The 5-tier system of assessing fetal heart rate tracings is superior to the 3-tier system in identifying fetal acidemia.
Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was developed to identify fetuses at risk of acidemia for intervention before adverse outcomes. Our objective was to compare the 3-tier system with a 5-tier system in evaluation of fetal acidemia. Retrospective case-control study of patients with a fetal arterial pH <7 matched to the next birth that resulted in a pH >7.2. Tracings were categorized into 3- and 5-tier systems by a single reviewer. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated for each. Twenty-four cases and 24 controls were identified. The sensitivity for an orange or red tracing was higher than for category III, with more of these in the pH <7 group compared with controls (P ≤ .001). There were significantly more green, blue, and yellow tracings in the normal pH group compared with the pH <7 group (P = .033, P = .008, P = .023), respectively. The 5-tier system had a better sensitivity than the 3-tier system.


Network-behavior mapping of lasting executive impairments after low-grade glioma surgery.
Executive functions (EF) may be significantly impaired following low-grade glioma (LGG) surgery, especially in the event of white matter (WM) disruption. The aim of this study was to identify the connective tracts associated with EF impairments after LGG surgery, and to provide new insights into the WM network architecture of EF. EF measurements were collected in 270 patients at the chronic postoperative phase. This comprised cognitive flexibility, verbal inhibition and fluency abilities (phonological and categorical). The scores were z-corrected for age and educational level, and further submitted to a principal component analysis (PCA). Tracwise and disconnectome-behavior analyses were then performed using EF measures independently but also the extracted components from PCA. For the first analyses, 15 tracts of interest were selected. Two principal components were extracted from the behavioral data, interpreted as 'EF' and 'language' components. Robust, bonferroni-corrected correlations were established between the EF component and Layers II and III of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus, and between phonological fluency/inhibition and the same tracts. Less powerful but still significant correlations were also observed with the left frontal aslant and fronto-striatal tracts. These results were confirmed by disconnectome-behavior analyses. Our results indicate that surgically-related disruption of the fronto-parietal and the frontal cortico-subcortical connectivity, and of the frontal aslant tract, is related to long-lasting EF impairments. In addition to providing new insights into the WM pathways supporting EF, these findings are especially useful for both surgical planning and the predictive approach of neuropsychological disorders in the context of LGG surgery.


SP600125 enhances C-2-induced cell death by the switch from autophagy to apoptosis in bladder cancer cells.
A natural compound Jaspine B and its derivative possess potential anti-cancer activities; However, little is known about the underlying mechanism. Here, the role of a new autophagy inducer Jaspine B derivative C-2 in suppressing bladder cancer cells was researched in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanisms and anticancer effect of C-2 in bladder cancer cells were investigated by MTT, western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. The key signaling components were investigated by using pharmacological inhibitors or specific siRNAs. In vivo, we designed a C-2 and SP600125 combination experiment to verify the effectiveness of compound. C-2 exhibits cytotoxic effect on bladder cancer cells, and JNK activated by C-2 triggers autophagy and up-regulates SQSTM1/p62 proteins, contributing to activation of Nrf2 pathway. Utilization of JNK inhibitor SP600125 or knockdown of JNK by siRNA potentiate the cytotoxicity of C-2 through down-regulation of p62 and LC3II proteins and up-regulation of active-Caspase3 proteins, enhance the cell death effect, facilitating the switch from autophagy to apoptosis. In vivo study, C-2 suppresses tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model of EJ cells without observed toxicity. Combined treatment with SP600125 further enhances tumor inhibition of C-2 associated with enhanced activation of caspase3 and reduction of autophagy. It reveals a series of molecular mechanisms about SP600125 potentiate the cytotoxicity and tumor inhibition of C-2 in bladder cancer cells through promoting C-2-induced apoptosis, expecting it provides research basis and theoretical support for new drugs development.


Effects of tumor treating fields (TTFields) on glioblastoma cells are augmented by mitotic checkpoint inhibition.
Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are approved for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. TTFields disrupt cell division by inhibiting spindle fiber formation. Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) inhibition combined with antimitotic drugs synergistically decreases glioma cell growth in cell culture and mice. We hypothesized that SAC inhibition will increase TTFields efficacy. Human GBM cells (U-87 MG, GaMG) were treated with TTFields (200 kHz, 1.7 V/cm) and/or the SAC inhibitor MPS1-IN-3 (IN-3, 4 µM). Cells were counted after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment and at 24 and 72 h after end of treatment (EOT). Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, Annexin-V staining and TUNEL assay were used to detect alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis after 72 h of treatment. The TTFields/IN-3 combination decreased cell proliferation after 72 h compared to either treatment alone (-78.6% vs. TTFields, P = 0.0337; -52.6% vs. IN-3, P = 0.0205), and reduced the number of viable cells (62% less than seeded). There was a significant cell cycle shift from G1 to G2/M phase (P < 0.0001). The apoptotic rate increased to 44% (TTFields 14%, P = 0.0002; IN-3 4%, P < 0.0001). Cell growth recovered 24 h after EOT with TTFields and IN-3 alone, but the combination led to further decrease by 92% at 72 h EOT if IN-3 treatment was continued (P = 0.0288). The combination of TTFields and SAC inhibition led to earlier and prolonged effects that significantly augmented the efficacy of TTFields and highlights a potential new targeted multimodal treatment for GBM.


New species and subspecies of the genus Lesteva Latreille, 1797 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) from Taiwan.
Two new taxa of the genus Lesteva Latreille, 1797 from Taiwan (Hualien County) are described and illustrated: L. smetanai sp. n. and L. rufopunctata taiwanica subsp. n. A key to species known from Taiwan is provided.


Bacterial colonization of the upper airways of children positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our understanding of the influence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on bacterial colonization in the children's upper nasopharyngeal tract during the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic is limited. This study aimed to determine whether there were any differences in bacterial colonization between asymptomatic children with or without a positive SARS-CoV-2 quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results in the community setting. A cross-sectional community-based exploratory study was conducted from March to May 2021 in Semarang, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Using stored nasopharyngeal swabs collected from children under 18 years as a contact tracing program, we performed a real-time quantitative (qPCR) for the most important bacterial colonizing pathogens: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Swabs from a total of 440 children were included in this study, of which 228 (51.8%) were RT-qPCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive. In the 440 children, colonization rates were highest for H. influenzae (61.4%), followed by S. pneumoniae (17.5%), S. aureus (12.0%), and K. pneumoniae (1.8%). The co-occurrence of both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in the upper respiratory tract was significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 negative RT-qPCR. In contrast, colonization with only S. aureus was more common in SARS-CoV-2-positive children. Overall, this exploratory study concludes that there is a significant difference in the bacterial nasopharyngeal colonization pattern between SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative in asymptomatic children in the community in Indonesia.


Secretion of albumin and alpha-foetoprotein by dimethylsulphoxide-stimulated hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
Exposure of BW77-1 and BW77-2 mouse hepatic tumour cells to the polar solvent dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) altered extracellular accumulation of albumin and alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and perturbed their cell cycle kinetics. The amount of albumin secreted into the culture growth medium was dependent on the concentration of DMSO used. Hepatic tumour cells cultured in 1 and 2% DMSO accumulated 50% and 111% more albumin, respectively, than non-DMSO-stimulated cells during the final 24 h of a 4-day exposure to the polar solvent. Commitment of mouse hepatoma cells to increased albumin secretion was temporally dependent, requiring a minimum of 48 h in the presence of DMSO. The AFP level in 1% DMSO-treated cultures was also significantly increased, compared with control cells. Unlike albumin secretion, however, exposure of hepatic tumour cells to 2% DMSO did not further increase (but slightly decreased) extracellular AFP accumulation. Treatment of BW77-1 cells with DMSO resulted in a gradual decline in the percentage of 2C DNA content cells (diploid G1 population) and in a corresponding increase in the proportion of cells with a 4C DNA content (generation of either a G2 or tetraploid G1 population). The extent of this shift directly reflected the concentration of polar solvent in the medium and paralleled the DMSO-induced stimulation in albumin secretion. DMSO-stimulated hepatic tumour cells, therefore, may prove useful in the elucidation of specific regulatory events underlying control of gene expression during the hepatocyte cell cycle.


Infection prevention and control strategies in the era of limited resources and quality improvement: a perspective paper.
This paper aims to describe, using an evidence-based approach, the importance of and the resources necessary for implementing effective infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes. The intrinsic and explicit values of such strategies are presented from a clinical, health-economic and patient safety perspective. Policy makers and hospital managers are committed to providing comprehensive, accessible, and affordable healthcare of high quality. Changes in the healthcare system over time accompanied with variations in demographics and case-mix have considerably affected the availability, quality and ultimately the safety of healthcare. The main goal of an IPC programme is to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Many patient-, healthcare provider-, and organizational factors are associated with an increased risk for acquiring HAIs and may impact both the quality and outcome of patient care. Evidence has been published in support of having an effective IPC programme. It has been estimated that about one-third of HAIs could be prevented if key elements of the evidence-based recommendations for IPC are adequately introduced and followed. However, several healthcare agencies from over the world have reported deficits in the essential resources and components of current IPC programmes. To meet its main goal, staffing, training, and infrastructure requirements are needed. Nevertheless, and given the economic crisis, policy makers and hospital managers may be tempted to not increase or even to reduce the budget as it consumes resources and does not generate sufficient visible revenue. IPC is a critical issue in patient safety, as HAIs are by far the most common complication affecting admitted patients. The significant clinical and health-economic burden HAIs place on the healthcare system speak to the importance of getting introduced effective IPC programmes.


