horizontal plane (azimuth), but there are few researches that study the influence of vision in the auditory distance perception. In general, the data obtained from these studies are contradictory and do not completely define the way in which visual cues affect the apparent distance of a sound source. Here psychophysical experiments on auditory distance perception in humans are performed, including and excluding visual cues. The results show that the apparent distance from the source is affected by the presence of visual information and that subjects can store in their memory a representation of the environment that later improves the perception of distance.


Current management of cystic echinococcosis: a survey of specialist practice.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a significant public health problem worldwide. However, there remains a dearth of evidence guiding treatment in various stages of CE. The 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (WHO IWGE) guidance is thus based on expert consensus rather than a good evidence base. This study aims to describe the way clinicians worldwide manage CE and to establish whether clinicians follow WHO IWGE guidance. Using the online surveying tool SurveyMonkey, a questionnaire was produced detailing 5 clinical cases. Clinicians treating CE were identified and asked how to manage each case through tick-box and short-answer questions. The results showed great variation in practice worldwide. There are practices in common use that are known to be ineffectual, including puncture, aspiration, injection, reaspiration procedures on WHO type 2 cysts, or outdated, including interrupted, rather than continuous, courses of albendazole. A number of unsafe practices were identified such as using scolicidal agents in cysts communicating with the biliary tree and short-course medical therapy for disseminated disease. Most clinicians do not follow the WHO IWGE guidance, but the reasons for this are unclear. Management of CE varies greatly worldwide. There are key areas of CE for which there is no evidence on which to base guidelines, and randomized controlled trials are needed together with a well-designed international registry to collect data. Further work is required to establish why clinicians do not follow the IWGE guidance, together with better dissemination of future guidance.


Effect of intraspecific competition and substrate type on terpene emissions from some Mediterranean plant species.
Competition is an important factor that has been extensively reported in the Mediterranean area. There is evidence that leaf terpene accumulation may vary between plants growing on calcareous and siliceous soils. In the present study, leaf terpene emissions from potted seedlings of Pinus halepensis, Cistus albidus, and Quercus coccifera, growing under natural environmental conditions on calcareous and siliceous substrates, were studied by using a bag enclosure method. In both substrates, seedlings were potted alone and in intraspecific competition, to examine the effect of substrate type and that of intraspecific competition on terpene emissions. The results showed that competition favored: (i) overall monoterpene and sesquiterpene emissions from Q. coccifera; (ii) overall monoterpene emissions from P. halepensis; (iii) overall sesquiterpene emissions from C. albidus. Substrate type affected terpene emissions to a limited extent and in a species-specific way. Whereas for Q. coccifera, the overall monoterpene emissions and that of Allo-aromadendrene were favored on siliceous substrate, no significant changes were found in emissions from P. halepensis. Only the release of AR-curcumene from C. albidus was higher on siliceous substrate. We also found high variability in terpene emission composition from the study species, particularly for P. halepensis and Q. coccifera. These two species released both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, instead of monoterpenes only, as shown in previous studies.


An abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 by ganoderma lucidum spore powder.
We reported three patients with an abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 levels when taking GLSP, which is commonly used as a dietary supplement for cancer patients across the globe. Furthermore, the results were not due to the apparent analytical interference. In case 1 and case 2, excessive examinations were carried out because of a lack of timely communication with patients when the abnormal elevation of CA724 was found. In contrast, the lesson from these two cases made us communicate with the patient in a timely manner in Case 3, avoiding unnecessary examinations when the same situation happened. Therefore, it is necessary to communicate with patients in a timely manner once an abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 is found.


