A sister's risk: family history as a predictor of preeclampsia.
The purpose of this study was to determine if women with preeclampsia are more likely to have a sister who also had preeclampsia. This was a population-based case-control study using data from Washington (WA) state birth certificates linked to hospital discharge records. Cases were women with gestational hypertension (n = 1611) or preeclampsia (n = 1071); controls (n = 8041) had normotensive pregnancies. All women delivered their first child between 1987 to 2002 and had a sister with a previous delivery in WA. Women with preeclampsia were 2.3 times (95%CI 1.8-2.9) more likely to have a sister who had preeclampsia; those with gestational hypertension were 1.6 times (95%CI 1.3-2.0) more likely to have a sister with gestational hypertension. Similar results were obtained following stratification by age, race, smoking status, or body mass index. The greater likelihood of preeclampsia among sisters of women with a previous preeclamptic pregnancy is consistent with a pathophysiologic role for genetic and/or behavioral factors that cluster in families.


Anesthetic management of hepatic transplantation.
The present review describes new trends and ongoing controversies in the anesthetic care of liver transplant recipients. Recent studies have improved our knowledge of conditions increasing perioperative risk, such as portopulmonary hypertension and renal failure. Improved surgical and anesthetic management has reduced intraoperative blood loss, as more studies identify an independent association between blood transfusion and poor outcome. New concepts in the coagulopathy of liver failure are emerging, with clear implications for clinical practice, including greater awareness of the risks of intraoperative thromboembolism. Less invasive intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring has been advocated, as has wider use of transoesophageal echocardiography. Early extubation is becoming more routinized. Anesthetic management still varies widely between liver transplant centers with little data to indicate best practice. Future research should focus on fluid replacement, prevention and treatment of coagulopathy, care of the acutely ill patient and the safety and benefits of early extubation.


Investigation and modeling of biomass decay rate in the dark and its potential influence on net productivity of solar photobioreactors for microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis.
Biomass decay rate (BDR) in the dark was investigated for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (microalga) and Arthrospira platensis (cyanobacterium). A specific setup based on a torus photobioreactor with online gas analysis was validated, enabling us to follow the time course of the specific BDR using oxygen monitoring and mass balance. Various operating parameters that could limit respiration rates, such as culture temperature and oxygen deprivation, were then investigated. C. reinhardtii was found to present a higher BDR in the dark than A. platensis, illustrating here the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. In both cases, temperature proved an influential parameter, and the Arrhenius law was found to efficiently relate specific BDR to culture temperature. The utility of decreasing temperature at night to increase biomass productivity in a solar photobioreactor is also illustrated.


Using artificial intelligence-based models to predict the risk of mucormycosis among COVID-19 survivors: An experience from a public hospital in India.
India reported a severe public health challenge not only due to the COVID-19 outbreak but also the increasing number of associated mucormycosis cases since 2021.This study aimed at developing artificial intelligence based models to predict the risk of mucormycosis among the patients at the time of discharge from hospital. The dataset included of 1229 COVID-19 positive patients, and additional 214 inpatients, COVID-19 positive as well as infected with mucormycosis. We used logistic regression, decision tree and random forest and the extreme gradient boosting algorithm. All our models were evaluated with 5-fold validation to derive a reliable estimate of the model error. The logistic regression, XGBoost and random forest performed equally well with AUROC 95.0, 94.0, and 94.0 respectively. The best accuracy and precision (PPV) were 0.91 ± 0.026 and 0.67 ± 0.0526, respectively achieved by XGBoost, followed by logistic regression. This study also determined top five variables namely obesity, anosmia, de novo diabetes, myalgia, and nasal discharge, which showed positive impact towards the risk of mucormycosis. The developed model has the potential to predict the patients at high risk and thus, consequently initiating preventive care or aiding in early detection of mucormycosis infection. Thus, this study, holds potential for early treatment and better management of patients suffering from COVID-19 associated mucormycosis.


Whole and cortical kidney volume predict 5-year post-nephrectomy eGFR in Indian living kidney donors.
To study the additional utility of pre-nephrectomy whole and cortical kidney volumes (WKV, CKV) in predicting long-term post-nephrectomy kidney function in Indian living kidney donors (LKDs). This retrospective cohort study included all LKDs who underwent nephrectomy between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2015 at our centre, had pre-nephrectomy height, weight and computed tomography (CT) angiography with arterial and nephrographic phase documented, and 5-year post-nephrectomy creatinine values measured. Correlation between body surface area (BSA) adjusted pre-nephrectomy total CKV, WKV and pre-nephrectomy CKD EPI eGFR; BSA-adjusted remnant pre-nephrectomy CKV (rCKV), WKV (rWKV) and 5-year post-nephrectomy CKD EPI creatinine eGFR (5yeGFRCr ); predictors of 5yeGFRCr < 70% of pre-nephrectomy CKD EPI creatinine eGFR (pre-eGFRCr ), and an equation to predict 5yeGFRCr from pre-nephrectomy variables were calculated. A total of 196 LKDs (74% female, mean age 41.7 ± 11.0 years) were included in the study. Total WKV showed higher correlation with pre-nephrectomy eGFR than CKV, the highest with CKD EPI cystatin eGFR. Remnant WKV showed higher correlation than rCKV with post-nephrectomy eGFRCr and this increased over time. Older age, lower rWKV or rCKV, higher BSA, and higher pre-eGFRCr identified LKDs with 5yeGFRCr < 70% of pre-eGFRCr , with rCKV identifying a higher proportion (4.5%) of such LKDs. A model including rWKV or rCKV predicted 5yeGFRCr better than one including age, gender, BSA and pre-eGFRCr alone. Inclusion of pre-nephrectomy remnant CKV and WKV into models for 5yeGFRCr and sub-optimal post-nephrectomy adaptation in Indian LKDs improves their accuracy. CKD EPI cystatin eGFR correlates better with functional renal mass.


Job stress and occupational health nursing: modeling health affirming choices.
1. Job stress is a condition or event in the workplace that induces strain (a physical, psychological, or behavioral response to a stressor). The outcome of unrelieved job stress can be burnout. 2. Occupational health nurses can experience job stress in the areas of intrinsic job factors, organizational structures, reward systems, human resource systems, and leadership. 3. Stress reduction techniques can be grouped into physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and environmental strategies. 4. Application of stress reduction strategies to reduce experienced job stress in occupational health nurses is one way occupational health nurses can model health affirming choices.


Thermosensitive crystallization-boosted liquid thermocells for low-grade heat harvesting.
Low-grade heat (below 373 kelvin) is abundant and ubiquitous but is mostly wasted because present recovery technologies are not cost-effective. The liquid-state thermocell (LTC), an inexpensive and scalable thermoelectric device, may be commercially viable for harvesting low-grade heat energy if its Carnot-relative efficiency (ηr) reaches ~5%, which is a challenging metric to achieve experimentally. We used a thermosensitive crystallization and dissolution process to induce a persistent concentration gradient of redox ions, a highly enhanced Seebeck coefficient (~3.73 millivolts per kelvin), and suppressed thermal conductivity in LTCs. As a result, we achieved a high ηr of 11.1% for LTCs near room temperature. Our device demonstration offers promise for cost-effective low-grade heat harvesting.


Tissue- and stressor-specific differential expression of two hsc70 genes in carp.
Two genes expressing 70 kDa heat shock proteins were identified in Cyprinus carpio. The sequence similarities and the intron-interrupted structure of the coding regions indicate that carp Hsc70-1 and Hsc70-2 belong to the Hsp70 cognate subfamily. The expressions of the two hsc70 genes were followed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Both genes are expressed under unstressed conditions in a characteristic tissue-specific manner. Inducibility of the response to elevated temperature, cold shock, and Cd treatment was investigated in the liver and muscle, in whole-animal experiments. Both genes were insensitive to or only weakly induced by the stressors, with two exceptions: Cd treatment resulted in an 11-13-fold enhanced induction of hsc70-1 in the liver and cold shock enhanced induction of hsc70-2 in the muscle by 7.5-10-fold.


Factors affecting the actions and emotional reactions of nursing teachers following encounters with students who present them with Internet information.
The Internet is a preferred source of information for nursing students. The purpose of the research was to identify teachers' reactions towards students who present them with information retrieved from the Internet. A total of 137 nursing teachers from 15 nursing schools in Israel were surveyed by a questionnaire. The dependent variable was nursing teachers' actions following encounters with students who present them with information from the Internet. Independent variables were: teacher's emotional reactions, teachers' Internet efficacy, Internet anxiety, and perceived student Internet efficacy. The intensity of positive emotional reactions was the only predictor of teachers' actions towards Internet information retrieved by students. When teachers perceived students as having higher Internet efficacy, their emotional reactions were more positive and they took more actions. Teachers' Internet anxiety was negatively correlated with their positive emotional reactions and actions. No correlation was found between nursing teachers' Internet self efficacy and their reactions or actions following an encounter with students presenting Internet information. Positive emotional reactions mediated correlations between teachers' Internet anxiety, perceived student Internet efficacy, and teachers' actions. Nursing teachers' positive emotions foster openness and acceptance of Internet information retrieved by students.


Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism and risk of osteoarthritis of the hip: a case-control study.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a polygenic disease controlled by the expression of genetic factors. Genes encoding for cytokines have been associated with susceptibility for joint OA and interleukin (IL)-6 gene is also supposed to be involved in the cartilage degradation process. In this case-control study, we evaluated for the first time whether the risk of hip OA might be influenced by the -174 IL-6 gene polymorphism. The distribution of IL-6 genotypes was evaluated in 75 patients affected by hip OA and in 107 age- and sex-matched controls. The distribution of IL-6 genotypes in (1) patients with hip OA: 33 GG, 30 GC, 12 CC and (2) control subjects: 34 GG, 40 GC, 33 CC. The frequency of the CC genotype was significantly higher in control patients (P=0.02). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of the CC genotype is independently associated with a decreased risk of OA (odds ratio 0.4 [95% confidence interval 0.1-0.9], P=0.04). Primary OA of the hip has an important genetic component and variations of genes encoding for inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, may play an important role in the series of events responsible for the pathophysiology of OA.


[Cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammatory diseases].
More than a century of research has shown that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process more than an infiltrative or thrombogenic process. It has been demonstrated epidemiologically and by imaging techniques, that systemic inflammatory diseases (in particular, but not exclusively, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus) increase the atherosclerotic process, and has a demonstrated pathophysiological basis. Furthermore, treatments to control inflammatory diseases can modify the course of the atherosclerotic process. Although there are no specific scales for assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with these diseases, cardiovascular risk is high. A number of specific risk scales are being developed, that take into account specific factors such as the degree of inflammatory activity.


Optimalization of the detection of NAD dependent Pasteurellaceae from the respiratory tract of slaughterhouse pigs.
NAD dependent members of the family Pasteurellaceae were cultured from the nasal cavity, surface and cut surface of the tonsils, and from the apical and caudal lobes of the lungs of 303 slaughterhouse pigs from 5 different herds in order to obtain information on the ecology of these bacteria. The specimens were plated on two different selective agar media using a special dilution technique that resulted in a good separation of individual colonies. Bacteriological results were compared with serological and pathological findings. The bacteriological examination demonstrated that NAD dependent Pasteurellaceae belonging to the taxa previously described could be isolated from the surface and cut surface of the tonsils, and from lungs with and without gross pathologic lesions. Haemophilus parasuis was detected mainly from the nasal cavity, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae mainly from the surface and cut surface of the tonsils (42%). From two herds, 19% and 24% respectively of the animals without antibodies against A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1 and 2 harboured the bacteria mainly in the tonsils. This may reflect a very recent infection or may suggest that A. pleuropneumoniae can colonize the tonsils without inducing a serologic reaction. Serological and bacteriological evidence of more than one serotype in the same herd indicates that natural infection with one serotype does not necessarily protect against another.


Development of a layered-coating technology for clinical chemistry.
A genetic overview of how a layered-coating technology works is presented. Coating scientists can enhance specificity and sensitivity of clinical chemistry assays via the substantial flexibility they have in their choice of coating designs. Multiple layers in a coating provide multiple environments in which sequential chemical and physical reactions can be made to occur. Filtration, selective absorption, reactant and/or product immobilization, and the ability to control reaction kinetics via diffusion rates, layer proximities, and intralayer environments are some of the operative mechanisms that may be employed to improve upon assay accuracy and ease of performance. How these mechanistic alternatives provide the basis for a variety of clinical assays is illustrated. Emphasis is placed on unique features provided by this technology to the clinical laboratory. Performance data are compared to familiar liquid-phase assays.


Evaluation of pectin extractions and their application in the alkaline Maillard reaction.
A 23 factorial design was used to evaluate the influence of temperature, catalyst and time and esterification degree (DE) of pectin obtained from mango, orange and tangerine peels as well as tamarind seeds by using the acid hydrolysis method. The study showed that a high temperature positively influenced the percentage of pectin yield for the four second generation biomasses. Nevertheless, the temperature showed a greater influence in the solubility and diffusion of the acid solvent in the tamarind seed matrix, resulting a pectin recovery 32.9%. Concerning the %DE, the most statistically significant value observed was dependent on the type of biomass studied. The %DE and the nature of the pectin are determining factors in the pectin's final use, in the present work the pectin extracted was used to produce furfural, a precursor of high value chemicals. The furfural production was achieved through alkaline hydrolysis and enhanced using the Maillard reaction, reaching a maximum concentration of 71.8 g/L which represents a 42.1% increase from the alkaline hydrolysis.


Complex dynamics and control of a novel physical model using nonlocal fractional differential operator with singular kernel.
Fractional calculus (FC) is widely used in many interdisciplinary branches of science due to its effectiveness in describing and investigating complicated phenomena. In this work, nonlinear dynamics for a new physical model using nonlocal fractional differential operator with singular kernel is introduced. New Routh-Hurwitz stability conditions are derived for the fractional case as the order lies in [0,2). The new and basic Routh-Hurwitz conditions are applied to the commensurate case. The local stability of the incommensurate orders is also discussed. A sufficient condition is used to prove that the solution of the proposed system exists and is unique in a specific region. Conditions for the approximating periodic solution in this model via Hopf bifurcation theory are discussed. Chaotic dynamics are found in the commensurate system for a wide range of fractional orders. The Lyapunov exponents and Lyapunov spectrum of the model are provided. Suppressing chaos in this system is also achieved via two different methods.


Dissecting chromatin interactions in living cells from protein mobility maps.
The genome of eukaryotes is organized into a dynamic nucleoprotein complex referred to as chromatin, which can adopt different functional states. Both the DNA and the protein component of chromatin are subject to various post-translational modifications that define the cell's gene expression program. Their readout and establishment occurs in a spatio-temporally coordinated manner that is controlled by numerous chromatin-interacting proteins. Binding to chromatin in living cells can be measured by a spatially resolved analysis of protein mobility using fluorescence microscopy based approaches. Recent advancements in the acquisition of protein mobility data using fluorescence bleaching and correlation methods provide data sets on diffusion coefficients, binding kinetics, and cellular concentrations on different time and length scales. The combination of different techniques is needed to dissect the complex interplay of diffusive translocations, binding events, and mobility constraints of the chromatin environment. While bleaching techniques have their strength in the characterization of particles that are immobile on the second/minute time scale, a correlation analysis is advantageous to characterize transient binding events with millisecond residence time. The application and synergy effects of the different approaches to obtain protein mobility and interaction maps in the nucleus are illustrated for the analysis of heterochromatin protein 1.


A unique nuclear receptor direct repeat 17 (DR17) is present within the upstream region of Schistosoma mansoni female-specific p14 gene.
The eggs produced by sexually mature female Schistosma mansoni are responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. The eggshell precursor gene p14 is expressed only in the vitelline cells of sexually mature female worms in response to a yet unidentified male stimulus. Herein, we report the identification of a novel nuclear receptor response element in the upstream region of the p14 gene. This element contains the canonical hexameric DNA core motif, 5'-PuGGTCA, composed of an atypically spaced direct repeat (DR17). Schistosome nuclear receptors SmRXR1 and SmNR1 specifically bound to the p14-DR17 element as a heterodimer. SmRXR1, but not SmNR1, bound to the motif as a monomer. Introduction of mutations in the TCA core sequence completely abolished the binding by SmRXR1/SmNR1 heterodimer. This finding supports our hypothesis that the expression of Schistosoma mansonip14 gene is regulated through the nuclear receptor signaling pathway.


[Treatment by iterative endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy of an ectopic adrenal adenoma revealed by a Cushing syndrome].
We report a case of a Cushing syndrome, enduring after retroperitoneal laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy whose aetiology was an ectopic adenoma. This lesion had then been treated by a secondary retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedure.


Fasting total ghrelin levels are increased in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
A control study was designed to investigate circulating Ghrelin levels in adolescent girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and controls. Eating behavioral disorders, endocrine disorders, abnormal growth pattern and osteopenia have been well documented in AIS. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone produced by the stomach which reflects body weight changes and stimulates growth hormone secretion. Recently, it has been shown to be associated with bone metabolism and eating behavior. However, the circulating levels of ghrelin have never been evaluated in AIS patients. Forty nine AIS girls and 15 controls were included. Anthropometric parameters and fasting circulating total ghrelin were measured. Curve severity was evaluated in AIS girls. The relationships between ghrelin and age, body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score and corrected anthropometric parameters were analyzed in AIS girls and controls. There was no significant difference in body weight, height, BMI or BMI Z-score between AIS and controls. Serum ghrelin level was 1.8 fold higher in AIS girls than in controls. Elevation of ghrelin levels remained significant when corrected BMI or corrected BMI Z-score were considered. Unlike in controls, positive correlations were found between ghrelin and age in AIS girls with a gradual increase of circulating ghrelin with age. We have observed significantly higher circulating ghrelin levels in AIS than in controls with a positive correlation with age. This pilot-study suggests that ghrelin signaling might play a role in the initiation or development of AIS. Further studies are needed to validate theses results.


Serum miR-19a expression correlates with worse prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of miR-19a in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue and serum, and to clarify the relationships of serum miR-19a expression with clinical factors and prognosis of NSCLC patients. Expression levels of miR-19a in 25 paired NSCLC, paracancerous tissues and serum, and sera from 103 controls and 201 NSCLC patients were respectively detected using real-time quantitative PCR. Compared with the paracancerous tissue, miR-19a was overexpressed in NSCLC tissue (P = 0.006), and there was a strong correlation between expression levels of miR-19 in 25 paired sera and tissues (P = 0.001). Serum miR-19a expression in NSCLC patients was significantly upregulated compared with those in healthy individuals (P = 0.001). High serum miR-19a expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004 and 0.017, respectively). Survival analysis revealed that overall survival rate of patients with high serum miR-19a expression was significantly worse than those of patients with low serum miR-19a expression (hazard ratio = 1.438, 95% confidence interval 1.007-2.052, P = 0.046). High serum miR-19a expression may be an independent poor prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC patients.


