A strategy of fast reversible wettability changes of WO3 surfaces between superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity.
As-prepared WO(3) nanostructure films on alumina or tungsten substrates by a facile hydrothermal method exhibit a superhydrophilic property. An effective strategy is proposed to control the wettability of WO(3) films in a reversible manner between superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity with a rapid response. By controlling the process of adsorption/desorption of n-dodecanethiol associated with the light-induced plating Ag nano-grains on WO(3) nanostructures, it only takes about 25 min to fulfill the wettability change from superhydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity, and only 30 s to finish the reversed change. Moreover, the contact angles of WO(3) surface can be tuned by controlling the etching time of superhydrophobic WO(3) surfaces in a solution of nitric acid containing 5 mM sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. Electrowetting process is successfully demonstrated to trap a water drop onto the superhydrophobic WO(3) surfaces. Considering WO(3) is one of typical electrochromic materials, researches on the effect of coupling between electrowetting and electrochromic properties would be more promising.


Bloodless partial nephrectomy with a new high-intensity collimated ultrasonic coagulating applicator in the porcine model.
To evaluate the long-term hemostatic efficacy of a new high-intensity collimated ultrasonic (HICU) applicator for open subhilar partial nephrectomy (PN) in the porcine model. An applicator was designed with a planar 3.78-MHz HICU transducer and a reflector to optimize the delivery of acoustic energy to coagulate renal tissue. Six female pigs underwent right PN, followed at day 7 by left PN. The 6 pigs were killed on day 14. The treatment consisted of delivering HICU to a lower pole subhilar location, under a vascular clamp, then releasing the clamp, and cutting the kidney lower pole. The immediate and delayed hemostatic efficacy, treatment parameters, blood loss, complications, and renal function were evaluated at each surgical event and at necropsy. Perfect hemostasis was achieved with all 12 kidneys, with a mean treatment time of 7.2 minutes (range 5 to 9.2). The mean proportion of resected parenchyma was 21% (range 14% to 32%). No renal function impairment and no major complications were recorded. At necropsy, no secondary hematoma was observed, and three urinomas (25%) were found. Our HICU applicator has shown promising results during PN in the pig model with no other method of hemostasis. More studies are needed to refine our probe for laparoscopic surgery, improve its ergonomics, and extend our experiments to human laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery.


Ligation of CD5 on resting B cells, but not on resting T cells, results in apoptosis.
The CD5 molecule is expressed by a B cell subset. We have demonstrated that resting B cells do not proliferate in response to CD5 ligation, whereas cells preactivated with anti-IgM and IL-2 do so. Here, we specifically studied the effects of anti-CD5 and anti-IgM on apoptosis of CD5+ B cells. Both ligation of CD5 or of surface IgM (sIgM) resulted in apoptosis. This started earlier following ligation of CD5 than with sIgM, and both responses were time dependent. CD5-induced apoptosis was independent of the epitope recognized or the way the antibody was presented to the B cells. CD5+ B cells were more sensitive to IgM-induced apoptosis than CD5 B cells. Engagement of CD5 or CD3 expressed by T cells failed to induce apoptosis. Our data indicate differences in the function of CD5 molecules on tonsillar B cells, compared with blood T cells and suggest that cross-linking CD5 on B cell activates specific pathways responsible for apoptosis.


The effect of a single whole-blood transfusion on cytokine secretion.
The effect of a single whole-blood transfusion on the cascade of cytokine secretion was studied in patients with chronic renal failure. The results indicate that 1 week after blood transfusion, no significant changes were observed in the secretion of interleukin-2, colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor, and gamma-interferon. However, 2 weeks after blood transfusion, a sharp decrease was observed in the generation of these cytokines. A decrease of about 70% was observed in interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor, and gamma-interferon secretion. The production of colony-stimulating factor 2 weeks after blood transfusion amounted to about 30% less than baseline levels. No statistical differences in interleukin-1 production were observed throughout the study. In addition, we found that the decrease in cytokine secretion was paralleled by a sharp increase in the in vitro secretion of prostaglandin E2. Thus the beneficial effect of blood transfusion on graft survival might be due in part to an immunosuppressive effect brought about by immunoregulatory changes via the cascade of cytokine secretion.


Stepwise Reduction of an α-Phosphonio-Carbocation to a Crystalline Phosphorus Radical Cation and an Acridinyl-Phosphorus Ylide.
We have synthesized the dicationic α-phosphonio-carbocation 1(2+) , which can be regarded as a two-electron oxidized phosphorus ylide. Carbocation 1(2+) exhibits two reversible reduction waves at -0.28 and -0.90 V (vs. Fc(+) /Fc) indicating that both the radical cation 1(.+) and the neural phosphorus ylide 1 can be generated. Indeed, reduction of 1(2+) with Zn afforded 1(.+) as a dark green solid that was characterized by XRD and EPR spectroscopy, and reduction with Mg(Ant)⋅(THF)3 gave 1, which was characterized by (1) H and (31) P NMR spectroscopy. Computational analyses reveal the stepwise population of a C-P π bonding orbital upon reduction of 1(2+) .


Platelet-Rich Plasma as an Orthobiologic: Clinically Relevant Considerations.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood-derived product processed to concentrate platelets and the associated growth factors. PRP has been shown to be relatively well-tolerated and safe to use for a number of conditions in humans, equines, and canines. There are multiple commercial systems that have been validated for canine use. These systems use a variety of methodologies to produce a PRP product. However, PRP products have been shown to differ greatly between systems. Further study is needed to fully elucidate optimal component concentrations for various indications.


The skeletal muscle secretome: an emerging player in muscle-bone crosstalk.
In vitro and in vivo studies provide evidence that a variety of growth factors and cytokines are actively secreted by muscle tissue. Muscle can therefore function as an endocrine and paracrine organ. These peptides characterize the muscle secretome, and many muscle-derived factors such as insulin-like growth factor-1, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-15, myostatin and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (osteonectin) are also known to have significant effects on bone metabolism. The factors secreted by muscle may vary according to muscle activity, in that muscle contraction, muscle atrophy or traumatic muscle injury can alter the type and relative abundance of particular factors released from muscle cells. The molecular and cellular pathways by which muscle-derived factors affect different types of bone cells (for example, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes) are, however, poorly understood. Nevertheless, these findings further underscore the complex nature of muscle-bone interactions, and highlight the importance of integrating muscle biology and physiology into our understanding of bone growth, development and aging.


Analysis of the influence of disc degeneration on the mechanical behaviour of a lumbar motion segment using the finite element method.
Compared to a healthy intervertebral disc, the geometry and the material properties of the involved tissues are altered in a degenerated disc. It is not completely understood how this affects the mechanical behaviour of a motion segment. In order to study the influence of disc degeneration on motion segment mechanics a three-dimensional, nonlinear finite element model of the L3/L4 functional unit was used. Different grades of disc degeneration were simulated by varying disc height and bulk modulus of the nucleus pulposus. The model was loaded with pure moments of 10Nm in the three main anatomic planes. The finite element model predicted the same trends for intersegmental rotation and intradiscal pressure as described in the literature for in vitro studies. A comparison between calculated intersegmental rotation and experimental data showed a mean difference of 1.9 degrees while the mean standard deviation was 2.5 degrees . A mildly degenerated disc increases intersegmental rotation for all loading cases. With further increasing disc degeneration intersegmental rotation is decreased. For axial rotation the decrease takes place in the final stage. Intradiscal pressure is lower while facet joint force and maximum von Mises stress in the annulus are higher in a degenerated compared to a healthy disc.


N-[4-Acetyl-5-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)-4,5-di-hydro-1,3,4-thia-diazol-2-yl]acetamide.
The title mol-ecule, C12H12FN3O2S, shows a short intra-molecular S⋯O contact of 2.682 (18) Å. The dihedral angle between the thia-diazole ring and the benzene ring is 86.82 (11)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate an R 2 (1)(6) graph-set motif between adjacent mol-ecules. Pairs of futher C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers with R 2 (2)(8) ring motifs. These combine to generate a three-dimensional network and stack the mol-ecules along the b axis.


Semiquantitative histological examinations of the kidneys of rabbits (64-day, 100-day and 212-day series) with experimentally induced pyelonephritis.
The kidneys of each 8 rabbits of a 64-day series (group E) and a 100-day series (group F) and of 6 rabbits of a 212-day series (group G) with experimentally induced unilateral hematogenous obstructive E. coli pyelonephritis were histologically examined and the glomerular and tubular lesions quantitatively evaluated using an ocular micrometer. An attempt was made to correlate the morphological changes with the results of simultaneous enzyme analyses (acid and alkaline phosphatases, glutaminase I).


Isomer-specific mass spectrometric detection via "semisoft" strong-field ionization.
Time-of-flight mass spectra obtained for strong-field ionization using simply a transform-limited femtosecond laser pulse allows for quantitative characterization of the composition of an unknown mixture, including determination of isomeric composition. The approach is described and example applications presented.


"Onion skin" sign in an ovarian mucinous cyst.
The sonographic "onion skin" sign was initially described as concentric echogenic layers in mucinous tumors unrelated to the female reproductive system. Typically, the sonographic appearance of ovarian mucinous cystadenoma includes numerous septa and fine, gravity-dependent echoes. We present a case of the "onion skin" sign in a mucinous ovarian tumor.