Site-Selective Functionalization of Flagellin by Steric Self-Protection: A Strategy To Facilitate Flagellin as a Self-Adjuvanting Carrier in Conjugate Vaccine.
Flagellin (FliC) can act as a carrier protein in the preparation of conjugate vaccines to elicit a T-cell-dependent immune response and as an intrinsic adjuvant to activate the toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) to enhance vaccine potency. To enable the use of FliC as a self-adjuvanting carrier, an effective method for site-selective modification (SSM) of pertinent amino-acid residues in the D2 and D3 domains of FliC is explored without excessive modification of the D0 and D1 domains, which are responsible for activating and binding with TLR5. In highly concentrated Na2 SO4 solution, FliC monomers form flagellar filaments, in which the D0 and D1 domains are situated inside the tubular structure. Thus, the lysine residues (K219, K224, K324, and K331) in the D2 and D3 domains of flagellin are selectively modified by a diazo-transfer reaction with imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide. The sites with azido modification are confirmed by MALDI-TOF-MS, ESI-TOF-MS, and LC-MS/MS analyses along with label-free quantitation. The azido-modified filament dissolves to give FliC monomers, which can conjugate with alkyne-hinged saccharides by the click reaction. Transmission electron microscopy imaging, dynamic light scattering measurements, and the secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase reporter assay indicate that the modified FliC monomers retain the ability either to bind with TLR5 or to reassemble into filaments. Overall, this study establishes a feasible method for the SSM of FliC by steric self-protection of the D0 and D1 domains.


UFCG: database of universal fungal core genes and pipeline for genome-wide phylogenetic analysis of fungi.
In phylogenomics the evolutionary relationship of organisms is studied by their genomic information. A common approach to phylogenomics is to extract related genes from each organism, build a multiple sequence alignment and then reconstruct evolution relations through a phylogenetic tree. Often a set of highly conserved genes occurring in single-copy, called core genes, are used for this analysis, as they allow efficient automation within a taxonomic clade. Here we introduce the Universal Fungal Core Genes (UFCG) database and pipeline for genome-wide phylogenetic analysis of fungi. The UFCG database consists of 61 curated fungal marker genes, including a novel set of 41 computationally derived core genes and 20 canonical genes derived from literature, as well as marker gene sequences extracted from publicly available fungal genomes. Furthermore, we provide an easy-to-use, fully automated and open-source pipeline for marker gene extraction, training and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The UFCG pipeline can identify marker genes from genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic data, while producing phylogenies consistent with those previously reported, and is publicly available together with the UFCG database at https://ufcg.steineggerlab.com.


Protective immunity to intracellular parasites--a focus for vaccine research and a challenge to immunization programmes.
Protective immunity to intracellular parasites is mediated by T cells. This response is complex, requiring activation of several subgroups of T cells and production of a balanced blend of cytokines to obtain protection rather than delayed hypersensitivity leading to tissue damage. To obtain additional, detailed information, on the kind, proper localization and specificity of the required immune response represents a major challenge in current vaccine research. Insufficient knowledge of these features is the major constraint for development as illustrated in tuberculosis and related mycobacterial infections.


Regulation of sperm storage and movement in the ruminant oviduct.
Three regions of the ruminant oviduct play different roles in the progress of sperm: the uterotubal junction, isthmus, and ampulla. The uterotubal junction acts as a point of selection of sperm, requiring that sperm are progressively motile and express specific proteins in order to enter the oviduct. The isthmus stores sperm, preserving motility and viability until ovulation. Sperm are stored in the isthmus by binding to its mucosal epithelium. In bovine sperm, binding to the oviductal epithelium is promoted by proteins that are secreted by the seminal vesicles and coat the heads of sperm by associating with plasma membrane phospholipids. Putative oviductal receptors for the seminal vesicle proteins are members of the annexin protein family. Release of sperm from the storage site in the isthmus is gradual, which serves to ensure that sperm in the proper physiological state reach the oocytes at the appropriate moment and also to reduce incidence of polyspermic fertilization. The ampulla supports fertilization and may participate in guiding sperm toward the eggs. Further studies are needed to improve our understanding of the interactions between sperm and the female reproductive tract, in order to develop means to improve fertility in ruminants.