Is high hypnotic suggestibility necessary for successful hypnotic pain intervention?
Hypnotic suggestibility is a trait-like, individual difference variable reflecting the general tendency to respond to hypnosis and hypnotic suggestions. Research with standardized measures of hypnotic suggestibility has demonstrated that there are substantial individual differences in this variable. Higher suggestibility has been found to be associated with greater relief from hypnotic pain interventions. Although individuals in the high suggestibility range show the strongest response to hypnotic analgesia, people of medium suggestibility, who represent approximately one third of the population, also have been found to obtain significant relief from hypnosis. Thus, high hypnotic suggestibility is not necessary for successful hypnotic pain intervention. However, the available evidence does not support the efficacy of hypnotic pain interventions for people who fall in the low hypnotic suggestibility range. However, some studies suggest that these individuals may benefit from imaginative analgesia suggestions, or suggestions for pain reduction that are delivered while the person is not in hypnosis.


Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with hepatitis C virus infection.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes both acute and chronic liver disease and is also associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia. Whether HCV is also associated with renal disease, as is the hepatitis B virus, is not known. We describe the clinical, pathologic, virologic, and immunologic features of eight patients with HCV infection who were referred to nephrologists for glomerulonephritis. Four patients were treated with interferon alfa. All eight patients had proteinuria, and seven had decreased renal function. Renal biopsy in all patients revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, characterized by the deposition of IgG, IgM, and C3 in glomeruli. Electron microscopy of the biopsy specimens showed cryoglobulin-like structures in three of four patients. All eight patients had HCV RNA detected in their serum, elevated serum aminotransferase concentrations, and hypocomplementemia, and the majority had cryoglobulins and circulating immune complexes in their serum. Cryoprecipitates from the three patients who were tested contained HCV RNA and IgG anti-HCV antibodies to the nucleocapsid core antigen (HCVc or c22-3). IgM rheumatoid factors, present in all patients, bound anti-HCV IgG in all six patients tested. Four patients received interferon alfa for 2 to 12 months; all had evidence of decreased HCV replication and improvement of their renal and liver disease. Chronic HCV infection is associated with cryoglobulinemia and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The pathogenesis is unknown, but may relate to deposition within glomeruli of immune complexes containing HCV, anti-HCV IgG, and IgM rheumatoid factors.


Suicidality and antiepileptic drugs in people with epilepsy: an update.
Almost 15 years after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert about an increased suicidality risk with antiseizure medications (ASMs), there is still considerable debate on this subject. This is a review of the role of ASMs in the context of suicide in epilepsy. After an explosion of research shortly after the FDA warning was released, only a limited number of studies were published in more recent years, and they did not overcome the limitations of previous studies. Overall, available literature does not support an obvious causal relationship between ASMs and suicide. On the contrary, studies are highlighting the complex relationship between suicide and epilepsy, strengthening the bidirectional relationship and the multifactorial origin.


Cone antagonism along visual pathways of red/green dichromats.
We have measured thresholds for bichromatic test-mixtures in red/green dichromats. Our results provide strong evidence for cone-antagonistic coding along the dichromats' detecting pathways. The threshold behavior of the isolated dichromatic pathways is consistent with that predicted by Opponent Colors Theory. We compare these threshold data with the dichromats' judgments of "blue/yellow" hue equilibria, which we obtained in supra-threshold color-cancellation experiments. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that both sets of data are mediated by the same dichromatic cone antagonistic pathway.


Risk factors for linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia in adult inpatients.
Background Previous reports about risk factors for linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia have been insufficient, often due to the variability in study design and population, and some factors have not yet been studied. Aim The aims of this study are to determine potential risk factors for linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia, and to analyze the influencing factors of different thrombocytopenia definitions. Method This retrospective study involved patients who were administered intravenous linezolid for ≥ 1 day between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2021. Their demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Thrombocytopenia was defined as: ①thrombocytopenia with platelet count < 100 × 109/L and a decrease in 25% or more from baseline of the platelet count (criterion 1); ②thrombocytopenia due to a platelet count drop decrease of 25% or more from baseline (criterion 2). Risk factors were determined via binary logistic regression analysis. Results This study included 320 patients. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that baseline platelet count (p < 0.001), linezolid therapy duration (p = 0.001) and shock (patients require vasoactive medications) (p = 0.019) were independent risk factors for criterion-1thrombocytopenia, while linezolid therapy duration (p < 0.001) and shock (p = 0.015) were independent risk factors for criterion-2 thrombocytopenia. There was also a significant correlation between shock and early-onset thrombocytopenia (p = 0.005 and 0.019 for criterion 1 and criterion 2, respectively). Conclusion Linezolid therapy duration and shock were common causes of different thrombocytopenia definitions; shock was correlated with early-onset thrombocytopenia. Platelet count should be monitored during linezolid therapy especially during long-duration therapy and in shock patients.


Evaluation of three molecular carbapenemase tests: Eazyplex SuperBug complete B, Novodiag CarbaR+, and Amplidiag CarbaR+MCR.
Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli, i.e., Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter, are of increased concern for the public health around the world. There is urgent need for rapid and accurate tests in order to provide correct treatment and to prevent bacterial spread in healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate three commercial multiplex carbapenemase tests with CE-IVD marking: Eazyplex SuperBug complete B (AmplexDiagnostics), Novodiag CarbaR+ (Mobidiag), and Amplidiag CarbaR+MCR (Mobidiag). All these tests recognize KPC, NDM, OXA-48/181 group, VIM, OXA-23 group, and OXA-24/40 group, and Novodiag CarbaR+ and Amplidiag CarbaR+MCR additionally recognize IMP, OXA-51 group (with promoter located within ISAbaI), OXA-58 group, and MCR, and Amplidiag CarbaR+MCR further recognizes GES (carbapenemase-type only). The sensitivities and specificities of these tests with bacterial isolates were 100%. The sensitivity directly from clinical samples was 100%, but the specificity was lower, which is simply explained by the higher sensitivity of the molecular methods compared with culture method. Overall, these CE-IVD marked tests provide a good alternative in the detection of carbapenemase-producing organisms.


Short-term effects of SAFE early intervention approach in infants born preterm: A randomized controlled single-blinded study.
Recent literature suggests that goal-oriented and family-based interventions in enriched environment have a beneficial effect on neuromotor and cognitive development. We aimed to examine the short-term effects of SAFE (Sensory strategies, Activity-based motor training, Family collaboration, and Environmental Enrichment) early intervention approach on motor, cognitive, speech and language, and sensory development in preterm infants. The study's sample population consisted of 24 preterm infants with corrected ages between 9 and 10 months. Infants in the control group participated in the family training program in accordance with the neurodevelopmental therapy principles (NDT). Infants in the treatment group were included in the family training program according to the principles of the SAFE Early Intervention Approach. Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS), Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley III) were used to evaluate infants in both groups before and after 10 weeks of treatment (AHEMD-IS). The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale Short Form was used to assess the parents' mental health (DASS-SF). The interaction effects (time × group) revealed significant differences for Bayley-III cognitive and language scores, TSFI total score, and AHEMD-IS total score in favor of the SAFE group (p < .05). However, there were no differences in Bayley-III motor composite score, COPM Performance score, and COPM Satisfaction score between the interaction effects (time × group) of the groups (p > .05). SAFE early intervention approach improved cognitive, speech and language, sensory outcomes and provide enriched home environment in all domains when compared to NDT-based home program. SAFE is a promising novel early intervention approach for preterm infants.


Type A behavior: its diagnosis, cardiovascular relation and the effect of its modification on recurrence of coronary artery disease.
A general review of type A behavior and its possible relation to clinical coronary artery disease, hypertension and migraine is given. The humoral and lipid derangements initiated by type A behavior are described as well as the possible pathophysiologic phenomena this behavior effects leading to accentuation and hastening of the onset of clinical coronary artery disease. The correct method of diagnosing type A behavior as well as methods of diminishing its intensity both in the coronary and still symptomless person are described. The significant decline in coronary morbidity and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease given type A behavior counseling is described.


Differential diagnosis of solid renal tumors by MRI. Comparison of in situ relaxation times measured with a 0.1 T imager and histological findings.
The T1 and T2 of kidneys in 5 normal volunteers and 27 patients with renal tumors were evaluated preoperatively using a magnetic resonance imager with a 0.1 T resistive electromagnet, and the T1 and T2 of the renal tumors were compared with the pathological findings: (i) the T1 and T2 of the normal renal medulla were longer than those of the normal renal cortex and psoas muscle; (ii) both T1 and T2 of renal pelvic cancer (RPC) were shorter than those of renal cell cancer (RCC, p < 0.05); (iii) the T2 values of RPC were significantly shorter than those of renal medulla (p < 0.01); (iv) the T1 and T2 of the normal renal cortex of subjects < 50 years old were shorter than those of subjects > or = 50 years old (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest that preoperative evaluation of the pathological findings of renal tumors may be possible by calculating the relaxation time using MRI under low magnetic field.


Radiofrequency localization of nonpalpable breast cancer in a multicentre prospective cohort study: feasibility, clinical acceptability, and safety.
In breast conserving surgery, accurate lesion localization is essential for obtaining adequate surgical margins. Preoperative wire localization (WL) and radioactive seed localization (RSL) are widely accepted methods to guide surgical excision of nonpalpable breast lesions but are limited by logistical challenges, migration issues, and legislative complexities. Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology may offer a viable alternative. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, clinical acceptability, and safety of RFID surgical guidance for localization of nonpalpable breast cancer. In a prospective multicentre cohort study, the first 100 RFID localization procedures were included. The primary outcome was the percentage of clear resection margins and re-excision rate. Secondary outcomes included procedure details, user experience, learningcurve, and adverse events. Between April 2019 and May 2021, 100 women underwent RFID guided breast conserving surgery. Clear resection margins were obtained in 89 out of 96 included patients (92.7%), re-excision was indicated in three patients (3.1%). Radiologists reported difficulties with the placement of the RFID tag, partially related to the relatively large needle-applicator (12-gauge). This led to the premature termination of the study in the hospital using RSL as regular care. The radiologist experience was improved after a manufacturer modification of the needle-applicator. Surgical localization involved a low learning curve. Adverse events (n = 33) included dislocation of the marker during insertion (8%) and hematomas (9%). The majority of adverse events (85%) occurred using the first-generation needle-applicator. RFID technology is a potential alternative for non-radioactive and non-wire localization of nonpalpable breast lesions.


