High-temperature technology survey and comparison among incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification systems for water resource recovery facilities.
Solids from wastewater treatment undergo processing to reduce mass, minimize pathogens, and condition the products for specific end uses. However, costs and contaminant concerns (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) challenge traditional landfill and land application practices. Incineration can overcome these issues but has become complicated due to evolving emissions regulations, and it suffers from poor public perception. These circumstances are driving the re-emergence of pyrolysis and gasification technologies. A survey of suppliers was conducted to document differences with technologies. Both offer advantages over incineration with tailored production of a carbon-rich solid, currently less stringent air emission requirements, and lower flue gas flows requiring treatment. However, incineration more simply combines drying and thermal processing into one reactor. Equipment costs provided favor pyrolysis and gasification at lower capacities but converge with incineration at higher capacities. Long-term operational experience will confirm technology competitiveness and elucidate whether pyrolysis and gasification warrant widespread adoption. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Pyrolysis and gasification systems are gaining traction in the wastewater industry with several full-scale installations operating, in construction, or design Several advantages, but some disadvantages, are considered in comparison with incineration Organic contaminants, including PFAS, will undergo transformation and potentially complete mineralization through each process.


The mediating role of partner communication skills on HIV/STD-associated risk behaviors in young African American females with a history of sexual violence.
To examine the prevalence of sexual violence among young African American females and to explore the mediating role that partner communication plays on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease-associated risk behaviors among youth with a history of sexual violence relative to those without. Only data from baseline, before randomization, were used for this analysis. A clinic-based sample of young females enrolled in a randomized trial of an HIV-prevention program in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 2002 to August 2004. African American females aged 15 to 21 years who reported sexual activity in the previous 60 days. Of 1558 screened, 874 females were eligible and 82% (n = 715) participated at baseline. History of sexual violence as well as (1) sexual partner communication skills, (2) current sexual behaviors, and (3) psychological well-being. Lifetime prevalence of sexual violence was 26%. Communication skills partially mediated the relationship between sexual violence and psychological well-being and sexual behavior outcomes. Given the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence and its adverse sexual, psychological, and relational sequelae, it is paramount that effective interventions are developed. Based on our findings, improving partner communications skills is one particularly important area for HIV/sexually transmitted disease risk-reduction interventions for youths with a history of sexual violence.


Marine plastics in Mediterranean islands: Evaluating the distribution and composition of plastic pollution in the surface waters along four islands of the Western Sea Basin.
To study the spatial distribution of sea surface plastics in marine protected and non-protected areas, 65 sea surface trawls were carried out using a Hydro-bios manta net coupled with a 335-μm mesh. A total of 19 sampling sites along the coastal waters of Mallorca, the "Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabrera" and Menorca in the Balearic Islands as well as along coastal waters of The Natural Park of Columbretes Islands (NW Mediterranean Sea) were sampled. A total of 10,637 plastic items were identified and a subset of these items was categorized by shape, color, size and polymer composition. Plastic particles were found at each sampling site and in all samples. No microscale nor mesoscale variability in floating marine plastics abundance (particles/m2) was encountered throughout the study area where similar values were found in protected areas with no local land-based contamination sources, such as Columbretes [0.04 (±0.03) particles/m2], and in high anthropized areas, such as the island of Mallorca [0.04 (±0.07) particles/m2]. However, differences were found in characteristics of plastic items (shape, polymer, and size range), with the protected area of Columbretes characterized by the presence of the highest density of very small plastic items composed mainly of fragments (93%). Quantified plastics from the marine environment were composed mainly of polyethylene (PE, 63.3%), polypropylene (PP; 24.9%), polycarbonate (PC; 4.6%) and polystyrene (PS, 3.3%). The polymer composition showed a homogenous composition between islands and differences were detected only amongst Columbretes and the other islands. Results from this study provide further evidence of the ubiquity of plastics in the marine environment and highlight that remote and protected areas, such as Columbretes, are not exempt from plastic pollution, but receptor areas for small and aged floating plastics composed mainly by fragments, which might have potentially harmful effects on protected ecosystems.


Extra- and intra-cellular digestion of elastic fibers by macrophages in annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma. An ultrastructural study.
A case of annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma was studied with the electron microscope using acid orcein stain. Elastic fibers were digested by multinucleate giant cells (MGCs) in 2 steps: the first step was the extracellular digestion and the second was the intracellular digestion. In the first step, the orcein-reactive amorphous materials of the elastic fibers surrounded by MGCs at first disappeared, and then the fine filaments appeared in elastic fibers. This process advanced in extracellular spaces of MGCs. In the next step, the fine filaments were phagocytosed by MGCs and were digested in phagocytic vacuoles.


L-arginine and pentoxifylline attenuate endothelial dysfunction after lung reperfusion injury in the rabbit. The Paris-Sud University Lung Transplant Group.
Among the factors involved in the early complications of lung transplantation is the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome related to a warm reperfusion in ischemic lungs. Using an isolated rabbit lung preparation perfused with whole blood, we studied the effects of cold ischemia followed by a warm reperfusion on pulmonary vascular responses to reproduce experimentally the conditions encountered during lung transplantation. Pulmonary vascular responses to acetylcholine were rapidly altered by warm ischemia (relaxation of 7% versus 60% in controls). Conversely, relaxation was maintained even after a prolonged cold ischemic storage (maximal relaxation of 57% at 48 hours). Warm reperfusion in ischemic lungs induced major alteration of endothelium-dependent relaxation (maximal relaxation of 13% at 4 hours). The addition of L-arginine or pentoxifylline during reperfusion prevented the pulmonary endothelial alteration resulting from warm reperfusion. These data suggest that treatments aimed at maintaining intact functional endothelium reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in transplanted lungs.


Reduction in chromosomal damage in schistosomiasis patients after treatment with praziquantel.
Schistosoma haematobium infection is the most common health problem in Egypt. It is strongly associated with the development of urinary bladder carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether infection with this parasite resulted in an increase of chromosomal breakage in the exfoliated urothelial cells. Urine samples were collected from 211 Egyptian male farmers and schoolchildren with Schistosoma haematobium ova in their urine. 66 samples were suitable for scoring. Accordingly, 66 non-infected males attending the same village clinic were included in the study as a control group. The urine was centrifuged and the urothelial cells present in the sediment were assayed for the presence of micronuclei, a quantitative indicator of chromosomal breakage. Micronucleus frequencies were significantly higher in the infected group (mean frequency, 0.84 +/- 0.69%) than among controls (mean frequency, 0.12 +/- 0.21%, p < 0.001). There was a trend towards an increase in micronucleus frequencies in infected individuals who smoked (17 of the 66 subjects) compared with those who were non-smokers, although this effect was not significant (p > 0.05). Bladder infection was associated with a 6.1-fold increase in micronucleus frequencies among non-smokers. In this study, patients were treated with praziquantel, an anti-schistosomal agent. Out of the 66 studied patients, only 37 gave scoreable samples after treatment. The mean micronucleus frequencies were reduced significantly (before treatment, 0.80 +/- 0.70%, after treatment, 0.19 +/- 0.23%, p < 0.001), thus supporting a direct involvement of the infection in increased chromosomal breakage in the urothelium.


The primary structure of actin from rabbit skeletal muscle. Three cyanogen bromide peptides that are insoluble at neutral pH.
Three of the 17 peptides produced when actin is treated with cyanogen bromide are sparingly soluble at pH values near neutrality. They were separated from more soluble peptides at pH 6.0 on a column of Sephadex G-10. The soluble peptides were excluded from the gel and emerged at the void volume, while the insoluble peptides were "washed off" by the formic acid in which the sample was applied. The three insoluble peptides were sequenced as a group by studying peptides generated by tryptic and chymotryptic digestion of the mixture, and peptic digestion of the partially resolved peptides. The three peptides are: CB-15 (residues 133 to 176), CB-16 (residues 325 to 354), and CB-17 (residues 191 to 227).


Multidisciplinary therapy including proton beam radiotherapy for a Ewing sarcoma family tumor of maxillary sinus in a 4-year-old girl.
Although complete resection offers the best chance for controlling head and neck Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs), it is occasionally unfeasible because of possible functional and cosmetic side effects. Planning multidisciplinary treatment for head and neck ESFT is challenging. A 4-year-old girl had left-sided excessive tearing, nasal obstruction, and exophthalmos for 4 months. A CT scan showed a mass filling the left maxillary sinus and extending to the left orbital wall. After a diagnosis of ESFT was established with biopsy, the patient was treated with vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide/ifosfamide etoposide (VDC/IE) regimen over 50 weeks; partial maxillectomy was performed at week 15 and was followed by proton radiotherapy. The patient has remained tumor-free for 16 months, with preservation of facial form and function. Partial resection combined with proton radiotherapy may enable maximal tumor control and minimal functional and cosmetic side effects in children with head and neck ESFT.


Molecular brewing: The molecular structural effects of starch adjuncts on barley malt brewing performances.
In this study, the effects of starch adjuncts with different fine molecular structures obtained by size-exclusion chromatography on the mashing and fermentation efficiencies of barley malts were investigated. Following fermentation, violate compounds of freshly-fermented beer samples were determined by headspace-solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (HS-SMPE-GC-MS). High performance liquid chromatography results showed that depending on their molecular structures, starch adjuncts addition significantly increased wort maltose and maltotriose content, whereas reducing the glucose content and thus both the ratios of glucose and maltotriose to that of the maltose. The whole fermentation by dry beer yeast was finished within the first 48 h and reached to equilibrium for the rest 72 h, represented by the stable soluble protein content. Results also showed that the addition of starch adjuncts resulted into increased alcohol content, which was mainly attributed to the altered glucose/maltose ratio. The HS-SPME-GC-MS results showed that whether or not with starch adjuncts addition, the composition of violate compounds were not significantly influenced, their content, on the contrary, were altered, represented by different peak heights. This study provides important information concerning the molecular effects of starch adjuncts on brewing performances of barley malts, and also provides a new pathway for choosing suitable types of adjuncts for making beer with better quality.


