Effectiveness of the integration of quercetin, turmeric, and N-acetylcysteine in reducing inflammation and pain associated with endometriosis. In-vitro and in-vivo studies.
to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of a novel composition composed of quercetin, curcumin, acetylcysteine in reducing pain in women affected by endometriosis, through the reduction of the inflammatory-hyperproliferative component of the ectopic endometrial tissue. Thirty-three women with clinical diagnosis of endometriosis from at least 3 months have been enrolled. Patients have been treated daily with 200 mg of quercetin, 210 mg of dry extract of Curcuma longa (titrated at 95% in curcuminoids) and 150 mg of acetylcysteine (1 tablet of ALLIENDO®) for 2 months. The overall symptomatology with specific reference to dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and dyspareunia, together with the frequency of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) drugs assumption have been evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Overall, the results collected at the end of the treatment according to the parameters evaluated and above mentioned on the 33 patients enrolled, show a significative improvement in the reduction of pain symptoms associated to endometriosis (P<0.001 for dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and dyspareunia). The use of NSAIDs together with an overall reduction of their dosage and time of assumption has been reduced as well. No significative side effects have been observed. The aforementioned results suggest that administration of the composition described can represent a valuable adjuvant treatment in the reduction of pain symptomatology associated to endometriosis, triggered by inflammatory cascade and hyperproliferation of ectopic tissue.


Determination of hymexazol in 26 foods of plant origin by modified QuEChERS method and liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry.
A rapid and sensitive method based on modified QuEChERS for hymexazol determination in 26 plant-derived foods using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. Variables affecting the separation (LC column, mobile phase additives) and clean-up effects of various dispersive phases, such as PSA, C18, GCB, MWCNTs, PEP-2, Al2O3, Florisil, and PVPP were evaluated. The method was validated using 26 matrices at spiked levels of 0.01 or 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5mg/kg (0.05, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0mg/kg for green tea). Mean recoveries were between 71.2% and 113.8%, and intra and inter-day precisions were below 14.8%. The limit of quantitation for 26 matrices ranged from 10 to 50μg/kg. Matrix-matched calibration was used. The method was subsequently applied for real sample analysis, and hymexazol was detected in a cucumber (below the LOQ) and was not detected in any other sample. The method is simple and effective, and meets the routine monitoring requirements for hymexazol residue in foods.


Recent Bremsstrahlung-based assays of 210Pb in lead and comments on current availability of low-background lead in North America.
Low-background lead for radiation measurement shielding is often assayed for 210Pb to ensure acceptable backgrounds. Samples of lead assayed with a germanium spectrometer calibrated for bremsstrahlung-based assay of 210Pb provide a view into the 210Pb content of commercial lead in the U.S. (other than stockpiled Doe Run lead). Results suggest that the loss of lead smelting in the U.S. has eliminated the traditional supply of "low background" lead (~30Bqkg-1), and indicate current commercial supplies contain roughly an order of magnitude higher 210Pb levels.


[The bactericidal activity of lectins from nitrogen-fixing bacilli].
Lectins I and II isolated from the nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa 1460 were found to be able to suppress the growth of Rhizobium leguminosarum 252 and Bacillus subtilis 36 at nearly all the concentrations tested (from 1 to 10 micrograms/ml). Lectin I was also inhibitory to Azospirillum brasilense 245 and Erwinia carotovora subsp. citrulis 603, while lectin II exerted bactericidal activity against Xanthomonas campestris B-610 and B-611 and A. brasilense 245. The bacillar lectins incubated with Rhizobium and Azospirillum cells caused leakage of low-molecular-weight substances from the cells, presumably resulting from impairment of the membrane barrier function. We believe that one of the possible mechanisms of the bacterial growth inhibition by lectins is mediated by the lectin-specific receptors occurring on the bacterial membrane, whose interaction with the lectin molecules induces conformational alterations in the membrane and concurrent malfunction of the metabolism of bacterial cells.


Patterns of respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age in a low-middle-income country.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most commonly encountered major public health problems, with a higher prevalence of lower RTIs among children and more generally the poor. The present study aimed to describe the pattern of respiratory tract infections in Egyptian children aged under 5 years and explore possible associations between socio-demographics and nutritional status and types of RTIs. Over 6 months beginning in September 2018 (including one winter season), a cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted on a sample of patients with upper and lower RTIs diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically in the outpatient clinics at Cairo University Children's Hospital in Egypt. An interview questionnaire was employed to collect socio-demographic and nutritional data. Heights/lengths and weights were measured and analyzed using the World Health Organization's (WHO) Anthro Plus [Computer Program]. Patients with pneumonia (n = 28) were compared to 97 healthy children of the same age and sex. The total number of children diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory infections was 611. Malnutrition was present in 12.4% of all children with upper and lower RTIs. Lower RTI and malnutrition were substantially more prevalent among children aged under 2 years (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). The strongest predictor of lower RTI was a younger age (OR 0.797, CI 0.713-0.89, p < 0.001). At our center, approximately one-third of infections in under-fives were lower RTI. Malnutrition was one of the significant risk factors for lower RTI in children below 2 years. The nutritional status of infants and young children should be improved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and strengthening the healthcare and nutritional counseling available for vulnerable children, particularly in rural regions.


Relevance of dynamic cavernosography to the diagnosis of venous incompetence in erectile dysfunction.
Dynamic cavernosography with flow and cavernosometric studies was performed on 140 patients, 18 of whom served as a control group. Of the 122 multidisciplinary investigated patients with erectile dysfunction 66 (54.1 per cent) showed associated venous leakage. Insufficiency of the dorsal penile veins (29 patients, 44 per cent) and complicated venous leakage (23 patients, 34.8 per cent) were predominate. In 63 patients with erectile dysfunction the results of an additional papaverine test were compared to the results of dynamic cavernosography, and they indicated a sensitivity of more than 90 per cent in regard to evidence or exclusion of venous incompetence in erectile dysfunction.


Understanding Repeat Positive HIV Testing in South Africa Under Changing Treatment Guidelines.
Some people with HIV (PWH) test positive multiple times without initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). We surveyed 496 ART-eligible PWH following routine HIV testing at three clinics in Soweto and Gugulethu, South Africa in 2014-2015. Among repeat positive testers (RPTs) in this cohort, we compared rates of treatment initiation by prior treatment eligibility and assessed psychosocial predictors of treatment initiation in logistic regression models. RPTs represented 33.8% of PWH in this cohort. Less than half of those who reported eligibility for ART on prior testing started treatment upon retesting, in contrast to two thirds of RPTs who were previously ineligible for treatment who started treatment once they learned of their eligibility. Those who reported coping through substance use were more likely to decline treatment versus those not using substances. PWH who test repeatedly represent a vulnerable population at risk for ART non-initiation who may benefit from interventions addressing individualized coping strategies.


Relationships among serum C-reactive protein, receptor for advanced glycation products, metabolic dysfunction, and cognitive impairments.
We examined the clinical value of two serum markers of low-grade inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) and receptor of advanced glycation products (RAGE), as prognostic indices for cognitive decline. Patients with cognitive impairment (n = 377) and controls (n = 66) were examined by blood biochemistry tests, including ELISAs of serum CRP and RAGE, the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and STEAM 1H-MRS of the left hippocampus and thalamus. Compared to the control group, the cognitive impairment group was older (63.10 ± 9.70 years vs. 55.09 ± 10.77 years, P = 0.000) and had fewer years of formal education (9.01 ± 4.01 vs. 12.94 ± 3.0, P = 0.000). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia between groups. Serum CRP and RAGE were higher in the cognitive impairment group (CRP: 2.08 mg/L, range 1.07 - 3.36 mg/L vs. 0.21 mg/L, range 0.18 - 0.42 mg/L; RAGE: 4.01, range 2.49 - 5.71, vs. 2.28, range 1.84 - 3.03; P < 0.05 for both). In patients with cognitive impairment, there were negative correlations between cognitive function (as measured by MMSE and MoCA) and both CRP and RAGE levels (P < 0.05). Patients over 55 years exhibited a positive correlation between CRP and myo-inositol peak area in the left hippocampus (P < 0.05), while there was no relationship between RAGE and any metabolite (P > 0.05). Multiple linear regression revealed that CRP was influenced by hypertension (P = 0.026) and cognitive impairment (P = 0.042). Chronic low-grade inflammation is present in patients with cognitive impairment. Serum CRP, RAGE, and left hippocampal myo-inositol may provide prognostic information on cognitive decline.


Effect of head position on distribution of nasal airflow in preterm infants.
Supine preterm infants characteristically adopt a lateral head position; however, it is not known whether this influences the distribution of nasal airflow. Ventilation was measured in 12 healthy preterm infants (postconceptional age 34 +/- 2 weeks) by employing a nasal mask pneumotachygraph that separated airflow between the left and right nasal passages. In the midline supine position, the percent of total tidal volume (%VT) through the right nasal passage ranged from 31% to 64% and varied by less than 5% between active and quiet sleep in any infant. Lateral positioning of the head caused %VT to increase on the dependent side and decrease through the upper nasal passage. When the right side was dependent, mean %VT on that side increased from 52 +/- 9% to 67 +/- 14% (P less than 0.01) and decreased to 43 +/- 10% (P less than 0.05) when the right side was up. In the midline position, the presence of a nasogastric tube caused %VT through the nasal passage with the tube to fall from 54 +/- 8% to 39 +/- 8% (P less than 0.01). The %VT fell farther, to 25 +/- 10% (P less than 0.01), when the nasal passage with the nasogastric tube was up. Despite these changes in VT distribution, total VT remained constant during these maneuvers. We speculate that when supine preterm infants adopt a lateral head position, the decrease in airflow through the upper nasal passage results from partial obstruction of the oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway on that side.


