Independent and joint associations between multiple measures of the built and social environment and physical activity in a multi-ethnic urban community.
Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of a number of health outcomes, yet fewer than half of adults in the United States report recommended levels of physical activity. Analyses of structural characteristics of the built environment as correlates of physical activity have yielded mixed results. We examine associations between multiple aspects of urban neighborhood environments and physical activity in order to understand their independent and joint effects, with a focus on the extent to which the condition of the built environment and indicators of the social environment modify associations between structural characteristics and physical activity. We use data from a stratified, multi-stage proportional probability sample of 919 non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic adults in an urban community, observational data from their residential neighborhoods, and census data to examine independent and joint associations of structural characteristics (e.g., street network connectivity), their condition (e.g., sidewalk condition), and social environments (e.g., territoriality) with physical activity. Our findings suggest that sidewalk condition is associated with physical activity, above and beyond structural characteristics of the built environment. Associations between some structural characteristics of the built environment and physical activity were conditional upon street condition, physical deterioration, and the proportion of parks and playgrounds in good condition. We found modest support for the hypothesis that associations between structural characteristics and physical activity are modified by aspects of the social environment. Results presented here point to the value of and need for understanding and addressing the complexity of factors that contribute to the relationships between the built and social environments and physical activity, and in turn, obesity and co-morbidities. Bringing together urban planners, public health practitioners and policy makers to understand and address aspects of urban environment associated with health outcomes is critical to promoting health and health equity.


Dynamics of lipid droplet-associated proteins during hormonally stimulated lipolysis in engineered adipocytes: stabilization and lipid droplet binding of adipocyte differentiation-related protein/adipophilin.
In mature adipocytes, triglyceride is stored within lipid droplets, which are coated with the protein perilipin, which functions to regulate lipolysis by controlling lipase access to the droplet in a hormone-regulatable fashion. Adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP) is a widely expressed lipid droplet binding protein that is coexpressed with perilipin in differentiating fat cells but is minimally present in fully differentiated cultured adipocytes. We find that fibroblasts ectopically expressing C/EBPalpha (NIH-C/EBPalpha cells) differentiate into mature adipocytes that simultaneously express perilipin and ADRP. In response to isoproterenol, perilipin is hyperphosphorylated, lipolysis is enhanced, and subsequently, ADRP expression increases coincident with it surrounding intracellular lipid droplets. In the absence of lipolytic stimulation, inhibition of proteasomal activity with MG-132 increased ADRP levels to those of cells treated with 10 mum isoproterenol, but ADRP does not surround the lipid droplet in the absence of lipolytic stimulation. We overexpressed a perilipin A construct in NIH-C/EBPalpha cells where the six serine residues known to be phosphorylated by protein kinase A were changed to alanine (Peri A Delta1-6). These cells show no increase in ADRP expression in response to isoproterenol. We propose that ADRP can replace perilipin on existing lipid droplets or those newly formed as a result of fatty acid reesterification, under dynamic conditions of hormonally stimulated lipolysis, thus preserving lipid droplet morphology/structure.


Optimising medication management in children and young people with ADHD using a computerised test (QbTest): a feasibility randomised controlled trial.
Medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be closely monitored to ensure optimisation. There is growing interest in using computerised assessments of ADHD symptoms to support medication monitoring. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of one such computerised assessment, the Quantified Behavior (Qb) Test, as part of medication management for ADHD. This feasibility multi-site RCT conducted in child and adolescent mental health and community paediatric settings recruited participants aged 6-15 years diagnosed with ADHD starting stimulant medication. Participants were randomised into one of two arms: experimental (QbTest protocol) where participants completed a QbTest at baseline and two follow-up QbTests on medication (2-4 weeks and 8-10 weeks later) and control where participants received treatment as usual, including at least two follow-up consultations. Measures of parent, teacher, and clinician-rated symptoms and global functioning were completed at each time point. Clinicians recorded treatment decision-making and health economic measures were obtained. Data were analysed using multi-level modelling and participants (children and parents) and clinicians were interviewed about their experiences, resulting data were thematically analysed. Forty-four children and young people were randomised. Completion of study outcome measures by care-givers and teachers ranged from 52 to 78% at baseline to 47-65% at follow-up. Participants reported the questionnaires to be useful to complete. SNAP-IV inattention scores showed greater reduction in the intervention than the control group (- 5.85, 95% CI - 10.33, - 1.36,). Engagement with the intervention ranged from 100% at baseline, to 78% follow-up 1 and 57% follow-up 2. However, only 37% of QbTests were conducted in the correct time period. Interview data highlighted that the objectivity of the QbTest was appreciated by clinicians and parents. Clinicians commented that the additional time and resources required meant that it is not feasible to use QbTest for all cases. The trial design and protocol appear to be feasible and acceptable but could be improved by modifying QbTest time periods and the method of data collection. With these changes, the protocol may be appropriate for a full trial. Adding QbTest may improve symptom outcome as measured by SNAP-IV. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03368573 , prospectively registered, 11th December 2017, and ISRCTN, ISRCTN69461593 , retrospectively registered, 10th April 2018.


Effects of Hydrastis Canadensis, Commiphora Habessinica, Phytolacca Americana, and Echinacea Purpurea on Bacterial Growth.
With the rise of antibiotic resistance, new strategies are needed to treat minor bacterial infections so that conventional antibiotics may be reserved for more serious conditions. One herbal formula, known as the HMPE formula, is often prescribed for minor infections. It includes Hydrastis canadensis (H. canadensis), Commiphora habessinica (C. habessinica), Phytolacca americana (P. americana), and Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea). These herbs offer promise as treatments that may inhibit bacterial growth and stimulate the immune system. To investigate the antibacterial effects of the HMPE formula and its constituent herbs against two organisms, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The research team performed an in-vitro study. The study occurred at the Helfgott Research Institute at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, USA. The study tested HMPE and each of its ingredients alone for antibacterial properties. The outcome measure was a disc diffusion assay. Sterile paper discs were impregnated with 15 µl of E. purpurea, H. canadensis, C. habessinica , or P. americana as herbal tinctures; with the complete HMPE formula; or with 65% ethanol as the negative control, and dried at room temperature for 40 minutes. Commercially prepared 10 µg ampicillin discs were used as a positive control. H. Canadensis and, to a lesser extent, the complete HMPE formula significantly inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, but not the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. C. habessinica, P. americana, and E. purpurea alone did not inhibit growth of either bacterial strain. The results demonstrated that H. canadensis had antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis, but the HMPE formula was not active against S. epidermidis, when a zone of inhibition threshold of 12 millimeters (mm) was used to determine antibiotic activity. Because the HMPE formula was shown to be less effective than H. canadensis alone, the formula might benefit from an increased percentage of H. canadensis.


Fabrication of a 3D Printing Definitive Obturator Prosthesis: a Clinical Report.
Digital technologies related to imaging and manufacturing provide the clinician with a wide variety of treatment options. Stereolithography (SLA) offers a simple and predictable way for an accurate reconstruction of congenital or acquired defects. A 65-years old cancer patient with non- keratinized squamous cell carcinoma of left maxillary sinus came for a prosthetic clinical evaluation. A bilateral maxillectomy was performed and the treatment plan included definite obturator prosthesis for the upper arch. CT data and 3D planning software were used to create a 3D printing plastic model of the defect. A wax pattern of the hollow bulb was fabricated and cured with heat-cured silicone soft liner. A final impression was obtained with the hollow bulb placed intraorally. The master cast was duplicated and the new cast was invested and reflasked. The flasks were opened, wax was boiled out and some space was created in the internal part of the obturator. Transparent heat cured acrylic resin was sandwiched with, at the inner part of the bulb, improving the retention between the acrylic denture base and the silicone based soft lining material. The patient was then placed on a 6-month recall. The five-year follow up consists of a chair side relining, when needed, of the definite removable prostheses. Maxillofacial surgery patients may develop postoperative complications such as trismus and pain. In these cases, the combination of digital technology and conventional techniques provide an accurate prosthetic restoration.


Production, inhibitory activity, folding and conformational analysis of an N-terminal and an internal deletion variant of chicken cystatin.
Two deletion variants of chicken cystatin were produced after cassette mutagenesis of the recombinant Arg-Glu-Phe-[Met1, Ile29, Leu89]-chicken egg white cystatin gene in Escherichia coli. The variant des-Ser1-Pro11-[Ala12, Glu13, Phe14, Met15, Ile29, Leu89]-chicken cystatin (N-del 2) and the variant Arg-Glu-Phe-[Met1, Ile29]-des-Cys71-Met89-chicken cystatin (del-helix II) were purified and characterized by inhibition kinetics, far-ultraviolet-CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, and their folding in guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn/HCl) was studied. The del-helix II variant, shortened by 19 amino acids, is a basic, stefin-like mini-cystatin with one disulfide bridge. Its inhibitory properties are identical to chicken cystatin and its stability against Gdn/HCl is similar. The folding of the del-helix II variant corresponds best to a single step process. In contrast to this, the reversible folding of natural and recombinant chicken cystatin is more complex when recorded by either tryptophan fluorescence or far-ultraviolet-CD. With increasing Gdn/HCl concentration, a stabilization of secondary-structural elements is initially observed, followed by unfolding with minor but distinct intermediate states. The N-del 2 variant has a neutral pI and shows folding behaviour very similar to natural and recombinant chicken cystatin. However its inhibition constants with papain, actinidin and cathepsin B and L are 1000-100,000-fold higher than those obtained with natural and recombinant chicken cystatin.