Grating-assisted spectrally-narrowed emissions from an organic slab crystal excited with a mercury lamp.
We report spectrally-narrowed emissions that take place from an organic semiconductor slab crystal of 2,5-bis(4-biphenylyl)thiophene (BP1T) under a low excitation-intensity regime. These emissions are caused with a mercury lamp that operates on a household power supply with an electric current approximately 1 A. The BP1T slab crystal is equipped with a distributed Bragg reflector. To complete this structure the slab crystal is attached to a diffraction grating that is engraved on a surface of a quartz glass substrate. The diffraction gratings have precisely been formed using a focused ion beam with a nanometer-defined precision. The spectral narrowing accompanied by the emission intensity increment is related to the strong mode-coupling between the forward electromagnetic wave and the backward (i.e., reflected) wave within the grating zone. Using a laser we also carried out the emission measurements on the BP1T crystals under a high excitation-intensity regime. The emissions are characterized as the longitudinal multimode laser oscillation, enabling us to determine the group refractive index of 4.56 for the BP1T slab crystal. Under both the low and high excitation-intensity regimes excitons are dominant species of the emission. Their participation in the spectrally-narrowed emissions is briefly discussed.


[Combined ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies of pancreatic endocrine tumors].
9 surgically removed endocrine tumours of pancreas of female patients aged from 19 to 71 years were studied. The material was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, by Grimelius and Fontana--Masson; PAP method with polyclonal antibodies to insulin, glucagon and somatostatin was also used. Immunoreactivity was weaker in tumours with clinically pronounced hormonal activity as compared to the normal endocrine cells in the Langerhans islets. This is confirmed ultrastructurally: tumour cells contain comparatively low number of neuroendocrine granules. Functionally inactive tumours show the opposite immunohistochemical results. The multipotential properties of cells forming pancreatic endocrine tumours are discussed.


Instrumentation for in vivo ultrasonic characterization of bone strength.
Although it has been more than 20 years since the first recorded use of a quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technology to predict bone fragility, the field has not yet reached its maturity. QUS has the potential to predict fracture risk in several clinical circumstances and has the advantages of being nonionizing, inexpensive, portable, highly acceptable to patients, and repeatable. However, the wide dissemination of QUS in clinical practice is still limited and suffering from the absence of clinical consensus on how to integrate QUS technologies in bone densitometry armamentarium. Several critical issues need to be addressed to develop the role of QUS within rheumatology. These include issues of technologies adapted to measure the central skeleton, data acquisition, and signal processing procedures to reveal bone properties beyond bone mineral quantity and elucidation of the complex interaction between ultrasound and bone structure. This article reviews the state-of-the art in technological developments applied to assess bone strength in vivo. We describe generic measurement and signal processing methods implemented in clinical ultrasound devices, the devices and their practical use, and performance measures. The article also points out the present limitations, especially those related to the absence of standardization, and the lack of comprehensive theoretical models. We conclude with suggestions of future lines and trends in technology challenges and research areas such as new acquisition modes, advanced signal processing techniques, and modelization.


Mallet fractures.
In a review of 160 mallet fingers, forty-four were found to have a fracture of the distal phalanx. Of these mallet fractures, twenty-one could be followed for a mean of 3.25 years (range, six months to eight years). Six had been treated surgically and fifteen had simply been splinted. Of these twenty-one mallet fractures, all but one had a good result irrespective of the form of treatment. Bone-remodeling occurred in all digits (including two with fibrous union), with reconstitution of the articular surface and preservation of the joint space as seen on radiographs. There was also a near-normal range of painless motion in all but one finger. Poor patient compliance was an occasional difficulty when conservative treatment was used. Surgical treatment was difficult and unreliable; it offered no advantage over conservative treatment and had a greater rate of morbidity. The major "complication" of both forms of treatment was a bone prominence on the dorsum of the distal interphalangeal joint. These findings suggest that most mallet fractures can be treated conservatively, ignoring joint subluxation and the size and amount of displacement of the bone fragment.


