Parathyroid hormone gene with bone phenotypes in Chinese.
Osteoporosis is a common disorder afflicting old people. The parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene is involved in bone remodeling and calcium homeostasis, and has been considered as an important candidate gene for osteoporosis. In this study, we simultaneously tested linkage and/or association of PTH gene with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), two important risk factors for osteoporosis. A sample of 1263 subjects from 402 Chinese nuclear families was used. The families are composed of both parents and at least one healthy daughter aged from 20 to 45 years. All the subjects were genotyped at the polymorphic BstBI site inside the intron 2 of the PTH gene (a nucleotide substitution of G to A at the position +3244). BMD and BMC were measured at the lumbar spine and the hip region via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Using QTDT (quantitative trait transmission disequilibrium test), we did not find significant results for association or linkage between the PTH gene and BMD or BMC variation at the spine or hip. Our data do not support the PTH gene as a quantitative trait locus (QTL) underlying the bone phenotypic variation in the Chinese population.


The effect of chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes on insulin-stimulated endothelial function is similar and additive.
Chronic heart failure is associated with endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance. The aim of this investigation was to study insulin-stimulated endothelial function and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles in patients with heart failure in comparison to patients with type 2 diabetes. Twenty-three patients with systolic heart failure and no history of diabetes, seven patients with both systolic heart failure and type 2 diabetes, 19 patients with type 2 diabetes, and ten healthy controls were included in the study. Endothelial function was studied by venous occlusion plethysmography. Insulin-stimulated endothelial function was assessed after intra-arterial infusion of insulin followed by co-infusion with serotonin in three different dosages. Forearm glucose uptake was measured during the insulin infusion. Patients with systolic heart failure had impaired insulin-stimulated endothelial function. The percentage increase in blood flow during co-infusion with insulin and serotonin dose response study was 24.74% ± 6.16%, 23.50% ± 8.32%, and 22.29% ± 10.77% at the three doses respectively, compared to the healthy control group 45.96% ± 11.56%, 67.40% ± 18.11% and 84.57% ± 25.73% (P = 0.01). Insulin-stimulated endothelial function was similar in heart failure patients and patients with type 2 diabetes, while it was further deteriorated in patients suffering from both heart failure and diabetes with a percentage increase in blood flow of 19.15% ± 7.81%, -2.35% ± 11.76%, and 5.82% ± 17.70% at the three doses of serotonin, respectively. Forearm glucose uptake was impaired in patients with heart failure compared to healthy controls (P = 0.03) and tended to be further impaired by co-existence of diabetes (P = 0.08). Systolic heart failure and type 2 diabetes result in similar vascular insulin resistance and reduced muscular insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The effects of systolic heart failure and type 2 diabetes appear to be additive.


SPONTANEOUS CLOSURE OF MACULAR HOLE AFTER DRAINAGE OF SUBFOVEAL PERFLUOROCARBON LIQUID.
To report a rare case of macular hole formation after drainage of subretinal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL), which closed spontaneously. Retrospective case report. A 60-year-old was noted to have subfoveal PFCL after a macula-involving retinal detachment repair with silicone oil tamponade. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) was used for postoperative imaging. Two months postdetachment repair, the patient underwent removal of silicone oil and drainage of subfoveal PFCL using a 41-gauge cannula through a extrafoveal retinotomy. A full-thickness macular hole was noted 2 weeks postoperatively. This closed spontaneously 4 months later, with an improvement in vision, although there was evidence of subfoveal atrophy. Macular hole formation can occur after drainage of subfoveal PFCL, with a favorable prognosis if managed conservatively. The resultant foveal atrophy highlights the importance of early identification and removal of subretinal PFCL.


Inhibitory effect of EDTA.Ca2+ on the hydrolysis of synaptosomal phospholipids by phospholipase A2 toxins and enzymes.
Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are Ca2(+)-dependent enzymes that are inhibited by EDTA; this inhibition would be expected to be reversed by restoring the Ca2+ concentration. By examining the hydrolysis of synaptosomal phospholipids by PLA2 enzymes, Naja naja atra and Naja nigricollis, and by toxins with PLA2 activity, beta-bungarotoxin (beta-BuTX) and notexin, we demonstrated a novel inhibitory action of EDTA manifested in the presence of excess Ca2+. We postulate the formation of an EDTA.Ca2+ complex which inhibits PLA2 activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Synaptosomes in which phospholipids are hydrolyzed by PLA2 have membranal damage expressed by increased acetylcholine (ACh) release and decreased osmotic activity. Addition of EDTA.Ca2+, which inhibits phospholipid hydrolysis, also reversed the PLA2 effect on ACh release, but not its effect on osmotic activity. The inhibition of PLA2 was observed on membranal phospholipids as well as on an artificial substrate of phospholipid-Triton mixed micelles. Moreover, we found that another enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, was also inhibited. Our results indicate a non-specific inhibition exerted on the enzyme rather than on the substrate.


Effects of mastoparan on catecholamine release from chromaffin cells.
Release of catecholamines from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells exposed to mastoparan, a wasp venom peptide which activates GTP-binding proteins and phospholipase A2, was evaluated. Release of catecholamines was dependent on mastoparan concentration and time of exposure. This release was, however, independent of extracellular calcium and accompanied by release of the cytoplasmic marker lactate dehydrogenase. Mastoparan also inhibited catecholamine secretion evoked by nicotine, but the peptide had little or no effect on release induced by other secretagogues. These findings suggest that in chromaffin cells mastoparan is not a secretagogue but rather causes cell lysis and blocks nicotinic receptor function.


Assessment of reliability, validity, responsiveness and minimally important change of the German Hip dysfunction and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS) in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.
Patient-reported outcome measures are a critical tool in evaluating the efficacy of orthopedic procedures. The intention of this study was to evaluate reliability, validity, responsiveness and minimally important change of the German version of the Hip dysfunction and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS). The German HOOS was investigated in 251 consecutive patients before and 6 months after total hip arthroplasty. All patients completed HOOS, Oxford-Hip Score, Short-Form (SF-36) and numeric scales for pain and disability. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, floor and ceiling effects, construct validity and minimal important change were analyzed. The German HOOS demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient values > 0.7. Cronbach´s alpha values demonstrated strong internal consistency. As hypothesized, HOOS subscales strongly correlated with corresponding OHS and SF-36 domains. All subscales showed excellent (effect size/standardized response means > 0.8) responsiveness between preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up. The HOOS and all subdomains showed higher changes than the minimal detectable change which indicates true changes. The German version of the HOOS demonstrated good psychometric properties. It proved to be valid, reliable and responsive to the changes instrument for use in patients with hip osteoarthritis undergoing total hip replacement.


Detection of oxygen-centered radicals using EPR spin-trap DEPMPO: the effect of oxygen.
Studies of the ability of the EPR spin trap DEPMPO to detect both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals produced by systems in vitro and in vivo are presented. Experiments using free radical-generating systems confirmed the suitability of the EPR spin trapping technique but also revealed the existence of an undesirable conversion of DEPMPO/OOH into DEPMPO/OH adducts. The rate of conversion decreases with oxygenation, and the production of oxygen-centered radicals increases. However, this property of DEPMPO does not have a significant influence on its ability to independently detect radicals produced by plant plasma membranes. Since the adduct conversion appears to be rather slow compared to radical generation, we conclude that the DEPMPO spin-trap can be efficiently used for detection of oxygen-centered radicals produced by systems in vivo, as demonstrated for isolated plasma membranes.


A potential new commercial method for processing leather to reduce environmental impact.
Current leather processing method involves dehairing and fibre opening employing lime and sulphide, which results in higher negative impact on the environment due to its uncleanness. This method of dehairing and fibre-opening process accounts for nearly 70-80% biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in tannery wastewater and also the generation of H(2)S gas. Hence, an attempt has been made to reduce the environmental impact of the leather processing through a biochemical approach, employing proteolytic enzyme and sodium metasilicate for performing the above process more cleanly. The developed process exhibits significant reduction in environmental parametres such as COD and total solid loads by 55% and 25%, respectively. This method completely avoids the formation of lime sludge. The functional properties of the leathers are also on par with conventionally processed leathers. Further, the process seems to be commercially viable.


A randomized comparison of sirolimus-eluting versus bare metal stents in the treatment of diabetic patients with native coronary artery lesions: the DECODE study.
To compare the effects of sirolimus-eluting (SES) versus bare metal stents (BMS) on 6-month in-stent late luminal loss (LLL) and 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in diabetics undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. In studies of unselected patients, coronary restenosis rates have been lower with SES than with BMS. Comparisons of SES versus BMS in diabetics with more than one stenosis or more than one vessel disease are few. This open-label trial randomly assigned 200 diabetics with de novo coronary artery stenoses to receive up to three SES versus BMS in a 2:1 ratio. The patients underwent repeat coronary angiography at 6 months after the index procedure and were followed-up for 1 year. The primary study endpoint was in-stent LLL at 6 months. Between August 2002 and May 2004, 83 patients (mean age = 60 years) with 128 lesions (mean = 1.5 per patient) were enrolled at four U.S. and seven Asian medical centers. Enrollment was terminated early by the Safety Monitoring Board because of a statistically significant difference in rates of clinical endpoints. The mean in-stent LLL at 6 months was 0.23 mm in SES versus 1.10 mm in BMS recipients (P < 0.001). At 12 months, 8 patients (15%) assigned to SES had experienced MACE versus 12 patients (41%) assigned to BMS (P = 0.006). In diabetics, the mean 6-month in-stent LLL was significantly smaller, and 12-month MACE rate significantly lower, after myocardial revascularization with SES than with BMS.