[Selectivity of beta-adrenergic compounds. IV. Studies on 1-(4'-methylphenyl)-2-isopropylaminopropanol].
The beta-adrenergic activity of 1-(4'-methylphenyl)-2-isopropylaminopropanol (H 35/25) was studied on isolated preparations (guinea pig atria, guinea pig and calf tracheal muscle, mouse cecum). H 35/25 shows variations in both affinity and intrinsic activity at the various levels tested. The discussion shows that this cannot be used as a means of characterizing beta-adrenergic receptors.


Could hypoxia rehabilitate the osteochondral diseased interface? Lessons from the interplay of hypoxia and purinergic signals elsewhere.
The osteochondral unit comprises the articular cartilage (90%), subchondral bone (5%) and calcified cartilage (5%). All cells present at the osteochondral unit that is ultimately responsible for matrix production and osteochondral homeostasis, such as chondrocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes, can release adenine and/or uracil nucleotides to the local microenvironment. Nucleotides are released by these cells either constitutively or upon plasma membrane damage, mechanical stress or hypoxia conditions. Once in the extracellular space, endogenously released nucleotides can activate membrane-bound purinoceptors. Activation of these receptors is fine-tuning regulated by nucleotides' breakdown by enzymes of the ecto-nucleotidase cascade. Depending on the pathophysiological conditions, both the avascular cartilage and the subchondral bone subsist to significant changes in oxygen tension, which has a tremendous impact on tissue homeostasis. Cell stress due to hypoxic conditions directly influences the expression and activity of several purinergic signalling players, namely nucleotide release channels (e.g. Cx43), NTPDase enzymes and purinoceptors. This review gathers experimental evidence concerning the interplay between hypoxia and the purinergic signalling cascade contributing to osteochondral unit homeostasis. Reporting deviations to this relationship resulting from pathological alterations of articular joints may ultimately unravel novel therapeutic targets for osteochondral rehabilitation. At this point, one can only hypothesize how hypoxia mimetic conditions can be beneficial to the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of osteo- and chondro-progenitors for auto-transplantation and tissue regenerative purposes.


Summary of New Guidance on Selected Immunizations.
In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Adult Immunization Schedule Recommendations for Ages 19 Years or Older to provide the most current evidence-based recommendations following comprehensive reviews of data related to vaccines. In its report, the CDC highlighted the importance of health care professionals staying up to date on the latest evidence. During the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ability to provide routine vaccinations to the adult population was limited and even halted at times. As in-person health care visits continue to resume, it is imperative for nurses to refocus on and be familiar with the most up-to-date vaccine recommendations. Here, we summarize information on vaccine guidelines, safety, and special considerations for women, and we highlight changes to the 2022 adult immunization schedule. Keeping individuals free of vaccine-preventable diseases is one of the most effective and important public health interventions in health care.


Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Beryllium by Mean Centering of Ratio Spectra.
Trace amounts of beryllium has been determined by spectrofluorimetric method that used morin as fluorimetric reagent. Beryllium gives a highly fluorescent complex with morin. The excitation wavelength of morin and Be-morin complex were 410 and 430. The fluorescence spectra of morin and Be-morin complex were overlaped in excitation wavelength of 430 nm. A method based on mean centering of ratio spectra has been performed to remove the interference caused by morin as it overlaps with the Be-morin spectra. The linear range of beryllium concentration is in 0.2-200 ppb range. The parameters of detection limit and RSD were 0.18 ppb and 4.6 % respectively. This method was used for determination of beryllium in copper-beryllium alloy as a real sample. In determination of Be(II), the interference by Cu(II) was very serious, which was eliminated by adding triethanolamine.


Absence of consistent association between human leukocyte antigen-I and -II alleles and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis risk in an HTLV-1 French Afro-Caribbean population.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection leads to the risk of developing HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in less than 5% of cases. The mechanism of disease progression in HAM/TSP remains unknown. A significant role of certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes in determining the risk of HAM/TSP has been reported in Japan, where the HLA-A*02 gene has been found to be associated with a lower HTLV-1 provirus load and with protection from HAM/TSP, whereas HLA-DRB1*0101 has been found to be associated with an increased susceptibility to HAM/TSP. The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the HLA class I and class II allele distribution in HTLV-seropositive French Afro-Caribbean individuals, originating from the French West Indies. Associations with HLA class I (A and B) and class II (DRB1 and DQB1) alleles were tested in 123 HAM/TSP patients and 85 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. HLA typing was undertaken on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. In our cohort, no significant effect on either the risk of developing HAM/TSP or HTLV-1 provirus load was found for HLA class I or class II, including HLA-A*02 (p=0.43). Our findings are in contrast to those in the Japanese population, however the literature on HLA associations in HTLV-1 infections across different populations over the past decade have reported conflicting results and this suggests strong ethnic disparities.


Manipulation of rubber dam septa: an aid to the meticulous isolation of splinted prostheses.
Splinted prostheses are a problem in endodontic isolation. The traditional solution of resorting to a slit-dam technique results in an unrestrained curtain of rubber dam which not only allows for saliva seepage but can serve to compromise the endodontic access opening. This article introduces a simple, yet effective, method of improving the seal of isolated splinted prostheses. It relies on the manipulation and ligation of rubber dam septa with dental floss. Two pictorial clinical reports depict the technique and demonstrate the ease of attaining isolation with splinted prostheses.


Longitudinal patterns of chemotherapy use in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Multiple agents and combination therapies available to patients with advanced colorectal cancer have significantly improved survival and provided an opportunity for individualization of care, allowing clinicians and patients to prioritize risks and benefits of comparable regimens.


Ion channels of Fasciola hepatica incorporated into planar lipid bilayers.
Ion channels are important target sites of anthelmintics, but little is known about those in Fasciola hepatica. In this work, we applied a planar lipid bilayer technique to characterize the properties of single ion channels in F. hepatica. Under a 200/40 mM KCl gradient, a large conductance channel of 251 pS was observed in 18% of the membranes studied. The channel was selective to K(+) over Cl(-) with a permeability ratio of K(+) to Cl(-) (PK/PCl) of 4.9. Open state probability (Po) of the channel was less than 0.5 and dependent on voltage (-60 to approximately +40 mV) and Ca(2+) (approximately 100 microM). The other two types of single channels observed in 11 and 5% of membranes, respectively, were a K(+)-permeable channel of 80 pS (PK/PCl=4.6) and a Cl(-)-permeable channel of 64 pS (PK/PCl=0.058). Open state probability of both channels showed little voltage dependence. The results indicate that distinct single channels of 60 to approximately 251 pS are present in relative abundance and, in addition, that the planar lipid bilayer technique can be a useful tool for the study of single ion channels in F. hepatica.


The use of ultrasound for evaluating subacute unilateral scrotal swelling.
In 15 patients with subacute (longer than 8 hours) unilateral scrotal swelling in whom the etiology was in doubt scrotal ultrasound was used to determine whether the pathological condition was intratesticular and/or extratesticular. Surgical exploration confirmed intratesticular or intratesticular and extratesticular findings in 9 patients: 8 had torsion of the spermatic cord (including a testis rupture in 1 and epididymal ruptures in 2) and 1 had a mixed germ cell carcinoma. Of the 6 patients with extratesticular findings 3 had clinical epididymitis that resolved on antibiotic therapy and 2 had what appeared to be paratesticular hematomas with normal testes presumed to be secondary to minor trauma. The condition resolved with conservative therapy in the latter 2 patients. The remaining patient required surgical drainage because of the size and an epididymal rupture suspected by the ultrasound examination. Scrotal ultrasound is a quick, noninvasive, easily applied, accurate method to diagnose scrotal pathological conditions and should be used whenever the etiology of scrotal swelling is in doubt.


Quantitative Deformability Cytometry: Rapid, Calibrated Measurements of Cell Mechanical Properties.
Advances in methods that determine cell mechanical phenotype, or mechanotype, have demonstrated the utility of biophysical markers in clinical and research applications ranging from cancer diagnosis to stem cell enrichment. Here, we introduce quantitative deformability cytometry (q-DC), a method for rapid, calibrated, single-cell mechanotyping. We track changes in cell shape as cells deform into microfluidic constrictions, and we calibrate the mechanical stresses using gel beads. We observe that time-dependent strain follows power-law rheology, enabling single-cell measurements of apparent elastic modulus, Ea, and power-law exponent, β. To validate our method, we mechanotype human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells and thereby confirm q-DC measurements of Ea = 0.53 ± 0.04 kPa. We also demonstrate that q-DC is sensitive to pharmacological perturbations of the cytoskeleton as well as differences in the mechanotype of human breast cancer cell lines (Ea = 2.1 ± 0.1 and 0.80 ± 0.19 kPa for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells). To establish an operational framework for q-DC, we investigate the effects of applied stress and cell/pore-size ratio on mechanotype measurements. We show that Ea increases with applied stress, which is consistent with stress stiffening behavior of cells. We also find that Ea increases for larger cell/pore-size ratios, even when the same applied stress is maintained; these results indicate strain stiffening and/or dependence of mechanotype on deformation depth. Taken together, the calibrated measurements enabled by q-DC should advance applications of cell mechanotype in basic research and clinical settings.