Ultrasound-assisted bottom-up synthesis of Ni-graphene hybrid composites and their excellent rhodamine B removal properties.
In this paper, a facile one-pot bottom-up approach has been developed for the rapid preparation (≤5 min) of graphene nanostructures and Ni-graphene hybrid composites. Under the aid of ultrasonic irradiation, the graphene nanostructures were prepared via reducing hexachloro-benzene(C6Cl6) with sodium (Na) in non-polar organic solvent n-tetradecane (C14H30). On the basis of this route, the Ni-graphene hybrid composites were easily synthesized by adding Ni nanoparticles (NPs) into reaction system. The whole reaction was carried out at low temperature (100-120 °C) and in air atmosphere. Despite the absence of nitrogen protection, the result from surface analysis still shows a relatively high C/O ratio (10:1). The effect of the Ni NPs content and size on the specific surface area (SSA) of the products is also investigated. The synthesized samples exhibit large SSA, which is significantly affected by the Ni NPs content rather than their size. The adsorption performances of the samples are evaluated for the removal of organic dyes such as rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. The testing results show great adsorption capacity (qmax = 963.04 mg g-1), rapid adsorption rate (~99.88%, 2 min), high adsorption efficiency (>99.7%) and good chemical stability in a wide pH range (3-13), high salt tolerance (>80 mg mL-1), and good recyclability (>99.5%, 20 cycles).


Polarity of three-dimensional structures derived from isolated hog thyroid cells in primary culture.
When cultured in polystyrene dishes subjected to previous treatment and supplied with a serum-containing medium, hog thyroid cells form monolayers displaying dome-like arrangements after three to four days. Cells involved in formation of "domes" are morphologically polarized; the apical microvilli of these cells point toward the culture medium. When the tissue is cultured in untreated polystyrene dishes, thyroid cells remain in suspension; their aggregates swell progressively and form hollow spheres encompassed by a single layer of cells. The polarity of the cells forming such spheres is inverse in comparison to the condition characteristic of the intact thyroid gland. When culture medium is supplemented with TSH, PGE1, PGE2 or dBC, structures resembling true follicles are formed in both types of cultures. Gelatin, added to suspension cultures, is also capable of promoting follicle formation. Cultured thyroid cells regularly form an epithelial layer as a result of the interaction of cellular processes. However, the polarization of this layer depends on culture conditions. Thus, structures with either a normal follicle-like polarization of their cells or showing an inverted type of polarization can be obtained.


Structural basis for a degenerate tRNA identity code and the evolution of bimodal specificity in human mitochondrial tRNA recognition.
Animal mitochondrial gene expression relies on specific interactions between nuclear-encoded aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and mitochondria-encoded tRNAs. Their evolution involves an antagonistic interplay between strong mutation pressure on mtRNAs and selection pressure to maintain their essential function. To understand the molecular consequences of this interplay, we analyze the human mitochondrial serylation system, in which one synthetase charges two highly divergent mtRNASer isoacceptors. We present the cryo-EM structure of human mSerRS in complex with mtRNASer(UGA), and perform a structural and functional comparison with the mSerRS-mtRNASer(GCU) complex. We find that despite their common function, mtRNASer(UGA) and mtRNASer(GCU) show no constrain to converge on shared structural or sequence identity motifs for recognition by mSerRS. Instead, mSerRS evolved a bimodal readout mechanism, whereby a single protein surface recognizes degenerate identity features specific to each mtRNASer. Our results show how the mutational erosion of mtRNAs drove a remarkable innovation of intermolecular specificity rules, with multiple evolutionary pathways leading to functionally equivalent outcomes.


Mechanisms of hemostasis at cesarean delivery.
Postpartum hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that represents a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. With the recent rise in the cesarean delivery rate, prompt recognition and proper management at the time of cesarean delivery are becoming increasingly important for providers of obstetrics. Preparedness for hemorrhage can be achieved by recognition of prior risk factors and implementation of specific hemorrhage protocols. Medical and surgical therapies are available to treat obstetric hemorrhage after cesarean delivery.


Towards artificial general intelligence via a multimodal foundation model.
The fundamental goal of artificial intelligence (AI) is to mimic the core cognitive activities of human. Despite tremendous success in the AI research, most of existing methods have only single-cognitive ability. To overcome this limitation and take a solid step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI), we develop a foundation model pre-trained with huge multimodal data, which can be quickly adapted for various downstream cognitive tasks. To achieve this goal, we propose to pre-train our foundation model by self-supervised learning with weak semantic correlation data crawled from the Internet and show that promising results can be obtained on a wide range of downstream tasks. Particularly, with the developed model-interpretability tools, we demonstrate that strong imagination ability is now possessed by our foundation model. We believe that our work makes a transformative stride towards AGI, from our common practice of "weak or narrow AI" to that of "strong or generalized AI".


Impact of different modes of school dental health education on oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practice behaviour: an interventional study.
The study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of three modes of school dental health education (SDHE) on the oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) behaviour of school children. An interventional study was carried out among 8-9 year old school children from January 2016 to January 2018. Three hundred and sixty children from three schools in Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India participated in this study. Each school was randomly allotted with a mode (drama, modified snake and ladder game, flashcard) of SDHE, which was delivered for 20 min, every 6 months for 2 years. A validated questionnaire with 18 questions was used to record oral health-related KAP behaviour at baseline and after 2 years. At the end of 2 years, there was an increase in the percentage of correct response for all the nine knowledge questions, in all the three modes. The mean difference in the cumulative knowledge score between baseline and 2 years was 1.39 ± 2.05 for drama mode, 1.8 ± 1.51 for game mode and 1.7 ± 1.5 for flashcard mode of SDHE. There was a significant difference in three knowledge questions and one attitude practice behaviour question between the three groups at the end of 2 years. All the three modes were effective in improving the oral health-related KAP behaviour of school children. Game mode made a better impact on the knowledge scores of these children, and it was observed to be more child-friendly and entertaining.


[The influence of the new beta sympathicolytic agent carazolol on sympathicotonic false regulation (author's transl)].
In 18 patients with tachycardia at rest the effect of treatment with the beta sympathicolytic agent Carazolol was investigated, using Schellong's test, venous occlusion plethysmography, ECG and a questionaire evaluating concomitant effects. A significant reduction in heart rate (about 20 percent) as well as a decrease in systolic blood pressure were observed. No further therapeutical effect was seen during long term treatment. There wer no significant influences on venous occlusion plethysmography and ECG. The patients reported a considerable improvement of their heart complaints.


Clinical outcome of patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular function.
Patients with heart failure have a poor prognosis. However, it has been presumed that patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular function (LVF) may have a more benign prognosis. We evaluated the clinical outcome of patients with heart failure and preserved LVF compared with patients with reduced function and the factors affecting prognosis. We prospectively evaluated 289 consecutive patients hospitalized with a definite clinical diagnosis of heart failure based on typical symptoms and signs. They were divided into 2 subsets based on echocardiographic LVF. Patients were followed clinically for a period of 1 year. Echocardiography showed that more than one third (36%) of the patients had preserved systolic LVF. These patients were more likely to be older and female and have less ischemic heart disease. The survival at 1 year in this group was poor and not significantly different from patients with reduced LVF (75% vs 71%, respectively). The adjusted survival by Cox regression analysis was not significantly different (P=.25). However, patients with preserved LVF had fewer rehospitalizations for heart failure (25% vs 35%, P<.05). Predictors of mortality in the whole group by multivariate analysis were age, diabetes, chronic renal failure, atrial fibrillation, residence in a nursing home, and serum sodium < or = 135 mEq/L. The prognosis of patients with clinical heart failure with or without preserved LVF is poor. Better treatment modalities are needed in both subsets.


Histopathologic and immunologic aspects of alphacor artificial corneal failure.
To describe the histopathologic and immunologic characteristics of late artificial corneal failure in a small series of patients who underwent AlphaCor implantation and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. Clinicopathologic case series. Three patients were diagnosed with corneal melting during the late postoperative period and required the removal of the devices. The explanted devices embedded within the corneal tissues were examined by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical studies. Light microscopic examination of the specimens disclosed adequate biointegration with no foreign body response. Immunofluorescence studies of the skirt exhibited expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and some interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). The keratocytes stained positively for Thy-1 and smooth muscle actin but negatively for CD34. Although these findings confirm the occurrence of biointegration, myofibroblastic differentiation of the ingrowing keratocytes is a prominent feature.


Tardy feathering locus (t) located on chromosome 1 in the chicken.
The locus for tardy feathering (t), a recessive autosomal rate of feathering mutation, had been previously suggested to be on chromosome 1 in the chicken. Tests using both pea comb (P) and the breakpoint (B) of a chromosome translocation involving chromosome 1 (MN t(Z;l] verify that t lies on the long arm of chromosome 1, and shows linkage of 41.7 +/- 2.2 map units, with P located on the short arm.


ILC2-derived IL-13 promotes skin cDC2 diversity.
In a new study, researchers have identified a new population of type 2 conventional dendritic cells in the skin that depend on IL-13 and promote Th2 mediated immunity.


Iron metabolism: a double-edged sword in the resistance of glioblastoma to therapies.
Glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), is a clear illustration of the resistance of cancer cells to conventional therapies. Application of combinatorial strategies able to overcome pivotal factors of GBM resistance, particularly within the resection margins, represents an essential issue. This review focuses on the role of iron metabolism in GBM progression and resistance to therapy, and the impact of its pharmaceutical modulation on the disease. Iron, through its involvement in many biological processes, is a key factor in the control of cell behavior and cancer biology. Therefore, targeting cellular iron signaling or taking advantage of its dysregulation in cancer cells may lead to new opportunities for improving treatments and drug delivery in GBM.


Synthesis of 2-[6-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)hexyl]oxiranecarboxylic acid: a selective carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitor.
Carnitine palmitoyltransferases 1 and 2 (CPT-1 and CPT-2) catalyze the transfer of long chain fatty acids between carnitine and coenzyme A. Unlike CPT-2, CPT-1 exists in at least two isoforms with different physical and kinetic properties. Liver and skeletal muscle each contain a different isoform of CPT-1. Cardiac muscle contains both isoforms, and the minor component is identical to the isoform found in the liver. 2-[6-(2,4-Dinitrophenoxy)hexyl]oxiranecarboxylic acid (2) was reported to be a selective inhibitor for the liver isoform of CPT-1. A synthesis of 2 is described here which involves the reaction of diethyl malonate with 1-bromo-6-phenoxyhexane.


