Meta-analysis of chest CT features of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
The objective of this paper is to perform a meta-analysis regarding the chest computed tomography (CT) manifestations of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia patients. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from 1 December 2019 to 1 May 2020 using the keywords of "COVID-19 virus," "the 2019 novel coronavirus," "novel coronavirus," and "COVID-19." Studies that evaluated the CT manifestations of common and severe COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Among the 9736 searched results, 15 articles describing 1453 common patients and 697 severe patients met the inclusion criteria. Based on the CT images, the common patients were less frequent to exhibit consolidation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31), pleural effusion (OR = 0.19), lymphadenopathy (OR = 0.17), crazy-paving pattern (OR = 0.22), interlobular septal thickening (OR = 0.27), reticulation (OR = 0.20), traction bronchiectasis (OR = 0.40) with over two lobes involved (OR = 0.07) and central distribution (OR = 0.18) while more frequent to bear unilateral pneumonia (OR = 4.65) involving one lobe (OR = 13.84) or two lobes (OR = 6.95) when compared with severe patients. Other CT features including ground-glass opacities (P = .404), air bronchogram (P = .070), nodule (P = .093), bronchial wall thickening (P = .15), subpleural band (P = .983), vascular enlargement (P = .207), and peripheral distribution (P = .668) did not have a significant association with the severity of the disease. No publication bias among the selected studies was suggested (Harbord's tests, P > .05 for all.) We obtained reliable estimates of the chest CT manifestations of COVID-19 pneumonia patients, which might provide an important clue for the diagnosis and classification of COVID-19 pneumonia.


A study of the periodontal state of a late Medieval United Kingdom population.
To study the severity of bone loss in a Medieval UK population, and compare this with other ancient UK populations from different time periods. Skulls from a burial site in York (XI-XV century) were investigated. Skulls with a minimum of 17 teeth were included and were divided from childhood into five age groups. Direct measurements from the cement enamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar crest (AC) were undertaken at six points around each tooth with a UNC 15 probe. The mean bone loss was calculated for each tooth type. Seventy five skulls were included in the study (12-60 years of age). Bone loss was found to increase with age, but stabilized in older individuals (>45 years). The mean CEJ-AC distance varied from 2.1mm in the youngest group to a maximum of 4.1mm in 36-45 year olds. Results were compared with a Roman-British population (Whittaker et al., 1982) where comparable values for mean bone loss were 2.2mm and 5.4mm respectively, and a population of XVIII century Londoners (Whittaker et al., 1998) where bone loss of 1.1mm and 4.0mm was reported for the youngest and oldest age groups respectively. Measuring the CEJ-AC distance in dried skulls from ancient populations may be used as a proxy for the levels of periodontal disease irrespective of tooth wear. The findings from the current study suggest that the severity of periodontitis as determined by measurements of alveolar bone loss on dried skulls from this ancient population, seems to have declined in the United Kingdom from the III-V century to XVIII century. This may be due to changes in environmental factors including living conditions and diet, together with individual characteristics including systemic illness and genetic make up.


Differential effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone on steroid hydroxylase activities in the inner and outer zones of the guinea pig adrenal cortex.
We have studied the effects of ACTH treatment on steroid hydroxylase activities in the inner (zona reticularis) and outer (zona fasciculata plus zona glomerulosa) zones of the guinea pig adrenal cortex. Animals received 5 or 10 U of ACTH daily for 6 days and enzyme activities were then assessed in isolated microsomal or mitochondrial preparations. In control animals, microsomal cytochrome P-450 concentrations were greater in the inner than outer zone, but mitochondrial P-450 levels were similar in the two zones. Microsomal 17 alpha-hydroxylase and mitochondrial 11 beta-hydroxylase activities were greater in the outer than inner zone, but microsomal 21-hydroxylase activity was greater in the inner zone. ACTH treatment decreased cytochrome P-450 concentrations in inner but not outer zone microsomes; mitochondrial P-450 levels were unaffected in both zones. ACTH caused a dose-dependent increase in inner zone 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity and decrease in 21-hydroxylase activity without affecting the activity of either enzyme in outer zone microsomes. ACTH also decreased 11 beta-hydroxylase activity in outer but not inner zone mitochondrial preparations. The net effect of ACTH treatment was to diminish the differences in steroid metabolism between the two zones. The results indicate that the effects of ACTH on steroid hydroxylase activities are both zone- and enzyme-dependent, suggesting the existence of multiple and independent regulatory mechanisms.


Longitudinal population-based study of progression rates for borderline thyroid-stimulating hormone abnormalities.
Current guidelines recommend thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) for initial biochemical evaluation of thyroid function, with borderline TSH abnormalities a common finding. The likelihood of a borderline TSH progressing to overt abnormality is not well characterised at the population level. To determine risk factors and likelihood for progression of borderline TSH to overt abnormality. Population-based retrospective longitudinal data-linkage study for TSH tests performed in Tasmania (1996-2013). Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to summarise conversion time for overt TSH elevation (≥10 mU/L) and overt suppression (≤0.1 mU/L) in patients whose initial TSH was borderline elevated (BeTSH; 4.0-9.99 mU/L) and borderline suppressed (BsTSH; 0.10-0.39 mU/L) respectively. Main outcome measures are the progression from borderline to overt TSH abnormality. A total of 1 296 060 TSH tests was performed on 367 917 patients. Of these, 14 507 (3.9%) patients had BeTSH on initial assessment; mean age 51.4 ± 21.8 years and median TSH of 5.0 mU/L (interquartile range (IQR) 4.4, 5.2). Patients aged ≥80 years were most likely to progress (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.09 compared with age <20 years reference group (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.64, 2.68)). Patients aged 20-39 years had the second-highest rate of progression (HR = 1.49 (95% CI: 1.18, 1.88)). Seven thousand, eight hundred and eighty-three (2.14%) patients had BsTSH; mean age 50.7 ± 22.1 years and median TSH 0.30 mU/L (IQR 0.22, 0.35). Patients aged 60-79 years had the highest rate of progression to overt TSH suppression (HR = 2.47 compared with age <20 years reference group (95% CI: 1.88, 3.22)). Follow-up intervals for patients with borderline TSH abnormalities should take into account patient age as a progression risk factor.


Incompletely observed: niche estimation for six frequent European horsefly species (Diptera, Tabanoidea, Tabanidae).
More than 170 species of tabanids are known in Europe, with many occurring only in limited areas or having become very rare in the last decades. They continue to spread various diseases in animals and are responsible for livestock losses in developing countries. The current monitoring and recording of horseflies is mainly conducted throughout central Europe, with varying degrees of frequency depending on the country. To the detriment of tabanid research, little cooperation exists between western European and Eurasian countries. For these reasons, we have compiled available sources in order to generate as complete a dataset as possible of six horsefly species common in Europe. We chose Haematopota pluvialis, Chrysops relictus, C. caecutiens, Tabanus bromius, T. bovinus and T. sudeticus as ubiquitous and abundant species within Europe. The aim of this study is to estimate the distribution, land cover usage and niches of these species. We used a surface-range envelope (SRE) model in accordance with our hypothesis of an underestimated distribution based on Eurocentric monitoring regimes. Our results show that all six species have a wide range in Eurasia, have a broad climatic niche and can therefore be considered as widespread generalists. Areas with modelled habitat suitability cover the observed distribution and go far beyond these. This supports our assumption that the current state of tabanid monitoring and the recorded distribution significantly underestimates the actual distribution. Our results show that the species can withstand extreme weather and climatic conditions and can be found in areas with only a few frost-free months per year. Additionally, our results reveal that species prefer certain land-cover environments and avoid other land-cover types. The SRE model is an effective tool to calculate the distribution of species that are well monitored in some areas but poorly in others. Our results support the hypothesis that the available distribution data underestimate the actual distribution of the surveyed species.


Evaluation of S-cone sensitivity in reattached macula following macula-off retinal detachment surgery.
To investigate the recovery of short-wavelength sensitivity in patients who had undergone successful reattachment of a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with macular involvement. Postoperative assessment of the visual acuity and the visual fields by standard achromatic automated perimetry (SAP), and short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP, Humphrey visual field analyzer; macula test pattern) was performed on 12 patients after the macula was reattached. The follow-up period was up to 12 months. The visual acuity and SAP sensitivity recovered rapidly after reattachment, with further moderate improvements up to 6 months after reattachment. The improvements stabilized by 9 to 12 months. The SWAP sensitivities improved more slowly than the visual acuity or SAP sensitivities, but they continued to improve even when visual acuity or SAP sensitivities had stabilized. We conclude that measurement of the sensitivities of the short-wavelength-sensitive cones (S-cones) with SWAP may be a sensitive method to evaluate the visual recovery of the reattached macula following macula-off retinal detachment.


Group agents, moral competence and duty-bearers: the update argument.
According to some collectivists, purposive groups that lack decision-making procedures such as riot mobs, friends walking together, or the pro-life lobby can be morally responsible and have moral duties. I focus on plural subject- and we-mode-collectivism. I argue that purposive groups do not qualify as duty-bearers even if they qualify as agents on either view. To qualify as a duty-bearer, an agent must be morally competent. I develop the Update Argument. An agent is morally competent only if the agent has sufficient positive and negative control over updating their goal-seeking states. Positive control involves the general ability to update one's goal-seeking states, whereas negative control involves the absence of other agents with the capacity to arbitrarily interfere with updating one's goal-seeking states. I argue that even if purposive groups qualify as plural subjects or we-mode group agents, these groups necessarily lack negative control over updating their goal-seeking states. This creates a cut-off point for groups as duty-bearers: Organized groups may qualify as duty-bearers, whereas purposive groups cannot qualify as duty-bearers.


[Sphingolipids and malignant growth].
Data concerning qualitative and quantitative changes in sphingolipids (ceramides, sphingomyelins, glycolipids) occurring under cell malignization are reviewed. The influence of these changes on biological functions of cell membranes and immunity as well as "sphingolipid" therapy of tumours are discussed.


