[Urinary disorders in multiple sclerosis. Apropos of 47 cases].
The authors report a series of 47 patients suffering from disseminated sclerosis who required neuro-urological management because of micturition disturbances. They were in general young (mean age 43 years) and had been suffering from disseminated sclerosis for 10 years (on average). The neurological disease was in general severe since it was progressive in 32 cases and pure remittent in 13 only. Two-thirds of the patients were autonomous from a locomotor standpoint. Micturition disturbances developed in the first five years of the disease in 2/ 3rds of the patients and became really troublesome only after disseminated sclerosis had been progressive for five years. Dysuria, frequency and incontinence with urgency were the commonest symptoms. Persistent or transient retention of urine remained relatively common. Nocturnal urine loss was rarer. Sphincter incompetence was marked in half of the patients but this did not necessarily go hand in hand with locomotor incapacity. Symptoms and signs were grouped as irritative, obstructive and mixed syndromes. From a urodynamic standpoint, the detrusor was sometimes normal but more often behaved pathologically, being either hyperactive or hypoactive. Hypoactivity of the detrusor was accompanied in 9 cases out of 10 by spasticity of the striate sphincter. Spasticity of the striate sphincter was the commonest type of behaviour, although normal striate sphincter electromyography was possible and; rarely, results were of peripheral neurogenic type. There was no evidence of any correlation between the type of micturition syndrome, detrusor function and striate sphincter function. Similarly, no correlation could be established between the type of detrusor dysfunction and the period for which disseminated sclerosis had been present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Differences Between Psoriasis Patients and Skin-healthy Controls Concerning Appraisal of Touching, Shame and Disgust.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with high levels of psychological distress and considerable life impact. Feelings of shame and stigmatization can lead to avoidance of social activity and intimacy. In this study, the questionnaire TSD-Q was used to evaluate pleasure in touching oneself and in a partnership, parental touching during childhood and (skin-related) shame and disgust. Skin-related disgust and shame were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in healthy controls. Moreover, psoriasis-patients scored significantly lower than skin-healthy controls concerning appraisal of self-touching and parental touching. In contrast, psoriasis-patients scored higher concerning appraisal of touching in a partnership. Due to the fact that low self-esteem might enhance the negative evaluation of touch and the feelings of shame and disgust, psychological interventions should be integrated in the treatment of psoriasis.


Effects of temperature on the mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase of adult muscle of Toxocara canis.
Purified mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme (m-MDH) of Toxocara canis muscle presented maximum activity at 48 degrees C. A clear change in slope of the Arrhenius plot was observed. The energy of activation calculated for the catalytic process showed values of 3.2 kcal/mol and 10.5 kcal/mol. Thermal inactivation of m-MDH showed that it is more thermolabile than the s-isoenzyme. The inactivation of the enzyme by heat could be reduced at least in part by the addition of 0.1 mM NADH. The heat denaturation showed to be a first-order process. The rate constant (k) was calculated as being of the order of 5.28 X 10(-4) s-1 at 40 degrees C. The activation energy for the heat inactivation process was 16.45 kcal/mol between 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C and 13.79 kcal/mol between 40 degrees C and 48 degrees C.


Giving greater financial independence to hospitals--does it make a difference? The case of English NHS Trusts.
In 2003 a new type of provider organisation, the Foundation Trust (FT), was introduced in England, and the best performing NHS hospitals were able to apply for 'Foundation status'. FTs enjoy greater financial flexibility and are subject to less central monitoring and control. The phased introduction of FTs represents an opportunity to examine whether the new financial structures facing FTs have produced any differences in financial performance compared with non-FTs. We use difference in difference methods to examine whether Foundation status had a significant effect on financial management. We find that Foundation status has had a limited impact in terms of acting as an instrument to signal strong financial management of FTs. This result may reflect the relatively early stage of the FT process or may be due to the fact that all types of Trusts are experiencing a challenging financial environment, including the introduction of a prospective payment system. However, we explore the nature of the trends emerging over time and discuss the implications of our findings for policy.


Babesia divergens in human in Gansu province, China.
Human babesiosis is an important tick-borne infectious disease. We investigated human babesiosis in the Gansu province and found that it is prevalent in this area with a prevalence of 1.3%. Results of gene sequencings indicate that 1.3% of patients were positive for Babesia divergens. This initial report of human B. divergens infections in Gansu Province should raise awareness of human babesiosis.


Serum albumin levels as a predictive biomarker for low-load resistance training programs' effects on muscle thickness in the community-dwelling elderly Japanese population: interventional study result.
Resistance training has been recommended as an effective measure against age-related loss of muscle mass and muscle strength, called sarcopenia, even in older adults. However, despite subjecting each participant to the same training program, the training effect solely depended on the individual. This study aimed to evaluate whether certain blood parameters influenced the effect of a low-load resistance training program on muscle thickness in the community-dwelling elderly population. Sixty-nine community-dwelling Japanese (49 women and 20 men) subjects aged 69.4 ± 6.5 years were included. Low-load resistance training was performed twice a week for 12 weeks. Muscle thickness at the anterior aspects of the thigh (AT) was measured using a B-mode ultrasound device, and 22 blood parameter levels were assessed before and after the program. We checked the first quartile value of each parameter to establish cutoff values, and participants were divided into low or normal groups for each parameter. A low-load resistance training program significantly increased muscle thickness at the AT. The interaction between time and groups was examined at low (< 4.1 g/dL) versus normal (≥ 4.1 g/dL) serum albumin (Alb) levels. Although there was no difference in muscle thickness at the AT before the training intervention, the hypertrophic effects were higher in the normal serum Alb level group than in the low serum Alb level group. The binomial logistic regression analysis showed that participants in the low serum Alb group had an odds ratio of 7.08 for decreased muscle thickness at the AT. The effect of a low-load resistance training program on lower limb muscle thickness appears to be limited in participants with low serum Alb levels before training interventions. Serum Alb level may act as a biomarker to predict the effects of low-load resistance training programs on muscle hypertrophy in elderly individuals. This study was retrospectively registered in UMIN-Clinical Trial Registry (CTR), ID: UMIN000042759 (date of registration, 14 Dec 2020).


Pathogen recognition in compatible plant-microbe interactions.
Microbial infections in plant leaves remain a major challenge in agriculture. Hence an understanding of disease mechanisms at the molecular level is of paramount importance for identifying possible intervention points for their control. Whole-transcriptome changes during early disease stages in susceptible plant species are less well-documented than those of resistant ones. This study focuses on the differential transcriptional changes at 24 hours post inoculation (hpi) in tomato leaflets affected by three pathogens: (1) Phytophthora infestans, (2) Botrytis cinerea, and (3) Oidium neolycopersici. Grey mould (B. cinerea) was the disease that had progressed the most by 24 hpi, both in terms of visible symptoms as well as differential gene expression. By means of RNA-seq, we identified 50 differentially expressed tomato genes specifically induced by B. cinerea infection and 18 specifically induced by P. infestans infection at 24 hpi. Additionally, a set of 63 genes were differentially expressed during all three diseases when compared by a Bayesian approach to their respective mock infections. And Gene expression patterns were found to also depend on the inoculation technique. These findings suggest a specific and distinct transcriptional response in plant leaf tissue in reaction to B. cinerea and P. infestans invasion at 24 hpi, indicating that plants may recognize the attacking pathogen.


Vaping: An Emerging Health Hazard.
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are electronic devices designed to vaporize chemical compounds. The device is made up of a mouthpiece, liquid tank, a heating element, and a battery. E-cigarette use may pose health risks in the form of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These health risks have implications to not only the primary user, but the aerosols can also cause secondhand and thirdhand injuries to others in the vicinity. Acute lung injury may also be associated with the use of e-cigarettes, but the underlying cause remains unknown. Clinicians, including hospitalists, pulmonologists, intensivists, medical examiners, pathologists, and the like, should report possible cases as the medical community continues to assess the health risks of e-cigarette use.


[Chemical constituents of flavonoids and their glycosides in Melastoma dodecandrum].
The chemical constituents of 95% ethanol extract of Melastoma dodecandrum were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC, to obtain thirteen compounds eventually. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as quercetin (1), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-(6"-O-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O- [2",6"-di-O-(E)-coumaroyl]-β-D-glucopyra-noside (6), luteolin (7), luteolin-7-O-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (8), apigenin (9), apigenin-7-(6"-acetyl-glucopyranoside) (10) , naringenin (11), isovitexin (12), and epicatechin-[8,7-e] -4β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dyhydroxyl-2(3H)-pyranone (13). Eight compounds(3,5,6,8-11 and 13) were obtained from M. dodecandrum for the first time.


Bayesian Analysis of a One Compartment Kinetic Model Used in Medical Imaging.
Kinetic models are used extensively in science, engineering, and medicine. Mathematically, they are a set of coupled differential equations including a source function, otherwise known as an input function. We investigate whether parametric modeling of a noisy input function offers any benefit over the non-parametric input function in estimating kinetic parameters. Our analysis includes four formulations of Bayesian posteriors of model parameters where noise is taken into account in the likelihood functions. Posteriors are determined numerically with a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. We compare point estimates derived from the posteriors to a weighted non-linear least squares estimate. Results imply that parametric modeling of the input function does not improve the accuracy of model parameters, even with perfect knowledge of the functional form. Posteriors are validated using an unconventional utilization of the chi square test. We demonstrate that if the noise in the input function is not taken into account, the resulting posteriors are incorrect.