A novel method for the isolation and study of a magnetotactic bacterium.
The magnetococcus, a magnetotactic bacterium, has been grown in a complex simulated natural environment. Sufficiently pure samples of cells were obtained magnetically making axenic cultures unnecessary for many purposes. The magnetococcus is a Gram-negative coccus, 1.6 micron in diameter and readily distinguished by highly refractile inclusions and its magnetotactic behavior. This organism is actively motile by means of two bundles of flagella. Electron dense ferromagnetic inclusions were localized between the flagellar bundles. Collections of magnetococci were morphologically homogeneous and negligibly contaminated by extraneous bacteria. DNA extracted from pooled collections of cells was homogeneous by analytical CsC1 centrifugation. The guanine-cytosine content was 61.7%. Total iron by percent cellular dry weight was 3.8%. Comparisons with a previously described magnetotactic marine coccus were made.


PJ34, a poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor, modulates renal injury after thoracic aortic ischemia/reperfusion.
These experiments sought to evaluate the effects of PJ34, a poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor, on molecular indices of renal injury, mitochondrial function, tissue thrombosis, and fibrinolysis after thoracic aortic ischemia/reperfusion (TAR). Forty-three 129S1/SvImj mice were subjected to 11 minutes of TAR followed by 48 hours of reperfusion. Experimental groups included untreated normal saline (NS) controls (UC), (n=15, 0.5 mL NS i.p.) or PJ34 (PJ) (n=17, PJ34 10 mg/kg ip, 1 hour before and after TAR). Sham (SH) mice (n=11) underwent median sternotomy (heparin, NS i.p.) without TAR. Forty-eight hours after TAR or sham operation, kidney mitochondrial activity (using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium [MTT]), D-dimer, and thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complex levels were measured. Levels of messenger RNA for neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a marker for renal injury, were also measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. PJ34 improves renal mitochondrial activity after 48 hours of TAR, compared with untreated control animals (UC, 87.6 +/- 2.2%; PJ, 151.4 +/- 9.5%; P < .001). PJ34 did not alter the increase in renal D-dimer levels by 48 hours reperfusion (UC, 1.37 +/- 0.09 U; PJ, 1.1 +/- 0.14 U; SH, 0.82 +/- 0.06 U; P < .05). TAR did not alter renal levels of TAT expression among groups (UC, 0.103 +/- 0.034; PJ, 0.067 +/- 0.008; SH, 0.106 +/- 0.027; P=.619). The incidence of significantly increased NGAL among UC mice was 1415 +/- 823.6 (n=12), compared with 29.6 +/- 20.8 (n=10) in the PJ34-treated group (P < .014). PJ34 preserves renal mitochondrial activity and decreases steady-state levels of NGAL after TAR. TAR did increase markers of fibrinolysis in renal tissue but their increase did not correlate with renal injury or PJ34 treatment. These studies indicate that PJ34 confers protection against TAR and suggest that PARP may represent a novel target for reducing perioperative renal injury.


Efficient H2O2 generation and electro-Fenton degradation of pollutants in microchannels of oxidized monolithic-porous-carbon cathode.
A monolithic-porous carbon (MPC) was fabricated by carbonizing a pine rod, and then the oxidized monolithic-porous carbon (O-MPC) was obtained via alkaline heat treatment of MPC. With well-ordered axial channels (diameters were 6-14 μm and 40-50 μm) and oxygen-containing functional groups, O-MPC as a flow-through cathode exhibited good capability in continuously generating H2O2 (422 μmol/L) via oxygen reduction. O-MPC and additional Fe2+ composed an electro-Fenton system and the performance of the system in degradation of organic pollutants was evaluated. For phenol, bisphenol A or sulfamethoxazole at initial concentration of 10 mg/L the removal efficiency reached 74%-82% in a hydraulic retention time of 100 seconds, nearly close to that of the homogeneous Fenton process (90%). This efficiency may be maintained for at least 10 hours, indicating a good stability of O-MPC. The results demonstrate the potential of O-MPC as a flow-through electrode to realize homogeneous-like degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater.


Antibody microarrays as tools for biomarker discovery.
The cancer biomarkers field is being enriched by molecular profiling obtained by high-throughput approaches. Targeted antibody arrays are strongly contributing to the identification of protein cancer -biomarker candidates and functional proteomic analyses. Due to their versatility, novel technological and experimental design implementations are broadening the applications of antibody arrays. However, the cancer biomarker candidates delivered to date using this technology are still in their early developmental phase, requiring validation with high number of specimens focusing on specific clinical endpoints. Innovative strategies multiplexing protein measurements of protein extracts of cultured cells, tissue and body fluids using antibody arrays combined with appropriate validation approaches are enabling the -discovery of cancer-associated biomarkers. This review describes these strategies and cancer biomarker candidates reported to date that may assist in the diagnosis, surveillance, prognosis, and potentially for predictive and therapeutic purposes for patients affected with solid and hematological neoplasias.


Characterisation and Comparison of Acute Haemodynamic, Cardiac Biochemical and Hormonal Response to Different Ventricular Pacing Sites in the Normal Heart.
Acute cardiac response to right ventricular pacing is unknown. We aimed to assess the acute haemodynamic, biochemical and hormonal response to asynchronous right ventricular pacing and investigate whether there is a difference between an apical and outflow tract site. In 21 patients with normal cardiac function, haemodynamics, brain natriuretic peptide and high sensitive troponin T were measured in response to 10minutes of pacing at each site in a randomised crossover fashion and compared. Pacing both sites there were significant increases in pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (p<0.001) and QRS width (p< 0.01). In comparison to baseline, apical pacing demonstrated significant (p<0.05) increases in arterial peptide and troponin levels and venous peptide levels. Outflow tract pacing compared to baseline demonstrated significant (p<0.05) increases in arterial peptide and venous, arterial and coronary sinus troponin. There were no significant differences in responses between sites. Asynchronous right ventricular pacing demonstrated significant increases in filling pressures, cardiac hormonal and biochemical response above baseline with very short durations of pacing (10minutes). There was no difference in response between sites. These findings imply that even very short periods of right ventricular based pacing are potentially deleterious.


Early intervention for incipient insanity: early notions from the 19th century English literature.
Early intervention programmes in mental illnesses started to bloom in the 1990s, and many programmes have been established worldwide during the past twenty years. However, the concept of early intervention has emerged during the 19th century but it did not make much impact on practice. The aim of this review is to identify the difficulties appeared during that period of time which could provide insight into the modern development of early intervention initiatives. A narrative review which focused on English literature about early intervention for insanity during the 19th century was undertaken. Clinicians during the 19th century recognized that treatment would be the most effective at the early stage of the mental illness and they had emphasized the importance of early intervention. However, because of a number of factors, such as the limited roles of asylums, lack of knowledge about mental disorder and the lack of effective treatment, the idea of early intervention did not make impact in clinical service during that period of time. During the past two hundred years, understanding towards mental illness has advanced and more effective treatments, such as the use of anti-psychotic medications, have been developed. Reflecting on the past experience and difficulties might shed light on the development of today early intervention in mental disorder.


Multi-image colocalization and its statistical significance.
Accurately localizing molecules within the cell is one of main tasks of modern biology, and colocalization analysis is one of its principal and most often used tools. Despite this popularity, interpretation is often uncertain because colocalization between two or more images is rarely analyzed to determine whether the observed values could have occurred by chance. To address this, we have developed a robust methodology, based on Monte Carlo randomization, to measure the statistical significance of a colocalization. The method works with voxel-based, intensity-based, object-based, and nearest-neighbor metrics. We extend all of these to measure colocalization in images with three colors. We also introduce three new metrics; blob colocalization, where the blob consists of a local maximum surrounded by a three-dimensional group of voxels; cluster diameter, to measure the clustering of fluorophores in three or more images; and the intercluster distance to measure the distance between these clusters. The robustness of these metrics was tested by varying the image thresholds over a broad range, which produced no change in the statistical significance of the colocalizations. A comparison of blob colocalization with voxel and Manders colocalization metrics shows that the different measures produce consistent results with similar values for significance and nonsignificance. Using our methodology, we are able to determine not only whether the labeled molecules colocalize with a probability greater than chance, but also whether they are sequestrated into different compartments. The program, written in C++, is freely available as source, as well as in a Linux version.


Acute response to barefoot running in habitually shod males.
The aim of this study was to examine the immediate effects of barefoot (BF) running on lower limb kinematics and muscle activity in a group of habitually shod runners. Ten male runners with no prior BF or minimalist running experience performed 1-min bouts of treadmill running at 3 velocities in both shod and BF conditions. 2D video data were recorded in order to quantify ankle, knee and hip kinematics. Synchronous kinetic data were recorded from a force plate supporting the treadmill in order to quantify spatiotemporal variables. EMG data were collected from 6 lower limb muscles, quantifying recruitment patterns during discrete phases of the gait cycle. BF running resulted in significantly higher stride frequency and shorter ground contact times (P < .001). Additionally, BF running significantly reduced knee and hip range of motion but increased ankle range of motion during the absorptive phase of the stance. Alterations in ankle kinematics during BF running resulted from increased pre-activation of the medial (P < .05) and lateral (P < .01) gastrocnemius in addition to reductions in pre-activation of the tibialis anterior (P < .05). The results highlight that recruitment patterns and kinematics can change in as little as 30-s of BF running in individuals with no previous BF running experience.


Electrochemical evidences of morphological transformation in ordered mesoporous titanium oxide thin films.
We provide the first electrochemical evidence of permeability changes in continuous mesoporous TiO2 thin film electrodes induced by nanocrystallisation.


