Prevalence and risk factors for non-collision injuries among bus commuters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Migration of people from rural to urban areas has led to the increase in demand for transportation services in the cities. However, authorities have failed to cope with this problem in a consistently manner. This has led to the increase in non-collision injuries among commuters. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and risk factors for non-collision injuries among commuters using public transport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam involving 290 commuters from 7 bus routes travelling to and from the city centre using public transport which are privately owned and commonly known as "daladala". Stratified random sampling was used to sample buses based on the passenger carrying capacity (i.e. 15-24, 25-34 and 35-45 passengers). Systematic random sampling was used to get a total of three commuters from each bus for the interview. Lifetime prevalence of non-collision injuries was 71%, while these rates were 70 and 39% in the last 12 and 6 months, respectively. Commuters aged between 18 and 28 years experienced non-collision injuries the most (56%) in the last 12 months. Most non-collision injuries occurred on weekdays in the evening from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Strong association was observed between the occurrence of non-collision injuries and commuting time between 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm (adjusted OR = 9.24; 95% CI: 2.68-19.54); boarding and disembarking (adjusted OR = 9.21; 95% CI: 3.77-25.11) and scrambling during boarding (adjusted OR = 5.03; 95% CI: 2.51-21.32). The lower limbs (adjusted OR = 8.64; 95% CI: 2.72-21.76) and the upper limbs (adjusted OR = 13.55; 95% CI: 5.32-33.21) were the most affected body parts. This study has demonstrated high prevalence of non-collision injuries among commuters using public transport in Dar es Salaam. Travelling in the evening between 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on the weekdays, boarding and disembarking especially when scrambling for the bus during boarding, overcrowding in the bus especially when the bus is already full with no seats available are the major risk factors for non-collision injuries.


The acute effects of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy on peripheral blood epigenetic age in early stage breast cancer patients.
Survival has increased in early stage breast cancer (BC), and the late effects of treatment persist for decades. Molecular mechanisms underlying the acceleration of age-related diseases after chemotherapy and radiotherapy are poorly understood. We examined epigenetic changes in peripheral whole blood cells in early stage BC patients undergoing surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, or surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. DNA methylation experiments were performed on whole blood samples collected before and after adjuvant therapy. Methylation profiles were used to estimate four measures of epigenetic age acceleration-intrinsic, extrinsic, phenotypic, and Grim-and cell counts. We found significant increases in extrinsic, phenotypic, and Grim epigenetic age acceleration and in estimated proportions of senescent T lymphocytes from pre- to post-treatment. When examining differential effects by treatment category, most of these increases were significant only in women undergoing radiation alone. Further studies are needed to examine whether these effects are related to the risk of cognitive and functional decline in BC survivors.


The use of chimeric gene constructs to express a bacterial endoglucanase in mammalian cells.
The synthesis and secretion of a truncated Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase (EGE') encoded by the celE' gene was investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Fusion genes consisting of the human growth hormone (hGH) gene and celE', transcribed from the SV40 early enhancer/promoter, were constructed and stably transfected into CHO cells. A gene consisting of celE' inserted into the first exon of the hGH gene resulted in the synthesis of truncated proteins (less than or equal to 22 kDa) lacking endoglucanase activity. Cloning celE' into the second exon of the hGH gene, resulted in the synthesis and secretion of a 50 kDa protein with endoglucanase activity. A 50 kDa protein was also synthesised by cells transfected with celE' cloned into the fifth exon of the hGH gene. However, despite a 5-fold increase in enzyme activity compared to the exon 2 transfected cell line less than 40% of the protein was secreted. Constructs devoid of introns, in which celE' was fused to the SV40 early promoter and to the rabbit beta-globin polyadenylation sequence resulted in a 2-18-fold increase in endoglucanase activity compared to the constructs containing introns. In addition more than 75% of the synthesised protein was secreted. Analyses of EGE' encoded mRNA from the transfected cell lines suggests that the presence of introns results in the aberrant splicing of message by the use of cryptic splice sites in the celE' gene. These results demonstrate that introns are not required for the efficient expression of a bacterial endoglucanase in mammalian cells, rather introns appear to reduce expression of the encoded protein.


Incident reporting reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary Italian hospital: A retrospective analysis.
Incident reporting (IR) is one of the most used systems to gain knowledge of adverse events (AEs) and to identify sources of risk. During COVID-19 pandemic, several organizational changes have been implemented to respond adequately and effectively to the emergency; this required the suspension of most deferrable activities. The aim of this study is to investigate whether IR attitude of health workers has been reduced during the pandemic event. A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Azienda Ospedale - Università di Padova (Italy), considering IR of years 2019 and 2020. To standardize the effects of the decrease in admissions, we considered the number of incidents per 1000 admissions. Data shows that during the first (March-May 2020) and second waves (October-December 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a statistically significant reduction in the rate of IR for every 1000 admissions (P = 0.001-Wilcoxon test), especially for AEs and in COVID-19 units. This study shows a reduction in IR especially during the first and second pandemic waves of COVID-19 in year 2020. Education and training interventions could be fundamental to raise awareness of the importance of IR in health workers, as this could provide opportunities to understand what is impacting on safety in a particular healthcare context and enable continuous improvement.


Prognosis of elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia: analysis of 126 AML cases.
We retrospectively analyzed 126 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients aged > or =60 years who had all been referred to the same hematological department between 1989 and 1999. In 76 de novo AML cases, 53 patients (median age, 72 years) were treated with combination chemotherapy (CT) for remission induction. Complete remission (CR) rate was 57.1%. The median overall survival (OS) was 16 months, and the rate of 3-year OS was 28%. The favorable prognostic factors were performance status < or =2, cholinesterase > or =100 IU, and intermediate or favorable karyotype (P < .01). Seventeen patients (median age, 78 years) with hypocellular bone marrow or poor general condition were treated with low-dose cytosine arabinoside (LDAraC). In these patients, the CR rate was 50% and the median OS was 11 months, with an OS estimate at 3 years of 14%. All patients with hypocellular bone marrow who received LDAraC for 21 days achieved CR. In 50 patients who developed AML following a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS/AML), 22 patients (median age, 74 years) were treated with CT, and 14 (median age, 74 years) patients were treated with LDAraC. The CR rates were 22.7% and 21.4%, respectively, and the median OS durations were 8 months and 11 months, respectively. There were no significant factors that would indicate a good prognosis in MDS/AML patients.


Enricher reactor--permeable reactive biobarrier approach for removing a mixture of contaminants with substrate interactions.
A laboratory-scale enricher reactor (ER) - permeable reactive biobarrier (PRBB) system was studied to address performance loss of a PRBB due to substrate interactions among a mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in groundwater, when the mixture reappeared after a 10-day absence period. Toluene and BTEX as an inducer in ER were compared to investigate toluene as a potential single inducer in ER. PRBBs without ER augmentation experienced performance losses ranging from 11% to 35% for PRBBs initially inoculated with toluene degraders and 22% to 33% for PRBBs initially inoculated with BTEX degraders. Bacterial communities changed substantially in these PRBBs after the absence period, which could contribute to the performance losses. PRBBs augmented with toluene degraders overcame the inhibition interaction between benzene and toluene, and showed a superior removal performance for toluene degradation suggesting that toluene can be used as a single inducer in an ER.


Curvilinear relationships of expressed anger and blood pressure in women but not in men: evidence from two samples.
Early psychosomatic research proposed a hydraulic model for anger expression and blood pressure (BP); that is, people who express their anger were believed to have lower BP. Unfortunately, subsequent evaluations of this model have produced inconsistent results. In this paper, it is posited that weak methods of measuring BP, failure to address gender differences, and exclusive emphasis on linear models may have contributed to inconsistent results. We investigated the possibility of curvilinear relationships between expressed anger and resting BP after controlling for traditional risk factors. Data from two samples of varying cardiovascular health status (one healthy, the other hypertensive) and ages were examined. Across both samples, very low and very high self-reported expressed anger was associated with the lowest diastolic BP in women. There was no equivalent finding in men. Women, but not men, have lower BP when they report to openly express their angry feelings. The results support the value of exploring curvilinear relationships and gender differences in anger expression effects on cardiovascular health.


A cost-effective system for differentiation of intestinal epithelium from human induced pluripotent stem cells.
The human intestinal epithelium is a useful model for pharmacological studies of absorption, metabolism, drug interactions, and toxicology, as well as for studies of developmental biology. We established a rapid and cost effective system for differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into definitive endoderm (DE) cells. In the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a low concentration of Activin at 6.25 ng/ml is sufficient to give a similar differentiation efficiency with that using Activin at 100 ng/ml at the presence of Wnt activator. In the presence of DMSO, Activin at low concentration triggered hiPS cells to undergo differentiation through G1 arrest, reduce apoptosis, and potentiate activation of downstream targets, such as SMAD2 phosphorylation and SOX17 expression. This increased differentiation into CDX2 + SOX17 + DE cells. The present differentiation procedure therefore permits rapid and efficient derivation of DE cells, capable of differentiating into intestinal epithelium upon BIO and DAPT treatment and of giving rise to functional cells, such as enterocytes.


Pimobendan improves right ventricular myocardial contraction and attenuates pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of pimobendan treatment for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats administered monocrotaline (MCT). Fifty-four 12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with monocrotaline or saline solution. Serial echocardiography and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) measurement via a cardiac catheter were performed. After injection of MCT, rats received oral pimobendan (MCT/pimobendan group) or no treatment (MCT group) until undergoing echocardiography and cardiac catheter insertion. Right ventricular systolic pressure in the MCT/pimobendan group was lower than that in the MCT group at 6 weeks. Right ventricle free wall (RVFW) myocardial systolic velocity (Sm) in the MCT group showed a reduction compared with the saline group at 2 weeks. RVFW Sm in the MCT/pimobendan group was preserved as compared with the saline group at 2 weeks. RVFW Tei index in the MCT/pimobendan group showed a reduction compared with the saline group and the MCT group at 2 weeks. Echocardiography in the MCT/pimobendan group showed improvement compared with MCT rats. Both a reduction in RVSP and improvement in myocardial contraction were demonstrated with administration of pimobendan in rats with PH induced by MCT. Echocardiography evaluation of systolic function seems to be useful for monitoring excess administration of pimobendan.