Devising an integrated methodology for analyzing energy use and CO2 emissions from Taiwan's petrochemical industries.
Input-output modeling and multiplier analysis are used to assess Taiwan's five petrochemical industries, based upon their economic contribution and potential impacts on energy consumption and CO2 emission. In addition, a consolidated index system was developed for evaluating energy and economic efficiencies as well as targets for CO2 reduction. Results indicate that petrochemical materials (PM) make a major contribution to economic development, with lesser contributions from plastic materials (PL) and artificial fibres (AF). PM has the highest energy multiplier while PL has the largest induced potential for energy consumption. Plastic and rubber products (PP, RP) are relatively insignificant energy consumers. AF has the highest CO2 multiplier, and its induced potential for CO2 emission is the most significant. The consolidated index shows that the upstream petrochemical industries perform rather poorly in an integrated view of economic, energy, and CO2 emission, and should be seen as the primary targets for CO2 reduction. Investment of the petrochemical industries in Taiwan should be adjusted to improve energy efficiency, economic bases, and lower CO2 emissions.


Factors associated with sealant outcome in 2 pediatric dental clinics: a multivariate hierarchical analysis.
This study's purpose was to determine whether one-time sealants placed by pediatric dental residents vs dental students have different outcomes. The effect of isolation technique, behavior, duration of follow-up, and caries history was also examined. Records from 2 inner-city pediatric dental clinics were audited for 6- to 10-year-old patients with a permanent first molar sealant with at least 2 years of follow-up. A successful sealant was a one-time sealant that received no further treatment and was sealed or unsealed but not carious or restored at the final audit. Charts from 203 children with 481 sealants were audited. Of these, 281 sealants were failures. Univariate analysis revealed longer follow-up and younger age were associated with sealant failure. Operator type, child behavior, and isolation technique were not associated with sealant failure. After adjusting for follow-up duration, increased age at treatment reduced the odds of sealant failure while a history of caries reduced the protective effect of increased age. After adjusting for these factors, practitioner type, behavior, and type of isolation were not associated with sealant outcome in multivariate analysis. Age at sealant placement, history of caries prior to placement, and longer duration of follow-up are associated with sealant failure.


Nucleotide sequences of three H-2K and three H-2D complementary DNA clones coding mouse class I MHC heavy chain proteins.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was used to obtain and sequence three H-2K and three H-2D mouse complementary DNAs (cDNA) of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Messenger RNA was isolated from Conconavalin A-activated splenocytes of C57BL/10 (H-2b), C3H (H-2k), and Balb/c (H-2d) mice. We designed H-2K- and H-2D-specific primers as well as a common downstream primer based on previously published mouse class I MHC sequences. Using the PCR method and selective primers we isolated and sequenced H-2Kb and H-2Db cDNAs of C57BL/10, H-2Kk and H-2k cDNAs of C3H, as well as H-2Kd and H-2Dd cDNAs of Balb/c strains. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences documented similarity between our three H-2K cDNA sequences and all mouse MHC class I sequences available in the GenBank. Similarly, our three H-2D sequences were homologous with all mouse class I MHC sequences deposited in the GenBank. Our H-2K and H-2D sequences were also identical to numerous published sequences. Using these mouse cDNAs, we plan to determine the localization of polymorphic in vivo immunogenic amino acids in class I MHC H-2K and H-2D alloantigens.


Contemporary Australian socio-cultural factors and their influence on medical student rural career intent.
To understand how contemporary socio-cultural factors may impact medical students' rural career intent. Cross-sectional study using data from the national Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators survey. Medical students across 18 Australian universities who completed a full academic year of clinical training in rural areas in 2019. Preferred location of practice post-training reported to be either: (i) a major city; (ii) a regional area or large town; or (iii) a small rural location. In total, 626 students completed the survey (70.1% response rate). A small rural location was the most preferred location of practice after graduation for 28.3% of the students (95% CI 21.6-36.0). Four socio-cultural factors were positively associated with a preference for a rural career location: poor health status of rural people, motor vehicle traffic congestion in cities, rural generalist training opportunities in the state and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Other socio-cultural factors, including specialists' under-employment, Medicare freeze effect on doctors' income, bullying/sexual harassment in hospitals, climate change/natural disasters or recognised rural health personalities did not influence the investigated outcome. Our findings indicate a novel association between contemporary socio-cultural factors and rural career intention in a cohort of Australian rural clinical school students. These findings advocate for further consideration of research exploring socio-cultural factors shaping rural career intent and workforce outcomes.


Ultrasonographic assessment of global cerebral blood volume in healthy adults.
The authors describe a new ultrasonographic method for analysis of global cerebral blood volume (CBV) and its application under controlled hyperventilation. CBV was determined as the product of global cerebral blood flow volume (CBF) and global cerebral circulation time. CBF was measured by duplex sonography and calculated as the sum of flow volumes in both internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries. Extracranial Doppler assessed cerebral circulation time by determining the time interval of echo-contrast bolus arrival between internal carotid artery and contralateral internal jugular vein. Forty-four healthy volunteers (mean age 45 +/- 19 years, range 20-79 years) were studied. Mean CBV was 77 +/- 13 mL. CBV did not correlate with age, end-tidal carbon dioxide level, heart rate, or blood pressure. Hypocapnia was induced in 10 subjects by controlled hyperventilation. Mean reduction of end-tidal carbon dioxide values by 9 +/- 1 mm Hg led to a significant increase in cerebral circulation time (6.1 +/- 0.9 to 8.4 +/- 1.1 second, P < 0.0001) and a significant CBF decrease (742 +/- 85 to 526 +/- 77 mL/min, P < 0.0001), whereas CBV remained unchanged (75 +/- 6 to 73 +/- 10 mL).


Voltammetric measurements of 5-hydroxyindole compounds in the suprachiasmatic nuclei: circadian fluctuations.
This study concerns the voltammetric signal appearing at a +300 mV potential (peak 3) recorded from the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of rats under acute and chronic conditions. In acute conditions, and in order to accurately localize the working electrode, a topographical study of the peak 3 height was first realized in the frontal plane containing the SCN by use of differential pulse voltammetry and monocarbon fiber electrodes. In the same conditions, the effects of clorgyline and reserpine were studied. Clorgyline decreased peak 3 while reserpine increased it. Contrary to 5-HT, 5-HIAA contents of the SCN, measured with high performance liquid chromatography, demonstrate analogous variations. All these data suggest that it is essentially 5-HIAA which is responsible for peak 3 from the SCN. In unanesthetized, freely moving rats, under a 12/12 h light-dark cycle, spontaneous and circadian variations of the SCN's peak 3 were studied, during the rest-activity cycle. Multifiber working electrodes were used for this purpose. During spontaneous and successive periods of rest and activity peak 3 height was always found to be higher during activity. Further, these spontaneous variations were superimposed with a circadian variation exhibiting its acrophasis during the dark period. Our data suggest that the release and catabolism of serotonin is greater in waking than in sleeping animals. They also suggest, that the rostral raphe system, phase locked with the SCN, plays an important role in the circadian variations measured.


Epidermal growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in rat brain. Development and cellular localization.
In rat brain, distinct epidermal growth factor-receptor immunoreactivity (EGFR-IR) first appeared in astroglia at about day 16 postnatal, reached maximum intensity at 19 days and then became much weaker as the animals reached adulthood. EGFR-IR was also observed in cerebellar Purkinje cells as early as 11 days postnatal and was maintained into adulthood. In adult and aged animals the most prominent EGF receptor immunostaining occurred in cerebral cortex neurons (layers IV and V) that had the morphology of basket cells. Immunoreactive neurons were abundant in the cingulate, frontal, frontoparietal and striate cortices. In the frontoparietal cortex, EGFR positive neurons were most numerous in the motor area, diminishing laterally towards the somatosensory area. The localization and time of appearance of EGFR-IR did not appear consistent with a direct mitogenic role of the EGF domain in astroglia proliferation during development. However, the EGFR may be involved in neuronal survival and/or neuron-glia signalling.


Heat shock proteins and aging in Drosophila melanogaster.
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are conserved molecular chaperones that are upregulated following exposure to environmental stress and during aging. The mechanisms underlying the aging process are only beginning to be understood. The beneficial effects of Hsps on aging revealed in mild stress and overexpression experiments suggest that these proteins are part of an important cell protection system rather than being unspecific molecular chaperones. Among the Hsps families, small Hsps have the greatest influence on aging and the modulation of their expression during aging in Drosophila suggest that they are involved in pathways of longevity determination.


A new species of the genus Proctogastrolaelaps McGraw amp; Farrier (Acari: Melicharidae) from the Far East of Russia, and contributions to knowledge of this genus.
We describe a new mite species from the Far East of RussiaProctogastrolaelaps subsolanus Joharchi Marchenko sp. nov. (Acari: Melicharidae). The new species was collected from soil-litter on the shores of the Tunaycha Lake and Sea of Okhotsk in Sakhalin Island. The important morphological characteristics of the genus Proctogastrolaelaps are revised.


Regression of hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis C with long-term interferon treatment.
Cirrhosis occurs in 20-50% of patients with hepatitis C and is thought to be irreversible. We describe two patients with cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C in whom the extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis appeared to regress in response to treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Both patients were in the early stages of cirrhosis, class A in the Child-Pugh classification, total score 5 for each patient. Both responded fully to IFN-alpha and had normalization of all liver function tests and disappearance of hepatitis C viral RNA. Liver biopsies, performed before and after treatment, were coded unpaired by patient, combined with 21 liver biopsies from eight other patients with chronic hepatitis, and read independently by two pathologists using the Knodell scoring system. Knodell scores decreased from 14 to 3.5 and from 13.5 to 4 in these two patients. Cirrhosis and extensive fibrosis, present at baseline, were not present on follow-up liver biopsies, which were of sufficient size to reduce the likelihood of sampling error. We conclude that hepatic fibrosis and clinically early cirrhosis may be reversible in some patients with hepatitis C who respond to treatment with IFN-alpha.