Does myopia decrease the risk of diabetic retinopathy in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus?
To study the relationship between the severity of myopia and the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This retrospective study was conducted using data from electronic medical records from a multicentric eyecare network located in various geographic regions of India. Individuals with type 1 or type 2 DM were classified according to their refractive status. Severe nonproliferative DR (NPDR), PDR, or presence of clinically significant macular edema (CSME) with any type of DR was considered as vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR). A total of 472 individuals with type-1 DM (mean age 41 ± 10 years) and 9341 individuals with type-2 DM (52 ± 9 years) were enrolled. Individuals with a hyperopic refractive error had a significant positive association with the diagnosis of VTDR (odds ratio (OR) 1.26; 95%CI 1.04-1.51, P = 0.01) and moderate nonproliferative DR (OR 1.27; 95%CI 1.02-1.59, P = 0.03) in type-2 DM; however, no significant association was found in type-1 DM. After adjusting for age, gender, anisometropia, and duration of diabetes, the presence of high myopia (< - 6 D) reduced the risk of VTDR in type 2 DM (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.04-0.77, P = 0.02), but no association was found in type 1 DM. Mild and moderate myopia had no significant association with any forms of DR in both type-1 and type-2 DM. Hyperopic refractive error was found to increase the risk of VTDR in persons with type 2 DM. High-myopic refractive error is protective for VTDR in type 2 DM, but not in type-1 DM.


Two Erratic Cases of Tinea Capitis in Adults: Utility of Trichoscopy.
Tinea capitis (TC) is a common infectious disease throughout the world, mainly seen in children, but it can occur in adults. Even if mycological examination is essential to confirm the diagnosis, it has been proved that trichoscopy is a very effective useful tool in the screening of TC. Herein, we report two cases of adult TC with atypical clinical presentations causing a diagnostic delay of several years.


Six novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A3) polymorphisms with varying activity.
Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) is a part of a major excretion pathway for endobiotics and xenobiotics. The UGT family of genes is highly polymorphic, and our aim is to describe novel polymorphisms at the UGT1A3 locus and determine how they alter substrate metabolism and drug reactions. One hundred healthy Japanese adults volunteered for the present study. We sequenced PCR-amplified fragments of the gene directly, and calculated the frequency of the genetic variations detected. To measure variant enzyme activity, we constructed five expression models and used estrone as the substrate in the assays. We identified six novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Of these, four caused amino acid substitutions (17A-->G: Q6R, 31T-->C: W11R, 133C-->T: R45W, and 140T-->C: V47A) and the remaining two were silent (81G-->A: E27E and 447A-->G: A159A). We found five types of alleles having differing SNP combinations: wild type (frequency=0.61), W11R-E27E-A159A (0.10), Q6A-W11R-E27E-A159A (0.055), W11R-E27E-V47A-A159A (0.125), and R45W (0.11). Expression studies found that the variants changed the enzyme efficiencies ( Km/ Vmax) to 121% of the wild type for W11R, 86% for Q6R-W11R, 369% for W11R-V47A, and 70% for R45W. Several UGT 1A3 polymorphisms exist in the Japanese population, having different levels of activity. These polymorphisms are capable of affecting the steady state levels of estrogens, and may increase sensitivity to adverse drug effects.


27-hydroxycholesterol linked high cholesterol diet to lung adenocarcinoma metastasis.
Dietary cholesterol has been implicated to promote lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is a main type of lung cancer, whereas the functional mechanism of cholesterol in LAC remained largely unknown. In the present study, we evidenced that cholesterol promoted cell proliferation and invasion of LAC in vitro as well as LAC metastasis in vivo. Cyp27A1 knockdown reduced the cholesterol-induced LAC cells proliferation and invasion. In contrast, Cyp7B1 knockdown enhanced the effect of cholesterol on LAC cells proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, Cyp27A1 deficiency remarkably reduced high cholesterol-induced LAC metastasis in vivo. Mechanism investigation demonstrated that exposure of LAC cells to 27-hydroxycholesterol induced the phosphorylation of AKT and NFκB p65, and promoted the expression of peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB), especially in the coculture with THP1-derived macrophage. Meanwhile, 27-hydroxycholesterol induced the secretion of FGF2 and IL-6, which contributed to the expression of snail and vimentin. Luciferase report assay and ChIP assay confirmed that NFκB p65 controlled the transcription of PPIB. Inhibiting NFκB p65 activation reduced PPIB expression. PPIB inhibition reduced 27-hydroxycholesterol-induced expression of snail and vimentin. These results indicated that 27-hydroxycholesterol linked high cholesterol and LAC metastasis by regulating NFκB/PPIB axis and the secretion of FGF2 and IL-6.


Phosphorus/Phosphide-Based Materials for Alkali Metal-Ion Batteries.
Phosphorus- and phosphide-based materials with remarkable physicochemical properties and low costs have attracted significant attention as the anodes of alkali metal (e.g., Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca)-ion batteries (AIBs). However, the low electrical conductivity and large volume expansion of these materials during electrochemical reactions inhibit their practical applications. To solve these problems, various promising solutions have been explored and utilized. In this review, the recent progress in AIBs using phosphorus- and phosphide-based materials is summarized. Thereafter, the in-depth working principles of diverse AIBs are discussed and predicted. Representative works with design concepts, construction approaches, engineering strategies, special functions, and electrochemical results are listed and discussed in detail. Finally, the existing challenges and issues are concluded and analyzed, and future perspectives and research directions are given. This review can provide new guidance for the future design and practical applications of phosphorus- and phosphide-based materials used in AIBs.


Antagonists of DNA gyrase inhibit repair and recombination of UV-irradiated phage lambda.
Intracellular lambda DNA (from EDTA-sensitive tandem duplication phages) was extracted from infected rec+ bacteria and scored for infectivity and recombination (loss of duplication) by transfection of recA recB spheroplasts and subsequent assay for EDTA resistance. When phage development was blocked by repressor or by antibiotics (chloramphenicol and/or rifampin), the apparent recombination frequency was about 0.1% above the background value for recA infections. Prior irradiation of the phage greatly stimulated recombination; the frequency was 20% when UV fluence was 140 J/m2. Repair (recovery of infectivity) and recombination of irradiated phage DNA proceeded readily in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin. Inhibitors of DNA gyrase (coumermycin and oxolinic acid) blocked repair and reduced recombination. UV-stimulated recombination was very low in recA but nearly normal in recB cells: repair was reduced in both mutant strains. The recombination remained high as phage/cell ratios less than unity.


Vesicular restriction of synaptobrevin suggests a role for calcium in membrane fusion.
Release of neurotransmitter occurs when synaptic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. This neuronal exocytosis is triggered by calcium and requires three SNARE (soluble-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) proteins: synaptobrevin (also known as VAMP) on the synaptic vesicle, and syntaxin and SNAP-25 on the plasma membrane. Neuronal SNARE proteins form a parallel four-helix bundle that is thought to drive the fusion of opposing membranes. As formation of this SNARE complex in solution does not require calcium, it is not clear what function calcium has in triggering SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. We now demonstrate that whereas syntaxin and SNAP-25 in target membranes are freely available for SNARE complex formation, availability of synaptobrevin on synaptic vesicles is very limited. Calcium at micromolar concentrations triggers SNARE complex formation and fusion between synaptic vesicles and reconstituted target membranes. Although calcium does promote interaction of SNARE proteins between opposing membranes, it does not act by releasing synaptobrevin from synaptic vesicle restriction. Rather, our data suggest a mechanism in which calcium-triggered membrane apposition enables syntaxin and SNAP-25 to engage synaptobrevin, leading to membrane fusion.


The epidemiology, genotypes, antifungal susceptibility of Trichosporon species, and the impact of voriconazole on Trichosporon fungemia patients.
Invasive Trichosporon infections are emerging, but association of different therapeutic management of Trichosporon fungemia and clinical outcomes were rarely reported. This study investigates the epidemiology, species distribution and genotypes of trichosporonosis in Taiwan, and identified the predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with Trichosporon fungemia. Strains collected from four medical centers in Taiwan, during 2010-2018. Species identification was confirmed by sequencing of IGS1 region, and antifungal susceptibility was performed using Sensititre YeastOne panel. Among 115 isolates, Trichosporon asahii was the leading species (73.0%), followed by Trichosporon dermatis (11.3%), Trichosporon faecales (6.1%), and Trichosporon montevideense (5.2%). Of the 84 T. asahii isolates, genotype 1 was the predominant (41.7%). High fluconazole minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs,≧8 μg/mL) were observed for 70.2% T. asahii isolates and 16.1% non-asahii Trichosporon isolates. Posaconazole and voriconazole possess the most potent antifungal activity against all Trichosporon isolates, with geometric mean values of 0.251 μg/mL and 0.111 μg/mL, respectively. Fifty-three isolates collected from blood cultures, and 42 patients with fungemia enrolled for the Kaplan-Meier plot which revealed that voriconazole treatment had a significantly better survival rate compared with those without (p = 0.042). In multivariate analysis, source control (odds ratio [OR]: 0.13 95%CI [confidence interval]: 0.02-0.83, p = 0.031) and voriconazole use (OR: 0.11 95%CI: 0.02-0.74, p = 0.023) are independent predictors of 14-day mortality. This is the largest series of Trichosporon fungemia up till the present moment. Voriconazole therapy and source control play important roles in 14-day mortality.


Responses of recurrent nets of asymmetric ON and OFF cells.
A neural field model of ON and OFF cells with all-to-all inhibitory feedback is investigated. External spatiotemporal stimuli drive the ON and OFF cells with, respectively, direct and inverted polarity. The dynamic differences between networks built of ON and OFF cells ("ON/OFF") and those having only ON cells ("ON/ON") are described for the general case where ON and OFF cells can have different spontaneous firing rates; this asymmetric case is generic. Neural responses to nonhomogeneous static and time-periodic inputs are analyzed in regimes close to and away from self-oscillation. Static stimuli can cause oscillatory behavior for certain asymmetry levels. Time-periodic stimuli expose dynamical differences between ON/OFF and ON/ON nets. Outside the stimulated region, we show that ON/OFF nets exhibit frequency doubling, while ON/ON nets cannot. On the other hand, ON/ON networks show antiphase responses between stimulated and unstimulated regions, an effect that does not rely on specific receptive field circuitry. An analysis of the resonance properties of both net types reveals that ON/OFF nets exhibit larger response amplitude. Numerical simulations of the neural field models agree with theoretical predictions for localized static and time-periodic forcing. This is also the case for simulations of a network of noisy integrate-and-fire neurons. We finally discuss the application of the model to the electrosensory system and to frequency-doubling effects in retina.


