The effect of various treatments on the size of sebaceous glands of hairless mice and hairless hamsters.
The effect of castration on the size of sebaceous glands of male hairless mice and male hairless hamsters was studied over a period of 4 weeks. Statistically significant decreases in the size of sebaceous glands were observed. The effects of intracutaneous injections of micronized crystalline suspensions of testosterone, testosterone propionate, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone decanoate and nandrolone phenylpropionate on the sebaceous glands of castrated hairless mice, castrated hairless hamsters and intact female hairless hamsters were studied over a period of one week. Highly significant increases in sebaceous gland volume were observed 6-7 days after treatment. The effects of subcutaneous and intracutaneous injections of micronized crystalline suspensions of testosterone on the sebaceous glands of intact male and female hairless hamsters were examined at sites local and distal to the injection. Increases in sebaceous gland volume were limited to local sites in the male but increases were observed locally and distally in the female. There was no difference between subcutaneous and intracutaneous injections.


Analysis of Nitrite and Nitrate in Foods: Overview of Chemical, Regulatory and Analytical Aspects.
In this chapter, several factors that should be considered for selecting and developing suitable analytical methods for determining nitrite/nitrate are presented. Nitrite and nitrate occurrence and suitability are a controversial issue. Nitrite is an approved additive considered a foremost curing ingredient for the preservation of meat products. Nitrate is a natural constituent of the human diet that, however, raises fears for its suggested potential harmfulness related to carcinogenesis and environmental contamination. Chemical, regulatory, and analytical aspects are discussed in the light of the need to obtain reliable data of nitrite and nitrate for law enforcement purposes, exposure estimates, and investigation of their physiological role in the human body. In addition, current metrological aspects to ensure the "fitness for purpose" of the selected method are suggested and discussed.


BATTERY 2030+ and its Research Roadmap: A Bibliometric Analysis.
In this bibliometric study, we analyze two of the six battery research subfields identified in the BATTERY 2030+ roadmap: Materials Acceleration Platform and Smart functionalities: Sensing. In addition, we analyze the entire research field related to BATTERY 2030+ as a whole. We (a) evaluate the European standing in the two subfields/the BATTERY 2030+ field in comparison to the rest of the world, and (b) identify strongholds of the two subfields/the BATTERY 2030+ field across Europe. For each subfield and the field as a whole, we used seed articles, i. e. articles listed in the BATTERY 2030+ roadmap or cited by such articles, in order to generate additional, similar articles located in an algorithmically obtained classification system. The output of the analysis is publication volumes, field normalized citation impact values with comparisons between country/country aggregates and between organizations, co-publishing networks between countries and organizations, and keyword co-occurrence networks.


An event-related potential study of deception to self preferences.
The spatiotemporal analysis of brain activation during the execution of deceptive decision-making was performed in 14 normal young adult subjects by using high-density event-related brain potentials (ERPs) with a delayed-response paradigm (subjects were required to hide their true attitudes for a moment). Our results showed that between 400 and 700 ms after stimulus onset, Deceptive items elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N400-700) than Truthful items, and between 1000 and 2000 ms, Deceptive items elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P1000-2000) than Truthful items. Analyses using dipole locations indicated that: (1) the generators of N400-700 were localized in the medial frontal gyrus (GFM) and middle temporal gyrus (GTM), which might be involved in conflict detection and control during deceptive decision-making; and (2) the generators of P1000-2000 were localized near the cuneus (CU) and the cingulate gyrus, which might be involved in conflict coordination in working memory due to deception.


The early impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Region Stockholm, Sweden.
Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 started in Region Stockholm, Sweden in December 2020 with those in long-term care facilities or receiving home care vaccinated first followed by those aged over 80 years. In this population-based, retrospective cohort study, we performed a Poisson regression to model the expected incidence of infections and deaths which we compared to the observed incidence and compared this to an unvaccinated control group of those aged 18-79 years. The aim of this study was to measure the early impact of the vaccination programme in Region Stockholm. Infections and deaths reduced substantially amongst the first two groups targeted for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with an estimated total 3112 infections prevented, and 854 deaths prevented in these two groups from 4 weeks after the introduction of vaccination through to 2nd May 2021.


The integration of molecular imprinting and surface-enhanced Raman scattering for highly sensitive detection of lysozyme biomarker aided by density functional theory.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful bioanalytical technique that opens opportunities for early disease diagnosis and treatment by detecting biomarkers. However, the low sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility in the bioanalytical SERS are the main obstacles for clinical use. Herein, we demonstrate a high sensitive and selective label-free lysozyme biomarker detection platform based on coupling of SERS with molecular imprinting technique. The hierarchical silver microspheres with dendritic structure are controllably fabricated by a wet-chemical self-assembly approach. Based on selection of surface-active regions by density functional theory (DFT) simulations, a thin MIPs film (thickness < 15 nm) is then grafted on Ag microsphere surface through surface imprinting. As a result, the final synthesized Ag@MIPs hybrid exhibits as low as 5 ng mL-1 detection limit for target lysozyme, and high selectivity and reproducibility. Intensive "hot spots" in Ag@MIPs confirmed by Raman mapping give rise to the high-performance SERS. Meanwhile, DFT calculations are employed to investigate the SERS spectra and assist the assignment for the characteristic peaks of lysozyme. We believe that the present study provides a reliable and high-sensitive protocol for label-free protein biomarkers detection.


A decreased preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, and pan-immune-inflammation value are associated with the poorer survival of patients with a stent inserted as a bridge to curative surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer.
Inflammation is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and inflammation-based markers that are calculated easily from laboratory results have shown predictive abilities. We investigated the prognostic values of the preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) in patients with non-metastatic obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC) and a self-expandable metallic stent inserted as a bridge to curative surgery. The subjects of this retrospective study were 86 patients with pathological stage I to III OCRC. We examined the associations of these biomarkers with short- and long-term outcomes. Multivariate analyses revealed that a preoperative PLR < 149, SII < 597, and PIV < 209 were independently associated with poorer relapse-free survival (RFS) (P = 0.007, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively) and that a PIV < 209 was independently associated with poorer cancer-specific survival (P = 0.030). A platelet count < 240 was significantly associated with worse RFS, whereas the lymphocyte count was not. Pre-stenting PLR < 221 was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS (P = 0.045). This study showed that decreased preoperative PLR, SII, PIV, and pre-stenting PLR were associated with poorer RFS, contrary to the findings of most previous studies. Our results suggest that platelets and obstruction contributed primarily to the opposite relationships, which might provide new insight into the possible pathophysiology of platelet-tumor interactions generated in the OCRC environment.


Prophylactic terlipressin infusion for severe postreperfusion syndrome in patients undergoing deceased donor liver transplantation: the TIPS-DDLT randomized controlled trial.
Severe postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) is a critical and potentially catastrophic event during deceased donor liver transplantation (LT). Terlipressin has been widely used as a renoprotective agent during the perioperative period of LT. This study was designed to evaluate whether prophylactic terlipressin would reduce the occurrence of severe PRS in deceased donor LT. In this single-center, randomized, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned adults who underwent deceased donor LT to receive 1 mg of terlipressin or placebo immediately after portal vein (PV) clamping. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe PRS after PV declamping, defined according to hypotension-based criteria per the Peking criteria. Between March 2019 and January 2021, we enrolled 64 patients and randomly assigned 32 to the terlipressin group and 32 to the control group. Severe PRS was significantly less frequent in the terlipressin group than in the control group (9.4 vs. 53.1%; OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.36; P <0.001). The vasopressor requirements for inferior vena cava clamping and severe PRS were significantly reduced by the intervention compared to controls (all P <0.01). Prophylactic terlipressin stabilized the mean arterial pressure ( P =0.001) and heart rate ( P =0.040) at 30 min after anhepatic phase but increased the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) at 5 min after reperfusion ( P =0.003). Patients in the terlipressin group had a decreased right PV flow velocity following reperfusion ( P =0.001), a longer postoperative mechanical ventilation time ( P =0.029), a lower initial poor graft function rate ( P =0.012), and lower peak alanine transaminase levels ( P =0.032) after transplantation. The prophylactic use of terlipressin reduces the incidence of severe PRS in deceased donor LT. However, concerns remain regarding elevated PCWP.


Factors associated with the all-terrain vehicle mortality rate in the United States: an analysis of state-level data.
The purpose of this article is to determine and quantify the factors associated with the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) mortality rate in the United States, based on an analysis of state-level data. From 1990 through 1999, there were about 2400 reported deaths in the U.S. involving ATVs. The population-based mortality rate during this time period amounted to about 0.84 deaths per million persons per year, but varied considerably among the 50 states-ranging from a low of 0.09 deaths per million person-years in Rhode Island to a high of 6.33 deaths per million person-years in West Virginia. This variation provides an opportunity for quantifying some of the key factors associated with the ATV mortality risk. The analysis was conducted in a two-stage regression process, with the state mortality rates estimated in the second stage with a negative binomial regression model. The results indicate that the ATV mortality rate was systematically related to ATV usage rates (a measure of risk exposure) and a number of the characteristics of the potential rider pool. These included: the proportion of the state populations that was male, young, lived in rural areas, was college educated, and non-Hispanic white.


Cobalt activation of Bacillus BR449 thermostable nitrile hydratase expressed in Escherichia coli.
Expression of nitrile hydratase enzymes utilized in a new "green" process for acrylamide production has proven difficult in Escherichia coli owing to lack of a cobalt transport system to introduce the required cobalt ion into this host. We describe the expression of a thermostable nitrile hydratase from a moderate thermophile Bacillus sp. BR449 in E. coliin which the cobalt required for enzyme activation is introduced by incubation of the apoenzyme in the presence of Co++ ion at 50 degrees C, yielding active and thermostable enzyme.