Gait patterns of asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis patients.
In early stages, ankle osteoarthritis is often asymmetric with only partially degenerated joint surfaces. There is only limited knowledge on the effect of asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis on the patients' gait patterns. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize kinematic and kinetic changes compared to healthy adults. Instrumented gait analysis was performed in eight asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis patients and 15 healthy controls. Beside conventional gait analysis methods, principal component analysis was used to analyze temporal progression of the most important variables: hindfoot dorsiflexion angle and vertical ground reaction force. Asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis patients had a lower hindfoot dorsiflexion and rotation range of motion as well as reduced peak ground reaction forces and peak kinetic values. Principal component analysis revealed that for both the hindfoot dorsiflexion angle and the vertical ground reaction force those principal component vectors affecting the amplitudes had significantly lower principal component scores in patients than in controls. The use of the principal component scores for classification with a linear support vector machine resulted in a high recognition rate of 97.8% for the discrimination between the affected leg and the healthy controls. Patients with asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis suffer from substantial pathological kinematic and kinetic gait changes. Principal component analysis combined with a linear support vector machine could successfully be used to temporally quantify and classify asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis gait patterns. This study therefore helps to understand the pathomechanism of early stage ankle osteoarthritis from a biomechanical view.


Is it all DNA repair? Methodological considerations for detecting neurogenesis in the adult brain.
Since the early 1960s, in vivo observations have shown the generation of new neurons from dividing precursor cells. Nevertheless, these experiments suffered from skepticism, suggesting that the prevailing labeling method, which incorporates tagged thymidine analogs, such as [3H]-thymidine or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), may not be detecting a proliferative event, but could rather mark DNA repair in postmitotic neurons. Even today many scientists outside the field are still skeptical, because the question of specificity for thymidine labeling has not been sufficiently answered. This current paper aims at evaluating the arguments that are used by proponents and skeptics of this method by (i) presenting histological evidence of specificity of BrdU labeling for neural stem cell/progenitor activity in the adult brain; (ii) validating and comparing BrdU labeling with other histological methods; and (iii) combining BrdU and labeling methods for apoptosis to argue against DNA repair being a major contribution of BrdU-positive cells.


Nutritional physiology of the eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, infected with Nosema fumiferanae, and interactions with dietary nitrogen.
Female eastern spruce budworm larvae, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), inoculated with a medium lethal spore dosage of the microsporidium Nosema fumiferanae (Thomson) exhibited significant reductions in consumptive index (CI), nitrogen consumptive index (NCI), relative growth rate (RGR), and gross (ECI) and net (ECD) production effeciencies when compared to microsporidian-free larvae. Diseased larvae also exhibited significant increases in approximate digestibility (AD), N utilization efficiency (NUE), and larval moisture content. Both healthy and diseased insects were reared on 2.5% N and 4.5% N diets. Those on the 2.5% N diet showed significant increases in CI, although NCI was still lower than NCI measured for larvae reared on 4.5% N. NUE was also higher on the 2.5% N diet. Diseased cohorts reared on 2.5% N diet had significantly greater mortality than those reared on 4.5% N diet. Pupal weight and development time of infected individuals did not respond to dietary N concentration. However, healthy insects achieved greater pupal weights in a shorter time on the 4.5% N diet than those on the 2.5% N diet. Mortality of healthy insects was unaffected by dietary N.


Thermoluminescent dosimeters for low dose X-ray measurements.
The response of TLD-100, CaSO4:Dy and LiF:Mg,Cu,P for a range of X-ray low dose was measured. For calibration, the TLDs were arranged at the center of the X-ray field. The dose output of the X-ray machine was determined using an ACCU-Gold. All dosimeters were exposed at the available air kerma values of 14.69 mGy within a field 10×10 cm(2) at 80 cm of SSD. Results of LiF:Mg,Cu,P X-ray irradiated showed 4.8 times higher sensitivity than TLD-100. Meanwhile, TL response of CaSO4:Dy exposed at the same dose was 5.6 time higher than TLD-100. Experimental results show for low dose X-ray measurements a better linearity for LiF:Mg,Cu,P compared with that of TLD-100. CaSO4:Dy showed a linearity from 0.1 to 60 mGy.


The role of immune ablation and stem cell transplantation in severe SLE.
High-dose immunosuppression followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) has the promise of long-term response after a short, intense period of immunosuppressive therapy but it is associated with an increased risk of serious short-term complications. HSCT induces major clinical responses in about 65% of patients with SLE who failed standard therapies. In some of these patients such responses are durable for at least several years, but the curative potential of this procedure in severe SLE is still unknown. Procedure-related mortality varies among studies between 5 and 12% and seems to be lower in relatively larger single center studies. Until more reliable estimates of the actual risks and long-term outcomes become available, patients with potentially life-threatening or disabling major organ involvement who are in acceptable general medical condition should be considered for autologous HSCT if they have failed a reasonable course of standard immunosuppressive therapy. To accomplish the best therapeutic and scientific results, it is necessary to treat all patients in carefully planned protocols by specialized teams of lupus specialists and transplanters. All immunoablative protocols should incorporate carefully planned studies of immune reconstitution to understand the mechanisms of cure or failure.


Relative contributions to overall impact of stuttering in adults using the overall assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES).
Comprehensive assessment of stuttering requires consideration of a wide range of behaviors that impact outcomes, and the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES) is an assessment tool that accomplishes such. The purpose of this study was to determine how the individual components of the test contribute to the OASES' impact score. Data collected at a university speech-language and hearing clinic from 29 adults were used for a relative weight analysis (RWA). RWA was utilized to determine the relative contributions of the OASES' subtests to the OASES' impact score. Confidence intervals for the individual relative weights were calculated for each OASES subtest and significance tests based on bootstrapping with 10,000 replications. Differences were present in contributions of the OASES' subtests to the OASES' overall impact score, where the following explained a significant amount of variance in the OASES' impact score: Speaker's Reactions; Daily Communication; and Quality of Life. However, contribution of the subtest, "General Information", was not significant. Through examination of relative contributions to the impact of stuttering using the OASES, this project has identified differences in contributors to the overall impact of the disorder of stuttering. This information is beneficial to researchers and clinicians alike in that it gives specific guidance into what determines increased impact in adults who stutter (AWS). Future works should pursue clarification of these differences with an end goal of identifying and overcoming barriers to positive outcomes while also identifying and nurturing facilitators to optimal management.


RREB1-induced upregulation of the lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 regulates the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer partly through suppressing ANKRD1 and ANGPTL4.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in a variety of human diseases, including cancers. However, their mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. We investigated lncRNA changes that may be associated with pancreatic cancer (PC) by analyzing published microarray data, and identified AGAP2-AS1 as a relatively overexpressed lncRNA in PC tissues. qRT-PCR assays were performed to examine expression levels of AGAP2-AS1. MTT assays, colony formation assays, and EdU assays were used to determine the proliferative capacity of cells. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were used to study the regulation of AGAP2-AS1 in the cell cycle and apoptosis. Transwell experiments were used to study changes in cell invasion and metastasis, and a nude mouse model was established to assess the effects of AGAP2-AS1 on tumorigenesis in vivo. RNA sequencing was performed to probe AGAP2-AS1-related pathways. Subcellular fractionation and FISH assays were used to determine the distribution of AGAP2-AS1 in PC cells, and RIP and ChIP were used to determine the molecular mechanism of AGAP2-AS1-mediated regulation of potential target genes. Increased expression of AGAP2-AS1 was associated with tumor size and pathological stage progression in patients with PC. RREB1 was found to activate transcription of AGAP2-AS1 in PC cells. AGAP2-AS1 affected proliferation, apoptosis, cycle arrest, invasion, and metastasis of PC cells in vitro, and AGAP2-AS1 regulated PC proliferation in vivo. Furthermore, AGAP2-AS1 epigenetically inhibited the expression of ANKRD1 and ANGPTL4 by recruiting zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), thereby promoting PC proliferation and metastasis. In summary, our data show that RREB1-induced upregulation of AGAP2-AS1 regulates cell proliferation and migration in PC partly through suppressing ANKRD1 and ANGPTL4 by recruiting EZH2. AGAP2-AS1 represents a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of PC in the future.


Matrix-degrading enzymes tissue plasminogen activator and matrix metalloprotease-3 in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.
The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS), synthesizing arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT), is well known to show structural plasticity during chronic physiological stimulation such as salt loading and lactation. In the present study, we undertook in the HNS to study localization and activity-dependent changes in the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3). Double labeling confocal microscopy demonstrated that the immunoreactivity of tPA was localized at AVP-positive dendrites in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and AVP-positive terminals in the neurohypophysis (NH). The immunoreactivity of tPA was also seen at astrocytic processes in the HNS. Likewise, the immunoreactivity of MMP-3 was observed at AVP-positive dendrites and terminals. High magnification observation further revealed punctate distribution of tPA and MMP-3 immunoreactivity at dendrites and terminals, suggesting that they are localized at neurosecretory granules. Salt loading, known as the chronic stimulation to cause the structural plasticity, increased protein and mRNA levels of tPA in the SON but reduced protein levels of it in the NH. The chronic stimulation also increased protein levels of urokinase plasminogen activator in the SON, but the stimulation did not change protein levels of MMP-3 in the SON and NH. Depolarizing agent KCl released tPA from isolated neurosecretosomes, and this depolarization-dependent release was abolished by verapamil, a Ca(2+) channel blocker. These results demonstrate that tPA and MMP-3 are localized mainly at dendrites and terminals of AVP-expressing magnocellular neurons and tPA is released in an activity-dependent manner, suggesting that matrix-degrading proteases are candidate molecules to be concerned with the structural plasticity in the HNS.


Corneal edema in divers wearing hard contact lenses.
Polymethylmethacrylate (hard) contact lens-wearing Navy divers involved in hyperbaric research complained of ocular discomfort, halos, specular highlights, and decreased visual acuity during and immediately after the decompression phase of dry chamber dives. These symptoms were related to bubbles in the tear film between the cornea and hard contact lens. The bubbles developed during the decompression phase of the dive and represented the trapping (by the hard contact lens) of nitrogen outgassing from the cornea and precorneal tear film. The bubbles effected nummular patches of corneal epithelial edema persisting up to two hours after diving. Gas trapping and corneal edema were not observed in uncovered corneas or corneas covered with membrane lenses.