Characterization of disulfide bonds in recombinant proteins: reduced human interleukin 2 in inclusion bodies and its oxidative refolding.
Cloned cDNA of human interleukin 2 (IL-2) was expressed in Escherichia coli cells in which IL-2 formed insoluble inclusion bodies. Human IL-2 has three Cys residues, namely, Cys-58, Cys-105, and Cys-125, and native IL-2 has an intramolecular disulfide bond between Cys-58 and Cys-105. Since the formation of inclusion bodies was thought to be due to disorder in the oxidation state of these Cys residues, all intramolecular disulfide bond isomers of IL-2 were prepared by denaturation of native IL-2 to characterize the state of a disulfide bond in IL-2 in the inclusion bodies. These isomers can be separated from native IL-2, reduced IL-2, and IL-2's with intermolecular disulfide bonds by means of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Human IL-2 produced in inclusion bodies in E. coli carrying a recombinant DNA was analyzed by HPLC and was proved to be a fully reduced form with no intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds. Refolding of reduced IL-2 in the presence of reduced and oxidized glutathione and a low concentration of guanidine hydrochloride resulted in the formation of the biologically active IL-2 quantitatively. Further purification provided a practically pure IL-2 preparation without contamination of any disulfide bond isomers.


Thrombocompatibility of thin dielectric carbon film dependence on electron work function of metallic substrate material.
We demonstrate here for the first time the relationship between electron work function of metallic substrate material, used for coating with thin dielectric carbon (DC) film, and surface thrombocompatybility of this structure. Thin dielectric layers of DC, with thickness below 1 microm, were deposited on medical steel 316L, titanium alloy Ti6Al4V and titanium nitride (TiN) using the RFCVD method. The values of the DC coated metallic electrode potential in water and in serum and the number of adhered blood platelets to the DC coated metals depended on the electron work function (phiM) of the metallic substrate. As the phiM increased, the electrode potentials increased, whereas the number of adhered blood platelets decreased. This effect permits controlling the interaction between blood and the thin DC films by selecting an appropriate metallic substrate.


A preliminary study of the relation between trauma symptoms and emerging BPD in adolescent inpatients.
The relation between trauma and borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been studied in great detail with adults, but few studies have examined this link in adolescents. Furthermore, virtually nothing is known about how different aspects of trauma relate to BPD and whether trauma symptoms reflect actual trauma history in adolescents diagnosed with BPD. Using a sample of 147 adolescent psychiatric inpatients, the authors examined the concurrent link between trauma symptoms, trauma history, and BPD. Findings suggest that adolescents with BPD are more likely than their non-BPD counterparts to have a history of sexual trauma and to report sexual concerns. However, the link between BPD and sexual concerns is not completely explained by increased sexual trauma history in the BPD group, indicating that there is some relation between BPD and sexual concerns independent of trauma history. These findings are discussed within an attachment framework. The preliminary nature of this study is noted and used as the basis for encouraging future research in the area.


Modelling West Nile virus transmission risk in Europe: effect of temperature and mosquito biotypes on the basic reproduction number.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has caused repeated outbreaks in humans in southern and central Europe, but thus far not in northern Europe. The main mosquito vector for WNV, Culex pipiens, consists of two behaviourally distinct biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Differences between biotypes, such as vector competence and host preference, could be important in determining the risk of WNV outbreaks. Risks for WNV establishment can be modelled with basic reproduction number (R 0) models. However, existing R 0 models have not differentiated between biotypes. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the role of temperature-dependent and biotype-specific effects on the risk of WNV establishment in Europe. We developed an R 0 model with temperature-dependent and biotype-specific parameters, and calculated R 0 values using the next-generation matrix for several scenarios relevant for Europe. In addition, elasticity analysis was done to investigate the contribution of each biotype to R 0. Global warming and increased mosquito-to-host ratios can possibly result in more intense WNV circulation in birds and spill-over to humans in northern Europe. Different contributions of the Cx. pipiens biotypes to R 0 shows the importance of including biotype-specific parameters in models for reliable WNV risk assessments.


Psychological distress in high-risk youth with asthma.
To examine the relationship between asthma and psychological distress among adolescents already at-risk for adjustment problems secondary to lower economic strata and educational or vocational failure. Twenty-five high-risk adolescents with asthma and 25 high-risk controls without asthma 16 to 21 years old completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Adolescents with asthma had significantly higher scores on multiple measures of psychological distress. Specifically, adolescents with asthma evidenced higher levels of anxiety, depression, and global psychological distress than those without asthma. High-risk adolescents with asthma may be more likely to experience psychological distress than those without asthma. Our findings suggest that asthma constitutes an additional significant independent stressor or risk factor among adolescents who already are at high risk for multiple adjustment problems.


Clinical and pathophysiological consequences of alterations in the microbiome in cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Exponential rises in prevalence have been observed secondary to increases in obesity and alcohol consumption. Multiple lines of evidence implicate gut-derived bacteria and bacterial ligands as a central driver of pathogenesis. Recent developments in culture-independent techniques have facilitated a more accurate description of microbiome composition in cirrhosis and led to the description of measures of dysbiosis shown to be associated with disease. More importantly, metagenomic studies are adding to an understanding of the functional contribution of the microbiota and may prove to be a more clinically relevant biomarker than phylogenetic studies. Much like other dysbiotic states such as inflammatory bowel disease, the microbiota in cirrhosis is characterized by a low microbial and genetic diversity. Therapeutic strategies to diminish this process are currently limited to selective intestinal decontamination with antibiotics. This review summarizes the available data and develops a framework for the use of current and future treatment strategies to diminish the consequences of dysbiosis in cirrhosis. Interventional strategies to bind bacterial products in the gut lumen and blood, and modulate the magnitude of host sensing mechanisms remain an unmet clinical need. A greater understanding of the host-microbiota interaction in cirrhosis is of key importance to inform future interventional strategies to diminish the currently escalating burden of the disease.


Identification and characterization of polyadenylation signal (PAS) variants in human genomic sequences based on modified EST clustering.
A large-scale analysis of human polyadenylation signals was carried out in silico. The most canonical AAUAAA hexamer and its 11 single-nucleotide variants that are most frequent in human genes were used to search for polyadenylation signals in the terminal sequences. Out of 18,277 poly(A) sites that were identified from 26,414 human genes, 82.5% of the sites were found to contain at least one of these 12 hexamers as a polyadenylation signal within 40 nucleotides upstream of the poly(A) site. The rest (17.5%) did not contain any of these hexamers, which suggests the existence of yet unknown signals. A total of 20,347 terminal sequences in close proximity to 12 polyadenylation signals were collected using modified EST clustering technique to establish a large-scale database of polyadenylation signals. To characterize the 12 hexamers, the locations of polyadenylation signals that were identified as "authentic" and the uracil contents of the downstream region of the signal were examined. Based on this analysis, the 11 variants of the canonical AAUAAA were identified as possibly forming "functional" signals as AAUAAA. Moreover, the observed frequency of 41.9% for AAUAAA was significantly lower than those of other reports, suggesting that the non-canonical variants are more important in the polyadenylation process than frequently recognized. Since the poly(A) sites processed by those non-canonical variants have not been generally annotated in major gene databases, it is important to determine whether the variant hexamers could work as polyadenylation signals that may be responsible for generating heterogeneity of mRNAs by alternative polyadenylation.


Publicly funded clinical research in Canada.
Clinical research is funded by industry, governments, charities, and hospitals. It is important to know the economic commitment of the various funding bodies, but until now there has been no national source available which provides these data. We surveyed the major funders to provide such a measure. There is evidence that government and charity funding of medical research is a trigger for private sector research investment; therefore, tracking all sources of funding for clinical research will provide policy-makers with an overall picture of health research funding. These data support policy decision-making related to clinical research in Canada.


[Spatial/temporal analysis of the incidence of certain cancers by sites in Quebec: 1984-1986 and 1989-1991].
Basing our views on recent works of an Ontarian research group, we analyze the profiles of incidence of the main types of cancers observed in the province of Québec for the periods 1984-1986 and 1989-1991. Using the Québec Tumors Registry, we have calculated standardized incidence rates according to sex for each of the 32 departments of community health in the province. A geographical analysis of cancers was conducted via two methods of spatial autocorrelation (SA). Many cancer sites (i.e., breast, lung, stomach) show a positive SA (p < 0.05), indicating an aggregation of cases. Several aggregation schemes observed in Québec resemble those observed in Ontario. In women, the highest incidence rate increases are in leukemia and lung cancer; in men, prostate cancer and leukemia show the highest increase of rates (p < 0.01). The consistency of our observations with those of the Ontario group is discussed.


Chemokines in CNS injury and repair.
Recruitment of inflammatory cells is known to drive the secondary damage cascades that are common to injuries of the central nervous system (CNS). Cell activation and infiltration to the injury site is orchestrated by changes in the expression of chemokines, the chemoattractive cytokines. Reducing the numbers of recruited inflammatory cells by the blocking of the action of chemokines has turned out be a promising approach to diminish neuroinflammation and to improve tissue preservation and neovascularization. In addition, several chemokines have been shown to be essential for stem/progenitor cell attraction, their survival, differentiation and cytokine production. Thus, chemokines might indirectly participate in remyelination, neovascularization and neuroprotection, which are important prerequisites for CNS repair after trauma. Moreover, CXCL12 promotes neurite outgrowth in the presence of growth inhibitory CNS myelin and enhances axonal sprouting after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we review current knowledge about the exciting functions of chemokines in CNS trauma, including SCI, traumatic brain injury and stroke. We identify common principles of chemokine action and discuss the potentials and challenges of therapeutic interventions with chemokines.