A generic deep learning framework to classify thyroid and breast lesions in ultrasound images.
Breast and thyroid cancers are the two common cancers to affect women worldwide. Ultrasonography (US) is a commonly used non-invasive imaging modality to detect breast and thyroid cancers, but its clinical diagnostic accuracy for these cancers is controversial. Both thyroid and breast cancers share some similar high frequency ultrasound characteristics such as taller-than-wide shape ratio, hypo-echogenicity, and ill-defined margins. This study aims to develop an automatic scheme for classifying thyroid and breast lesions in ultrasound images using deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN). In particular, we propose a generic DCNN architecture with transfer learning and the same architectural parameter settings to train models for thyroid and breast cancers (TNet and BNet) respectively, and test the viability of such a generic approach with ultrasound images collected from clinical practices. In addition, the potentials of the thyroid model in learning the common features and its performance of classifying both breast and thyroid lesions are investigated. A retrospective dataset of 719 thyroid and 672 breast images captured from US machines of different makes between October 2016 and December 2018 is used in this study. Test results show that both TNet and BNet built on the same DCNN architecture have achieved good classification results (86.5% average accuracy for TNet and 89% for BNet). Furthermore, we used TNet to classify breast lesions and the model achieves sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 87.1%, indicating its capability in learning features commonly shared by thyroid and breast lesions. We further tested the diagnostic performance of the TNet model against that of three radiologists. The area under curve (AUC) for thyroid nodule classification is 0.861 (95% CI: 0.792-0.929) for the TNet model and 0.757-0.854 (95% CI: 0.658-0.934) for the three radiologists. The AUC for breast cancer classification is 0.875 (95% CI: 0.804-0.947) for the TNet model and 0.698-0.777 (95% CI: 0.593-0.872) for the radiologists, indicating the model's potential in classifying both breast and thyroid cancers with a higher level of accuracy than that of radiologists.


An atypical presentation of gigantiform torus palatinus: A case report: Atypical tori palatine and surgical management.
Torus palatinus (TP) is a slow growing maxillary exostosis, commonly found in the in the hard palate on either side of the median raphe of the palatine bone. Its aetiology is still unclear, but it has been attributed to genetic events and environmental agents, with a slight predilection for the female gender. The aim of this case report was to describe an unusual presentation of nodular TP in younger female patient, with medical history of hysterectomy when she was 25 years old. The TP manifested insidious progression that affected functional activities such as eating, swallowing and normal pronunciation. Furthermore, we describe our experience during pre-planning the surgery by using 3D-scan-printing, and the conservative surgical approach performed. TP may be associated with epidemiological, environmental and systemic disorders of patients suffering from this condition. Conservative surgical removal continues to be the first choice treatment when the TP must be removed. Further studies are considered necessary to elucidate the etiological factors.


Management factors associated with the incidence of clinical mastitis over the non-lactation period and bulk tank somatic cell count during the subsequent lactation.
To evaluate associations between management decisions related to the control of mastitis, including the infusion of antibiotics at the end of lactation (dry-cow therapy; DCT), on the incidence of clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) in the subsequent lactation. Dairy herd owners (n=158) provided information via a retrospective survey about (a) the proportion of their herds treated with DCT; (b) DCT management, including: number of occasions on which cows were dried off; manipulation of feed and water intake around drying off; infusion technique (partial vs full depth insertion of cannula); and hygiene before and after DCT infusion; (c) occurrence of mastitis and frequency of occurrence following drying off and in the subsequent lactation; (d) number of cows culled for mastitis-related conditions; (e) reasons for culling; (f) incidence of clinical mastitis; and (g) stock purchase policy with regard to mastitis. The BTSCC for each vat of milk supplied for the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons, and records of antibiotic purchases were collated for each herd. The probability that >2% of cows within a herd were diagnosed with clinical mastitis over the dry period was initially examined using univariate analysis (i.e. chi2 or logistic regression) and associated factors (p<0.2) were offered to a reverse stepwise logistic regression model. Factors hypothesised as being associated with the average lactation log10 BTSCC for the 2000/2001 season were initially examined using univariate analysis (i.e. ANOVA or linear regression analysis) and associated factors (p<0.2) were then tested using a forward manual model-building approach. Increasing the percentage of the herd treated with DCT at the end of lactation was associated with reduced probability that >2% of a herd would be diagnosed with clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and with a lower BTSCC in the subsequent lactation (p<0.01). A lower BTSCC was associated with small herds (<150 cows; p<0.05), not reducing feed intake around drying off (p<0.05), checking for clinical mastitis over the dry period in the milking parlour rather than at pasture (p<0.05), partial insertion of the DCT cannula (p<0.01), and use of 'change in udder shape' during lactation as a diagnostic criterion for mastitis (p<0.05). The incidence of clinical mastitis over the dry period was positively associated with reduced feeding around drying off (p=0.05) and the estimated volume of milk being produced at the time of drying off (p=0.014). Use of dry cow therapy was associated with fewer cases of clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and reduced BTSCC over the subsequent lactation. Reduced BTSCC was also associated with smaller herds, use of partial (compared with full depth) insertion of the DCT cannula, not reducing feed intake at the time of drying off, checking for clinical mastitis over the dry (non-lactation) period in the milking parlour, and use of udder shape for diagnosis during lactation. Control of clinical mastitis and BTSCC involves a range of management practices that need to be used in conjunction with DCT. Dairy cows, mastitis, dry-cow therapy, somatic cell count, management practices.


On Answering the Call to Action For COVID-19: Continuing a Bold Legacy of Health Advocacy.
The disproportionately high burden of death and disability observed for racial and ethnic minorities under the Coronavirus pandemic necessitates sustained advocacy by the medical and public health communities around critical determinants of population health. Prompting our advocacy should be the understanding that our collective ability to rebound from such crises may ultimately hinge on protecting and equipping our most vulnerable racial-ethnic minority groups and any susceptible individuals within those populations. If proven effective, recent historic firsts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to COVID-19 should be championed for permanency within policy, practice and funding. In addition, given the complex history of Black Americans in this country and persistent and substantial Black-white disparities on health and economic measures across the board, some kind of reparations for this group may serve as a logical starting point for further advocacy. Nevertheless, we remain supportive allies of all organizations concerned with communities who suffer the weight of this pandemic and any future world health disasters. Let us as human clinicians and public health professionals capture this moment of challenge and engage in thoughtful unification of effort and commit to measurable progress for as long as the need exists and certainly for the foreseeable future.


A novel CD2 staining-based flow cytometric assay for assessment of natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
Assessing cytotoxicity is fundamental to studying natural killer (NK) cell function. Various radioactive and non-radioactive cytotoxicity assays measuring target cell death have been developed. Among these methods, the most commonly used 51 Chromium-release assay (CRA) and flow cytometry-based cytotoxicity assays (FCCs) are the major representatives. Nonetheless, several drawbacks, including dye leakage and the potential effects of prior labeling on cells, curb the broad applicability of the FCCs. Here, we report a rapid FCC for quantifying target cell death after co-incubation with NK cells. In this assay, after 4 hours of NK cell-target cell co-incubation, fluorochrome-conjugated CD2 antibody was used to identify NK cells, and SYTOX Green and Annexin V-FITC were further used to detect target cell death in CD2-negative population. In parallel, both CRA and FCC assay using CFSE/ 7-AAD were performed to validate the reproducibility and replicability. We observed that CD2 is exclusively positive on NK cells other than the most common hematological target tumor cells, such as K562, HL60, MOLM13, Raji, NCI-H929, rpmi8226, MM.1S, and KMS11. Assessment of target cell death using the CD2-based FCC shows a significantly higher percent specific lysis of the target cells compared to the standard CRA and the FCC assay using CFSE and 7-AAD. We demonstrated that this CD2-based FCC is a fast, simple, and reliable method for evaluating NK cell cytotoxicity.


Survival of patients with duodenal fistulas from necrotizing pancreatitis.
Acute necrotizing pancreatitis associated with occult duodenal necrosis and perforation developed in 3 patients 2 to 4 weeks after initially successful treatment of hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Exploration was required for fever, abdominal mass, or X-ray findings of an intra-abdominal abscess. At operation all pancreatic and retroperitoneal abscesses were drained with sump tubes, and the duodenal fistula was closed. An intraluminal tube, placed via a gastrostomy, was used for decompression of the duodenum. Postoperative management included total parenteral nutrition, antibiotics specific for aerobic and anaerobic flora, and frequent X-rays to locate new intra-abdominal abscesses. One to 4 reoperations were necessary because of continuing pancreatic necrosis and abscess formation in each patient. Necrotizing pancreatitis with unrelenting retroperitoneal sepsis and fistula formation results in serious morbidity, hospital stays of several months, and is now the major cause of death in patients with pancreatitis. Survival of all 3 patients resulted from drainage of evolving retroperitoneal abscesses and improvement in our technique for management of large duodenal fistulas.


Mechanisms underlying the antireflux effect of Nissen fundoplication in children.
It is reported that the main mechanism responsible for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is transient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation in children. However, the effect of Nissen fundoplication on transient LES relaxation has not been investigated in children. This study examined the effect of Nissen fundoplication on motor patterns of the LES in children with pathological GER. Esophageal manometry and pH were recorded concurrently for 2 hours after administration of apple juice (10 mL/kg). In seven children documented to have pathological GER by prolonged esophageal pH monitoring (%time pH less than 4.0>5.0), studies were performed preoperatively and 1 to 3 months after surgery. Nissen fundoplication virtually eliminated reflux in all patients. Percentage of time pH was less than 4.0 reduced from 15+/-9 to 0+/-0. Basal LES pressure did not change significantly (pre, 21+/-10 mm Hg v post, 27+/-9 mm Hg). The number of transient LES relaxation reduced significantly from 13+/-4 to 7+/-7, and the mean nadir LES pressures during swallow-induced LES relaxation and transient LES relaxation increased significantly from 1+/-1 mm Hg to 13+/-5 mm Hg and from 0+/-0 mm Hg to 11+/-7 mm Hg, respectively. Our findings suggest the antireflux effects of Nissen fundoplication may be based on changes of LES motor patterns that result in incomplete LES relaxation and reduction of the number of transient LES relaxation.


Supercritical fluid extraction in natural products analyses.
Supercritical fluids (SCFs) are increasingly replacing the organic solvents, e.g., n-hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, or methanol, that are conventionally used in industrial extraction, purification, and recrystallization operations because of regulatory and environmental pressures on hydrocarbon and ozone-depleting emissions. In natural products extraction and isolation, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), especially employing supercritical CO(2), has become a popular choice. Sophisticated modern technologies allow precise regulation of changes in temperature and pressure, and thus manipulation of solvating property of the SCF, which helps the extraction of natural products of a wide range of polarities. This chapter deals mainly with the application of the SFE technology in the natural products extraction and isolation, and outlines various methodologies with specific examples.