Review article: Detaining patients against their will: Can duty of care be used to justify detention and restraint in emergency departments?
Every day in EDs, clinicians are faced with situations where they need to decide whether to detain a patient for assessment and treatment. For patients who meet the relevant criteria, provisions of mental health legislation can be used. For other patients, clinicians often rely on so-called 'duty of care'. This article briefly explores this complex area of law, including the relevant legislation, common law principles and grey areas. It also proposes an approach to decision-making in this area.


Importance of Micromonospora spp. as colonizers of cellulose in freshwater lakes as demonstrated by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR of 16S rRNA.
The relative abundance of micromonosporas in the bacterial communities inhabiting cellulose baits, water columns, and sediments of two freshwater lakes was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) of reverse-transcribed 16S rRNA. Micromonospora spp. were shown to be significant members of the active bacterial population colonizing cellulosic substrates in the lake sediment, and their increased prevalence with greater depth was confirmed by enumeration of CFU.


Influence of mask design on bag-mask ventilation.
Adequate positive pressure ventilation in the field or emergency department continues to represent a major challenge. A new face mask design that recently has been introduced consists of a low-pressure "balloon" through which a Guedel airway is attached and extended proximally through the mask to allow the attachment of a ventilation bag. The mask is designed to seal the nares and mouth when pressed against the face. Ventilation is achieved through the airway which extends through the mask to just above the epiglottis. We designed a study to evaluate ventilating volumes and mask leak with this mask design, and to compare these parameters with those achieved with standard masks. Thirty volunteers with varied experience in bag-mask ventilation were chosen to ventilate a specially adapted ventilation manikin connected to a test lung that was capable of simulating varied compliances. Spirometers measured volumes delivered to the ventilating bag and lung, and mask leak could be calculated from these readings. A constant rate of 12 ventilations per minute was maintained by each volunteer for two minutes. Volunteers ventilated the test lung using three masks in random sequence: the SealEasy mask (Respironics Inc, Monroeville, PA), a Laerdal mask (old type), and a transparent Robertshaw mask with inflatable black rim. The average tidal volume delivered by the SealEasy mask was consistently higher than either of the other two. Significantly (P less than .05) higher volumes were delivered with the SealEasy mask when compared to the Laerdal, and significantly lower mask leaks were seen when the SealEasy was compared to both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Bicarbonate enhanced heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate by copper ferrite nanoparticles for the efficient degradation of refractory organic contaminants in water.
Nowadays, the treatment of residual refractory organic contaminants (ROCs) is a huge challenge for environmental remediation. In this study, a potential process is provided by copper ferrite catalyst (CuFe2O4) activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS, HSO5-) in the bicarbonate (HCO3-) enhanced system for efficient removal of Acid Orange 7 (AO7), 2,4-dichlorophenol, phenol and methyl orange (MO) in water. The impact of key reaction parameters, water quality components, main reactive oxygen species (ROS), probable degradation mechanism, rational degradation pathways and catalyst stability were systematically investigated. A 95.0% AO7 (C0 = 100 mg L-1) removal was achieved at initial pH (pH0) of 5.9 ± 0.1 (natural pH), CuFe2O4 dosage of 0.15 g L-1, PMS concentration of 0.98 mM, HCO3- concentration of 2 mM, and reaction time of 30 min. Both sulfate radical (SO4-•) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) on the surface of catalyst were proved as the predominant radical species through radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis. The buffer nature of HCO3- was partially contributed for the enhanced degradation of AO7 under CuFe2O4/PMS/HCO3- system. Importantly, according to 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and EPR analysis, the positive effect of bicarbonate may be mainly attributed to the formation of peroxymonocarbonate (HCO4-), which may enhance the generation of •OH. The magnetic CuFe2O4 particles can be well recycled and the leaching concentration of Cu was acceptable (<1 mg L-1). Considering the widespread presence of bicarbonate in water environment, this work may provide a safe, efficient, and sustainable technique for the elimination of ROCs from practical complex wastewater.


[Semiology of bismuth encephalopathy. Comparison with seven personal cases (author's transl)].
The authors analyze 99 well-described cases of bismuth encephalopathy and suggest a clinical syndrome according to three stages of the disease (before, during and after the acute period) and three clinical domains (psychiatry, neurology and neuropsychology). A particular attention concerns the presence of sequellar clinical signs (mnesic functions), sometimes observed one year after interruption of bismuth ingestion.


Taxonomic studies of subfamily Phaoniinae (Muscidae, Diptera) in Egypt.
Subfamily Phaoniinae is represented in Egypt by 22 species under 9 genera. Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp.) and Ophyra leucostoma (Wied.) are identified and recorded for the first time in Egypt.


Toxicity characterization of waste mobile phone plastics.
Waste plastic housing units (N=60) of mobile phones (of different models, and brands), were collected and analyzed for lead, cadmium, nickel and silver using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after acid digestion using a 1:1 mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3. The mean (+/-S.D.) and range of the results are 58.3+/-50.4mg/kg (5.0-340mg/kg) for Pb, 69.9+/-145mg/kg (4.6-1005mg/kg) for Cd, 432+/-1905mg/kg (5.0-11,000mg/kg) for Ni, and 403+/-1888mg/kg (5.0-12,500mg/kg) for Ag. Approximately 90% of the results for the various metals were < or =100mg/kg. Results greater than 300mg/kg were generally less than 7% for each metal and could be attributed to exogenous contamination of the samples. These results suggest that there may not be any immediate danger from end-of-life (EoL) mobile phone plastic housing if appropriately treated/managed. However, considering the large quantities generated and the present low-end management practices in most developing countries, such as open burning, there appears a genuine concern over the potential for environmental pollution and toxicity to man and the ecology.


Iminium Catalysis inside a Self-Assembled Supramolecular Capsule: Modulation of Enantiomeric Excess.
The noncovalent combination of a supramolecular host with iminium organocatalysis is described. Due to cation-π interactions the reactive iminium species is held inside the host and reacts in this confined environment. The products formed differ up to 92 % ee from the control experiments without added host. A model rationalizing the observed difference is presented.


Pharmacokinetics of GST-TatdMt, a recombinant fusion protein possessing potent anti-obesity activity, in mice.
This study examined the absorption and pharmacokinetic disposition of 125I-GST-TatdMt, a recombinant Tat protein possessing potent anti-obesity activity, in mice after vascular and extravascular administration. GST-TatdMt was over-expressed in E. coli, purified, and radioiodinated using the IODO-GEN method. 125I-GST-TatdMt was administered to mice by i.v., i.p. and oral administration at doses of 652.7 nCi (102.3 microg). Upon i.v. injection, the average terminal elimination half-life (t1/2,lambdaz), AUC and AUMC were 6.4 h, 318.2 nCixh/mL and 2518 nCixh2/ mL, respectively. The highest radioactivity was observed in lung followed by liver, spleen, heart and kidney. The t1/2lambdaz values obtained from i.v., i.p., and oral administration were comparable from each other (range 5.8-6.4 h). The absolute bioavailability of 125I-GST-TatdMt was 42.8% and 60.5% after p.o. and i.p. administration, respectively. Given the cell-penetrating nature, 125I-GST-TatdMt may be absorbed into the systemic circulation to a relatively high extent after extravascular administration.


Hollow implants in soft tissues allowing quantitative studies of cells and fluid at the implant interface.
In order to study the early cellular response in the fluid phase found close to implants in soft tissues, an experimental method using a hollow implant was developed. The fluid present in an interior chamber communicating with the exterior of the implant was analysed. Polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNGs) were predominant during the study (1-9 days). In titanium implants a slight increase in cell numbers with time was noted, whereas in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) implants, a sharp increase in cell numbers was observed. Preliminary studies showed that sufficient amounts of fluid and cells could be retrieved for analysis of protein composition and inflammatory cell activation.


Cytokine induction in human mononuclear cells stimulated by IgG-coated culture surfaces and by IgG for infusion.
The effect of IgG on cytokine production by human mononuclear cells (MNC) was studied. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) was determined both by bioassay and by immunoassay. Interleukin-1 (IL1) was measured by a thymocyte costimulator assay, which was shown to be completely inhibitable by polyclonal anti-IL1. Precautions were taken to avoid inadvertent exposure of the studied cells to endotoxin. In a first model, TNF and IL1 production by adherent MNC in IgG-coated cluster plates were determined. IgG induced a strong TNF response, usually leveling off after 6 hr, and was comparable in kinetics and magnitude with an LPS-induced response. The thymocyte co-stimulatory activity response was relatively weak and peaked at 6 hr. In contrast, LPS-induced co-stimulatory activity production steadily increased over 24 hr. In a second model, MNC in suspension cultures containing autologous serum were exposed to IgG for intravenous use (IgG-IV). Cells exposed to IgG-IV produced higher amounts of cytokines than control counterparts and were primed for enhanced production of cytokines upon a second, unrelated stimulus. This implies that the effect of IgG-IV on suspended MNC resembles that of surface-adsorbed IgG and raises the possibility that cytokine release is an integral part of the mechanism of action of infused IgG. Evidence is presented suggesting that both surface IgG and IgG-IV act directly on monocytes, in a Fc-dependent manner.


Cytomorphology of non-small cell lung carcinoma with anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase demonstrating activating mutations in several malignancies including a subset (1-5%) of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Prior work examining, the histologic features of these tumors found a spectrum of findings, notably a solid/acinar pattern, as well as a mucinous cribriform pattern. We present the first study to date describing the cytomorphology of NSCLC harboring ALK rearrangements. A retrospective database search was conducted to identify cytologic specimens of NSCLC demonstrating ALK rearrangement. Cytogenetic analysis was performed with fluorescence in situ hybridization. A total of 12 patients were identified, 10 with available material. Cellular morphology and smear background was evaluated in the study group, as well as control cases lacking ALK rearrangement. A total of 25 specimens from 10 patients were obtained. Five patients never smoked, and four patients had a remote smoking history. ALK rearrangements were identified in cells with unique cytologic characteristics. All cases demonstrated moderate to poor differentiation with a predominance of single cells showing anisonucleosis and frequent intracytoplasmic neutrophils. The control cases showed cells with smaller, less pleomorphic nuclei, and smaller nucleoli with more clusters/tissue fragments. Several unique cytomorphologic features were consistently identified in the study population relative to the control population and include a prominence of single, markedly enlarged tumor cells with plasmacytoid features and anisonucleosis, as well as intracytoplasmic neutrophils. Larger studies are warranted to confirm our preliminary findings, as these features may help establish a more cost-effective means to select patients being tested for ALK mutational analysis.