Seasonal changes in calciotropic hormones, bone markers, and bone mineral density in elderly women.
Seasonal variation of serum vitamin D metabolites, PTH, bone turnover markers, and bone mineral density (BMD), adjusted for confounding variables, was studied in a cross-sectional population of 251 ambulatory elderly women aged 65-77 yr. A significant (P < 0.05) seasonal change was observed in serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), bone resorption marker (urine N-telopeptide), and BMD of the spine, total body, and mid-radius. Serum 25OHD was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in winter (December, January, February, March) compared with summer (June, July, August, September), with the nadir in February (68.4 +/- 6.74 nmol/liter) and the zenith in August (85.6 +/- 5.12 nmol/liter). Mean serum PTH levels were higher in winter when serum 25OHD was low, and mean serum PTH was lower in summer when serum 25OHD was high, although the seasonal change in serum PTH was not significant. The change in serum 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D(3) paralleled that of serum 25OHD levels, but the seasonal effect was not significant. Mean 24-h urine N-telopeptide showed a significant seasonal change (P < 0.05); it was about 24% higher in February (zenith) compared with that in August (nadir). The zenith month of urine N-telopeptide levels corresponded to the nadir month of serum 25OHD levels and vice versa. A significant (P < 0.05) inverse correlation was observed between 24-h urine N-telopeptides and serum 25OHD levels. There was a significant (P < 0.05) seasonal change in mean BMD of spine, total body, and mid-radius. These changes paralleled those in serum 25OHD levels. Spine BMD was 8.4% higher in August (zenith) compared with that in February (nadir), whereas total body BMD and mid-radius BMD were 6.1 and 7.6% higher, respectively, in July (zenith) compared with that in January (nadir). There was a nonsignificant increase of 3.6% in total hip BMD. In summary (see Fig. 5), the seasonal changes in vitamin D metabolism in elderly women are closely associated with small changes in serum PTH, changes in bone resorption, and BMD.


A complication commonly overlooked.
Acute pulmonary embolism is one of the most underdiagnosed of the serious acute diseases that face the clinician. It is estimated to be the third most common cause of death in the United States. There is an increasing incidence of pulmonary embolism because of the growing size of the older population, greater number of extensive surgical procedures, increasing use of oral contraceptives, and prolongation of life in patients with metastatic malignancy. Pulmonary embolism is considered to be one of the most common single causes of death in the acute care general hospital. It is therefore important to appreciate that pulmonary embolism is a preventable and treatable disease.


Clinical rib fractures: are follow-up chest X-rays a waste of resources?
Rib fractures (RFs) are estimated to be present in 10 per cent of all traumatic injuries. However, up to 50 per cent of all fractures go undetected on the screening chest X-ray (CXR). The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of clinical (CRFs) and objective rib fractures (ORFs) as well as to examine the utility of the routine follow-up CXR with regard to patient recovery and healthcare cost. We identified patients sustaining RF in addition to other traumatic injuries with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) < or = 15 and RF as the primary pathology. Five hundred fifty-two patients sustained blunt thoracic trauma with resultant RF. Two hundred nine patients had RFs and an ISS < or = 15. The average ISS was 8. Follow-up films illustrated that 93 per cent of CRFs had resolution of any pathology, 4 per cent had persistent X-ray findings, and 4 per cent were lost to follow-up. Ultimately 93 per cent of patients with CRF were able to resume daily activities without disability and 3 per cent incurred lifestyle changes at home or work, which was significantly better than those with ORFs (P < 0.05). Follow-up films produced no change in clinical management and cost approximately $2000/year. The prognosis for CRFs is excellent if treatment consists of appropriate pain management and pulmonary rehabilitation. We do not advocate routine follow-up CXRs in addition to physical examination for the evaluation of CRFs unless clinical deterioration is evident.


Metabolomic analysis reveals the composition differences in 13 Chinese tea cultivars of different manufacturing suitabilities.
Green tea and black tea are manufactured using appropriate tea cultivars in China. However, the metabolite differences relating to the manufacturing suitability of tea cultivars are unclear. In the present study, we performed a non-targeted metabolomic analysis on 13 Chinese tea cultivars using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry to investigate comprehensively the metabolite differences between cultivars suitable for manufacturing green tea (GT cultivars) and cultivars suitable for manufacturing both green tea and black tea (G&BT cultivars). Multivariate statistical analysis and cluster analysis divided the 13 cultivars into two groups, namely GT cultivars and G&BT cultivars, which correlated with their manufacturing suitability. The GT cultivars contained higher levels of flavonoid glycosides, whereas the G&BT cultivars contained higher levels of catechins, dimeric catechins, phenolic acids and alkaloids. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the flavonoid pathway inclined toward the synthesis of flavonoid glycosides in GT cultivars, whereas it inclined toward the synthesis of catechins and phenolic acids in G&BT cultivars. The results of the present study will be helpful for discriminating the manufacturing suitability of tea cultivars and investigating their breeding. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.


Transracial adoption and foster care placement: worker perception and attitude.
This study explores black child welfare workers' perceptions of transracial adoption (TRA) and foster care placement (FCP). Informants were asked to discuss their attitudes toward the placement of black children with white families, as well as their perception of the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 and the supplemental Interethnic Adoption Provision of 1996. This study expands existing research regarding the viability of TRA and FCP by incorporating the previously ignored perceptions of social service professionals who are charged with the responsibility of providing child and family services. Findings illuminate the significant role that prioritization of client need plays in the perceptions of workers.


[The effect of biota on global climate].
A model consisting of two blocks (equations) was proposed for the analytical study of the biosphere-climate system over great periods of time. The first equation describes the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and represents the biological block of the model. The second equation is the equation of the energy balance or the physical block of the system. The model is based on the most general conceptions of living matter and the evolution process. A possible interpretation of some events and phenomena in the earth history in terms of the model is given.


Patient safety: what is really at issue?
The Veterans Health Administration found that a number of components were key to implementing a meaningful and effective patient safety program. To truly improve patient safety, the overall goal of your organization must be to prevent harm to the patient, not to eliminate errors. Create a system that is perceived as fair, and mitigate perceived barriers to improving patient safety. Create a transparent system for prioritizing and establishing how resources will be applied to the patient safety effort. Provide tools that support root cause analysis that moves beyond superficial and inadequate questions such as, Whose fault is this? Action that results in improvement, not simply analysis of the problem, is needed. Finally, leadership and management must be visibly involved in the patient safety program.


Prediction Effects of Personal, Psychosocial, and Occupational Risk Factors on Low Back Pain Severity Using Artificial Neural Networks Approach in Industrial Workers.
This study aimed to provide an empirical model of predicting low back pain (LBP) by considering the occupational, personal, and psychological risk factor interactions in workers population employed in industrial units using an artificial neural networks approach. A total of 92 workers with LBP as the case group and 68 healthy workers as a control group were selected in various industrial units with similar occupational conditions. The demographic information and personal, occupational, and psychosocial factors of the participants were collected via interview, related questionnaires, consultation with occupational medicine, and also the Rapid Entire Body Assessment worksheet and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index software. Then, 16 risk factors for LBP were used as input variables to develop the prediction model. Networks with various multilayered structures were developed using MATLAB. The developed neural networks with 1 hidden layer and 26 neurons had the least error of classification in both training and testing phases. The mean of classification accuracy of the developed neural networks for the testing and training phase data were about 88% and 96%, respectively. In addition, the mean of classification accuracy of both training and testing data was 92%, indicating much better results compared with other methods. It appears that the prediction model using the neural network approach is more accurate compared with other applied methods. Because occupational LBP is usually untreatable, the results of prediction may be suitable for developing preventive strategies and corrective interventions.


A Characterization of the Electrophysiological and Morphological Properties of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Interneurons in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex (MEC).
Circuit interactions within the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) translate movement into a coherent code for spatial location. Entorhinal principal cells are subject to strong lateral inhibition, suggesting that a disinhibitory mechanism may drive their activation. Cortical Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) expressing inhibitory neurons are known to contact other interneurons and excitatory cells and are thus capable of providing a local disinhibitory mechanism, yet little is known about this cell type in the MEC. To investigate the electrophysiological and morphological properties of VIP cells in the MEC, we use in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in VIPcre/tdTom mice. We report several gradients in electrophysiological properties of VIP cells that differ across laminae and along the dorsal-ventral MEC axis. We additionally show that VIP cells have distinct morphological features across laminae. Together, these results characterize the cellular and morphological properties of VIP cells in the MEC.


Collision Induced Unfolding of Intact Antibodies: Rapid Characterization of Disulfide Bonding Patterns, Glycosylation, and Structures.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are among the fastest growing class of therapeutics due to their high specificity and low incidence of side effects. Unlike most drugs, mAbs are complex macromolecules (∼150 kDa), leading to a host of quality control and characterization challenges inherent in their development. Recently, we introduced a new approach for the analysis of the intact proteins based on ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Our protocol involves the collision induced unfolding (CIU) of intact antibodies, where collisional heating in the gas-phase is used to generate unfolded antibody forms, which are subsequently separated by IM and then analyzed by MS. Collisional energy is added to the antibody ions in a stepwise fashion, and "fingerprint plots" are created that track the amount of unfolding undergone as a function of the energy imparted to the ions prior to IM separation. In this report, we have used these fingerprints to rapidly distinguish between antibody isoforms, possessing different numbers and/or patterns of disulfide bonding and general levels of glycosylation. In addition, we validate our CIU protocols through control experiments and systematic statistical evaluations of CIU reproducibility. We conclude by projecting the impact of our approach for antibody-related drug discovery and development applications.