Storage stability of low-fat sodium reduced fresh merguez sausage prepared with olive oil in konjac gel matrix.
This paper evaluates the nutritional values and stability during refrigerated storage of fresh beef merguez sausage as affected by a reformulation process which modified the fat content both by reducing fat (replacing beef fat with konjac gel) and incorporating olive oil (replacing beef fat with olive oil stabilized in a konjac matrix) and by reducing sodium content, replacing sodium chloride with a salt mixture (containing potassium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride). A preservative (sodium metabisulphite) was also used to extend the shelf-life of the product. The fat was reduced by 32 to 80% and sodium by over 36%. The reformulation did not negatively affect the sensory evaluation. Low microbiota growth rate and biogenic amines were attributed mainly to the presence of sodium metabisulphite. This preservative could be used in the reformulation to enhance safety and/or extend the shelf-life of this type of product.


Induction of Pax3 gene expression impedes cardiac differentiation.
Cell-based therapies using pluripotent stem cells hold great promise as regenerative approaches to treat many types of diseases. Nevertheless many challenges remain and, perhaps foremost, is the issue of how to direct and enhance the specification and differentiation of a desired cell type for potential therapeutics. We have examined the molecular basis for the inverse correlation of cardiac and skeletal myogenesis in small molecule-enhanced stem cell differentiation. Our study shows that activation of premyogenic factor Pax3 coincides with inhibiting gene expression of early cardiac factor GATA4. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect of small molecules on cardiac differentiation depends on the function of Pax3, but not the mesoderm factor Meox1. Thus Pax3 is an inhibitor of cardiac differentiation in lineage specification. Our studies reveal the dual roles of Pax3 in stem cell fate determinations and provide new molecular insights into small molecule-enhanced lineage specification.


Does prophylactic ureteral catheter placement offer any advantage for laparoscopic gynecological surgery? A urologist' perspective from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Our aim is to assess the efficacy of prophylactic ureteral catheter placement on patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. We searched the electronic database including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, WANFANG and CNKI in January 2020 to identify possible studies without languages limitations. A manual search was also conducted. The trials that compared catheterized group (CG) to non-catheterized group (NCG) were included. This meta-analysis was accomplished by RevMan5 (version 5.3). Initial search yield 997 studies and 5 randomized control trials were included in the final meta-analysis. Pooling data of five studies showed that patients in the CG had a lower risk of ureteral injury than those in NCG (RR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20-0.97, P=0.04) without significant between-study heterogeneity (P=0.23, I2=29%). The pooled data analysis showed a statistically significant difference in favor of prophylactic ureter catheter placement (MD: -40.51, 95% CI: -58.65 to -22.36, P<0.0001). Random-effects model meta-analysis found that patients in the CG experienced higher EBL compared to NCG (SMD: -5.78, 95% CI: -10.51 to -1.04, P=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference between CG group and NCG group (P=0.23) with regard to LOS. Current evidence indicates that prophylactic ureteral catheter placement has the advantages of reducing ureteral injury, shortening the operative time, and reducing the amount of bleeding. It might serve as a routine preoperative preparation choice for laparoscopic gynecological surgery, especially with pelvic adhesion. Further large volume, multicenter well-designed trials are warranted before making the final clinical guidelines.


Differential hypoxic response of human choroidal and retinal endothelial cells proposes tissue heterogeneity of ocular angiogenesis.
To elaborate molecular differences between choroidal and retinal angiogenesis by generating and comparatively analysing human primary choroidal and retinal endothelial cell (CEC and REC) lines. Human CEC and REC were isolated by positive selection and were cultured. Characterization was performed by immunostaining for endothelial cell (EC)-specific markers. Total RNA and protein were extracted from normoxic or hypoxic CEC and REC cultures. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays were used to comparatively analyse 133 genes between CEC and REC, and the expression differences were calculated by ΔΔCt method. A total of 57 angiogenesis-related protein expression differences were investigated by Western blot and proteome profiler and were calculated by densitometry. Primary human CEC and REC lines stained positively for all EC markers and demonstrated high purity with similar staining and morphology. Under normoxia, CEC showed significantly lower expression levels for cell proliferation and vessel maturation genes and higher expression levels for inflammation-related genes when compared to REC. In response to hypoxia, CEC and REC displayed differential regulation for a multitude of angiogenesis-related genes and proteins. Furthermore, within the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, CEC showed preferential upregulation for vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) while REC upregulated placenta growth factor (PlGF) levels. Differential normoxic and hypoxic regulation of angiogenesis-related factors by CEC and REC outlines tissue heterogeneity of ocular angiogenesis and suggests that tissue specificity should be considered as a novel treatment modality for successfully overcoming choroidal and retinal angiogenic conditions in the clinic.


Comparison of potassium ISFETs with the Radiometer KNA1 and the Corning 902 ion selective electrode analysers for whole blood potassium ion estimation.
Evaluation of the performance of potassium ion sensitive field effect transistors (K+ ISFETs), developed by Thorn EMI in a form suitable for mass production and for incorporation in 'near the patient' analysers, showed only very small constant and proportional biases against the Radiometer KNA1 and the Corning 902 for whole blood potassium ion estimation. Between batch imprecision tests with whole blood showed the K+ ISFET was comparable in performance to the Corning 902 but inferior to the Radiometer KNA1. The evaluation demonstrated that ISFET manufacturing technology has now reached a stage of development at which ISFETs should be considered seriously for use in clinical chemical analysers.


Cell-free synthesis of factor VIII related protein.
Polyadenylated ribonucleic acid (RNA) was isolated from confluent human endothelial cells in culture and translated in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate protein-synthesizing system. Using specific immunoprecipitation, the translation product was found to contain 1.58% VIII related protein (VIII R), which has a molecular weight of 0.26 X 10(6), similar to the subunit of VIII R present in normal plasma. This indicated that VIII R messenger RNA is responsible for the synthesis of subunits only and intracellular post-translational events are required for the assembly of tetramer and multimers.


In vitro inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase metabolite, leukotriene B4, in bovine mononuclear cells by bovine viral diarrhea virus.
Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus inhibited phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-, PHA plus phorbol-12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA)- or PHA plus calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation. Further, BVD-virus inhibited A23187-stimulated leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesis into the culture supernatants. Presence of exogenous LTB4 failed to reverse the BVD virus-induced immunosuppression. Our results suggest that BVD virus-induced immunosuppression is due to a factor that may be necessary to induce LTB4 synthesis for normal mononuclear cell proliferation.


Mesodermal cyst of the spleen: computed tomographic characteristics and pathogenetic considerations.
A large nonparasitic, non-neoplastic, benign cyst of the spleen in a 24-year-old woman was diagnosed by conventional radiography, radionuclide scintigraphy, and computed tomography. Round contour, sharp margins, and homogenous content of low attenuation value are characteristic computed tomographic features. The histologic study of the cyst and information obtained from the literature provide evidence to support the hypothesis that the cyst develops from an embryonal rest of the primitive coelomic mesothelial cells in the spleen. Mesodermal cyst is therefore a more appropriate designation for such a cyst.


Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and arterial stiffness among type 2 diabetes.
To evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes. Serum 25(OH)D was measured in a cross-sectional sample of 131 men and 174 women aged 30 years and over in Korea. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) obtained with a VP-2000 pulse wave unit. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, HbA1c, calcium, phosphorous, and HS-CRP were measured. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high (85.9%). Those with lower vitamin D levels had increased PWV. Using multivariate regression analysis, low 25(OH)D concentrations independently predicted PWV (p<0.001) in people with type 2 diabetes after adjustment for other risk factors such as age, smoking, hypertension, HS-CRP, diabetes duration, hypertension duration, HbA1c, and BMI. Vitamin D deficiency is common in type 2 diabetes, and a low 25(OH)D level is significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness in these patients. Vitamin D may influence the development of cardiovascular disease. Clinical intervention studies are needed to clarify whether treatment with vitamin D decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.


LPS greatly enhances the antibody response to hapten-polysaccharide conjugates, but not to hapten-protein conjugates.
In confirmation of earlier findings, we observed that an injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into mice caused a considerable increase in the serum concentrations of IgM and IgG (total Ig rose three- to four-fold in 7 days), and a corresponding increase in the concentrations of "natural" anti-(3-iodo-4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl) acetyl (NIP) and anti-trinitrophenol (TNP) antibodies. Our main purpose was to determine what effect LPS had on antigen-dependent responses. Hapten conjugates of a polysaccharide and of proteins were used as antigens. Hapten-protein conjugates induced a strong anti-hapten antibody response (up to 1 mg/ml of anti-hapten antibodies on day 7). Hapten-polysaccharide conjugates induced only a meagre increase in anti-hapten antibodies from the pre-immunization level (maximal concentration 65 micrograms/ml on day 7). LPS, when injected with the antigen, greatly enhanced the antibody response to the hapten-polysaccharide conjugates (up to 2.6 mg/ml of anti-hapten antibodies on day 7). It had little effect on antibody responses to hapten-protein conjugates. The combination treatment had the same effect on immunoglobulin concentrations as LPS alone.


Classically conditioned heart rate responses in Macaca mulatta after beta-adrenergic, vagal and ganglionic blockade.
Heart rates of 5 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were monitored during classical conditioning trials consisting of a visual conditioned stimulus followed after 10 sec by an electric shock to the tail. Heart rates typically increased at the onset of the visual stimulus, and returned to baseline before shock delivery. Autonomic blocking agents were subsequently administered; their effects on resting heart rates, and on acceleratory and deceleratory phases of the biphasic conditioned heart rate responses were examined, both in the raw data, and with a statistical regression technique. Beta-adrenergic blockade by propranolol lowered resting heart rates and was found, after regression analysis, to reduce the heart rate increase phase, and to weakly enhance the subsequent heart rate decrease phase of the conditioned response. Vagal blockade by atropine sulfate elevated resting heart rate, and markedly reduced both acceleratory and deceleratory heart rate phases of the conditioned responses. Ganglionic blockade by chlorisondamine also elevated resting heart rates (less than atropine), and almost completely eliminated conditioned heart rate changes. Several sources of evidence suggest a predominant vagal tone over resting heart rates, as well as mostly vagal mediation (with some sympathetic contribution) of the biphasic conditioned rate response.