Forehead flag flap.
We present a modification of the Okada and Maruyama's flap for forehead reconstruction, based solely on the supratrochlear vessels. The flap is raised extra-periosteally but in the area of the pedicle the periosteum is included in the flap to protect the vessels. The flap is advanced and rotated to cover full thickness defects on the contralateral hemi-forehead, like a flag on its flagpole. We have treated six patients with large malignant tumours of the forehead which required excision including the periosteum. The flap survived in all cases and no necrosis was observed in any. The main advantage of this flap is that it is relatively straightforward to raise, being a good solution in selected cases (elderly patients). The main disadvantages of this flap are that the supraorbital nerve is sacrificed and some distortion of the eyebrows occurs.


4-(2,2-Difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile.
In the title compound, C(12)H(6)F(2)N(2)O(2), the 2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxole ring system is approximately planar [maximum deviation = 0.012 (2) Å] and its mean plane is twisted with respect to the pyrrole ring, making a dihedral angle of 2.51 (9)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains running along the a axis. π-π stacking is also observed between parallel benzene rings of adjacent mol-ecules, the centroid-centroid distance being 3.7527 (13) Å.


CirRNA circFAM126A Exerts Oncogenic Functions in NSCLC to Upregulate IRS2.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common histological subtype of lung cancer, which occupies 80-85% of the proportion in all lung cancer cases. Therefore, this study was designed to clarify the role and underlying molecular mechanisms of circFAM126A in NSCLC. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was conducted to assess circFAM126A, FAM126A, miR-613, and IRS2 expression in NSCLC tissues and cells. The proliferation ability of cells was measured by MTT, EdU, and colony-forming assays. The flow cytometry assay was performed to evaluate cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. The migration and invasion were determined by wound healing and transwell matrigel assays, respectively. The interaction relationship between miR-613 and circFAM126A or IRS2 was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. Tumorigenesis in nude mice was conducted to clarify the functional roles of circFAM126A inhibition in vivo. CircFAM126A was obviously overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and cells when compared with controls. The loss-of-functional experiments suggested that knockdown of circFAM126A suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as caused apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in NSCLC cells, which was abolished by silencing of miR-613. In addition, IRS2 was a target gene of miR-613. Overexpression of miR-613 exerted carcinoma inhibitor role in NSCLC by inhibition of IRS2 expression. Consistently, the silencing of circFAM126A also functioned anti-tumorigenic roles in nude mice in vivo. Mechanistically, circFAM126A could function as a miRNA sponge for miR-613 to regulate the expression of IRS2, thereby regulating proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in NSCLC cells.


Notes about the uses of plants by one of the last healers in the Basilicata region (South Italy).
The paper refers to the knowledge and uses of plants and to the linked ritual practices as referred by Matteo (It.'Zì Matteo', En. 'Uncle Matthew'), one of the last elder healers in the Basilicata Region (South Italy). Particular attention is also paid to the uses of 'Vruca' (Tamarix gallica L.) as a medicinal and magical plant used to heal common warts on various parts of the body. After obtaining prior informed consent, we collected data through an open interview about the uses of the plants and on the associated ritual practices. For each species, data were collected that included the vernacular names, preparation, plant parts utilized and their method of use. The uses of 52 taxa are described. Among these, 43 are or were employed medicinally, eight as culinary foodstuffs, and 4 for domestic, handicraft or ethnoveterinary uses. Among the major findings: the ritual and magical use of Tamarix gallica L. to heal warts is described in detail; so far, no records of similar use were found in any Italian ethnobotanical studies conducted in southern Italy. Phytotherapy in the Basilicata region is practiced by elderly people who resort to medicinal plants for mild illnesses; we interviewed one of those traditional healers who is very experienced in the field, and possesses rich ethno-pharmacological knowledge.


Patterns of response to bronchodilators in asthma.
Twenty-eight asthmatics inhaled an isoprenaline aerosol on several occasions. The dose administered was constant for each subject on each occasion, yet the responses of each subject measured spirometrically differed on most of the separate occasions. The individual response patterns showed the following features. Spontaneous worsening of the asthma was associated with spirometric responses which in some cases increased directly and predictably with the corresponding fall in pre-treatment FEV1. In other cases the increase in response was less regular and in a few it bore no relation whatsoever to the pre-treatment FEV1. In three subjects a response occurred when the pre-treatment FEV1 was greater than the predicted value. There were variations between subjects in the magnitude of increase in spirometric response to inhaled bronchodilator occurring when there was a fall in pre-treatment FEV1. The great majority of subjects never achieved their predicted FEV1 after maximal doses of isoprenaline. The study of individual response patterns is of value in the selection of subjects for comparative trials of different bronchodilator drugs. The present study draws attention to an irreversible component in the reduction of airways calibre that occurs in asthma.


When Health Organization Answers the Question: Differential Effects of Dialogic Messages in Website and Twitter through Social Presence and Psychological Distance.
Although there has been a consensus that health organizations should better utilize dialogic capabilities of online platforms, little is known about if the effectiveness of dialogic communication varies across message platforms, and if so, why. An experiment (N = 209) examined how message platforms (i.e., website vs. Twitter) moderate the effect of dialogic messages and uncovered a novel theoretical mechanism underlying such effect. Exposure to dialogic (vs. monologic) messages about a health risk yielded greater sense of direct conversation with the health organization (i.e., social presence). However, such effect was observed only when the messages were delivered via the organization's website. In the organization's Twitter, dialogic and monologic messages did not exert significantly differential influence. Enhanced social presence, in turn, reduced psychological distance to the risk, which subsequently induced stronger risk-preventive behavioral intentions.


Simultaneous quantification of nicotine and metabolites in rat brain by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of nicotine (NIC), cotinine (COT), nornicotine (NNIC), norcotinine (NCOT), nicotine-N-β-D-glucuronide (NIC GLUC), cotinine-N-β-D-glucuronide (COT GLUC), nicotine-1'-oxide (NNO), cotinine-N-oxide (CNO), trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (3-HC), anabasine (AB) and anatabine (AT) was modified and validated for quantification of these selected analytes in rat brain tissue. This analytical method provides support for preclinical NIC pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies after controlled dosing protocols. After brain homogenization and solid-phase extraction, target analytes and corresponding deuterated internal standards were chromatographically separated on a Discovery(®) HS F5 HPLC column with gradient elution and analyzed by LC-MS/MS in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) data acquisition. Method linearity was assessed and calibration curves were determined over the following ranges: 0.1-7.5 ng/mg for NIC, COT GLUC and AB; and 0.025-7.5 ng/mg for COT, NNIC, NCOT, NIC GLUC, NNO, CNO, 3-HC and AT (R(2)≥0.99 for all analytes). Extraction recoveries ranged from 64% to 115%, LC-MS/MS matrix effects were ≤21%, and overall process efficiency ranged from 57% to 93% at low and high quality control concentrations. Intra- and inter-assay imprecisions and accuracy for all analytes were ≤12.9% and ≥86%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to quantification of NIC and metabolites in the brain of post-natal day 90 rats that were sacrificed 2-h after a single 0.8 mg/kg s.c. administration of (-)NIC. In these tissues, striatal concentrations were 204.8±49.4, 138.2±14.2 and 36.1±6.1 pg/mg of NIC, COT and NNIC, respectively. Concentrations of NIC, COT and NNIC in the remaining whole brain (RWhB) were 183.3±68.0, 130.0±14.1 and 46.7±10.3 pg/mg, respectively. Quantification of these same analytes in plasma was also performed by a previously validated method. NIC, COT, NNIC, NCOT, NNO and CNO were detected in plasma with concentrations comparable to those reported in previous studies. However, and in contrast to brain tissues, COT concentrations in plasma were significantly higher than were those of NIC (194.6±18.6 ng/mL versus 52.7±12.9 ng/mL). Taken together, these results demonstrate that a sensitive and selective method has been developed for the determination of NIC biomarkers in rat brain.


CO2 adsorption on chemically modified activated carbon.
CO2 adsorption capacity of a commercial activated carbon was improved by using HNO3 oxidation, air oxidation, alkali impregnation and heat treatment under helium gas atmosphere. The surface functional groups produced were investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometer (DRIFTS). CO2 adsorption capacities of the samples were determined by gravimetric analyses for 25-200°C temperature range. DRIFTS studies revealed the formation of carboxylic acid groups on the HNO3 oxidized adsorbents. Increased aromatization and uniform distribution of the Na particles were observed on the samples prepared by Na2CO3 impregnation onto HNO3 oxidized AC support. The adsorption capacities of the nonimpregnated samples were increased by high temperature helium treatments or by increasing the adsorption temperature; both leading to decomposition of surface oxygen groups, forming sites that can easily adsorb CO2. The adsorption capacity loss due to cyclic adsorption/desorption procedures was overcome with further surface stabilization of Na2CO3 modified samples with high temperature He treatments. With Na2CO3 impregnation the mass uptakes of the adsorbents at 20 bars and 25 °C were improved by 8 and 7 folds and at 1 bar were increased 15 and 16 folds, on the average, compared to their air oxidized and nitric acid oxidized supports, respectively.


