Toxicokinetics and metabolisms of benzophenone-type UV filters in rats.
Sunscreens containing UV filters are recommended to reduce damage caused by solar UV radiation. Recently, benzophenone (BP)-type UV filters have become widely used as UV stabilizers in skin-moisturizing products and sunscreen lotions; however, very little information is available regarding the potential harmful effects of prolonged exposure to these compounds. Therefore, we investigated the toxicokinetics and metabolism of BP-type UV filters in rats using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To examine the metabolism of BP-type UV filters, we analyzed the parent compounds BP and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (HMB). In rats, BP was mainly converted to benzhydrol (BH) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (HBP) (i.e., type A UV filters). In contrast, HMB was converted into at least three intermediates, including 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), which was formed via o-demethylation and subsequently converted into 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (THB), and 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (DHMB), which formed via the aromatic hydroxylation of HMB (i.e., type B UV filters). Next, the toxicokinetic curve for BP showed a peak concentration (Cmax) of 2.06+/-0.46 microg/ml at approximately 4h after BP administration. After a single oral dose of HMB, the Cmax of HMB reached 21.21+/-11.61 microg/ml within 3h (Tmax), and then declined rapidly compared to the kinetic curve of BP. The concentration of these metabolites in rat blood decreased much more slowly over time compared to the parent compounds. Thus, our results indicate that such metabolites might have more significant adverse effects than the parent compounds over the long term.


Effect of acupuncture on behavioral hyperactivity and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in rats sensitized to morphine.
Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention has been used for the treatment of many functional disorders including substance abuse. However, there are still many unanswered question about the basic mechanism underlying acupuncture's effectiveness in the treatment of drug addiction. Repeated injection of psycostimulants or morphine can produce behavioral and neurochemical sensitization and have been used as a model for studying drug addiction. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and repeated morphine-induced behavioral changes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with saline or increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c., twice daily for 3 days). Following 15 days of withdrawal, acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1 min after the systemic challenge with morphine HCl (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint HT7, but not at control points (TE8 and tail) significantly decreased both dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and behavioral hyperactivity induced by a systemic morphine challenge. These results suggest that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on morphine addiction occurs through inhibition of neurochemical and behavioral sensitization to morphine.


Design, synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of new analogues of DM232 (unifiram) and DM235 (sunifiram) as cognition modulators.
A series of amides, structurally related to DM232 (unifiram) and DM235 (sunifiram), characterized by a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[2,1-a]isoindol-6(2H)-one, 1,4-diamino-cyclohexane or 1,4-diaminobenzene ring, have been synthesized and tested for cognition-enhancing activity in the mouse passive-avoidance test. Some of the compounds display good antiamnesic and procognitive activity, with higher potency than piracetam, while some cyclohexane derivatives are endowed with amnesia inducing properties.


Image processing and machine learning for fully automated probabilistic evaluation of medical images.
The paper presents results of our long-term study on using image processing and data mining methods in a medical imaging. Since evaluation of modern medical images is becoming increasingly complex, advanced analytical and decision support tools are involved in integration of partial diagnostic results. Such partial results, frequently obtained from tests with substantial imperfections, are integrated into ultimate diagnostic conclusion about the probability of disease for a given patient. We study various topics such as improving the predictive power of clinical tests by utilizing pre-test and post-test probabilities, texture representation, multi-resolution feature extraction, feature construction and data mining algorithms that significantly outperform medical practice. Our long-term study reveals three significant milestones. The first improvement was achieved by significantly increasing post-test diagnostic probabilities with respect to expert physicians. The second, even more significant improvement utilizes multi-resolution image parametrization. Machine learning methods in conjunction with the feature subset selection on these parameters significantly improve diagnostic performance. However, further feature construction with the principle component analysis on these features elevates results to an even higher accuracy level that represents the third milestone. With the proposed approach clinical results are significantly improved throughout the study. The most significant result of our study is improvement in the diagnostic power of the whole diagnostic process. Our compound approach aids, but does not replace, the physician's judgment and may assist in decisions on cost effectiveness of tests.


Bilateral acute postoperative retinal detachment after cataract extraction: case report and review of the literature.
A 57-year-old white man had extracapsular cataract extraction complicated by vitreous loss. On postoperative day 1, he was noted to have a total retinal detachment (RD) with vitreous hemorrhage. No predisposing anatomic risk factors were present except for the vitreous loss. During the RD repair, 2 small superior tears were discovered. Eleven months later, the patient had uneventful phacoemulsification in the fellow eye. On postoperative day 1, he again had a total RD with a superior retinal tear. Meticulous retinal evaluation had been performed preoperatively, and no holes or tears were discovered. The RD was repaired, and the best corrected visual acuity at the last examination was 20/40 in both eyes.


Intussusception ureterectomy.
A modification of intussusception ureterectomy is described. Dilatation of the ureter is unnecessary before the procedure and closure of the bladder wall defect is recommended to avoid urine extravasation.


Exposure of cherry radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. Radculus Pers) to iron-based nanoparticles enhances its nutritional quality by trigging the essential elements.
Iron (Fe) deficiency is a pervasive nutritional disorder, and producing vegetables enriched with Fe as a dietary source is imperative. Herein, Fe3O4, FeO(OH), α-Fe2O3, β-Fe2O3, γ-Fe3O4, and nZVI nanoparticles (NPs) were applied in soil as fertilizer to enhance the Fe nutrition in cherry radish. The highest enhancement of Fe content (58%) was observed in Fe3O4 treatment at 100 mg kg-1, followed by FeO(OH) (49%), α-Fe2O3 (24%), nZVI (14%), β-Fe2O3 (13%) and γ-Fe3O4 (4%). The daily intake of Fe was 97-104% and 77-91% with Fe3O4 and FeO(OH) at 100-200 mg kg-1, respectively. Moreover, the zinc, vitamin C and crude protein contents were also increased by 37, 48 and 67% under Fe3O4 treatment as compared to control. Fe3O4 at 100 mg kg-1 also increased the essential amino acids (phenylalanine, leucine and isoleucine) contents by 11-14%. These data suggest that Fe3O4 and FeO(OH) NPs could be effective nanofertilizers to enhance Fe nutrition in plants.


Differential expression of CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 chemokines in alopecia areata.
Alopecia Areata (AA) is a non-scarring, autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. Inflammatory reactions are involved in hair loss of the scalp and/or body. The involvement of chemokine receptors in the pathogenesis of AA is well defined among which, CXCL1 acts on neutrophils and CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 serve as T lymphocytes recruiters. To study the serum levels of ELR+ and ELR- CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 in the patients suffering from AA and healthy controls. The study population consisted of 30 patients suffering from AA and 30 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Current results showed that AA patients had significantly elevated serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 in comparison to controls (p<0.001). These results also demonstrated that serum levels of CXCL1 and CXCL12 were significantly decreased in AA patients compared to control (p<0.001). CXCL9 and CXCL10 are elevated in the AA patients and may be involved in the recruitment of T lymphocytes to the inflamed tissues. Moreover, due to the significant role played by these chemokines in angiogenesis/angiostatis phenomenon they could be considered as useful biomarkers in AA diagnosis and therapy.


Evaluation of the WHO criteria for 75 g oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy.
A group of pregnant women at high risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy had paired oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) using a 100 g load followed by 75 g load. When the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria were compared, the 2-h plasma glucose value after the 100 g load was the most discriminative in differentiating those with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus. When only the 2-h plasma glucose values were assessed, the WHO test (75 g: 8 mmol/l) agreed with the NDDG test (100 g load: 9.2 mmol/l) in the diagnosis of glucose intolerance in 60% of subjects only. Using the same criteria at 2-h (8 mmol/l) the agreement between these tests was 47%. Reducing the glucose load from 100 g to 75 g produced a reduced glucose response in 49% of the subjects, with a significant decrease in the area under the glucose response curve.


New records of the genus Nola Leach, 1815 (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae) from China, with description of a new species.
The new species, Nola nayongensis sp. nov., is described from Guizhou, China. Nola canioralis (Walker, 1863) is reported from China for the first time. Nola quadriguttula Inoue, 2000 and Nola thyrophora (Hampson, 1914) are reported from mainland China for the first time. The distributions of three known species from China (Nola pseudendotherma Lszl, Ronkay Ronkay, 2014, Nola duplicilinea (Hampson, 1900) and Nola astigma Hampson, 1894) are updated. Adults and the male genitalia are illustrated.


Changes in diagnosis with follow-up in an incident cohort of patients with parkinsonism.
Accurate diagnosis of the cause of parkinsonism during life can be difficult, particularly at presentation, but few studies have described changes in clinical diagnosis over time and the effect of applying strict research criteria. Incident patients with a possible/probable diagnosis of degenerative or vascular parkinsonism had a standardised assessment at diagnosis and at yearly intervals thereafter at which the most likely clinical diagnosis was recorded without strict application of research criteria. Four years after the beginning of the incident period, formal research criteria were applied retrospectively using patient records at baseline and the latest yearly follow-up. Of 82 incident patients, 66 underwent at least 1 year of follow-up. After a median follow-up of 29 months, clinical diagnosis had changed in 22 (33%). Most (82%) changes occurred in the first year and were due to the development of atypical clinical features, particularly early cognitive impairment; the results of brain imaging; responsiveness to levodopa; and the rate of disease progression. Diagnosis on research criteria differed from latest clinical diagnosis in eight participants (12%). Research criteria gave a "probable" diagnosis in 71% of parkinsonian patients at follow-up but in only 15% at the initial assessment. The clinical diagnosis of the cause of parkinsonism at presentation was often incorrect, even when made by those with a special interest. In particular, Parkinson's disease was overdiagnosed. Research criteria were often unhelpful in clarifying the diagnosis, even after a median of 29 months of follow-up. Further research is required to identify factors that may be used to improve the accuracy of diagnosis at initial assessment.