Migration rates of human populations from surname distributions.
Migration is an important factor in the biological evolution of human populations, and surnames provide one of the simplest records of identification. The distribution of surnames can supply quantitative information on the structure of human populations. Surnames considered as alleles of a gene transmitted only by the male line can be assumed to be neutral markers and therefore satisfy the expectations of the neutral theory of evolution, which is entirely described by random genetic drift, mutation and migration. As data on surnames are easier to collect than those from genes, the information yield is potentially increased, but the validity of the conclusions must be tested in actual samples. The purpose of this report is to compare the estimates of migration rates in Italy, as inferred by the surname distribution found in the telephone directories and other sources, with the corresponding estimates from official demographic sources. Our findings show that in these samples the ratio of surnames to individuals makes it possible to calculate reliable estimates of migration rates.


Stereoselective bile pigment binding to polypeptides and albumins: a circular dichroism study.
Stereoselective recognition of bilirubin and biliverdin by poly(L-lysine) (PLL), poly(D-lysine) (PDL), and poly(L-arginine) (PLA) and their micelles with dodecanoate ions (C(12)) at different pH has been studied using a combination of vibrational and electronic circular dichroism. Biliverdin has been found to be more sensitive to pH in its complexes with the polypeptides. In acidic media in the complexes with PLL-C(12) and PDL-C(12) the conformation becomes more closed than the characteristic one found at physiological pH. Partial flattening and chiral self-association of bilirubin molecules takes place at higher concentrations with PLL and PDL. For both pigments, inversions of the ECD signals are observed in the systems with PLA at pH > or = 8.5. This study was carried out in order to clarify the role of Lys and Arg residues in pigment binding to serum albumin. The circular dichroism spectra obtained for bilirubin bound to different mammalian serum albumins have been compared with the homology within the IIA principal ligand-binding structural domains. Analysis suggests that the chiroptical properties of the pigment in the complexes with serum albumins depend on the location of Lys and/or Arg at positions 222 and 199 in the binding site.


alpha2-Adrenergic agonists antagonise the anxiolytic-like effect of antidepressants in the four-plate test in mice.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) has been reported to be efficient in anxiety disorders. Some animal models have demonstrated an anxiolytic-like effect following acute administration, however, it is not yet known how noradrenergic receptors are implicated in the therapeutic effects of antidepressants (ADs) in anxiety. The effects of two alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists (clonidine, guanabenz) on anxiolytic-like effect of two SSRIs (paroxetine and citalopram) and two SNRIs (venlafaxine and milnacipran) were evaluated in the four-plate test (FPT) in mice. Paroxetine (4 mg/kg), citalopram (8 mg/kg), venlafaxine (8 mg/kg), and milnacipran (8 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) increased the number of punishments accepted by mice in the FPT. Clonidine (0.0039-0.5 mg/kg) and guanabenz (0.03-0.5mg/kg) had no effect on the number of punishments accepted by mice. Clonidine (0.03 and 0.06 mg/kg) and guanabenz (0.125 and 0.5 mg/kg) (i.p. -45 min) reversed the anti-punishment effect of paroxetine, citalopram, venlafaxine and milnacipran (i.p. -30 min). But if the antidepressants are administered 45 min before the test and alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists 30 min before the test, alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists failed to alter the anti-punishment effect of antidepressants. The results of this present study indicate that alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists antagonise the anxiolytic-like effect of antidepressants in mice when they are administered 15 min before the administration of antidepressant suggesting a close inter-regulation between noradrenergic and serotoninergic system in the mechanism of SSRIs and SNRIs in anxiety-like behaviour.


Inhibition of ShcA isoforms p46/p52Shc enhances HIV-1 replication in CD4+ T-lymphocytes.
HIV-1 infection decreases the number of CD4(+) T-cells, and apoptosis has been suggested among the mechanisms. Proteins of the Shc family are involved in a complex network of signal transduction, differentiation, and apoptotic response to stress in many different cell types. Out of three homologous gene products (ShcA, ShcB, and ShcC), only two splicing variants of ShA are expressed in T-lymphocytes, namely p46Shc and p52Shc. In the present study, we report that inhibition of p46Shc and p52Shc by a dominant negative mutant enhances the yield of HIV-1 particles production without affecting efficiency of viral gene expression in CD4(+)-infected cells. The increase in HIV-1 replication in cells expressing the dominant negative mutant isoform ultimately correlates with a decrease in the percentage of cells entering apoptosis. The data presented suggest that ShcA proteins can play a role in committing CD4(+) T-cells to apoptosis, as a response to HIV-1 infection.


Title Correction: The Association Between Willingness of Frontline Care Providers' to Adaptively Use Telehealth Technology and Virtual Service Performance in Provider-to-Provider Communication: Quantitative Study.
[This corrects the article DOI: .].


Light-induced variation in the growth and dynamics of transplanted ramets of the understory herb, Aster acuminatus.
Ramets of the understory herb, Aster acuminatus, were transplanted from two source populations into eight understory garden sites that varied in light and soil moisture levels. Ramet growth, clonal growth, flowering and survivorship were monitored for three growing seasons. Large differences among gardens in ramet growth, clonal growth and flowering developed in the first growing season and increased in the next two years. This variation was positively correlated with garden light level but not at all with soil moisture. Mortality rates were low in all gardens and showed that genets from any particular source could survive over a broad range of environmental conditions. There was no conclusive evidence for any source population differences in the capacity to survive or grow in different environments. The rapid, light-induced responses of transplanted ramets resulted in garden populations very similar in appearance to natural populations experiencing similar light regimes. These results combined with those from other studies of A. acuminatus provide strong evidence for the importance of light in explaining population patterns and dynamics in this species.


Trilithium thio-arsenate octa-hydrate.
The title compound, Li3AsS4·8H2O, is built up from infinite cationic [Li3(H2O)8](3+) chains which extend along [001] and are cross-linked by isolated tetra-hedral AsS4 (3-) anions via O-H⋯S hydrogen bonds. Two Li and two As atoms lie on special positions with site symmetries -1 (1 × Li) and 2 (1 × Li and 2 × As). The [Li3(H2O)8](3+) chain contains four independent Li atoms of which two are in octa-hedral and two in tetra-hedral coordination by water O atoms. An outstanding feature of this chain is a linear group of three edge-sharing LiO6 octa-hedra to both ends of which two LiO4 tetra-hedra are attached by face-sharing. Such groups of composition Li5O16 are linked into branched chains by means of a further LiO4 tetra-hedron sharing vertices with four adjacent LiO6 octa-hedra. The Li-O bonds range from 1.876 (5) to 2.054 (6) Å for the LiO4 tetra-hedra and from 2.026 (5) to 2.319 (5) Å for the LiO6 octa-hedra. The two independent AsS4 (3-) anions have As-S bond lengths ranging from 2.1482 (6) to 2.1677 (6) Å [<As-S> = 2.161 (10) Å]. The eight independent water mol-ecules of the structure donate 16 relatively straight O-H⋯S hydrogen bonds to all S atoms of the AsS4 tetra-hedra [<O⋯S> = 3.295 (92) Å]. Seven water mol-ecules are in distorted tetra-hedral coordination by two Li and two S; one water mol-ecule has a flat pyramidal coordination by one Li and two S. At variance with related compounds like Schlippe's salt, Na3SbS4·9H2O, there are neither alkali-sulfur bonds nor O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds in the structure.


New evidence of the relative protective effects of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer against each other.
Cancer and degenerative diseases share some pathogenic mechanisms which act in opposition to one another to produce either uncontrolled cell proliferation or cell death. According to several studies, patients with Alzheimer disease have a lower risk of neoplasia, and vice versa. This study describes the prevalence of tumours (active or successfully treated) in a series of patients with and without a dementing degenerative disease treated at a cognitive neurology unit. We analysed the frequency and topography of tumours and the presence or absence of a neurodegenerative disease in a group of 1,164 patients. Neurodegenerative diseases were classified in 4 groups: Alzheimer disease, synucleinopathies, Pick complex, and polyglutamine complex. We subsequently compared tumour frequency in patients with and without a degenerative disease, and prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in patients with and without tumours. Tumours were detected in 12.1% of the patients with a neurodegenerative disease and in 17.3% of the remaining patients. Around 14.8% of the patients with a history of neoplasia and 20.8% of the patients with no history of neoplasia were diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease. Except for these differences and the differences between subgroups (type of degenerative disease and tumour location) were not statistically significant, except when comparing neurodegenerative diseases to central nervous system tumours, and synucleinopathies to neoplasms. Dementing degenerative diseases and neoplastic disorders are not mutually exclusive. Nevertheless, the rate of co-occurrence is lower than would be expected given the prevalence rate for each group.


Mechanism of functional recovery after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the subacute cerebral ischemic rat model: neural plasticity or anti-apoptosis?
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been studied increasingly in recent years to determine whether it has a therapeutic benefit on recovery after stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms of rTMS in stroke recovery remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the effect of rTMS on functional recovery and its underlying mechanism by assessing proteins associated with neural plasticity and anti-apoptosis in the peri-lesional area using a subacute cerebral ischemic rat model. Twenty cerebral ischemic rats were randomly assigned to the rTMS or the sham group at post-op day 4. A total of 3,500 impulses with 10 Hz frequency were applied to ipsilesional cortex over a 2-week period. Functional outcome was measured before (post-op day 4) and after rTMS (post-op day 18). The rTMS group showed more functional improvement on the beam balance test and had stronger Bcl-2 and weaker Bax expression on immunohistochemistry compared with the sham group. The expression of NMDA and MAP-2 showed no significant difference between the two groups. These results suggest that rTMS in subacute cerebral ischemia has a therapeutic effect on functional recovery and is associated with an anti-apoptotic mechanism in the peri-ischemic area rather than with neural plasticity.