Is the forming of neuronal network activity in human-induced pluripotent stem cells important for the detection of drug-induced seizure risks?
Functional network activity is a characteristic for neuronal cells, and the complexity of the network activity represents the necessary substrate to support complex brain functions. Drugs that drastically increase the neuronal network activity may have a potential higher risk for seizures in human. Although there has been some recent considerable progress made using cultures from different types of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived neurons, one of the primary limitations is the lack of - or very low - network activity. In the present study, we investigated whether the limited neuronal network activity in commercial hiPSC-neurons (CNS.4U®) is capable of detecting drug-induced potential seizure risks. Therefore, we compared the hiPSC-results to those in rat primary neurons with known high neuronal network activity in vitro. Gene expression and electrical activity from in vitro developing neuronal networks were assessed at multiple time-points. Transcriptomes of 7, 28, and 50 days in vitro were analyzed and compared to those from human brain tissues. Data from measurements of electrical activity using multielectrode arrays (MEAs) indicate that neuronal networks matured gradually over time, albeit in hiPSC this developed slower than rat primary cultures. The response of neuronal networks to neuronal active reference drugs modulating glutamatergic, acetylcholinergic and GABAergic pathways could be detected in both hiPSC-neurons and rat primary neurons. However, in comparison, GABAergic responses were limited in hiPSC-neurons. Overall, despite a slower network development and lower network activity, CNS.4U® hiPSC-neurons can be used to detect drug induced changes in neuronal network activity, as shown by well-known seizurogenic drugs (affecting e.g., the Glycine receptor and Na+ channel). However, lower sensitivity to GABA antagonists has been observed.


Hydrogeochemical investigations and groundwater quality assessment of Torbat-Zaveh plain, Khorasan Razavi, Iran.
Hydrogeochemical investigations of groundwater in Torbat-Zaveh plain have been carried out to assess the water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes. In this study, 190 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and major ion concentrations. The abundance of major cations and anions was in the following order: Na(+) > Mg(2+) > Ca(2+) > K(+), and Cl(-) > [Formula: see text] > [Formula: see text] > [Formula: see text]. As a result, alkaline element (Na(+)) exceeds alkaline earth elements (Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)), and strong acids (Cl(-) and [Formula: see text]) dominate weak acids ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) in majority of the groundwater samples. Statistical analyses including Spearman correlation coefficients and factor analysis display good correlation between physicochemical parameters (EC, TDS and TH) and Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-) and [Formula: see text]. The results display that rock-weathering interactions and ion-exchange processes play important role in controlling groundwater chemistry. Saturation index values also indicate that water chemistry is significantly affected by carbonate minerals such as calcite, aragonite and dolomite. US Salinity Laboratory(USSL) and Wilcox diagrams together with permeability index values reveal that most of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation purpose. However, in some regions, the water samples do not indicate required irrigational quality.


How well does the Canadian Haemophilia Outcomes-Kids' Life Assessment Tool (CHO-KLAT) measure the quality of life of boys with haemophilia?
It is important to measure the quality of life (QoL) of boys with haemophilia, because the diagnosis has a significant impact on their lives and this impact fluctuates over time. A disease-specific measure of QoL is required because the aspects of life that are affected by haemophilia may differ from those assessed by generic QoL measures. This paper describes the final phase of development of a disease-specific measure of QoL for boys with haemophilia: the Canadian Haemophilia Outcomes-Kids Life Assessment Tool (CHO-KLAT). A 79-item version of the CHO-KLAT was administered to 52 children. A detailed item analysis was conducted to shorten the CHO-KLAT. The reliability of the revised version was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Validity was assessed by comparing it to the PedsQL and the HaemoQoL. The item analysis resulted in the retention of 35 strongly performing items (CHO-KLAT(35)). These items were aggregated into the CHO-KLAT(35) summary score. Repeated measures reliability of the CHO-KLAT(35) was 0.74 for children and 0.83 for parents, and the child-parent concordance was 0.75. The validity of the CHO-KLAT(35) was confirmed by a correlation of 0.78 with the Haemo-QoL and of 0.59 with the PedsQL. The CHO-KLAT(35) is a reliable and valid measure of QoL for boys with haemophilia.


Approach to mild anemia in the elderly.
There is evidence that indicates a physiologic decrease in bone marrow function as a part of aging, perhaps as an adjustment to a decrease in metabolic demand and tissue requirement for oxygen. In general, aging is associated with a decline in activity and an increase in chronic inflammatory as well as cardiovascular disorders. These alter not only red blood cell production but also plasma volume, leading to an increased frequency of a lower hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit level. However, there is resistance to using new geriatric norms for these hematologic parameters to define anemia, since the majority of patients without disease fall within the usual established ranges. Yet surveys have shown that there is no increase in iron deficiency with age, and the majority of elderly patients with mild anemia show no demonstrable cause and are unresponsive to therapy. The statement that anemia is often a presenting sign of a serious underlying illness and that patients with anemia must undergo a complete work-up should be reconsidered in the elderly, and the criteria for anemia should be redefined to prevent unnecessary studies for individuals who fall in the lower limits of normalcy because of age. This statement is supported by the results of long-term follow-up of patients in a geriatric care institution. A group of patients with mild anemia, without any apparent cause, who were often not examined thoroughly because of the relative mildness of symptoms and lack of progression, lived a satisfactory life and seem to be well adjusted to low hemoglobin levels. Asymptomatic elderly patients with mild anemia may not be anemic if we adjust the expected levels for the elderly. We can save 95 per cent of these patients from undergoing unnecessary testing.


Replacement or exclusion of the B-branch bacteriopheophytin in the purple bacterial reaction centre: the H(B) cofactor is not required for assembly or core function of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides complex.
All of the membrane-embedded cofactors of the purple bacterial reaction centre have well-defined functional or structural roles, with the exception of the bacteriopheophytin (H(B)) located approximately half-way across the membrane on the so-called inactive- or B-branch of cofactors. Sequence alignments indicate that this bacteriochlorin cofactor is a conserved feature of purple bacterial reaction centres, and a pheophytin is also found at this position in the Photosystem-II reaction centre. Possible structural or functional consequences of replacing the H(B) bacteriopheophytin by bacteriochlorophyll were investigated in the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centre through mutagenesis of residue Leu L185 to His (LL185H). Results from absorbance spectroscopy indicated that the LL185H mutant assembled with a bacteriochlorophyll at the H(B) position, but this did not affect the capacity of the reaction centre to support photosynthetic growth, or change the kinetics of charge separation along the A-branch of cofactors. It was also found that mutation of residue Ala M149 to Trp (AM149W) caused the reaction centre to assemble without an H(B) bacteriochlorin, demonstrating that this cofactor is not required for correct assembly of the reaction centre. The absence of a cofactor at this position did not affect the capacity of the reaction centre to support photosynthetic growth, or the kinetics of A-branch electron transfer. A combination of X-ray crystallography and FTIR difference spectroscopy confirmed that the H(B) cofactor was absent in the AM149W mutant, and that this had not produced any significant disturbance of the adjacent ubiquinol reductase (Q(B)) site. The data are discussed with respect to possible functional roles of the H(B) bacteriopheophytin, and we conclude that the reason(s) for conservation of a bacteriopheophytin cofactor at this position in purple bacterial reaction centres are likely to be different from those underlying conservation of a pheophytin at the analogous position in Photosystem-II.


Scalable cell alignment on optical media substrates.
Cell alignment by underlying topographical cues has been shown to affect important biological processes such as differentiation and functional maturation in vitro. However, the routine use of cell culture substrates with micro- or nano-topographies, such as grooves, is currently hampered by the high cost and specialized facilities required to produce these substrates. Here we present cost-effective commercially available optical media as substrates for aligning cells in culture. These optical media, including CD-R, DVD-R and optical grating, allow different cell types to attach and grow well on them. The physical dimension of the grooves in these optical media allowed cells to be aligned in confluent cell culture with maximal cell-cell interaction and these cell alignment affect the morphology and differentiation of cardiac (H9C2), skeletal muscle (C2C12) and neuronal (PC12) cell lines. The optical media is amenable to various chemical modifications with fibronectin, laminin and gelatin for culturing different cell types. These low-cost commercially available optical media can serve as scalable substrates for research or drug safety screening applications in industry scales.


Differential effects of cannabinoid receptor agonists on regional brain activity using pharmacological MRI.
Activation of cannabinoid CB1 and/or CB2 receptors mediates analgesic effects across a broad spectrum of preclinical pain models. Selective activation of CB2 receptors may produce analgesia without the undesirable psychotropic side effects associated with modulation of CB1 receptors. To address selectivity in vivo, we describe non-invasive, non-ionizing, functional data that distinguish CB1 from CB2 receptor neural activity using pharmacological MRI (phMRI) in awake rats. Using a high field (7 T) MRI scanner, we examined and quantified the effects of non-selective CB1/CB2 (A-834735) and selective CB2 (AM1241) agonists on neural activity in awake rats. Pharmacological specificity was determined using selective CB1 (rimonabant) or CB2 (AM630) antagonists. Behavioural studies, plasma and brain exposures were used as benchmarks for activity in vivo. The non-selective CB1/CB2 agonist produced a dose-related, region-specific activation of brain structures that agrees well with published autoradiographic CB1 receptor density binding maps. Pretreatment with a CB1 antagonist but not with a CB2 antagonist, abolished these activation patterns, suggesting an effect mediated by CB1 receptors alone. In contrast, no significant changes in brain activity were found with relevant doses of the CB2 selective agonist. These results provide the first clear evidence for quantifying in vivo functional selectivity between CB1 and CB2 receptors using phMRI. Further, as the presence of CB2 receptors in the brain remains controversial, our data suggest that if CB2 receptors are expressed, they are not functional under normal physiological conditions.