Behavioral and biological correlates of dietary restraint in normal life.
Based on laboratory results, restrained eating has been linked to the development of binge eating and eating disorder syndromes such as bulimia nervosa. This study was designed to extend the scope of investigation of the concept of restrained eating beyond the laboratory. Eating behavior and biochemical indices of nutritional state were investigated in 60 young women, who were divided in restrained and unrestrained eaters by questionnaire. Seven-day records of food intake showed that the high-restraint group ate around 400 kcal a day fewer than the low-restraint group. Group differences in actual macronutrient intake and long-term food preferences pointed to a qualitatively altered eating pattern in restrained eaters. Actual protein portion was higher in restrained eaters. They tried to avoid calorie dense food items of high carbohydrate and fat content. Instead, they preferred food regarded as low-caloric and healthy. Plasma levels of triiodothyronine and glucose, which could be taken as indices of long-term adaptation to starvation, were not decreased in the high-restraint group. However, significantly higher levels of triglycerides in restrained eaters may reflect a biological state due to short-term starvation. The results indicate that the concept of dietary restraint predicts eating behavior not only under experimental conditions, but also in normal life. As a consequence of altered eating patterns, psychological and physiological deprivation can be hypothesized in restrained eaters, making them prone to the occurrence of overeating.


Monitoring cholinergic activity during attentional performance in mice heterozygous for the choline transporter: a model of cholinergic capacity limits.
Reductions in the capacity of the human choline transporter (SLC5A7, CHT) have been hypothesized to diminish cortical cholinergic neurotransmission, leading to risk for cognitive and mood disorders. To determine the acetylcholine (ACh) release capacity of cortical cholinergic projections in a mouse model of cholinergic hypofunction, the CHT+/- mouse, we assessed extracellular ACh levels while mice performed an operant sustained attention task (SAT). We found that whereas SAT-performance-associated increases in extracellular ACh levels of CHT+/- mice were significantly attenuated relative to wildtype littermates, performance on the SAT was normal. Tetrodotoxin-induced blockade of neuronal excitability reduced both dialysate ACh levels and SAT performance similarly in both genotypes. Likewise, lesions of cholinergic neurons abolished SAT performance in both genotypes. However, cholinergic activation remained more vulnerable to the reverse-dialyzed muscarinic antagonist atropine in CHT+/- mice. Additionally, CHT+/- mice displayed greater SAT-disrupting effects of reverse dialysis of the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine. Receptor binding assays revealed a higher density of α4β2* nAChRs in the cortex of CHT+/- mice compared to controls. These findings reveal compensatory mechanisms that, in the context of moderate cognitive challenges, can overcome the performance deficits expected from the significantly reduced ACh capacity of CHT+/- cholinergic terminals. Further analyses of molecular and functional compensations in the CHT+/- model may provide insights into both risk and resiliency factors involved in cognitive and mood disorders.


Stylized heterogeneous dynamic links among healthcare expenditures, land urbanization, and CO2 emissions across economic development levels.
This research examines the heterogeneous dynamic links among healthcare expenditures, land urbanization, and CO2 emissions across the development levels of China. To this end, data of 27 Chinese provinces are considered from 1999 to 2018. Theoretically, this research developed a healthcare expenditures-augmented Stochastic Impacts of Regression by Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model to incorporate healthcare expenditures as a determinant of affluence. Empirically, this research established a system of simultaneous equations based on the healthcare expenditures-augmented STIRPAT model to estimate the links among the variables. As a pre-analysis, second-generation Westerlund cointegration is applied and found the long-term equilibrium association among the variables. The long-run estimations and short-run causality are done by employing dynamic common correlated effects mean group method (DCCEMGM) and Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality. A heterogeneous long-run equilibrium linkage is confirmed to exist among the variables of interest. Concerning the long-run estimates, firstly, the healthcare expenditures growth and land urbanization exhibited a bilateral positive link. Secondly, CO2 emissions and healthcare expenditures growth manifested the existence of a bilateral positive link. And thirdly, a unilateral positive (negative) link is revealed to exist from a linear term (squared term) of land urbanization to CO2 emissions. Concerning the short-run results, firstly, a bilateral causal bond exists between the land urbanization and healthcare expenditures growth. Secondly, a bilateral causal bond prevails between CO2 emissions growth and healthcare expenditures growth. Finally, a unilateral causal bond is operational from land urbanization to CO2 emissions growth. In terms of the nature of the link, the long-run findings are consistent across the data samples. However, considering the degree of influence, heterogeneity is confirmed across the development levels for both long- and short-run. It infers that relatively more (less) developed regions showed relatively strong (weak) influence. Based on empirical findings, relevant policies are recommended.


The effect of modifying the culture medium on cell polarity in a human colon carcinoma cell line.
The human colonic cancer cell line HT29, when grown in DMEM, forms a morphologically unpolarized cell culture in which the cells are covered with irregular microvilli and devoid of belt zonula occludens type tight junctions. However, by modifying the culture medium and growing the cells in RPMI, a different morphology was obtained. A large number of intracellular luminae appeared and at late confluency 90-95% of cells exhibited an apical brush border after four subsequent passages. Junctional complexes and a well developed zonula occludens were revealed under the apical brush border. Immuno-electron microscopical localization of specific markers, sucrase isomaltase (SI), secretory components (SC) and beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2M) showed that SI was limited to the apical surface, whereas 2M and SC were located at the basolateral surfaces. These results indicate that modification of culture conditions affects the ability of HT29 cells to express epithelial cell polarity.


Cell-to-cell diversification in ERBB-RAS-MAPK signal transduction that produces cell-type specific growth factor responses.
Growth factors regulate cell fates, including their proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death, according to the cell type. Even when the response to a specific growth factor is deterministic for collective cell behavior, significant levels of fluctuation are often observed between single cells. Statistical analyses of single-cell responses provide insights into the mechanism of cell fate decisions but very little is known about the distributions of the internal states of cells responding to growth factors. Using multi-color immunofluorescent staining, we have here detected the phosphorylation of seven elements in the early response of the ERBB-RAS-MAPK system to two growth factors. Among these seven elements, five were analyzed simultaneously in distinct combinations in the same single cells. Although principle component analysis suggested cell-type and input specific phosphorylation patterns, cell-to-cell fluctuation was large. Mutual information analysis suggested that each cell type uses multitrack (bush-like) signal transduction pathways under conditions in which clear fate changes have been reported. The clustering of single-cell response patterns indicated that the fate change in a cell population correlates with the large entropy of the response, suggesting a bet-hedging strategy is used in decision making. A comparison of true and randomized datasets further indicated that this large variation is not produced by simple reaction noise, but is defined by the properties of the signal-processing network.


Mechanosensing by TRPV4 mediates stiffness-induced foreign body response and giant cell formation.
Implantation of biomaterials or devices into soft tissue often leads to the development of the foreign body response (FBR), an inflammatory condition that can cause implant failure, tissue injury, and death of the patient. Macrophages accumulate and fuse to generate destructive foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) at the tissue-implant interface, leading to the development of fibrous scar tissue around the implant that is generated by myofibroblasts. We previously showed that the FBR in vivo and FBGC formation in vitro require transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a mechanosensitive ion channel. Here, we report that TRPV4 was required specifically for the FBR induced by implant stiffness independently of biochemical cues and for intracellular stiffening that promotes FBGC formation in vitro. TRPV4 deficiency reduced collagen deposition and the accumulation of macrophages, FBGCs, and myofibroblasts at stiff, but not soft, implants in vivo and inhibited macrophage-induced differentiation of wild-type fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in vitro. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated that TRPV4 was required for implant-adjacent tissue stiffening in vivo and for cytoskeletal remodeling and intracellular stiffening induced by fusogenic cytokines in vitro. Together, these data suggest a mechanism whereby a reciprocal functional interaction between TRPV4 and substrate stiffness leads to cytoskeletal remodeling and cellular force generation to promote FBGC formation during the FBR.


The Relative Influence of Perceived Immigration Laws and Consequences on HIV Testing Among US Latino Immigrants.
The CDC recommends that persons aged 13-64 receive an HIV test at least once in their lifetime and that some groups test annually or more frequently. Nearly one-half of US Latino immigrants have never been tested for HIV. To the extent that immigration-related laws deter documented and undocumented immigrants from engaging in communicable disease control measures, these laws undermine public health efforts. 1750 noncitizen adult, sexually active, Spanish-speaking Latino immigrants across four cities in the US completed a cross-sectional survey assessing perceptions of immigration-related laws and immigration consequences related to HIV testing and diagnosis. Participants were recruited in-person by staff in community settings, through flyers posted in places frequented by Latino immigrants, and by word-of-mouth through snowball sampling. Outcomes were whether participants had ever received an HIV test and whether they tested in the previous 12 months. Multivariable analyses examined the relative contribution of perceived immigration laws and consequences on HIV testing behaviors when considering established predictors of HIV testing. Perceptions of HIV-related immigration laws and immigration consequences was a significant predictor of never having had an HIV test even when considered relative to common predictors of HIV testing. The influence of perceived immigration laws and consequences on testing in the previous 12 months was not significant in multivariable analysis. Perceived HIV-related immigration laws and consequences appear to be a substantial contributor to reluctance to be tested for HIV among Latino immigrants who have never been tested. Effective interventions should be developed to address these.


