Reynolds number scaling and energy spectra in geostrophic convection.
We report flow measurements in rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection in the rotationally-constrained geostrophic regime. We apply stereoscopic particle image velocimetry to measure the three components of velocity in a horizontal cross-section of a water-filled cylindrical convection vessel. At a constant, small Ekman number Ek = 5 × 10-8 we vary the Rayleigh number Ra between 1011 and 4 × 1012 to cover various subregimes observed in geostrophic convection. We also include one nonrotating experiment. The scaling of the velocity fluctuations (expressed as the Reynolds number Re) is compared to theoretical relations expressing balances of viscous-Archimedean-Coriolis (VAC) and Coriolis-inertial-Archimedean (CIA) forces. Based on our results we cannot decide which balance is most applicable here; both scaling relations match equally well. A comparison of the current data with several other literature datasets indicates a convergence towards diffusion-free scaling of velocity as Ek decreases. However, the use of confined domains leads at lower Ra to prominent convection in the wall mode near the sidewall. Kinetic energy spectra point at an overall flow organisation into a quadrupolar vortex filling the cross-section. This quadrupolar vortex is a quasi-two-dimensional feature; it only manifests in energy spectra based on the horizontal velocity components. At larger Ra the spectra reveal the development of a scaling range with exponent close to -5/3, the classical exponent for inertial-range scaling in three-dimensional turbulence. The steeper Re(Ra) scaling at low Ek and development of a scaling range in the energy spectra are distinct indicators that a fully developed, diffusion-free turbulent bulk flow state is approached, sketching clear perspectives for further investigation.


Updates in Nutrition Management of Cystic Fibrosis in the Highly Effective Modulator Era.
Attainment and maintenance of good nutrition has been an important aspect of management in cystic fibrosis (CF) for decades. In the era of highly effective modulator therapy for CF, the quality of the nutrients we recommend is increasingly important. Our therapy must support our patients' health for many years beyond what we previously thought. Preventing cardiovascular disease, reducing hyperlipidemia, and optimizing lean body mass for active, longer lives now join the long-standing goal of promoting lung function through nutrition. This chapter summarizes recent developments in nutrition in people with CF, with an eye to the evolution of our practice.


Identification of the transcription initiation site reveals a novel transcript structure for Plasmodium falciparum maebl.
Strict regulation of gene expression is critical for the development of the malaria parasite within multiple host cell types. However, much remains unexplored regarding gene regulation in Plasmodium falciparum with only a few components of the gene regulation machinery identified thus far. Better characterization of transcript structures with precise mapping of transcript ends will greatly aid in the search of conserved regulatory sequences in the genome. Transcript analysis of maebl, a member of the ebl gene family, in P. falciparum intra-erythrocytic stages has revealed a unique transcript structure for maebl. The 5'-untranslated region of maebl transcript is exceptionally long (>2 kb) with a small multi-exon open reading frame, annotated as a putative mitochondrial ATP synthase (PF11_0485) in the Plasmodium database. Northern blot hybridizations and RT-PCR analysis confirmed a bicistronic message for maebl along with PF11_0485. We further identified the minimal maebl promoter to be upstream of PF11_0485 by using transient chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter assays. The occurrence of a bicistronic mRNA in Plasmodium is both novel and unusual for a lower eukaryote and adds on to the complexity of gene regulation in malaria parasites.


Dufour's gland secretion as a repellent used during usurpation by the slave-maker ant Rossomyrmex minuchae.
In slave-making ants, the invasion of the host colony by newly mated queens is a critical stage. We studied the strategy used by Rossomyrmex minuchae queens to invade their host Proformica longiseta. Field observations revealed that queens enter the host nest unchallenged by the host workers in the vicinity of the nest entrance. Pre-usurpation queens were found to possess a highly inflated Dufour's gland, which considerably reduces in size after successful usurpation. Chemical analysis of these queen glands revealed tetradecanal to be the major product in pre-usurpation Rossomyrmex queens, but to be almost absent in queens that have been adopted by P. longiseta. We consequently hypothesized that tetradecanal is a repellent that is used by queens to prevent host worker aggression. We tested its repellent effect by attempting to deter starved, highly motivated workers from a droplet of honey. Tetradecanal indeed proved to be highly repellent both to host worker P. longiseta and non-host worker Formica selysi. It was even more powerful than limonene, a reported general ant repellent. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that R. minuchae queens use Dufour's gland secretion as a weapon during nest usurpation. The general use of tetradecanal as a defensive compound, and its seemingly non-specific repellent effect on ants, indicate that it may act as a general ant repellent. Its adoption by R. minuchae queens thus provides them with an efficient defensive and offensive chemical weapon during their long and risky search for new host nests.


Induction of the halobenzoate catabolic pathway and cometabolism of ortho-chlorobenzoates in Pseudomonas aeruginosa 142 grown on glucose-supplemented media.
The aerobic cometabolism of ortho-substituted chlorobenzoates by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 142 growing on glucose-supplemented medium was analyzed. The strain, which can use 2-chlorobenzoate (2-CBA) and 2,4-dichlorobenzoate (2,4-DCBA) as sole carbon and energy sources, showed high rates of 2-CBA metabolism in glucose-fed cells. In contrast, 2,4-DCBA was metabolized only after extended incubation of the full grown culture and depletion of glucose. In addition to the ortho-dehalogenation (ohb142) genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the oxygenase component of a 2-halobenzoate dioxygenase, strain 142 harbours a closely related ohbABCDFG gene cluster previously identified in P. aeruginosa JB2 (ohbJB2). The genes for the chlorocatechol ortho-catabolic pathway were identified and sequenced in this strain, showing a near complete identity with the clcABD operon of the pAC27 plasmid. Relative quantification of mRNA by RT-PCR shows a preferential induction of ohb142 by 2-CBA, which is abolished in glucose-grown cultures. The alternate ohbJB2 and clc genes were expressed preferentially in 2,4-DCBA grown cultures. Only ohbJB2 appears to be expressed in the presence of the carbohydrate. Detection of chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase activity in 2,4-DCBA plus glucose grown cultures suggests the presence of an alternate system for the ortho-cleavage of chlorobenzoates. The recruitment of elements from two halobenzoate dioxygenase systems with different induction patterns, together with a chlorocatechol degradative pathway not repressed by carbon catabolite, may allow P. aeruginosa 142 to cometabolize haloaromatics in carbohydrate grown cultures.


Adaptation to suspensory locomotion in Australopithecus sediba.
Australopithecus sediba is represented by well-preserved fossilized remains from the locality of Malapa, South Africa. Recent work has shown that the combination of features in the limb skeleton of A. sediba was distinct from that of earlier species of Australopithecus, perhaps indicating that this species moved differently. The bones of the arm and forearm indicate that A. sediba was adapted to suspensory and climbing behaviors. We used a geometric morphometric approach to examine ulnar shape, potentially identifying adaptations to forelimb suspensory locomotion in A. sediba. Results indicated suspensory capabilities in this species and a stronger forelimb suspensory signal than has been documented in Australopithecus afarensis. Our study confirms the adaptive significance of functional morphological traits for arboreal movements in the locomotor repertoire of A. sediba and provides important insight into the diversity and mosaic nature of locomotor adaptations among early hominins.


Managing noncompliance in the 'difficult' medical patient: the contributions of insight. A case report.
Psychodynamics can interfere with medical compliance, especially in psychologically vulnerable patients. A case is presented of a cancer patient who developed a powerful transference reaction to her oncologist, jeopardizing her treatment for cancer. Strategies for integrating techniques of insight-oriented psychotherapy with those of supportive psychotherapy are discussed in managing such reactions and improving compliance.


Electrophysical factors influencing endoscopic sphincterotomy.
Analog computer techniques were used to measure electrosurgical power during sphincterotomy in experimental models and patients. Total energy and transient changes in power were measured during sphincterotomy of bile ducts in the livers of pigs, ampullae of humans post mortem, and during clinical sphincterotomy. The effect of waveform on hemostasis was studied in experiments on canine mesenteric arteries. Electrosurgical waveforms (CUT, COAG, BLEND) were measured. Halving wire contact length halved energy needed to initiate cutting. The CUT waveform rarely initiated cutting at lower power settings than the BLEND waveform. With CUT, BLEND, and COAG waveforms, approximately the same energy initiated cutting. Efficiency of cutting increased linearly with power. The COAG waveform required higher power settings than BLEND or CUT to initiate cutting (p < 0.05). Force and wire diameter influenced cutting. BLEND was more effectively hemostatic than CUT (p < 0.05). COAG was significantly more hemostatic than BLEND and CUT. Cutting efficiency during clinical sphincterotomy was poor. This work has practical implications. Shortening wire contact length was effective in starting a cut at suboptimal settings, whereas changing from BLEND to CUT made little difference. Increasing power setting may help if cutting does not start. BLEND stops bleeding better than CUT. COAG stops bleeding better than BLEND but cuts poorly. Cutting during clinical sphincterotomy is inefficient and can be improved.


Genes Linking Mitochondrial Function, Cognitive Impairment and Depression are Associated with Endophenotypes Serving Precision Medicine.
Mitochondria densely populate cells in central nervous system providing essential energy for neurons and influencing synaptic plasticity. Harm to these organelles can impair cognitive performance through damaged neurotransmission and altered Ca2+ homeostasis. Impaired cognition could be one underlying factor which can characterize major depressive disorder, a huge burden for society marked by depressed mood and anhedonia. A growing body of evidence binds mitochondrial dysfunctions with the disease. Cognitive disturbances with different severity are also observable in several patients, suggesting that damage or inherited alterations of mitochondria may have an important role in depression. Since several different biological and environmental factors can lead to depression, mitochondrial changes may represent a significant subgroup of depressive patients although cognitive correlates can remain undiscovered without a specific focus. Hypothesis driven studies instead of GWAS can pinpoint targets relevant only in a subset of depressed population. This review highlights results mainly from candidate gene studies on nuclear DNA of mitochondrion-related proteins, including TOMM40, MTHFD1L, ATP6V1B2 and MAO genes, also implicated in Alzheimer's disease, and alterations in the mitochondrial genome to argue for endophenotypes where impaired mitochondrial function may be the leading cause for depressive symptomatology and parallel cognitive dysfunction.