Digital microfluidic platform for the detection of rubella infection and immunity: a proof of concept.
Whereas disease surveillance for infectious diseases such as rubella is important, it is critical to identify pregnant women at risk of passing rubella to their offspring, which can be fatal and can result in congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The traditional centralized model for diagnosing rubella is cost-prohibitive in resource-limited settings, representing a major obstacle to the prevention of CRS. As a step toward decentralized diagnostic systems, we developed a proof-of-concept digital microfluidic (DMF) diagnostic platform that possesses the flexibility and performance of automated immunoassay platforms used in central facilities, but with a form factor the size of a shoebox. DMF immunoassays were developed with integrated sample preparation for the detection of rubella virus (RV) IgG and IgM. The performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the assays was evaluated with serum and plasma samples from a commercial antirubella mixed-titer performance panel. The new platform performed the essential processing steps, including sample aliquoting for 4 parallel assays, sample dilution, and IgG blocking. Testing of performance panel samples yielded diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 100% for both RV IgG and RV IgM. With 1.8 μL sample per assay, 4 parallel assays were performed in approximately 30 min with <10% mean CV. This proof of concept establishes DMF-powered immunoassays as being potentially useful for the diagnosis of infectious disease.


Smoke, Biomass Exposure, and COPD Risk in the Primary Care Setting: The PUMA Study.
The evidence indicates that risk factors other than smoking are important in the development of COPD. It has been postulated that less traditional risk factors (eg, exposure to coal and/or biomass smoke) may interact with smoking to further increase COPD risk. This analysis evaluated the effect of exposure to biomass and smoking on COPD risk in a primary care setting in Latin America. Subjects attending routine primary care visits, ≥40 y old, who were current or former smokers or were exposed to biomass smoke, completed a questionnaire and performed spirometry. COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70 and the lower limit of normal. Smoking was defined by pack-years (≤ 20, 20-30, or > 30), and biomass exposure was defined as an exposure to coal or wood (for heating, cooking, or both) for ≥ 10 y. One thousand seven hundred forty-three individuals completed the questionnaire, and 1,540 performed spirometry. Irrespective of COPD definition, approximately 40% of COPD subjects reported exposure to biomass versus 30% of those without COPD. A higher proportion of COPD subjects (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70) than those without COPD smoked > 30 pack-years (66% vs 39%); similar results were found with the lower limit of normal definition. Analysis of exposure to biomass > 10 y plus smoking > 20 pack-years (reference was no exposure) found that tobacco smoking (crude odds ratio [OR] 4.50, 95% CI 2.73-7.41; adjusted OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.93-5.63) and biomass exposure (crude OR 3.66, 95% CI 2.00-6.73; adjusted OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.18-4.41) were risk factors for COPD, with smoking a possible confounder for the association between biomass and COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70); similar results were found with the lower limit of normal definition. Subjects with COPD from primary care had a higher exposure to biomass and smoking compared with non-COPD subjects. Smoking and biomass are both risk factors for COPD, but they do not appear to have an additive effect.


Enhanced surveillance of hepatitis B in the EU, 2006-2012.
Robust epidemiological information on hepatitis B is important to help countries plan prevention and control programmes and evaluate public health responses to control transmission. European Centre Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) introduced enhanced surveillance of hepatitis B at EU/EEA level in 2011 to collate routine surveillance data from national notification systems. Analysis of the data collected for the years 2006-2012 shows a high burden of hepatitis B across Europe with 110 005 cases reported over the period with the majority of these cases being chronic infections. The most commonly reported routes of transmission in acute cases included heterosexual transmission, nosocomial transmission, injecting drug use and transmission among men who have sex with men. Mother-to-child transmission was the most common route reported for chronic cases. Trends over time were difficult to analyse as national reporting practices changed, but data suggest a downward trend in acute cases, which probably reflects the impact of the widespread implementation of vaccination programmes. Notifications of chronic infection varied across countries and showed discrepancy with the expected results based on findings from recent prevalence surveys. This indicated that notifications mirror local testing practices rather than real occurrence of disease. Improving the quality of the data and considering reported notifications alongside other data sources, such as local screening practices and vaccination policies, will improve the utility of the data.


COVID-19 pandemic changed the management and outcomes of acute appendicitis in northern Beijing: A single-center study.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, outcomes and management of many diseases have been affected. Acute appendicitis is a common acute abdomen. The incidence rate is 0.05%-0.5%. Studies reported that the number of patients with appendicitis admitted to emergency department significantly decreased since the pandemic. People avoided going to the hospital for fear of being infected. Different countries have different epidemic prevention measures that result in different treatment outcomes. The Chinese government also published some temporary measures in order to prevent the outbreak. To explore the changes in management and outcomes of acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic in the North of Beijing. Patients with acute appendicitis admitted to Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital between February and June 2019 and February and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were grouped according to admission year. The demographic characteristics, present illnesses, medical history, symptoms and signs, comorbidities, blood test results, imaging data, appendix pathology, and treatment details were compared. Overall, 74 patients received nonsurgical treatment and 113 patients underwent surgical treatment in group 2019, whereas 159 patients received nonsurgical treatment and 26 patients received surgical treatment in group 2020. Fever, thick appendix, nonsurgical management, and uncomplicated appendicitis (simple or supportive appendicitis) were more common in group 2020 (P < 0.05). Among the nonsurgical management cases, the neutrophil percentage, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and recurrence rate were higher in group 2020 (P < 0.05). Among surgically managed cases, there were more cases with gastrointestinal symptoms, peritonitis, ascites in the image, and intraoperative adhesion or ascites in group 2020 (P < 0.05). The white blood cell count, time from diagnosis to surgery, surgical time, and intraoperative blood loss were higher in group 2020 (P < 0.05). During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients suffering from acute appendicitis in Beijing tended to present with severe symptoms and opt for nonsurgical treatment. For patients who underwent surgical management, the operation was delayed and more difficult during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the hospital stay and the incidence of postsurgical complications did not change.


The factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism: is it protective against idiopathic venous thromboembolism?
The substitution of leucine for valine at amino acid position 34 of the factor XIII gene is commonly referred to as FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism. The homozygous leucine/leucine genotype has been reported to confer protection against venous thromboembolism, but previous studies have not evaluated a population limited to those with idiopathic venous thromboembolism. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism is independently associated with the occurrence of idiopathic venous thromboembolism. We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with at least one objectively confirmed idiopathic venous thromboembolism. Friends of cases were recruited as controls and matched to cases by sex, ethnicity, and age. All participants were tested for the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism in addition to several well-known thrombophilias. Data from 309 cases and 306 controls were analyzed. The FXIII leucine/leucine genotype was present in 4.9% of cases and 6.5% of controls. An adjusted odds ratio of 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.38) was found for the recessive model and 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.46-1.02) for the dominant model. Our results do not support an independent association of the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism with idiopathic venous thromboembolism in our Caucasian Canadian study population.


RNA transport and local control of translation.
In eukaryotes, the entwined pathways of RNA transport and local translational regulation are key determinants in the spatio-temporal articulation of gene expression. One of the main advantages of this mechanism over transcriptional control in the nucleus lies in the fact that it endows local sites with independent decision-making authority, a consideration that is of particular relevance in cells with complex cellular architecture such as neurons. Localized RNAs typically contain codes, expressed within cis-acting elements, that specify subcellular targeting. Such codes are recognized by trans-acting factors, adaptors that mediate translocation along cytoskeletal elements by molecular motors. Most transported mRNAs are assumed translationally dormant while en route. In some cell types, especially in neurons, it is considered crucial that translation remains repressed after arrival at the destination site (e.g., a postsynaptic microdomain) until an appropriate activation signal is received. Several candidate mechanisms have been suggested to participate in the local implementation of translational repression and activation, and such mechanisms may target translation at the level of initiation and/or elongation. Recent data indicate that untranslated RNAs may play important roles in the local control of translation.


Elution of kidney-bound antibody by pH-shift does not discriminate between antibodies differing in functional affinity for their ligand.
Antibodies eluted from kidneys by traditional methods of pH shift have been used as reagents in a wide variety of experimental analyses without knowledge of whether their ligand affinity influenced their removal from parenchymal tissue. In the current study we employed two monoclonal antibodies, differing only in their functional affinity (high; K = 2.1 x 10(8)/M and low; K = 6.2 x 10(6)/M) to a common ligand found on the renal basement membrane, to evaluate whether a standard elution technique might selectively facilitate the removal of one antibody over the other. Our findings indicate, however, that the routine methods of elution by pH shift remove both antibodies equally well (41-48%), and without loss of paratypic function. These results provide new evidence that elution by pH shift can produce eluate antibodies which are not biased by preferred affinities.


[Tolerance and immunogenicity of the capsular polyoside vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b. A study of 325 children 15 to 71 months of age].
The antigenic properties of the capsule polyoside (PRP) from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) are adequate to form the basis for immunization designed to prevent the severe infections caused by this organism. The tolerance and immunogenicity of a vaccine containing either 12.5 or 25 micrograms PRP were studied in 325 healthy children aged 15 to 71 months after informed consent had been obtained from the parents. Each child was given one subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml vaccine. Antibodies against Hib were assayed before and one month after the injection. Clinical tolerance was outstanding both locally (moderate and transient pain in 13% of cases) and systematically, with only eight (2.6%) febrile reactions in excess of 38.5 degrees C within 24 hours after the injection. A very significant rise in antibody titers was seen in all age groups, but a mean titer of 1 microgram/ml was achieved only in children aged 24 months or more. No significant difference was found between the two dosages. Individual analysis showed that following immunization antibody titers reached 0.15 micrograms/ml or more in 65% of infants aged 15 to 17 months, 71% of infants aged 18 to 23 months, 80% of infants aged 24 to 30 months and 95% of children older than 30 months. Despite the inadequate immune response evidenced in the younger age groups, our results confirm that Hib infections are preventable from the age of 2 years. Our results are consistent with those recorded with a similar vaccine in Finland.