Patterns and correlates of old-age social exclusion in the Balkan states.
Social exclusion (SE), or the separation of individuals and groups from mainstream society, is associated with poor health and wellbeing, yet a substantial number of older people are socially excluded. There is increasing agreement that SE is multidimensional, comprising among others social relations, material resources, and/or civic participation. However, measuring SE is still challenging as exclusion may occur in more than one dimension, whereas its sum does not reflect the content of SE. To account for these challenges, this study provides a typology of SE and describes how SE types differ from each other in terms of severity and risk factors. We concentrate on Balkan states, which are among the European countries with the highest prevalence of SE. Data come from the European Quality of Life Survey (N = 3030, age 50 +). Latent Class Analysis revealed four SE types: low SE risk (50%), material exclusion (23%), material and social exclusion (4%), and multidimensional exclusion (23%). A higher number of dimensions from which a person is excluded are associated with more severe outcomes. Multinomial regression further revealed that lower levels of education, lower subjective health, and lower social trust increase the risks of any SE type. Younger age, unemployment, and not having a partner are associated with specific SE types. This study is in line with the limited evidence that different types of SE exist. Policies designed to reduce SE should take account of the different SE types and specific associated risk factors in order to enhance the impact of interventions to reduce social exclusion.


Microbial and immune faecal determinants in infants hospitalized with COVID-19 reflect bifidobacterial dysbiosis and immature intestinal immunity.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly worldwide, seriously endangering human health. Although SARS-CoV-2 had a lower impact on paediatric population, children with COVID-19 have been reported as suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms at a higher rate than adults. The aim of this work was to evaluate faeces as a source of potential biomarkers of severity in the paediatric population, with an emphasis on intestinal microbiota and faecal immune mediators, trying to identify possible dysbiosis and immune intestinal dysfunction associated with the risk of hospitalization. This study involved 19 patients with COVID-19 under 24 months of age hospitalized during the pandemic at 6 different hospitals in Spain, and it included a comparable age-matched healthy control group (n = 18). Patients and controls were stratified according to their age in two groups: newborns or young infants (from 0 to 3 months old) and toddlers (infants from 6 to 24 months old). To characterize microbial intestinal communities, sequencing with Illumina technology of total 16S rDNA amplicons and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicons of bifidobacteria were used. Faecal calprotectin (FC) and a range of human cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were measured in faecal samples using ELISA and a multiplex system. Significant reduction in the abundance of sequences belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria was found in those infants with COVID-19, as well as in the Bifidobacteriaceae family. A different pattern of bifidobacteria was observed in patients, mainly represented by lower percentages of Bifidobacterium breve, as compared with controls. In the group of hospitalized young infants, FC was almost absent compared to age-matched healthy controls. A lower prevalence in faecal excretion of immune factors in these infected patients was also observed. Hospitalized infants with COVID-19 were depleted in some gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, in particular Bifidobacterium breve, which is crucial for the proper establishment of a functional intestinal microbiota, and important for the development of a competent immune system. Our results point to a possible immature immune system at intestine level in young infants infected by SARS-CoV2 requiring hospitalization. • Although SARS-CoV-2 had a lower impact on paediatric population, children with COVID-19 have been reported as suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms at a higher rate than adults. • Changes in microbial composition have been described in COVID-19 adult patients, although studies in children are limited. • The first evidence that hospitalized infants with COVID-19 during the pandemic had a depletion in bifidobacteria, particularly in Bifidobacterium breve, beneficial gut bacteria in infancy that are crucial for the proper establishment of a competent immune system. • In young infants (under 3 months of age) hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection, the aberrant bifidobacterial profile appears to overlap with a poor intestinal immune development as seen by calprotectin and the trend of immunological factors excreted in faeces.


MyoMonitor: Evaluating muscle fatigue with commodity smartphones.
Muscle fatigue is common among humans and also a crucial indicator of many muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and disorders. Timely evaluation of muscle fatigue, hence, is important to track disease progress and avoid disease exacerbations. However, convenient tools for evaluating muscle fatigue out of clinic are still missing. In this paper, we present a new technique that uses commodity smartphones to evaluate muscle fatigue through simple and daily muscle exercises. The basic idea of our technique is to mimic an active sonar system with the smartphone's built-in microphone and speaker, and use this sonar system to evaluate muscle fatigue from the muscle's surface characteristics that can be measured from the transmitted acoustic signal. More specifically, our technique first measures the acoustic channel disturbances caused by fatigue-induced muscle tremor via channel estimation, and then derives quantitative fatigue levels from the variation of acoustic channel estimation. By using the arm bicep muscle as our primary target, we designed the exercise protocol and implemented a smartphone app for fatigue evaluation. Experiment results verified that our technique can precisely evaluate the speed of muscle fatigue accumulation, as well as identifying the actual fatigue occurrence. This technique, hence, could be used in practical home settings for effective fatigue evaluation on a daily basis.


Metagenomic insights into the influence of mobile genetic elements on ARGs along typical wastewater treatment system on pig farms in China.
The wastewater treatment processes (WTP) on pig farms are heavily contaminated by antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) play an important role in shaping ARG profiles. Here we first employed metagenomic sequencing to follow the diversities and shifts of ARG associated mobile genetic elements (AAMGEs) including insertion sequences (ISs) and plasmids along the WTP for three pig farms in southeast China. The IS average relative abundance rose from the initial pig feces source to the wastewater storage lagoon (WSL) but decreased in the influent and rose in the effluent of the anaerobic digestor (AD). In contrast, plasmids were eliminated rapidly along this process. These results indicated that the AD reduced plasmid copies while IS abundance increased. We found a great diversity ISs, including IS91, ISNCY, IS630 and IS701, were large contributors to the transfer of multi-drug resistance. In addition, the tetracycline resistance genes co-occurred with a greater diversity of ISs than other ARG classes and this likely contributed to the high abundance of tetracycline resistance genes we found. The transfer of ARGs mediated by MGEs along the WTP of pig farms was a key contributor for the ARGs persistence in the environment of pig farms. Collectively, our findings demonstrated different fates for ISs and plasmids along the WTP for pig farms and suggested that AAMGE monitoring served as an important role in controlling ARGs in pig waste.


Is It Safe and Effective to Lengthen a Chin With Interpositional Allogenic (Iliac) Graft?
This is a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients undergoing chin lengthening at the time of orthognathic surgery over a 3-year timeframe. The genioplasty procedures studied included lengthening to the extent that an interpositional graft was deemed necessary (n = 19). Allogenic (iliac) corticocancellous bone was used in all cases. Each patient underwent lateral cephalometric radiography within 2 months before and 5 weeks after surgery. From the radiographs, quantitative measurements (millimeters) were made to document the vertical lengthening and horizontal advancement achieved. Chin region wound healing parameters were reviewed to document evidence of infection, sequestra, need for reoperation, and evidence of fibrous union. Inpatient hospital and outpatient office records were reviewed for any evidence of sepsis or viral transmission. The patients' mean age at operation was 35 years (range, 15 to 58 yr). Analysis of preoperative and 5-week postoperative radiographs documented a mean vertical lengthening of 7 mm (range, 4 to 10 mm). The mean horizontal advancement at the pogonion was confirmed to be 2 mm (range, 1 to 3 mm). None of the study patients sustained chin region infection graft sequestra, fibrous union, or need for reoperation. There were no cases of postoperative sepsis or viral illness to indicate systemic infectious sequelae. The study confirms the safety of allogenic (iliac) corticocancellous grafting to fill interpositional defects associated with a transverse symphyseal lengthening osteotomy.


Effects of warfarin therapy on plasma fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and fibrin D-dimer in left ventricular dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease with and without aneurysms.
Cardiac impairment in patients is associated with intracardiac thrombus formation and thromboembolism. A high prothrombotic state may exist in such patients, and abnormalities in plasma markers of thrombogenesis may be indicative of such a state. The aim of this study was to determine the associations of left ventricular (LV) aneurysm formation and dysfunction with plasma fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and fibrin D-dimer, which are markers associated with thrombus formation (thrombogenesis) and to investigate the effects of warfarin given to patients with LV aneurysms on fibrinogen and D-dimer levels. A cross-sectional study of 112 patients with coronary artery disease was initially performed: 34 patients had normal LV function (group 1); 30 had LV dysfunction without aneurysm formation (group 2); 29 had LV aneurysms without anticoagulation (group 3a); and 19 patients had LV aneurysms with warfarin therapy (group 3b). Results were compared with 158 population controls from a random population sample. A longitudinal study of 10 patients given warfarin was also performed. In group 1, plasma fibrinogen (median difference 0.36 g/L; p = 0.0009) and von Willebrand factor (median difference 17 IU/dl; p = 0.04) were elevated, whereas plasma D-dimer levels (median difference 23.0 ng/ml; p = 0.001) were lower than those in population control subjects. There were no significant differences in plasma fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, or D-dimer levels between groups 1 and 2. In group 3a, plasma fibrinogen was elevated when compared with group 1 (median difference 0.6 g/L; p = 0.0001), with a trend toward high von Willebrand factor levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Cimetidine in labour: absence of adverse effect on the high-risk fetus.
In a prospective randomized trial, 36 women received cimetidine and 32 magnesium trisilicate mixture BP as antacid therapy every 2 h in labour. The women belonged to a high-risk category and the infants born were less than 36 weeks gestation, or less than 2000 g birthweight or otherwise in jeopardy because of severe maternal pre-eclampsia or diabetes. Measurements of a wide range of haematological and biochemical variables revealed no differences between the two groups of babies. The frequency of complications found in the infants was similar, although infants born to the women who received magnesium trisilicate required oxygen therapy for a longer period. Cimetidine did not appear to affect the development of gastric acidity, or to increase bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract in the infant.


