DNA rearrangement and constitutive expression of the interleukin 6 gene in a mouse plasmacytoma.
To study the potential involvement of IL-6 in the development of plasmacytomas, a number of plasmacytoma lines were analyzed for alterations in the IL-6 locus. A DNA rearrangement due to the insertion of an intracisternal A particle retrotransposon 18 bp 5' of the transcriptional start site was detected in the cell line MPC11. The IL-6 gene is constitutively expressed in MPC11, suggesting the involvement of IL-6 in the development of certain myeloma/plasmacytomas according to the "autocrine growth hypothesis".


Measurement of protein using flow injection analysis with bicinchoninic acid.
We have used the bicinchoninic acid reagent developed by Pierce Chemical Co. to measure proteins in a simple flow injection analyzer. The sensitivity is comparable to that of the Lowry method and no pipetting of reagents is needed. Results are obtained in less than 1 min and samples may be run at a rate of 60/h. The response is linear over a range of protein concentration (0-10 micrograms) and sample size (5-20 microliters) convenient for most analytical requirements. A peristaltic pump, a controlled-temperature water bath, and a spectrophotometer with flow cuvette are the only special apparatus required.


Pathophysiology, monitoring, outcome prediction, and therapy of shock states.
The time course of hemodynamic and oxygen transport patterns of survivors and nonsurvivors of high-risk critical illness patients was used to evaluate pathophysiologic mechanisms, develop outcome predictors, and propose therapeutic goals. The predictors and goals were tested prospectively and resulted in significantly reduced mortality and morbidity.


Cancer-Mitochondria Dual-Targeting Glycol/Ferrocenium-Based Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Synergistic Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy.
A cancer-mitochondria dual-targeting nanoparticle based on lactose and ferrocenium derivatives conjugated polydopamine (PDA@Lac/Fc/Hyp) was constructed, which exhibited cancer-targeting and mitochondria-targeting ability deriving from lactose and ferrocenium derivatives due to the specific carbohydrate-protein interaction and cationic species properties, respectively. Moreover, PDA@Lac/Fc/Hyp showed great biocompatibility and phototherapeutic efficiency. This work displays a good example of constructing cancer-mitochondria dual-targeting nanoparticle for synergistic phototherapy.


Enhanced performance and microbial interactions of shallow wetland bed coupling with functional biocathode microbial electrochemical system (MES).
It is essential to remediate the polluted urban river, which endangers the aquatic creatures and affected human body's senses. The treatment wetland combined with microbial electrochemical system (MES) used for the remediation is becoming a new research focus due to its ideal pollutants removal efficiency and small footprint. Here this paper provided a kind of novel shallow wetland bed coupling with close-circuit microbial electrochemical system (WB-CMES) to remove pollutants in surface water. In contrast to the shallow wetland bed coupling with open-circuit MES (WB-OMES) and the shallow wetland bed without MES (WB), the enhancing effects and pollutants removal pathway were evaluated. After 62-day operation, average TN removal efficiency in WB-CMES was 87.7%, which was 19.7% and 13.8% higher than that of WB-OMES and WB respectively. The rate coefficient k of NO3--N degradation in WB-CMES was 1.6 and 1.8 times higher than that in WB-OMES and WB. The results of chlorophyll, protein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in WB-CMES were 27.3%, 44.3% and 12.9% higher than those in WB. The microbial community structure analysis indicated that electroactive bacteria on anode like Desulfobulbus could oxidize organics and generate electrons to compensate cathode, meanwhile, cathode could enrich more species of functional bacteria like Rhodobacter, Pirellula, Hyphomicrobium, Thauera, which had a synergistic effect on oxygen reduction, nitrogen removal and plant growth. The results indicated that oxygen produced by submerged plants could be utilized by the oxygen-reducing functional biocathode of MES and the proper aerobic and anoxic environment might enhance nitrate removal mainly through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), aerobic denitrification and anammox. This research provided a novel technology with advantages of simple operation, flexible configuration, easy scale-up and low cost for application in remediation of highly polluted surface water.


Laser-Raman and infrared spectroscopic studies of protein conformation in the eggshell of the fish Salmo gairdneri.
Laser-Raman and infrared spectroscopic studies reveal abundant beta-pleated sheet conformation in the eggshell proteins of the fish Salmo gairdneri. This secondary structure is the underlying molecular conformation, dictating the formation of the helicoidal architecture of the eggshell. Disulphide bonds crosslink the eggshell proteins of the fertilized eggs and are apparently found in g-g-g (gauche-gauche-gauche), g-g-t (gauche-gauche-trans) and t-g-t (trans-gauche-trans) conformation. There is no evidence for the existence of free sulphydryls. The tyrosines appear to act as hydrogen-bond acceptors, whereas the aromatic residues phenylalanine and tryptophan are also eggshell protein constituents.


Bilateral Paget's disease of the nipple: case report.
Paget's disease of the breast accounts for 1% to 4.1% of all cancers; however, bilateral Paget's disease is extremely rare. A case of bilateral Paget's disease is presented and treatment is described.


Guidelines for external radiotherapy and brachytherapy procedures: 3rd edition.
The purpose of the first two editions of the guidelines for external radiotherapy procedures, published in 2007 and 2016 respectively, was to issue recommendations aimed at optimising, harmonising and standardising practices. The purpose of this third edition, which includes brachytherapy, is identical while also taking into account recent technological improvements (intensity modulation radiation therapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and three-dimension brachytherapy) along with findings from literature. Part one describes the daily use of general principles (quality, security, image-guided radiation therapy); part two describes each treatment step for the main types of cancer.


Quinine Improves the Fungicidal Effects of Antimicrobial Blue Light: Implications for the Treatment of Cutaneous Candidiasis.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of clinical importance and is the primary cause of fungal-associated wound infections, sepsis, or pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. With the rise in antimicrobial resistance, it is becoming increasingly difficult to successfully treat fungal infections using traditional antifungals, signifying that alternative non-traditional approaches must be explored for their efficacy. We investigated the combination of antimicrobial blue light (aBL) and quinine hydrochloride (Q-HCL) for improved inactivation of C. albicans, in vitro and in vivo, relative to either monotherapy. In addition, we evaluated the safety of this combination therapy in vivo using the TUNEL assay. The combination of aBL (108 J/cm2 ) with Q-HCL (1 mg/mL) resulted in a significant improvement in the inactivation of C. albicans planktonic cells in vitro, where a 7.04 log10 colony forming units (CFU) reduction was achieved, compared with aBL alone that only inactivated 3.06 log10 CFU (P < 0.001) or Q-HCL alone which did not result in a loss of viability. aBL + Q-HCL was also effective at inactivating 48-hour biofilms, with an inactivation 1.73 log10 CFU at the dose of 108 J/cm2 aBL and 1 mg/mL Q-HCL, compared with only a 0.73 or 0.66 log10 CFU by aBL and Q-HCL alone, respectively (P < 0.001). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that aBL + Q-HCL induced morphological and ultrastructural changes consistent with cell wall and cytoplasmic damage. In addition, aBL + Q-HCL was effective at eliminating C. albicans within mouse abrasion wounds, with a 2.47 log10 relative luminescence unit (RLU) reduction at the dose of 324 J/cm2 aBL and 0.4 mg/cm2 Q-HCL, compared with a 1.44 log10 RLU reduction by aBL alone. Q-HCL or nystatin alone did not significantly reduce the RLU. The TUNEL assay revealed some apoptotic cells before and 24 hours following treatment with aBL + Q-HCL. The combination of aBL + Q-HCL was effective at eliminating C. albicans both in vitro and in vivo. A comprehensive assessment of toxicity (cytotoxicity and genotoxicity) is required to fully determine the safety of aBL + Q-HCL therapy at different doses. In conclusion, the combination of aBL and Q-HCL may be a viable option for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Application of near-infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis in monitoring of crude heparin purification process.
Ion-exchange chromatography is a widely used purification technology in the heparin manufacturing process. To improve the efficiency and understand the process directly, a rapid and equally precise method needs to be developed to measure heparin concentration in chromatography process. Here, two robust partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models were established for quantification of heparin based on the near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with 80 samples of adsorption process and 76 samples of elution process. Several variables selection algorithms, including correlation coefficient method, successive projection algorithm (SPA) and interval partial least squares (iPLSs), were performed to remove non-informative variables. The results showed that the correlation coefficient of validation (Rp) and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) corresponded to 0.957 and 3.4472 for adsorption process, 0.968 and 3.9849 for elution process, respectively. The approach was found considerable potential for real-time monitoring the heparin concentration of chromatography process.


Quantitative evaluation of differential renal function: a new approach.
A simple method is presented for quantitating the relative contribution of left and right kidneys to the total bladder activity observed in a [99mTc]DTPA renogram. The method is shown to be useful in identifying ureteral obstruction.


Multiparametric MR Imaging in Abdominal Malignancies.
Modern MR imaging protocols can yield both anatomic and functional information for the assessment of hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies. Diffusion-weighted imaging is fully integrated into state-of-the-art protocols for tumor detection, characterization, and therapy monitoring. Hepatobiliary contrast agents have gained ground in the evaluation of focal liver lesions during the last years. Perfusion MR imaging is expected to have a central role for monitoring therapy in body tumors treated with antivascular drugs. Approaches such as Magnetic resonance (MR) elastography and (1)H-MR spectroscopy are still confined to research centers, but with the potential to grow in a short time frame.