Pregnancy toxemia and ketosis of ewes and does.
Pregnancy toxemia of ewes and does appears to occur when the animal cannot meet the glucose demands of the fetal-placental unit and hypoglycemia develops. There is individual variation in susceptibility, and there may be basic differences in glucose metabolism between susceptible animals and nonsusceptible animals. Increased serum NEFA and ketone body concentrations accompany the disease, but clinical signs do not appear to develop in the absence of hypoglycemia. The diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, and the finding of ketone bodies in the urine. Numerous metabolic abnormalities develop subsequent to hypoglycemia and hyperketonemia, and these affect the prognosis. Important secondary abnormalities include acidosis, dehydration, and renal failure. Therapy is frequently unsuccessful, but frequent administration of small doses of glucose appears to be beneficial, if the other abnormalities, such as acidosis and dehydration, are controlled. Prevention can be readily achieved by nutritional means and is far more rewarding than therapy. Ewes and does must be fed in relation to their changing energy needs throughout the reproductive cycle.


Teprotumumab for non-inflammatory thyroid eye disease (TED): evidence for increased IGF-1R expression.
Teprotumumab, a blocking antibody to the insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been shown to significantly reduce proptosis in recent phase 2 and 3 trials in patients with inflammatory thyroid eye disease (TED). Herein, we investigate the impact of teprotumumab on patients with non-inflammatory TED. We also investigate the expression of the IGF-1R on orbital tissues from patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory TED compared to controls. Consecutive patients with non-inflammatory TED (clinical activity score, CAS ≤ 1, for at least 4 months, were treated with teprotumumab. They received a complete course (total eight infusions) of teprotumumab (10 mg/kg for the first infusion and 20 mg/kg for subsequent infusions every 3 weeks). The primary outcome was a proptosis response at week 24. Further, IGF-1R α and β expression was evaluated on orbital tissue from patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory TED, as well as healthy controls. Non-biased histological analysis of IGF-1R expression was performed using ImageJ. Four patients met eligibility criteria for the clinical study, with a mean (SD) CAS of 0 (0). Following teprotumumab treatment, there was a mean (SD) reduction in proptosis of 2.6 mm (1.2). Five patients were included for each group of the histological study; inflammatory TED, non-inflammatory TED and controls. IGF-1Rα and IGF-1Rβ expression was significantly greater in the orbital tissues of patients with inflammatory TED and non-inflammatory TED, when compared to controls. Our findings demonstrate for the first time, that teprotumumab, a blocking antibody to the IGF-1R reduces proptosis in a series of patients with non-inflammatory TED. Overexpression of the IGF-1R in orbital tissue from patients with non-inflammatory disease compared to controls may be an important consideration for effect.


Synthetic cataract teaching system for phacoemulsification.
This paper describes a surgical training system for teaching and practicing the necessary skills to perform phacoemulsification, endocapsular phacoemulsification, and small incision intraocular lens insertion techniques. The surgical system includes head, bilateral globes, removable corneas, and replaceable synthetic cataracts of varying density. This synthetic system simulates ocular surgery more closely than previously used animal eyes and allows the surgeon to practice new techniques in laboratory courses and in the operating facility.


CD47 promotes the proliferation and migration of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma cells by activating the MAPK/ERK pathway, and CD47 blockade facilitates microglia-mediated phagocytosis.
CD47 is overexpressed in multiple tumours and plays an important role in immune escape and other biological processes of tumours. However, its role in adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) remains unclear. Therefore, we explored the functions of CD47 in ACP. In this study, the expression of CD47 and the infiltration of immune cells in ACP was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence. Microglia-mediated phagocytosis was analysed using an in vitro phagocytosis assay. Using lentivirus transfection, CD47 was either silenced or overexpressed in primary ACP cells and the biological effects of CD47 on these cells were evaluated in vitro using cell viability, flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell migration and 3D hydrogel assays. The protein expression levels were analysed by western blotting. Finger-like protrusions, which may be the key factor in the recurrence of ACP, were primarily found in the region of hypothalamic involvement. The expression of CD47 was higher in palisading epithelium compared with stellate reticulum and epithelial whorls. An in vitro phagocytosis assay showed that CD47 blockade could promote microglia-mediated phagocytosis. Functional assays revealed that CD47 promoted the growth, migration and invasion of ACP cells in vitro. Our mechanistic investigations showed that CD47 activated the MAPK/ERK pathway, thereby facilitating the biological behaviour of ACP cells. Here, we demonstrated that CD47 plays an important role in ACP cells, suggesting that CD47 could be a new potential therapeutic target for ACP, and adding to the body of literature a role for the inhibition of MAPK/ERK in ACP.


Evaluation of low-intensity laser radiation on stimulating the cholesterol degrading activity: Part I. Microorganisms isolated from cholesterol-rich materials.
A survey was performed to isolate bacteria and fungi from cholesterol-rich sources including chicken liver, turkey giblets, salmon, lamb, egg yolk, beef brain and shrimps. A total of 34 bacterial and 22 fungal isolates were recovered from the tested sources. The highest count of isolates was recovered from the soil (12 isolates/g), followed by turkey giblets and egg yolk (8 isolates/g, for each). Out of 34 bacterial isolates, five induced the highest level in cholesterol degradation. The most potent bacterial isolate was recovered from turkey giblets and was identified as Streptomyces fradiae. In a trial to increase the cholesterol decomposing potentiality of S. fradiae, low intensity Nd-YAG laser irradiation was evaluated. The exposure of the chlorophyllin - photosensitized bacterium to 210 mW Nd-YAG laser for 8 min induced significant increase in cholesterol degrading activity reaching 73.8% as compared with 54.2% in the case of non-irradiated, non-photosensitized culture. Under the same conditions but using the reaction mixture containing cholesterol as a substrate and extracellular crude enzyme, the percent decomposition reached 53.7% for the irradiated culture as compared to 28.3% in the case of the control. Our data indicate the importance of the photosensitizer in enhancement of laser radiation to stimulate cholesterol decomposition of S. fradiae.


Mechanisms for termination of the action of dopamine in carotid body chemoreceptors.
The possible presence of a high affinity uptake mechanism for dopamine and the metabolism of this amine was investigated in the rabbit carotid body. The type I cells of this sensory organ contain high levels of dopamine and share with sympathetic nerve endings (which possess a high affinity uptake mechanism for catecholamines) the properties of being presynaptic catecholaminergic elements, but also have in common with chromaffin cells from intact adrenal medulla (which lack a high affinity catecholamine uptake) a similar embryological origin and ultrastructural appearance. Our experiments revealed only a low affinity uptake process (Km = 6.76 X 10(-4) M [3H]dopamine; Vmax = 1.84 X 10(-9) mol [3H]dopamine/mg protein/min) in the rabbit carotid body. In agreement with our kinetic findings, the uptake of [3H]dopamine was found to be independent of the Na+ concentration in the incubation media. The efflux from the tissue of incorporated [3H]dopamine was very fast (88% wash-out with a half-time of 4 min). DOPAC was the principal catabolite of dopamine in the carotid body, and the organ exhibited a very low capacity for norepinephrine synthesis. Neither chronic carotid sinus nerve section nor chronic sympathectomy modified the uptake of [3H]dopamine, suggesting that the lack of expression of a high affinity uptake was not a consequence of trophic suppression by the neural innervation of the organ. We conclude that overflow, or wash-out, of released dopamine may be quantitatively the most important mechanism for the inactivation of this putative neurotransmitter in the rabbit carotid body.


Analysis by high-performance gel permeation chromatography of hyaluronic acid in animal skins and rabbit synovial fluid.
The simultaneous analysis of the molecular weight and concentration of hyaluronic acid in biological samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with two gel permeation columns is described. The elution volumes of various molecular weights of hyaluronic acids were linearily related to the logarithms of their molecular weights up to 600,000. The concentration of hyaluronic acid could be determined in the range from 20 to 100 micrograms/ml, i.e., from 4 to 20 micrograms per 200 microliter injected. The method was applied to the analysis of several animal skin extracts and rabbit synovial fluid. Skin extracts from mouse, rat, guinea-pig and rabbit could be chromatographed without prior isolation and purification. Hyaluronic acids in skin were separated clearly from chondroitin sulphates and their concentrations were determined. The molecular weights were estimated simultaneously to be more than 10(6). Rabbit synovial fluids from intact joints and saline- and carrageenin-treated joints could be chromatographed directly. The chromatograms showed that the concentration of hyaluronic acid in carrageenin-treated synovial fluid is lower than that in saline-treated fluid and the molecular weight distribution is broader. This technique enabled the rapid analysis of hyaluronic acid present at low levels in biological samples.


AE-LGBM: Sequence-based novel approach to detect interacting protein pairs via ensemble of autoencoder and LightGBM.
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a crucial role in biological processes of living organisms. Correct prediction of PPI can prove to be extremely valuable in probing protein functions which can aid in the development of new and powerful therapies for disease prevention. Many experimental studies have been previously performed to investigate PPIs. However, in-vitro techniques to investigate PPIs are resource-extensive and time-consuming. Although various in-silico approaches to predict PPI have been developed in recent years, they could be fallible in terms of accuracy and false-positive rate. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose a novel approach, AE-LGBM to predict the PPIs more accurately. It employs LightGBM classifier and utilizes the Autoencoder, which is an artificial neural network, to efficiently produce lower-dimensional, discriminative, and noise-free features. We incorporate conjoint triad (CT) and Composition-Transition-Distribution (CTD) features into the AE-LGBM framework. On performing ten-fold cross-validation, the prediction accuracies obtained by AE-LGBM for Human and Yeast datasets are 98.7% and 95.4% respectively. AE-LGBM was further evaluated on independent datasets and has achieved excellent accuracies of 100%, 100%, 99.9%, 99.3%, 99.2% on E. coli, M. musculus, C. elegans, H. pylori and H. sapiens respectively. AE-LGBM has also obtained the best accuracy when tested over three important PPI networks namely single-core network (CD9), the multiple-core network (The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway) and the cross-connection network (Wnt Network). The outstanding generalization ability of AE-LGBM makes it a versatile, efficient, and robust PPIs prediction model.


Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 in the differential diagnosis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma.
The distinction between dermatofibroma (DF) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a well-known challenge for dermatopathologists. Immunohistochemical stains have been used to augment routine histological examination to aid in differentiating DF from DFSP. Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (Cthrc1) was identified as a novel gene expressed in the adventitia and neointima on arterial injury. It is indicated to be a cell type-specific inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β, which in turn impacts collagen type I and III deposition, neointimal formation, and dedifferentiation of stem cells. Cthrc1 has also been shown to be highly active and potent in degrading extracellular matrix proteins and was found to be overexpressed in several malignant tumours, such as breast cancer and malignant melanoma. To our knowledge, however, expression of Cthrc1 in DFSP and DF has not been studied before. To assess the expression of Cthrc1 in DFSP and DF and to ascertain whether Cthrc1 is superior to antibodies traditionally used in differentiating DF from DFSP. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 23 cases of DFSP and 35 cases of DF, using antibodies to Cthrc1, CD34, factor XIIIa, CD10 and stromelysin-3 (ST3). Twenty-two of 23 (96%) DFSP samples were positive for Cthrc1, whereas 32 of 35 (91%) DF samples were negative. CD34 was expressed in most DFSPs (22 of 23, 96%), whereas it was completely negative in most cases of DF (29 of 35, 83%). Expression of factor XIIIa was found in most cases of DF (33 of 35, 94%), whereas it was completely absent in 21 of 23 (91%) DFSP cases. Expression of CD10 was found in most cases of DF (30 of 35, 86%), whereas it was completely absent in 13 of 23 (57%) DFSP cases. ST3 was expressed strongly in most cases of DF (32 of 35, 91%), whereas it was completely absent in 18 of 23 (78%) DFSP cases. The preferential Cthrc1 staining of DFSP in comparison with DF was statistically significant (P < 0·01). We confirmed that Cthrc1 is a positive marker for DFSP and that Cthrc1 staining might be more reliable than markers traditionally used. Cthrc1 was not positive in absolutely [corrected] all cases of DFSP, and combination with CD34, factor XIIIa and ST3 immunostaining could make the distinction more reliable.


Expression of Mo3e antigen by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and related pharmacological inducers of protein kinase C.
Mo3e is a protease-sensitive membrane antigen (p75,50) selectively expressed by human monocytic cells (monocytes and U-937 cells) stimulated in vitro by exposure to a variety of activating factors, including phorbol diester compounds, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and muramyl dipeptide (MDP)(R.F. Todd et al., J. Immunol. 135, 3869, 1985). Here we report that primary and multiply-passaged cultures of HUVEC also express the Mo3e determinant after stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and related inducers of protein kinase C. As measured in a radioimmunoassay of anti-Mo3e antibody binding to monolayer cultures of HUVEC, unstimulated cells bore little if any Mo3e. After culture for 4-120 hr in medium containing PMA, 4 beta-phorbol dibutyrate, 4 beta-phorbol didecanoate, or mezerein (each at a concentration of 81 nM), or 1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-3-glycerol (1 mM), HUVEC were found to selectively express the Mo3e determinant. The magnitude of expression was dependent upon the concentration of the stimulus, maximal by 24 hr, and inhibited by cycloheximide. The combination of PMA and the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, had an additive or synergistic effect on HUVEC Mo3e expression. The biologically inactive phorbol compounds 4 beta-phorbol and 4 alpha-phorbol didecanoate failed to stimulate Mo3e expression. Also inactive as inducers of HUVEC Mo3e expression were crude lymphokine and monokine supernatants, recombinant human lymphokines (interferon-gamma and interleukin-2), recombinant human monokines (interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor), bacterial cell wall products including LPS and MDP, pharmacologic agents that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (prostaglandin E2, cholera toxin, theophylline, isoproterenol and isobutylmethylxanthine), lectins (Con A and PHA), and heparin. These results indicate that Mo3e is an inducible plasma membrane antigen of not only mononuclear phagocytes but also cultured HUVEC.


Chronic consumption of food-additives lead to changes via microbiota gut-brain axis.
Some food additives have demonstrated to induce dysbiosis leading to the development gut and gastrointestinal diseases. In order to clarify how this dysbiosis affects the microbiota gut-brain axis, a systematic interpretative literature review is carried out in this work. This review was made in seven academic search engines using the keywords shown below. The main finding of this work is a clear link between the changes in the gut microbiota promoted by food additives and the causes that lead to many reported diseases related to chronic food additives consumption. Despite the findings, studies on the effects of food additives on microbiota are still insufficient. Therefore, this work should serve as a motivation for future research on this subject.


Time- and sex-dependent efficacy of magnesium sulfate to prevent behavioral impairments and cerebral damage in a mouse model of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral lesions acquired in the perinatal period can induce cerebral palsy (CP), a multifactorial pathology leading to lifelong motor and cognitive deficits. Several risk factors, including perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI), can contribute to the emergence of CP in preterm infants. Currently, there is no international consensus on treatment strategies to reduce the risk of developing CP. A meta-analysis showed that magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) administration to mothers at risk of preterm delivery reduces the risk of developing CP (Crowther et al., 2017). However, only a few studies have investigated the long-term effects of MgSO4 and it is not known whether sex would influence MgSO4 efficacy. In addition, the search for potential deleterious effects is essential to enable broad use of MgSO4 in maternity wards. We used a mouse model of perinatal HI to study MgSO4 effects until adolescence, focusing on cognitive and motor functions, and on some apoptosis and inflammation markers. Perinatal HI at postnatal day 5 (P(5)) induced (1) sensorimotor deficits in pups; (2) increase in caspase-3 activity 24 h after injury; (3) production of proinflammatory cytokines from 6 h to 5 days after injury; (4) behavioral and histological alterations in adolescent mice with considerable interindividual variability. MgSO4 prevented sensorimotor alterations in pups, with the same efficacy in males and females. MgSO4 displayed anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects without deleterious side effects. Perinatal HI led to motor coordination impairments in female adolescent mice and cognitive deficits in both sexes. MgSO4 tended to prevent these motor and cognitive deficits only in females, while it prevented global brain tissue damage in both sexes. Moreover, interindividual and intersexual differences appeared regarding the lesion size and neuroprotection by MgSO4 in a region-specific manner. These differences, the partial prevention of disorders, as well as the mismatch between histological and behavioral observations mimic clinical observations. This underlines that this perinatal HI model is suitable to further analyze the mechanisms of sex-dependent perinatal lesion susceptibility and MgSO4 efficacy.


Geometric-phase intraocular lenses with multifocality.
We demonstrate a new type of multifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) embedding μm-thin geometric phase (GP) lens layers. As an emerging approach for lens phase design, the GP modulated IOLs outperform conventional diffractive IOLs in multifocality while completely avoiding the clinically undesirable demand for additional surface patterns to standard monofocal IOL designs. The number of foci and light splitting ratio of the GP IOLs are adjusted by changing the number of stacked GP layers and the thickness of each layer. Bifocal and trifocal GP IOLs are fabricated by radial alignment of anisotropic orientation in UV-curable liquid crystal polymers. After characterizing the defocus image and modulation transfer function of the GP IOLs, it is expected that GP IOLs will alleviate the most common problems associated with multifocal and EDOF IOLs, blurred vision and photic phenomena caused by light scattering and posterior capsule opacification.


Identification of two strains of Paenibacillus sp. as indole 3 acetic acid-producing rhizome-associated endophytic bacteria from Curcuma longa.
Curcuma longa is well known for its use as spice and medicine. The remarkable feature of the plant is the presence of rhizome, which provides an interesting habitat for association by various groups of bacteria. Some of these associated endophytic bacteria can have growth-promoting effects. In the current study, two species of endophytic Paenibacillus has been identified from the rhizome as indole 3 acetic acid producers. These isolates can thus have potential growth-regulating effect in rhizomes.


Comparative effects of the anticholinesterase drug galanthamine on the mechanical activity of isolated rat jejunum and ileum.
1. The effects of cumulatively applied galanthamine hydrobromide (0.1-300 microM) on the mechanical activity of isolated proximal jejunum and distal ileum were studied. 2. Galanthamine was found to increase the spontaneous mechanical activity and exert by itself an enhancement of the smooth muscle tone in the two segments, both effects being more pronounced in ileum than in jejunum. 3. The galanthamine-induced augmentation of the spontaneous mechanical activity was tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive, whereas the contractile effect of the drug on the tone was TTX-insensitive in both segments. 4. The present results showed not only quantitative differences in the tonic effects of galanthamine in both intestinal segments but they suggest some qualitative differences in cholinergic neuronal control along the gastro-intestinal tract.


Development of a three-colour digital PCR for early and quantitative detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms in Haemonchus contortus.
Haemonchus contortus is the most pathogenic nematode in small ruminants and anthelmintic resistance (AR) hampers its efficient control. Early detection of AR status is required to reduce selection for AR and cannot be achieved using phenotypic tests. For benzimidazoles (BZs), the detection of AR-associated alleles characterised by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the isotype 1 β-tubulin gene allows early AR detection in strongyles. The F200Y, F167Y, E198A and E198L polymorphisms have been described in BZ-resistant populations with a clear variation in frequencies between regions. A novel digital PCR (dPCR) enables the detection of all of the above-described polymorphisms in H. contortus. Assays were validated using synthetic DNA fragments containing these SNPs. Then, larvae obtained and pooled at farm level from 26 Austrian and 10 Italian sheep farms were analysed. For all assays a detection limit of 15 copies/μl of resistance alleles and a high level of accuracy were demonstrated, allowing to detect allele frequencies of 1% in most samples. In Austrian samples, elevated frequencies of F200Y resistance alleles were detected on all farms. Polymorphisms in codon 167 and codon 198 were identified in H. contortus from Austria for the first time. In Italian samples, the frequency of resistance alleles was still comparatively low, but F200Y resistance alleles were traceable. In conclusion we developed for the first time dPCR assays that target all SNPs of relevance associated with BZ-resistance in H. contortus. Future research on AR development could benefit from an early onset of SNP-based surveillance that would include the developed assays for all SNPs of relevance. Improved surveillance in the long term will include other important, though less pathogenic, nematode genera in the analyses.