Alterations of functional connectivity density in a Chinese family with a mild phenotype associated with a novel inherited variant of SCN8A.
Only a few heritable SCN8A variants have been described in patients with a mild phenotype of epilepsy. Here, we describe a Chinese family with a novel inherited SCN8A variant and investigate changes in spontaneous cerebral activity during the resting-state in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative patients with epilepsy and their unaffected siblings. A gene panel targeting 535 epilepsy genes was performed on the proband and his parents. The identified variant was confirmed in other affected members by Sanger sequencing. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data were gathered from the family (4 affected individuals and 3 unaffected siblings) and 72 healthy controls (HCs). Functional connectivity density (FCD) was used to assess whether distant or local functional network changes occurred in patients with epilepsy. A heterozygous missense variant (c.4568C>A; p.A1523D) in SCN8A was identified in the Chinese family, with a total of 7 members who presented with a mild phenotype (childhood seizures and normal cognition). All patients remained seizure-free, and one patient remained seizure-free without medication. Increased FCD values in the thalamocortical network and basal ganglia network were observed in both patients with epilepsy and their unaffected siblings compared with the HCs. Direct comparison between SCN8A variant patients and unaffected siblings showed that more serious and distributed abnormal changes occurred in the mesial frontal regions of patients with epilepsy. We identified a novel SCN8A variant with a mild familial epilepsy phenotype. A similar pattern of FCD alterations in patients and their unaffected siblings might represent an endophenotype of benign epilepsy associated with the SCN8A inherited variant, and more extensive alterations in mesial frontal regions may help us to further understand the pathogenesis of SCN8A-related mild epilepsy.


Challenges, controversies, and advances in aortic catastrophes.
Emergency physicians (EPs) are commonly faced with life-threatening entities. Particularly challenging are the aortic catastrophes, such as penetrating aortic ulcers (PAUs), intramural hematomas (IMHs), and atypical presentations of acute aortic dissections and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Several factors account for this: (1) the rapidly evolving knowledge (particularly in the pathogenesis and precursors of aortic dissection [AD]), (2) the lack of comfort caused by infrequent exposure, (3) the misconceptions about the work up and treatment, (4) the lack of emergent vascular surgery back up in the community, and finally (5) the high short-term mortality and missed rates. Finally, the media has publicized cases of celebrities and other patients who experienced fatal outcomes when their aortic catastrophes went undiagnosed. Practitioners of emergency care should, therefore, understand the challenges, be aware of the recent advances, and help limit the controversies in the evaluation and management of these patients.


Treatment of esophageal carcinoma combined preoperative chemotherapy.
Thirty-four patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus received a triple-drug regimen preoperatively consisting of cisplatin, vindesine, and bleomycin. Partial response to chemotherapy (greater than 50% reduction in measurable tumor size with concomitant improvement in swallowing function) was noted in 65% of the patients. Of the 34 patients, 28 (82%) had resectable disease. A one-stage high esophagogastrectomy utilizing the end-to-end anastomosis stapling device was performed on all 28 patients. Operation was followed by external radiation therapy to the esophageal bed, to a tumor dose of 5,500 rads delivered in 5 weeks. The postoperative median follow-up is now 14 months (range, 7 to 36 months). Thirteen patients are alive and well, and 10 patients have relapsed, 4 of whom are still alive with disease. Two patients died of postoperative complications, and 1 death was drug related. On the other hand, 5 of the 6 patients with unresected tumors died within 5 months. While the preliminary results are encouraging, longer follow-up will be required to determine whether the response rate to chemotherapy will result in a longer disease-free interval and longer survival.


Isolation, purification, structural characterization, and hypoglycemic activity assessment of polysaccharides from Hovenia dulcis (Guai Zao).
Hovenia dulcis polysaccharides (HDPs) have a variety of important biological activities associated with potential applications in food engineering, pharmacy science, and health care. Herein, we isolated and purified polysaccharides from H. dulcis. Chemical composition analysis revealed that the purified polysaccharides (HDPs-2A) were composed of different molar ratios of mannose, Rha, GalA, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara and had a molecular weight of 372.91 kDa. The structure of HDPs-2A was assessed by FT-IR, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, and NMR, allowing us to determine that the backbone of HDPs-2A is composed primarily of →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, T-β-D-Galp, →3)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and T-α-D-Glcp. The results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that HDPs-2A present an irregular polymer particle morphology in water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that HDPs-2A have a single crystal structure. Finally, we demonstrated that HDPs-2A have a good therapeutic effect on a rat model of type 2 diabetes.


Bacterial enzymatic degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants: catabolic pathways and genetic regulations.
Contamination of soil and natural water bodies driven by increased organic pollutants remains a universal concern. Naturally, organic pollutants contain carcinogenic and toxic properties threatening all known life forms. The conventional physical and chemical methods employed to remove these organic pollutants ironically produce toxic and non-ecofriendly end-products. Whereas microbial-based degradation of organic pollutants provides an edge, they are usually cost-effective and take an eco-friendly approach towards remediation. Bacterial species, including Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Burkholderia, and Xanthomonas, have the unique genetic makeup to metabolically degrade toxic pollutants, conferring their survival in toxic environments. Several catabolic genes, such as alkB, xylE, catA, and nahAc, that encode enzymes and allow bacteria to degrade organic pollutants have been identified, characterized, and even engineered for better efficacy. Aerobic and anaerobic processes are followed by bacteria to metabolize aliphatic saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons such as alkanes, cycloalkanes, aldehydes, and ethers. Bacteria use a variety of degrading pathways, including catechol, protocatechuate, gentisate, benzoate, and biphenyl, to remove aromatic organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides from the environment. A better understanding of the principle, mechanisms, and genetics would be beneficial for improving the metabolic efficacy of bacteria to such ends. With a focus on comprehending the mechanisms involved in various catabolic pathways and the genetics of the biotransformation of these xenobiotic compounds, the present review offers insight into the various sources and types of known organic pollutants and their toxic effects on health and the environment.


Occurrence of monogeneans on freshwater fishes in Iran: Dactylogyrus spp. on cultured Iranian fishes.
Thirteen Dactylogyrus spp. were found on cultured fishes in five Iranian fish farms. Besides typical Dactylogyrus vastator, specimens with small anchors were often found in goldfish, which were designated as D. vastator forma minor. Rutilus frisii kutum, a fish cultured only in Iran, was infected by two Dactylogyrus spp. during its short period of prerearing in Iranian fish farms. All Dactylogyrus found are new for the Iranian fauna.


Gliomatosis cerebri: findings with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Gliomatosis cerebri (GC), is a rare neoplastic disease (less than 150 cases reported in the literature) with a diffuse, widespread proliferation of neoplastic glial cells in the brain, generally affecting both hemispheres and involving the gray and white matter [1-3]. Less commonly, the cerebellum, the brain stem and the medulla can be affected. Histologic evaluation reveals neoplastic astrocytes with varying levels of differentiation. Perineuronal and perivascular spread of tumor infiltration is observed. Demyelination can be found in the affected areas. A well-preserved underlying neuroanatomic architecture is considered characteristic [2]. Clinical signs vary and are non-specific, including changes in the mental state and headaches, followed by focal motor deficits and convulsive episodes [4]. The prognosis is poor, ranging from weeks to some years after the manifestation of the symptoms. Steroids may be useful in the short term, but chemotherapy is of little value and radiotherapy of questionable benefit. The literature was reviewed and the radiological pattern of three new cases of GC is reported. In two cases the diagnosis was achieved ante-mortem.


Clinical Efficacy of Tandospirone on Functional Dyspepsia Patients with Anxiety: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is characterized with multiple symptoms of indigestion and often accompanied with anxiety. However, there is currently an absence of effective treatment. Tandospirone is commonly used to treat generalized anxiety disorders. Whether tandospirone can improve the clinical symptoms of FD remain unknown. The present study was designed to explore the pharmacological effect of tandospirone on FD patient with anxiety, and the potential mechanisms were also elucidated. FD patients with anxiety were randomly divided into placebo and tandospirone treatment groups. Healthy volunteers were simultaneously recruited as control group. The gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) were performed before and after treatments with placebo or tandospirone. The serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and multiple inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-10 were determined. Regression analyses relating BDNF levels and gastrointestinal symptoms were performed. Tandospirone significantly alleviated the gastrointestinal and anxiety symptoms of FD patient, as evidenced by reductions of GIS index and HAM-A scores. Compared with the healthy volunteers, FD patients had lower BDNF and IL-10 levels, but higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Importantly, tandospirone increased serum BDNF and IL-10 and decreased IL-6 levels in FD patients. Relative analysis revealed that BDNF level was negatively associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in FD patients. Tandospirone effectively improved both anxiety and gastrointestinal symptoms of patients with FD, and these therapeutic effects may be associated with the modulation of BDNF and inflammatory cytokines.


Nitric oxide in responses of regional kidney perfusion to renal nerve stimulation and renal ischaemia.
The mechanisms underlying the relative insensitivity of medullary blood flow (MBF) to sympathetic drive remain unknown. We tested the effects of nitric oxide synthase blockade on regional kidney perfusion responses to electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS) in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rabbits. Under control conditions, RNS reduced renal blood flow (RBF), cortical blood flow (CBF) and MBF in a frequency-dependent manner. MBF was always reduced less than CBF or RBF. NG-nitro-L-arginine increased mean arterial pressure (31+/-3 mmHg), reduced RBF (-8+/-1 ml/min) and MBF (-33+/-6 units), enhanced responses to RNS of RBF (from -48+/-6% to -58+/-6% at 2 Hz), CBF (from -38+/-6% to -43+/-4% at 2 Hz) and, particularly at low frequencies, MBF (from +1+/-18% to -32+/-11% at 2 Hz) and potentiated the RBF hyperaemic response following RNS (by 27+/-6% at 4 Hz). When glyceryl trinitrate was co-infused with NG-nitro-L-arginine to restore basal nitrergic tone, responses to RNS and the subsequent hyperaemia were indistinguishable from control. Since resting renovascular tone or perfusion pressure has little impact on MBF responses to RNS, these present observations suggest that NO contributes to the blunted MBF response to RNS. Paradoxically, NO seems to blunt renal hyperaemia following acute RNS-induced ischaemia.


