Safe and effective use of conscious sedation for defibrillation threshold testing during ICD implantation.
Over a period of years general anesthesia has been a standard anesthetic technique for defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at the time of implant. DFT testing without general anesthesia cover has gained limited acceptance. Use of local anesthesia combined with deep sedation for DFT testing might facilitate and simplify these procedures by reducing the procedural time, staff time, avoiding inefficient service in organizing anesthetic cover; thereby improving patient compliance. The objective of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety and efficacy of conscious sedation for DFT testing during Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) implantation. Data of 87 non-selected patients who achieved adequate sedation with titrated doses of midazolam and pethidine were analyzed retrospectively. These medications were administered by a circulating nurse under the supervision of the implanting physicians. All hemodynamic measures, treatment and complications were monitored and recorded throughout the procedure. A retrospective analysis of data from 87 patients who underwent ICD implantation and DFT testing under conscious sedation at our center was reported. The mean dose of midazolam and pethidine administered was 4.9 ± 1.8 and 47.7 ± 20 mg, respectively. During the period of conscious sedation, no patient depicted episode of sustained apnea. No major complication or mortality was reported. Use of conscious sedation as an alternative to the use of general anesthesia for DFT testing during ICD implantation is found to be feasible, safe and effective, with an added advantage of reduced procedural time and improved patient compliance.


Spontaneous fermentation improves the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C.) and guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit processing by-products.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of spontaneous fermentation on physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of acerola and guava fruit industrial by-products. Viable cell counts of lactic acid bacterial (LAB) in acerola and guava by-products were ≥ 5.0 log CFU/mL from 24 h up to 120 h of fermentation. Fermented acerola and guava by-products had increased luminosity and decreased contrast. Contents of total soluble solids and pH decreased, and titrable acidity increased in acerola and guava by-products during fermentation. Ascorbic acid contents decreased in acerola by-product and increased in guava by-product during fermentation. Different phenolic compounds were found in acerola and guava by-products during fermentation. Fermented acerola and guava by-products had increased contents of total flavonoids, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The contents of total flavonoids and total phenolics positively correlated with antioxidant activity in fermented acerola and guava by-products. These results indicate that spontaneous fermentation could be a strategy to improve the contents of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of acerola and guava by-products, adding value and functionalities to these agro-industrial residues.


Photoselection and aggregation in purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium.
Preparations of the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium suspended in dilute buffer and basal salt have been examined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and correlation analysis of scattered laser light. Dark adapted samples suspended in basal salt show photoselection when examined by circular dichroism. This was confirmed by irradiation with plane polarized light. Light-adapted samples or dark-adapted samples suspended in dilute buffer did not show this phenomenon. The reaction responsible for photoselection was shown to be the light induced cis-trans isomerization of bacteriorhodopsin. The stability of the induced anisotropy was due to aggregation in the basal salt suspensions which occurred despite little or no visual indication. This aggregation was confirmed by correlation analysis of scattered laser light.


Glycophorin facilitates the transbilayer movement of phosphatidylcholine in vesicles.
The rate of transbilayer movement of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine in sonicated lipid vesicles is enhanced by at least two orders of magnitude upon incorporation of glycophorin in the bilayer.


Chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of exopolysaccharides from mangrove filamentous fungi Fusarium equiseti ANP2.
A filamentous fungi F. equiseti strain ANP2 with good exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield, apparent viscosity was screened and isolated from Krishna estuarine mangrove sediments. Based on molecular characteristics the selected strain was confirmed as F. equiseti, yielded EPS (4.9 ± 0.25 g/L) and whole cell biomass (3.5 ± 0.2 g/L) in MSM during early stationary phase. The crude EPS was purified by chromatography of Q-Sepharose and Superdex-75, affording Ms and MF-1 fractions were obtained, respectively. Chemical analyses revealed that EPS is primarily composed of neutral sugars and proteins. FTIR-spectroscopy revealed presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl groups and glycosidic bonds which correspond to typical heteropolysaccharide. GC analysis demonstrated that MF-1 mainly consist of mannose (72.6%) and glucose (27.3%). Viscosity studies exhibited typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour with high viscosity. The scavenging ability on hydroxyl radicals, indicate that MF-1-EPS has good antioxidant activity. Current study demonstrated that MF-1 differed from previously characterized Fusarium sp., and can serve as potential antioxidant.


Very long-term prognosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a longitudinal study with a period of 20 years.
We aim to clarify the prognosis on patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) for a follow-up period of more than 10 years. We retrospectively analysed 102 consecutive patients with HCM diagnosed by 31 December 2000. Complete and detailed clinical records were obtained for 93 (91%) of the 102 patients. Sixty-three (68%) of the 93 patients were men, and the mean age of the patients at the initial evaluation was 51.5 ± 13.0 years. During the mean follow-up period of 19.6 ± 8.1 years (median 20.1 years), HCM-related deaths occurred in 20 patients (21% [1.1%/year]). HCM-related adverse events (including HCM-related deaths and nonfatal HCM-related events: hospitalization for heart failure, embolic stroke admission, and sustained ventricular tachycardia with haemodynamic instability or appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge) occurred in 45 patients (48%). The first HCM-related adverse events occurred in approximately 20% of the patients in every decade, the first decade to the third decade, from the initial evaluation. Forty-seven patients (51%) had documentation of atrial fibrillation at the last follow-up. There were seven patients in the end-stage HCM group at the initial evaluation, and 22 patients (24%) had progression to end-stage HCM during the follow-up period. In our cohort of patients, HCM-related mortality was relatively favourable. However, approximately half of the patients suffered from HCM-related adverse events during the follow-up period of 20 years. It is important for HCM patients to be carefully followed up over the long-term because HCM is a lifelong disease.


PMDA's challenge to accelerate clinical development and review of new drugs in Japan.
In recent years, Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has conducted several projects to shorten drug development and review times in Japan to resolve the "drug lag." Key to achieving this goal is greater involvement by the PMDA in drug development through enhancement of scientific consultation and improvement of the review process by reinforcing the operational system, including hiring more reviewers. We discuss here the current projects of the PMDA as well as future challenges.


Simultaneous determination of 6beta-hydroxycortisol and cortisol in human urine and plasma by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance detection for phenotyping the CYP3A activity.
This study describes an high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)-UV method for the simultaneous determination of 6beta-hydroxycortisol (6beta-OHF) and cortisol (F) in human urine and plasma. The within-day relative standard deviation of the three concentrations for both analytes was less than 6.2%. Accuracy determined at three concentrations ranged between 95 and 107%. The extraction recoveries were 64.1+/-4.3 and 88.1+/-2.4% at three concentrations for 6beta-OHF and F in urine, respectively. The extraction recoveries were 88.7+/-1.4% at three concentrations for F in plasma. This is the first HPLC method that can simultaneously determine 6beta-OHF and F in human urine and plasma and is suitable for routine assessment of the CYP3A activity expressed as 6beta-hydroxylation clearance.


Synchronization of RF Data in Ultrasound Open Platforms (UOPs) for High-Accuracy and High-Resolution Photoacoustic Tomography Using the "Scissors" Programming Method.
Synchronization is important for photoacoustic (PA) tomography, but some fixed delays between the data acquisition (DAQ) and the light pulse are a common problem degrading imaging quality. Here, we present a simple yet versatile method named "Scissors" to help synchronize ultrasound open platforms (UOPs) for PA imaging. Scissors is a programed function that can cut or add a fixed delay to radio frequency (RF) data and, thus, synchronize it before reconstruction. Scissors applies the programmable metric of UOPs and has several advantages. It is compatible with many setups regardless of the synchronization methods, light sources, transducers, and delays. The synchronization is adjustable in steps reciprocal to the UOPs' sampling rate (20-ns step with a 50-MHz sampling rate). Scissors works in real-time PA imaging, and no extra hardware is needed. We programed Scissors in Vantage UOP (Verasonics, Inc., Kirkland, WA, USA) and then imaged two 30- [Formula: see text] nichrome wires with a 20.2-MHz central frequency transducer. The PA image was severely distorted by an 828-ns delay; over 90% delay was caused by our Q -switch laser. The axial and lateral resolutions are 112 and [Formula: see text], respectively, after using Scissors. We imaged a human finger in vivo, and the imaging quality is tremendously improved after solving the 828-ns delay by using Scissors.


Low nicotine cigarettes: cigarette consumption and breath carbon monoxide after one year.
Subjects who took part in a 12-wk study of switching behavior were observed during the subsequent year. Data were obtained for 96 smokers every 3 mo. A sample of smokers who, at 12 wk, had switched to a brand delivering less than half the nicotine of their baseline brand were offered continued monetary incentives to participate for an additional 6 mo (maintenance study). In the maintenance study, subjects continued to smoke low-nicotine cigarettes during the 6-mo period in which money and contact reinforcement were continued; maintenance control subjects increased their tar and nicotine exposure significantly. In the follow-up study of those who had not changed by more than 50%, the original control group, nonswitchers, and moderate switchers did not significantly change their nicotine exposure from what it had been at the end of the initial 12-wk study. Carbon monoxide (CO) in breath showed remarkably little change across the year despite substantial changes in tar and nicotine exposure. To the extent that CO is involved in smoking-related disorders, switchers derived little if any benefit from switching to low-nicotine brands.


Laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism: a retrospective study based on 154 patients.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism. A retrospective analysis of cryptorchidism patients who were admitted to our hospital from July 2018 to July 2021. The patients were divided into the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group (n = 76) and the traditional surgery group (n = 78) according to the surgical method. All patients were successfully operated. There was no significant difference in operation time between the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal group and the traditional group (P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups, the time of postoperative hospital stay of the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (P = 0.062). Additionally, there was no significant difference in discharge rate on the first day after surgery between the two groups, but the discharge rate on the first day after surgery was more than 90% in both groups. In terms of postoperative complications, there were no cases of testicular retraction, testicular atrophy, inguinal hernia, or hydrocele that occurred in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of scrotal hematoma between the two groups(P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of poor wound healing between the two groups(P>0.05), the incidence in the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (2.6% vs. 6.4%). Laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery is as safe and effective method as traditional surgery for patients with inguinal cryptorchidism, and could also provide a good appearance.


Emerging trends in combination strategies with phototherapy in advanced psoriasis management.
Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease with cutaneous manifestations such as red, raised scaly plaques. Current treatment approaches for psoriasis comprise topical therapy, systemic therapy, phototherapy, psoralen with UVA(PUVA) and biologics. Regardless of the progression in therapeutic approaches (novel therapies like biologics) in psoriasis, phototherapy is also an economical, compelling and safe treatment option that lacks the immunosuppressive properties as well as the toxicities of traditional modalities. It can be combined safely with other therapeutic options such as topical therapies and novel biologics and provide effective therapy. The aim of the current review is to analyze the literature on the safety as well as the efficacy of phototherapy with various treatment modalities in the management of psoriasis. This review summarizes randomized controlled clinical trials addressing combinations of phototherapy with other treatment modalities for the management of psoriasis. The findings of these clinical studies are elaborated.


Draft Genome Sequence of Spiroplasma platyhelix ATCC 51748, Isolated from a Dragonfly.
Spiroplasma platyhelix is a helical bacterium belonging to the class Mollicutes First isolated from a Pachydiplax longipennis dragonfly, it has the smallest reported Spiroplasma genome size of 740 kbp. Here, we report the genome sequence of S. platyhelix ATCC 51748.


Hypoxia effects on hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone and anterior pituitary cAMP.
To study the effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on hypothalamus-anterior pituitary-adrenocortex axis. Rats and pikas were exposed to different altitude and periods. Animals were injected with CRH, Arg and NE in the third ventricle of the brain of rats. Anterior pituitary cAMP and plasma corticosterone levels of rats obviously increased during 1 h of hypoxia. cAMP was increased from 2.23 +/- 0.13 of control group to 7.7 +/- 0.7 of 5 km and 13.4 +/- 1.9 nmol/g wet tissue of 8 km, respectively. i.c.v. CRH, Arg and NE all activated HPA axis. The effects of CRH were most potent. CRH 2 microL 0.75 nmol i.c.v increased anterior pituitary of cAMP from 3.5 +/- 0.4 of control to 22.4 +/- 2.2 nmol/kg wet tissue. Stimulating altitude of 5000 m resulted in a 16.9% decrease in corticosterone level (P < 0.05), 8000 m resulted in a 47.5% decrease (P < 0.01) after hypoxia for 25 d. Hypoxia did not activate HPA axis in pikas. 1) Hypoxia stress activates the secretion of corticotrophin (ACTH) via cAMP; 2) Adrenocotical function of rats decays during chronic hypoxia; 3) Arg and NE regulate the secretion of plasma corticosterone and synthesis of pituitary cAMP at the hypothalamus level; 4) Hypoxia tolerance of the pika was high.


Liver microbes controlling immunity: Facts and pitfalls.
The microbiome in arguably sterile tissues has received considerable attention in the last few years. A recent report by Leinwand and colleagues disentangles host-microbe interactions in the mammalian liver. The authors demonstrate that a distinct liver microbiome controls hepatic immune responses in mice, challenging the perception of a sterile liver.


Variability between experts in defining the edge and area of the optic nerve head.
Estimation of the error rate in the subjective determination of the optic nerve head edge and area. 1) 169 images of optic nerve disc were evaluated by five experts for the defining of the edges in 8 positions (every 45°). 2) The estimated areas of 26 cases were compared with the measurements of the Cirrus Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT-Cirrus). 1) The mean variation of the estimated radius was ±5.2%, with no significant differences between sectors. Specific differences were found between the 5 experts (P <.001), each one compared with the others. 2) The disc area measured by the OCT-Cirros was 1.78 mm² (SD =0.27). The results corresponding to the experts who detected smaller areas were better correlated to the area detected by the OCT-Cirrus (r=0.77-0.88) than the results corresponding to larger areas (r =0.61-0.69) (P <.05 in extreme cases). There are specific patterns in each expert for defining the disc edges and involve 20% variation in the estimation of the optic nerve area. The experts who detected smaller areas have a higher agreement with the objective method used. A web tool is proposed for self-assessment and training in this task.


Relation between homocysteine concentrations and the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages: the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study.
Previous studies on the effects of alcohol consumption on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations showed contradictory results. The conflicting results may derive in part from confounding by the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. The objective of the study was to evaluate in a predominantly wine-drinking French population whether the relation between alcohol consumption and homocysteine concentrations is dependent on the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. In 1996, a cross-sectional study measuring tHcy and red blood cell folate concentrations was conducted in 1196 middle-aged women and men from the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study. Intakes of alcohol, energy, coffee, and B vitamins were assessed by 6 separate 24-h dietary records from the previous year. tHcy concentrations were positively associated with wine intake (P = 0.01) in the women and with beer intake in the men (P = 0.002). No association with the consumption of spirits was observed. The association between beer consumption and tHcy concentrations in the men was modified by the consumption of wine; the association was positive in wine drinkers, whereas an inverse trend was seen in those who drank no wine. Wine consumption may increase tHcy concentrations, whereas beer consumption seems to have no effect (or even an inverse effect) on tHcy.


Proteomics of wheat and barley cereals in response to environmental stresses: Current state and future challenges.
Wheat and barley genera represent a wide range of genotypes from Triticeae group grown around the globe. The broad plasticity of Triticeae phenotypes mirrors the robustness of their genomes revealing a high level of gene homeology. Publication and annotation of the reference genome sequences for spring barley Morex and Chinese Spring wheat represents an important milestone enabling the researchers to precisely identify and annotate nearly all proteins. Due to the broad range of environments used for wheat and barley cultivation and their economical importance, proteomic studies focused on their responses to environmental stresses including combined stress treatments. Most of the Triticeae stress proteomics studies are comparative ones aimed at determination of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between two or more genotypes with contrasting stress tolerance. Studies focused on subcellular fractions and protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are still relatively rare although PTMs play a crucial role in modulation of protein biological function. Functional and interactomics studies are needed although gene homeology and the resulting protein functional redundancy practically excludes the utilization of knock-out mutants. The alternatives could represent either gene overexpression in a heterologous system such as A. thaliana or transient posttranscriptional gene silencing using RNAi. Publication of complete reference genome sequences together with novel technological approaches such as pQTL mapping boost the Triticeae proteomics studies not only to provide data but also to contribute to designing novel genotypes with improved adaptations to ever changing environments.


BMI Affects the Relationship between Long Chain N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Stroke Risk: a Meta-Analysis.
We performed a meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake and stroke risk. Relevant studies were identified by searching online databases through May 2015. Log relative risks (RRs) of the highest versus the lowest for cohort studies were weighed by the inverse variance method to obtain pooled RRs. Fourteen prospective cohort studies including 514,483 individuals and 9,065 strokes were included. The pooled RR of overall stroke risk for long chain n-3 PUFA intake was 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-0.95]. Stratification analysis showed that higher long chain n-3 PUFAs intake was associated with reduced fatal stroke risk (RR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.97), reduced stroke risk for BMI < 24 (RR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.98) and reduced stroke risk for females (RR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71-0.92), but was not associated with stroke risk for either BMI ≥ 24 or men. This meta-analysis reveals that higher long chain n-3 PUFA intake is inversely associated with risk of stroke morbidity and mortality with BMI and sex as key factors influencing this risk. Individuals should be encouraged to manage their body weight while increasing their intake of long chain n-3 PUFAs.


3D scanning electron microscopy applied to surface characterization of fluorosed dental enamel.
The enamel surfaces of fluorotic teeth were studied by scanning electron stereomicroscopy. Different whitening treatments were applied to 25 pieces to remove stains caused by fluorosis and their surfaces were characterized by stereomicroscopy in order to obtain functional and amplitude parameters. The topographic features resulting for each treatment were determined through these parameters. The results obtained show that the 3D reconstruction achieved from the SEM stereo pairs is a valuable potential alternative for the surface characterization of this kind of samples.


Surface-modified microbubbles (colloidal gas aphrons) for nanoparticle removal in a continuous bubble generation-flotation separation system.
The treatment of nanoparticle (NP) polluted aqueous suspensions by flotation can be problematic due to the low probability of collision between particles and bubbles. To overcome this limitation, the present work focuses on developing an enhanced flotation technique using the surface-functionalized microbubbles - colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs). The CGA generator was adapted to be air flow rate controlled based on the classical Sebba system; thus it could be well adopted in a continuous flotation process. Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were employed for CGA creation. Positively surface-charged CTAB-CGAs (∼44.1 μm in size) and negatively surface-charged SDS-CGAs (∼42.1 μm in size) were produced at the optimum stirring speed of 8000 rpm. The half-life of CGAs varied from 100 s to 340 s under the tested conditions, which was largely sufficient for transferring CGAs from bubble generator to flotation cell. The air flow led to less stable CTAB-CGAs but apparently enhanced the stability of SDS-CGAs at higher air flow rates. In the presence of air flow, the drainage behavior was not much related to the type of surfactants. The continuous CGA-flotation trials highlighted the effective separation of silica nanoparticles - the removal efficiencies of different types of SiO2 NPs could reach approximately 90%-99%; however, at equivalent surfactant concentrations, no greater than 58% of NPs were removed when surfactants and bubbles were separately added into the flotation cell. The SiO2 NPs with small size were removed more efficiently by the CGA-flotation process. For the flotation with CTAB-CGAs, the neutral and basic initial SNP suspension was recommended, whereas the SDS-CGAs remained high flotation efficiency over all investigated pH. The good performance of CGA-flotation might be interpreted: most of the surfactant molecules well covered/coated on the surfaces of stable CGAs and thus fully contacted with NPs, resulting in the efficient utilization of surfactants.