Pregnant women maintain body temperatures within safe limits during moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic classes conducted in pools heated up to 33 degrees Celsius: an observational study.
What is the body temperature response of healthy pregnant women exercising at moderate intensity in an aqua-aerobics class where the water temperature is in the range of 28 to 33 degrees Celsius, as typically found in community swimming pools? An observational study. One hundred and nine women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy who were enrolled in a standardised aqua-aerobics class. Tympanic temperature was measured at rest pre-immersion (T1), after 35minutes of moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic exercise (T2), after a further 10minutes of light exercise while still in the water (T3) and finally on departure from the facility (T4). The range of water temperatures in seven indoor community pools was 28.8 to 33.4 degrees Celsius. Body temperature increased by a mean of 0.16 degrees Celsius (SD 0.35, p<0.001) at T2, was maintained at this level at T3 and had returned to pre-immersion resting values at T4. Regression analysis demonstrated that the temperature response was not related to the water temperature (T2 r = -0.01, p = 0.9; T3 r = -0.02, p=0.9; T4 r=0.03, p=0.8). Analysis of variance demonstrated no difference in body temperature response between participants when grouped in the cooler, medium and warmer water temperatures (T2 F=0.94, p=0.40; T3 F=0.93, p=0.40; T4 F=0.70, p=0.50). Healthy pregnant women maintain body temperatures within safe limits during moderate-intensity aqua-aerobic exercise conducted in pools heated up to 33 degrees Celsius. The study provides evidence to inform guidelines for safe water temperatures for aqua-aerobic exercise during pregnancy.


Efficient regeneration system from rye leaf base segments.
Rye is second only to wheat among grains most widely used in the making of bread and is also a very important gene resource for breeding and improvement of wheat and other cereal crops owing to tolerance to abiotic stress factors such as low temperatures, drought and poor soil conditions. However, application of biotechnologies has been limited in rye breeding since it is one of the most recalcitrant species in tissue culture. A simple and fast regeneration system from leaf-base segment explant of rye was developed in this study. Basal media, carbohydrate source, combination of plant growth regulators and the leaf segment locations were evaluated for callus and shoot formation. The highest callus formation (10.39%) and shoot formation (4.53%) were achieved from first basal segments 3-4 days old seedlings. MS (Murashige and Skoog, in Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962) medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose and 2 mg/L 2,4-D (2-4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) + 1 mg/L TDZ (Thidiazuran) was the best medium for shoot formation (18.75%) in first leaf base segment culture. Regenerated plants were phenotypically normal and set seed after they were successfully transferred to soil. The results indicate that this regeneration method can be used for genetic transformation in rye.


[Basic immunology for routine clinical practice].
The immune system is a human defense system that can be adapted to external conditions and is present ubiquitously throughout the organism. Its main purpose is to prevent damage caused by pathogens or toxins. In addition, it is capable of recognizing and destroying defective or degenerated endogenous cells. The immunological network in the body consists of various organs and organ systems, different immunoactive cell types as well as extra- and intracellular signaling molecules and signal complexes. The immune system is divided into the innate immune system and the acquired immune system. Pathological conditions, which may be short- or long-lasting, range from the congenital disorders of autoinflammation to the numerous autoimmune diseases, triggered by various stimuli. From a treatment perspective, nonspecific immunosuppressants or direct immune cell inhibitors or antibodies can be used for excessive reactions.


Rational design and construction of iron oxide and titanium carbide MXene hierarchical structure with promoted energy storage properties for flexible battery.
Aqueous rechargeable Ni/Fe batteries are appropriate energy storage devices for portable and wearable electronics due to their outstanding safety and cost-effectiveness. However, their energy storage properties are limited by the sluggish kinetics of iron-based anodes. Herein, we design and construct a high-performance iron-based material with a hierarchical structure developed by electrodepositing iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanosheets on titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene nanoplates modified carbon fiber (3D-MXene/Fe2O3). Taking advantage of the interaction between Fe2O3 and the terminal functional groups on Ti3C2Tx MXene, such a hierarchical structure offers improved conductivity, enhanced ion-diffusion paths, and high electrochemical stability. The fabricated 3D-MXene/Fe2O3 anode delivers a high volumetric specific capacity of 38.2 mAh cm-3, and improved capacity retention. After being coupled with NiCoO cathode, the fibrous Ni/Fe battery shows a maximum volumetric specific capacity of 35.1 mAh cm-3 and an extraordinary energy density of 56.2 mWh cm-3. Meanwhile, the as-prepared Ni/Fe battery confirms good cycling durability (92.9% for 12,500 cycles), and mechanical flexibility also verifies the potential practical application of our device. Thus, this study can provide a powerful route toward high-performance anodes for next-generation wearable energy storage devices.


Skeletal and alveolar changes in conventional rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and miniscrew-assisted RPE (MARPE): a prospective randomized clinical trial using low-dose CBCT.
This prospective randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the immediate and short-term skeletal, dentoalveolar, and periodontal effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and miniscrew-assisted RPE (MARPE) in adolescent and young adult patients. This study followed a two-arm, parallel, randomized clinical trial design that recruited patients with transverse maxillary deficiency in a 1:1 allocation ratio. Forty patients (14 men and 26 women) requiring maxillary expansion were randomly allocated to the RPE (n = 20, age = 14.0 ± 4.5) or MARPE (n = 20, age = 14.1 ± 4.2) groups. The assignment was performed via computer-generated block randomization, with a block size of four. Upon identical (35 turns) amount of expansion, low-dose cone-beam computed tomography images were taken before treatment (T0), immediately after expansion (T1), and after a 3-month consolidation period (T2). The primary outcome of this study comprised the assessment of midpalatal suture separation. Secondary outcomes included, skeletal, dentoalveolar, and periodontal measurements, which were performed at each time point. The frequency of midpalatal suture separation was 90% (18/20) and 95% (19/20) for the RPE and MARPE groups, respectively. A greater increase in nasal width in the molar region (M-NW) and greater palatine foramen (GPF) was observed immediately after the expansion (T1-T0) and consolidation periods (T2-T0) in the MARPE group compared to the RPE group (P < 0.05). The MARPE and RPE groups showed similar dentoalveolar changes except for the maxillary width (PM-MW, M-MW). The MARPE group presented greater bilateral first premolar (PM-MW) and molar (M-MW) maxillary width in relation to the RPE group (P < 0.05). Through the expansion and consolidation periods (T2-T0), lesser buccal displacement of the anchor teeth was observed in the MARPE group (PM-BBPT, PM-PBPT, M-BBPT [mesial and distal roots], and M-PBPT)( P < 0.05). Midpalatal suture separation was observed in 90% and 95% of patients in the RPE and MARPE groups, respectively. Both RPE and MARPE groups exhibited significant triangular basal bone expansion and skeletal relapse during consolidation. Under identical amounts of expansion, the MARPE group showed lower decrease in the skeletal, dentoalveolar and periodontal variables after consolidation. The reinforcement of RPE with miniscrews contributes to the maintenance of the basal bone during consolidation period. Trial registration WHO Institutional Clinical Trials Registry Platform (IRB No. KCT0006871 / Registration date 27/12/2021).


Structural variation in the nasal bone region of European moose (Alces alces L.).
The ontogeny of typical (normal) nasal bone region of the European moose (Alces alces L.) and the 3 variants of the pattern, was studied. The variants, named as "extra bone type", "punctured type" and "open type" referring the morphology of the internasal suture, were originally observed in Finnish male and female moose skulls in 1971. All of the variants were later found in hunting trophy exhibitions presenting male moose trophies from Sweden, Norway, Baltic Republics of USSR and Poland. The frequencies of the variants showed regional differences. By using histological, radiological and OTC bone labelling methods, all of the nasal bone types were observed in this study in embryonal (N = 36), newborn (N = 21), juvenile (N = 38) and adult (N = 12) moose. Two twin embryos showed different nasal bone structure. The variation is considered to be of congenital origin.


[The distal radius and surrounding soft tissues--ultrasound anatomy and ultrasound pathology in the adult and child].
The aim of the study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic anatomy of the distal forearm (i.e. distal radius and surrounding soft tissue) and the typical changes occurring during growth, in adults and children. The ultrasonographic anatomy was evaluated in 10 healthy adults aged between 20 and 60 years, and 20 healthy children aged between 2 and 18 years. Particular attention was paid to dynamic examination comparing both limbs, and isolated investigations of functional tendon. An anatomical description of the tissues of the distal forearm was possible at all ages. During growth, secondary ossification centres and the transitional osteochondral region of the growth plate need particular consideration. Both in children and adults, ultrasonography can provide valuable information in the evaluation of acute trauma, follow-up of fractures and osteosynthesis, suspected osteomyelitis and chronic disorders. In children, special attention must be paid to the development of the epiphyseal region, as reflected by ossification centre, growth plate and articular cartilage.


Geosocial Networking Application Use Among Sexual Minority Adolescents.
The following clinical scenario is a composite case that illustrates clinically important phenomena based on several patients.


Effects of exogenous and endogenous bombesin on gastrin secretion from rat antral mucosa in tissue culture.
Effects of exogenous and endogenous bombesin on gastrin secretion were examined using rat antral mucosa in tissue culture. Gastrin secretion was significantly stimulated by exogenous bombesin at a dose of 10(-8) M. Atropine 10(-6) M, which abolished the action of the cholinergic agent carbachol to stimulate gastrin secretion, had no effect on bombesin-stimulated gastrin secretion. In addition, gastrin secretion was significantly inhibited by anti-bombesin antiserum used to block the effect of endogenous bombesin by immunoneutralization. These findings suggest that the stimulation of gastrin secretion by bombesin does not involve cholinergic neural pathways and that endogenous bombesin exerts a continuous stimulation on gastrin secretion in the basal state.