Is toxicity of PMMA (paramethoxymethamphetamine) associated with cytochrome P450 pharmacogenetics?
In 2010-2013, 29 fatal intoxications related to the designer drug paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA, 4-methoxymethamphetamine) occurred in Norway. The current knowledge about metabolism and toxicity of PMMA in humans is limited. Metabolism by the polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 enzyme to the psychoactive metabolite 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (OH-MA), and possibly by additional enzymes, is suggested to be involved in its toxicity. The aim of this work was to study the association between CYP genetics, PMMA metabolism and risk of fatal PMMA toxicity in humans. The frequency distribution of clinically relevant gene variants of CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5, and the phenotypic blood CYP2D6 metabolic ratio (OH-MA/PMMA) in particular, were compared in fatal PMMA intoxications (n=17) and nonfatal PMMA abuse controls (n=30), using non-abusers (n=305) as references for the expected genotype frequencies in the Norwegian population. Our study demonstrated that the CYP2D6 enzyme and genotype are important in the metabolism of PMMA to OH-MA in humans, but that other enzymes are also involved in this biotransformation. In the fatal PMMA intoxications, the blood concentrations of PMMA were higher and the CYP2D6 metabolic ratios were lower, than in the nonfatal PMMA abuse controls (median (range) 2.1 (0.03-5.0) vs 0.3 (0.1-0.9) mg/L, and ratio 0.6 (0.0-4.6) vs 2.1 (0.2-7.4) p=0.021, respectively). Overall, our findings indicated that, in most cases, PMMA death occurred rapidly and at an early stage of PMMA metabolism, following the ingestion of large and toxic PMMA doses. We could not identify any genetic CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 or CYP3A5 predictive marker on fatal toxicity of PMMA in humans. The overrepresentation of the CYP2D6 poor metabolizer (PM) genotype found in the nonfatal PMMA abuse controls warrants further investigations.


Clinical characteristics, etiology and long-term outcome of epilepsia partialis continua in adult patients in Thailand.
Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is clinically defined as a syndrome of continuous focal jerking of a body part. EPC has various etiologies and outcomes depending on its cause. Most studies on EPC have been conducted in Western countries and no study on the long-term outcome in adult onset epilepsia partialis continua has been reported. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, etiology, and treatment outcome and measurement to identify conditions that are predictive of long-term excellent outcome following epilepsia partialis continua in Thailand. Our study was characterized by a retrospective systematic data collection between 2003 and 2010 that lead to the inclusion of a total of 75 patients, with epilepsia partialis continua at Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. All of the patients received brain CT scans or MRIs after diagnosis with EPC. Basic laboratory investigations including blood sugar, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, electrolyte, calcium, liver function, and complete blood count tests were performed. Additionally, routine electroencephalography were performed and antiepileptic drugs were given to all patients. Therapeutic outcomes and the degree of seizure control after discharge were determined by the functional status and Seizure Frequency Scoring Systems, respectively. All of our patients manifested as motor EPC. The mean duration of EPC was 6.2 days (range 1-30 days) and the most frequent distribution of EPC involved the face and arms (42.7%). Hyperglycemia was the most common cause of EPC (34 patients, 45.3%). Fifty-one patients had an excellent outcome and 24 patients had a non-excellent outcome. All of the patients with hyperglycemia had an excellent outcome and required no antiepileptics in the long term. Predictors of excellent outcome in the scoring system for seizure frequency were metabolic or hyperglycemia-induced EPC, monotherapy and duration of EPC. The characteristics of epilepsia partialis continua in this study were different from those of EPC in Western countries. Its most common cause was hyperglycemia and prognostic factors depended on etiology, number of AEDs, and duration of EPC.


Examining the Association Between School Vending Machines and Children's Body Mass Index by Socioeconomic Status.
To examine the association between vending machine availability in schools and body mass index (BMI) among subgroups of children based on gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status classifications. First-difference multivariate regressions were estimated using longitudinal fifth- and eighth-grade data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. The specifications were disaggregated by gender, race/ethnicity, and family socioeconomic status classifications. Vending machine availability had a positive association (P < .10) with BMI among Hispanic male children and low-income Hispanic children. Living in an urban location (P < .05) and hours watching television (P < .05) were also positively associated with BMI for these subgroups. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment was negatively associated with BMI for low-income Hispanic students (P < .05). These findings were not statistically significant when using Bonferroni adjusted critical values. The results suggest that the school food environment could reinforce health disparities that exist for Hispanic male children and low-income Hispanic children.


Pre-hospital discharge testing of defibrillator without anesthesia: effects on psychological symptoms during clinical follow-up.
After the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), patients often fear therapeutic shock. The extent to which the experience of pre-hospital discharge (PHD) testing without anesthesia after ICD implantation, under observation by a physician, affects shock-related anxiety symptoms on follow-up has not been investigated as yet. In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, 44 patients with a primary prevention indication for an ICD were randomly assigned to experience PHD testing without anesthesia (n = 23) or with anesthesia (n = 21). Patients were longitudinally evaluated before (T(1)), shortly after (T(2)), and 3 months after (T(3)) PHD testing. During the respective PHD testings, the course of patients' serum cortisol release was measured. During PHD testing, patients without anesthesia showed a significantly higher serum cortisol release than patients with anesthesia (F(4,152) = 22.227, p < .001). Patients who experienced PHD testing without anesthesia felt significantly safer with the ICD (U = 165.000, p = .040), would significantly more often recommend other patients to undergo PHD testing without anesthesia (χ(2) = 12.013, p = .002), and showed significantly lower levels of general shock-related anxiety shortly afterward (F(1,42) = 6.327, p = .02) and 3 months after PHD testing (F(1,41) = 8.603, p = .005). The implementation of PHD testing without anesthesia is associated with lower anxiety concerning therapeutic shock. Patients should be advised about the effects of PHD testing without anesthesia on their psychological well-being in the long run.


[Nutrition in children with continuous renal replacement therapy].
The aim of this study was to analyse the nutritional state, diet and gastrointestinal complications of children that require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). A retrospective analysis of a database, which included the information about patients who required CRRT between the years 2013 and 2017. Data were collected on the replacement technique, type of nutrition, calorie and protein intake, gastrointestinal complications, and clinical course. A total of 65 children (61.5% male) were treated with CRRT, and 24 patients (37%) also needed ECMO support. Just over one-quarter (27.7%) of patients had a weight less than P3, and 48.4% of them a height less than P3. At the beginning of the technique, 31 children (47.7%) received enteral nutrition, at the end, there were 52 patients receiving enteral nutrition (80%). The transpyloric tube was used to provide nutrition in 76% of the cases. The median caloric intake was 63kcal/kg/day, and the protein intake was 1.6g/kg/day. There were gastrointestinal difficulties during the process in 48 patients (73.8%), with 29 (44.6%) patients being diagnosed with gastric distension or excessive gastric remains, 22 (33.8%) with constipation, 8 (12.3%) with vomiting, and 4 (6.1%) diarrhoea. One patient treated with ECMO presented with intestinal ischaemia. Enteral nutrition was cancelled in 3 patients (4.6%) due to the complications. There was no relationship between complications and type of diet or ECMO assistance. A high percentage of children treated with CRRT showed undernutrition but they had adequate tolerance to the enteral nutrition. Although the gastrointestinal complications percentage was high in few subjects, these complications are the reason why enteral nutrition was stopped.


Double-balloon catheter for induction of labour in women with a previous cesarean section, could it be the best choice?
We analysed the efficacy and safety of double-balloon catheter for cervical ripening in women with a previous cesarean section and which were the most important variables associated with an increased risk of repeated cesarean delivery. We designed an observational retrospective study of 418 women with unfavourable cervices (Bishop Score <5), a prior cesarean delivery, and induction of labour with a double-balloon catheter. Baseline maternal data and perinatal outcomes were recorded for a descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most women improved their initial Bishop Score (89.5%) although only a 20.8% of them went into spontaneous active labour. Finally, 51.4% of the women achieved a vaginal delivery. Five cases of intrapartum uterine rupture (1.2%) occurred. After multivariate analysis, main risk factors for repeated cesarean section were dystocia in the previous pregnancy (OR 1.744; CI 95% 1.066-2.846), the absence of previous vaginal delivery (OR 2.590; CI 95% 1.066-6.290), suspected fetal macrosomia (OR 2.410; CI 95% 0.959-6.054), and duration of oxytocin induction period (OR 1.005; CI 95% 1.004-1.006). The area under the curve was 0.789 (p < 0.001). Double-balloon catheter seems to be safe and effective for cervical ripening in women with a previous cesarean delivery and unfavourable cervix. In our study, most women could have a vaginal delivery in spite of their risk factors for cesarean delivery. A multivariate model based on some clinical variables has moderate predictive value for intrapartum cesarean section.


The origin of substance P in the rat submandibular gland and its major duct.
The origin of the substance P-like immunoreactivity in the rat submandibular gland and its major duct was investigated. Lesions severing the sympathetic, pre- and postganglionic parasympathetic and sensory innervation of the submandibular gland, or treatment with the neurotoxin capsaicin produced only a small non-significant decrease in the substance P-like immunoreactivity content of the gland. In contrast both sensory denervation and capsaicin treatment produced a substantial decrease in the content of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the major duct of the submandibular gland. These observations indicate that the duct innervation is clearly of sensory origin, whilst the substance P-like immunoreactivity of the gland itself appears to be intrinsic.


