[Investigating the Usefulness of Breath-holding Instructions by Change in the Room Light for the Hearing Impaired].
In imaging examinations of patients with hearing impairment, poor image quality due to poor respiratory arrest is a problem directly related to diagnostic imaging. Although there have been studies of non-sound instructions, there have been few quantitative studies using changes in brightness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether changes in room brightness can be used as a respiratory cessation indicator. Fourteen patients were imaged using the 2D FIESTA and LAVA-Flex methods on an MRI system under free respiration, voice-guided cessation of respiration (voice instruction), and room brightness change (light/dark instruction), and compared. The positional fluctuation of the top of the liver by the 2D FIESTA method showed a large positional fluctuation under free breathing, while the positional fluctuation was small under voice instruction and light/dark instruction. The images obtained by the LAVA-Flex method was significantly degraded by motion artifacts under free breathing, whereas there were fewer motion artifacts under voice instruction and light/dark instruction, and the two were the same with no significant difference in visual evaluation. The visual cessation of respiration instruction by changing the brightness of the room is as effective as the audible cessation of respiration instruction, suggesting that it can be applied clinically.


Heel-selfie for visualization and documentation of heel pressure ulcers.
"heel-selfie" is a method for examination and documentation of heel ulcers, particularly in patients with significant morbidity and impaired mobility. Images can be electronically saved and also be shared with caregivers.


Mu-opiate receptor binding is up-regulated in mice selectively bred for high stress-induced analgesia.
Pain perception and sensitivity to opiate analgesics strongly depend on genotype. Mice selectively bred for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia display markedly divergent morphine analgesia, a difference that appears to be determined by one or at the most two major genes. In an attempt to provide candidate genes mediating the supranormal analgesia displayed by HA mice, we performed mu-opiate receptor binding on 27th generation HA, LA, and control (C) mice using [3H]naloxone. HA mice were found to have significantly higher whole-brain receptor density (Bmax) than LA mice in whole brain homogenates; no significant difference in affinity (Kd) was observed. Quantitative autoradiography confirmed the line difference in whole-brain receptor binding. In the medial thalamus, a brain area implicated in ascending pathways of pain inhibition, HA mice were found to display significantly higher [3H]naloxone binding than C mice (a 64% increase) and LA mice (a 128% increase). No significant line differences were observed in any other brain locus. Thalamic mu receptors may therefore play an important role in a central 'volume control' mechanism of pain inhibition, and underlie individual differences in the responses of mice to opiate analgesic drugs.


Selection explanations of token traits.
The "negative view" is the claim that natural selection cannot explain why a particular individual has one trait, rather than another. Here, I modify an example from Lewens (2001) to show that this claim is sometimes false. I then advance a variation on the negative view. It is the claim that selection at the organism level within a lineage cannot explain why a particular individual in that lineage has one allele, rather than another. This formulation better describes the explanatory role of selection.


Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for 35 Patients with Adrenal Metastases: A Single-Institution Experience.
To investigate the clinical outcomes of hypofractionated radiotherapy for adrenal metastases. We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with adrenal metastases and treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy, who did not receive adrenalectomy or have disease progression after chemotherapy, from 2007 to 2019. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate local control rate (LCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Univariate analysis was performed using Log rank test. Thirty-five patients with 42 lesions were enrolled, and the lung was the most common primary site (80.0%). The median follow-up time was 46.4 months. The median volume of GTV and PTV was 23.2 cm3 (range: 3.5-97.8 cm3) and 38.3 cm3 (range: 10.2-135.6 cm3), respectively. The main dose regimens were 60 Gy delivered in 4-15 fractions, with the median dose of PTV being 60 Gy (range: 40-66.3 Gy) and the biologically effective dose (BED) being 84 Gy (range: 56-110 Gy). The 1-year and 2-year LCR, OS, and PFS were 92.7% and 88.1%, 76.9% and 45.4%, and 25.1% and 14.4%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that chemotherapy, disease-free interval from primary disease diagnosis to adrenal metastases diagnosis, and age were significant factors for LCR, OS, and PFS, respectively (p=0.017, 0.049, and 0.004, respectively). No more than grade III toxicities were observed. As a non-invasive approach, hypofractionated radiotherapy is safe and effective for metastatic adrenal lesions, without serious complications.


Flexible SERS Substrate with a Ag-SiO2 Cosputtered Film for the Rapid and Convenient Detection of Thiram.
It is very important to build uniform large-area dense hotspots to improve the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection limit. In our research, we designed and prepared a new flexibile SERS substrate with ultradense hot spots that has the advantages of high sensitivity, good repeatability, easy fabrication, and low cost. Due to the special dense hot spot structure, the substrate reaches a SERS enhancement factor of 2.1 × 1011. Because of the excellent physical stability of polydimethylsiloxane, the substrate can be bent at will, and the SERS performance will not change with bending. This is very important to extract effective detection objects on complex surfaces. The substrate has good light transmittance and softness and can be directly attached to the detected agricultural products to realize real-time and rapid SERS monitoring. This structure exhibits extraordinary performance for thiram detection in the ultralow concentration range of 10-13 M.


In vitro evaluation of Lactobacillus crispatus K313 and K243: high-adhesion activity and anti-inflammatory effect on Salmonella braenderup infected intestinal epithelial cell.
Currently, there is an increasing interest in the use of probiotics as an alternative strategy to antimicrobial compounds. In this study, two high adhesive strains Lactobacillus crispatus K313 adhering to HT-29 cells as well as Lb. crispatus K243 adhering to collagen type IV were isolated from chicken intestines. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed the presence of the potential S-proteins SlpA and SlpB in Lb. crispatus K243 and K313. SlpA and SlpB, rich in hydrophobic amino acids, were proved to be involved in adhering to collagen type IV and HT-29 cells, respectively, based on the LiCl treatment assay. After removal of S-proteins, the viability and tolerance of the two Lb. crispatus strains to simulated gastric and small intestinal juice were reduced, indicating the protective role of S-proteins against the hostile environments. Lb. crispatus K313 exhibited the stronger autoaggregation ability and inhibitive activity against Salmonella braenderup H9812 adhesion to HT-29 cells than the strain K243. To elucidate the inhibitive mechanism, cultured epithelial cells were exposed with Lb. crispatus strains, and followed by a challenge with S. braenderup H9812. The pro-inflammatory signaling factors (IL-8, CXCL1 and CCL20) from HT-29 were detected by real-time PCR technology. The results showed that both of Lb. crispatus strains down-regulated the transcription level of those pro-inflammatory genes induced by S. braenderup H9812 by 36.2-58.8%. ELISA analysis was further confirmed that Lb. crispatus K243 and K313 inhibited the IL-8 secretion triggered by S. braenderup H9812 by 32.8% and 47.0%, indicating that the two isolates could attenuate the pro-inflammatory signaling induced by S. braenderup H9812, and have the potential application in clinical practice to prevent diarrhea.


Cortisol, the cortisol-dehydroepiandrosterone ratio, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with current major depressive disorder comorbid with borderline personality disorder.
Major depression in young women is often comorbid with borderline personality disorder (BPD); however, adrenal steroids and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with comorbid current major depressive disorder and BPD (MDD/BPD) have not been systematically examined. Therefore, our study aimed at examining serum profiles of cortisol, cytokines, and the cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone (cortisol/DHEA) ratio in MDD/BPD patients and a healthy comparison group. Twelve medication-free female patients with MDD/BPD and 12 healthy women were included. Serum profiles of cortisol, DHEA, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta were sampled, and the molar cortisol/DHEA ratio was determined. Concentrations of serum cortisol, TNF-alpha, and IL-6, as well as the cortisol/DHEA ratios were significantly increased in MDD/BPD patients as compared with the healthy comparison group. Depressed patients with comorbid BPD display endocrine and immune alterations similar to those observed in cases of melancholic MDD without BPD. Elevated concentrations of serum cortisol, cortisol/DHEA ratios, and pro-inflammatory cytokines might indicate a state marker in these patients and might contribute to long-term metabolic alterations that have also been associated with MDD.


Assessment of gallic acid-modified fish gelatin formulations to optimize the mechanical performance of films.
In this study, a response surface methodology (RSM) using a Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize the mechanical response (tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus) of fish gelatin films. These responses were analyzed as a function of glycerol content (0-10% on gelatin basis), added as a plasticizer, gallic acid content (5-15% on gelatin basis), used as crosslinker, and solution pH (4.5-10). Second order polynomial models were adjusted for the three responses, and they were found to be reliable according to the standard statistical analysis. The values of the independent factors that maximize the responses were also determined. In order to relate mechanical performance to material structure, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was carried out and this revealed that a reaction occurs between gelatin and gallic acid through a process that releases water and provides a plasticizing effect. The performed time-, material- and cost-saving optimization of the formulation based on biodegradable compounds from abundant renewable resources enabled a sustainable approach to the development of new materials.


Synthesis of Strongly Fluorescent Imidazole Derivatives: Structure Property Studies, Halochromism and Fluorescent Photoswitching.
New series of methoxy and hydroxyl group substituted triphenylamine (TPA)-imidazole fluorescent molecules (5-(diphenylamino)-2-(1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)phenol (1), 5-(diphenylamino)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)phenol (2), 5-(diphenylamino)-2-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol (3), 5-(diphenylamino)-2-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol (4), N-(3-methoxy-4-(1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)-N-phenylbenzenamine (5), N-(3-methoxy-4-(1-phenyl-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)-N-phenylbenzene amine (6), and N-(3-methoxy-4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)-N-phenylbenzenamine (7)) have been synthesized that exhibited strong solution fluorescence and molecular structure and conformation controlled fluorescence photoswitching, solid state fluorescence and halochromism. Hydroxyl substituted molecules (1-4) showed moderate to strong fluorescence in solution depend on solvent polarity and very weak solid state fluorescence. Methoxy substituted molecules (5-7) displayed strong fluorescence both in solution and solid state. Solid state structural studies revealed strong intramolecular H-bonding in the crystal lattice. Interestingly, highly twisted structure (6) showed rare light induced reversible fluorescence switching in CHCl3. The observation of isobestic point in time dependent fluorescence photoswitching studies indicated structural isomer conversion. Further, acid sensitive imidazole nitrogen has been made use to demonstrate solid state fluorescence switching via halochromism. Thus the present studies attempted to develop new fluorescent molecules and establish structure-property relationship for designing fluorescence switching materials. Graphical Abstract Molecular structure controlled solid state fluorescence, halochromism and a rare fluorescence photoswitching in chloroform have been observed with triphenylamine-imidazole derivatives.