DROOPY LEAF1 controls leaf architecture by orchestrating early brassinosteroid signaling.
Leaf architecture directly determines canopy structure, and thus, grain yield in crops. Leaf droopiness is an agronomic trait primarily affecting the cereal leaf architecture but the genetic basis and underlying molecular mechanism of this trait remain unclear. Here, we report that DROOPY LEAF1 (DPY1), an LRR receptor-like kinase, plays a crucial role in determining leaf droopiness by controlling the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling output in Setaria, an emerging model for Panicoideae grasses. Loss-of-function mutation in DPY1 led to malformation of vascular sclerenchyma and low lignin content in leaves, and thus, an extremely droopy leaf phenotype, consistent with its preferential expression in leaf vascular tissues. DPY1 interacts with and competes for SiBAK1 and as a result, causes a sequential reduction in SiBRI1-SiBAK1 interaction, SiBRI1 phosphorylation, and downstream BR signaling. Conversely, DPY1 accumulation and affinity of the DPY1-SiBAK1 interaction are enhanced under BR treatment, thus preventing SiBRI1 from overactivation. As such, those findings reveal a negative feedback mechanism that represses leaf droopiness by preventing an overresponse of early BR signaling to excess BRs. Notably, plants overexpressing DPY1 have more upright leaves, thicker stems, and bigger panicles, suggesting potential utilization for yield improvement. The maize ortholog of DPY1 rescues the droopy leaves in dpy1, suggesting its conserved function in Panicoideae. Together, our study provides insights into how BR signaling is scrutinized by DPY1 to ensure the upward leaf architecture.


Preparation of a new resource food-arabinogalactan and its protective effect against enterotoxicity in IEC-6 cells by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Plant polysaccharides can be used as bioactive natural polymers that provide health benefits, however high molecular weight neutral polysaccharides have not shown good bioactivity. In this study, high molecular weight neutral arabinogalactan was isolated and structurally characterized to investigate it antioxidant activity against IEC-6 cells. In this study, a neutral polysaccharide (AG-40-I-II) was obtained from the roots of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. and purified using ethanol fractional precipitation and purification on a DEAE-52 cellulose column and a Superose 12 gel filtration column. The structural characteristics of AG-40-I-II was detected by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The results showed that the average molecular weight of AG-40-I-II was 18.6 kDa, the main chain was composed of →4)-β-D-Gal-(1, → 4, 6)-β-D-Gal-(1 and →4)-β- D-Glc-(1, the side chain is composed of T-β-L-Araf(1 → 6). The effect of AG-40-I-II on H2O2-induced IEC-6 cell injury was determined by MTT method. Besides, AG-40-I-II could reduce the level of MDA and increase SOD activity on IEC-6 cells, which could significantly inhibit the production of ROS. Importantly, AG-40-I-II inhibited the splicing of XBP1 by IRE1α through the ERS pathway and reduced the cell apoptosis induced by H2O2. In summary, the results of this study indicate that AG-40-I-II, as a natural source of plant polysaccharides, has good antioxidant activity, and is expected to become a safe plant source of natural antioxidants, which has great potential in biomedicine potential.


Software for linear and non-linear optimization in external radiotherapy.
The study presents a set of programs designed to determine optimum dose distribution either by calculation of beam intensities and field width (in linear programming) or, in addition, by calculation of beam geometry (non-linear optimization). Various optimization criteria can be selected: homogeneity, concentration on target, entire dose in a sensitive area. The optimization method used is the gradient projection method, and doses are calculated by Cunningham formulae. The article describes the program operating modes, the main subroutines and their functions and specifications, and outlines an example.


Skin discolouration with acute onset parkinsonism secondary to systemic zirconium intoxication.
A 72-year-old woman presented with suspected parkinsonism and discolouration of the skin especially on sun-exposed areas. Thorough investigation revealed systemic zirconium intoxication due to intake of metallic colloids as a home remedy as a cause of the skin colour change. There may be an association between skin discolouration and her parkinsonism. This is unique in that various clinical manifestations developed following systemic ingestion of zirconium and this should serve as a warning on the risk of taking illicit dietary supplements.


Regional variation in skin blood flow response to hypoglycaemia in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients without complications.
Body temperature falls during hypoglycaemia, perhaps as a protective mechanism. To test the hypothesis that the skin blood flow response to hypoglycaemia is specifically designed to facilitate heat loss we studied both nutritional blood flow and arteriovenous shunting of blood in skin during prolonged, controlled hypoglycaemia in man. We studied eight otherwise healthy, male, Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. Under Biostator control blood glucose was clamped at 8.0 (7.9-8.9), mmol/l (median and range) for 30 min, reduced to symptomatic hypoglycaemia, 1.7 (1.0-2.6) mmol/l for 20 min then raised to 4.9 (3.3-6.7) mmol/l. Interdigital skin web blood flow (laser doppler flowmeter, nutritional flow) fell during hypoglycaemia from 3.1 (2.2-3.8) to 2.4 (1.2-2.8) volts and remained depressed. In contrast, finger blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography, arteriovenous shunt flow) started high at 54.7 (17.4-85.6), remained high at 52.7 (38.1-81.4) during hypoglycaemia but fell sharply to 25.3 (4.2-66.2) ml.min-1.100 ml-1 when symptoms were relieved. Plasma adrenaline and vasopressin both rose during hypoglycaemia from 0.4 (0.05-0.8) to 4.5 (2.3-20.2) nmol/l and from 0.5 (0.5-3.5) to 4.4 (2.0-13.9) pg/ml, respectively, and both fell sharply thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Val247Leu β2-glycoprotein-I allelic variant is associated with antiphospholipid syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Previous studies have suggested that the possession of the Val/Val genotype of the Val247Leu polymorphism of the β(2)-glycoproteinI (β(2)-GPI) gene may be associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and, among patients with APS, with the production of anti-β(2)-GPI antibodies or the development of thrombosis. Given the controversial results reported, the aim of this work is to combine previous findings by means of a systematic review and a meta-analysis. We retrieved studies analyzing the genotype of the above-mentioned polymorphism among patients with APS by means of electronic database search. A meta-analysis was conducted in a random effects model and calculations of odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were done. Sensitivity analysis and tests for heterogeneity of the results were performed. Eight previous studies analyzed the association of APS, anti-β(2)-GPI antibodies and/or thrombosis with the Val247Leu polymorphism. After meta-analysis, patients with APS had a significantly higher prevalence of the Val/Val genotype of this genetic variant when compared with controls (OR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.73; P=0.02). Among patients with APS, those with anti-β(2)-GPI antibodies had a higher prevalence of this genotype (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.87; P=0.03). No significant results were found for the presence of arterial or venous thrombosis. Val/Val genotype of β(2)-GPI gene is associated with a significant excess risk to suffer from APS and, among patients with APS, to have anti-β(2)-GPI antibodies. No definite conclusions can be made regarding the association of this polymorphism with thrombosis among APS patients.


Improving care of the sepsis patient.
In 2004, Christiana Care Health System (Christiana Care), a 1,100-bed tertiary care facility, used the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines as the foundation for an independent initiative to reduce the mortality rate by at least 25%. In 2004, an interdisciplinary sepsis team developed a process for rapidly recognizing at-risk patients; evaluating a patient's clinical status; and providing appropriate, timely therapy in three major areas of sepsis care; recognition of the sepsis patient, resuscitation priorities, and intensive care management. The Sepsis Alert program, which did not require additional staffing, was developed and implemented in 10 months. The Sepsis Alert packet included a care management guideline, a treatment algorithm, an emergency department treatment order set, and multiple adjuncts to streamline patient identification and management. Introduction of sepsis resuscitation and critical care management standards led to a 49.4% decrease in mortality rates (p < .0001), a 34.0% decrease in average length of hospital stay (p < .0002), and a 188.2% increase in the proportion of patients discharged to home (p < .0001) when the historic control group is compared with the postimplementation group from January 2005 through December 2007. An integrated leadership team, using existing resources, transformed frontline clinical practice by providers from multiple disciplines to reduce mortality in the population of patients with sepsis.


The role of endothelin in the pathogenesis of heart failure.
In fewer than than 15 years since its discovery, endothelin is now recognized as playing a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure. This review examines the signaling pathways and mechanism of action of endothelin in relation to the studies that have elucidated this role. Early investigations observed that the endothelin system is markedly upregulated in heart failure, whereas others demonstrated that endothelin is the most potent vasoconstrictor. However, it has multiple other actions, including mediating pathologic hypertrophy and fibrosis of both ventricular and vascular tissues, acting as a proarrhythmic, and potentiating the effects of other neurohormones. Endothelin receptor antagonists were developed to investigate the hypothesis that these adverse effects could be prevented and experimental studies showed promise in this regard. Clinical studies to date have not fulfilled this promise. Further analysis of these trials will hopefully provide insight into these disparate findings and guidance for future investigations.


Distinct properties of glycine receptor β+/α- interface: unambiguously characterizing heteromeric interface reconstituted in homomeric protein.
The glycine receptor (GlyR) exists either in homomeric α or heteromeric αβ forms. Its agonists bind at extracellular subunit interfaces. Unlike subunit interfaces from the homomeric α GlyR, subunit interfaces from the heteromeric αβ GlyR have not been characterized unambiguously because of the existence of multiple types of interface within single receptors. Here, we report that, by reconstituting β+/α- interfaces in a homomeric GlyR (αChb+a- GlyR), we were able to functionally characterize the αβ GlyR β+/α- interfaces. We found that the β+/α- interface had a higher agonist sensitivity than that of the α+/α- interface. This high sensitivity was contributed primarily by loop A. We also found that the β+/α- interface differentially modulates the agonist properties of glycine and taurine. Using voltage clamp fluorometry, we found that the conformational changes induced by glycine binding to the β+/α- interface were different from those induced by glycine binding to the α+/α- interface in the α GlyR. Moreover, the distinct conformational changes found at the β+/α- interface in the αChb+a- GlyR were also found in the heteromeric αβ GlyR, which suggests that the αChb+a- GlyR reconstitutes structural components and recapitulates functional properties, of the β+/α- interface in the heteromeric αβ GlyR. Our investigation not only provides structural and functional information about the GlyR β+/α- interface, which could direct GlyR β+/α- interface-specific drug design, but also provides a general methodology for unambiguously characterizing properties of specific protein interfaces from heteromeric proteins.