A clinical study of the correlation between metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and coronary plaque pattern.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and has been correlated with coronary atherosclerosis (CAS). Since NAFLD was renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) in 2020, no studies have evaluated the correlation between MAFLD and CAS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MAFLD and CAS. A total of 1330 patients underwent continuous coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and abdominal ultrasound as part of a routine physical examination. Ultrasonography was used to assess fatty liver, and CCTA was used to assess coronary artery plaques, degree of stenosis, and diseased blood vessels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with plaque type and degree of stenosis as dependent variables and MAFLD and traditional cardiovascular risk factors as independent variables to analyze the correlation between MAFLD and CAS. Among the 1164 patients, 680 (58.4%) were diagnosed with MAFLD through a combination of ultrasound and auxiliary examinations. Compared with the non-MAFLD group, the MAFLD group had more cardiovascular risk factors,and the MAFLD group had more likely to have coronary atherosclerosis, coronary stenosis and multiple coronary artery stenosis.In the univariate logistic regression, MAFLD was significantly correlated with overall plaque, calcified plaques, noncalcified plaques, mixed plaques,and significant stenosis in the coronary arteries.(p < 0.05). After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors , MAFLD was correlated with noncalcified plaques (1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.43; p = 0.007) and mixed plaques (1.54; 95% CI 1.10-2.16; p = 0.011). In this study, MAFLD group had more cardiovascular risk factors, MAFLD was correlated with coronary atherosclerosis,and significant stenosis.Further study found independent associations between MAFLD and noncalcified plaques and mixed plaques, which suggest a clinically relevant link between MAFLD and coronary atherosclerosis.


Comparing the Psychometric Properties of the Self- and Parent-Report Versions of Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adult in Hong Kong (AQ-Adult-HK).
The Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adult (AQ-Adult) is a screening tool for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese self- and parent-report versions of the AQ-Adult in Hong Kong (AQ-Adult-HK). Participants included adults with ASD (n = 27) and community controls (n = 345). Parents of a subset of adults with ASD (n = 21) and controls (n = 87) also participated as informants. The parent-report version showed significantly stronger psychometric properties, including a larger area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and higher sensitivity/specificity, than those of the self-report version. The stronger psychometric properties of the former were related to its significantly higher ratings of ASD symptoms in the ASD adults.


The translation and psychometrics Persian version of irrational food belief scale.
This study aimed to translate into the Irrational Food Belief Scale proposed by Osberg into the Persian language and determine the psychometric properties of in Iranian culture. Osberg's 57-item scale was translated into Persian by using the forward-backward method. The scale's validity was examined using face validity, content validity, and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis). Its reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was performed by SPSS 28 (500 subjects) and also by AMOS 26 (500 subjects). The participants completed the demographic questionnaire and the Irrational Food Belief Scale (IFBS) over the Internet. After translation into Persian, the validity of the scale was determined by impact score, quantitative and qualitative face validity (modification of 10 items) and qualitative content validity (modification of 8 items), and quantitative content validity (CVR, CVI and Kappa coefficient), which were greater than 0.46, 0.86, and 0.85, respectively. In exploratory factor analysis, 30 items were removed and the remaining 27 items were loaded on five factors, including behavioral and psychological aspects, nutritional attitudes, healthy eating, controlled eating, and diet, which described 30.95% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 5-factor model was the best fitting model to explain the data. Considering the need for a tool about in irrational food beliefs, this tool was unable to explain all these dimensions well. It is recommended to create a new questionnaire for the Iranian culture.


Author Correction: Integrated nano-optomechanical displacement sensor with ultrawide optical bandwidth.
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.


[Treatment oriented to subjective well- being rather than symptom amelioration "at all costs"--paradigm change in treatment with antipsychotics].
Modern antipsychotics differ from the classical drugs mainly in their improved efficacy in combating affective, negative and cognitive symptoms and by a modified side effect profile. The variability range of such substances enable a more differentiated approach to treatment to be adopted. Patients treated with typical antipsychotics report a more pronounced improvement in subjective well-being. In view of the increasing numbers of atypical antipsychotics, the involvement of the patients in the selection of the most appropriate drug is a must. Apart from symptom amelioration - the formerly predominant goal of treatment - greater emphasis is now placed on the well-being of the individual patient on antipsychotic therapy. With this approach, the physician-patient relationship, compliance and the long-term prognosis can all be appreciably improved.


Increasing diversity and biotic homogenization of lake plankton during recovery from acidification.
Determining biodiversity responses to environmental change, such as acidification, is critical for ecosystem projections under future global change scenarios. Here, we analyzed three plankton communities of phytoplankton, crustaceans and rotifers in 28 lakes in the Adirondack Park, USA, during 1994-2012, and examined the spatiotemporal trends in their alpha and beta diversity during recovery from acidification. For all plankton assemblages, Shannon diversity increased towards recent years and high lake pH, and there was an increasing community dissimilarity with pH changes. The spatial mean Bray-Curtis dissimilarities across all lakes decreased over time for phytoplankton and rotifers leading to an increase in spatial homogenization. Such a homogenization cooccurred however with the overall increasing diversity in this region, which contrasts with the previous classic view that homogenization is mainly driven by loss of species and results in biodiversity loss. We further observed lower temporal mean beta diversity in low-pH lakes for crustaceans and rotifers, but not for phytoplankton. Generally, spatial and temporal mean beta diversity of the three taxonomic groups were primarily driven by lake-water ion variables, and rotifers were also constrained by nutrients and climate. Collectively, our results show how and why plankton community compositions vary over space along with acidification recovery, and further highlight the importance of spatiotemporal studies combined with long-term monitoring programs in assessing biodiversity change during the recovery of disturbed ecosystems.


Spasmolytic action of histamine in airway smooth muscle of horse.
Histamine, 2-methylhistamine (a specific H1-agonist), 5-HT, PGF2alpha, SRS-A, bradykinin (BK) and carbachol contract bronchial and tracheal smooth muscles of the horse. Isoprenaline, PGE1, E2, dimaprit and 4-methylhistamine (last two = specific H2-agonists) relaxed airways which were partially contracted to carbachol. Mepyramine (a specific H1-antagonist) selectively antagonized contractions to histamine. In the presence of mepyramine, histamine caused relaxation of airways partially contracted to carbachol. Metiamide and burimamide (specific H2-antagonists) specifically antagonized or reversed histamine-induced bronchorelaxation. However the H2-antagonists, indomethacin and propranolol each failed to block histamine-induced relaxations in trachea. Thus, the results of this study show: (i) preponderence of H1-receptors-mediating contractions in horse airways; (ii) presence of H2-receptors-mediating bronchorelaxation and (iii) the existence of an atypical (relaxant) response (resistance to H2-antagonists; indomethacin and propranolol) in the horse trachea.


Zenith AAA endovascular graft suprarenal bare metal stent separation with graft migration and type IA endoleak.
The Zenith endovascular graft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) is a well-recognised device used in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR). After a small number of reported cases of suprarenal stent separation from the main body of the graft, modifications were made to the strength and durability of the suture line attachment of the proximal bare metal component prior to release in 2003. This report describes a further case of suprarenal stent separation and type IA endoleak in a patient who underwent an EVAR using the Zenith device in 2012. We present a case report of a 77-year-old male with incidental finding of type IA endoleak on a background of elective endovascular repair for 50.4-mm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), with a Cook Zenith endograft. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated separation of the suprarenal bare metal stent from the main body of the endograft, with resultant graft migration and increase in native aneurysm sac size. The patient underwent semi-urgent surgery with successful placement of a bridging thoracic stent graft between the lowest renal artery and main body of the pre-existing graft. This case report describes a rare complication of Zenith devices, additionally emphasising the importance of regular surveillance imaging following EVAR.


The ethics of resuscitation; differences between Europe and the USA--Europe should not adopt American guidelines without debate.
There are differences between Europe and the USA in the style of medical decision-making for patients who are critically ill or requiring CPR. These differences are both legal and philosophical. They concern principally the degree of influence the patient and next of kin should have on critical medical decisions. Currently American physicians transfer more of the decision-making to patients and relatives than do their European counterparts. The current state of the art in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from cardiac arrest occurring out-of-hospital requires public education programmes. These heighten public awareness of CPR-related questions. There has been a wide acceptance in Europe of the American guidelines for CPR. Cultural and legal differences, however, should encourage the acceptance of specific European guidelines. The author believes that it is important to introduce in the European CPR programmes discussions on the ethical dilemmas that may occur. This may help to conserve the relatively high level of public trust that facilitates the patient-doctor relationship in Europe, compared with the USA. Arguments are also put forward for a heightened sensitivity in the European medical profession concerning communication with the patients and their next of kin and with the mass media, in view of the increasing public sophistication and interest that the citizen CPR programmes are generating.