Independent elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] and pH of mammalian sperm by voltage-dependent and pH-sensitive mechanisms.
Previous work (Babcock, D. F., Rufo, G. A., and Lardy, H.A. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 1327-1331) established that increased cytosolic pH (pHi) promotes metabolic and swimming activity of bull sperm and that intracellular alkalinization results from elevated extracellular K+, presumably as a consequence of membrane depolarization. The present studies show that a persistent but reversible increase in [Ca2+]i accompanies the increase in pHi that similarly results from treatment of ram sperm with elevated [K+] in alkaline media. Because comparable increases in pHi occur in the presence or absence of external Ca2+ and because [Ca2+]i is unaltered by imposed changes in pHi alone, [Ca2+]i and pHi apparently are neither directly linked by transmembrane Ca2+/H+ exchange nor indirectly linked through Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchange under these conditions. Instead, inhibition of K+-induced increases in [Ca2+]i (but not of increases in pHi) by prenylamine, diltiazem, nifedipine, or verapamil (C1/2 = 6, 20, 30, and 60 microM, respectively) indicates that voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, distinct from previously described voltage-dependent effectors of pHi, operate in mammalian sperm to control [Ca2+]i. Treatment with Cs+ plus valinomycin (as an alternative method of membrane depolarization) increases pHi much more effectively than it increases [Ca2+]i, and thus also partially supports this contention. In contrast to an apparent insensitivity to pHi, K+-dependent increases in [Ca2+]i are promoted reversibly by elevation of pHo, probably reflecting local surface charge effects on channel activity (as suggested by patch-clamp studies in other systems). A selective increase in membrane permeability to Ca2+ that is induced by 12 mM NaF under nondepolarizing conditions is not a consequence of cellular aggregation, but is attenuated by the chelator deferoxamine, suggesting that GTP-binding protein additionally may couple sperm Ca2+ channels to surface receptors and promote channel opening during sperm capacitation, presumably in response to agonists produced within the mammalian female reproductive tract.


Goal-Directed Personalized Upper Limb Intensive Therapy (PULIT) for Children With Hemiparesis: A Retrospective Analysis.
Children with hemiparesis experience limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) as a result of upper limb impairments. To address these limitations, we developed a group-based Personalized Upper Limb Intensive Therapy (PULIT) program combining modified constraint-induced movement therapy, bimanual intensive therapy, and exergame-based robotics. To determine the effectiveness of PULIT in helping children with upper limb impairments achieve individually set goals and enable transfer of the attained motor skills into ADLs. Retrospective analysis. Day camp at a pediatric rehabilitation clinic in Switzerland. Twenty-three children with upper limb impairment (unilateral cerebral palsy, n = 16; acquired brain injury, n = 7); 13 boys and 10 girls (M age = 7 yr, 8 mo, SD = 2 yr, 1 mo; Manual Ability Classification System Level I-IV). Thirty hours of PULIT over the course of 8 days. Goal attainment scaling (GAS) was assessed on the first and last day of intervention. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and dexterity tests, such as the Box and Block Test (BBT), were administered 3 wk before and 3 wk after the intervention. Total goal achievement was 85.7%. GAS, parent- and child-rated COPM Performance and Satisfaction, and the BBT of the affected and dominant upper limb improved significantly. PULIT effectively increases children's dexterity of the impaired and dominant upper limb, improves ADL performance, and achieves individual goals. This retrospective analysis could serve as a basis for a future randomized trial. What This Article Adds: This article informs occupational therapy practitioners about a therapy program that includes conventional and rehabilitation technology interventions and enables children with hemiparesis of the upper limb to improve relevant ADL tasks in 8 days' time.


Resolvin D1 ameliorates hepatic steatosis by remodeling the gut microbiota and restoring the intestinal barrier integrity in DSS-induced chronic colitis.
The maintenance of intestinalmucosalbarrier function plays an important role in hepatic steatosis. Increasing evidence has shown that resolvin D1 (RVD1) exerts a potential effect on hepatic steatosis. The aims of this study were to explore the mechanisms of RVD1 on hepatic steatosis based on the gut-liver axis and intestinal barrier function. We established a DSS-induced chronic colitis model to evaluate hepatic steatosis. RVD1 was administered i.p. during the last 4 weeks. The colon and liver samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological analysis. The expression levels of intestinal tight junction genes and inflammatory genes were determined by quantitative PCR. The serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and LPS were measured, and the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RVD1 prevented weight loss, histopathological changes, and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, RVD1 administration attenuated DSS-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses in mice. In addition, RVD1 improved intestinal barrier function by increasing levels of tight junction molecules and decreasing the plasma LPS levels. The RVD1-treated mice also showed a different gut microbiota composition compared with found in the mice belonging to the DSS group but similar to that in normal chow diet-fed mice. RVD1 treatment ameliorates DSS-induced hepatic steatosis by ameliorating gut inflammation, improving intestinal barrier function and modulating intestinal dysbiosis.


Evaluation of vancomycin initial trough levels in children: A 1-year retrospective study.
Achieving vancomycin therapeutic levels is essential for antibacterial success and resistance prevention. Multiple studies have shown that most of the children fail to reach therapeutic trough levels (10-20 µg/mL). This study aims to determine the frequency of achieving therapeutic vancomycin initial trough levels in children, evaluate the effect of age on that achievement and the mean initial trough levels, and the frequency of supratherapeutic levels. Children aged 1 month to 12 years who received three or more vancomycin doses 15 mg/kg every 6 h while admitted at our hospital from February 2016 to January 2017, and had a level before the fourth dose were included. Cases with high baseline serum creatinine, acute kidney injury, and congenital heart disease were excluded. Out of 75 included cases, one third, 28/75 (37.3%), achieved goal. The lowest frequency was 6/28 (21.4%) of the 2-5 years group, which were statistically less likely to achieve, and had significantly lower mean initial trough than the 1-23 months group (P = 0.026 and 0.013, respectively). Mean initial trough levels were 10.1, 7.3, and 8.2 µg/mL in the 1-23 months, 2-5 years, and 6-12 years groups, respectively (P = 0.014). No supratherapeutic levels were observed. Vancomycin dose of 60 mg/kg/day is insufficient to attain target levels for most of the children. Children aged 2-5 years are the least likely to achieve and have the lowest mean levels. More intensified doses are warranted to be studied prospectively to identify the most effective empiric dose for children.


Influence of aquatic humus and pH on the uptake and depuration of cadmium by the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).
Uptake and release of cadmium by Atlantic salmon at the concentrations near the background values for fresh water have been studied using cadmium labelled with Cd-109. Cumulation constant and biological half-time of release were established for different concentrations of humus and values of pH. The uptake is strongly dependent on the concentration of humus, showing a pronounced maximum at a DOC concentration of 2.7 mg/l. Release of cadmium is relatively slow, the biological half-time exceeds one year in the water without humic substances. Calculated bioconcentration factors range from 130 to several thousands, which may explain the wide differences of bioconcentration factor reported for natural systems. A general equation enabling calculation of bioconcentration factors for various conditions has been derived. An attempt is done to discuss the results from the point of view of physico-chemical forms of cadmium in respective waters. The amount of cadmium adsorbed on the surface of the fish was proved to be insignificant when compared with total concentration of cadmium bioaccumulated in the fish.


Optimized CT Attenuation and SUV Prediction Thresholds for Differentiating Enostoses From Untreated and Treated Metastases on Attenuation-Corrected 18F-FDG PET/CT.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of using CT attenuation and SUVs to differentiate enostoses from untreated and treated osteoblastic metastases on the attenuation-correction CT component of F-FDG PET/CTs. We retrospectively reviewed F-FDG PET/CT studies of 117 patients (169 lesions), of which 65 had imaging of enostoses, and 52 had imaging showing the transition of lesions from untreated to treated osteoblastic metastases. We measured the mean CT attenuations and the SUVmax and SUVmean of each lesion. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to evaluate the accuracy of each metric in distinguishing enostoses from untreated and treated osteoblastic metastases. For differentiating enostoses from untreated osteoblastic metastases, mean CT attenuation achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 90.8%, with an optimized threshold of 795 HU. SUVmax achieved an AUC of 94.9%, with an optimized threshold of 2.2. For differentiating enostoses from treated osteoblastic metastases, the AUCs for every metric decreased, with mean CT attenuation being the best at 82.7%. A joint predictive model combining both CT attenuation and SUV increased the AUC to 88.3%, and performance was significantly better than SUVmax or SUVmean alone (P = 0.029 and P = 0.049, respectively). CT attenuation and SUV can reliably distinguish between enostoses and metastases on F-FDG PET/CT. However, the accuracy of these metrics decreases when used to differentiate enostoses from treated metastases. A joint prediction model combining CT attenuation with SUV can improve accuracy.


[Aorta-caval fistula as a complication to abdominal aorta aneurysm].
An 84 year-old man with a history of mild well-controlled hypertension was admitted acute with severe chest and epigastrial pains, radiation to the back and nausea lasting one hour under the diagnosis acute coronary syndrome. Acute computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen showed an 8 x 10 cm infrarenal abdominal aorta aneurysm with a 10 mm fistula through the wall of the aorta into the inferior caval vein.


