Open versus endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common hand condition, which after a failure of conservative treatment can be treated successfully with surgical decompression in either an open or endoscopic manner. On comparing the two techniques there may be some subtle differences; however, both can provide an excellent outcome. This article provides a detailed review of each technique as well as their comparative differences in terms of technique, outcomes, and complications.


Effects of various rinsing protocols after the use of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride toothpaste on the acid production of dental plaque and tongue flora.
The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effect of various rinsing protocols on oral acid production 6 h after tooth brushing with an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride (AmF/SnF2) toothpaste. After a 14-day period of using F-free toothpaste, 30 participants followed three experimental protocols each, followed by F-free washout periods in a randomized crossover trial. They used AmF/SnF2 toothpaste twice daily for 1 week, and after brushing, they either rinsed with tap water, omitted the post-brush rinse, or rinsed with an AmF/SnF2 mouthwash. In the F-free washout periods, the participants brushed their teeth without further instructions. Six hours after the last brushing (+/-rinsing) of each period, subjects rinsed with 10 ml 10% sucrose solution for 2 min. A tongue film sample and a buccal plaque sample were taken 4 and 8 min after the sucrose challenge, respectively. Metabolic acid ions were determined by capillary electrophoresis. The results show that (1) omitting the post-brush water rinse did not reduce the production of lactic, acetic or minor acids in plaque, nor on the tongue, and that (2) the additional use of AmF/SnF2 mouthwash after brushing reduced the acid production in plaque and tongue samples for at least 6 h. The distributions of acids produced in the plaque or tongue samples were not statistically different between experimental periods. It is concluded that an increase in the antimetabolic effect of AmF/SnF2 toothpaste in between two daily brushing exercises is not achieved by omitting the post-brush water rinse. The additional use of AmF/SnF2 mouthwash after brushing is effective in reducing the acid metabolism in dental plaque and tongue flora.


Program evaluation and research at thresholds.
Threshold's degree of success in meeting its six program goals has been consistently evaluated and researched for many years.


Close linkage in Pseudomonas stutzeri of the structural genes for respiratory nitrite reductase and nitrous oxide reductase, and other essential genes for denitrification.
The structural gene, nirS, for the respiratory nitrite reductase (cytochrome cd1) from Pseudomonas stutzeri was identified by (i) sequencing of the N-terminus of the purified protein and partial sequencing of the cloned gene, (ii) immunoscreening of clones from a lambda gt11 expression library, (iii) mapping of the transposon Tn5 insertion site in the nirS mutant strain MK202, and (iv) complementation of strain MK202 with a plasmid carrying the insert from an immunopositive lambda clone. A mutation causing overproduction of cytochrome c552 mapped on the same 8.6 kb EcoRI fragment within 1.7 kb of the mutation affecting nirS. Two mutations affecting nirD, which cause the synthesis of an inactive cytochrome cd1 lacking heme d1, mapped 1.1 kb apart within a 10.5 kb EcoRI fragment contiguous with the fragment carrying nirS. Nir- mutants of another type that had low level synthesis of cytochrome cd1, had Tn5 insertions within an 11 kb EcoRI fragment unlinked to the nirS+ and nirD+ fragments. Cosmid mapping provided evidence that nirS and nirD, and the previously identified gene cluster for nitrous oxide respiration are closely linked. The nirS gene and the structural gene for nitrous oxide reductase, nosZ, are transcribed in the same direction and are separated by approximately 14 kb. Several genes for copper processing are located within the intervening region.


Paratriathlon Race Performance in High-Level Athletes With Visual Impairments: A Retrospective Analysis.
The aim of this study was to compare time-trial performances in elite paratriathlon athletes, according to visual classes, sex, and medal distribution. The data were acquired from official books on Para Triathlon World Cups (2018-2020). The sample included 150 athletes with visual impairment, in classes: PTVI1, PTVI2, and PTVI3. One-way analysis of variance, the Student t test, and χ 2 were used to compare the performance variables and association between visual impairment classes and distribution of medals within different visual impairment classes. Sex comparisons demonstrated better performance for male athletes compared with female athletes ( P < 0.05). In the sex-specific analysis, only cycling velocity was higher for female, being lower for PTVI1 compared with PTVI3 ( P = 0.012). In visual impairment class results, the first transition time was higher for PTVI1 compared with PTVI2 ( P = 0.050) and PTVI3 ( P = 0.027) and, in the second transition, higher for PTVI1 compared with PTVI2 ( P = 0.001). The χ 2 test showed a higher percentage of gold medals for PTVI3 athletes considering the whole group ( P = 0.050). These results indicate that male athletes have better performance than female athletes. PTVI1 female athletes showed lower cycling velocity compared with PTVI3. Considering both male and female groups, blind athletes presented higher transition times and a lower percentage of medals.


Anticipatory postural adjustments in forward and backward single stepping: Task variability and effects of footwear.
A single step is usually preceded by the so-named anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). These are normally described through the observation of the trajectory of the center of pressure (CoP). Even though, external factors such as stepping direction and footwear are known to modify APAs, quantitative investigations regarding their relevant effects are understudied in the literature. Therefore, this study aims at characterizing APAs patterns prior to forward and backward stepping when performed either in barefoot or shod condition and explores their variability. Twenty-eight young healthy volunteers participated in the study. CoP trajectories were recorded using a force plate and relevant spatio-temporal parameters extracted (i.e. duration, amplitude, and mean speed). Results showed distinct effects of both direction of the step and footwear on APAs: the first mainly induces variations of APAs along the anteroposterior direction, whereas the latter in the mediolateral direction. In addition, variability indices exhibited lower values for the APAs along the mediolateral axis which was affected by neither footwear nor direction of the step. This study extends previous literature by revealing significant direction X footwear interactions on APAs. Furthermore, regardless of these factors, the medio-lateral strategy is still well preserved, highlighting the prioritization of balance control over motor performance. In conclusion, both direction and footwear have a major effect on postural preparation therefore both factors should be included when evaluating APAs in real-life condition.


Genetic implications for major affective disorders.
This article reviews the current outcomes of twin, adoption, and family epidemiological studies. Psychiatric genetics research has made a major paradigm shift from epidemiology studies to molecular genetic research. The manner in which affective disorders are inherited continues to elude scientists. Nurses, in collaboration with patients, families and scientists, can facilitate the research process. Merging our professional caring with the biological research outcomes will assure our professional contribution in this expanding research and assist the affected persons from further stigmatization.


Recombinant thrombomodulin prevented hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting high-mobility group box 1 in rats.
Recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) is a novel anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits secretion of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) from liver. We evaluated the protective effects of rTM on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Ischemia was induced by clamping the portal vein and hepatic artery of left lateral and median lobes of the liver. At 30 min before ischemia and at 6 h after reperfusion, 0.3 ml of saline (IR group) or 0.3 ml of saline containing 6 mg/kg body weight of rTM (IR-rTM group) was injected into the liver through inferior vena cava or caudate vein. Blood flow was restored at 60 min of ischemia. Blood was collected 30 min prior to induction of ischemia and before restoration of blood flow, and at 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusion. All the animals were euthanized at 24 h after reperfusion and the livers were harvested and subjected to biochemical and pathological evaluations. Serum levels of ALT, AST, and HMGB1 were significantly lower after reperfusion in the IR-rTM group compared to IR group. Marked hepatic necrosis was present in the IR group, while necrosis was almost absent in IR-rTM group. Treatment with rTM significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α and formation of 4-hydroxynonenal in the IR-rTM group compared to IR group. The results of the present study indicate that rTM could be used as a potent therapeutic agent to prevent IR-induced hepatic injury and the related adverse events.


Avermectin induces carp neurotoxicity by mediating blood-brain barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis through PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways.
Avermectin, a "low toxicity insecticide", has been widely used in recent years, but its non-target toxicity, especially to aquatic organisms, has been neglected. In this study, we evaluated the neurotoxic effects of avermectin on carp by establishing a 96 h avermectin acute toxicity test, and its possible mechanism was discussed. The 96 h LC50 of avermectin in carp was found to be 24.04 μg/L. Therefore, 3.005 μg/L and 12.02 μg/L were used as the low-dose and high-dose groups, respectively, to investigate the neurotoxic effects of avermectin on carp. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that avermectin accumulated in the carp brain. Histopathological observation and immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) of TNF-α and Bax showed that avermectin exposure led to inflammatory cell infiltration and neuronal necrosis. The mRNA levels of tight junction genes and the IHC results of ZO-1 and Occludin showed that the structure of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was destroyed. Biochemical analysis showed that avermectin induced the accumulation of MDA in the brain and decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes CAT and SOD, leading to oxidative stress. In addition, avermectin induces brain inflammation by activating NF-κB pathway and releasing inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS. TEM and TUNEL assays showed that exposure to avermectin induced apoptosis in brain. what is more, the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins suggested that avermectin-induced apoptosis may be associated with inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study also showed that avermectin-induced NF-κB signaling activation was partially dependent on its upstream PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, this study concludes that avermectin can induce neurotoxicity in carp by disrupting the blood-brain barrier structure and generating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis and that NF-κB and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways are involved in this process.


Correlation of Nutrition with Immune Status in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outpatients.
Malnutrition has been proven to cause poor outcomes in many chronic diseases. We examined the association between malnutrition and immune status in HIV patients. We used the Nutritional Risk Index to evaluate the nutrition in 812 HIV patients, and correlated this variable with viral loads and CD4 counts. We found a significant correlation between nutritional status and immune status.