Three-dimensional rotational angiography: introduction of an adjunctive tool for successful transarterial chemoembolization.
Transcatheter arterial embolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure that requires precise visualization of the feeding vessels to liver tumors for proper catheter placement and effective therapy. The use of three-dimensional (3D) rotational angiography (RA) can be extremely useful to the interventional radiologist during TACE while the patient is on the catheterization table. This report demonstrates the role of 3D RA in interventional oncology by presenting two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with complex vascular anatomy successfully treated because of the information provided by this new technology.


Comparison of intra- and extrasynaptosomal monoamine oxidase-A and -B activities in the striatum and frontal cortex of two mice strains with different sensitivities to the neurotoxic actions of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.
Conditions for the assay of the intra- and extrasynaptosomal rates of deamination of dopamine and noradrenaline by the two forms of monoamine oxidase (MAO) have been determined in striatal and frontal cortical homogenates, respectively, from C57 BL/6 mice. The activities obtained were compared with the corresponding activities found for NMRI mice, a strain less sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) than the C57 BL/6 strain. In both strains, the intra- and extrasynaptosomal deamination of dopamine in the striatal homogenates was brought about predominantly by MAO-A. No significant differences between the two strains were found for the intra- or extrasynaptosomal MAO-A or -B activities towards dopamine in striatal homogenates. On the other hand, the striatal dopamine concentrations were higher in the C57 BL/6 mice than in the NMRI mice. The concentrations of the dopamine metabolites DOPAC and HVA were similarly higher, suggesting that the rate of turnover of dopamine is the same for the two strains. In frontal cortical homogenates, MAO-A predominated in the deamination of noradrenaline both intra- and extrasynaptosomally. The extrasynaptosomal rates of deamination of noradrenaline were similar in the two mice strains, whereas the intrasynaptosomal MAO-A activity was significantly higher for the C57 BL/6 mice. These results concur with and extend to the noradrenergic system the conclusion previously made by Jossan et al. (1987) for the dopaminergic system that although MAO-B activity is necessary for expression of MPTP neurotoxicity, it is not the rate-limiting step for the development of the neurotoxic effects.


Detection of innersphere interactions between magnesium hydrate and the phosphate backbone of the HDV ribozyme using Raman crystallography.
A Raman microscope and Raman difference spectroscopy are used to detect the vibrational signature of RNA-bound magnesium hydrate in crystals of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme and to follow the effects of magnesium hydrate binding to the nonbridging phosphate oxygens in the phosphodiester backbone. There is a correlation between the Raman intensity of the innersphere magnesium hydrate signature peak, near 322 cm-1, and the intensity of the PO2- symmetric stretch, near 1100 cm-1, perturbed by magnesium binding, demonstrating direct observation of -PO2-...Mg2+(H2O)x innersphere complexes. The complexes may be pentahydrates (x = 5) and tetrahydrates (x = 4). The assignment of the Raman feature near 322 cm-1 to a magnesium hydrate species is confirmed by isotope shifts observed in D2O and H218O that are semiquantitatively reproduced by calculations. The standardized intensity changes in the 1100 cm-1 PO2- feature seen upon magnesium hydrate binding indicates that there are approximately 5 innersphere Mg2+...-O2P contacts per HDV molecule when the crystal is exposed to a solution containing 20 mM magnesium.


Independent component analysis to proton spectroscopic imaging data of human brain tumours.
In proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI), the recorded spectra are often linear combinations of spectra from different cell and tissue types within the voxel. This produces problems for data analysis and interpretation. A sophisticated approach is proposed here to handle the complexity of tissue heterogeneity in MRSI data. The independent component analysis (ICA) method was applied without prior knowledge to decompose the proton spectral components that relate to the heterogeneous cell populations with different proliferation and metabolism that are present in gliomas. The ability to classify brain tumours based on IC decomposite spectra was studied by grouping the components with histopathology. To this end, 10 controls and 34 patients with primary brain tumours were studied. The results indicate that ICA may reveal useful information from metabolic profiling for clinical purposes using long echo time MRSI of gliomas.


Genetic basis for retention of a critical virulence plasmid of Borrelia burgdorferi.
The genome of Borrelia burgdorferi is composed of one linear chromosome and approximately 20 linear and circular plasmids. Although some plasmids are required by B. burgdorferi in vivo, most plasmids are dispensable for growth in vitro. However, circular plasmid (cp) 26 is present in all natural isolates and has never been lost during in vitro growth. This plasmid carries ospC, which is critical for mammalian infection. We previously showed that cp26 encodes essential functions, including the telomere resolvase, ResT, and hence cannot be displaced. Here we identify two additional essential genes on cp26, bbb26 and bbb27, through a systematic attempt to inactivate each open reading frame (ORF). Furthermore, an incompatible plasmid carrying resT, bbb26 and bbb27 could displace cp26. Computational and experimental analyses suggested that both BBB26 and BBB27 are membrane-associated, periplasmic proteins. These data indicate that bbb26 and bbb27 encode essential but possibly redundant functions and that one or the other of these cp26 genes, in addition to resT, is required for bacterial viability. We conclude that the genetic linkage of critical physiological and virulence functions on cp26 is pertinent to its stable maintenance throughout the evolution of B. burgdorferi.


Lyophilized Powder of Catalpol and Puerarin Protected Cerebral Vessels from Ischemia by Its Anti-apoptosis on Endothelial Cells.
Catalpol and puerarin are two monomers of Rehmannia glutinosa and Lobed Kudzuvine Root, which are two herbs commonly used together in ancient prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine for cerebral ischemia. Our previous study shows that the lyophilized powder of the two monomers improved the outcome of cerebral ischemia excellently in rodents. However, if it protects vessels from ischemia is unknown. The present research studied the protection of lyophilized powder of catalpol and puerarin (CP) on endothelial cells and the relative mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats were used to study the improvement of CP on neurological deficiency, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), and infarct volume. The morphology of vessels and the apoptosis of brain vascular endothelial cells (BVECs) were observed and detected by immunohistochemistry approaches. To study how CP protected primary BVECs (pBVECs) from ischemic penumbra, oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-damaged pBVECs were cultured in the condition of insufficient nutrition and low oxygen which recapitulate the low perfusion of ischemic penumbra. Using the cell model, the mechanism by which CP protected pBVECs was studied by shRNA and pathway inhibitors. CP at the dose of 65.4 mg/kg increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), reduced infarct volume, protected vessel integrity and inhibited endothelial cell apoptosis in vivo. But it only improved rCBF, vessel integrity and BVECs apoptosis at the dose of 32.7 mg/kg. In vitro, the protection of CP on pBVECs was proved to be ERK/HIF-1a- and PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1a-dependent. This study indicates a possibility of CP being a new drug for cerebral ischemia. Besides, this research provides an alternative cell model for penumbra ECs study.


Contamination Level of Hygiene Indicator and Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens in Retail Beef in Parallel with Market Factor.
In this study, the contamination levels of hygienic indicators and foodborne pathogens in retail meat products were investigated in relation to the various market factors including processing temperature, processing area, and market type. Ground beef samples (n=80) were purchased from 40 meat markets and investigated for microbiological quality. Beefs processed below 20℃ had significantly lower numbers of total coliforms (TC) than these processed over 20℃ (2.01 vs. 2.79 log CFU/g; p<0.05). Interestingly, separation of processing area did not affect the contamination levels. Remarkably, the contamination levels of hygienic indicator differ among market types, indicating that not only processing condition but distribution structure that is directly related with storage period could affect the final microbiological loads of the meat products. In addition, the prevalences of Listeria monocytogenes (a psychrotroph), Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis were 7.5% (6/80), 10.0% (8/80), and 20.0% (16/80), respectively, which is irrelevant to market factors except meat products from wholesale markets where no L. monocytogenes were found among 30 samples. The results of this study indicate that the contamination level of hygiene indicator and foodborne pathogens in retail beef is more related with processing temperature and storage period than other environmental factors.


Depression and Generalized Anxiety as Long-Term Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with a variety of psychiatric symptoms. However, COVID-19's association with psychiatric symptoms after the acute illness phase is not fully understood. Thus, this study sought to examine symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety and associated factors in the period following COVID-19 infection. A cross-sectional study design was conducted in three governorates of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Face-to-face interviews were held between the period of 15 September and 20 December 2021 with both those who had been infected with COVID-19 and those who had not. Depression symptomology was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and levels of anxiety were measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. A total of 727 participants were recruited. The bulk of the respondents (n = 454) reported having a past COVID-19 infection, of whom a considerable proportion (82%) had mild-moderate symptoms. More than half of the infected respondents (53.3%) stated they were treated at home. The mean score of generalized anxiety was higher among the infected group compared to the non-infected group t(725) = 2.538, p = 0.011. Factors such as older age, female gender, unemployment, previous psychological problems, and diabetes mellitus were strongly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety post-COVID-19 infection. Additionally, anxiety was associated with a longer duration of post-COVID symptoms. The majority of the study population had mild to moderate levels of post-COVID-19 depression and anxiety. Psychological education and interventions are required to reduce the psychological burden of post-COVID-19 symptoms among the general population.