Real-time social support through a mobile virtual community to improve healthy behavior in overweight and sedentary adults: a focus group analysis.
The onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes. Communication technologies such as a mobile phone can be used as a means of delivering these lifestyle changes. The purposes of this analysis were to explore applicability of potential components of a mobile phone-based healthy lifestyle program and to understand motivators and barriers to continued engagement in a mobile phone healthy lifestyle program. We conducted 6 focus groups (4 female and 2 male groups) in May and June 2010 with 35 focus group participants. The qualitative data were analyzed by 3 researchers using a qualitative description method in an ATLAS.ti software program. Inclusion criteria for enrollment in a focus group were as follows: (1) being aged from 30 to 69 years, (2) speaking and reading English, (3) having a sedentary lifestyle at work or during leisure time (screened by the Brief Physical Activity Survey questionnaire), and (4) having a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m(2) (Asian >23 kg/m(2)) based on self-reported weight and height or 5) having a self-reported prediabetic condition. The mean age was 51 (SD 10.6) years; 54% (n = 19) were white; 71% (n = 25) used a mobile phone at least once a week during the last month prior to the study enrollment; and mean BMI was 32.5 (SD 6.5) kg/m(2). In the qualitative analyses, the following 4 major themes and their subthemes emerged: (1) real-time social support (real-time peer support from participants who are similarly engaged in a diet or physical activity program, and professional support from health care providers or a researcher), (2) tailoring of mobile phone programs (3) self-monitoring and motivation, and (4) potential barriers and sustainability of the program (fear of failing, age and mobile technologies, and loss of interest over time). Participants from a wide range of age and racial groups expressed interest in a mobile phone-based lifestyle program. Such a program that incorporates the themes that we identified may be able to help motivate participants to increase their physical activity and to improve their diet.


Cardiovascular effects of fine particulate matter components in highway patrol officers.
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from traffic affects heart-rate variability, thrombosis, and inflammation. This reanalysis investigated components potentially contributing to such effects in nonsmoking healthy male North Carolina highway patrol troopers. Nine officers were studied four times during their late shift. PM2.5, its elemental composition, and gaseous copollutants were measured inside patrol cars. Components correlated to PM2.5 were compared to cardiac and blood parameters measured 10 and 15 h, respectively, after each shift. Mixed effects models with control for PM2.5 were used. Components that were associated with health endpoints independently from PM2.5 were calcium (increased uric acid and von Willebrand Factor [vWF], decreased protein C), chromium (increased white blood cell count and interleukin 6), aldehydes (increased vWF, mean cycle length of normal R-R intervals [MCL], and heart-rate variability parameter pNN50), copper (increased blood urea nitrogen and MCL; decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1), and sulfur (increased ventricular ectopic beats). Control for gaseous copollutants had little effect on the effect estimates. The changes observed are consistent with effects reported earlier for PM2.5 from speed-change traffic (characterized by copper, sulfur, and aldehydes) and from soil (with calcium). The associations of chromium with inflammation markers were not seen before for traffic particles, but they are consistent with the toxicological literature although at low concentrations. Copper, sulfur, aldehydes, calcium, and chromium or compounds containing these elements seem to directly contribute to the inflammatory, coagulatory, and cardiac response to PM2.5 from traffic in the investigated patrol troopers.


Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Principles of echo shifting with a train of observations was used to perform magnetic susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with bolus-tracking in 14 patients with spondylotic myelopathy to assess changes in perfusion parameters of the spinal cord before and after decompression surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The mean transit time (MTT), bolus arrival time (T0), and time to peak (TTP) were obtained from regions of interest (ROIs) and assessed as the ratio between the spinal cord and the pons (MTT index = MTT(ROI)/MTT(pons), T0 index = T0(ROI)/T0(pons), TTP index = TTP(ROI)/TTP(pons)). The patients were divided into two groups according to percentage improvement on the Neurosurgical Cervical Spine Scale. The MTT index in patients with good recovery (> or =50%) was significantly reduced. The T0 index and TTP index showed no significant change in both groups. Reduction of MTT index may indicate improved perfusion of the spinal cord following surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.


Hyperdynamics simulations with ab initio forces.
By applying the locally optimal rotation method to deal with the lowest eigenvalue of a Hessian matrix, we have efficiently incorporated the hyperdynamics method into the ab initio scheme. In the present method, we only need to calculate the first derivative of the potential and several more force calls in each molecular dynamics (MD) step, which makes hyperdynamics simulation applicable in ab initio MD simulations. With this implementation, we are able to simulate defect diffusion in silicon with boost factors up to 105. We utilized both direct MD and the hyperdynamics method to investigate diffusion of lithium atoms and silicon vacancies in silicon. We identified the complex diffusion process. The obtained diffusion coefficients of Li atoms and Si vacancies are in good agreement with the direct MD results.


[The effect of organic solvents on the child-bearing function of women painters (an epidemiological hygiene study].
Female painters, if compared to the reference group, appeared to have significantly higher incidence of pregnancy complications, spontaneous abortions and dead births. The painters' children were characterized by higher occurrence of respiratory cardiovascular and skin diseases, is the reference group. Incidence of congenital abnormalities was the same in both groups, but mothers exposed to organic solvents at work had children with congenital abnormalities of cardiovascular and central nervous systems, multiple defects and chromosomal aberrations, that were absent or less frequent in the reference group.


Characterization and structure determination of prolyl-tRNA synthetase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and development as a screening platform.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic multi-drug resistant pathogen implicated as a causative agent in nosocomial and community acquired bacterial infections. The gene encoding prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) from P. aeruginosa was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the resulting protein was characterized. ProRS was kinetically evaluated and the KM values for interactions with ATP, proline, and tRNA were 154, 122, and 5.5 μM, respectively. The turn-over numbers, kcatobs , for interactions with these substrates were calculated to be 5.5, 6.3, and 0.2 s-1 , respectively. The crystal structure of the α2 form of P. aeruginosa ProRS was solved to 2.60 Å resolution. The amino acid sequence and X-ray crystal structure of P. aeruginosa ProRS was analyzed and compared with homologs in which the crystal structures have been solved. The amino acids that interact with ATP and proline are well conserved in the active site region and overlay of the crystal structure with ProRS homologs conforms to a similar overall three-dimensional structure. ProRS was developed into a screening platform using scintillation proximity assay (SPA) technology and used to screen 890 chemical compounds, resulting in the identification of two inhibitory compounds, BT06A02 and BT07H05. This work confirms the utility of a screening system based on the functionality of ProRS from P. aeruginosa.


Chemistry and biology of siderophores.
Siderophores are compounds produced by bacteria, fungi and graminaceous plants for scavenging iron from the environment. They are low-molecular-weight compounds (500-1500 daltons) possessing a high affinity for iron(III) (Kf > 1030), the biosynthesis of which is regulated by iron levels and the function of which is to supply iron to the cell. This article briefly describes the classification and chemical properties of siderophores, before outlining research on siderophore biosynthesis and transport. Clinically important siderophores and the therapeutic potential of siderophore design are described. Appendix 1 provides a comprehensive list of siderophore structures.


Gate-Defined Topological Josephson Junctions in Bernal Bilayer Graphene.
Recent experiments on Bernal bilayer graphene (BLG) deposited on monolayer WSe_{2} revealed robust, ultraclean superconductivity coexisting with sizable induced spin-orbit coupling. Here, we propose BLG/WSe_{2} as a platform to engineer gate-defined planar topological Josephson junctions, where the normal and superconducting regions descend from a common material. More precisely, we show that if superconductivity in BLG/WSe_{2} is gapped and emerges from a parent state with intervalley coherence, then Majorana zero-energy modes can form in the barrier region upon applying weak in-plane magnetic fields. Our results spotlight a potential pathway for "internally engineered" topological superconductivity that minimizes detrimental disorder and orbital-magnetic-field effects.


[Colorectal cancer in young adults: clinical and epidemiological features in the Peruvian population].
To determine the clinical epidemiological characteristics of young adult patients with colorectal cancer. Information collected by the Direccion General de Epidemiologia by the surveillance strategy in non-communicable diseases for the period 2006-2014 was requested. The rate of age-adjusted incidence and a descriptive statistical analysis of the variables studied were calculated. 1261 CRC cases were reported in patients between 20-49 years of age. The annual percentage change (APC) for the incidence is declining -0.09% (p=0.004). The CPA for CRC cases was -3.9% in men (p=0.009) and -5.22% in women (p=0.014). 640 women and 621 men were reported. Most cases of CRC in the studied population is the group of 40-49 years with 60.3% of cases. Lima was the region with the highest number of reported cases (42.6%). 63.7% of CRC cases were represented by colon tumors. Based on case reports provided by the DGE, there is a trend of decrease in the incidence of CRC cases in young adults Peruvian in the last 10 years.


Speed of Processing Time Slowing in Eating Disorders.
We applied Brinley ( 1965 ) plot analysis to the eating disorders field. Across 23 studies and 165 experimental conditions [experienced by a total of 773 eating disorder (ED) participants, including anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating (BE), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and 995 controls], the best-fit regression equation was Y (ED) = 1.08 X (CONTROL) - 31. This equation accounted for 98.2% of the variance. Thus, the ED subjects were only 1.08 times slower than the control subjects, suggesting little processing speed slowing in ED. We also examined simple reaction time [SRT; Y (ED) = .91 X (CONTROL) + 63; variance accounted for = 93.6%] and choice reaction time (CRT; Y (ED) = 1.12X (CONTROL) - 43, variance accounted for = 99.7%). These slopes are significantly different. ED subjects are more impacted when the task involves a decision component (CRT) than when it does not (SRT).