Characterization of two pathological tau protein, variants in Alzheimer brain cortices.
Tau proteins were detected in brain tissue homogenates from 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease versus 10 age-matched controls using the immunoblot technique and 2 polyclonal antibodies: anti-paired helical filaments (PHF) and anti-human native Tau proteins. In control brains, both antisera detected identically the normal set of Tau proteins, with molecular weight (MW) ranging from 45 to 62 kDa. Moreover, in association areas of neocortex from Alzheimer brains, the antisera detected 2 additional Tau variants of 64 and 69 kDa. Tau 64 and 69 were not found in regions of Alzheimer brains where the Alzheimer pathology was absent (caudate nucleus or cerebellum for example). The heavy MW of Tau 64 and 69 is due to their phosphorylation state as shown by the decrease of their MW after alkaline phosphatase treatment. Therefore, Tau 64 and Tau 69 are specific markers of the Alzheimer's disease neuronal degenerating process and their characterization demonstrates that an abnormal phosphorylation of Tau really occurs during the disease. Tau 64 and 69 were isolated with normal Tau proteins while the PHF were insoluble. Therefore, Tau proteins are likely to be abnormally phosphorylated prior to their incorporation in the PHF structure. Consequently, they might appear before the lesions and might be instrumental for the search of biochemical deregulations that precede the neurofibrillary degeneration.


Simultaneous recording of monophasic action potentials and contractile force from the human heart.
Cardiac monophasic action potentials (MAPs) and contractility have been simultaneously measured in man while the heart rate was being changed by right atrial pacing. A new non-suction electrode was used for safe and long-term recording of MAPs from the endomyocardium. Abrupt changes in cycle-length were followed first by a fast, then a slow response in the adaptation of MAP-duration and of contractility (LV dp/dt max) to the new steady state. After increasing the heart rate then slow phase of MAP shortening appears to be related to the slow staircase of contractility, whereas after the step decrease of frequency no such a relation could be observed. The consistency of these results with those obtained in corresponding in-vitro experiments indicates that this methodical approach may be suitable for assessing the process of E-C coupling in the human heart.


Neutrophil Conversion to a Tumor-Killing Phenotype Underpins Effective Microbial Therapy.
The inflammatory microenvironment of solid tumors creates a protumorigenic milieu that resembles chronic inflammation akin to a subverted wound healing response. Here, we investigated the effect of converting the tumor microenvironment from a chronically inflamed state to one of acute microbial inflammation by injecting microbial bioparticles directly into tumors. Intratumoral microbial bioparticle injection led to rapid and dramatic changes in the tumor immune composition, the most striking of which was a substantial increase in the presence of activated neutrophils. In situ photoconversion and intravital microscopy indicated that tumor neutrophils transiently switched from sessile producers of VEGF to highly motile neutrophils that clustered to make neutrophil-rich domains in the tumor. The neutrophil clusters remodeled tumor tissue and repressed tumor growth. Single-cell transcriptional analysis of microbe-stimulated neutrophils showed a profound shift in gene expression towards heightened activation and antimicrobial effector function. Microbe-activated neutrophils also upregulated chemokines known to regulate neutrophil and CD8+ T-cell recruitment. Microbial therapy also boosted CD8+ T-cell function and enhanced the therapeutic benefit of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in tumor-bearing mice and provided protection in a model of tumor recurrence. These data indicate that one of the major effector mechanisms of microbial therapy is the conversion of tumor neutrophils from a wound healing to an acutely activated cytotoxic phenotype, highlighting a rationale for broader deployment of microbial therapy in the treatment of solid cancers. Intratumoral injection of microbial bioparticles stimulates neutrophil antitumor functions, suggesting pathways for optimizing efficacy of microbial therapies and paving the way for their broader utilization in the clinic.


Changes in the marine pollution management system in response to the Amorgos oil spill in Taiwan.
The Marine Pollution Control Act (MPCA) of Taiwan was promulgated on November 1, 2000, with the specific aim of controlling marine pollution, safeguarding public health, and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. In addition to land-based pollution, oil spills are one of the most significant threats to the local marine environment largely on account of the some 30,000 tankers which pass through Taiwan's coastal waters each year. In January 2001, two months after the enactment of this newly-introduced law, a Greek merchant vessel, the Amorgos ran aground in the vicinity of a national park on the southern tip of Taiwan, causing a serious oil spill and leading to considerable changes with regard to the marine pollution management system. The incident brought to the forefront many serious problems, such as a lack of experience, expertise as well as equipment required to respond to such disasters, as well as the ambiguous, unclear jurisdiction among related agencies. Thus, this paper reviews the incident of the Amorgos spill, identifies the major issues and lessons learned, and proposes several recommendations in an effort for Taiwan to further improve its marine pollution management system.


Adenoviral interneuronal transportation after retrograde gene transfer in mice.
Although retrograde gene transfer from infected muscles to neurons by viral vectors has been known for years, it is still unknown whether interneuronal gene transportation of viral vectors occurs after retrograde gene transfer. To determine this, we injected adenoviral vectors carrying eGFP gene with or without a neural tracer into the right gastrocnemius muscles of mice. After 7 days, some spinal motor neurons were detected with green fluorescence but without the signal of neural tracer. In addition, nerves with green fluorescence could be noted in the right lumbosacral paraspinal muscles of viral-injected mice. The green fluorescence in the right lumbosacral paraspinal muscles might have resulted from retrograde gene transportation from the viral-injected gastrocnemius muscles to the spinal neurons, followed by interneuronal transfer and anterograde expression of eGFP in the axons belonging to neurons innervating the paraspinal muscles. This phenomenon of interneuronal transportation raises the possibility that we could treat motoneuron diseases by injection of viral vectors containing therapeutic genes into a few muscles resulting in widespread beneficial effects.


Supplementation with alpha-glycerol monolaurate during late gestation and lactation enhances sow performance, ameliorates milk composition, and improves growth of suckling piglets.
Physiological changes during lactation cause oxidative stress in sows, reduce immunity, and hamper the growth capacity of piglets. Alpha-glycerol monolaurate (α-GML) has potential for enhancing the antimicrobial activity of sows and the growth of suckling piglets. Eighty sows were allocated randomly to four groups: basal diet and basal diets supplemented with 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg α-GML. The experiment started on d 85 of gestation and lasted until piglets were weaned on d 21 of lactation. The number of live-born piglets was standardized to 12 ± 1 per sow on day of parturition. On d 0 and 21 of lactation, body weight of piglets was measured and milk samples were obtained from sows, and serum samples and feces from piglets were obtained on d 21. Feed intake, backfat loss, and weaning estrus interval did not differ among the four groups of sows. Maternal α-GML supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the body weight of piglets at weaning and the apparent total tract digestibility of crude fat of sows. The immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels were greater (P < 0.05) in a quadratic manner in the milk of sows as dietary α-GML increased. Concerning fatty acid profile, C12:0, C15:0, C17:0, C18:2n6c, C18:3n3, C24:0, and C22:6n3 were higher (P < 0.05) in linear and quadratic manners in colostrum of sows-fed α-GML diets compared with the control sows. There was lower (P < 0.05) n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in milk than in the control sows. Maternal α-GML increased the abundance of Firmicutes (P < 0.05) and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria (P < 0.05) of piglet fecal microbiota. Dietary supplementation with α-GML improved milk immunoglobulins and altered fatty acids of sows, thereby improving the health of piglets.


Clinical and immunologic reactivity of patients allergic to grass pollens and to multiple pollen species. I. Clinical and immunologic characteristics.
The heterogeneity of pollen-allergic individuals is well-known but poorly characterized. Twenty-six patients were studied to characterize their immunologic and clinical patterns. Thirteen patients were allergic only to grass pollens, and 13 other patients were allergic to grass-pollen and other pollen species, including Cupressaceae, plane tree, olive, and Parietaria. The IgE response was assessed by the titration of serum total IgE and orchard grass-specific IgE, as well as by IgE immunoblots to orchard-grass pollens. Clinical reactivity was assessed by nasal challenge with orchard-grass pollens before the pollen season and nasal and bronchial symptom-medication scores between April 1 and June 15. Pollen counts were obtained during this period of survey. Polysensitized patients had significantly increased levels of serum total and specific IgE and a greater heterogeneity of IgE immunoblots, suggesting an enhanced qualitative and quantitative IgE immune response. Polysensitized patients had nasal and bronchial symptoms occurring earlier than grass pollen-allergic individuals, confirming the priming effect caused by other plans flowering with an earlier season for both nasal and bronchial mucosa. Alternatively, the early symptoms may be attributable to the tree pollens or might reflect the higher grass-pollen IgE level in the polysensitized group. Bronchial symptoms appeared a few weeks after nasal symptoms. Nasal challenges were similar in both groups, and the severity of nasal symptoms during the season was not significantly different in both groups, suggesting that the intensity of symptoms is not related to the sensitization nor to the IgE immune response of the subjects.


An unusual location for metastasis - Breast cancer in the bladder.
Metastatic breast cancer is the second most common cancer related death amongst women in the United States. The common locations for metastases-lymph nodes, bone, lung, liver, brain - are well reported. Rarely, breast cancer metastasizes to the bladder. We present a case of primary hormone positive, HER2 unamplified breast cancer, thirteen years in remission, with triple negative metastases to the bladder. Urologists should consider breast metastases in patients with even a remote history of breast cancer who present with gross hematuria to avoid delays in treatment.