Angiotensin- and norepinephrine-induced myocardial lesions: experimental and clinical studies in rabbits and man.
The ability of large doses of exogenous angiotensin II to cause widespread multifocal microscopic myocardial necrosis in the rabbit has been confirmed. Angiotensin II also consistently produced acute renal failure with, less consistently, renal tubular necrosis. Norepinephrine infusions caused histologically indistinguishable myocardial lesions, but did not detectably affect renal function or histology. Severe renal failure, induced by bilateral nephrectomy (with or without concurrent glycerol administration) was not associated with similar cardiac lesions. Acute renal failure of comparable or greater severity to that induced by angiotensin II was produced by intramuscular cephaloridine, and was not associated with cardiac lesions. Rabbits infused with saline intravenously or "sham"-operated by simply opening and closing the peritoneal cavity did not develop renal failure and showed no cardiac or renal lesions histologically. Myocardial lesions, apparently identical to those seen in the rabbits, were observed postmortem in three patients known to have had high circulating levels of angiotensin II before death, although in all three cases alternative explanations are possible. Unexplained arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and central chest pain without clear cardiographic or serum enzyme evidence of myocardial infarction occurred in two other subjects with very high plasma levels of angiotensin II. These attacks ceased after bilateral nephrectomy and a consequent fall in plasma angiotensin II. The cardiac attacks in these five patients all occurred during or shortly after procedures, such as sodium-depleting dialysis, renal artery surgery, or diazoxide administration, known to cause increase in plasma concentrations of renin and angiotensin II.


Playing Polo-Like Kinase in NRAS-Mutant Melanoma.
NRAS-mutant melanomas are extremely aggressive and highly resistant to currently available therapeutic modalities. Hence, new targets and therapeutic strategies for NRAS-driven melanomas are needed. As blocking NRAS directly has not been possible thus far, targeting downstream NRAS effectors, such as MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), is being evaluated as an alternative therapeutic approach. However, blocking this pathway alone has limited efficacy. In this issue, Posch et al. report on a combination approach co-targeting polo-like kinase 1 and MEK in NRAS-mutant melanomas. This combination triggers a dual blockade of the cell cycle machinery, leading to apoptosis, and providing a new strategy to treat NRAS-mutant melanoma.


1-(Phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde.
The title compound, C15H11NO3S, was prepared by a facile synthetic approach. The N atom in the pyrrole ring of the indole moiety is pyramidal (bond-angle sum = 350.0°) and the phenyl ring of the phenyl-sulfonyl motif forms a dihedral angle of 76.24 (7)° with the mean plane of the indole ring system. In the crystal, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions link the mol-ecules into a three-dimensional network.


Electrophoresis time impacts the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis-based assessment of bacterial community structure.
We investigated the impact of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) run time on the assessment of bacterial community structure. Results indicated that increased electrophoresis run time (while maintaining 1000 volt-hours) resulted in dissimilar profiles, likely due to instability of the denaturing gradient. We recommend that DGGE run times be minimized to provide optimal band resolution, as extended electrophoresis times can greatly impact subsequent band-based analyses.


Reporting cases of animal abuse.
Georgina Mills discusses new research that looks at the factors affecting vets' decisions to report suspected cases of animal abuse.


Role of fatty acids in signal transduction: modulators and messengers.
Many of the steps involved in signal transduction are regulated positively or negatively by fatty acids (FA) per se. FA have been shown to act both as modulators and messengers, particularly of signals triggered at the level of cell membranes. Enzymes and proteins of the cyclic AMP and the protein kinase C signalling pathways and those involving ion fluxes and mobilization are both activated and/or inhibited by FA. FA can also participate in a feedback control mechanism since phospholipases are themselves modulated by FA. FA, particularly arachidonic acid liberated from membrane phospholipids, are also second messengers in signal transduction, and a good example is the activation of protein kinase C by FA. FA play an important role in regulating the transmission of signals from the extracellular environment by acting as modulators and messengers within the complex intracellular network of relays.


The influence of moderate exercise in diabetic and normal pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcome in the rat.
The effect of treadmill exercise prior to and during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcome was studied in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were exercised daily on a motorized treadmill (16.1 m/min, 45 min/d) for three weeks prior to mating and throughout gestation. The catabolic state of diabetes was evidenced by changes in maternal body composition. Overall, fetuses of diabetic dams were smaller, lighter, had less calcified skeletons and had more malformations compared to control fetuses. Exercise in the nondiabetic dams resulted in a retardation of skeletal ossification compared to fetuses from sedentary controls. However, exercise improved fetal outcome in diabetic rats, resulting in increased fetal weight and a lower frequency of malformations compared to fetuses from sedentary diabetic dams.


Imaging in upper urinary tract infections.
Most infections of the upper urinary tract are straightforward and do not require any emergency radiological investigations. A sonogram carried out within 48 hours will in most cases be sufficient to eliminate obstructed pyelonephritis requiring emergency drainage of urine. In complicated cases, or those affecting already weakened areas, an urgent CT scan is necessary, preferably after injection of iodinated contrast medium if renal function permits. CT scanning is far better at diagnosis than sonography as well as at investigating whether there are complications. Furthermore, it is essential that the radiologist is aware of unusual and rare forms of pyelonephritis, especially pseudotumoural forms, so that clinicians can be pointed towards the appropriate treatment, avoiding unnecessary and invasive interventions.


[Kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic spine fractures. Experience in over 500 patients].
For over 10 years, kyphoplasty has been established for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Its effectiveness has been substantiated in multiple clinical studies. Not only is prompt pain reduction achieved, but according to a new, large, long-term study, long-term survival is also increased. Balloon kyphoplasty was performed for 564 patients from 1 January 2008 until 31 July 2011. In all cases, pain was rated more than 6/10 points, and recent fracture was evident on cross-sectional imaging (CT or MRT) performed to supplement spine x-rays. Average patient age was 75.3 years; 71.3% of patients were female. Treated fracture levels ranged from Th3 to L5. A single level was treated in 372 cases, with two levels treated simultaneously in 128 cases, three levels in 48 cases, and four levels in 22 cases. Average operative time for all patients was 36 min. Eight different surgeons performed the procedures. Average convalescence time was 8 days which decreased progressively over the years. Pain was reduced from 8 preoperative to 2.4 points postoperative in the visual analogue scale. Six major complications (1.06%) occurred. Kyphoplasty is a good procedure to treat painful osteoporotic fractures from the lumbar to thoracic spine. Major complications occur seldom after kyphoplasty; however, they must be considered and clarified.


Further improvement of high-speed NMR flow-velocity measurement using a differential phase-encoding technique.
An NMR imaging technique applicable to high-velocity flow imaging is described. By subtraction of two phase images obtained by varying the flow-encoding gradient, it is possible to extract much larger ranges of velocity components. This differential phase-encoding technique is tested by experiments in a phantom as well as a human volunteer.


Osteoarthritic changes rather than age predict outcome following arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in middle-aged patients.
Our purpose was to evaluate outcome following arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in middle-aged patients and to define risk factors for conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). This was a retrospective case series of 79 consecutive patients (40 to 65 years) undergoing arthroscopic treatment of FAI (follow-up ≥12 months). Outcome at follow-up was assessed using Hip outcome score (HOS). Alpha angle, Kellgren Lawrence grade (K-L grade), joint space width (JS), lateral center edge (LCE) angle, caput-collum-diaphysis (CCD) angle and acetabular index (AI) were analysed retrospectively. THA group and Non-THA group were compared. Seventy-nine patients (mean age 48.6 years, mean follow-up 32 months) were included. 18 patients (22.8 %) were converted to THA. Mean HOS score in the Non-THA group at time point of follow-up was 80.2. Non-THA group and THA group showed no significant differences for mean age (48.2 years vs. 49.9 years, p = 0.278), alpha angel (p = 0.541), LCE (p = 0.294), CCD (p = 0.101) and AI (p = 0.661) in contrast to differences for JS (p = <0.001) and K-L grade (p = <0.001). Risk of conversion to THA was higher for patients with K-L grade 3 (p = 0.003) or joint space less or equal 2 mm (p = 0.001). One fifth of the middle-aged patients required early conversion to THA. Advanced JS narrowing and K-L grade rather than age alone can be considered as risk factor for conversion to THA.


Impact of time past exercise testing on prognostic variables in heart failure.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is considered a standard of care in heart failure (HF). The impact that duration of time post-evaluation has on the prognostic value of CPET, however, has not been explored. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the ability of peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and the minute ventilation-carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO(2)) slope to predict cardiac-related events at different time intervals post CPET. Two hundred fifty-eight subjects diagnosed with HF underwent CPET. The ability of peak VO(2) and VE/VCO(2) slope to predict cardiac-related events without a time limit, one year post CPET and greater than one year post CPET was examined. Both peak VO(2) and VE/VCO(2) slope were significant predictors of cardiac-related mortality and hospitalization during the no time constraint and one year post CPET tracking scenarios (Hazard Ratio Range: 3.5-12.4, p<0.001). Peak VO(2) was no longer a significant predictor of mortality greater than one year post CPET. Generally, as time following CPET surpassed one year, the prognostic sensitivity of both variables slightly increased ( approximately 5%) while specificity sharply decreased ( approximately 20%). Both peak VO(2) and VE/VCO(2) slope are significant predictors of cardiac-related events in HF. However, the prognostic characteristics of these variables following CPET appear to be time-sensitive.


The Emerging Significance of Amyloid Deposits in the Ligamentum Flavum of Spinal Stenosis Patients: A Review.
Spinal stenosis is one of the most common neurosurgical diseases and a leading cause of pain and disability. Wild-type transthyretin amyloid (ATTRwt) has been found in the ligamentum flavum (LF) of a significant subset of patients with spinal stenosis who undergo decompression surgery. Histologic and biochemical analyses of LF specimens from spinal stenosis patients, normally discarded as waste, have the potential to help elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of spinal stenosis and possibly allow for medical treatment of stenosis and screening for other systemic diseases. In the present review, we discuss the utility of analyzing LF specimens after spinal stenosis surgery for ATTRwt deposits. Screening for ATTRwt amyloidosis cardiomyopathy through LF specimens has led to the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis in several patients, with more expected to benefit from this process. Emerging evidence in the literature also point to ATTRwt as a contributor to a previously unrecognized subtype of spinal stenosis in patients who might, in the future, benefit from medical therapy. In the present report, we review the current literature regarding the early detection of ATTRwt cardiomyopathy via LF screening and the possible contribution of ATTRwt deposits in the LF to spinal stenosis development.