Changes in physicochemical characteristics and oxidative stability of pre- and post-rigor frozen chicken muscles during cold storage.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rigor state on physicochemical characteristics and the oxidative stability of chicken leg and breast muscles as a function of freezing time. Breast and leg muscles were excised from 24 broiler chickens at 30 min or 1.5 h postmortem (PM), frozen overnight at - 75 °C immediately, and then stored at - 20 °C for 90 days to measure the meat quality traits. Results showed that longer freezing led to deterioration of meat quality with higher deterioration for post-rigor frozen muscles. Pre-rigor frozen muscles had higher pH, water holding capacity (around 90%), and sarcomere length with a lower thaw and cook loss than post-rigor frozen muscles. The Warner-Bartzler shear force (WBSF) values for chicken leg and breast muscles were insignificant (except pre-rigor leg muscles which had significantly higher WBSF value only at 90th day of storage). The lightness (L*) value increased significantly with increasing storage for all samples. Post-rigor muscles had significantly higher TBARS values (0.62 mg MDA/kg) than the pre-rigor muscles. The leg muscles had better physicochemical characteristics compared to breast muscles, except for the cook loss. Therefore, immediate freezing (prior to onset of rigor) could be an effective way to minimize the quality deterioration of frozen chicken muscles.


A clinical and immunological study of allergy to hen's egg white. I. A clinical study of egg allergy.
Various clinical features of eighty-four atopic patients, with clinical hypersensitivity to egg and positive RAST to egg white, were studied. Some of the clinical data were compared with data from a control group of atopic patients without egg allergy. Atopic diseases and certain food allergies in the families of the egg-allergic patients and atopic controls were also studied. This was done in order to investigate the extent to which differences between the egg allergy group and the atopic control group were reflected in their respective families.


Progressin: a novel proliferation-sensitive and cell cycle-regulated human protein whose rate of synthesis increases at or near the G1/S transition border of the cell cycle.
A novel proliferation-sensitive and cell cycle-specific basic protein, termed progressin (Mr = 33,000), has been identified in proliferating human cells of epithelial, fibroblast and lymphoid origin. Progressin is synthesized almost exclusively during the S-phase of transformed human amnion cells (AMA). Increased synthesis of this protein is first detected late in G1, at or near the G1/S transition border, reaches a maximum in mid to late S-phase, and declines thereafter. Contrary to histones, progressin synthesis is not coupled to DNA replication. As expected for an S-phase-specific protein, no detectable synthesis of progressin was observed in non-proliferating human MRC-5 fibroblasts and epidermal basal keratinocytes. Elevated, but variable levels of this protein were observed in proliferating normal fibroblasts and transformed cells of fibroblast, epithelial and lymphoid origin. Taken together the above observations suggest that progressin may be a component of the common pathway leading to DNA replication and cell division.


Midterm Follow-Up and Assessment of Cartilage Thickness by Arthro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Arthroscopic Cam Resection, Labral Repair, and Rim Trimming Without Labral Detachment.
To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome, sum of acetabular and femoral cartilage thickness, and rate of failure in the midterm after arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome with femoral osteoplasty, labral repair, and rim trimming without labral detachment. This retrospective case series included patients with FAI syndrome who had undergone hip arthroscopy from January 2009 to December 2010 by a single surgeon, with a minimum follow-up of 55 months. Data from patients who had undergone arthroscopic hip procedures with labral repair, rim trimming, and femoral osteoplasty were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Clinical outcome (nonarthritic hip score [NAHS], Short Form 36 [SF-36]), range of motion, progression of osteoarthritis (Tönnis grade), radiological parameters (α angle, lateral center-edge angle [LCEA], Tönnis angle), femoral and acetabular cartilage thickness (using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and intraoperative findings were evaluated. Of 148 hip arthroscopies performed, 97 included rim trimming, labral refixation, and femoral osteoplasty. Ten cases were lost to follow-up, leaving 87 hips. Arthroscopic revision was performed on 4 hips and total hip replacement on 4 hips, and 1 hip underwent both arthroscopic revision and total hip replacement. Excluding these 9 cases of revision, for which follow-up was not possible (retrospective study), the remaining 78 hips were followed up for a minimum of 55 months (77 ± 11.4, mean ± SD; range 55 to 124). Mean NAHS (65 to 88, P < .001), SF-36 physical subscale (65 to 85, P < .001), and the numerical pain rating scale (NRS) (5 to 1, P < .001) improved significantly. Outcome scores of minimal clinical importance (NAHS) were achieved in 67.6% of the patients. Mean range of movement improved significantly in flexion (109 to 122, P < .001) and internal rotation (10 to 22.7, P < .001). NAHS was positively associated with flexion of the hip postoperatively (r = 0.307, P = .011). In 16 cases, microfracture was performed (15 acetabular and 1 femoral). Preoperative α angles (anteroposterior and modified Dunn) were significantly higher in this cohort (P < .001, 95% confidence interval 8.9 to 25.2, P = .001). Twenty hips (28 %) progressed to worse Tönnis grades. Initial Tönnis grades were grade 0, 38; grade 1, 48; grade 2, 8. Pre- or postoperative Tönnis grades did not show any correlation with pre- or postoperative NAHS and NRS. MRI measurements at the latest follow-up (69 patients) of the femoral and acetabular cartilage thickness did not reveal any significant reduction at the 12 o'clock position. Arthroscopic cam resection, rim trimming, and labral repair without detachment of the labrum provides good or excellent outcome in 77.1% of hips based on NAHS in the midterm. Higher range of motion in flexion is associated with higher NAHS postoperatively. Arthroscopic cam resection, rim trimming and labral repair without detachment of the labrum is a successful method for the treatment of FAI syndrome in the midterm. IV, retrospective case series.


Is the early-onset torsion dystonia (EOTD) linked to TOR1A gene as frequent as expected in France?
Early onset torsion dystonia are rare movement disorders. Molecular defect is known for only a subgroup, consisting of a unique and recurrent mutation in the TOR1A gene. We undertook a nationwide census of French TOR1A-mutation carriers and the assessment of clinical associated signs. Overall, 53 index cases and 104 relatives were studied and haplotypes linked to the mutation constructed. The previously reported Ashkenazi-Jewish haplotype was found in 11 families with the remainder carrying distinct haplotypes suggesting independent mutation events. This study demonstrates the scarcity of this disease in France with estimated disease frequency of 0.13:100,000 and mutation frequency of 0.17:100,000.


[Branchial cleft anomalies: a review of 40 cases].
To explore the diagnosis and treatment for the congenital branchial cleft cysts and sinuses. We analyzed the clinical material of 40 patients with branchial cleft cysts and sinuses, and explored the diagnosis and therapeutic experience. Twelve cases were first branchial cleft cysts and sinuses, 23 cases were second branchial cleft cysts and sinuses and 5 cases were third branchial cleft cysts and sinuses. All patients were cured by surgical resection. Followed up from 1 to 5 years, 36 cases were cured, 2 cases were lost touch with, 2 cases recurred and were well treated again. Surgical resection was the main method to treat the congenital branchial cleft cysts.


Cemented versus cementless fixation of a tibial component in LCS mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty performed by a single surgeon.
Although cemented tibial fixation of total knee arthroplasty accepted as the gold standard, cementless fixation as a means to supplement disadvantages of cemented fixation continues to be of interest to clinicians. One hundred sixty-eight consecutive knees undergoing primary knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive either a cemented (86 knees) or cementless (82 knees) fixation of tibial component. We report the outcomes at 8 to 11years (mean, 9.5). The mean KSS, the HSS score, the mean WOMAC, the mean ranges of knee movement and radiological results were similar in both groups. No osteolysis was identified in either group. The rate of survival of the femoral and tibial components was 100% in both groups at final follow-up.


Effects of dipyridamole in vivo on ATP and cAMP content in platelets and arterial walls and on atherosclerotic plaque formation.
In rabbits receiving an atherogenic diet for 2 months, the ATP content of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and arterial tissue was significantly elevated as compared to normal rabbits. This increase in ATP levels of platelets from atherosclerotic rabbits was paralleled by higher basal as well as PGI2-induced cAMP levels. In arterial tissues, an increase was only obtained in PGI2-stimulated cAMP content. Treatment with dipyridamole (DPD) for 4 weeks resulted in a reduction of the ATP content in platelets and arterial tissue from atherosclerotic rabbits to values seen in normal animals. Again, the reduction of ATP content was reflected in a decrease of basal as well as PGI2-induced cAMP levels in platelets, whereas in arterial tissue a decrease was only obtained in PGI2-induced cAMP content. At the same time, DPD treatment enhanced atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aortic wall. The enhanced atherosclerotic plaque formation seen in DPD treated atherosclerotic rabbits may be linked to the inhibition of adenosine uptake, resulting in a decrease of the adenine nucleotide pools of arterial wa-l cells. The decrease also caused a reduction in PGI2-induced cAMP content. This effect may be linked to altered proliferative activity, since in many cell types, stimulation of cAMP levels results in reduced proliferation rates.


Expression of cdk6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Cdk6 is a key regulator during the G1/S cell cycle transition. Aberrant expression of cdk6 protein has been observed in many cancer types. However, little is known about the expression of cdk6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its clinical significance. This study evaluated the expression of cdk6 in HNSCC and analyzed the relationship between cdk6 expression and clinicopathological parameters of HNSCC. Expression of cdk6 was immunohistochemically investigated in 98 HNSCCs. Nuclear and cytoplasmic positive cells were counted separately. Data were presented as the percentage of positive cells. The correlation between the percentage of positive cells and clinicopathological factors was determined. Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for cdk6 were detected in 91 cases and 97 cases, respectively. A significant correlation was found only between the percentage of nuclear positive cells and T classification (p value = 0.0410). Tumors with high nuclear cdk6-positive cells showed a linear trend toward advanced tumor status (p value = 0.0064). Cdk6 was highly expressed in HNSCC. Tumors with high nuclear cdk6 expression tended to have advanced tumor status. These results suggest that cdk6 plays a vital role in HNSCC and is involved in tumor progression of this cancer. An increased nuclear cdk6 expression is an unfavorable factor for HNSCC. Cdk6 may serve as a therapeutic target in this cancer.