MicroRNA-25 Exerts an Oncogenic Function by Regulating the Ubiquitin Ligase Fbxw7 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
MicroRNA (miRNA) expression abnormalities are implicated in tumor progression. Previous reports have indicated that microRNA-25 (miR-25) acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in diverse cancers. However, its molecular mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. F-box and WD repeat domain 7 (Fbxw7) is a critical tumor suppressor and is one of the most important deregulated proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in cancer. Our objective was to elucidate the role of miR-25 and Fbxw7 in HCC and to clarify the mechanism by which Fbxw7 is regulated. Fbxw7 expression was estimated in 210 fixed paraffin-embedded HCC samples by immunohistochemistry, and miR-25 expression was evaluated in 142 frozen HCC tissue samples by quantitative real-time PCR. Oncogenic functions of miR-25 and its role in the regulation of Fbxw7 expression were assayed in vitro. miR-25 was overexpressed in HCC tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue and significantly correlated with a poorer prognosis. Moreover, it was inversely correlated with Fbxw7 expression in HCC tissues. Furthermore, miR-25 inhibition significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. miR-25 may promote tumor progression in HCC patients by repression of Fbxw7 and could serve as a promising molecular target for HCC treatment.


Effect of cytochrome P450 induction on the metabolism and toxicity of ochratoxin A.
Liver microsomes from rats treated with various P450 inducers were examined for their ability to metabolize the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) to 4(R)-4-hydroxyochratoxin A (4R), the major metabolite, and 4(S)-4-hydroxyochratoxin A (4S), the minor metabolite. Pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital (PB), dexamethasone (DXM), 3-methylcolcanthrene (3MC) and isosafrole (ISF) greatly induced 4R formation. PB, DXM, 3MC, clofibrate (CLF) and ISF treatments also induced 4S formation. Isoniazid (INH) pretreatment primarily induced 4S formation. The pH optimum for 4R formation was found to be 6.0 with 3MC microsomes, and 6.5 with PB and DXM microsomes. For 4S formation, the pH optimum was 7.0. At the optimum pH (compared with pH 7.4), 4R formation increased 40-50% with PB and DXM microsomes but 8.0-fold with 3MC microsomes. Studies using the inhibitors metyrapone and alpha-naphthoflavone as well as monoclonal antibodies against various P450s suggested that at least the P450 isoforms IA1/IA2, IIB1 and IIIA1/IIIA2 are involved in 4R formation. Using urinary excretion of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase as an index of renal damage, we observed that pretreatment of rats with PB, which induced hepatic P450 (P450II2B1), protected against OTA nephrotoxicity, whereas cobalt-protoporphyrin IX pretreatment, which decreased P450 levels, exacerbated OTA nephrotoxicity. Our results suggest that at least P450IIB1-dependent metabolism of OTA leads to its detoxication and that OTA itself may be toxic in some circumstances or that other pathways are responsible for its activation.


Demand-driven biogas production by flexible feeding in full-scale - Process stability and flexibility potentials.
For future energy supply systems with high proportions from renewable energy sources, biogas plants are a promising option to supply demand-driven electricity to compensate the divergence between energy demand and energy supply by uncontrolled sources like wind and solar. Apart expanding gas storage capacity a demand-oriented feeding with the aim of flexible gas production can be an effective alternative. The presented study demonstrated a high degree of intraday flexibility (up to 50% compared to the average) and a potential for an electricity shutdown of up to 3 days (decreasing gas production by more than 60%) by flexible feeding in full-scale. Furthermore, the long-term process stability was not affected negatively due to the flexible feeding. The flexible feeding resulted in a variable rate of gas production and a dynamic progression of individual acids and the respective pH-value. In consequence, a demand-driven biogas production may enable significant savings in terms of the required gas storage volume (up to 65%) and permit far greater plant flexibility compared to constant gas production.


Different threshold levels of circulating total and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D for the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency in obese adolescents.
The total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)DT] level is lower in obese individuals than in their nonobese peers, despite similar bone turnover markers and bone mineral density. This study aimed to investigate whether the threshold level of 25(OH)D for the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in obese adolescents was lower than that in controls and to compare 25(OH)DT, free [25(OH)DF] and bioavailable [25(OH)DB] vitamin D with VDBP levels in obese individuals and their controls. A total of 173 adolescents (90 obese individuals and 83 controls) aged 12-18 years were included in the study. The metabolic and anthropometric parameters of the participants were recorded, the 25(OH)DT, 25(OH)DF, and VDBP levels were measured, and the 25(OH)DB levels were calculated. The cutoff values for VDD were estimated according to the level of 25(OH)D below which parathyroid hormone begins to rise. The obese subjects had lower 25(OH)DT (12.1 ± 5.8 vs. 16.4 ± 9.3 ng/mL, p < 0.001), 25(OH)DF (12.6 ± 4.2 vs. 16.7 ± 7.6 pg/mL, p < 0.001), 25(OH)DB [4.8 (2.3) vs. 6.1 (5.2) ng/mL, p = 0.012], and VDBP [112.2 (51.3) vs. 121.9 (95.5) μg/mL, p < 0.001] levels than the controls. The cutoff values for 25(OH)DT and 25(OH)DF levels for VDD were lower in the obese group than in the control group (9.4 vs. 14.1 ng/mL; 12.2 vs. 16.8 pg/mL, respectively).Conclusion: The vitamin D cutoff values for the diagnosis of VDD were different in the obese and control groups. Using the same cutoff value for VDD may cause overtreatment in obese adolescents. What is Known: • Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in obese children than nonobese controls, despite the same bone turnover markers and bone mineral density • The cutoff value of vitamin D level for the diagnosis of VDD is based on the PTH elevation What is New: • In obese adolescents, total and free vitamin D cutoff value for the diagnosis of VDD was lower than nonobese peers • Using the same cutoff value for vitamin D deficiency in both obese and nonobese adolescents may cause overtreatment.


Effects of combined mechanical stimulation on the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts.
We observed how combined mechanical stimuli affect the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts. For this research, a bioreactor system was developed that can simultaneously stimulate cells with cyclic strain and ultrasound, each of which is known to effectively stimulate bone tissue regeneration. MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were chosen for bone tissue engineering due to their osteoblast-like characteristics. 3-D scaffolds were fabricated with polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactic acid using the salt leaching method. The cells were stimulated by the bioreactor with cyclic strain and ultrasound. The bioreactor was set at a frequency of 1.0 Hz and 10 % strain for cyclic strain and 1.0 MHz and 30 mW/cm(2) for ultrasound. Three experimental groups (ultrasound, cyclic strain, and combined stimulation) and a control group were examined. Each group was stimulated for 20 min/day. Mechanical stimuli did not affect MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation significantly up to 10 days when measured with the cell counting kit-8. However, gene expression analysis of collagen type-I, osteocalcin, RUNX2, and osterix revealed that the combined mechanical stimulation accelerated the matrix maturation of MC3T3-E1 cells. These results indicate that the combined mechanical stimulation can enhance the differentiation of pre-osteoblasts more efficiently than simple stimuli, in spite of no effect on cell proliferation.


Cultural beliefs and practices on perinatal death: a qualitative study among the Lango community in Northern Uganda.
Perinatal death has profound psychosocial effects on women and their families. Sociocultural contexts influence the burden, rituals and bereaved's support. Little is known about cultural beliefs and practices related to perinatal death. This study explored the cultural perspectives of the Lango community on perinatal death. This study utilised a focused ethnographic design anchored on a symbolic interactionist framework to understand the meanings attached to beliefs and practices on stillbirth or neonatal death among the Lango community in Lira District, Northern Uganda. Participants were sampled purposively for FGD while key informants were identified through snowballing technique. Data were audio recorded in Lango, transcribed, and later translated, a codebook was developed and data entered into Atlas. ti version 8.4.26 and then coded. It was analysed both deductively and inductively into themes. Stillbirth and early neonatal death both attract similar rituals as would an older child. Burial is not rushed and is attended by family members and close friends. Stillbirths and children that die before naming are buried without names. Bereaved families are comforted and encouraged about future pregnancies. Currently, Lango associates the deaths to biomedical explanations such as teenage pregnancies, inadequate pregnancy care, health system challenges and poor health-seeking behaviour, unlike previously when they were attributed to consequences of unacceptable social behaviours, superstitious beliefs and witchcraft. Antenatal care and health facility childbirths are currently preferred over traditional practices for good pregnancy outcomes. Stillbirth or early neonatal death is viewed as the death of a child, different from other settings. Thus, rituals are performed to honour, create memory, and maintain the connection with deceased babies. Bereaved parents are supported. Health care workers need to provide culturally sensitive support to parents after perinatal loss. The prevailing beliefs of perinatal death cause in terms of biomedical explanations consistent with known determinants and preference for health facility care for prevention creates an opportunity for improving perinatal health.


Channel gating in the absence of agonist by a homo-oligomeric molluscan GABA receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes from a cloned cDNA.
We have previously described the isolation of a complementary DNA (cDNA) from the freshwater mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis encoding a polypeptide that exhibits approximately 50% identity to the beta-subunits of vertebrate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptor. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes from in vitro-transcribed RNA, the snail subunit forms functional homo-oligomeric receptors possessing chloride-selective ion channels. In recordings from voltage-clamped oocytes held at -60 mV, GABA induced an inward current, whereas application of the chloride-channel blocker picrotoxin (in the absence of agonist) elicited an apparent outward current. Single channel recordings obtained from cell-attached patches have revealed a single population of approximately 20 pS channels, with an open probability greater than 90% (at a pipette potential of -100 mV) in the absence of GABA. The relationship between single channel current and pipette potential was linear over the studied range (-100 mV to +60 mV), but the open probability was less for hyperpolarizations than for depolarizations. The spontaneous channel openings were blocked by micromolar concentrations of picrotoxin. Functional hetero-oligomeric receptors were formed when the molluscan subunit was co-expressed in oocytes with the bovine GABAA receptor alpha 1-subunit, but the channels gated by these receptors did not open spontaneously.