Raman Spectroscopic Detection in Continuous Microflow Using a Chip-Integrated Silver Electrode as an Electrically Regenerable Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrate.
An electrochemical approach to enable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection in continuous microflow is presented. This is achieved by the integration of a silver electrode as SERS substrate in a microfluidic chip device. By the application of actuation pulses of about 4 V, otherwise irreversibly adsorbed analytes are stripped off, which enables quasi-real-time SERS detection in a continuous microflow. The approach opens up a way for in situ SERS monitoring of compounds in microflow with high application potential in microseparation techniques like HPLC and lab-on-a-chip devices.


Safety and Efficacy of Universal Postoperative Decolonization for Kidney Transplant Recipients.
Infection is a common cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplant. Based on the well-documented successes of reducing infections with decolonization of patients in intensive care units, we began a universal immediate posttransplant decolonization program for all kidney transplant recipients. Herein, we report safety and efficacy of this decolonization program. We compared a consecutive cohort of kidney transplant recipients who underwent universal decolonization (intervention group) with a cohort of transplant patients from an era immediately prior to this practice (control group). Universal decolonization included daily chlorhexidine body wash and nasal mupirocin ointment. Seventy-eight patients who underwent universal decolonization were compared with 43 patients in the control group. Ten microbiologically proven infections (8.3%) occurred in the 30 days after discharge: 7 (9%) in the intervention group and 3 (7%) in the control group. Forty-five transplant recipients (37.2%) were readmitted in the 30 days after discharge: 31 (39.7%) in the intervention group and 14 (32.6%) in the control group. No patients in the intervention group had adverse drug events from mupirocin and chlorhexidine use. A universal decolonization protocol was successfully implemented and was well tolerated by all patients. Despite successful implementation, we did not observe any significant differences in infection rates between treated patients and historical controls.


Finding gas diffusion pathways in proteins: application to O2 and H2 transport in CpI [FeFe]-hydrogenase and the role of packing defects.
We report on a computational investigation of the passive transport of H2 and O2 between the external solution and the hydrogen-producing active site of CpI [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum. Two distinct methodologies for studying gas access are discussed and applied: (1) temperature-controlled locally enhanced sampling, and (2) volumetric solvent accessibility maps, providing consistent results. Both methodologies confirm the existence and function of a previously hypothesized pathway and reveal a second major pathway that had not been detected by previous analyses of CpI's static crystal structure. Our results suggest that small hydrophobic molecules, such as H2 and O2, diffusing inside CpI, take advantage of well-defined preexisting packing defects that are not always apparent from the protein's static structure, but that can be predicted from the protein's dynamical motion. Finally, we describe two contrasting modes of intraprotein transport for H2 and O2, which in our model are differentiated only by their size.


Vertically Oriented 2D Layered Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency and Good Stability.
Vertically oriented highly crystalline 2D layered (BA)2 (MA)n-1 Pbn I3n+1 (BA = CH3 (CH2 )3 NH3 , MA = CH3 NH3 , n = 3, 4) perovskite thin-films are fabricated with the aid of ammonium thiocyanate (NH4 SCN) additive through one-step spin-coating process. The humidity-stability of the film is certified by the almost unchanged X-ray diffraction patterns after exposed to humid atmosphere (Hr = 55 ± 5%) for 40 d. The photovoltaic devices with the structure of indium tin oxide(ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate)/(BA)2 (MA)n-1 Pbn I3n+1 (n = 3,4)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester/Bathocuproine/Ag are fabricated. The devices based on (BA)2 (MA)2 Pb3 I10 perovskite (n = 3) with the precursor composition of BAI:methylammonium iodide:PbI2 :NH4 SCN = 2:2:3:1 (by molar ratio) show an averaged power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.82%. In the case of (BA)2 (MA)3 Pb4 I13 (n = 4), a higher PCE of 8.79% is achieved. Both of the unsealed devices perform unique stability with almost unchanged PCE during the period of storage in purified N2 glove box. This work provides a simple and effective method to enhance the efficiency of the 2D perovskite solar cell.


Seminal plasma arising from the whole boar sperm-rich fraction increases the stability of sperm membrane after thawing.
Boar spermatozoa arising from the sperm-rich ejaculate fraction are reported to have a more stable plasma membrane and are more resistant to cold shock and premature acrosome reaction than spermatozoa from the whole ejaculate. Furthermore, seminal plasma (SP) can increase the cryotolerance of boar spermatozoa, and in other domestic species, it has the ability to reverse cryopreservation damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of boar SP arising from the whole sperm-rich ejaculate fraction (SP-SRF) on the integrity, stability, and peroxidation of sperm membranes after thawing. Each ejaculate ( = 24) was divided among 4 treatments: control (CT), centrifuged and suspended in autologous SP-SRF (CS), centrifuged with withdrawn SP-SRF (CW), and post-thawed SP arising from the whole sperm-rich fraction addition to CW (CWSP). After thawing, all treatments were incubated for 5, 60, and 120 min and were analyzed for membrane integrity, fluidity, and peroxidation by flow cytometer. The absence of SP-SRF increased the lipid disorder ( < 0.05) but had no effect on lipid peroxidation ( > 0.05) or membrane integrity ( > 0.05). However, the increase in lipid disorder by withdrawal of SP-SRF was reversed by SP-SRF addition ( < 0.05) to the post-thawing medium, whereas plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity ( > 0.05) and lipid peroxidation ( > 0.05) were unchanged. In conclusion, despite the centrifugation effects, the addition of SP arising from the whole sperm-rich fraction to post-thawed boar semen decreased sperm lipid disorder without an influence of the sperm membrane integrity and peroxidation.


Anesthetic Management of a Patient With Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-Like Episodes Syndrome During Extensive Spinal Surgery With Both Motor Evoked Potentials and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials: A Case Report.
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a complex and infrequently encountered mitochondrial cytopathy. Patients with MELAS often present with multi-systemic manifestations, making their anesthetic management particularly challenging. In this case report, we describe in detail our anesthetic approach for a 19-year-old male with confirmed MELAS linked to an m.3243A>G mutation. The patient had been diagnosed with MELAS at age 12 following a stroke-like episode and presented with progressive spinal deformities. He exhibited a 70° thoracic spine curvature and an 80° kyphosis, requiring a T1-L2 posterior spinal fusion. The surgical plan included neuromonitoring with both somatosensory and motor evoked potentials. Intravenous anesthetics such as propofol are typically preferred in this context due to their reduced interference with neuromonitoring compared to volatile anesthetics. Anticipating a surgical duration of six to seven hours, however, we hesitated to rely on propofol for this extended period due to its potential risks of lactic acidosis in the context of MELAS. Given that propofol infusion for extended periods (>48 hours) or at high doses (≥5 mg·kg-1·hour-1) is known to induce propofol-related infusion syndrome, and coupled with our concerns about the risk of lactic acidosis in this patient, we were compelled to design an anesthetic plan that avoided propofol altogether without excessive use of volatile anesthetics. This proactive approach ensured the maintenance of consistent neuromonitoring signals and the patient's safety, especially given his underlying mitochondrial dysfunction. Our primary rationale in presenting this case report is to highlight the challenges posed by MELAS in the setting of extended surgery, with a focus on anesthetic considerations during neuromonitoring. For prolonged surgeries that typically rely heavily on intravenous anesthetics, which interfere less with neuromonitoring than volatile anesthetics, the use of propofol should be approached with caution in MELAS contexts due to its associated risk of lactic acidosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that described the anesthetic management of a patient with MELAS undergoing a procedure of such duration, requiring both somatosensory and motor evoked potential neuromonitoring. We believe our experiences will serve as a reference for anesthesiologists and perioperative teams faced with similar challenging clinical situations.


Effects of talker variability on vowel recognition in cochlear implants.
To investigate the effects of talker variability on vowel recognition by cochlear implant (CI) users and by normal-hearing (NH) participants listening to 4-channel acoustic CI simulations. CI users were tested with their clinically assigned speech processors. For NH participants, 3 CI processors were simulated, using different combinations of carrier type and temporal envelope cutoff frequency (noise band/160 Hz, sine wave/160 Hz, and sine wave/20 Hz). Vowel recognition was measured for 4 talkers, presented in either a single-talker context (1 talker per test block) or a multi-talker context (4 talkers per test block). CI users' vowel recognition was significantly poorer in the multi-talker context than in the single-talker context. When noise-band carriers were used in the simulations, NH performance was not significantly affected by talker variability. However, when sine-wave carriers were used in the simulations, NH performance was significantly affected by talker variability in both envelope filter conditions. Because fundamental frequency was not preserved by the 20-Hz envelope filter and only partially preserved by the 160-Hz envelope filter, both spectral and temporal cues contributed to the talker variability effects observed with sine-wave carriers. Similarly, spectral and temporal cues may have contributed to the talker variability effects observed with CI participants.