Epidemiological evaluation of YAG capsulotomy incidence for posterior capsule opacification in various intraocular lenses in Japanese eyes.
We investigated the yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) capsulotomy rates in various intraocular lenses (IOLs). We retrospectively analyzed 23,440 eyes implanted with either MA60BM, MA60AC, VA-60BB, CeeOnEdge, Clariflex, Technis Z9002, SI-40NB, or UV26T IOLs. We calculated the YAG capsulotomy rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years post lens implantation. YAG capsulotomy rates at 3 years postimplantation for the eight groups of IOLs were, respectively, 3.7%, 3.9%, 23.7%, 3.4%, 4.5%, 4.7%, 10.4%, and 21.0%. YAG capsulotomy rates at 10 years postimplantation for the MA60BM and SI-40NB IOLs were, respectively, 9.1% and 15% (P<0.05). The average YAG rates for all sharp-edged and round-edged IOLs at 5 years postimplantation were, respectively, 5.2%±0.7% and 25.6%±9.0% (P<0.05). In all studied IOLs, posterior capsule opacification prevention seemed to be associated with the posterior optic sharp-edge design. Round-edged silicone IOLs may also retard posterior capsule opacification formation, though not as much as sharp-edged IOLs. As the follow-up period progressed, round-edged silicone IOLs showed significantly higher YAG rates than sharp-edged IOLs.


Effects of sediment pretreatment on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells.
In the present study, the effects of different pretreatment methods for sediments on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) were evaluated. Autoclaved (30 and 60 min), and heated (150 °C, 3 h) sediments demonstrated high power density, compared with control and heated (60 °C, 3 h) sediments. An SMFC with heated (60 °C, 3 h) sediment was found to easily form a biocathode. The power density of an SMFC with heated (150 °C, 3 h) sediment was 214 mW m(-2) on day 24. Furthermore, autoclaved (30 and 60 min) and heated (3 h, 60 and 150 °C) sediments accelerated the production of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The DOM in heated (60 °C, 3 h) sediments had larger molecular sizes. The present study demonstrates that SMFCs can have high power density and high loss on ignition removal efficiencies when produced from sediments by suitable pretreatment methods.


[Segmental anatomic diagnosis in congenital cardiac anomalies. I. Anatomic criteria for the identification of the cardiac cavities (author's transl)].
Anatomical features are illustrated for the identification of the cardiac chambers. Essential and accessory morphological structures are recognized. The identification of the atrial cavities is based upon the anatomy of the free walls (crista terminalis, size and shape of the atrial appendages). On the contrary, the identification of the ventricles is founded on the septal morphology (trabecula septo-marginalis on the morphological right side, smooth basal septum on the morphological left side, presence or absence of septal insertions of the atrio-ventricular value apparatus). Finally, no essential feature can be applied to the identification of the great arteries.


The medical and economic impact of preoperative cardiac testing in elderly patients with hip fractures.
To assess the medical and economic impact of preoperative cardiac testing (stress thallium imaging or echocardiography) on the treatment of elderly patients with hip fractures. 235 consecutive patients over the age of 60 treated for a hip fracture (236 fractures) (OTA 31) at a single Level I trauma centre were identified from a prospective orthopaedic trauma database and studied as part of a retrospective cohort series. 35 (15%) had cardiac testing prior to treatment of their hip fracture. The indication for testing was a newly diagnosed cardiac abnormality in 16 of these cases and a prior history of cardiovascular disease without an acute cardiac problem in 19. Cardiac evaluation did not change the orthopaedic management in any case. No patient underwent cardiac surgery or coronary angioplasty as a result of the testing. In 48% of cases, cardiac testing did not lead to new medical treatment. In 52%, recommendations were only made for medical management of previously known cardiac disease. Patients who had cardiac testing had a significantly greater average delay to surgery (3.3 days) than those who did not (1.9 days), (P<.001). The cost of preoperative cardiac testing totalled more than $44,000 for the 35 patients. Preoperative cardiac testing did not lead to changes in perioperative orthopaedic or medical management of elderly patients with hip fractures. Patients undergoing testing had a significant delay to surgery. Extrapolated to the population of elderly hip fracture patients in the United States (250,000 annually), preoperative cardiac testing (performed in 15% of cases) would cost nearly $47,000,000 annually. Preoperative cardiac testing may add profoundly to the healthcare costs associated with treating this population of patients without influencing orthopaedic or medical management.


Genetically determined gut microbial abundance and 2-year changes in central adiposity and body composition: The POUNDS lost trial.
Growing evidence has linked gut microbiota with regulation of adiposity. We aimed to examine whether the genetically determined relative abundance of gut microbial taxa was associated with long-term changes in adiposity and body composition among individuals who were overweight or obese in weight-loss diet interventions. The study included 692 participants with overweight or obese from the POUNDS Lost trial. We created a genetic risk score (GRS) for the relevant abundance of gut microbial taxa using 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms identified from a recent genome-wide association study. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Higher GRS for the relative abundance of gut microbial taxa was significantly associated with greater reductions in waist circumference, total fat mass (FM), whole-body total percentage of fat mass (FM%), and percentage of trunk fat (TF%) at 2 years (p = 0.022, 0.034, 0.023, 0.023, respectively). In addition, dietary protein significantly modified the association between GRS for gut microbial abundance and changes in total FM, FM%, and TF% (p-interactions = 0.04, 0.013, and 0.006, respectively) at 6-month, when the maximum weight loss was achieved, even though such interactions were attenuated at 2 years. In the average-protein diet group, a higher microbial abundance GRS was associated with greater reductions in total FM (p = 0.007), FM% (p = 0.002), and TF% (p < 0.001) at 6 months, while no associations were found in the high-protein diet group (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that the higher genetically determined relative abundance of gut microbial taxa may be related to long-term improvement of whole-body and central fatness and body composition in response to low-calorie diet interventions.


Analytical comparison between Nixon-Logvinenko's and Jung-Brown's theories of slow neurofilament transport in axons.
This paper develops analytical solutions describing slow neurofilament (NF) transport in axons. The obtained solutions are based on two theories of NF transport: Nixon-Logvinenko's theory that postulates that most NFs are incorporated into a stationary cross-linked network and only a small pool is slowly transported and Jung-Brown's theory that postulates a single dynamic pool of NFs that are transported according to the stop-and-go hypothesis. The simplest two-kinetic state version of the model developed by Jung and Brown was compared with the theory developed by Nixon and Logvinenko. The model for Nixon-Logvinenko's theory included stationary, pausing, and running NF populations while the model used for Jung-Brown's theory only included pausing and running NF populations. Distributions of NF concentrations resulting from Nixon-Logvinenko's and Jung-Brown's theories were compared. In previous publications, Brown and colleagues successfully incorporated slowing of NF transport into their model by assuming that some kinetic constants depend on the distance from the axon hillock. In this paper we defined the average rate of NF transport as the rate of motion of the center of mass of radiolabeled NFs. We have shown that for this definition, if all kinetic rates are assumed constant, Jung-Brown's theory predicts a constant average rate of NF transport. We also demonstrated that Nixon-Logvinenko's theory predicts slowing of NF transport even if all kinetic rates are assumed constant, and the obtained slowing agrees well with published experimental data.


Accuracy of cancer-risk assessment in primary care practice.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) are expected to play a central role in assessing cancer risk. This study was designed to evaluate how accurately PCPs would triage individuals at increased risk for cancer when presented with clinical vignettes. Surveys evaluated practice demographics, attitudes, and responses to clinical scenarios. Answers were compared with guidelines and graded for consistency with the risk assessment. PCPs were inaccurate in assessing risk (p < 0.0001) and inconsistent in recommending screening (p < 0.001). Older physicians were more consistent (p < 0.02). No attitudinal bias was identified. Continuing education of PCPs is important for cancer-risk assessment and management.


Biomimetic nanoparticles blocking autophagy for enhanced chemotherapy and metastasis inhibition via reversing focal adhesion disassembly.
Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process, which plays an important role in regulating tumor cell motility and degrading protein aggregates. Chemotherapy-induced autophagy may lead to tumor distant metastasis and even chemo-insensitivity in the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, a vast majority of HCC cases do not produce a significant response to monotherapy with autophagy inhibitors. In this work, we developed a biomimetic nanoformulation (TH-NP) co-encapsulating Oxaliplatin (OXA)/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, an autophagy inhibitor) to execute targeted autophagy inhibition, reduce tumor cell migration and invasion in vitro and attenuate metastasis in vivo. The tumor cell-specific ligand TRAIL was bioengineered to be stably expressed on HUVECs and the resultant membrane vesicles were wrapped on OXA/HCQ-loaded PLGA nanocores. Especially, TH-NPs could significantly improve OXA and HCQ effective concentration by approximately 21 and 13 times in tumor tissues compared to the free mixture of HCQ/OXA. Moreover, the tumor-targeting TH-NPs released HCQ alkalized the acidic lysosomes and inhibited the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, leading to effective blockade of autophagic flux. In short, the system largely improved chemotherapeutic performance of OXA on subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC mice models. Importantly, TH-NPs also exhibited the most effective inhibition of tumor metastasis in orthotopic HCCLM3 models, and in the HepG2, Huh-7 or HCCLM3 metastatic mice models. Finally, we illustrated the enhanced metastasis inhibition was attributed to the blockade or reverse of the autophagy-mediated degradation of focal adhesions (FAs) including E-cadherin and paxillin. TH-NPs can perform an enhanced chemotherapy and antimetastatic effect, and may represent a promising strategy for HCC therapy in clinics.


Determination of ultratrace levels of tributyltin in waters by isotope dilution and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.
The current EU legislation lays down the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) of 45 priority substances in surface water bodies. In particular, the concentration of tributyltin (TBT) must not exceed 0.2ngL(-1) and analytical methodologies with a Limit of Quantification (LOQ) equal or below 0.06ngL(-1) are urged to be developed. This work presents a procedure for the determination of ultratrace levels of TBT in water samples by Isotope Dilution and GC-MS/MS operating in Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mode which meets current EU requirements. The method requires the monitorization of five consecutive transitions (287>175 to 291>179) for the sensitive and selective detection of TBT. The measured isotopic distribution of TBT fragment ions was in agreement with the theoretical values computed by a polynomial expansion algorithm. The combined use of Tandem Mass Spectrometry, a sample volume of 250mL, the preconcentration of 1mL of organic phase to 30μL and an injection volume of 25μL by Programmed Temperature Vaporization provided a LOQ of 0.0426ngL(-1) for TBT (calculated as ten times the standard deviation of nine independent blanks). The recovery for TBT calculated in Milli-Q water at the EQS level was 106.3±4%. A similar procedure was also developed for the quantification of dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) in water samples showing satisfactory results. The method was finally implemented in a routine testing laboratory to demonstrate its applicability to real samples obtaining quantitative recoveries for TBT at the EQS level in mineral water, river water and seawater.