Dose-dependent movement of cationic molecules across the glomerular wall.
Different concentrations of the polycation polyethyleneimine (PEI) were administered by single intravenous injections or by constant vascular perfusion to the kidneys of Sprague-Dawley rats. At a fixed time interval after administration of PEI, the kidneys were fixed and the distribution of PEI in the glomerular wall was evaluated by electron microscopy. At the lower concentrations (e.g., 0.005%), PEI bound only to the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx and preferentially to microvillous projections on this endothelium. At higher concentrations (e.g., 0.05%), PEI also bound to discrete anionic sites in the lamina rara interna (LRI) but was rarely seen in the lamina rara externa (LRE). As the concentration of PEI was further increased (e.g., 0.5%), PEI moved deeper into the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and bound extensively to discrete anionic sites in the lamina rara externa. Although anionic sites in the LRI and LRE appeared nearly saturated following infusion of 0.5% PEI, this cationic molecule was rarely seen to cross filtration slits and pass into the urinary space. At still higher concentrations (e.g., 2%), however, PEI moved freely across the filtration slits, bound extensively to the glomerular epithelial glycocalyx, and induced a narrowing of the filtration slits. When PEI was mechanically perfused through the kidney vasculature for 3 minutes, PEI binding to the epithelial glycocalyx caused very extensive adherence of adjacent podocyte processes and the narrowing and loss of filtration slits. Also in these latter samples, discrete anionic sites in the LRE were no longer apparent and a dense band of PEI was seen under the foot processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Factors predisposing to bacterial invasion and infection.
Bacterial infections remain important causes of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Our understanding of the effects of bacteria on the host, and also the defense mechanisms available to the host, is improving all the time. Modern tools in biochemistry, immunology, and molecular biology have provided powerful methods to further our understanding of the complex interactions that contribute to our host defense response. This review reflects current thinking regarding the factors that contribute to bacterial infection and host defense response. This review was compiled after an extensive review of the current and historical literature, and highlights a number of areas involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial infection. Bacteria can have a wide-ranging and deleterious effect on the host. Many different therapeutic approaches have been attempted to modulate the host response and limit the deleterious effects of bacteria. As our understanding of the underlying processes improves, these therapies should improve accordingly.


The simple right ventricle contraction pressure index: A novel method for echocardiographic assessment of right ventricle dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism.
The simple right ventricular contraction pressure index (sRVCPI) is a new echocardiographic variable for estimating the right ventricular systolic function. Our aim was to investigate the association between the sRVCPI, the pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI), and mortality rate in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). We included in this study 116 patients diagnosed with APE by pulmonary computed tomography angiography or ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy. They were divided into two groups based on the simplified PESI < or >1. Tricuspid regurgitation velocity and TAPSE were measured and used for sRVCPI calculation. Mortality was higher in patients with a higher sRVCPI (P < .001). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis using a cut-off level of 312.8 mm Hg mm, sRVCPI predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 86.8% and specificity of 69.5% (ROC area under curve: 0.712; 95%CI 0.597-0.882; P < .001). The sRVCPI was lower in the sPESI >1 than in the sPESI <1 group (364.3 ± 31.9 vs 511.6 ± 26.1; P < .001). There was an inverse correlation between sRVCPI and the sPESI score (-0.784; P < .001). The sRVCPI correlated with the sPESI score and was associated with mortality in patients with APE. This easily measurable variable may be used to predict short-term mortality in APE patients.


Paraquat is not accumulated in B16 tumor cells by the polyamine transport system.
We have examined the effect of difluoromethylornithine on the ability of B16 melanoma cells to take up putrescine and the 4,4'-dipyridyl herbicide paraquat. Pretreatment with difluoromethylornithine for 24 hr enhanced putrescine uptake by inducing the maximum capacity of the transport system without affecting the Km for the substrate. Paraquat uptake was minor compared with that of putrescine and was not affected by difluoromethylornithine. Neither putrescine, spermidine or spermine at concentrations up to 100 microM inhibited the accumulation of paraquat. However, paraquat competitively inhibited putrescine transport (Ki = 54 +/- 10 microM). Exposure of the B16 melanoma cells for 24 hr to increasing concentrations of paraquat produced a dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis. Difluoromethylornithine pretreatment did not affect paraquat toxicity. These data show that paraquat is not taken up into B16 melanoma cells by the uptake system responsible for transporting putrescine. Moreover, it is likely that the difluoromethylornithine inducible polyamine transport system in B16 melanoma cells is characteristically different to that previously described in normal mammalian lung since the latter is reportedly capable of transporting both putrescine and paraquat.


C5 does not play a major role in the immune response of mice to SRBC in vivo.
The role of complement component C5 in the immune response of mice to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was investigated. Congenic C5-sufficient and C5-deficient B10. D2 mice and genetically C5-deficient DBA/2 mice, as such or supplemented with C5-sufficient serum, were used as experimental animals. C5-substitution of the C5-deficient mice resulted in measurable C5 levels for days. The functional half-life of C5 in C5-deficient DBA/2 mice was about 21 h. No significant differences between the IgM-responses of C5-bearing and naive C5-deficient animals were observed. This suggests that C5 does not play a major role in the primary humoral immune response of mice in vivo, although C5 seems to do so in in vitro experiments, even with the same antigen. Antigen-induced C5-production by C5-deficient mice as one of the explanations of the in vitro/in vivo discrepancy could not be confirmed experimentally.


A STOCHASTIC SIMULATION STUDY ON SPECIATION BY SEXUAL SELECTION.
A two-locus multi-allele sexual isolation model incorporating mutation and genetic drift which was first proposed by Nei et al. (1983) is studied here. One locus controls the male mating character, and the other controls female receptivity. All females are assumed to have equal mating success. Therefore, the frequencies of female receptivity alleles are changed by mutation, drift, and hitchhiking with male character alleles. Without hitchhiking, development of sexual isolation between allopatric populations proceeds faster in smaller populations, as expected. The hitchhiking effect, by triggering the mutual reinforcement of mating behavior of both sexes (or the runaway process, Fisher [1958]), speeds up the evolution of sexual isolation significantly. For populations with 2Nv ≤ 0.2 (N = population size, ν = mutation rate), the rates of divergence all approach the maximum possible rate. Sympatric sexual isolation develops quite frequently if two favorable conditions are met: 1) There is no selection on female phenotype (except in some limited cases), and 2) The population size is large enough to carry several female receptivity alleles. Because of stochastic factors, these alleles may lead to the formation of two discrete groups of females, each group receptive to males of different mating characters. The formation of sympatric sexually-isolated groups is also aided significantly, at the incipient stage, by the runaway process.


Cocaine abuse elevates alpha-synuclein and dopamine transporter levels in the human striatum.
Direct protein interactions between the dopamine transporter and alpha-synuclein demonstrate that dopamine uptake function is modulated by alpha-synuclein. We report here that chronic cocaine abuse results in an increase in alpha-synuclein expression in the human striatum. Immunoblot analysis in the ventral putamen showed that alpha-synuclein protein was increased in striatal synaptosomes from cocaine users compared with age-matched drug-free controls. [H]-Dopamine transporter uptake was increased in parallel with 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane binding to the dopamine transporter. The increase in alpha-synuclein protein was more marked in the ventromedial sectors of the striatum than in the dorsal caudate nucleus. These results demonstrate concomitant regulation of alpha-synuclein and dopamine transporter binding and function in human striatal synaptic terminals isolated from cocaine abusers. Overexpression of alpha-synuclein may play a role in cocaine-induced plasticity and regulation of dopamine synaptic tone.


Synthesis of pH responsive, photocrosslinked gelatin-based hydrogel system for control release of ceftriaxone.
Stimuli-responsive or smart nanocarriers are emerging class of materials used for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. The objective of this study was to develop environment friendly, economic and smart gelatin based hydrogel for controlled delivery of ceftriaxone. Gelatin was modified with furfuryl amine and converted to hydrogel via photo oxidation reaction, initiated with visible light in the presence of crosslinking agent (eosin Y and riboflavin) to enhance the mechanical properties and increase structural integrity of the hydrogel. The conjugated gelatin-furfuryl amine (GFA) was characterized by 1H NMR and FTIR techniques. An antimicrobial drug (ceftriaxone) was encapsulated in hydrogels systems (HG-E and HG-R) and its encapsulation efficiency was found as 88 % and 74 %, respectively. The in-vitro swelling property and release profile of the drug reveals that the behavior of hydrogel was pH dependent for both the hydrogels systems. Antibacterial study performed on HG-R hydrogel system via disc diffusion method revealed a greater zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus. Findings of the presented work revealed the formation of an excellent, smart hydrogel system using Eosin-Y as cross-linker having greater encapsulation efficiency that can potentially be used for drug delivery application of ceftriaxone to enhance its therapeutic effects.


Embedding metal electrodes in thick active layers for ITO-free plasmonic organic solar cells with improved performance.
We propose and numerically investigate the optical performance of a novel plasmonic organic solar cell with metallic nanowire electrodes embedded within the active layer. A significant improvement (~15%) in optical absorption over both a conventional ITO organic solar cell and a conventional plasmonic organic solar cell with top-loaded metallic grating is predicted in the proposed structure. Optimal positioning of the embedded metal electrodes (EME) is shown to preserve the condition for their strong plasmonic coupling with the metallic back-plane, meanwhile halving the hole path length to the anode which allows for a thicker active layer that increases the optical path length of propagating modes. With a smaller sheet resistance than a typical 100 nm thick ITO film transparent electrode, and an increased optical absorption and hole collection efficiency, our EME scheme could be an excellent alternative to ITO organic solar cells.