Recurrence of takotsubo cardiomyopathy: role of multi-detector computed tomography coronary angiography.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a clinical syndrome of transient left ventricular (LV) apical wall motion abnormality with relative preservation of the basal heart segments in the absence of any significant atherosclerosis. Recurrence of this condition is rare. We report a postmenopausal woman, who experienced two episodes of TCM within 4 months following emotional and physical stress. In the first episode, she was admitted due to severe dyspnea, accompanied by sudden-onset, prolonged, burning chest pain and palpitation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed akinesia of the LV, with the exception of the basal regions. Coronary angiography demonstrated no significant coronary artery disease, and follow-up echocardiography showed normalization of the LV wall motion abnormalities. In the second episode, she experienced similar symptoms and echocardiography revealed similar changes. Multi-detector computed tomography revealed normal coronary arteries. After 9 days, she was discharged in good condition; and at 3 months' follow-up, she was symptom-free with normal echocardiography.


Educator's blueprint: A primer on consensus methods in medical education research.
Consensus methods such as the Delphi and nominal group techniques are increasingly utilized within medical education research. This educator's blueprint paper provides practical strategies regarding five key steps for ensuring best practices when using consensus methods. These strategies include deciding which consensus method is best, developing the initial questionnaire, identifying the participants, determining the number of rounds and consensus threshold, and describing and justifying any modifications. These strategies will help guide education researchers on their next study using consensus methods.


Assessment of Tissue Perfusion Following Conventional Liposuction of Perforator-Based Abdominal Flaps.
The effect of liposuction on the perforators of the lower abdominal wall has been investigated in several studies. There are controversial results in the literature that have primarily demonstrated the number and patency of the perforators. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of liposuction on the perfusion of perforator-based abdominal flaps using a combined laser-Doppler spectrophotometer (O2C, Oxygen to See, LEA Medizintechnik). Nine female patients undergoing classical abdominoplasty were included in the study. Perforators and the perfusion zones of the deep inferior epigastric artery flap were marked on the patient's abdominal wall. Flap perfusion was quantitatively assessed by measuring blood flow, velocity, capillary oxygen saturation, and relative amount of hemoglobin for each zone preoperatively, after tumescent solution infiltration, following elevation of the flap on a single perforator, and after deep and superficial liposuction, respectively. The measurements taken after elevation of the flap were not significantly different than measurements taken after the liposuction procedures. The liposuction procedure does not significantly alter the perfusion of perforator-based abdominal flaps in the early period. The abdominal tissue discarded in a classic abdominoplasty operation can be raised as a perforator flap and has been demonstrated to be a unique model for clinical research.


Ocular thelaziasis in a 7-month-old infant.
Human thelaziasis is a zoonotic eye disease caused by a nematode parasite called Thelazia. In India, seven human cases of Thelazia have been reported earlier. This is the first case report of an infant infected with Thelazia. During the month of July, 2012, the infant was presented with an eye problem to the eye clinic from a village of Dibrugarh. Five worms (three female and two male) were recovered from the left eye of the infant. Thelazia infection is rare in infant, and report of this case is suggestive of prevalence of infection in the area and warrants further investigation.


Effects of diltiazem on lactate, ATP, and cytosolic free calcium levels in ischemic hearts.
Changes in tissue lactate, ATP, and cytosolic free calcium (Cai) were examined in isolated, perfused rat hearts receiving 20 min of zero-flow global ischemia (37 degrees C). Addition of diltiazem before ischemia caused a concentration-dependent decrease in lactate accumulation. This effect was not mediated by modulation of norepinephrine release since depletion of catecholamines by reserpine did not alter lactate accumulation, and diltiazem treatment reduced lactate accumulation in catecholamine-depleted hearts. Diltiazem-treated hearts showed a concentration-dependent decrease in tissue ATP utilization that was associated with the decrease in tissue lactate during ischemia. Basal time averaged Cai, determined by fluorine NMR using 5FBAPTA, was 620 nM. Diltiazem (0.9 microM) decreased this value to 489 nM and reduced heart rate and maximum pressure developed (81.3 and 53.9% of control, respectively) before ischemia. Cai increased fourfold between 9 and 15 min of ischemia in hearts receiving no drug, while there was no increase in Cai in diltiazem-treated hearts. These results show that diltiazem reduces the use of ATP and therefore production of lactate during ischemia, and indicate a relationship between preservation of ATP and maintenance of Cai that may be important in the beneficial effects of diltiazem during myocardial ischemia.


[A review of studies on visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders].
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. With the rapid development of computer vision, visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD has got more and more attention. This paper reviews the research on visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD. First, the core symptoms and clinical diagnostic criteria of ASD are introduced briefly. Secondly, according to clinical diagnostic criteria, the interaction scenes are classified and introduced. Then, the existing relevant datasets are discussed. Finally, we analyze and compare the advantages and disadvantages of visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis methods for ASD in different interactive scenarios. The challenges in this research field are summarized and the prospects of related research are presented to promote the clinical application of visual behavior analysis in ASD diagnosis.


[The pharmacodynamics of the new anti-arrhythmia preparation bonnecor in patients with extrasystoles].
The pharmacodynamics, antiarrhythmic activity and tolerance of bonnecor were studied in 25 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 23 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD) complicated by cardiac rhythm disorders in the form of extrasystoles. Extrasystoles were revealed in 92% of AMI patients at a single administration of bonnecor and in 82.5% of IHD patients at long-term oral administration of the drug. Bonnecor exerted no influence on arterial blood pressure and heart rate, did not change the parameters of the intracardiac hemodynamics. Bonnecor is well tolerated by patients, its main side effect is the prolongation of PQ interval of the ECG.


Synthesis of Pseudopterane Analogues by Intramolecular SE2' Cyclization.
Intramolecular Barbier-type additions of allylmetal intermediates derived from the allylic halides 13 and 14 and the allylic acetate 18 to aldehydes were examined as possible routes to pseudopterolide natural products. The halides cyclized upon treatment with SnCl2 or CrCl2 to afford a mixture of diastereomeric products 16a-d. In contrast, the acetate 18 afforded largely the 1,7-syn products 16a and 16b upon treatment with 5 mol % Pd(PPh3)4 and Et2Zn. When InI was employed in place of the Et2Zn, the syn,trans product 16a was formed exclusively. This intermediate was converted to the syn,cis- and syn,trans-butenolides 24 and 26. In the latter case, thermolysis of the tert-butyl ester at 210 °C followed by esterification with TMSCHN2 gave the methyl ester 35, an analogue of pseudopterolide.


Carbofunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes via Rhodium Catalysis Enabling Formations of Four Different Bonds.
Described here is the oxygenative carbofunctionalization of terminal alkynes mediated by combined rhodium catalysis that enables regioselective quadruple formation of C-C, C-H, C-O, and C-heteroatom bonds. Mechanistic studies suggest that a disubstituted rhodium vinylidene complex is generated upon C-C bond formation at the terminal alkyne with tethered electrophiles such as alkyl halides, aldehydes, imines, and Michael acceptors. Subsequent intermolecular transfer oxygenation of the rhodium vinylidene with pyridine N-oxide generates a rhodium-complexed ketene intermediate that reacts with a variety of heteroatom nucleophiles to give rise to cyclic carboxylic acid derivatives.


Interleukin-6 affects melphalan-induced DNA damage and repair in human multiple myeloma cells.
In addition to signaling proliferation, growth factors may contribute to the persistence of hematopoietic tumors upon chemotherapeutical challenge. In multiple myeloma, malignant growth is mediated either by paracrine interleukin-6 (IL-6) elaborated by bone marrow stromal cells or via autocrine loops by malignant myeloma cells themselves. Although melphalan is one of the most active drugs in this tumor entity, the development of drug resistance frequently impedes cure of patients by attenuating melphalan-induced DNA-damage. We analyzed whether IL-6 protects XG-1 cells and plasma cells of a patient suffering from end-stage multiple myeloma (plasma cell leukemia) from melphalan with respect to DNA damage and DNA repair. Investigating the housekeeping gene glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) by using a PCR-stop assay, we found that there was more DNA damage in the G6PD gene of IL-6 deprived XG-1 and the patient's plasma cells, respectively, than in those with IL-6 supplementation. After cessation of melphalan exposure and 24 hours post-incubation in melphalan-free medium, DNA repair was observed in the patient's plasma cells but not in XG-1 cells. There was more DNA repair with IL-6 addition than without IL-6 addition. Similarly, the apoptotic cell fractions, as measured by flow cytometry, were lower if IL-6 was added to the medium. These results indicate that IL-6 may contribute to drug resistance in multiple myeloma.


Triiodothyronine-induced cyst formation in metanephric organ culture: the role of increased Na-K-adenosine triphosphatase activity.
Previous organ culture investigations into the pathogenesis of renal cyst formation have demonstrated that glucocorticoid-induced proximal tubular cyst formation is associated with increases in renal sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) activity. To explore the relationship between cyst production and transport enzyme induction, we examined the effects of the potent inducer of Na-K-ATPase activity, L-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), on renal tubular morphologic and enzymatic development in murine metanephric organ culture. The addition of T3 (2 X 10(-8) mol/L) to completely characterized, serum-free growth medium produced striking proximal tubular cystic abnormalities. Frank cyst development was preceded by ultrastructural alterations consisting of basolateral intercellular spreading, which increased with progressive tubular dilation. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated no abnormalities of tubular cyst wall basal laminae, and immunohistologic staining with affinity-purified antibodies to the basal lamina glycoproteins fibronectin, laminin, and entactin, revealed no differences between cystic and control tissue. With use of an enzyme-linked kinetic microassay, T3-induced cystic organ culture explants (CY) showed significant increases in Na-K-ATPase when compared with controls from 72 to 120 hours of organ culture incubation. The initial differences in CY Na-K-ATPase occurred contemporaneously with the earliest ultrastructural evidence of cyst formation, and subsequent increases paralleled progressive tubular cyst formation. Tubular cyst formation in CY could be largely prevented by daily incubation of explants with ouabain, 0.2 mmol/L (final concentration) for 120 minutes without deleterious effects on overall metanephric development. We conclude that T3 induces proximal tubular cyst formation in metanephric organ culture, and that T3-induced increases in Na-K-ATPase have a primary role in the pathogenesis of tubular cyst formation in this model system.