Regulation of polyamine biosynthesis by antizyme and some recent developments relating the induction of polyamine biosynthesis to cell growth. Review.
This review considers the role of antizyme, of amino acids and of protein synthesis in the regulation of polyamine biosynthesis. The ornithine decarboxylase of eukaryotic cells and of Escherichia coli can be non-competitively inhibited by proteins, termed antizymes, which are induced by di- and poly- amines. Some antizymes have been purified to homogeneity and have been shown to be structurally unique to the cell of origin. Yet, the E. coli antizyme and the rat liver antizyme cross react and inhibit each other's biosynthetic decarboxylases. These results indicate that aspects of the control of polyamine biosynthesis have been highly conserved throughout evolution. Evidence for the physiological role of the antizyme in mammalian cells rests upon its identification in normal uninduced cells, upon the inverse relationship that exists between antizyme and ornithine decarboxylase as well as upon the existence of the complex of ornithine decarboxylase and antizyme in vivo. Furthermore, the antizyme has been shown to be highly specific; its Keq for ornithine decarboxylase is 1.4 X 10(11) M-1. In addition, mammalian cells contain an anti-antizyme, a protein that specifically binds to the antizyme of an ornithine decarboxylase-antizyme complex and liberates free ornithine decarboxylase from the complex. In E. coli, in which polyamine biosynthesis is mediated both by ornithine decarboxylase and by arginine decarboxylase, three proteins (one acidic and two basic) have been purified, each of which inhibits both these enzymes. They do not inhibit the biodegradative ornithine and arginine decarboxylases nor lysine decarboxylase. The two basic inhibitors have been shown to correspond to the ribosomal proteins S20/L26 and L34, respectively. The relationship of the acidic antizyme to other known E. coli proteins remains to be determined. In mammalian cells, ornithine decarboxylase can be induced by a broad spectrum of compounds. These range from hormones and growth factors to natural amino acids such as asparagine and to non-metabolizable amino acid analogues such as alpha-amino-isobutyric acid. The amino acids that induce ornithine decarboxylase as well as those that promote polyamine uptake utilize the sodium dependent A and N transport systems. Consequently, they act in concert and increase intracellular polyamine levels by both mechanisms. The induction of ornithine decarboxylase by growth factors, such as NGF, EGF, and PDGF as well as by insulin requires the presence of these same amino acids and does not occur in their absence. However, the inducing amino acid need not be incorporated into protein nor covalently modified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Corticosteroid-induced mandibular growth retardation and palatal malformation in the ICR mouse fetus.
Pregnant ICR mice were treated with triamcinolone hexacetonide at various stages of gestation. The mandibular ramus and its condylar cartilage were studied histologically in both viable and non-viable offspring. In addition, measurements were made of the overall height of the posterior vertical dimension of the mandible and of condylar height and width. Significant changes were noted in these parameters. Concomitantly, marked changes were observed in the various zones of the condylar cartilage. A very high incidence of cleft palate was noted in newborn and stillborn mice previously treated with triamcinolone. A possible correlation between mandibular growth retardation and palatal clefting is discussed.


Modulation of episodic adrenocorticotropin hormone secretion by cadmium in male rats.
The effects of cadmium on adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) secretion are controversial and seem to depend on the dose and duration of the exposure to the metal. This work was undertaken to analyze the effects of acute cadmium administration on the episodic pattern of ACTH release in adult male rats. For this purpose, animals were cannulated 40 h before the experiment to allow a continuous blood withdrawal. Two and a half hours after the administration of a single dose of cadmium chloride (4.5 mg kg-1 bodyweight), the episodic pattern of ACTH was analyzed during three hours (from 10:30 to 13:30, samples being collected every seven minutes) in conscious and freely moving adult male rats. The mean values of ACTH during the bleeding period and the absolute pulse amplitude were decreased by acute cadmium chloride administration (P < or = 0.001, P < or = 0.01, respectively). By contrast, the frequency of ACTH pulses increased (P < or = 0.01). However, no changes in any other parameters of episodic ACTH secretion were observed compared with control animals. These data suggest that cadmium interferes with the regulatory mechanism of ACTH.


Synaptic mechanisms and circuitry involved in motoneuron control during sleep.
Spontaneous amplitude fluctuations of the brainstem monosynaptic trigeminal jaw-closing reflex were examined in the freely moving chronic cat during wakefulness, quiet sleep, and active sleep. The largest amplitude responses occurred during active wakefulness; they decreased in size during quiet sleep. The lowest amplitude responses occurred during active sleep. A chronic cat preparation was developed in order to record intracellularly from identified trigeminal motoneurons for prolonged period of time throughout the states of sleep and wakefulness. The membrane potential of trigeminal motoneurons exhibited fluctuations that were correlated with changes in the animal's behavioral state. The fundamental pattern consisted of (a) slight hyperpolarization during quiet sleep, compared to arousal or alert wakefulness, (b) little if any hyperpolarization during quiet sleep compared to quiet wakefulness, and (c) dramatic hyperpolarization when active sleep was compared to quiet sleep. Sustained spike activity of trigeminal motoneurons, when present during wakefulness, decreased in frequency or tended to occur in bursts when the animal was in quiet sleep. During active sleep, activity ceased except for a few isolated spikes or short-duration bursts of action potentials. Based on an analysis of antidromically induced spike potentials and monosynaptically induced postsynaptic potentials, it was concluded that postsynaptic inhibition of trigeminal motoneurons during active sleep acts to suppress somatic reflex activity and produce muscular atonia. A companion study of the membrane potential of lumbar motoneurons in the chronic, unanesthetized, undrugged, normally respiring cat was performed during sleep and wakefulness. The antidromic field potential, antidromic and orthodromic spike, EPSP, membrane input resistance, and rheobasic current of lumbar motoneurons were studied during sleep and wakefulness. No change in motoneuron excitability occurred when quiet wakefulness was compared to quiet sleep. Postsynaptic inhibition resulted in decrease in excitability during active sleep. Further phasic decreases in excitability, also due to postsynaptic inhibition, occurred during active sleep in conjunction with clusters of rapid eye movements. The mesencephalon, pons, and medulla were explored in a conditioning-test paradigm in an attempt to find a site where electrical stimulation induced a pattern of somatomotor reflex and motoneuron membrane potential modulation comparable to that which occurs spontaneously during sleep and wakefulness. In unanesthetized, freely moving cats during wakefulness and quiet sleep, electrical stimulation within and in the vicinity of the nucleus pontis oralis produced facilitation of the masseteric reflex, whereas during active sleep the identical stimulus resulted in potent suppression of the reflex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Subcellular reactions to injury. I. Ultrastructural and biochemical investigations on the hepatic cellular damage produced by haemorrhagic shock in dogs.
The ultrastructural changes produced by haemorrhagic shock in hepatocytes have been studied in dogs. The associated biochemical and biophysical system alterations allow us to propose a unitary pathogenetic mechanism of the cellular injury based on oxygen deprivation and its effect on the function and structure of the cellular compartments.


A case of thymoma showing significant tumor reduction after anti-thymocyte globulin.
A 71-year-old female with type B3 thymoma developed severe aplastic anemia. Anti-thymocyte globulin was administered with glucocorticoids and cyclosporin A as the treatment for aplastic anemia. Computed tomography scan revealed that thymoma apparently shrank and remained without regrowth for at least 7 months. As previously reported, glucocorticoid has therapeutic effects on thymoma especially with abundant lymphocytes. Anti-thymocyte globulin also depletes peripheral lymphocytes, but its efficacy in the treatment of thymoma is unknown. Anti-thymocyte globulin and glucocorticoids may have cooperated with each other in reducing thymoma in our case. More cases should be accumulated to elucidate the effects of anti-thymocyte globulin on thymoma.


Smart Implants as a Novel Strategy to Regenerate Well-Founded Cartilage.
Here we explore a new generation of smart, living implants, combining not only active therapeutics but also stem cells, as a novel strategy to regenerate stabilised cartilage and avoid prostheses. This process can regenerate the subchondral bone foundation, which is currently difficult in the clinic.


Natural and synthetic analogues of melatonin and related compounds. II. Effects on plasma thyroid hormones and cholesterol levels in male Syrian hamsters.
Synthetic or natural analogues of the pineal indole, melatonin, were injected separately every evening (1700 hours) for 7 (Exp. 1) or 10 (Exp. 2) weeks into adult male Syrian hamsters maintained in 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness each day. Plasma thyroxine (T4) levels were significantly depressed by 25 micrograms/day of melatonin (aMT) in both experiments. Injecting 25 micrograms/day either of acetyl methoxytryptophol or of synthetic analogues (hexanoyl methoxytryptamine, propionyl methoxytryptophol, or 6-chloro-melatonin) in Exp. 1 or of a natural analogue (N-acetylserotonin, 6-hydroxy-melatonin, hydroxytryptophol, or methoxytryptophol) in Exp. 2 had no effect on the circulating T4 levels. Plasma levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyrotropin (TSH) were unaffected in either experiment. Since none of the tested melatonin analogues is capable of suppressing circulating T4 concentration when given in a dose at which melatonin is reproducibly effective, the pineal-induced suppression of T4 is most likely mediated by melatonin. Plasma cholesterol levels were elevated only in hamsters receiving 6-chloromelatonin injections. However, plasma triglyceride levels were significantly higher than the diluent treated controls in Exp. 1 after injections of melatonin, acetyl methoxytryptophol, propionyl methoxytryptophol and 6-chloromelatonin. Interscapular brown adipose tissue was significantly heavier in melatonin treated animals.