Sources of apical defects on a high-sensitivity cardiac camera: experiences from a practice performance assessment.
Apical perfusion artifacts seen on a high-sensitivity camera warranted a practice performance assessment to evaluate contributions from soft-tissue attenuation, patient positioning, and image processing techniques. Cardiac perfusion studies (n = 534) spanning 5 mo were retrospectively reviewed. Images were acquired with the patient in the upright position, and attenuation correction was used. Regression analysis and contingency tables correlated clinical data to the presence of apical artifacts. There was a positive correlation of with female sex (χ(2) = 32, P < 0.001), degree of overlying soft tissues (χ(2) = 20, P < 0.002), and breast cleavage (χ(2) = 7, P < 0.008) and a negative correlation with angiography-confirmed disease (χ(2) = 6, P < 0.02). There was moderate interobserver agreement between 2 observers in determining the presence of apical defects (κ= 0.44, 95% confidence interval = 0.19-0.69), and there was a perceived improvement of apical defects using fewer iterative updates (χ(2) = 8, P < 0.003). An understanding of sources contributing to imaging artifacts is a crucial portion of quality assessment in radiology and nuclear medicine. A practice performance assessment study at our institution showed that apical artifacts on a new-generation cardiac camera can be partially attributed to overlying soft-tissue attenuation and ameliorated by altering the reconstruction.


Social media and psychology of language learning: The role of telegram-based instruction on academic buoyancy, academic emotion regulation, foreign language anxiety, and English achievement.
The great need and tendency to apply online classes ask for using new technologies in language teaching. Social Networking (SN) tools, in particular, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL), open new perspectives in language learning and teaching. The employment of SN in language learning may affect the learners' mental health and emotional safety. Despite the attributions of the Telegram application in learning and the contributions of academic buoyancy (AB), academic emotion regulation (AER), and management of foreign language anxiety (FLA) to English achievement (EA), this field was left unexplored. To this end, the current study attempted to gauge the impact of the Telegram-based instruction on AB, AER, FLA, as well as EA. 79 EFL learners took part in the research and were randomly divided in to control group (CG) and experimental group (EG). The instruction for the CG was through regular online instruction (webinar platforms). The EG received Telegram-based instruction. The results of MANOVA displayed significant differences between the post-tests of CG and EG. The findings illustrated that the Telegram instruction improved the levels of AB, AER, and FLA management, which accelerated EA. The pedagogical implications of the study were discussed and may assist learners, teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, materials developers, as well as curriculum designers.


Effects of coexistence on the performance of white clover-perennial ryegrass mixtures.
Yields from five white clover/perennial ryegrass mixtures, each based on coexisting components, were compared with those produced by ten mixtures whose constituents had no previous history of coexistence. The former group consisted of five paired clover/ryegrass populations, four collected from natural pastures and one from a sown pasture, whilst the latter group comprised the same five clover populations grown in turn with each of two ryegrass companions.In the first harvest year, when artificial fertilizer plus soil mineralization supplied most of the nitrogen to this experiment, the grasses were generally favoured at the expense of the clovers. Although those mixtures based on coexisting populations had significantly lower yields the clover within these mixtures made a significantly higher contribution to their productivity. This advantage was retained into the second harvest year when it was accompanied by a correlated response in the grasses, which by then may have become dependent upon the clover for their nitrogen supply. Consequently, by the end of the second harvest year those mixtures based on coexisting populations yielded over 20% more on average, due mainly to improved early season growth. Despite considerable differences in productivity, all five clover populations gave their highest yields when grown with their matching grass.


Detection of apoptosis-inducing factor in involuting mammary tissue by immunoelectron microscopy.
Immunoelectron microscopy was used to study the subcellular localisation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in involuting bovine mammary tissue. AIF was detected using a polyclonal antibody and secondary anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to colloidal gold particles under optimised conditions. The polyclonal antibody appeared specific for the bovine antigen and immunocytological examination identified specific localisation of AIF in mitochondria, cytoplasm and nucleus of mammary epithelial cells in involuting mammary tissue, suggesting a subcellular translocation in cells undergoing apoptosis.


Post hoc analysis of the Cluster Randomized Usual Care versus Caduet Investigation Assessing Long-term risk (CRUCIAL) trial.
A proactive, multifactorial intervention strategy incorporating single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin (SPAA) (5-10/10 mg up-titrated to 5-10/20 mg, where approved) is more effective than physician's usual care (UC) for reducing calculated 10 year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, in patients with hypertension and additional risk factors (CRUCIAL trial: Curr Med Res Opin 2011;27:821--33). As SPAA combinations containing atorvastatin 20 mg are not approved in some countries, this post hoc analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of a proactive intervention strategy incorporating low-dose SPAA (5/10 or 10/10 mg) only (low-dose PI) versus UC. Of 1461 CRUCIAL participants (35-79 years; hypertension and ≥3 additional risk factors; no CHD; total cholesterol ≤6.5 mmol/L), 105 were prescribed SPAA containing 20 mg atorvastatin and excluded. The primary endpoint was difference between treatment arms in Framingham 10 year CHD risk after 52 weeks; secondary assessments included difference in calculated CHD risk at Week 16; SCORE cardiovascular mortality (Week 16 and 52); blood pressure (BP)/lipid parameters; adverse events (AEs). Baseline BP (149.2/89.2 vs. 144.3/86.5 mmHg) and calculated CHD risk (19.6% vs. 18.1%) were higher for low-dose PI (n = 655) versus UC (n = 657) patients. Least-squares mean treatment difference (low-dose PI vs. UC) in calculated 10 year CHD risk was -26.8 (95% CI: -31.7, -22.0; p < 0.001) after 52 weeks' follow-up and -24.8 (-29.8, -19.9; p < 0.001) after 16 weeks' follow-up. Treatment difference in SCORE mortality was -20.1 (-24.7, -15.6; p < 0.001) and -22.4 (-26.8, -18.0; p < 0.001) after 16 and 52 weeks' follow-up. Risk calculations are surrogate endpoints and may not translate into actual reductions in cardiovascular events. Overall, 49.1% (low-dose PI) and 44.0% (UC) reported AEs. A proactive, multifactorial approach to cardiovascular management based on low-dose SPAA led to statistically significant improvements in calculated 10 year CHD risk versus physician's UC, comparable to that reported in the full CRUCIAL trial. These data will inform healthcare providers in countries where SPAA (5/10 or 10/10 mg) only are licensed.


Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some 1,2,4-triazole-3-mercaptoacetic acid derivatives.
Ethyl 5-(2-furyl)-4-ethyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-mercaptoacetate (2), 5-(2-furyl)-4-ethyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-mercaptoacetic acid hydrazide (3) and a series of new N-alkylidene/arylidene-5-(2-furyl)-4-ethyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-mercaptoacetic acid hydrazides (4a-f) were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 1539, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis and antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 using the disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Compound 4f showed antibacterial activity against some bacteria. The in vitro antimycobacterial activity of the new compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was evaluated employing the BACTEC 460 radiometric system. The highest inhibition observed was 61% at > 6.25 microg/ml.


Effect of several different pollens on the bio-ecological parameters of the predatory mite Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa (Acari: Phytoseiidae).
The development, survivorship, and reproduction of the predacious mite Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa were studied in the laboratory by rearing the predator on nine different plant pollens [almond(Prunus amygdalis Batsch), apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), cherry (Prunus avium L.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), plum (Prunus domestica L.), walnut (Juglans regia L.), olive (Olea europaea L.), Typha sp.], and pollen collected from bee hives. All experiments were conducted in environmental chambers at 20 ± 1°C, 65% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Survival during immature development ranged from 81.1 to 96.0%. The shortest mean developmental time from egg to adult with respect to the range of pollen species was recorded for females and males fed on almond pollen (10.76 ± 0.18 and 10.45 ± 0.21 d, respectively), while the longest was on beehive pollen (26.97 ± 0.23 and 24.00 ± 0.25 d for females and males, respectively). Female longevity varied from 51.63 ± 5.52 d (olive pollen) to 102.81 ± 6.60 d (pear pollen), while fecundity ranged from 5.33 ± 2.35 eggs per female (beehive pollen) to 26.43 ± 1.73 eggs per female (almond pollen). The diet consisting of almond pollen resulted in the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)) (1.00 d(-1)) and pollen collected from bee hives resulted in the lowest (0.013 d(-1)). These results showed that various pollen could favor the development of T. athenas, and also support the view that alternative food resources may play an important role in the field for sustaining and increasing the predator's population.