2D Pulses using spatially dependent frequency sweeping.
To introduce a method of designing two-dimensional (2D) frequency-modulated pulses that produce phase coherence in a spatiotemporal manner. Uniquely, this class of pulses provides the ability to compensate for field inhomogeneity using a spatiotemporally dependent trajectory of maximum coherence in a single-shot. A pulse design method based on a k-space description is developed. Bloch simulations and phantom experiments are used to demonstrate sequential spatiotemporal phase coherence and compensation for B1+ and B0 inhomogeneity. In the presence of modulated gradients, the 2D frequency-modulated pulses were shown to excite a cylinder in a selective manner. With a surface coil transmitter, compensation of the effect of B1+ inhomogeneity was experimentally verified, in agreement with simulation results. In addition, simulations were used to demonstrate partial compensation for B0 inhomogeneity. The 2D frequency-modulated pulses are a new class of pulses that generate phase coherence sequentially along a spatial trajectory determined by gradient- and frequency-modulated functions. By exploiting their spatiotemporal nature, 2D frequency-modulated pulses can compensate for spatial variation of the radiofrequency field in a single-shot excitation. Preliminary results shown suggest extensions might also be used to compensate for static field inhomogeneity. Magn Reson Med 76:1364-1374, 2016. © 2015 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.


Coronary artery bypass grafting with left internal mammary artery and right gastroepiploic artery, with and without bypass.
Total arterial and off-pump revascularization are increasingly used in coronary artery bypass grafting. This study describes our experience with the exclusive use of both left internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery by means of a median sternotomy, with and without cardiopulmonary bypass, in a subgroup of patients with two-vessel disease. From January 1995 to July 2000, 171 consecutive patients were reviewed in a prospective database. Ninety-one patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass (group A), and 80 patients were operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic cross-clamp and cardioplegia (group B). Patient data were similar in both groups except for the Euroscore (mean; 3.4+/-6.1, group A versus 2.5+/-4.5, group B; Euroscore > 6: 26.4%, group A versus 10%, group B; p < 0.05) and ejection fraction (mean, 54.6%+/-15.8%, group A versus 63.1%+/-12.7%, group B; p < 0.001). Severe aortic calcification was present in 6 group A patients, versus no patient in group B. Operative time was shorter in group A (185 versus 213 minutes, p < 0.0001), with less distal anastomoses (2.26 versus 2.5, p < 0.05). Conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass occurred in 1 patient, who was excluded from the study. Bleeding was higher in group A (852.6+/-288 mL versus 712.4+/-274 mL, p < 0.05), but transfusion was similar in both groups. Atrial fibrillation, postoperative inotropic support, and hospital stay were similar in both groups. Myocardial infarction was less frequent in group A (1 versus 4). Postoperative intraaortic balloon pump was used in 2 patients (group B). One patient died (group A) and 1 had an embolic stroke (group B). After discharge, 2 more patients died (group A, day 91; group B day 141), and 1 patient suffered an embolic stroke (group B). One patient in each group presented with dysfunction of the gastroepiploic artery graft requiring successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty on the right posterolateral artery. These results suggest that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery is safe even in high-risk patients. This approach allows an absolute no-touch technique of the aorta.


School-age outcomes of late preterm infants in New York City.
This study compares school-age outcomes among preterm (PT) (32 0/7-<34 weeks), late PT (LP) (34 0/7-<37 weeks), and full-term (FT) infants to assess cognitive sequelae of LP births. We obtained linked birth and educational data for all nonanomalous singleton infants born 1994 through 1998 in New York City who had a third-grade standardized test score (n = 215,138). Children delivered LP and PT had 30% and 50% higher adjusted odds of needing special education than those delivered FT (adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-1.40; and adjusted odds ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.69). They also had lower adjusted math and English scores than those delivered FT (math: 7% and 10% of SD, respectively; English: 4% and 6% of SD). A linear association between gestational age and test scores was seen through 39 weeks' gestation. There is a significant risk of developmental differences in PT and LP infants compared with FT infants.


A moderate exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid causes persistent DNA damage and senescence in human epidermal HaCaT keratinocytes.
Perfluorooctanoic acid has been used widespread, during the last decades, in a number of consumer and industrial products. Although this compound has been subjected to extensive epidemiological and toxicological studies, limited data are available concerning its potential dermal toxicity in mammalian cells. In this study, we used a two-stage approach with relevant cytotoxicity endpoints including cell viability and proliferation, oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell senescence to assess the immediate and the long-lasting or delayed cytotoxicity caused by the compound in HaCaT keratinocytes. Our results suggest that a single exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid causes concentration-dependent changes in cell proliferation that were not restored during a 48 h recovery period. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a moderate treatment with this perfluorochemical causes persistent DNA damage, which ultimately leads to development of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in HaCaT cells. This paper provides unprecedented data and insights regarding the cytotoxic effects of perfluorooctanoic acid in human cells that could be of special relevance for use in comparative in vitro-in vivo studies. Moreover, our findings highlight the importance of considering both the immediate and long-lasting or delayed cytotoxic responses caused by chemical exposure, to ensure the accurate identification of toxicity in cell-based systems.


Hepatocyte induced re-expression of E-cadherin in breast and prostate cancer cells increases chemoresistance.
Post-extravasation survival is a key rate-limiting step of metastasis; however, not much is known about the factors that enable survival of the metastatic cancer cell at the secondary site. Furthermore, metastatic nodules are often refractory to current therapies, necessitating the elucidation of molecular changes that affect the chemosensitivity of metastases. Drug resistance exhibited by tumor spheroids has been shown to be mediated by cell adhesion and can be abrogated by addition of E-cadherin blocking antibody. We have previously shown that hepatocyte coculture induces the re-expression of E-cadherin in breast and prostate cancer cells. In this study, we show that this E-cadherin re-expression confers a survival advantage, particularly in the liver microenvironment. E-cadherin re-expression in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells resulted in increased attachment to hepatocytes. This heterotypic adhesion between cancer cells and secondary organ parenchymal cells activated ERK MAP kinase, suggesting a functional pro-survival role for E-cadherin during metastatic colonization of the liver. In addition, breast cancer cells that re-expressed E-cadherin in hepatocyte coculture were more chemoresistant compared to 231-shEcad cells unable to re-express E-cadherin. Similar results were obtained in DU-145 prostate cancer cells induced to re-express E-cadherin in hepatocyte coculture or following chemical induction by the GnRH agonist buserelin or the EGFR inhibitor PD153035. These results suggest that E-cadherin re-expression and other molecular changes imparted by a partial mesenchymal to epithelial reverting transition at the secondary site increase post-extravasation survival of the metastatic cancer cell and may help to elucidate why chemotherapy commonly fails to treat metastatic breast cancer.


Hydrotris(3-mesitylpyrazolyl)borato-copper(I) alkyne complexes: synthesis, structural characterization and rationalization of their activities as alkyne cyclopropenation catalysts.
The use of the bulky hydrotris(3-mesitylpyrazolyl)borate anionic ligand has allowed the synthesis of stable Tp(Ms)Cu(alkyne) complexes (alkyne = 1-hexyne, 1, phenylacetylene, 2, and ethyl propiolate, 3). The spectroscopic and structural features of these compounds and their relative reactivity have been examined, indicating the existence of a low π back-bonding from the copper(I) centre to the alkyne. Ligand exchange experiments have shown that terminal alkyne adducts are more stable than internal alkyne analogues. In good accordance with this, the previously reported alkyne cyclopropenation reaction catalysed by the Tp(x)Cu complexes can be rationalized and correlated with their relative stability.


Drug-eluting stents in the real world: how intravascular ultrasound can improve clinical outcome.
Although the benefits of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of native coronary lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions have been demonstrated in multiple clinical trials, there remains concern about the risk of late stent thrombosis. The MATRIX registry, a prospective study designed to reflect clinical conditions, has enrolled a varied population of complex patients who have received the sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and long-term dual antiplatelet therapy. Contributing to the low rate of stent thrombosis and other complications after SES deployment in this study is the routine use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging before and after implantation at a high rate (38%). Important technical considerations for the IVUS operator include stent expansion, residual edge stenosis, and malapposition. Ensuring adequate stent dimensions and wall contact can contribute to successful outcomes in patients receiving SES.


A critical review on solar chimney power plant technology: influence of environment and geometrical parameters, barriers for commercialization, opportunities, and carbon emission mitigation.
Solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is one of the promising technologies to convert solar energy into carbon-free power generation. It has cost competitiveness, environment friendly and longer service life. Although remarkable advancements were achieved, commercialization aspect of the SCPP has not been established so far. Feasibility assessment of the large-scale plants was carried out by researchers in different climatic conditions across the globe but none of the studies materialized to date. However, it is almost four decades from the development of the first prototype, and no studies have been discussed the barriers to commercialization of the SCPP yet. Therefore, in this present study, a-state-of-the-art review has been presented which discussed the overview of SCPP technologies, factors affecting the flow and performance characteristics of the plant and major barriers in the commercialization aspect of the plant. The overview of SCPP technology including its global status and recent advances are spotlighted. The power potential and carbon emission mitigation of the SCPP based on the climatic condition and geographical location was studied by taking India as an example. In addition to that, the major challenges and opportunities in the SCPP are also addressed. Based on the analysis, a few recommendations are given for commercialization the plant.


A community-based cross-sectional study for relationship of frequency of vegetables intake and osteoporosis in a Chinese postmenopausal women sample.
The main purpose of this study was to explore the associations between frequency of vegetables intake and osteoporosis (OP) in Chinese postmenopausal women. We conducted a large-scale, community-based, cross-sectional study to investigate the associations by using self-report questionnaire to access frequency of vegetables intake. The total of 1903 participants was available to data analysis in this study. Multiple regression models to include frequency of vegetables variable were performed to investigate the relationships for OP, after controlling for confounding factors. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the frequency of vegetables intake was independently and significantly associated with OP (P < 0.1 for model 1 and model 2). The postmenopausal women with high frequency of vegetables intake had a higher prevalence of OP. The findings indicated that frequency of vegetables intake was independently and significantly associated with OP. The prevalence of OP was more frequent in Chinese postmenopausal women preferring vegetables food habits. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02451397 ; date of registration: 2015-05-28).