Feasibility of Underwater Clip Closure for Large Mucosal Defects after Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.
Clip closure of mucosal defects after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (C-ESD) may decrease the incidence of delayed adverse events. The size of the defect to be closed by conventional clip is limited, however, and we sometimes encounter incomplete closure when the defect is located at the flexure. As, theoretically, underwater clip closure (UCC) could achieve complete closure despite these difficult cases, we investigated its feasibility. We retrospectively analyzed 21 patients who underwent UCC after C-ESD. The main outcome was the UCC success rate, defined as complete closure of the defect. Other outcomes were procedure time, number of clips, and the delayed adverse event rate. The median resected specimen size was 31 mm (range 18-47 mm). The UCC success rate was 100%. The median procedure time was only 11 min (range 6-21 min). The median number of clips was 9 (range 5-16). No delayed adverse event occurred. It is feasible to use UCC to close large mucosal defects, although further studies are warranted to assess its efficacy.


Role of arachidonic acid lipoxygenase pathway in Asthma.
The arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism pathways play a key role in immunological response and inflammation diseases, such as asthma, etc. AA in cell membranes can be metabolized by lipoxygenases (LOXs) to a screen of bioactive substances that include leukotrienes (LTs), lipoxins (LXs), and eicosatetraenoic acids (ETEs), which are considered closely related to the pathophysiology of respiratory allergic disease. Studies also verified that drugs regulating AA LOXs pathway have better rehabilitative intervention for asthma. This review aims to summarize the physiological and pathophysiological importance of AA LOXs metabolism pathways in asthma and to discuss its prospects of therapeutic strategies.


Predicting spread and effective control measures for African swine fever-Should we blame the boars?
An ongoing, continually spreading, outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), following its identification in Georgia in 2007, has resulted in 17 European and 12 Asian countries reporting cases by April 2020, with cases occurring in both wild boar and domestic pigs. Curtailing further spread of ASF requires understanding of the transmission pathways of the disease. ASF is self-sustaining in the wild boar population, and they have been implicated as one of the main drivers of transmission within Europe. We developed a spatially explicit model to estimate the risk of infection with ASF in wild boar and pigs due to natural movement of wild boar that is applicable across the whole of Europe. We demonstrate the model by using it to predict the probability that early cases of ASF in Poland were caused by wild boar dispersion. The risk of infection in 2015 is computed due to wild boar cases in Poland in 2014, compared against reported cases in 2015, and then the procedure is repeated for 2015-2016. We find that long- and medium-distance spread of ASF (i.e. >30 km) is unlikely to have occurred due to wild boar dispersal, due in part to the generally short distances wild boar will travel (<20 km on average). We also predict the relative success of different control strategies in 2015, if they were implemented in 2014. Results suggest that hunting of wild boar reduces the number of new cases, but a larger region is at risk of ASF compared with no control measure. Alternatively, introducing wild boar-proof fencing reduces the size of the region at risk in 2015, but not the total number of cases. Overall, our model suggests wild boar movement is only responsible for local transmission of disease; thus, other pathways are more dominant in medium- and long-distance spread of the disease.


Multiple pathways were involved in tubeimoside-1-induced cytotoxicity of HeLa cells.
The Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae) is a Chinese herb with anticancer potential. Its main active component tubeimoside-1 (TBMS1), a triterpenoid saponin, was previously proved as a potent anticancer chemotherapeutic agent; however, the molecular basis for its activities is still elusive. In the present study, subcellular proteomic study in the cytoplasm and membrane protein fractions extracted from HeLa cells revealed that proteins act as mediators of ROS generation and Ca(2+) regulation were substantially altered in expression upon TBMS1 stimuli. We also found that TBMS1 induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase accompanied by a decrease in G0/G1 phase in HeLa cells. Further biochemical studies showed that TBMS1 inhibited the levels of cyclinB1, Cdc2 and Cdc25C, but enhanced Chk2 phosphorylation. In addition, the cytoplasm sequestration of Cdc25C, Cip1/p21 induction and tubulin dyspolymerization also contributed to the TBMS1-mediated cell cycle arrest on the G2/M phase.


Recurrent well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
The incidence of Well-differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (WDTC) has been increasing over the past several decades. Consequently, so has the incidence of recurrence, which ranges from 15% to 30%. Factors leading to increased risk of recurrence are well described. However, the impact of local and regional recurrence is not well understood, but distant recurrence dramatically reduces 10-year survival to 50%. Recurrent WDTC has several established options for treatment; Observation, Radioactive Iodine (RAI), Surgery and External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT). Novel treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and percutaneous ultrasound-guided ethanol injection (PUEI) are beginning to gain popularity and have promising early results. A review of the current literature, outcome measurements and a strategy for revision surgery within the central neck compartment are discussed within this manuscript.


Navigating the tourism digital landscape: The interrelationship of online travel sites' affordances, technology readiness, online purchase intentions, trust, and E-loyalty.
This study investigates the relationship between online travel sites' affordances (OTSA), technology readiness (TR), and their impact on tourists' online purchase intentions (OPI), as well as the moderating role of trust on OPI and e-loyalty. The survey was conducted online from September 2022 until November 2022 on 306 participants who were selected purposively. The collected data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Analysis (PLS-SEM). The findings indicated that OTSA has a greater influence on OPI in comparison to TR. Specifically, OTSA's level of interactivity and stickiness had a noteworthy impact on OPI, while only the innovativeness of TR had a positive effect on OPI. The results of the moderating role of trust indicated that OPI negatively affects e-loyalty in the presence of trust. The research conducted in this study has yielded valuable insights that hold theoretical and practical significance, particularly for local governments and tourism agencies operating in the realm of online travel sites. A key finding of the study emphasizes the importance of improving technology adoption and user experience to facilitate greater comfort and confidence among tourists in using these platforms. Establishing trust between tourists and online travel sites emerges as a critical factor in shaping the success of the tourism industry. By prioritizing trust and transparency, tourism agencies and online travel sites can forge robust relationships with their customers and promote the growth of the tourism industry toward digitalization.


An observatory on changes in dreaming during a pandemic: a living systematic review (part 1).
A 'new' way of dreaming has emerged during the pandemic, enhancing the interest of psychological literature. Indeed, during the years of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many studies have investigated dream-related phenomena and dreaming functions. Considering the constant and rapid emergence of new results on this topic, the main aim of this study was to create an 'observatory' on the short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on dreaming, by means of a living systematic review. The baseline results are presented, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines, to identify and discuss existing studies about dreams and dreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic published until February 2022. Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and PubMed were used for the search strategy, yielding 71 eligible papers included in the review. Our results show: (a) a more intense oneiric activity during lockdown; (b) changes in dreaming components (especially dream-recall and nightmare frequency); (c) a particular dreaming scenario ('pandemic dreams'); (d) an alteration of the dreaming-waking-life continuum and a specific function of dreaming as emotional regulator. Findings suggest that monitoring changes in dreaming provides important information about psychological health and could also contribute to the debate on the difficulties of dreaming, as well as sleeping, in particular during and after a period of 'collective trauma'.


Look before leaping: foraging selectivity of capuchin monkeys on acacia trees in Costa Rica.
Acacia trees in Costa Rica have an obligate mutualism with three species of Pseudomyrmex ants, which vigorously defend their host tree from insect and mammalian herbivores. Depending on the size and species of ant colony, individual acacia trees may be differentially protected. For animals able to discern between weakly and highly aggressive ant colonies, costs of ant stings from less active colonies might be offset by nutritional value acquired from feeding on acacia fruit or ant larvae in swollen thorns. We examined foraging selectivity of capuchin monkeys on acacia trees in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. We measured four characteristics of the acacia trees from which capuchins fed and of acacias immediately adjacent to those in which the monkeys fed: diameter at breast height (DBH), accessibility, species of closest tree and ant species present. We found that capuchins prefer to forage in acacias that are large and accessible. We also made two measurements of ant colony activity on each tree, one before and one after disturbing the ant colony. We found that the three species of mutualistic ants differ in baseline activity levels and that mutualistic ants are more active than non-mutualistic ant species found in acacia trees. We also found that capuchins foraged more frequently in trees colonized by non-mutualistic ants, but the explanatory value (r (2)) of this model was low. Furthermore, monkeys did not discriminate between acacias on the basis of baseline ant activity or the ant colony's response to disturbance. We conclude that these monkeys select acacia trees in which to forage based on characteristics of the trees rather than the ants. In addition, our study suggests that white-faced capuchins act as predators on the acacia ants but they probably benefit the dispersal and reproductive success of acacia trees. Capuchins may in fact function as an additional mutualistic partner for acacia trees via seed dispersal, but they must overcome the ants' defense of the trees to do so.


ISSR diversity in Jatropha curcas germplasm and offspring of selected parentals.
This article contains metadata related to the research article "Behavior of genetic diversity in F1 crosses of selected accessions of Jatropha curcas" (Sánchez-Velázquez et al., 2018). The data presented in this article belong to a diversity study using ISSR molecular markers of a J. curcas germplasm collection that includes bred offspring and analysis of similarity between accessions. We tested previously reported primers in PCR assays to obtain a genetic profile of the accessions. These profiles were used to calculate Dice similarities. Similarity between offspring and parentals can be compared either with the maternal side or paternal side.