Nationwide incidence of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and the status of multi-organ involvement.
This study aimed to investigate the incidence of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and the status of multi-organ involvement. This was a nationwide, population-based, cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Claims database. All patients with DM1 from the entire population aged ≤ 80 years were included. To identify possible systemic diseases along with DM1, we searched for concurrent codes for systemic diseases. To assess the recent status of systemic evaluation, concurrent codes for various diagnostic and treatment modalities were collected. Cumulative incidence during 2016-2019 was first evaluated then systemic evaluation for those patients was assessed during 2010-2019. A total of 387 patients (47.8% men) during the recent 4-year study period (2016-2019) were diagnosed with DM1. The cumulative incidence in the general population was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.77) per 100,000 persons. In newly developed incidental cases, cardiac involvement developed in 51.2%, pneumonia in 30.7%, diabetes in 26.9%, brain involvement in 18.1%, cataract in 13.7%, and cancers in 5.4% of total patients. Electrocardiography was performed in 93.8%, Holter in 33.9%, and echocardiography in 31.3% of the total patients for cardiac evaluation. The incidence estimates of DM1 in the Asian population were lower than those of Caucasians. This study provides the real situation of screening and treatment for systemic diseases related to DM1. These detailed estimates could promote an understanding of the current disease status and allow for appropriate planning within the healthcare system.


Rising from the RecQ-age: the role of human RecQ helicases in genome maintenance.
The RecQ helicases are guardians of the genome. Members of this conserved family of proteins have a key role in protecting and stabilizing the genome against deleterious changes. Deficiencies in RecQ helicases can lead to high levels of genomic instability and, in humans, to premature aging and increased susceptibility to cancer. Their diverse roles in DNA metabolism, which include a role in telomere maintenance, reflect interactions with multiple cellular proteins, some of which are multifunctional and also have very diverse functions. The results of in vitro cellular and biochemical studies have been complimented by recent in vivo studies using genetically modified mouse strains. Together, these approaches are helping to unravel the mechanism(s) of action and biological functions of the RecQ helicases.


Prevalence of Glucosamine and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Use and Characteristics of Users among Mid-Age Women: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample of 10,638 Women.
There has been a dramatic increase in the use of dietary supplements over the last few decades and both omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine are two of the best-selling dietary supplements in many countries. An understanding of omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine consumption is of significance to health care providers and for future health promotion activities. This research involved analysis of data collected from a nationally-representative sample of Australian women as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Participants' use of omega-3 fatty acids (FA), glucosamine, their demographics, health status and health care utilisation were measured. Analysis included logistic regression modelling. Of the 10,638 women in the study, 26.8% reported use of omega-3 FA and 15.9% glucosamine. Women with osteoarthritis (OR=2.529; 95% CI: 2.190, 2.921), other arthritis (OR= 1.618; 95% CI: 1.375, 1.905), and joint pain (OR= 2.699; 95% CI: 2.305, 3.160) were more likely to use glucosamine (all p<0.001). In contrast, those with diabetes (OR= 0.471; 95% CI: 0.343, 0.646) or depression (OR= 0.764; 95% CI: 0.657, 0.887) were less likely to use glucosamine (both p<0.001). Women with osteoarthritis (OR=1.481; 95% CI: 1.297, 1.691) and joint pain (OR= 1.456; 95% CI: 1.306, 1.622) were more likely to use omega-3 FA (all p<0.001). Substantial prevalence rates for use of glucosamine and omega-3 FA amongst mid-aged women highlights the need for health practitioners and policymakers to be mindful of the possible significant role of such supplement use as part of patient health-seeking behaviours.


Malaria in pregnancy: the relevance of animal models for vaccine development.
Malaria during pregnancy due to Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax is a major public health problem in endemic areas, with P. falciparum causing the greatest burden of disease. Increasing resistance of parasites and mosquitoes to existing tools, such as preventive antimalarial treatments and insecticide-treated bed nets respectively, is eroding the partial protection that they offer to pregnant women. Thus, development of effective vaccines against malaria during pregnancy is an urgent priority. Relevant animal models that recapitulate key features of the pathophysiology and immunology of malaria in pregnant women could be used to accelerate vaccine development. This review summarizes available rodent and nonhuman primate models of malaria in pregnancy, and discusses their suitability for studies of biologics intended to prevent or treat malaria in this vulnerable population.


Inhibition of the epinephrine-induced reduction of intraocular pressure by systemic indomethacin in humans.
In a prospective, randomized, double-masked study, 2% epinephrine applied topically twice each day for two weeks to the eyes of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension caused an 8.1 +/- 1.4-mm Hg (mean +/- S.E.M.) reduction of intraocular pressure in placebo-treated patients, but only a 1.9 +/- 0.6-mm Hg decrease in patients treated with 25 mg of orally administered indomethacin four times each day (P less than .0005). Systemic treatment with indomethacin for one week did not significantly increase intraocular pressure by itself (baseline, 19.7 +/- 0.6 mm Hg, vs 20.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg after indomethacin treatment). When indomethacin treatment was discontinued in those patients receiving topical epinephrine, there was a further significant (P less than .05) reduction in intraocular pressure compared with the placebo-treated group. Since the ocular hypotensive effect of topically applied epinephrine is inhibited by indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, these results suggest that this reduction of intraocular pressure is at least partially mediated by the endogenous production of prostaglandins, or other cyclo-oxygenase products, and that the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients undergoing epinephrine therapy may increase when systemic cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as indomethacin or aspirin are taken.


Inhibitory motor dysfunction in parkinson's disease subtypes.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is divided into postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) and tremor-dominant (TD) subtypes. Increasing evidence has suggested that the GABAergic neurotransmitter system is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. To evaluate the differences of GABA levels between PD motor subtypes using MEscher-GArwood Point Resolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS). COHORT.: SUBJECTS: PD patients were classified into PIGD (n = 13) and TD groups (n = 9); 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were also recruited. All subjects were right-handed. All subjects underwent an magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan including MEGA-PRESS at 3.0T. The detected GABA signal also contains signal from macromolecules (MM) and homocarnosine, so it is referred to as GABA+. GABA + levels and Creatine (Cr) levels were quantified in the left basal ganglia (BG) using Gannet 2.0 by Tao Gong. Differences in GABA + levels between the three groups were analyzed using analysis of covariance. The relationship between GABA levels and a unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) was also analyzed. GABA + levels were significantly lower in left BG regions of PD patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). In PD patients, the GABA concentration was lower in the TD group than the PIGD group (P = 0.019). Cr levels in PIGD and TD were lower than controls (P = 0.020; P = 0.002). A significant negative correlation was found in PIGD between GABA levels and UPDRS (r = -0.572, P = 0.041), while no correlation was found in TD (r = -0.339, P = 0.372). Low BG GABA levels in PD patients, and differences between PIGD/TD patients, suggest that GABAergic dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1610-1615.


Using sketchnoting as a revision aid with forensic students.
The concept of Sketchnoting was first introduced by Mike Rhode as a means of capturing information in a visual form using a combination of the visual and words. Within Higher Education a Sketchnote can be used to record or summarise key points from a body of information using a combination of words, simple pictures, layout and graphics. Creating a Sketchnote allows a student to be able summarise key facts from a presentation, journal article, book or practical session in a visual manner that is easier to recall at a later time. This research looks at the use of Sketchnoting as a form of interactive revision during class time. Students undertaking a 1st Year Forensic Science module at (Teesside University) University were asked to Sketchnote their learning after each hour of lecture time to form a visual representation of the lecture content in order to create a visual revision aid for their upcoming examination. The process of Sketchnoting combines both verbal and visual information for improved recall - the students are listening to the lecture then visually representing what they learn. The resulting Sketchnotes were shared each week via a class Padlet, this also allowed the academic to add formative feedback in the form of further information about the evidence type represented. The students were also able to keep their individual Sketchnotes and form a revision "book" from them. Students described the task as "Helpful", "Refreshing" and "Creative" with approximately half the class stating they would be using this as a future revision process for exams. A preliminary analysis of the exam results demonstrated a marked increase in the lower grade boundaries for the group of students who undertook the Sketchnoting exercise.


Cellular and humoral inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro and recovery from acute malaria.
Both mononuclear cell cytotoxicity and serum inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro were found to vary according to the stage of infection in Gambian children with clinical malaria. Cytotoxicity was displayed by mononuclear cells and serum from children with acute malaria but this form of parasite killing was more effective in children with low grade P. falciparum infections of at least 10 days duration. Parasite inhibitory antibody was not evident in sera from acutely infected children but was found in sera from children recovering from malaria and reached a peak in convalescent children when P. falciparum growth was inhibited by at least 50%. The humoral response in convalescent children was strain related, being more effective against the most recent infecting parasite strain than against other 'wild' P. falciparum isolates. In contrast, mononuclear cell cytotoxicity was not strain related; when effective, multiplication of all parasite isolates tested was retarded to the same degree. The discussion considers the role of mononuclear cell cytotoxicity in the development of protective immunity and suggests that it may be a 'front line' defense mechanism during each malaria attack.


Characteristics, sources of volatile organic compounds, and their contributions to secondary air pollution during different periods in Beijing, China.
Continuous measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and related parameters were conducted between April 2020 and March 2021 in Beijing, China, to characterize potential sources of VOCs and their impacts on secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) and O3 levels. The annual average mixing ratio of VOCs was 17.4 ± 10.1 ppbv, with monthly averages ranging from 11.6 to 25.2 ppbv. According to the empirical kinetic modeling approach (EKMA), O3 formation during O3 season was "VOCs-limited", while it was in a "transition" regime during O3 pollution episodes. In the O3 season, higher ozone formation potential (OFP) of m/p-xylene, o-xylene, toluene, isopentane, and n-butane were evident during O3 pollution episodes, in line with the increasing contributions of solvent usage and coating, as well as gasoline evaporation to OFP obtained through a matrix factorization model (PMF). Aromatics contributed the most to the secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP). In the non-O3 season, the contribution of vehicle exhaust to SOAFP elevated on hazy days, thereby revealing the importance of traffic-derived VOCs for PM2.5 pollution. Our results indicate that the prior control of different VOC sources should vary by season, thereby facilitating the synergistic control of O3 and PM2.5 in Beijing.