Lipidomics in longevity and healthy aging.
The role of classical lipids in aging diseases and human longevity has been widely acknowledged. Triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations are clinically assessed to infer the risk of cardiovascular disease while larger lipoprotein particle size and low triglyceride levels have been identified as markers of human longevity. The rise of lipidomics as a branch of metabolomics has provided an additional layer of accuracy to pinpoint specific lipids and its association with aging diseases and longevity. The molecular composition and concentration of lipid species determine their cellular localization, metabolism, and consequently, their impact in disease and health. For example, low density lipoproteins are the main carriers of sphingomyelins and ceramides, while high density lipoproteins are mostly loaded with ether phosphocholines, partly explaining their opposing roles in atherogenesis. Moreover, the identification of specific lipid species in aging diseases and longevity would aid to clarify how these lipids alter health and influence longevity. For instance, ether phosphocholines PC (O-34:1) and PC (O-34:3) have been positively associated with longevity and negatively with diabetes, and hypertension, but other species of phosphocholines show no effect or an opposite association with these traits confirming the relevance of the identification of molecular lipid species to tackle our understanding of healthy aging and disease. Up-to-date, a minor fraction of the human plasma lipidome has been associated to healthy aging and longevity, further research would pinpoint toward specific lipidomic profiles as potential markers of healthy aging and metabolic diseases.


Syn-capping of human T lymphocyte adhesion/activation molecules and their redistribution during interaction with endothelial cells.
Lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions are mediated in part by multiple lymphocyte surface adhesion/activation molecules and their cognate ligands. We investigated the surface localization of several of these molecules implicated in T cell adhesion and transendothelial migration mechanisms to determine if spatial regulation of their distribution contributes to these processes. T lymphocyte suspensions were stained to define distribution, ability to be aggregated into energy-dependent caps, and potential cocapping of several adhesion structures. CD2, CD44, L-selectin (LAM-1, LECCAM-1), and CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) exhibited uniform distribution on the T cell surface by direct immunofluorescence but formed caps in an energy-dependent, and therefore cytoskeletally driven, manner when examined by indirect immunofluorescence. CD2 was shown to syn-cap (unidirectionally cocap) with CD44 and CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), an observation potentially related to functional cooperation among these molecules in T cell activation. T cells were also added to endothelial cell monolayers to assess, in a physiologically relevant context, potential surface molecule reorganization. Lymphocytes co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) underwent a profound shape change, from essentially round cells to polarized cells bearing pseudopodia. Immunofluorescent localization of T cell adhesion/activation molecules using confocal microscopy revealed the redistribution of CD2, CD44, and L-selectin to the pseudopod. In contrast, CD11a/CD18 remained globally distributed on the cell surface, even in severely deformed cells. Both lymphocyte shape change and membrane molecule redistribution appear to be cell-cell contact-dependent phenomena requiring intact, viable endothelial cells. Mechanisms that control these events may be critical to lymphocyte recirculation and inflammation.


Urotensin II, urotensin-related peptide, and their receptor in aortic valve stenosis.
Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is the most common cause of surgical valve replacement worldwide. The vasoactive peptide urotensin II (UII) is upregulated in atherosclerosis and several other cardiovascular diseases; however, its role in the pathogenesis of AVS remains to be determined. Here, we investigated the expression of UII, urotensin-related peptide (URP), and the urotensin receptor (UT) and the role this system plays in AVS. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were used to examine the cellular localization and mRNA expression, of UII, URP, and UT in calcified and noncalcified aortic valves. Human aortic valve interstitial cells were isolated from normal valves and treated with UII or URP, and changes in cell proliferation, cholesterol efflux, calcium deposition, and β-catenin translocation were assessed. The mRNA expression of UII, URP, and UT was significantly greater in patients with AVS. There was abundant presence of UII, URP, and UT immunostaining in diseased compared with nondiseased valves and correlated significantly with presence of calcification (P < .0001) and fibrosis (P < .0001). Treating human aortic valve interstitial cells with UII or URP significantly increased cell proliferation (P < .0001) and decreased cholesterol efflux (P = .0011 and P = .0002, respectively). UII also significantly reduced ABCA1 protein expression (P = .0457) and increased β-catenin nuclear translocation (P < .0001) and mineral deposition (P < .0001). Together, these data suggest that the urotensin system plays a role in the pathogenesis of AVS and warrants further investigation.


Determination of N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide and its active metabolite N,N',N"-triethylenephosphoramide in plasma and urine using capillary gas chromatography.
A sensitive assay for the determination of N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thioTEPA) and its metabolite N,N',N"-triethylenephosphoramide (TEPA) in micro-volumes human plasma and urine has been developed. ThioTEPA and TEPA were analysed using gas chromatography with selective nitrogen-phosphorus detection or mass spectrometry after extraction with a mixture of 1-propanol-chloroform from the biological matrix. Diphenylamine was used as internal standard. The limit of detection was 1.5 ng/ml for thioTEPA and 2.5 ng/ml for TEPA, using 100 microl of biological sample; recoveries ranged between 70 and 90% and both accuracy and precision were less than 10%. Linearity was accomplished in the range of 10-1000 ng/ml for plasma and 100-10000 ng/ml for urine using thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detection. With mass spectrometry a linear range of 100-25000 ng/ml TEPA in plasma or urine was obtained. For thioTEPA a second-order polynomial function describes the relationship between the analyte concentration in the range of 500-25000 ng/ml and detection response. TEPA proved to be stable in plasma and urine for at least 10 weeks at -80 degrees C. ThioTEPA and TEPA plasma concentrations of two patients treated with thioTEPA are presented demonstrating the applicability of the assay for clinical samples.


Centella asiatica water extract inhibits iPLA2 and cPLA2 activities in rat cerebellum.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb an is distributed widely in South America and Asia and is known as a therapeutic agent in folk medicine, capable of improving memory and treating several neurological disorders. Asiaticoside is one of the compounds found in C. asiatica leaves that is suggested to be responsible for its pharmacological potential. Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is a group of enzymes that has abnormal activity in the central nervous system in some neuropsychiatric diseases. In this work, the asiaticoside present in C. asiatica water extract was quantified by HPLC analysis. We also evaluated the activity of subtypes of PLA(2) in cerebellar samples from rats after C. asiatica water extract treatment using a radioenzymatic assay. Asiaticoside was the major compound (84%) found in Centella water extract. We found a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of C. asiatica water extract on the activity of Ca(2+)-independent PLA(2) (iPLA(2)) and cytosolic PLA(2) (cPLA(2)). The inhibition of these enzymes in the brain suggests that C. asiatica may be useful to treat conditions associated with increased PLA(2) activity in the brain, such as epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other neuropsychiatric disorders.


Advantages and limits of ADAMTS13 testing in the prognostic assessment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but severe disease characterized by mechanical hemolytic anemia and consumptive thrombocytopenia leading to disseminated microvascular thrombosis that causes signs and symptoms of organ ischemia and functional damage. After the elucidation of the pathophysiology of TTP, thanks to the demonstration of the congenital or acquired (autoimmune) plasma deficiency of the von Willebrand factor cleaving metalloprotease A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin 1 repeats (ADAMTS13), a number of laboratory assays for measuring ADAMTS13 and related autoantibodies have been developed. Current knowledge on the diagnostic and prognostic value of ADAMTS13 and anti-ADAMTS13 assays is summarized in this review.


Identification of heat shock protein family A member 5 (HSPA5) targets involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 5 (HSPA5) is an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, which regulates cell metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism. While HSPA5's role in regulating cell function is well described, HSPA5 binding to RNA and its biological function in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still lacking. In the present study, the ability of HSPA5 to modulate alternative splicing (AS) of cellular genes was assessed using Real-Time PCR on 89 NAFLD-associated genes. RNA immunoprecipitation coupled to RNA sequencing (RIP-Seq) assays were also performed to identify cellular mRNAs bound by HSPA5. We obtained the HSPA5-bound RNA profile in HeLa cells and peak calling analysis revealed that HSPA5 binds to coding genes and lncRNAs. Moreover, RIP-Seq assays demonstrated that HSPA5 immunoprecipitates specific cellular mRNAs such as EGFR, NEAT1, LRP1 and TGFß1, which are important in the pathology of NAFLD. Finally, HSPA5 binding sites may be associated with splicing sites. We used the HOMER algorithm to search for motifs enriched in coding sequence (CDs) peaks, which identified over-representation of the AGAG motif in both sets of immunoprecipitated peaks. HSPA5 regulated genes at the 5'UTR alternative splicing and introns and in an AG-rich sequence-dependent manner. We propose that the HSPA5-AGAG interaction might play an important role in regulating alternative splicing of NAFLD-related genes. This report is the first to demonstrate that HSPA5 regulated pre-RNA alternative splicing, stability, or translation and affected target protein(s) via binding to lncRNA and mRNA linked to NAFLD.


Subepicardial adipose tissue and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.
Mechanistic studies suggest that paracrine effects of subepicardial adipose tissue may promote coronary atherosclerosis, but this has not been confirmed in clinical studies. Of 180 consecutive patients who underwent echocardiography and coronary angiography within 1 week (mean 2.5+/-2.0 days), 139 (80 men, 68+/-13 years) were studied. Subepicardial adipose tissue on the free wall of right ventricle was measured at end-diastole from parasternal long- and short-axis views of three cardiac cycles. Angiograms were analyzed for the presence, extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), using a 27-segment classification. The number of segments with at least 20% (CAGE > or = 20) and 50% (CAGE > or = 50) stenosis was recorded. Age showed a significant correlation with subepicardial adipose tissue thickness measured from parasternal long- (r=0.25, p=0.003) and short-axis view (r=0.23, p=0.01). No significant correlation was found between subepicardial adipose tissue thickness and any angiographic or other clinical variables (p>0.05). Neither the proportion of patients with significant or any CAD nor the severity score, CAGE > or = 20, and CAGE > or = 50 among each of four quartiles was significantly associated with subepicardial adipose tissue thickness. In this selected population, the amount of subepicardial adipose tissue thickness was not associated with the severity of CAD. Whether subepicardial adipose tissue has any atherosclerotic effect remains to be proven.