Deletion of lacD gene affected stress tolerance and virulence of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
Streptococcus suis type 2 (S. suis type 2, SS2), an infectious pathogen which is zoonotic and can induce severely public health concern. Our previous research identified a newly differential secreted effector of tagatose-bisphosphate aldolase (LacD) mediated by VirD4 factor within the putative type IV secretion system of SS2, whereas the functional basis and roles in virulence of LacD remain elusive. Here in this study, the LacD was found enzymatic and can be activated to express under oxidative stress. Gene mutant and its complemental strain (ΔlacD and cΔlacD) were constructed to analyze the phenotypes, virulence and transcriptomic profiles as compared with the parental strain. The lacD gene deletion showed no effect on growth capability and cells morphology of SS2. However, reduced tolerance to oxidative and heat stress conditions, increased antimicrobial susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and kanamycin were found in ΔlacD strain. Further, the LacD deficiency led to weakened invasion and attenuated virulence since an easier phagocytosed and more prone to be cleared of SS2 in macrophages were shown in ΔlacD mutant. Distinctive transcriptional profiling in ΔlacD strain and typical down-regulated genes with significant mRNA changes including alcohol dehydrogenase, GTPase, integrative and conjugative elements, and iron ABC transporters which were mainly involved in cell division, stress response, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence regulation, were examined and confirmed by RNA sequencing and real time qPCR. In summary, the results demonstrated for the first time that LacD was a pluripotent protein mediated the metabolic, stress and virulent effect of SS2.


Concentrations of Arsenic and Boron in Water, Sediment and the Tissues of Fish in Emet Stream (Turkey).
In this study, the concentrations of arsenic and boron were determined in the water and the sediment, as well as in the muscle tissues of Squalius cephalus, Alburnoides bipunctatus, Barbus plebejus and Capoeta tinca from Emet Stream. The fish samples were caught in May 2011 and September 2012. The metal concentrations in the water samples were as follows: arsenic was 137.1-1002 µg L-1, and boron was 2421-14490 µg L-1. The metal concentrations in the sediment samples were as follows: arsenic was 14.51-3317.1 mg kg-1, and boron was 14.22-1014.01 mg kg-1. The mean tissue concentration of arsenic was lower than the TFC and WHO limits. Boron has been identified in fish tissues at concentrations between 0.26 and 2.96 mg kg-1. The bioaccumulation in the muscle tissues of all fish species caught from Emet Stream did not exceed the limit values.


Forearm ischaemia as a test of prostacyclin production: studies in normal subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Plasma levels of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, the hydrolysis product of prostacyclin, were significantly reduced in men with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, compared with normal controls. Male diabetics with background or no retinopathy formed an intermediate group with plasma levels of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha lower than controls and higher than patients with proliferative retinopathy. Forearm ischaemia increased plasma levels of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha by 30% in normal subjects. The increase occurred during arterial occlusion and was diminished by pretreatment with aspirin. The increase after ischaemia may reflect increased prostacyclin production. In diabetic patients forearm ischaemia produced an increase in plasma 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha similar to that seen in control subjects.


Hell of a theory.
The theory of group-selected Big God religions is a master narrative of cultural evolution. The evidence is a positive manifold of correlated assumptions and variables. Although provocative, the theory is overly elastic. Its critical ingredient - belief in Big Gods - is neither necessary nor sufficient to account for in-group prosociality and discipline. Four specific issues illustrate this elasticity.


[Molecular characterization of a glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecalis outbreak in an intensive care unit].
Between January and August 2003 glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from eight patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion and the Etest, clonal relatedness of the isolates was studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and the presence of vanA was investigated by PCR. All the isolates were vanA-positive and had an identical PFGE pattern, showing that an outbreak had occurred in our ICU.


Changes in spermatozoal chromatin packaging and susceptibility to oxidative challenge during aging.
Our goal was to test the hypothesis that spermatozoal chromatin packaging changes with age and that aging affects the susceptibility of spermatozoal DNA to oxidative damage. Laboratory study. Academic facility. Young (4 months) and old (21 months) Brown Norway rats. Spermatozoa were collected from the cauda epididymidis and were incubated in saline or H2O2. Thiols levels, chromatin condensation, DNA susceptibility to acid-induced DNA denaturation, and DNA damage were evaluated using monobromobimane, chromomycin A3 (CMA3), acridine orange, and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Spermatozoa from old rats had 25% fewer disulfides but similar levels of free thiols as compared with young. The CMA3 staining was decreased by 13% with age. Levels of chromatin denaturation and DNA damage were similar in control groups. After exposure to oxidant, free thiols became oxidized by about 20% irrespective of age, but CMA3 staining changed little. The acridine orange assay, however, showed a trend for greater chromatin denaturation in spermatozoa from old rats after oxidant treatment. Furthermore, the DNA from spermatozoa of old rats was significantly more susceptible to developing DNA breaks and modification after oxidative challenge. Spermatozoal chromatin packaging changes with aging and vulnerability to oxidative damage increases.


TLR9 agonist regulates angiogenesis and inhibits corneal neovascularization.
Myeloid cells are highly adaptable and may positively or negatively regulate angiogenesis dependent on the cognate and soluble signals they receive. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiate immune responses, orchestrate adaptive immune responses, and regulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis during wound healing. We investigated the possible role of TLR ligands in attenuation of new vessel growth via regulation of expression of VEGF or soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) in both an aortic ring assay and a model of suture-induced corneal angiogenesis. The TLR3 ligand [poly(I:C)] markedly suppressed VEGF secretion and stimulated sFlt-1 release from macrophages. The aortic ring assay demonstrated that new vessels were promoted by the TLR2 ligand (heat killed Listeria monocytogenes) and the TLR4 ligand (lipopolysaccharide), concomitant with increased VEGF and matrix metalloproteinase 9 secretion. In contrast, the TLR9 ligand [oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)1826] stimulated sFlt-1 secretion from macrophages and reduced the number of aortic ring vessel sprouts. ODN1826 also significantly reduced the length and volume of both hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the suture-induced corneal angiogenesis model. Furthermore, 53 angiogenic factors were examined via protein array and compared between ODN1826- and water-treated corneas to interrogate the pathway of ODN1826 inhibition, demonstrating an up-regulation of Serpin E1 signal. Further clinical and IHC analyses of the aortic ring assay indicated that TLR9 suppressed tip cell migration and recruitment of mural cells and adventitial macrophages.


Quantitative evaluation of severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients with vascular dementia.
To quantitatively evaluate severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) for vascular dementia (VD). Changes of 51 patients with VD in BPSD between the first and 24th week were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the behavioral pathology in Alzheimer's disease (BEHAVE-AD) rating scale, in detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) represented by diurnal activity (DA), evening activity (EA), and nocturnal activity (NA), and the relationships were analyzed. The subscores of activity disturbances, diurnal rhythm disturbances, and anxieties and phobias in the BEHAVE-AD score, and that of agitation, irritability, and sleep disorder in the NPI score were significantly increased compared with the first week, as was for the changes for EA in the DFA value. A linear correlation was observed between the changes of activity disturbances plus anxieties and phobias, and those of DA, and between the development of diurnal rhythm and those of EA, the vehement and autism scores and those of DA, and the difference in sleep disorder scores and those of EA, respectively. Analysis of DA, NA, and EA may reflect the fluctuational degrees of VD-BPSD, can provide a useful assessment of VD-BPSD accompanied by clinical scores for VD.


Signaling in neuropeptide-induced migration of human eosinophils.
At inflammatory sites, leukocytes may confront multiple, competing chemoattractive signals. We compared the chemotactic potencies of several sensory neuropeptides with regard to signal transduction pathways in eosinophils. Eosinophils were enriched using magnetic cell sorting and migration was assayed in a Boyden microchemotaxis chamber. We found stimulatory effects of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), secretoneurin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and secretin on eosinophil migration. Actions of VIP are predominantly mediated via VIP receptor type I. Migration toward secretoneurin, VIP, and secretin was blocked by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which, in contrast failed to affect substance P- and CGRP-induced eosinophil chemotaxis. Wortmannin blunted the migratory responses induced by all neuropeptides tested and substance P-induced effects on eosinophils were tyrphostin-23-sensitive. We conclude that substance P, CGRP, secretoneurin, and VIP/secretin stimulate eosinophil migration involving wortmannin-sensitive enzymes. Moreover, secretoneurin and VIP/secretin require additional activation of phosphodiesterases to stimulate eosinophil migration.


Studies of nephrotoxicity due to mixed exposure to styrene and toluene.
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated simultaneously with 4 mmol styrene per kg i.p., twice a day at an interval of 4 h, and 10 mmol toluene per kg once a day, 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last day of treatment, the rats were placed in metabolism cages for collection of urines for 24 h and then were sacrificed. Such mixed exposure produced significant increases in the urinary excretion of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glucose and proteins as compared to those with either solvent alone. An increase, but not significant, in the urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was also noticed due to such exposure. Electron microscopic examination of renal cortex 24 h after the mixed exposure showed the appearance of many vacuoles of various sizes surrounded by a single membrane, which were not seen in rats treated with either styrene or toluene alone. Metabolism studies showed only a significant increase in the urinary excretion of hippuric acid due to mixed exposure. These data indicate that under certain conditions, mixed subchronic exposure to styrene and toluene may have the potential to increase further the nephrotoxic response as compared to that of either solvent alone.


Changes in intracellular cations following fertilization of sea urchin eggs. Na+/H+ and Na+/K+ exchanges.
Sodium and potassium contents, as well as H+ excretion were measured at various times after fertilization in eggs of the sea urchin Paracentrotus, using a rapid filtration technique (Payan, P, Girard, U P, Christen, R & Sardet, C, Exp cell res 134 (1981) 339 [1]). Sodium content changes with a biphasic time course due to the appearance of two exchange mechanisms: 1. A transient Na+/H+ exchange with a l/l stoichiometry causes a rapid rise in intracellular sodium. This exchange lasts about 3 min. and is not inhibited by poisoning the eggs with NaCN. 2. An Na+/K+ exchange, detectable within minutes of fertilization causes sodium content of the egg to fall and settle below unfertilized level. This exchange is energy-dependent, reduced in low K+ (2 mM), totally inhibited by harmaline (10(-4) M) and only partially inhibited by ouabain (10(-2) M). Potassium content rises rapidly after fertilization by an undefined mechanism and is further increased via the Na+/K+ exchange. The Na+/Ka+ exchange increases the cytoplasmic K+/Na+ ratio of the egg from 6 to 12 in the first hour after fertilization. When fertilization occurs in low K+ SW, where the Na+/K+ exchange is reduced, the ratio Na+/K+ decreases and the embryos develop with a preponderance of ectodermal structures (animalization).