Trabeculectomy and postoperative ocular hypertension in secondary angle-closure glaucoma.
I performed trabeculectomies to reduce the introacular pressure to 20 mm Hg or lower, in 56 eyes with medically uncontrollable primary open-angle glaucoma or secondary angle-closure glaucoma. In the former group, I achieved success in 85% of cases, 65% without further antiglaucomatous therapy. In the latter group, 59% obtained a successful result, 41% without additional treatment. The readings of applanation tonometry on the first postsurgical day were compared to those obtained after one year. Although approximately 50% of eyes in both glaucoma categories had an initially elevated pressure after trabeculectomy, it decreased steadily in most of those with primary open-angle glaucoma. In the secondary angle closure glaucoma population, this immediate postoperative ocular hypertension was significantly correlated with eventual failure of the operation.


The structure and evolution of vertebrate fibrinogen: a comparison of the lamprey and mammalian proteins.
The blood plasmas of all vertebrate animals contain a six-chained fibrinogen molecule that is polymerized into fibrin upon the thrombin-catalyzed removal of fibrinopeptides. In all cases, also, the polymerization reaction is inhibited by Gly-Pro-Arg-ending peptides. The complete amino acid sequences of human, rat and lamprey fibrinogens are known, permitting an assessment of just which sequence features are essential for polymerization. To an extent, the same approach can also be applied to the associated phenomena of fibrin cross-linking by factor XIII, plasminogen and plasminogen activator binding, and vessel wall-fibrinogen interactions.


Developing New Information Sheets for Evacuees and Evacuation Centers to be Used During All Natural Disaster Phases.
Evacuees' quality of life can be improved by investigating both their health problems and the conditions of evacuation centers during natural disasters. This study aims to develop new evacuee and evacuation center information sheets that focus on infection control, oral health and dentures, mental health, and rehabilitation during natural disasters. The analysis was conducted with the Delphi method by questioning doctors from various fields (infectious disease, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and dentistry) about the information that may be needed for evacuees and in the evacuation center environment. Two information sheets were created in this study. One is an evacuation center environmental health assessment sheet that includes information about the overview of evacuees' health and the evacuation center environment. The other is an evacuee registration sheet that would be completed by the evacuees themselves. The information sheets developed in this study will be useful in times of disaster because they have the potential to improve evacuee health conditions, as well as evacuation center environments.


Spontaneous clinical regression in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a B-cell disorder, which has a median survival of over 10 years from diagnosis for stage A disease. The natural history of stage A disease is generally indolent or only slowly progressive. It is less well known that CLL may undergo spontaneous regression. We report a series of 10 such cases (eight stage A and two stage B) followed at our institutions.


Pinecone-derived magnetic porous hydrochar co-activated by KHCO3 and K2FeO4 for Cr(VI) and anthracene removal from water.
Herein, magnetic porous pinecone-derived hydrochar (MPHCMW) co-activated by KHCO3 and K2FeO4 through one-step microwave-assisted pyrolysis was innovatively synthesized for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and anthracene (ANT) removal from water. The analyses of characterization consequences and co-activation mechanisms not merely proved the high specific surface area (703.97 m2/g) and remarkable microporous structures of MPHCMW caused by the synergistic chemical activation of KHCO3 and K2FeO4, but also testified successful loading of Fe0 and Fe3O4 on MPHCMW by the process of carbothermal reduction between K2FeO4 and carbon matrix of hydrochar. The resultant MPHCMW possessed pH-dependence for Cr(VI), while adsorption for ANT was hardly impacted by the pH of solution. Moreover, the adsorption processes of MPHCMW could attain equilibrium within 60 min for Cr(VI) and 30 min for ANT with multiple kinetics, and the corresponding adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) and ANT was 128.15 and 60.70 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, the adsorption percentages of MPBCMW for Cr(VI)/ANT was maintained at 87.87/82.64% after three times of adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, pore filling, complexation, electrostatic interaction, reduction and ion exchange were testified to enhance the removal of Cr(VI), while the ANT removal was achieved via π-π stacking, complexation, pore filling and hydrogen bonding force.


Noble metal-based sorbents: A way to avoid new waste after mercury removal.
The development of technologies to control mercury emissions is now a legal requirement imposed by recent international agreements. The use of regenerable sorbents is consistent with this requirement as it allows mercury to be captured from industrial gases without generating new mercury-containing toxic waste. Because regenerable sorbents based on noble metals are often questioned due to the heavy investment they entail, this study assesses the viability of their use in terms of efficiency and cost. Its primary aim is to develop new regenerable sorbents based on an activated carbon support impregnated with Ag in order to compare their cost and behavior in a CO2 enriched gas stream with that of similar materials containing Au. Mercury retention efficiencies of 100 % can be achieved over several adsorption-desorption cycles depending on the type of noble metal used, particle size and impurities in the gas atmosphere. The results suggest that the Hg-Ag amalgamation process differs from the Hg-Au one, in that they show different kinetics of adsorption and temperatures of desorption. The Ag and Au regenerable sorbents developed in this study would be competitive given the environmental and health benefits they offer compared to the single-use activated carbons employed until now at industrial scale.


Improvement of anemia in W/WV mice by recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) mediated through EPO receptors with lowered affinity.
We studied the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on anemic W/WV mice which manifested severe anemia accompanied by mutation of the W gene encoding tyrosine kinase type receptor (c-kit gene) of bone marrow hematopoietic cells. Nine-week-old male W/WV mice or normal littermates (+/+) were used. Since serum EPO concentration in W/WV mice increased in proportion to severity of anemia, EPO production in the kidneys of these animals was found to be regulated normally. Hematocrit in +/+ mice increased and a maximal response was also obtained with 2,000 IU/kg of rHuEPO. On the other hand, hematocrit in W/WV mice increased in a dose-responsive manner by administration with 2,000 and 10,000 IU/kg, showing different responses to rHuEPO in these two types of mice. The responsiveness of W/WV mice to rHuEPO was low in terms of increases in erythroblastic precursor cells (CFU-E), and immature cells in the bone marrow. Scatchard analysis of the specific binding of 125I-rHuEPO against bone marrow cells revealed that the different responsiveness to rHuEPO between W/WV and +/+ mice may be correlated with differences in affinity of EPO receptor of bone marrow cells in these mice. From these results, a high dose of rHuEPO is capable of improving the anemia in W/WV mice that had EPO receptors with lowered affinity, indicating the possible effectiveness of rHuEPO in anemic patients with EPO receptor abnormality.


Severe COVID-19 in pregnancy has a distinct serum profile, including greater complement activation and dysregulation of serum lipids.
Pregnancies complicated by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at an increased risk of severe morbidity due to physiologic changes in immunologic, cardiovascular, and respiratory function. There is little is known about how severity of COVID-19 changes protein and metabolite expression in pregnancy. This study aims to investigate the pathophysiology behind various clinical trajectories in pregnant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using multi-omics profiling. This is a prospective cohort study of 30 pregnant patients at a single tertiary care center. Participants were categorized by severity of COVID-19 disease (control, asymptomatic, mild/moderate, or severe). Maternal serum samples underwent LC-MS-based multiomics analysis for profiling of proteins, lipids, electrolytes, and metabolites. Linear regression models were used to assess how disease severity related to analyte levels. Reactome pathway enrichment analysis was conducted on differential analytes. Of 30 participants, 25 had confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (6 asymptomatic (one post-infection), 13 mild/moderate (all post-infection), 6 severe), and 5 participants were controls. Severe COVID-19 was associated with distinct profiles demonstrating significant proteomic and lipidomic signatures which were enriched for annotations related to complement and antibody activity. (FDR < 0.05). Downregulated analytes were not significantly enriched but consisted of annotation terms related to lipoprotein activity (FDR > 0.2). Post-infection mild/moderate COVID-19 did not have significantly altered serum protein, metabolite, or lipid metabolite levels compared to controls. Pregnancies with severe COVID-19 demonstrate greater inflammation and complement activation and dysregulation of serum lipids. This altered multiomic expression provides insight into the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19 in pregnancy and may serve as potential indicators for adverse pregnancy outcomes.


The hormone response to a synthetic androgen (mesterolone) in oligospermia.
Forty subfertile men with oligospermia were treated with a synthetic androgen (Mesterolone). The effect of the drug was evaluated by measuring serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and analysing the semen before and after treatment. The results demonstrated that in twenty-three patients treated for 6-9 months there was a significant decrease in serum testosterone (P less than 0.01); the means +/- SEM before and after treatment were 17.05 +/- 0.95 and 14.7 +/- 0.95 (nmol/l serum) respectively. There was a pronounced increase in serum LH (P less than 0.01), the values being 2.73 +/- 0.26 and 3.61 +/- 0.3 (u/l) respectively. However, no significant difference was found in serum FSH before and after treatment. The sperm concentration showed a variable response to treatment. In twenty-one patients there was either no change or worsening in the sperm concentration, whereas in nineteen patients an improvement was observed. The analysis of variance of sperm concentration and motility for the periods before and after treatment, for all the patients, showed no significant difference in the sperm concentration F1.145 = 2.82 (P=0.1).


Effect of vitamin D on biochemical parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome women: a meta-analysis.
To investigate the therapeutical effect of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolism and endocrine parameters of PCOS patients. Clinical studies investigating the therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation on PCOS patients were selected by searching PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane library and Web of Science until April 2016. The included articles were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Serum HOMA-IR, QUICKI, LDL, DHEAS, free testosterone (FT), total testosterone (TT), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, and triglyceride of PCOS patients were enrolled for evaluating the therapeutic effects of vitamin D. 16 studies were included in this study. There was no significant difference between the placebo group and vitamin D group in the concentration of serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in patients with PCOS (P = 0.06). After treated with vitamin D, the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in PCOS patients was increased (P < 0.00001), while the serum PTH (P = 0.003) and triglyceride (P = 0.006) were decreased. In addition, the serum HOMA-IR, QUICKI, LDL, DHEAS, FT, and TT in PCOS patients did not change. Subgroup analysis showed that the serum triglyceride of PCOS patients was decreased by low dose of vitamin D supplementation (<50,000 IU) (P = 0.03), but no significantly changed by high-dose vitamin D supplementation (≥50,000 IU) (P = 0.17). Vitamin D supplementation significantly attenuates serum PTH and triglyceride in PCOS patients except for serum HOMA-IR, QUICKI, LDL, DHEAS, FT, and TT. Furthermore, less than 50,000 IU vitamin D supplementation is sufficient for decreasing serum triglyceride.