The effects of cesium chloride on insulin release, ionic fluxes and membrane potential in pancreatic B-cells.
Cs+ decreases K+ permeability in nerve and muscle cells. Its effects on the pancreatic B-cell function were studied with mouse islets. In the presence of 3 mM glucose, Cs+ substitution for K+ steadily inhibited 86Rb+ efflux and hyperpolarized the B-cell membrane. Addition of Cs+ to a K+-medium also inhibited 86Rb+ efflux, but depolarized the B-cell membrane. None of these changes altered insulin release. Substitution of Cs+ for K+ in a medium containing 10 mM glucose caused a Ca2+-dependent stimulation of insulin release and 45Ca2+ efflux, produced an initial fall and a secondary rise in 86Rb+ efflux and augmented the electrical activity in B-cells. Reintroduction of K+ to the medium was followed by a marked and transient inhibition of insulin release, that was blocked by ouabain and accompanied by an inhibition of 45Ca2+ and 86Rb+ efflux and by a hyperpolarization of the B-cell membrane. Addition of Cs+ to a K+ medium containing 10 mM glucose stimulated insulin release, 45Ca2+ efflux and 86Rb+ efflux. It also increased the electrical activity in B-cells. In the absence of Ca2+, however, Cs+ addition decreased the rate of 86Rb+ efflux. The effects of Cs+ on the B-cell function may be explained by its ability to decrease K+ permeability of the plasma membrane, by its inability to activate the sodium pump, and by a third unidentified effect likely brought about by the accumulation of intracellular Cs+.


Utility of the 0-hour/1-hour high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T algorithm in Asian patients with suspected non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.
A rapid rule-out or rule-in protocol based on the 0-hour/1-hour algorithm using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. However, Asian data are not available. This prospective cohort study included 413 patients with suspected non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in 3 hospitals in Japan and Taiwan from November 2014 to April 2017. Patients were divided into 3groups-rule-out, observe, and rule-in-according to the algorithm. Major adverse cardiovascular events were evaluated at the 30-dayfollow-up. The algorithm ruled out acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 171 patients with a negative predictive value and sensitivity of 100% (95% confidential interval [CI], 96.8%-100%) and 100% (95% CI, 88.0%-100%), respectively, in the rule-out group. None of the patients were diagnosed with AMI. Among the 127 patients classified into the rule-in group, 47 were diagnosed as having AMI. The positive predictive value and specificity were 33.1% (95% CI, 25.1%-41.9%) and 66.3% (95% CI, 60.2%-72.0%), respectively. Elective catheter intervention was required in 13 patients (5 in the rule-out group, 8 in the observe group) by the 30-dayfollow-up. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) identified moderate risk in 5 patients and high risk in 8, while the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) 2.0 risk score identified low risk in 6 patients and moderate risk in 7. The ESC0-hour/1-hour algorithm could be sufficient in Asian patients. The combination with FRS may be more precise than that with the GRACE 2.0 risk score.


A new vestibular thalamic area: electrophysiological study of the thalamic reticular nucleus and of the ventral lateral geniculate complex of the cat.
Single unit recordings were carried out in the reticularis thalamic nucleus (RT) and the ventral lateral geniculate body (LGv) of chronically prepared alert cats under sinusoidal vestibular stimulation in the horizontal plane. Optokinetic stimulation was also used. Of the 57 recorded neurons, 12 present vestibular modulation in the dark, analogous to Duensing's and Schaefer's (1958) type I response in the vestibular nuclei. Responses of 26 cells are similar to response of type II vestibular neurons and 14 units have a type III response; the 5 remaining cells were activated by vestibular stimulation in the vertical sagittal plane. The majority of these cells does not present detectable direct visual responses, but 50% can be driven by optokinetic stimulation. 74% of types I, II and III neurons show saccadic resonses to vestibular nystagmic saccades in the dark. About 60% present similar saccadic modulations during optokinetic nystagmus and 55% keep this response for spontaneous saccades in the dark or in front of a striped background. The saccadic responses are constant for a given neuron in all cases of stimulation with latencies ranging from 30 msec prior to the beginning of the saccade to 120 msec after its onset. The histological localization of these units falls on one hand into the caudal part of the RT nucleus (type III neurons) above the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and on the other hand within the internal subdivision of the LGv and its rostral limit (all other types). The significance of this new, saccadic and vestibular focus in the feline thalamus is discussed in relation with the two previously known vestibular thalamic relays in terms of interrelations between the vestibular and the visual systems.


Does the Frontal Brain Electrical Activity Mediate the Effect of Home Executive Function Environment and Screen Time on Children's Executive Function?
Executive functions play an important role in various developmental aspects of children; however, environmental factors influencing individual differences in children's executive function and their neural substructures, particularly in middle childhood, are rarely investigated. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between the home executive function environment (HEFE) and screen time with the executive function of children aged 8-12 years by employing the mediating variables of alpha, beta, and theta waves. The parents of 133 normal children completed Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning, HEFE, and Screen Time Scales. Alpha, beta, and theta brain waves were also measured. Data were examined using correlational and path analysis. The results suggested a positive and significant relationship between home executive functions and the executive functions of children. Furthermore, the results indicated an inverse and significant relationship between screen time and executive function. The results also proved the mediating role of alpha, beta, and theta brain waves in the relationship between screen time and the children's executive function. Environmental factors (such as home environment and screen time) affect the function of brain waves and, thus, the daily executive function of children.


Selection of chemotherapy for hyperthermic intraperitoneal use in gastric cancer.
Several studies have shown the potential benefit of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in gastric cancer patients. At present the most effective chemotherapeutic regime in HIPEC for gastric cancer is unknown. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of chemotherapeutic agents used for HIPEC in gastric cancer. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database to identify studies on chemotherapy used for HIPEC in gastric cancer patients. The chemotherapeutic regime of choice in HIPEC for gastric cancer has yet to be determined. The wide variety in studies and study parameters, such as chemotherapeutic agents, dosage, patient characteristics, temperature of perfusate, duration of perfusion, carrier solutions, intraperitoneal pressure and open or closed perfusion techniques, warrant more experimental and clinical studies to determine the optimal treatment schedule. A combination of drugs probably results in a more effective treatment.


Iron center, substrate recognition and mechanism of peptide deformylase.
Eubacterial proteins are synthesized with a formyl group at the N-terminus which is hydrolytically removed from the nascent chain by the mononuclear iron enzyme peptide deformylase. Catalytic efficiency strongly depends on the identity of the bound metal. We have determined by X-ray crystallography the Fe2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ forms of the Escherichia coli enzyme and a structure in complex with the reaction product Met-Ala-Ser. The structure of the complex, with the tripeptide bound at the active site, suggests detailed models for the mechanism of substrate recognition and catalysis. Differences of the protein structures due to the identity of the bound metal are extremely small and account only for the observation that Zn2+ binds more tightly than Fe2+ or Ni2+. The striking loss of catalytic activity of the Zn2+ form could be caused by its reluctance to change between tetrahedral and five-fold metal coordination believed to occur during catalysis. N-terminal formylation and subsequent deformylation


Multifocal Lymphangioendotheliomatosis with Thrombocytopenia: Presentation of Two Cases Treated with Sirolimus.
Multifocal lymphangioendotheliomatosis with thrombocytopenia (MLT) is a rare disease characterized by congenital and progressive vascular lesions of the skin and gastrointestinal tract that may be associated with thrombocytopenia and possibly life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. Reports published on the disease and treatment strategies are scarce. We present two cases of MLT treated with sirolimus.


Efficacy of neem extract against the blowfly and housefly.
The blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), and housefly, Musca domestica Linnaeus, are ubiquitous insects that have the potential to spread a variety of pathogens to humans and livestock. Pest management techniques for populations of these flies are needed. Currently, bioinsecticides, particularly those derived from plant origin, have been increasingly evaluated in controlling populations of medically important insects. In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the efficacy and biological activity of a commercially available neem extract, containing 0.24% azadirachtin A, against C. megacephala and M. domesitca. Laboratory bioassays were performed using the feeding method of mixing neem solutions with fresh beef, once or multiple times, as food for rearing third instar. The laboratory tests showed that neem products significantly reduced larval and pupal survival, adult emergence, pupal weight, adult wing length, and fecundity on the subsequent generation, in a dose-dependent manner in both species. Efficacy was observed in the first generation and could extend to the second generation. Despite these reductions, reduction in total adult longevity was not evident for larvae fed once on neem solutions with fresh beef, and slightly earlier (approximately 1 week) mortality was observed in both species when they were fed as larvae on multiple doses. Adverse effects of this neem-based product toward M. domestica were slightly greater than those in C. megacephala. These data reinforced the efficacy of neem extract in reduced adult emergence and anti-fecundity in the subsequent generation. However, neem extract induced only low to moderate larval and pupal mortalities.


Voyaging through the paediatric surgical maze: A multi-centre analysis of inter-hospital referrals to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Paediatric surgery is a centralised service that is provided at only three public sector hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa. These centres receive an overwhelming number of referrals from over fifty lower-level hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyse referrals to these specialist centres in order to quantify the unmet referred burden of disease and to identify ways in which paediatric surgical access in the region can be improved. A prospective descriptive study was conducted over a 1-year period (01/06/21-31/05/22). All inter-hospital referrals from lower-level hospitals to the three Johannesburg-based specialist centres were analysed. 2394 unique referrals to 3 hospitals were recorded. Five main diagnoses were responsible for 68% of all referrals: neonatal surgical conditions, burns, acute abdomen/bowel obstruction, trauma and symptomatic hernias. 59.7% of all referred patients met criteria for emergency transfer to a specialist unit. 26.7% of these patients, however, were unable to be transferred owing to a lack of bedspace at specialist centres. Transferred patients experienced significant time delays between referral and arrival. Four lower-level hospitals have been identified as possible sites for service expansion. A large unmet paediatric surgical burden of disease has been identified. Lower-level hospitals have been identified that may be suitable for the implementation of decentralisation efforts to improve access to paediatric surgery within the region. V.