Midwives' verbal support of nulliparous women in second-stage labor.
To describe how nurse-midwives verbally support nulliparous women during second-stage labor and document specific details of each second stage. Descriptive qualitative study. A university hospital labor and delivery unit in the southwestern United States. Nulliparous women (n = 14) older than age 18 and their attendant midwives (n = 9). A single research midwife observed the entire second stage of each woman and used a standardized data collection form to record spontaneous or directed pushing, position changes, open and closed glottis pushing. A digital audio recorder was employed to capture verbal communication between the midwife and laboring woman. The research midwife and two qualitative experts employed content analysis to analyze the audio transcripts and identify categories of verbal support. Analysis revealed four categories of verbal support: affirmation, information sharing, direction, and baby talk. The vast majority of verbal communication by nurse-midwives consisted of affirmation and information sharing. Nurse-midwives gave direction for specific reasons. Women pushed spontaneously the majority of the time, regardless of epidural use. Nurse-midwives use a range of verbal support strategies to guide the second stage. Directive support was relatively uncommon. Most verbal support instead affirmed a woman's ability to follow her own body's lead in second-stage labor, with or without epidural.


Effect of axitinib regulating the pathological blood-brain barrier functional recovery for glioblastoma therapeutics.
Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a prominent pathological feature of glioblastoma (GBM). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is confirmed to be abnormally elevated in the pathogenesis of GBM, causing BBB pathological disruption, which further allows the leakage of neurotoxic blood-derived molecules into the central nervous system (CNS), interfering brain homeostasis and leading to poor patient outcome. Since BBB is an integral and pivotal part of the brain microenvironment, which strongly supports the occurrence and the pathological progression of GBM, here we have selected the VEGFR antagonist axitinib as a BBB functional regulator and hypothesized to regulate pathological BBB restoration for GBM effective treatment. The pathological BBB cell model was constructed to investigate the timeliness and dose effect of axitinib regulating pathological BBB restoration. In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of axitinib regulating pathological BBB restoration for anti-GBM treatment, the orthotropic GBM-bearing mice model was established for in vivo study, and bioluminescent imaging was used to real-time and noninvasively monitor tumor growth response in vivo, and survival time was also recorded. Axitinib under non-cytotoxic dosage regulated pathological BBB restoration in a time-dependent mode, and multiple intervention of axitinib could realize a visible restoration of pathological BBB in vitro. Moreover, axitinib treatment restored pathological BBB in orthotropic GBM-bearing mice. We further confirmed that functional restoration of pathological BBB with axitinib had certain curative effect in prolonging median survival of orthotropic GBM-bearing mice at non-cytotoxic dosages in vivo. The mechanism of axitinib involved in BBB functional regulation in the treatment of GBM is first illuminated in this report; moreover, this is the first report first referring to regulating pathological BBB functional recovery for GBM effective therapeutics. Overall, the view of regulating pathological BBB functional recovery may offer a novel sight for other CNS diseases relating to BBB permeability effective therapeutics.


Measurement and pharmacokinetic study of plumbagin in a conscious freely moving rat using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
The aim of the present study is to develop an automated blood sampling (ABS) method coupled to a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) method to evaluate the oral bioavailability of plumbagin in a conscious freely moving rat. Plumbagin, an herbal ingredient, was isolated from Plumbago zeylanica L. The separation was performed using a reversed phase C18 (150mmx4.6mm I.D.; 5microm) column and was eluted with the mobile phase of water-acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.8ml/min. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to monitor the transition of the deprotonated molecule m/z 187 [MH](-) to the product ion m/z 159 [MHCO](-) for the plumbagin analysis. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 10-2000ng/ml with a coefficient estimation of 0.995. The intra- and inter-day variations (% relative standard deviation; RSD and % bias) of the assay for rat plasma samples were less than 17%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 5 and 10ng/ml, respectively. Recovery of plumbagin from the rat plasma was about 80%. This LC-MS/MS method has been validated to study the pharmacokinetics of plumbagin in rats. The oral bioavailability (AUC(PO)/Dose(PO))/(AUC(IV)/Dose(IV)) of plumbagin was about 38.7+/-5%.


Variability in knee radiographing: implication for definition of radiological progression in medial knee osteoarthritis.
(1) To assess reproducibility of medial knee joint space width (JSW) measurement in healthy subjects and osteoarthritic (OA) patients. (2) To define minimal relevant radiological change in knee JSW based on the reproducibility of its measurement. (1) Healthy volunteers: in the first part of the study, 20 knees of healthy adult volunteers were radiographed in the weightbearing, anteroposterior extended view, twice, two weeks apart, using three different radiographic procedures: (a) without guidelines, (b) with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, (c) with guidelines and fluoroscopy. (2) Knee OA patients: in the second part of the study, 36 knees of OA patients were radiographed twice with guidelines and without fluoroscopy. JSW was measured blindly using a graduated magnifying glass. Based on the Bland and Altman graphic approach, cut off points defining minimal relevant radiological change are proposed. Standard deviation (SD) of differences in JSW measurement between two sets of knee radiographs in healthy subjects were 0.66 mm for radiography performed without guidelines, 0.37 mm for radiography performed with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, and 0.31 mm for radiography with guidelines and fluoroscopy. SD of differences in JSW measurement in OA patients were 0.32 mm for radiography performed with guidelines and without fluoroscopy. A minimal relevant change in JSW between two radiographs performed in healthy subjects can be defined by a change of at least 1.29 or 0.59 mm when radiographs are taken without guidelines, and with guidelines and fluoroscopy, respectively. When radiographs are taken with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, the change must be at least 0.73 mm. A similar figure, 0.64 mm was observed in knee OA patients. Definition of radiological progression varies greatly according to the radiographic procedure chosen. Use of guidelines reduces the threshold of progression required to consider that change between two measures is relevant.


Characterization of archaeal and bacterial communities thriving in methane-seeping on-land mud volcanoes, Niigata, Japan.
Submarine mud volcanoes (MVs) have attracted significant interest in the scientific community for obtaining clues on the subsurface biosphere. On-land MVs, which are much less focused in this context, are equally important, and they may even provide insights also for astrobiology of extraterrestrial mud volcanism. Hereby, we characterized microbial communities of two active methane-seeping on-land MVs, Murono and Kamou, in central Japan. 16S rRNA gene profiling of those sites recovered the dominant archaeal sequences affiliated with methanogens. Anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME), with the subgroups ANME-1b and ANME-3, were recovered only from the Murono site albeit a greatly reduced relative abundance in the community compared to those of typical submarine MVs. The bacterial sequences affiliated to Caldatribacteriota JS1 were recovered from both sites; on the other hand, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of Desulfobulbaceae was recovered only from the Murono site. The major difference of on-land MVs from submarine MVs is that the high concentrations of sulfate are not always introduced to the subsurface from above. In addition, the XRD analysis of Murono shows the absence of sulfate-, sulfur-related mineral. Therefore, we hypothesize one scenario of ANME-1b and ANME-3 thriving at the depth of the Murono site independently from SRB, which is similar to the situations reported in some other methane-seeping sites with a sulfate-depleted condition. We note that previous investigations speculate that the erupted materials from Murono and Kamou originate from the Miocene marine strata. The fact that SRB (Desulfobulbaceae) capable of associating with ANME-3 was recovered from the Murono site presents an alternative scenario: the old sea-related juvenile water somehow worked as the source of additional sulfur-related components for the SRB-ANME syntrophic consortium forming at a deeper zone of the site. However, the reason for the differences between Murono and Kamou is still unknown, and this requires further investigation.


Controlling the propagation asymmetry of hyperbolic shear polaritons in beta-gallium oxide.
Structural anisotropy in crystals is crucial for controlling light propagation, particularly in the infrared spectral regime where optical frequencies overlap with crystalline lattice resonances, enabling light-matter coupled quasiparticles called phonon polaritons (PhPs). Exploring PhPs in anisotropic materials like hBN and MoO3 has led to advancements in light confinement and manipulation. In a recent study, PhPs in the monoclinic crystal β-Ga2O3 (bGO) were shown to exhibit strongly asymmetric propagation with a frequency dispersive optical axis. Here, using scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM), we directly image the symmetry-broken propagation of hyperbolic shear polaritons in bGO. Further, we demonstrate the control and enhancement of shear-induced propagation asymmetry by varying the incident laser orientation and polariton momentum using different sizes of nano-antennas. Finally, we observe significant rotation of the hyperbola axis by changing the frequency of incident light. Our findings lay the groundwork for the widespread utilization and implementation of polaritons in low-symmetry crystals.


Fibrogenesis Imperfecta Ossium and Response to Human Growth Hormone: A Potential Therapy.
Fibrogenesis imperfecta ossium (FIO) is a rare bone disease manifested by generalized bone pain, fragility fractures, progressive disability, and extensive mineralization defect seen in bone biopsy specimens. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown and currently there is no effective treatment. To report on the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in FIO. An observational study in two patients. Endocrinology clinic in an academic institution. Two siblings with FIO. rhGH was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 1 U daily for 1 year. Changes in clinical, biochemical, radiological, and bone histological (i.e., light and transmission electron microscopy, and histomorphometry) investigations. Except for an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, results of routine biochemical, hematological, and hormonal investigations were normal in both patients. Radiographs showed pseudofractures and bone scans revealed a "beheaded" tracer activity pattern (i.e., superscan without uptake in the skull). Bone biopsy specimens showed severe mineralization defect simulating osteomalacia with disorganized collagen fibril alignment. Treatment with rhGH was followed by clinical, biochemical, and radiological improvement in both the patients, with substantial improvement in the mineralization defect, most likely due to rhGH-induced improvement in collagen fibril arrangement. We report on two brothers with FIO and demonstrate clinical improvement and restoration of normal bone pathology with rhGH therapy. We suggest that rhGH is a potential therapy for FIO for which no effective therapy currently exists.