Placebo-controlled phase III study of lenograstim (glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: factors influencing chemotherapy administration. Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte.
The purpose of this study was to, assess the efficacy of glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (lenograstim) in the prevention of neutropenia and infection in patients receiving dose-intensive chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second objective was to determine clinical predicators of delay to cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. One hundred-sixty two patients with intermediate- or high-grade NHL and at least one poor prognostic factor received a total of 4 cycles of the LNH-84-regimen every 2 weeks, with an open randomization to treatment with anthracyclines. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous lenograstim 5 micrograms/kg/day (n = 82) or placebo (n = 80) from day 6 to day 13 of each cycle. The incidence of severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 0.5 x 10(9)/L) was reduced in the lenograstim group compared with placebo (52% vs 75%). A significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the median duration of ANC < 0.5 x 10(9)/L was also observed in patients treated with lenograstim during each cycle of chemotherapy (0-1 day vs 2-4 days in placebo recipients). Fever occurred in 66 patients in each treatment group. Thirty-four percent of placebo recipients had documented infections during ANC < 1.0 x 10(9)/L compared with 18.5% of lenograstim-treated patients (p < 0.05). Infections of > or = 2 severity were significantly less frequent (p = 0.001) among lenograstim recipients compared with placebo (25 vs 49). The most common adverse events among lenograstim recipients were headache, mild bone pain and injection site reactions. Although lenograstim significantly increased (p = 0.0001) relative dose intensity compared with placebo (93% vs 80%), no difference in CR rate (67% vs 71%) or 3-year survival (63% vs 55%) was observed. The results of this study suggest that patients treated with a chemotherapy regimen that induces severe neutropenia can benefit from treatment with lenograstim. Furthermore, lenograstim permits treatment to be delivered at full dose intensity at 2 week intervals, even in patients with bone marrow involvement, and may permit further dose escalation of the chemotherapeutic regimen used.


Periovulatory time in the bitch: what's new to know?: Comparison between ovarian histology and clinical features.
The ability to recognize specific events happening in the ovaries during periovulatory time allows optimal management of canine reproduction. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of vaginal cytology and blood progesterone (P4) assay to identify accurately the changes occurring at the ovarian structures, mainly during the fertile period. Tertiary follicles, corpora hemorrhagica (CHs) and corpora lutea (CLs) from forty healthy bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy were evaluated by histo-morphometry based on their aspect, number and size. The tertiary follicles distribution (small, medium and large) was statistically different (P<0.002) among all the stages of the reproductive cycle, except for small follicles (<2mm), which were always observed from proestrus to anestrus. Very large follicles (>4mm) were predominant (P=0.008) around ovulation when P4 mean level was 6.1±1.7ng/mL. The early postovulatory estrous period was characterized by CHs (P<0.002) and P4 level of 16.7±5.9ng/mL. The end of the fertile period - start of diestrus - coincided with the development of CLs (P=0.001) associated with a P4 mean level of 73.9±9.9ng/mL. The small (P<0.001) and medium (P<0.05) follicle diameters were positively correlated with the bitch size. The number of follicles larger than 4mm was significantly lower in bitches younger than 4 years (P<0.02). This study provides insight into some critical steps in the canine reproductive processes in the periovulatory phase and the end of the fertile period, essential to plan breeding programs.


[Fundamental and clinical studies on forphenicinol, a small-molecular immunomodulator].
Forphenicinol , a small-molecular immunomodulator, was orally administered to 10 long-term hospitalized patients with decreased pulmonary function, mainly, due to obsolete tuberculosis. The patients were grouped equally into 2, the first group received 50 mg of forphenicinol /day for 4 weeks and the second group received forphenicinol for a total period of 1 year, according to the following dose-schedule; 100 mg/day for the first 2 months, 400 mg/day for the next 6 months and 200 mg/day for the last 4 months. Investigations were made on the serum levels and safety of forphenicinol in all of these patients. The results of the investigations were as follows. Peak levels of forphenicinol were attained, in most cases, 2 hours after the administration and the average peak levels on the 14th day were 1.37 micrograms/ml for the dose of 50 mg/day, 5.02 micrograms/ml for 100 mg/day, 7.49 micrograms/ml for 200 mg/day and 15.02 micrograms/ml for 400 mg/day. There was no difference between the serum peak levels on the 1st and 14th days, in the patients who received forphenicinol at the dose of 50 or 100 mg/day. This finding led us to conclude that forphenicinol may not be accumulated in the body when it is administered repeatedly. Neither any side effects nor any abnormal values in the laboratory analysis of samples were observed for forphenicinol . The following improvement were observed, in the patients who received forphenicinol on a long-term basis (1 year); diminution of thick-walled cavity in 1 patient with atypical mycobacteriosis and in another patient with drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, negative sputum culture for bacteria was observed during this whole period of forphenicinol treatment.


In-hospital airborne tuberculous infection from a lesion of calcified pleural thickening during thoracic surgery in a patient with lung cancer.
A 75-year-old Japanese man underwent thoracic surgery to treat a large lung cancer lesion in the left upper lobe with calcified pleural thickening. Postoperatively, viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in the margin of the resected thickened calcified pleural lesion. Therefore, an infection control investigation of medical staff who had come in contact with the patient was conducted. Consequently, two of the 14 healthcare professionals who had been in the operating room were diagnosed with latent tuberculous infections. Therefore, strict precautions against airborne infections are required to prevent the in-hospital transmission of M. tuberculosis in such cases.


Metric evaluation of partially displaced temporomandibular joint disc.
The objective was to determine the quantitative relationship between the condyle and disc position in the glenoid fossa between two different slices of the same temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with partial anterior disc displacement (DD). The study was conducted on 40 patients with DD of TMJs (mean age, 35.5 years). The clinical diagnosis of DD was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Joints from the patient groups were analyzed according to the laterality and depending on disc displacement (a total of 80 joints). Comparison was made between two different slices of 9 joints with partial DD with reduction: partial DD was analyzed in the representative centrolateral or centromedial parasagittal slice of the TMJ (TMJ partial DD--slice DD). The contralateral slice of the same joint was without DD (TMJ partial DD--slice NDD). The analysis also included 34 healthy joints without DD (TMJ NDD) of the same patients. The position of the condyle and disc was calculated using the Kurita et al. method on the parasagittal view of the TMJ. A statistically significant difference was recorded for different slices of the same TMJs with partial DD (TMJ partial DD--slice DD and TMJ partial DD--slice NDD) (p < 0.01), but no difference was found in condyle positions depending on the existence of partial DD (p > 0.05). The compared values between slice TMJ partial DD--slice NDD with the group of TMJ NDD showed no significant difference in either disc position or condyle position (p > 0.05). There were differences of disc position in various slices of the same joint with visually confirmed partial DD. The dorsocranial condyle position could not indicate partial anterior DD.


Spatial relationships of intra-lesion heterogeneity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis microenvironment, replication status, and drug efficacy.
A hallmark of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is the marked heterogeneity that exists, spanning lesion type differences to microenvironment changes as infection progresses. A mechanistic understanding of how this heterogeneity affects Mtb growth and treatment efficacy necessitates single bacterium level studies in the context of intact host tissue architecture; however, such an evaluation has been technically challenging. Here, we exploit fluorescent reporter Mtb strains and the C3HeB/FeJ murine model in an integrated imaging approach to study microenvironment heterogeneity within a single lesion in situ, and analyze how these differences relate to non-uniformity in Mtb replication state, activity, and drug efficacy. We show that the pH and chloride environments differ spatially even within a single caseous necrotic lesion, with increased acidity and chloride levels in the lesion cuff versus core. Strikingly, a higher percentage of Mtb in the lesion core versus cuff were in an actively replicating state, and correspondingly active in transcription/translation. Finally, examination of three first-line anti-tubercular drugs showed that isoniazid efficacy was conspicuously poor against Mtb in the lesion cuff. Our study reveals spatial relationships of intra-lesion heterogeneity, sheds light on important considerations in anti-tubercular treatment strategies, and establishes a foundational framework for Mtb infection heterogeneity analysis at the single bacterium level in situ.


Scanning electron microscope observations on collagen fibers in human dentin and pulp.
Human permanent teeth were examined in the scanning electron microscope after demineralization and exposure to preparative procedures based on hydrogen peroxide, trypsin, and EDTA. These substances removed the inorganic material, the cellular structures, the homogeneous connective tissue ground substance, and interfibrillar matrix. The remaining tissue components comprised a network of distinct collagen fibers whose organization was related to the type of tissue in which these were incorporated. A similar or identical method has not been developed or applied to teeth previously. Dentin and predentin comprised a compact mass of fibers which basically were parallel to the continuously growing interior surface of the predentin, or arranged at an acute angle to this plane. Collagen fibers in the pulp were numerous, but lacked any particular orientation in most areas. Interodontoblastic fibers crossed the odontoblastic zone at a right angle to the pulp chamber wall and mingled with collagen fibers in predentin. When previously published findings of ours are taken into account, it is possible to conclude that other factors than the organization of the collagen fibers are responsible for the stainability of these fibers in predentin and in interglobular dentin with silver methenamine, and that aldehyde groups on collagen fibers in predentin may be actively and directly involved in the mineralization of the dentin.


Inhibitory effect of dehydrozingerone on vascular smooth muscle cell function.
Growth factor and oxidative stress-mediated migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of dehydrozingerone, a structural analog of curcumin, to inhibit PDGF-stimulated vascular functions in VSMCs. VSMCs isolated from adult rats were treated with dehydrozingerone (0 to 50 microM) before challenge with PDGF (10 ng/mL) and migration, proliferation, and collagen synthesis were assayed by transwell-migration, thymidine-, and L-proline-incorporation assays, respectively. Phosphorylation of PDGF-receptor (PDGFR) and Akt were assessed by Western blotting. Cellular protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity was determined by the extent of p-nitro-phenyl phosphate hydrolysis. Dehydrozingerone elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of PDGF-stimulated VSMC migration, proliferation, collagen synthesis, and PDGF/H2O2-stimulated phosphorylation of PDGFR-beta and downstream Akt. Dehydrozingerone also inhibited H2O2-mediated oxidation of PTP. Dehydrozingerone is a potent inhibitor of growth factor/ H2O2-stimulated VSMC functions and may play a critical role in regulating these events after vascular injury. Inhibition of oxidation of cellular phosphatases may represent one of the mechanisms by which dehydrozingerone inhibits these VSMC functions. Inability of the structural analog isoeugenol to inhibit PDGF-signaling suggests that the carbonyl side chain may be necessary for activity.