The posterior cingulate cortex: Insights from structure and function.
The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (Brodmann areas 23/31) is one of the least well-understood regions of the cortex. The PCC has very high levels of metabolic consumption, and network analyses of functional and structural data suggest it is a core hub in the human connectome; however, contemporary neuroscience lacks a clear account of its functional significance. Consequently, many studies over the last decade have focused on understanding the role this region plays in cognition, particularly given its apparent tendency to deactivate during demanding external tasks. Consistent with the cytoarchitecture, recent work, leveraging complex analytical approaches, highlight that the connections the PCC forms with other regions are heterogeneous, going beyond a single network, while recent studies of its function highlight a role in a wide range of complex forms of cognition including memory, navigation, and narrative comprehension. This constellation of observations highlights a role for PCC in a set of cognitive processes that are supported by internal representations but may lack a common type of representational content. Together, these structural and functional studies contribute to an emerging view of the PCC as contributing to how cognition unfolds rather than what it is focused on.


Morphology of the macula neglecta in sharks of the genus Carcharhinus.
Ears from several species of carcharhinid sharks were studied by gross dissection, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Structures along a possible sound transmission path to the ear are described, but main consideration is given to the structure of the macula neglecta. The macula neglecta is composed of two patches of sensory epithelium which line part of the posterior canal duct. In an adult shark the larger of these contains 224,000 sensory hair cells oriented so as to detect forces directed posteroventrolaterally in the duct. The smaller patch contains 43,000 hair cells oriented so as to detect oppositely directed forces. These receptor cells project through numerous small terminals to a total for both patches of 4,700 myelinated nerve fibers. Cytostructural variations throughout the hair cell population are also reported. Estimated acoustic properties of the tissues in this complex and the processing potential of the neural elements are interpreted as suggestive of auditory function. A mechanism based on the geometry of the receptor arrays is proposed to explain behaviorally observed instantaneous sound localization from the farfield. Evolution of the macula neglecta is reviewed, and evidence for homology of the macula neglecta and amphibian papilla is presented.


Preferences for Disease-Related Education and Support Among Younger People With Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis.
To explore the usefulness and accessibility of different delivery modes of disease-related education and support, as perceived by younger people with osteoarthritis (OA). People ages 20-55 years with hip or knee OA were recruited from 3 major Australian public hospitals and the community (n = 147). Data were collected on use of disease-related education and support services, as well as perceived usefulness and accessibility of delivery modes including group-based programs, online resources, telephone helplines, mailed information, social media, and mobile applications (rated on visual analog scales from 1-10; higher scores indicate greater usefulness or accessibility). Very few participants had used social media (5%), group self-management programs (3%), or telephone helplines (2%) to obtain OA information. Mailed information packs and online education programs were considered the most useful (median usefulness scores 8.0 and 7.0, respectively) and accessible methods (median accessibility scores 10.0 and 9.0, respectively) for providing OA education and support. Social media was perceived as least useful (median usefulness score 2.0) and least accessible; 45% of participants considered it "not at all useful," while 35% reported it would be "very difficult" to access OA education and support by this means. Less educational attainment was associated with greater perceived difficulty in accessing online/electronic delivery modes, while people in paid work perceived easier access. These data highlight the value of mailed information and online education to younger people with OA and can be used to develop targeted resources for individuals of working age. Social media was not a highly valued source of disease-related education and support.


Caveats in the sonographic determination of fetal femur length for estimation of gestational age.
Alterations from the standard conditions under which measurements of fetal femurs are made may alter the estimate of gestational age by up to four weeks. We describe and quantify the errors induced by variations in depth, gain settings, and angle of the femur relative to the US beam. We describe a simple phantom that may be used to help eliminate these sources of possible error.


Transient expression of an adenine base editor corrects the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome mutation and improves the skin phenotype in mice.
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare premature ageing disorder caused by a point mutation in the LMNA gene (LMNA c.1824 C > T), resulting in the production of a detrimental protein called progerin. Adenine base editors recently emerged with a promising potential for HGPS gene therapy. However adeno-associated viral vector systems currently used in gene editing raise concerns, and the long-term effects of heterogeneous mutation correction in highly proliferative tissues like the skin are unknown. Here we use a non-integrative transient lentiviral vector system, expressing an adenine base editor to correct the HGPS mutation in the skin of HGPS mice. Transient adenine base editor expression corrected the mutation in 20.8-24.1% of the skin cells. Four weeks post delivery, the HGPS skin phenotype was improved and clusters of progerin-negative keratinocytes were detected, indicating that the mutation was corrected in both progenitor and differentiated skin cells. These results demonstrate that transient non-integrative viral vector mediated adenine base editor expression is a plausible approach for future gene-editing therapies.


Design of a new Z-test for the uncertainty of Covid-19 events under Neutrosophic statistics.
The existing Z-test for uncertainty events does not give information about the measure of indeterminacy/uncertainty associated with the test. This paper introduces the Z-test for uncertainty events under neutrosophic statistics. The test statistic of the existing test is modified under the philosophy of the Neutrosophy. The testing process is introduced and applied to the Covid-19 data. Based on the information, the proposed test is interpreted as the probability that there is no reduction in uncertainty of Covid-19 is accepted with a probability of 0.95, committing a type-I error is 0.05 with the measure of an indeterminacy 0.10. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that the proposed test is informative than the existing test. The proposed test is also better than the Z-test for uncertainty under fuzzy-logic as the test using fuzz-logic gives the value of the statistic from 2.20 to 2.42 without any information about the measure of indeterminacy. The test under interval statistic only considers the values within the interval rather than the crisp value. From the Covid-19 data analysis, it is found that the proposed Z-test for uncertainty events under the neutrosophic statistics is efficient than the existing tests under classical statistics, fuzzy approach, and interval statistics in terms of information, flexibility, power of the test, and adequacy.


Response of Salvinia spp. to different nitrogen sources: the acid-base regulation approach.
This paper shows the importance of acid-base analyses and Δ13C measurements in the evaluation of the responses of Salvinia species' responses to different N sources. It also highlights the importance of these methodologies as potential tools in the study of differences between habitats and nutrient acquisition, particularly N. This study used three different species of Salvinia cultured in the absence of combined N or in the presence of either NO inf3sup- or NH inf4sup+ as N sources. The interaction between NO inf3sup- or NH inf4sup+ as N source and organic acid metabolism, and the information on diazotrophy from the organic acid measurements, were also examined. Nevertheless, the results presented may not be used per se to assign diazotrophy. Carboxylate (C-A) levels in the different Salvinia species are much lower than the norm for bryophytes and tracheophytes, consistent with previously published work on Azolla. This might be related to the aquatic life form of these plants, since they seem to have no potential to increase the availability of Fe or P by the acidification of their rooting medium (water) that a larger net synthesis of organic acids, with cation-H+ exchange, could achieve.


Couples-based behaviour change interventions to reduce metabolic syndrome risk. A systematic review.
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although MetS risk is transferred via the epigenome from both biological parents, periconceptional lifestyle interventions are generally directed towards mothers. There is a need for interventions to reflect the shared nature of epigenetic MetS risk between both biological parents. Couples-based lifestyle interventions have previously been used to improve adherence to behaviour change in conditions with shared risk responsibility such as sexually transmitted diseases. This systematic literature review sought to answer the research question: Are couples-based interventions more effective than individual interventions to address overweight and obesity as the primary modifiable risk for MetS in addition to other associated factors. Couples-based studies involving randomised controlled trials, published between 01/01/1990-31/12/2021, were identified in Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Cochrane, and Scopus. After screening 4742 articles, only five eligible trials remained. Statistically significant post-intervention maintenance of low glycaemic levels was observed in one study. Otherwise, no statistically significant group differences between couples' groups and control groups were observed in any of the five included studies. The included studies concluded that couple-based interventions can lead to weight reduction, maintenance, and adherence to modified health behaviours similar to interventions that target individuals. Overall, the findings indicate that, notwithstanding the paucity of authentic couples-based interventions, there is potential for such approaches to moderate MetS risk factors likely to flow onto epigenetic transmission of risk.


Anterior pseudoarthrectomy for symptomatic Bertolotti's syndrome.
Painful L5/S1 pseudoarthrosis has been previously managed with posterior excision and/or lumbar fusion. To our knowledge, the anterior approach for L5/S1 pseudoarthrectomy in the treatment of Bertolotti's syndrome has not been described. We present two patients with severe symptomatic L5/S1 pseudoarthroses that were successfully excised via an anterior retroperitoneal approach with 2 year clinical and radiological follow-up. The literature regarding surgical treatments for Bertolotti's syndrome is reviewed. The technique for an anterior retroperitoneal approach is described. This approach has been safe and effective in providing long term symptomatic relief to our two patients. Further studies comparing the outcomes of anterior versus posterior pseudoarthrectomy will guide the management of this condition.


Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) and multidrug-resistant gene 1 (Pfmdr-1) in Nigerian children 10 years post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination treatments.
The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to artemisinin derivatives and their partners in southeastern Asia threatens malaria control and elimination efforts, and heightens the need for an alternative therapy. We have explored the distribution of P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) and multidrug-resistant gene 1 (Pfmdr-1) haplotypes 10 years following adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies in a bid to investigate the possible re-emergence of Chloroquine-sensitive parasites in Nigeria, and investigated the effect of these P. falciparum haplotypes on treatment outcomes of patients treated with artemisinin-based combination therapies. A total of 271 children aged <5 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were included in this study. Polymorphisms on codons 72-76 of the Pfcrt gene and codon 86 and 184 of Pfmdr-1 were determined using the high resolution melting assay. Of 240 (88.6%) samples successfully genotyped with HRM for Pfcrt, wildtype C72M74N75K76 (42.9%) and mutant C72I74E75T76 (53.8%) were observed. Also, wildtype N86Y184 (62.9%) and mutant N86F184 (21.1%), Y86Y184 (6.4%), and Y86F184 (0.4%) haplotypes of Pfmdr-1 were observed. Measures of responsiveness to ACTs were similar in children infected with P. falciparum crt haplotypes (C72I74E75T76 and C72M74N75K76) and major mdr-1 haplotypes (N86Y184, N86F184 and Y86Y184). Despite a 10 year gap since the malaria treatment policy changed to ACTs, over 50% of the P. falciparum parasites investigated in this study harboured the Chloroquine-resistant C72I74E75T76 haplotype, however this did not compromise the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies. Should complete artemisinin resistance emerge from or spread to Nigeria, chloroquine might not be a good alternative therapy.