Congenital malformations in diabetic pregnancy: the clinical relevance of experimental animal studies.
The aim of this work was to present recent observations on the occurrence of malformations in the offspring of diabetic rats and to discuss these findings in the light of present clinical experience. Comparison of malformation rates between different substrains of Sprague-Dawley rats showed marked differences in the occurrence of diabetes-induced malformations. These findings suggest that congenital malformations in diabetic pregnancy may result from a teratological insult in genetically predisposed individuals. Recent clinical reports seem to link facial malformations to an increased incidence of sacral-caudal malformations in human diabetic pregnancy. The present rat model, which expresses both these aberrations--micrognathia and sacral dysgenesis--may therefore be a useful tool in studies of the aetiological relationships between disturbed maternal metabolism and skeletal malformations in the offspring. Malformations in fetuses of diabetic animals seem to arise from teratogenic insult(s) early in pregnancy. Hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia may both singly, and in combination, be of teratological significance. Insulin itself does not appear to be directly teratogenic. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that disturbed levels of trace metals, primarily zinc, may be a significant factor in the production of congenital malformations. The increased rate of malformations in diabetic pregnancy, therefore, appears to be multifactorial in origin.


Antidepressant use and glycemic control.
Past research on the association of antidepressant medication use with glycemic control abnormalities has produced mixed results. To examine the association of antidepressant use with glycemic control abnormalities and screen-positive diabetes in a representative population sample of US adults without a diagnosis of diabetes. Using data from adult participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005-2010), the association of antidepressant use with continuous measures of HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity and screen-positive diabetes according to HbA1c, fasting blood sugar and 2-h oral glucose tolerance test were assessed. Antidepressant use was not associated with increased levels of HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, reduced insulin sensitivity or increased prevalence of screen-positive diabetes. Results were mostly consistent across sociodemographic groups and across different lengths of exposure, different classes of antidepressants and levels of body mass index. In this representative population sample, antidepressant use was not associated with an increased risk of abnormalities in glycemic control or undetected diabetes. Positive findings from past research may be attributable to detection bias, in that individuals prescribed antidepressants may be more likely to be tested and diagnosed with diabetes.


Biomimetic nitration of the linoleic acid metabolite 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid: isolation and spectral characterization of novel chain-rearranged epoxy nitro derivatives.
Nitration of unsaturated fatty acids is a (patho)physiologically important pathway of lipid modification induced by nitric oxide-derived species. We report herein on the unexpected chain rearrangement undergone by (13S,9Z,11E)-13-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (1), a linoleic acid metabolite, when exposed to nitrating agents of biological relevance. At pH 7.4 and at room temperature, reaction of 1 with peroxynitrite (ONOO-) as well as Fe2+-EDTA/H2O2/NO2- and horseradish peroxidase/H2O2/NO2- led to the formation of two nitration products, which could be isolated as the methyl esters and were identified as diastereoisomeric methyl (12S)-10,11-epoxy-12-hydroxy-9-nitromethylheptadecanoates by extensive 1H, 13C, 15N NMR and MS analysis.


In vitro degradation of the inner root sheath in human hair follicles lacking sebaceous glands.
Cultured hair follicles lacking sebaceous glands do not appear to degrade the inner root sheath (IRS), suggesting that the gland may be involved in this process. To examine this supposition in cultured hair follicles. Pilosebaceous units were isolated from hair follicles cultured in vitro, and IRS degradation was studied by histology. When grown in culture, the fibres of follicles lacking sebaceous glands were encased in a layer of translucent tissue. During hair growth in vitro this tissue remained intact at the distal end of the follicle but disappeared further down towards the bulb and then reappeared towards the proximal end. Transection within the region lacking this tissue resulted in the release of a naked hair fibre and the production of hair with no attached tissue upon subsequent hair growth. The translucent tissue represented the IRS, thereby demonstrating that this tissue is indeed degraded in vitro. Histological comparison with freshly isolated pilosebaceous units indicated that IRS degradation in vitro strongly resembled the process that occurs in vivo. These data suggest that the sebaceous gland does not itself participate in IRS degradation. Indeed, this phenomenon appears to be a function of the follicle itself and is probably intimately linked with the processes of cellular proliferation, differentiation and death that occur during hair biogenesis.


Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: The More We Learn, the Less We Know.
Despite the tremendous and long-standing success of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty as treatments for end-stage arthritis, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a rare but feared complication of these procedures. This review highlights some of the difficulties inherent to studying PJI. These include the difficulty in powering studies to capture this relatively uncommon complication, as well as the heterogeneity in clinical presentation and manifestations associated with the diagnosis and treatment of PJI. We suggest an algorithm for moving forward with new research in an attempt to answer the challenging questions facing the arthroplasty community regarding PJI.


Human Milk Feeding and Direct Breastfeeding Improve Outcomes for Infants With Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the NPC-QIC Registry.
Background Infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease undergo 3 staged surgeries/interventions, with risk for morbidity and mortality. We estimated the effect of human milk (HM) and direct breastfeeding on outcomes including necrotizing enterocolitis, infection-related complications, length of stay, and mortality. Methods and Results We analyzed the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) registry (2016-2021), examining HM/breastfeeding groups during stage 1 and stage 2 palliations. We calculated propensity scores for feeding exposures, then fitted Poisson and logistic regression models to compare outcomes between propensity-matched cohorts. Participants included 2491 infants (68 sites). Estimates for all outcomes were better in HM/breastfeeding groups. Infants fed exclusive HM before stage 1 palliation (S1P) had lower odds of preoperative necrotizing enterocolitis (odds ratio [OR], 0.37 [95% CI, 0.17-0.84]; P=0.017) and shorter S1P length of stay (rate ratio [RR], 0.87 [95% CI, 0.78-0.98]; P=0.027). During the S1P hospitalization, infants with high HM had lower odds of postoperative necrotizing enterocolitis (OR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.15-0.50]; P<0.001) and sepsis (OR, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.13-0.65]; P=0.003), and shorter S1P length of stay (RR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.66-0.86]; P<0.001). At stage 2 palliation, infants with any HM (RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.69-0.97]; P=0.018) and any breastfeeding (RR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.57-0.89]; P=0.003) experienced shorter length of stay. Conclusions Infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease in high-HM and breastfeeding groups experienced multiple significantly better outcomes. Given our findings of improved health, strategies to increase the rates of HM/breastfeeding in these patients should be implemented. Future research should replicate these findings with granular feeding data and in broader congenital heart disease populations, and should examine mechanisms (eg, HM components, microbiome) by which HM/breastfeeding benefits these infants.


Fast construction of SARS-CoV-2 associated plasmid library using parallel cloning method.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a significant impact on global health. To address the urgent need for plasmids containing SARS-CoV-2 sequences in research, we have developed a high-throughput FastCloning platform for the construction of associated plasmids. Our platform uses a FastCloning method to construct a plasmid library from 29 ORFs of the virus and 20 commonly used vectors in the lab. The library contains 536 recombinant vectors, with a highly positive clone success rate of 92.4%. Our study provides a rapid and efficient approach to constructing a large plasmid library for SARS-CoV-2 research.


Degradation of triclocarban by a triclosan-degrading Sphingomonas sp. strain YL-JM2C.
Bacterial degradation plays a vital role in determining the environmental fate of micropollutants like triclocarban. The mechanism of triclocarban degradation by pure bacterium is not yet explored. The purpose of this study was to identify metabolic pathway that might be involved in bacterial degradation of triclocarban. Triclosan-degrading Sphingomonas sp. strain YL-JM2C was first found to degrade up to 35% of triclocarban (4 mg L(-1)) within 5 d. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detected 3,4-dichloroaniline, 4-chloroaniline and 4-chlorocatechol as the major metabolites of the triclocarban degradation. Furthermore, total organic carbon results confirmed that the intermediates, 3,4-dichloroaniline (4 mg L(-1)) and 4-chloroaniline (4 mg L(-1)) could be degraded up to 77% and 80% by strain YL-JM2C within 5 d.


Catalytic enantioselective Amadori-Heyns rearrangement of racemic α-hydroxy ketones with arylamines: synthesis of optically active α-arylamino ketones.
A novel synthesis of optically active α-arylamino ketones through an organocatalytic enantioselective Amadori-Heyns rearrangement is described.


Mutagenesis of the ligand binding domain of the human retinoic acid receptor alpha identifies critical residues for 9-cis-retinoic acid binding.
We have recently identified a small region (amino acids 405-419) within the ligand binding domain of a truncated human retinoic acid receptor alpha (delta 419) that is required for binding of 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA), but not all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA). To probe the structural determinants of this high affinity 9-cis-RA binding site, a series of delta 419 mutants were prepared whereby an individual alanine residue was substituted for each amino acid within this region. These modified receptors were expressed in mammalian COS-1 cells and assayed for their ability to bind 9-cis-RA as well as t-RA. Only two of the mutants, M406A (mutation of methionine 406 to alanine), and I410A (mutation of isoleucine 410 to alanine) exhibit no detectable binding of 9-cis-RA when analyzed using saturation binding kinetics. Substitution of methionine 406 with the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine yields mutant receptors that exhibit decreased binding for 9-cis-RA as the length or hydrophobicity of the R group decreases. Further substitution of methionine 406 with the small polar amino acid, threonine, results in a loss of detectable 9-cis-RA binding. Since amino acids 405-419 on a human RAR alpha (hRAR alpha) are predicted to form a short amphipathic alpha-helix, modeling of this structure into a helical wheel indicates that these two amino acids, methionine 406 and isoleucine 410, are actually positioned proximal to each other. Data presented here suggest that high affinity 9-cis-RA binding to a hRAR alpha depends on an interaction with the two amino acids methionine 406 and isoleucine 410.