The association between a single abnormal glucose and fetal c-peptide.
We aimed to evaluated if fetuses of subjects with one elevated value on the 3-h GTT had a measurable physiologic difference in fetal C-peptide levels as compared to those with no elevated values on the GTT. We performed a prospective cohort study to evaluate insulin levels in singleton non-anomalous fetuses of subjects with one elevated value on the GTT as compared to subjects with no elevated values on their GTT. Fetal insulin levels were measured by fetal C-peptide in cord blood. Distribution of data was assessed and outliers representing values > the 99th and < the 1st percentiles were excluded. Data were log transformed to achieve normal distribution and univariable analyses were performed to compare fetal C-peptide levels, baseline maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes in subjects with one elevated value as compared those with no elevated values. Our analysis included 99 subjects, with 49 subjects in the one elevated value group and 50 subjects in the no elevated values group. Fetal C-peptide levels (picomoles per liters, pmol/L), were significantly higher in the elevated value group as compared to the no elevated value group (mean ± SD; 4.6 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 0.7, P = 0.046, respectively). In univariable analysis, there was no significant difference in maternal characteristics or adverse composite perinatal outcomes. Fetuses of subjects who had one elevated value on their GTT had a measurable physiologic difference in C-peptide levels as compared to fetuses of subjects with no elevated values on the GTT.


TLR4 mediates MAPK-STAT3 axis activation in bladder epithelial cells.
The role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in immune cells is well characterized, but its biological properties in bladder epithelial cells (BECs), especially reciprocal crosstalk between mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3-mediated signal transduction elicited by TLR4 have not been demonstrated so far. The present studies were to demonstrate the signal transduction and inflammatory cytokine response elicited through activation of TLR4 in BECs with a special focus on the crosstalk between the MAPK-pathway and STAT3-mediated signals and its regulatory relevance for the inflammatory response towards lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We selected human bladder cancer T24 cell line in the present study and examined its expression of TLR4 by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The expression of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and STAT3 were performed by RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting. Signal transduction was analyzed by Western blotting. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion in culture supernatants were tested by human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. BECs of rat infection in vivo model and patients with cystitis glandularis (CG) were analyzed as described above. Our study demonstrated that TLR4 was significantly upregulated following LPS treatment, with the maximum mRNA expression occurring at 4 h after stimulation. Activation of TLR4 signaling by LPS resulted in phosphorylation of MAPK and STAT pathways and upregulation of IL-10 in dose- and time-dependent manners in T24 cells. Pretreatment of cells with SB203580 (inhibitor of p38) and SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) attenuated LPS-induced IL-10 expression, whereas it markedly inhibited the STAT3 expression. IL-10 mRNA expression was increased in inflamed lesions compared to noninflamed tissue in rats and patients with CG disease. Our results demonstrate that activation of TLR4 signaling in BECs induces IL-10 expression via activation of p38 and JNK, and the activation of STAT-3 was upregulated. Our data indicated that the reciprocal crosstalk between the MAPK pathway and STAT3-mediated signal transduction forms a critical axis successively activated by LPS in BECs.


High-affinity uptake of choline, a marker for cholinergic nerve terminals, is not specific in developing rat brain.
Developmental changes in the synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) were investigated in rat hippocampus and frontal cortex. Particular reference was made to the conversion, into ACh, of the choline accumulated by high-affinity uptake as defined using 1 microM hemicholinium-3 (HC-3). Using solutions containing 11.1 mM glucose, conversions were respectively 31 and 55%, in fine slices from 4-8-day-olds. Free choline accounted very largely for the remainder of the choline accumulated. In samples from adults, ACh accounted for 80% of the uptake. The inefficient conversions (into ACh) in immature brain were not the result of a requirement for ketone bodies as the source of acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA). Greater rates of release of newly synthesised ACh, than in mature samples, were not responsible, neither were greater cholinesterase activities. The stimulation of high-affinity choline uptake, caused by prior depolarisation of the tissues using K+, also increased during development from 78 to 238% with hippocampus and from 49 to 170% with frontal cortex. Furthermore, prior depolarisation increased the efficiency with which choline, accumulated by high-affinity uptake, was converted into ACh. At all stages of development 80% of the additional choline accumulated, after depolarisation, was converted into ACh. It is concluded that the specificity of HC-3-sensitive uptake is incomplete in immature brain, i.e. high-affinity choline uptake is not exclusively into cholinergic neurones. The cholinergic neuronal compartment becomes more prominent during development so that the specificity is complete in mature brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Factors underlying bird community assembly in anthropogenic habitats depend on the biome.
Production activities drive the replacement of original habitats with artificial ones, leading to new bird assemblages. In this study, we assessed if anthropogenic habitats acted as environmental filters causing functional redundancy or as promoters of functional divergence, depending on the biome. We also investigated if functional patterns derived from phylogenetic convergence or clustering. For this purpose, we computed the standardized effect sizes (SES) for avian functional and phylogenetic diversity using null models and compared the SES values among tree plantations, urban settlements (US), cattle pastures (CP), crop fields (CF) and natural habitats from two biomes: grassland and forest. We used generalized least squares models to test if functional and phylogenetic SES indicated functional redundancy or divergence, and phylogenetic convergence or clustering. We found functional redundancy in grassland and functional divergence in forest associated with environmental filtering and competitive exclusion, respectively. In grassland, functional structure was not associated with a clear phylogenetic pattern, while in forest functional divergence was caused by evolutionary convergence in CF and CP and conservation in US. The prevalences of functional redundancy and functional divergence patterns and their associated predominant mechanism of community assembly were found to depend on the biome and the regional species pool.


Within-person variability of urinary neonicotinoids and their metabolites and recommendation for sampling strategy.
Humans are exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) from various routes. Urine has been widely used to characterize the internal exposure levels of NEOs in humans. However, variable sampling methods can result in highly variable measurements of NEOs, potentially leading to misunderstanding of human exposure. In this study, we collected the first morning voids urine (FMVU), spot urine (SU), and 24 h urine (24hU) samples from 8 healthy adults during 7 consecutive days. The concentration, variability, and reproducibility of six parent NEOs (p-NEOs) and three NEOs metabolites (m-NEOs) were measured. Over 79 % of the urine samples had detectable levels of NEOs. Dinotefuran (DIN) and olefin-imidacloprid (of-IMI) were excreted in the highest concentration of p-NEO and m-NEO, respectively. All of the p-NEOs except thiacloprid (THD) and of-IMI were recommended as biomarkers for biomonitoring studies. The coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate the temporal variability and reproducibility of urinary NEOs in SU, FMVU and 24hU, respectively. We observed low ICCs ranging from 0.016 to 0.39 for NEOs regardless of the sample types. However, the higher CV and lower ICC values observed in SU samples suggested lower reproducibility compared to FMVU and 24hU samples. Significant correlations of several NEOs between FMVU and 24hU were also observed in the current study. Considering the comparable concentrations and similarity between FMVU and 24hU, our study proposed possible biomarkers and indicated that the potential for FMVU samples to estimate adequately an individual's exposure to NEOs. Therefore, we suggested FMVU as a sampling strategy in future human biomonitoring studies, while multiple samples were recommended to detect exposure over time intervals of weeks or months.


[ECG telemonitoring].
ECG telemonitoring is the application of single- or multichannel ECGs transmitted by telephone to the physician or an expert center. This enables the control of the health status despite the spatial separation of patient and physician. Cardiac arrhythmias, palpitations of unknown causes, the outcome of antiarrhythmic drug therapy or interventional ablation therapy can be diagnosed using ECG telemonitoring. Even asymptomatic arrhythmias, e.g. paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, may be detected. The use of a multichannel ECG facilitates the early prehospital diagnosis of an acute coronary syndrome and thus helps to optimize the chain of rescue. The telemonitoring of the ECG and additional physiological data enables the tele-care of patients with chronic heart failure. New types of implanted pacemaker or cardioverter/defibrillator devices allow telemonitoring of device data or ECG data for close control.


Factors associated with COVID-19 Infection among a national population of individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the United States.
Individuals with schizophrenia are a vulnerable and under-served population who are also at risk for severe morbidity and mortality following COVID-19 infection. Our research was designed to identify factors that put individuals with schizophrenia at increased risk of COVID-19 infection. This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of medical and pharmacy claims among 493,796 individuals residing in the United States with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. A confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection by September 30, 2020 was regressed on demographics, social determinants, comorbidity, and pre-pandemic (December 2019 - February 2020) healthcare utilization characteristics. A total of 35,249 (7.1%) individuals were diagnosed with COVID-19. Elevated odds of COVID-19 infection were associated with age, increasing consistently from 40-49 years (OR: 1.16) to 80+ years (OR:5.92), male sex (OR: 1.08), Medicaid (OR: 2.17) or Medicare (OR: 1.23) insurance, African American race (OR: 1.42), Hispanic ethnicity (OR: 1.23), and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. Select psychiatric comorbidities (depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and sleep-wake disorder) were associated with elevated odds of infection, while alcohol use disorder and PTSD were associated with lower odds. A pre-pandemic psychiatry (OR:0.56) or community mental health center (OR:0.55) visit were associated with lower odds as was antipsychotic treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotic (OR: 0.72) and oral antipsychotic (OR: 0.62). Among individuals with schizophrenia, risk of COVID-19 infection was substantially higher among those with fewer economic resources, with greater medical and psychiatric comorbidity burden, and those who resided in African American or Hispanic communities. In contrast, individuals actively engaged in psychiatric treatment had substantially lower likelihood of infection. These results provide insights for healthcare providers that can translate into improved identification of at-risk individuals and interventions to reduce the risk and consequences of COVID-19 infection.