Modeling the binding of three toxins to the voltage-gated potassium channel (Kv1.3).
The conduction properties of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 and its modes of interaction with several polypeptide venoms are examined using Brownian dynamics simulations and molecular dynamics calculations. Employing an open-state homology model of Kv1.3, we first determine current-voltage and current-concentration curves and ascertain that simulated results accord with experimental measurements. We then investigate, using a molecular docking method and molecular dynamics simulations, the complexes formed between the Kv1.3 channel and several Kv-specific polypeptide toxins that are known to interfere with the conducting mechanisms of several classes of voltage-gated K(+) channels. The depths of potential of mean force encountered by charybdotoxin, α-KTx3.7 (also known as OSK1) and ShK are, respectively, -19, -27, and -25 kT. The dissociation constants calculated from the profiles of potential of mean force correspond closely to the experimentally determined values. We pinpoint the residues in the toxins and the channel that are critical for the formation of the stable venom-channel complexes.


Serial nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of acute myocardial infarction with and without reperfusion.
To compare nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) image-derived T1 and T2 changes during evolving infarction, 14 dogs were studied serially: (1) 1 to 2 hours after left anterior descending coronary occlusion, (2) 2 to 3 hours after coronary occlusion (n = 7) or in the first hour after reperfusion following 2 hours of occlusion (n = 7), and (3) 5 days and (4) 21 days after occlusion/reperfusion. In addition, the extent of T1 and T2 abnormalities was compared to the extent of infarction as determined histologically for each set of images. With sustained coronary occlusion, an increase versus control values (T1 = 351 +/- 11 msec; T2 = 41 +/- 2 msec) was observed in the second hour after occlusion (T1 = 448 +/- 51 msec; T2 = 51 +/- 8 msec), gradually reaching a maximum by day 5 (T1 = 490 +/- 64 msec; T2 = 63 +/- 9 msec). By 21 days, T1 had decreased to 427 +/- 43 msec and T2 to 55 +/- 11 msec. However, with myocardial reperfusion, an abrupt increase in both T1 and T2 occurred compared to prereperfusion values in the first hour after release of occlusion, from 445 +/- 32 msec to 555 +/- 65 msec and from 52 +/- 5 msec to 65 +/- 8 msec, respectively. Subsequently, T1 remained elevated whereas T2 normalized. Only on day 21 images was there a good correlation between the extent of T1 and T2 abnormalities and infarct size, in both nonreperfused (r = 0.87; p less than 0.05), and reperfused (r = 0.89; p less than 0.01) dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Introduction.
When Thomas Insel announced last year that he was stepping down from his position as director of the National Institute of Mental Health to join Google Life Sciences, some surprise was expressed by my colleagues. Typically, their thinking was that individuals in his position would (should?) return to academia or perhaps work at a pharmaceutical firm developing new therapeutics. As someone familiar with both psychiatry and the technology field, I thought Dr Insel's decision was quite rational given the increasing overlap between both fields and that his move reflected this new paradigm.


Ear advantage and attention: an ERP study of auditory cued attention.
The neurophysiological manifestations of left ear advantage to tonal stimuli and its interaction with attention have rarely been studied. Cued attention is a behavioral paradigm to assess the behavioral benefits and costs of allocating attention. In this task a cue predicts the location of a subsequent target to which the subject responds. In most cases the cue correctly predicts the target (valid cues) but at times it does not (invalid cues). Cued attention is a spatial paradigm with stimuli presented to either side. The objectives of this study were: (1) to find the neurophysiological correlates of the ear advantage phenomenon and (2) to assess the interaction of the stimulated side (right vs. left ear advantage) with attention, in a cued attention task. Significant effects on event-related potentials (ERPs) in the cued attention task indicated left ear and right hemisphere advantage. Effects were mostly confined to the right hemisphere. The results indicate interactions among left ear advantage, attention and dominant hand utilization. Ear advantage and attention may involve the same neural mechanisms. In spite of the left ear advantage effect on ERP components, hand dominance determines the final behavioral results (reaction times).


Multifunctional cellulose-based aerogel for intelligent fire fighting.
Multifunctional biomass-based aerogels with mechanically robust and high fire safety are urgently needed for the development of environmentally-friendly intelligent fire fighting but challenging. Herein, a novel polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ)/cellulose/MXene composite aerogel (PCM) with superior comprehensive performance was fabricated by ice-induced assembly and in-situ mineralization. It exhibited light weight (16.2 mg·cm-3), excellent mechanical resilience, and rapidly recovered after being subjected to the pressure of 9000 times of its own weight. Moreover, PCM demonstrated outstanding thermal insulation, hydrophobicity and sensitive piezoresistive sensing. In addition, benefiting from the synergism of PMSQ and MXene, PCM displayed good flame retardancy and improved thermostability. The limiting oxygen index of PCM was higher than 45.0 %, and it quickly self-extinguished after being removed away from fire. More importantly, the rapid electrical resistance reduction of MXene at high temperature endowed PCM with sensitive fire-warning capability (trigger time was less than 1.8 s), which provided valuable time for people to evacuate and relief. This work provides new insights for the preparation and application of the next-generation high performance biomass-based aerogels.


Corneal iron ring after conductive keratoplasty.
To report formation of corneal iron ring deposits after conductive keratoplasty. Observational case report. Case report. A 54-year-old woman underwent conductive keratoplasty for hyperopia. One year after conductive keratoplasty, iron ring pattern pigmentation was detected at the corneal epithelium of both eyes. This is the first report of the appearance of corneal iron ring deposits following conductive keratoplasty treatment in a patient. It is suggested that alterations in tear film stability, resulting from conductive keratoplasty-induced changes in corneal curvature, constitute the contributory factor for these deposits.


In vitro effects of staphylococcal leukocidin LukE/LukD on the proliferative ability of lymphocytes isolated from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).
Various strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria produce bicomponent toxins such as leukocidin LukE/LukD consisting of two subunits S (LukE) and F (LukD). The toxin subunits bind to leukocyte cell membrane inducing transmembrane pore formation and subsequent cell lysis. There is a lack of data on the effects of staphylococcal leukocidin LukE/LukD on fish immunocompetent cells in vitro. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of leukocidin LukE/LukD on the proliferative ability of T and B lymphocytes isolated from head kidney and spleen of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The response of T and B lymphocytes was stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) and lypopolysaccharide (LPS) respectively and measured by the MTT test. The results revealed the modulatory influence of staphylococcal leukocidin LukE/LukD on the proliferative ability of fish T and B lymphocytes. The highest concentrations (5000-25000 ng ml(-1) of medium) of complete leukocidin LukE/LukD and its subunit LukE induced statistically significant suppression of both head kidney and splenic T and B lymphocyte proliferation. On the other hand, the lowest concentrations of the complete toxin (0.32-1.6 ng ml(-1) of medium) caused slight but statistically significant stimulation of both head kidney and splenic T and B lymphocyte proliferative ability. No modulatory effects were observed at any concentration of subunit LukD used in the experiment. There is a need for further studies concerning the susceptibility of other immune cell populations isolated from fish to different types of staphylococcal leukocidin.


LncRNA CALB2 sponges miR-30b-3p to promote odontoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells via up-regulating RUNX2.
Illuminating the mechanisms of odontoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) is the key to find therapeutic clues to promote odontogenesis. LncRNAs play a regulatory role in odontoblast differentiation. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA, named lncRNA CALB2. It was up-regulated in odontoblast-differentiated hDPSCs and potentially interacted with miR-30b-3p and RUNX2. Via gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we found lncRNA CALB2 significantly promoted the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. Then, dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay revealed that both lncRNA CALB2 and RUNX2 mRNA could directly bind to miR-30b-3p via the same binding sites. Interestingly, miR-30b-3p in hDPSCs was down-regulated and RUNX2 was up-regulated during odontoblast differentiation. Moreover, lncRNA CALB2 knockdown significantly reduced the protein level of RUNX2, DSPP and DMP-1, while miR-30b-3p inhibitor rescued the reduction. Furthermore, miR-30b-3p exerted an inhibitory effect on odontoblast differentiation, which could be reversed by lncRNA CALB2. Collectively, these findings indicate that the newly identified lncRNA CALB2 acts as a miR-30b-3p sponge to regulate RUNX2 expression, thus promoting the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. LncRNA CALB2/miR-30b-3p/RUNX2 axis could be a novel therapeutic target for accelerating odontogenesis.


Inclusion of epinephrine to hyperbaric tetracaine and the supine position enhance the cephalad spread of spinal anaesthesia compared with hyperbaric teracaine alone in the lithotomy position.
Intrathecal epinephrine can produce prolongation of duration of spinal anaesthesia by reducing vascular absorption of the local anaesthetics. The patient's positioning can change the cephalad spread of hyperbaric local anaesthetics by affecting the lordosis of the vertebral canal. These factors combined are expected to affect the cephalad spread of sensory block levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combined use of epinephrine with hyperbaric tetracaine in the supine position can enhance the cephalad spread of sensory block levels compared with hyperbaric tetracaine alone in the lithotomy position. ASA physical status I or II 48 urological (lithotomy group) and 48 orthopaedic patients (supine group) scheduled to undergo elective surgical procedures in the lithotomy or supine position under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled. Patients in each group were randomly divided into two subgroups to receive intrathecal 10 mg of hyperbaric tetracaine with or without 0.2 mg of epinephrine (Groups L, LE, S, and SE). The extent of sensory blockade was assessed by loss of cold sensation. After achievement of sensory blockade up to T10, the patients in Groups L and LE were immediately placed in the lithotomy position. Patients in Groups S and SE were maintained in the supine position. The highest sensory blockade in the SE Group was on average statistically significantly higher than in the L Group. The mean time taken to the highest sensory blockade in the SE Group was statistically significantly longer than in Groups L and S. Atropine for bradycardia was used more frequently in the SE Group than in the other groups. Combined use of epinephrine with hyperbaric tetracaine in the supine position can enhance the cephalad spread of sensory block levels compared with hyperbaric tetracaine alone in the lithotomy position.