Association between socioeconomic status and influenza-like illness: A study from Western part of India.
Health status is associated with socioeconomic status (SES) of the individuals. The aim of this study was to identify any link between the SES and influenza-like illness (ILI). This observational case-control study was done on 18-70 years old patients presented with ILI (cases) at tertiary care hospital of western India. Controls were selected from demographically matched elective surgery patients except the SES. SES was evaluated as per the Modified B G Prasad 2017 scale and participants were further classified in lower SES (per capita income <2000 INR) and non-lower SES groups. 810 cases and 830 controls were compared. Many cases were from lower SES, had poor hand hygiene, and were using soil, mud, ash (SMA) for hand cleaning as compared to the control. Among the cases significant numbers were from lower SES (543/810[67%], P < 0.02), many were alcoholics, smokers, had poor hand hygiene, were using SMA for hand cleaning, and had preexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while few were having diabetes in the lower SES group as compared to the non-lower SES group. ILI was more common among lower SES class in unadjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% CI 0.89-2.76) and the results were significant even after the adjustment of covariates (OR 1.62, 95% CI, 0.94-2.85). Lower SES people were 2.8 times more prone to ILI as compared to the age- and sex-matched control in western part of India.


Thixotropic PVA hydrogel enclosing a hydrophilic PVP core as nucleus pulposus substitute.
A thixotropic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, containing a hydrophilic poly-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) core, was obtained in order to develop a preformed 3D network able to maintain injectability. PVA was mixed with PVP in two different molar ratios (1:1 and 1:3) and chemically cross-linked using trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), which is able to react only with PVA component. A combination of Time of Flight- Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), elemental analysis and UV spectroscopy permitted to determine both the cross-linking arm length and the crosslinking degree. Hydrogels were characterized in terms of swelling pressurization, rheological and mechanical behaviour. In particular, the viscoelastic behaviour of the hydrogel was analysed in shear and compression stress under dynamic conditions and compared with the performance of healthy human nucleus pulposus. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the scaffold obtained mixing PVA and PVP in a molar ratio 1:1 can be considered a promising material to be utilised in the replacement of nucleus pulposus.


National Kidney Foundation report on dialyzer reuse.
Numerous organizations have presented their views previously on the reprocessing of hemodialyzers. These were well summarized by Easterling (Easterling, RE: Regulations and Standards, in Deane, Wineman, Bemis [eds]: Guide to Reprocessing of Hemodialyzers. Martinus Nijhoff, 1986, pp 183-197). The publication of the Recommended Practice by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) on the reprocessing of dialyzers, coupled with the announcement of the Federal Government to accept these as the basis for Regulations administered by HCFA (now published as "Standards for the Reuse of Hemodialyzer Filters and Other Dialysis Supplies," Federal Register, Oct. 2, 1987), prompted the President of The National Kidney Foundation, Dr Richard Glassock, to appoint a Task Force to formulate the Foundation's position on the above. The members of the Task Force were: Michael J. Fisher, Raymond Hakim, MD, Nathan W. Levin, MD, Chairperson, John M. Newmann, PhD, David A. Ogden, MD, and Vincent Pizziconi, PhD. After having reviewed the previous NKF report on the issue of dialyzer reuse (American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3:466, 1984), the Task Force resolved that the principles of patient consent to dialyzer reuse and right to refuse a reused dialyzer as presented in the report be reaffirmed. While accepting the AAMI Recommended Practice as the basis for its recommendations, the Task Force recognized that the concerns of some patients were not met by the document. In addition to a number of technical amendments that were proposed, the Task Force, acting in the interest of patients, felt that it was essential to add information concerning the potential advantages and disadvantages of reuse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Determination of plasma procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide concentration by high-pressure liquid chromatography.
We describe a routine method for determining concentrations of the antiarrhythmic drug procainamide and its active metabolite, N-acetylprocainamide, in plasma. A simple extraction of 1.0 ml of plasma is followed by separation and chromatographic analysis by use of a column containing microparticulate silica. p-nitro-N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide hydrochloride was synthesized and used as the internal standard. Total chromatographic time is only 7 min. The day-to-day CV during three months of daily use was less than 4% of the mean for each compound, and we saw no deterioration in column performance during this time. Phenobarbital, phenytoin, lidocaine, primidone, methsuximide, quinidine, and their metabolites do not interfere.


[Identification of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus using histopathological, immunohistochemica, and ultrastructural examination of tissues from seropositive goats in Mexico].
This study demonstrated the presence of viral particles suggestive of arthritis-encephalitis virus through the clinic, serologic, pathologic, immunohistochemic and ultrastructural studies in dairy goats. In the postmortem studies the tissues used were: synovial membrane, lungs and mammary gland from goats with clinical signs characteristic of the disease and positive for serum antibodies to the virus.


Wood biomass, production and litter-fall in an English beechwood.
Studies of productivity in a 160 yr old beechwood growing on a basic soil did not reveal any marked, or inexplicable, differences from similar aged European beech forests growing on acid soils.Total above-ground wood biomass was equivalent to 44,897 g d.wt. m-2 (live wood biomass accounting for 42,322 g). Bole biomass equalled 28,595 g m-2 (live tree contribution, 26,755 g). Branch and twig biomass was 16,302 g m-2 (live tree contribution, 15,567 g) while root biomass was estimated to be 8,676 g m-2 (live tree contribution, 8,209 g).Wood production averaged 611 g d.wt. m-2 yr-1 between 1956 and 1975. Wood-litter fall at 178 g m-2 yr-1 contributed 36% of the total litter input of 500 g m-2 yr-1.


Characteristics of the association of nerve growth factor with primary cultures of rat sympathetic neurons.
Long-term primary cultures of rat sympathetic neurons require NGF for survival and development. The kinetics of the interaction of 125I-NGF with sympathetic neuron cultures suggests the presence of diffusional barriers preventing a determination of true dissociation and association rate constants. Although the observed rate constants do not accurately reflect the microscopic interaction of NGF with receptor, the ratio of the observed rate constants does provide a good estimate of the KD. This value (1 X 10(-9)M) agrees with earlier steady state measurements of the KD. The association of 125I-NGF with neuronal cultures is temperature-dependent with internalization and retrograde transport occurring at 37 degrees C. The retrograde transport of 125I-NGF in compartmentalized neuronal cultures is concentration dependent and saturates at about 100 ng/ml (4 X 10(-9)M). The amount of 125I-NGF accumulated by retrograde transport appears to be increased subsequent to a period of NGF-starvation. The increase in uptake does not appear to be due to an increase in NGF receptor number since the number of binding sites is not greatly increased upon NGF starvation.


The chain conformations in membranes and micelles.
Theory and experiment have recently converged to permit a coherent description of the molecular organization of the hydrocarbon tails within surfactant micelles, monolayers, bilayers and other amphiphilic aggregates. The theory is reviewed here, presented in simple form, and is compared to experiments. It is concluded that molecular organization arises from the interfacial localization of amphiphilic chain molecules whose equilibrium conformations are as random as permitted by packing and intramolecular constraints.


Phenolic Compounds Determined by LC-MS/MS and In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Brazilian Fruits in Two Edible Ripening Stages.
The aim of this study was to investigate the free individual phenolics and the in vitro antioxidant capacity of blackberry, acerola, yellow guava, guabiju, jambolan and jabuticaba fruits in two edible stages. Of the thirty-three phenolics investigated by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), twenty-five were quantified and the major ones were catechin, isoquercitrin, epicatechin and gallic acid. The highest values for the total phenolic content (in dry matter) were observed for acerola (83.6 to 97.7 mg gallic acid equivalents g-1 DM) and blackberry (18.9 to 28.3 mg gallic acid equivalents g-1 DM); however, acerola, jabuticaba, and blackberry showed the highest antioxidant capacities (134.6 to 1120.4 mg Trolox equivalents g-1 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 43.6 to 501.8 μmol Trolox equivalents g-1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power). For most fruits, the antioxidant capacity decreased during the ripening, possibly due to a decrease in the concentration of most of the phenolics.


PRAME immunohistochemistry is useful in differentiating oral melanomas from nevi and melanotic macules.
Oral melanocytic neoplasms pose a diagnostic challenge to pathologists owing to their rarity relative to those in the skin. The utility of PRAME in distinguishing nevi from melanomas has been established in the skin, but limited information exists regarding its usefulness in the oral cavity. Thirty-five previously diagnosed pigmented oral lesions were retrospectively evaluated with PRAME. The lesions consisted of 16 oral nevi, 10 melanomas, and 10 melanotic macules. Strong and diffuse nuclear PRAME staining was observed in all but one of the oral melanomas, which showed no staining. No nuclear PRAME staining was observed in any of the oral nevi or melanotic macules. PRAME is a useful tool in the evaluation of oral melanocytic neoplasms. Our data indicate that PRAME is a highly specific but incompletely sensitive marker of oral melanoma. Larger studies could further illuminate the diagnostic value of PRAME in oral lesions.


The conserved H1 domain of the type II keratin 1 chain plays an essential role in the alignment of nearest neighbor molecules in mouse and human keratin 1/keratin 10 intermediate filaments at the two- to four-molecule level of structure.
A number of fundamental questions pertaining to the registration and packing of the constituent coiled-coil molecules in keratin intermediate filaments, and to the regions of the sequences that are responsible for these levels of organization, remain to be elucidated. In this study, small assembly-competent oligomers of mouse and human keratin 1/keratin 10 keratin filaments were cross-linked by the formation of disulfide bonds catalyzed by the copper-phenanthroline reaction. By isolation and characterization of cross-linked peptides, it has been possible to establish two major modes of molecule alignment: an antiparallel arrangement of half-staggered molecules with their 2B segments overlapping and an antiparallel arrangement of molecules in close axial registration. These data confirm earlier models based on theoretical considerations (Crewther, W. G., Dowling, L. M., Steinert, P. M., and Parry, D. A. D. (1983) Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 5, 267-274). Interestingly, these models place the conserved H1 and H2 end domain segments, which flank the ends of the rod domains of the type II keratin 1 chain, in alignment with either the ends of the rod domains and/or with the L2 segment near the center of the rod domains, of the nearest neighbor molecules. Competition experiments with synthetic peptides suggest that the conserved H1 (and possibly H2) subdomain sequences unique to type II keratin chains play pivotal roles in the registration of neighboring molecules in keratin filaments. The data thus afford a molecular explanation for why keratin filaments require a type II chain for assembly in vivo and in vitro.