Autonomic function may mediate the neuroprotection of remote ischemic postconditioning in stroke: A randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate the effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke(AIS) patients and investigate the mediating role of autonomic function in the neuroprotection of RIPostC. 132 AIS patients were randomized into two groups. Patients received four cycles of 5-min inflation to a pressure of 200 mmHg(i.e., RIPostC) or patients' diastolic BP(i.e., shame), followed by 5 min of deflation on healthy upper limbs once a day for 30 days. The main outcome was neurological outcome including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel index(BI). The second outcome measure was autonomic function measured by heart rate variability(HRV). Compared with the baseline, the post-intervention NIHSS score was significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.001). NIHSS score was significantly lower in the control group than intervention group at day 7.[RIPostC:3(1,5) versus shame:2(1,4); P=0.030]. mRS scored lower in the intervention group compared with the control group at day 90 follow-up(RIPostC:0.5±2.0 versus shame:1.0±2.0;P=0.016). The goodness-of-fit test revealed a significant difference between the generalized estimating equation model of mRS and BI scores of uncontrolled-HRV and controlled-HRV(P<0.05, both). The results of bootstrap revealed a complete mediation effect of HRV between group on mRS[indirect effect: -0.267 (LLCI = -0.549, ULCI = -0.048), the direct effect: -0.443 (LLCI = -0.831, ULCI = 0.118)]. This is the first human-based study providing evidence for a mediation role of autonomic function between RIpostC and prognosis in AIS patients. It indicated that RIPostC could improve the neurological outcome of AIS patients. Autonomic function may play a mediating role in this association. The clinical trials registration number for this study is NCT02777099 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier).


Free-access intravenous alcohol self-administration in social drinkers and individuals with alcohol use disorder: Evaluation of relationships with phosphatidylethanol and self-reported alcohol consumption.
The free-access (FA) intravenous alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA) paradigm is an experimental approach that can identify modulators of alcohol consumption in humans. Moreover, the outcome measures of IV-ASA paradigms are associated with self-reported alcohol intake using the timeline follow-back method (TLFB). To evaluate how FA IV-ASA reflects drinking in real life, we examined the relationship between an objective marker of recent alcohol intake, phosphatidylethanol in blood (B-PEth), and TLFB and measures obtained during IV-ASA in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and social drinkers (SD). We also explored the associations between these measures and gut-brain peptides involved in AUD pathophysiology. Thirty-eight participants completed a laboratory session in which they self-administered alcohol intravenously. The safety limit was 200 mg%, and main outcomes were mean and peak breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC). Blood samples were drawn prior to IV-ASA and subjective alcohol effects were rated during the experiment. The study sample comprised 24 SD and 14 participants with DSM-5 mild AUD. Although BrACs were not associated with B-PEth or TLFB in the full sample or AUD subgroup, there was an association with TLFB in SD. In both subgroups, BrACs were associated with alcohol craving but with differential timing. Total ghrelin levels were higher in AUD participants than in SD. No associations between B-PEth levels and achieved BrACs were observed in the mild AUD group, the SD group, or the full sample. The ability for FA IV-ASA to reflect recent drinking was confirmed only for TLFB in SD, whereas there were no associations within the smaller subsample of participants with mild AUD or in the full sample. Further studies that include a larger AUD sample are warranted. The association of BrACs with craving for alcohol suggests that the IV-ASA method may be useful for assessing interventions that target craving. This could be explored by using the FA IV-ASA model to evaluate the effects on craving of approved pharmacotherapies for AUD.


Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism as a potential antifungal target for the sustainable cultivation of microalga Haematococcus pluvialis.
Microalgae are widely considered as multifunctional cell factories that are able to transform the photo-synthetically fixed CO2 to numerous high-value compounds, including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and pigments. However, contamination of the algal mass culture with fungal parasites continues to threaten the production of algal biomass, which dramatically highlights the importance of developing effective measures to control the fungal infection. One viable solution is to identify potential metabolic pathways that are essential for fungal pathogenicity but are not obligate for algal growth, and to use inhibitors targeting such pathways to restrain the infection. However, such targets remain largely unknown, making it challenging to develop effective measures to mitigate the infection in algal mass culture. In the present study, we conducted RNA-Seq analysis for the fungus Paraphysoderma sedebokerense, which can infect the astaxanthin-producing microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. It was found that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) were enriched in P. sedebokerense, which was assumed to produce metabolites required for the fungal parasitism. To verify this hypothesis, antifolate that hampered FOCM was applied to the culture systems. Results showed that when 20 ppm of the antifolate co-trimoxazole were added, the infection ratio decreased to ~ 10% after 9 days inoculation (for the control, the infection ratio was 100% after 5 days inoculation). Moreover, application of co-trimoxazole to H. pluvialis mono-culture showed no obvious differences in the biomass and pigment accumulation compared with the control, suggesting that this is a potentially algae-safe, fungi-targeted treatment. This study demonstrated that applying antifolate to H. pluvialis culturing systems can abolish the infection of the fungus P. sedebokerense and the treatment shows no obvious disturbance to the algal culture, suggesting FOCM is a potential target for antifungal drug design in the microalgal mass culture industry.


The magnitude and relevance of the February 2014 radiation release from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant repository in New Mexico, USA.
After almost fifteen years of successful waste disposal operations, the first unambiguous airborne radiation release from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) was detected beyond the site boundary on February 14, 2014. It was the first accident of its kind in the 15-year operating history of the WIPP. The accident released moderate levels of radioactivity into the underground air. A small but measurable amount of radioactivity also escaped to the surface through the ventilation system and was detected above ground. The dominant radionuclides released were americium and plutonium, in a ratio consistent with the known content of a breached drum. The radiation release was caused by a runaway chemical reaction inside a transuranic (TRU) waste drum which experienced a seal and lid failure, spewing radioactive materials into the repository. According to source-term estimation, approximately 2 to 10Ci of radioactivity was released from the breached drum into the underground, and an undetermined fraction of that source term became airborne, setting off an alarm and triggering the closure of seals designed to force exhausting air through a system of filters including high-efficiency-particulate-air (HEPA) filters. Air monitoring across the WIPP site intensified following the first reports of radiation detection underground to determine the extent of impact to WIPP personnel, the public, and the environment, if any. This article attempts to compile and interpret analytical data collected by an independent monitoring program conducted by the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC) and by a compliance-monitoring program conducted by the WIPP's management and operating contractor, the Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP), LLC., in response to the accident. Both the independent and the WIPP monitoring efforts concluded that the levels detected were very low and localized, and no radiation-related health effects among local workers or the public would be expected.


Isolation and characterization of the minor components associated with microcystins LR and RR in the cyanobacterium (blue-green algae).
Two structurally similar analogues of microcystins LR and RR, cyclic peptide hepatotoxins from Microcystis, were isolated by chromatographic methods. Although they have the same mol. wt and amino acid compositions as those of the parent toxins, they do not possess similar toxicities. Ultraviolet and 1H-NMR spectral data for both components demonstrate clear structural difference of these cyclic peptides from the parent toxins, which are probably responsible for the marked decreases in their observed toxicities.


Effects of spasmolytic and/or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs on muscle hyperalgesia of ureteral origin in rats.
Rats with artificial calculosis of one ureter develop hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral oblique musculature as evidenced by decreased vocalization threshold to electrical muscle stimulation lasting over a week. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect on this hyperalgesia of spasmolytic anticholinergic and/or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, common therapies for colic pain in humans. Rats implanted with a unilateral ureteral stone were treated for 10 days with: (1) saline; (2) hyoscine-N-butylbromide (15 mg/kg/day i.p.); (3) ketoprofen (15 mg/kg/day); or (4) hyoscine-N-butylbromide + ketoprofen (15 + 15 mg/kg/day). Oblique muscle vocalization thresholds were measured daily for 3 days before and 10 days after operation. Ipsilateral thresholds decreased significantly after stone implantation on: (1) seven days (max. 32%) for saline; (2) one day (max. 20%) for hyoscine-N-butylbromide; (3) one day (max. 18%) for ketoprofen, but did not change significantly for hyoscine-N-butylbromide + ketoprofen. These results indicate a protective effect against muscle hyperalgesia of ureteral origin by spasmolytic and antiinflammatory drugs, maximal when the two treatments are combined.


Design, synthesis and preliminary biological studies of pyrrolidine derivatives as Mcl-1 inhibitors.
Anti-apoptotic proteins, such as B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) protein, myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1) protein, are potential targets for cancer treatment. In the studies, a series of pyrrolidine derivatives were developed as potent Mcl-1 inhibitors. The preliminary biological studies suggested that most of target compounds exhibit good abilities for targeting Mcl-1 protein. Among them, compound 21 (Ki=0.53μM) exhibited equal inhibitory activities towards Mcl-1 protein compared to positive control gossypol (Ki=0.39μM). This compound also possessed good antiproliferative activities against MDA-MB-231 and PC-3 cancer cells.


Challenges in the care of Ewing's sarcoma in a Jehovah's Witness patient
Ewing's sarcoma is a bone and soft tissue neoplasm, whose management is related to hematological toxicity. This aspect represents a medical and ethical challenge in Jehovah's Witnesses patients, who, due to their religious beliefs, reject the blood component transfusion, with the risk of discontinuing chemotherapy or using suboptimal doses. We present the case of a 34-year-old Colombian woman, Jehovah's Witness, diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma with clinical stage IIB (T1N0M0) in the left maxillary and mandibular regions, treated with chemotherapy, who presented a hemoglobin nadir of up to 4.5 g/dL, and surgical indication as part of the treatment. In these patients, the transfusion decision has ethical implications that require therapeutic alternatives and a multidisciplinary approach.