The effect of glucose priming solutions in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
To assess the impact of glucose-containing priming solutions on plasma glucose level in diabetic patients during and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, we studied 50 diabetic patients and 10 nondiabetic patients who underwent bypass graft surgery. Glucose-containing priming solutions profoundly elevated plasma glucose levels during and after bypass graft surgery. In diabetic patients who received glucose primes, intraoperative peak plasma glucose levels averaged 696 +/- 48 mg/dl as compared with 341 +/- 17 mg/dl in diabetic patients who received nonglucose primes (p less than 0.001). Despite an insulin infusion, diabetic patients underwent a much slower decline in plasma glucose levels postoperatively over a 2-hour period than did nondiabetics (who did not receive an insulin infusion). We conclude that during and immediately after coronary artery bypass surgery in diabetic patients, it is desirable to avoid administration of glucose-containing priming solutions, since such solutions profoundly elevate plasma glucose levels.


Stimulus-specific adaptation in the anesthetized mouse revealed by brainstem auditory evoked potentials.
Neural responses to sensory inputs in a complex and natural environment must be weighted according to their relevance. To do so, the brain needs to be able to deal with sudden stimulus fluctuations in an ever-changing acoustic environment. Stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) is a phenomenon of some neurons along the auditory pathway that show a reduced response to repetitive sounds while responsive to those that occur rarely. SSA has been shown from the inferior colliculus to auditory cortex, but has not been detected in the cochlear nucleus. To discover where SSA is first generated along the auditory pathway, auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to pure tones were evaluated in anesthetized mice using an oddball paradigm. Using a typical narrow band-pass filter, changes in the ABRs suggest unspecific short-term adaptation may occur as early as the auditory nerve fibers. Furthermore, after applying a wide band-pass filter -allowing the visualization of a late slow wave in the ABR- we found a reduction of the amplitude of the response to repetitive sounds, compared to rare ones, in the slow wave component P0 that follow the fast wave V. Previous studies have shown the P0 shows temporal correlation with the sustained responses of inferior colliculus, thus we suggest that this nucleus is the first to show stimulus specific adaptation in the auditory pathway.


Error-Related Brain Activity in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Unaffected First-Degree Relatives: Evidence for Protective Patterns.
Indicators of increased error monitoring are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as shown in electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. As most studies used strictly controlled samples (excluding comorbidity and medication), it remains open whether these findings extend to naturalistic settings. Thus, we assessed error-related brain activity in a large, naturalistic OCD sample. We also explored which activity patterns might qualify as vulnerability endophenotypes or protective factors for the disorder. To this aim, a sample of unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with OCD was also included. Participants (84 patients with OCD, 99 healthy control participants, and 37 unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with OCD) completed a flanker task while blood oxygen level-dependent responses were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Aberrant error-related brain activity in patients and relatives was identified. Patients with OCD showed increased error-related activity in the supplementary motor area and within the default mode network, specifically in the precuneus and postcentral gyrus. Unaffected first-degree relatives showed increased error-related activity in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus. Increased supplementary motor area and default mode network activity in patients with OCD replicates previous studies and might indicate excessive error signals and increased self-referential error processing. Increased activity of the inferior frontal gyrus in relatives may reflect increased inhibition. Impaired response inhibition in OCD has been demonstrated in several studies and might contribute to impairments in suppressing compulsive actions. Thus, increased inferior frontal gyrus activity in the unaffected relatives of patients with OCD may have contributed to protection from symptom development.


Blood pyruvate concentration measured by a specific method in control subjects.
A specific method of estimating pyruvate, depending upon the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in the presence of lactic dehydrogenase, has been modified to improve its accuracy. The precision of the modification, measured by duplicate analysis, was represented by a standard deviation of 0.03 mg./100 ml. The mean recovery of added pyruvate was 99%. The mean blood pyruvate concentration in 30 fasted subjects, who had no illness known to affect pyruvate metabolism, was 0.44 mg./100 ml. (S.D. 0.05). Blood pyruvate levels were measured at 30-minute intervals for two hours after oral or intravenous administration of glucose. The highest levels obtained in each case were about 0.4 mg./100 ml. higher than the initial level, and were found 60 to 90 minutes after oral administration and 30 to 60 minutes after intravenous administration.


Dietary pharmacological or excess zinc and phytase effects on tissue mineral concentrations, metallothionein, and apparent mineral retention in the newly weaned pig.
Feeding pharmacological zinc (Zn) to weaned pigs improves growth, and dietary phytase improves P and Zn availability. Metallothionein (MT) increases in the duodenum, kidney, and liver of pigs fed 1000 mg Zn/kg with phytase or 2000 mg Zn/kg with or without phytase when fed for 14 d postweaning. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of feeding pharmacological Zn and phytase on tissue minerals, MT, mineral excretion, and apparent retention. Twenty-four newly weaned pigs (20 d; 7.2 kg) were individually fed twice daily, a basal diet supplemented with 0, 1000, or 4000 mg Zn/kg as Zn oxide, without or with phytase (500 phytase units [FTU]/kg) for 14 d, followed by a basal diet (100 mg Zn/kg) without phytase for 7 d. Pigs fed 4000 mg Zn/kg without phytase had higher (p=0.01) plasma, hepatic, renal Zn, renal Cu, and hepatic, renal, and jejunal MT than pigs fed the basal diet or 1000 mg Zn/kg. Duodenal MT was higher (p=0.0001) in pigs fed 1000 and 4000 mg Zn/kg than in pigs fed the basal diet. In pigs fed 1000 and 4000 mg Zn/kg, Zn loading occurred during the first 11 d of supplementation; by d 14, excess Zn was being excreted in the feces.


Geographic and socioeconomic inequities in cesarean delivery rates at the district level in Madhya Pradesh, India: A secondary analysis of the national family health survey-5.
In India, caesarean delivery (CD) accounts for 17% of the births, of which 41% occur in private facilities. However, areas to CD in rural areas are limited, particularly for the poor populations. Little information is available on state-wise district-level CD rates by geography and the population wealth quintiles, especially in Madhya Pradesh (MP), the fifth most populous and third poorest state. Investigate geographic and socioeconomic inequities of CD across the 51 districts in MP and compare the contribution of public and private healthcare facilities to the overall state CD rate. This cross-sectional study utilised the summary fact sheets of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 performed from January 2019 to April 2021. Women aged 15 to 49 years, with live births two years preceding the survey were included. District-level CD rates in MP were used to determine the inequalities in accessing CD in the poorer and poorest wealth quintiles. CD rates were stratified as <10%, 10-20% and >20% to measure equity of access. A linear regression model was used to examine the correlation between the fractions of the population in the two bottom wealth quintiles and CD rates. Eighteen districts had a CD rate below 10%, 32 districts were within the 10%-20% threshold and four had a rate of 20% or higher. Districts with a higher proportion of poorer population and were at a distance from the capital city Bhopal were associated with lower CD rates. However, this decline was steeper for private healthcare facilities (R2 = 0.382) revealing a possible dependency of the poor populations on public healthcare facilities (R2 = 0.009) for accessing CD. Although CD rates have increased across MP, inequities within districts and wealth quintiles exist, warranting closer attention to the outreach of government policies and the need to incentivise CDs where underuse is significant.


Comparison of Fusarium acuminatum and Fusarium culmorum isolates by means of tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis.
F. acuminatum and F. culmorum strains were compared by means of tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis in order to estimate the possibilities of serological classification in Fusarium sections "Gibbosum" and "Discolor". On the basis of qualitative similarity the two species could be distinguished well. By the use of anti-F. acuminatum serum a similarity of SSM = 0.52 was found between F. acuminatum and F. culmorum, but the SSM coefficient reached a value of 0.67 when the anti-F. culmorum serum was tested. This asymmetric nature of the qualitative similarity is discussed. In the majority of cases the quantitative differences of the common antigens did not allow differentiation between the species.


[Methods of general anesthesia in videothoracoscopic operative interventions: priorities and possibilities].
Peculiarities of endobronchial intubation and guaranteeing the monopulmonary ventilation parameters in videothoracoscopic interventions were studied up. Various methods of pulmonary collapse achievement were adduced. There were suggested the main principles of medicinal anesthesiological support as well as the perspectives for conditions improving for surgical comfort and the anesthesia optimization.


A multidisciplinary approach for managing the infraglottic difficult airway in the setting of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Management of a difficult airway caused by pathology below the glottis is high-risk and requires a shared approach to airway planning and surgical treatment. Access to the trachea requires a careful assessment of the airway since the end-point of laryngoscopy for infraglottic airway management is not visualization of the larynx for tube placement, but access to the laryngotracheal complex in cases where intubation may not be feasible or may preclude surgical access. This work provides a common framework for creating multidisciplinary shared-airway management plans and presents devices and strategies that have in recent years improved airway management safety in this difficult patient group and may prove useful in the setting of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).


Effect of cigarette smoking on the gastric mucosal blood volume index and hemoglobin oxygenation in man.
The acute effect of cigarette smoking on the gastric mucosal blood volume index and the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SO2) in the gastric mucosa was investigated in 12 young male volunteers using reflectance spectrophotometry during endoscopy. Six of these volunteers were habitual smokers who had smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day for more than five years. The others were non-habitual smokers who smoked less than 20 cigarettes a year. The indices of mucosal blood volume and the mucosal blood SO2 level were calculated from the spectra obtained at the lesser curvature of the lower corpus of the stomach before and after cigarette smoking. The indices of mucosal blood volume and mucosal blood SO2 decreased significantly after one to three puffs of cigarette smoking in all subjects as compared to the value before smoking, and the degree of decrease in these parameters was significantly greater in the non-habitual smokers than in the habitual smokers. These results suggest that only one to three puffs of cigarette smoking causes a decrease in the mucosal blood volume and the mucosal blood SO2 which might be related to weakening of mucosal defensive factors.