Long-term outcome of necrotizing pancreatitis treated by necrosectomy.
Long-term functional outcome after operative treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) has not been studied extensively. Pancreatic function, performance status, recurrence of symptoms and other related problems were analysed in 44 consecutive patients successfully discharged from hospital after operative necrosectomy (1983-1995) and followed up completely for a mean of 5 years. Clinical pancreatic insufficiency developed in half the patients. Diabetes mellitus (11 patients), steatorrhoea (six) or both (five) were associated with a mean estimate of 52, 66 and 67 per cent parenchymal necrosis respectively. Normal pancreatic function was associated with 27 per cent parenchymal necrosis (P < 0.05). Diabetes worsened while steatorrhoea tended to improve over time. Abdominal pain and pancreatitis recurred in six and two patients respectively. Performance status worsened in four patients because of recurrent pancreatitis and severe steatorrhoea. Poor long-term performance was associated with a higher Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score on admission (mean 14 versus 9). NP has prominent effects on long-term pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function in half the patients, but most preserve a good overall functional status. The development of pancreatic insufficiency varies with the extent of pancreatic parenchymal necrosis.


Design, synthesis and evaluation of potential inhibitors for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase members 1 and 14.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) members PARP1 and PARP14 belong to an 18-member superfamily of post-translational modifying enzymes. A library of 9 novel non-NAD analog amine compounds was designed, synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity against PARP1 and PARP14. Both in silico studies and in vitro assays identified compound 2 as a potential PARP1 inhibitor, inhibiting activity by 93 ± 2% (PARP14 inhibition: 0 ± 6%), and 7 as a potential PARP14 inhibitor, inhibiting activity by 91 ± 2% (PARP1 inhibition: 18 ± 4%), at 10-μm concentration. Key in silico interactions with TYR907 in PARP1 and TYR1620 and TYR1646 in PARP14 have been identified. Compound 2 and compound 7 have been identified as potential leads for the development of selective PARP inhibitors.


A pre-trial evaluation of blinding for a Chinese herbal medicine trial.
Blinding is considered an important methodological characteristic in clinical trials to minimise bias and maximise the validity of a trial. Unlike pharmaceutical substances, most herbal medicines have distinctive sensory specifications, including odour and taste, which can be quite challenging when developing a placebo control to match the specific characteristics of herbal substances being examined. The present study was, therefore, designed to evaluate whether the participants could differentiate an active herbal capsule (Ganopoly combination) from a placebo material capsule. The aim of this study was to develop a suitable placebo substance for encapsulation to be used in a future herbal medicine clinical trial. The current study was improved upon the previous investigation, and several modifications were made to the placebo substance in order to mimic the herbal substance characteristics. Prior to conducting the study, a refined placebo substance was developed using commonly consumed culinary agents. Sixty-two healthy volunteers participated in the study and were randomly provided one of the two substances. Individuals were asked to evaluate the three sensory characteristics of the allocated capsule (visual appearance, odour, and taste), and determine whether they believed the substance to be a 'herbal' or a 'placebo' substance. The study provided evidence on the success of blinding for only two sensory characteristics, namely, visual appearance (95% CI -0.15, 0.34) and odour (95% CI -0.34, 0.15). In contrast, the findings related to the taste indicated that participants correctly guessed the herbal substance compared to the placebo substance to a significantly higher proportion than would have been expected by chance alone (95% CI 0.14, 0.60). The failure to blind participants for taste highlights the difficulties in preparing placebo herbal substances that match as closely as possible to a real herbal substance. Blinding is particularly challenging where herbal medicines have different sensory characteristics.


A tobit regression model for the timing of smartphone adoption in agriculture.
Smartphones are excellent tools well-suited for applications in agriculture because of their mobility, high data processing power, access to agricultural apps, and compatibility with precision agriculture technologies. Although smartphone adoption and the use of agricultural apps are well-studied, variables influencing the timing of smartphone adoption in agriculture have not yet been closely examined. Comprehending both the timing of when a certain technology is adopted and identifying the specific characteristics of early and late adopters aids in the anticipation and thereby the fostering of the diffusion process. This study's objective is therefore to analyse the timing of smartphone adoption for agricultural purposes by applying a tobit regression model to a data set of 207 German farmers, which was collected in 2019. The results indicate that significant factors influencing the timing of smartphone adoption in agriculture include farmers' gender, risk attitude, age, size and location of their farm, among other factors. These results may be interesting to several stakeholders in agriculture such as extension services, policymakers and researchers as well as smartphone providers and sellers.


Purification, crystallization, and X-ray diffraction analysis of myocyte enhancer factor 2D and DNA complex.
MEF2D-fusions have recently been identified as one of the major oncogenic drivers in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). More importantly, they are often associated with patients with poor prognosis in B-ALL. To have a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanism underpinning MEF2D-fusions-driven leukemogenesis, it's essential to uncover the related structure information. In this study, we expressed and purified the MEF2D N-terminal DNA binding domain. The recombinant protein was engineered by cloning the encoding gene into the expression vector pET-32 m. A series of chromatographic steps involving affinity, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography were used to achieve a final purity of >95%. For the crystallization of the MEF2D-DNA complex, a double-stranded DNA encoding 5'-AACTATTTATAAGA-3' and 5'-TTCTTATAAATAGT-3' was used (Wu et al., 2010) [1]. The MEF2D-DNA crystal with the size of about 20 μm × 20 μm × 20 μm was obtained at a final concentration of 12 mg/ml at the reservoir condition containing 30% PEG1500. The X-ray examination showed that the MEF2D-DNA crystal diffracted to 4.5 Å resolution, and belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters of a = 77.2 Å, b = 77.2 Å, c = 231.4 Å.


Quality of care in reproductive health programmes: education for quality improvement.
The provision of high quality maternity care will make the difference between life and death or lifelong maiming for millions of pregnant women. Barriers preventing access to affordable, appropriate, acceptable and effective services, and lack of facilities providing high quality obstetric care result in about 1600 maternal deaths every day. Education in its broadest sense is required at all levels and sectors of society to enhance policy formulation that will strengthen programme commitment, improve services with a culturally sensitive approach and ensure appropriate delegation of responsibility to health staff at peripheral levels. This paper is the second in series of three which addresses quality of care. The first (Kwast 1998) contains an overview of concepts, assessments, barriers and improvements of quality of care. The third article will describe selected aspects of monitoring and evaluation of quality of care.


Chromosome instability and the FAMMM syndrome.
Our study involved two extended familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) kindreds wherein a sufficient number of informative, high genetic risk, and affected patients enabled collection of pertinent tissue samples (normal skin/fibroblasts and atypical nevi/melanocytes) for cytogenetic analysis, and peripheral blood lymphocytes for DNA usage for linkage studies. We observed marked chromosome instability, as evidence by increased frequencies of cells with chromosomal rearrangements (translocations, deletions, and inversions) in cell cultures from atypical nevi and normal skin. There was no evidence of linkage of the FAMMM disease locus to any of the markers for the short arm of chromosome 1p in these two families. Well-characterized FAMMM kindreds provide an opportunity for biomarker investigations for elucidating heterogeneity and, ultimately, improving cancer control.


Disfluency data of German preschool children who stutter and comparison children.
This study compared the disfluencies of German-speaking preschool children who stutter (CWS, N = 24) with those produced by age- and sex-matched comparison children who do not stutter (CWNS, N = 24). In accordance with Yairi and Ambrose's [Yairi, E., & Ambrose, N. (1992). A longitudinal study of stuttering in children: A preliminary report. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 35, 755-760] guidelines the CWS group had a narrow age range (2-5 years) and were seen close to the reported time of their stuttering onset (average of 8 months). Furthermore, over 95% of the CWS group had not received any type of speech therapy intervention. Consistent with previous findings for English-speaking preschool children, 'stuttering-like' disfluencies (prolongations, blocks, part- and one-syllable word repetitions) were significantly more frequent in CWS (mean = 9.2%) than in CWNS (mean = 1.2%), whereas no significant group differences occurred with respect to 'normal' disfluencies. The number of iterations in stuttering-like disfluencies was also significantly higher in CWS (mean = 1.28 iterations) than in CWNS (mean = 1.09 iterations). In contrast to previous findings, a sub-group of children who have been stuttering for a shorter time (1-5 months) did not differ from a sub-group who had stuttered for a longer period (8-22 months). The reader will be able to: (1) describe how German-speaking preschool children who stutter and who do not stutter display stuttering-like and normal disfluencies including number of iterations; (2) explain how powerful classification measures for the diagnosis of stuttering are for German-speaking preschool children; (3) discuss how disfluency patterns of native English- and German-speaking children close to onset of stuttering differ.