Assessment of Pb and Cd in seed oils and meals and methodology of their extraction.
Oil seed, which is a secondary product in phytoremediation, contaminated with heavy metals should be disposed of in an appropriate fashion. In this study, heavy metal concentrations found in oilseed rape and peanut oils were below 0.1 mg kg(-1) after extractions, being found most of the heavy metals in meals rather in oils. Extraction experiments were carried out to determine the optimum methodology for the removal of Pb and Cd from seed meals using K3C6H5O7, K2C4H4O6 and (NH4)2EDTA. The highest extraction of the Pb and Cd in the seed meals was achieved using 30 mM extractant solutions at 30°C for 24 h and a three-step extraction procedure. K3C6H5O7 and K2C4H4O6 had less impact on the removal of nutrients than (NH4)2EDTA.


Circulating ApoJ is closely associated with insulin resistance in human subjects.
Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. ApolipoproteinJ (ApoJ) has been implicated in altered pathophysiologic states including cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. However, the function of ApoJ in regulation of glucose homeostasis remains unclear. This study sought to determine whether serum ApoJ levels are associated with insulin resistance in human subjects and if they change after interventions that improve insulin sensitivity. Serum ApoJ levels and insulin resistance status were assessed in nondiabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) subjects. The impacts of rosiglitazone or metformin therapy on serum ApoJ levels and glucose disposal rate (GDR) during a hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamp were evaluated in a separate cohort of T2D subjects. Total ApoJ protein or that associated with the HDL and LDL fractions was measured by immunoblotting or ELISA. Fasting serum ApoJ levels were greatly elevated in T2D subjects (ND vs T2D; 100±8.3 vs. 150.6±8.5AU, P<0.0001). Circulating ApoJ levels strongly correlated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and BMI. ApoJ levels were significantly and independently associated with HOMA-IR, even after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. Rosiglitazone treatment in T2D subjects resulted in a reduction in serum ApoJ levels (before vs. after treatment; 100±13.9 vs. 77±15.2AU, P=0.015), whereas metformin had no effect on ApoJ levels. The change in ApoJ levels during treatment was inversely associated with the change in GDR. Interestingly, ApoJ content in the LDL fraction was inversely associated with HOMA-IR. Serum ApoJ levels are closely correlated with the magnitude of insulin resistance regardless of obesity, and decrease along with improvement of insulin resistance in response only to rosiglitazone in type 2 diabetes.


Characteristic of oxidative metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease depending on etiological nosology.
Development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is accompanied by change in the oxidative metabolism. The aim of the study was to assess the parameters of oxidative stress in erythrocytes and plasma of patients with CKD 1 and 2 stages depending on the etiological nosology. Two groups were formed. 1(st) - patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CG), CKD 1, 2. 2(nd) - patients with chronic pyelonephritis (CP), CKD 1, 2. The concentration of carbonyl derivatives was determined by the method of Levine R.L. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration - by the method of Goncharenko M.S. and Lapytova A.M. Median and quartiles of parameters were calculated. Statistically significant difference of data in the comparison groups were assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. In group of patients with CG there is the tendency to reduce the concentration of carbonyl derivatives in erythrocytes Md=12.861nmol/ml (12.468, 15.177) as compared with patients with CP Md=14.346nmol/ml (14.130, 14.537). Significant differences in this indicator in these groups were not detected, p=0.715. The concentration of MDA in erythrocytes in these groups varied in the opposite way. In patients with CG concentration of MDA in erythrocytes Md=5.513 µmol/ml (4.487, 6.282) was higher than this indicator in patients with CP Md=4.744 µmol/ml (3.974, 5.256), these changes were not significant, p=0.256. The concentrations of carbonyl derivatives and MDA in plasma in the compared groups were almost identical. In patients with CG concentration of carbonyl derivatives in plasma was Md=0.390nmol/ml (0.381, 0.528), the content of MDA Md=0.846 µmol/ml (0.714, 1.005). In patients with CP concentration of carbonyl derivatives in plasma was Md=0.424nmol/ml (0.312, 0.485) (when comparing 2 groups p=0.668), the content of MDA Md=0.820 µmol/ml (0.740, 0.979) (p=0.886). Thus, in patients with CKD 1, 2 depending on the etiological nosology features of oxidative metabolism were not found.


Accurate detection and quantification of the fish viral hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) with a two-color fluorometric real-time PCR assay.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) is one of the world's most serious fish pathogens, infecting >80 marine, freshwater, and estuarine fish species from Eurasia and North America. A novel and especially virulent strain - IVb - appeared in the Great Lakes in 2003, has killed many game fish species in a series of outbreaks in subsequent years, and shut down interstate transport of baitfish. Cell culture is the diagnostic method approved by the USDA-APHIS, which takes a month or longer, lacks sensitivity, and does not quantify the amount of virus. We thus present a novel, easy, rapid, and highly sensitive real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assay that incorporates synthetic competitive template internal standards for quality control to circumvent false negative results. Results demonstrate high signal-to-analyte response (slope = 1.00±0.02) and a linear dynamic range that spans seven orders of magnitude (R(2) = 0.99), ranging from 6 to 6,000,000 molecules. Infected fishes are found to harbor levels of virus that range to 1,200,000 VHSv molecules/10(6) actb1 molecules with 1,000 being a rough cut-off for clinical signs of disease. This new assay is rapid, inexpensive, and has significantly greater accuracy than other published qRT-PCR tests and traditional cell culture diagnostics.


Prostatic hypertrophy and venereal disease as possible risk factors in the development of bladder cancer.
In three urological predictors, nocturia, prostatic surgery for prostatic hypertrophy and a previous venereal disease, a significantly increased relative risk (RR) of developing bladder cancer was detected. An epidemiological case control investigation was performed on 165 male bladder cancer patients and an equal number of male controls matched concerning age and geographical area. The sample was obtained from a predominantly rural district. The theoretical individual risk factors were calculated by the aid of a multivariate logistic analysis. Twenty-four patients versus 11 controls had a history of prostatic surgery (RR = 2.38) for benign prostatic hypertrophy, 60 patients versus 36 controls complained of nocturia at least 2 years before presenting symptoms of bladder cancer (RR = 2.05), and 16 patients versus seven controls had a history of venereal disease (RR = 2.42). The results seems to indicate that prostatic hypertrophy and previous venereal disease may at least in part be factors of importance associated with bladder cancer.


Contributions of Dryland Forest (Caatinga) to Species Composition, Richness and Diversity of Drosophilidae.
In this study, semi-arid environments were tested to see if they support insect diversity. This was evaluated through the structure of the composition of assemblies of drosophilids in three conservation units placed in three different ecoregions in the dryland forests, Caatinga. This is a unique biome in northeast Brazil, comprising approximately 10% of the country. Species richness was investigated over 2 years during a prolonged drought, considered the worst affliction the Caatinga ecosystem had experienced in the last 50 years. Alpha diversity indices and the ecological similarity between the samples were calculated to determine how the environments drive the composition of Drosophilidae in such semi-arid places. A total of 7352 specimens were sampled. They were classified into 20 species belonging to four genera: Drosophila, Rhinoleucophenga, Scaptodrosophila, and Zaprionus. Drosophila nebulosa Sturtevant (44.5%) and Drosophila cardini Sturtevant (12.5%) were the most abundant species. The occurrences and abundances of all the species differed greatly between sites. These results and other ecological analyses indicate that although placed in the same biome, there are great variability in the drosophilid species and abundance among the three protected and conserved dryland environments.


[Primary intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the jaws].
A mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a malignant salivary gland tumor. Its primitive intraosseous maxillary localization is rare. We report a case with a difficult diagnosis. A 42-year-old female patient consulted atypical right sinus area pain. The CT scan revealed a heterogeneous tumor lyzing the right maxillary. The surgical treatment was broad resection. The pathological examination indicated an intramaxillary MEC. The surgical treatment was completed by postoperative radiotherapy. Primary intraosseous MEC of the jaws is rare and often affects the mandible. Its intraosseous maxillary localization is even rarer. Its etiopathogenesis is still unknown. The treatment is usually surgical, and the prognosis is based on histological criteria.


Priming and replenishment in cardiopulmonary bypass with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 decreases fluid overbalance without renal dysfunction or bleeding in adult valve surgery.
The best priming and replenishment solution in cardiopulmonary bypass remains unknown, and the efficacy and drawbacks of artificial colloid are controversial. We retrospectively compared consecutive patients undergoing elective adult valve surgery in cases wherein cardiopulmonary bypass was primed and replenished with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (n = 12) or crystalloid solution (n = 11). The fluid overbalance during cardiopulmonary bypass was much lower in the hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 group (mean ± standard deviation, + 95 ± 1241 mL) than in the crystalloid solution group (+ 2921 ± 1984 mL) (P < 0.001). Renal function, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, and blood products did not deteriorate with the use of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4. The postoperative intubation time was shorter in the hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 group (16.0 ± 2.6 h) than in the crystalloid solution group (18.7 ± 2.6 h) (P = 0.018). Although prospective randomized trials are needed to verify our findings, the impact of fluid balance differences requires serious consideration.


Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia of the orbit associated with obstructive airway disease.
Two patients with angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia isolated to the orbit had eyelid swelling, a superior orbital mass, and histories of intermittent obstructive airway disease. One patient later developed a transient peripheral blood eosinophilia as high as 36%. One lesion recurred 38 months postoperatively and responded to systemic corticosteroid therapy.