Assessing covalency in equatorial U-N bonds: density based measures of bonding in BTP and isoamethyrin complexes of uranyl.
Calculations performed at the density functional level of theory have been used to investigate complexes of uranyl with the expanded porphyrin isoamethyrin and the bis-triazinyl-pyridine (BTP) ligands, the latter of which is well-known to be effective in the separation of trivalent lanthanides and actinides. Analysis has been performed using a range of density-based techniques, including the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), the Electron Localisation Function (ELF) and the reduced density gradient (RDG). The effects of peripheral alkyl substituents on UO2-isoamethyrin, known to be vital for proper replication of the experimental geometry, are considered. Evidence for comparable amounts of covalent character has been found in the largely ionic U-N bonds of UO2-isoamethyrin and [UO2(BTP)2](2+) and examination of the variation in the electronic characteristics of the uranyl unit upon complexation in both of these cases reveal striking similarities in the nature of the U-N bonding and the effect of this bonding on the U-Oyl interaction, as well as evidence of donation into the U-N bonding region from the uranyl unit itself.


Central vestibular syndrome in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with presumptive right caudal cerebral artery ischemic infarct and prevalent midbrain involvement.
A wild young male red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was found in the mountainous hinterland of Rome (Italy) with a heavily depressed mental status and unresponsive to the surrounding environment. Neurological examination revealed depression, left circling, right head tilt, ventromedial positional strabismus and decreased postural reactions on the left side. Neurological abnormalities were suggestive of central vestibular syndrome. Two consecutive MRIs performed with 30 days interval were compatible with lacunar ischemic infarct in the territory of right caudal cerebral artery and its collateral branches. The lesion epicentre was in the right periaqueductal portion of the rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological correlation between lesion localization and clinical presentation are discussed.


Alteration of antibody-mediated responses of suckling mice to T-cell-dependent and independent antigens by maternal marginal zinc deficiency: restoration of responsivity by nutritional repletion.
To further characterize the effects of marginal zinc deficiency on the development of the immune system of the suckling A/J mouse, dams were fed marginal (1.6 micrograms Zn/g), intake restricted (30 micrograms Zn/g) or adequate (30 micrograms Zn/g) levels of dietary zinc days 5-17 postpartum. Marginal levels of zinc had little effect on the body weight of dams; however, their pups were only 71-75% the weight of control pups. In response to two T-cell independent (TI) antigens pups of low zinc dams could produce only 49 and 44% as many antibody-producing cells per spleen as control pups. Pups of restricted-fed dams produced about 60% as many cells as controls for each TI antigen. The avidities of the plaques produced by pups of restricted and control dams in response to TI antigens were nearly the same but were 5.5 times higher than the relative avidities of the antibodies produced by pups of low zinc dams. The responses of the deficient pups to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a T-dependent (TD) antigen, were 25-30% of response of control and 56-75% of that of restricted pups depending on whether direct (IgM) or indirect (IgG) plaques were enumerated. The data demonstrate that marginal deficiencies in zinc during lactation greatly reduce the ability of suckling pups to mount antibody-mediated responses and suggest that the kinds of lymphocyte subsets found in deficient pups are altered. However, antibody-mediated response capacity was normal in the deficient pups following a short period of zinc supplementation.


Angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockade decreases brain artery inflammation in a stress-prone rat strain.
The spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are a genetically hypertensive strain with vulnerability to brain ischemia and stress. In SHR, the brain Angiotensin II (Ang II) system is chronically stimulated, resulting in brain artery remodeling and inflammation. Pretreatment with Ang II AT(1) receptor antagonists protects from brain ischemia and prevents the hormonal and sympathoadrenal response to stress. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of AT(1) receptor antagonists are partially responsible for preventing the development of stress-induced gastric ulcers. We asked whether AT(1) receptor antagonists could exert anti-inflammatory effects in the brain vasculature as a mechanism for their protective effects against ischemia. As determined by immunohistochemistry, long-term inhibition of brain AT(1) receptors by peripheral administration of the AT(1) receptor antagonist candesartan (0.3 mg/kg/day for 28 days) normalized the pathologic remodeling, decreased expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and the number of associated macrophages, and normalized the endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in cerebral vessels of SHR. The anti-inflammatory effects of AT(1) receptor antagonists may be an important mechanism for protection against ischemia and could participate in the anti-stress properties of this class of compounds.


Transient population dynamics in periodic matrix models: methodology and effects of cyclic permutations.
Many biological populations are subject to periodically changing environments such as years with or without fire, or rotation of crop types. The dynamics and management options for such populations are frequently investigated using periodic matrix models. However the analysis is usually limited to long-term results (asymptotic population growth rate and its sensitivity to perturbations of vital rates). In non-periodic matrix models it has been shown that long-term results may be misleading as populations are rarely in their stable structure. We therefore develop methods to analyze transient dynamics of periodic matrix models. In particular, we show how to calculate the effects of perturbations on population size within and at the end of environmental cycles. Using a model of a weed population subject to a crop rotation, we show that different cyclic permutations produce different patterns of sensitivity of population size and different population sizes. By examining how the starting environment interacts with the initial conditions, we explain how different patterns arise. Such understanding is critical to developing effective management and monitoring strategies for populations subject to periodically recurring environments.


Effectiveness of a Double-Carbapenem Regimen in a KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient.
The progressive increase of infections produced by extensively drug-resistant carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (XDR-CPKP) represents an important threat to public health. Unfortunately, optimal therapeutic options are scarce. Retrospective studies have recommended combined therapy with more than one antibiotic and, more recently, a double-carbapenem regimen has been reported to be an effective alternative therapy. Here, we describe an episode of sepsis in an immunocompromised patient after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, caused by an XDR-CPKP. Several in vitro synergy tests revealed a synergistic effect combining ertapenem and meropenem, which were used as combination therapy achieving clinical and microbiological success.


Design, Fabrication and Testing of a High-Sensitive Fibre Sensor for Tip Clearance Measurements.
A highly sensitive fibre bundle-based reflective optical sensor has been designed and fabricated for Tip Clearance measurements in a turbine rig. The sensor offers high spatial and temporal resolution. The sensor probe consists of a single-mode transmitting fibre and two concentric rings of receiving multimode fibres that collect reflected light in a differential detection gain configuration, yielding a highly linear calibration curve for distance measurements. The clearance measurement range is approximately 2 mm around the central point fixed at 3.2 mm from the probe tip, and the sensitivity of the probe is 61.73 mm-1. The fibre bundle has been designed to ensure that the distance security specifications required for the experimental program of the turbine are met. The optical sensor has operated under demanding conditions set by the blade and casing design. The experimental results obtained so far are promising and lead us to think that the optical sensor has great potential for online clearance measurements with high precision.


Joint estimation of binaural distance and azimuth by exploiting deep neural networks.
The state-of-the-art supervised binaural distance estimation methods often use binaural features that are related to both the distance and the azimuth, and thus the distance estimation accuracy may degrade a great deal with fluctuant azimuth. To incorporate the azimuth on estimating the distance, this paper proposes a supervised method to jointly estimate the azimuth and the distance of binaural signals based on deep neural networks (DNNs). In this method, the subband binaural features, including many statistical properties of several subband binaural features and the binaural spectral magnitude difference standard deviation, are extracted together as cues to jointly estimate the azimuth and the distance using binaural signals by exploiting a multi-objective DNN framework. Especially, both the azimuth and the distance cues are utilized in the learning stage of the error back-propagation in the multi-objective DNN framework, which can improve the generalization ability of the azimuth and the distance estimation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can not only achieve high azimuth estimation accuracy but can also effectively improve the distance estimation accuracy when compared with several state-of-the-art supervised binaural distance estimation methods.


Combining natriuretic peptides and necrosis markers in determining prognosis in heart failure.
Despite significant advances in medical therapy, patients with heart failure remain at increased risk of overall mortality, progressive ventricular dysfunction, and sudden cardiac death. Although a number of individual clinical and laboratory variables have been identified as being associated with increased mortality risk in heart failure, there remains a clear need for an integrated, accurate method of determining prognosis. Elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been demonstrated to be a powerful marker for prognosis and risk stratification in the setting of heart failure. Patients with elevated BNP levels have been shown to be at significantly higher risk for heart failure admission or death, and higher BNP levels are associated with progressively worse prognosis. Although cardiac troponins are a well-established diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute coronary syndromes, emerging data suggest that cardiac troponins also provide independent prognostic information in heart failure. Detection of cardiac troponins in the serum of patients with heart failure has been shown to be associated with an impaired hemodynamic profile, progressive decline in left ventricular systolic function, and shortened survival. Combining a marker of myocyte injury-cardiac troponin-with BNP in a multimarker strategy appears to be a useful tool for improving risk assessment and triage in patients with heart failure. Heart failure patients with detectable cardiac troponin I and high BNP levels have been shown to have a 12-fold increased mortality risk compared with those with both undetectable cardiac troponin I and lower BNP. Integrating this multimarker approach into the routine assessment of heart failure patients will allow clinicians to more accurately identify high-risk patients who may derive increased benefit from intensive management strategies.