Nationwide Trends and the Influence of Age and Gender in the In-Patient Care of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Germany between 2010 and 2020.
This study analyzes nationwide trends in HCC hospitalizations focusing on interventional liver-directed treatments and the influence of age and gender. Using data from the German Federal Statistical Office all hospitalizations for HCC between 2010 and 2020 were included. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables independently associated with the use of liver-directed therapies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data from 2020 were analyzed separately. A total of 134,713 hospitalizations (2010-2019) were included, increasing by 3.4% annually (12,707 to 13,143). The mean in-hospital stay (-15.0% [7.2 to 6.1 days]) and mortality (-23.2% [6.8 to 5.2%]) decreased while transarterial, surgical, and percutaneous ablative interventions increased by 38.6, 31.5, and 19.3%, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 7.7% in admissions with surgical treatment, while it was 0.6 and 0.5% for transarterial and percutaneous interventions. Mortality was higher in females (6.2 vs. 5.7%). Females (OR 0.89 [0.86,0.91], p < 0.001) and patients ≥80 years (OR 0.81 [0.79,0.84], p < 0.001) were less likely to receive liver-directed treatments. Liver-directed therapies were increasingly performed while in-hospital mortality and in-hospital stay decreased. Minimally invasive approaches showed lower mortality, shorter in-hospital stay, and lower costs compared to surgery. Proportionately, more women and older patients were hospitalized, receiving fewer liver-directed treatments while their mortality was higher.


Bringing obesity to light: Rev-erbα, a central player in light-induced adipogenesis in the zebrafish?
Recent studies have led to an expansion of potential factors capable of stimulating obesity. Increasing evidence indicates that environmental factors, including disturbance of circadian rhythms, also contribute to its etiology. To determine the effects of altered circadian rhythms on adipogenesis and to better understand how circadian and adipogenic regulatory pathways are linked, zebrafish larvae were exposed to various light/dark cycles or hypercaloric feeding (HCF). Clock and adipogenic gene expression was quantitative real time PCR. Adipogenesis was characterized using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS) and whole-mount lipid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. The clock protein Rev-erbα and the adipogenesis-regulating protein Pparγ were localized by immunohistochemistry. Zebrafish larvae exposed to continuous light (LL) had a sevenfold higher prevalence of adipocytes compared with control fish under a 14 h light and 10 h dark cycle. It was also significantly higher compared with that in HCF larvae with control light/dark cycle, which showed a 5.5-fold increase compared with control animals. Although total fatty acid content was unaffected, adipocyte lipid composition was altered in LL zebrafish. In contrast, shifting the onset and duration of the light periods did not affect adipogenesis or total fatty acid content. Gene expression analysis revealed effects of LL and HCF on circadian cyclicity, with increased expression of the clock gene period2 and altered circadian rev-erbα expression in LL larvae. Immunostaining revealed for the first time that Rev-erbα and Pparγ colocalize in adipocytes, which together with the gene expression analysis suggests interplay between Rev-erbα and Ppar isoforms. The amount of light, but not shifted light/dark cycles, affected adipogenesis and lipid composition, possibly due to increased period2 expression, which, in turn, enhances Rev-erbα-regulated gene expression. As the pparβδ promoter includes three Rev-erbα binding sites, we hypothesize that pparβδ may be a direct target that ultimately activates Pparγ.


Pre-operative inflammatory markers and the risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients.
Pathophysiological mechanisms leading to delirium are not clear. Age is a known risk factor and hypothesised to be accompanied by a low-grade inflammatory state. Previous studies have shown an association between delirium and circulating proinflammatory markers in acutely ill and postoperative patients. In light of the ageing/inflammation theory, we investigated the association of these markers with delirium in not acutely ill, elderly patients. In a prospective nested case-control study levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (Il-6), insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured pre-operatively in elderly patients admitted for hip-surgery. These levels were compared between patients who later developed a post-operative delirium and patients who did not. Patients were matched for age and disease severity. Eighteen patients who developed delirium post-operatively were matched with 50 controls. Median APACHE-scores were below 16 in both groups. Pre-operative serum concentrations of CRP, Il-6 and IGF-1 did not differ between groups. IL-6 levels were associated with a measure of cognitive impairment. In the present study no relationship was found between levels of pre-operative circulating pro-inflammatory markers and post-operative delirium in elderly patients, who were free from acute or severe disease.


Using full-cohort data in nested case-control and case-cohort studies by multiple imputation.
In many large prospective cohorts, expensive exposure measurements cannot be obtained for all individuals. Exposure-disease association studies are therefore often based on nested case-control or case-cohort studies in which complete information is obtained only for sampled individuals. However, in the full cohort, there may be a large amount of information on cheaply available covariates and possibly a surrogate of the main exposure(s), which typically goes unused. We view the nested case-control or case-cohort study plus the remainder of the cohort as a full-cohort study with missing data. Hence, we propose using multiple imputation (MI) to utilise information in the full cohort when data from the sub-studies are analysed. We use the fully observed data to fit the imputation models. We consider using approximate imputation models and also using rejection sampling to draw imputed values from the true distribution of the missing values given the observed data. Simulation studies show that using MI to utilise full-cohort information in the analysis of nested case-control and case-cohort studies can result in important gains in efficiency, particularly when a surrogate of the main exposure is available in the full cohort. In simulations, this method outperforms counter-matching in nested case-control studies and a weighted analysis for case-cohort studies, both of which use some full-cohort information. Approximate imputation models perform well except when there are interactions or non-linear terms in the outcome model, where imputation using rejection sampling works well.


Contrasting intra- and extracellular distribution of catalytic ferrous iron in ovalbumin-induced peritonitis.
Iron is an essential nutrient for every type of life on earth. However, excess iron is cytotoxic and can lead to an increased cancer risk in humans. Catalytic ferrous iron [Fe(II)] is an initiator of the Fenton reaction, which causes oxidative stress by generating hydroxyl radicals. Recently, it became possible to localize catalytic Fe(II) in situ with a turn-on fluorescent probe, RhoNox-1. Here, we screened each organ/cell of rats to globally evaluate the distribution of catalytic Fe(II) and found that eosinophils showed the highest abundance. In various cells, lysosomes were the major organelle, sharing ∼40-80% of RhoNox-1 fluorescence. We then used an ovalbumin-induced allergic peritonitis model to study the dynamics of catalytic Fe(II). Peritoneal lavage revealed that the total iron contents per cell were significantly decreased, whereas an increase in the number of inflammatory cells (macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes) resulted in an increased total iron content of the peritoneal inflammatory cells. Notably, macrophages, eosinophils and neutrophils exhibited significantly increased catalytic Fe(II) with increased DMT1 expression and decreased ferritin expression, though catalytic Fe(II) was significantly decreased in the peritoneal lavage fluid. In conclusion, catalytic Fe(II) in situ more directly reflects cellular activity and the accompanying pathology than total iron does.


Endobronchial Lipoma: Case Report and Literature Review.
Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors that can cause bronchial obstruction resulting in significant symptoms and post-obstructive parenchymal damage. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality in these patients. We describe one case of endobronchial lipoma at our institution and include a literature review of endobronchial lipoma cases reported during the time period 2003-2018. Treatment has shifted towards bronchoscopic management and away from surgery for the majority of patients; 64.3% of patients in this review had their lipoma resected bronchoscopically, compared to 30% or less in reviews as recent as 2003. Notably, in cases reported since 2010, 72.7% of cases were managed bronchoscopically. Recurrence rates are low following both bronchoscopic and surgical resection.


Urinary ultrasonography in screening incidental renal cell carcinoma: is it obligatory?
To analyze the rate of incidental renal carcinoma in patients with no upper urinary tract symptoms (UUTS) or hematuria depending on the sonography reports and medical records of the patients and to determine whether there is a need for routine US screening for RCC. We reviewed the reports of 18.686 consecutive urinary US examinations performed in our department between March 1995 and February 2008. A total of 18.203 urinary US examinations formed the study group. Patients with UUTS, patients with presumed diagnosis of or previously diagnosed renal masses, and patients with hematuria were excluded. There were 11,654 male and 6,549 female patients with a mean age of 55 years. Ultrasonography revealed incidental solid renal masses in 0.44% of the patients. Seven of the 81 patients with incidentally detected renal masses could not be followed up. Thirty-eight of the remaining 74 patients had masses that were proved to be benign with other imaging techniques. Thirty-six of the 74 patients with preoperative diagnosis of renal tumor underwent surgery, and the histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all patients. One patient expired in the postoperative 18th month due to the progression of the metastatic disease. The rest of the patients with malignant renal tumor are disease free and are still under follow-up. The rate of incidental renal cancer in patients without UUTS is found to be 0.20%. We believe that scanning for incidental renal masses is not obligatory except for the patients with symptoms suggestive of renal carcinoma.


The effect of bioactive complex of quercetin, selenium, catechins and curcumin on cardiovascular risk markers in healthy population after a two month consumption.
Nutrition is an important factor in prevention of degenerative age-related diseases. Health benefits of the functional food - cereal selenized onion biscuits with bioactive complex such as selenium in organic form, quercetin (onion), curcumin (curcuma) and catechins (green tea) were evaluated. In a group of randomly selected 50 apparently healthy men, aged 30-50 years, the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine (HCy) and its nutritional determinants (methionine, vitamin B12, folic acid, cysteine, vitamin B6) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured and the LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index was calculated before and after a 2-month consumption period and after a 2-month wash-out period. The significant reduction of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index, HCy and ADMA was found after onion biscuit consumption. Alternative pathway for HCy degradation using betaine as methyl donor is probably a sole argument for reduced HCy value at the significantly reduced concentrations of the methionine, folic acid, cysteine and vitamin B6. Value of hs-CRP was non-significantly reduced after biscuit consumption. The results of improved lipid profile, significantly reduced values of HCy and ADMA document a beneficial effect of cereal biscuit with selenized onion, curcuma and green tea in prevention of cardiovascular disease (Tab. 2, Ref. 19).