Investigation of a potential pharmacokinetic interaction between perindopril arginine and amlodipine when administered as a single perindopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination tablet in healthy Chinese male volunteers.
To determine whether a potential pharmacokinetic interaction exists between perindopril arginine 5 mg and amlodipine 5 mg, after administration as a fixed-combination of perindopril 5 mg/amlodipine 5 mg (S05985). A total of 30 subjects was enrolled into this single center, open-label, randomized, 3-period cross-over study and was randomized to receive 1 tablet of S05985, 1 tablet of perindopril tert-butylamine 4 mg, or 1 tablet of amlodipine 5 mg. The doses of both perindopril salts correspond to 3.34 mg of perindopril expressed as free acid. Serial blood samples were collected in each treatment period for determination of plasma amlodipine, perindopril, and perindoprilat concentrations and for calculation of the respective pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC(0-∞), AUC(0-t), C(max), and t(max)). Statistical analyses of the pharmacokinetic parameters included ANOVA and calculations of 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of the geometric means for Cmax, AUC(0-t), and AUC(0-∞). Safety was also assessed. A total of 29 subjects completed the study per protocol. There was no serious adverse event. All 90% confidence intervals for C(max), AUC(0-t), and AUC(0-∞) for perindopril, perindoprilat, and amlodipine were within the limits (80.00 - 125%), indicating that both treatments were bioequivalent. These results indicate that no drug-drug interaction exists after single-dose oral administration of S05985 (perindopril 5 mg and amlodipine 5 mg) when compared to single-dose administration of each component alone, i.e., perindopril tert-butylamine 4 mg and amlodipine 5 mg, given separately.


Correlation of Airway Volume With Orthognathic Surgical Movement Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.
Orthognathic surgery can induce changes in airway volume. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation of surgical movement of the maxilla or mandible to airway volume changes. This was a prospective cohort study and the sample was composed of patients undergoing single-jaw orthognathic procedures from 2004 through 2007. Cone-beam computed tomograms were obtained before surgery (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and at least 6 months after surgery (T2). The airway was segmented from 3-dimensional images and identified as the whole airway, consisting of the naso-, oro-, and hypopharynx. The volumetric percentage of change of the airway between time points was compared and correlated to the surgical movements using paired t test and cubic regression analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at a P value less than or equal to .05. The sample was composed of 33 patients. Sixteen patients underwent maxillary advancement with mean advancement of 5.4 mm (3 to 8 mm), 13 underwent mandibular advancement with mean advancement of 8.0 mm (5 to 15 mm), and 4 underwent mandibular setback of 4.0 mm. For maxillary advancement at T1, volume percentages of change for the whole airway and the naso-, oro-, and hypopharynx were 18.4 (P ≤ .05), 53.8 (P ≤ .05), 26.3, and 5.5%, respectively, and at T2, the changes were 10.0, 46.7 (P ≤ .05), 6.8, and 1.0%, respectively. For mandibular advancement at T1, volume percentages of change were 34.6 (P ≤ .05), 26.1, 54.1 (P ≤ .05), and 17.4%, respectively, and at T2, the changes were 15.0 (P ≤ .05), -3.7, 23.5 (P ≤ .05), and 12.1%, respectively. There were no meaningful long-term airway changes with mandibular setback. The study results suggest that there might be an anatomic limit to pharyngeal airway expansion associated with single-jaw orthognathic surgery.


Curcumol inhibits colorectal cancer proliferation by targeting miR-21 and modulated PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathways.
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how curcumol affected the expression of miR-21 and whether its effects on miR-21 was associated with the activation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathways in CRC cells. MTT and xenograft assay were used to examine how curcumol inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) cells' growth. Q-PCR and western blot analysis were employed to test the role of miR-21 in the inhibition of curcumol on proliferation and PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathways of CRC cells. We found that curcumol effectively inhibited CRC cells from proliferating via the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathways and reduced expression of miR-21 both in vitro and in vivo. miR-21 mimics were found to decrease the protein level of PTEN and increase the expression of PI3K, phospho-Akt (p-Akt) and NF-κB, while miR-21 sponge (miR-21-SP) enhanced the expression of PTEN and reduced the activity of PI3K, Akt and NF-κB. Furthermore, miR-21-SP strengthened the role of curcumol in up-regulating PTEN and inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathways, but miR-21 reversed the effect of curcumol on the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathways. Our research demonstrated that curcumol reduced the proliferation of CRC cells through PTEN/PI3K/Akt by targeting miR-21 and miR-21 could be a target molecule of curcumol for CRC treatment.


Cytochrome d induction in Escherichia coli growing under unfavorable conditions.
Growth of E. coli in the presence of the protonophorous uncoupler pentachlorophenol is shown to strongly enhance levels of cytochrome d, a putative Na(+)-motive oxidase. This effect was found to be arrested by chloramphenicol and stimulated by high Na+ concentration in the growth medium. The induction of cytochrome d takes place in a mutant deficient in the F0F1 ATP-synthase but does not occur in mutants deficient in either of two different components of the Arc system. Similar relationships were revealed when pentachlorophenol was replaced by ferricyanide and phenazine methosulfate, agents oxidizing the respiratory chain. Induction of cytochrome d is also shown to occur in riboflavin-deficient mutants growing in the presence of such low riboflavin concentrations as to be insufficient to maintain a high respiration rate. It is suggested (i) that it is delta mu H+ decrease rather than reduction of the respiratory chain that is the signal for the induction of cytochrome d, and (ii) the Arc system is involved in this type of metabolic regulation.


GABA-stimulated chloride uptake during avian CNS development: modulation by neurosteroids.
In the present report we studied the GABA-stimulated 36Cl- uptake during chick optic lobe development in order to establish the ontogenetic profile of the functional GABAA receptor complex. A concentration-dependent stimulation of 36Cl- influx by GABA was demonstrated, starting at developmental stages as early as 10 days of incubation. The maximal GABA-induced 36Cl- uptake changed significantly during ontogeny with highest values near hatching. However, GABA potency to stimulate ion influx remained unchanged. We also examined the effect of two neurosteroids, allopregnanolone and epipregnanolone, on GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx at three developmental stages (embryonic day 14, post-hatching day 1 and adult stage). Both steroids enhanced ion uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, exerting greater stimulatory effects at early developmental stages. Allopregnanolone displayed EC50 values lower than epipregnanolone at all three time points and was also more potent at post-hatching stages. Analysis of the GABA concentration-effect curve disclosed that both steroid decreased EC50 values for GABA stimulation while Emax levels were unaffected. In conclusion, our results showed an early appearance of the GABA-associated chloride channel together with the ability of neurosteroids to modulate GABA-gating of such channel.


Mitral valve repair for broad, asymmetrical prolapse in the posterior mitral leaflet.
We designed a mitral valve repair and successfully performed this repair for a case of broad, asymmetrical prolapse in the middle scallop of the posterior mitral leaflet. The repair procedure consists of making a fan-shaped leaflet by resecting the prolapsed portion in a trapezoid shape with detachment of the leaflet along the annulus and leaflet reapproximation by rotating this fan-shaped leaflet. This technique can utilize more leaflet tissue for filling the gap made by leaflet resection than the quadrangular resection and suture technique. As a result, it helps reduce tension on the suture lines, avoids the need for extensive annular plication, and also avoids leaflet distortion while making it easier to adjust the height of the leaflets that should be reapproximated. The essence of this mitral valve repair exists in the "resecting line of the leaflet," which has not yet been reported.


The demonstration of the number, course, and the location of nutrient artery canals of the femur by multidetector computed tomography.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the number, course, width and location of nutrient artery canals of the femur by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Sixty-six adult (35 right and 31 left) dry femurs were included in this study and scanned by MDCT. Nutrient artery canals were evaluated on the multi-planar reformatted and volume rendered images which were reproduced on the basis of axial images. The median value of nutrient artery canals was two (minimum 1 and maximum 6). We determined that there was a negative correlation between the number of nutrient canals and the canal diameters. The outer ostia of the nutrient artery canals were most frequently located at the middle third segment of femoral diaphysis (65%). While the vast majority of the canals were showing upward courses (95%), only a few canals were having transverse (3%) or downward (2%) courses. Most encountered location of outer ostia of the canals according to linea aspera was the medial lip of the linea aspera (44%). Various variations were demonstrated in the number, course, and location of nutrient artery canals using MDCT. In conclusion, the knowledge of the topographic features of the nutrient artery canals may be useful in various clinical implications such as bone grafting or radiologic evaluation for the fracture lines.


Double U-Net CycleGAN for 3D MR to CT image synthesis.
CycleGAN and its variants are widely used in medical image synthesis, which can use unpaired data for medical image synthesis. The most commonly used method is to use a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) model to process 2D slices and thereafter concatenate all of these slices to 3D medical images. Nevertheless, these methods always bring about spatial inconsistencies in contiguous slices. We offer a new model based on the CycleGAN to work out this problem, which can achieve high-quality conversion from magnetic resonance (MR) to computed tomography (CT) images. To achieve spatial consistencies of 3D medical images and avoid the memory-heavy 3D convolutions, we reorganized the adjacent 3 slices into a 2.5D slice as the input image. Further, we propose a U-Net discriminator network to improve accuracy, which can perceive input objects locally and globally. Then, the model uses Content-Aware ReAssembly of Features (CARAFE) upsampling, which has a large field of view and content awareness takes the place of using a settled kernel for all samples. The mean absolute error (MAE), peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) for double U-Net CycleGAN generated 3D image synthesis are 74.56±10.02, 27.12±0.71 and 0.84±0.03, respectively. Our method achieves preferable results than state-of-the-art methods. The experiment results indicate our method can realize the conversion of MR to CT images using ill-sorted pair data, and achieves preferable results than state-of-the-art methods. Compared with 3D CycleGAN, it can synthesize better 3D CT images with less computation and memory.