The lysosomal beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase isozymes in human plasma during pregnancy: separation and quantification by a simple automated procedure.
beta-D-N-Acetylglucosaminidase isozymes were separated and assayed in the plasma of control healthy individuals and pregnant women by an automated method consisting in chromatofocusing on polybuffer exchanger PBE-94 column, flow-through fluorimetric determination of activity and computer assisted quantification. Under the established optimal conditions the method fractionated beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase into four isozymes. A, I2, I1 and B, with the analytical coefficients of variation of 1.8, 2.2, 6.4 and 4.1%, respectively. Duration of a single analysis was 25 min including washing, and 10-15 successive runs could be performed on the same column with good reproducibility. A linear activity response was observed from 1-5 microliters of plasma (depending on the individual isozyme) to 50 microliters, and the detection limit was 0.016 mUnits. Isozyme A was heat labile. Upon sialidase treatment, isozymes A, I2 and I1 released sialic acid and were eluted from the column at less acidic pHs. In healthy individuals isozymes A, I2, I1 and B covered about 62.8, 6.9, 15.0 and 15.1% of the total beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activity, respectively. During pregnancy the plasma concentration of all isozymes increased. Isozyme I2 showed the highest enhancement (30-fold), followed by I1 (8-fold), B (5.6-fold) and A (3-fold). Interruption of pregnancy by either physiological delivery or ambulatory abortion was followed by a sharp fall of the concentration of all isozymes reaching, in a few days, the control levels.


Miller-Galante total knee arthroplasty: the importance of material and design on the revision rate.
We have reviewed 142 Miller-Galante I (MG I) total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) with a follow-up of 56 months, and compared these with the outcome of 219 Miller-Galante II (MG II) TKAs with a follow-up of 36 months. In the MG II TKAs we found markedly lower revision rates, higher postoperative Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, less retropatellar pain and better patellar centring without patellar resurfacing. The higher revision rate in MG I TKAs was mainly due to the need to revise the metal-backed patellae.


Methoxistasis: integrating the roles of homocysteine and folic acid in cardiovascular pathobiology.
Over the last four decades, abnormalities in the methionine-homocysteine cycle and associated folate metabolism have garnered great interest due to the reported link between hyperhomocysteinemia and human pathology, especially atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. However, clinical trials of B-vitamin supplementation including high doses of folic acid have not demonstrated any benefit in preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. In addition to the fact that these clinical trials may have been shorter in duration than appropriate for modulating chronic disease states, it is likely that reduction of the blood homocysteine level may be an oversimplified approach to a complex biologic perturbation. The methionine-homocysteine cycle and folate metabolism regulate redox and methylation reactions and are, in turn, regulated by redox and methylation status. Under normal conditions, a normal redox-methylation balance, or "methoxistasis", exists, coordinated by the methionine-homocysteine cycle. An abnormal homocysteine level seen in pathologic states may reflect a disturbance of methoxistasis. We propose that future research should be targeted at estimating the deviation from methoxistasis and how best to restore it. This approach could lead to significant advances in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure.


Cambridge Cognitive Examination and Hachinski Ischemic Score as predictors of MRI confirmed pathology in dementia: A cross-sectional study.
Dementia is diagnosed through a combination of clinical assessment, cognitive assessment tools and neuroimaging. The aim of this retrospective, naturalistic study was to explore the association between the clinical assessment tools used in a memory clinic and the findings of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans in patients with dementia. Data were collected through routine clinical practice for all patients assessed at a memory assessment clinic in East Sussex, UK. Included patients had an MRI scan and received a formal diagnosis of dementia. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between atrophy on MRI with age, gender, Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) and Hachinski Ischemic Score (HIS). Ordinal logistic regression was used to study the associations between vascular findings on MRI with age, gender, CAMCOG and HIS. Because of the distribution of HIS scores a cut-off of 1 or greater was used in the regression analysis. Male gender was associated with an increased likelihood of moderate atrophy (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-3.82), severe atrophy (RRR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.38-6.68) and regional atrophy (RRR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.26-4.00) on MRI. An increase of one point on the CAMCOG was associated with a decreased risk of regional atrophy (RRR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-1.00) on MRI. There were no significant associations between age, or HIS, and atrophy on MRI. An increase in age of one year was associated with an increase in severity of vascular pathology reported on MRI (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.05-1.12). Male gender was associated with reduced severity of vascular pathology reported on MRI (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36-0.78). There were no associations between CAMCOG, or HIS, and vascular pathology on MRI. Our data show that CAMCOG was associated with MRI findings of regional atrophy and vascular pathology was greater in older patients. We highlight the importance of using a multi-modal approach to dementia diagnosis.


Mineral status and mechanical properties of lumbar spine of female rats chronically exposed to various levels of cadmium.
The effects of chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) on the mineral status, mechanical properties and incidence of deformities and fractures of the lumbar spine (L1-L5) were studied in a rat model of human exposure. Young female Wistar rats were exposed to 1, 5, 50 or 100 mg Cd/l for 12 months. Cd, dose and time dependently, disturbed the mineral status of the lumbar vertebrae as reflected in decreased bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) at the L1-L5 (DEXA technique) and ash weight (AW) of the fourth lumbar vertebral body (L4). However, the changes were too small to be evident radiographically. Cd had no effect on the ratio of nonorganic to organic component content, except for its decrease at the 100 mg Cd/l. Weakness in the mechanical properties (compression test; Instron machine) of the L4 was noted. At the 1 mg Cd/l, a decrease was observed in the deformation at the yield point, with a simultaneous increase in the L4 stiffness, but not in strength (defined by load at yield or ultimate load). In the 5 mg Cd/l group, similar changes took place and a decrease in the ultimate load was evident as well. At the 50 and 100 mg Cd/l, Cd more seriously affected the L4 mechanical properties. At all levels of Cd exposure, the L4 deformities and/or fractures took place. Intact L4 was noted only in the 1 and 5 mg Cd/l groups. The study clearly revealed that chronic exposure to Cd disturbs the L1-L5 mineral status resulting in weakness in its mechanical properties and in turn in vertebral body (cancellous bone) deformities and fractures. The results allow us to conclude that the critical Cd concentration for these effects is very low [about 0.06-0.09 microg/g dry defatted weight (DW)] and seem to indicate an osteoporotic character of changes. A very important finding of the study is that Cd affects cancellous bone even at low-level intoxication corresponding to the general population exposure. Thus, we hypothesize that environmental exposure to Cd may be a risk factor for the lumbar spine demineralization and increased incidence of vertebral deformities and fractures.


Fluorescent silica nanoparticles as an internal marker in fruit flies and their effects on survivorship and fertility.
Tracking and differentiating small insects at the individual levels requires appropriate marking materials because of their small size. This study proposes and investigates the use of fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) as an internal marker owing to their good optical properties and biocompatibility. FSNPs were prepared using the water-in-oil reverse microemulsion technique with Rubpy dye as a fluorophore. The obtained particles were spherical, monodispersed in nanosize and exhibited bright orange luminescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. Internal marking was accomplished in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) through feeding. The result shows that the fruit flies exhibit bright luminescence in their abdomen when exposed to UV light. The marking persistence duration of FSNPs in the fruit fly bodies is longer than those of other fluorescent dyes. Fruit flies fed with FSNPs have a longer lifespan than those fed with Rubpy dye. There was no difference in fertility and negative geotaxis response among the treatment and control groups. These findings demonstrate that FSNPs can be used as an internal marker in fruit flies, and are possibly applied with other small insects with a translucent abdomen.


Spirulina supplementation prevents exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage in elite rugby players.
The present study aimed to examine the effects of spirulina supplementation on pro/antioxidant status, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage markers immediately and 24 h after exhaustive exercise in elite rugby players. Seventeen elite male Rugby Union players were randomly assigned to a spirulina (SPI: n = 9) or placebo (PLA: n = 8) group in a double-blind design. Subjects were supplemented with Spirulina platensis (5.7 g day-1 ) or placebo (isoproteic and caloric) for 7 weeks. At baseline and after 7 weeks of supplementation, blood samples were obtained before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 24 h after (T2) exhaustive exercise. The Yoyo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 was used as an exhaustive exercise to induce oxidative stress (OS), inflammation and skeletal muscle damage. The studied parameters included pro/antioxidant status markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione/glutathione disulphide ratio, oxidised low-density lipoprotein and F2α-isoprostanes [F2-Isop]), inflammation markers (myeloperoxidase and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and skeletal muscle damage markers (lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase [CK]). Our results showed that F2-Isop, CRP and CK levels significantly increased at T1 only in the PLA group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) with no change in the SPI group, which reflects the effect of spirulina to prevent lipid peroxidation, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage induced by exhaustive exercise. Moreover, spirulina supplementation accelerated the return to baseline values given that F2-Isop, CRP and CK levels at T2 were significantly lower than at T0 in the SPI group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Based on the markers used in the present study, our results show that spirulina supplementation potentially prevents exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage, and may also accelerate the recovery of some of these markers. Based on our findings, we recommend spirulina supplementation especially for those athletes who do not achieve the recommended antioxidant dietary intake and who perform a high training load aiming to reduce the magnitude of OS, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage, which could help to reduce performance losses and accelerate recovery after training/competitions throughout the season.