X-mapping in man: evidence against measurable linkage between anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and G6PD deficiency.
A Sardinian kindred segregating for X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency of Mediterranean type, and Xga blood antigen provides evidence against a measurable linkage between the loci for AED and G6PD. Moreover, from the segregation of the combined phenotypes in four scorable sons from two triple heterozygotes with phase known, it seems highly probable that the AED locus is nearer to the centromere than is the G6PD locus.


The dynamics of seed harvesting in early successional communities by a tropical ant, Solenopsis geminata.
The neotropical ant, Solenopsis geminata, in the moist lowlands of southeastern Mexico was most abundant in agricultural fields and early second growth habitats. It was not found within forest habitats.In addition to its foraging for insects and general scavenging, this ant also harvests seeds. Under field experimental conditions, a wide variety of small seeds, especially grasses, were taken. Nest mound size and number were greatest on plots experimentally seeded to high grass density and low on plots consisting of grass-dicot mixtures, pure dicot stands, or a vegetative grass strain incapable of seed production. Paspalum conjugatum, an important grass weed, was the most common seed encountered in seed storage chambers in the mounds. Under experimental field conditions, Solenopsis geminata reduced seed densities of P. conjugatum and the malvaceous weed, Malachra sp. by 97 percent or more. Seed densities of the composite, Bidens pilosa were unaffected.


Can advanced new radiation therapy technologies improve outcome of high grade glioma (HGG) patients? analysis of 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) versus volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients treated with surgery, concomitant and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy.
To assess the impact of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) compared with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in patients with newly diagnosed high grade glioma in terms of toxicity, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). From March 2004 to October 2014, 341 patients underwent surgery followed by concomitant and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. From 2003 to 2010, 167 patients were treated using 3DCRT; starting from 2011, 174 patients underwent VMAT. The quantitative evaluation of the treatment plans was performed by means of standard dose volume histogram analysis. Response was recorded using the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria and toxicities graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event version 4.0. Both techniques achieved an adequate dose conformity to the target. The median follow up time was 1.3 years; at the last observation 76 patients (23.4 %) were alive and 249 (76.6 %) dead (16 patients were lot to follow-up). For patients who underwent 3DCRT, the median PFS was 0.99 ± 0.07 years (CI95: 0.9-1.1 years); the 1 and 3 years PFS were, 49.6 ± 4 and 19.1 ± 3.1 %. This shall be compared, respectively, to 1.29 ± 0.13 years (CI95: 1.01-1.5 years), 60.8 ± 3.8, and 29.7 ± 4.6 % for patients who underwent VMAT (p = 0.02). The median OS for 3DCRT patients was 1.21 ± 0.09 years (CI95:1.03-1.3 years); 1 and 5 year OS was, 63.3 ± 3.8 and 21.5 ± 3.3 %. The corresponding results for 3DRCT patients were 1.56 ± 0.09 years (CI95:1.37-1.74 years), 73.4 ± 3.5, 30 ± 4.6 % respectively (p < 0.01). In both groups, prognostic factors conditioning PFS and OS were age, gender, KPS, histology and extent of resection (EOR). VMAT resulted superior to 3DCRT in terms of dosimetric findings and clinical results.


Training school nurses: screening and brief intervention for tobacco use.
This field project focused on training school nurses to do screening and brief interventions for tobacco use. Needed resources were organized in a kit.


T Cell engineering for cancer immunotherapy by manipulating mechanosensitive force-bearing receptors.
T cell immune responses are critical for in both physiological and pathological processes. While biochemical cues are important, mechanical cues arising from the microenvironment have also been found to act a significant role in regulating various T cell immune responses, including activation, cytokine production, metabolism, proliferation, and migration. The immune synapse contains force-sensitive receptors that convert these mechanical cues into biochemical signals. This phenomenon is accepted in the emerging research field of immunomechanobiology. In this review, we provide insights into immunomechanobiology, with a specific focus on how mechanosensitive receptors are bound and triggered, and ultimately resulting T cell immune responses.


BMP-2 combined with salvianolic acid B promotes cardiomyocyte differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.
The present study tested the hypotheses that bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2) combined with salvianolic acid B(Sal-B) enhance the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) towards cardiomyocytes in vitro. BMSCs were treated with BMP-2 and Sal-B, alone or in combination, for 72 h, then added new media (excluding inductive substance) and cultured for 4 weeks. The morphologic characteristics, surface antigens and mRNA expression of several transcription factors were also assessed. We found that they could all be identified by the positive staining for cardiomyocyte-specific proteins, desmin and cardiac troponin T, in these cells. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of GATA-4 and Nkx2.5 genes was slightly increased on day 7, enhanced on day 14 and decreased on day 28 while α-MHC gene was not expressed on day 7, but expressed slightly on day 14 and enhanced on day 28. The expression of these cardiac-specific markers in treatment groups were all significantly higher than those in the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy showed that BMSCs in treatment groups all had myofilaments, z line-like substances and mitochondria. Taken together, these results indicate that BMP-2 combined with Sal-B promotes myocardial differentiation of BMSCs, which may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.


Pre-pectoral Breast Reconstruction: Surgical and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Two-Stages vs Single-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.
Two-stages pre-pectoral breast reconstruction may confer advantages over direct to implant (DTI) and subpectoral reconstruction in selected patients who have no indication for autologous reconstruction. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate and compare the incidence of capsular contracture in the pre-pectoral two-stages technique versus the direct to implant technique. Complications related to the two surgical techniques and patient satisfaction were also evaluated. A retrospective review of 45 two stages and 45 Direct-to-implant, DTI patients was completed. Acellular dermal matrix was used in all patients. An evaluation of anthropometric and clinical parameters, surgical procedures and complications was conducted. Minimum follow-up was 12 months after placement of the definitive implant. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of capsular contracture in the two groups. Rippling occurred more in DTI reconstruction. In the two-stages reconstruction, lipofilling was applied more often and there was a higher incidence of seroma. Patient satisfaction extrapolated from the Breast Q questionnaire was better for patients submitted to two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction. Dual-stage pre-pectoral reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix appears to be a good reconstructive solution in patients with relative contraindications for one-stage heterologous reconstruction with definitive prosthesis and no desire for autologous reconstruction.


Dynamics of quantum liquids in confinement, theory and experiment.
Liquid (4)He immersed in porous media such as aerogel, Vycor, and Geltech silica are excellent examples of bosons in disorder and confinement. Of special interest is the impact of disorder on Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), on the elementary excitations of the superfluid and on their connection to the superfluid properties. Indeed, the modifications induced by disorder can be used to reveal the interdependence of BEC, the excitations and superfluidity. To date, the superfluid properties in porous media are much more completely documented than BEC or the excitations. In this paper, we review measurements of the excitations by neutron scattering, focusing particularly on their temperature dependence and the existence of phonon-roton excitations at higher temperatures. The weight of single excitation response at higher temperatures suggests the existence of localized BEC above the superfluid-normal transition temperature in porous media. We sketch several recent predictions made for BEC, the excitations, and the superfluid properties in disorder. Connections with other "Dirty Bose systems" are made.


Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in different compartments of a healthy and a declining Picea abies forest in the Fichtelgebirge, NE Bavaria.
Natural carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were measured in different compartments (needles and twigs of different ages and crown positions, litter, understorey vegetation, roots and soils of different horizons) on 5 plots of a healthy and on 8 plots of a declining Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest in the Fichtelgebirge (NE Bavaria, Germany), which has recently been described in detail (Oren et al. 1988a; Schulze et al. 1989). The δ13C values of needles did not differ between sites or change consistently with needle age, but did decrease from the sun-to the shade-crown. This result confirms earlier conclusions from gas exchange measurements that gaseous air pollutants did no long-lasting damage in an area where such damage was expected. Twigs (δ13C between-25.3 and-27.8‰) were significantly less depleted in 13C than needles (δ13C between-27.3 and-29.1‰), and δ13C in twigs increased consistently with age. The δ15N values of needles ranged between-2.5 and-4.1‰ and varied according to stand and age. In young needles δ15N decreased with needle age, but remained constant or increased in needles that were 2 or 3 years old. Needles from the healthy site were more depleted in 15N than those from the declining site. The difference between sites was greater in old needles than in young ones. This differentiation presumably reflects an earlier onset of nitrogen reallocation in needles of the declining stand. δ15N values in twigs were more negative than in needles (-3.5 to-5.2‰) and showed age- and stand-dependent trends that were similar to the needles. δ15N values of roots and soil samples increased at both stands with soil depth from-3.5 in the organic layer to +4‰ in the mineral soil. The δ15N values of roots from the mineral soil were different from those of twigs and needles. Roots from the shallower organic layer had values similar to twigs and needles. Thus, the bulk of the assimilated nitrogen was presumably taken up by the roots from the organic layer. The problem of separation of ammonium or nitrate use by roots from different soil horizons is discussed.