Continuous positive airway pressure: Physiology and comparison of devices.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is increasingly used for respiratory support in preterm babies at birth and after extubation from mechanical ventilation. Various CPAP devices are available for use that can be broadly grouped into continuous flow and variable flow. There are potential physiologic differences between these CPAP systems and the choice of a CPAP device is too often guided by individual expertise and experience rather than by evidence. When interpreting the evidence clinicians should take into account the pressure generation sources, nasal interface, and the factors affecting the delivery of pressure, such as mouth position and respiratory drive. With increasing use of these devices, better monitoring techniques are required to assess the efficacy and early recognition of babies who are failing and in need of escalated support.


Association between adherence to a low carbohydrate dietary (LCD) pattern with breast milk characteristics and oxidative markers in infants' urine: a cross-sectional study.
Breast milk (BM) is a dynamic fluid that varies over time and between women. The variations in BM components are most likely associated with maternal diet quality. This study aimed to assess adherence to a low carbohydrate dietary (LCD) pattern with oxidative stress markers of BM characteristics and infants' urine. In this cross-sectional study 350 breastfeeding mothers and their infants were recruited. BM samples were collected from mothers, and urine specimens were obtained from each infant. To evaluate LCD scores, subjects were divided into 10 deciles according to the percent of energy obtained from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Determination of total antioxidant activity was conducted using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), and Ellman's assay. Biochemical assays of samples including calcium, total protein, and triglyceride level were also performed using commercial kits. Participants with the greatest LCD pattern adherence were placed into the last quartile (Q4), and those with the minimum LCD were in the first quartile (Q1). Individuals in the highest LCD quartile had significantly higher levels of milk FRAP, thiol, and protein, as well as infant urinary FRAP and lower milk MDA levels than those in the lowest quartile. Multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that higher score of the LCD pattern was associated with a higher level of milk thiol, protein, and lower level of milk MDA (p < 0.05). Our findings show that adherence to a LCD, as defined by a low level of carbohydrates in daily food intake, is linked with improved BM quality and markers of oxidative stress in infant urine.


Diagnostic value of magnetocardiography in coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias: a review of clinical data.
Despite the availability of several advanced non-invasive diagnostic tests such as echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiography (ECG) remains as the most widely used diagnostic technique in clinical cardiology. ECG detects electrical potentials that are generated by cardiac electrical activity. In addition to electrical potentials, the same electrical activity of the heart also induces magnetic fields. These extremely weak cardiac magnetic signals are detected by a non-invasive, contactless technique called magnetocardiography (MCG), which has been evaluated in a number of clinical studies for its usefulness in diagnosing heart diseases. We reviewed the basic principles, history and clinical data on the diagnostic role of MCG in coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias.


Developmental and gender influences on executive function following concussion in youth hockey players.
Concussion is the most common athletic injury in youth who are simultaneously undergoing rapid developmental changes in the brain, specifically the development of executive functions (EF). The developing brain is more vulnerable to concussive injury with a protracted and different trajectory of recovery than that of adults. Thus, there is a critical need to enhance understanding of how concussion affects EF in youth. To investigate the effects of age, gender and concussion history (i.e. concussion incidence, recency, severity) on EF in youth hockey players. This 3-year cross-sectional and longitudinal multiple cohort study examined data from 211 hockey players of 8-15 years of age. Mixed-effects modelling was used to examine the influence of age, gender and concussion on EF in youth athletes. Baseline analyses revealed significant age and gender effects on measures of EF. Multiple effects of concussion history on measures of cognitive flexibility (F = 2.48, p = 0.03) and psychomotor speed (F = 2.59, p = 0.04) were found. This study highlights the impact of age, gender and concussion on EF in youth. These findings provide foundational knowledge to better manage cognitive sequelae following sports-related concussion.


Dihydropiridinic Calcium-Channel Antagonists in the 2007 ESH/ESC Hypertension Guidelines.
Blood pressure lowering per se provides a large proportion of the benefit associated with antihypertensive treatment. Blood pressure should be reduced to <140/90 mmHg in the general hypertensive population, but lower targets should be presumed in individuals at high cardiovascular risk. In this context, calcium-channel antagonists (CCAs) remain important antihypertensive drugs because of: (i) their ability to effectively lower BP in monotherapy as well as to optimally combine with other drugs when multiple drug treatment is needed; (ii) evidence from clinical trials indicates that their administration is accompanied by a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; and (iii) their specific prospective properties on some types of subclinical organ damage of special importance for hypertension-related morbidity or mortality, i.e. atherosclerosis. This is in line with the modern view of cardiovascular prevention as a strategy that should delay the progression to high cardiovascular risk, which, once reached, is partly irreversible.


The Mechanism of Cu2+ Sorption by Rice Straw Biochar and Its Sorption-Desorption Capacity to Cu2+ in Soil.
Copper (Cu) pollution in soils has received considerable research attention globally, and biochar has been widely used as an adsorbent for soil pollution of Cu. However, most of the studies focused on the adsorption capacity of biochar, the bioavailability of Cu absorbed by biochar remains unclear. In this work, rice straw biomass was pyrolyzed under oxygen-limited conditions at 400°C (BC400) and 600°C (BC600), their apparent structure, group characteristics, and basic physical and chemical properties were determined. The isothermal and kinetics adsorption of Cu by BC400 and BC600 were analyzed. A pot experiment was used to evaluate the passivation of Cu in the soil by biochar and the bioavailability of Cu adsorbed by biochar in the soil. The smooth surfaces of BC400 evolved into more rough surfaces for BC600, and both types of surfaces may give active sorption sites for Cu, according to SEM pictures. FTIR analysis suggested that BC600 is endowed with more condensed aromatic carbon structures and more available polar functional groups. The adsorption processes of Cu2+ by biochar were better fitted Langmuir equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherms showed monolayer adsorption of Cu2+ on biochar. The maximum adsorption capacities of BC600 and BC400 on Cu2+ were 43.75 and 30.70 mg g-1, respectively. Moreover, the pot experiment showed that BC400 and BC600 not only have a strong "passivation" effect on Cu in soil but also prevent the release of adsorbed Cu. Overall, more aromatic carbon structure, more polar functional groups, and higher pH are associated with BC600's increased Cu immobilization ability in soil.


The demonstration of B cells in pancreatic islets with orcein.
Orcein stains granules in pancreatic islet cells selectively. The localization of Orcein-positive cells within islets differs from that of Grimelius-stained cells, but corresponds to the B cell type differentiated by Aldehyde Fuchsin. Usually there appear to be fewer Orcein-positive cells than Aldehyde Fuchsin-positive ones. This indicates either that Aldehyde Fuchsin is a more sensitive stain for B cells or that Orcein is a more selective stain for a B cell type subpopulation. The rationale of the Orcein reaction in B cells seems to depend on the oxidation of disulphide bonds present in insulin and its precursors rich in cystine.


Upstream molecular signaling pathways of p27(Kip1) expression in human breast cancer cells in vitro: differential effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen and deficiency of either D-(+)-glucose or L-leucine.
The objective of this study was to investigate whether the levels of glucose or certain amino acids could regulate the expression of a cell cycle repressor protein p27(Kip1), thereby dictating the risk of cancer in either obesity or caloric/dietary restriction. Previously, we identified and reported four different upstream molecular signaling pathways of p27 expression in human breast cancer cells. We called these four pathways as pathway #1, #2, #3 and #4. We found that 4-hydroxytamoxifen - but not tamoxifen - up-regulated the expression of p27 using pathway #1 which consisted mainly of receptor tyrosine kinases and mTORC1. We now investigate, using 4-hydroxytamoxifen as a reference anti-cancer agents, whether (a) the moderate increase in the concentration of D-(+)-glucose could down-regulate and, conversely, (b) the deficiency of D-(+)-glucose or certain L-amino acids could up-regulate the expression of p27 in these cells using pathway #2 which consists mainly of AMPK and mTORC1. Using human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro, these hypotheses were tested experimentally by performing p27-luciferase reporter transfection assays and western immunoblot analyses. The results obtained are consistent with these hypotheses. Furthermore, the results indicated that, although 4-hydroxytamoxifen used primarily pathway #1 to down-regulate the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and up-regulate the expression of p27, it also secondarily down-regulated the phosphorylation of S6K1. In contrast, the deficiency of D-(+)-glucose or L-leucine used primarily pathway #2 to down-regulate the phosphorylation of S6K1, but they also secondarily down-regulated the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and up-regulated the expression of p27. Finally, deficiency of D-(+)-glucose or L-leucine - but not 4-hydroxytamoxifen - up-regulated the expression of mitochondrial ATP5A and SIRT3. (a) 4-Hydroxitamoxifen used primarily pathway #1 to up-regulate the expression of p27. (b) Moderate increase in the concentration of D-(+)-glucose used primarily pathway #2 to down-regulate the expression of p27. (c) Deficiency of D-(+)-glucose or L-leucine also used primarily pathway #2 to up-regulate the expression of p27. (d) Deficiency of D-(+)-glucose or L-leucine - but not 4-hydroxytamoxifen - up-regulated the expression of mitochondrial ATP5A in the Complex V of respiratory oxidation-phosphorylation chain and mitochondrial SIRT3. The SIRT3 is one of the seven mammalian anti-aging as well as anti-metabolic sirtuins.