Glucose metabolism disorder: a potential accomplice of SARS-CoV-2.
Globally, 265,713,467 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2), including 5,260,888 deaths, have been reported by the WHO. It is important to study the mechanism of this infectious disease. A variety of evidences show the potential association between CoV-2 and glucose metabolism. Notably, people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other metabolic complications were prone to have a higher risk of developing a more severe infection course than people who were metabolically normal. The correlations between glucose metabolism and CoV-2 progression have been widely revealed. This review will discuss the association between glucose metabolism disorders and CoV-2 progression, showing the promoting effect of diabetes and other diseases related to glucose metabolism disorders on the progression of CoV-2. We will further conclude the effects of key proteins and pathways in glucose metabolism regulation on CoV-2 progression and potential interventions by targeting glucose metabolism disorders for CoV-2 treatment. Therefore, this review will provide systematic insight into the treatment of CoV-2 from the perspective of glucose metabolism.


Sympathetic Nervous System, Hypertension, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.
Experimental and clinical studies have clearly shown the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases. This short review will be aimed at focusing and discussing the new information collected on two specific clinical conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. The paper will briefly describe the four main mechanisms that represent the common link between these two pathophysiological conditions and that through the sympathetic nervous system contribute to increase the cardiovascular risk.


Effects of acute and chronic nicotine on somatodendritic dopamine release of the rat ventral tegmental area: in vivo microdialysis study.
The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of acute and chronic nicotine on dopamine (DA) release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of Long-Evans rats using in vivo microdialysis. Systemic application of acute nicotine (0.1-0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly increased (145% of baseline) DA release in the VTA. Chronic exposure to nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days followed by a challenge dose of nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) also produced significant enhancement (136% of baseline) of DA release in the VTA. The results suggest that both acute and chronic nicotine treatment exert stimulatory effects on somatodendritic DA release in the VTA. The enhancement of DA release to subsequent challenge nicotine may be susceptible to mild desensitization.


Terbutaline-induced desensitization of polymorphonuclear leukocyte beta 2-adrenergic receptors in young and elderly subjects.
Potential age-related differences in cardiovascular responsiveness and receptor regulation induced by short-term administration of a selective beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist were investigated. Young (age range, 23 to 31 years) and elderly (age range, 64 to 73 years) healthy subjects were treated with terbutaline (5 mg, three times daily) for 5 days. Similar plasma terbutaline concentrations were achieved in the two age groups. The elderly group had higher baseline plasma norepinephrine concentrations and mean arterial pressures, neither of which were altered by terbutaline administration. During terbutaline treatment, heart rate increased in both age groups while subjects were supine but consistently increased only in the young group while subjects were standing. In both age groups, the density of beta 2-adrenergic receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocyte membranes was reduced by 50% during terbutaline administration and returned to baseline values at similar rates after drug administration was stopped. Isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from elderly subjects was regulated similarly. These findings suggest that the ability of terbutaline to increase standing heart rate is selectively impaired in the elderly, whereas the ability of polymorphonuclear leukocyte beta 2-adrenergic receptors to down-regulate and to return to baseline values is not.


Cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for human placental NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase.
NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of many prostaglandins at C-15, resulting in a subsequent reduction in their biological activity. We report the isolation of the cDNA for this enzyme. A human placental lambda gt11 cDNA library was screened using polyclonal antibodies prepared against the human placental enzyme. A 2.5-kilobase cDNA containing the entire coding region for the enzyme was isolated. The cDNA encodes for a protein of 266 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 28,975. Identification of the cDNA as that coding for 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase was based on the comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the amino acid sequence of two peptides, one from the rabbit lung enzyme and the other from the human placental enzyme. This cDNA hybridizes with two species of poly(A+) RNA isolated from human placenta: one of 3.4 kilobases and the other of 2.0 kilobases. Isolation of the cDNA for 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase should facilitate studies on the structure, function, and regulation of this enzyme.


Crystalloid or colloid: does it matter?
The modern version of the crystalloid-colloid debate has continued for more than 25 years, and a current appraisal of the debate is presented here. Although the effect of crystalloids and colloids on intravascular volume is important, their effect on interstitial fluid volume after hemorrhage and hemorrhagic shock is central to the debate. If reduced, crystalloids are appropriate as part of the resuscitation regime; if increased, colloid therapy is more logical. A brief review of the distribution of crystalloids and currently used colloids (albumin, polygeline, dextran 70, and hydroxyethyl starch) is presented. The problems of pulmonary and peripheral edema also are presented, as is an appraisal of adverse reactions to colloids together with a cost comparison of crystalloids and colloids. The results of a survey of attitudes at the major Australian anesthetic departments are given, and a personal approach to fluids in resuscitation is outlined.


Use of a hybrid intelligence decision tree to identify mature B-cell neoplasms.
Mature B-cell neoplasms are challenging to diagnose due to their heterogeneity and overlapping clinical and biological features. In this study, we present a new workflow strategy that leverages a large amount of flow cytometry data and an artificial intelligence approach to classify these neoplasms. By combining mathematical tools, such as classification algorithms and regression tree (CART) models, with biological expertise, we have developed a decision tree that accurately identifies mature B-cell neoplasms. This includes chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), for which cytometry has been extensively used, as well as other non-CLL subtypes. The decision tree is easy to use and proposes a diagnosis and classification of mature B-cell neoplasms to the users. It can identify the majority of CLL cases using just three markers: CD5, CD43, and CD200. This approach has the potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of mature B-cell neoplasm diagnosis.


Maintenance of energy-linked functions in rat liver mitochondria.
EGTA and EDTA are compared with respect to their ability to preserve ATP-requiring reactions in rat liver mitochondria. The presence of EGTA sustains the high ATP requirement of citrulline synthesis. EDTA does not, even with excess Mg2+. Carboxylation of pyruvate, which has a lower ATP demand, is not influenced by the type of chelating agent. In mitochondria stored for 24 h at 4 degrees C, EGTA is more effective than EDTA in preventing loss of these energy-linked functions.


The origin of RNA and "my grandfather's axe".
The origin of RNA is one of the most formidable problems facing prebiotic chemists. We consider RNA as a product of evolution, as opposed to the more conventional view of RNA as originally being the product of abiotic processes. We have come to accept that life's informational polymers have changed in chemical structure since their emergence, which presents a quandary similar to the paradox of "My Grandfather's Axe". Here, we discuss reasons why all contemporary components of RNA--the nucleobases, ribose, and phosphate--are not likely the original components of the first informational polymer(s) of life. We also evaluate three distinct models put forth as pathways for how the earliest informational polymers might have assembled. We see the quest to uncover the ancestors of RNA as an exciting scientific journey, one that is already providing additional chemical constraints on the origin of life and one that has the potential to produce self-assembling materials, novel catalysis, and bioactive compounds.


Does the use of antipyretics prolong illness? A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis on the effects of antipyretics in acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections.
Fever contributes to the inflammatory response; in some infections, antipyretics could prolong the illness. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of antipyretic treatments on the evolution of acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTI). A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analysis was conducted. Our primary endpoint was the time to recovery from illness. Our prespecified secondary endpoints were quality of life, duration and number of fever episodes, repeated medical visits, and adverse events. Out of the 1466 references found, 25 RCTs were included. There were two studies assessing mean fever clearance time, and five studies examining the duration of symptoms associated with the illness studied. No statistically significant differences were found when pooling the results of the different studies. The assessment of adverse events showed a significant difference disadvantaging non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. No meta-analysis could be performed for our other secondary endpoints. The quality of the evidence is limited by the small number of studies included for our primary endpoint and by heterogeneity between the studies. Our results suggest that the use of antipyretics does not prolong or shorten illness duration in acute upper and lower RTI. The symptomatic efficacy of antipyretics must be weighed against their adverse effects, particularly when fever is well-tolerated.


Comparison of pharyngoesophageal segment pressure in total laryngectomy patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy.
To compare pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) pressure values in total laryngectomy patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy (PN) in the early postoperative period. Forty-five previously untreated laryngeal carcinoma patients were enrolled into this prospective randomized study. Twenty of them underwent total laryngectomy with PN, and 25 underwent total laryngectomy without PN. PES pressures were measured on the tenth postoperative day with a four-channel catheter. Average PES pressures in patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy were 12.82 +/- 6.11 mmHg and 17.40 +/-.72 mmHg respectively (p <.05). When compared with the critical point of 20 mmHg that is closely related to voice attainment in the group without pharyngeal neurectomy, 10 (40%) patients had pressure levels greater than 20 mmHg and in the other group only 1 (5%) patient had a pressure level greater than 20 mmHg. The difference between the groups with pressure levels greater than 20 mmHg was found to be statistically significant (p <.05). Pharyngeal neurectomy results in a statistically significant decrease of PES pressures in total laryngectomy patients.


Cognitive deficits in patients with small cell lung cancer before and after chemotherapy.
We conducted a prospective study of cognitive function in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). A previous study had shown SCLC patients to have deficits in memory, frontal lobe executive functioning, and motor skills before they received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). This study was performed to determine whether these deficits were related to chemoradiation treatment. We evaluated two groups of patients: one newly diagnosed and untreated, the other post-chemoradiation and before PCI. Strict eligibility criteria were used to minimize any preexisting factors that might influence cognitive functioning. Results showed that patients with SCLC have cognitive deficits before receiving chemoradiation, specifically on tests of verbal memory, frontal lobe executive functions, and motor coordination. There was no difference between the treated and untreated patients on any test. Etiologic considerations currently under study include paraneoplastic phenomena.