The role of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in glucose- and temperature-dependent doxorubicin cytotoxicity.
The mechanism of doxorubicin resistance induced by glucose deprivation was examined using an L929 cell system. Resistance developed even when the synthesis of glucose-regulated proteins was suppressed by supplementing glucose-deprived cultures with uridine. Resistance was also not correlated with pyruvate availability, with DNA strand breaks, or with intracellular drug or nucleotide levels. However, intracellular concentrations of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) decreased to undetectable levels in glucose-deprived cells with or without uridine supplementation. NADPH depletion induced by treating glucose-fed cells with low concentrations of methylene blue afforded the same degree of protection as glucose deprivation, and normal sensitivity could be restored to glucose-deprived cells by adding NADPH to the culture medium. These results suggest that decreased NADPH availability is responsible for the doxorubicin resistance induced by glucose deprivation. Although drug uptake and NADPH production increased with temperature, these effects could not fully account for the > 1000-fold decrease in clonogenic survival observed over the 25 degrees-37 degrees C temperature range. Similarly, manipulation of NADPH levels confirmed a role for drug bioreduction in the cytotoxic mechanism but did not suggest that NADPH availability was rate-limiting for this process at any temperature employed.


Inducible nitric oxide synthase involvement in the mechanism of action of Saccharomyces boulardii in castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats.
The biotherapeutic agent Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to inhibit castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats in a dose-response fashion, and one of the suggested mechanisms of action included involvement of the nitric oxide pathway. The present study was designed to address this mechanism of action by firstly measuring the effects of S. boulardii on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) isoform activity in vitro. Second, the effects of S. boulardii on the increase in colonic citrulline level associated with castor oil treatment were examined. In vitro, S. boulardii showed a dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS activity with an IC50 of 0.89 mg/ml. In the rat diarrhoea model, the antidiarrhoeal effect of S. boulardii was confirmed using a single oral dose of 12 x 10(10) CFU/kg (viable cells). In this model, castor oil significantly elevated citrulline level from 2526+/-164 to 3501+/-193 nmol/g in the colon. When the rats were treated with the same antidiarrhoeal single dose of S. boulardii, no increase in citrulline level was observed. Moreover, the iNOS inhibitor 1400 W at 10 mg/kg and the inhibitor of iNOS expression dexamethasone at 1 mg/kg, administered subcutaneously, blocked the citrulline production induced by the laxative. Taken together, these findings confirm the involvement of inhibition of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase in the mechanism of action of S. boulardii in diarrhoea.


Effect of alpha-amanitin and actinomycin D on RNA synthesis in the protoplasts of Aspergillus nidulans.
RNA synthesis was studied in protoplasts from Aspergillus nidulans, which remained metabolically active for several days under the appropriate conditions. It is concluded, that at certain actinomycin D concentrations the ribosomal RNA synthesis can be selectively inhibited. However, alpha-amanitin at concentrations up to 400 micrograms/ml neither influenced the total nor the RNA polymerase II directed RNA synthesis. It was possible to discriminate between the RNA polymerase I or II directed RNA synthesis due to the presence of poly(A) tails attached to at least part of the RNA, presumably messenger RNAs, or their precursors.


A multiple luminescent procedure for the detection of different papillomaviruses on dot blots.
We developed a method based on the use of various luminescent systems for identification of several nucleic acid sequences on the same dot blots. In a simultaneous assay, the target DNA molecules were hybridized with different DNA probes. These probes were labelled with biotin or digoxigenin or directly coupled to enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase. After hybridization, these labels were detected by luminescent reactions using an amplified camera. Rapid detection and specific identification of pathogenic agents such as human papillomaviruses (HPV) could be performed in a single step by this procedure. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out using general primers and virus types were identified on dot blots using short HPV 11, 16 and 18 specific oligonucleotides.


Cimetidine toxicity: an assessment of 881 cases.
We reviewed 881 documented cimetidine overdoses. The data were compiled and analyzed retrospectively from 2,612,236 poisoning cases reported to two nationwide poison surveillance systems from 1978 through 1985. Only cases of cimetidine exposures without coingestants were included. Age, sex, symptom occurrence, treatment site, reason and route of exposure, and medical outcome data were evaluated. Eight hundred eighty-one cases met the criteria and were analyzed. Children between 12 and 35 months of age accounted for 43% of the cases and 97% of all exposures were acute. Intentional overdosage accounted for 21%; 76% were accidental in nature. Gastric emptying was performed in 34%. No symptoms were observed in 79% of the cases, which included ingestions of up to 15 g of cimetidine. Only three patients had moderate clinical manifestations. No patients had major medical complications and there were no fatalities. Even patients in the moderate category experienced no life-threatening toxic manifestations. Cimetidine appears to have an extremely high therapeutic index in both children and adults and demonstrates a remarkable safety profile following acute overdose.


Differential modification of the C-terminal tails of different α-tubulins and their importance for microtubule function in vivo.
Microtubules (MTs) are built from α-/β-tubulin dimers and used as tracks by kinesin and dynein motors to transport a variety of cargos, such as mRNAs, proteins, and organelles, within the cell. Tubulins are subjected to several post-translational modifications (PTMs). Glutamylation is one of them, and it is responsible for adding one or more glutamic acid residues as branched peptide chains to the C-terminal tails of both α- and β-tubulin. However, very little is known about the specific modifications found on the different tubulin isotypes in vivo and the role of these PTMs in MT transport and other cellular processes in vivo. In this study, we found that in Drosophila ovaries, glutamylation of α-tubulin isotypes occurred clearly on the C-terminal ends of αTub84B and αTub84D (αTub84B/D). In contrast, the ovarian α-tubulin, αTub67C, is not glutamylated. The C-terminal ends of αTub84B/D are glutamylated at several glutamyl sidechains in various combinations. Drosophila TTLL5 is required for the mono- and poly-glutamylation of ovarian αTub84B/D and with this for the proper localization of glutamylated microtubules. Similarly, the normal distribution of kinesin-1 in the germline relies on TTLL5. Next, two kinesin-1-dependent processes, the precise localization of Staufen and the fast, bidirectional ooplasmic streaming, depend on TTLL5, too, suggesting a causative pathway. In the nervous system, a mutation of TTLL5 that inactivates its enzymatic activity decreases the pausing of anterograde axonal transport of mitochondria. Our results demonstrate in vivo roles of TTLL5 in differential glutamylation of α-tubulins and point to the in vivo importance of α-tubulin glutamylation for cellular functions involving microtubule transport.


Trypanothione-dependent peroxide metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi different stages.
Different stages of Trypanosoma cruzi are able to metabolize low concentrations of H2O2. Trypomastigotes showed a higher initial rate per mg protein than amastigotes or epimastigotes derived from them. Amastigotes could metabolize H2O2 at a lower rate than the other developmental stages of T. cruzi. A peroxide-metabolizing activity was detected in extracts of T. cruzi epimastigotes. This 'NADPH peroxidase' activity was lost upon dialysis of the extracts and was probably due to a non-enzymatic reaction(s) with endogenous dihydrotrypanothione (T(SH)2) and/or other thiols, thus explaining the inhibition of H2O2 metabolism in intact cells by thiol inhibitors. An amount of non-protein thiols equivalent to an intracellular concentration of 2.0-3.0 mM was found in epimastigotes, which is sufficient to account for the rate of NADPH oxidation observed in the presence of high concentration of peroxides (> 100 microM). Addition of T(SH)2 increased this rate, implying that this thiol could be used as a substrate in that reaction. In addition, this activity was hardly detectable in the extracts in the presence of low concentration of peroxides (< 20 microM), indicating a high Km, which would be incompatible with a true peroxidase activity. Taking into account the high intracellular concentration of thiols measured, this activity probably accounted for the rates of H2O2 metabolism detected in intact T. cruzi. These results also confirm that T. cruzi is an organism with limited ability to detoxify H2O2.


Photosensitive Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is not caused by a single gene mutation: analysis of the gene encoding 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase in five U.K. families.
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive malformation syndrome characterized by a disorder in cholesterol metabolism. SLOS is caused by mutations in the DHCR7 gene which encodes 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, an enzyme that catalyses the final step in cholesterol biosynthesis. We have previously established the clinical and photobiological features of the photosensitivity that is frequently a feature of SLOS. In this study, we have performed mutational analysis of the DHCR7 gene in individuals from five families with SLOS. In each family, one member was affected by severe photosensitivity as a manifestation of SLOS. Fifteen samples (including family controls) were screened using polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct automated sequencing. Six different DHCR7 mutations were identified of which five were single point mutations that caused missense amino acid substitutions (P51H, T93M, L99P, E448K and R450L). The other was a splice site mutation (G-->C in splice acceptor site) affecting the intron 8-exon 9 splice junction (IVS8-1 G-->C). This splice site mutation and four of the five missense mutations have been previously published as causal in SLOS but the P51H is a novel mutation which has not previously been reported. This is the first study in which DHCR7 gene mutational analysis has been performed on SLOS subjects with severe photosensitivity and indicates that no single mutation is responsible for the photosensitivity which characterizes this disorder.


The central (spinal) canal in congenital murine hydrocephalus: morphological and physiological aspects.
Obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways produces changes in the parenchyma of the brain and spinal cord. A murine model of hydrocephalus (hy-3) used to study changes in the central canal of the spinal cord and these changes are correlated with events occurring in the intracranial compartment. The central canal is enlarged and subependymal interstitial edema is produced by cerebrospinal fluid at the same time as the intracranial ventricular system is expanding. Plugging of the obex results in collapse of the central canal. Ferritin tracer studies demonstrate transependymal flow of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the central canal.


Cuff abscesses and ileoanal anastomotic separations in pelvic pouch surgery. An analysis of possible etiologic factors.
In many reports, mucosal proctectomy and ileoanal anastomosis has been reported as a procedure afflicted with a considerably high frequency of cuff abscesses and ileoanal anastomotic separations. In order to find the predisposing factors the charts of 20 early pouch patients were reviewed; ten of these patients had these complications and ten constituted a control group. There were two striking findings about the complication group: a tendency toward more severe rectal gross inflammation and troublesome mucosectomy, and consistently very long, greater than or equal to 7 cm, acute angulated, efferent conduits, and severe evacuation difficulties. Reconstruction of the pouch, with shortening of the efferent limb, was necessary for definite cure in all but one patient. The cuff abscess seemed to be either a descending infection, or an infection ascending from a disrupted anastomosis, a rupture provoked by a long, kinked efferent conduit. After introduction of the S-pouch with short spout and the J-pouch, this feared complication did not appear.