Cognitive dysfunction and depression in Fabry disease: a systematic review.
Fabry disease, an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, leads to multi-organ dysfunction, including cerebrovascular disease and psychological disorders. However, the prevalence and pattern of associated cognitive dysfunction is not well understood. To investigate whether there is reliable evidence for neuropsychological impairment in patients with Fabry disease and which cognitive domains are affected. To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with depression in patients with Fabry disease. Qualitative systematic review of the literature of studies conducting neuropsychological assessment or measuring the prevalence of depression in adults with Fabry disease using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines where appropriate. There is some evidence for neuropsychological impairment in Fabry disease in executive functioning, information processing speed and attention, with preservation of: general intellectual functioning, memory, naming, perceptual functioning and global cognitive functioning. Prevalence rates of depression in Fabry disease ranged from 15% to 62%, with the largest study to date reporting a prevalence rate of 46%. The most common factor associated with depression was neuropathic pain, both directly and indirectly by affecting social and adaptive functioning. Our review suggests that Fabry disease may be associated with a characteristic pattern of cognitive deficits and a high prevalence of psychological disorders such as depression but highlights the limited available data. Exploring the nature of cognitive impairment in Fabry disease using standardised neuropsychological assessment, brain imaging and measures of depression is an important task for future research.


Has Artificial Intelligence Impacted Drug Discovery?
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools find increasing application in drug discovery supporting every stage of the Design-Make-Test-Analyse (DMTA) cycle. The main focus of this chapter is the application in molecular generation with the aid of deep neural networks (DNN). We present a historical overview of the main advances in the field. We analyze the concepts of distribution and goal-directed learning and then highlight some of the recent applications of generative models in drug design with a focus into research work from the biopharmaceutical industry. We present in some more detail REINVENT which is an open-source software developed within our group in AstraZeneca and the main platform for AI molecular design support for a number of medicinal chemistry projects in the company and we also demonstrate some of our work in library design. Finally, we present some of the main challenges in the application of AI in Drug Discovery and different approaches to respond to these challenges which define areas for current and future work.


Centralization: association between repeated end-range pain responses and behavioral signs in patients with acute non-specific low back pain.
Tests and measures, if confounded by behavioral signs, cloud interpretation of physical test results during clinical examination. The purpose of this study was to determine whether common behavioral signs and pain responses (i.e. centralization and non-centralization) were associated during initial examination. Observational and designed to cross-tabulate pain responses to behavioral signs. Data from 177 consecutive patients with acute work-related low back syndromes referred to physical therapy were analysed. Patients were screened for 8 baseline behavioral signs. Pain responses during initial evaluation were determined from repeated end-range trunk movement tests or loading strategies following McKenzie assessment methods. Association between centralization and non-centralization and baseline behavioral signs were assessed. The physical sign of non-centralization was associated with non-organic signs, overt pain behaviors, fear of work activities, and somatization. Although depression, fear of physical activities, disability and pain intensity were not associated with non-centralization (p>0.05), upper bounds of odds ratios confidence intervals suggest that these behavioral signs may not be entirely independent of pain responses. Presence of non-centralization is associated with many behavioral signs, and therefore when present, clinicians should consider additional psychosocial screening during the initial evaluation.


Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and modeling of a non-carbohydrate antagonist of the myelin-associated glycoprotein.
Broad modifications of various positions of the minimal natural epitope recognized by the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a blocker of regeneration of neurite injuries, produced sialosides with nanomolar affinities. However, important pharmacokinetic issues, for example, the metabolic stability of these sialosides, remain to be addressed. For this reason, the novel non-carbohydrate mimic 3 was designed and synthesized from (-)-quinic acid. For the design of 3, previously identified beneficial modifications of side chains of Neu5Ac were combined with the replacement of the ring oxygen by a methylene group and the substitution of the C(4)-OH by an acetamide. Although docking experiments to a homology model of MAG revealed that mimic 3 forms all but one of the essential hydrogen bonds identified for the earlier reported lead 2, its affinity was substantially reduced. Extensive molecular-dynamics simulation disclosed that the missing hydrogen bond of the former C(8)-OH leads to a change of the orientation of the side chain. As a consequence, an important hydrophobic contact is compromised leading to a loss of affinity.


Spin-Hall conductivity and Hall angle in a two-dimensional system with impurities in the presence of spin-orbit interactions.
We investigate the spin-torque-dependent Spin Hall phenomenon in a two-dimensional tight-binding system in the presence of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions and random static impurities. We employ the Matsubara Green function techniques to calculate the relaxation time caused by the scattering of electrons by impurities. The longitudinal and transverse conductivities are next calculated with the help of the Kubo formalism. We have also calculated the spin Hall angle for the present model and studied its dependence on spin-orbit interactions and impurity strength. Finally, we explore the effect of interplay between the Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions on the spin-Hall effect.


Establishment of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an 8-year old female patient with ischemic Moyamoya disease.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from an 8-year old female patient affected by ischemic Moyamoya disease (MMD). Patient's PBMCs were reprogrammed using Sendai virus particles delivering the four Yamanaka factors. The footprint free hiPSC line expressed the major pluripotency markers and exhibited a normal karyotype. Cells were competent to give rise to progeny of differentiated cells belonging to the 3 germ layers. This hiPSC line represents a good tool to in vitro model MMD in order to shed light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of this syndrome.


Regionalization of soil base cation weathering for evaluating stream water acidification in the Appalachian Mountains, USA.
Estimation of base cation supply from mineral weathering (BC(w)) is useful for watershed research and management. Existing regional approaches for estimating BC(w) require generalized assumptions and availability of stream chemistry data. We developed an approach for estimating BC(w) using regionally specific empirical relationships. The dynamic model MAGIC was used to calibrate BC(w) in 92 watersheds distributed across three ecoregions. Empirical relationships between MAGIC-simulated BC(w) and watershed characteristics were developed to provide the basis for regionalization of BC(w) throughout the entire study region. BC(w) estimates extracted from MAGIC calibrations compared reasonably well with BC(w) estimated by regression based on landscape characteristics. Approximately one-third of the study region was predicted to exhibit BC(w) rates less than 100 meq/m(2)/yr. Estimates were especially low for some locations within national park and wilderness areas. The regional BC(w) results are discussed in the context of critical loads (CLs) of acidic deposition for aquatic ecosystem protection.


Helfrich repulsion and dynamical phase separation of multicomponent lipid bilayers.
Thermal fluctuations of surfactant bilayers in an aqueous solution produce an effective, long-range repulsion that can lead to a continuous unbinding transition. We report on an optical interferometry study of the thermal fluctuations of multicomponent bilayers close to the unbinding transition. We find that, in contrast to the case of single-component bilayers, the thermal fluctuation spectrum of multicomponent bilayers does not agree with a continuous unbinding transition but instead indicates the proximity of an unbinding tricritical point.


Pyrolysis Kinetic Study and Reaction Mechanism of Epoxy Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic by Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TG) and TG-FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared) Techniques.
TG-FTIR combined technology was used to study the degradation process and gas phase products of epoxy glass fiber reinforced plastic (glass fiber reinforced plastic) under the atmospheres of high purity nitrogen. The pyrolysis characteristics of epoxy glass fiber reinforced plastic were measured under different heating rates (5, 10, 15, 20 °C min-1) from 25 to 1000 °C. The thermogravimetric analyzer (TG) and differential thermogravimetric analyzer (DTG) curves show that the initial temperature, terminal temperature, and temperature of maximum weight loss rate in the pyrolysis reaction phase all move towards high temperature, as the heating rate increases. Epoxy glass fiber reinforced plastic has two stages of thermal weightlessness. The temperature range of the first stage of weight loss is 290-460 °C. The second stage is 460-1000 °C. The above two weight loss stages are caused by pyrolysis of the epoxy resin matrix, and the glass fiber will not decompose. The dynamic parameters of glass fiber reinforced plastic were obtained through the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and advanced Vyazovkin methods in model-free and the Coats-Redfern (CR) method in model fitting. FTIR spectrum result shows that the main components of the product gas are CO2, H2O, carbonyl components, and aromatic components during its pyrolysis.


Validation of simple indices to assess insulin sensitivity based on the oral glucose tolerance test in the Japanese population.
The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) represents a simple index for evaluating insulin sensitivity, but clinical use is limited. Insulin sensitivity indices calculated from plasma glucose and plasma insulin concentrations after an oral glucose tolerant test (OGTT) have been proposed, but have not been validated in the Japanese population. We compared these indices with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique to evaluate the predicting insulin sensitivities in 77 Japanese subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance (normal glucose tolerance, n=40; impaired glucose tolerance, n=22; and type 2 diabetes mellitus, n=15). Insulin sensitivity was measured by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique using an artificial pancreas, and expressed as the M-value. Weak inverse correlations existed between the HOMA index and M-values (r=-0.227, P=0.0468). An alternative index calculated by Matsuda's formula correlated with the M-value (r=0.450, P=0.0001). A second index calculated by Stumvoll's formula also correlated with the M-value (r=0.641, P=0.0001). Finally, a third index calculated by Gutt's formula also significantly correlated with the M-value (r=0.526, P=0.0001). All three indices are applicable for clinical use. The second index is the most sensitive measure of insulin sensitivity in the Japanese population.