How to analyse prey preference when prey density varies? A new method to discriminate between effects of gut fullness and prey type composition.
State-dependent changes in prey preference are among the phenomena to be expected in studies of predator behaviour. For example, the rate of attack on each prey type is well known to be affected by the state of satiation, the dynamics of which is often assumed to parallel that of gut fullness. An interesting question is whether satiation alone is the determinant of the attack rate or whether the particular mixture of prey types in the predator's direct environment has an additional influence by itself. To detect examples of the latter type the predictive method proposed by Cock (1978) may be useful. In the present paper the predictive tool is a model built on the assumption that gut fullness is the sole internal state variable determining the attack rate. It is provided with parameter estimates from observations in monocultures of each type and then used to predict predation in mixtures of prey types. When measured predation on these prey types differs from what is predicted, the model may be too simple in various respects, one of which is that predators change prey preference in response to their own sample estimates of the densities of each prey type and their (innate or sample) estimate of the profitability of each prey type in terms of reproductive success. Thus, the lack of fit of the model poses a challenging problem, for to explain it one must identify underlying causes, such as differences in prey quality with respect to scarce nutrients or noxious chemicals that need to be detoxified or rendered harmless in other ways. The predictive approach is illustrated by analysis of preference of predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt) with respect to various stages of development of their prey, the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch). The results show that the relation between attack rate and gut fullness might well explain prey stage preference of predatory mites when the prey stages are presented together rather than each alone. In another paper by Dicke et al. (1989) marked deviations between predicted and measured diet are reported when the predatory mite, Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten, was offered a choice between two prey species, i.e. apple rust mites and (larvae of) European red spider mites. The underlying causes are to be revealed by further research, the impetus of which is born out by use of the method proposed by Cock (1978) and extended in this paper.


The usefulness of three-dimensional cell culture in induction of cancer stem cells from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.
In recent years, research on resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer treatment has come under the spotlight, and researchers have also begun investigating the relationship between resistance and cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are assumed to be present in esophageal cancer, but experimental methods for identification and culture of these cells have not yet been established. To solve this problem, we created spheroids using a NanoCulture® Plate (NCP) for 3-dimensional (3-D) cell culture, which was designed as a means for experimentally reproducing the 3-D structures found in the body. We investigated the potential for induction of cancer stem cells from esophageal cancer cells. Using flow cytometry we analyzed the expression of surface antigen markers CD44, CD133, CD338 (ABCG2), CD318 (CDCP1), and CD326 (EpCAM), which are known cancer stem cell markers. None of these surface antigen markers showed enhanced expression in 3-D cultured cells. We then analyzed aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymatic activity using the ALDEFLUOR reagent, which can identify immature cells such as stem cells and precursor cells. 3-D-cultured cells were strongly positive for ALDH enzyme activity. We also analyzed the expression of the stem cell-related genes Sox-2, Nanog, Oct3/4, and Lin28 using RT-PCR. Expression of Sox-2, Nanog, and Lin28 was enhanced. Analysis of expression of the hypoxic surface antigen marker carbonic anhydrase-9 (CA-9), which is an indicator of cancer stem cell induction and maintenance, revealed that CA-9 expression was enhanced, suggesting that hypoxia had been induced. Comparison of cancer drug resistance using cisplatin and doxorubicin in 3-D-cultured esophageal cancer cells showed that cancer drug resistance had increased. These results indicate that 3-D culture of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma lines is a useful method for inducing cancer stem cells.


Synchrotron X-ray microtomography and multifractal analysis for the characterization of pore structure and distribution in softwood pellet biochar.
Biochar pores in the micrometer range (1-100 µm) derive from cellular structures of the plant biomass subjected to pyrolysis or can be the result of mechanical processing, such as pelleting. In this study, synchrotron X-ray microtomography was used to investigate the internal pore structure of softwood pellet biochar produced by slow pyrolysis at 550 and 700 °C. The microtomographic data sets consisted of 2025 images of 2560 × 2560 voxels with a voxel side length of 0.87 µm. The three-dimensional reconstructions revealed that pelleting and pyrolysis significantly altered the pore structures of the wood feedstock, creating a network of connected pores between fragments that resembled the wood morphology. While higher pyrolysis temperature increased the specific surface area (as determined by BET nitrogen adsorption), it did not affect the total observed porosity. Multifractal analysis was applied to assess the characteristics of the frequency distribution of pores along each of the three dimensions of reconstructed images of five softwood pellet biochar samples. The resulting singularity and Rényi spectra (generalized dimensions) indicated that the distribution of porosity had monofractal scaling behavior, was homogeneous within the analyzed volumes and consistent between replicate samples. Moreover, the pore distributions were isotropic (direction-independent), which is in strong contrast with the anisotropic pore structure of wood. As pores at the scale analyzed in this study are relevant, for example, for the supply of plant accessible water and habitable space for microorganisms, our findings combined with the ability to reproduce biochar with such pore distribution offer substantial advantages in various biochar applications. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42773-021-00104-3.


Olfactory hallucinations during migraine in an adolescent with an MRI temporal lobe lesion.
To report the first example of an abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test in a patient with migraine and olfactory hallucinations and to provide additional evidence for a possible role of the temporal lobe in migraine. The relationship between the temporal lobe and migraine with or without hallucinations is unclear and continues to evolve. Clinical and functional neuroimaging studies (positron emission tomography/single photon emission computed tomography) have lent support to the possibility of a relationship. Anatomical neuroimaging with computed tomography has previously been normal. The history and findings of an adolescent with migraine and olfactory hallucinations is reported. Brain MRI demonstrated a mass in the temporal lobe. Magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in patients with olfactory hallucinations and migraine. In addition, the role of the temporal lobe in migraine warrants further study.


Plasma glutamic acid levels in premature newborn.
24 premature, newborn infants were investigated for plasma glutamic acid (GA) levels before and after a normal milk feed, to ascertain if the ingestion of GA present in the milk could result in an increase of its plasma level. No increases were detected in plasma between 5 and 90 min after the feed. These results may be important in respect to the problem of the possible toxicity of monosodium glutamate (MSG) added to baby foods.


Effect of chelated iron activated peroxydisulfate oxidation on perchloroethene-degrading microbial consortium.
In this work, the effect of In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) using peroxydisulfate (PDS) on chloroethenes-degrading microbial consortium in the presence of perchloroethene (PCE; tetrachloroethene) was investigated. Degradation of PCE was examined using PDS without an activation, activated with iron Fe(II) chelated by citric acid (CA), and microbial consortium derived from chloroethenes-contaminated site in liquid and sand microcosms. Two different molar ratios of PCE/PDS/(Fe(II)+CA) (1/8/1.6 and 1/16/3.2) were tested. The PCE removal efficiency was the highest in the bacteria-free microcosms. An expected increase in the PCE removal efficiency by coupling PDS and microbial consortium was not confirmed. Surprisingly, the reduced capacity of PDS to remove PCE in the systems containing both PDS and microbial consortium was observed indicating that indigenous microbes may reduce the efficiency of PDS during a remediation. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed negative effect of PDS on organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB), which were not detected after 19 days of the experiment, unlike in biotic control. On the other hand, amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) affiliated with genera Brevundimonas and Pseudomonas that have been described for their capability of aerobic cometabolic/metabolic degradation of chloroethenes (CEs) were among the most frequently detected ASVs after the PDS treatment. Results further showed that the sole Fe(II)-CA affected the diversity of the microbial consortium. Overall, results of this study provide new insight into the coupling ISCO using PDS with in situ bioremediation of CEs.


The neutrophil adherence assay as a method for detecting unique anti-inflammatory agents.
Neutrophil adhesiveness is an important component of the pathophysiology of the inflammatory process. Modulation of this function could result in a reduction in the degree of inflammation and connective tissue damage. A simple technique using filtration of whole blood through nylon fiber columns has been developed to study the effect of anti-inflammatory agents on the adherence of rat peripheral blood neutrophils. Gold and chloroquine, in addition to many standard anti-inflammatory drugs, have been shown to cause inhibition of neutrophil adherence. Measurement of this parameter of cell behavior has the potential of detecting anti-inflammatory agents not normally effective in the standard animal models.


The divided dosage/low dosage concept using fenbendazole.
Fenbendazole was administered as an anthelmintic to cattle and sheep by incorporation into feed blocks. The therapeutic dose of 5 mg/kg live mass for sheep and 10 mg/kg for cattle was administered in divided dosages over periods of 4 d and in some cases 5 d. The periods were limited to obviate possible development of resistance. The anthelmintic effect was equal to, or better than, the standard therapeutic dose administered as a single dose in the form of the commercially available fenbendazole suspensions, when comparing the results obtained by the modified non-parametric method of evaluating anthelmintics.


Naringenin protects hepato-renal tissues against antituberculosis drugs induced toxic manifestations by modulating interleukin-6, insulin like growth factor-1, biochemical and ultra-structural integrity.
The antituberculosis drugs (ATDs), isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol prompt extreme hepatic and renal damage during treatment of tuberculosis. The present study aimed to investigate protective potential of naringenin against ATDs induced hepato-renal injury. Rats were administered with ATDs (pyrazinamide; 210, ethambutol; 170, isoniazid; 85, rifampicin; 65 mg/kg b.wt) orally for 8 weeks (3 days/week) followed by naringenin at three different doses (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg b.wt) conjointly for 8 weeks (3 days/week alternately to ATDs administration) and silymarin (50 mg/kg b.wt) as positive control. Exposure to ATDs caused significant increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6), triglycerides, cholesterol, bilirubin whereas depletion in insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), albumin and glucose in serum. Endogenous antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were diminished in liver and kidney tissues with parallel increase in triglycerides, cholesterol, microsomal LPO and aniline hydroxylase (CYP2E1 enzyme). Ultra-structural observations of liver and kidney showed marked deviation in plasma membranes of various cellular and sub-cellular organelles after 8 weeks of exposure to ATDs. Conjoint treatment of naringenin counteracted ATDs induced toxic manifestations by regulating IL-6, IGF-1, CYP2E1, biochemical and ultra-structural integrity in a dose dependent manner. Naringenin has excellent potential to protect ATDs induced hepato-renal injury by altering oxidative stress, modulation of antioxidant enzymes, serum cytokines and ultra-structural changes.