USP48 Sustains Chemoresistance and Metastasis in Ovarian Cancer.
Ubiquitin specific protease 48 (USP48) is a member of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) family. However, the function of USP48 in ovarian cancer remains unclear. The present study reveals that USP48 knockdown could significantly inhibit cell migration and invasion in ES2, 3AO and A2780 cells, without affecting cell proliferation. After carboplatin (CBP) treatment, the USP48 ablation increases the apoptosis rate, and the cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase 3 expression levels in ES2, 3AO and A2780 cells. The subcutaneous tumor and intraperitoneally injected experiments demonstrated that the USP48 knockdown significantly increases responsiveness to CBP, and alleviates the metastasis in vivo. Meanwhile, USP48 deficiency results in the improved survival of mice. Finally, the analysis of clinical samples and the TCGA and Kaplan-Meier Plot database revealed that the high expression of USP48 in ovarian cancer patients is associated with poor survival and resistance to CBP therapy. In summary, USP48 may be a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer patients.


Ultrahigh Water Flow Enhancement by Optimizing Nanopore Chemistry and Geometry.
The high permeability of nanoporous membranes is crucial for separation processes and energy conversions, especially for the world today that is facing growing water scarcity and energy demands. Unfortunately, further improving permeability, without sacrificing the required selectivity for specific applications, is still extremely challenging. Here, we shed light on the mechanisms of extremely high water permeability of artificial nanopores with the aquaporin-inspired pore geometry and propose a simple yet practical optimization strategy by using computational research to relate nanopore chemistry and geometry to permeability performance. We demonstrated that an ultrahigh water flow enhancement, up to 7 orders of magnitude, can be achieved by optimizing the combination of chemical and geometrical parameters of bioinspired artificial nanopores. Moreover, we addressed an existing debate over the water flow enhancement spanning over 10-1 to 105, attributed to the huge differences in chemical and geometrical properties. Our work provides a guideline to the design and optimization of nanofluidic devices with excellent performance.


Meningococcemia in an 11 Months Old Infant.
Meningococcemia is the infection of the blood caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Herein, we report a case of meningococcemia in an 11 months old infant who had a high-grade fever, nonblanching purpuric rash over the face and limbs, low blood pressure, tachycardia, and prolonged capillary refill time, but without neck rigidity and focal neurologic signs. He recovered after supportive care and treatment with antibiotics (intravenous ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and teicoplanin). Therefore, in a febrile, ill-looking child in shock with a nonblanching rash, meningococcal disease should be suspected. The study shows the importance of vaccination against meningococcal disease.


Keratin-like proteins in normal and neoplastic cells of human and rat mammary gland as revealed by immunofluorescence microscopy.
Normal and neoplastic human breast tissue as well as lactating and nonlactating rat mammary glands and 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)-anthracene-induced mammary adenocarcinomas of rat, were examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using guinea pig antibodies to human and bovine epidermal prekeratin and to cytokeratin polypeptide D from mouse hepatocytes. In normal mammary glands of both species, lactating rats included, the antibodies raised against human and bovine epidermal prekeratins strongly stained ductal and myoepithelial cells, whereas antibodies to hepatic cytokeratin D revealed, in addition, fibrillar staining in cells of the alveolus-like terminal lobular units and in milk secreting cells of the rat. The presence of some finely dispersed intermediate-sized filaments of the cytokeratin type in lactating alveolar cells of rat mammary gland was also demonstrated by electron microscopy. In human intraductal mammary carcinomas the antibodies to epidermal prekeratins showed staining in myoepithelial cells and intralumenal papillary protrusions of the tumor, whereas the antibodies to hepatic cytokeratin D presented an almost complementary pattern in that they showed strongest staining in the more basally located layers of tumor cells. Intraductal adenocarcinomas of rats showed strong staining with all keratin antibodies examined. In contrast to previous studies using exclusively antisera raised against epidermal prekeratin, out results show that all types of neoplastic and non-neoplastic epithelial cells of mammary gland of both species contain-at least some-filaments of the cytokeratin type identifiable by immunologic reaction, if antibodies are used that recognize a broad range of epidermal and nonepidermal cytokeratins. Consequently, such broad range antibodies to keratin-like proteins provide adequate tools to identify and characterize neoplastic and non-neoplastic epithelial cells and to eliminate false negative immunocytochemical findings in tumor diagnosis. In addition, our observation that in the same human carcinoma two cell types can be distinguished by their reaction with two different antibodies to cytokeratins from epidermis and liver, respectively, indicates that the cells of a given carcinoma can differ in their cytoskeletal composition, thus presenting further criteria for diagnostic differentiation.


Irrigation with primary wastewater alters wood anatomy and composition in willow Salix miyabeana SX67.
Traditional treatment of wastewaters is a burden for local governments. Using short rotation coppice willow (SRCW) as vegetal filter has several environmental and economic benefits. Here, we investigated the effect of primary wastewater irrigation on wood structure and composition of the willow cultivar Salix miyabeana 'SX67' following two years of growth. Compared to unirrigated plants (UI), stem sections of plants irrigated with primary wastewater (WWD) showed an unexpected decrease of hydraulic conductance (KS) associated with a decrease in vessel density but not vessel diameter. The majority (86%) of vessels had diameters range groups [20-30[, [30-40[and [40-50[µm and contributed to > 75% of theoretical KS, while the group class [50-60[µm (less than 10% of vessels) still accounted for > 20% of total KS regardless irrigation treatments. WWD significantly alters the chemical composition of wood with an increase of glucan content by 9 to 16.4% and a decrease of extractives by 35.3 to 36.4% when compared to UI or to plants irrigated with potable water (PW). The fertigation did also increase the proportion of the tension wood which highly correlated with glucan content. In the context of energetic transition and mitigation of climate change, such results are of high interest since WWD effectively permit the phytofiltration of large amounts of organic contaminated effluents without impairing SRCW physiology.


Prosaptide prevents paclitaxel neurotoxicity.
Paclitaxel (Taxol), a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast and ovarian tumors, has been reported to induce a predominantly sensory neuropathy. Co-treatment with neurotrophic factors and paclitaxel has been proposed for preventing or reversing paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C and D was recently identified as a neurotrophic factor and was reported to facilitate nerve regeneration in vivo. Peptides (prosaptides) encompassing the neurotrophic sequence located in the saposin C domain, have neurotrophic activity similar to the holoprotein (O'Brien et al. 1995). In the present study, we investigated the effect of a 14-mer prosaptide, TX14(A), or a 22-mer prosaptide, 769P, on paclitaxel-induced neutrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Paclitaxel treatment (1 microM) decreased cell viability of both PC12 and Schwann cells. TX14(A) (10 nM) prevented paclitaxel-induced loss of cell viability in PC12 cells but not in Schwann cells. Systemic injections (i.p.) of paclitaxel (1.2 mg/kg/day) given five times per week for three weeks (cumulative dose 18 mg/kg) or given every third day (25, 12.5 and 12.5 mg/kg) for 10 ten days (cumulative dose 50 mg/kg) in adult rats induced thermal hypoalgesia that was not accompanied by morphological changes in the sciatic nerve or changes of nerve conduction velocity. Co-administration of paclitaxel with prosaptides (cumulative dose 3 or 10 mg/kg) prevented paclitaxel-induced thermal hypoalgesia. In the short-term high dose study, paclitaxel treated rats lost 10% of their body weight, had reduced erythrocyte counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations which were not prevented by treatment with prosaptide. TX14(A) did not diminish paclitaxel cytotoxicity of breast cancer cells in vitro. These findings suggest that prosaptide prevents the neurotoxic effects of paclitaxel while not interfering with its anti-tumor activity.


[Valvular transposition in patients with ulcers of the lower limbs following post thrombotic syndromes].
Venous ulcers in patients with post thrombotic syndromes are complex situations with multiple therapeutic options. They are responsible for high morbidity rates, conservative treatment is very slow and recurrences are very common. Deep venous reconstructive surgery is an alternative, but it should be based on the morphologic and functional aspects of the venous system and only adopted after a very careful study, including venography. The authors describe a morphological "pattern", found in some of these patients and related to the competence of the saphenous femoral junction, rendering possible to perform a valvular transposition. Seven patients with post thrombotic ulcers who have been treated during the last 6 years in which the pattern already described was detect, underwent a transposition of the superficial femoral vein, to the great saphenous vein and when necessary complemented with skyn grafts. Before the operation all patients had ulcers with more than 3 cm in size (3.2-5.4 cm) and with more than 4 months duration (4-16 months). All ulcers healed in the postoperative period (mean time 28 days). All patients have been reevaluated in 2003 and it was diagnosed the thrombosis of two procedures, one of them with the recurrence of the ulcer who healed with conservative treatment. The authors consider this method as a very easy technique to perform, although rarely used, and a valid alternative in a highly selected group of patients.


Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and nicotinic cholinergic mechanisms of the central nervous system.
Subtypes of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are constructed from numerous subunit combinations that compose channel-receptor complexes with varied functional and pharmacological characteristics. Structural and functional diversity and the broad presynaptic, postsynaptic, and nonsynaptic locations of nAChRs underlie their mainly modulatory roles throughout the mammalian brain. Presynaptic and preterminal nicotinic receptors enhance neurotransmitter release, postsynaptic nAChRs contribute a small minority of fast excitatory transmission, and nonsynaptic nAChRs modulate many neurotransmitter systems by influencing neuronal excitability. Nicotinic receptors have roles in development and synaptic plasticity, and nicotinic mechanisms participate in learning, memory, and attention. Decline, disruption, or alterations of nicotinic cholinergic mechanisms contribute to dysfunctions such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, autism, dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer's disease, and addiction.