Lymphoproliferative disorders following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: the Vancouver experience.
Between June 1988 and May 1996, 428 patients underwent allogeneic BMT (288 related donor (RD) and 140 unrelated donor (UD)) at the Vancouver General Hospital. Eight patients (UD six and RD two) developed a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Median age at BMT was 38 years (range 22-51). Five of the six UD allografts were T cell depleted. Cyclosporine+/-methotrexate was used for GVHD prophylaxis. All eight patients developed GVHD; in six this was refractory to treatment with corticosteroids. Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or an anti-CD5-ricin A chain immunotoxin (Xomazyme) was used as second-line therapy for GVHD. Presentation with PTLD occurred at median day 90.5 (range 34-282) post BMT. Five of the eight patients had a rapidly progressive course characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, lung and liver involvement and died within 3-8 days. PTLD was an incidental finding at post mortem examination in two patients. The remaining patient had localized disease and recovered. Pathological analysis revealed two morphological patterns; diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBC lymphoma, five patients) and polymorphous B cell hyperplasia (PBCH, three patients). EBV expression was positive in all eight cases and monoclonality was demonstrated in seven cases. In multivariate analysis, T cell depletion of the allograft (P=0.0001, relative risk (RR)=30.5), anti-T cell therapy for GVHD (P=0.006, RR=12.7) and acute GVHD grades 3-4 (P=0.04, RR=7.7) were the significant factors for development of PTLD. In conclusion, we have identified two forms of PTLD after BMT: one is characterized by disseminated disease with a rapidly progressive and often fulminant course and the other by localized, relatively indolent disease. Morphology, EBV positivity and clonality do not appear to correlate with the clinical course. The major risk factors for development of PTLD after BMT are ex vivo T cell depletion of the allograft and in vivo anti-T cell therapy for GVHD.


SH-proteinase from bean Phaseolus vulgaris var. Perlicka.
An SH-proteinase (EC 3.4.22.-) has been isolated from beans of the species Phaseolus vulgaris var. Perlicka. The enzyme is homogeneous when subjected to disc electrophoresis, electrofocusing and sedimentation analysis. The molecular weight was determined as 26,000-28,000 by gel filtration, 30,850 +/- 1500 by sedimentation analysis and 26,930-27,410 by calculation from the amino acid composition (Lys20-21, His3, Arg9, Asp21-22, Thr13, Ser18, Pro12-13, Glu23-24, Gly30, Ala16, Cys/29, Val19, Met1, Ile10, Leu13, Tyr14, Phe6, Trp3). The N-terminal amino acid of the proteinase is isoleucine. The effect of concentration, time of hydrolysis, pH, temperature, cations, anions, urea and guanidine - HCl on the proteolytic activity of the SH-proteinase was studied.


Doctors and Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Pediatric Pain Management: An Exploratory Survey in a Children's Hospital.
Despite the existence of protocols for effective pain control, pediatric pain is still high, due to scarce knowledge of its treatment, especially regarding opioids. This study aimed to evaluate doctors and nurses' knowledge of pain treatment and the use of opioids in children, before and after the implementation of Law 38/2010, that represented an important step in guaranteeing patients' rights to gain access to appropriate services for pain control and palliative care in Italy and in establishing the obligation of specific training programs in this matter for health professionals. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed and administered before (investigation A) and after (investigation B) the issuance of the Law. In B both doctors and nurses showed a slight but significant increase in correct answers and a reduction in incorrect ones, mainly concerning the category Myths and Prejudices. In both investigations doctors and nurses showed adequate general knowledge, yet there were some gaps regarding the specific knowledge of opioid drugs. Most of the participants were not familiar with the Law and its provisions.Investigation B showed an improvement in health professionals' knowledge, perhaps due to a hospital environment that followed the provisions of Law 38/2010. Nevertheless, the establishment of training courses according to the Law is needed to improve the knowledge of opioids, as well as to dispel deeply rooted myths and prejudices on pediatric pain.


Preparing children for surgery. Learning through play.
The approach that Children's Hospital has taken in preparing children for surgery, both ambulatory and extended recovery, is exciting and challenging. The staff is encouraged by the positive response of the patients and families who participate in the tour and the doll demonstrations.


Ligands which effect human protein C activation by thrombin.
This report documents attempts to mimic the rate enhancement effect of thrombomodulin on human alpha-thrombin-catalyzed activation of human protein C in the absence of exogenous calcium. Specifically the following tryptamine analogs at 1 mM concentration were shown to enhance the protein C activation rate relative to a control with no added effector at pH 8.3 (50 mM Tris-HCl, 0.1 M NaCl, 37 degrees C): serotonin, 1.2; tryptamine, 2.9; 5-fluorotryptamine, 4.4; 6-fluorotryptamine, 7.2. At much higher levels, e.g. 10 mM, all of the above effectors, as well as indole, showed a moderate inhibition of human protein C activation. ATP, a platelet release product, showed a sigmoidal inhibition pattern similar to that found previously for thrombin amidase, clotting, and esterase activity (Conery, B.G., and Berliner, L.J. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 369-375). Overall, the enhancement factors for human alpha-thrombin activation of protein C with the tryptamine analogs described above were remarkable when considering the effect of a simple ligand versus the natural activator, thrombomodulin.


Changing Color for Photoprotection: The Orange Carotenoid Protein.
Under high irradiance, light becomes dangerous for photosynthetic organisms and they must protect themselves. Cyanobacteria have developed a simple mechanism, involving a photoactive soluble carotenoid protein, the orange carotenoid protein (OCP), which increases thermal dissipation of excess energy by interacting with the cyanobacterial antenna, the phycobilisome. Here, we summarize our knowledge of the OCP-related photoprotective mechanism, including the remarkable progress that has been achieved in recent years on OCP photoactivation and interaction with phycobilisomes, as well as with the fluorescence recovery protein, which is necessary to end photoprotection. A recently discovered unique mechanism of carotenoid transfer between soluble proteins related to OCP is also described.


A case of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with multiple lytic skull lesions.
Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR) is a rare multisystemic disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by cutaneous and joint manifestations. It is associated with malignancy in up to 31% of cases. Common radiological findings are peri-articular erosions and osteolytic punched-out areas. We present a case of MR with cutaneous nodules, joint pains, and multiple lytic skull lesions--a combination that has not been described before. Osteolytic activity of proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1) may explain the peri-articular erosions often seen in MR, and the multiple lytic skull lesions seen in our patient.


High- versus low-intensity internet interventions for alcohol use disorders: results of a three-armed randomized controlled superiority trial.
To test the efficacy of a therapist-guided high-intensity internet intervention compared with an unguided low-intensity internet intervention among individuals with alcohol use disorder. A three-group randomized controlled trial with follow-up assessments post-treatment (12 weeks) and 6 months post-randomization (primary end-point). General population sample in Sweden. A total of 166 on-line self-referred adults (49% males) with a score of 14 (females)/16 (males) or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a preceding week alcohol consumption of 11 (females)/14 (males) or more standard drinks and an alcohol use disorder according to a diagnostic interview. Both the high- (n = 72) and low-intensity internet interventions (n = 71) consisted of modules based on relapse prevention. Controls were on a waiting-list (n = 23), and were only followed until the post-treatment follow-up. Participants were randomized at a 7 : 7 : 2 ratio. Primary outcome was self-reported alcohol consumption in the preceding week measured as (1) number of standard drinks and (2) number of heavy drinking days at the 6-month follow-up. Alcohol use disorders were largely in the severe category (74.7%), with the majority of participants having had alcohol problems for more than 5 years. Attrition was 13 and 22% at the post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, respectively. At the 6-month follow-up, an intent-to-treat analysis showed no significant differences in alcohol consumption between the high- and low-intensity interventions [standard drinks d = -0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.50 to 0.16; heavy drinking days: d = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.40 to 0.26]. Prevalence of negative effects was somewhat low (8-14%) in both intervention groups, as was deterioration (3-5%). At 6-month follow-up, there were no significant differences between a therapist-guided high-intensity internet intervention and an unguided low-intensity internet intervention in reducing alcohol consumption among individuals with an alcohol use disorder.


Managing hypertension: a question of STRATHE.
Current international guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic strategies with proven efficacy in the management of hypertension to achieve a target blood pressure of < 140/90 mmHg. After lifestyle intervention, they endorse three different management strategies: (i) first-line use of a low-dose combination of two agents from different antihypertensive classes, with the option of doubling the dose of the combination; (ii) use of a sequential monotherapy strategy, initiating with one antihypertensive to be replaced by another one from a different class, if necessary; and (iii) a stepped care strategy, initiating with one antihypertensive, and increasing the dose or adding another agent from a different class, if necessary. The objective of the STRAtegies of Treatment in Hypertension: Evaluation (STRATHE) study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of these three treatment strategies in patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension (n = 533). In all, 62% of the patients in the low-dose combination group were normalised (< 140/90 mmHg), compared with 49% of the sequential monotherapy group (P = 0.01) and 47% of the stepped-care group (P = 0.005). The percentage of patients achieving normalisation without experiencing drug-related adverse events was also significantly higher in the low-dose combination group (56%) than in the sequential monotherapy (42%, P = 0.001) and stepped-care groups (42%, P = 0.004), consistent with the observation that the reduced dosage of the antihypertensive agents in such preparations translates into improved acceptability. The results of STRATHE provide further support for an antihypertensive management strategy involving the low-dose combination of perindopril (2 mg) and indapamide (0.625 mg).