Nicotinamide riboside supplementation corrects deficits in oxytocin, sociability and anxiety of CD157 mutants in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.
Oxytocin (OT) is a critical molecule for social recognition and memory that mediates social and emotional behaviours. In addition, OT acts as an anxiolytic factor and is released during stress. Based on the activity of CD38 as an enzyme that produces the calcium-mobilizing second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), CD157, a sister protein of CD38, has been considered a candidate mediator for the production and release of OT and its social engagement and anti-anxiety functions. However, the limited expression of CD157 in the adult mouse brain undermined confidence that CD157 is an authentic and/or actionable molecular participant in OT-dependent social behaviour. Here, we show that CD157 knockout mice have low levels of circulating OT in cerebrospinal fluid, which can be corrected by the oral administration of nicotinamide riboside, a recently discovered vitamin precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is the substrate for the CD157- and CD38-dependent production of cADPR. Nicotinamide riboside corrects social deficits and fearful and anxiety-like behaviours in CD157 knockout males. These results suggest that elevating NAD levels with nicotinamide riboside may allow animals with cADPR- and OT-forming deficits to overcome these deficits and function more normally.


Parkinson's Disease, NOTCH3 Genetic Variants, and White Matter Hyperintensities.
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging may influence clinical presentation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), although their significance and pathophysiological origins remain unresolved. Studies examining WMH have identified pathogenic variants in NOTCH3 as an underlying cause of inherited forms of cerebral small vessel disease. We examined NOTCH3 variants, WMH volumes, and clinical correlates in 139 PD patients in the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative cohort. We identified 13 PD patients (~9%) with rare (<1% of general population), nonsynonymous NOTCH3 variants. Bayesian linear modeling demonstrated a doubling of WMH between variant negative and positive patients (3.1 vs. 6.9 mL), with large effect sizes for periventricular WMH (d = 0.8) and lacunes (d = 1.2). Negative correlations were observed between WMH and global cognition (r = -0.2). The NOTCH3 rare variants in PD may significantly contribute to increased WMH burden, which in turn may negatively influence cognition. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.


Sharing increasing costs on declining income: the visible dilemma of the invisible aged.
The federal government considers all persons aged 65 and over a single beneficiary group, and data collectors consider them a single cohort. As a result, the very old (80 years and over) are virtually invisible; little is known about their specific income benefits and economic resources. Costs for the very old--a more economically diverse group than the nonaged--are likely to grow disproportionately. Recent proposals to share costs will affect the distribution of income and assets among the aged and between generations.


Transverse plane kinetics during treadmill walking with and without a load.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of wearing a backpack on transverse plane upper and lower body torque. During unloaded walking the upper and lower body counter-rotate to reduce the net angular momentum of the body. There is less counter-rotation while carrying a load, suggesting a more rigid link between the upper and lower body. We predicted that load carriage would result in an increase in upper body torque. Because the upper and lower body may be more rigidly linked during load carriage, we also predicted an increase in lower body torque. Twelve subjects (5 male, 7 female, mean age=26) walked with and without a backpack containing 40% of their body mass on a treadmill at speeds from 0.6 to 1.6 ms(-1). Kinematic data were sampled for 30 s at each speed, upper and lower body torque were calculated from angular acceleration and moment of inertia. Higher levels of upper and lower body torque were observed during load carriage than during unloaded walking. However, the increase in upper body torque was 225%, while upper body moment of inertia increased by 400%. The differences in torque between loaded and unloaded walking suggest that a goal of loaded walking is to minimize upper body torque, which may reduce the likelihood of injury. Knowledge of the effects of load carriage on upper and lower body torque, and related changes in coordination may provide insight into injury reduction mechanisms during load carriage.


Beneficial effects of Kampo medicine Inchin-ko-to on liver function and regeneration after hepatectomy in rats.
Inchin-ko-to (ICKT), Kampo medicine, is known to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis as well as promote the secretion and excretion of bile. The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of ICKT on liver function and hepatic regeneration after massive hepatectomy in rats. Male Wistar rats received 2 g/kg ICKT from 3 days preoperatively and underwent 90% hepatectomy. Liver sections were stained using immunohistochemistry (hemeoxygenase-1 [HO-1], alpha-smooth muscle actin [SMA], and proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]). The survival period was significantly prolonged, and the remnant liver/body weight ratio was significantly increased postoperatively in the ICKT group. The values of transaminase, total bile acid, and total bilirubin were significantly improved in the ICKT group. In the ICKT group, PCNA and HO-1 were strongly expressed early postoperatively, but the expression of alpha-SMA was weak. The preoperative administration of ICKT has been suggested to provide beneficial effects in promoting hepatic regeneration and preventing postoperative hepatic failure. The reduced activation of stellate cells may be involved in their mechanisms.


Tafenoquine for preventing relapse in people with Plasmodium vivax malaria.
Plasmodium vivax malaria is widespread, and the persistent liver stage causes relapse of the disease which contributes to continued P. vivax transmission. Primaquine is currently the only drug that cures the parasite liver stage, but requires 14 days to be effective and can cause haemolysis in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. In addition, there is some evidence of parasite resistance to the drug. Tafenoquine is a new alternative with a longer half-life. To assess the effects of tafenoquine in people with P. vivax infection. We searched the following databases up to 13 April 2015: the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), published in The Cochrane Library; MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; SCOPUS; and LILACS. We also searched the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trial Registry Platform and the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) for ongoing trials using "tafenoquine" and "malaria" as search terms up to 13 April 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in people with P. vivax malaria. Adverse effects of tafenoquine are assessed in populations where people with G6PD deficiency have been excluded, and in populations without screening for G6PD deficiency. All review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Meta-analysis was carried out where appropriate, and estimates given as relative risk with 95% confidence intervals. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. Three RCTs met our inclusion criteria, with the asexual infection in both the tafenoquine and comparator arm treated with chloroquine, and in all trials G6PD deficiency patients were excluded. Tafenoquine dose comparisonsThree of the included trials compared eight different dosing regimens. Tafenoquine doses of 300 mg and above resulted in fewer relapses than no hypnozoite treatment over six months follow-up in adults (300 mg single dose: RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.41, one trial, 110 participants, moderate quality evidence; 500 to 600 mg single dose: RR 0.14, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.34, two trials, 122 participants, moderate quality evidence; 1800 mg to 3000 mg in divided doses: RR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.23, two trials, 63 participants, low quality evidence).In people with normal G6PD status, there may be little or no difference in serious adverse events (three trials, 358 participants, low quality evidence); or any adverse event (one trial, 272 participants, low quality evidence). Tafenoquine versus primaquine Two of the included trials compared four different dosing regimens of tafenoquine against the standard primaquine regimen of 15 mg/day for 14 days. A single tafenoquine dose of 600 mg may be more effective than primaquine in relation to relapses at six months follow-up (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.84, two trials, 98 participants, low quality evidence)In people with normal G6PD status, there may be little or no difference for serious adverse events (two trials, 323 participants, low quality evidence) or any adverse event (two trials, 323 participants, low quality evidence) between tafenoquine and primaquine. Tafenoquine prevents relapses after clinically and parasitologically confirmed P. vivax malaria. The drug is untested in pregnancy, children and in G6PD-deficient people. The shorter treatment course is an important practical advantage in people who do not have G6PD deficiency, but the longer half-life may have more substantive consequences if given inadvertently to people with G6PD deficiency.


Predicting RNA Structure with Vfold.
In order to carry out biological functions, RNA molecules must fold into specific three-dimensional (3D) structures. Current experimental methods to determine RNA 3D structures are expensive and time consuming. With the recent advances in computational biology, RNA structure prediction is becoming increasingly reliable. This chapter describes a recently developed RNA structure prediction software, Vfold, a virtual bond-based RNA folding model. The main features of Vfold are the physics-based loop free energy calculations for various RNA structure motifs and a template-based assembly method for RNA 3D structure prediction. For illustration, we use the yybP-ykoY Orphan riboswitch as an example to show the implementation of the Vfold model in RNA structure prediction from the sequence.


Exploring the implications of different approaches to estimate centre-level adherence using objective adherence data in an adult cystic fibrosis centre - a retrospective observational study.
Accurate centre-level medication adherence measurement allows identification of highly performing CF centres, drives shared learning and informs quality improvement. Self-reported adherence is unreliable but data-logging nebulisers can capture objective data. However, adherence levels in current literature are limited by the use of agreed prescriptions and convenience sampling. In this single-centre retrospective study, we quantified the differences in centre-level adherence with different methods of calculating adherence (unadjusted vs normative adherence) and different data sampling frames (convenience sampling vs including difficult to obtain data). Adherence data were objectively captured using I-neb® from 2013-2016 in Sheffield Adult CF Centre. Adults on non data-logging devices, on ivacaftor or with previous lung transplantation were excluded. Adherence was calculated based on agreed regimen ('unadjusted adherence') or minimum required regimen ('normative adherence'). I-nebs® not brought to clinic were downloaded during home visits. Adults not on any inhaled therapy but with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were included by counting their adherence as "0". Of the 131 included adults, 126 provided I-neb® data. Calculating unadjusted adherence from I-nebs® brought to clinics resulted in the highest centre-level adherence (median 41.8% in 2013). Median adherence reduced after sequentially accounting for minimum required regimen (40.0% in 2013), I-nebs® not brought to clinics (32.9% in 2013) and adults not on any inhaled therapy (31.0% in 2013). Different approaches of calculating adherence produced different adherence levels. Adherence levels based only on agreed regimen among adults who readily brought their nebulisers to clinics can over-estimate the effective adherence of CF centres.