The immunologic response in mice unresponsive to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.
The suppressor cells that are involved in antigen-induced protection against EAE in mice were investigated with respect to their effect on the immune response. The cellular immune response to the basic encephalitogenic protein (BE) and to PPD were studied in mice with either actively induced or adoptively transferred unresponsiveness to EAE. The results demonstrate that the DTH response to BE, as assayed in the radiometric ear skin test, was suppressed in mice protected against EAE. Moreover, the passive transfer of DTH response to BE by effector lymphocytes was also inhibited by the preinjection of suppressor cells. On the other hand, the suppressor cells did not affect the response to PPD in all these experiments. The results indicate that suppressor cells that mediate unresponsiveness to EAE regulate also the cellular immune response to BE in a specific manner. These suppressor cells are probably active both at the induction and the effector phase of the immune response.


Attraction of pollinators to atemoya (Magnoliales: Annonaceae) in Puerto Rico: a synergistic approach using multiple nitidulid lures.
Atemoya, a hybrid between Annona squamosa (L.) and A. cherimola Miller (Annonaceae), has potential to be a major fruit crop in tropical and subtropical areas. A major setback to fruit production throughout the world is low fruit-set because of inadequate pollinator visits, typically Nitidulidae beetles. We identified beetle visitors to atemoya flowers in an orchard in Puerto Rico and used Universal moth traps to monitor the attractiveness of two commercially available Nitidulidae lures. The most common visitors to atemoya flowers were an unidentified Europs species (Coleoptera: Monotomidae), followed by Loberus testaceus (Coleoptera: Erotylidae), neither of which have been previously reported as visitors to Annona flowers. The commercial lures attracted few or no beetles when used separately, but attracted a large number of beetles, especially Carpophilus dimidiatus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Europs, when used in combination. This attraction is synergistic and increases with dose at the doses assayed (0-4 lures), and decreases over time with >50% of trap captures occurring in the first week and no beetles collected after 5 wk. This is the first report of aggregation pheromone lures in nitidulids acting synergistically to attract other species, including beetles not in the Nitidulidae. The results are discussed as they pertain to increasing fruit set, as well as the potential for altering fruit size and shape in atemoya.


[Esophageal carcinosarcoma treated with surgery and chemoradiotherapy-a report of 4 cases].
Esophageal carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor. We report the cases of 4 patients treated with resection and chemoradiotherapy. All patients were men (mean age, 61 years) and presented with dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed type 1 tumors in all patients. We planned esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for all patients; however, non-curative resection was performed in 1 patient with extended lymph node metastasis. Curative resection was performed in 3 patients, all of whom showed pT1 wall invasion, and 2 had lymph node metastasis; hence, 1 case was classified as stage I and 2 as stage II. Local recurrence developed in 1 patient at 13 months after curative resection. This patient was treated with chemoradiotherapy and showed a clinical complete response. The patient remains alive without recurrence. The other 2 patients showed no recurrence. Therefore, 3 patients who underwent curative resection survived for more than 5 years. The other patient who underwent non-curative resection died of multiple organ metastasis 111 days after surgery. Because protuberant esophageal carcinosarcoma causes symptoms such as dysphagia, this disease can be diagnosed earlier than esophageal cancer; however, lymph node metastasis at diagnosis is frequently encountered. Surgery with extended lymphadenectomy for esophageal carcinosarcoma results in better prognosis, and chemoradiotherapy is as effective for recurrence as for esophageal cancer.