Protection of the pediatric myocardium. Differential susceptibility to ischemic injury of the neonatal rat heart.
Myocardial protection during pediatric cardiac operations has been suggested to be less successful than in adult hearts. In the present study we have compared the resistance of adult, infant, and neonatal rat hearts to various periods of ischemic arrest with normothermic (37 degrees C) crystalloid cardioplegia. Isolated hearts with intraventricular balloons, from adult (50 to 60 days of age, heart weight 865 +/- 13 mg), infant (20 to 25 days of age, heart weight 251 +/- 3 mg), and neonatal rats (3 to 5 days of age, heart weight 40 +/- 1 mg) were subjected to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 100 minutes of ischemia (n = 6 hearts for each time point and for each age group). St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution was infused at the onset of the period of arrest. With increasing durations of ischemia there was a declining postischemic recovery of function. Up to 40 minutes of ischemia there was no significant difference between the three age groups in postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure: 40.3% +/- 4.4%, 45.4% +/- 6.5%, and 44.4% +/- 2.2% of preischemic control for adult, infant, and neonatal hearts, respectively. Beyond 40 minutes adult and infant hearts showed an identical deterioration with effectively no recovery beyond 60 minutes of ischemia. By contrast, neonatal hearts were much more resistant to ischemia. After 100 minutes of ischemia the mean recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was 20.9% +/- 1.1%, whereas in infant and adult hearts the values were 0.6% +/- 0.3% after 80 minutes of ischemia and 0% after 100 minutes, respectively. Analysis of creatine kinase leakage also indicated that with ischemic durations in excess of 40 minutes, the neonatal heart was far more resistant to ischemia, and creatine kinase leakage per gram dry weight was much less than in infant or adult rats. Analysis of the rates of recovery during reperfusion again revealed differences between neonatal hearts and hearts from the other two age groups. We conclude that in the normal rat the neonatal heart has a greater inherent tolerance to ischemia than that of the infant or adult rat.


Studies of the thermal degradation of waste rubber.
One kind of Chinese waste tire's sample was pyrolyzed under an inert atmosphere by using thermo-gravimetric apparatus (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Different pyrolysis temperature ranges were determined according to the reaction transition temperature obtained by TGA and DTA. Then, at each temperature range, the pyrolysis gaseous products were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The influence of the temperature range on the relative yields of the major decomposition products is studied, and a mechanism for the formation of the main components was also investigated. The results indicate that pyrolysis of waste rubber follows the radical mechanism, and the major products are not seriously affected by increasing the temperature from room temperature to 420 degrees C and from 421 to 600 degrees C, but the degradation of blend rubber is different for each of the compositional elastomer.


Real-time forecasting of Hong Kong beach water quality by 3D deterministic model.
Bacterial level (e.g. Escherichia coli) is generally adopted as the key indicator of beach water quality due to its high correlation with swimming associated illnesses. A 3D deterministic hydrodynamic model is developed to provide daily water quality forecasting for eight marine beaches in Tsuen Wan, which are only about 8 km from the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) outfall discharging 1.4 million m(3)/d of partially-treated sewage. The fate and transport of the HATS effluent and its impact on the E. coli level at nearby beaches are studied. The model features the seamless coupling of near field jet mixing and the far field transport and dispersion of wastewater discharge from submarine outfalls, and a spatial-temporal dependent E. coli decay rate formulation specifically developed for sub-tropical Hong Kong waters. The model prediction of beach water quality has been extensively validated against field data both before and after disinfection of the HATS effluent. Compared with daily beach E. coli data during August-November 2011, the model achieves an overall accuracy of 81-91% in forecasting compliance/exceedance of beach water quality standard. The 3D deterministic model has been most valuable in the interpretation of the complex variation of beach water quality which depends on tidal level, solar radiation and other hydro-meteorological factors. The model can also be used in optimization of disinfection dosage and in emergency response situations.


Social distancing and trouble sleeping during COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in Europe: Mediating and moderating effects.
We examined the association between social distancing and trouble sleeping during the COVID-19 outbreak in adults 65+, and underlying potential mechanisms. We used data from the extensive Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Logistic regression analysis tested the direct and indirect associations between social distancing and trouble sleeping during the pandemic, the mediation effect of depression, and the moderating-mediation effects of perceived economic status and employment status. Social distancing was associated with a higher probability of sleeping problems, partially mediated by depression and moderated by employment status and perceived economic status. Depression had a greater effect on trouble sleeping among those unemployed and those who perceived their economic status as difficult or partially difficult. COVID-19 policy of lockdowns and physical distancing has negative consequences on sleeping and the development of depressive symptoms among older adults. Clinicians should be aware of sleep problems in older adults during the pandemic and after, and try to reduce depressive symptoms. Policymakers should determine future policies and regulations that encourage employment among older adults and improve their economic resilience during pandemics.


Exploring Ribosome Positioning on Translating Transcripts with Ribosome Profiling.
Recent technological advances (e.g., microarrays and massively parallel sequencing) have facilitated genome-wide measurement of many aspects of gene regulation. Ribosome profiling is a high-throughput sequencing method used to measure gene expression at the level of translation. This is accomplished by quantifying both the number of translating ribosomes and their locations on mRNA transcripts. The inventors of this approach have published several methods papers detailing its implementation and addressing the basics of ribosome profiling data analysis. Here we describe our lab's procedure, which differs in some respects from those published previously. In addition, we describe a data analysis pipeline, Ribomap, for ribosome profiling data. Ribomap allocates sequence reads to alternative mRNA isoforms, normalizes sequencing bias along transcripts using RNA-seq data, and outputs count vectors of per-codon ribosome occupancy for each transcript.


Corrigendum to "Data collected to assess the effect of inquiry-based learning on environmental knowledge and attitudes among pre-service biology teachers in Tanzania" [Data in Brief, 49 (August, 2023), 1-10/ 109429].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.109429.].


Early functional outcome after lateral UKA is sensitive to postoperative lower limb alignment.
The predictive role of patient-specific characteristics and radiographic parameters on medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) outcomes is well known, but knowledge of these predictors is lacking in lateral UKA. Therefore, purpose of this study was to assess the predictive role of these parameters on short-term functional outcomes of lateral UKA. In this retrospective cohort study, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scores were collected at 2-year follow-up (median 2.2 years, range 2.0-4.0 years) in 39 patients who underwent lateral UKA. Patient-specific characteristics included age, BMI and gender, while radiographic parameters included osteoarthritis severity of all three compartments and both preoperative and postoperative hip-knee-ankle alignment. BMI, gender, age and preoperative valgus alignment were not correlated with functional outcomes, while postoperative valgus alignment was correlated with functional outcomes (0.561; p = 0.001). Postoperative valgus of 3°-7° was correlated with better outcomes than more neutral (-2° to 3° valgus) alignment (96.7 vs. 85.6; p = 0.011). Postoperative alignment was a predictor when corrected for patient-specific characteristics (regression coefficient 4.1; p < 0.001) and radiological parameters (regression coefficient 3.8; p = 0.002). Postoperative valgus alignment of 3°-7° was correlated with the best short-term functional outcomes in lateral UKA surgery, while patient-specific parameters and preoperative alignment were not correlated with functional outcomes. Based on these findings, a surgeon should aim for valgus alignment of 3°-7° when performing lateral UKA surgery for optimal functional outcomes. Prognostic study, Level II.


Relationship of iris nevi to malignant melanoma of the uvea.
To test the hypothesis that there is an increased number of iris nevi in eyes with a posterior uveal melanoma, we performed slit-lamp examinations on 50 patients with choroidal or ciliary body melanomas to note the presence and number of iris nevi in both eyes. We compared these patients to 50 age-matched control subjects who had cataracts. No relationship was found between the number of iris nevi and posterior uveal melanoma.


Multiple sensor theory in airway mechanosensory units.
Two conventional doctrines govern airway mechanosensory interpretation: One-Sensor Theory (OST) and Line-Labeled Theory (LLT). In OST, one afferent fiber connects to a single sensor. In LLT, a different type of sensor sends signals via its specific line to a particular brain region to evoke its reflex. Thus, airway slowly adapting receptors (SARs) inhibit breathing and rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) stimulate breathing. However, recent studies show many different mechanosensors connect to a single afferent fiber (Multiple-Sensor Theory, MST). That is, SARs and RARs may send different types of information through the same afferent pathway, indicating different information has been integrated at the sensory unit level. Thus, a sensory unit is not merely a transducer (textbook concept), but also a processor. MST is a conceptual shift. Data generated over last eight decades under OST require re-interpretation.


Microscissor DREZotomy - A New Way for 'Atraumatic Lesioning' of DREZ.
Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning is a widely-used procedure for neuropathic pain which is refractory to other modes of treatment. However, all current techniques depend on thermal or radiofrequency (RF) lesioning of the DREZ. The authors describe a new technique in which mechanical lesioning of DREZ using microscissors. The authors describe their technique of only using straight microscissors for the whole procedure of DREZotomy. No cautery is used except for hemostasis. Our technique is a continuing evolution of the original DREZotomy described by Nashold and Sindou, and appears more atraumatic and simpler. Microscissor DREZotomy appears to be the most atraumatic way of carrying out DREZ lesioning and overcomes the disadvantages of other methods like thermal and RF lesioning.


Anatomical landmarks for image registration in frameless stereotactic neuronavigation.
Frameless stereotactic navigation devices require preoperative application of skin markers (SM) and planning radiography, which limits their even wider use. Therefore, we prospectively studied the applicability and accuracy of anatomic "natural" markers (NM) for image registration. The accuracy of NM was evaluated in 26 patients operated on in the supine (n=24) or sitting (n=2) position, either by comparison to our standard navigation protocol using SM and planning radiography or by the deviation of anatomic landmarks using a routine diagnostic radiograph. In 21 cases, NM were compared to SM with planning radiography (computed tomography, or CT, in nine cases and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, in 12). The root mean square error (RMSE) of the registered volume was calculated by the Philips EasyGuide Neuro frameless stereotactic navigation system and compared between the two registration modalities. The mean RMSE was 3.2 mm+/-1.0 mm standard deviation using NM vs 2.9+/-1.0 mm using self-adhesive SM (P=0.13, Student's t-test). Computed tomography was slightly more accurate than MRI planning (mean RMSE 3.2 mm vs 3.3 mm). In three cases, diagnostic radiography (MRI) was used with a mean RMSE of 5.3 mm but acceptable intraoperative landmark correlation. Our pilot study demonstrates insignificant loss of registration accuracy using NM compared to SM. Additionally, the radiologic planning investigation and accuracy loss due to SM movement may be avoided.