Increasing waiting times for status 2 patients in new United Network for Organ Sharing allocation system: Impact on waitlist and posttransplant outcomes.
Since the heart transplant allocation policy change in 2018, there has been an increase in temporary mechanical circulatory support for Status 2 patients. We sought to examine the temporal pattern of waitlist and posttransplant outcomes for Status 2 patients. Adult patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry who were listed as Status 2 from January 2019 to June 2022 were included. Temporal trends in waitlist time, waitlist events, and posttransplant outcomes were assessed. Probability of transplant or death after being listed was compared over time. Multivariable regression was performed to identify risk factors for mortality after transplant. A total of 6310 patients were included. From 2019 to 2022, the number of Status 2 patients listed increased from 4.2 to 5.9 per day. Microaxial ventricular assist devices at Status 2 listing increased over time (P < .001). During the study period, median waitlist time (18 days vs 23 days, P < .001) as well as Status 2 days (8 days vs 12 days, P < .001) increased. Waitlist mortality remained stable (5.5%); however, probability of transplant within 90 days of Status 2 listing progressively declined (P < .001). Finally, longer waitlist duration was independently associated with 30-day posttransplant mortality (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01, P = .02). Since the allocation policy change there has been a steady rise in the number of patients listed for Status 2. This has led to increasing waitlist times and lower probability of transplantation for Status 2 patients, which may have negative consequences for posttransplant outcomes.


The superior petrosal triangle as a constant anatomical landmark for subtemporal middle fossa orientation.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS; Anatomical landmarks including the arcuate eminence and the superficial petrosal nerve serve as orienting landmarks for middle fossa dissection. However, because of considerable variation among patients, these landmarks are not always readily identifiable. We expand on a previously described method for identifying the head of the malleus as a constant anatomical landmark to optimize exposure when employing a middle fossa approach. METHODS; We completed an anatomical study using 10 preserved human cadaveric temporal bones to define the anatomical relationship among the root of the zygoma, the posterior-lateral lip of the foramen spinosum, and the bony tegmen over the head of the malleus. Subsequently, 5 fresh whole human cadaveric heads (10 temporal bones) were dissected using a surgically oriented anterior petrosectomy-middle fossa approach to evaluate the consistency of localizing the head of the malleus. RESULTS; We defined the superior petrosal triangle as a stable anatomical relationship. Our cadaveric data demonstrated that the distance from the root of the zygoma to the head of the malleus was 18.7 mm (SD = 1.7 mm) and the distance from the foramen spinosum to the head of the malleus was 19.2 mm (SD = 1.0 mm). The intersection of an arc transcribed 19 mm from the root of the zygoma and an arc transcribed 19 mm from the foramen spinosum localized the head of the malleus within 2.5 mm (SD = 2.4 mm). The landmarks defined by the superior petrosal triangle represent a means to localize the bony tegmen over the head of the malleus. Identification of the head of the malleus as a landmark in middle fossa surgery when other landmarks are not recognizable optimizes patient safety and surgeon confidence during complex surgical procedures.


Aldosterone and PCO2 enhance K-dependent chloride absorption in rat distal colon.
We have previously demonstrated that, in the absence of Na+ in vitro, the rate of colonic K+ absorption is increased by increasing PCO2. Chronic secondary hyperaldosteronism induced by dietary Na-depletion further stimulated K+ absorption under these conditions. Because the observed increments in CO2-dependent K+ absorption were not accompanied by corresponding changes in short-circuit current, macroscopic electroneutrality must have been maintained either by anion absorption or by cation secretion. Colonic Cl- absorption is known to respond to increased PCO2 both in vivo and in vitro, but its response under Na-free conditions and the relationship to K+ absorption have not been examined. To determine the relationship of Cl- absorption to K+, we measured unidirectional fluxes of 36Cl and the response to PCO2 in voltage-clamped segments of rat distal colon. Our findings indicate that the rate of Cl- absorption is increased by increasing CO2, both in the presence and absence of Na+. Under Na-free conditions, Cl- absorption is inhibited by acetazolamide and by the absence of K+;K+ absorption (86Rb or 42K flux) is inhibited in a reciprocal fashion by the absence of Cl-. The rates of K+ and Cl- absorption are similar in controls and after secondary hyperaldosteronism due to a Na-deficient diet. These findings suggest that K- and Cl- absorption are closely coupled under Na-free conditions, most likely due to the operation of parallel, aldosterone-responsive H(+)-K+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange pathways.


Effects of follicular development on the ability of cultured porcine granulosa cells to convert androgens to estrogens.
Porcine granulosa cells from different stages of follicular development were examined for their ability to convert androgens to estrogens and their ability to secrete progesterone. Granulosa cells from all stages of follicular development can convert androgens to estrogens, and the addition of exogenous androgen is required for estrogen secretion. Granulosa cells obtained from medium and large follicles have a greater capacity to convert androgens to estrogens than do granulosa cells obtained from small follicles. The addition of FSH brought about an increase in estrogen secretion in the presence of androgen only in granulosa cells from large follicles. LH attenuated estrogen secretion in granulosa cells from medium follicles treated with testosterone. Granulosa cells from medium follicles were unable to secrete estrogen from days two to four irrespective of treatment. Androgens augment FSH stimulated progesterone secretion in granulosa cells from medium follicles from days two to four, and the addition of follicular fluid from small follicles stimulates progesterone secretion in the presence of FSH and androgens.


Ozone pretreatment of wastewater containing aromatics reduces antibiotic resistance genes in bioreactors: The example of p-aminophenol.
Aromatic matters are widely present in wastewater, especially industrial wastewater, and may lead to a high abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment bioreactors and stimulate horizontal transfers of ARGs. Here, we investigated a practical approach that applying ozone pretreatment to mitigate ARGs in bioreactors treating wastewater containing a typical aromatic pollutant, p-aminophenol (PAP). The results showed that ozone pretreatment could effectively reduce the aromaticity of wastewater, and the relative abundance of ARGs in the bioreactor fed with ozone treated wastewater decreased by over 70% compared to the control reactor. Multidrug, quinolone, mupirocin, polymyxin, aminoglycoside, glycopeptide, beta-lactam, and trimethoprim resistance genes were all reduced in the bioreactors receiving wastewater pretreated by ozone. Metagenomic analysis suggested that the reduction of ARGs could be attributed to the co-occurrence of ARGs and aromatic degradation genes in bacteria. Furthermore, we expanded our analysis to investigate 71 metagenomes from different environments, and the results indicated that the impact of aromatics on ARG abundance widely occurs in various ecosystems and confirmed that high levels of aromatics could lead to high abundance of ARGs. Taken together, our work confirmed that the aromatics played critical roles in selecting ARGs and proposed a feasible approach to reduce ARGs in wastewater treatment bioreactors.


Controlling the Electronic Structures and Properties of in-Plane Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides Quantum Wells.
In-plane transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) quantum wells have been studied on the basis of first-principles density functional calculations to reveal how to control the electronic structures and the properties. In collection of quantum confinement, strain and intrinsic electric field, TMD quantum wells offer a diverse of exciting new physics. The band gap can be continuously reduced ascribed to the potential drop over the embedded TMD and the strain substantially affects the band gap nature. The true type-II alignment forms due to the coherent lattice and strong interface coupling suggesting the effective separation and collection of excitons. Interestingly, two-dimensional quantum wells of in-plane TMD can enrich the photoluminescence properties of TMD materials. The intrinsic electric polarization enhances the spin-orbital coupling and demonstrates the possibility to achieve topological insulator state and valleytronics in TMD quantum wells. In-plane TMD quantum wells have opened up new possibilities of applications in next-generation devices at nanoscale.


Multiple pathways from the neighborhood food environment to increased body mass index through dietary behaviors: A structural equation-based analysis in the CARDIA study.
To examine longitudinal pathways from multiple types of neighborhood restaurants and food stores to BMI, through dietary behaviors. We used data from participants (n=5114) in the United States-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study and a structural equation model to estimate longitudinal (1985-86 to 2005-06) pathways simultaneously from neighborhood fast food restaurants, sit-down restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores to BMI through dietary behaviors, controlling for socioeconomic status (SES) and physical activity. Higher numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants and lower numbers of sit-down restaurants were associated with higher consumption of an obesogenic fast food-type diet. The pathways from food stores to BMI through diet were inconsistent in magnitude and statistical significance. Efforts to decrease the numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants and to increase the numbers of sit-down restaurant options could influence diet behaviors. Availability of neighborhood fast food and sit-down restaurants may play comparatively stronger roles than food stores in shaping dietary behaviors and BMI.


Evolutionary emergence and maintenance of horizontally transmitted mutualism that do not rely on the supply of standing variation in symbiont quality.
Mutualism based on reciprocal exchange of costly services must avoid exploitation by 'free-rides'. Accordingly, hosts discriminate against free-riding symbionts in many mutualistic relationships. However, as the selective advantage of discriminators comes from the presence of variability in symbiont quality that they eliminate, discrimination and thus mutualism have been considered to be maintained with exogenous supply of free-riders. In this study, we tried to resolve the 'paradoxical' co-evolution of discrimination by hosts and cooperation by symbionts, by comparing two different types of discrimination: 'one-shot' discrimination, where a host does not reacquire new symbionts after evicting free-riders, and 'resampling' discrimination, where a host does from the environment. Our study shows that this apparently minor difference in discrimination types leads to qualitatively different evolutionary outcomes. First, although it has been usually considered that the benefit of discriminators is derived from the variability of symbiont quality, the benefit of a certain type of discriminators (e.g. one-shot discrimination) is proportional to the frequency of free-riders, which is in stark contrast to the case of resampling discrimination. As a result, one-shot discriminators can invade the free-rider/nondiscriminator population, even if standing variation for symbiont quality is absent. Second, our one-shot discriminators can also be maintained without exogenous supply of free-riders and hence is free from the paradox of discrimination. Therefore, our result indicates that the paradox is not a common feature of evolution of discrimination but is a problem of specific types of discrimination.