Novel coumarin aminophosphonates as potential multitargeting antibacterial agents against Staphylococcus aureus.
Unique coumarin aminophosphonates as new antibacterial agents were designed and synthesized to combat severely bacterial resistance. Bioactivity assessment identified that 3-hydroxylphenyl aminophosphonate 6f with low hemolytic activity not only exhibited excellent inhibition potency against Staphylococcus aureus at low concentration (0.5 μg/mL) in vitro but also showed considerable antibacterial potency in vivo. Meanwhile, the active compound 6f was capable of eradicating the S. aureus biofilm, thus alleviating the development of S. aureus resistance. Furthermore, the drug combination of compound 6f with norfloxacin could enhance the antibacterial efficacy. Mechanistic explorations manifested that molecule 6f was able to destroy the integrity of cell membrane, which resulted in the leakage of protein and metabolism inhibition. The cellular redox homeostasis was interfered through inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), leading to the reduction of glutathione (GSH) activity and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, compound 6f could intercalate into DNA base pair to hinder normal biological function. The above results provided powerful information for the further development of coumarin aminophosphonates as antibacterial agents.


Old dogs and new tricks in antimicrobial discovery.
The discovery of new antibiotics is crucial if we are to avoid a future in which simple infections once again lead to death. New antibiotics were traditionally discovered by analyzing extracts from cultured soil-derived microbes. However, in the last few years only a few new antibiotic classes have been identified using this method. Attempts to apply target-based screening approaches to antibiotic discovery have also proven to be unproductive. In this article, we describe how DNA sequencing and bioinformatic techniques are revolutionizing natural product discovery leading to new natural product antibiotics sourced from both cultivated and uncultivated microbes. New chemical structures are also being 'crowd sourced' from chemists around the world, and 'forgotten' antibiotics repositioned for clinical trials after chemical or biochemical modification of the original natural product. Collectively such approaches have the potential to revamp antibiotic lead discovery and re-invigorate the antibiotic pipeline.


Implementing a hybrid web-based curriculum for an elective medical student clerkship in a busy surgical intensive care unit (ICU): effect on test and satisfaction scores.
To determine whether a hybrid traditional and web-based curriculum improves test scores and enrollment among senior medical students in an elective critical care rotation. Retrospective study in a surgical ICU at a major academic center. One hundred twenty-one fourth year medical students completing an elective ICU clerkship between 2007 and 2010. Pre-test and post-test during a 4-week rotation. We implemented a hybrid curriculum that involved both traditional teaching methods and a new online core curriculum that incorporating audio, video, and text using screen capture technology. The curriculum was hosted on a secure online portal called ICON (Desire2Learn Inc., Ontario, Canada). The core curriculum covered topics that were considered essential to meet the didactic objectives of the rotation. MEASUREMENTS AND EVALUATIONS: A pre-test was administered online on day 1 of the rotation. A post-test was administered on the second to last day of the rotation. Both tests were composed of 20 questions randomly chosen from a question bank of 100 questions. The tests are managed (administering, grading, and reporting) exclusively online. One hundred twenty-one medical students have successfully completed the clerkship since implementing the new curriculum. Each group of students showed an improvement in the mean post-test score by at least 17%+ to 10%. The satisfaction scores of the clerkship improved consistently from 2007 and is currently rated at 4.31 ± 0.85 (on a 5-point scale). The rotation is in the top 25(th) percentile of all clinical clerkships offered at the University of Iowa. A systematically implemented hybrid web-based critical care curriculum can improve knowledge based test scores and overall clerkship satisfaction scores in a busy surgical ICU.


Crosstalk between the equilibrative nucleoside transporter ENT2 and alveolar Adora2b adenosine receptors dampens acute lung injury.
The signaling molecule adenosine has been implicated in attenuating acute lung injury (ALI). Adenosine signaling is terminated by its uptake through equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs). We hypothesized that ENT-dependent adenosine uptake could be targeted to enhance adenosine-mediated lung protection. To address this hypothesis, we exposed mice to high-pressure mechanical ventilation to induce ALI. Initial studies demonstrated time-dependent repression of ENT1 and ENT2 transcript and protein levels during ALI. To examine the contention that ENT repression represents an endogenous adaptive response, we performed functional studies with the ENT inhibitor dipyridamole. Dipyridamole treatment (1 mg/kg; EC50=10 μM) was associated with significant increases in ALI survival time (277 vs. 395 min; P<0.05). Subsequent studies in gene-targeted mice for Ent1 or Ent2 revealed a selective phenotype in Ent2(-/-) mice, including attenuated pulmonary edema and improved gas exchange during ALI in conjunction with elevated adenosine levels in the bronchoalveolar fluid. Furthermore, studies in genetic models for adenosine receptors implicated the A2B adenosine receptor (Adora2b) in mediating ENT-dependent lung protection. Notably, dipyridamole-dependent attenuation of lung inflammation was abolished in mice with alveolar epithelial Adora2b gene deletion. Our newly identified crosstalk pathway between ENT2 and alveolar epithelial Adora2b in lung protection during ALI opens possibilities for combined therapies targeted to this protein set.


Topotactic interconversion of nanoparticle superlattices.
The directed assembly of nanoparticle building blocks is a promising method for generating sophisticated three-dimensional materials by design. In this work, we have used DNA linkers to synthesize nanoparticle superlattices that have greater complexity than simple binary systems using the process of topotactic intercalation-the insertion of a third nanoparticle component at predetermined sites within a preformed binary lattice. Five distinct crystals were synthesized with this methodology, three of which have no equivalent in atomic or molecular crystals, demonstrating a general approach for assembling highly ordered ternary nanoparticle superlattices whose structures can be predicted before their synthesis. Additionally, the intercalation process was demonstrated to be completely reversible; the inserted nanoparticles could be expelled into solution by raising the temperature, and the ternary superlattice could be recovered by cooling.


The Neuregulin-Rac-MKK7 pathway regulates antagonistic c-jun/Krox20 expression in Schwann cell dedifferentiation.
Schwann cells respond to nerve injury by dedifferentiating into immature states and producing neurotrophic factors, two actions that facilitate successful regeneration of axons. Previous reports have implicated the Raf-ERK cascade and the expression of c-jun in these Schwann cell responses. Here we used cultured primary Schwann cells to demonstrate that active Rac1 GTPase (Rac) functions as a negative regulator of Schwann cell differentiation by upregulating c-jun and downregulating Krox20 through the MKK7-JNK pathway, but not through the Raf-ERK pathway. The activation of MKK7 and induction of c-jun in sciatic nerves after axotomy was blocked by Rac inhibition. Microarray experiments revealed that the expression of regeneration-associated genes, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and p75 neurotrophin receptor, after nerve injury was dependent on Rac but not on ERK. Finally, the inhibition of ErbB2 signaling prevented MKK7 activation, c-jun induction, and Rac-dependent gene expression in sciatic nerve explant cultures. Taken together, our results indicate that the neuregulin-Rac-MKK7-JNK/c-jun pathway regulates Schwann cell dedifferentiation following nerve injury.


RLB (RICE LATERAL BRANCH) recruits PRC2-mediated H3K27 tri-methylation on OsCKX4 to regulate lateral branching.
Lateral branches such as shoot and panicle are determining factors and target traits for rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield improvement. Cytokinin promotes rice lateral branching; however, the mechanism underlying the fine-tuning of cytokinin homeostasis in rice branching remains largely unknown. Here, we report the map-based cloning of RICE LATERAL BRANCH (RLB) encoding a nuclear-localized, KNOX-type homeobox protein from a rice cytokinin-deficient mutant showing more tillers, sparser panicles, defected floret morphology as well as attenuated shoot regeneration from callus. RLB directly binds to the promoter and represses the transcription of OsCKX4, a cytokinin oxidase gene with high abundance in panicle branch meristem. OsCKX4 over-expression lines phenocopied rlb, which showed upregulated OsCKX4 levels. Meanwhile, RLB physically binds to Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) components OsEMF2b and co-localized with H3K27me3, a suppressing histone modification mediated by PRC2, in the OsCKX4 promoter. We proposed that RLB recruits PRC2 to the OsCKX4 promoter to epigenetically repress its transcription, which suppresses the catabolism of cytokinin, thereby promoting rice lateral branching. Moreover, antisense inhibition of OsCKX4 under the LOG promoter successfully increased panicle size and spikelet number per plant without affecting other major agronomic traits. This study provides insight into cytokinin homeostasis, lateral branching in plants, and also promising target genes for rice genetic improvement.


A comparative study of human TLR 7/8 stimulatory trimer compositions in influenza A viral genomes.
Variation in the genomes of single-stranded RNA viruses affects their infectivity and pathogenicity in two ways. First, viral genome sequence variations lead to changes in viral protein sequences and activities. Second, viral genome sequence variation produces diversity at the level of nucleotide composition and diversity in the interactions between viral RNAs and host toll-like receptors (TLRs). A viral genome-typing method based on this type of diversity has not yet been established. In this study, we propose a novel genomic trait called the "TLR stimulatory trimer composition" (TSTC) and two quantitative indicators, Score S and Score N, named "TLR stimulatory scores" (TSS). Using the complete genome sequences of 10,994 influenza A viruses (IAV) and 251 influenza B viruses, we show that TSTC analysis reveals the diversity of Score S and Score N among the IAVs isolated from various hosts. In addition, we show that low values of Score S are correlated with high pathogenicity and pandemic potential in IAVs. Finally, we use Score S and Score N to construct a logistic regression model to recognize IAV strains that are highly pathogenic or have high pandemic potential. Results from the TSTC analysis indicate that there are large differences between human and avian IAV genomes (except for segment 3), as illustrated by Score S. Moreover, segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 may be major determinants of the stimulatory activity exerted on human TLRs 7 and 8. We also find that a low Score S value is associated with high pathogenicity and pandemic potential in IAV. The π value from the TSS-derived logistic regression model is useful for recognizing emerging IAVs that have high pathogenicity and pandemic potential.