Low-Cost, High-Frequency, Data Acquisition System for Condition Monitoring of Rotating Machinery through Vibration Analysis-Case Study.
Data acquisition is a crucial stage in the execution of condition monitoring (CM) of rotating machinery, by means of vibration analysis. However, the major challenge in the execution of this technique lies in the features of the recording equipment (accuracy, resolution, sampling frequency and number of channels) and the cost they represent. The present work proposes a low-cost data acquisition system, based on Raspberry-Pi, with a high sampling frequency capacity in the recording of up to three channels. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed data acquisition system, a case study is presented in which the vibrations registered in a bearing are analyzed for four degrees of failure.


Anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs) selectively bind acylated anthocyanins in Vitis vinifera L. (grapevine) suspension culture.
Anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs) appear as dark red-to-purple spheres of various sizes in vacuoles of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cell suspension culture due to their interaction with anthocyanins. AVIs were purified and the bound anthocyanins extracted and analysed by HPLC from two lines of V. vinifera isolated from the same callus accumulating anthocyanin in the dark, yet varying in their anthocyanin profiles and accumulation. An intermediate-pigmented line (FU-1) with a 1.3:1 ratio of acylated:non-acylated anthocyanins, a colour value of 0.84 units and cyanidin and peonidin as the dominant species was compared with a high-pigmented line (FU-2) with a 1.2:1 ratio of acylated:non-acylated anthocyanins, a colour value of 3.72 units and malvidin predominating. The profile of AVI-bound anthocyanins showed an increase in acylated anthocyanins in both lines of approx. 28-29%, with no apparent preference for anthocyanin species. This resulted in a ratio of acylated:non-acylated anthocyanins of 6.2:1 for FU-1 and 4.9:1 for FU-2. The reasons for the selectivity of the AVIs for acylated (specifically p-coumaroylated) species compared with the whole cell profile are discussed.


[Awareness, treatment and control of blood pressure according to place of recruitment and sex in the May Measure Month 2018 survey in Spain].
To analyse the data, according to recruiting place and sex, of the survey May Measure Month in 2018 (MMM18) in Spain, promoted by the International Society of Hypertension. Subjects more than 18 years old were studied. MMM18 protocol was performed. Volunteers were recruited through the Spanish Society of Community Pharmacy (SEFAC) and the Spanish Society of Hypertension (SEH-LELHA). General linear models of blood pressure (BP) were carried out in subjects with and without treatment, and adjusted by age, sex, tobacco use, obesity and recruitment site. 7 511 individuals (mean age 51.7 ± 19.6 years, 36.8% males) were screened. Systolic and diastolic BP was higher in males (129.0-16.7/119.6-18.2 mmHg) (78.3-11.1/74.8-10.7 mmHg) (p < 0.001). There was a linear relationship between systolic BP, age and sex, with higher values in males (11.2 mmHg in untreated and 4.5 mmHg in treated) (p < 0.001). Diastolic BP was inverted U-shaped, with highest level in males and between 50-55 years. The proportion of individuals with hypertension (pharmacies; public and clinical area) was 47.2% (54.2; 34.1 and 34.8%). Seventy-five percent were aware of their diagnosis (77.5; 61.5 and 69.2%), with 22% of them without pharmacological treatment (20.7; 26.0 and 27.9%). Sixty-four point five percent of those under antihypertensive treatment met targets (62.9; 65.6 and 69.1%) (p < 0.001). There is big room for improvement in MMM indicators in Spain. Nearly half of subjects are hypertensive. Of those aware of their condition, 1 in 5 did not follow pharmacological treatment and of those treated, 1 in 3 did not meet targets. BP levels were significantly higher in males. Our study suggests that gender differences described should be considered in the BP thresholds established.


Maresin 1 regulates insulin signaling in human adipocytes as well as in adipose tissue and muscle of lean and obese mice.
Maresin 1 (MaR1) is a DHA-derived pro-resolving lipid mediator. The present study aimed to characterize the ability of MaR1 to prevent the alterations induced by TNF-α on insulin actions in glucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation in cultured human adipocytes from overweight/obese subjects, as well as to investigate the effects of MaR1 acute and chronic administration on Akt phosphorylation in absence/presence of insulin in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle from lean and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. MaR1 (0.1 nM) prevented the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on insulin-stimulated 2-Deoxy-D-glucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation in human adipocytes. Acute treatment with MaR1 (50 μg/kg, 3 h, i.p.) induced Akt phosphorylation in WAT and skeletal muscle of lean mice. However, MaR1 did not further increase the stimulatory effect of insulin on Akt activation. Interestingly, intragastric chronic treatment with MaR1 (50 μg/kg, 10 days) in DIO mice reduced the hyperglycemia induced by the high fat diet (HFD) and improved systemic insulin sensitivity. In parallel, MaR1 partially restored the impaired insulin response in skeletal muscle of DIO mice and reversed HFD-induced lower Akt phosphorylation in WAT in non-insulin-stimulated DIO mice while did not restore the defective Akt activation in response to acute insulin observed in DIO mice. Our results suggest that MaR1 attenuates the impaired insulin signaling and glucose uptake induced by proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, the current data support that MaR1 treatment could be useful to reduce the hyperglycemia and the insulin resistance associated to obesity, at least in part by improving Akt signaling.


Malicious and Benign Webpages Dataset.
Web Security is a challenging task amidst ever rising threats on the Internet. With billions of websites active on Internet, and hackers evolving newer techniques to trap web users, machine learning offers promising techniques to detect malicious websites. The dataset described in this manuscript is meant for such machine learning based analysis of malicious and benign webpages. The data has been collected from Internet using a specialized focused web crawler named MalCrawler [1]. The dataset comprises of various extracted attributes, and also raw webpage content including JavaScript code. It supports both supervised and unsupervised learning. For supervised learning, class labels for malicious and benign webpages have been added to the dataset using the Google Safe Browsing API. The most relevant attributes within the scope have already been extracted and included in this dataset. However, the raw web content, including JavaScript code included in this dataset supports further attribute extraction, if so desired. Also, this raw content and code can be used as unstructured data input for text-based analytics. This dataset consists of data from approximately 1.5 million webpages, which makes it suitable for deep learning algorithms. This article also provides code snippets used for data extraction and its analysis.


Effect of sowing dates and vernalization on Beta vulgaris L. cv. Univers C-leaf structure.
This research was conducted to study the effect of three different sowing dates (15th October, 15th November and 15th December) and two vernalization treatments (5 °C and -20 °C) on leaf structure of Beta vulgaris L. cv. Univers. The obtained data are summarized as follows: The maximum values of the most studied parameters; lower epidermis + spongy tissue thickness, midrib, mesophyll tissue, vascular bundle, collenchymatous tissue and number of xylem vessels per arm were found as a result of 15th October sowing date treatment compared with the two other sowing dates. Furthermore, effect of the cooling treatments varied according to the recorded character, sowing date and cooling degree. Most of the vernalization treatments at early sowing dates increased the mesophyll tissue, midrib, number of vascular bundles per transverse section, vascular bundle thickness and number of xylem arms per transverse section. The two studied cooling treatments at 15th October sowing date increased both stomatal index and average number of stomata: average number of epidermis cells compared with the control. Furthermore, 15th October under -20 °C treatment led to small epidermal cells and stomata formation, straight epidermal cell walls and closed stomata in comparison to the control.


Seasonal Variation and Severity of Acute Abdomen in Japan: A Nine-Year Retrospective Analysis.
The seasonal incidence of acute abdomens, such as appendicitis, is reportedly more common in summer but is reported less frequently in Asia. Additionally, seasonal variations in the severity of acute abdomens have been evaluated insufficiently. This study evaluated the seasonal variations in the incidence and severity of acute abdomens in Japan. This retrospective observational study used a multicenter database containing data from 42 acute hospitals in Japan. We included all patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, and cholangitis between January 2011 and December 2019. Baseline patient data included admission date, sequential organ failure assessment score, presence of sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We enrolled 24,708 patients with acute abdomen. Seasonal admissions for all four acute abdominal diseases were the highest in summer [acute appendicitis, (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.28-1.43); diverticulitis, (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.16-1.31; cholecystitis (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.11-1.36); and cholangitis (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.12-1.36)]. The proportion of patients with sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation as well as the total SOFA score for each disease, did not differ significantly across seasons. Seasonal variations in disease severity were not observed.


Psychiatry teaching in China.
A brief introduction of Psychiatry in China is presented, including the history, present status, content of textbooks and the arrangement of lecture hours and clinical practice.


Molecular characterization of Rhipicephalus microplus in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India: an insight into genetic assemblages.
The tick, Rhipicephalus microplus is considered as the most notorious ectoparasite of veterinary importance in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The present study deals with the molecular characterization of R. microplus in different regions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands using sequence information of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COX1) and their phylogenetic relationship with other Indian R. microplus genotypes. DNA polymorphism study identified a total of eight haplotypes with haplotype diversity of 0.909 ± 0.065 and nucleotide diversity of 0.01911 ± 0.00493. Currently, R. microplus complex consists of five taxa; R. microplus clade A sensu Burger et al. (2014), R. microplus clade B sensu Burger et al. (2014), R. microplus clade C sensu Low et al. (2015), R. australis and R. annulatus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of two clades (clade A and clade C) of R. microplus in Andaman and Nicobar isolates; Nicobar isolates belonged to clade A whereas Andaman isolates belonged to clade C of R. microplus complex. All the other Indian sequences retrieved from GenBank belonged to clade C of R. microplus complex. Andaman isolates under clade C of R. microplus were phylogenetically distinct from Indian isolates, which indicates independent speciation under isolated island milieu. In Indian isolates, no host-specific or geographical location-specific sub-clustering was observed which indicates the species jumping potential of the R. microplus tick. Therefore, this study indicated the presence of two different genetic makeup of R. microplus complex in two areas of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago separated by a natural geographical barrier. This indicates presence of two different founding populations of ticks, one in the south and north-middle Andaman and the other in Nicobar Island.