Complications following implant removal in patients with proximal femur fractures - an observational study over 16 years.
Fractures of the proximal femur commonly occur but the majority of orthopaedic surgeons do not consider general hardware removal as a routine necessity. Indications and time interval for hardware removal in this special selected patient group is still controversial. Therefore we performed a retrospective study to address the following questions: 1) Is there a difference between the medically- (infection, mechanical problems, implant failure) and non-medically indicated group (patients demand, meteoro-sensitivity, foreign body sensation) in relation to complications? 2) Is there a correlation regarding time interval between implantation and removal comparing these two groups? 3) Is there a context related refracture rate? 4) Should non-medically indicated implant removal (IR) be performed due to persistent pressure from the patient? We hypothesized that non-medically indicated implant removals should be avoided due to a significantly higher number of associated complications. A total of 371 consecutive patients with 424 hardware removal procedures following a proximal femur fracture, between 08/1992 and 11/2008, have been included. Study population was divided into two groups according to their indication for implant removal: medically indicated group (MIR) consisted of 299 patients (80.59%) and 72 patients (19.41%) were assigned to the non-medically indicated (NMIR) group. In the NMIR subgroup a total of (n = 21) 28% complications occurred compared to 11.46% in the MIR subgroup; (P < 0.005), 86.51% of IR in the MIR group were performed within 1.5 years, compared to 79.17% in the NMIR group after 2 to 3.5 years (NS). In the MIR group 1 refracture occurred, compared to 4 in the NMIR group (NS). Non-medically indicated implant removal should be avoided due to the higher complication rate of 28%. Surgeons and patients should be aware of the imminent complications and therefore implant removal should only be performed for good medical reasons. Level IV. Historical case study.


A prospective study comparing modified foreskin reconstruction versus circumcision with tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal and mid penile hypospadias.
In Asian countries and the Hispanic populations, parents of many hypospadias patient demands prepuce to be saved. Foreskin reconstruction is a technique for achieving the nearly natural appearance of hypospadias penis. In most distal and selected mid-penile hypospadias it may be performed. Numerous specialists, however, support circumcision for the concern that foreskin reconstruction may endanger the repair of urethroplasty leading to the risk of formation of fistulas. To evaluate the surgical complications and outcome of modified foreskin reconstruction (MFR) versus circumcision with tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal and mid penile hypospadias. This prospective comparative study included 80 children with distal and mid penile hypospadias treated from 2017 to 2019 in tertiary referral hospital. Group 1, n = 40 underwent TIPU and MFR, and Group 2 included 40 patients for TIPU with circumcision. In group 1, patients ranged from 2.2 to 6.5 years (mean 4.6 ± 1.52 years) and in group 2 ranged 2.6-7 years (mean 4.59 ± 1.43 years). Specific to group 1 preputial edema was seen in 29 patients at 2nd weeks, completely disappeared by 8thweek. Retraction of prepuce was possible in 18 patients by 21 days and all but one by 6 months Foreskin wound gaping was seen in 1 at day 12 postoperatively and was repaired subsequently. Meatal stenosis was seen in one in both group, responded to urethral dilation by 6 weeks. Three patients from group 1 and 2 from group 2 developed urethral fistula which was subsequently closed. The complication rate was not statistically significant. Secondary phimosis was not seen in this study. A wide preputial opening was achieved during reconstruction in all patients in group 1. One of the notable features, the absence of the prepuce, makes the patient conscious of the surgical procedure they had undergone. The specific complication of the preputial reconstruction is the presence of a non-retractile prepuce at the end of the surgery, secondary phimosis, preputial wound gaping, and dehiscence. In some patients, the distal portion of the prepuce becomes narrow, after vertical reconstruction. To prevent phimosis, the technique was improvised by taking transverse sutures in the distal part combined with midline approximation of the foreskin. This widens the preputial ring enabling smooth retraction of the reconstructed prepuce. TIPU with MFR is an effective procedure for distal and selected mid penile hypospadias without increasing urethroplasty complications.


Occurrence of factor V Leiden mutation (Arg506Gln) and anticardiolipin antibodies in migraine patients.
The occurrences of factor V Leiden mutation (Arg506Gln) and antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) in migraine patients have been reported, but the findings are controversial. We investigated the presence of factor V Leiden and the serum level of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in a consecutive series of 70 migraine patients (47 women; mean age, 34.1 years). Of these, 40 patients had migraine with aura. A matched sample of 70 healthy people was considered as the control group. Heterozygous genotype for factor V Leiden mutation was detected in 4 (5.7%) migraine patients (of which 2 had migraine with aura) and in 2 (2.8%) subjects of the control group. Although proportionally more migraine patients harbored the factor V Leiden mutation, this difference was not statistically significant, perhaps due to the small number of patients involved. We found normal serum levels of aCL in all migraine patients. Further studies and a long-term follow-up are warranted to determine the significance of this genetic abnormality in migraine.


Field ecology of a brood-caring dung beetleKheper nigroaeneus-habitat predictability and life history strategy.
The life history strategy of the dung beetleKheper nigroaeneus was studied in Mkuzi Game Reserve, South Africa.K. nigroaeneus, a large ball-rolling dung beetle, brood-cares a single offspring per nesting occasion. Adults emerged from the ground following the first spring rain (≥17 mm) in October or November, occasionally September, and trap catches were at a maximum 1-2 weeks later. Females outnumbered males by 3:1 at the time of maximum catches, but thereafter declined steadily, as the numbers of females involved in brood-care increased. Brood-care lasted 12 weeks, and parental females then (a) entered a second brood-care period, or (b) remained underground in diapause, or (c) emerged to feed. Reproductive activity stopped after February, ensuring that the entire population reached the adult stage by winter. Females active above ground after February, in reproductive diapause, had low fat levels and resorbed oocytes. Females buried underground, in reproductive diapause prior to and during winter, had high fat levels, resorbed oocytes, a reduced metabolic rate and empty guts. The Mkuzi habitat is predictable forK. nigroaeneus in spring, since only one good fall of rain is sufficient to drive population events for the next three months. In the latter half of the season the life history ofK. nigroaeneus is more flexible, and hence less constrained by climate.


A comprehensive review on sources, analysis and toxicity of environmental pollutants and its removal methods from water environment.
Natural and human anthropogenic activities increase the concentration of the toxic pollutant in the water environment; they could cause harmful effects even in their lower concentration. In humans, toxic pollutants damage the structural and functional properties of essential organs including the heart, liver, kidneys, reproductive systems and pancreas. To avoid the toxicity of the pollutant, they should be removed from the water environment. Since various conventional water/wastewater treatment technologies including precipitation, ion exchange, flocculation, filtration, electrodialysis and membrane separation are employed to reduce the concentration of the pollutant, they have various difficulties in implementation, efficiency and ecological perspective. Therefore, several researchers are now focusing on alternative and eco-friendly approach called biosorption to remove toxic contaminants from the water environment. The biosorption innovation is one of the acclaimed systems for water treatment. The noteworthy endeavours have been made throughout the years to grow profoundly particular and effective biosorbent materials that are more effective, abundantly available, and cost-effective. Biosorption is effectively executed by utilizing both living and dead biomasses of bacteria, fungi and algae. Moreover, agro-waste materials are also utilized as biosorbents due to their excellent surface properties, abundant availability and cost-effectiveness. A variety of physical and chemical treatments enhances the biosorption capabilities of biosorbents via modifying their surface properties. In this review, biosorption mechanism, influencing parameters and application of biosorbent materials towards the removal of toxic pollutants are discussed. The future research opportunities for sustainable wastewater treatment were also explained.


WNK1 mediates amphiregulin-induced MMP9 expression and cell invasion in human extravillous trophoblast cells.
The invasion of human extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells is a critical event required for a successful pregnancy. Amphiregulin, a ligand of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been shown to stimulate cell invasion in an immortalized human EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo. The with-no-lysine kinase 1 (WNK1) is involved in regulating cell invasion. It is known that WNK1 is expressed in the human placenta, but its role in human EVT cells remains unknown. In the present study, we show that AREG treatment phosphorylated WNK1 at Thr60 in both HTR-8/SVneo and primary human EVT cells. The stimulatory effect of AREG on WNK1 phosphorylation was mediated by the activation of PI3K/AKT, but not the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. AREG upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) but not MMP2. In addition, cell invasiveness was increased in response to the treatment of AREG. Using the siRNA-mediated knockdown approach, our results showed that the knockdown of WNK1 attenuated the AREG-induced upregulation of MMP9 expression and cell invasion. Moreover, the expression of WNK1 was downregulated in the placentas with preeclampsia, a disease resulting from insufficiency of EVT cell invasion during pregnancy. This study discovers the physiological function of WNK1 in human EVT cells and provides important insights into the regulation of MMP9 and cell invasion in human EVT cells.


Bone age, mineral density, and fatigue damage.
The most plausible purpose for bone remodeling is to prevent excessive aging of bone, which can cause osteocyte death and increase susceptibility to fatigue microdamage. The age of any particular volume of bone depends on two factors: the probability of remodeling beginning on the nearest bone surface, which is given by the local activation frequency; and the probability of a particular remodeling event penetrating to a specified distance from the surface. These two probabilities can be combined in a mathematical model. According to the model, within about 40 microns from the surface, the rate of surface remodeling is the main determinant of bone age, but beyond 40 microns, the distance from the surface becomes progressively more important. Beyond 75 microns, the bone is essentially isolated from surface remodeling. Application of the model to subjects with and without vertebral fracture indicated that the proportion of iliac cancellous bone with a mean age greater than 20 years was less than 20% in all the control subjects without fracture, but was more than 20% in about one-third of the patients with fracture. Bone age is a major determinant of the degree of mineralization, so that osteoporotic patients with prolonged bone age should have bone of higher true mineral density. Accordingly, mineral density distribution was determined by scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron imaging, calibrated in terms of atomic number.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The cichlid pharyngeal jaw novelty enhances evolutionary integration in the feeding apparatus.
The modified pharyngeal jaw system of cichlid fishes is widely viewed as a key innovation that substantially facilitated the evolutionary exuberance of this iconic evolutionary radiation. We conduct comparative phylogenetic analyses of integration, disparity, and rate of evolution among feeding-related, skeletal structures in Neotropical cichlids and North American centrarchids, which lack the specialized pharyngeal jaw. Contrasting evolutionary patterns in these two continental radiations, we test a classic decoupling hypothesis. Specifically, we ask whether the modified pharyngeal jaw in cichlids resulted in enhanced evolutionary independence of the oral and pharyngeal jaws, leading to increased diversity of trophic structures. Contrary to this prediction, we find significantly stronger evolutionary integration between the oral and pharyngeal jaws in cichlids compared to centrarchids, although the two groups do not differ in patterns of integration within each jaw system. Further, though we find no significant differences in disparity, centrarchids show faster rates of morphological evolution. Our results suggest that the modified pharyngeal jaw resulted in less evolutionary independence and slower rates of evolution within the feeding system. Thus, we raise the possibility that the cichlid novelty enhances feeding performance, but does not prompt increased morphological diversification within the feeding apparatus, as has long been thought.