Effect of Rds abundance on cone outer segment morphogenesis, photoreceptor gene expression, and outer limiting membrane integrity.
We examined the molecular, structural, and functional consequences on cone photoreceptors of the neural retinal leucine zipper knockout (Nrl(-/-)) mice when only one allele of retinal degeneration slow (Rds) is present (Rds(+/-)/Nrl(-/-)). Quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis were used to assess the expression levels of several phototransduction genes; electroretinography was used to assess quantitatively the retinal responsiveness to light; and immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural analysis were used to examine retinal protein distribution and morphology, respectively. In Rds/Nrl double-null mice, S-cones form dysmorphic outer segments that lack lamellae and fail to associate properly with the cone matrix sheath and the outer limiting membrane. In Rds(+/-)/Nrl(-/-) mice, cones form oversized and disorganized outer segment lamellae; although outer limiting membrane associations are maintained, normal interactions with cone matrix sheaths are not, and photoreceptor rosette formation is observed. These retinas produce significantly higher photopic a-wave and b-wave amplitudes than do those of Rds(-/-)/Nrl(-/-) mice, and the levels of several cone phototransduction genes are significantly increased coincidently with the presence of Rds and partial lamellae formation. Thus, as in rod photoreceptors, expression of only one Rds allele is unable to support normal outer segment morphogenesis in cones. However, cone lamellae assembly, albeit disorganized, concomitantly permits outer limiting membrane association, and this appears to be linked to photoreceptor rosette formation in the rodless (cone-only) Nrl(-/-) retina. In addition, photoreceptor gene expression alterations occur in parallel with changes in Rds levels.


[Tobramycin Concentration in Human Lung Tissue (author's transl)].
In 27 patients it was experimentally demonstrated that after an i. m. injection of 80 mg tobramycin concentrations are obtained in human lung tissue which for about two hours are higher than the minimal inhibition concentration of most gramnegative organisms. In 14 samples of the latissimus dorsi muscle no detectable tobramycin concentrations were found up two hours after injection of the same dose. The ratio of whole blood concentration and lung tissue concentration is 2 : 1. The measurement of tobramycin concentration in whole blood thus enables the concentration in lung tissue to be estimated. The results show--like all serum and tissue level assays--a high individual variation, which might be dependent on the non-defined factors of binding or metabolism, especially as during the examination period of two hours no concentration balance is accomplished between the two compartments. Administration of 80 mg tobramycin i. m. every six hours is recommended in patients with pulmonary infections due to gramnegative organisms.


Mechanisms of protective immune responses induced by the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based, self-assembling protein nanoparticle vaccine.
A lack of defined correlates of immunity for malaria, combined with the inability to induce long-lived sterile immune responses in a human host, demonstrate a need for improved understanding of potentially protective immune mechanisms for enhanced vaccine efficacy. Protective sterile immunity (>90%) against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been achieved using a transgenically modified Plasmodium berghei sporozoite (Tg-Pb/PfCSP) and a self-assembling protein nanoparticle (SAPN) vaccine presenting CSP epitopes (PfCSP-SAPN). Here, several possible mechanisms involved in the independently protective humoral and cellular responses induced following SAPN immunization are described. Inbred mice were vaccinated with PfCSP-SAPN in PBS. Serum antibodies were harvested and effects on P. falciparum sporozoites mobility and integrity were examined using phase contrast microscopy. The functionality of SAPN-induced antibodies on inhibition of sporozoite invasion and growth within primary human hepatocytes was also examined. The internal processing of SAPN by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDDC), using organelle-specific, fluorescent-tagged antibody or gold-encapsulated SAPN, was observed using confocal or electron microscopy, respectively. The results of this work demonstrate that PfCSP-SAPN induces epitope-specific antibody titers, predominantly of the Th2 isotype IgG1, and that serum antibodies from PfCSP-SAPN-immunized mice appear to target P. falciparum sporozoites via the classical pathway of complement. This results in sporozoite death as indicated by cessation of motility and the circumsporozoite precipitation reaction. Moreover, PfCSP-SAPN-induced antibodies are able to inhibit wild-type P. falciparum sporozoite invasion and growth within cultured primary human hepatocytes. In addition, the observation that PfCSP-SAPN are processed (and presented) to the immune system by dendritic cells in a slow and continuous fashion via transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) recruitment to the early endosome (EE), and have partially delayed processing through the endoplasmic reticulum, has the potential to induce the long-lived, effector memory CD8+ T-cells as described previously. This paper describes the examination of humoral and cellular immune mechanisms induced by PfCSP-SAPN vaccination which result in sterile host protection against a transgenic P. berghei malaria sporozoite expressing the P. falciparum CSP, and which significantly inhibits native P. falciparum sporozoites from invading and developing within cultured human hepatocytes. These results may indicate the type and mode of action of protective antibodies needed to control P. falciparum sporozoites from infecting humans as well as a potential mechanism of induction of protective long-lived effector memory CD8+ T-cells.


The ciliary-cone sensory cell of anemones and cerianthids.
An ultrastructural study of the tentacles of Stomphia and of Ceriantheopsis has revealed that the so-called 'ciliary-cone sensory cell' consists of a cluster of five to seven apparent receptors rather than just one cell as reported previously. At the center of a cluster is a single cell, whose dendrite bears one cilium surrounded by about ten large stereocilia. Surrounding this cell are a number of peripheral cells whose dendrites bear large numbers of small stereocilia and, in Ceriantheopsis, one cilium. The sensory apparatuses of all cells in a cluster unite to form a single unit projecting above the tissue surface: the ciliary cone. Their possible physiological role is discussed in relation to new behavioural observations.


Mixed infection, Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi, in a wild boar hunted in the Province of Cáceres (Spain).
The etiological agents of human trichinellosis are distributed worldwide in domestic and wild animals. In Spain, two morphologically indistinguishable Trichinella species have been described--Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi--that are perpetuated in both domestic and sylvatic cycles. The present work reports a double natural infection involving these species in a wild boar killed by hunters in the Province of Cáceres, Spain. After artificial digestion of the boar's muscles, nine larvae/g were collected. These were characterized by multiplex-PCR and Western-blotting using the Trichinella-specific monoclonal antibodies US5 and US9, and both T. spiralis and T. britovi were detected. The mechanism by which this wild boar came to acquire a mixed infection remains unclear.


Midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth settings: how do they reduce unnecessary cesarean section births?
In studies using matched or adjusted cohorts, U.S. women beginning labor with midwives and/or in out-of-hospital settings have attained cesarean section rates that are considerably lower than similar women using prevailing forms of care--physicians in hospitals. This cesarean reduction involved no compromise in mortality and morbidity outcome measures. Moreover, groups of women at elevated risk for adverse perinatal outcomes have attained excellent outcomes and cesarean rates well below the general population rate with these care arrangements. How do midwives and out-of-hospital birth settings so effectively help women to avoid unnecessary cesareans? This paper explores this question by presenting data from interviews with midwives who work in home settings. The midwives' understanding of and approaches to major medical indications for cesarean birth contrast strikingly with prevailing medical knowledge and practice. From the midwives' perspective, many women receive cesareans due to pseudo-problems, to problems that might easily be prevented, or to problems that might be addressed through less drastic measures. Policy reports addressing the problem of unnecessary cesarean births in the U.S. have failed to highlight the substantial reduction in such births that may be expected to accompany greatly expanded use of midwives and out-of-hospital birth settings. The present study--together with cohort studies documenting such a reduction, studies showing other benefits of such forms of care, and the increasing reluctance of physicians to provide obstetrical services--suggests that childbearing families would realize many benefits from greatly expanded use of midwives and out-of-hospital birth settings.


Expression patterns of AMPK and genes associated with lipid metabolism in newly hatched chicks during the metabolic perturbation of fasting and refeeding.
Fasting-refeeding perturbation has been extensively used to reveal specific genes and metabolic pathways that control energy metabolism in chickens. In this study, 200 chickens were randomly assigned to 2 groups after hatching: the control group (C, fed ad libitum) and the fasting-refeeding group (T, water ad libitum). The chicks in Group T were fasted for 72 h, and then fed for another 48 h. Liver, hypothalamus, and adipose samples were collected at 0 (F0), 24 (F24), 48 (F48), and 72 h (F72) after fasting and 4 (FR4), 12 (FR12), 24 (FR24), and 48 h (FR48) after refeeding, respectively. Results showed that Group T had a significantly higher number of liver vacuoles (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and a significantly lower gray value of Sudan IIIstained sections (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) than Group C at F48-FR48. In addition, compared with the Group C, fasting and refeeding reduced the expression of stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) mRNA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the liver and adipose tissues, the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the liver, adipose, and hypothalamus tissues, and the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the liver at F24-FR24. Moreover, relative to those in Group C, fasting and refeeding increased the mRNA expression levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α, AMPKβ, and AMPKγ in the hypothalamus (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) at F24-FR24. In conclusion, fasting and refeeding increased the fat content of the liver, and the expression of lipolytic genes in the hypothalamus (e.g., AMPKα, AMPKβ, and AMPKγ) but decreased the expression of fat synthesis genes in the liver (e.g., SCD, GR, and FAS), adipose (SCD and GR), and hypothalamus (GR).


Mutations of syntaxin 11 and SNAP23 genes as causes of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis were not found in Japanese people.
Although mutations of perforin, MUNC13-4 and syntaxin 11 genes have been found in children with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), the incidence of each genetic subtype varies in different ethnic groups. We evaluated mutations of syntaxin 11 and SNAP23 genes in 30 Japanese FHL patients. The patients had no mutations and 10% had one polymorphism (146G>A) of syntaxin 11, while no mutation of SNAP23 was observed. Our results indicate that aberrations in the SNARE system may not cause FHL in Japanese families.


Reductions in non-fatal overdose after drug misuse treatment: results from the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS).
Few studies have reported changes in rates of overdose after drug misuse treatment. This paper investigates changes in non-fatal overdose between treatment intake and 1 year follow-up among a sample of 753 clients recruited to the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS). A relatively high rate of overdose (15%) was reported during the 3 months prior to treatment. Variables predictive of overdose at intake to treatment included injecting, frequency of benzodiazepine and cocaine use, quantity of alcohol consumption, and levels of anxiety. At 1 year follow-up, the rate of non-fatal overdose had fallen to 6%. Reduced rates of non-fatal overdose were found for clients treated in both residential and community treatment settings. Reductions in overdose were linked to improvements in frequency of drug use and lower rates of injecting. Clients who overdosed at follow-up showed no improvements in their substance use, except for frequency of crack cocaine use. The risk of non-fatal overdose at 1 year was associated with injecting and multiple drug use. These findings support the view that treatment an important role can play in reducing deaths among drug misusers.