Delayed Early Vocabulary Development in Children at Family Risk of Dyslexia.
This study aimed to gain more insight into the relation between vocabulary and reading acquisition by examining early growth trajectories in the vocabulary of children at family risk (FR) of dyslexia longitudinally. The sample included 212 children from the Dutch Dyslexia Program with and without an FR. Parents reported on their children's receptive and expressive vocabulary size at ages 17, 23, 29, and 35 months using the Dutch MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories. Dyslexia status at the end of Grade 2 (8 years) rendered 3 groups: FR-dyslexic (n = 51), FR-nondyslexic (n = 92), and typically developing-nondyslexic (TD) children (n = 69). Repeated measures analyses showed that FR-dyslexic children had lower receptive vocabulary scores from 23 months onward and lower expressive scores from 17 months onward than FR-nondyslexic children. Latent growth curve modeling showed lower initial growth rates in FR-dyslexic children, followed by partial recovery, indicating a delayed increase in receptive and expressive vocabulary. FR-nondyslexic and TD children did not differ. Early deficits in receptive and expressive vocabulary are associated with later reading. Early vocabulary growth of FR-dyslexic children is characterized by a delay but not deviance of growth. Vocabulary can be considered an additional risk factor for dyslexia.


Combining computational controls with natural text reveals aspects of meaning composition.
To study a core component of human intelligence-our ability to combine the meaning of words-neuroscientists have looked to linguistics. However, linguistic theories are insufficient to account for all brain responses reflecting linguistic composition. In contrast, we adopt a data-driven approach to study the composed meaning of words beyond their individual meaning, which we term 'supra-word meaning'. We construct a computational representation for supra-word meaning and study its brain basis through brain recordings from two complementary imaging modalities. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we reveal that hubs that are thought to process lexical meaning also maintain supra-word meaning, suggesting a common substrate for lexical and combinatorial semantics. Surprisingly, we cannot detect supra-word meaning in magnetoencephalography, which suggests that composed meaning might be maintained through a different neural mechanism than the synchronized firing of pyramidal cells. This sensitivity difference has implications for past neuroimaging results and future wearable neurotechnology.


Mannose-binding lectin-deficient genotypes as a risk factor of pneumococcal meningitis in infants.
The objective of this study was to evaluate to evaluate the role of mannose-binding-lectin deficient genotypes in pneumococcal meningitis (PM) in children. We performed a 16-year retrospective study (January 2001 to March 2016) including patients ≤ 18 years with PM. Variables including attack rate of pneumococcal serotype (high or low invasive capacity) and MBL2 genotypes associated with low serum MBL levels were recorded. Forty-eight patients were included in the study. Median age was 18.5 months and 17/48 episodes (35.4%) occurred in children ≤ 12 months old. Serotypes with high-invasive disease potential were identified in 15/48 episodes (31.2%). MBL2 deficient genotypes accounted for 18.8% (9/48). Children ≤ 12 months old had a 7-fold risk (95% CI: 1.6-29.9; p < 0.01) of having a MBL2 deficient genotype in comparison to those > 12 months old. A sub-analysis of patients by age group revealed significant proportions of carriers of MBL2 deficient genotypes among those ≤ 12 months old with PM caused by opportunistic serotypes (54.5%), admitted to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) (46.7%) and of White ethnicity (35.7%). These proportions were significantly higher than in older children (all p<0.05). Our results suggest that differences in MBL2 genotype in children ≤12 months old affects susceptibility to PM, and it may have an important role in the episodes caused by non-high invasive disease potential serotypes.


Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) Infection in wild boars and deer and genetic identification of a genotype 3 HEV from a boar in Japan.
Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from captured wild deer or boars to humans has been suggested. Antibody to HEV was detected in 9% of 35 wild boars and 2% of 117 wild deer tested, and a presumably indigenous HEV of genotype 3 was isolated from a boar in Japan.


Changes in content of free, conjugated and bound polyamines and osmotic adjustment in adaptation of vetiver grass to water deficit.
Osmotic adjustment and alteration of polyamines (PAs) have been suggested to play roles in plant adaptation to water deficit/drought stress. In this study, the changes in cell intactness, photosynthesis, compatible solutes and PAs [including putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) each in free, conjugated and bound forms] were investigated in leaves of vetiver grass exposed to different intensity of water deficit stress and subsequent rewatering. The results showed that, when vetiver grass was exposed to the moderate (20% and 40% PEG-6000 solutions) and severe (60% PEG solution) water deficit for 6days, the plant injury degree (expressed as the parameters of plant growth, cell membrane integrity, water relations and photosynthesis) increased and contents of free and conjugated Put decreased with the rise of PEG concentration. Under the moderate water deficit, the plants could survive by the reduced osmotic potential (psi(s)), increased free and conjugated Spd and Spm in leaves. After subsequent rewatering, the osmotic balance was re-established, most of the above investigated physiological parameters were fully or partly recovered to the control levels. However, it was not the case for the severely-stressed and rewatering plants. It indicates that, vetiver grass can cope well with the moderate water deficit/drought stress by using the strategies of osmotic adjustment and maintenance of total contents of free, conjugated and bound PAs in leaves.


Engineering Self-Powered Electrochemical Sensors Using Analyzed Liquid Sample as the Sole Energy Source.
Many healthcare and environmental monitoring devices use electrochemical techniques to detect and quantify analytes. With sensors progressively becoming smaller-particularly in point-of-care (POC) devices and wearable platforms-it creates the opportunity to operate them using less energy than their predecessors. In fact, they may require so little power that can be extracted from the analyzed fluids themselves, for example, blood or sweat in case of physiological sensors and sources like river water in the case of environmental monitoring. Self-powered electrochemical sensors (SPES) can generate a response by utilizing the available chemical species in the analyzed liquid sample. Though SPESs generate relatively low power, capable devices can be engineered by combining suitable reactions, miniaturized cell designs, and effective sensing approaches for deciphering analyte information. This review details various such sensing and engineering approaches adopted in different categories of SPES systems that solely use the power available in liquid sample for their operation. Specifically, the categories discussed in this review cover enzyme-based systems, battery-based systems, and ion-selective electrode-based systems. The review details the benefits and drawbacks with these approaches, as well as prospects of and challenges to accomplishing them.


Lung cancer cells induce senescence and apoptosis of pleural mesothelial cells via transforming growth factor-beta1.
Pleural dissemination is commonly associated with metastatic advanced lung cancer. The injury of pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) by soluble factors, such as transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), is a major driver of lung cancer pleural dissemination (LCPD). In this study, we examine the effects of TGF-β1 on PMC injury and the ability of TGF-β1 inhibition to alleviate this effect both in vitro and in vivo. PMCs were co-cultured with the high TGF-β1-expressing lung cancer cell line A549 and with various TGF-β1 signaling inhibitors. Expression of cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 9, p21, and p16 were evaluated by Western blot and immunofluorescent confocal imaging. Apoptosis was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltrazoliumbromide assay and AnnexinV-propidium iodide (PI) staining. PMC senescence was assessed by staining for senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal). The ability of lung cancer cells (LCCs) to adhere to injured PMCs was investigated using an LCC-PMC adhesion assay. In our mouse model, PMC injury status was monitored by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining. LCCs expressing high levels of TGF-β1 induce apoptosis and senescence of PMCs in a co-culture system. Injured PMCs adhere to LCCs, which may further promote LCPD. Importantly, PMC monolayer injury could be reversed with TGF-β1 inhibitors. This was consistent with our in vivo data showing that the TGF-β1 inhibitor SB-431542 attenuated PMC barrier injury induced by A549 culture medium in our mouse model. Our study highlights the importance of TGF-β1 signaling in LCPD and establishes this signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in the disease.


Epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent maintenance of cardiac contractility.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is essential to the development of multiple tissues and organs and is a target of cancer therapeutics. Due to the embryonic lethality of global EGFR deletion and conflicting reports of cardiac-overexpressed EGFR mutants, its specific impact on the adult heart, normally or in response to chronic stress, has not been established. Using complimentary genetic strategies to modulate cardiomyocyte-specific EGFR expression, we aim to define its role in the regulation of cardiac function and remodelling. A floxed EGFR mouse model with α-myosin heavy chain-Cre-mediated cardiomyocyte-specific EGFR downregulation (CM-EGFR-KD mice) developed contractile dysfunction by 9 weeks of age, marked by impaired diastolic relaxation, as monitored via echocardiographic, haemodynamic, and isolated cardiomyocyte contractility analyses. This contractile defect was maintained over time without overt cardiac remodelling until 10 months of age, after which the mice ultimately developed severe heart failure and reduced lifespan. Acute downregulation of EGFR in adult floxed EGFR mice with adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-encoded Cre with a cardiac troponin T promoter (AAV9-cTnT-Cre) recapitulated the CM-EGFR-KD phenotype, while AAV9-cTnT-EGFR treatment of adult CM-EGFR-KD mice rescued the phenotype. Notably, chronic administration of the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol effectively and reversibly compensated for the contractile dysfunction in the absence of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in CM-EGFR-KD mice. Mechanistically, EGFR downregulation reduced the expression of protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit Ppp2r3a/PR72, which was associated with decreased phosphorylation of phospholamban and Ca2+ clearance, and whose re-expression via AAV9-cTnT-PR72 rescued the CM-EGFR-KD phenotype. Altogether, our study highlights a previously unrecognized role for EGFR in maintaining contractile homeostasis under physiologic conditions in the adult heart via regulation of PR72 expression.


Cortico-thalamo-cortical projection between visual cortices.
The present experiments showed that there is a cortico-thalamo-cortical projection system in the cat, which originates from the primary visual cortex, relayed by the lateral part of the lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamus, and reaching the medial bank of the lateral suprasylvian visual area. This finding suggests that the thalamus can play a role in transmission of cortical signals from one cortical area to another.