Cerebral Oxygenation and Autoregulation in Preterm Infants (Early NIRS Study).
To determine if decreased cerebral oxygenation or altered cerebral autoregulation as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the first 96 postnatal hours is associated with an increased risk of death or severe neuroradiographic abnormalities in very preterm infants. The Early NIRS prospective, multicenter study enrolled very preterm infants with a birth weight of <1250 g from 6 tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral oxygen saturation (Csat) were continuously monitored using a neonatal sensor until 96 hours of age. Moving window correlations between Csat and mean arterial blood pressure determined time periods with altered cerebral autoregulation, and percentiles of correlation were compared between infants with and without the adverse outcome of mortality or severe neuroradiographic abnormalities by early cranial ultrasound. Of 103 subjects with mean gestational age of 26 weeks, 21 (20%) died or had severe neuroradiographic abnormalities. Infants with adverse outcomes had a lower mean Csat (67 ± 9%) compared with those without adverse outcomes (72 ± 7%; P = .02). A Csat of <50% was identified as a cut-point for identifying infants with adverse outcome (area under the curve, 0.76). Infants with adverse outcomes were more likely to have significant positive or negative correlations between Csat and mean arterial blood pressure, indicating impaired cerebral autoregulation (P = .006). Early NIRS monitoring may detect periods of lower cerebral oxygenation and altered cerebral autoregulation, identifying preterm infants at risk for mortality or neuroradiographic injury. An improved understanding of the relationship between altered hemodynamics and cerebral oxygenation may inform future strategies to prevent brain injury.


Risk Factors for Dysphagia and the Impact on Outcome After Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Despite the tremendous impact of swallowing disorders on outcome following ischemic stroke, little is known about the incidence of dysphagia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its contribution to hospital complications, length of intensive care unit stay, and functional outcome. This is a retrospective analysis of an ongoing prospective cohort study. Swallowing ability was assessed in consecutive non-traumatic SAH patients admitted to our neurological intensive care unit using the Bogenhausen Dysphagia Score (BODS). A BODS > 2 points indicated dysphagia. Functional outcome was assessed 3 months after the SAH using the modified Rankin Scale with a score > 2 defined as poor functional outcome. Two-hundred and fifty consecutive SAH patients comprising all clinical severity grades with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range 47-67) were eligible for analysis. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 86 patients (34.4%). Factors independently associated with the development of dysphagia were poor clinical grade on admission (Hunt & Hess grades 4-5), SAH-associated parenchymal hematoma, hydrocephalus, detection of an aneurysm, and prolonged mechanical ventilation (> 48 h). Dysphagia was independently associated with a higher rate of pneumonia (OR = 4.32, 95% CI = 2.35-7.93), blood stream infection (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 2.0-9.4), longer ICU stay [14 (8-21) days versus 29.5 (23-45) days, p < 0.001], and poor functional outcome after 3 months (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.49-6.39). Dysphagia is a frequent complication of non-traumatic SAH and associated with poor functional outcome, infectious complications, and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit. Early identification of high-risk patients is needed to timely stratify individual patients for dysphagia treatment.


Worldwide clinical data on efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin.
During the clinical trials 8,861 patients have been treated with ciprofloxacin worldwide. 3,822 of the therapeutic courses were valid for analysis of efficacy according to FDA standards. The following dosages were usually administered: UTI: 100 to 500 mg twice daily orally or 100 mg twice daily intravenously; RTI: 250 to 1000 mg twice daily orally or 200 mg twice daily intravenously; septicemia: 200 mg intravenously twice daily; gonorrhea: 250 to 500 mg single tablet orally; all other infections: 500 to 1000 mg twice daily orally or 200 mg twice daily intravenously. Ciprofloxacin was administered to 762 courses of lower RTI, 88 courses of upper RTI, 108 courses of bacteremia, 766 courses of skin structure infection, 142 courses of bone and joint infections, 149 courses of intra-abdominal infections, 33 courses of gastrointestinal infections, 1,633 courses of UTI, 49 courses of pelvic infections, 279 courses of STD, mainly gonorrhea, and three courses of meningitis. The clinical response was resolution in 76%, improvement in 18% and failure in only 6%. Bacteriologic response by all sites evaluable: pathogens were eradicated from 74%, markedly reduced in 2%, persisted in 10%. Relapse occurred in 4% and reinfection was observed in another 6%. The overall response was favourable for 90% of the patients. Drug safety was established on a data base of 8,861 courses worldwide. The following side-effects according to COSTART terminology were observed: digestive 5%, metabolic nutritional 4.6%, central nervous 1.6%, skin 1.4%, hemic and lymphatic 1%, cardiovascular 0.4%, body as a whole 0.4%, urogenital 0.3%, special senses 0.3%, musculo-skeletal 0.1%, respiratory 0.08%. Several courses had more than one reaction. Thus the total incidence of side-effects for the treated patient population was 10.2%. Ciprofloxacin is a highly effective drug and a breakthrough in several areas of medical interest. It is relatively safe and side-effects are usually mild or moderate in intensity and transient.


Post-cesarean section laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the time of cesarean section is novel in medicine. It is safe, feasible, and cost-effective. A 29-year-old G3P2 + 0 woman had two previous cesarean sections. She was pregnant at 32 weeks. The fetus had anencephaly. She had acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy done at the time of termination of pregnancy by cesarean section. In a critical period, such as acute cholecystitis, the combination of laparoscopic cholecystectomy immediately post cesarean section is effective if the surgeon is highly qualified and experienced.


Seasonal and inter-annual variation in the chlorophyll content of three co-existing Sphagnum species exceeds the effect of solar UV reduction in a subarctic peatland.
We measured chlorophyll (chl) concentration and chl a/b ratio in Sphagnum balticum, S. jensenii, and S. lindbergii, sampled after 7 and 8 years of ultraviolet-B (UVB) and temperature manipulation in an open field experiment in Finnish Lapland (68°N). We used plastic filters with different transmittance of UVB radiation to manipulate the environmental conditions. The plants were exposed to (1) attenuated UVB and increased temperature, (2) ambient UVB and increased temperature and (3) ambient conditions. Chlorophyll was extracted from the capitula of the mosses and the content and a/b ratio were measured spectrophotometrically. Seasonal variation of chlorophyll concentration in the mosses was species specific. Temperature increase to 0.5-1 °C and/or attenuation of solar UVB radiation to ca. one fifth of the ambient (on average 12 vs. 59 uW/cm(2)) had little effect on the chlorophyll concentration or its seasonal variation. In the dominant S. lindbergii, UVB attenuation under increased temperature led to a transient decrease in chlorophyll concentration. Altogether, species-specific patterns of seasonal chlorophyll variation in the studied Sphagna were more pronounced than temperature and UVB treatment effects.


Effects of air-polishing devices with different abrasives on bovine primary and second teeth and deciduous human teeth.
The present study investigates the effect of air polishing using different combinations of devices and abrasive powders on bovine secondary and primary dentition and on human deciduous teeth. Lower incisors of freshly slaughtered calves and cows were partially embedded in polyurethane and polished flat. Human deciduous incisors and second molars were subjected to the same procedure. These various tooth types (bovine secondary, bovine primary, human deciduous) were then randomly assigned to 22 groups containing 10 teeth each. The specimens in each group were treated by a specific combination of an air-polishing device (n=2; PROPHYflex 3®, Air-Flow® Handy 2+) and an abrasive (n=3; Air-Flow® Pulver Classic, ClinPro™ Prophy Powder, PROPHYpearls®) applied from a distance of 5±0.5 mm at maximum setting for 60 s. Additional groups of specimens were polished with CCS® 40 or Cleanic® pastes applied with a rotating brush at low speed. A Perthometer PCV profilometer was used to analyze the degrees of surface roughness and enamel reduction in each group. PROPHYpearls® created significantly (p<0.05; t-test) more surface roughness and enamel reduction than both Air-Flow® and ClinPro™. There was no significant difference between the latter two abrasives. Any surface changes created by blasting or polishing were significantly (p<0.05; t-test) smaller on the bovine secondary teeth than on bovine primary or human deciduous teeth, with no significant difference between the latter two. The degrees of surface roughness induced by air polishing surpassed the effect of CCS® 40 paste but resembled the effect of Cleanic® paste. Both Air-Flow® Handy 2+ and PROPHYflex 3® are appropriate devices to remove plaque and discoloration from the surface of deciduous teeth. PROPHYpearls® powder is excessively aggressive.