The "Frankentower:" A clinician-driven approach to enhancing endoscopic data technology.
To develop a more efficient endoscopy tower and evaluate its capability to improve retrieval and storage of videos across 6 clinical sites. Descriptive study that took place at tertiary care Pediatric Otolaryngology Department over a 2 year period. In collaboration with our Information Services Department and Otolaryngology endoscopy vendors, we assembled our "Frankentower" endoscopy cart using components from 3 medical device manufacturers. It is feasible to create a functional composite endoscopic tower. Implementation of "Frankentower" improved overall management and retrieval of endoscopy video and images in our department which lead to better patient care and facilitated education for medical students, residents and faculty. The "Frankentower" is a feasible, cost-effective solution to streamline the capture, access and storage of patient endoscopy exams across our operating rooms, inpatient consult service, Emergency Department and outpatient clinics.


An experimental study of the effect of pre-operative administration of cilostazol on random skin flap survival in rats: double blinded randomized controlled trial.
Insufficient arterial blood flow is the one cause of flap necrosis. Cilostazol is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III and increases cyclic AMP level in vascular smooth muscle cell causing vasodilation. Therefore, effect of cilostazol is expected to improve the viability of the flap. Double blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. The study was to compare the survival of dorsal rat flaps between preoperative cilostazol supplemented diet and regular diet. The flap survival area was measured using PixArea Image software on post operative day 1,3,5 and 7. Fluorescein injection was performed to evaluate the exactly area of flap survival on postoperative day 7 and morphology of arterioles and venules were examined by histopathologic examination. A statistical significance was found in the percentage of area of flap survival between cilostazol supplemented diet and control group on postoperative day 3, 5 and 7 (p < 0.05). Fluorescein injection showed the higher area of flap survival in cilostazol group than the control group (p < 0.05). Histopathologic examination showed dilation of vessels in the cilostazol group. Preoperative cilostazol in rats can enhance skin flap survival.


Sample Preparation of Isolated Mitochondria for Cryoelectron Tomography and In Situ Studies of Translation.
Cryoelectron tomography is a method to image biological samples three-dimensionally at molecular resolution. This modality provides insights into intracellular processes in their physiological settings. Obtaining a high-quality sample for cryoelectron tomography on mitochondria, however, can be challenging. In this chapter, we describe the crucial steps from sample preparation to data acquisition enabling studies of mitochondrial translation in situ by cryoelectron tomography. We provide detailed protocols for yeast and human mitochondria preparations yielding a high concentration of intact mitochondrial vesicles on cryo-EM grids. In addition, we describe a workflow for particle identification and spatial mapping in context of the organelle.


Cyclooxygenase-2 promotes hepatocellular apoptosis by interacting with TNF-α and IL-6 in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.
The underlying mechanisms of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are poorly understood, and little is known about hepatocellular apoptosis in NASH. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, the key enzyme in eicosanoid metabolism, is highly expressed in NASH. COX-2 can also regulate the release of mediators of inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of COX-2 on hepatocellular apoptosis and the mechanism of the action in the pathogenesis of NASH in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or standard diet for 8 and 12 weeks. COX-2 and cytokines expression in hepatic tissue and TNF-α and IL-6 levels in serum were measured at 8 and 12 weeks. Moreover, celecoxib (10 mg/kg body weight once a day) was administered to rats for 4 weeks to inhibit the expression of COX-2. Liver pathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and electron microscopy. Hepatocyte apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining. COX-2 messenger RNA and protein were highly expressed in livers of HFD rats and were correlated with the severity of steatohepatitis (R = 0.82, p < 0.01). COX-2 upregulation was preceded by increases in TNF-α and IL-6. The level of hepatocellular apoptosis was significantly higher in HFD rats than in the control rats. The hepatocellular apoptosis was suppressed by the inhibition of COX-2. COX-2 may promote hepatocellular apoptosis by interacting with TNF-α and IL-6 in NASH in rats.


Patient-centered outcomes of high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation for low back pain: a systematic review.
Low back pain (LBP) is a well-recognized public health problem with no clear gold standard medical approach to treatment. Thus, those with LBP frequently turn to treatments such as spinal manipulation (SM). Many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy or effectiveness of SM for LBP. The primary objective of this paper was to describe the current literature on patient-centered outcomes following a specific type of commonly used SM, high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA), in patients with LBP. A systematic search strategy was used to capture all LBP clinical trials of HVLA using our predefined patient-centered outcomes: visual analogue scale, numerical pain rating scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index. Of the 1294 articles identified by our search, 38 met our eligibility criteria. Like previous SM for LBP systematic reviews, this review shows a small but consistent treatment effect at least as large as that seen in other conservative methods of care. The heterogeneity and inconsistency in reporting within the studies reviewed makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Future SM studies for LBP would benefit if some of these issues were addressed by the scientific community before further research in this area is conducted.


Neonatal colon insult alters growth factor expression and TRPA1 responses in adult mice.
Inflammation or pain during neonatal development can result in long-term structural and functional alterations of nociceptive pathways, ultimately altering pain perception in adulthood. We have developed a mouse model of neonatal colon irritation (NCI) to investigate the plasticity of pain processing within the viscerosensory system. Mouse pups received an intracolonic administration of 2% mustard oil (MO) on postnatal days 8 and 10. Distal colons were processed at subsequent timepoints for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and growth factor expression. Adult mice were assessed for visceral hypersensitivity by measuring the visceromotor response during colorectal distension. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from adult mice were retrogradely labeled from the distal colon and calcium imaging was used to measure transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) responses to acute application of capsaicin and MO, respectively. Despite the absence of inflammation (as indicated by MPO activity), neonatal exposure to intracolonic MO transiently maintained a higher expression level of growth factor messenger RNA (mRNA). Adult NCI mice displayed significant visceral hypersensitivity, as well as increased sensitivity to mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw, compared to control mice. The percentage of TRPA1-expressing colon afferents was significantly increased in NCI mice, however they displayed no increase in the percentage of TRPV1-immunopositive or capsaicin-sensitive colon DRG neurons. These results suggest that early neonatal colon injury results in a long-lasting visceral hypersensitivity, possibly driven by an early increase in growth factor expression and maintained by permanent changes in TRPA1 function.


Occult carcinoma of the lung presenting as spontaneous pneumothorax.
The fortuitous discovery of a microscopic focus of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma at the site of air-leak in a patient who had presented with spontaneous pneumothorax is described.


Inhibition of growth and increase of alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured human oral cancer cells by all-trans retinoic acid.
In this study, the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on human oral cancer cells with regard to cell growth, the cell cycle, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated. Human oral cancer KB cells were treated with various concentrations of ATRA, and cell growth was then determined using the MTT viability assay. The cell-cycle distribution and ALP activity were analysed using a flow cytometer and chemical analyser, respectively. The KB cells were inhibited by ATRA at concentrations of 1-16 microM (1 microM, P<0.05; 2 microM, P<0.01; 4, 8 and 16 microM, P<0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. ATRA arrested KB cells in the G0/G1 phase. The ALP activity in KB cells was increased by ATRA. This is one of the first studies to focus on the expression of ALP in human head-and-neck carcinoma cells treated with retinoids. These findings suggest that the anti-tumour effects of ATRA on human oral cancer are associated with G0/G1 phase arrest and an increase in ALP activity.


[Impact of thoracic irradiation on cardiac structures].
Thoracic irradiation requires protection of the heart as an organ at risk of complications. The mean heart dose is the most studied dosimetric parameter in the literature. Recent studies question its relevance in view of the multiplicity of cardiac injuries, the heterogeneity of the cardiac dose distribution and the current technical possibilities to refine cardiac dosimetric protection. The objective of this literature review is to analyze the available scientific data on the impact of the dose received by the cardiac substructures. A search of articles using the PubMed search engine was used to select the most relevant studies. A total of 19 articles were selected according to pre-established criteria to answer the issue. Several studies found significant associations between dosimetric parameters of substructures and clinical cardiological impact. Some proposed dose constraints for substructures.


First record of the male of the widespread Calliscelioelegans (Perkins) (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) along with some taxonomic notes on the species.
The hitherto unknown male of the widespread and tramp species, Calliscelioelegans (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) is hereby reported for the first time, from India. The two sexes are chromatically quite similar. The male has the same conspicuous banding pattern in the forewing as that of the female. The status of Caloteleatanugatra Narendran (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) from India is reviewed and is proposed to be a junior synonym of Calliscelioelegans, new synonymy. Distribution of Calliscelioelegans in India is mapped.


Early versus late injections of Botulinumtoxin type A in post-stroke spastic movement disorder: A literature review.
Post-stroke spastic movement disorder (PS-SMD) is one of the main causes of severe disability in the chronic phase after stroke. The prevalence of SMD goes up with time after stroke to more than 28% in the chronic phase., Its secondary complications such as contracture, abnormal postures and/or movement patterns, spasticity-associated pain also increase with time after stroke when physical and medical management of PS-SMD have been delayed in the early stroke phase. It has been published by several controlled studies that the earlier physical and medical measures, such as botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) therapy are included in rehabilitative strategies for the SMD, the fewer secondary complications, especially soft tissue contractures and pain occurred. Several studies showed that goal-orientated management of PS-SMD including BoNT-A therapy, applied within a few weeks and three months - in the early subacute phase after stroke onset - prevented or reduced the development of severe or disabling SMD and its secondary complications, more effective than late application of BoNT-A therapy - in the chronic phase after stroke. In multiple prospective cohort studies, various predictors and predictive approaches for detection of patients on risk to development PS-SMD were found. Based on that information and the controlled studies that showed reduction in PS-SMD complications following early treatment with BoNT-A nowadays, early treatment of PS-SMD in the early subacute phase following stroke is recommended to avoid or reduce the development of post-stroke disability and to improve the outcome of rehabilitation. In this review, we discuss the optimal timing to apply BoNT-A therapy in patients with already present as well as those at high risk of severe PS-SMD.