Boost first, eliminate systematic error, and individualize CTV to PTV margin when treating lymph nodes in high-risk prostate cancer.
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the movement of the planning target volume (PTV) in relation to the pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) during treatment of high-risk prostate cancer. We reviewed the daily treatment course of ten consecutively treated patients with high-risk prostate cancer. PLNs were included in the initial PTV for each patient. Daily on-board imaging of gold fiducial markers implanted in the prostate was used; daily couch shifts were made as needed and recorded. We analyzed how the daily couch shifts impacted the dose delivered to the PLN. A PLN clinical target volume was identified in each man using CT-based treatment planning. At treatment planning, median minimum planned dose to the PLN was 95%, maximum 101%, and mean 97%. Daily couch shifting to prostate markers degraded the dose slightly; median minimum dose to the PLN was 92%, maximum, 101%, and mean delivered, 96%. We found two cases, where daily systematic shifts resulted in an underdosing of the PLN by 9% and 29%, respectively. In other cases, daily shifts were random and led to a mean 2.2% degradation of planned to delivered PLN dose. We demonstrated degradation of the delivered dose to PLN PTV, which may occur if daily alignment only to the prostate is considered. To improve PLN PTV, it maybe preferable to deliver the prostate/boost treatment first, and adapt the PTV of the pelvic/nodal treatment to uncertainties documented during prostate/boost treatment.


Patterned Stimulation of the Chrimson Opsin in Glutamatergic Motor Thalamus Neurons Improves Forelimb Akinesia in Parkinsonian Rats.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a motor disorder charactertised by altered neural activity throughout the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit. Electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is efficacious in alleviating motor symptoms, but has several notable side-effects, most likely reflecting the non-specific nature of electrical stimulation and/or the brain regions targeted. We determined whether specific optogenetic activation of glutamatergic motor thalamus (Mthal) neurons alleviated forelimb akinesia in a chronic rat model of PD. Parkinsonian rats (unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine injection) were injected with an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV5-CaMKII-Chrimson-GFP) to transduce glutamatergic Mthal neurons with the red-shifted Chrimson opsin. Optogenetic stimulation with orange light at 15 Hz tonic and a physiological pattern, previously recorded from a Mthal neuron in a control rat, significantly increased forelimb use in the reaching test (p < 0.01). Orange light theta burst stimulation, 15 Hz and control reaching patterns significantly reduced akinesia (p < 0.0001) assessed by the step test. In contrast, forelimb use in the cylinder test was unaffected by orange light stimulation with any pattern. Blue light (control) stimulation failed to alter behaviours. Activation of Chrimson using complex patterns in the Mthal may be an alternative treatment to recover movement in PD. These vector and opsin changes are important steps towards translating optogenetic stimulation to humans.


Vitamin E suppresses enhancement of factor VIII-dependent thrombin generation by systemic hypoxia.
Increased thrombin activity is an essential component of hemostatic reactions. This study elucidates how various hypoxic interventions impact endogenous thrombin generation (TG) after treatment with/without lipophilic antioxidant vitamin E. Twenty-four healthy sedentary men were randomly assigned to vitamin E (n=12) and placebo (n=12) groups. These subjects were randomly exposed to 12% (severe hypoxia), 15% (moderate hypoxia), 18% (light hypoxia), and 21% (normoxia) O(2) for 2 hours in a normobaric hypoxia chamber. A novel calibrated, automated thrombinography approach was used to measure TG in plasma. In the placebo group, severe hypoxia enhanced plasma FVIII level/activity and TG, which was accompanied by increased urinary 15-F2t-8-isoprostane level and decreased plasma total antioxidant content and superoxide dismutase activity. However, depletion of FVIII by incubation with anti-FVIII antibodies in plasma suppressed enhancement of TG by severe hypoxia. After administration of 1000 IU vitamin E, severe hypoxia did not significantly alter urinary 15-F(2t)-8-isoprostane level and plasma total antioxidant content, superoxide dismutase activity, FVIII level/activity, or TG. Moreover, redox status, FVIII level/activity, and TG were constant in response to moderate hypoxia, light hypoxia, and normoxia in the placebo and vitamin E groups. We conclude that severe hypoxia promotes FVIII-dependent TG, likely by elevating oxidative stress; this hypoxic effect was ameliorated by pretreatment with vitamin E.


Liquid-liquid and liquid-solid separation in self-assembled chitosan-alginate and chitosan-pectin complexes.
The complexation between two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PE) can lead liquid-liquid (complex coacervates, CC) or liquid-solid (solid precipitates, SP) phase separations. Herein, the effect of pH (2-11) and ionic strength (I, 0.05-1.0 M KCl) on the associative interactions between chitosan (QL)-alginate (SA) and QL-Pectin (Pec), polysaccharides widely used in biotechnology field, is described. pH and I, exhibited significant effect on the structure and phase transitions by modifying the ionization degree (α), pka, and associative interactions between PE. Onset of binding was established at pHc 9, while continued acidification (pHτ 5.8) led to simultaneous CC and SP exhibiting a maximum turbidity in both systems. At pHδ 4.0, QL-Pec showed preferably CC structures whereas QL-SA maintained the CC and SP structures. At pHω 2, the associative interactions were suppressed due to the low ionization of Pec and SA. I (1.0 M) significantly diminished the interactions in QL-Pec due to charge screening. Molecular weight, second virial coefficient, hydrodynamic size, ionizable groups, and persistence length of polyion, influenced on the phase behavior of QL-Pec and QL-SA systems. Therefore, CC and SP are found simultaneously in both systems, their transitions can be modulated by intrinsic and environmental conditions, expanding the functional properties of complexed polysaccharides.


Bedside monitoring of hypoxic ischemic brain injury using low-field, portable brain magnetic resonance imaging after cardiac arrest.
Assessment of brain injury severity is critically important after survival from cardiac arrest (CA). Recent advances in low-field MRI technology have permitted the acquisition of clinically useful bedside brain imaging. Our objective was to deploy a novel approach for evaluating brain injury after CA in critically ill patients at high risk for adverse neurological outcome. This retrospective, single center study involved review of all consecutive portable MRIs performed as part of clinical care for CA patients between September 2020 and January 2022. Portable MR images were retrospectively reviewed by a blinded board-certified neuroradiologist (S.P.). Fluid-inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal intensities were measured in select regions of interest. We performed 22 low-field MRI examinations in 19 patients resuscitated from CA (68.4% male, mean [standard deviation] age, 51.8 [13.1] years). Twelve patients (63.2%) had findings consistent with HIBI on conventional neuroimaging radiology report. Low-field MRI detected findings consistent with HIBI in all of these patients. Low-field MRI was acquired at a median (interquartile range) of 78 (40-136) hours post-arrest. Quantitatively, we measured FLAIR signal intensity in three regions of interest, which were higher amongst patients with confirmed HIBI. Low-field MRI was completed in all patients without disruption of intensive care unit equipment monitoring and no safety events occurred. In a critically ill CA population in whom MR imaging is often not feasible, low-field MRI can be deployed at the bedside to identify HIBI. Low-field MRI provides an opportunity to evaluate the time-dependent nature of MRI findings in CA survivors.


Intracranial neurenteric cyst with post-operative chemical meningitis and vagal nerve palsy.
Intracranial neurenteric cysts are rare congenital lesions that, though benign, are difficult to diagnose radiologically given their similar imaging appearance to other intracranial cystic lesions. We present a case of a 21-year-old female with a pathologically proven, symptomatic neurenteric cyst in the premedullary cistern. Superimposed on this uncommon diagnosis were also rare post-operative complications of chemical meningitis and vagal nerve injury. We review the current literature surrounding intracranial neurenteric cysts, their imaging characteristics, differential diagnosis, therapeutic options, and potential complications related to their resection.


The two edges of the ATM sword: co-operation between repair and checkpoint functions.
ATM is a central component of a signal transduction process that responds to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) ultimately effecting cell cycle checkpoint arrest and/or apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that ATM also regulates a mechanism of processing a subset of DNA ends that appear to be difficult to ligate, since they are rejoined with slow kinetics in control cells. In the absence of this process, which involves the nuclease, Artemis, the DSBs either remain unrejoined or potentially undergo misrejoining. Thus, ATM's checkpoint function specifically facilitates its repair function. Here, we discuss the contribution of this novel function of ATM to survival after ionising irradiation and to cancer avoidance. We suggest that ATM's strength as a damage response protein lies in the co-ordination of its repair and checkpoint functions making a razor sharp knife out of two blunter edges.


Sensitivity of magnocellular oxytocin neurones to opioid antagonists in rats treated chronically with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) morphine.
The identity of the subtype of opioid receptor mediating morphine dependence in relation to oxytocin neurones was investigated. Virgin female rats were implanted with a subcutaneous osmotic minipump to infuse morphine continuously (up to 50 micrograms/h) into a lateral cerebral ventricle. After 5 days of morphine infusion, rats were anesthetized with urethane, and the electrical activity of electrophysiologically identified supraoptic neurones was recorded extracellularly while opioid antagonists were injected i.v. Putative oxytocin cells were excited following low doses of naloxone HCl: 4/7 cells were excited by 1 microgram/kg, 6/7 cells by 2.5 micrograms/kg, and 11/13 cells by doses of 5-50 micrograms/kg. MR2266 ((-)-5,9 alpha-diethyl-2-(3-furylmethyl)-2'-hydroxy-6,7-benzomorphan: an antagonist with much greater affinity for kappa-subtype opioid receptors than naloxone) excited oxytocin cells less potently: none of 9 cells was excited by 10 micrograms/kg MR2266, 2/4 cells were by 25-50 micrograms/kg, 3/9 cells by 100 micrograms/kg and only 4/8 by 200-500 micrograms/kg. At low concentrations naloxone is selective for mu-subtype opioid receptors, hence the morphine dependence of oxytocin neurones is probably via mu-receptors. Naloxone methylbromide (MRZ), a quaternary ammonium derivative of naloxone, excited oxytocin cells in morphine-treated rats, but was at least 10 times less potent than naloxone. Thus part of the morphine-withdrawal excitation of oxytocin neurones may be mediated by mu-receptors outside the blood-brain barrier.