Home-based care of low-risk febrile neutropenia in children-an implementation study in a tertiary paediatric hospital.
Home-based management of low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) is safe, improves quality of life and reduces healthcare expenditure. A formal low-risk paediatric program has not been implemented in Australia. We aimed to describe the implementation process and evaluate the clinical impact. This prospective study incorporated three phases: implementation, intervention and evaluation. A low-risk FN implementation toolkit was developed, including a care-pathway, patient information, home-based assessment and educational resources. The program had executive-level endorsement, a multidisciplinary committee and a nurse specialist. Children with cancer and low-risk FN were eligible to be transferred home with a nurse visiting daily after an overnight period of observation for intravenous antibiotics. Low-risk patients were identified using a validated decision rule, and suitability for home-based care was determined using disease, chemotherapy and patient-level criteria. Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology was used to evaluate clinical impact and safety. Over 18 months, 292 children with FN were screened: 132 (45%) were low-risk and 63 (22%) were transferred to home-based care. Compared with pre-implementation there was a significant reduction in in-hospital median LOS (4.0 to 1.5 days, p < 0.001) and 291 in-hospital bed days were saved. Eight (13%) patients needed readmission and there were no adverse outcomes. A key barrier was timely screening of all patients and program improvements, including utilising the electronic medical record for patient identification, are planned. This program significantly reduces in-hospital LOS for children with low-risk FN. Ongoing evaluation will inform sustainability, identify areas for improvement and support national scale-up of the program.


Mohs micrographic surgery in the treatment of microcystic adnexal carcinoma.
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare neoplasm with a propensity for slow growth and extensive local invasion. Pathology is characterized by multiple islands of basaloid epithelial cells, ductal structures, and keratinizing cysts, located intradermally but often extending deep as thin strands of tumor cells intercalating between collagen bundles. Perineural and intramuscular invasion are common. Treatment with Mohs surgery allows for fewer procedures with increased likelihood of long-term cure and tissue conservation.


Digoxin toxicity in a premature infant: treatment with Fab fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies.
The first use of Fab fragments to treat digoxin toxicity in a premature infant with renal failure, 18 h after the onset of severe arrhythmias, is reported with dramatic results. The development of digoxin toxicity in the context of accepted therapeutic dosing to treat heart failure due to a cerebral arteriovenous malformation is discussed.


Serum adenosine deaminase and procalcitonin concentrations in neutropenic febrile children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Neutropenia as a state of immunosuppression is probably the major problem in patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Fever is frequent in neutropenic patients and often related to infection. Clinically, the presence of infection in patients with neutropenia may be difficult to establish, because there are usually few signs of infection. The aim of this work was to study sensitive markers for early diagnosis of microbial infection in neutropenic children undergoing intensive chemotherapy as a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The study included three groups (A, B and C) of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and neutropenia. Group A consisted of 29 children with febrile neutropenia and microbial infection, aged 1-14 years (5.8+/-2.9), 11 boys and 18 girls; Group B of 38 children with febrile neutropenia without microbial infection, aged 2-14 years (6.8+/-3.1), 14 boys and 24 girls; and Group C of 53 children with neutropenia without fever and without infection, aged 1-14 years (5.9+/-2.1), 21 boys and 32 girls. Blood samples were collected upon admission and before the start of any antimicrobial treatment. The samples were used for blood culture, serological tests, leukocyte count and analysis of levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, total adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and its isoenzymes, ADA-1 and ADA-2. According to our results the procalcitonin levels and total ADA activity discriminated best between neutropenic febrile (Groups A and B) and neutropenic afebrile episodes (Group C). In conclusion, this study suggests procalcitonin and total ADA activity as two easily measurable and cost effective markers for the assessment of immune response in febrile neutropenic patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.


Experiences of the Patients with Behcet's Syndrom from Adherence to Treatment: A Qualitative Content Analysis.
Adherence to treatment plays an important role in the effectiveness of treatment in patients with Behcet's Syndrome (BS). An in-depth understanding of the experiences of patients with BS will help to improve the patients' management. The present qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with BS from adherence to treatment. This qualitative study was conducted during February-September 2019 at Shahid Motahari Behcet's Clinic in Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected through eight unstructured observations and 22 individual in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 participants (15 patients with BS, three family members, and two rheumatologists). Data analysis was performed simultaneously with data collection, using the conventional content analysis as proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Data were managed using MAXQDA 10 software. Data analysis resulted in 21 sub-categories, seven categories, and three themes. The themes included barriers to treatment adherence (inability to cope with treatment and challenges in access to health care), facilitators of treatment adherence (incentives, receiving support, and striving to adapt to illness), and missing aspects of the treatment program (inadequate patient education and the neglect of lifestyle modification). The barriers to and facilitators of treatment adherence as well as the missing aspects of the treatment program of patients with BS were identified. Adherence to treatment is not only determined by the patients, but also affected by the support system and relies upon the existing context and the nature of the treatment plan. These parameters should be considered during patient management to effectively promote treatment adherence.


Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis during pregnancy: a review of the literature in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis during pregnancy is rare; it is often misdiagnosed, resulting in a high maternal and foetal mortality rate. Herein, based on limited case reports including antepartum and postpartum cases, we reviewed the current studies of pregnancy-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and compared the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with non-pregnancy, enriching the understanding of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and its treatment in obstetrics.


Probucol protects lipoprotein (a) against oxidative modification.
Probucol, which decreases cholesterol levels and has antioxidant properties, was administered orally to patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia and high plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels. The drug had no effect on Lp(a) concentrations after 4 weeks, but was found to be distributed in both Lp(a) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Before treatment, in each case LDL and Lp(a) isolated from the same individual were readily oxidized by copper, resulting in increased electrophoretic mobility and enhanced uptake and degradation by macrophages of both lipoproteins. After probucol treatment, both lipoproteins acquired resistance to in vitro oxidation by copper. Furthermore, probucol prevented their enhanced uptake and degradation by the macrophages. It is surmised that oxidized Lp(a) may carry an atherogenic potential that could be opposed by probucol administration.


Teratological evaluation of picloram potassium salt in rabbits.
The embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of orally administered picloram potassium salt was evaluated in New Zealand white rabbits. Artificially inseminated rabbits were given 0, 40, 200 or 400 mg picloram acid equivalent/kg body weight/day in the form of picloram potassium salt in aqueous solution on days 6 to 18 of gestation. The foetuses were removed for examination on day 29 of gestation. Transient weight loss was observed among rabbits given 200 or 400 mg/kg/day of the test material, though the total weight gain of the treated groups during gestation was comparable to that of controls. A few isolated, sporadic cases of foetal malformations were observed in the dosed groups, but there was no indication of a dose-related embryotoxic or teratogenic response to treatment.


The spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman, (l3)C, (1)H NMR and UV) and NBO analyses of 4-bromo-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)piperidine-4-carboxylic acid.
In this work, we will report a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular and vibrational structure of 4-bromo-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (BEPA). BEPA has been characterized by FT-IR, FT-Raman, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and UV spectroscopy. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of BEPA were recorded in the solid phase. The optimized geometry was calculated by B3LYP and M06-2X methods using 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of BEPA were calculated at the same level and were interpreted in terms of Potential Energy Distribution (PED) analysis. The scaled theoretical wavenumber showed very good agreement with the experimental values. The (1)H and (l3)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated by the Gauge-Independent Atomic Orbital (GIAO) method. Stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interactions and charge delocalization has been analyzed using Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. Density plots over the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) energy surface directly identifies the donor and acceptor atoms in the molecule. It also provides information about the charge transfer within the molecule. To obtain chemical reactivity of the molecule, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface map is plotted over the optimized geometry of the molecule.


Challenges associated with hypertensive disease during pregnancy in low-income countries.
To assess the challenges associated with the diagnosis, management, and prevention of hypertensive disease during pregnancy in low-income countries, following the success of the Magpie Trial. Descriptive review of the literature from 1990 to 2009 on the diagnosis, management, and prevention of hypertensive disease in pregnancy. In the absence of credible measures to predict and prevent hypertension in pregnancy, diagnosis and treatment remain the only viable options, although they are still associated with important challenges in low-income countries. Despite the presence of high-quality evidence that magnesium sulfate is safe and effective at preventing and treating eclampsia, its use is extremely limited in many low-income countries. There is a need for cheap and reliable tools with which to address the diagnostic, preventive, and management challenges associated with hypertensive disease during pregnancy in low-income countries. It is recommended that such countries incorporate magnesium sulfate protocols into their national health and/or practice policies.


Measurements of electrode position inside the cochlea for different cochlear implant systems.
This study demonstrates that the exact location of an electrode inside the cochlea needs to be assessed using two complementary measures, namely the length and angle of insertion, both of which are mandatory if one wants to prevent erroneous outcomes. Knowledge of the contact position may become very useful when tuning a cochlear implant processor in a patient with contralateral residual hearing, or in cases of binaural implants. Multichannel cochlear implants restore useful hearing to deaf patients. However, several types of intracochlear electrodes are presently available, each featuring a specific technology or design. The aim of this study was to determine precisely the intracochlear position of the contacts for different electrode arrays. Electrode array insertions were estimated using special radiographs. A total of 26 cochlear implantations were included in the study: 6 Ineraid; 5 Clarion HiFocus I; 11 Clarion HiFocus II; and 4 Med-El Combi40+. In each case, a measurable reference or marker ring placed close to the round window (within 2 mm) could be identified. Insertion lengths and angles were measured and then plotted on a graphl based on 3D reconstructions. Both Clarion HiFocus I and II electrode arrays were found to be placed close to the inner wall of the cochlea. Ineraid and Med-El Combi40+ electrode arrays were both placed close to the organ of Corti, the Med-El Combi40+ arrays demonstrating the deepest insertions overall. In spite of marked differences in the positions of the contacts, we did not find any correlation with speech perception performance for the different types of implants studied.