In vivo studies on the age-dependent decrease of the rates of total and mRNA synthesis in the brain cortex of rats.
The membrane hypothesis of aging (Zs.-Nagy, I., 1978, J. Theor. Biol. 75, 189-195) attributes the primary role in cellular aging to an age-dependent decrease of the passive potassium permeability of the cell membrane which is due most probably to free-radical damage of the membrane components. As a consequence, the intracellular and intranuclear ionic strength increases resulting in a condensation of the chromatin and a slowing down of the synthetic processes performed by the nucleus. In this concept it was of importance to reveal whether the rates of total and mRNA synthesis display any age-dependent alteration parallel with the change of membrane permeability of the brain nerve cells. Experiments were performed using tritiated uridine incorporation measurements and suitable preparation techniques in young, adult and old rats (1.5, 13 and 25 mth of age, respectively). Comparisons of the incorporation rates revealed a very considerable decrease in the rate of synthesis of both the total and polyadenylated RNA (polyA + RNA) between the ages of 13 and 26 mth. The old animals displayed only about 55 and 67% of the rate of synthesis for the 2 classes of RNA, respectively, as compared to the young and adult rats, if the results are expressed as dpm/mg RNA. However, the decreases are even more pronounced (34 and 41%) if the results are expressed on a dry weight basis. The results obtained are compatible with the membrane hypothesis of aging.


Phonological processing during silent reading in aphasic patients.
In a task involving the detection of a predesignated letter during the silent reading of a series of passages, left-brain-damaged aphasic patients and right-brain-damaged patients showed patterns of performance consistent with those of normal individuals. Both of the brain-damaged groups were more likely to detect letters when they were pronounced in a typical way (e.g., g in "ago") than in an atypical way (e.g., g in "through"), suggesting the use of phonological recoding during silent reading. In addition, both of these groups were more likely to detect letters when they occurred in content than in function words, suggesting a differential processing of these word types. Possible differences in the strategies predominantly relied on for phonological recoding and for the differential processing of content and function words by different groups of patients are discussed.


Diffusion tensor imaging, permanent pyramidal tract damage, and outcome in subcortical stroke.
Studies in chronic stroke patients suggest that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of the pyramidal tract (PT) relate to residual motor function. We performed a prospective controlled study to evaluate if the DTI parameters tract volume (TV) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in patients with acute subcortical infarcts are correlated with permanent PT damage and clinical outcome after 6 months. We acquired DTI in 18 stroke patients with subcortical ischemic infarcts either affecting the PT (PT group, n = 12) or not (non-PT group, n = 6) and in 7 age- and risk factor-matched controls at median times of 12 and 180 days. The PT was isolated using tractography and tract volume ratios (R(TV)) and FA ratios (R(FA)) were calculated (affected tract/unaffected tract). Ratios were compared within and between groups at initial and follow-up time points, as well as in tract portions above and below the infarcts, and were correlated to Rivermead Motor Function Test (RMFT) scores. Mean R(FA) and R(TV) of the PT group were smaller than those of both non-PT and control groups initially and at follow-up (p < 0.01). Tract portions above the infarct had lower R(TV) than below (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in R(FA) and R(TV) over time for the whole tract or tract portions. R(FA) and R(TV) both were highly correlated with initial and follow-up RMFT scores. DTI parameters of PT integrity acquired within the first weeks after acute subcortical stroke measure permanent ischemic PT damage and are highly correlated with residual motor function in the acute and chronic stage.


Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants for soft-tissue augmentation: 5-year follow-up and literature review.
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants have been used successfully for augmentation of thinning lips, deep nasolabial folds, and marionette lines without the risk, recovery time, and expense of major surgery. The objective was to assess long-term results and patient satisfaction with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients treated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants from January 1, 2001, to July 1, 2002. Eighty-five implants were placed in 33 patients. Forty-six percent of implants were placed in the nasolabial folds, 34% in the lips, 16.5% in the marionette lines, 2% in the oral commisures, and 1% in the glabella. Eighty-seven percent of implants remain in place with excellent correction. Eleven implants in 6 patients were removed. Four of the 11 implants removed were considered too small by the patient and were replaced with larger implants without difficulty. The other reasons for implant removal included malposition, localized swelling, and an unnatural feel. Patient and physician satisfaction with the treatment was high. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants are a safe, effective, and permanent option for facial volume augmentation. Patients who have had their implants in place for 5 years or more continue to report high satisfaction with the treatment. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.


Comedication of caspofungin acetate and cyclosporine A after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation leads to negligible hepatotoxicity.
Infections and adverse drug reactions both contribute substantially to mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. It is therefore crucial to the transplant physician to develop an optimal anti-infective strategy, i.e. one which is highly effective and shows few side effects. Caspofungin acetate, the founding member of the echinocandins, is widely used against invasive fungal infections. We retrospectively assessed the hepatotoxicity of caspofungin acetate when administered with cyclosporine A. We reviewed the medical charts of 20 recipients of an allogeneic transplant. In detail, the median value of alanine amino transferase before, during and after administration of caspofungin acetate was 0.39 [standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.65], 0.77 (17) and 0.56 (0.77) micromol l(-1). The maximal value was 4-, 104- and 3.3-fold the upper normal level. The median value of aspartate amino transferase was 0.28 (SEM 0.45), 0.71 (26.26) and 0.60 (0.84) micromol l(-1). The maximal value before, during and after the administration of caspofungin acetate was 3.6-, 203- and 5.3-fold the upper normal level. The median value of gamma glutamyl transferase before, during and after administration of caspofungin acetate was 1.27 (SEM 1.78), 2.33 (3.41) and 1.77 (4.32) micromol l(-1). The maximal value was 1.38-, 2.53- and 1.93-fold the upper normal level. The median value of alkaline phosphatase before, during and after administration of caspofungin acetate was 1.11 (SEM 0.4), 1.97 (2.30) and 1.66 (5.48) micromol l(-1). The maximal value was 0.88-, 4.2- and 8.42-fold the upper normal level, respectively. The median value of total bilirubin before, during and after administration of caspofungin acetate was 23 (SEM 19.69), 38 (55.41) and 20 (67.23) micromol l(-1). The maximal value was 4.18-, 14.18- and 17.88-fold the upper normal level. Taken together, the elevations observed fell after the discontinuation of caspofungin acetate. This report is in accordance with published data. As expected, we did not find any evidence pointing to an increase in nephrotoxicity by caspofungin acetate.


Cardiovascular disease in space: A systematic review.
With expanding commercial space programs, uncertainty remains about the cardiovascular effects of space environmental exposures including microgravity, confinement, isolation, space radiation, and altered bacterial virulence. Current limited data suggests additional health threats compared to Earth. We systematically reviewed PubMed, CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for prospective studies on spaceflight and cardiovascular outcomes. Search terms combined cardiovascular disease topics with spaceflight concepts. No date or language restrictions were imposed. 35 studies representing 2696 space travelers met inclusion criteria. Studies were grouped into spaceflight associations with: atherosclerosis, mortality, cardiac function, orthostatic intolerance, and arrhythmias. Atherosclerosis evidence was limited, with animal studies linking space radiation to endothelial damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, human data showed no significantly increased atherosclerotic disease in astronauts. Mortality studies demonstrated lower cardiovascular mortality in astronauts compared to the general population however there was conflicting data. Cardiac function studies revealed physiologic ventricular atrophy, increased arterial stiffness, and altered blood flow distribution attributed to microgravity exposure. Effects appeared transient and reversible post-flight. Orthostatic intolerance studies found astronauts experienced altered heart rate variability, baroreflex response, and blood pressure changes post-flight. Arrhythmia studies showed increased ventricular ectopy during spaceflight, but limited data on long term flights. Environmental space hazards impact the cardiovascular system through multiple mechanisms. Microgravity causes cardiac atrophy and orthostatic intolerance while space radiation may potentially accelerate atherosclerosis. Further research is needed, especially regarding long-term spaceflights.


[Academic clinical medicine in orthopedic and trauma surgery: which route will the next generation choose?].
An increasing clinical pressure forces academic surgeons in Germany to decide between private life and research activities. How do those people decide and how do they develop their individual career plan? In an e-mail survey German orthopedic and trauma surgeons were interviewed on their way of reconciliation of private life, clinical duties and research. The survey included the same questions as the previous survey and a follow-up of 66 % was achieved. The number of consultants in the questioned cohort increased from 44 % to 66 %. More than 80 % reported that the workload had increased which was accompanied by a more clinical orientation of research activities. When asked about personal priorities and wishes leisure time was ranked first, surgical skills, research and income followed in that order. The majority were content with the current situation and career path. This is the first study on occupational conditions in orthopedic and trauma surgeons in a time-line based manner. It became evident that a more clinical orientation of research is needed to match the interests of clinically engaged surgeons in orthopedics and traumatology.


Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy: An American Academy of Periodontology Best Evidence Review Focusing on Risk Assessment of the Dentoalveolar Bone Changes Influenced by Tooth Movement.
The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate whether cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging can be used to assess dentoalveolar anatomy critical to the periodontist when determining risk assessment for patients undergoing orthodontic therapy using fixed or removable appliances. Both observational and interventional trials reporting on the use of CBCT imaging assessing the impact of orthodontic/dentofacial orthopedic treatment on periodontal tissues (i.e., alveolar bone) were included. Changes in the alveolar bone thickness and height around natural teeth as well as treatment costs were evaluated. MEDLINE (via PubMed) and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published in the English language, up to and including July 2016, and extracted data were organized into evidence tables. Thirteen studies were included in this systematic review describing the positive or deleterious changes on the alveolar bone surrounding natural teeth undergoing orthodontic tooth movement or influenced by orthopedic forces through fixed appliances. Clinical recommendation summaries presenting the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence in terms of benefits and harms were generated. CBCT imaging can improve the periodontal diagnostic acumen regarding alveolar bone alterations influenced by orthodontic tooth movement and can help determine risk assessment prior to such intervention. Clinicians are also better informed to determine risk assessment and develop preventative or plan interceptive periodontal augmentation (soft tissue and/or bone augmentation) therapies for patients undergoing orthodontic tooth movement. These considerations are recognized as being especially critical for treatment approaches in patients where buccal tooth movement (expansion) is planned in the anterior mandible or involving the maxillary premolars.