Can TD-DFT calculations accurately describe the excited states behavior of stacked nucleobases? The cytosine dimer as a test case.
By using calculations rooted in the time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) we have investigated how the lowest energy excited states of a face-to-face pi-stacked cytosine dimer vary with the intermonomer distance (R). The perfomances of different density functionals have been compared, focussing mainly on the lowest energy single excited state of the dimer (S(1))(2). TD-PBE0, TD-LC-omegaPBE, and TD-M05-2X provide a picture very similar to that obtained at the CASPT2 level by Merchan et al. (J Chem Phys 2006, 125, 231102), predicting that (S(1))(2) has a minimum for R approximately 3 A, with a binding energy of approximately 0.5 eV, whereas TD-B3LYP, TD-CAM-B3LYP, and TD-PBE understimate the binding energy. However, independently of the functional employed, no low-energy spurious charge transfer transitions are predicted by TD-DFT calculations, also when a nonsymmetric dimer is investigated, providing encouraging indications for the use of TD-DFT for studying the excited state of pi-stacked nucleobases.


Interleukin-15 delays human neutrophil apoptosis by intracellular events and not via extracellular factors: role of Mcl-1 and decreased activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8.
Interleukin-15 (IL-15) induces the de novo protein synthesis of intracellular polypeptides and delays neutrophil apoptosis by a mechanism that is still unclear. Herein, we investigated the potential antiapoptotic role of newly synthesized proteins released into the external milieu in IL-15-induced neutrophils. We found that IL-15 induces the de novo synthesis of an approximately 23-kDa protein, representing the predominant protein detected in the milieu, and identified it as IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) by Western blot and immunoprecipitation. We quantified IL-1Ra, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in intracellular and extracellular fractions from IL-15-induced neutrophils and found that IL-15 does not increase IL-1alpha or IL-1beta production but induces IL-1Ra release. Also, we demonstrated that IL-1Ra does not modulate apoptosis, even at a concentration 250 times greater than that measured in the external milieu. In contrast to granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, the supernatant harvested from IL-15-induced neutrophils was devoid of antiapoptotic activity. Addition of cycloheximide demonstrates that IL-15 delays apoptosis via de novo synthesis of intracellular proteins and that it increases myeloid cell differentiation factor-1 stability. We demonstrated also that IL-15 decreases the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8, resulting in an inhibition of vimentin cleavage. Our results indicate that IL-15 can activate an anti-inflammatory loop, based on its ability to induce the synthesis of IL-1Ra by neutrophils. We conclude that IL-15 delays human neutrophil apoptosis by intracellular events and not via extracellular factors.


Face Validity, Content Validity, and Psychometric Testing of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture Among Undergraduate Nursing Students.
Background and Purpose: Nursing students have an essential role in patient safety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the face validity, content validity, and psychometric properties of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture for Nursing Students (HSOPS-NS). Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out between January and October 2021. The participants were undergraduate nursing students (N = 482) from 16 Czech nursing faculties. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed an eight-factor structure, which was verified by confirmatory factor analysis using the optimization process that results in adequate goodness-of-fit indices (root mean squared error approximation = .037; standardized root mean squared residuals = .056; comparative fit index = .935; Tucker-Lewis index = .926; incremental fit index = .936). The internal consistency of a new model was excellent (α = .914). Conclusion: The results indicate that the HSOPS-NS shows evidence of reliability and validity and is a valuable measure of safety culture as perceived by nursing students.


Immunolocalization of alpha-fetoprotein in the ovary and hypophysis of immature female rats.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), an oestrogen-binding protein, has been localized in the ovary and hypophysis of prepuberal rats. In the ovary, AFP was localized in secondary follicles, its distribution being limited to the liquor folliculi and the zona pellucida. In the hypophysis, AFP was only found in blood vessels. The intra-ovarian localization of the protein is consistent with our previous hypothesis that AFP might act as a regulator of ovarian activity by decreasing the local free oestradiol level.


Self-stimulation and circling reveal functional differences between medial and lateral substantia nigra.
Functional differences between medial and lateral substantia nigra (SN) sites mediating intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) and circling behaviours were explored. It was found that, for medial SN stimulation sites, D- and L-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) had equipotent, slightly facilitatory effects on ICSS rates while for lateral SN stimulation sites, D-amphetamine increased and L-amphetamine decreased ICSS rates. It is suggested that these effects may be due to medial and lateral dopamine cells having different sensitivities to amphetamine isomers. Imposed continuous stimulation of the ICSS sites induced contralateral circling from the medial SN placements and ipsilateral circling from the lateral SN placements. In rats receiving lesions through the ICSS electrode, D-amphetamine (2 mg/kg) induced ipsilateral circling following medial SN damage and contralateral circling after lateral SN damage. These results suggest that lateral and medial SN mechanisms of ICSS and circling differ, and that the lateral SN may be antagonistic to medial SN mechanisms involved in circling behaviour.


Physico-chemical modeling of the role of free radicals in photodynamic therapy. II. Interactions of ground state sensitizers with free radicals studied by chemiluminescence spectrometry.
Chemiluminescence (CL) studies of the interaction between ground state hematoporphyrin photosensitizer (Hp) and peroxy radicals generated by the initiated oxidation of ethylbenzene at 60-80 degrees C revealed, that Hp is a singlet-singlet acceptor similarly to 9,10-diphenylanthracene. Furthermore, the fast decrease in the CL signal in the presence of Hp indicated that its consumption also took place due to chemical transformation, presumably by the attack of peroxy radicals on Hp. The rate constant of this attack has been calculated and it supports the view that such interaction can lead to an essential contribution to the bleaching processes in vivo.


Deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts of nitromalonamide.
The OH chemical shift of the enol form of nitromalonamide is found at 18.9 ppm both in DMSO-d(6) and in DMF-d(7) indicating a very strong hydrogen bond. The OH chemical shift is insensitive to temperature changes. Contrary to the large OH chemical shift, a small two-bond deuterium isotope effect of 0.135 ppm due to deuteration at the OH position is found at the enolic carbon. This is confirmed by density functional theory calculations. The observed effects are interpreted as due to an equilibrium between identical enolic forms. These show a strong OH...O hydrogen bond as well as a NH...O-N=O hydrogen bond.


Peritonitis secondary to dialysis tubing contamination among patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
Patients were asked to report all dialysis system contaminations occurring from December 1985 through May 1988 to the home training facility. There were 74 instances of peritoneal dialysis system contamination, 20 of which resulted in peritonitis. Prophylactic antibiotics were used in 48 of 54 episodes not resulting in peritonitis. Three cultures yielded gram-positive organisms without clinical peritonitis becoming evident. Fourteen of the 20 episodes of peritonitis had received antibiotics prophylactically. System contaminations were classified into tears or holes of the catheter at the adapter on the Tenckhoff catheter or at the tubing connection to the dialysate bag and breaks of the connecting devices from either dialysis catheter to dialysis tubing or dialysis tubing to dialysate bag. System contaminations accounted for 20 of the 333 episodes of peritonitis that occurred during this time. Identifying system contamination is useful because prophylactic antibiotic therapy may prevent peritonitis.


Incremental associations between facets of anxiety sensitivity and posttraumatic stress and panic symptoms among trauma-exposed adults.
The present investigation examined incremental associations between anxiety sensitivity (AS) subfactors (e.g. physical, psychological, and social concerns) and posttraumatic stress and panic symptoms among trauma-exposed adults. These effects were examined above and beyond other theoretically relevant factors, including negative affectivity and number of types of trauma exposures. The 239 participants were selected from a university- and community-based sample (129 women; mean age = 23.0 years; SD = 9.6, range = 18-65), all of whom endorsed exposure to traumatic life events. The AS psychological concerns and AS physical concerns lower order factors evidenced distinct associations with posttraumatic stress symptoms and panic-relevant symptoms, respectively. Specifically, the AS psychological concerns facet was significantly incrementally predictive of posttraumatic stress-relevant avoidance symptoms. The AS physical concerns facet was significantly incrementally predictive of panic-relevant symptoms, including anxious arousal, body vigilance, and perceived control over anxiety-related events. Results are discussed in the context of the relevant theoretical literature pertaining to shared vulnerability and comorbidity between posttraumatic stress and panic.


Circular RNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells. This study is aimed to systematically summarize the current evidence regarding the clinical implications of circRNAs in RCC patients. A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed until January 1, 2022. The correlation between the expression of circRNAs and clinicopathological, prognostic, and diagnostic features of RCC was evaluated using the meta-analysis. Ultimately, 41 studies with 3485 RCC patients were included in this study: 26 studies for clinicopathological features, 31 studies for prognosis, and eight studies for diagnosis. Altered expression of circRNAs was significantly associated with clinicopathological characteristics of RCC, including tumor size, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM stage. The tumor promoter circRNAs were associated with reduced overall survival (OS) (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-2.34) and disease/progression/recurrence-free survival (DFS/PFS/RFS) (HR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.85-2.97). Contrarily, the tumor suppressor circRNAs were linked with better OS (HR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.40-0.60) and DFS/PFS/RFS (HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.28-0.59). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of circRNAs for RCC diagnosis in tissue samples were both 0.84. These results in fluid samples (serum and urine) were 0.78 and 0.69, respectively. CircRNAs can serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for RCC.