[Manipulation of superduct, adduction, rotation for the treatment of shoulder dislocation].
To study the mechanism and clinical effect of using the manipulatin of move, adduction, rotation method for the treatment of shoulder dislocation. from January 2010 to March 2012,120 patients with shoulder dislocation admitted were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 60 cases in each group. In the treatment group, there were 31 males and 29 females; In control group, there were 30 males and 30 females. In treatment group, 60 patients create their own "on the move, adduction, rotation manipulative treatment,the other 60 cases in control group used traditional restoration methods in wearing the traction treatment. The efficacy of two methods of treatment of shoulder dislocation were compared on reset process once successfully rate, the patient's level of pain (VAS). In treatment group, restoration once successfully were in 59 cases, improvement of the pain (VAS) values was 3.76 +/- 1.05, the results were excellent in 57 cases, good in 2, poor in 1,without concurrent fractures and nerve injury, without re-dislocation after 3 months. In control group, restoration once successfully were in 50 cases, improvement of pain (VAS) values was 5.67 +/- 1.15, the results were excellent in 45 cases, good in 7, poor in 8. The reset once successfully rate,improvement of VAS values and clinical effect in treatment group were better than that of control group. On the move, adduction, rotation method has advantages of more wearing traction with uniform force, work together to focus, saving time and effort, easy and convenient to avoid iatrogenic injury.


Genetic/transgenic conditional expression of full-length and headless nonmuscle myosin-II molecules: head domain regulates localization in auditory neurons.
Human genetic mutations that affect the N-terminal head-domain of the nonmuscle myosin-II (MyoII) molecule can result in nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Ultimately, MyoII must be appropriately localized in order to execute endogenous functions. The aim of the current study is to determine whether the head-domain of MyoII regulates in vivo localization of the molecule in living and fixed preparations of the auditory organ. A genetic/transgenic GAL4-UAS approach was used to selectively drive the expression of zip/MyoII (Drosophila homologue of human nonmuscle MyoII) in Drosophila melanogaster auditory (Johnston's organ) sensory neurons. To follow the distribution of the full-length transgene encoded by MyoII, the N-terminus was fused to green fluorescent protein. Additionally, headless zip/MyoII molecules with and without isoleucine-glutamine or IQ motifs were also expressed in Johnston's organ neurons. Removing the entire head domain of MyoII induced localization in neuronal dendrites while removing only a portion of the head but keeping the IQ motif induced localization in the soma and axons of the neurons. The findings suggest that the head domain regulates in vivo localization of MyoII in auditory neurons.


Metastasizing neuroectodermal tumour.
This report describes a medulloblastoma with extracranial metastases in a 24-year-old man. Postoperatively, 60Co irradiation was given and clinical recovery was good. Cervical lymph node metastases developed 2.5 years later. The patient received cytostatic treatment and a second course of radiation therapy with 60Co and lived for 6 years after the onset of symptoms, finally dying with signs of bronchopneumonia. The possible routes of spread are discussed.


Facile Synthesis of Zn-Co-S Nanostrip Cluster Arrays on Ni Foam for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors.
Mixed metal sulfides exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance compared to single metal sulfides and mixed metal oxides because of their richer redox reactions and high electronic conductivity. In the present study, Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays were formed from ZnCo2O4 grown on Ni foam by an anion exchange reaction using a two-step hydrothermal process. Morphological characterization confirmed that the Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays had grown homogeneously on the skeleton of the 3D Ni foam. The length of the nanostrip was approximately 8 µm, and the width ranged from 600 to 800 nm. The Ni foam-supported Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays were assessed directly for electrochemical supercapacitor applications. Compared to ZnCo2O4, the Zn-Co-S electrode exhibited a three-fold higher specific capacity of 830 C g-1 at a specific current of 2.0 A g-1. The higher polarizability, lower electro-negativity, and larger size of the S2- ion played an important role in substituting oxygen with sulfur, which enhanced the performance. The Zn-Co-S//AC hybrid device delivered a maximum specific energy of 19.0 Wh kg-1 at a specific power of 514 W kg-1. The remarkable performance of Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays highlights their potential as a positive electrode for hybrid supercapacitor applications.


Sarcocystis in American black ducks wintering in New Jersey.
Macrocysts of a protozoan parasite, Sarcocystis sp., were found in 28 of 173 American black ducks (Anas rubripes) examined during winters 1984-1985, 1985-1986 and 1986-1987 in south coastal New Jersey (USA). No macrocysts were detected in 80 juvenile black ducks. In adults, the prevalence of macrocysts increased from 3% (1 of 37) in 1984-1985, to 36% (12 of 33) in 1985-1986, and 65% (15 of 23) in 1986-1987. This increase could result in a greater number of harvested birds being discarded, or a change in the attitudes of waterfowl hunters towards black ducks.


Drug information sources and antidepressant adherence.
The purpose of the study was to examine how patient sources of antidepressant information were related to antidepressant adherence. Eight community pharmacies in central North Carolina participated in the study. A research assistant interviewed eighty-one English-speaking patients who were picking up antidepressant refill prescriptions. Patients most frequently reported receiving antidepressant information from: pharmacists (58%), primary care physicians (50.6%), mental health specialists (40.7%), friends or family members (32.1%), and the Internet (18.5%). Patients experiencing more side effects were significantly less adherent to their antidepressants. Patients who received antidepressant information from more sources were significantly more adherent to their regimen than patients who received information from fewer sources.


Jean-Baptiste Charcot in Rio de Janeiro: glamorous trip and celebrity in 1908.
The authors review the visit of Commander Charcot and the crew of his ship, the "Pourquoi Pas?", to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1908, where he stayed for eight days, while en-route as part of the second French expedition to the Antarctic. It was a glamorous stay as Commander Charcot was treated as a true star and international celebrity, befitting his position.


Generation and molecular characteristics of a highly attenuated GPV strain through adaptation in GEF cells.
Goose parvoviruses (GPVs) spread globally and cause a huge economic loss to the poultry industry. Although the attenuated GPV vaccines play a key role in preventing the disease caused by GPV, the molecular basis for the attenuation of GPV is barely known. A highly attenuated GPV strain, GPV-CZM-142, was generated through blindly passaging of the highly pathogenic strain, GPV-CZM, in goose embryonic fibroblasts (GEF) for 142 generations. The GEF-adapted GPV strain's virulence was 10,000 times weaker than its wild type counterpart, GPV-CZM, based on the ELD50 (50% Embryo Lethal Dose). By comparing with the wild type strain, genome sequencing analysis identified adapted mutations either in ITR or in NS and VP1 of GPV-CZM-142. The highly attenuated GPV strain, GPV-CZM-142, provides a GPV vaccine candidate, and the identified virulence-related mutations give a novel insight into the molecular determinants of GPV virulence.


Adipokines and stroke: a review of the literature.
Stroke represents one of the most important menaces to public health. A number of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors have been identified and studied in detail; among those, obesity, the new world epidemic, seems to be one of the most important in terms of prevention. The discovery of the secretory role of the adipose tissue and of adipokines has opened new fields of research. A number of studies have been published on their relation to cardiovascular risk and the potential of using them as prevention markers. In the present review the physiology of leptin, adiponectin and resistin is described and their role in the pathogenesis of stroke is examined.


Cerebrospinal fluid level of neurofilament light chain is associated with increased disease activity in neuro-Behçet's disease.
Clinical exacerbations characterized with neurological symptoms are observed in around 10% of Behçet's disease (BD) patients and may culminate in severe disability. Although certain immunological factors have been associated with disease activity in neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD), biomarkers for monitoring the clinical outcome of NBD have not been properly investigated. Levels of neurofilament light chain (NFL), homeobox protein Hox-B3 (HoxB3), and YKL-40 were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 23 parenchymal (n = 16) and nonparenchymal (n = 7) NBD patients obtained during NBD attacks by ELISA. Parameters of clinical progression and outcome were assessed for an average follow-up period of 3.9 ± 1.3 years. Parenchymal NBD patients showed elevated CSF levels of NFL, HoxB3, and YKL-40 as compared to nonparenchymal patients. NBD patients showing an increase in modified Rankin score (mRS) values during follow-up had significantly higher CSF NFL levels. Patients with relatively lower CSF NFL levels (<1000 ng/L) did not develop attacks or cognitive impairment interfering with daily life activities during follow-up. NFL levels correlated with disease duration and mRS at the last follow-up visit, while HoxB3 levels correlated with a number of attacks during follow-up. CSF level of NFL appears to predict the prospective somatic and cognitive disability in NBD patients and may thus be potentially used as a biomarker of clinical outcome in this disease.


Surgical technique of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in descemetoceles.
To describe a surgical technique of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) to treat patients with descemetocele. Twelve eyes of 12 patients with central or paracentral descemetocele after resolved microbial keratitis underwent viscoelastic-assisted DALK. The mean follow-up of the cases was 19.91 ± 15.80 months (range: 6-48 months). In all the eyes, a successful DALK could be performed without any intraoperative complications. At the last follow-up visit, all but 1 eye showed significant improvement in visual acuity compared with preoperative visual acuity. The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity did not improve in 1 patient because of glaucomatous optic atrophy, which was present preoperatively. Eight eyes had best-corrected visual acuity of ≥ 20/80, and all but 2 patients had clear grafts at the final follow-up. None of the patients had any evidence of graft infection. Viscoelastic-assisted DALK is a useful therapeutic option in selected cases of descemetocele after resolved microbial keratitis.


Characterization of an efficient coronavirus ribosomal frameshifting signal: requirement for an RNA pseudoknot.
The genomic RNA of the coronavirus IBV contains an efficient ribosomal frameshifting signal at the junction of two overlapping open reading frames. We have defined by deletion analysis an 86 nucleotide sequence encompassing the overlap region which is sufficient to allow frameshifting in a heterologous context. The upstream boundary of the signal consists of the sequence UUUAAAC, which is the likely site of ribosomal slippage. We show by creation of complementary nucleotide changes that the RNA downstream of this "slippery" sequence folds into a tertiary structure termed a pseudoknot, the formation of which is essential for efficient frameshifting.