Does right ventricular outflow tract damage play a role in the genesis of late right ventricular dilatation after tetralogy of Fallot repair?
The aim of this study was to determine the relative role of pulmonary insufficiency and right ventricular outflow tract damage in the genesis of late symptoms related to right ventricular dilatation. In a retrospective study we compared the late outcomes of patients who had undergone operations known to generate pulmonary insufficiency, namely, transventricular repair of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary commissurotomy for isolated pulmonary stenosis. In our institution, between 1964 and 1984, a total of 44 patients were found to have had an isolated pulmonary commissurotomy and 189 survived a transventricular repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Of these patients, 134 had patching of the right ventricle and 55 direct closure of a right ventriculotomy. Follow-up was 94% complete after a mean of 22 +/- 7 years. On echocardiography, patients with isolated commissurotomy had similar degrees of moderate and severe pulmonary insufficiency as tetralogy of Fallot patients who had a right ventricular patch (p > 0.2). However, freedom from adverse events related to right ventricular dilatation was far better (log rank p < 0.001) in patients with isolated commisurotomy. Pulmonary insufficiency is not the only determinant of late symptomatic right ventricular dilatation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Pulmonary insufficiency seems much more deleterious in patients who have had right ventricular outflow tract patching. Long-term pulmonary insufficiency alone is responsible for a slight degree of right ventricular dilatation, but symptoms may develop much later if the contractility of the pulmonary infundibulum is preserved. The pulmonary infundibulum may be essential for right ventricular ejection, and for maintaining pulmonary valve competence.


Soy isoflavones and cholecalciferol reduce inflammation, and gut permeability, without any effect on antioxidant capacity in irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that is more prevalent in women. Vitamin D deficiency and hormonal disorders are also prevalent in Iranian women, and may influence the severity of clinical outcomes mediated by microinflammation, oxidative stress and intestinal permeability pathways. Our objective was to investigate the effects of co-administration of soy and vitamin D on some inflammatory, antioxidant and gut permeability markers in women with IBS. In a randomized clinical trial, women (18-75 years of age) were randomly allocated into four groups to receive soy isoflavones (40 mg/day), cholecalciferol (50,000 IU/15 days), both soy isoflavones and cholecalciferol, or placebo for six weeks. The outcomes were plasma inflammatory markers, antioxidant status and fecal protease activity at week 0 and week 6. After the intervention, plasma inflammatory markers and fecal protease activity were reduced significantly in all treatment groups compared to the placebo group; however, there was no significant effect on antioxidant status. This study suggests combined supplementation of soy isoflavones and active vitamin D can improve some biochemical parameters regarding inflammation and intestinal permeability of IBS in women. Clinical.Trials.govNCT02026518.


Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry of the Human Lens Enhances Spatiotemporal Measurement of Fiber Cell Aging.
The ocular lens proteome undergoes post-translational and progressive degradation as fiber cells age. The oldest fiber cells and the proteins therein are present at birth and are retained through death. Transparency of the lens is maintained in part by the high abundance Crystallin family proteins (up to 300 mg/mL), which establishes a high dynamic range of protein abundance. As a result, previous data-dependent analysis (DDA) measurements of the lens proteome are less equipped to identify the lowest abundance proteins. To probe more deeply into the lens proteome, we measured the insoluble lens proteome of an 18-year-old human with DDA and data-independent analysis (DIA) methods. By applying more recent library-free DIA search methods, 5,161 protein groups, 50,386 peptides, and 4,960 deamidation sites were detected: significantly outperforming the quantity of identifications in using DDA and pan-human DIA library searches. Finally, by segmenting the lens into multiple fiber cell-age-related regions, we uncovered cell-age-related changes in proteome composition and putative function.


Relative sweetness of fructose compared with sucrose in healthy and diabetic subjects.
Fructose is credited with some advantages over sucrose: it causes less of an increment in plasma glucose and insulin response, and the taste is sweeter. We reevaluated the latter property with a new methodology (the "up and down" method adapted from Dixon) in 33 healthy subjects, 17 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients, and 12 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. Sweetening potency was determined over 2-3 test sessions in each subject. Results are expressed in percent as the relative sweetness (R) of fructose (F) over sucrose (S), taken as reference. In the first set of experiments, with a 30-g/L sucrose-water solution at pH 7, we found that R values were similar for healthy subjects (102 +/- 8%) and diabetic subjects (106 +/- 7%) (P less than .05). No significant difference between IDDM and NIDDM patients was observed. In a second set of experiments, performed in healthy subjects only, R was increased in acid water (114%; P less than .01), in lemon juice (136%; P less than .001), in water at 2 degrees C (130%; P less than .001), and in coffee at 2 degrees C (120%; P less than .02); mean values were decreased in grapefruit juice (77%; P less than .001), in water at 43 degrees C (88%; P less than .01), and in coffee at 53 degrees C (87%; P less than .001). We found that the test methodology had a very satisfactory intrasubject reproducibility (coefficient of variation [C.V.] less than 8%) but a very wide intersubject variability (C.V. congruent to 32%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Limitations and technical considerations of endovascular treatment in neonates with high-flow arteriovenous shunts presenting with congestive heart failure: report of two cases.
We report two neonatal patients with high-flow intracranial or cervical arteriovenous (AV) shunts who presented with congestive heart failure and were successfully managed with endovascular treatment. One with vein of Galen malformation with body weight of only 2.0 kg is, to our knowledge, the smallest neonate successfully treated with endovascular treatment. The other neonate is, to our knowledge, the first vertebro-vertebral fistula patient presenting with heart failure and treated successfully with endovascular treatment. Even in neonates, endovascular treatment is the procedure of choice for high-flow AV shunts presenting with progressive congestive heart failure resistant to medical management. We discuss limitations and technical considerations of endovascular treatments in small neonates with high-flow AV shunts and congestive heart failure.


[The dynamic course of the mutation process in human peripheral blood lymphocytes under conditions of exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation].
In seven groups of children living in the areas contaminated by nuclides a significant cytogenetic effect has been detected. The degree of its expression (integral and specific markers) was similar and did not correlate with the density of contamination by radionuclides.


The role of family-of-origin violence in men's marital violence perpetration.
This paper presents overall transmission rates between family-of-origin violence and marital violence, as well as theoretical and empirical work on possible mechanisms of transmission. In identified samples, approximately 60% of the maritally violent men report family-of-origin violence, whereas slightly over 20% of the comparison group of maritally nonviolent men report family-of-origin violence. Modest associations between experiencing violence in the family of origin and marital violence are found in community samples and in studies with prospective and longitudinal designs. Variables that intervene in the association between family-of-origin violence and marital violence are reviewed, with a focus on personal characteristics such as antisocial personality, psychological distress, and attitudes condoning violence, as well as on contextual factors, such as marital problems and conflict resolution style. Variables associated with nonviolence in men who grew up in violent families also are identified, including strong interpersonal connections and the ability to create psychological distance from the family-of-origin violence. Continued empirical investigation of variables that potentiate or mitigate the association between family-of-origin violence and marital violence at different developmental stages is needed to identify explanatory mechanisms and, ultimately, to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of marital violence.


Markedly elevated beta-hCG levels in a normal singleton gestation with hyperreactio luteinalis.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the trophoblast early in pregnancy and peaks at a level of approximately 100,000 IU/liter around the ninth week of gestation. Abnormally high levels are usually noted in association with multiple gestation, molar gestation, and specific ovarian or gestational malignancies. A multiparous patient in the second trimester was referred for evaluation after a maternal triple marker screen was incalculable due to a beta-hCG level of 2.1 million IU/L. Targeted sonography revealed bilateral complex adnexal masses with a solid component of the left ovary, a normal fetus, and normal placenta. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy at 18 weeks' gestational age. A left oophorectomy was performed. Pathology confirmed hyperreactio luteinalis. The remainder of the pregnancy was remarkable for preterm labor and delivery at 35 weeks' gestational age. At delivery, the hCG level was noted to be 24,210 IU/L, and the fetus and placenta were normal. Markedly elevated hCG levels rarely occur in normal singleton pregnancy and can be associated with hyperreactio luteinalis. When noted, a work-up to evaluate possible malignancy, molar gestation, and multiple gestation should be pursued.


Dysregulated miRNAs in recurrent miscarriage: A systematic review.
Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a complex reproductive medicine disease that affects many families. The cause of RM is unclear at this time; however, lifestyle and genetic variables may influence the process. The slight alteration in miRNA expression has enormous consequences for a variety of difficulties, one of which may be RM. The target of this systematic study was to provide a framework of the dysregulated miRNAs in RM. The Prisma guidelines were applied to perform current systematic review pertaining to articles in the seven databases. Thirty-nine papers out of 245 received fulfilled all inclusion requirements. From all the mentioned miRNAs, 40 were up-regulated (65.57 %), whereas 21 were down-regulated (34.43 %). These dysregulated miRNAs contributed to the pathophysiology of RM by influencing key pathways and processes such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the immune system. Understanding the dysregulation of miRNAs, as well as the pathways and processes that engage these miRNAs and impact disease pathogenesis, may aid in clarifying the unknown underlying mechanisms of RM and the development of novel molecular therapeutic targets and medical domains.