Drained mucosal advancement flap versus rerouting Seton around the internal anal sphincter in treatment of high trans-sphincteric anal fistula: A randomized trial.
Several sphincter saving techniques have been described for complex anal fistula (CAF) with variable outcomes. The present trial aimed to compare two techniques for CAF; the drained mucosal flap technique and rerouting Seton around the internal anal sphincter (IAS). Adult patients with high trans-sphincteric anal fistula were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group I underwent mucosal advancement flap with drainage Seton rerouted around the external anal sphincter, and group II underwent rerouting Seton around the IAS. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of postoperative fecal incontinence (FI), healing of fistula, complications, and changes in anal pressures. 97 patients (80 male) of a mean age of 39.5 years were included. One patient developed FI in group I versus 7 in group II (p = 0.03). Failure of healing occurred in 2 patients in group I and 4 in group II (p = 0.43). In group II, the average time for spontaneous fall of Seton was 14 ± 2.8 days whereas in group I the average time for removal of Seton was 40 ± 14.9 days (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in complication rate. Postoperatively, the decrease in resting anal pressure was significant in Group II but not group I. The drained mucosal flap technique was associated with significantly lower incidence of FI, yet longer operative time and longer time to complete healing compared to rerouting Seton around the IAS. The success rates of both techniques was comparable.


ΔFosB enhances the rewarding effects of cocaine while reducing the pro-depressive effects of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50488.
Elevated expression of the transcription factor ΔFosB accompanies repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, particularly in brain areas associated with reward and motivation (e.g., nucleus accumbens). The persistent effects of ΔFosB on target genes might play an important role in the development and expression of behavioral adaptations that characterize addiction. This study examines how ΔFosB influences the responsiveness of the brain reward system to rewarding and aversive drugs. We used the intracranial self-stimulation paradigm to assess the effects of cocaine in transgenic mice with inducible overexpression of ΔFosB in striatal regions (including nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum). Mice implanted with lateral hypothalamic stimulating electrodes were trained with the "rate-frequency" procedure for intracranial self-stimulation to determine the frequency at which stimulation becomes rewarding (threshold). A dose-effect analysis of cocaine effects revealed that mice overexpressing ΔFosB show increased sensitivity to the rewarding (threshold-lowering) effects of the drug, compared with littermate control subjects. Interestingly, mice overexpressing ΔFosB were also less sensitive to the pro-depressive (threshold-elevating) effects of U50488, a kappa-opioid agonist known to induce dysphoria and stress-like effects in rodents. These data suggest that induction of ΔFosB in striatal regions has two important behavioral consequences-increased sensitivity to drug reward, and reduced sensitivity to aversion-producing a complex phenotype that shows signs of vulnerability to addiction as well as resilience to stress.


[The experimental research of purification and character of cultured retinal ganglion cell].
To establish a cell line and purification model of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro. RGCs from Sprague Dawley neonatal rats (postnatal 1 - 3 days) were cultured in basal medium eagle (BME) basal medium. The growth regularity of RGCs in vitro was observed under phase-contrast microscope. RGCs were purified by Thy 1.1 with FITC antibody and detected under fluorescent microscope and phase-contrast microscope. Higher density of retinal cells and tectal extract facilitate cultured RGCs to survive. The purification rate of retinal ganglion cells in the experiment arrived at 95 percent. Cytokine and trophic factors from other cells in the retina and tectal extract can promote RGCs to survive, and they can be purified by Thy 1.1 antibody.


Possible involvement of alanine and pyruvate in the regulation of glucose transport in heart muscle cells.
In isolated rat heart muscle cells, addition of L-alanine (1.5 mmol/l) or of L-valine (3 mmol/l) resulted in either a ca 1.5- or 1.3-fold increase in glucose transport, resp. half-maximal stimulation was observed in the presence of L-alanine, but not of L-valine, within a physiological plasmatic range of concentrations. D-Alanine (1.5 mmol/l) was ineffective and the stimulating effect of L-alanine could be prevented by an excess of L-serine (15-30 mmol/l). L-Alanine produced an increase in 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport Vmax (from 44.6 to 81.5 pmol.s-1.mg protein-1) without affecting the Km (12.2 in control vs 12.8 mmol/l in alanine-treated cells). Pyruvate (1.5 mmol/l) inhibited glucose transport by 20% and prevented the stimulating action of L-alanine (1.5 mmol/l). These results suggest that the effect of L-alanine in cardiac myocytes occurs through the interaction with an intracellular site and that both alanine and pyruvate may play a role in the regulation of glucose transport in these cells.


Volume phase transition kinetics of smart N-n-propylacrylamide microgels studied by time-resolved pressure jump small angle neutron scattering.
The use of smart colloidal microgels for advanced applications critically depends on their response kinetics. We use pressure jump small angle neutron scattering with supreme time resolution to study the rapid volume phase transition kinetics of such microgels. Utilizing the pressure induced microphase separation inside the microgels we were able to resolve their collapse and swelling kinetics. While the collapse occurs on a time scale of 10 ms, the particle swelling turned out to be much faster. Photon correlation spectroscopy and static small angle neutron scattering unambiguously show, that the much slower collapse can be associated with the complex particle architecture exhibiting a loosely-crosslinked outer region and a denser inner core region. These insights into the kinetics of stimuli-responsive materials are of high relevance for their applications as nano-actuators, sensors or drug carriers. Moreover, the used refined pressure jump small angle neutron scattering technique is of broad interest for soft matter studies.


The role of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases V in the malignancy of human hepatocellular carcinoma.
To investigate the role of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases V (GnT-V) in the malignancy of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the GnT-V stably suppressed cell line HepG2 GnT-V/1564 was constructed from HepG2. The proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis of HepG2 GnT-V/1564 was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The clinical pathological significance of GnT-V expression was also studied in 140 cases of HCC tissues. This study showed that down-regulation of GnT-V inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of the HepG2 cells. In addition, GnT-V expression was shown in 138 cases of 140 (98.6%) HCC samples, in 3 cases of 31 (9.7%) in liver cirrhosis cases and in 1 cases of 20 (5.0%) in normal liver tissues. Besides, a higher level of GnT-V was observed more frequently in the advanced tumors with higher T stage and histological grade. These data suggested that GnT-V expression was positively related with malignancy in HCC and GnT-V may be both a differentiation marker and a potential target for the treatment of HCC.


Supportive care program, pain service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Advanced cancer patients being cared for at home, with severe pain and multiple symptoms, strain the resources of individual community practitioners and family members. Supportive care programs, such as that developed by the Pain Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), with good communication and liaison work between hospital and community, add a much needed dimension to pain and symptom control for these patients and their families, as well as ongoing support to community physicians and nurses.


Mine drainage precipitates attenuate and conceal wastewater-derived phosphate pollution in stream water.
Hydrous ferric-oxide (HFO) coatings on streambed sediments may attenuate dissolved phosphate (PO4) concentrations at acidic to neutral pH conditions, limiting phosphorus (P) transport and availability in aquatic ecosystems. Mesh-covered tiles on which "natural" HFO from abandoned mine drainage (AMD) had precipitated were exposed to treated municipal wastewater (MWW) effluent or a mixture of stream water and effluent. Between 42 and 99% of the dissolved P in effluent was removed from the water to a thin coating (~2 μm) of HFO on the mesh. Geochemical equilibrium model results predicted the removal of 76 to 99% of PO4 from the water by adsorption to the HFO, depending on the HFO quantity, initial PO4 concentration, and pH. The measurements and model results indicated the capacity for P removal decreased as the concentration of P associated with the HFO increased. Continuing accumulation of HFO from upstream AMD sources replenish the in-stream capacity for P attenuation below the MWW discharge. This indicates AMD pollution may conceal P inputs and limit the amount of dissolved P transported to downstream ecosystems. However, HFO-rich sediments also represent a potential source of "legacy" P that could confound management practices intended to decrease nutrient and metal loadings.


Cooperative interactions at [3H]kainic acid binding sites in rat and human cerebellum.
Inhibition of the specific binding of [3H]kainic acid was studied in membranes isolated from rat and human cerebellum; the sequence of potencies in both species were: kainic acid greater than L-glutamic acid greater than dihydrokainic acid greater than D-glutamic acid. Whereas the Hill coefficient for unlabelled Kainate was 1.0, dihydrokainic acid and D- and L-glutamic acids exhibited negative cooperativity with Hill coefficients of near 0.5. This allosteric interaction of glutamic acid at the kainic acid recognition site suggests a biochemical correlate for the synergistic effects of these compounds in vivo.


Single implants in the anterior maxilla after 15 years of follow-up: comparison with central implants in the edentulous maxilla.
To present long-term clinical and radiographic data on single-implant treatment in the anterior maxilla and to compare these results with comparable data of central implants supporting fixed prostheses in the edentulous maxilla. A total of 38 patients consecutively restored with 47 single-implant crowns in the anterior maxilla were included in the single-implant (study) group. The implants in the edentulous group (control) were included by randomly selecting one of the central implants (closest to midline) from 76 consecutively treated edentulous patients. Mean age was 25.4 years (SD: 10.0) and 60.1 years (SD: 11.6) at inclusion (P < .001) for the study and control groups, respectively. Clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively retrieved from files holding up to 15 years of function in both groups. No implants in the study group were lost (cumulative success rate: 100%), while 3 implants in the control group were lost (cumulative success rate: 95.4%). Ten single crowns were replaced (15-year cumulative survival rate: 77.0%), and the study group showed more mucosal problems and fistulas compared to the implants in the control group (P < .05). Loose screws were a common problem in the single-implant group during the first 5 years of function, but bone loss did not differ significantly between patients with stable and loose screws/fistulas (P > .05) or between study and control implants after 15 years (P > .05). There is an obvious difference between the survival of the implants (100%) and original implant crowns (77%) in the study group. The present early single-implant restorations showed significantly more mechanical/fistula problems compared to central implants in the edentulous maxilla (P < .05), but bone response was similar for both groups during 15 years of follow-up. Bone loss was not affected by the level of the implant head in relation to the cementoenamel junction of adjacent teeth, nor was it affected by mechanical or mucosal problems or persistent fistulas of the single implants during the entire follow-up period.