Magnetic resonance classification proposal for fibrous capsules in breast silicone implants.
To propose a new classification system for evaluating fibrous capsules around silicone implants using magnetic resonance. We retrospectively evaluated 90 consecutive patients who underwent breast MRI scans at a single center from February to March 2022. All patients with silicone implants and contrast dynamic sequences were included. Two radiologists classified the fibrous capsules according to the proposed classification in four grades. Interobserver variability was calculated for the final score. For comparison purposes, the inter-rater agreement of background parenchymal enhancement and the amount of fibroglandular tissue were also calculated. Reader 1 classified 2 (2.2) fibrous capsules as grade 1, 7 (7.8) as grade 2, 18 (20.0) as grade 3, and 63 (70.0) as grade 4, whereas reader 2 classified 1 (1.1), 9 (10.0), 24 (26.7), and 56 (62.2) fibrous capsules, respectively, for each grade. The interobserver agreement for fibrous capsule classification was moderate (ĸ = 0.65). The inter-rater agreement of background parenchymal enhancement and amount of fibroglandular tissue were fair: ĸ = 0.50 and ĸ = 0.44, respectively. Our study proposes classifying FC by MRI in patients with SI to standardize the description and classification of the findings with good interobserver agreement.


Economic analysis of a randomized phase III trial of gemcitabine plus vinorelbine compared with cisplatin plus vinorelbine or cisplatin plus gemcitabine for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (Italian GEMVIN3/NCIC CTG BR14 trial).
Non-platinum-based chemotherapy is a potential alternative to platinum doublet therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in selected patients. We determined the cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine/vinorelbine (GEMVIN), versus cisplatin/gemcitabine (PG) or cisplatin/vinorelbine (PV), from a government payer perspective. Results from a randomized trial of GEMVIN versus PG or PV demonstrated no significant difference in global quality of life (primary endpoint) or overall survival between regimens, but superior progression-free survival for platinum-based regimens. A cost analysis was conducted using direct medical costs of treatment, grade 3 or 4 toxicity management, and investigations for the mean number of cycles per study arm. Costs were calculated using Canadian dollars in 2005, and then in 2013 after drug patent expiry. In 2005, GEMVIN was the most expensive regimen ($6868), and PV the least expensive ($4650), with an incremental cost of GEMVIN over PV of $2218. Diagnostic and administration costs did not differ significantly among regimens; GEMVIN had the lowest toxicity costs. The principal cost driver in 2005 was the cost of chemotherapy. In 2013, toxicity and administration costs emerged as major drivers; GEMVIN was less costly than PV and PG, (cost savings of $413 over PV). Despite similar outcomes, GEMVIN was more expensive than PV or PG in 2005 because of higher chemotherapy costs. By 2013, after chemotherapy drug patent expiry, GEMVIN became the least costly regimen. Economic considerations in oncology change over time, and should be revisited in policy decisions based on cost.


A TSTDP memristive synapse based on a comprehensive mathematical model of memory-TFT threshold voltage shift.
New emerging nano-scale technologies like hydrogenated noncrystalline-silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) and memristors, fabricated at low temperatures and over large areas, permit low-cost processing and 3D integration with CMOS cores. Here, we aim to propose a mathematical model which explains the memory-TFT threshold voltage shift due to the gate bias instability. Then, based on this mathematical approach, we propose a novel learning synapse composed of a voltage/flux driven memristor in parallel with a common-source memory-TFT with a memristive load. The proposed device realizes the triplet-based spike-timing-dependent plasticity rule (TSTDP) as a more realistic form of learning than the purely pair-based STDP (PSTDP). PSTDP is a synaptic learning rule which utilizes a constant-frequency pairing protocol to induce synaptic weight change and cannot explain the modification due to the frequency changes of spike pairs, and also the outcomes of triplet and quadruplet experiments. However, TSTDP improves the learning capabilities of the conventional PSTDP and reproduces the results of more electrophysiological experiments. In this paper, we apply various spike patterns like different-frequency and different-timing spike pairs, spike triplets, and quadruplets to the proposed device. Our simulations confirm a close match with the experimental data sets of real biological synapses.


Simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures repaired using an endobutton technique: a case report.
The simultaneous rupture of both distal biceps tendons is a rare clinical entity that is difficult to treat and can have poor outcomes. A variety of treatment and rehabilitation options exist and have been reported for single sided and staged bilateral repairs, but none have described an approach for acute bilateral ruptures. Repairing distal biceps tendon ruptures using a single anterior incision and a cortical suspensory button technique has become increasingly popular in recent years. We present a report of our surgical approach using an endobutton technique and rehabilitation algorithm for this unusual injury pattern. A 43-year-old Caucasian man presented with acute onset bilateral elbow pain while lifting a large sheet of drywall off the ground. He initially felt a 'pop' on the right and almost immediately felt another on the left after having to quickly shift the weight. He was unable to continue working and sought medical attention. His pain was predominantly in his bilateral antecubital fossae and he had significant swelling and ecchymoses. His clinical examination demonstrated no palpable tendon, a retracted biceps muscle belly, and clear supination weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures with retraction on both sides. After discussion with our patient, we decided that both sides would be repaired using a single anterior incision with endobutton fixation, first his right followed by his left six weeks later. Overall, our patient did very well and had returned to full manual work by our last follow-up at 30 months. Although he was never able to return to competitive recreational hockey and was left with mild lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve dysesthesias on his right, he felt he was at 85% of his premorbid level of function. We describe what we believe to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures successfully treated with a single-incision endobutton technique, which represents a valid option in managing this difficult problem.


Early initiation of prostacyclin in portopulmonary hypertension: 10 years of a transplant center's experience.
Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a subgroup of Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with particularly poor prognosis. Delay in initiation of parenteral therapy may be the reason for poor outcome. We conducted a prospective observational study of all patients with Group 1 PoPH evaluated at Henry Ford Hospital between January 2002 and July 2012. The cohort of the REVEAL Registry patients with PoPH was used as the comparator group. The patient survival rates at 5 years after diagnosis and 2 years after enrollment, treatment trends, and the freedom from all-cause hospitalization rates at 2 years after enrollment were compared using χ (2) analysis. Twenty-one patients were enrolled in the PH Clinic with PoPH from January 2002 through July 2012. Our patients were significantly more likely to be on prostacyclin IV at 90 days as compared to REVEAL PoPH patients (67 vs. 31 %; p = 0.002). Despite this, early outcomes were not significantly different between the groups: 2-year survival from enrollment (70 and 67 %, respectively; p = 0.77) and 2-year freedom from hospitalization (35 vs. 49 %, respectively; p = 0.29). However, 5-year survival from time of diagnosis was significantly higher in our cohort of PoPH patients (71 and 40 %, respectively; p = 0.02). Early initiation of parenteral prostacyclin therapy in PoPH patients at a single institution was associated with improved 5-year patient survival from diagnosis as compared to the REVEAL Registry of PoPH patients and allowed for clearance for transplant in 52 % of patients within 1 year.


Nursing students' experiences of unprofessional behaviours and associations with guideline compliance: A multicenter survey.
To assess the reported prevalence of unprofessional behaviours, including incivility and bullying, experienced by nursing students during their clinical practice. To assess the prevalence of students' abilities to speak up about unprofessional behaviours encountered and infection control concerns; their compliance with standard precautions and COVID-19 guidelines; and their perceived responsibility for infection prevention. Lastly, to describe the potential impact of unprofessional behaviour on compliance with these guidelines. Unprofessional behaviours in healthcare settings are associated with a wide range of individual and organisational negative outcomes for nurses and nursing students, which may affect patient safety. The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for clinical education and for infection control. A descriptive cross-sectional design. A multi-centre survey was carried out in six academic universities and colleges in Israel. The research study involved 369 undergraduate nursing students during 2022. Their clinical experiences were assessed using an online questionnaire. The STROBE guideline was used for accurate reporting. 301 (81.6%) students reported experience of unprofessional behaviour while undertaking clinical practice. Students with reported skills to speak up about unprofessional behaviour were less likely to report having experienced these behaviours (p = 0.003). Students who did not experience unprofessional behaviours were more likely to report higher compliance with standard and COVID-19 precaution guidelines (OR 3.624, 95% CI 1.790-7.335, p < 0.001). These students also had a higher perception of personal responsibility toward patient safety (OR 1.757, 95% CI 1.215-2.541, p = 0.003). Nursing students experiencing unprofessional behaviours in the clinical setting reported lower compliance with standard and COVID-19 precautions. In addition, cultivating personal responsibility towards patients' safety may have a positive impact on guidelines compliance. Nursing educators and leaders should develop strategies to enable students to better cope with unprofessional behaviours. Closer cooperation between all stakeholders may promote civility among nurses and nursing students in the clinical setting.


Percent positive rate of Lyme real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and tissue.
We performed a retrospective review of 23,777 specimens tested by our Lyme real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to determine the percent positive rates by specimen source. The percent positive rates were highest in synovial fluid (6.4%) and tissue (6.5%), and lowest in blood (0.1%) and cerebrospinal fluid (0.09%).