Shorter GT repeats in the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter are associated with a lower severity score in coronary artery disease.
The glutathione thymidine repeats [(GT)n] of the heme oxygenase (HO)-1 gene promoter have been shown to be correlated with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD), patients with shorter repeats being less likely to have CAD. In this study, we investigated whether (GT)n repeats in the HO-1 promoter were related to a quantitative angiographic severity of CAD. The allele frequency of the HO-1 gene promoter (GT)n repeats was examined in CAD patients with de novo lesions (n = 328). Patients' baseline coronary severity was quantified using the Jeopardy scoring system. The allele frequency of GT repeats in the HO-1 gene promoter had bimodal peaks at (GT)23 and (GT)30. Therefore, we defined allele classes as follows: S allele (<23 repeats), M allele (23-29 repeats), and L allele (≥ 30 repeats). The group with severe CAD (Jeopardy score ≥ 8) had a significantly lower frequency of the S allele (3.7% vs. 8.9%; p = 0.042) than the group with moderate CAD (Jeopardy score <8). None of the patient with the highest score of 12 (n = 17) carried the class S allele. In a multivariate binary logistic analysis, being a carrier of shorter GT repeats was a significant negative predictor (odds ratio 0.393; p = 0.024) of a higher Jeopardy score grade of CAD. Our study showed that shorter (GT)n repeat in the HO-1 gene promoter were associated with a lower Jeopardy severity score in patients with significant CAD.


Extinction of conditioned opiate withdrawal in rats in a two-chambered place conditioning apparatus.
Conditioned opiate withdrawal contributes to relapse in addicts and can be studied in rats by using the opiate withdrawal-induced conditioned place aversion (OW-CPA) paradigm. Attenuation of conditioned withdrawal through extinction may be beneficial in the treatment of addiction. Here we describe a protocol for studying OW-CPA extinction using a two-chambered place conditioning apparatus. Rats are made dependent on morphine through subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets and then are trained to acquire OW-CPA through pairings of one chamber with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal and the other chamber with saline. Extinction training consists of re-exposures to both chambers in the absence of precipitated withdrawal. Rats tested after the completion of training show a decline in avoidance of the formerly naloxone-paired chamber with increasing numbers of extinction training sessions. The protocol takes a minimum of 7 d; the exact duration varies with the amount of extinction training, which is determined by the goals of the experiment.


Distribution of proteins migrating with fast axonal transport. Their relationship to smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
The cross-sectional distribution of 3H-labeled proteins moving with the front and plateau of fast axonal transport was analyzed by quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography in sciatic nerves of rats following injection of a 1:1 mixture of [3H]proline and [3H]lysine into lumbar ventral horns. While in the front the transported proteins were uniformly distributed within the axons excluding the axolemma, which was not labeled, in the plateau 90% of 3H-labeled proteins were uniformly distributed and 10% were exclusively located at a 80-nm annulus with its outer edge at the axolemma. Ultrastructural morphometry showed that the density of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in a 160 nm wide subaxolemmal annulus was approximately twice that in the remaining axon, where it was uniform. These findings: (a) are consistent with the concept that membranous materials are released from the fast transport, move laterally and are inserted into the axolemma; (b) indicate that a portion of SER, largely located at the periphery of the axon, is not involved in fast transport.


A minimal receptor-Ig chimera of human FcepsilonRI alpha-chain efficiently binds secretory and membrane IgE.
We constructed a soluble minimal receptor-Ig chimera in which the two extracellular domains of human Fcepsilonhain (D1 and D2) were fused to the dimerizing C-terminal domain of human IgG1 heavy chain (gamma1-CH3). The protein was expressed and actively secreted by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells as a fully glycosylated soluble dimeric protein. It showed efficient binding both to human membrane-bound IgE isoforms and to the two secretory IgE isoforms. Moreover, the dimeric receptor binds IgE with the expected 1:2 stoichiometry. The receptor-Ig chimera, in 2-fold molar excess, inhibited engagement of secretory IgE to rat basophilic leukemia cells expressing the human alphabetagamma receptor. Full self-nature and inability to bind Fcgamma receptors make this protein an attractive candidate for clinical applications and a novel biotechnological tool for atopic allergy research.


Soluble CD23 (sCD23) serum levels and lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood in rhinitis and extrinsic and intrinsic asthma.
To determine serum levels of IgE and sCD23 and lymphocyte subpopulations, we studied 37 control subjects and 84 patients (27 with allergic rhinitis, 27 with extrinsic asthma, and 30 with intrinsic asthma). A rise in surface CD23 on B and monocyte cells and sCD23 serum levels was exhibited by patients with rhinitis and extrinsic asthma. Unexpectedly, in intrinsic asthmatic patients, high CD23 expression on monocytes and high sCD23 levels were seen that did not result in IgE production. It appears that CD23, in its soluble form, could be a good disease marker, especially in asthma. Atopic patients yielded a significantly lower proportion of CD4+ T cells than intrinsic asthmatic patients and normal persons. Otherwise, CD4+CD29+CD45RA- and CD4+CD29-CD45RA T-cell subsets were significantly decreased in all patient groups.


Adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution by polyacrylic acid grafted magnetic chitosan nanocomposite.
A creative combination of chitosan with polyacrylic acid (PAA) improves the acidity resistance of chitosan and increases its potential in the field of adsorption. In order to facilitate recovery, magnetic nanoparticles were incorporated in CS-PAA to obtain a magnetic-CS-PAA (MCS-PAA) nanocomposite. The physical and chemical characteristics of the composite adsorbent MCS-PAA were determined by SEM, TEM, FTIR, EDX, XRD, and XPS. This environmental-friendly, magnetic, composite adsorbent showed significantly better adsorption performance than those of the individual adsorbents alone. The maximal adsorption capacity was 204.89 mg/g according to the Langmuir isotherm model, when the concentration of Pb(II) was 100 mg/L at the equilibrium time of 70 min. The main adsorption mechanism was the complexation between the carboxyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups in MCS-PAA and Pb(II). Further, introduction of PAA also improved the acid resistance of CS. The new adsorbent MCS-PAA is thus expected to facilitate a wider range of applications for chitosan in the adsorption of Pb(II).


Regional deep hypothermia of the spinal cord protects against ischemic injury during thoracic aortic cross-clamping.
We tested in pigs the hypothesis that regional deep hypothermia of the spinal cord achieved by cerebrospinal fluid cooling will protect against ischemic injury during thoracic aortic cross-clamping. Eight control animals underwent aortic cross-clamping at the distal aortic arch and just above the diaphragm for 30 minutes. Eight experimental animals had placement of two subarachnoid perfusion catheters through laminectomies at T4 and the lower lumbar region. The subarachnoid space was perfused with normal saline solution at 6 degrees C delivered by gravity infusion, with infusion rates adjusted to maintain cord temperatures at less than 20 degrees C. After 30 minutes of aortic cross-clamping, the infusion was stopped and the cord allowed to warm to body temperature. Hind limb neurologic function was graded by Tarlov's scale. All of the animals in the control group had complete hind limb paraplegia (Tarlov grade 0) postoperatively. Seven of the 8 animals in the experimental group had preservation of hind limb motor function (Tarlov grade 2), and 1 animal had complete hind limb paraplegia (Tarlov grade 0) (p = 0.002, Fisher's exact test). We conclude that regional deep hypothermia of the spinal cord in pigs does provide some protection from ischemic injury during thoracic aortic cross-clamping. Clinically this may be a useful adjunct for prevention of paraplegia during thoracic aortic operations.


Mechanistic modelling of the drying behaviour of single pharmaceutical granules.
The trend to move towards continuous production processes in pharmaceutical applications enhances the necessity to develop mechanistic models to understand and control these processes. This work focuses on the drying behaviour of a single wet granule before tabletting, using a six-segmented fluidised bed drying system, which is part of a fully continuous from-powder-to-tablet manufacturing line. The drying model is based on a model described by Mezhericher et al. and consists of two submodels. In the first drying phase (submodel 1), the surface water evaporates, while in the second drying phase (submodel 2), the water inside the granule evaporates. The second submodel contains an empirical power coefficient, β. A sensitivity analysis was performed to study the influence of parameters on the moisture content of single pharmaceutical granules, which clearly points towards the importance of β on the drying behaviour. Experimental data with the six-segmented fluidised bed dryer were collected to calibrate β. An exponential dependence on the drying air temperature was found. Independent experiments were done for the validation of the drying model.


A micromilled microgrid sensor with delaminated MXene-bismuth nanocomposite assembly for simultaneous electrochemical detection of lead(II), cadmium(II) and zinc(II).
A delaminated MXene-bismuth (Bi@d-Ti3C2) nanocomposite was synthesized for the construction of a microgrid electrochemical sensor via mechanical milling. The Bi@d-Ti3C2 nanocomposite was synthesized by accumulation of Bi(III) on the surface of delaminated Ti3C2 nanosheets through electrostatic attraction and subsequent in-situ growth of bismuth nanorods. Under optimized experimental conditions, the sensor exhibits (a) linear responses to Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) in the concentration range from 1 to 20 μg L-1, (b) well separated peak potentials at -0.54 V, -0.76 V and - 1.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl, (c) sensitivities of 0.98, 0.84 and 0.60 μA L μg-1, and (d) detection limits of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 μg L-1, respectively. This performance is attributed to the uniform dispersion of Bi nanorods on electrically conductive delaminated Ti3C2 MXene, and to the enhanced diffusion due to the microgrid structure. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of a microgrid sensor based on delaminated MXene-bismuth (Bi@d-Ti3C2) nanocomposite for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II).


Animated video development COVID-19 prevention and management for anxiety among older adults in Indonesia.
Rapid increase in information on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to an infodemic that exposes older adults to a greater risk of anxiety. To develop an animated educational video for COVID-19 prevention and management and evaluate its feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in improving knowledge and anxiety levels among older adults. A pilot test of feasibility and preliminary effectiveness was conducted in three phases: expert agreement, content validation, and video creation. An intervention group received an animated educational video, whereas a control group received an educational leaflet. A total of 126 respondents were recruited from 15 community health centers in Indonesia. Results showed that knowledge of intervention group respondents about COVID-19 misinformation improved, and anxiety levels significantly decreased after watching the video compared to the control group (p<0.001). The animated educational video on COVID-19 prevention and management based on Indonesian preferences successfully improved knowledge and reduced anxiety levels among older adults.