Effects of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and insecticide-treated bednets on malaria among HIV-infected Ugandan children.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis and insecticide-treated bednets reduce malaria risk among HIV-infected adults. The efficacy of TMP/SMX may be diminished where antifolate resistance to malaria is high. We evaluated the efficacy of these interventions for malaria prevention among Ugandan children. We concurrently followed 300 HIV-infected children aged 1-10 years and a community-based cohort of 561 healthy children aged 1-11 years over 11 months in Kampala, Uganda. The HIV-infected children received TMP/SMX prophylaxis and insecticide treated bednets. In the community cohort, insecticide-treated bednets were introduced during the observation period. Children from both cohorts were followed using a standardized protocol to measure the incidence of malaria. Only nine episodes of malaria were diagnosed among HIV-infected children (incidence = 0.07/person-year) in comparison with 440 episodes among children from the community (incidence = 0.90/person-year; P < 0.0001). The use of insecticide-treated bednets was associated with a 43% reduction in malaria incidence (P < 0.001), and a combination of TMP/SMX and use of insecticide-treated bednets with a 97% reduction in malaria incidence (P < 0.001). The prevalence of five mutations associated with antifolate resistance was high among malaria cases detected in both the HIV (100%) and community cohorts (75%). Malaria accounted for only 4% of febrile episodes in the HIV cohort in comparison with 33% in the community-based cohort (P < 0.0001). In a malaria endemic area with a high level of molecular markers of antifolate resistance, the combined use of TMP/SMX prophylaxis and insecticide-treated bednets was associated with a dramatic reduction in malaria incidence among HIV-infected children.


Healing of a crush injury in rat striated muscle. 2. a histological study of the effect of early mobilization and immobilization on the repair processes.
The effects of both early mobilization and immobilization on the healing of a crush injury in the rat gastrocnemius muscle were studied histologically. A preproducible injury was induced on the left calf of 242 rats. The histological observations were made 2 to 42 days after the injury and the intensity of the changes was estimated semiquantitatively by scoring. During the first week, the histological changes were especially dependent on the post-traumatization treatment. The inflammatory reaction and haemotoma formation were more pronounced in the mobilized muscles and the amount of necrotic and degenerated muscle tissue was more in the immobilized muscles. The disappearance of the haematoma and of the inflammatory cells occurred more rapidly with mobilization. Scar formation was more pronounced in the mobilized injuries. immobilization for the first 2-5 days after the trauma was followed by aslight delay in the maturation and contraction of the fibrous scar. Muscle regeneration was more extensive and occurred more rapidly in the mobilized muscles. The penetration of regenerated muscle fibres throughh the scar was more pronounced in the immobilized muscles, but the orientation of the new fibres was more parallel with the original muscle fibres after mobilization. The histological differences between the treatment groups diminished markedly towards the end of the observation period.


Public perceptions of postoperative pain and its relief.
In order to evaluate the general public's knowledge of postoperative pain and its management, a simple questionnaire was devised and sent out to five general practices in Scotland and Yorkshire. Questionnaires were completed voluntarily by 529 people attending their general practitioner for reasons not related to surgery. Five hundred and fifteen completed questionnaires were analysed. Two hundred and thirty-nine (46.4%) responders had undergone previous major surgery whereas 267 (51.8%) had not. Attitudes to pain varied greatly and confirm the findings of other surveys that amongst the general public there is little or no understanding of the nature of postoperative pain or of the methods available to treat it. Despite the published literature, the public have a high degree of confidence in the ability of doctors and nurses to treat such pain. Widespread public and professional education is required before further improvements can be made to such a universal and basic clinical problem.


Socioeconomic status predicts functional disability in patients participating in a back pain trial.
To investigate whether socioeconomic status in patients with back pain participating in a randomised controlled trial was predictive of functional disability (Roland Disability Questionnaire, RDQ). Secondary analysis of data (n = 949) from a national primary care trial of physical treatments for back pain (UKBEAM trial) using multilevel modelling. The three indicators were Townsend scores, educational levels and work status. All indicators were significant predictors of outcome after adjusting for baseline variables. As Townsend scores increased (indicating greater deprivation) RDQ scores (functional disability related to back pain) increased. Lower levels of educational attainment were associated with higher RDQ scores. Those 'Not in Work' reported markedly higher levels of RDQ scores which increased over time. There was no evidence that one particular treatment was more suitable for participants of different socioeconomic status. The findings from this study add to the body of literature which suggests the importance of socioeconomic factors as an influence on health, including resultant disability related to chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. Work status was particularly dominant in our findings and may suggest that helping patients with back pain back to work where appropriate, is an especially important part of the management process.