Use of tablet-based kiosks in the emergency department to guide patient HIV self-testing with a point-of-care oral fluid test.
Despite successes in efforts to integrate HIV testing into routine care in emergency departments, challenges remain. Kiosk-facilitated, directed HIV self-testing offers one novel approach to address logistical challenges. Emergency department patients, 18-64 years, were recruited to evaluate use of tablet-based-kiosks to guide patients to conduct their own point-of-care HIV tests followed by standard-of-care HIV tests by healthcare workers. Both tests were OraQuick Advance tests. Of 955 patients approached, 473 (49.5%) consented; 467 completed the test, and 100% had concordant results with healthcare workers. Median age was 41 years, 59.6% were female, 74.8% were African-American, and 19.6% were White. In all, 99.8% of patients believed the self-test was "definitely" or "probably" correct; 91.7% of patients "trusted their results very much"; 99.8% reported "overall" self-testing was "easy or somewhat easy" to perform. Further, 96.9% indicated they would "probably" or "definitely" test themselves at home were the HIV test available for purchase; 25.9% preferred self-testing versus 34.4% who preferred healthcare professional testing (p>0.05). Tablet-based kiosk testing proved to be highly feasible, acceptable, and an accurate method of conducting rapid HIV self-testing in this study; however, rates of engagement were moderate. More research will be required to ascertain barriers to increased engagement for self-testing.


Benchmark data for identifying N(6)-methyladenosine sites in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome.
This data article contains the benchmark dataset for training and testing iRNA-Methyl, a web-server predictor for identifying N(6)-methyladenosine sites in RNA (Chen et al., 2015 [15]). It can also be used to develop other predictors for identifying N(6)-methyladenosine sites in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome.


Can we use mine waste as substrate in constructed wetlands to intensify nutrient removal? A critical assessment of key removal mechanisms and long-term environmental risks.
The utilization of natural ores and/or mine waste as substrate in constructed wetlands (CWs) to enhance nutrient removal performance has been gaining high popularity recently. However, the knowledge regarding the long-term feasibility and key removal mechanisms, particularly the potential negative environmental effects of contaminants leached from mine waste is far insufficient. This study, for the first time, performed a critical assessment by using different CWs with three mine waste (coal gangue, iron ore and manganese ore) as substrates in a 385-day experiment treating wastewater with varying nutrient loadings. The results showed that the addition of mine waste in CWs increased removal of total phosphorus (TP) by 17-34%, and total nitrogen (TN) by 11-51%. The higher removal of TP is mainly attributed to the strong binding mechanism of phosphate with the oxides and hydroxides of Mn, Fe and/or Al, which are leached out of mine waste. Moreover, integration of mine waste in CWs also significantly stimulated biofilm establishment and enriched the relative abundance of key functional genes related to the nitrogen cycle, supporting the observed high-rate nitrogen removal. However, leaching of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu and Cr) from the beded mine waste in the experimented CWs was monitored, which further influenced cytoplasmic enzymes and created oxidative stress damage to plants, resulting in a decline of nutrient uptake by plants.


Chemical bonding and atomic structure in Y2O3:ZrO2-SrTiO3 layered heterostructures.
Repeating boundaries: the buried interfaces in artificial heterostructures produced by sequential deposition of nanosized units are critical to their properties. With density functional theory it was shown that in Y(2)O(3):ZrO(2) (YSZ) and SrTiO(3) (STO) heterostructures reconstruction of the interfaces between the component units is required to access the most favorable structure.


The influence of the dissolved oxygen concentration on the physiology and ecology of Sphaerotilus natans Kütz.
Using a hermetically closed experimental system the influence of continuously decreasing oxygen concentration on the metabolism of Sphaerotilus natans was investigated by concurrently measuring the temperature, pH, oxygen, sucrose, organic acids, diluted organic carbon (DOC) and dry weight.Oxygen and sucrose were eliminated linearly until the detection limit of <0,1 mg O2/l for dissolved oxygen concentration was reached. Under anaerobic conditions neither sucrose uptake nor organic acid formation occured and autolytic processes were evident. The results confirm that Sphaerotilus natans is an aerobic organism with no capacity for fermentative metabolism.


Outcome of interventions to improve the quality of intrapartum care in Nigeria's referral hospitals: a quasi-experimental research design.
Evidence indicates that Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate is attributable primarily to events that occur during the intrapartum period. This study determines the effectiveness of multifaceted interventions in improving the quality of intrapartum care in Nigeria's referral hospitals. Data collected through an exit interview with 752 women who received intrapartum care in intervention and control hospitals were analyzed. The interventions were designed to improve the quality indicators in the WHO recommendations for positive childbirth and assessed using 12 quality indicators. Univariate, bivariate, Poisson, and logistic regression analyses were used to compare twelve quality indicators at intervention and control hospitals. The interventions showed a 6% increase in composite score of quality of care indicators at intervention compared with control hospitals. Five signal functions of intrapartum care assessed were significantly (< 0.001) better at intervention hospitals. Quality scores for segments of intervention periods compared to baseline were higher at intervention than in control hospitals. We conclude that multiple interventions that address various components of the quality of intrapartum care in Nigeria's referral hospitals have demonstrated effectiveness. The interventions improved five of ten quality indicators. We believe that this approach to developing interventions based on formative research is important, but a process of integrating the implementation activities with the normal maternal health delivery processes in the hospitals will enhance the effectiveness of this approach. The study was registered at the Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry. Trial Registration Number NCTR No: 91,540,209 (14/04/2016) http://www.nctr.nhrec.net/ and retrospectively with the ISRCTN. Trial Registration Number 64 ISRCTN17985403 (14/08/2020) https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17985403 .


Long non-coding RNA SNHG22 facilitates the malignant phenotypes in triple-negative breast cancer via sponging miR-324-3p and upregulating SUDS3.
Increasing evidence has indicated the important role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating the development and progression of cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 22 (SNHG22) is a novel lncRNA that has been identified as tumor-contributor in ovarian carcinoma. However, its function has not been explored in TNBC. qRT-PCR was used to identify gene expression at mRNA level while western blot was utilized to analyze the protein level. Functional assays were implemented to identify changes on the proliferation, apoptosis and motility of TNBC cells under different conditions. Additionally, mechanistic assays, such as RIP assay, RNA pull down assay and luciferase reporter assay, were applied to assess relationships between molecules. SNHG22 represented a high expression level in TNBC tissues and cells. Besides, SNHG22 silencing restrained the proliferation, migration and invasion of TNBC cells. Furthermore, miR-324-3p that was lowly expressed in TNBC cells was conformed to be sponged by SNHG22. Moreover, upregulated miR-324-3p inhibited cell proliferation and motility in TNBC. Subsequently, we identified that SUDS3, a tumor-facilitator with elevated expression in TNBC, was the downstream target of SNHG22/miR-324-3p axis. Of note, miR-324-3p repression or SUDS3 overexpression could rescue the anti-tumor effect of SNHG22 silencing on the malignant phenotypes of TNBC cells. LncRNA SNHG22 facilitated cell growth and motility in TNBC via sponging miR-324-3p and upregulating SUDS3, highlighting a new promising road for TNBC treatment development.


Pollen carryover, nectar rewards, and pollinator behavior with special reference to Diervilla lonicera.
Pollen carryover was measured in three species of bumble bee pollinated plants by counting the numbers of foreign grains applied to the stigmas of a series of flowers by bumble bees. Deposition declined with the number of flowers visited in a roughly exponential fashion; most grains were deposited on the first few flowers, but some grains went much farther, the maximum carryover being 54 flowers. Variation in deposition was very high. In Diervilla lonicera, bees desposited significantly more grains on flowers which contained large amounts of nectar than on drained flowers. The implications are discussed in terms of plant strategies for optimizing pollination.


Facile synthesis of mPEG-luteolin-capped silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity to neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.
We firstly report a facile route for the green synthesis of mPEG-luteolin-capped silver nanoparticles (mPEG-luteolin-AgNPs) using mPEG-luteolin as both the reducer and stabilizer. The reaction was carried out in a stirred aqueous solution at 50°C without additional poisonous reagents. The prepared mPEG-luteolin-AgNPs was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), zeta potential and UV-vis (UV-vis) spectrum, respectively. The proportions of mPEG-luteolin capped silver nanoparticles is about 89.9%, and the content of silver is 6.65%. The mPEG-luteolin-AgNPs was evaluated the antimicrobial effects on Staphlococcus aureus, Extended spectrum β-Lactamases Staphlococcus aureus, Escherichia Coli and Extended spectrum β-Lactamases Escherichia Coli using drilling hole method. The results showed that both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were killed by the mPEG-luteolin-AgNPs at low concentration. Meanwhile, the cell viability assay demonstrated that mPEG-luteolin-AgNPs had toxic effects on human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.


A phase I trial of LY2510924, a CXCR4 peptide antagonist, in patients with advanced cancer.
Overexpression of C-X-C motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) is implicated in tumor progression. LY2510924 is a peptide antagonist, which blocks stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) from CXCR4 binding. This phase I study included two parts: a 3+3 dose escalation (part A) and dose confirmation (part B). LY2510924 was administered as a daily subcutaneous injection on a 28-day cycle. The primary objective was to determine the recommended phase II dose. Secondary objectives included safety, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and pharmacodynamic response, including mobilization of CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells into the peripheral blood. Forty-five patients were enrolled, 25 in part A and 20 in part B. Patients were administered increasing doses of LY2510924: 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/day for part A and 2.5 or 20 mg/day for part B. Two patients (30-mg/day cohort) experienced dose-limiting toxicities of grade 3 increased neutrophil count. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 20 mg/day. The most common drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events were fatigue (9%), injection-site reaction (9%), injection site pruritus (7%), and nausea (7%). The best response was stable disease for nine patients (20%). At the end of cycle 1, mean peak LY2510924 plasma concentration and the 24-hour area under the plasma concentration versus time curve increased slightly more than dose proportionally. LY2510924 dose dependently increased CD34(+) cell counts in peripheral blood up to 18-fold. LY2510924 demonstrated CD34(+) cell mobilization at doses ≥2.5 mg/day with a tolerable safety profile up to an MTD of 20 mg/day.