Central motor control in concomitant strabismus.
Basic research in the field of oculomotor physiology has advanced rapidly during the last decade. The new knowledge has been largely incorporated into the research and the clinical practice of neurology and neuroophthalmology [14, 16], but the influence on strabismus research has been rather limited [15]. This presentation will point out the elements of basic research that are believed important for our understanding of concomitant strabismus. The description will concentrate on the role of different central motor factors, mainly brainstem mechanisms, in the genesis and development of infantile esotropia or convergent strabismus, i.e. strabismus with an early onset in life [8]. Strabismus of late onset seems less enigmatic, since it probably originates from abnormalities of the vergence system, particularly its coupling with accommodation.


Flexible, robust, and high-performance gas sensors based on lignocellulosic nanofibrils.
Gas detection in flexible electronics demands novel materials with superior sensing performance that have high mechanically strength, are flexible, low-cost, and sustainable. We explore a composite sensing nanopaper based on lignocellulosic cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) as a renewable and mechanically strong substrate that enables the fabrication of flexible, and highly sensitive gas sensors. In the system the hydrophobic lignin covalently bonds to cellulose in the nanofibrils, increasing the nanopaper water-resistance and limiting sensing materials response to humidity. The sensor is composed of polyaniline (PANI) grown on flexible LCNF and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. The proposed structure, at 10 wt% rGO, demonstrated a 10-fold improvement in sensitivity to volatile amines (i.e. ammonia detection down to 1 ppm) while maintaining an acceptable selectivity. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the sensing nanopaper in a microwave sensor that paves the path toward flexible, wireless, and high-performance sensing devices.


Affinity of 1,2-substituted oxytocin analogues to the uterus receptor: Free-Wilson and Hansch analysis.
The analysis of pA2 values for 1,2-substituted oxytocin analogues suggests a significant resonance effect of p-substituted groups in 2-tyrosine when the hormone binds to its uterus receptor, whereas the N-terminal amino group exerts less clearly characterized effects (participation of its lipophilicity and molecular volume can be assumed.


An unusual process structure in Tresarcus, a new acritarch genus from the Ordovician of Öland, Sweden.
Tresarcus, a new monospecific acritarch genus, is established along with the type-species Tresarcus suecicus sp. nov. It was found in samples from the upper Arenig (Lenodus sp. A conodont Zone) of the Hagudden and Horns Udde sections, Öland, Sweden. The three-arched process tip is a peculiar characteristic of Tresarcus. This structure recalls, from a morphological point of view (though at a different dimensional scale), the four-arched termination of the epidermal hairs that ornate the adaxial (upper) surface of the assimilating leaves of Salvinia natans, Adanson, 1785 (Pteridophyta). This species has an aquatic habit and the four-arched structure as the tip of the epidermal is interpreted as a device that favours buoyancy by trapping air on the leaf surface. A similar function is hypothesized for the three-arched processes of Tresarcus.


[Study on the chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
To study the peripheral lymphocyte chromosome aberration in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The peripheral blood lymphocytes, from 28 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 20 normal controls were cultured with TC199 medium for this study on chromosome aberration. The chromosome number aberration rate, structure aberration rate, micronucleus rate and cell aberration rate of the peripheral lymphocytes from the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were 8.68%, 10.89%, 1.83% and 8.65%, and these rates were significantly higher than those of normal controls, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The above findings demonstrated the instability of chromosomes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.


On the Correlation between Pair Hydrophobicity and Mixing Enthalpies in Water-Alcohol Binary Mixtures.
In this article, we have explored the extent of pair hydrophobicity in water-alcohol binary mixtures upon varying the chain length of the alcohol at several compositions. We have measured the pair hydrophobicity in water-methanol, water-propanol, and water-butanol mixtures. The pair hydrophobicity is measured by the depth of the first minimum (contact minimum) in the potential of mean force profile between a pair of neopentanes. In the case of water-methanol mixtures, the pair hydrophobicity is highest at xMeOH = 0.25, whereas in water-propanol mixtures, it is highest at xPrOH = 0.07, and in water-butanol mixture pair, hydrophobicity is highest at even lower alcohol concentration (xBuOH = 0.03). This indicates that as we increase the chain length of alcohol, the composition at which pair hydrophobicity is highest shifts toward a lower alcohol composition of the binary mixture. We have shown that the composition dependence of pair hydrophobicity echoes the trend observed in the calculated composition dependence of the enthalpy of mixing of the alcohol-water binary mixtures. The association pattern of the hydrophobic part of the alcohol also shows a change in trend around similar alcohol compositions. The hydrogen bond pattern around the alcohol rather than water exhibits a change in trend around those compositions. These results will improve our understanding of the composition-dependent phenomena of biomolecular processes in aqueous binary mixtures.


Effects of riverine suspended particulate matter on post-dredging metal re-contamination across the sediment-water interface.
Environmental dredging is often used in river mouth areas to remove heavy metals. However, following dredging, high levels of metal-adsorbed suspended particulate matter (SPM) originating from polluted inflowing rivers might adversely affect the sediment-water interface (SWI). Here, we conducted a 360-day-long experiment investigating whether the riverine SPM adversely affects dredging outcome in a bay area of Lake Chaohu, China. We found that the heavy metal concentrations in the post-dredging surface sediment increased to pre-dredging levels for all metals studied (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) after the addition of SPM. In addition, the increased concentrations were mostly detected in the relatively bioavailable non-residual fractions. Of the metals studied, the rate of increase was the greatest for Zn and Cd (482.98% and 261.07%, respectively), mostly in the weak acid extractable fraction. These results were probably due to certain characteristics of SPM (fine grain size, and high concentrations of organic matter and heavy metals) and the good oxic conditions of the SWI. Furthermore, As was the only metal for which we observed an increasing trend of diffusive flux across the SWI. However, the flux was still significantly lower than that measured before dredging. In conclusion, the quantity and character of riverine metal-adsorbed SPM affect metal re-contamination across the post-dredging SWI, and this information should be incorporated into the management schemes of dredging projects dedicated to reducing metal contamination in similar areas.


Enhancement of fundus photographs taken through cataracts.
Image-enhancement techniques can aid the clinician in evaluating fundus pictures taken through cataracts. The degradation of the fundus image by cataracts has been described as low-pass filtering. Means to partially overcome this degradation using homomorphic filtering and adaptive enhancement are presented. The clinical value of these enhancement techniques is demonstrated with two cases of progressive glaucoma and cataracts.


Turnover of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil assessed from δ13C and δ15N changes under pasture and cropping practices and estimates of greenhouse gas emissions.
The continuing clearance of native vegetation for pasture, and especially cropping, is a concern due to declines in soil organic C (SOC) and N, deteriorating soil health, and adverse environment impact such as increased emissions of major greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4). There is a need to quantify the rates of SOC and N budget changes, and the impact on greenhouse gas emissions from land use change in semi-arid subtropical regions where such data are scarce, so as to assist in developing appropriate management practices. We quantified the turnover rate of SOC from changes in δ(13)C following the conversion of C3 native vegetation to C4 perennial pasture and mixed C3/C4 cereal cropping (wheat/sorghum), as well as δ(15)N changes following the conversion of legume native vegetation to non-legume systems over 23 years. Perennial pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela) maintained SOC but lost total N by more than 20% in the top 0-0.3m depth of soil, resulting in reduced animal productivity from the grazed pasture. Annual cropping depleted both SOC and total soil N by 34% and 38%, respectively, and resulted in decreasing cereal crop yields. Most of these losses of SOC and total N occurred from the >250 μm fraction of soil. Moreover, this fraction had almost a magnitude higher turnover rates than the 250-53 μm and <53 μm fractions. Loss of SOC during the cropping period contributed two-orders of magnitude more CO2-e to the atmosphere than the pasture system. Even then, the pasture system is not considered as a benchmark of agricultural sustainability because of its decreasing productivity in this semi-arid subtropical environment. Introduction of legumes (for N2 fixation) into perennial pastures may arrest the productivity decline of this system. Restoration of SOC in the cropped system will require land use change to perennial ecosystems such as legume-grass pastures or native vegetation.


Prenatal ontogeny of lymphocyte subpopulations in pigs.
Although porcine lymphocytes have been classified into numerous subpopulations in postnatal animals, little is known about the ontogeny of these complex cell subsets. Using double- and triple-colour flow cytometry (FCM), we investigated the surface phenotype of fetal lymphoid cells in the thymus, cord blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes at different stages of gestation. It was found that the major lymphocyte subpopulations started to appear at the beginning of the second third of the gestation period, with B cells being the earliest lymphocyte subpopulation to appear in the periphery. The T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta+ cells were the earliest detectable T-cell subset, developing first in the thymus and subsequently arriving in the periphery. Later in ontogeny, however, the number of TCRalpha beta+ lymphocytes rapidly increased, becoming the predominant T cells both in the thymus and in the periphery. Cells with the phenotype of adult natural killer cells were also identified in pig fetuses, though their nature and functional roles remain to be investigated. In addition, CD2 was expressed on most B cells whilst very few CD4+ TCRalpha beta+ cells or CD2+ TCRgamma delta+ cells expressed CD8, suggesting that the expression of CD2 and CD8 may reflect the functional status of the cells in postnatal animals. Taken together, this study has provided a systematic analysis of fetal porcine lymphocyte subpopulations and may provide the base for studies to establish the physiological roles of these lymphocyte subsets.


Demyelination preceding a diagnosis of central nervous system lymphoma.
We present a case of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) co-existing with demyelination in a young immunocompetent woman. The patient presented with an expansile, enhancing lesion in the right occipital lobe which was initially attributed to tumefactive demyelination and subsequently proven to be PCNSL. PCNSL is an uncommon malignancy, particularly in young immunocompetent patients, and on MRI classically manifests as a homogeneously enhancing solitary mass with a predilection for periventricular and superficial locations, often contacting ventricular and meningeal surfaces. Tumefactive demyelinating lesions typically present as large white matter lesions with little mass effect or vasogenic oedema and "open-ring" enhancement, with the incomplete portion of the ring on the grey matter side of the lesion. PCNSL and tumefactive demyelinating lesions share some radiological features and thus, as our case report highlights, differentiating between them can be challenging. We discuss how the application of conventional and advanced MRI techniques combined with clinical and laboratory findings can lead to a precise diagnosis, potentially obviating the need for biopsy and facilitating prompt and appropriate treatment.


Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 lipopolysaccharides induce target of rapamycin signaling and growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase plays a pivotal role in metabolism and gene expression, which enables cell proliferation, growth and development. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a class of complex glycolipids present in the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria and mediate plant-bacteria interactions. In this study, we examined whether LPS from Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 affect Arabidopsis thaliana growth via a mechanism involving TOR. A. thaliana plants were treated with LPS and plant growth and development were analyzed in mature plants. Morphological and molecular changes as well as TOR expression and activity were analyzed in root tissues. LPS increased total fresh weight, root length and TOR::GUS expression in the root meristem. Phosphorylation of S6k protein, a downstream target of TOR, increased following LPS treatment, which correlated with increased or decreased expression of CycB1;1::GUS protein upon treatment with LPS or TOR inhibitor AZD-8055, respectively. Long term LPS treatment further increased the rosette size as well as the number of stems and siliques per plant, indicating an overall phytostimulant effect for these signaling molecules. Taken together, the results suggest that A. brasilense LPS play probiotic roles in plants influencing TOR-mediated processes.


Multicenter surgical outcomes of penile prosthesis placement in patients with corporal fibrosis and review of the literature.
Penile prosthesis (PP) insertion in the setting of corporal fibrosis can be challenging and a variety of techniques have been described to accomplish this, however the necessity of these maneuvers is debatable. Our objective was to investigate techniques and outcomes of PP placement in patients with corporal fibrosis at tertiary referral centers. Multicenter outcomes of 42 patients (mean age 53.4 ± 1.9 years) with corporal fibrosis who underwent placement of PP over a 10-year period were reviewed. The most common etiology of corporal fibrosis was prior PP explant due to either infection (40.5%) and/or erosion (16.7%). Fourteen patients (33.3%) had a history of priapism, 5 (11.9%) of which had one or more distal surgical penile shunts. Techniques used for PP placement included: sequential dilation (8-12 mm) with standard dilators in 15 (35.7%), dilation with cavernotomes in 25 (59.5%) and limited sharp corporal excision and dilation with cavernotomes in 1 (2.4%). Narrow cylinders were employed in ten patients (23.8%). Major complications occurred in one patient (2.4%) who underwent explant for infection and distal erosion. Most patients with corporal fibrosis can undergo successful placement of a PP using standard dilators or cavernotomes. Sharp corporal excision and other measures are rarely required.


Heterojunction Engineering Enhanced Self-Polarization of PVDF/CsPbBr3 /Ti3 C2 Tx Composite Fiber for Ultra-High Voltage Piezoelectric Nanogenerator.
Piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) for practical application is constrained by low output and difficult polarization. In this work, a kind of flexible PENG with high output and self-polarization is fabricated by constructing CsPbBr3 -Ti3 C2 Tx heterojunctions in PVDF fiber. The polarized charges rapidly migrate to the electrodes from the Ti3 C2 Tx nanosheets by forming heterojunctions, achieving the maximum utilization of polarized charges and leading to enhanced piezoelectric output macroscopically. Optimally, PVDF/4wt%CsPbBr3 /0.6wt%Ti3 C2 Tx -PENG exhibits an excellent voltage output of 160 V under self-polarization conditions, which is higher than other self-polarized PENG previously. Further, the working principle and self-polarization mechanism are uncovered by calculating the interfacial charge and electric field using first-principles calculation. In addition, PVDF/4wt%CsPbBr3 /0.6wt%Ti3 C2 Tx -PENG exhibits better water and thermal stability attributed to the protection of PVDF. It is also evaluated in practice by harvesting the energy from human palm taps and successfully lighting up 150 LEDs and an electronic watch. This work presents a new idea of design for high-performance self-polarization PENG.


Exposure to perceived male rivals raises men's testosterone on fertile relative to nonfertile days of their partner's ovulatory cycle.
The challenge hypothesis posits that male testosterone levels increase in the presence of fertile females to facilitate mating and increase further in the presence of male rivals to facilitate male-male competition. This hypothesis has been supported in a number of nonhuman animal species. We conducted an experiment to test the challenge hypothesis in men. Thirty-four men were randomly assigned to view high-competitive or low-competitive male rivals at high and low fertility within their partner's ovulatory cycle (confirmed by luteinizing hormone tests). Testosterone was measured upon arrival to the lab and before and after the manipulation. Based on the challenge hypothesis, we predicted that a) men's baseline testosterone would be higher at high relative to low fertility within their partner's cycle, and b) men's testosterone would be higher in response to high-competitive rivals, but not in response to low-competitive rivals, at high relative to low fertility within their partner's cycle. Contrary to the first prediction, men's baseline testosterone levels did not differ across high and low fertility. However, consistent with the second prediction, men exposed to high-competitive rivals showed significantly higher post-test testosterone levels at high relative to low fertility, controlling for pre-test testosterone levels. Men exposed to low-competitive rivals showed no such pattern (though the fertility by competition condition interaction fell short of statistical significance). This preliminary support for the challenge hypothesis in men builds on a growing empirical literature suggesting that men possess mating adaptations sensitive to fertility cues emitted by their female partners.


Outcomes and treatment of obstetrical antiphospholipid syndrome in women with low antiphospholipid antibody levels.
Our objective was to determine whether there is a relationship between low antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody levels and the obstetrical complications of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and to analyze the impact of conventional APS treatment in patients with low aPL levels. To this end, we retrospectively reviewed the files of all patients referred to our unit (2003-2010) for unexplained pregnancy morbidity, with an aPL test result. We compared patients with APS confirmed by Sapporo criteria (Group 1) with patients with APS-like obstetrical complications with an aPL titer below the intermediate titer (Group 2). Overall, 57 patients were included (25 in Group 1; 32 in Group 2). Obstetrical events were recurrent spontaneous abortion <10th week of gestation (n=9 patients in Group 1; n=13 patients in Group 2), fetal death (n=11 and 16, respectively), preeclampsia (n=5 in Group 1; n=6 in Group 2). The total number of obstetrical events per patient was very similar before APS treatment (3 [1-8] in Group 1; 3 [1-6] in Group 2) and decreased significantly after APS treatment to 0 [0-2] and 0 [0-2], respectively (p<0.05). The incidence of premature births and the characteristics of neonates were similar in the two groups. In this study, treatment of patients with low aPL levels and APS-like obstetrical events was associated with outcomes similar to those found in otherwise normal women with recurrent miscarriage or other adverse events. However, properly designed treatment trials would be required to prove the benefit of such treatments.


Purification and properties of a lipid acyl-hydrolase from potato tubers.
1. A pure lipid acyl-hydrolase was prepared from potato tubers by acetone precipitation, Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography, and by electrofocusing. 2. The purified enzyme was an acidic protein of pI 5.0 and molecular weight of about 70 000. Km values were 0.38 mM for monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and 1.7 mM for phosphatidylcholine. 3. The hydrolytic activity of the enzyme on different substrates was determined. The relative rates were acylsterylglucoside greater than monogalactosyldiacylglycerol greater than monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol greater than digalactosyldiacylglycerol greater than diagalactosylmonoacylglycerol, while the rates for phospholipids were lysophosphatidylcholine greater than phosphatidylcholine greater than lysophosphatidylethanolamine greater than phosphatidylethanolamine. 4. Analyses of enzymatic hydrolysis products suggested that a single enzyme had both galactolipase and phospholipase activities, and for the phospholipids it showed activities similar to phospholipase B and glycerylphosphorylcholine diesterase. 5. A competitive relation was found between monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine as substrates of the enzyme, indicating that the active sites for both substrates may be the same. 6. It was suggested that histidine and probably serine residues were important to the enzymic activity, and that a tyrosine residue might be involved in the activity as an accessory component.


Introducing hospice into allied health curricula: a challenge for educators.
Including hospice, as a concept of care, into existing allied health curricula is very important. Hospice should be integrated into the curricula of allied health programs. In addition to offering courses on hospice care, there are many novel ideas for exposing students to aspects of hospice care including grand rounds, self-instruction packets, journal clubs, honors program presentations, monthly forums, and clerkships. Federal funding is important to support and develop hospice training as well as other resources.


Pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery: A case report of facial trauma and recurrent bleeding.
Pseudoaneurysms occur when there is a partial disruption in the wall of a blood vessel, causing a hematoma that is either contained by the vessel adventitia or the perivascular soft tissue. A 32-year-old male presented to the emergency department presented with comminuted fractures in the left zygoma, ethmoids, and the right ramus of the mandible following a gunshot wound. The patient underwent open reduction of his fractures and the patient was discharged on the eighth day after the trauma. Thirteen days after the discharge and 21 days after the gunshot wound, the patient returned to the ER due to heavy nasopharyngeal bleeding that compromised the patency of the patient's airways and caused hemodynamic instability. Arteriography of the facial blood vessels revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the maxillary artery. Endovascular embolization with a synthetic embolic agent resulted in adequate hemostasis, and nine days after embolization the patient was discharged. The diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm is suggested by history and physical examination, and confirmed by one of several imaging methods, such as CT scan with contrast. Progressive enlargement of the lesion may lead to several complications, including rupture of the aneurysm and hemorrhage, compression of adjacent nerves, or release of embolic thrombi. This case reports the long-term follow up and natural history of a patient with a post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery and the successful use of endovascular embolization to treat the lesion.