The classification of orofacial pains.
This article highlights the process of making the proper orofacial pain diagnosis. A classification is presented based on the clinical characteristics of the pain complaint and the structure by which it emanates. It is meant to serve as a road map for the clinician, which will help him or her establish the correct diagnosis, thereby allowing the selection of the proper treatment.


In situ evaluation of wastewater discharges and the bioavailability of contaminants to marine biota.
Marine sediment quality of wastewater discharges areas was determined by using in situ caged clams Ruditapes philippinarum taking into account the seasonality. Clams were caged in sediment directly affected by wastewater discharges at four sites (P1, P2, P3, P4) at the Bay of Cádiz (SW, Spain), and one reference site (P6). Exposure to contaminated sediments was confirmed by measurement of metals and As, PAH, pharmaceutical products and surfactants (SAS) in bottom sediments. Biological effects were determined by following biomarkers of exposure (activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase - EROD, dibenzylfluorescein dealkylase - DBF, glutathione S-transferase - GST, glutathione peroxidase - GPX, glutathione reductase - GR and acetylcholinesterase - AChE), effects (lysosomal membrane stability - LMS, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation - LPO), energy status (total lipids - TLP and mitochondrial electron transport - MET), and involved in the mode of action of pharmaceutical products (monoamine oxidase activity - MAO, alkali-labile phosphates - ALP levels and cyclooxygenase activity - COX). In winter, urban effluents were detoxified by phase I biotransformation (CYP3A-like activity), phase II (GST), and the activation of antioxidant defence enzymes (GR). Urban effluents lead to the detoxification metabolism (CYP1A-like), oxidative effects (LPO and DNA damage), neurotoxicity (AChE) and neuroendocrine disruption (COX and ALP levels) involved in inflammation (P1 and P2) and changes in reproduction as spawning delay (P3 and P4) in clams exposed in summer. Adverse effects on biota exposed to sediment directly affected by wastewater discharges depend on the chemical contamination level and also on the reproductive cycle according to seasonality.


Special situations in inflammatory bowel disease: First Latin American consensus of the Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) (Second part).
This is the first Latin American Consensus of the Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) regarding special situations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this consensus is to raise awareness in the medical community in all Latin American countries with respect to pregnancy, vaccinations, infections, neoplasms, including colorectal cancer, and pediatric issues in patients with IBD.


Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AIL) or T-cell malignant lymphoma of AIL-type. A histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of 8 cases.
Eight cases of AIL-type T-cell malignant lymphoma are reported. The clinical symptoms are the same as those described in AIL: fever, malaise, weight loss, skin rashes, polyadenopathy, and splenomegaly. However, some differences can be noted: the absence of hepatomegaly in all cases but one, the absence of polyclonal hypergammapathy in all cases but one, and predominance in females. The lymph node modifications comprise diffuse infiltrations of lymphoid cells with irregular nuclei and pale cytoplasm, associated with a large number of immunoblasts and plasma cells. Some eosinophilic granulocytes and epithelioid cells can be seen. Hyperplasia of the vessels and remnants of follicles, sometimes with proliferation of follicular dendritic cells, are prominent features. The immunolabelling study demonstrates the presence of an important T-cell population all expressing a high predominance of CD 4 phenotype. These findings are in accordance with those published in Europe and in contrast with those of some of the Japanese cases, particularly the first patients published by Shimoyama et al. The differential diagnosis with AIL is based on the presence of clusters of mainly large cells with a pale cytoplasm, on the loss of expression of one T cell marker, as in 3 cases of our series, and on the presence of a high percentage of lymphoid cells engaged in the mitotic cycle as demonstrated with the Ki 67 monoclonal antibody. However, to draw a clear cut difference between AIL-type T-cell lymphoma and AIL considered as a prelymphomatous dysimmune lymphadenopathy, only the demonstration of cytogenetic abnormalities, as in one of our cases or of rearrangement of the genes coding for beta and/or gamma chain of the antigen receptor of T-cell are valuable criteria. The follow-up of our series is not long enough to appreciate the prognosis. Three patients died, one from a glioma. All the other cases, treated with polychemotherapy show total remission with an evolution of 10 to 39 months.


Assignment of snRNA gene sequences to the large chromosomes of rat kangaroo and chinese hamster isolated by flow cytometric sorting.
Chromosomes from a rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylus) cell line (PtK2) and from a Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) cell line (CHV79) were isolated by means of fluorescence activated flow cytometric sorting. DAPI (4'-6-diamino-2-phenylindole) was used as the DNA specific fluorescent dye. The karyotype of the PtK2 cells which exhibits 13 chromosomes was separated into 6, and the 22 chromosomes of the CHV79 cells were resolved into 11 fractions. DNA extracted from these chromosomal fractions was used for restriction enzyme digestion and blotting on nitrocellulose filters. The blots were challenged with gene probes corresponding to ribosomal RNA (18S and 28S) and small nuclear RNA (U1-snRNA) genes. The rRNA genes were exclusively assigned to chromosomes containing the nucleolus organizing region (in PtK2: X chromosome; in CHV79: chromosomes 4, 5, 6, and 11). - Solely the largest chromosomes in both cell lines hybridized with U1-snRNA indicating that these gene sequences are located on those chromosomes only. Further possible genetic and biochemical applications of this experimental system are discussed.


How Older Drivers Perceive Warning Alerts? Insights for the Design of Driver-Car Interaction.
The automotive industry is working toward driving automation and driver-assistance technology is becoming a norm in modern cars. Warning alert systems support the driver-car interaction and inform drivers about automation system status, upcoming obstacles, or dangers ahead. However, older drivers' needs are not always addressed in research studies, although they make up a large segment of drivers. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative three-round formative evaluation of a warning alert system using video prototypes in lab and remote settings. The goal was to evaluate visual-, sound-, and speech-based alerts based on: (a) their efficiency in informing drivers about the road situation ahead, and (b) participants' subjective opinions. We evaluated the system's efficiency using self-reported data measuring participants' cognitive load, usability, UX, and ease of use. Also, we conducted interviews to collect subjective feedback about proposed prototypes. In this article, we describe the design of warning alerts and report on their evaluation results. Our results show that speech-based warnings, especially when coupled with visual warnings, are efficient and accepted well by the participants. This article illustrates older drivers' attitude toward the use of different warning modalities in the driving context.


Effects of foveal ablation on emmetropization and form-deprivation myopia.
Because of the prominence of central vision in primates, it has generally been assumed that signals from the fovea dominate refractive development. To test this assumption, the authors determined whether an intact fovea was essential for either normal emmetropization or the vision-induced myopic errors produced by form deprivation. In 13 rhesus monkeys at 3 weeks of age, the fovea and most of the perifovea in one eye were ablated by laser photocoagulation. Five of these animals were subsequently allowed unrestricted vision. For the other eight monkeys with foveal ablations, a diffuser lens was secured in front of the treated eyes to produce form deprivation. Refractive development was assessed along the pupillary axis by retinoscopy, keratometry, and A-scan ultrasonography. Control data were obtained from 21 normal monkeys and three infants reared with plano lenses in front of both eyes. Foveal ablations had no apparent effect on emmetropization. Refractive errors for both eyes of the treated infants allowed unrestricted vision were within the control range throughout the observation period, and there were no systematic interocular differences in refractive error or axial length. In addition, foveal ablation did not prevent form deprivation myopia; six of the eight infants that experienced monocular form deprivation developed myopic axial anisometropias outside the control range. Visual signals from the fovea are not essential for normal refractive development or the vision-induced alterations in ocular growth produced by form deprivation. Conversely, the peripheral retina, in isolation, can regulate emmetropizing responses and produce anomalous refractive errors in response to abnormal visual experience. These results indicate that peripheral vision should be considered when assessing the effects of visual experience on refractive development.


Primary sources of HONO vary during the daytime: Insights based on a field campaign.
Nitrous acid (HONO) is an established precursor of hydroxyl (OH) radical and has significant impacts on the formation of PM2.5 and O3. Despite extensive research on HONO observation in recent years, knowledge regarding its sources and sinks in urban areas remains inadequate. In this study, we monitored the atmospheric concentrations of HONO and related pollutants, including gaseous nitric acid and particulate nitrate, simultaneously at a supersite in downtown Chengdu, a megacity in southwestern China during spring, when was chosen due to its tolerance for both PM2.5 and O3 pollution. Furthermore, we employed the random forest model to fill the missing data of HONO, which exhibited good predictive performance (R2 = 0.96, RMSE = 0.36 ppbv). During this campaign, the average mixing ratio of HONO was measured to be 1.0 ± 0.7 ppbv. Notably, during periods of high O3 and PM2.5 concentrations, the mixing ratio of HONO was >50 % higher compared to the clean period. We developed a comprehensive parameterization scheme for the HONO budget, and it performed well in simulating diurnal variations of HONO. Based on the HONO budget analysis, we identified different mechanisms that dominate HONO formation at different times of the day. Vehicle emissions and NO2 heterogeneous conversions were found to be the primary sources of HONO during nighttime (21.0 %, 30.2 %, respectively, from 18:00 to 7:00 the next day). In the morning (7:00-12:00), NO2 heterogeneous conversions and the reaction of NO with OH became the main sources (35.0 %, 32.2 %, respectively). However, in the afternoon (12:00-18:00), the heterogeneous photolysis of HNO3 on PM2.5 was identified as the most substantial source of HONO (contributing 52.5 %). This study highlights the significant variations in primary HONO sources throughout the day.