The 'ventral urethral elevation plus' sling: a novel approach to treating stress urinary incontinence in men.
To evaluate the urodynamic changes after placing a novel 'ventral urethral elevation plus' (VUE+) sling (Levera, Caldera Medical, Agoura Hills, CA, USA) in a cadaveric study, and in our initial experience in two patients. In two male cadavers (A and B) the maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and retrograde leak-point pressure (RLPP) were measured before and after transperineal placement of the Levera sling. A 5.5 x 7 cm sling, with two 1.5 x 22.5 cm inferior extensions and two 1.5 x 25 cm superior extensions, was placed over the bulbar urethra. The inferior extensions were passed using the transobturator approach, and the superior extensions by a prepubic approach. This procedure was offered to two men (C and D) with severe neurogenic intrinsic sphincter deficiency. The mean baseline MUCP in specimen A was 55 cmH2O and the RLPP 35 cmH2O; after placing the sling the respective values increased to 75 and 70 cmH2O. In specimen B the respective mean values were 56 and 50 cmH2O, and after placing the sling were 82 and 75 cmH2O. In patient C, the RLPP increased from 17 cmH2O before surgery to 65 cmH2O afterward, and in patient D, from 20 to 70 cmH2O. At the 12-month follow-up, there was complete resolution of urinary incontinence in both patients. The VUE+ Levera sling provides urethral compression against the perineal membrane using a straightforward pre-pubic approach, and ventral elevation and compression of the bulbous urethra using the transobturator approach, avoiding the risks associated with of bone screws and retropubic needle passage. In our initial two patients stress incontinence was cured at 1 year of follow-up. A long- term follow-up and a larger prospective study of the VUE+ sling is needed to objectively assess the efficacy of this novel procedure.


A kinetic study of the reactions between H2O2 and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase; evidence for an electrostatic control of the reaction rate.
H2O2 was shown to reduce the copper ion of native bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (superoxide:superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 188.8.131.52) (ECu2+) and to oxidize the reduced enzyme (ECu+). The time-course of these processes was monitored by NMR measurement of the longitudinal relaxation rate of the water protons. A steady-state characterized by the same ratio [ECu2+]/[( EC2+] + [ECu+]) was obtained either by starting from the oxidized or the reduced enzyme. The kinetics of these processes appear to be quite complex, since different reactions between H2O2, or its reaction products, and the enzyme-bound copper control the reaction rate. The solution of the differential equations describing the kinetic processes showed that the oxidation and the reduction of the copper ion by H2O2 are first-order with respect to the copper ion itself only when these processes approach the steady-state. The rate constants of the reduction and oxidation reactions were calculated according to these equations and were found to have comparable values which are in the range 5-80 and 5-45 M-1.min-1, respectively, changing the pH from 5.6 to 7 at 0.21 M ionic strength. This result, together with the dependence of the reaction rates on pH and ionic strength, points to HO2- as the reactive species in both processes, and indicates that the electrostatic control of the access of the peroxide to the active site is the rate-determining step of the two redox reactions.


Impact of empiric antibiotic therapy on the clinical outcome of acute calculous cholecystitis.
Although mortality and morbidity of severe acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) are still a matter of concern, the impact of inadequate empirical antibiotic therapy has been poorly studied as a risk factor. The objective was to assess the impact of the adequacy of empirical antibiotic therapy on complication and mortality rates in ACC. This observational retrospective cohort chart-based single-center study was conducted between 2012 and 2016. A total of 963 consecutive patients were included, and pure ACC was selected. General, clinical, postoperative, and microbiological variables were collected, and risk factors and consequences of inadequate treatment were analyzed. Bile, blood, and/or exudate cultures were obtained in 76.3% of patients, more often in old, male, and severely ill patients (P < 0.001). Patients who were cultured had a higher overall rate of postoperative complications (47.4% vs. 29.7%; P < 0.001), as well as of severe complications (11.6% vs. 4.7%; P = 0.008). Patients with positive cultures had more overall complications (54.8% vs. 39.6%; P = 0.001), more severe complications (16.3% vs. 6.7%; P = 0.001), and higher mortality rates (6% vs. 1.9%; P = 0.012). Patients who received inadequate empirical antibiotic therapy had a fourfold higher mortality rate than those receiving adequate therapy (n = 283; 12.8% vs. 3.4%; P = 0.003). This association was especially marked in severe ACC TG-III patients (n = 132; 18.2 vs. 5.1%; P = 0.018) and remained a predictor of mortality in a binary logistic regression (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.3-15.3). Patients with positive cultures developed more complications and faced higher mortality. Adequate empirical antibiotic therapy appears to be of paramount importance in ACC, particularly in severely ill patients.


Effect of roasting on physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties of arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.) flour.
Arrowhead tubers with protein, lipid and ash content of 4.60%, 2.27% and 6.15%, respectively were subjected to pan and microwave roasting, converted to flour and studied for physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties. The lightness 'L' of flour decreased significantly (p⩽0.05) from 83.01 to 72.21 while significant increase in 'a' and 'b' color values was observed from -0.27 to 2.49 and 15.49 to 25.35 on roasting. Light transmittance decreased significantly upon roasting and the lowest value (0.80) was showed by pan roasted sample. Significant decrease in pasting properties like peak (963.0-147.7 cP), setback (172.0-97.67 cP) and final viscosity (861.67-202.66 cP) was also recorded on roasting. However, roasting led to increase in pasting temperature from 78.53 to 95.23°C. The water (1.49-2.03 g/g) and oil (1.65-1.85 g/g) absorption capacity increased, while significant decrease was observed in foaming and emulsion properties upon roasting. The total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and reducing power enhanced upon pan and microwave roasting from 1.02 to 2.42 mg/g (GAE); 44.30% to 46.61%; 74.59% to 76.23%, respectively. Thermal parameters like onset temperature (To) and ΔH decreased while peak temperature (Tp) increased on roasting.


Dexamethasone increases preproparathyroid hormone messenger RNA in human hyperplastic parathyroid cells in vitro.
To determine if parathyroid hormone release in man is directly stimulated by glucocorticoids, dispersed human parathyroid cells from hyperplastic glands obtained from eight renal transplant recipients were studied in vitro. Dexamethasone (10(-11) to 10(-6) mol l-1) increased PTH release in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A plateau was reached at 10(-8) mol l-1 (1015 +/- 149 vs. 230 +/- 27 pg 10(-4) cells for control value, after 24 h incubation; P less than 0.0001). An interaction with a glucocorticoid receptor was suggested since 10(-6) mol l-1 RU 486 blunted the dexamethasone-induced PTH release. By Northern blot analysis, dexamethasone was found to increase the amount of preproPTH mRNA in these cells. The effect of dexamethasone was probably at the gene level since (1) 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 inhibited both iPTH and preproPTH mRNA increases induced by dexamethasone and (2) alpha-amanitin (1,25 micrograms ml-1) also completely suppressed the dexamethasone-induced PTH release. Thus, for the first time, we demonstrate that dexamethasone induces an increase of PTH synthesis, probably by increasing PTH gene transcription. This effect may play an important pathogenic role in persisting hyperparathyroidism and steroid-induced bone complications in renal transplant recipients.


[Secretion of growth hormone in pigs].
Spontaneous rhythmic changes of growth hormone concentration were observed in plasma of pigs, ranging between 30 and more than 100% as compared to the initial values. These rhythmic changes should be considered when plasma GH is determined.


Effect of pH, phosphate and copper on the interaction of glucose with albumin.
Protein glycation is believed to play an important role in the development of long-term disorders associated with diabetes. Previous studies have shown that copper could activate this process; however, these experiments were performed under non-physiological conditions. In this study, in vitro experiments were carried out at near-physiological conditions to examine the catalytic activity of copper on the interaction of albumin with glucose. Changes in pH and phosphate buffering capacity were shown to affect albumin glycation. Under stable pH conditions, copper activates albumin glycation only at low protein concentrations (< 30 g l(-1)). Copper had no effect on albumin glycation at higher protein concentrations probably because the metal is chelated by the protein.


Inflammation as Treatment Target for Status Epilepticus.
Status epilepticus (SE) is a serious neurological disease that manifests as prolonged seizures that last more than 5 minutes and between such episodes, patients do not regain consciousness. It can result in cognitive defects, brain damage, or even death. It is commonly known that one of the causes can be an inflammatory process, but here we will focus on inflammation as a result of new onset refractory status epilepticus and, related to this, new promising forms of SE treatment. Particular emphasis has been focused on new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE). Based on public research databases, drugs with anti-inflammatory activity - commonly used in different spheres of medicine - have been reviewed as potentially treating status epilepticus. There is seizable clinical research suggesting that drugs that decrease inflammatory processes might be effective in terminating status epilepticus. There is growing evidence showing that adding anti-inflammatory drugs to basic antiepileptic treatment enhances the efficiency of the therapeutic process, with special potential in NORSE cases.


Immunotherapy for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Clinical Evidence and Future Perspectives.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, and HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancer diagnoses. The advent of HER2-targeting therapies has dramatically improved the survival of these patients, significantly reducing their risk of recurrence and death. However, as a significant proportion of patients ultimately develop resistance to these therapies, it is extremely important to identify new treatments to further improve their clinical outcomes. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment and history of several cancer types, and it has already been approved as a standard of care for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Based on a strong preclinical rationale, immunotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer represents an intriguing field that is currently under clinical investigation. There is a close interplay between HER2-targeting therapies (both approved and under investigation) and the immune system, and several new immunotherapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells and therapeutic vaccines, are being studied in this disease. In this narrative review, we discuss the clinical evidence and the future perspectives of immunotherapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.