Thermotropic transition in the states of proteins in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.
Interaction between protein and phospholipid molecules in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was studied by measurement of the conformational fluctuation of the protein using the kinetics of the hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction. It was revealed that the state of SR ATPase undergoes a phase transition at about 18 degrees C with boundary lipids, corresponding to a discrete change in the activation energy of the Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase reaction.


Population genetic analysis of host seeking and resting behaviors in the malaria vector, Anopheles balabacensis (Diptera: Culicidae).
During the intermonsoon period from mid-September to mid-October 1986, wild-caught Anopheles balabacensis Baisas females were marked and released in a host-choice experiment. Association between capture and recapture of marked mosquitoes from human and bovid hosts and blood meal host identification of recaptured females were determined on a daily basis. Although the mark-recapture and blood meal data indicated behavioral heterogeneity between buffalo and human biters, restriction endonuclease fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed no differences in repeat sequence profiles. Doubly-marked recaptures strongly indicated a "learning" component involved in a separate host preference experiment. In a "habitat loyalty" experiment conducted in January 1987, females of An. balabacensis preferentially returned to the resting sites (indoor surfaces and exit traps) where they were first caught. Of nine isozyme loci found to be polymorphic, the genotypic frequencies of Esterase-3 and Isocitrate dehydrogenase-3 were different in "faithfully" endophilic and exophilic subpopulations. Genetic heterozygosity, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was greater in exophilic than endophilic population components. These results confirm that genetic and learning components can significantly influence house resting and host seeking behavior and may contribute to local epidemiological patterns of malaria transmission observed in Sabah, Malaysia.


Effective Communication Strategies for Nurses to Discuss Infant Feeding with New Mothers During Postpartum Hospitalization.
During prenatal care and postpartum hospitalization, nurses have an important role in assisting new mothers to make informed decisions about feeding their newborn infants. There is overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding is beneficial for most new mothers and babies; therefore, perinatal nurses encourage breastfeeding. Newborn infant feeding conversations with women who have chosen to formula feed may be complicated and may cause tension in the nurse-patient relationship. Despite this potential difficulty, these conversations are essential to establish a feeding plan for the newborn infant and to promote healthy outcomes for mothers and babies. Tools are offered for nurses to guide conversations about infant feeding choices and to help to ensure that all mothers receive support and encouragement on their feeding choice.


Molecular background of the Finnish disease heritage.
Finland has a population with a history revealing features of founder effect, genetic drift and isolation. Relatively small founder populations have slowly inhabited a large country and internal isolates have developed within Finland. This is reflected even today in the regional enrichment of some diseases belonging to the Finnish disease heritage. This concept was launched before the DNA era by skillful clinicians and today it comprises some 30 diseases with a wide variety of clinical phenotypes. Special strategies have been adapted in the initial locus assignment and in the restriction of the critical chromosomal DNA region having so far resulted in the successful isolation of 11 disease genes. Detailed analyses of these disease genes and their function have provided new insights into the structure and function of defective proteins as well as into the biology of affected tissues.


Use of Chronic Methadone Before Total Knee Arthroplasty.
A subset of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are on methadone maintenance. They require more and often unpredictable quantities of opioids to function as effective painkillers. This study aims to compare the opioid requirements and the immediate postoperative course for patients on methadone maintenance with those who are not, after a TKA. A retrospective, case-control study was performed. From 2005 to 2010, 36 patients, who underwent a unilateral TKA, on chronic methadone maintenance were identified. A control group matched for age, gender, and body mass index comprised patients from the same period, who did not self-report taking methadone. Chart review and analysis of patient demographics, type of anesthesia used, preoperative methadone use, inpatient opioid use (converted to oral morphine equivalent doses), need for in-house pain management consult, length of hospital stay, and need for reoperation were performed. Patients on chronic methadone maintenance used significantly more opioids than patients not on methadone during their entire inpatient stay (P < .001). This was demonstrated by a higher median daily usage of opioids and higher patient-controlled analgesia usage. Patients on methadone maintenance had a significantly longer postoperative inpatient hospitalization (P < .001). Finally, these patients required significantly more inpatient pain management referrals (P = .025). There is a significantly higher opioid requirement, length of stay, and pain management consults in patients on methadone maintenance compared with those who are not after a TKA. These patients may benefit from a nonroutine approach to perioperative care in TKA.


Multicenter Evaluation of the Cepheid Xpert Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load Assay.
Viral load monitoring for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is necessary to diagnose infection and monitor response to therapy, but the tests involved are currently confined to specialist institutions. There is a need for a fast, accurate assay with limited operator input to enhance the access to viral load monitoring. We evaluated the quantification of HCV RNA in serum and plasma by the Cepheid Xpert HCV Viral Load assay in comparison to the Abbott RealTime HCV assay. Serum and plasma samples were gathered from HCV-infected individuals at four international sites. These were tested with the Xpert HCV Viral Load assay, and results were compared to quantification by the Abbott RealTime HCV assay. An external quality assessment panel of eight samples was also tested. In total, 614 samples were analyzed in the study, and the qualitative results agreed on the two platforms for 588 (95.8%) samples. Further analysis of 396 samples quantified by both tests showed strong correlation (correlation coefficient r = 0.99) across the quantifiable range, with Bland-Altman plot data showing a mean difference (±1.96 standard deviation) of 0.03 ± 0.44 log10 IU/ml. In the external quality assessment panel, the Xpert HCV Viral Load assay results (quantified in log10 IU per milliliter) were within 1 standard deviation of the target value for all but one sample, which was also similarly misquantified by the Abbott RealTime HCV assay. The Xpert HCV Viral Load assay performs well compared to a market-leading HCV viral load test and should be considered for instances where rapid near-to-patient testing is required.


Carrier conversion from terahertz wave to dual-wavelength near-infrared light for photonic terahertz detection in wireless communication.
THz waves are promising wireless carriers for next-generation wireless communications, where a seamless connection from wireless to optical communication is required. In this study, we demonstrate carrier conversion from THz waves to dual-wavelength NIR light injection-locking to an optical frequency comb using asynchronous nonpolarimetric electro-optic downconversion with an electro-optic polymer modulator. THz wave in the W band was detected as a stable photonic RF beat signal of 1 GHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB via the proposed THz-to-NIR carrier conversion. In addition, the results imply the potential of the photonic detection of THz waves for wireless-to-optical seamless communication.


[The examination of peat preparations by the UV-VIS absorption spectrophotometry].
For the testing of natural peat extracts and preparations produced from them absorbance measurements in the range lambda = 200--800 nm were used. The progressive increase of absorption spectra from 450 nm to short waves was observed. The curve calibration was rectilinear in a solution of humus acid (commercial preparation) when lambda = 420 nm. The proportion A465/A665 value indicates on participation of macromolecular aromatic compounds of different chemical structure. The application of spectrometry in the visible range enables the estimation of the influence of the applying technologies in peat preparations production.


Age Limit in Bronchiolitis Diagnosis: 6 or 12 Months?
Aim: The most frequent cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants is bronchiolitis. Up to now there is no agreement on the upper limit age of bronchiolitis. Our aim was to identify if there are clinical differences in infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis between 0-6 months and 6-12 months of age. A secondary aim was to establish whether there was differences in terms of recurrent wheezing at 12, 24, and 36 months of follow-up. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and virological records of 824 infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis during 11 consecutive epidemic seasons. From each infant at admission to the hospital nasopharyngeal washing was collected, clinical severity was assessed and clinical data were extracted from a structured questionnaire. At 12-24-36 months after discharge, parents were interviewed seeking information on recurrent wheezing. Results: A total of 773 infants (Group1) were ≤6 months of age, while 51 were >6 months (Group 2). No differences between family history for atopy and passive smoking exposure were observed between the two groups. Respiratory syncyzial virus was detected more frequently in Group 1 and human bocavirus in Group 2. The clinical severity score (p = 0.011) and the use of intravenous fluids (p = 0.0001) were higher in Group 1 with respect to Group 2 infants. At 36 months follow-up 163/106 (39.4%) Group 1 and 9/9 Group 2 infants experienced recurrent wheezing (p = 0.149). Conclusion: We demonstrated that 0-6 months old infants bronchiolitis differs from > 6 months bronchiolitis.


Travellers' thrombosis.
Anecdotal reports have suggested a link between flying and the development of blood clots. A recent prospective study looking at passengers before and after flying has demonstrated a much higher incidence of asymptomatic venous thrombosis than we expected. In the same paper, graduated elastic compression stockings reduced this incidence of asymptomatic venous thrombosis. Further studies are required to see how many passengers develop symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and to assess the overall incidence of venous thromboembolic disease. A major epidemiological study, an interventional study to assess the efficacy of mechanical methods of venous thrombosis prophylaxis and the effect of graduated compression stockings, and studies to look at the effect of the cabin environment on thromboembolism are planned.


Symmetry-breaking transitions in quiescent and moving solitons in fractional couplers.
We consider phase transitions, in the form of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) bifurcations of solitons, in dual-core couplers with fractional diffraction and cubic self-focusing acting in each core, characterized by Lévy index α. The system represents linearly coupled optical waveguides with the fractional paraxial diffraction or group-velocity dispersion (the latter system was used in a recent experiment [Nat. Commun. 14, 222 (2023)10.1038/s41467-023-35892-8], which demonstrated the first observation of the wave propagation in an effectively fractional setup). By dint of numerical computations and variational approximation, we identify the SSB in the fractional coupler as the bifurcation of the subcritical type (i.e., the symmetry-breaking phase transition of the first kind), whose subcriticality becomes stronger with the increase of fractionality 2-α, in comparison with very weak subcriticality in the case of the nonfractional diffraction, α=2. In the Cauchy limit of α→1, it carries over into the extreme subcritical bifurcation, manifesting backward-going branches of asymmetric solitons which never turn forward. The analysis of the SSB bifurcation is extended for moving (tilted) solitons, which is a nontrivial problem because the fractional diffraction does not admit Galilean invariance. Collisions between moving solitons are studied too, featuring a two-soliton symmetry-breaking effect and merger of the solitons.