Restriction endonuclease mapping and mutagenesis of the F sex factor replication region.
The plasmids pSC138 and pML31 each contain the EcoRI-generated f5 replicator fragment of the conjugative plasmid F in addition to an EcoRI fragment encoding antibiotic resistance: ampicillin resistance derived from Staphylococcus aureus in pSC138 and kanamycin resistance from Escherichia coli in pML31. We have mapped one HindIII and two BamHI restriction sites in the f5 region of these plasmids and one HindIII site in the antibiotic resistance region of each plasmid. The HindIII site in the Km region of pML31 occurs in the kan gene whereas the HindIII site in the Ap region of pSC138 appears to occur in an area important for the regulation of beta-lactamase production. By means of in vitro recombinant DNA manipulation of plasmids pML31 and pSC138, we have shown that approximately 1.9 X 10(6) daltons of the 6.0 X 10(6) dalton f5 fragment can be deleted without disrupting plasmid stability. In addition, we have used these same techniques to isolate a novel F-controlled Ap plasmid cloning vehicle which contains a single restriction site for each of the enzymes EcoRI, HindIII, and BamHI. This cloning vehicle has been linked via either its EcoRI or HindIII site to a ColE1 plasmid replicon to yield stable recombinants.


Addisonian crisis presenting with a normal short tetracosactrin stimulation test.
We report the case of a 70 year old man who presented with physical and biochemical features suggestive of Addison's disease, but had a normal short tetracosactrin (Synacthen) test. Six months later he re-presented with similar clinical features but with an abnormal response to tetracosactrin confirming the diagnosis of Addison's disease. We recommend that if adrenal insufficiency is strongly suggested further investigation should be performed to exclude this diagnosis.


miRNA-641 Inhibits the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion and Induces Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells by Directly Targeting ZEB1 [Retraction].
[This retracts the article DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S190303.].


Neuropeptide Y and melanocortin receptors in fish: regulators of energy homeostasis.
Energy homeostasis, which refers to the physiological processes that the energy intake is exquisitely coordinated with energy expenditure, is critical for survival. Therefore, multiple and complex mechanisms have been involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The central melanocortin system plays an important role in modulating energy homeostasis. This system includes the orexigenic neurons, expressing neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related protein (NPY/AgRP), and the anorexigenic neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The downstream receptors of NPY, AgRP and post-translational products of POMC are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This review summarizes the compelling evidence demonstrating that NPY and melanocortin receptors are involved in energy homeostasis. Subsequently, the comparative studies on physiology and pharmacology of NPY and melanocortin receptors in humans, rodents and teleosts are summarized. Also, we provide a strategy demonstrating the potential application of the new ligands and/or specific variants of melanocortin system in aquaculture.


Protocol for microglia replacement by peripheral blood (Mr PB).
Microglia are important immune cells in the central nervous system. Replacement of mutated microglia by wild-type cells through microglia replacement by bone marrow transplantation can correct gene deficiencies. However, the limited availability of bone marrow cells may restrict its potential of becoming a widely used clinical treatment. Here, we introduce a potentially clinical-feasible strategy achieving efficient microglia replacement by peripheral blood cells in mice, boosting the donor cell availability. We named it microglia replacement by peripheral blood (Mr PB). For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Xu et al. (2020). The original abbreviation of this microglia replacement strategy is mrPB. We hereby change the name to Mr PB.


Novel glutathione conjugates formed from epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs).
The catalysis of glutathione (GSH) conjugation to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) by various purified isozymes of glutathione S-transferase was studied. A GSH conjugate of 14,15-EET was isolated by HPLC and TLC; this metabolite contained one molecule of EET and one molecule of GSH. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the isolated metabolite confirmed the structure as a GSH conjugate of 14,15-EET. Studies designed to determine the isozyme specificity of this reaction demonstrated that two isozymes, 3-3, and 5-5, efficiently catalyzed this conjugation reaction. The Km values for 14,15-EET were approximately 10 microM and the Vmax values ranged from 25 to 60 nmol conjugate formed min-1 mg-1 purified transferase 3-3 and 5-5. The 5,6-, 8,9-, and 11,12-EETs were also substrates for the reaction, albeit at lower rates. These results demonstrate that the EETs can serve as substrates for the cytosolic glutathione S-transferases.


Deglycosylated mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptors are still able to undergo functional coupling to Ns.
Mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptors (R) have been shown to be structurally heterogeneous with respect to glycosylation (Stiles et al. J. biol. Chem. 259, 8655 (1984). They are also heterogeneous with respect to functional coupling to Ns. The ternary H.R.Ns complex can be frozen in the presence of the alkylating reagent N-ethylmaleimide. In hamster lung membranes 45% of the receptors are agonist/N-ethylmaleimide sensitive (i.e. coupling-prone receptors). beta-Receptors in both native and isoproterenol/N-ethylmaleimide pretreated membrane preparations are retained by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin and are equally sensitive to neuraminidase treatment. This is exhibited by the increase in mobility of the 125I-iodocyanopindolol-azide photoaffinity labeled receptor peptide in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These observations suggest that there is no link between the structural and functional heterogeneity of the receptors. Moreover, both partial (using neuraminidase) and near total (using endoglycosidase F) deglycosylation of membrane-bound receptors does not affect the H.R.-Ns coupling capacity as compared to native receptors.


Investigation of fugitive methane and gas collection efficiency in Halton landfill in Ontario, Canada.
Methane gas is one of the significant contributors to global warming. A large portion of methane emissions comes from landfills. Developing reliable measurement methods for methane emissions from landfill sites has become very important. In this paper, the surface emissions of methane gas are quantified using a portable probe having a flame ionization detector (FID), a method proven to be successful in landfill gas measurement. Surface methane emissions from two closed cells in the Halton landfill in Ontario, Canada, were measured using the FID method. By analyzing the emissions within the perimeter of the landfill, hotspots of gas leakage were identified. The closed cells in the Halton landfill are equipped with gas extraction system for flaring and energy recovery and a clay topsoil cover. Emission concentrations of fugitive methane were found to range from 0.1 to 63 ppm. The largest emissions were detected in locations next to the leachate extraction manholes and malfunctioning gas extraction wells. The landfill gas balance showed that the landfill gas recovery efficiency was 44%, resulting in an average amount of fugitive methane from the landfill of 6124 m3/day. The results of the study were used to determine the methane generation potential (Lo) for municipal solid waste to further calibrate the USEPA LandGEM model for Ontario landfills. The model was calibrated by actual methane emission measurement and recovery data. The calibrated Lo was found to be 70 m3/t, which is lower than the estimated values in previous studies.


Coeliac disease--women's experiences in everyday life.
To describe what life is like as a woman living with coeliac disease. The therapy for coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet, and if sufferers keep strictly to this, it is suggested that they will stay well. However, previous studies point out that people who are treated for coeliac disease, particularly women, experience various kinds of inconvenience in relation to having coeliac disease and to being treated with gluten-free diet. A qualitative research design was chosen. A phenomenological approach as devised by Giorgi was used. Tape-recorded qualitative interviews with a total of 15 women who were being treated for coeliac disease were conducted in 2008 in Sweden. The results demonstrated that coeliac disease can influence women's lives in different ways. The general structure of being a woman with coeliac disease was described as a striving towards a normalised lifeworld. Three conditions necessary to achieve a normalised life were described, namely being secure, being in control and being seen and included. Understanding factors affecting the ability to live with coeliac disease as normally as possible can help caregivers, and others, to support these women in their aims. Nurses should help women to adopt facilitating thoughts in relation to the disease and, in so doing, help them to select appropriate coping strategies.


Cystathionine β-synthase deficiency: Of mice and men.
Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] 236,200) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by mutations in the CBS gene. It is the most common inborn error of sulfur metabolism and is the cause of classical homocystinuria, a condition characterized by very high levels of plasma total homocysteine and methionine. Although recognized as an inborn error of metabolism over 60years ago, these is still much we do not understand related to how this specific metabolic defect gives rise to its distinct phenotypes. To try and answer these questions, several groups have developed mouse models on CBS deficiency. In this article, we will review various mouse models of CBS deficiency and discuss how these mouse models compare to human CBS deficient patients.


EPR studies of higher plant mitochondria. II. Center S-3 of succinate dehydrogenase and its relation to alternative respiratory oxidations.
1. An electron paramagnetic resonance study of the high potential iron sulfur (HiPIP-type) Center S-3 of higher plant mitochondria is described. This center is the major HiPIP-type center associated with plant mitochondria and it displays physical properties which are similar to its mammalian counterpart. It has a pH-independent midpoint potential of +65 +/- 10 mV between pH 6.0 and 8.5. 2. The behavior of Center S-3 in a variety of steady-state conditions suggests that it is of physiological significance in electron transport. Furthermore, it can be shown that the alternative oxidase, which is present in many higher plant mitochondria, tends to keep this center oxidized in the presence of succinate and cyanide. This indicates that the alternative oxidation site is on the electron-donating side of the Center S-3. 3. Salicylhydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of the alternative pathway, does not affect the midpoint potential, signal size or shape, or temperature and power saturation profiles of Center S-3, suggesting that direct autoxidation of this center cannot account for alternative oxidase activity. This is further confirmed by the finding that the presence of succinate dehydrogenase is not necessary for alternative oxidase activity with NADH as respiratory substrate in submitochondrial particles.