Performance and mechanism of ammonia production by electrocatalytic nitrate reduction based on dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate hybrid.
Ammonia is an essential food and fertilizer component and is a fundamental raw material for industry and agriculture. In contrast, nitrate is the main pollutant that causes eutrophication in water. Electrocatalysis is a clean and efficient method for simultaneous nitrate removal and ammonia production. However, because ammonia production from the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a complex eight-electron process with slow kinetics, designing the cathode catalyst is critical for improving the ammonia yield. In this study, boron (B) doped metal oxides (TiZn2O4@B-x) obtained by coupling dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate anions ([closo-B12H12]2-) and ZnTi-layered double hydroxides (ZnTi-LDH) after calcination was used as the cathode for the NO3RR. Specifically, TiZn2O4@B-700 exhibited excellent ammonia yield (21809.24 μg h-1 mgcat-1) and Faraday efficiency (FE) of (93.15%) at -1.8 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Furthermore, TiZn2O4@B-700 exhibited superior cycling stability and resistance to ionic interference. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that incorporating B increased the electron transfer rate and reduced the free energy required for the rate-limiting step of ammonia production via the NO3RR, thereby increasing the ammonia yield. This study provides a new concept for designing catalysts for green ammonia synthesis.


Influence of 1-week Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy with rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and metronidazole on 13C-aminopyrine breath test.
Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is commonly prescribed in the general population. Treatment consists of drugs that are mainly metabolized by the liver cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymatic pool. Most H. pylori-infected patients often take drugs for comorbid illnesses, therefore increasing the potential for drug-drug interactions. We aimed to evaluate the interactions of rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and metronidazole 1-week H. pylori eradication therapy with CYP-dependent liver metabolic function in clinical practice. Ten patients referred to our unit for H. pylori infection underwent 1-week eradication therapy with rabeprazole (20 mg, b.i.d.), clarithromycin (500 mg, b.i.d.), and metronidazole (500 mg, b.i.d.). We chose the 13C-aminopyrine breath test (13C-ABT) to evaluate CYP-dependent liver function since it is noninvasive and nonharmful. All patients underwent 13C-ABT at three time points: before therapy (to), at the end of therapy (t8), and after 1 month of follow-up (t38). Mean 13C-ABT dose/hr (t0 = 14.0 +/- 5.4, t8 = 13.5 +/- 4.0, t38 = 16.1 +/- 5.6) as well as 13C-ABT cumulative dose (t0 = 2.4 +/- 1.1, t8 = 2.4 +/- 0.8, t38 = 2.6 +/- 1.0) were not statistically different at the three time points of the study. These results did not seem to be influenced by drugs being administered concomitantly. In everyday clinical practice rabeprazole-based H. pylori eradication therapy does not seem to display any significant interactions with CYP-dependent liver function, even in patients on multiple drugs.


Is Birdsong More Like Speech or Music?
Music and speech share many acoustic cues but not all are equally important. For example, harmonic pitch is essential for music but not for speech. When birds communicate is their song more like speech or music? A new study contrasting pitch and spectral patterns shows that birds perceive their song more like humans perceive speech.


Dystrophic mice show age related muscle fibre and myelinated axon losses.
Although many differences between age matched normal and dystrophic animals have been found, there have been few demonstrations of a time related quantitative change from normal to a characteristically dystrophic situation within the dystrophic strain itself. Here we report such a change-normal numbers of muscle fibres present in young dystrophic mice were rapidly lost, such that older animals showed the reduced number of muscle fibres characteristic of murine dystrophy. Although these losses began after a demonstrable loss of myelinated axons had occurred, it is not possible to say if the loss of muscle fibres was a result of the loss of nerve fibres.


Social organization in a flatworm: trematode parasites form soldier and reproductive castes.
In some of the most complex animal societies, individuals exhibit a cooperative division of labour to form castes. The most pronounced types of caste formation involve reproductive and non-reproductive forms that are morphologically distinct. In colonies comprising separate or mobile individuals, this type of caste formation has been recognized only among the arthropods, sea anemones and mole-rats. Here, we document physical and behavioural caste formation in a flatworm. Trematode flatworm parasites undergo repeated clonal reproduction of 'parthenitae' within their molluscan hosts forming colonies. We present experimental and observational data demonstrating specialization among trematode parthenitae to form distinct soldier and reproductive castes. Soldiers do not reproduce, have relatively large mouthparts, and are much smaller and thinner than reproductives. Soldiers are also more active, and are disproportionally common in areas of the host where invasions occur. Further, only soldiers readily and consistently attack heterospecifics and conspecifics from other colonies. The division of labour described here for trematodes is strongly analogous to that characterizing other social systems with a soldier caste. The parallel caste formation in these systems, despite varying reproductive mode and taxonomic affiliation, indicates the general importance of ecological factors in influencing the evolution of social behaviour. Further, the 'recognition of self' and the defence of the infected host body from invading parasites are comparable to aspects of immune defence. A division of labour is probably widespread among trematodes and trematode species encompass considerable taxonomic, life history and environmental diversity. Trematodes should therefore provide new, fruitful systems to investigate the ecology and evolution of sociality.


Conformation-variable PDI@β-sheet nanohelices show stimulus-responsive supramolecular chirality.
A tripeptide-perylene diimide (PDI) conjugate self-assembles into PDI@β-sheet nanohelices, whose local conformations are sensitive to the external stimuli of concentration, heating and ultrasound, showing stimulus-responsive supramolecular chirality.


The impact of non-infection pandemic stress on depression and anxiety severity: Investigating mediation by intrusive and deliberate rumination.
Social restrictions to curb COVID-19's spread have had adverse effects on population mental health. Rumination is one mechanism through which pandemic stress (PS) might translate into psychopathology. In particular, intrusive rumination (IR) is believed to be problematic. In this study, we investigated whether IR and deliberate rumination (DR) mediated the associations between PS and both depression and anxiety severity. 1090 participants recruited online and from an undergraduate psychology participation pool completed an assessment of COVID-19 PS, as well as the Event-Related Rumination Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Total scores for PS, IR, DR, depression, and anxiety severity were tested in a parallel mediation model. PS positively predicted IR, DR, depression, and anxiety severity. IR positively predicted 1depression and anxiety severity, whereas DR did not. Indirect effects of PS on depression and anxiety severity were significant for IR, but not DR. Direct effects of PS on anxiety and depression severity were significant. Taken together, IR partially mediated the association between PS and both measures of psychopathology, and DR did not. This study was limited by its cross-sectional design and the lack of assessment of when PS exposure occurred. Regarding PS that is unrelated to infection by COVID-19, IR is one mechanism through which psychopathology may emerge, whereas DR appears to be benign. Promoting a shift from IR to DR may therefore be one strategy for mitigating the negative effects of PS and other stressors on mental health.


Diagnostic screening of organic contaminant level in solidified/stabilized pre-treated oil-based drill cuttings.
The reuse of solidified/stabilized low-temperature thermally desorbed (pre-treated) oil-based drill cuttings for construction purposes is becoming increasingly attractive in recent times; though, without screening a priori the levels of target residual organic contaminants against environmental guidelines to ensure compliance. In this study, pre-treated oil-based drill cuttings were collected from a waste treatment facility in the Niger Delta Province (5.317oN; 6.467oE), Nigeria and subjected to cement-based solidification/stabilization (S/S) followed by chemical leaching and screening of the data against local environmental guidelines. S/S was done with drill cuttings contents of 0 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 % as part replacement for fine aggregate at 0.6:1, 0.65:1, 0.7:1, 0.75:1, and 0.8:1 water-to-cement ratios using 1:2:4 mix design for a grade-20 concrete. Afterwards, the surface microstructure, elemental composition, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the solidified/stabilized matrix were determined. Amounts of heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) leached were also assessed. Results showed that the 2 % drill cuttings addition yielded the highest UCS (22.22-26.22 N/mm2) at water-to-cement ratio of 0.6:1, which were well above the recommended minimum UCS of 20 N/mm2 for a grade-20 concrete. The average amount of residual TPH in the solidified/stabilized matrix (62.41 mg/kg) was slightly higher than the local regulatory target value of 50 mg/kg; suggesting that the cement-based S/S failed to immobilize completely all the hydrocarbons in the pre-treated oil-based drill cuttings. This shows that the solidified/stabilized matrix is not in compliance with environmental guidelines on TPH for sustainable reuse as construction materials.


Bullous chickenpox.
We report a 70-year-old man with the bullous variant of chickenpox. Physicians should be aware of this uncommon manifestation of this common disease, which may clinically suggest other bullous disorders such as pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. A 24-year-old hospital worker developed typical chickenpox 2 weeks after the first patient's onset of bullous chickenpox.


Noninvasive ventilation in the older patient who has acute respiratory failure.
Older patients are at significantly increased risk of acute respiratory failure from multiple causes. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation has been shown to dramatically improve care of patients with acute respiratory failure. Patient selection is important in all patients being treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation but is especially important in older patients. Delirium, confusion, and dementia can lead to difficulty for patients in tolerating this procedure and lead to a worsening respiratory status. The presence of a do-not-intubate order does not necessarily preclude the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and some patients may derive significant benefit from its use. Overall, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is a reasonable and justifiable option in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in older patients.


The oxytocinase subfamily of M1 aminopeptidases.
The placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP), adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase (A-LAP) and leukocyte-derived aminopeptidase (L-RAP) belong to one distinct group of the M1 family of amimopeptidases, which we term the "Oxytocinase subfamily". They share HEXXH(X)18E Zn-binding and GAMEN motifs essential for the enzymatic activities. Intracellular localization is the characteristic feature of the subfamily members. While P-LAP is translocated from intracellular vesicles to plasma membrane in a stimulus-dependent manner, both A-LAP and L-RAP are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. They contain sequences necessary for the specific localization in the cell. It is getting evident that the subfamily members play important roles in the maintenance of homeostasis including maintenance of normal pregnancy, memory retention, blood pressure regulation and antigen presentation. In this review, current situation of this newly identified subfamily is summarized.