Domain Adaptation Based on Semi-Supervised Cross-Domain Mean Discriminative Analysis and Kernel Transfer Extreme Learning Machine.
Good data feature representation and high precision classifiers are the key steps for pattern recognition. However, when the data distributions between testing samples and training samples do not match, the traditional feature extraction methods and classification models usually degrade. In this paper, we propose a domain adaptation approach to handle this problem. In our method, we first introduce cross-domain mean approximation (CDMA) into semi-supervised discriminative analysis (SDA) and design semi-supervised cross-domain mean discriminative analysis (SCDMDA) to extract shared features across domains. Secondly, a kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) is applied as a subsequent classifier for the classification task. Moreover, we design a cross-domain mean constraint term on the source domain into KELM and construct a kernel transfer extreme learning machine (KTELM) to further promote knowledge transfer. Finally, the experimental results from four real-world cross-domain visual datasets prove that the proposed method is more competitive than many other state-of-the-art methods.


Some anthropometric dimensions of male adolescents with idiopathic low back pain.
To determine whether there were anthropometric dimensions associated with low back pain (LBP) in a male adolescent population. Objective measurement of selected anthropometric dimensions by pretested computer assisted goniometer. Temporary laboratory space in three government operated secondary schools in a growth corridor of north suburban Melbourne, Australia. Males attending secondary (high) school, aged between 12 and 19 yr. Of 64 subjects that were symptomatic for idiopathic (mechanical) LBP, 38 reported pain at the time of measurement. These were matched by decimal age to a control group of 38 asymptomatic subjects with no history of LBP, drawn from the same population. None. The dimension "upper body segment" was significantly greater in the group with idiopathic LBP, as was the dimension "sitting height." Contrary to previous findings from adult subjects, the dimension "standing height," while greater for the LBP group, was not significantly so. The dependent measurements "pelvic height" and "suprapelvic height" were significantly greater, confirming previous findings from adult subjects. The presence of these significantly different anthropometric dimensions in an adolescent population suggests that some adult correlates of LBP may have value as predictors of LBP, detectable in adolescence. Longitudinal observation is warranted to determine their validity as such. The early identification of adolescents with these dimensions may allow the development of appropriate screening programs which in turn may lead to the design and introduction of suitable prophylactic interventional programs for persons found to be potentially prone to idiopathic LBP, otherwise known as mechanical LBP, thus reducing the onset of this expensive problem in adulthood.


B Chromosomes - A Matter of Chromosome Drive.
B chromosomes are supernumerary chromosomes which are often preferentially inherited, deviating from usual Mendelian segregation. The balance between the so-called chromosome drive and the negative effects that the presence of Bs applies on the fitness of their host determines the frequency of Bs in a particular population. Drive is the key for understanding most B chromosomes. Drive occurs in many ways at pre-meiotic, meiotic or post-meiotic divisions, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The cellular mechanism of drive is reviewed based on the findings obtained for the B chromosomes of rye, maize and other species. How novel analytical tools will expand our ability to uncover the biology of B chromosome drive is discussed.


PD-L1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 373 Chinese patients using an in vitro diagnostic assay.
Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown potential as a therapeutic target in numerous solid tumors. Its prognostic significance has also been established in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The present study aimed to explore PD-L1 expression in PDAC cases in a large Chinese cohort using an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay to provide further insight into the potential value of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) as a therapeutic target. Three hundred seventy-three PDAC patients were retrospectively recruited in this study. Tissue microarray (TMA) blocks were made from available formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor and matched adjacent tissue specimens. We evaluated PD-L1 protein expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved IVD assay. The relationships between PD-L1 positivity and both clinicopathological characteristics and patient prognosis were analyzed. PD-1 expression and clinicopathological significance were also evaluated. PD-L1 and PD-1 positivity were observed in 3.2% and 7.5% of cases, respectively. PD-L1 showed a predominantly membranous pattern in tumor cells, while no positive PD-L1 staining was observed in normal regions. Statistical analyses revealed that PD-L1 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. PD-L1 positivity was a prognostic indicator of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in univariate analyses, but only PFS remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis. PD-1 expression was detected in lymphocytes and was not associated with any clinicopathological feature except a history of pancreatitis. The PD-L1 positivity rate is low in PDAC when evaluated using a companion diagnostic assay. It remains an independent prognostic factor for poor PFS.


Effect of growth on the thermal resistance and survival of Salmonella Tennessee and Oranienburg in peanut butter, measured by a new thin-layer thermal death time device.
In published data the thermal destruction of Salmonella species in peanut butter deviates from pseudo-first-order kinetics. The reasons for such deviation are unknown. This study examined both the method used to measure the thermal destruction rate and the method of growth of the microorganisms to explain variations in destruction kinetics. Growth on a solid matrix results in a different physiological state that may provide greater resistance to adverse environments. In this study, Salmonella Tennessee and Oranienburg were grown for 24 h at 37°C under aerobic conditions in broth and agar media to represent planktonic and sessile cell growth, respectively. Peanut butter was held at 25°C and tested for Salmonella levels immediately after inoculation and at various time intervals up to 2 weeks. Thermal resistance was measured at 85°C by use of a newly developed thin-layer metal sample holder. Although thermal heat transfer through the metal device resulted in longer tau values than those obtained with plastic bags (32.5 ± 0.9 versus 12.4 ± 1.9 s), the bags have a relative variability of about 15 % compared with about 3 % in the plates, allowing improved uniformity of sample treatment. The two serovars tested in the thin-layer device showed similar overall thermal resistance levels in peanut butter regardless of growth in sessile or planktonic states. However, thermal destruction curves from sessile cultures exhibited greater linearity than those obtained from planktonic cells (P = 0.0198 and 0.0047 for Salmonella Oranienburg and Salmonella Tennessee, respectively). In addition, both Salmonella serovars showed significantly higher survival in peanut butter at 25°C when originally grown on solid media (P = 0.001) with a <1-log loss over 2 weeks as opposed to a 1- to 2-log loss when grown in liquid culture. Consequently, the use of cells grown on solid media may more accurately assess the survival of Salmonella at different temperatures in a low-water-activity environment such as peanut butter.


Biological adaptation and dysadaptation of the heart to chronic arterial hypertension: a review.
Cardiac hypertrophy which occurs during chronic arterial hypertension is one of the numerous examples of biological adaptation to environmental requirements. As such, it is obtained at random by trial and error, and adaptation represents the sum of various modifications in gene expression, including the shift in isomyosin or in iso-Na+,K(+)-ATPase, the decrease in beta 1-adrenergic or muscarinic receptors or in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase densities, and the unchanged density in calcium channels and current. Some of these changes are beneficial at the cellular level but are finally detrimental for the organism as a whole, such as slowing of maximum shortening velocity (Vmax). The prolonged calcium transient is likely to be a consequence of the various modifications of the membranes phenotype and provides a rational basis for arrhythmogenicity of the hypertrophied heart. There are also detrimental modifications, such as the increased collagen concentration and vascular hypertrophy, which may result from the accompanying changes in plasma content in several hormones or peptides.


[Effectiveness and risk factors of supramalleolar osteotomy in treatment of varus-type ankle arthritis].
To assess the effectiveness of supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT) as a therapeutic intervention for varus-type ankle arthritis, while also examining the associated risk factors that may contribute to treatment failure. The clinical data of 82 patients (89 feet) diagnosed with varus-type ankle arthritis and treated with SMOT between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patient cohort consisted of 34 males with 38 feet and 48 females with 51 feet, with the mean age of 54.3 years (range, 43-72 years). The average body mass index was 24.43 kg/m 2 (range, 20.43-30.15 kg/m 2). The preoperative tibial anterior surface angle (TAS) ranged from 77.6° to 88.4°, with a mean of 84.4°. The modified Takakura stage was used to classify the severity of the condition, with 9 feet in stage Ⅱ, 41 feet in stage Ⅲa, and 39 feet in stage Ⅲb. Clinical functional assessment was conducted using the Maryland sore, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and psychological and physical scores in Health Survey 12-item Short From (SF-12). Radiology evaluations include TAS, talar tilt (TT), tibiocrural angle (TC), tibial medial malleolars (TMM), tibiocrural distance (TCD), tibial lateral surface angle (TLS), and hindfoot alignment angle (HAA). The results of clinical failure, functional failure, and radiology failure were statistically analyzed, and the related risk factors were analyzed. The operation time ranged from 45 to 88 minutes, with an average of 62.2 minutes. No complication such as fractures and neurovascular injuries was found during operation. There were 7 feet of poor healing of the medial incision; 9 pin tract infections occurred in 6 feet using external fixator; there were 20 cases of allograft and 3 cases of autograft with radiographic bone resorption. Except for 1 foot of severe infection treated with bone cement, the remaining 88 feet were primary healing, and the healing area was more than 80%. All patients were followed up 24-82 months, with an average of 50.2 months. Maryland score, VAS score, SF-12 psychological and physiological scores, and TAS, TC, TLS, TCD, TT, TMM, HAA, and Takakura stage were significantly improved at last follow-up ( P<0.05). Postoperative clinical failure occurred in 13 feet, functional failure in 15 feet, and radiology failure in 23 feet. Univariate analysis showed that obesity, TT>10°, and Takakura stage Ⅲb were risk factors for clinical failure, HAA≥15° and Takakura stage Ⅲb were risk factors for functional failure, and TT>10° was risk factor for radiographic failure ( P<0.05). Further logistic regression analysis showed that TT>10°, HAA≥15°, and TT>10° were risk factors for clinical failure, functional failure, and radiographic failure, respectively ( P<0.05). SMOT is effective in the mid- and long-term in the treatment of varus-type ankle arthritis, but it should be used with caution in patients with obesity, severe hindfoot varus, severe talus tilt, and preoperative Takakura stage Ⅲb.