Efficacy of malaria prevention during pregnancy in an area of low and unstable transmission: an individually-randomised placebo-controlled trial using intermittent preventive treatment and insecticide-treated nets in the Kabale Highlands, southwestern Uganda.
Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy (IPTp) and insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are recommended malaria interventions during pregnancy; however, there is limited information on their efficacy in areas of low malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. An individually-randomised placebo-controlled trial involving 5775 women of all parities examined the effect of IPTp, ITNs alone, or ITNs used in combination with IPTp on maternal anaemia and low birth weight (LBW) in a highland area of southwestern Uganda. The overall prevalence of malaria infection, maternal anaemia and LBW was 15.0%, 14.7% and 6.5%, respectively. Maternal and fetal outcomes were generally remarkably similar across all intervention groups (P>0.05 for all outcomes examined). A marginal difference in maternal haemoglobin was observed in the dual intervention group (12.57g/dl) compared with the IPTp and ITN alone groups (12.40g/dl and 12.44g/dl, respectively; P=0.04), but this was too slight to be of clinical importance. In conclusion, none of the preventive strategies was found to be superior to the others, and no substantial additional benefit to providing both IPTp and ITNs during routine antenatal services was observed. With ITNs offering a number of advantages over IPTp, yet showing comparable efficacy, we discuss why ITNs could be an appropriate preventive strategy for malaria control during pregnancy in areas of low and unstable transmission.


Ultrastructural studies on testicular biopsies from eighteen cases of hypospermatogenesis.
An electron microscopic study was conducted on biopsies from 18 young hypospermatogenic patients. No signs of "tubular blockage" or "germinal disorganization" were found. The relationships between the different components of the germinal epithelium were comparable to those found in normal testes. Germ cells were often connected by cytoplasmic bridges and Sertoli cells by typical narrow junctions, which, in the case of very depleted tubules, were very extensive and of irregular outline owing to the interdigitations of the cells. Sertoli cells had normal cytologic characteristics and, contrary to the findings of other investigators in similar material, had apparently a normal amount of lipid droplets and microfilaments. In six cases, a large number of thick, banded collagen fibers substituted for the microfibrils usually found between the myoid cells in the tunica propia. The possible significance of these changes as a cause or as a consequence of the tubular changes is not yet clear.


Experimental and theoretical studies on the adsorption characteristics of Si/Al-based adsorbents for lead and cadmium in incineration flue gas.
Si/Al-based adsorbents are effective adsorbents for capturing heavy metals in incineration flue gases at high temperatures in the furnace. In this work, the adsorption characteristics and adsorption mechanisms of Si/Al-based adsorbents for lead and cadmium vapors were studied using a combination of experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The trapping performance of a series of Si/Al-based adsorbents for Pb and Cd vapors was investigated using a self-designed gas-solid two-phase rapid adsorption experimental system. The results showed that kaolinite and montmorillonite exhibited better heavy metal adsorption capacity than SiO2 and Al2O3, and were significantly stronger for Pb than for Cd. Chemisorption dominated the capture of Pb/Cd by Si/Al-based adsorbents at high temperatures. The results of DFT calculations indicated that the chemisorption mechanisms dominated the adsorption of Pb and Cd species on the metakaolinite (001) surface, and the adsorption energy of Pb species on the metakaolinite surface was greater than that of Cd species. The exposed O atoms and unsaturated Al atoms of metakaolinite (001) surface were effective adsorption active sites for heavy metals and their chlorides. In the adsorption reaction, the binding of Pb/Cd atoms and surface exposed O sites, as well as the strong interaction between Cl and unsaturated Al atoms, were responsible for the capture of Pb and Cd chlorides by metakaolinite.


Spatial transformation of changes in global cultivated land.
The spatial transformation of cultivated land is an important element in the study of land use transformation. Analyzing the characteristics and direction of the global spatial transformation of cultivated land is of great significance in clarifying the spatial extent and quality of global cultivated land and ensuring global food security. In this context, this paper uses the global spatial data of cultivated land from 1992 to 2015 to analyze the characteristics of global cultivated land spatial transformation from the perspectives of cultivated land quantity, cultivated land landscape pattern, and cultivated land management pattern, applying the Mann-Kendall trend tests, trend analysis, landscape pattern index measures, and global rural per capita cultivated indicators. The global cultivated land area increased, followed by a decrease, during the study period; there were three distinct phases of change, with the years 1995 and 2005 as turning points. During the first phase, the global cultivated land area increased at an average annual rate of 0.19 %, in the second phase, the increase rate was 0.30 %, and in the third phase, the increase rate was -0.003 %. Based on the trend of cultivated land change during the study period, the areas with a dramatic change in cultivated land area were classified into six typical hotspot areas, involving the increase and decrease of area change in 10 different countries. The two countries with the largest increases in cultivated land area are Sweden and Brazil (24.82 % and 24.43 %, respectively), whereas Ukraine's cultivated land area decreased throughout the study period.


Ultrastructural study of crystalloids in sertoli cells of the normal, intersex and experimental cryptorchid swine.
Spindle- or needle-shaped crystalloids are observed in Sertoli cells of the intersex and experimental cryptorchid swine in the light and electron microscopes. Small crystalloids are also observed in Sertoli cells of the normal swine only by electron microscopy. These crystalloids consist of fine filaments. The filaments are about 5 nm in diameter and arranged parallel to the long axis of the drystalloid. In cross sections of the crystalloid, the close backing of the filaments shows hexagonal arrays. The interfilamentous distance is about 5 nm. In all animals, bundles of short filaments, which are 5nm in diameter, are observed in the basal part of the Sertoli cells. Ultrastructural similarities among the crystalloids, the bundles of fine filaments, and the filamentous layer in the junctional specialization of the Sertoli cell are shown. These morphological similarities suggest that the crystalloids are formed by the aggregation of the bundles in the Sertoli cells of azoospermic testes.


Sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the abdominal arteries.
To assess sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of the abdominal arteries in comparison with standard MRA protocols. In 22 patients MRA of the abdominal arteries was performed twice (once using a standard protocol, and once with the additional use of SENSE). In 10 patients all examination parameters were kept constant (TR/TE/FA = 3.8 msec/1.3 msec/30 degrees ), and a reduction in scan time from 22 to 11 seconds was realized with the use of SENSE. In 12 patients, using SENSE the acquisition matrix was increased from 208 to 416, keeping the scan time constant. Image quality was scored on a five-point scale by three radiologists. Additionally, ROI-based measurements of CNR were performed. For both protocols, image quality was significantly improved using SENSE. The time-reducing SENSE protocol yielded an average score of 4.2 points vs. 3.1 for the standard protocol. Using SENSE to increase the acquisition matrix, an average score of 4.3 was reached vs. 3.2 for the standard protocol (P < 0.05). The number of depictable small vessels and their bifurcations was significantly increased by either of the two SENSE protocols as compared to the standard imaging procedure. SENSE for MRA of the abdominal arteries significantly increases image quality and permits a substantial reduction in breath-hold time or a significantly improved spatial resolution.


Stability enhancement of battery energy storage and renewable energy-based hybrid AC/DC microgrids using terminal sliding mode backstepping control approaches.
In this paper, a terminal sliding mode backstepping controller (TSMBC) has been proposed for various components of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid (HADMG) to enhance its dynamic stability. The proposed control technique is employed to generate switching control signals for converters, which serve as the primary interface between the DC bus and the AC bus in a hybrid microgrid. Additionally, this technique facilitates the interface of PMSG-based wind generators, solar photovoltaic generators, and battery energy storage systems with the DC bus. Through the implementation of the composite control technique, the global stability of the microgrid is ensured by driving all the states of the HADMG associated with various components to converge towards their intended values. Afterward, the Lyapunov control theory has been used to analyze the converter and inverter's large-signal stability while ensuring the robustness of the proposed robust composite controller. Finally, an extensive simulation study was conducted on a hybrid microgrid to verify the efficacy of the designed controller in maintaining power balance amidst variations in the system's operational regimes. Moreover, the effectiveness of the controller's practical implementation is confirmed by real-time processor-in-the-loop analysis. Simulation results clearly show that the proposed TSMBC improves the overall dynamic performance of the hybrid microgrid with less overshoot (0%) and settling time (110 ms) in DC bus voltage when compared to the existing sliding mode controller.


Training practices of cell processing laboratory staff: analysis of a survey by the Alliance for Harmonization of Cellular Therapy Accreditation.
Methods for processing products used for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation must ensure their safety and efficacy. Personnel training and ongoing competency assessment is critical to this goal. Here we present results from a global survey of methods used by a diverse array of cell processing facilities for the initial training and ongoing competency assessment of key personnel. The Alliance for Harmonisation of Cellular Therapy Accreditation (AHCTA) created a survey to identify facility type, location, activity, personnel, and methods used for training and competency. A survey link was disseminated through organizations represented in AHCTA to processing facilities worldwide. Responses were tabulated and analyzed as a percentage of total responses and as a percentage of response by region group. Most facilities were based at academic medical centers or hospitals. Facilities with a broad range of activity, product sources and processing procedures were represented. Facilities reported using a combination of training and competency methods. However, some methods predominated. Cellular sources for training differed for training versus competency and also differed based on frequency of procedures performed. Most facilities had responsibilities for procedures in addition to processing for which training and competency methods differed. Although regional variation was observed, training and competency requirements were generally consistent. Survey data showed the use of a variety of training and competency methods but some methods predominated, suggesting their utility. These results could help new and established facilities in making decisions for their own training and competency programs.