(2-Anilino-4-methyl-thia-zol-5-yl)(4-chloro-phen-yl)methanone.
The title compound, C(17)H(13)ClN(2)OS, crystallizes with three independent mol-ecules (A, B and C) in the asymmetric unit which differ slightly in their conformations. In mol-ecule A, the thiazole ring makes dihedral angles of 27.44 (14) and 66.05 (6)° with the phenyl and chloro-benzene rings. In mol-ecule B, the respective angles are 29.09 (10) and 47.63 (9)°, while values of 25.67 (11) and 51.01 (7)° are observed in mol-ecule C. In the crystal, N-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate a three-dimensional network structure.


Childhood Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Review of Treatments and a Novel Parent-Based Approach.
Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is characterized by dietary restrictions that are not based on weight or shape concerns but that result in marked interference in feeding, growth, or psychosocial functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Eddy et al., 2019). The aim of the current article was to review available reports of treatment for childhood ARFID published since its inclusion in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and to introduce a novel parent-based treatment for child ARFID through a case presentation. Empirical support for psychosocial treatments for child ARFID currently stems from two small-scale pilot randomized control trials, one pilot open trial, case reports, case series, and retrospective chart reviews. Treatment approaches for outpatient care generally apply family-based therapy, child-centered cognitive behavioral therapy, or parent-based behavioral approaches. SPACE-ARFID is a novel outpatient parent-based treatment that focuses on parental responses to child problematic eating habits. SPACE-ARFID aims to promote flexibility and adjustment in food related situations. The treatment helps parents to systematically reduce family accommodation, or changes that they make to their own behavior to help their child avoid or alleviate distress related to the disorder, while increasing supportive responses to the child's symptoms.


Association of Economic Well-Being With Comorbid Conditions in Patients Undergoing Carpal Tunnel Release.
Medical comorbidities have been associated with the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), severity at the time of presentation, and outcomes of carpal tunnel release (CTR). Socioeconomic factors have also been associated with worse function in patients with CTS at presentation and after surgery. However, the effects of economic well-being on the prevalence of medical comorbidities in patients with CTS have not been well-described. The objective of this study was to determine whether economic well-being is associated with medical comorbidities in a cohort of patients undergoing CTR. Patients (n = 1,297) who underwent CTR at a single tertiary care referral center over a 5-year period from July 2008 to June 2013 were retrospectively identified. The exclusion criteria were acute trauma or infection, revision surgery, incomplete medical records, and neoplasm excision. Additionally, patients were excluded if they lacked documented confirmatory or normal electrodiagnostic study findings prior to CTR. Finally, this study comprised a cohort of 892 patients with electrodiagnostic study-confirmed CTS who underwent CTR. The economic well-being of patients was assessed using the Distressed Communities Index. The comorbidities of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, cervical radiculopathy, tobacco use, and body mass index were assessed. Bivariate comparisons were used to determine the associations between the tiers of economic well-being and comorbidities. Lower economic well-being was associated with body mass index, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and tobacco use in these patients. Although hypertension, hypothyroidism, and cervical radiculopathy were not associated with economic well-being, their comparisons were underpowered. Patients experiencing economic distress have a higher comorbidity burden, and as such, may be at an increased risk of complications or poorer outcomes. The association between economic well-being and comorbidities in this population suggests the need for a multidisciplinary care model that addresses both compressive neuropathy and the associated economic factors. Prognostic II.


Retraction of the Plunger on a Syringe of Hyaluronic Acid Before Injection: Are We Safe?
Controversy exists concerning the need for aspiration before injection with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. The authors undertook a study of HA products to determine if blood could be aspirated back into a syringe of HA when the needle has been primed or filled with HA. Two studies were set up to determine if or when blood could be withdrawn from a heparinized fresh tube of blood into the HA syringe. Two different techniques were tested; one using a slow-pull retraction of the plunger and up to a 5-second waiting time before release versus a rapid pullback and quick release. Review of these data demonstrates that the usual clinical method, which involves quick withdrawal and instant release of the syringe plunger does not allow for sufficient removal of the filler found intraluminal in the needle and may give rise to false negative results in vitro and likely in vivo with the exception being the Galderma/Medicis products. In summary, withdrawal of the syringe plunger with no visible blood in the syringe does not eliminate the possibility of intravascular placement of the syringe needle.


Biochemical detoxication: mechanism of differential tiger swallowtail tolerance to phenolic glycosides.
Phenolic glycosides, commonly occurring allelochemicals in the plant family Salicaceae, are differentially toxic to subspecies of the eastern tiger swallowtail and responsible for striking differences in the abilities of Papilio glaucus canadensis and P.g. glaucus to utilize the Salicaceae as food plants. This research was designed to test the hypothesis that particularly high esterase activity confers resistance to phenolic glycosides in P.g. canadensis. I conducted larval survival trials in which the phenolic glycosides salicortin and tremulacin were administered with and without inhibitors of the major detoxication enzymes. Results for P.g. canadensis showed that when esterases were inhibited, toxicity of the phenolic glycosides increased greatly. None of the inhibitors significantly increased toxicity of the compounds to P.g. glaucus. I also conducted in vitro assays of the major detoxication enzymes (polysubstrate monooxygenases, esterases, and glutathione transferases) in larval midguts. Soluble esterase activity was 3-fold higher in P.g. canadensis than in P.g. glaucus. Moreover, esterase activity was inducible by prior consumption of phenolic glycosides in P.g. canadensis but not in P.g. glaucus. Glutathione transferases may also be involved in the terminal metabolism of phenolic glycosides. This is the first verified case of detoxication of an allelochemical by esterase enzymes in herbivores. The biochemical adaptation has played an important role in the evolution of food plant preferences in P. glaucus subspecies.


Effect of graded bicycle seat pressure on perineal compression: a magnetic resonance imaging analysis.
To identify a seat pressure threshold that corresponds to significant compression of the perineum. Quasiexperimental crossover. Hospital radiology department. Convenience sample of six male recreational cyclists. Compression of the corpus spongiosum and corpora cavernosa of the perineum without bicycle seat pressure (0%) and at 10%, 40% and 80% of the mean bicycling pressure was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. Seat pressure was applied using a custom loading device. Measure Diameter measurements of the cavernous spaces at the point of peak compression. The mean diameter values for the corpus spongiosum in the unloaded and 10% of load conditions were 105% and 172% greater than the 40% and 80% loaded conditions, respectively (p=0.002-0.004). The corpora cavernosa values displayed a similar trend. Substantial compression of the perineal cavernous spaces may occur with total seat pressure values of less than 40% of typical seat loads.


Risk factors for brain metastases in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with definitive chest radiation.
We intended to identify risk factors that affect brain metastases (BM) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) receiving definitive radiation therapy, which may guide the choice of selective prevention strategies. The characteristics of 346 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with thoracic radiation therapy from January 2008 to December 2010 in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. BM rates were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for BM. The median follow-up time was 48.3 months in surviving patients. A total of 74 patients (21.4%) experienced BM at the time of analysis, and for 40 (11.7%) of them, the brain was the first site of failure. The 1-year and 3-year brain metastasis rates were 15% and 28.1%, respectively. In univariate analysis, female sex, age ≤60 years, non-squamous cell carcinoma, T3-4, N3, >3 areas of lymph node metastasis, high lactate dehydrogenase and serum levels of tumor markers (CEA, NSE, CA125) before treatment were significantly associated with BM (P<.05). In multivariate analysis, age ≤60 years (P=.004, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.491), non-squamous cell carcinoma (P=.000, HR=3.726), NSE >18 ng/mL (P=.008, HR=1.968) and CA125 ≥ 35 U/mL (P=.002, HR=2.129) were independent risk factors for BM. For patients with 0, 1, 2, and 3 to 4 risk factors, the 3-year BM rates were 7.3%, 18.9%, 35.8%, and 70.3%, respectively (P<.001). Age ≤60 years, non-squamous cell carcinoma, serum NSE >18 ng/mL, and CA125 ≥ 35 U/mL were independent risk factors for brain metastasis. The possibilities of selectively using prophylactic cranial irradiation in higher-risk patients with LA-NSCLC should be further explored in the future.


Relative effectiveness of different modes of glaucoma screening in optometric practice.
This study analyses records from 189 optometric practices in England and Wales on the glaucoma screening of 123,415 patients aged > 40 years during a prospective 6 month period. Its purpose is to compare the effectiveness of the various modes of screening which were used. All optometrists tested every patient by ophthalmoscopy. The 146 who, in addition, conducted tonometry on a routine basis detected a confirmed glaucoma in 0.35% of their patients, whilst the 43 who used tonometry 'on suspicion' detected a case in 0.25%, (P < 0.02). The 47 optometrists who conducted perimetry frequently (i.e. in > or = 15% of sight tests) detected a case in 0.46% of patients, whilst the other 142, who did little or no perimetry, detected a case in 0.29%, (P < 0.001). Eleven optometrists who relied mainly on ophthalmoscopy had a detection rate of only 0.12%. Optometrists with the most comprehensive modes of screening had the greatest referral accuracy. It was concluded that more widespread adoption of routine tonometry for people aged approximately greater than 40 years is necessary to reduce the present substantial number of false negatives; and that the frequent use of visual field analysis is additionally required to achieve the best results.