Identification and characterization of a 30 kd major allergen from Parapenaeus fissurus.
The allergenic components of the shrimp (Parapenaeus fissurus) were identified by immunoblotting with sera from 10 allergic patients. Six components, ranging in molecular weight from about 86 to 39 kd, showed IgE-binding activity and were identified as allergens of the shrimp. The component with a molecular weight of about 39 kd showed the highest frequency of IgE binding (70%) and was considered to be one of its major allergens. Two monoclonal antibodies against this 39 kd component were generated, and their antigenic cross-reactivity with five different kinds of seafood, shrimp, crab, cuttlefish, oyster, and pomfret was analyzed. Monoclonal antibody 1-6-10B reacted with the 39 kd component from shrimp only, but monoclonal antibody 2-7-1E also reacted with the 39 kd component from crab. By extraction with 0.5% sodium dodecylsulfate and ethanol precipitation, a highly purified shrimp 39 kd component was obtained. In two-dimensional gel electrophoresis six isoforms of this purified 39 kd component, with isoelectric point values from 5.1 to 5.6, were identified. No marked difference was observed when the amino acid composition of this purified 39 kd allergen was compared with those of serum albumin from different animals. They all contain a high proportion of acidic amino acids. There was also a 62% to 83% sequence homology among three different pairs of peptide fragments of purified 39 kd components of shrimp and crab. In conclusion, a 39 kd major allergen from the shrimp has been identified and characterized in the present study. According to the suggestions of the International Union of Immunological Societies, this allergen is designated as Par f I.


Wound infections in pediatric surgery: a study of 575 patients in a university hospital.
Surgical wound infections (WI) remain a significant source of postoperative morbidity. This epidemiologic study was undertaken to determine retrospectively the incidence of postoperative WI in children in a university hospital and include critical comparisons of pediatric surgery WI rates between different international reports. As few data exist on postoperative WIs in pediatric patients, in contrast to numerous reports in adults, all infants and children undergoing operations in the pediatric surgical service in our institution during a 7-year period were reviewed for development of a WI, a total of 537 patients who underwent 575 operations. WIs occurred in 39 cases (6.7%). Clean wounds (56.8% of patients) had an infection rate of 2.7%, clean-contaminated (23.1%) 10.5%, contaminated (12.9%) 13.5%, and dirty/infected (7.2%) 14.6%. Increasing duration of operation ( P < 0.001), contamination at operation ( P < 0.001), and a new element in the operation - a resident or intern - ( P < 0.001) were all associated with a higher incidence of infection, despite efforts at infection-control practices including improved sterilization methods and barriers, surgical technique, and availability of antimicrobial prophylaxis. The total incidence of wound infection in this population was comparable to that in other reports. Comparing children who developed a wound infection with those who did not, there were no significant differences in age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists preoperative assessment score, length of preoperative hospitalization, location of operation (intensive care unit vs operating room), the presence of a coexisting disease or remote infection, or the use of perioperative antibiotics. These baseline data may aid in forming strategies to lower the risk of WI in children. Our results suggest that WIs in children are related more to factors at operation than to the patients overall physiologic status.


Isoelectric focusing of monoamine oxidase subtypes as identified by MAO inhibitors.
Monoamine oxidase from various human tissues from several individuals was labeled with [3H]pargyline and solubilized by means of Triton X-100 or Triton X-100 and urea. The specificity of the labeling was assessed using various selective, reversible and irreversible inhibitors as pharmacologic tools in competition experiments. The labeled material was submitted to isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels according to one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic procedures and with fluorographic detection. While the differences in electrophoretic mobility of the two subtypes, MAO-A and MAO-B, could be replicated the subtypes showed identical although heterogeneous charges in isoelectric focusing. This contrasts with recent findings of clear differences in the primary structure of monoamine oxidase subtypes and thus needs further clarification.


PIEZO2 in somatosensory neurons controls gastrointestinal transit.
The gastrointestinal tract is in a state of constant motion. These movements are tightly regulated by the presence of food and help digestion by mechanically breaking down and propelling gut content. Mechanical sensing in the gut is thought to be essential for regulating motility; however, the identity of the neuronal populations, the molecules involved, and the functional consequences of this sensation are unknown. Here, we show that humans lacking PIEZO2 exhibit impaired bowel sensation and motility. Piezo2 in mouse dorsal root, but not nodose ganglia is required to sense gut content, and this activity slows down food transit rates in the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Indeed, Piezo2 is directly required to detect colon distension in vivo. Our study unveils the mechanosensory mechanisms that regulate the transit of luminal contents throughout the gut, which is a critical process to ensure proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal.


Detection and determination of total amlodipine by high-performance thin-layer chromatography: a useful technique for pharmacokinetic studies.
A novel analytical method for determination of the total plasma levels (free and protein bound) of the calcium channel blocking agent amlodipine has been developed using a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) procedure. Detection and quantitation were performed without internal standards. In previously described methods for the estimation of amlodipine by gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, only the free levels in plasma and serum were quantified at 7% of the total amlodipine level, with the remaining 93% bound to plasma protein and tissue. The present method employs proteolysis of the plasma proteins by incubating plasma for 2 h in pepsin solution. After proteolysis amlodipine is extracted and a known amount of the extract is spotted on precoated silica-gel 60 F254 plates using a Camag Linomat IV autosampler. Amlodipine was quantified using a dual-wavelength TLC scanner. The method provides a direct estimate of the total amlodipine present in plasma.


Neurolepticlike actions of l-methadone: effect on mescaline-induced altered behavior and on tissue levels of mescaline in mice.
Mice were injected ip with either saline, l-methadone (2.5, 5, 20 mg/kg), perphenazine (1, 10, 15 mg/kg), or chlorprothixene (1.25, 2.5, 15 mg/kg) 30 min prior to mescaline-14C (25 mg/kg). Mescaline-induced behavioral changes such as agitation, excitement, slight increase in ventilation, and fright to sound stimuli were prevented by all doses of three drugs, and head-shaking, scratching, and locomotor-increasing effects by 5 and 20 mg/kg methadone and by all doses of both neuroleptics. Catalepticlike state and moderate to marked hypothermia induced by all doses of chlorprothixene, 10 and 15 mg/kg perphenazine, and 20 mg/kg methadone were not reversed by mescaline. Chlorprothixene (all doses), perphenazine (10, 15 mg/kg), and methadone (5, 20 mg/kg) caused marked retention of mescaline and its deaminated metabolite, 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl acetic acid in both brain and plasma. The fact that relatively higher doses of methadone than neuroleptics are needed to ensure effective antagonism to mescaline action tends to indicate a less specific interaction of the opiate with the neuroleptic/dopamine receptor proposed for central mescaline effects.


Subcapsular hepatic hematoma as a complication of ERCP: what do we know about its etiology?
We present the case of a 79-year-old male who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after cholangitis. The papilla was rigid and the biliary tract was dilated with sharpening of the distal bile duct, with no obvious cause. There was no bile flow after sphincterotomy, no stone after sweeping the duct with a balloon and the brush did not expand properly when trying to obtain cytologic material. Finally, a plastic stent was placed and purulent bile flowed. Biopsies of the papilla were taken due to the suspicion of tumor infiltration. The next day, the patient had pain in the right upper quadrant and blood tests highlighted mild anemization.


[Between psyche and brain : State of the art in psychiatry].
Since its development around 1800 psychiatry has been oscillating between the poles of the sciences and the humanities, being directed towards subjective experience on the one hand and towards the neural substrate on the other hand. Today, this dualism seems to have been overcome by a naturalism, which identifies subjective experience with neural processes, according to Griesinger's frequently quoted statement "mental diseases are brain diseases". The progress achieved by the neurobiological paradigm on the level of a fundamental science is in contrast to the tendency to isolate mental illnesses from the patients' social relationships and to neglect subjectivity and intersubjectivity in their explanation. What should be searched for is therefore an overarching paradigm that is able to establish psychiatry as a relational medicine in an encompassing sense: as a science and practice of biological, psychological and social relationships and their disorders. Within such a paradigm, the brain may be understood and investigated as the central "relational organ" without reductionist constrictions.


The PROTECT in-hospital risk model: 7-day outcome in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and renal dysfunction.
In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), early worsening heart failure (WHF) predicts a significant proportion of post-discharge readmissions and mortality. We aimed to identify the predictors of 7-day heart failure events or death in patients hospitalized with AHF. A predictive model and risk score for the short-term primary composite endpoint of 7-day death, HF rehospitalization, or WHF was created using variables collected within 24 h of admission from patients with complete data (n = 2015) enrolled in the PROTECT trial of AHF patients. The 7-day composite was experienced by 294 patients (14.6%), with a mortality rate of 1.8% (n = 37), HF rehospitalization rate of 0.5% (n = 9), and WHF rate of 13.1% (n = 264). In multivariable analyses, the strongest predictor of short-term morbidity and mortality was higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Additional independent predictors of a worse outcome were lower serum albumin, cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, as well as higher heart rate and respiratory rate. Model coefficients were converted to an additive risk score for predicting the 7-day composite endpoint with a total point range of 0-100. The risk score allowed discrimination of a wide spectrum of risk (4.8% risk with score ≤35, to 28.7% risk with score >55). Using the PROTECT 7-day risk model and score, the main determinants of an adverse outcome for AHF patients included impaired metabolic status, neurohormonal activation, and reduced cardiac performance, gauged by BUN, serum albumin and cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.


Haplotype based testing for a better understanding of the selective architecture.
The identification of genomic regions affected by selection is one of the most important goals in population genetics. If temporal data are available, allele frequency changes at SNP positions are often used for this purpose. Here we provide a new testing approach that uses haplotype frequencies instead of allele frequencies. Using simulated data, we show that compared to SNP based test, our approach has higher power, especially when the number of candidate haplotypes is small or moderate. To improve power when the number of haplotypes is large, we investigate methods to combine them with a moderate number of haplotype subsets. Haplotype frequencies can often be recovered with less noise than SNP frequencies, especially under pool sequencing, giving our test an additional advantage. Furthermore, spurious outlier SNPs may lead to false positives, a problem usually not encountered when working with haplotypes. Post hoc tests for the number of selected haplotypes and for differences between their selection coefficients are also provided for a better understanding of the underlying selection dynamics. An application on a real data set further illustrates the performance benefits. Due to less multiple testing correction and noise reduction, haplotype based testing is able to outperform SNP based tests in terms of power in most scenarios.