Structure and function of the extraembryonic membrane persisting around the larvae of the parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps.
The embryo of Toxoneuron nigriceps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is surrounded by an extraembryonic membrane, which, at hatching, releases teratocytes and gives rise to a cell layer embedding the body of the 1st instar larva. This cell layer was studied at different developmental times, from soon after hatching up to the first larval moult, in order to elucidate its ultrastructural, immunocytochemical and physiological function. The persisting "larval serosa" shows a striking structural and functional complexity: it is a multifunctional barrier with protective properties, limits the passage of macromolecules and it is actively involved in the enzymatic processing and uptake of nutrients. The reported results emphasizes the important role that the embryo-derived host regulation factors may have in parasitism success in Hymenoptera koinobionts.


Farm households' flood adaptation practices, resilience and food security in the Upper East region, Ghana.
This study employs the multinomial endogenous treatment effect model to examine the effect of flood adaptation strategies on farm households' food security in the Upper East region, Ghana. In addition, an ordered probit model was used to analyse the determinants of household's recovery from flood shocks. Farmers adopt on-farm and non-farm activities as adaptation strategies. Estimation results indicate that farmers that employ on-farm and non-farm strategies had their food security situation improved and recovered faster from flood shocks. Age, education, access to extension, credit, farm size and information on flood occurrence drive the farmer's decision to adopt on-farm practices. Marital status, education, farm size and information on flood occurrence significantly influenced adaptation decisions related to non-farm activities. Other factors that influence household's recovery period from flood events were age, education, FBO and perceived severity of flood. Programs and policies that promote extension contacts, increase awareness on flood occurrences and provide non-farm work opportunities can be beneficial to reduce the adverse effects of floods.


Predicted no-effect concentrations determination and ecological risk assessment for benzophenone-type UV filters in aquatic environment.
Benzophenones (BPs), a group of widely used ultraviolet filters, have been frequently detected out in multiple environment matrices even in organism bodies. Although a variety of toxicological effects of BPs have been disclosed recently, it is barely to evaluate the potential ecological risk of BPs due to lack of reference criteria. Therefore, the determination of predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values is necessary for assessing ecological risk of BPs and for protecting safety of aquatic organisms. The toxicological data of 14 BPs from both in vivo tests on aquatic organisms and in vitro tests on strains/cell lines were collected from previous reports, and two methods including assessment factor (AF) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD) were applied to calculate PNECs, respectively. Four groups of PNECs were obtained and compared, a final PNEC value was recommended for each BP based on reliable and conservative consideration. With these PNECs values, the risk quotients of 8 BPs from 35 ambient freshwater samples were calculated, the results demonstrated that 3 BPs including 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxyl-BP, 2-hydroxyl-4-methoxyl- BP, and 2-hydroxyl-4-methoxyl-5-sulfonic acid-BP exhibited high ecological risk, and the ecological risk posed by BPs in River Tiff in UK was great. It is anticipated that these results would provide useful reference for assessing and managing BP-type compounds, and for selecting toxicity data and methods to derive PNECs for emerging contaminants.


Clinical significance of hepatectomy for primary biliary cirrhosis patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Report of a single center case series and review of the published work.
Hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has seldom been reported, and the clinical significance of this procedure remains unclear, although HCC has often been observed in end-stage PBC patients. To understand the characteristics of hepatectomy on HCC in PBC patients, we examined seven cases at our institute, as well as 22 reported hepatectomy cases in the English-language and Japanese published work. Furthermore, to assess the treatment efficacy of hepatectomy for HCC in PBC patients, we compared these patients with viral hepatitis patients who underwent hepatectomies at our institute during the same period. In the review of 29 cases, more than 70% of the patients were aged over 65 years, and the mean Mayo risk score was low at 5.17. The resected tumors were mainly solitary (79%), and the median maximum tumor size was 37 mm. Approximately two-thirds of the patients met the Milan criteria. In the comparison between the PBC and viral hepatitis cases, there were no differences in the postoperative prognoses, although the tumor size was greater in the PBC cases. Hepatectomy for HCC in selected PBC cases is a feasible and potentially curative treatment option, similar to hepatectomy for HCC in viral hepatitis patients. This procedure is particularly useful for patients with preserved liver function who are not ideal candidates for liver transplantation.


Development and application of an isolated perfused rat liver model to study the stimulation and inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha production ex vivo.
To develop an isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) model with low baseline levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the outlet perfusate to study the effects of immunostimulants and immunosuppressants on the release of TNF-alpha from this organ. Isolated rat livers were perfused with a buffer containing no albumin or three different bovine serum albumin (BSA) preparations. Using the no-albumin perfusate, the inhibitory effects of methylprednisolone (MP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated release of TNF-alpha were studied in livers isolated 1 or 5 h after the intravenous administration (5 mg/kg) of MP. The concentrations of TNF-a in the outlet perfusates were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the absence of albumin, the perfusate levels of TNF-alpha were close to zero. However, when the perfusate contained BSA. the TNF-alpha levels in the perfusate reached as high as 1200 pg/ml at steady state. An injection of LPS into IPRLs perfused with a no-albumin perfusate resulted in mean (+/- SD) TNF-alpha steady-state concentrations of 825 +/- 125 pg/ml. The pretreatment of rats with MP before liver harvest attenuated the LPS-induced TNF-alpha release in the livers. However, the attenuation was substantial (>60%) and was statistically significant only 5 h after pretreatment with MP. Perfusates containing BSA may result in nonphysiologically high levels of TNF-alpha. An IPRL with a no-albumin perfusate is more suitable for studies of the stimulation and inhibition of TNF-alpha production by this organ.


Real-time ultrasonography for pregnancy diagnosis and foetal ageing in fallow deer.
Three groups of 15 to 17 adult fallow does with some additional yearling does in 2 of the groups were treated to synchronize oestrous cycles, and mated. All does were scanned by ultrasound at 4 weeks of gestation and at weekly intervals from week 7 to week 14 of gestation. Growth rates of 13 foetal and uterine characters, which have been used for ageing foetuses of red deer, were similar for adult and yearling does and among the 3 groups. Transrectal ultrasound scanning was a reliable and accurate means of detecting pregnancy and of ageing foetuses of fallow deer during weeks 7 to 17 of pregnancy.


Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated rice straw and ethanol production.
Cellulase, Tween 80, and β-glucosidase loading were studied and optimized by response surface methodology to improve saccharification. Microwave alkali-pretreated rice straw used as substrate for onsite enzyme production by Aspergillus heteromorphus and Trichoderma reesei. The highest enzymatic hydrolysis (84%) was obtained from rice straw at crude enzyme loading of 10 FPU/gds of cellulase, 0.15% Tween 80, and 100 international unit/g dry solids of β-glucosidase activities. Enzymatic hydrolyzate of pretreated rice straw was used for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Scheffersomyces stipitis, and by co-culture of both. The yield of ethanol was 0.50, 0.47, and 0.48 g(p)/g(s) by S. cerevisiae, S. stipitis, and by co-culture, respectively, using pretreated rice straw hydrolyzate. The co-culture of S. cerevisiae and S. stipitis produced 25% more ethanol than S. cerevisiae alone and 31% more ethanol than S. stipitis alone. During anaerobic fermentation 65.08, 36.45, and 50.31 μmol/ml CO(2) released by S. cerevisiae, S. stipitis, and by co-culture, respectively. The data indicated that saccharification efficiency using optimized crude enzyme cocktail was good, and enzymatic hydrolyzate could be fermented to produce ethanol.


Correlation Between Corneal Keratometry, Central Corneal Thickness and Anterior Chamber Depth as Measured by Wavelight OB 820 Biometer and Wavelight Oculyzer II in Preoperative Cataract Surgery Patients.
To compare and correlate corneal keratometry (K), central corneal thickness (CCT), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) using a partial coherence interferometry device and a Scheimpflug camera system device in patients planned for cataract surgery. Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, from December 2021 to June 2022. Patients planned for cataract surgery underwent measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and keratometric values (K) by Wavelight OB 820 biometer and Allergo Oculyzer II, preoperatively. Correlation and inter-device agreement were assessed between two devices. There were 115 patients with a mean age of 64.23 ± 9.26 years. All anterior segment parameters showed excellent agreement and high degree of correlation between the two optical devices. Correlation coefficient (r) for central corneal thickness was r = 0.958 (p<0.001) while correlation coefficient for anterior chamber depth was r = 0.965 (p<0.001), r = 0.966 (p<0.001) for flat K, and r = .0969 (p<0.001) for steep keratometry, respectively. Ophthalmic parameters assessed by both devices were comparable and are recommended to be used in the clinical practice of keratorefractive and cataract surgeries interchangeably. ACD, CCT, Keratometry, Cataract, OB 820 biometer, Oculyzer II.


Isolated paraaortic lymph-node recurrence after the curative resection of colorectal carcinoma.
Isolated paraaortic lymph-node recurrence (IPLR) after curative surgery for colorectal carcinoma is rare and no previous report has specifically addressed this type of recurrence. We investigated the clinical features of IPLR and analyzed prognostic factors. Of 2,916 patients who underwent curative surgery for colorectal carcinoma, IPLR was identified in 38 patients (1.3%). The clinical features and prognostic factors of these patients were analyzed. IPLR was first detected by increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (63.2%) or by routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) (36.8%). Curative resection of IPLR was performed in six patients (15.8%). A total of 19 patients (50.0%) received chemoradiation therapy and 13 patients (34.2%) received chemotherapy only. The median survival from IPLR was 13 months (range: 5-60 months). The median survival time from IPLR for the resected patients was 34 months, whereas it was 12 months for those who did not undergo resection (P = 0.034). The factors associated with the prognosis were histological grade (P = 0.003), location (P = 0.032), and resection of IPLR (P = 0.034). IPLR after curative surgery for colorectal carcinoma is rare. Although it is generally associated with poor prognosis, better survival might be achieved through curative resection in selected cases.


Organization of sanatorium treatment of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: current state and prospects.
It presents historical aspects of the organization of sanatorium-and spa industry and the current state andof the system of sanatorium treatment of servicemen of the Armed Forces. The paper presnts the analysis of the results of the military resorts to organize and conduct spa treatment personnel. The causes of decline of satisfaction with the qualityof personnel provided services in sanatoriums. The main directions of development of the military sanatorium complex are determined.