Local changes in cerebral 2-deoxyglucose uptake during alphaxalone anaesthesia with special reference to the habenulo-interpeduncular system.
The effects of the steroid anaesthetic Althesin (alphaxalone plus alphadolone acetate) on regional cerebral metabolism was studied in female rats. [14C]2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake was measured in 19 discrete anatomical areas by quantitative autoradiography. Under Althesin anaesthesia metabolic activity, relative to the corpus callosum ( rma ), was significantly (24-46%) increased in the locus coeruleus, medial (but not lateral) habenula (Hb) and interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). The Hb-IPN tract, not discernible in autoradiograms from conscious rats, became readily apparent in films from anaesthetized rats. However, the increased metabolic activity of this pathway was not associated with a significant change in the tissue concentrations of substance P in either the Hb or IPN. In sensorimotor and visual cortex, caudate nucleus, thalamic nuclei and the medial geniculate body rma was significantly (26-38%) depressed. Metabolic activity in the other 8 areas measured was unaffected by Althesin. Destruction of the stria medullaris input to the habenulae prevented the Althesin-induced increase in 2-DG uptake by the MHb and LHb.


Ovarian Hormone-dependent and Spinal ERK Activation-regulated Nociceptive Hypersensitivity in Female Rats with Acid Injection-induced Chronic Widespread Muscle Pain.
Symptoms of chronic widespread muscle pain (CWP) meet most of the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome, which is prevalent in females. We used an acid injection-induced muscle pain (AIMP) model to mimic CWP. After female rats received an ovariectomy (OVX), acid saline solution was injected into the left gastrocnemius muscle. Time courses of changes in pain behaviours and p-ERK in the spinal cord were compared between groups. Intrathecal injections of oestradiol (E2) to the OVX group before two acid injections and E2 or progesterone (P4) injections in male rats were compared to evaluate hormone effects. We found that repeated acid injections produced mechanical hypersensitivity and enhanced p-ERK expression in the spinal dorsal horn. OVX rats exhibited significantly less tactile allodynia than did the rats in the other groups. The ERK inhibitor U0126 alleviated mechanical allodynia with lower p-ERK expression in the sham females but did not affect the OVX rats. Intrathecal E2 reversed the attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity in the OVX group, and E2 or P4 induced transient hyperalgesia in male rats. Accordingly, our results suggested that ovarian hormones contribute to AIMP through a spinal p-ERK-mediated pathway. These findings may partially explain the higher prevalence of fibromyalgia in females than males.


Further cytochemical studies on the perichromatin granules.
The perichromatin granules were studied in hepatocytes of experimental rats injected with cycloheximide because the increased number of these nuclear components after such treatment facilitated their cytochemical investigation. Most perichromatin granules were sensitive to the digestion with pepsin and ribonuclease. In contrast, small population of perichromatin granules was resistent to such digestion under conditions which remove known RNA containing components such as ribosomes, nucleolar RNP components and interchromatin granules. The size of these resistent perichromatin granules was reduced and they consisted of filaments the width of which was similar to that of filaments in the chromatin. Moreover, a small population of perichromatin granules was sensitive to the digestion with pepsin and deoxyribonuclease. The size of these granules was only slightly reduced. All these observations indicate that most perichromatin granules contain the RNA and some the DNA. A possibility also exists that the perichromatin granules might contain both RNA and DNA but in various proportions. In addition, partial digestion with pepsin followed by a complete digestion with ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease removed perichromatin granules as well as other nucleoprotein structures. On the other hand, such digestion facilitated the visualization of the nuclear and cytoplasmic skeleton (matrix) in situ.


Adrenalectomy for non-neuroblastic pathology in children.
Adrenalectomy for non-neuroblastic pathologies in children is rare with limited data on outcomes. We reviewed our experience of adrenalectomy in this unique population. Retrospective study of children (age ≤ 18) who underwent adrenalectomy with non-neuroblastic pathology from 1988 to 2018. Clinical and operative details of patients were abstracted. Outcomes included length of stay and 30-day postoperative morbidity. Forty children underwent 50 adrenalectomies (12 right-sided, 18 left-sided, 10 bilateral). Six patients (15%) presented with an incidental adrenal mass while 4 (10%) had masses found on screening for genetic mutations or prior malignancy. The remaining 30 (75%) presented with symptoms of hormonal excess. Nineteen patients (48%) underwent genetic evaluation and 15 (38%) had genetic predispositions. Diagnoses included 9 patients (23%) with pheochromocytoma, 8 (20%) with adrenocortical adenoma, 8 (20%) with adrenocortical carcinoma, 7 (18%) with adrenal hyperplasia, 2 (5%) with metastasis, and 6 (14%) with additional benign pathologies. Of 50 adrenalectomies, twenty-five (50%) were laparoscopic. Median hospital length of stay was 3 days (range 0-11). Post-operative morbidity rate was 17% with the most severe complication being Clavien-Dindo grade II. Adrenalectomy for non-neuroblastic pathology can be done with low morbidity. Its frequent association with genetic mutations and syndromes requires surgeons to have knowledge of appropriate pre-operative testing and post-operative surveillance.


Effects of gestational stress: 1. Evaluation of maternal and juvenile offspring behavior.
In both humans and animals, stress experienced during gestation is associated with physiological changes and disruptions in emotional function and cognitive ability in offspring; however, much less is known about the effects of such stress in mothers. In animal models, physical restraint is commonly employed to induce stress during gestation and results in elevated postpartum maternal anxiety and changes in maternal care. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the consequences of restraint stress applied on gestation days 10 through 19 in mother rats and their juvenile offspring. Progeny were reared by birth mothers. Preterm anxiety was assessed in the elevated plus maze and maternal behavior in the retrieval test. Cognitive (T-maze) and anxiety measures (elevated plus maze and emergence) were applied to a subset of male and female offspring at 30-31 days of age. Weight and litter characteristics were also recorded. Mother rats exposed to stress during gestation had attenuated weight gain, elevated anxiety-like behavior, and reduced maternal care. Stressed mothers also had fewer pups and an elevated offspring mortality rate. The consequences of gestational stress in offspring were subtle and gender-dependent. Only juvenile females displayed marginal effects of gestational stress in the form of elevated anxiety-like behavior and attenuated weight gain. In the current study, although gestational stress had robust effects in the mother rat, these did not translate to similar changes in offspring behavior. The importance of focusing research on maternal responses to gestational stress is highlighted by these findings.


Increase in the specific surface area of budesonide during storage postmicronization.
To evaluate an anomalous increase in the specific surface area of budesonide during storage postmicronization. Budesonide was micronized using a conventional air-jet mill. Surface areas and total pore volumes were measured using nitrogen sorption. Porosity was measured using mercury intrusion porosimetry. Particle size was measured using laser diffraction. Budesonide exhibited a surface area increase of 22 +/- 2% when stored at 25 degrees C following micronization. The rate of surface area increase was lower at 20 degrees C. suggesting a temperature-dependent stress relaxation mechanism for the micronized particles. The increase in surface area was accompanied by: (a) an increase in total pore volume: (b) a shift of the pore size distribution to smaller pore sizes; (c) a decrease in size of particles above approximately 1 microm; and (d) an increase in rugosity/surface roughness. Freshly micronized budesonide exhibited an unusual and significant postmicronization increase in specific surface area upon storage under ambient conditions. Postmicronization stress-relief by intraparticle crack formation, crack propagation with time, and particle fracture seems to be the primary mechanism behind this surface area increase.


Biofunctional phosphorylated magnetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
The development of highly bioactive engineered scaffolds is required to promote bone regeneration and the success of bone tissue engineering treatment approaches. This study attempts to fabricate a biofunctional magnetic scaffold based on new phosphorylated polycaprolactone combined with gelatin (MNPs-PCL-P/gelatin). Phosphorylated polymer and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FT-IR, TEM, and DLS instruments. The synthetic polymer, MNPs, and biopolymer were mixed then freeze-dried to prepare a porous scaffold. Physiochemical assessments showed that a scaffold with well-developed porous morphology, and stable structure was obtained. MNPs-PCL-P/gelatin scaffold had no toxicity on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The use of phosphorous-containing polymer resulted in improvement of the scaffold's osteoconductivity to support proper cell attachment and promote cell proliferation. Phosphate group by mimicking function of bone phosphate groups stimulate bone mineralization that reflected by alizarin red S staining assay. The presence of MNPs resulted in higher ALP activity and increased expression level of RUNX2, BMP2 osteogenic biomarkers. Also, phosphorylation enhanced osteoinductivity of scaffold and upregulate RUNX2, BMP2, COL1A1, and OCN genes in phosphors-containing scaffold test groups. It seems that biocompatible MNPs-PCL-P/gelatin scaffold possesses the potential of applications in bone tissue engineering.


Microbial enhanced separation of oil from a petroleum refinery sludge.
Petroleum refineries around the world have adopted different technological options to manage the solid wastes generated during the refining process and stocking of crude oil. These include physical, chemical and biological treatment methods. In this investigation bacterial mediated oil separation is effected. Two strains of Bacillus were isolated from petroleum-contaminated soils, and inoculated into slurry of sludge, and sludge-sand combinations. The bacteria could effect the separation of oil so as to form a floating scum within 48h with an efficiency of 97% at < or =5% level of sludge in the sludge-sand mixture. The activity was traced to the production of biosurfactants by bacteria.


Exercise testing in children as a diagnostic tool of future hypertension: the Odense Schoolchild Study.
Systolic blood pressure response and double product (systolic blood pressure x heart rate) response to a progressive maximal exercise test were evaluated in two groups of children aged 8 to 10 years. One group (normal children, n = 68) consisted of children randomly selected from a subset of the population with a resting blood pressure below the 95th percentile, and the other group (high blood pressure, n = 64) included children with a resting blood pressure at or above the 95th percentile. A rise in systolic blood pressure and in the double product was observed during the ergometric performance in both boys and girls in the normal group, and a similar response was observed in the high blood pressure group. These results suggest that the blood pressure response to exercise in childhood gives no further information about the risk of developing hypertension than a blood pressure measurement at rest.