Epinephrine injection monotherapy shows similar hemostatic efficacy to epinephrine injection combined therapy in high-risk patients (Forrest Ib) with bleeding ulcers.
Whether combination therapy has higher hemostatic efficacy than epinephrine injection monotherapy in different Forrest classifications is not clear. This study aimed to compare hemostatic efficacy between epinephrine injection monotherapy (MT) and combination therapy (CT) based on different Forrest classifications. We retrospectively analyzed peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) patients who underwent endoscopic epinephrine injections or epinephrine injections combined with a second therapy between March 2014 and June 2022 in our center, and the patients were divided into MT group or CT group. Subsequently, a propensity score matching analysis (PSM) was performed and rebleeding rates were calculated according to Forrest classifications via a stratified analysis. Overall, 605 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included, and after PSM, 173 patients in each of the CT and MT groups were included. For PUB patients with nonbleeding visible vessels (FIIa), the rebleeding rates by Days 3, 7, 14, and 30 after PSM were 8.8%, 17.5%, 19.3%, and 19.3% in the MT group, respectively, and rates were 0%, 4.1%, 5.5%, and 5.5% in the CT group, respectively, with significant differences observed between the two groups by Days 3, 7, 14, and 30 (P = 0.015, P = 0.011, P = 0.014, and P = 0.014, respectively). However, for PUB patients with oozing bleeding (FIb), the rebleeding rates by Days 3, 7, 14, and 30 after PSM were 14.9%, 16.2%, 17.6%, and 17.6% in the MT group, respectively, and rates were 13.2%, 14.7%, 14.7%, and 16.2% in the CT group, respectively, with no significant differences observed between the two groups by Days 3, 7, 14, and 30 (P = 0.78, P = 0.804, P = 0.644 and P = 0.825). Combined therapy has higher hemostatic efficacy than epinephrine injection monotherapy for PUB patients with visible blood vessel (FIIa) ulcers. However, epinephrine injection monotherapy is equally as effective as combined therapy for PUB patients with oozing blood (FIb) ulcers.


Incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy in Hong Kong Chinese with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
We conducted a cohort study to determine the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a district hospital in Hong Kong, and to identify the risk factors associated with the development and progression of DR over 4 years. A total of 413 type 2 diabetic patients who followed up in our diabetic clinic and had a diabetic complication screening performed in 2001 were studied. The final analysis included 354 subjects (85.7%) after a mean follow-up period of 4.2 years. The severity of DR was graded according to the modified Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). The relationship between clinical variables and DR development and progression was determined. The baseline prevalence of DR was 39.2%. On 4-year follow-up, the incidence of DR was 20.3% (43 of 212). In those with baseline DR, 34.7% (42 of 121) progressed by >or=2 steps in ETDRS. On multivariate analysis, a high baseline glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) was the only predictor of DR development, while macroalbuminuria and high mean HbA(1c) predicted progression. Regression of DR, defined by a >or=2-step decrement in ETDRS, occurred in 13.2% (12 of 91) of subjects and was associated with lower baseline HbA(1c) and absence of albuminuria. The incidence of DR in our study was similar to--but progression of DR was higher than--those reported in Caucasians. More frequent retinal screening should be offered to those with baseline DR, high HbA(1c), or albuminuria. Good glycemic control is important in order to prevent the development and progression of DR, and can lead to regression of DR.


Effects of Indoor Rowing Exercise on the Body Composition and the Scoliosis of Visually Impaired People: A Preliminary Study.
To evaluate the effects of rowing exercise on body composition, laboratory data, fitness and scoliosis in visually impaired people. The majority of visually impaired people do not participate in active sports due to efficiency and safety issues. Rowing is a safe whole-body exercise with aerobic and anaerobic components. Twenty subjects were recruited from among those admitted to a facility for visually impaired people (16 men and 4 women). Laboratory data, body composition, physical fitness, Cobb's angle, and fall index were checked before and after 6 weeks (5 days a week) of indoor rowing using Concept2 Model E. After the training, fat mass and total body fat percent decreased significantly. In the fitness test, back strength and trunk flexion score increased significantly. Laboratory data showed significant increases in serum protein and albumin and decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. There were 9 subjects with scoliosis and after the training Cobb's angle decreased by 1.11°±1.55°, though this was not statistically significant. Visually impaired people frequently have abnormal body composition, low physical fitness, and scoliosis. A rowing exercise program can be helpful, with a positive effect on body composition and physical fitness; however, with respect to scoliosis, we need an earlier intervention program in visually impaired people.


Contrastive uncertainty based biomarkers detection in retinal optical coherence tomography images.
Objective.Retinal biomarker in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images plays a key guiding role in the follow-up diagnosis and clinical treatment of eye diseases. Although there have been many deep learning methods to automatically process retinal biomarker, the detection of retinal biomarkers is still a great challenge due to the similar characteristics to normal tissue, large changes in size and shape and fuzzy boundary of different types of biomarkers. To overcome these challenges, a novel contrastive uncertainty network (CUNet) is proposed for retinal biomarkers detection in OCT images.Approach.In CUNet, proposal contrastive learning is designed to enhance the feature representation of retinal biomarkers, aiming at boosting the discrimination ability of network between different types of retinal biomarkers. Furthermore, we proposed bounding box uncertainty and combined it with the traditional bounding box regression, thereby improving the sensitivity of the network to the fuzzy boundaries of retinal biomarkers, and to obtain a better localization result.Main results.Comprehensive experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed CUNet. The experimental results on two datasets show that our proposed method achieves good detection performance compared with other detection methods.Significance.We propose a method for retinal biomarker detection trained by bounding box labels. The proposal contrastive learning and bounding box uncertainty are used to improve the detection of retinal biomarkers. The method is designed to help reduce the amount of work doctors have to do to detect retinal diseases.


Bis(1-Methyl-ortho-Carboranyl)Borane.
The Lewis superacid, bis(1-methyl-ortho-carboranyl)borane, is rapidly accessed in two steps. It is a very effective hydroboration reagent capable of B-H addition to alkenes, alkynes, and cyclopropanes. To date, this is the first identified Lewis superacidic secondary borane and most reactive neutral hydroboration reagent.


Electrochemical degradation of an anionic surfactant on boron-doped diamond anodes.
In this work, the electrochemical oxidation on boron-doped diamond of synthetic wastes polluted with surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) has been studied. Results show that SDBS can be successfully removed with this technology inside different current densities and concentration ranges. The oxidation of the SDBS seems to occur in two main sequential steps: the first is the rapid degradation of SDBS, and the final is the less efficient oxidation of aliphatic intermediates to carbon dioxide. The nature of supporting electrolyte (NaCl, Na(2)SO(4) and K(3)PO(4)) influences on the efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation process. The treatment of the NaCl solution seems to be more efficient in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, while the sulphate and specially the phosphate media improve the TOC removal. However, in spite of this observation, chemical oxidation of SDBS by different types of oxidants cannot explain alone the results of the electrochemical oxidation with diamond anodes. This suggests that the synergistic effect of the different oxidation mechanisms that occurs into the electrochemical cell (direct oxidation and mediated oxidation by hydroxyl radicals and by oxidants formed from the electrolyte) is the responsible of the great efficiencies obtained with this technology in the treatment of organics.


Detection by monoclonal antibodies of an antigenic determinant critical for poliovirus neutralization present on VP1 and on heat-inactivated virions.
Hybridoma cell lines were established against poliovirus type 1 (Mahoney) heat-denatured virions (C particles). Each anti-C monoclonal antibody (McAb) immunoprecipitated specifically one of the individualized poliovirus capsid polypeptides VP1, VP2, or VP3. One of the anti-C McAb (C-3), reacting with VP1, neutralized homologous virus and immunoprecipitated infectious D particles. Its properties have been compared to those of a neutralizing anti-D McAb (D-Ic). In contrast with the C-3 antigenic site, the D-Ic epitope was not present on C particles nor on individualized structural polypeptide. This demonstrates that C-3 and D-Ic epitopes represent two independent antigenic determinants, both critical for poliovirus neutralization.


A novel DNA profiling application for the monitoring of cross-contamination in autologous chondrocyte implantation.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a cell-based treatment that can be used to regenerate chondral defects. European legislation specifically classifies such produced chondrocytes as "medicinal for advanced cell therapy" that have to be manufactured in pharmaceutical factories according to specific rules, named Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). One main requirement of cell manipulation in advanced therapy is to prevent the risk of any contamination. The aim of this study was to verify if chondrocyte cultures suitable for ACI were free of cross-contamination by means of DNA profiling techniques. Cell cultures were carried on in a Hospital Cell Factory in compliance with European current Good Manufacturing Practices. DNA profiling, by means of Short Tandem Repeats and miniShort Tandem Repeats analyses, was performed on expanded chondrocytes and their related control blood samples. Mitochondrial DNA was analysed to further confirm the results and to evaluate possible mutations occurred in the samples. Our findings demonstrated the absence of cross-contamination between chondrocyte cultures and, thus, their identity maintenance until the end of the manipulation. DNA profiling technique can be a suitable test for quality control not only for chondrocyte manipulation, but for cell therapy in general.


Heterobifunctional PEGs: efficient synthetic strategies and useful conjugation methodologies.
The desire to develop nanoparticle and liposomal formulations as drug carriers capitalizing on active transport mechanisms requires constant development of novel heterobifunctional polyethyleneglycol (PEG) constructs. Such constructs should be capable of sequentially reacting with extracellular binding ligands and structural components of nanoparticles and/or liposomes. This paper describes two syntheses of heterobifunctional PEGs useful for tethering small molecule ligands to synthetic lysine-bearing polymers.


A Framework for Learning Event Sequences and Explaining Detected Anomalies in a Smart Home Environment.
This paper presents a framework for learning event sequences for anomaly detection in a smart home environment. It addresses environment conditions, device grouping, system performance and explainability of anomalies. Our method models user behavior as sequences of events, triggered by interaction of the home residents with the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Based on a given set of recorded event sequences, the system can learn the habitual behavior of the residents. An anomaly is described as deviation from that normal behavior, previously learned by the system. One key feature of our framework is the explainability of detected anomalies, which is implemented through a simple rule analysis.