Identification of low and high molecular weight follicle-stimulating hormone receptor-binding inhibitors in human follicular fluid.
Various fractions of human follicular fluid (FF) were tested for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor-binding inhibitory activity, as well as for their ability to form a dansyl derivative previously reported to be associated with FSH receptor-binding inhibitory activity in bovine FF. Pooled human FF was found to inhibit binding of radioiodinated human FSH (125I-hFSH) to its receptor in a concentration-related manner. Fractionation of human FF by sequential ultrafiltration through membranes of calibrated pore size resulted in human FF components of low (500 to 5,000) and high (greater than 5,000) molecular weight, (Mr) respectively. Each of these inhibited 125I-hFSH binding to receptor in a concentration-related manner. Dansylation of the above components revealed the Rf = 0.15 dansyl derivative to be present in unfractionated human FF and in the low (500 to 5,000 Mr), but not the high (greater than 5,000 Mr), component of human FF. These findings are consistent with those previously reported for bovine FF and porcine FF and indicate that human FF contains FSH receptor-binding inhibitors with properties similar to those observed in animal species.


Augmented healing of critical-size calvarial defects by baculovirus-engineered MSCs that persistently express growth factors.
Repair of large calvarial bony defects remains clinically challenging because successful spontaneous calvarial re-ossification rarely occurs. Although bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) genetically engineered with baculovirus (BV) for transient expression of osteogenic/angiogenic factors hold promise for bone engineering, we hypothesized that calvarial bone healing necessitates prolonged growth factor expression. Therefore, we employed a hybrid BV vector system whereby one BV expressed FLP while the other harbored the BMP2 (or VEGF) cassette flanked by Frt sequences. Transduction of rabbit BMSCs with the FLP/Frt-based BV vector led to FLP-mediated episome formation, which not only extended the BMP2/VEGF expression beyond 28 days but augmented the BMSCs osteogenesis. After allotransplantation into rabbits, X-ray, PET/CT, μCT and histological analyses demonstrated that the sustained BMP2/VEGF expression remarkably ameliorated the angiogenesis and regeneration of critical-size (8 mm) calvarial defects, when compared with the group implanted with BMSCs transiently expressing BMP2/VEGF. The prolonged expression by BMSCs accelerated the bone remodeling and regenerated the bone through the natural intramembranous pathway, filling ≈83% of the area and ≈63% of the volume in 12 weeks. These data implicated the potential of the hybrid BV vector to engineer BMSCs for sustained BMP2/VEGF expression and the repair of critical-size calvarial defects.


Sonographically guided patellar tendon fenestration: prognostic value of preprocedure sonographic findings.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether any sonographic features of jumper's knee can predict the outcome after sonographically guided percutaneous patellar tendon fenestration. Patients were identified between July 2001 and March 2009 who had clinical and sonographic findings of jumper's knee, who had failed conservative treatment, and who had sonographically guided percutaneous fenestration of the patellar tendon. Pain levels were assessed before and 4 weeks after fenestration. Sonograms were retrospectively characterized with regard to echogenicity, size, definition, location, calcification, and hyperemia of the abnormal patellar tendon region. Sonographic findings before fenestration were correlated with clinical outcomes. A total of 45 patellar tendons (32 consecutive patients) were included in the study. The average prefenestration functional pain score was 3.6 (range, 2-5), and the average postprocedure functional pain score after 4 weeks was 1.4 (range, 0-5). The preprocedure sonographic finding that correlated with an improved clinical outcome after tendon fenestration was the presence of a well-defined tendon abnormality. No other sonographic findings were associated with the clinical outcome. After fenestration, 76% (34 of 45) showed clinical improvement; 24% (11 of 45) showed no change; and 0% (0 of 45) had worse symptoms at 4 weeks. The presence of a well-defined area of tendinosis on sonography was associated with clinical improvement after percutaneous sonographically guided fenestration of the patellar tendon. All tendons either improved (76%) or showed no change (24%) in the functional pain score at 4 weeks after fenestration.


Borderline Personality Features, Interpersonal Correlates, and Blood Pressure Response to Social Stressors: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) confers risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study used the interpersonal perspective to investigate potential mechanisms underlying this association. In two undergraduate samples (N = 293; N = 188) in Study 1, we replicated and extended research by demonstrating that BPD features were associated with hostile and somewhat submissive interpersonal behavior. Further, BPD features were associated with low social support and high levels of interpersonal conflict, two well-established risk factors for CVD. Also, hostile-submissive behavior contributed to the association of BPD features with low social support. In Study 2, we examined associations of BPD features with blood pressure (BP) responses to two interpersonal stressors implicated in models of the effects of stress on CVD, specifically by using laboratory tasks involving interpersonal conflict and evaluative threat in a third undergraduate sample (N = 143). BPD features predicted elevated BP reactivity to conflict but not evaluative threat, and such heightened reactivity previously has been found to predict the development of CVD. The interpersonal perspective may be useful for investigating mechanisms linking BPD to CVD risk, and processes that undermine otherwise protective social support or heighten exposure and reactivity to interpersonal conflict may be relevant in this regard.


Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who have undergone prior renal transplantation.
Because renal transplantation recipients require immunosuppressive drugs, they have a higher incidence of subsequent malignancies. Among them, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common. Although liver resection remains an option for curing HCC, the role of liver resection in renal transplantation recipients remains unclear. A retrospective review of liver resection for newly diagnosed HCC in 680 patients was conducted. Among them, 18 patients had undergone prior renal transplantation (RT group). The patient background, tumor characteristics, early and long-term results after liver resection were compared with the other 662 patients who had not previously undergone renal transplantation (non-RT group). The patient's background characteristics were comparable between RT and non-RT group. The tumor characteristics, postoperative morbidity, and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. The 5-year disease-free survival rates in RT and non-RT groups were 18.8% and 41.2%, respectively (P = 0.242), whereas 5-year actuarial survival rates in RT and non-RT groups were 59.1% and 58.3%, respectively (P = 0.738). Two patients lost their graft kidney 3 and 8 years after liver resection. With careful protection of the graft kidney, liver resection is still a justified treatment option for HCC in patients who have undergone renal transplantation.


Peste des petits ruminants infection in domestic ruminants in Sudan.
The existence of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in domestic ruminants and camels in Sudan during 2008-2012 was investigated. Lung tissues and serum samples were randomly collected from sheep, goats, cattle, and camels at different areas of Sudan. A total of 12,384 serum samples were collected from clinically healthy 7413 sheep, 1988 camels, 1501 cattle, 1459 goats, and 23 gazelles at different areas in the Sudan. They were examined for PPR antibodies using competitive ELISA (cELISA). The overall detected seroprevalence of PPR in tested sera was 49.4%; seroprevalence values within species were 67.1, 48.2, 25.8, 2.1, and 21.7% in sheep, goat, cattle, camels, and gazelles, respectively. The highest seroprevalence (68.1%) was observed in sera collected from Darfur states, then the central states (54.3%). A total of 1276 lung tissue samples (623 sheep, 324 cattle, 220 camels, and 109 goats) were collected. The majority of lung samples were collected from clinically healthy animals that showed lesions on PM in slaughterhouses (95%) and during PPR outbreaks; samples were tested for PPR antigen using immunocapture ELISA (IcELISA). PPR antigen was detected in 233 out of the 1276 tested samples (18.3%). Positive results were observed in samples collected from clinically healthy and diseased animals. The observed prevalence values in each species were 33.6, 21.1, 15.4, and 12.3% in camel, goat, sheep, and cattle, respectively. PPR antigen was detected in samples from different areas; however, the highest prevalence (63.9%) was found in samples collected from the eastern states, then Khartoum state (28%). Trials for virus isolation were done in different cell cultures. Out of 30 IcELISA-positive samples inoculated in primary bovine and ovine kidney cells, Vero cells, the PPR virus was successfully isolated from 15 (eight sheep, five camels, and two goats) samples in the three cell culture types. Using RT-PCR, PPRV nucleic acid was detected in all 25 IcELISA-positive tested samples.


Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease: a rare autoimmune disorder affecting the kidney and the lung.
Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease is a rare, but well characterized cause of glomerulonephritis. By definition serum anti-GBM antibody and/or a linear binding of IgG detected by direct immunofluorescence (IF) in a histological specimen of the kidney or the lung have to be detected. These antibodies can lead to acute rapid progressive glomerulonephritis(RPGN) and/or pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) because of collagen similarities in the basement membrane. Principally anti-GBM antibody disease can be divided into two groups: anti-GBM antibody disease without PH was regarded as renal-limited anti-GBM antibody disease and that with PH was defined as Goodpasture's syndrome (GPS). The important determinant for the response of therapy and long term diagnosis on anti-GBM disease is early diagnosis to prevent endstage renal disease. Therefore, standard treatment is a combined therapy of plasmapherisis, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. The aim of this review is an overview of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of anti-GBM disease.


Application of Tinel's test combed with clinical neurosensory test distinguishes spontaneous healing of lingual nerve neuropathy after mandibular third molar extraction.
Extraction of the mandibular third molar, the most frequent and important surgical procedure in the clinical practice of oral surgery, is associated with the risk of injury of the lingual nerve. Neuropathy of the lingual nerve poses diagnostic challenges regarding the transient or permanent nature of the injury. No consensus or criteria have been established regarding the diagnosis of lingual nerve neuropathy. We applied both Tinel's test and clinical neurosensory testing together, which can be easily used at the bedside in the early stages of injury. Therefore, we propose a new method to differentiate between lesions with the ability to heal spontaneously and those that cannot heal without surgery. Thirty-three patients (29 women, 4 men; mean age, 35.5 years) were included in this study. For all patients, the median interval between nerve injury and initial examination was 1.6 months and that between nerve injury and the second examination before determining the need for surgical management was 4.5 months. The patients were assigned to either group A or B. The spontaneous healing group (group A, n = 10) revealed a tendency for recovery within 6 months after tooth extraction. In this group, although there were individual differences in the degree of recovery, a remarkable tendency for recovery was observed based on clinical neurosensory testing in all cases. None of the patients were diagnosed with allodynia. In seven cases, the Tinel test result was negative at the first inspection, and in three cases, the result changed to negative at the second inspection. Conversely, in group B(n = 23), no recovery trend was observed with regard to clinical neurosensory testing, and nine patients had allodynia. Further, the Tinel test result was positive for all patients in both examinations. Our findings indicate that in case of transient lingual nerve paralysis, clinical neurosensory testing findings deteriorate immediately after tooth extraction and gradually recover, while Tinel's test shows a negative result. Using Tinel's test and clinical neurosensory testing together enabled early and easy identification of the severity of the lingual nerve disorder and of lesions that would heal spontaneously without surgical management.