All-optical subpicosecond magnetic switching in NiO(001).
Combining optical control theory with ab initio quantum chemistry and electronic crystal field theory we explore the laser induced femtosecond spin dynamics. We propose a scenario for ultrafast all-optical magnetic switching that results from the combination of spin-orbit coupling with appropriately shaped short laser pulses. We find that the application of the theory to the multiplet states within the gap of NiO(001) predicts for the first time the possibility of all-optical spin switching within 100 fs. The switching can be observed using any of the multiplets as the intermediate state.


Which Biological Properties of Heart Valves Are Relevant to Tissue Engineering?
Over the last 20 years, the designs of tissue engineered heart valves have evolved considerably. An initial focus on replicating the mechanical and structural features of semilunar valves has expanded to endeavors to mimic the biological behavior of heart valve cells as well. Studies on the biology of heart valves have shown that the function and durability of native valves is underpinned by complex interactions between the valve cells, the extracellular matrix, and the mechanical environment in which heart valves function. The ability of valve interstitial cells to synthesize extracellular matrix proteins and remodeling enzymes and the protective mediators released by endothelial cells are key factors in the homeostasis of valve function. The extracellular matrix provides the mechanical strength and flexibility required for the valve to function, as well as communicating with the cells that are bound within. There are a number of regulatory mechanisms that influence valve function, which include neuronal mechanisms and the tight regulation of growth and angiogenic factors. Together, studies into valve biology have provided a blueprint for what a tissue engineered valve would need to be capable of, in order to truly match the function of the native valve. This review addresses the biological functions of heart valve cells, in addition to the influence of the cells' environment on this behavior and examines how well these functions are addressed within the current strategies for tissue engineering heart valves in vitro, in vivo, and in situ.


A Nautilus kidney.
We report a 71-year-old woman who presented with unilateral flank pain and sepsis. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated left-sided hydronephrosis. Subsequent percutaneous nephrotomy drainage showed pus-like material, confirming the diagnosis of pyonephrosis. The ureteral stricture was caused by previous radiation injury for cervical cancer in this ESRD patient who was on chronic dialysis for years. In our case, the grade IVB hydronephrosis is a result of an extremely atrophic kidney, pyonephrosis, and ureteral stricture. The CT section of pyonephrosis in an extremely atrophic kidney resembles a sagittal section of a Nautilus shell, as the shell corresponds to the diffusely thinned renal cortex.


Comparative analysis of quantitative phosphoproteomics between two tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis aureus) under low-temperature stress.
As an important farmed fish, tilapia has poor tolerance to low-temperatures. At the same time, different tilapia strains have apparent differences in low-temperature tolerance. In this study, using the iTRAQ method, the phosphorylated proteomics of two tilapia strains (Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis aureus) with different tolerances to low-temperature stress were quantitatively and comparatively analyzed, to clarify the physiological mechanism of tilapia's response to low-temperature stress. Through the GO and IPR analyses of differentially phosphorylated proteins, a number of similarities in physiological activities and regulatory effects were found between the two tilapias in response to low-temperature stress. Many differentially phosphorylated proteins are mainly involved in lipid metabolism, cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the difference in endurance of low temperature of these two tilapias might be related to the differences in categories, expression and modification level of genetic products which were involved in the aforementioned physiological processes. And meanwhile, the enrichment results of KEGG showed the changes of multiple immune-related and growth-related phosphorylated proteins in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway in O. aureus are more prominent. Furthermore, the significantly enriched pathway of carbohydrate digestion and absorption in O. niloticus may indicate that low-temperature stress exerts a more severe impact on energy metabolism. The relative results would help elucidating the molecular mechanism by which tilapia responds to low-temperature stress, and developing culture of tilapia species.


Detection of hepatitis B viral DNA in sera positive for antibody to delta antigen.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was detected in 17 sera positive for antibody to delta antigen (anti-delta). Six sera from two patients were positive for HBV DNA. Analysis by the Southern blot technique showed identity between HBV DNA in anti-delta-positive and anti-delta-negative sera. These results show that anti-delta-positive sera contain HBV DNA, although these sera were also positive for antibodies to hepatitis B e antigen.


Neonatal septicemia caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.
We report our experience with coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection over a period of 1 year. The incidence of coagulase-negative staphylococcus septicemia was 4.25% (13 newborn infants) of the 306 admissions to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Ten patients (76.9%) were premature infants. Four infants in our series were less than 48 h of age. Two of these were presumably born with the infection. Six infants had involvement of the lungs. The strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from all cases of neonatal septicemia were sensitive to cephalothin, but were considerably less sensitive to the currently used antibiotic combinations. Our observations indicate that coagulase-negative staphylococci must be suspected in early or late neonatal sepsis, and that early antibiotic treatment by cephalothin may prevent morbidity.


Humoral immunologic responses in idiopathic juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis).
Humoral responses were examined in idiopathic juvenile periodontitis (IJP) including antibody titers to representative strains of the five groups of periodontosis-associated bacteria. Titers as determined by indirect immunofluorescence were compared in IJP, non-IJP family members, periodontitis and periodontally healthy subjects. Serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE were also assayed. Antibody titers to the periodontosis-associated bacteria were generally low. Some disease specificity was observed in that titers to Groups II and III bacteria were highest in IJP. These titers in IJP were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than in the other subjects. Titers to Group I bacteria were similar in all periodontal groups except the periodontally healthy subjects where titers were the lowest. Titers to Group I bacteria were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than in the periodontally healthy subjects. Titers to Groups IV and V were uniformly low in all periodontal groups. Immunoglobulin concentrations of IgA, IgM and IGE were similar in IJP and non-IJP. The IgG concentrations in IJP, while within the normal range were significantly higher in IJP compared to non-IJP family members.


Identification of two normal bcr gene products in the cytoplasm.
A monoclonal antibody (7C6) has been derived against a synthetic bcr peptide and used to study normal bcr gene products. The expression of a bcr phosphoprotein of 130 kd was demonstrated, in addition to the previously identified bcr phosphoprotein of 160 kd. Sequential immunoprecipitation demonstrated that both p160 and p130 had determinants from two separate regions of the putative bcr translated sequence. The synthesis of bcr products in Philadelphia positive and negative cells was examined by metabolic labelling and it was shown that the rate of synthesis of the p210 bcr-abl product was comparable with that of the normal bcr products. The in vivo phosphorylation of the p160 exceeded that of the p130 and both normal products were unaffected by the increased phosphorylation of the p210 bcr-abl. There was no evidence with the 7C6 antibody of any normal bcr products larger than 160 kilodaltons. Immunofluorescence analysis by conventional and confocal microscopy identified normal bcr products as cytoplasmic proteins with relatively high expression in the myeloid cell line KGl.


Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction of granulosa cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading causes of anovulatory infertility in women, affecting 5%-15% of women of reproductive age worldwide. The clinical manifestations of patients include ovulation disorders, amenorrhea, hirsutism, and obesity. Life-threatening diseases, such as endometrial cancer, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, can be distant complications of PCOS. PCOS has diverse etiologies and oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role. Mitochondria, as the core organelles of energy production, are the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The process of follicular growth and development is extremely complex, and the granulosa cells (GCs) are inextricably linked to follicular development. The abnormal function of GCs may directly affect follicular development and alter many symptoms of PCOS. Significantly higher levels of OS markers and abnormal mitochondrial function in GCs have been found in patients with PCOS compared to healthy subjects, suggesting that increased OS is associated with PCOS progression. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize and discuss the findings suggesting that OS and mitochondrial dysfunction in GCs impair ovarian function and induce PCOS.


Hydrogen Evolution Enhancement over a Cobalt-Based Schottky Interface.
A proof-of-concept strategy for significant enhancement of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of transition metals via construction of a metal/semiconductor Schottky junction is presented. The decoration of low-cost commercial TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of microscale Co dendrites causes a significant charge transfer across the Co/TiO2 Schottky interface and enhances the local electron density at the Co surface, confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results and density functional theory calculations. The Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst displays superior HER activity with a turnover frequency of 0.052 s-1 and an exchange current density of 79 μA cm-2, which are about 4.3 and 4.0 times greater than that of pristine Co, respectively. Moreover, the Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst displays excellent electrochemical durability for long-term operation in both alkaline solution and high saline solution. Theoretical calculations suggest that the Schottky junction plays an important role to optimize hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH*) by tuning the electronic structure, which enhances the performance for HER of the Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst. This study of modulating the electronic structure of the catalysts via the Schottky junction could provide valuable insights for designing and synthesizing low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts.


Amplification and deregulation of MYC following Epstein-Barr virus infection of a human B-cell line.
In Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) the role of EBV in the translocation and deregulation of the MYC oncogene remains unknown. By utilizing an EBV-negative BL (BJAB) and several EBV-positive sublines derived from it by in vitro infection, it was possible to show that the presence of the virus was associated with altered expression and copy number of MYC. In the EBV-negative BJAB line, the level of MYC transcripts declined progressively as cells approached the stationary phase of growth. In contrast, in EBV-infected BJAB cells MYC expression remained elevated as cells entered stationary phase. This effect on MYC expression was reversibly linked to the presence of the virus. Furthermore, following EBV infection of BJAB cells by two different strains of EBV, amplification of MYC in association with the appearance of a homogeneously staining region on chromosome 8 at the mapped location of MYC had occurred. These studies suggest that both the deregulation of MYC transcription and the chromosomal rearrangement in the region of the MYC locus in this B-cell line may have occurred as a result of EBV infection.