Reproducibility in Time and Space-The Molecular Weight Effects of Polymeric Materials in Organic Photovoltaic Devices.
The reproducibility issue is one of the major challenges for the commercialization of large-area organic electronic devices. It involves both the device-to-device variation and opto-electronic properties in different positions of a single thin film. Herein, the molecular weight effects in polymeric semiconductors with three widely used photovoltaic donor materials P3HT, PBDB-T, and PM6 are systematically investigated. A simple but effective method is proposed to evaluate the uniformity of large-area devices by adopting the micron-level grid electrodes in organic thin films. An interesting phenomenon is observed that the device is gradually improved uniformly with the Mw range lower than 100 kg mol-1 . In neat films, both the mobility and energetic disorder values of hole carriers exhibit relatively lower coefficient of variation (cv ) in high molecular-weight systems. After blending with the electron-accepting materials, their bulk heterojunction films also enjoy more uniform hole transfer rates, fluorescence lifetimes, and power conversion efficiencies in single and different devices. This work not only proposes a facile approach to evaluate the electrical properties of large-area organic thin films, but also demonstrates the relationship between molecular weight and device reproducibility in polymer solar cells. This contribution provides a new insight into the commercial large-scale production of organic electronics.


Complete dependence between AG NORs and C-positive heterochromatin revealed by simultaneous AG-NOR C-banding method.
In the present paper we report a technique which permits the simultaneous observation of C-banded material and the active NORs or nucleoli in both mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of mammals and insects. The use of the present technique permits to establish a complete correlation between the C-banded positive regions and the presence of nucleoli associated to them. Some aspects related with this correspondence are discussed.


Feature Selection and Parameters Optimization of Support Vector Machines Based on Hybrid Glowworm Swarm Optimization for Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) has been a leading cause of blindness in case of human beings falling between the ages of 20 and 74 years. This will have a major influence on both the patient and the society as it can normally influence the humans in their gainful years. An early DR detection is quite challenging as it may not be detected by humans. There are several techniques and algorithms that have been established for detecting the DR. These techniques have been facing problems to achieve effective sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity. In order to overcome all these problems, the work has proposed one more such effective algorithm for image processing in order to increase the efficiency and also identify easily the DR diseases. A major challenge in the task is the automatic detection of the microaneurysms. In this work, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) parameters optimized with Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to classify the DR. Because the SVM parameter C and γ to control the performance of the classifier. For this work, the SVMs get fused with the hybrid GSO-GA along with the feature chromosomes that are generated that will thereby direct the GA search to a straight line of the error of optimal generalization in their super parameter space. This GSO algorithm will not have memory and the glow worms will not retain any information in memory. The results of the experiment prove that this method had achieved a better performance.


Ethical Issues in Pediatric Global Health.
Children are vulnerable to the priorities and decision-making of adults. Usually, parents/caregivers make the difficult healthcare decisions for their children based on the recommendations from the child's healthcare providers. In global health work, healthcare team members from different countries and cultures may guide healthcare decisions by parents and children, and as a result ethical assumptions may not be shared. As a result, ethical issues in pediatric global health are numerous and complex. Here we discuss critical ethical issues in global health at an individual and organizational level in hopes this supports optimized decision-making on behalf of children worldwide.


Macro- and trace elements content in honeybee pollen loads in relation to the harvest season.
The content of macro-and trace elements in honeybee pollen loads collected from the Al-Ahsa oasis, Saudi Arabia during spring, summer, autumn, and winter in 2018/2019 were determined. After critical screening and observation, we found that the major pollen floral resources were rapeseed, sunflower, summer squash, and date palm. The highest values of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and manganese (Mn) were found in pollen loads trapped during spring and winter. The highest levels of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) were found from pollen loads harvested during autumn, while the highest content of zinc (Zn) was found in pollen loads collected during the summer. Higher concentrations of the essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) for human nutrition found in pollen loads collected during the spring and winter seasons, make them valuable food supplements. Finally, the elements contained in pollen loads can be related to the season of pollen load collection.


Expression of the Apx gene family during leaf senescence of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Oxygen-free radicals are thought to play an essential role in senescence. Therefore, the expression patterns of the small gene family encoding the H2O2 scavenging enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 220.127.116.11) were analyzed during senescence of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heinh. Applying real-time RT-PCR, the mRNA levels were quantified for three cytosolic (APX1, APX2, APX6), two chloroplastic types (stromal sAPX, thylakoid tAPX), and three microsomal (APX3, APX4, APX5) isoforms identified in the genome of Arabidopsis. The genes of chloroplastic thylakoid-bound tAPX and the microsomal APX4 exhibit a strong age-related decrease of mRNA level in leaves derived from one rosette as well as in leaves derived from plants of different ages. In contrast to the tAPX, the mRNA of sAPX was only reduced in old leaves of old plants. The microsomal APX3 and APX5, and the cytosolic APX1, APX2, and APX6 did not show remarkable age-related changes in mRNA levels. The data show that expression of the individual APX genes is differentially regulated during senescence indicating possible functional specialization of respective isoenzymes. The hydrogen peroxide levels seem to be controlled very precisely in different cell compartments during plant development.


Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Associated Factors Among Female Sex Workers Using Respondent-Driven Sampling in Hawassa City, Ethiopia.
Female sex workers (FSWs) are a marginalized group having limited healthcare access and poor-quality care. Inevitably, they are vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections including hepatitis B virus. It is one of the most serious and major public health problems, with an increased risk of transmission and acquisition of the infection. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of HBV infection among FSWs in southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to February 2019 at Hawassa city among ISHDO confidential clinics among 383 FSWs using respondent-driven consecutive sampling techniques to select study participants using a standardized questionnaire. The blood samples were collected to detect viral surface antigen using ELISA. Data were entered into SPSS version 21. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis was used. The overall prevalence of HBV was 35 (9.2%) (95% CI=6.3-12.1). Among 381 FSWs, 249 (65.4%) of them had stayed for 2-5 years in sexual work. A total of 240 (63%) of them used condoms consistently during sexual practice. In multivariate analysis, FSWs who did not use a condom during sexual practice were 6-times more at risk than those who used a condom (AOR=6.38, CI=2.04-18.51). Condom breakage (AOR=2.10, CI=1.95-4.65), use of stimulants (AOR=3.25, CI=1.59-18.63), history of STI (AOR=2.15, CI=1.02-6.93), and genital ulcer (AOR=4.64, CI=1.31-11.35), number of sexual partners (AOR=3.25, CI=1.59-7.47), sex during menses (AOR=5.85, CI=1.29-21.44), sexual assault (AOR=2.93, CI=1.23-9.01), sharp material sharing (AOR=4.98, CI=1.34-10.95), and history of abortion (AOR=2.46, CI=1.18-12.19) were statistically associated with HBV infection. The prevalence of HBV infection in this study was relatively high compared to the general population. Factors like sociodemographic, behavioral, and previous information were associated with HBV infection. There is a need for ongoing screening of this high-risk population to inform planning for vaccination and preventive measures.


Increased skeletal muscle acetylcholinesterase activity in porcine malignant hyperthermia.
The content and distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the skeletal muscle disorder malignant hyperthermia (MH) was examined. The AChE activity of sarcolemma membranes isolated from MH-susceptible (MHS) swine was increased twofold when compared with normal sarcolemma. The total AChE activity of muscle extracts was also doubled in MHS tissue; however, the relative distribution between low-salt extractable (globular forms) and high-salt extractable (asymmetric forms) AChE activities were similar in MHS and normal muscle. Our results suggest that, for as yet unexplained reasons, both the sarcolemmal and total AChE activity of skeletal muscle is increased in porcine MH.


Immunosuppression in pediatric critical care patients.
The pediatric critical care patient not only ranges in age, size, diagnosis, and outcome but also in immunologic capability and function. The neonate, once thought to be devoid of any immunological function, is relatively immunocompetent in some areas and immature in immunologic function in other areas. The newborn's impaired immune function is a reflection of immature and inexperienced cellular interrelations rather than the absence or immature function of a single cell line. The exact time that an infant/young child's immune system becomes mature is not definitive. The maturational process of the immune system is complex and unpredictably long. Although some components of a mature immune function occur quickly following birth (for example, colonization and secretory functions of the skin and mucous membranes), other components may take years and occur sometime before the child reaches puberty (for example, adult levels of IgG, IgD, IgA, and IgE). The critically ill infant and child have both developmental aspects of immunocompromise but also the PICU situational or clinical stressors that may impede immune function. The long-term impact of the situational stressors on the development of immune system is unknown. The PICU nurse should recognize that the critically ill child is vulnerable to immunocompromise, and provide assessment and intervention to provide optimal immune function by preventing infection and promoting host defenses.


Isolation and Phenotyping of Splenic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Murine Cancer Models.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are immunosuppressive myeloid cells that accumulate in tumor sites and peripheral lymphoid organs such as the spleen. In murine cancer models, the spleen is a major reservoir for MDSC, representing an easily accessible tissue from which to isolate high numbers of these cell population for downstream applications. Here we describe an efficient method to phenotype as well as to isolate and assess the functionality of murine splenic MDSC.


In vitro release of immunoreactive substance P from putative afferent nerve endings in bovine pia arachnoid.
The release of substance P-like immunoreactivity was examined using bovine pia arachnoid and its attendant blood vessels in vitro. At concentrations of 20,51, and 100 mM, potassium ions evoked the release of substance P-like immunoreactivity in a dose-dependent manner. The drug capsaicin released substance P at concentrations greater than 10(-8) M. Both potassium- and capsaicin-induced release were abolished by omitting calcium ions from the superfusion buffer. When subjected to separation by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, the superfusate from capsaicin perfused tissues contained a peak of immunoreactivity which migrated at the retention time corresponding to substance P. During basal and stimulated states, the percent endogenous substance P released ranged between 0.4-6.5 X 10(-2) and 1.3-11.6 X 10(-2) per minute, rates comparable to those previously reported by others using slices of dorsal horn or spinal cord segments. The immunoreactivity measurable in the conditioned buffer probably reflected release from afferent nerve endings in as much as most of the substance P immunoreactivity in pia arachnoid arises from trigeminal ganglia. Release of substance P, a cerebrovasodilating peptide from perivascular nerve endings in pia arachnoid suggests a possible role for substance P in the pathophysiology of disorders associated with pain of cerebrovascular origin.