Study of the peptide length and amino acid specific substitution in the antigenic activity of the chimeric synthetic peptides, containing the p19 core and gp46 envelope proteins of the HTLV-I virus.
Four chimeric synthetic peptides (Q5, Q6, Q7(multiply sign in circle), and Q8(multiply sign in circle)), incorporating immunodominant epitopes of the core p19 (105-124 a.a.) and envelope gp46 proteins (175-205 a.a.), of HTLV-I were obtained. Also, two gp46 monomeric peptides M4 and M5(multiply sign in circle) (Ser at position 192) were synthesized. The analysis of the influence of the peptide lengths and the proline to serine substitution on the chimeric and monomeric peptides' antigenicity, with regard to the chimeric peptides Q1, Q2, Q3(multiply sign in circle), and Q4(multiply sign in circle), reported previously, for HTLV-I was carried out. The peptides' antigenicity was evaluated in an ultramicroenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA) using sera of HTLV-I/II. The peptides' antigenicity was affected appreciably by the change of the peptide length and amino acid substitutions into the immunodominant sequence of gp46 peptide.


Endoscopic versus conventional radial artery harvest--is smaller better?
We sought to assess our initial experience with the recently introduced technique of endoscopic radial artery harvest (ERH) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Data were prospectively collected on 108 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG with ERH, and compared to 120 patients having conventional harvest (CH). Follow-up was achieved in 227 patients (99%). At the time of follow-up the severity of motor and sensory symptoms, as well as cosmetic result in the harvest forearm, were subjectively graded using a 5-point scale. Grade 1-- high intensity deficits, poor cosmetic result. Grade 5 -- no deficits, excellent cosmetic result. Hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke rates were similar between the groups. Follow-up mortality, reintervention rate, and average angina class were also similar. Harvest time was longer in the ERH group (61 +/- 24 min vs. 45 +/- 11 min, p < 0.001). Three patients in the ERH group were converted to CH and one radial artery was discarded. There were no vascular complications of the hand in either group. Average score of motor (ERH 4.4 +/- 0.9, CH 4.2 +/- 1.0) or sensory symptoms (ERH 3.7 +/- 1.1, CH 3.8 +/- 1.2) were similar. In the CH group sensory deficits were observed in the distribution of both the lateral antebrachial cutaneous and the superficial radial nerves (SRN). In contrast, sensory deficits in the ERH group were limited to the distribution of the SRN. Cosmetic result score was higher in the ERH group (ERH 4.2 +/- 1.0, CH 3.1 +/- 1.4, p < 0.0001). ERH is safe. It is technically demanding with a significant learning curve. Motor and sensory symptoms are not completely eliminated by using a smaller incision, but cosmetic results are clearly superior.


Neonatal Mitral Valve Repair in Biventricular Repair, Single Ventricle Palliation, and Secondary Left Ventricular Recruitment: Indications, Techniques, and Mid-Term Outcomes.
Although mitral valve repair is rarely required in neonates, this population is considered to be at high risk for adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to review the indications for surgery, mechanisms, repair techniques, and mid-term outcomes of neonatal mitral valve repair. The demographic, procedural, and outcome data were obtained for all neonates who underwent mitral valve repair from 2005 to 2012. The primary endpoints included mortality, transplantation, and mitral valve reoperation. Twenty patients were included during the study period. Median age at operation was 11 days (range: 3-25). Eleven patients (55%) presented with mitral stenosis, three had regurgitation (15%), and six had mixed mitral disease (30%). Nineteen of 20 patients had mild or less regurgitation on immediate postoperative imaging. During a median follow-up of 5 months (1 month-4.8 years), six patients died at a median of 33 months (7-41 months) from repair and one patient required orthotopic heart transplantation. Six patients required mitral valve reoperation, five for mitral valve re-repair, and one for mitral valve replacement. Freedom from death, transplantation, or mitral valve replacement was 84.2 ± 8.4% at 1 month, 71.3 ± 11% at 6 months, 64.1 ± 12% at 1 year, and 51.3 ± 15% at 2 years and was worse for patients presenting with mitral regurgitation compared to stenosis or mixed mitral valve disease. Although mitral valve repair can be performed with acceptable immediate postoperative result, this procedure carries a high burden of late death and mitral valve reoperations.


Which Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lesions in the Sacroiliac Joints Are Most Relevant for Diagnosing Axial Spondyloarthritis? A Prospective Study Comparing Rheumatologists' Evaluations With Radiologists' Findings.
Pathologic sacroiliac (SI) joint changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are important for the classification of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). In daily practice, radiologists play a major role in interpreting imaging findings. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of MRI SI joint findings on the identification of axial SpA by radiologists, in comparison to diagnosis by rheumatologists. Patients age ≤45 years were prospectively included when referred for clinical suspicion of axial SpA and underwent a complete diagnostic evaluation including STIR- and T1-weighted MRI of the SI joint. Diagnosis made by an experienced rheumatologist with access to all relevant information was considered the gold standard. MRIs were evaluated by 2 experienced radiologists who were unaware of the clinical data, who indicated which MRI lesions were "critical" to the decision for or against axial SpA. Of the 300 patients included, 132 (44%) were diagnosed as having axial SpA. Mean age was comparable between the 2 groups, but patients with axial SpA and those with non-axial SpA differed with regard to symptom duration (58.6 ± 69.5 versus 33.9 ± 45.1 months, respectively; P = 0.003) and HLA-B27 positivity (75.6% versus 19%, respectively; P < 0.001). Rheumatologists and radiologists agreed on the diagnosis in 262 cases (87.3%), while 34 patients (11.3%) were diagnosed as having axial SpA by rheumatologists only (clinically), and 4 cases (1.3%) were judged as suggestive of axial SpA by radiologists only. Bone marrow edema (BME) and sclerosis showed the highest sensitivity, while erosions and fatty lesions showed the highest specificity, for axial SpA diagnosis. The combination of BME with erosions had the highest positive predictive value (86.5%). The MRI findings with the highest diagnostic value in patients in whom axial SpA is suspected are structural changes in the SI joint, alone or in combination with BME. Our findings indicate that while the absence of BME is usually not compatible with a diagnosis of axial SpA, the presence of BME does not necessarily confirm a diagnosis of axial SpA.


Radiography of the maxillary sinus mucosal surface with Tantalum.
Experiments were made with powdered Tantalum insufflated through a puncture trocar into 12 healthy maxillary sinuses and into 8 diseased sinuses. The spread of the powder was good enough to depict all the surfaces of the sinus if there was no secretion, irrespective of mucosal changes, but unsatisfactory if the sinus contained secretion. The Tantalum powder did not cause any harm to the patients and the clearance of this contrast medium gave additional information on the functional capacity of the sinus.


Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide influence on lower urinary tract smooth muscle from human and pig.
The influence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on detrusor, trigone, bladder neck and urethral smooth muscle from human and pig was investigated in vitro. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide reduced the tension and amplitude of the spontaneous contractions of strips from all regions studied. Human detrusor and pig trigone, bladder neck and urethral strips were more sensitive to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide than pig detrusor. The response was reversible, reproducible and dose-dependent from 10(-9) to 10(-6) mol. per liter. The time to onset of the response was within 1/2 minute and the time to maximal relaxation was 2 to 10 minutes. The response was not affected by selective nerve poisoning with tetrodotoxin, beta-adrenergic blockade with propanolol or prostaglandin synthesis blockade with ketoprofen. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide did not prevent prostaglandin E2 activity on the musculature. Contractions evoked by transmural electric field stimulation or pharmacologically with carbachol, noradrenaline, substance P and prostaglandin F2 alpha were equally reduced by VIP 10(-7) mol. per liter.


Extracellular vesicle-associated microRNA-221-3p secreted by drug-resistant lung cancer cells targets HMBOX1 to promote the progression of lung cancer.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have received increasing attention for their role as possible regulators of cancer. miR-221-3p is a microRNA (miR) up-regulated in EVs secreted by drug-resistant A549-GR lung cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism through which miR-221-3p-containing EVs regulate the progression of lung cancer remains elusive. Here, we attempted to reveal the mechanism by which miR-221-3p-containing EVs secreted by drug-resistant lung cancer cells regulate the functions of surrounding cells during the progression of lung cancer. A gemcitabine-sensitive lung cancer cell line was treated with isolated drug-resistant lung cancer EVs followed by an evaluation of the proliferation and migration of sensitive lung cancer cell lines and their resistance to gemcitabine treatment. Moreover, the miR-221-3p target gene HMBOX1 was identified by the Targetscan database while the progression of lung cancer was detected by knocking down miR-221-3p or overexpressing HMBOX1, or by treating sensitive cell lines with Akt/mTOR activator and inhibitor, respectively. Furthermore, an in vivo study was performed to validate the relationship between miR-221-3p and HMBOX1 and their roles in the progression of lung cancer. The proliferation and migration of sensitive lung cancer cell lines and their resistance to drugs were significantly enhanced after the treatment with drug-resistant EVs. Knockdown of miR-221-3p (in the EV of drug-resistant lung cancer or overexpression of HMBOX1 in sensitive lung cancer cell lines) reduced the transformation of sensitive lung cell lines, whereas, the treatment of sensitive lung cell lines with Akt/mTOR activator or inhibitor significantly affected the progression of lung cancer. In vivo experiments further confirmed that miR-221-3p released by drug-resistant lung cancer cells targeted the HMBOX1 to regulate the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and affected the progression of lung cancer. We conclude that miR-221-3p-containing EVs secreted by drug-resistant lung cancer cells can potentially activate the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by inhibiting HMBOX1, promoting the progression of lung cancer. The regulation of miR-221-3p represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.


Potassium activity in leech neuropile glial cells changes with external potassium concentration.
The effect of the external K+ concentration on the intracellular K+ activity of neuropile glial cells and of sensory neurons in the central nervous system of the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.) was determined directly with double-barreled ion-sensitive microelectrodes. As the external K+ concentration was raised, the intracellular K+ activity of the neuropile glial cells increased considerably, and was accompanied by the uptake and/or intracellular synthesis of an, as yet, unidentified substance. In contrast, the intracellular K+ activity of sensory neurons was unchanged when the external K+ concentration was increased. These neurons appeared not to accumulate a second substance.


[Nailing of pertrochanteric fractures after Lezius and Herzer (author's transl)].
Out of a total of 297 patients (1967 to 1973) suffering from pertrochanteric fractures, 122 patients underwent operative treatment and were followed up by a questionnaire. The late results do not differ significantly from patients treated conservatively. There is only a decrease of the mortality rate during hospitalisation.