Evaluation of Four Lymph Node Classifications for the Prediction of Survival in Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma.
An important prognostic indicator of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) in patients after surgery is metastasis of lymph nodes (LN). However, there are many types of LN staging systems to the issue of a better determination of the prognosis of patients through the lymphatic staging system which needs research. Based on the above, we tried to re-evaluate the staging system of HCCA LNs. We compared the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), number of metastatic LNs (MLN), ratio of LN (LNR), and log odds of MLNs (LODDS) in individuals undergoing curative resection to determine the best LN staging system. In the current study, we retrospectively analyzed 229 patients undergoing curative resection. We evaluated the impact of the stage of AJCC pN, LNR, LODDS, and MLN on OS (overall survival) and RFS (recurrence-free survival). According to the curve of receiver operating characteristic (ROC), we compared the predictive capacity of different staging systems of LN for survival and recurrence. Multivariate analysis results revealed that LODDS > - 0.45 (95% CI = 1.115-2.709, P = 0.015; 95% CI = 1.187-2.780, P = 0.006) are independent risk factors affecting OS and RFS, respectively. Compared with LN status, AJCC pN stage, MLN, and LNR, the variable having the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) was LODDS when predicting 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS and RFS. This study shows that metastasis of LNs is a key indicator for predicting patient death and recurrence. Among them, LODDS is the best LN staging system for the prognostic evaluation of HCCA patients after surgery. Clinicians can incorporate LODDS into HCCA patient lymphatic staging system for a more accurate prognosis of HCCA patients post-surgery.


Bayesian prediction of anxiety level in aged people at rest using 2-channel NIRS data from prefrontal cortex.
The aim of this study was to predict mental stress levels of aged people at rest from two-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) data from the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We used the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for the mental stress index.We previously constructed a machine learning algorithm to predict mental stress level using two-channel NIRS data from the PFC in 19 subjects aged 20-24 years at rest (Sato et al., Adv Exp Med Biol 765:251-256, 2013). In the present study, we attempted the same prediction for aged subjects aged 61-79 years (10 women; 7 men). The mental stress index was again STAI. After subjects answered the STAI questionnaire, the NIRS device measured oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin concentration changes during a 3-min resting state. The algorithm was formulated within a Bayesian machine learning framework and implemented by Markov Chain Monte Carlo. Leave-one-subject-out cross-validation was performed.Average prediction error between the actual and predicted STAI values was 5.27. Prediction errors of 12 subjects were lower than 5.0. Since the STAI score ranged from 20 to 80, the algorithm appeared functional for aged subjects also.


Pseudodacryocystitis: paediatric case series of infected atypical ethmoid air cells masquerading as recurrent dacryocystitis.
PurposeTo highlight the clinical and surgical considerations in treating patients with apparent recurrent acute dacryocystitis with a patent lacrimal system.MethodsThree children referred to a tertiary unit as recurrent acute dacryocystitis were reviewed retrospectively. Imaging and subsequent surgical intervention revealed the underlying diagnosis.ResultsAll three cases presented with recurrent abscesses in the region of the lacrimal sac that failed to respond to incision and drainage. The lesions were lower and more lateral to the usual location of a sac abscess and closer to the inferior orbital rim. All three cases were found to have patent lacrimal systems on syringing, and all were found to have infected, low-lying, anteriorly placed aberrant ethmoid air cells on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These were confirmed on subsequent surgical exploration.ConclusionsInfected low-lying ethmoid air cells can mimic dacryocystitis with recurrent abcesses. In cases where a patent nasolacrimal system is demonstrated and a more inferolateral location of the swelling than would be expected in dacryocystitis is seen, imaging is warranted to ensure the appropriate intervention is undertaken. Anterior ethmoidectomy as opposed to dacryocystorhinostomy is the appropriate treatment in these cases.


Decreased numbers of chemotactic factor receptors in chronic neutropenia with defective chemotaxis: spontaneous recovery from the neutrophil abnormalities during early childhood.
Childhood chronic neutropenia with decreased numbers of chemotactic factor receptors as well as defective chemotaxis was first demonstrated in an 8-month-old girl. Chemotactic factor receptors on neutrophils were assayed using tritiated N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (3H-FMLP). The patient's neutrophils had decreased numbers of the receptors: numbers of the receptors were 20,000 (less than 3 SD) as compared with those of control cells of 52,000 +/- 6,000 (mean +/- SD) (n = 10). The neutropenia disappeared spontaneously by 28 months of age parallel with the improvement of chemotaxis and increase in numbers of chemotactic factor receptors. These results demonstrate a transient decrease of neutrophil chemotactic factor receptors as one of the pathophysiological bases of a transient defect of neutrophil chemotaxis in this disorder.


Use of electrical devices reveals our well being.
We want to objectivize the level of activity of elderly persons living independently at home. Most existing monitoring systems are intrusive and/or require a large number of sensors. We hope the "ubiquitous computing" concept could find an application in this context. We proposed to monitor the use of electrical appliances. We built a unique "activity indicator" which integrates all the activities of the person. This was assessed during 6 months within 12 flats occupied by single elderly persons.


A study of Ganoderma lucidum spores by FTIR microspectroscopy.
In order to obtain unique information of Ganoderma lucidum spores, FTIR microspectroscopy was used to study G. lucidum spores from Anhui Province (A), Liaoning Province (B) and Shangdong Province (C) of China. IR micro-spectra were acquired with high-resolution and well-reproducibility. The IR spectra of G. lucidum spores from different areas were similar and mainly made up of the absorption bands of polysaccharide, sterols, proteins, fatty acids, etc. The results of curve fitting indicated the protein secondary structures were dissimilar among the above G. lucidum spores. To identify G. lucidum spores from different areas, the H1078/H1640 value might be a potentially useful factor, furthermore FTIR microspectroscopy could realize this identification efficiently with the help of hierarchical cluster analysis. The result indicates FTIR microspectroscopy is an efficient tool for identification of G. lucidum spores from different areas. The result also suggests FTIR microspectroscopy is a potentially useful tool for the study of TCM.


Physical education and student activity: evaluating implementation of a new policy in Los Angeles public schools.
California law has standards for physical education (PE) instruction in K-12 public schools; audits found that the Los Angeles Unified School District did not enforce the standards. In 2009, the district adopted a PE policy to comply with these standards. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the PE policy in district schools. PE class observations were conducted using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years in an income-stratified random sample of 34 elementary, middle, and high schools to assess changes in PE class size, class duration, and time students spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. PE class duration increased in high-income elementary schools. Mean class size decreased in low-income middle schools. There was limited implementation of the PE policy 2 years after passage. Opportunities exist to continue monitoring and improving PE quantity and quality.


Both slowly developing embryos and a variable pace of luteal endometrial progression may conspire to prevent normal birth in spite of a capable embryo.
Embryonic implantation requires synchrony between the endometrium and the embryo. When analyzed in isolation, competent embryos may be unsuccessful when placed on a nonreceptive endometrium or vice versa, contributing to the "black box" of implantation failure. It is when the two are assessed together that dyssynchrony becomes evident, due to premature progesterone stimulus on the endometrium, physiologic displacement of the window of implantation or late blastulation of the embryo, or all combined. From the embryonic component, detailed assessment of the timing of blastulation is essential. The molecular diagnosis of endometrial receptivity based on its transcriptomic signature could be superior to other techniques used in the past for defining the endometrial window of implantation.


Eyespot colour pattern determination by serial induction in fish: Mechanistic convergence with butterfly eyespots.
Vertebrate and invertebrate colour pattern determination mechanisms are considered distinct; recently, however, both fish and butterfly colour patterns have been partly explained by reaction-diffusion mechanisms. Here, we show that multi-coloured eyespots of the spotted mandarin fish, which are reminiscent of butterfly eyespots, are determined by the serial induction of colour patterns. The morphological characterisation of eyespots indicates a sequence of colour pattern development and dynamic interactions between eyespots. A substantial part of an eyespot can be surgically removed and is then reconstructed by regeneration. Strikingly, ectopic patterns are induced by damage at a background (eyespotless) area, but focal damage did not change the eyespot size. Early stages of damage repair were accompanied by calcium oscillations. These results demonstrate that fish eyespots are determined by serial induction, which is likely based on a reaction-diffusion mechanism. These findings suggest mechanistic similarities between the fish and butterfly systems.


Renal artery stenosis and aneurysmatic dilatation of arteria carotis interna in tuberous sclerosis complex.
Hypertension in children with neurocutaneous disorders (phacomatoses) is a well-recognized complication of these diseases and the cause of hypertension is fairly specific within each group. In patients with neurofibromatosis, hypertension is mainly caused by renovascular disease, whereas in tuberous sclerosis (TSC) reasons for hypertension are renoparenchymal lesions, such as angiomyolipoma or cysts. We report on a girl with TSC and hypertension due to unilateral renal artery stenosis associated with aneurysmatic changes of internal carotid artery. This unusual combination of symptoms in our patient supports the importance of thorough and complete investigation of hypertension in children with phacomatoses.