Ca2(+)-dependent, ATP-induced conversion of the [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites from high- to low-affinity states in rat striatum: effect of protein kinase inhibitors on this affinity conversion and synaptosomal choline transport.
Tritium-labeled hemicholinium-3 ([3H]HC-3) was used to characterize the sodium-dependent high-affinity choline carrier sites in rat striatal preparations. In an earlier study, we had shown that [3H]HC-3 labels choline carrier sites with high and low affinities and had suggested that the low-affinity sites represent "functional" carrier sites. The objective of the present study was to examine the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the two affinity states of [3H]HC-3 binding. Here, we demonstrate that these two affinity states are totally interconvertible; addition of 0.1 mM ATP in the binding assay medium quantitatively converted all the binding sites to the low-affinity state, whereas addition of 1 mM beta,gamma-methylene 5'-ATP quantitatively converted all the binding sites to the high-affinity state. Preincubation of the tissue (for 15 min at 37 degrees C) before the binding assay also converted the binding sites to the high-affinity state, whereas supplementation of the assay medium with ATP (0.5 mM) again induced expression of the low-affinity state of the binding sites. This effect of ATP was found to be selective for this nucleotide. Neither ADP (1 mM) nor cyclic AMP could mimic such an effect. Other nucleotide triphosphates--CTP (0.5 mM) and GTP (0.5 mM)--also could not substitute for ATP. GTP, however, caused nearly a 35% reduction in the number of binding sites, accompanying a loss of the low-affinity component of binding. This effect of GTP was also shared by 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate but not by GDP or cyclic GMP. This ATP-dependent low-affinity conversion of [3H]HC-3 binding sites requires divalent metal ions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Predictors for surgical site infection after fasciotomy in patients with acute leg compartment syndrome.
Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications of orthopedic surgery, which can result in fever, pain, and even life-threatening sepsis. This study aimed to determine the predictors of SSI after fasciotomy in patients with acute leg compartment syndrome (ALCS). We collected information on 125 ALCS patients who underwent fasciotomy in two hospitals between November 2013 and January 2021. Patients with SSI were considered as the SSI group and those without SSI as the non-SSI group. Univariate analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate patient demographics, comorbidities, and admission laboratory examinations. In our research, the rate of SSI (26 of 125) was 20.8%. Several predictors of SSI were found using univariate analysis, including body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), patients with open fractures (p = 0.003), and patients with a history of smoking (p = 0.004). Besides, the levels of neutrophil (p = 0.022), glucose (p = 0.041), globulin (p = 0.010), and total carbon dioxide were higher in the SSI group than in the non-SSI group. According to the results of the logistic regression analysis, patients with open fractures (p = 0.023, OR 3.714), patients with a history of smoking (p = 0.010, OR 4.185), and patients with a higher BMI (p = 0.014, OR 1.209) were related predictors of SSI. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis indicated 24.69 kg/m2 as the cut-off value of BMI to predict SSI. Our results revealed open fractures, BMI, and smoking history as independent risk factors for SSI following fasciotomy in patients with ALCS and determined the cut-off value of BMI, enabling us to individualize the evaluation of the risk for SSI to implement early targeted treatments.


Rare Intracranial Recurrent Meningioma with Unique Coexisting Atypical, Papillary and Lipomatous Component: Case Report and Review of Literature.
Meningiomas are common central nervous system tumors with a wide range of morphologic variants, the pathogenesis being their complex embryogenesis. Intracranial meningiomas with heterogenous histopathology in the same lesion are common in low-grade meningiomas but less frequent in recurrent and high-grade variants. A 75-year-old male presented elsewhere a year ago with complaints of slurred speech. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontotemporal, dural-based, extraaxial, solid cystic lesion with doubtful infiltration into the adjacent brain parenchyma. A subtotal excision was done. A diagnosis of meningioma with an aggressive biological behavior was rendered on histology, but the grade was deferred, in view of a single focus of small cell formation and no adjacent brain parenchyma to comment on invasion. The patient presented here with recurrence of his original symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with contrast revealed 2 dural-based, solid cystic enhancing lesions of sizes 29 mm × 25 mm × 24 mm and 25 mm × 16 mm seen at the left frontal region, indenting the adjacent brain parenchyma with diffuse meningeal thickening in the postoperative bed. Microscopy revealed a hypercellular meningeal neoplasm with increased mitosis and a pseudopapillary pattern with lipomatous changes. To date there are no case reports in current literature with such rare combinations in a recurrent meningioma. This highlights the multipotency of phenotypic transformation of primary meningothelial cells. The presence of papillary features, even if focal, should be quantified in the diagnosis. This is of importance because the most current literature suggests that meningioma harboring a papillary component has an increased risk of recurrence and progression to aggressive behavior.


Targeting T Cell Metabolism as a Novel Approach for Treatment of MS: With a Focus on PFKFB3 Inhibitors.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the organ-specific autoimmune diseases in which immune cells invade the neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) due to loss of tolerance to self-antigens. Consequently, inflammation and demyelination occur in the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of MS is not completely understood. However, it seems that T cells, especially Th17 cells, have an important role in disease development. In recent years, studies on the manipulation of metabolic pathways with therapeutic targets have received increasing attention and have had promising results in some diseases, such as cancers. Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway and plays an important role in the differentiation of T CD4+ cells to their subsets, especially Th17 cells. This suggests that manipulation of glycolysis, for example, using appropriate safe inhibitors of this pathway can represent a means to affect the differentiation of T CD4+, thus reducing inflammation and disease activity in MS patients. Hence, in this study, we aimed to discuss evidence showing that using inhibitors of 6-phosphofructo-2- kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3(PFKFB3) as the main regulator of glycolysis may exert beneficial therapeutic effects on MS patients.


Impedimetric transducers based on interdigitated electrode arrays for bacterial detection - A review.
Application of the impedance spectroscopy technique to detection of bacteria has advanced considerably over the last decade. This is reflected by the large amount of publications focused on basic research and applications of impedance biosensors. Employment of modern technologies to significantly reduce dimension of impedimetric devices enable on-chip integration of interdigitated electrode arrays for low-cost and easy-to-use sensors. This review is focused on publications dealing with interdigitated electrodes as a transducer unit and different bacteria detection systems using these devices. The first part of the review deals with the impedance technique principles, paying special attention to the use of interdigitated electrodes, while the main part of this work is focused on applications ranging from bacterial growth monitoring to label-free specific bacteria detection.


Discrepancy Between In-clinic and Haemagglutination-Inhibition Tests in Detecting Maternally-Derived Antibodies Against Canine Parvovirus in Puppies.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most common causes of mortality in puppies worldwide. Protection against CPV infection is based on vaccination, but maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) can interfere with vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of an in-clinic ELISA test to assess the CPV MDA in unvaccinated puppies and CPV antibodies in bitches, comparing the results with the gold standard haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Serum samples of 136 unvaccinated puppies were tested, along with sera of 16 vaccinated bitches. Five unvaccinated puppies were retested after vaccination. Both assays showed that the 16 vaccinated bitches had protective antibody levels against CPV. Conversely, significant discrepancies were observed for the MDA titers in unvaccinated puppies. Protective MDA titers were observed in 91.9% puppies using HI and in 40.4% by the in-clinic ELISA test, and only the latter one showed a decrease of MDA titers and percentages of protected puppies after the first weeks of age. Vaccination of five puppies with high HI and low in-clinic ELISA MDA titers resulted in seroconversion. Our results confirm the reliability of the in-clinic ELISA test in determining protective antibodies against CPV in adult dogs. Our findings also suggest that the in-clinic ELISA test kit may also be a useful tool to detect and quantify CPV MDA, thus allowing prediction of the best time to vaccinate puppies and reduction of the rate of vaccination failures due to interference by maternally-derived antibodies.


The effect of denture restoration and dental implant restoration in the treatment of dentition defect: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dentition defect is a common symptom in clinical dental patients. This study compared the clinical effects of denture restoration and dental implant restoration in the treatment of dentition defects through meta-analysis. Data retrieval was conducted through the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. A total of 479 related literatures published in English or Chinese from 2013 to 2020 were included. Literature screening, data extraction and comprehensive evaluation, and analysis by meta-analysis was performed by 3 authors. A total of 17 studies and 1,459 patients were included. Among the 17 studies, the effective rate of treatment between the two groups was compared and the experimental group rate was significantly higher than that of the control group [odds ratio (OR) =6.149, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.103-9.215, P<0.001]; the mastication function score was compared, and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group [standardized mean difference (SMD) =1.632, 95% CI: 1.039-2.224, P<0.001]; the retention function score was compared, and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (SMD =1.775, 95% CI: 1.095-2.455), P<0.001); the aesthetics score was also compared, and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (SMD =1.300, 95% CI: 0.499-2.100, P=0.001). Among 17 studies, 15 compared the comfort score, which was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (SMD =1.357, 95% CI: 0.455-2.258, P=0.003). Compared with denture restoration, dental implant restoration is more effective in the treatment of dentition defect with a higher comprehensive score of functional restoration.


[Diagnostic value of esophagoscopy and biopsy in 200 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus].
Two hundred cases of cancer of the esophagus are reviewed. Radiological and endoscopic finding were comparatively evaluated: There were 84% of positive radiological diagnosis, 12,5% highly suspicious and 3,5% negative; the latter were seven cases with the following diagnosis: three megaesophagus, one segmental spasm, esophagitis and hernia, extrinsic compression and normal esophagus, respectively. There were 94,5% of positive; 3,5% doubtful and 2% negative endoscopic diagnosis. There were 94% of positive biopsies and 6% negative. It is emphasized: 1o.) the high percentage of positive histological diagnosis and 2o.) in 3,5% of patients, cancer was found by routine endoscopic examinations.


Cortico-striatal relations under conditions of interaction of monomodal afferent volleys.
Evoked potentials in response to a combination of electrostimulation of both anterior extremities were investigated under conditions of a chronic experiment on monkeys in the head of the caudate nucleus and frontal and somatosensory cortex. Three types of interaction of afferent volleys evoked by spontaneous stimulation were noted: facilitation, summation, and depression. A high degree of correlation of the responses in the head of the caudate nucleus with the responses in the frontal cortex was noted. The role of the frontal and somatosensory cortex in the formation of sensory responses in the caudate nucleus is compared.