Randomized controlled trial of tissue plasminogen activator in proximal deep venous thrombosis.
To compare the efficacy and safety of recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA, supplied as Activase) with heparin alone or rt-PA plus heparin in the treatment of venographically documented proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the leg. Sixty-four patients underwent 65 randomizations to rt-PA alone (n = 36), rt-PA plus heparin (n = 17), or heparin alone (n = 12) in a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial, with efficacy assessed by a radiology panel unaware of treatment assignment. Patients randomly assigned to rt-PA received 0.05 mg/kg/hour for 24 hours via a peripheral vein, with a maximum dose of 150 mg. All patients then received heparin and warfarin for the remainder of the hospitalization. Follow-up venography was performed 24 to 36 hours after initiation of therapy. Complete or more than 50% lysis occurred in 10 (28%) patients treated with rt-PA, five (29%) patients with rt-PA plus heparin, and no patient treated with heparin. No lysis occurred in 16 (44%) patients treated with rt-PA plus heparin, and 10 (83%) patients who received heparin alone (p = 0.04). There was one major complication, a nonfatal intracranial hemorrhage in a patient who received rt-PA alone. At 7 to 10 days after initiation of treatment, the level of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase nearly doubled among all patients, including those assigned to receive heparin alone. (1) rt-PA and rt-PA plus heparin cause more clot lysis than heparin alone; (2) the addition of heparin to rt-PA does not improve the lysis rate; (3) DVT treated with heparin is commonly associated with a rise in the transaminase level; (4) heparin does not increase the risk of bleeding from rt-PA therapy; and (5) alternative dosing regimens and modes of administration of rt-PA should be investigated to improve further its efficacy and safety in the treatment of acute DVT.


Organelle genome composition and candidate gene identification for Nsa cytoplasmic male sterility in Brassica napus.
Nsa cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a novel alloplasmic male sterility system derived from somatic hybridization between Brassica napus and Sinapis arvensis. Identification of the CMS-associated gene is a prerequisite for a better understanding of the origin and molecular mechanism of this CMS. With the development of genome sequencing technology, organelle genomes of Nsa CMS line and its maintainer line were sequenced by pyro-sequencing technology, and comparative analysis of the organelle genomes was carried out to characterize the organelle genome composition of Nsa CMS as well as to identify the candidate Nsa CMS-associated genes. Nsa CMS mitochondrial genome showed a higher collinearity with that of S. arvensis than B. napus, indicating that Nsa CMS mitochondrial genome was mainly derived from S. arvensis. However, mitochondrial genome recombination of parental lines was clearly detected. In contrast, the chloroplast genome of Nsa CMS was highly collinear with its B. napus parent, without any evidence of recombination of the two parental chloroplast genomes or integration from S. arvensis. There were 16 open reading frames (ORFs) specifically existed in Nsa CMS mitochondrial genome, which could not be identified in the maintainer line. Among them, three ORFs (orf224, orf309, orf346) possessing chimeric and transmembrane structure are most likely to be the candidate CMS genes. Sequences of all three candidate CMS genes in Nsa CMS line were found to be 100% identical with those from S. arvensis mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic and homologous analysis showed that all the mitochondrial genes were highly conserved during evolution. Nsa CMS contains a recombined mitochondrial genome of its two parental species with the majority form S. arvensis. Three candidate Nsa CMS genes were identified and proven to be derived from S. arvensis other than recombination of its two parental species. Further functional study of the candidate genes will help to identify the gene responsible for the CMS and the underlying molecular mechanism.


The Problematic Experience of Players' Mutations Between Clubs: Discovering the Social Adaptability Skills Required.
Objective: During their career, most players working in professional team sports move from club to club. These transitions are not always completely successful and could highly impact the route of the players' development. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the psychological processes involved when players encounter problems in adapting from one club to another. Thus, it was the aim of this study to identify the most difficult aspects of these transitions, as experienced by team sports players and the psychological skills that contribute to successful outcomes. Design and Method: The present study included twenty professional basketball players (aged between 20 and 36 years old; Mean = 26.05, SD = 4.12), who had played under different coaches (coach range 4-15; Mean = 8.65, SD = 2.92), and also played for different clubs (range 3-10; Mean = 5.35, SD = 2.08). They took part in retrospective interviews regarding their embedded experiences during club to club transitions. A situated E-approach was used to identify their problematic experiences, the adaptability skills and how they are applied during club mutations. Results and Conclusions: The identification of problematic experiences revealed seven components in relation to coaching (e.g., obeying orders, reduced play time), three components with teammates (e.g., respect), two components with the club (e.g., lack of support), and three components with family/friends (e.g., geographical constraints). Additionally, results indicated that the adaptability skills used during mutation are related to three groups namely mental skills, learning methods, and interpersonal skills. The results provide coaches, players, sports psychologists, and national sport organizations a set of issues for understanding the challenges players encounter when they move from one club to another.


Sarm1 Deletion, but Not WldS, Confers Lifelong Rescue in a Mouse Model of Severe Axonopathy.
Studies with the WldS mutant mouse have shown that axon and synapse pathology in several models of neurodegenerative diseases are mechanistically related to injury-induced axon degeneration (Wallerian degeneration). Crucially, an absence of SARM1 delays Wallerian degeneration as robustly as WldS, but their relative capacities to confer long-term protection against related, non-injury axonopathy and/or synaptopathy have not been directly compared. While Sarm1 deletion or WldS can rescue perinatal lethality and widespread Wallerian-like axonopathy in young NMNAT2-deficient mice, we report that an absence of SARM1 enables these mice to survive into old age with no overt phenotype, whereas those rescued by WldS invariantly develop a progressive neuromuscular defect in their hindlimbs from around 3 months of age. We therefore propose Sarm1 deletion as a more reliable tool than WldS for investigating Wallerian-like mechanisms in disease models and suggest that SARM1 blockade may have greater therapeutic potential than WLDS-related strategies.


The effect of flashlamp pulsed dye laser on the expression of connective tissue growth factor in keloids.
To investigate connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression before and after pulsed dye laser (PDL, 595 nm) treatment, and to better understand the mechanism of PDL treatment of keloids. Twenty-six patients with keloids were recruited for this study. For each patient, two keloids of similar anatomic location, duration, texture, and appearance were chosen for study; one of these keloids was treated and the other served as a control. Three sessions of PDL treatment, with pulse duration of 1.5 milliseconds, spot size 7 mm, DCD duration 20 milliseconds/delay 10 milliseconds and fluence of 10 J/cm(2), were performed on the keloids at 3- to 4-week intervals. Punch biopsies were performed both on the treated and untreated keloids prior to the first treatment and after the final treatment. The specimens underwent realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to investigate the CTGF mRNA and protein expression after PDL treatment. According to realtime PCR, the CTGF mRNA was significantly down-regulated after PDL treatment in 80.77% of patients as compared to the control group. IHC investigation showed that after treatment the CTGF positive cells also significantly decreased in number as compared to the control group in 80.77% of patients. Using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), there was an average decrease of 20.85 ± 12.33% after PDL treatment. Pulsed dye laser treatment of keloids significantly down-regulates the expression of CTGF in most cases. This may partially explain the mechanism of action of PDL treatment of keloids.


Disruption of the serial position effect as an early marker of Alzheimer's disease in Spanish-English bilinguals.
The present study examined if disruption of serial position effects in list recall could serve as an early marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Spanish-English bilinguals. We tested 20 participants initially diagnosed as cognitively normal or with mild cognitive impairment who declined and eventually received a diagnosis of AD (decliners), and 37 who remained cognitively stable (controls) over at least 2 years. Participants were tested on the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Word List Learning Test in English or Spanish as part of an annual neuropsychological evaluation. Compared to controls, decliners exhibited significantly reduced recall including reduced primacy scores (i.e., items recalled from the first three list items on Trial 1), whereas recency scores (i.e., items recalled from the last 3 list items on Trial 1) were equivalent in decliners and controls. Further analyses suggested that the sensitivity of the primacy effect to preclinical AD was initially stronger in participants tested in Spanish, a surprising finding given that the CERAD was developed for English speakers. However, in the subsequent year of testing, primacy scores declined to the same level regardless of language of testing. Several list learning measures may facilitate early diagnosis of AD in Spanish-English bilinguals, possibly including the relatively understudied primacy effect. Additional studies are needed to investigate the possibility that linguistic or demographic variables might modulate sensitivity of list learning tests to preclinical AD, which could lead to broader improvements in their utility for early diagnosis of AD in all populations.


Are Fear and Anxiety Truly Distinct?
Fear and anxiety are largely seen as separate entities, a distinction that inspires and shapes basic and clinical research. Evidence for this distinction has a rich translational base and comes from physiological, behavioral, and neurobiological studies. However, there is a high degree of inconsistency and a number of fundamental limitations that lead us to question the validity of the distinction. We consider a range of studies examining specifically whether and how the distinction may manifest at the neural, physiological, and behavioral levels, and we highlight a number of inconsistencies that call the distinction into question. We go on to critically examine assumptions in approaches to the fear-anxiety distinction and consider the implications that these assumptions may have in weighing evidence for and against the distinction. Acknowledging the contention over whether emotion research in animals is easily translatable to subjective experience in humans, we conclude that although the distinction between fear and anxiety has proved useful and informative, there are a number of reasons for recognizing that it is an oversimplification and that future progress may be guided, but should not be limited, by it.


Outcomes from implementing systematic antepartum depression screening in obstetrics.
This study was developed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing systematic depression screening in a large obstetric practice and to evaluate the degree that detection and referral led to linkage with behavioral healthcare. Depression screening was conducted using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, administered at the initial pregnancy care appointment. Patients at or above a predetermined score of 14 were advised to seek further behavioral health assessment through the patient's behavioral healthcare coverage. Within 4 weeks of screening, those referred were contacted by telephone, by clinic staff, to determine whether they had pursued behavioral healthcare as recommended. Limited available data for newly established postdelivery screening were similarly evaluated. All 2,199 newly presenting pregnant women who were seen in our obstetric clinics from September 2008 to May 2009 were screened for depression, and 102 (4.6%) scored at or above an EPDS of 14. Follow-up calls revealed that none had pursued further behavioral health assessments. Of these 2,199, screening and follow-up data were available for 569 women at their 6-week postdelivery visit. Of these, 28 (4.9%) were above EPDS of 14, and 5 (17.9%) reported pursuit of further behavioral healthcare following screening and referral. Peripartum depression can be addressed with systematic screening, and the electronic medical record can readily be used to monitor results. Detection and referral at the beginning of pregnancy did not lead to intended linkage with behavioral healthcare, but detection and referral postdelivery had a modest influence. Barriers to pursuing behavioral healthcare need to be discovered and addressed.