Comparison of the biological potency of a new synthetic preparation of secretin with that of natural porcine secretin in the dog.
The biological activity of the new synthetic secretin, Roche, on exocrine pancreatic secretion was determined in conscious dogs with chronic gastric and duodenal fistulae and compared with that of pure porcine secretin (GIH, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm). The two secretin preparations were found to be equipotent as to pancreatic volume and bicarbonate response on a molar basis. It was concluded that the new synthetic secretin is useful for clinical and research purposes.


Central diabetes insipidus in a cat with central nervous system B cell lymphoma.
A 6-year-old male neutered cat presented with blindness, lethargy, polydipsia, hyposthenuria and severe hypernatraemia. Central diabetes insipidus was demonstrated by means of a low measured anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) concentration in the face of hypernatraemia, and clinical response to supplementation with desmopressin. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a discrete mass in the region of the hypothalamus. The cat was euthanased and post-mortem histological examination demonstrated B cell lymphoma involving the brain, optic nerves, urinary bladder wall and diaphragm. To the authors' knowledge, this case report is the first to describe central diabetes insipidus caused by central nervous system lymphoma in the cat.


Electrocatalysts for Oxygen/Hydrogen-Involved Reactions.
Oxygen/hydrogen-involved reactions are key reactions in many energy-related technologies, such as electrolytic water, electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction, electrochemical ammonia synthesis, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and renewable fuel cells [...].


Percutaneous thermal ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.
Tumour ablation using a thermal energy source has shown promising results, and is particularly suitable for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study evaluated long-term outcomes after percutaneous thermal ablation for recurrent HCC following liver resection. Radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation was used to treat a total of 124 tumour nodules (0.9-7.0 cm in diameter) in 72 patients with recurrent HCC. Complete ablation of 119 (96.0 per cent) of 124 tumour nodules was achieved. There was no treatment-related death and the major complication rate was 4 per cent. During a mean(s.d.) follow-up of 27.9(17.8) months, local recurrence developed in 16 (13.6 per cent) of 118 successfully treated tumour nodules. Distant recurrence developed in 60 (85 per cent) of 71 patients, of whom 26 had repeat metachronous distant recurrence. With repeated ablation for both local and distant recurrence, the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates after initial ablation were 75, 43 and 18 per cent respectively. Patients with a serum alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 200 ng/ml before treatment had significantly poorer survival than those with a lower level (P = 0.034) and multivariate analysis identified preablation AFP level as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.054). With their advantages of preservation of non-tumorous liver tissue and easy repetition, percutaneous thermal ablative therapies were particularly suitable for recurrent HCC and improved long-term survival.


Endothelial function in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or risk factors for atherosclerosis. Because the silent or documented atherosclerosis or vascular risk factors are very frequent, the possibility of endothelial dysfunction in ED patients is expected to be increased. Our aim was to evaluate the endothelial functions in patients with vasculogenic ED with vascular risk factors and compare them with age-matched non-ED patients or healthy controls. We studied 36 patients with presumed vasculogenic ED, 39 age-matched patients with similar risk factors without ED and 25 age-matched healthy controls without ED, known cardiovascular disease or risk factors. Erectile function was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) scores. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD) were measured. Baseline demographics were similar except the IIEF score and duration of diabetes in patients with ED. Brachial artery FMD and NMD were significantly reduced in patients with ED (3.2+/-3. vs. 6+/-4, p<0.0001 for FMD, 12.2+/-6 vs. 15.4+/-6 p=0.032 for NMD). In patients with similar risk factors but without ED, FMD was significantly lower but NMD were not different compared with healthy controls (6+/-4 vs. 10.2+/-3, p<0.0001 for FMD and 15.4+/-8 vs. 16.4+/-6, p=0.81). IIEF scores were weakly correlated with FMD (r=0.25, p=0.028) in patients with ED. There were significant correlations between FMD and NMD in patients with ED (r=0.46, p=0.05) and with risk factors (r=0.72, p<0.0001) but not in healthy controls (r=0.54, p=0.792). Vasculogenic ED patients have more markedly impaired endothelial and smooth muscle functions compared with patients with similar risk factors but no ED.


Clinical significance of peripheral blood Epstein-Barr viral load monitoring using polymerase chain reaction in renal transplant recipients.
PTLD is a complication of EBV infection. We examined the efficacy of EBV-PCR monitoring to detect early replication in an attempt to prevent EBV-associated PTLD. Blood EBV levels in 156 renal transplant recipients (58 children) from three institutions over nine yr were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were asymptomatic and at high risk for PTLD were monitored for EBV infection by PCR or serology followed by PCR at the time of EBV seropositivity. More children than adults had positive EBV-PCR (12/58 vs. 2/98, p < 0.001). Adults remained asymptomatic and viremia resolved post-therapy. 3/12 EBV-PCR positive children developed PTLD (3/12 children vs. 0/2 adults, p = NS). Two out of three with PTLD were initially monitored by serology, and later by PCR. PTLD resolved post-therapy in all three patients. The remaining 9/12 EBV-PCR positive children stayed asymptomatic. None of the children and adults with negative EBV-PCR developed PTLD. EBV-PCR monitoring in high-risk renal transplant recipients, especially in children, may allow early diagnosis and intervention, and therefore may help in preventing EBV-associated PTLD.


The degradation of human myelin basic protein peptide 43-88 by human renal neutral proteinase.
Normal human kidney contains a neutral endopeptidase that can degrade human myelin basic protein peptide 43-88. In the present study, renal homogenates prepared from postmortem tissue obtained from four persons with multiple sclerosis, two with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, one each with olivopontocerebellar atrophy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, and four controls were analyzed for the enzymes present that degrade human myelin BP peptide 43-88. There was no evidence that the activity in renal tissue for degrading human BP peptide 43-88 is qualitatively different in persons with MS, other neurologic diseases, or controls. Gel filtration of digested peptide demonstrated the action of an endopeptidase capable of hydrolyzing BP peptide 43-88 into large fragments.


Research on carbon footprint measurement and emissions reduction optimization of the beer supply chain in China.
The carbon emissions of the beer industry have always been a concern. To reduce environmental pollution, this paper systematically calculates the carbon emissions of the beer supply chain and studies the optimization of carbon emissions reduction through scenario simulation. In this study, the boundary of the beer supply chain carbon emissions system is constructed. The scenario simulation and simulation analysis are carried out based on five factors: water recycling utilization rate, power generation mode, weight-volume ratio, recovery ratio, and transportation mode. To obtain the optimal scheme of economic cost and emissions reduction, the cost of the beer supply chain is analyzed under the condition of carbon trading. The results show that the proportion of carbon emissions in each link of the beer supply chain is production, packaging, transportation, and storage, which are 59.58%, 22.27%, 17.67%, and 0.5%, respectively. The improvement of the water recycling utilization rate of manufacturing enterprises can reduce the overall carbon emissions of the supply chain, and the effect is obvious. The highest proportion of carbon emissions in the packaging link is the bottle consumption stage (22.43%). Raw materials transportation accounts for the highest proportion of total carbon emissions in transportation (63.73%). The waterway/railway ratio will be increased to 0.6/0.4, and the carbon emissions in the supply chain will be reduced by 5.7%. In the context of carbon trading, when the carbon trading price is higher than 49.16 yuan/ton, enterprises can achieve a win-win situation in reducing emissions and maintaining positive economic growth by the measures given in the paper.


Investigating effect of R&D investment on decoupling environmental pressure from economic growth in the global top six carbon dioxide emitters.
This work is aimed to investigate the effect of research and development (R&D) on reduce in environmental pressures through an empirical analysis of the top six global carbon emitters (the C6: China, USA, India, Russia, Japan, and Germany). This work is valuable toward carbon reduction within C6 countries and the world (C6 emit roughly 60% of the global carbon emissions). Moreover, it is also meaningful for exploring the decoupling of economic development from carbon emissions in other areas (both developing and developed countries). The main findings displayed that the decoupling status in developed countries (i.e., USA, Japan, and Germany) were better and more stable than in developing countries (i.e., China, India, and Russia). Germany performed best among the developed countries, and China performed most stable among the developing countries. The effect of the per capita R&D expenditure was main resistance to decoupling carbon emissions from economic development in C6 countries. However, the energy intensity effect and R&D efficiency effect related to technological progress were the main driving forces for the decoupling process. Consequently, this study proposes that the improvement of technological progress should be prioritized.


[The role of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARgamma) in neoplasms of endocrine glands].
The peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors gamma (PPAR) belong to the family of nuclear receptors, which directly regulate transcription of target genes. PPARgamma take part in many processes such as adipogenesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and inflammation and carcinogenesis. The expression of PPARgamma was detected in normal and tumor cells of endocrine glands. Activation of receptors by specific ligands of PPARgamma induces inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and terminal differentiation as well as inhibition of angiogenesis. In the present paper the structure, tissue expression and biological function of PPARgamma are presented. The reports about oncostatic effects of PPARgamma agonists in pituitary adenomas, thyroid cancers and adrenal tumor are reviewed.