Adsorption of dissolved Reactive red dye from aqueous phase onto activated carbon prepared from agricultural waste.
The adsorption of Reactive red dye (RR) onto Coconut tree flower carbon (CFC) and Jute fibre carbon (JFC) from aqueous solution was investigated. Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial dye concentrations, initial solution pH and adsorbent doses. The kinetic studies were also conducted; the adsorption of Reactive red onto CFC and JFC followed pseudosecond-order rate equation. The effective diffusion coefficient was evaluated to establish the film diffusion mechanism. Quantitative removal of Reactive red dye was achieved at strongly acidic conditions for both the carbons studied. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted well to Langmuir isotherm and the adsorption capacity were found to be 181.9 and 200 mg/g for CFC and JFC, respectively. The overall rate of dye adsorption appeared to be controlled by chemisorption, in this case in accordance with poor desorption studies.


Distribution of isopod parasites in commercially important marine fishes of the Miri coast, East Malaysia.
Isopods occur very commonly as parasites in food fishes. Parasitic isopods are typically marine and usually inhabit the warmer seas. They are blood-feeding; several species settle in the buccal cavity of fish, others live in the gill chamber or on the body surface including the fins. Isopods can cause morbidity and mortality in captive fish populations. The infestation usually pressure atrophy often accompanies the presence of larger parasites. The present study was aimed at collecting information on the neglected group of isopod parasites of the marine fishes from the Miri coastal environment, East Malaysia. A very little information available regarding the distribution of isopod parasites of Malaysian coastal environment. In the present study, nine isopod parasites were oberved from ten marine fish species. The maximum number of parasites were observed in the months of June and October, 2013. Maximum prevalence was observed in October (50 %) and the minimum was observed in June (7.14 %). The parasitic infestation may lead to an economic loss in commercial fish species.


[Increase in the level of orexin receptor 1 (OX1R) mRNA in the brain structures of rats prone to impulsivity in behavior].
Orexin and its receptors are involved in the mechanisms of pathological craving for alcohol and psychoactive drugs. The orexin system is also involved in the mechanisms of non-chemical forms of addiction: binge eating and gambling. The aim of this work was to study the level of orexin receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex of rats prone to impulsivity in behavior in a model for studying the elements of gambling addiction (a variant of the Iowa Gambling Task test). Brain structures were isolated on the 22nd day of the experiment. The expression of the OX1R gene was higher in the hypothalamus by 122% and in the hippocampus by 149% in rats that preferred to receive a high reward, but with a low probability as compared with a group of animals that preferred a low level of reinforcement, but with a 100% probability. In the prefrontal cortex, on the contrary, no significant changes were observed in the level of OX1R mRNA. The level of OX2R mRNA insignificantly changed in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex of rats prone to impulsivity in behavior. The data indicate involvement of OX1R in the hypothalamus and hippocampus in mechanisms mediating impulsive behavior and the choice of the significance of positive reinforcement in terms of its varying strength and probability.


Autonomic dysfunction in spinal cord injury: clinical presentation of symptoms and signs.
Spinal cord injury and especially cervical spinal cord injury implies serious disturbances in autonomic nervous system function. The clinical effects of these disturbances are striking. In the acute phase, the autonomic imbalance and its effect on cardiovascular, respiratory system and temperature regulation may be life threatening. Serious complications such as over-hydration with the risk of pulmonary edema or hyponatremia are seen. The cord-injured person suffers from autonomic nervous system dysfunction also affecting bladder and bowel control, renal and sexual function. Paralytic ileus may cause vomiting and aspiration, which in turn interferes with respiratory function in those with cervical spinal cord injury. The cord-injured person is at risk to develop pressure sores from the moment of the accident. Two to three months post-injury the cord-injured person with a lesion level above the fifth thoracic segment may develop autonomic dysreflexia, characterised by sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction in muscular, skin, renal and presumably gastrointestinal vascular beds induced by an afferent peripheral stimulation below lesion level. The reaction might cause cerebrovascular complications and has effects on metabolism. Some of the autonomic disturbances are transient and a new balance is reached months post-injury, while others persist for life.


Role of L-selectin on leukocytes in the binding of sialic acids on sperm surface during the phagocytosis of sperm in female reproductive tract.
In either natural fertilization or artificial insemination, hundreds of millions of sperm are ejaculated or inseminated and then deposited in the female reproductive tract, but only a few sperm reach the ampulla or the site of fertilization. This dramatic reduction in numbers clearly highlights the obstacles that sperm must overcome in order to reach the destination for egg fertilizing. Phagocytosis of sperm by leukocytes are repeatedly observed and generally considered to be one of the most important barriers, but the mechanism of the phagocytosis of sperm remains unclear. L-selectin is constitutively expressed on leukocytes, which can influence the behaviors of leukocytes when bind to ligands. Sialic acids are found as the outer most monosaccharide, capping the majority of glycans at the sperm surface, can act as recognition molecule. Since the sialic acids are considered as ligands of L-selectin, we propose that leukocytes bind to the sperm through the L-selectin on leukocytes and sialic acid on sperm surface during the sperm phagocytosis in female reproductive tract.


Polymerizing properties of pepstatin A.
Pepstatin A, a pentapeptide aspartyl protease inhibitor, can spontaneously polymerize into filaments having a helical substructure and, after negative staining, characteristic diameters ranging from 6 to 12 nm. Optical diffraction analysis demonstrated that these filaments consist of a 6-nm-wide strand helically wound with a periodic pitch of 25 nm. Selected images suggest that these filaments may actually be composed of two, intertwined 6-nm-wide strands, an hypothesis not at variance with the diffraction data. These filaments may extend over several micrometers. At low ionic strength and neutral pH, the critical concentration for pepstatin A filament assembly is 0.1 mM. At higher pepstatin A concentrations or in physiological salt solutions, a variety of higher order structures were observed, including ribbons, sheets, and cylinders with both regular and twisted or irregular geometries. Pepstatin A polymerized into these higher order structures loses its ability to inhibit the aspartyl protease of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1. These results have implications not only for model studies on the polymerization of small peptides into higher order structures, but also for the practical development of soluble protease inhibitors.


Fluorescent probe study with 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate on acetylglutamate activation, ATP binding and conformational changes of the rat liver carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase.
The activity and stability of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (EC 184.108.40.206) may involve hydrophobic and ionic bonds within the enzyme. The 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) equilibrium binding method with hydrophobic and ionic sites in enzymes, therefore, seemed suitable for the study of the acetylglutamate activation and ATP binding of the enzyme. The enzyme had a high affinity for the dye but low fluorescent yields. The enzyme had 32-88 ANS binding sites, depending on combination with ATP and acetylglutamate, and individual affinity constants for each combination. Despite the large number of binding sites, the acetylglutamate and ATP concentrations for half-maximal fluorescent change (10-40 microM) corresponded to the high-affinity bound ATP (ATPB) and acetylglutamate Kd values. In kinetic studies, ANS competed with ATP or acetylglutamate. The extrapolated ANS Ki values for ATP or acetylglutamate were both 35 microM. This value agreed with the ANS Kd value of the enzyme X ATP conformation, indicating that this was the conformation competed for by ANS. Since ANS did not influence the HCO3-dependent ATPase, ANS was concluded to compete with the ATPB binding conformation and transitional changes. This study suggests that part of the activator role of acetylglutamate may be to change the tertiary structure of the enzyme to induce hydrophobic sites which are accessible to ANS and possibly at the ATPB site.


Measurement of shear wave propagation and investigation of estimation of shear viscoelasticity for tissue characterization of the arterial wall.
The aim of this study was to find an array of frequency components, ranging from 0 Hz (direct current) to several tens of hertz that comprise the small vibrations on the arterial wall using noninvasive in vivo experiments. These vibrations are caused mainly by blood flow. The viscoelasticity of the arterial wall was estimated from the frequency characteristics of these vibrations propagating from the intima to the adventitia. Propagation of these frequencies in human tissue displays certain frequency characteristics. Based on the Voigt model, shear viscoelasticity can be estimated from the frequency characteristics of the propagating vibrations. Moreover, we estimated shear viscoelasticity from the measured frequency characteristics of shear wave attenuation. Shear wave propagation from the intima to the adventitia resulting from blood flow was explained theoretically based on the obtained measurements. Shear viscoelasticity was also estimated from the measured frequency characteristics of shear wave attenuation. Based on the proposed method, shear viscoelasticity can be estimated from ultrasonographic measurements. These results have a novel potential for characterizing tissue noninvasively.


Diagnostic accuracy of apparent diffusion coefficient and 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine for differentiation of multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease.
It is often hard to differentiate Parkinson's disease (PD) and parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P), especially in the early stages. Cardiac sympathetic denervation and putaminal rarefaction are specific findings for PD and MSA-P, respectively. We investigated diagnostic accuracy of putaminal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) test for MSA-P and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigram for PD, especially in early-stage patients. The referral standard diagnosis of PD and MSA-P were the diagnostic criteria of the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Criteria and the second consensus criteria, respectively. Based on the referral standard criteria, diagnostic accuracy [area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity] of the ADC and MIBG tests was estimated retrospectively. Diagnostic accuracy of these tests performed within 3 years of symptom onset was also investigated. ADC and MIBG tests were performed on 138 patients (20 MSA and 118 PD). AUC was 0.95 and 0.83 for the ADC and MIBG tests, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 85.0% and 89.0% for MSA-P diagnosis by ADC test and 67.0% and 80.0% for PD diagnosis by MIBG test. When these tests were restricted to patients with disease duration ≤ 3 years, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.0% and 91.4% for the ADC test (MSA-P diagnosis) and 47.7% and 92.3% for the MIBG test (PD diagnosis). Both tests were useful in differentiating between PD and MSA-P, even in the early stages. In early-stage patients, elevated putaminal ADC was a diagnostic marker for MSA-P. Despite high specificity of the MIBG test, careful neurological history and examinations were required for PD diagnosis because of possible false-negative results.