Inner ear therapy for neural preservation.
A gradual loss of auditory neurons often occurs following sensorineural hearing loss. Since the cochlear implant must stimulate the remaining auditory neuron population, it would be beneficial to preserve as many auditory neurons as possible. Neurotrophic factors protect auditory neurons from degradation after sensorineural hearing loss in experimental animals, but have not yet been translated into the clinical setting. Current experimental and clinical techniques for drug delivery to the inner ear are examined in this review, covering the routes for drug delivery to the cochlea and the delivery systems used to introduce them. Duration of treatment, drug diffusion, effectiveness and safety are discussed with references to how they may be translated to the implementation of neurotrophic factor treatment for neural preservation.


The In-Situ Synthesis of a 3D SnS/N-Doped Graphene Composite with Enhanced Electrochemical Performance as a Low-Cost Anode Material in Sodium Ion Batteries.
SnS/N-doped graphene (SnS/NG) composites are promising anode materials for sodium ion batteries. Generally, SnS is synthesized from SnCl2·2H2O. However, SnCl2·2H2O is not suitable for large-scale production due to its high price. Compared with SnCl2·2H2O, SnCl4·5H2O has a lower price, more stable chemical properties and better water solubility. Until now, there have been no related reports on the synthesis of SnS from SnCl4·5H2O. In this work, the fabrication of SnS/NG in a facile, two-step process, which combines a hot water bath and thermal annealing and uses SnCl4·5H2O as a precursor, is described. The mechanism of phase transformation in the direct synthesis of SnS from Sn4+ is also discussed in detail. Applying our methodology, SnS nanoparticles were grown in-situ on graphene sheets and wrapped by N-doped graphene sheets to form a 3D SnS/NG composite. With 35.35% content of graphene in the SnS/NG composite, the reversible specific capacity remained at 417.8 mAh/g at 1000 mA/g after 100 cycles, exhibiting a high specific capacity and good cycling stability. In addition, the composite also had an excellent rate performance, with a specific capacity of 366.9 mAh/g obtained even at 5000 mA/g. Meanwhile, the fast sodium storage kinetics of SnS/NG were also analyzed, providing some theoretical support for further study.


Theoretical Analysis of a Sessile Evaporating Droplet on a Curved Substrate with an Interfacial Cooling Effect.
Sessile droplet evaporation is widely encountered in nature, and it has numerous applications in industrial and scientific communities; therefore, the accurate prediction of droplet evaporation has great significance in practical applications. In this paper, for the first time, a comprehensive theoretical model is built up for diffusion-controlled heat and mass transfer for sessile droplet evaporation on a curved substrate in toroidal coordinates. The evaporative mass transfer is coupled with the heat transfer across the gas-liquid droplet interface, as well as the heat transfer across the solid-liquid interface of the curved substrate. The effects of interfacial cooling and thermal conductivity of the droplet and substrate as well as their initial shapes on the droplet evaporation are provided in details. It is found that the evaporative flux usually increases sharply near the droplet edge due to the short distance for heat conduction from the substrate to the droplet; however, it can be reversed from sharp increasing to decreasing at a low thermal conductivity ratio kR < 0.3 of the substrate over droplet or large initial droplet contact angle θ > 30°. The interfacial evaporative cooling effect can always suppress the droplet evaporation. The lifetime of evaporative droplet can be prolonged with the decreasing thermal conductivity ratio, increasing evaporative cooling number, and increasing initial droplet contact angle or tangential angle of a curved substrate. These findings may be of great significance in the applications of droplet evaporation on the curved substrate.


Long-term results of treatments for varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein insufficiency.
The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rates of greater saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency after treatments for primary varicose veins, and to elucidate risk factors for recurrence. This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 376 limbs of 296 patients treated for primary varicose veins due to GSV insufficiency from January 1996 to December 1997. The recurrence-free rates after stripping surgery, saphenofemoral ligation, and sclerotherapy were estimated. The risk factors for the recurrence of primary varicose veins were estimated by multiple regression analysis. The follow-up period was 3.1+/-1.3 (mean+/-SD) years. The recurrence-free rates at 4 years after stripping, saphenofemoral ligation and sclerotherapy were 80.7%, 64.5%, and 51.3%, respectively. The saphenofemoral ligation group and sclerotherapy group had significantly higher recurrence rates than the stripping group (P=0.002, P<0.001, respectively). There was no difference in recurrence rates between the saphenofemoral ligation group and sclerotherapy group (P=0.074). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being female (P<0.029) and treatment without stripping (P<0.001) increased the recurrence rate. Stripping surgery may be the treatment of first choice for patients with varicose veins due to GSV insufficiency. Patients who have not received stripping surgery and female patients require closer follow-up.


Preparation and characterization of ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin films grown by reactive sputtering.
HfO2-ZrO2 solid-solution films were prepared by radio frequency sputtering, and the subsequent annealing process was optimized to render enhanced ferroelectric behavior. The target power, working pressure and O2 partial pressure ratios were varied, along with the annealing gas, time and temperature. Then, the film's structural and electrical properties were carefully scrutinized. Oxygen-deficient conditions were necessary during the sputter deposition to suppress grain growth, while annealing by O2 gas was critical to avoid defects and leakage problems. It is expected that the grain size difference under various deposition conditions combined with the degree of TiN top and bottom electrode oxidation by O2 gas will result in different ferroelectric behaviors. As a result, Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 prepared by radio frequency sputtering showed optimized ferroelectricity at 0% of O2 reactive gas, with a doubled remnant polarization value of ∼20 μC cm-2 at a thickness of 11 nm. Film growth conditions with a high growth rate (4-5 nm min-1) were favorable for achieving the ferroelectric phase film, which feasibly suppressed both the grain growth and accompanying monoclinic phase formation.


De Novo Whole Genome Assemblies for Two Southern African Dwarf Chameleons (Bradypodion, Chamaeleonidae).
A complete and high-quality reference genome has become a fundamental tool for the study of functional, comparative, and evolutionary genomics. However, efforts to produce high-quality genomes for African taxa are lagging given the limited access to sufficient resources and technologies. The southern African dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) are a relatively young lineage, with a large body of evidence demonstrating the highly adaptive capacity of these lizards. Bradypodion are known for their habitat specialization, with evidence of convergent phenotypes across the phylogeny. However, the underlying genetic architecture of these phenotypes remains unknown for Bradypodion, and without adequate genomic resources, many evolutionary questions cannot be answered. We present de novo assembled whole genomes for Bradypodion pumilum and Bradypodion ventrale, using Pacific Biosciences long-read sequencing data. BUSCO analysis revealed that 96.36% of single copy orthologs were present in the B. pumilum genome and 94% in B. ventrale. Moreover, these genomes boast scaffold N50 of 389.6 and 374.9 Mb, respectively. Based on a whole genome alignment of both Bradypodion genomes, B. pumilum is highly syntenic with B. ventrale. Furthermore, Bradypodion is also syntenic with Anolis lizards, despite the divergence between these lineages estimated to be nearly 170 Ma. Coalescent analysis of the genomic data also suggests that historical changes in effective population size for these species correspond to notable shifts in the southern African environment. These high-quality Bradypodion genome assemblies will support future research on the evolutionary history, diversification, and genetic underpinnings of adaptation in Bradypodion.


[Investigation of Ganciclovir Resistance in Cytomegalovirus Isolates by Phenotypic and Genotypic Methods].
Ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) strains are reported following long-term antiviral agent use, especially for immune-suppressive patients. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the mutations in the UL97 gene of CMV, which causes ganciclovir (GCV) resistance by genotypic and phenotypic methods in patients who developed CMV infection following hematopoietic cell (HCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). Thirty patients who had HCT or SOT in Mediterranean University Hospital and developed CMV infection during routine follow-up with a viral load of CMV over 1000 copies/mL were included in the study. CMV DNA was analyzed by an automated system (Cobas Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan CMV Test, Roche Diagnostics, Germany) quantitatively. DNA sequence analysis of the regions including codons 420-664 in the UL97 gene region was done by the Sanger sequencing method to detect mutations causing antiviral resistance and compared with defined mutations. In order to investigate antiviral resistance by phenotypic methods, heparinized blood samples of the patients were collected, 'buffy coat (leukocyte layer)' was inoculated into MRC-5 cells by centrifugation method and CMV growth in these cells was controlled with monoclonal antibodies when growth was detected, virus titer was determined and plaque reduction test was applied as recommended. It was determined that 22 of the 30 patients were HCT recipients and eight were SOT (five kidney, three liver) recipients. When the CMV serology pattern of the patients was evaluated before transplantation, 29 (96.7%) patients were found to be seropositive and one (3.3%) patient was found to be seronegative. Totally, nine CMV UL97 mutations were detected in seven (23.3%) pediatric patients who had HCT, including six seropositive and one seronegative case. In addition, one mutation (D605E) not known to cause GCV resistance was detected in a seronegative recipient and three previously unidentified mutations were detected (1474T, F499S, V559A) in a seronegative recipient. Five of the mutations defined were UL97 mutations with a defined clinical resistance against GCV in each of the five recipients (C603W, C592G, H520Q, M460V, A594T). In the plaque reduction test using 3 µM, 12 µM, 48 µM and 96 µM concentrations of GCV in CMV strains, the IC50 value was determined to be ≥ 8 µM for the five CMV strains, and the phenotypic presence of GCV resistance was shown. Clinical resistance associated with CMV UL97 mutation was detected in five (22.7%) of 22 patients who had HCT. GCV resistance was also demonstrated in these patients by phenotypic methods. No UL97 mutation was detected in the patients who had SOT.