Thermal requirements for development of aphidophagous Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae (Neuroptera), and Syrphidae (Diptera): some general trends.
The sum of effective temperatures (SET) and lower development threshold (LDT) were established for eggs and/or pupae of central European populations of 20 species of chrysopid, coccinellid, hemerobiid, and syrphid predators of aphids. LDT ranged between 5.6° and 12.2°C, SET between 38.3 and 140.9 day degrees (dd), with broad overlap among stages and taxa. When LDT was plotted against SET, the data for both eggs and pupae were scattered along a single regression line which predicted a 0.47°C decrease in LDT per 10 dd increase in SET (r=-0.77, p<0.001). A regression calculated from published data from all over the world predicted a 0.24°C/10 dd decrease in LDT, and the data were more scattered (r=-0.38, p<0.01). This is perhaps the first report on the functional relationship between LDT and SET at the interspecific level. The species and stages differed in typical development length (VDL) and in the extent of its deceleration by low temperatures (DD). DD increased with increasing VDL, but the relative effect of low temperature on development length (DD/VDL ratio) reflected thermal adaptations consistent with the life history of the species. Polyvoltine species were less affected by low temperatures than monovoltine species, particularly the thermophilic ones.


Primary Intraosseous Osteolytic Meningioma of the Skull Mimicking Scalp Mass: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
Primary extradural meningioma is about 1-2% of all meningiomas. Primary intraosseous meningioma is a rare form of intra-bone tumors that account for approximately 67% of extradural meningiomas. We report a primary intraosseous meningioma of a 69-year-old man who had headaches and a mass on right parietal scalp for the past few months. Remarkably, the brain tissue within the osteolytic cavity of the skull was normal in computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. Resection, duraplasty, and cranioplasty were performed. The patient's symptoms disappeared after surgery, and the histological diagnosis was an osseous meningothelial meningioma (World Health Organization grade I).


Symmetrical effect of pre-exposure between alcohol and morphine on conditioned taste aversion.
It has previously been reported that pre-exposure to a psychoactive drug can block the conditioned taste aversion associated with that drug. This study was an attempt to investigate alcohol-morphine interactions using this pre-exposure paradigm. After two weeks of adaptation to a schedule of daily 30-minute access to water, rats were pre-exposed to morphine, ethanol, or the respective vehicle control every second day for three days before (Days 1, 3, 5) and after the first conditioning day (Days 8, 10, 12). On conditioning days (Days 7, 14), animals were first presented with a saccharin solution for 30 minutes following which animals that were pre-exposed to morphine were injected with ethanol while those pre-exposed to ethanol were administered with morphine. Saccharin was again presented on three more occasions (Days 21, 28, 35) without drug injection. Using the percent change in saccharin consumed from the first presentation as a measure of aversion, it was found that pre-exposure to morphine blocked ethanol conditioned taste aversion. Similarly, animals pre-exposed to ethanol showed less aversion to the saccharin paired with morphine. This is the first demonstration of a symmetrical relationship between alcohol and the opiates.


Stent graft of abdominal aortic aneurysm after renal transplantation.
The necessity of operative treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is reported in an increasing number of patients after renal transplantation as a result of improved renal graft long-term survival. In these patients, aortic surgery however, places the allograft at risk for ischemic damage. We present a first case of AAA stenting in a kidney-grafted patient. This procedure helped us avoid ischemia of the graft, which showed excellent function pre- and postoperatively. The patient had an uneventful recovery with no evidence of renal dysfunction and was discharged in good condition 7 days after stenting. This case demonstrates a useful alternative for the repair of AAA in kidney-grafted patients.


Support Ratio Between Abutment and Soft Tissue Under Overdentures: A Comparison Between Use of Two and Four Abutments.
The purpose of this preliminary in vivo study was to compare force distribution on abutments (tooth or implant) and tissues supporting overdentures with two or four abutments. A convenience sample of five subjects with tooth and/or implant-supported overdentures was enrolled. Recordings were completed on each subject using a force-measuring system mounted on a metal framework with four anteroposterior spread abutments (A), four abutments with denture bases (B), and on two anterior abutments with denture bases (C). The tissue-support ratio (TSR) was calculated as (A-B)/A or (A-C)/A. TSR values changed 1.5 to 2 times when the number of abutments was reduced from four to two. The amount of tissue strain on the posterior residual ridge increased when the number of abutments was reduced.


Immunoglobulin e-mediated severe allergy to human seminal plasma.
Two women with allergy to human seminal plasma are described. Both patients had generalized and local allergic symptoms, i.e., hypotension, asthmatic dyspnea, urticaria, and vaginal swelling, beginning within a few minutes of intercourse. The antigen causing the reaction in these patients was common to all seminal plasmas examined. Most of the antigenic activity was shown to be present in one protein band detected by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The seminal plasma reaction was mediated through an immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. Passive transfer of the hypersensitivity with the serum of both patients was successful, and the radioallergosorbent test showed that the serum of the first patient contained IgE specific to seminal plasma.


Evidence for the functional involvement of protein kinase C in the action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in bone.
In the present study the involvement of protein kinase C in the action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on osteoblast-like cells and in the stimulation of in vitro bone resorption by 1,25(OH)2D3 was examined. Incubation for 24 h with 1,25(OH)2D3 potently stimulated osteocalcin synthesis by ROS 17/2.8 cells. This stimulation was inhibited (30-70% inhibition) by 25 microM of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol (AMG) and sphingosine without affecting basal osteocalcin synthesis. 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated osteocalcin secretion by nontransformed isolated fetal rat osteoblasts was also inhibited (30-55%) by AMG. Also, AMG inhibited 10(-9) M 1,25(OH)2D3-induced up-regulation of vitamin D receptor in ROS 17/2.8 cells. Activation of PKC with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) did not cause an increase in osteocalcin secretion, while only a small increase in cellular content of osteocalcin in ROS 17/2.8 cells was observed. Addition of PMA together with 1,25(OH)2D3 did not change the response to 1,25(OH)2D3. The PKC inhibitors were not toxic for the cells. 1,25(OH)2D3 did not stimulate diacylglycerol production in ROS 17/2.8 cells up to 5 min after administration. However, 4- and 24-h incubation with 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 increased phorbol ester binding in ROS 17/2.8 cells. 1,25(OH)2D3 potently stimulated bone resorption after 3 and 6 days of culture in fetal mouse long bones and calvaria. Both the PKC inhibitors AMG (25 microM) and staurosporine (50 nM) strongly inhibited (60-86% inhibition) 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated bone resorption without affecting basal 45Ca release. These effects were not due to a cytotoxic effect of both PKC inhibitors. Nor is it likely that the effects of AMG and staurosporine are due to inhibition of cell proliferation as hydroxyurea did not affect 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated bone resorption. The inhibition of 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated bone resorption by PKC inhibitors suggests that besides osteocalcin synthesis PKC is also involved in other responses of 1,25(OH)2D3 in bone. 1,25(OH)2D3 does not directly activate PKC via an increase in diacylglycerol production but more likely via an increase in PKC. Together, the present study demonstrates a functional involvement of PKC in the action of 1,25(OH)2D3 in bone and bone cells which may have consequences for the development of 1,25(OH)2D3 analogs, e.g. with less hypercalcemic and relatively more antiproliferative activity.


Brazilian adolescents' oral health trends since 1986: an epidemiological observational study.
Oral health is part of general health, and in adolescence, it represents a good individual health indicator. Three country-based oral health epidemiological studies have been developed in Brazil (1986, 2003 and 2010). The objective of this study was to analyze oral disease trends among Brazilian adolescents and to compare these trends to the World Health Organization's goals with a focus on public health policies implemented between 1986 and 2010. This is an epidemiological observational study performed with secondary data from Brazilian Oral Health surveys (1986, 2003 and 2010). The DMFT (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) index was used for the 12-year-old and 15- to 19-year-old groups, and periodontal disease (CPI) and the percentage of individuals who needed and/or had prostheses were evaluated in the 15- to 19-year-old group. Between 1986 and 2010, DMFT decreased from 6.65 to 2.07 (68.9 % reduction) in the 12-year-old group and from 12.68 to 4.25 (66.5 % reduction) in the 15- to 19-year-old group. In all groups, the missing component had the strongest decrease. Adolescents had a reduction of 20.3 % in access to dental care. In 2003, in the 15- to 19-year-old group, 89.5 % of teenagers had at least one decayed tooth, while in 2010, the value was 76.1 %. In 2010, the percentage of adolescents without gingival problems varied among different regions of Brazil, with 30.8 % in the North and 56.8 % in the Southeast. Regarding DMFT, the difference between the North and Southeast Regions was 84 %. Improvement trends regarding adolescent oral health were observed, which seem to be supported by health education and promotion activities along with the reorganization of the Brazilian health system.


Effects of Lyrm1 knockdown on mitochondrial function in 3 T3-L1 murine adipocytes.
To explore the effects of Lyrm1 knockdown on the mitochondrial function of 3 T3-L1 adipocytes using small interfering RNA (siRNA). 3 T3-L1 preadipocytes were infected with either a negative control (NC) expression lentivirus or a Lyrm1-shRNA expression lentivirus and induced to differentiate. The knockdown efficiency of Lrym1-specific shRNA in 3 T3-L1 cells was evaluated by real-time PCR. The ultrastructure of the mitochondria in adipocytes was visualized using transmission electron microscopy after differentiation. The levels of mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and Ucp2 mRNA were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The levels of ATP production was detected using a photon-counting luminometer. The mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS levels of cells were analyzed with a FACScan flow cytometer using Cell Quest software. Cells transfected with lentiviral-Lyrm1-shRNA showed a significantly reduced transcription of Lyrm1 mRNA compared with NC cells. The size and ultrastructure of mitochondria in Lyrm1 knockdown adipocytes was similar to those of the NC cells. There was no significant difference in mtDNA copy number between the two groups. The total level of ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential and Ucp2 mRNA expression levels were dramatically increased in adipocytes transfected with Lyrm1 RNAi. Furthermore, the level of ROS was dramatically decreased in Lyrm1 knockdown adipocytes. Knockdown of the Lyrm1 gene in adipocytes resulted in dramatically increased cellular ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potentials and levels Ucp2 mRNA, while ROS levels were significantly decreased. These results imply that mitochondrial function is improved in adipocytes after the knockdown of Lyrm1.


Classification of disability and distress by ward nurses: a reliability study.
In a series of trials, ward nurses independently classified the disability and distress states of medical and surgical patients. Criteria for inter-rater reliability, in terms of correlation and absence of bias, were met after each rater had taken part in a training session which gave immediate feedback about performance.