Liquid-Phase Hot Deformation to Enhance Thermoelectric Performance of n-type Bismuth-Telluride-Based Solid Solutions.
Bismuth-telluride-based solid solutions are the best commercial thermoelectric materials near room temperature. For their n-type polycrystalline compounds, the maximum figures of merit (zTs) are often less than 1.0 due to the degraded carrier mobility resulting from the loss of texture. Herein, a liquid-phase hot deformation procedure, during which the Bi2(Te,Se)3 ingots are directly hot deformed with the extrusion of liquid eutectic phase, is performed to enhance the thermoelectric performance of n-type Bi2(Te,Se)3 alloys. The deformation-induced dynamic recrystallization is remarkably suppressed due to the reduction of nucleation sites and the release of deformation stress by liquid phase, contributing to a weakened carrier scattering and enhanced carrier mobility. The liquid eutectic phase also facilitates the rotation of grains and enhanced (000l) texture, further improving carrier mobility. In addition, the dense dislocations and lattice distortion introduced into the matrix reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. As a result, a high zT value of 1.1 at 400 K is obtained, about 75% increment over the normal one-step hot deformed alloys. This work not only demonstrates a simple and efficient technique for achieving superior n-type Bi2Te3-based materials, but also elucidates the important role of liquid eutectic phase in hot deformation.


Photochemical reduction of 5-bromouracil by cysteine derivatives and coupling of 5-bromouracil to cystine derivatives.
Irradiation of pH 7, aqueous solutions of 5-bromouracil (BU) in the presence of cysteine peptide-like derivatives at 308 nm using a XeCl excimer laser yielded initial formation of only uracil (U) and the corresponding cystine derivative. Continued irradiation yielded an S-uracilylcysteinyl adduct as well as additional U and cystine derivative. Similar irradiation of a solution of BU and a cystine derivative yielded initial formation of U and the S-uracilylcysteinyl adduct. Formation of these products as well as secondary products of uracil photochemistry was observed upon irradiation of the respective solutions with 254 nm light. With 308 nm laser excitation, U-Cys adduct formation and reduction of BU to U are proposed to occur via initial electron transfer from the disulfide of the cystine derivative to triplet BU. The quantum yield of BU destruction with 308 nm excitation in the presence of cystine derivative is 1.1 X 10(-3). Reaction of triplet BU with the cysteine derivative does not yield U-Cys adduct but U and cystine derivative. A possible byproduct of reduction of triplet BU to U by a cysteinyl residue in a protein BU-DNA complex is a sulphenyl bromide which might yield a protein-DNA crosslink via nucleophilic substitution on sulfur by a nucleophilic site in DNA.


Retracted: Low-expressed GAS5 injure myocardial cells and progression of chronic heart failure via regulation of miR-223-3P.
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common disease in clinical practice, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Understanding the pathogenesis of CHF is the key to its future clinical diagnosis and treatment. Molecular research is a hot topic in modern hospitals, and long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) has been gradually understood and applied in many diseases. The situation of LncRNA GAS5 in CHF is still unclear, so this experiment will investigate the situation of GAS5 in CHF and its effect on myocardial cells, aiming to gain a preliminary understanding of the mechanism of GAS5's effect on CHF. In this study, the expression of GAS5 and miR-223-3p in peripheral blood of CHF patients and healthy subjects was first detected, GAS5 was low in CHF while miR-223-3p was high (P < 0.05). Subsequently, ROC curve analysis showed that GAS5 and miR-223-3p had good predictive value for the occurrence and recurrence of CHF. Secondly, through in vitro experiments, we found that inhibition of GAS5 with elevated expression of miR-223-3p decreased the proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes and increased apoptotic capacity and inflammatory factors (P < 0.050). Through dual luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation experiment, we found that miR-223-3p was regulated by GAS5 in a targeted manner.


Exploring the impact of parental psychopathology and emotion regulation on evidence-based parenting interventions: a transdiagnostic approach to improving treatment effectiveness.
Parenting interventions, particularly those categorized as parent management training (PMT), have a large evidence base supporting their effectiveness with most families who present for treatment of childhood behavior problems. However, data suggest that PMTs are not effective at treating all families who seek services. Parental psychopathology has been identified as one important factor moderating their effectiveness, yet few PMTs pay explicit attention to the role of parental psychopathology in treatment. Given growing support for a transdiagnostic model of psychopathology, which posits that disruptions in emotions and emotion regulation (ER) may underlie various forms of psychopathology, one way to address the impact of parental psychopathology on PMT may be by targeting parental ER. This paper will review the available literature on PMT and parental psychopathology, as well as existing evidence on relations between ER and both parental psychopathology and parenting behaviors. The limited research on PMTs that include explicitly parent-focused components will be reviewed, and suggestions for augmenting existing PMT curricula by including intervention around parental ER will be presented.


Biomechanical Considerations in Rearfoot Fusions.
This article discusses rearfoot fusions for foot and ankle surgeons. It establishes normal foot and ankle function primarily in the stance phase of gait. The foot is greatly affected by external and internal forces, which contribute to normal function or the need for compensatory mechanisms. As a result of compensation, many symptoms develop, often leading to debilitating disorders such as degenerative joint disease. The interaction of the ankle, subtalar, and midtarsal joints are outlined. Congenital deformities, trauma and abnormal compensation are reviewed along with corresponding sequelae. Surgery is often indicated to reduce symptoms, improve position, and help stabilize the foot.


[A survey of oral health status in 6520 subjects].
To compare the prevalence of caries, periodontal disease and the understanding of oral health care between the oral medical staff and common people to reflect the current status of oral health care. A survey of the prevalence of caries, periodontal disease and awareness of oral health care was carried out in 6520 town people. Treatment is the emphysis of oral health care at present, the education of oral health care by oneself was neglected. New technology and project was restricted by traditional convention. The defect of oral health care was that more attention is being paid on therapy than on prevention. Oral medical staff should pay more attention to prevention than to treatment.


Effect of Body Mass Index on Fusion Outcome After Short-Segment Posterior Lumbar Fusion.
Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. While many adverse effects of obesity on surgical outcome are well studied, a direct correlation among obesity, pseudarthrosis, and adjacent segment pathology is not well defined. In this study we aimed to identify the effect of body mass index (BMI) on pseudarthrosis, adjacent segment pathology (ASP), and reoperation after short-segment (1-3 levels) open posterior lumbar fusion (PLF). This is a retrospective study of patients with degenerative spine pathologies who underwent 1-, 2-, or 3-level PLF surgery between 2010 and 2020. The relevant medical and imaging records were reviewed, and the following variables were recorded: age, gender, BMI, smoking status, surgical details, follow-up length, need for reoperation, indication for reoperation (pseudarthrosis or occurrence of ASP). We included363 patients in our study. Twenty-five patients (6.9%) developed pseudarthrosis, 109 (30%) developed ASP, and 104 patients (28.7%) underwent reoperation for either of these reasons. BMI was significantly less in those who developed pseudarthrosis compared with those who did not (28.6 ± 5.5 vs. 31.2 ± 6.2, respectively; P = 0.04). BMI was not significantly different in those who developed ASP or underwent reoperation compared with those who did not (P = 0.06 and 0.08, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis showed none of the variables in the model (age, gender, tobacco use, BMI, and its classes) significantly predicted pseudarthrosis, ASP, or reoperation (P > 0.1 for all variables). Obese patients undergoing short-segment open PLF have comparable results in terms of pseudarthrosis, ASP, and reoperation.


Photo-acoustic dual-frequency comb spectroscopy.
Photo-acoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is one of the most sensitive non-destructive analysis techniques for gases, fluids and solids. It can operate background-free at any wavelength and is applicable to microscopic and even non-transparent samples. Extension of PAS to broadband wavelength coverage is a powerful tool, though challenging to implement without sacrifice of wavelength resolution and acquisition speed. Here we show that dual-frequency comb spectroscopy (DCS) and its potential for unmatched precision, speed and wavelength coverage can be combined with the advantages of photo-acoustic detection. Acoustic wave interferograms are generated in the sample by dual-comb absorption and detected by a microphone. As an example, weak gas absorption features are precisely and rapidly sampled; long-term coherent averaging further increases the sensitivity. This novel approach of dual-frequency comb photo-acoustic spectroscopy (DCPAS) generates unprecedented opportunities for rapid and sensitive multi-species molecular analysis across all wavelengths of light.


Histamine-induced changes in coronary circulation and myocardial oxygen consumption: influences of histamine receptor antagonists.
The effects of histamine and selected H1 and H2 histamine receptor antagonists on cardiac inotropic and chronotropic activity, coronary perfusate flow (CPF), and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) were studied in isolated guinea pig hearts perfused at constant pressure. Data were collected at the end of a 3-min infusion period at steady state. Cardiac performance increased significantly whereas CPF decreased during histamine infusion. MVO2 remained constant owing to a significant increase in myocardial oxygen extraction. Diphenhydramine attenuated the coronary vasoconstriction but potentiated the positive inotropic response. Cimetidine attenuated the inotropic and chronotropic responses but had no effect on coronary vasoconstriction. In combination, the histamine antagonists attenuated the changes in heart rate, contractility, and CPF. The histamine-induced increase in myocardial oxygen extraction was accompanied by a significant increase in MVO2 in the presence of diphenhydramine. The ratio of the change in oxygen extraction to the change in oxygen consumption caused by histamine was significantly increased by diphenhydramine. This compensated for a histamine-induced decrement in the ratio of the change of CPF to the change in oxygen consumption. Cimetidine had no effect on the changes in coronary flow, oxygen consumption, or the above ratios. Thus, histamine causes direct coronary vasoconstriction via an H1 receptor mechanism, cardiac positive inotropy by an H2 receptor mechanism, and cardiac positive chronotropy by combined H1 and H2 mechanisms. In the presence of a histamine-induced decrease in myocardial oxygen supply, increments in oxygen demand are met by increased oxygen extraction.