Expectation enhances autonomic responses to stimulation of the human subthalamic limbic region.
Recent studies show that the placebo component of a treatment can be investigated by administering therapies either overtly or covertly, without the administration of any placebo. Here, we analyze the effects of open (i.e., expected) versus hidden (i.e., unexpected) stimulations of the human subthalamic region on autonomic responses in Parkinson patients. To do this, we mapped the whole subthalamic region, from the dorsal to the ventral part, and recorded both heart rate and sympathetic responses by using spectral analysis of heart rate variability. We found that open stimulations were more effective than hidden ones only in the ventral subthalamic region, whereas no difference between the two conditions was found in the dorsal aspect. By analyzing the stimulus-response curves in the dorsal, middle, and ventral subthalamic regions, we found that the autonomic response threshold was higher in the hidden than open condition for both heart rate and sympathetic responses only in the ventral part. As this ventralmost portion of the subthalamic region is involved in associative-limbic functions, these data suggest that expectation enhances autonomic responses only if these are elicited in the limbic system. These results extend previous findings on the open-hidden paradigm in deep brain stimulation [Benedetti, F., Colloca, L., Lanotte, M., Bergamasco, B., Torre, E., Lopiano, L., 2004a. Autonomic and emotional responses to open and hidden stimulations of the human subthalamic region. Brain Res. Bull. 63, 203-211.], and indicate that expectation plays a major role in the therapeutic outcome. In light of the interactions between the sympathetic adrenergic system and the immune system, the open-hidden difference in autonomic responses might be relevant to the understanding of how expectations might affect the immune system.


A new eye-safe UV Raman spectrometer for the remote detection of energetic materials in fingerprint concentrations: Characterization by PCA and ROC analyzes.
We report the results of proximal Raman investigations at a distance of 7 m, to detect traces of explosives (from 0.1 to 0.8 mg/cm(2)) on common clothes with a new eye-safe apparatus. The instrument excites the target with a single laser shot of few ns (10(-9)s) in the UV range (laser wavelength 266 nm) detecting energetic materials like Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), Trinitrotoluene (TNT), Urea Nitrate (UN) and Ammonium Nitrate (AN). Samples were prepared using a piezoelectric-controlled plotter device to realize well-calibrated amounts of explosives on several cm(2). Common fabrics and tissues such as polyester, polyamide and leather were used as substrates, representative of base-materials used in the production of jackets or coats. Other samples were prepared by touching the substrate with a silicon finger contaminated with explosives, to simulate a spot left by contaminated hands on a jacket or bag during the preparation of an improvised explosive device (IED) by a terrorist. The observed Raman signals showed some peculiar molecular bands of the analyzed compounds, allowing us to identify and discriminate them with high sensitivity and selectivity, also in presence of the interfering signal from the underlying fabric. A dedicated algorithm was developed to remove noise and fluorescence background from the single laser shot spectra and an automatic spectral recognition procedure was also implemented, evaluating the intensity of the characteristic Raman bands of each explosive and allowing their automatic classification. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to show the discrimination potentialities of the apparatus on different sets of explosives and to highlight possible criticalities in the detection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to discuss and quantify the sensitivity and the selectivity of the proposed recognition procedure. To our knowledge the developed device is at the highest sensitivity nowadays achievable in the field of eye-safe, Raman devices for proximal detection.


Chronic inflammation in refractory hippocampal sclerosis-related temporal lobe epilepsy.
Emerging evidence suggests chronic inflammation may play a role in hippocampal sclerosis-associated temporal lobe epilepsy. We sought to systematically evaluate for its presence in a group of 315 patients who underwent surgery for medically-refractory epilepsy and who had hippocampal sclerosis. Upon histologic review of hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections, 95 (41%) cases demonstrated the presence of lymphocytes within the perivascular region and diffusely within the brain parenchyma. Those cases with chronic inflammation evident on hematoxylin and eosin staining were significantly more likely to experience a post-operative seizure recurrence than those without it (p=0.03). In 9 cases of hippocampi with chronic inflammation observed on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, there was a mixture of both T (CD3+) and B (CD20+) lymphocytes located around blood vessels and interspersed within the brain parenchyma and a predominance of CD4 positive T cells versus CD8 positive cells. Ten hippocampi, apparently devoid of chronic inflammation upon inspection with hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, were stained with the lymphocyte common antigen CD45. In all 10 cases, scattered lymphoid cells were observed in the brain parenchyma, suggesting some level of chronic inflammation may be present in more cases than casual inspection might suggest. This study was the first to evaluate the incidence of chronic inflammation within a large temporal lobe epilepsy population. The study findings suggest chronic inflammation may be a more common component of hippocampal sclerosis -associated temporal lobe epilepsy than previously believed.


Urinary Catheter Management Approaches Among Women Undergoing Benign Gynecologic Surgery: A Randomized Trial.
The objective of this study was to identify differences in voiding trial success rates between delayed (postoperative day 1) and day of surgery catheter removal ("fast track") among women undergoing benign gynecologic surgery. Rates of urinary tract infection, patient satisfaction, and lower urinary tract symptoms were compared between catheter management schemes. Women undergoing benign gynecologic surgery were randomized to either "conventional" delayed urinary catheter care removal on postoperative day 1 or day of surgery catheter removal (fast track) 4 hours after surgery. Subjects were asked to complete a brief survey recording bladder function before and during their hospitalization and satisfaction with their catheter management. Subjects were contacted by phone 2 to 3 weeks after the index surgery to survey their bladder function including symptoms (eg, dysuria) or treatment indicative of a bladder infection. The median dwell time for Foley catheters in the "fast-track" group was 8.15 hours (SD = 375 minutes), whereas the median dwell time in the conventional group was 20.6 hours (SD = 265 minutes), which was significantly different (P < 0.001). Overall, 153 (93%) patients passed their voiding trial with significantly more patients passing their voiding trial in the conventional management group (P = 0.01). There was no difference in the Urogenital Distress Inventory scores at 2 weeks between catheter management cohorts (P = 0.81). Foley dwell time is significantly reduced in the fast-track cohort. Voiding trial failure is higher with same-day catheter removal but that rate of failure rate is low. Patient satisfaction, the Urogenital Distress Inventory score, and postoperative urinary tract infection rates are not significantly different between cohorts.


Synthesis and ultrastructure of plate-like apatite single crystals as a model for tooth enamel.
Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is an inorganic constituent compound of human bones and teeth, with superior biocompatibility and bioactivity characteristics. Its crystal structure is hexagonal, characterized by a(b)- and c-planes. In vertebrate long bones, HAp crystals have a c-axis orientation, while in tooth enamel, they have an a(b)-axis orientation. Many methods can be used to synthesize c-axis oriented HAp single crystals; however, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on a synthesis method for a(b)-axis oriented HAp single crystals. In this study, we successfully synthesized plate-like HAp crystals at the air-liquid interface of a starting solution via an enzyme reaction of urea with urease. Crystal phase analysis and ultrastructure observations were carried out, and the results indicated that the particles were single crystals, with almost the same a(b)-axis orientation as tooth enamel. It is hoped that by utilizing their unique surface charge and atomic arrangement, the resulting particles can be used as a high-performance biomaterial, capable of adsorbing bio-related substances and a model for tooth enamel.


Functional identification of a novel C7 protein of tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a monopartite geminivirus, and one of the most devastating plant viruses in the world. TYLCV is traditionally known to encode six viral proteins in bidirectional and partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). However, recent studies have shown that TYLCV encodes additional small proteins with specific subcellular localizations and potential virulence functions. Here, a novel protein named C7, encoded by a newly-described ORF in the complementary strand, was identified as part of the TYLCV proteome using mass spectrometry. The C7 protein localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm, both in the absence and presence of the virus. C7 was found to interact with two other TYLCV-encoded proteins: with C2 in the nucleus, and with V2 in the cytoplasm, forming conspicuous granules. Mutation of C7 start codon ATG to ACG to block the translation of C7 delayed the onset of viral infection, and the mutant virus caused milder virus symptoms and less accumulations of viral DNAs and proteins. Using the potato virus X (PVX)-based recombinant vector, we found that ectopic overexpression of C7 resulted in more severe mosaic symptoms and promoted a higher accumulation of PVX-encoded coat protein in the late virus infection stage. In addition, C7 was also found to inhibit GFP-induced RNA silencing moderately. This study demonstrates that the novel C7 protein encoded by TYLCV is a pathogenicity factor and a weak RNA silencing suppressor, and that it plays a critical role during TYLCV infection.


Role of hypotension in heart rate turbulence physiology.
Heart rate turbulence is a recently described cardiac prognostic marker that may be mediated by arterial baroreceptor sensitivity, suggesting it is induced by a brief initial hypotension. The purpose of this study was to assess whether heart rate turbulence could be noninvasively induced through a previously implanted defibrillator and whether hypotension modulates turbulence physiology. Premature ventricular paced beats was delivered during continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring in patients with implanted defibrillators. Heart rate turbulence parameters from paced beats were compared with those from spontaneous premature ventricular beats. Subsequently, turbulence hemodynamic parameters were compared in 11 subjects with turbulence induced by pacing trains of 1, 3, 5, and 8 beats at a cycle length of 400 ms. Heart rate turbulence was very similar whether it followed a spontaneous premature ventricular complex or a paced beat. Induced and spontaneous turbulence slopes correlated well (R(s) = 0.917, P = .001). With increasing pacing train length, the magnitude of hypotension, cumulative hypotension time from the last sinus beat, turbulence tachycardia magnitude, magnitude of hypertension in recovery, and turbulence onset (but not turbulence slope) all increased. The cumulative hypotension time, but not the magnitude of hypotension, was tightly correlated with the magnitude of tachycardia (R2 = 0.999, P = .003) and turbulence onset (R2 = 0.975, P = .01). Heart rate turbulence can be induced noninvasively through an implanted device. Turbulence parameters are physiologically modulated by the duration of the initial hypotension, suggesting a possible important role for arterial baroreceptors.