Draft Genome Sequence of an Endophytic Fungus, Gaeumannomyces sp. Strain JS-464, Isolated from a Reed Plant, Phragmites communis.
An endophytic fungus, Gaeumannomyces sp. strain JS-464, is capable of producing a number of secondary metabolites which showed significant nitric oxide reduction activity. The draft genome assembly has a size of 53,151,282 bp, with a G+C content of 53.11% consisting of 80 scaffolds with an N50 of 7.46 Mbp.


GITR ligand-costimulation activates effector and regulatory functions of CD4+ T cells.
Engagement of glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR) enables the costimulation of both CD25(-)CD4(+) effector (Teff) and CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory (Treg) cells; however, the effects of GITR-costimulation on Treg function remain controversial. In this study, we examined the effects of GITR ligand (GITRL) binding on the respective functions of CD4(+) T cells. GITRL-P815 transfectants efficiently augmented anti-CD3-induced proliferation and cytokine production by Teff cells. Proliferation and IL-10 production in Treg were also enhanced by GITRL transfectants when exogenous IL-2 and stronger CD3 stimulation was provided. Concomitant GITRL-costimulation of Teff and Treg converted the anergic state of Treg into a proliferating state, maintaining and augmenting their function. Thus, GITRL-costimulation augments both effector and regulatory functions of CD4(+) T cells. Our results suggest that highly activated and increased ratios of Treg reverse the immune-enhancing effects of GITRL-costimulation in Teff, which may be problematic for therapeutic applications using strong GITR agonists.


Biohydrogen production from waste activated sludge through thermochemical mechanical pretreatment.
Generation of excess sludge in large quantities from wastewater treatment plant face huge problem in terms of handling and management, whereas it possess higher organic and inorganic constituents and thus it can be used as a feedstock for the generation of biofuel with proper disintegration techniques.In this regard, an effort has been made in this study to combine thermo-chemo-disperser pretreatment for the disintegration of paper mill waste activated sludge for the production of biohydrogen in an energy efficient way. These combinations of thermo-chemo-disperser (TCD) tend to be effective in disintegration and possess 24.3% COD solubilization and higher suspended solid reduction of 18.8% at the specific energy usage of 2081.82 kJ/kg TS. The pretreatment with TCD technique shows the biohydrogen production of 120.2 mLH2/gCOD as compared to thermochemically pretreated alone (73.6 mLH2/gCOD) sample. Thus, the combined process was considered to be potentially effective in sludge disintegration.


Ground-feeding migratory songbirds as cellular slime mold distribution vectors.
Cosmopolitan species of cellular slime molds occur continents apart in both tropical and temperate zones of the world though the spore masses are too heavy to be wind borne, and water dispersal is limited to the watercourses. A highly mobile distribution vector was found in ground-feeding migratory song birds. Nine ubiquitous species and 2 ecologicially distinct species of dictyostelid cellular slime molds were isolated from the feces of ground-feeding eastern North American migratory thrushes, finches, sparrows and warblers, both on breeding and winter grounds. Three propagules of slime molds, amoebae, spores and macrocysts survive passage through the avian digesive tract and remain in the gut long enough to be transported by major bird migrations. Habitats with the greates species diversity of both cellular slime molds and ground-feeding passerines concur in both eastern North America and Central America. Birds actively seek their prefered habitats; the cellular slime molds have arrived at these habitats as passengers. Rare slime molds can serve as a marker to the habitats that migratory birds have visited, or birds with known habitats can provide clues as to the distribution of rare species of cellular slime molds.


The role of task difficulty in theoretical accounts of mind wandering.
Recent research has indicated that reducing the difficulty of a task by increasing the predictability of critical stimuli produces increases in intentional mind wandering, but, contrary to theoretical expectations, decreases in unintentional mind wandering. Here, we sought to determine whether reducing task difficulty by reducing working-memory load would yield similar results. Participants completed an easy (Choice Response Time; CRT) task and a relatively difficult (Working Memory; WM) task, and intermittently responded to thought probes asking about intentional and unintentional mind wandering. As in prior studies, we found higher rates of intentional mind wandering during the easy compared to the more difficult task. However, we also found more unintentional mind wandering during the difficult compared to the easy task. We discuss these results in the context of theoretical accounts of mind wandering.


Transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy for Gaucher's disease. A case report.
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is 1 of the skeletal manifestations of Gaucher's disease, for which hip arthroplasties are performed in many cases. Because many patients are young, total hip arthroplasty in this condition has been reported to result in aseptic loosening of the components soon after operation. Osteotomy can prevent such a problem. The authors present a successful case of a 17-year-old boy who underwent transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy for avascular necrosis of the femoral head in Gaucher's disease. This procedure is an effective and safe surgical treatment for this disease if performed before the onset of significant femoral head collapse or acetabular deformity.


Inferring serum proteolytic activity from LC-MS/MS data.
In this paper we deal with modeling serum proteolysis process from tandem mass spectrometry data. The parameters of peptide degradation process inferred from LC-MS/MS data correspond directly to the activity of specific enzymes present in the serum samples of patients and healthy donors. Our approach integrate the existing knowledge about peptidases' activity stored in MEROPS database with the efficient procedure for estimation the model parameters. Taking into account the inherent stochasticity of the process, the proteolytic activity is modeled with the use of Chemical Master Equation (CME). Assuming the stationarity of the Markov process we calculate the expected values of digested peptides in the model. The parameters are fitted to minimize the discrepancy between those expected values and the peptide activities observed in the MS data. Constrained optimization problem is solved by Levenberg-Marquadt algorithm. Our results demonstrates the feasibility and potential of high-level analysis for LC-MS proteomic data. The estimated enzyme activities give insights into the molecular pathology of colorectal cancer. Moreover the developed framework is general and can be applied to study proteolytic activity in different systems.


Cervical lymph node metastases: the significance of the level of the lymph node.
Two thousand and fifty-eight patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck are described. Thirty-five per cent of these patients had a node in the neck at the time of presentation. The level of the node was dictated by the primary tumour: other factors such as T or N status were not significant predictors of node level. Node level was a highly significant predictor of survival, together with age, general condition, node status and site the primary tumour. The 5-year survival for nodes at Level I (submandibular) nodes was 34%, and only 4% for nodes at Level IV.


Extracellular matrix and oxidative stress regulate human retinal pigment epithelium growth.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision loss with ageing, is characterised by degeneration of the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) underlying the RPE. The pathogenesis of AMD is still not fully understood. In this study we investigated the in vitro growth and function of primary human RPE cells in response to different ECM substrates, including nitrite-modified ECM. We initially confirmed the presence of disorganised retinal glial and photoreceptor cells, marked retinal cytoplasmic and Bruch's membrane expression of nitro-tyrosine (an oxidative stress marker) and increased numbers of Iba1+ macrophages/microglia in human donor eye sections (aged and AMD) using multi-marker immunohistochemistry (n = 3). Concurrently, we utilised two-photon microscopy to reveal topographical changes in flatmounts of RPE-associated ECM and in the underlying choroid of aged and AMD donor eyes (n = 3). To recapitulate these observations in vitro, we then used primary human RPE cells to investigate how different ECM proteins, including nitrite cross-linked RPE-secreted ECM, modified RPE cell growth and function. Collagen I or IV increased RPE attachment and spreading two-to three-fold, associated with significantly increased cell migration and proliferation, consistent with a preferential interaction with these matrix substrates. Primary human RPE cells grown on collagen I and IV also showed increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MCP-1 and IL-8. Nitrite-modification of RPE-secreted ECM (simulating ageing of Bruch's membrane) significantly reduced in vitro RPE attachment to the ECM and this was mitigated with collagen IV coating of the modified ECM. Taken together, our observations confirm the importance of RPE-ECM interactions for normal RPE growth and function, and for inducing RPE secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the findings are consistent with ageing and/or oxidative stress-induced disruption of RPE-ECM interactions contributing to the pathogenesis of AMD.


Calpain cleaves and activates the TRPC5 channel to participate in semaphorin 3A-induced neuronal growth cone collapse.
The nonselective cation channel transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC)5 is found predominantly in the brain and has been proposed to regulate neuronal processes and growth cones. Here, we demonstrate that semaphorin 3A-mediated growth cone collapse is reduced in hippocampal neurons from TRPC5 null mice. This reduction is reproduced by inhibition of the calcium-sensitive protease calpain in wild-type neurons but not in TRPC5(-/-) neurons. We show that calpain-1 and calpain-2 cleave and functionally activate TRPC5. Mutation of a critical threonine at position 857 inhibits calpain-2 cleavage of the channel. Finally, we show that the truncated TRPC5 predicted to result from calpain cleavage is functionally active. These results indicate that semaphorin 3A initiates growth cone collapse via activation of calpain that in turn potentiates TRPC5 activity. Thus, TRPC5 acts downstream of semaphorin signaling to cause changes in neuronal growth cone morphology and nervous system development.


Statin-mediated disruption of Rho GTPase prenylation and activity inhibits respiratory syncytial virus infection.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory tract infections in children. To uncover new antiviral therapies, we developed a live cell-based high content screening approach for rapid identification of RSV inhibitors and characterized five drug classes which inhibit the virus. Among the molecular targets for each hit, there was a strong functional enrichment in lipid metabolic pathways. Modulation of lipid metabolites by statins, a key hit from our screen, decreases the production of infectious virus through a combination of cholesterol and isoprenoid-mediated effects. Notably, RSV infection globally upregulates host protein prenylation, including the prenylation of Rho GTPases. Treatment by statins or perillyl alcohol, a geranylgeranyltransferase inhibitor, reduces infection in vitro. Of the Rho GTPases assayed in our study, a loss in Rac1 activity strongly inhibits the virus through a decrease in F protein surface expression. Our findings provide new insight into the importance of host lipid metabolism to RSV infection and highlight geranylgeranyltransferases as an antiviral target for therapeutic development.