Effect of aeration/micro-aeration on lignocellulosic decomposition, maturity and seedling phytotoxicity during full-scale biogas residues composting.
With the accelerated construction of biogas plants, the amount of biogas residues are expanding. Composting has been widely implemented to deal with biogas residues. Aeration regulation is the main factor affecting the post-composting treatment of biogas residues as high-quality fertilizer or soil amendment. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of different aeration regulations on full-scale biogas residues compost maturity by controlling oxygen concentration under micro-aeration and aeration conditions. Results showed that micro-aerobic extended the thermophilic stage of 17 days at above 55 ℃ and facilitated the mineralization process of organic nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen to retain higher N nutrition levels compared to aerobic treatment. For biogas residues with high moisture, aeration should be regulated at different full-scale composting stages. Total organic carbon (TOC), NH4+-N, NO3--N, total potassium (TK), total phosphorus (TP) and the germination index (GI) could be used to evaluate stabilization, fertilizer efficiency and phytotoxicity of compost with frequent monitoring times. However, seedling growth trials were still necessary in full-scale composting plants when changing of composting process or biogas residues feedstock.


Lipopolysaccharide-bound structure of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of the innate immune system and may be potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics because they exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The AMP cecropin P1 (CP1), isolated from nematodes found in the stomachs of pigs, is known to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we investigated the interaction between CP1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is the main component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, using circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). CD results showed that CP1 formed an α-helical structure in a solution containing LPS. For NMR experiments, we expressed (15) N-labeled and (13) C-labeled CP1 in bacterial cells and successfully assigned almost all backbone and side-chain proton resonance peaks of CP1 in water for transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (Tr-NOE) experiments in LPS. We performed (15) N-edited and (13) C-edited Tr-NOE spectroscopy for CP1 bound to LPS. Tr-NOE peaks were observed at the only C-terminal region of CP1 in LPS. The results of structure calculation indicated that the C-terminal region (Lys15-Gly29) formed the well-defined α-helical structure in LPS. Finally, the docking study revealed that Lys15/Lys16 interacted with phosphate at glucosamine I via an electrostatic interaction and that Ile22/Ile26 was in close proximity with the acyl chain of lipid A.


Hospital service areas in Ibadan city.
The catchment areas of the eighteen study hospitals in Ibadan city were identified by the use of the distribution of sampled hospital patients and the distribution of the proportion of patients using the hospitals from each census tract. In the first approach, it was not possible to talk of definable service areas of the hospitals. On the other hand, the second approach revealed well defined service areas for individual hospital as well as groups of hospitals based on their hierarchical order. It was concluded that the service areas of the hospitals in Ibadan city are well defined. The areas most proximate to the hospitals sent the highest proportion of patients. The relevance of the results of the study to identification of the parts of the city not well served by hospitals was also discussed.


[Analytical contribution to the morphological study of the normal human erythrocyte].
This note introduces a new, simple analytical function as a geometrical model for the human erythrocyte (GR). This profile function contains three shape coefficients (a1, a2, R) and shows a considerable quickness of computation.


Apoptosis in astrovirus-infected CaCo-2 cells.
Cell death processes during human astrovirus replication in CaCo-2 cells and their underlying mechanisms were investigated. Morphological and biochemical alterations typical of apoptosis were analyzed in infected cells using a combination of techniques, including DAPI staining, the sub-G(0)/G(1) technique and the TUNEL assay. The onset of apoptosis was directly proportional to the virus multiplicity of infection. Transient expression experiments showed a direct link between astrovirus ORF1a encoded proteins and apoptosis induction. A computer analysis of the astrovirus genome revealed the presence of a death domain in the nonstructural protein p38 of unknown function, encoded in ORF1a. Apoptosis inhibition experiments suggested the involvement of caspase 8 in the apoptotic response, and led to a reduction in the infectivity of the virus progeny released to the supernatant. We conclude that apoptotic death of host cells seems necessary for efficient human astrovirus replication and particle maturation.


Computer-Generated R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Scores Yield Comparable Predictive Results to Those of Human-Expert Scores in Predicting Oncologic and Perioperative Outcomes.
We sought to automate R.E.N.A.L. (for radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness of tumor to collecting system, anterior/posterior, location relative to polar line) nephrometry scoring of preoperative computerized tomography scans and create an artificial intelligence-generated score (AI-score). Subsequently, we aimed to evaluate its ability to predict meaningful oncologic and perioperative outcomes as compared to expert human-generated nephrometry scores (H-scores). A total of 300 patients with preoperative computerized tomography were identified from a cohort of 544 consecutive patients undergoing surgical extirpation for suspected renal cancer at a single institution. A deep neural network approach was used to automatically segment kidneys and tumors, and geometric algorithms were developed to estimate components of R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score. Tumors were independently scored by medical personnel blinded to AI-scores. AI- and H-score agreement was assessed using Lin's concordance correlation and their predictive abilities for both oncologic and perioperative outcomes were assessed using areas under the curve. Median age was 60 years (IQE 51-68), and 40% were female. Median tumor size was 4.2 cm and 91.3% had malignant tumors, including 27%, 37% and 24% with high stage, grade and necrosis, respectively. There was significant agreement between H-scores and AI-scores (Lin's ⍴=0.59). Both AI- and H-scores similarly predicted meaningful oncologic outcomes (p <0.001) including presence of malignancy, necrosis, and high-grade and -stage disease (p <0.003). They also predicted surgical approach (p <0.004) and specific perioperative outcomes (p <0.05). Fully automated AI-generated R.E.N.A.L. scores are comparable to human-generated R.E.N.A.L. scores and predict a wide variety of meaningful patient-centered outcomes. This unambiguous artificial intelligence-based scoring is intended to facilitate wider adoption of the R.E.N.A.L. score.


The hybrid mass-spring pendulum model of human leg swinging: stiffness in the control of cycle period.
Human leg swinging is modeled as the harmonic motion of a hybrid mass-spring pendulum. The cycle period is determined by a gravitational component and an elastic component, which is provided by the attachment of a soft-tissue/muscular spring of variable stiffness. To confirm that the stiffness of the spring changes with alterations in the inertial properties of the oscillator and that stiffness is relevant for the control of cycle period, we conducted this study in which the simple pendulum equivalent length was experimentally manipulated by adding mass to the ankle of a comfortably swinging leg. Twenty-four young, healthy adults were videotaped as they swung their right leg under four conditions: no added mass and with masses of 2.27, 4.55, and 6.82kg added to the ankle. Strong, linear relationships between the acceleration and displacement of the swinging leg within subjects and conditions were found, confirming the motion's harmonic nature. Cycle period significantly increased with the added mass. However, the observed increases were not as large as would be predicted by the induced changes in the gravitational component alone. These differences were interpreted as being due to increases in the active muscular stiffness. Significant linear increases in the elastic component (and hence stiffness) were demonstrated with increases in the simple pendulum equivalent length in 20 of the individual subjects, with r2 values ranging between 0.89 and 0.99. Significant linear relationships were also demonstrated between the elastic and gravitational components in 22 subjects, with individual r2 values between 0.90 and 0.99.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Intracardiac echocardiography in congenital heart disease: are we ready to begin the fantastic voyage?
Advances in and miniaturization of echocardiographic technology have led to many new methods of examining cardiovascular malformations. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has reached a point where a real impact on clinical medicine can be anticipated. Use of ICE guidance during electrophysiologic and some interventional catheterization procedures will probably become standard clinical practice in the near future. Current results in adults and potential application to and limitations in the pediatric population are discussed.


Germ cell proliferations in the fetal horse ovary.
During the 340 day pregnancy of the horse, the germ cells in the fetal ovary showed a meiotic prophase which began in days 60-70 and might be prolonged after day 200. Three or four successive oogonial mitotic proliferations passed into the meiotic prophase but the great majority of the oocytes first involved degenerated, and no appreciable numbers of primordial follicles were left behind. At 150 days of pregnancy and again at 197 days, oocytes in early meiotic stages filled the ovarian cortex. Primordial follicles were present, but rare. As the prophase gradually came to an end, groups of oocytes became enclosed by small 'boundary' cells which formed in the stroma. Coalescence of these groups led to the appearance of coiled and branching formations containing small and large oocytes. Many of the original groups, however, contracted and became narrow strands and these persisted until the end of pregnancy, many oocytes disappearing from them, while others eventually developed in primordial follicles.


Doping limitation due to self-compensation by native defects in In-doped rocksalt CdxZn1-xO.
Cadmium oxide (CdO)-ZnO alloys (CdxZn1-xO) exhibit a transformation from the wurtzite to the rocksalt (RS) phase at a CdO composition of ∼70% with a drastic change in the band gap and electrical properties. RS-CdxZn1-xO alloys (x> 0.7) are particularly interesting for transparent conductor applications due to their wide band gap and high electron mobility. In this work, we synthesized RS-CdxZn1-xO alloys doped with different concentrations of In dopants and evaluated their electrical and optical properties. Experimental results are analyzed in terms of the amphoteric native defect model and compared directly to defect formation energies obtained by hybrid density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A saturation in electron concentration of ∼7 × 1020 cm-3accompanied by a rapid drop in electron mobility is observed for the RS-CdxZn1-xO films with 0.7 ⩽x< 1 when the In dopant concentration [In] is larger than 3%. Hybrid DFT calculations confirm that the formation energy of metal vacancy acceptor defects is significantly lower in RS-CdxZn1-xO than in CdO, and hence limits the free carrier concentration. Mobility calculations reveal that due to the strong compensation by native defects, RS-CdxZn1-xO alloys exhibit a compensation ratio of >0.7 for films withx< 0.8. As a consequence of the compensation by native defects, in heavily doped RS-CdxZn1-xO carrier-induced band filling effect is limited. Furthermore, the much lower mobility of the RS-CdxZn1-xO alloys also results in a higher resistivity and reduced transmittance in the near infra-red region (λ > 1100 nm), making the material not suitable as transparent conductors for full spectrum photovoltaics.